August 1920
In the 1920s, it appears that the Strays feature was a collection of random news and gossip, unlike today’s Strays, that are short items that can be fit into small spaces when an article isn’t quite long enough. Here’s a selection from the 1920 Strays:
By the way, the A.R.R.L. fading tests are going to show the maximum transmitting range of some of our stations—in the summer, at that.
A card to stations over 500 miles whom you hear will certainly be appreciates and will do more towards causing that particular station to improve his outfit than any other thing—it will create a genuine desire to get the maximum out of his apparatus. Do it.
Comply with the radio laws! Do you know that the Navy Dept. keeps a log of amateur activities so as to have data to show against us if it is ever needed? Keep down on 200 (meters) and whet up that wave—it will carry just as far—farther, even.
It pays to have your picture in “Who’s Who?” A lady in Wyoming or somewhere has fallen in love the Charlie Service’s likeness. QST in the role of matchmaker—we never even dreamed it!
Remember that this was a time of real experimentation. Hams were relegated to 200 meters and down, meaning that they couldn’t transmit below 1.5 MHz because it was thought that the frequencies above 1.5 MHz were useless!
August 1970
In Once More with QRP, Doug DeMaw, W1CER, describes an updated version of the QRP rig he wrote about in the March 1970 QST. It’s all solid-state design could easily have been a predecessor to the Elecraft K1 and K2. The oscillator can be crystal-controlled or VFO-controlled and the rig outputs 1.5 W. It even uses a couple of ICs for audio output.
The editorial in this issue exhorts members to recruit their friends to become ARRL members. It seems the ARRL had a membership problem 50 years ago as well.
August 1995
This issue has two antenna construction articles that would still be worth building today:
- A Simple 2-Meter Bicycle/Motorcycle Mobile Antenna. This antenna is a j-pole antenna supported by a fiberglass safety flag. It’s a great design, and being a j-pole, probably works well, too.
- A Paint Pole Antenna. This antenna uses a 16-ft. painter’s pole to implement a 20-meter/17-meter vertical antenna. This looks like it would be a great antenna for portable operations or situations where you have to take down an antenna after using it.
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