Balcony whip for windy days

Fishing rod is popular choice for QRV from balcony and anywhere. But the weakness against strong wind is not avoidable. The rod easily bend and dancing wire get caught by other structure. The rod often retracted by wind shaking. For such unexpected Japanese weather, a whip antenna is another choice. A mobile whip mounted to top of aluminum retractable pole is less efficient than long wires. But sustainable under strong wind. The Comet HR-series is the longest mobile whip with center loading. These are extremely strudy. Using 1/4 lambda ground wire, SWR of the whip is less than 2.5 at 7MHz width of 40kHz. You think Buddipole or MP-1 will be another choice. But I don't recommend such expensive fragile antenna to expose bad weather long time. Price of HR-series is less than 7,000JPY.

Japanese QRP books (6)

This new book is not QRP book. But shortwave broadcast listening is also the favorite of many QRPers. Several QRPers are started from listening in his childhood, now returning to listener after QRPpp. In Japan, broadcast listening is named BCL. This book is good compendium covering loop antenna technique and software defined radio PERSEUS utilization in this hobby. In addition major radio station from overseas are introduced with special topics. Price of this book is 1500JPY.

Meeting Mate 40, 7MHz CW QRP transceiver (3)

This is a scematic diagram of MM40. For transmit two transistors are working. Relatively high power 2SC2053 employed in uts final stage. Receiver part is simple DC type with 2SK241 front-end. Another 2SK241 following is the product detector. LM386 boost audio to drive ear-phone. To your surprise, this transceiver does not have any TX/RX switching circuit. Huge thump and loud tone during transmit must be tried by user.

Meeting Mate 40, 7MHz CW QRP transceiver (2)

Not following the Manhattan style (Mr.Imai says 'Land method'), this is an example of the Meeting Mate 40. A blogger remembered that he made this transceiver himself ago. The transceiver is found from old layer of storage. Simple configuration of MM40 inspired many amateur the fun of QRP. In contrast, orange colored sticker is approved transmitter mark by radio administration agency. They kindly send the same stickers to licensee every 5 years at renewal. Keep the stickers, they will offer free gift in future.