_QST_ is still being published as a hold-in-your-hands magazine, by the
ARRL. Your library may carry it, perhaps some newsstands do. They still
have some electronics projects in their issues.
I thought they decided to take it off newsstand distribution.
Traditionally, the only way you could get it was by membership, and I
thought via specialty outlets like the local radio store.
Then maybe a decade ago, the Board decided to let it loose in
general distribution, presumably in part to get amateur radio out
there.
That experiment didn't seem to go well, because a few years back
that stopped happening. I know people commented on it, and I'm
sure someone did indeed locate the ARRL board decision to
stop that distribution.
A lot of those old radio stores are gone now, so it may not
be particularly available.
You're right, they carry construction articles and those
are of varied technical levels.
But I suspect it's a tad too dedicated for many, they are
looking for more general construction articles and theory,
and QST doesn't work that way.
Traditionally, I would have told newcomers to get a
copy of the ARRL Handbook, because the basic theory chapters
apply to all electronics and the chapters on construction and
test equipment were fairly useful to all.
And maybe most important, for a long time the ARRL Handbook
was downright cheap, which meant that even if someone ignored
a lot of the radio content, it was still valuable.
But nowadays, the cost has risen so high that I wouldn't
suggest it to a beginner, unless their interest was in
radio (and maybe more important, amateur radio). Too much
isn't of interest to the non-radio hobbyist.
On the other hand, a new edition comes out every year, with
few changes from year to year, so if one can find a used copy,
the price starts getting better. An old one might be a pretty
available source for those interested in using tubes. Pick
one from thirty years ago, and while most references to ICs would
be dated, the solid state intro is probably still valid. The
less you have to pay, the more valuable it becomes.
Michaelk
