The Great XTALK Swap Page

When the web was in its infancy, there used to be a great site called "The Great XTAL Swap Page" run by Steve, G7NAY. Anyone could list crystals they had surplus to their needs, and peruse the stock of others. A brilliant idea! Obviously, the bigger the junk box, the more likelihood that somebody somewhere has something close to what you need. Unfortunately, that web page has long since hit the bit bucket. The VK QRP Club (CW Operators QRP Club Inc.) has elected to carry on this great e-tradition with this web site, even retaining the original title in tribute to G7NAY.

How it works

Everyone, everywhere is encouraged to catalogue their spare crystals, and forward a list in the format shown below to VK4TJ for inclusion. In the Source column, put your call sign, or some other means of contacting you. It is suggested that you NOT spell your e-mail address out in full, as the spam miners will find it in an instant, and fill your inbox with trash. Better to simply include your call, and the resolve to keep your details current with QRZ.COM, where e-mail information is embedded in a graphic, beyond the capabilities of most address harvesters.

If someone is interested in a crystal that you have, they will e-mail you, and you can negotiate a swap, donation, or outright sale. You may charge whatever you think is fair, but be realistic oddball out-of-band crystals are hardly worth the price of the postage, and you will be competing directly with the VK QRP Club (CW Operators QRP Club Inc.), who charge precisely nothing! Yep, that is right. In onesy-twoesy type quantities, our crystals are free to members, even overseas. If you aren't already a member, this service, combined with our quarterly journal Lo-Key, add up to a value proposition you shouldn't even try to resist.

Hoarders: examine your conscience. If you have had parts tucked away for a project for more than 6 months, with no discernable progress towards completion, you're a hoarder. The object of this service is to get more folks building more fresh, original projects that will hopefully grace the pages of Lo-Key magazine, not to enhance your static parts stash. VK QRP Club (CW Operators QRP Club Inc.) reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, member or not, who appears to be abusing this service. Let's face it folks, you know this is a very generous service we offer, from a club with pretty limited resources. You'd like for us to be around for your next crystal request, too, right?

Please collate your crystals into ascending order of FUNDAMENTAL frequency. Everyone knows that overtone crystals can be made to happily resonate on their fundamental frequency, which, unhappily, is seldom a strict third, fifth or seventh of the marked channel frequency. Chances are, if your crystal has a marked frequency of over 20 MHz, it is an overtone. It is suggested that you use a simple Pierce test oscillator and a receiver or frequency counter to find out what you'vve got. We aren't going to get all anal about series or parallel resonance or particular values of load capacitance, as any good ham worth his salt knows how to get a bit of travel out of a crystal.

In addition to crystals, we'rre happy to list your crystal filters, clock oscillators and ceramic resonators. As there are no standards for holder designations for these products, be creative with your description.

Don't know your holder designation The more common ones are listed below:

A more comprehensive, illustrated list of holders can be found at:

Standard Crystal Holders for Older Radio Equipment

Please keep us advised of any crystals you manage to find good homes for, so that we may remove them from the list, and, while you are thinking of it, jump over to QRZ and ensure that your contact details are current. Of course when you become a member of VK QRP Club, make sure we know how to get a hold of you as well.

Catalogue of Crystals

The current Catalogue of Crystals (updated 14th July, 2014) can be view and downloaded here.

Happy rock-swapping!