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.

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.