QST
Encyclopedia
QST is a magazine for amateur radio
enthusiasts, published by the American Radio Relay League
(ARRL). It is a membership journal that is included in membership with the ARRL. The publisher claims that circulation of QST in the United States is higher than all amateur radio-related publications in the United States combined. Although an exact number for circulation is not published by the American Radio Relay League, the organization claimed
154,627 members at the end of 2008, almost all of whom receive the magazine monthly, in addition to issues delivered to libraries and newsstands.
The name of the magazine is derived from the radio Q signal that means "calling all stations". The magazine was first published in December, 1915, and has been continuously published since May, 1919. Supplemental content to the magazine is available on the ARRL web site, including a complete archive in PDF
format, available to ARRL members starting in 2008.
and secretary Clarence D. Tuska, with an expectation that increased membership would finance its continued existence. In October 1916, the editors announced the formation of The QST Publishing Company, mostly to insulate Maxim and Tuska from possible litigation risks.
Publication of QST was temporarily suspended after the September 1917 issue. In April 1917, the United States government, following its entrance into World War I
, banned all amateur radio activities, and a large percentage of the magazine's subscribers had entered military service. The ban on amateur radio was lifted after the conclusion of the war. QST returned in May 1919 with no cover – billed as “ARRL Special Bulletin” – and only 8 pages long. At a meeting in New York on March 29th, a group that included Maxim, Tuska, and nine others decided to finance its return in this form and make a plea for membership and subscription renewals. The June 1919 issue, still without a cover, announced that the war time ban on receiving had been lifted. Finally, in July 1919, QST resumed its previous format, although amateurs would not be permitted back on the air until that fall, when a supplement to the October issue proclaimed “BAN OFF”. By September of 1920, QST was back up to 100 pages, a size not seen since April 1917.
Publication continued throughout World War II
, despite amateur radio's hiatus by order of the U.S. government. During both wars, amateurs were in high demand as military radio operators, and QSTs staff pitched in for the war effort.
.
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
enthusiasts, published by the American Radio Relay League
American Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...
(ARRL). It is a membership journal that is included in membership with the ARRL. The publisher claims that circulation of QST in the United States is higher than all amateur radio-related publications in the United States combined. Although an exact number for circulation is not published by the American Radio Relay League, the organization claimed
154,627 members at the end of 2008, almost all of whom receive the magazine monthly, in addition to issues delivered to libraries and newsstands.
The name of the magazine is derived from the radio Q signal that means "calling all stations". The magazine was first published in December, 1915, and has been continuously published since May, 1919. Supplemental content to the magazine is available on the ARRL web site, including a complete archive in PDF
Portable Document Format
Portable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
format, available to ARRL members starting in 2008.
History
The magazine was first published in December 1915, with its first three issues financed by American Radio Relay League founder Hiram Percy MaximHiram Percy Maxim
Hiram Percy Maxim was an American radio pioneer and inventor, and co-founder of the American Radio Relay League . He originally had the amateur call signs SNY, 1WH, 1ZM, 1AW, and later W1AW, which is now the ARRL Headquarters club station call sign...
and secretary Clarence D. Tuska, with an expectation that increased membership would finance its continued existence. In October 1916, the editors announced the formation of The QST Publishing Company, mostly to insulate Maxim and Tuska from possible litigation risks.
Publication of QST was temporarily suspended after the September 1917 issue. In April 1917, the United States government, following its entrance into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, banned all amateur radio activities, and a large percentage of the magazine's subscribers had entered military service. The ban on amateur radio was lifted after the conclusion of the war. QST returned in May 1919 with no cover – billed as “ARRL Special Bulletin” – and only 8 pages long. At a meeting in New York on March 29th, a group that included Maxim, Tuska, and nine others decided to finance its return in this form and make a plea for membership and subscription renewals. The June 1919 issue, still without a cover, announced that the war time ban on receiving had been lifted. Finally, in July 1919, QST resumed its previous format, although amateurs would not be permitted back on the air until that fall, when a supplement to the October issue proclaimed “BAN OFF”. By September of 1920, QST was back up to 100 pages, a size not seen since April 1917.
Publication continued throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, despite amateur radio's hiatus by order of the U.S. government. During both wars, amateurs were in high demand as military radio operators, and QSTs staff pitched in for the war effort.
Content
Today, QST includes projects for the amateur radio enthusiast, pictures, articles, columns, and reports on ARRL affairs. Particular interest is given to amateur radio's role in emergency communications such as in the hours after the September 11th terror attacks and in Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
External links
- American Radio Relay League official web site