Visit local parts shop to find QRP parts

Local parts shop is a good place to see around. Price in local shop is usually higher than in Akihabara. But we can save money of transport and time to visit there. Variety of semiconductors are limited. But they are enough for our future project. Less in their advertisement, good junk parts in local shop last longer than in Akihabara. From your good relationship between local amateur friends you will be able to know precious junk incoming. The photo is Edison Plaza in Yokohama. Ishikawa-cho station, nearby the China town, 3 parts shops are gathered at 2nd floor of a building. In the next block, there is an amateur radio shop Hammers.

OIKey, popular PIC 4-chennel keyer full kit

The OIKey PIC16F88 based 4-channel memory keyer is popular among Japanese amateur. The keyer was introduced CQ ham radio June 2008. Different from 8-pin PIC keyer with complex command structure, direct access to each memory slot by buttons are real convenience in operation. Originally the CQ ham radio supply the board with magazine. Akizuki-denshi provide additional parts kit. But now, Marutsu is selling both board and parts. This is good shopping for who missed the issue. The price of the kit is 2,580JPY.

JA QRP NEWS, May 2010

JA QRP club issued QRP NEWS. April issue was missing due to club situation. Now everybody understand the club is maintained only by its remaining asset without membership charge. This issue introduces JA8IRQ Mr.Fukushima's electronics homemade seminar for children in elementary school. Teaching something to children is apparently another fun for us and we will see a few boy and girl shows extraordinary interest to dangerous soldering iron. They will become a real amateur in future. Latter part of the QRP News explains club operation is currently volunteer basis.

Yes we can, Radio Experiment

CQ Publishing released 'Yes we can, Radio Experiment' in their electronics making with printed circuit board series. This book previously released Airband Receiver, Shortwave Listening Loop Antenna and HF CW transmitter. Now the book reach an AM transmitter in BC band. In the final section of the book, this AM transmitter is modified to QRPp transmitter of non-license power level. Digital modulation topics and its board is included in this book too. This is a very good educational material for non-ham youth. Price of the book is 2,310JPY. This is a bit higher than we expect to the board.

Little Dayton, local swap meet in Yokohama

Now it's Dayton FDIM period and all world QRPers are gathering there. Though the scale is smaller, in Yokohama area, more than 100 vehicle gathered and a swap meet was held by a local amateur radio club. Under the sunny sky, radio nuts spent their pleasant time with their topics. Price of rig and parts are reasonable, quite cheaper than in net auction. In some case, sellers are asked to clear up his precious junk by his wife. He explains his situation and everybody buy from him at minimum price with maximum sympathy. I saw mobile and handy transceivers of 20yrs old are from 2,000JPY. HF transceivers need some overhaul are from 10,000JPY.

K-ON!, with a glowing valve keyboard

K-ON (light music non classic) means actually a kind of rock'n roll music club often seen at high school or universities. This animation K-ON! is selling CD as well as real artist. If you visit Akihabara electric-town now, yu will see many shops have K-ON!'s poster. In the story, four students in hi-school start K-ON club and various episode commonly happen in their school life is in there. May be everybody seeing K-ON! enjoy stories as when their student days. For QRPers fun, in the opening moment, glowing tube 12AU7(ECC82) appears. KORG Triton extreme synthesizer had the valve in its special feature. Other music instruments appeared in this animation are well described in its details from existing famous models.

RF World magazine occasionally QRP article

The RF World magazine is the quarterly from CQ publishing dedicated to wireless technology mainly focused to professional. Occasionally experimental article related to fundamental experiment presents QRP character. In this recent issue No10, the special feature is a network analyzer, but beside this, QRPers may be excited by a short FM wireless transmitter article using CMOS IC 74AHCU04. To the curiosity, using analog characteristics of the high speed inverter, one chip FM transmitter is realized. oscillator/modulator, ECM amplifier, buffer and finals are assigned to each inverters inside the chip. The price of this magazine is 1680JPY.

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.