ARRL QST magazine vs, CQ,.. etc..

[VE3KNT]

I'm thinking of joining the ARRL to get the QST magazine, I've glanced at a couple issues at the library downtown, but really don't have the time to sit down there and study them (they can't be checked out)
And being in Canada, they aren't in the book stores to just buy a copy here and there, so I'm wondering what hams that get to really sit down and read them think, and how they compare to CQ Magazine?

I don't want to start a magazine war thread, just get a general idea how they compare, and since ARRL is an America organization, is there much benefit to a Canadian?

Please don't suggest I join RAC, been there, done that, won't do it again.. at least til there a bit change in leadership and how they tread members..

[AJ4CU]

I am an ARRL member, some things they do I do not agree with but the mag is good, I usually read it cover to cover even the stuff that does not interest me, I also subscribe to CQ wich is another good Mag, the articles in both would be beneficial to you regardless of location except of course when depicting band allocations which I believe you folks have some that are a bit different from us in the lower48...
of course being an ARRL member does get you access to member only locations on the website but beware those who have no liking for the ARRL they will spout nothing but ill will, sad really....

73 and good luck with your choice DE AJ4CU...

[NA7U]

If you need the latest and greatest, by all means subscribe. If you are just interested in the kinds of articles QST has you could probably find older copies at any hamfest. Some of their articles are free on-line, too.

how they tread members

Heh, heh, I love Freudian slips like that!

[KB4QAA]

Both are great magazines. CQ tends to be 'news-ier' and operating oriented. QST is more technical with lots of how-to articles, projects and such. I don't think there is anything off putting for folks in other countries. They don't even publish the ARRL board minutes any more.

[WA9CWX]

I get both and pretty much read them both cover to cover. QST was a whole level more sophisticated about 30 years ago, but trhat is a no -issue today.... Good mags by todays standards. I wouldn't be withouit either.

Frank

[N2RJ]

CQ is a fine magazine for the active ham - they are more interested in news, operating, nostalgia, awards and their contests. They aren't too techie. The nice thing is that they have a digital edition available for $27/year which is great if you have an iPad or other similar device (you can view them on a regular PC too). I don't subscribe to the dead tree edition anymore because after I read an issue it usually ends up in the recycle bin. CQ uses Zinio which is one of the best digital magazine publishing platforms out there. The nice thing about the digital edition is that the links are clickable.

QST is a bit more technical. I actually like this aspect better. However, they have a lot of features for operating and similar. The back of the mag is thick with ads but that's better than scattering them all over the magazine. They have a digital edition coming out this month. Last month some of us (volunteer examiners) got a preview. They use nxtbook which isn't good at all. You also don't get a discount for subbing digital only...

Now as for ARRL being an "American" organization and you being Canadian? The only way this affects you is that you can't vote in the elections unless you have a US call and can't use the outgoing QSL bureau. Otherwise you get all the same benefits.

[VE3KNT]

Thanks for all the replies,
So far sounds like QST is worth me getting. I do like the tech side of things a lot, I haven't bought CQ for some time now, but a quick flip though QST last week at the library looked like there was some good how-to stuff in there. Being on a fixed income, (ie: really broke while applying for disability) I want to be sure I'm spending my money wisely. I'm a bit disappointed that I won't be able to use the outbound bureau, but I mainly do eQSL anyway.

I do prefer print magazines, I like to read them in bed. I don't have one of those reader things.. and sitting at my PC to read a magazine all the time really isn't that relaxing to me. I never toss magazines. And some really show there age.

[KJ4YQK]

I like both magazines and subscribed to both. I like the ideal of having the digital for my tablet. I am getting ready to upgrade my CQ subscription to get the digital copy. With QST you can download the digital copy in about another week. I always find an interesting article in at least one of the magazine each month, most of the time in both magazines.

[W4HAY]

QST and League membership are definitely worth the cost. Lots of operating news and technical articles, but the screwdriver-and-dikes projects are nowhere near what they used to be. If you're really a techie type, add QEX to your subscription. To me, a big plus of membership is the on-line archives. Lots of good stuff there.

CQ is OK from an operator's point of view, but I do wonder if most of the staff know which end of a soldering iron gets hot. I let my subscription lapse about two decades ago. I will thumb through an issue if I'm in the bookstore.

[N0AZZ]

The ARRL has to many things going for it not to belong plus an excellent mag and now for all members a free digital edition also I use mine on my iPad and iPhone. Another thing is your able to search every issue from #1 to present on there website plus a lot of other features no one else offers. I do participate in the ARRL awards programs several including DXCC I do enter there contests but don't submit a log the same for the CQ awards and Contests.

I also receive CQ and the CQ VHF edition have done so for over 6 years and have no plans to give them up either. I find both magazines enjoyable and each has a different content and goals both of which I enjoy. I don't endorse all the ARRL or CQ sometimes pushes but everyone has there favorites and dislikes.