Elementary Radio Kit RX-501 from Mizuho

Last year Mizuho discontinued popular step-by-step radio kit RX-123D. The kit was unique by its upgradable design from a Germanium Radio to transistor or IC radio. Now they are start selling new version RX-501. The RX-501 is differ by its printed circuit board intend an IC radio. Though a choice to transistor radio is not exist, this board is downgradable to a Germanium Radio. Some Mizuho collector says he wish reproduction of MX-series. You must be happy that still they have this radio in their line-up. President Takada show his mind trying radio looks good by a white line under dial. If you really like the Mizuho, you should buy one. The RX-501 price is 2,500JPY.

QRP Special Stations 8J1P,8J4P,8J6P

Special QRP stations around the International QRP days started this years QRV. During May and June, 8J1P,8J4P and 8J6P expected to appear various QRP frequency. In weekends, QRPers are gathering and intensively transmitting. In weekdays, each members are trying to keep activity from somebodys shack. Please find them and give them your report. In the past, their suffix are 'VLP (Very Low Power)'. Now the simple suffix 'P' is approved by radio agency. The QSL shown here is issued in 2009, drawn by JH1FCZ. These stations are maintained by donation from QRPers and the QSL is printed by JARL QRP club budget.

Akizuki QRP price HT antenna in good performance

Akizuki-Denshi, the most famous outlet parts shop in Akihabara provides several kind 430MHz HT whips for radio amateur. The price of antennas are nice QRP from 400 to 1000JPY. Apparently, these antennas are produced in China. Most of the HT whips are flexible type and this prevent harmful force to HT's SMA connectors. A blogger examined the short 430MHz whip by his VX-7. As a result, the performance is acceptable by this price. Performance in 430MHz is better than genuine whip and even AM broadcasting reception is possible. 50MHz AM reception is soso. S-9 signal by 6m GP is readable with the whip antenna inside home. With the twiggy whip your HT looks different. When overseas amateur visit Akihabara, this is a good souvenir for your ham friends.

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.

Meeting Mate 40, 7MHz CW QRP transceiver (1)

From Mr.Imai's book 'Handmade transceiver', a popular transceiver named 'Meeting Mate 40' is introduced here. This transceiver is build up from TX and RX part separately. Hence it uses two crystals, it avoid complex T-RX circuit. The book shows picture of Manhattan style in color. These are very easy to understand and several QRPers made this transceiver by themselves. Every Sunday morning, JA QRP club has weekly meeting on 7003kHz under domestic propagation. This transceiver is designed to join this meeting by homemade beginners.

Miracle Paint (vocaloid's song with promotion video)

Respect to creativity of songwriter, vocaloid programming and animations. Does amateur radio has such attractive outcome as they provide to people through the internet? May be, may be not.

7MHz QRP TX AYU-40 modification

AYU-40 is simple full-QSK 7MHz QRP TX kit. The board is a bound in supplement of CQ ham radio magazine July 2009. Recently JE1UCI Mr.Fukawa is trying to improve the AYU-40 function in ICOM BEACON online magazine. He is a famous QRP homemade instruments writer. By his modification adding a diode, any receiver can calibrate frequency to AYU-40 oscillator stage without transmitting. Above picture is a blogger's AYU-40 in progress, not the modified AYU-40 based on the article. About the AYU-40, you can see one in previous post.