Marutsu released a direct conversion kit MRX-7D-FK

Marutsu Denpa is relatively new parts shop chain located in Japanese major cities. They focus on amateur radio item as well as other computer item just like Radio Shack in good old days. Recently they released an original direct conversion receiver kit MRX-7D-FK. In previous blog topic, we reported that they had a seminar course to build the DC-RX. The kit price 12,800JPY is expensive for those who experienced QRP club kits. But for newbies who never experienced kit building and DC-RX nature, this kit will be a very good educational material proofed by Marutsu corporation. We can observe they are using two 8-pin dip ICs. They are supposed to employ NE612 and LM386.

DX-R8 table top receiver from ALINCO

ALINCO　announces a new HF table top receiver DX-R8. After the storm of JRC discontinue, another wave by Chinese radio swept away almost every made in Japan receivers in market. Now the surviving receiver of this kind is only IC-R75. This DX-R8 will be welcomed by all QRPers waiting receiver. 10 years ago everybody says who likes Yae-com-wood says ALINCO is the second class manufacture. They dislike ALINCO also handles ladder and health-care product through their TV-shopping. But maturity of their transceiver is enough, even they are attractive than the Yae-com-wood. DX-R8 has IQ output necessary for SDR processing, without expensive dog-year DSP, the analog output receiver is 59,800JPY.

K-ON! 2nd season

K-ON! 2nd season started. As the previous one, Kyoto Animation poured enormous resources to this 2nd season opening. The 3-D synthetic animation shows incredible 2-D character's motion we've never seen. Details of music instruments are well described again. As our consequence, emitting loud acoustic sounds is still popular and let everybody enjoy. On the other hand, making and emitting radio frequency is less popular.

The cable shop

This shop Oyaide handles only cables. In this small shop huge kind of cables such as magnet wire, flat cables and coaxial are stacked. It is difficult to catch salesperson in busy time since they are preparing cable orders from professionals. To buy the cables, at least one must have conversation to the sales person to let them cut length.

Professional Parts Shop (Bolt and Nut)

Shops in Akihabara are professional in their specialties. To find right parts at right place is important for beginners. The shop Nishikawa is special in metric bolt and nut. If you have Japanese transceiver and some bolts are missing, bring them to the shop. Sales persons are kindly find out an identical one from their stock. Don't care about quantity, though they are selling 100pcs package, they work hard most willingly.

Appoaching Akihabara Electric Town

The favorite way to approaching Akihabara is Not use the Akihabara station. The station is always too crowded. When we are approaching there by East bound, Ochanomizu station is appropriate one. Near by Tokyo University and Kanda used book market, the small station is easy to get off. After you get off you can see the Electric town is rising high over the city. Walking along the Kanda river is pleasant time and a chance you determine your mind when you buy an expensive parts.

Govern the QRP (MIC)

It is supposed that Japan is the most strictly regulate radio emission from amateur radio except North Korea. When we replace a kind of final transistor, licensee have to send an application to local radio agency each time. Recently, smart QRPer found a way to escape. He had submitted application of all kind of transistors he can imagine before he make his TX! Anyway, such kind of legislation difficult to follow is introduced by Ministry of Internal affairs and Communications (MIC) without seeing real radio experimenters.

1200MHz Transverter from Maki-Denki

Maki-Denki in Kawasaki-city is a sole micro-wave dedicated amateur radio shop in Japan. They have many components and transverter up to 40GHz. They released 1.2GHz transverter kit as their low end frequency. This entry band product is missing for a longtime. By its 1151MHz local, your 145MHz transceiver is up-converted to 1296MHz. The price is reasonable from 36,0
00JPY. Additional PLL local version is higher than this.

Marconi Basic-7 renovated

Marconi Japan is now selling again their only one product 'Basic-7'. The DC transceiver is now well arranged step by step construction manual. If you never experienced FCZ coils, you will see how Japanese QRPers are in good environment with the excellent inductor transformer. On this release they are selling board kit independent from their unique chassis.

Adults Science Magazine

Strange titled magazine, the "Adults Science Magazine" is named parodied counterpart of Children's Science Magazine. The latter one is historical since 1923. Many Japanese scientist and engineers are raised by this in their school library. Since everybody like the kit supplemental to the magazine, the adults version seriously prepareing various kind of experimental kit range between 3000-5000JPY. In their previous series, only pick a few of electrical kind, crystal radio, battery tube radio, battery tube amplifier, synthesizer, 4-bit PC and music instruments termin are provided. In this issue, finally they released 8-bit PC named Japanino compatible to Arduino AVR based programing board. Several QRPer bought this. QRP related application is expected.