Mizuho antenna coupler coil LA-2

Popular antenna coupler among Japanese QRPers is a Pi-C type coupler introduced by President Takada of Mizuho. This coupler has large tuning capability than simple L-C type tuners. Unfortunately Mizuho already discontinue KX-series such as KX-S9 or KX-QRP antenna coupler, they still provide a key component LA-2 coil and Poly-Varicon of 340pF. The LA-2 coils cost 1,575yen and PVC costs 820-yen. Their PVC price is bit higher than junk in market. LA-2 coil has its advantage in its accurate inductance and magnetic saturation. JL1KRA Junichi says that he can send a few LA-2 coils to overseas at actual cost.

JA QRP NEWS, March 2010

JA QRP CLUB distributed March QRP NEWS. In the top story,JK1TCV, Mr.Kurihara introduces fun of CW operation. Groups interested in special station for International QRP day are planned in 1,4 and 6 areas in 2010. As a foreign QRPers KF7JS, Mr.Marlowe with S9 vertical is nominated. The JA QRP club decided to change their operation to volunteer basis. This means they will not charge members annual expense 4,000 yen anymore. But they will provide minimum control from remaining asset. Any interested members can gather their 4,000 yen and they can plan QRP activity by the name of QRP Club. About the club operation, too many discussion continued last year. President and core members need their rest.

Fuji-musen FY-end sale March 27/28th

Fuji-Musen (musen means wireless) is one of remaining ham radio shop in Akihabara. This is a typical radio shop without frills. You can say this is the real shack. They carry out spacial sale in September and March. Honestly, HRO and AES other international volume suppliers are always showing discount prices. But the bargain at retail shop and limited outlet attract ham radio nuts. Shop assistants are unique and they knows something interesting stories behind the products. If you have a bundle of bank notes for FT-9000, they can make additional discount. The special price is informed to customers by e-mail. Here for your example, limited outlet QRP rigs are follows, FT-817ND (59,800JPY), DJ-G7 (36,800JPY), VX-7 (29,800JPY), VX-3 (19,800JPY). You have to queue up in front of the shop early in the morning. Foreign visitors be careful, 'J'-marked VHF rigs are limited VHF range 144-146MHz to inhibit CPU TX at Japanese police frequency.

VX-8G APRS machine comes without AM QRP

Other blog applause this new APR machine VX-8G(R).
Remembering VX-7(R) and VX-8(R), these are precious QRP handy enables 1W AM in 50MHz.
This is an attractive, though the dry sound AM can not compete with classical transformer modulation.
Now Vertex drastically discard the function from VX-8 and they install GPS receiver instead.
Some QRPer say they welcome APRS unit to broadcast his position before reaching mountain summit to operate QRP. But here, several QRPers see this VX-8G with sorrow eyes without AM.

Recent blog update

We would like to provide reader Japanese QRP topic at least once a week. But, this March is the end of Japanese Fiscal Year. overwhelming business task are assigned to QRP bloggers. Update of blog is delayed often. Sorry so much for this situation.

Japanese QRP books (6)

This is the recent issue 'Handmade Transceivers Introduction' written by Mr.Imai JF1RNR. He had been an active writer in the CQ ham radio. Beautiful colored drawings to construct simple receiver and transceiver as the Manhattan style are followed by JA QRPers. In Section 1 fundamental issue are written. Section 2 introduces CW transmitters and receivers. Section 3 topics are advanced to DSB/SSB transceivers. Rigs you can reach in this book are follows, (Section 2) 50mW QRPp 7MHz TX, 500mW 7MHz CW TX, Simple 7MHz TRX, 50MHz 2tr CW TX, 50->7MHz crystal-convetar, 1.9MHz RX, 1.9MHz CW TX, 21MHz CW TRX (Akagi-standard), 144MHz CW transceiver,10MHz CW transceiver, 18MHz CW transceiver. (Section 3) 50MHz DSB transceiver, 144MHz DSB TRX, 14MHz SSB TRX, 7MHz transveter, 50MHz SSB/CW transceiver,28MHz DSB TRX, 7MHz 3W anplifier, 3.5MHz SSB TRX. Article will be introduced upon your request.

Japanese QRP books(5)

JA7CRJ Mr.Chiba is running kit company AITEC. AITEC is not major as MIZUHO, but they are providing very nice kit from discrete parts. This book 'Transceiver Building Introduction AM and SSB edition'is published in 1994 and it introduces a separate type AM transceiver and an integrated SSB transceiver. In this decade, the AITEC was selling SSB transceiver kit and QRP beginner learned the simple SSB generator CQ-1 employ active mixier SN16913 and 2SK439 with aluminum enclosure. Later this SSB transceiver have an evolution to TRX-601 kit with iron chassis then discontinued in 2002 due to obsolete filter. Still they are selling TRX-1 50MHz 100mW DSB transceiver and TRX-502
50MHz 300mW AM transceiver at retail shop.

Japanese QRP book (4)

Special issue of Ham Journal No.44 back in 1986 is an another bible for QRP builder. A SSB generator as 'Kumamoto-city Standard' is the must read article. Using only discrete transistor, still this design is alive and report form completed builders are found in this internet era. In 1980's a group in Kumamoto area was very eager to build homebrew transceiver. Centering a guru JA6BI Mr.Tabuchi, their activity and introduction to beginners are well packed in this periodical from CQ publishing. Ladder type crystal filter and inexpensive measurement instruments are presented in this issue too.

Japanese QRP book (3)

The "Homebrew electronics circuit text" by JH1FCZ Mr.Okubo is precious book covering most of the popular FCZ elementary kit series schematics and how to build them. Most of them are built as experimental style board and easy to debug. Unfortunately this book is out of print too. But still the successor book "Amatetur Radio Homebrew Circuit" almost same coverage is available from CQ publishing.

Japanese QRP book (2)

"Amateur radio station build from zero" is written my President Takada of Mizuho. Start from basic section, receiver section introduces tube 0-V-0, DC-receiver, 7MHz super-het by IC and crystal converter from 6m. Transmitter section contains 7,21MHz CW-TX and 50MHz AM TX. Finally, these are integrated at transceiver section. As a completed transceivers P-7DX and P-21DX are explained. Then QRP PA(PL-series) up to 10W are explained. Many other useful topics are seen in this book. The course is well organized with Mizuho kits and units. Finally reader can reach own radio station. Unfortunately, this book is out of print.