Facilities of the Base Station

== 2009 ==
To the World of All tube AM/SSB Transmitter/Receiver in 1960', a World of the Heart and the Technology,
which is the Starting point of Amateur Radio

[The last renewal of this page: June 14, 2011]



Band Antenna Major Purpose
430MHz 15mh 13 element Yagi Antenna X 2 (Creative Design Corp.) Local QSO
50MHz 24mh 10 element Yagi Antenna (Homebrew /12 meter boom / Designed and optimized by Y.O.) All-round Purpose
14MHz 22mh 5 element Yagi Antenna (Homebrew /12 meter boom / Designed and optimized by Y.O.) DX QSO
3.5MHz 15mh Rotary Dipole (Homebrew / 16.6 meter element + ICOM's ATU AH-4) Domestic QSO




My shack in the spring of 2010 (The most updated shack is shown at the end of this page, being renewed periodcally.)

Upper shelf Left side "Fighters" in my youth My old radios which used to let me get crazy in enjoying rag-chews with Ws everyday in my youth: YAESU FT-401D, TRIO TS-520D, and one worked well in mobile, YAESU FT-7and ICOM IC-721.
Right side Modern Radios TS-790 for local contacts, and AZDEN PCS-7800H for DX on 29MHz FM.
Measuring instruments Iwatsu Syncro scope SS-5710, Meguro SSG MSG-2560B, Iwatsu Frequency counter SC-7102, HP Valve volt meter 410C, TRIO Audio oscilator AG-202A, DELICA Dipmeter, Kuranishi Antenna analyzer BR-200, etc.
Middle shelf Left side The 1960s
All tube		 HF
AM		 My dream HF AM Radios: TRIO 9R59 Line (9R59, SM5, CC-6, SP-5, TX-88A, VFO-1)
Right side 50MHz
AM		 My old 50MHz AM Transceiver (Portable radios are in transistors): Nisshin-denshi Skyelite66, TRIOTR-1000, Inoue-denki FDAM-3, TRIO TR-1100, TRIO TR-1200, and the ultimate portable radio, National RJX-601
Lower shelf Left side HF
SSB		 My dream HFSSB Radios: YAESU400 Line (FRDX400, SP-400, FLDX400, FTV-650, FL2000B)
Right side My dream, the highest peak, HF SSB Transceiver : Collins KWM-2A

** YAESU FT-817 placed right below the KWM-2A is for portable operations, but it's normally set here for monitoring the bands or instnat QSOs while I'm working PC.
** The radio at the top of the shlef is for EchoLink Node. ALINCO DR-420H.



** Amature Radio for me had been an opportunity for a ragchew with DX stations for many years, however, when I met the 18MHz band which just had released to amateurs in WARC, I found it very attractive as it was a land on which no one had yet set foot, and as I trying to getting in that band deeply, I finally lost the way and deviated from the orbit. I got into a DXers' world, and was leading the 18MHz band building a big antenna and running a huge linear amplifire. Crazy days lasted for about five years till I at last recognized what I was doing, when I experienced to establish single QSOs with unreadble(inaudible) rare DX stations, which means I was trying to forced to get the target only by brute force. I also recognized that my families were sacriciced for the sake of my hobby physically and economically. I then decided to quit working 18MHz, modifying the 7 element Yagi into 14MHz 5 element Yagi to get me back to the days of ragchews with DX stations. Well, once a people lost the way, it is hard to get back everything as before easily. I could not be happy as before, losing an interest in Amateur Radio, and was turened into be interested in astronomy which was my another old hobby, chasing small galaxies in deep space for next 10 years.

** In 2008, I had to quite the observation activity, when I had to demolish the homebuild astronomical observatory in a garden which became old and crumbling. Just at that time, I happend to meet one old timer ham in a bar, who talked about his interest in all tube radios of 1960's. This absolutely turned on my longing for the starting point of Amateur Radio.

** Tube radios in those days are just neat! It's may not just because I feel nostalgia for them.If I talk about a steam locomotive for an example, you must be easy to understand. Even in this Bullet Trains era, little kids are excited for steam locomotives, aren't they? A speed or functions are not all. Isn't that is because we can feel something like a breathing of machine of equipment? I think the radio is the same. A warm "fire" of filament of the tubes, resistors and capacitors in configurations which enable us to understand functions of each device are talking to us! Who can feel breathing and hear the claiming voice of the equipment from the ICs and LSIs mounted on PCI board?

** Thus, I started collections of old radios. Internet auctions is the best opportunity to get those. I was soon abled to collect most of the equipments that I wanted. Well, they all are more than 40 years old, and it is essencial to work hard to restore them to the proper conditions. I started to vist Akihabara(Ham's heaven in Tokyo) quite often again as I used to do many times in my life. CC-6 (X'tal converter for 50MHz) which I got through an auction was a super junk, and I had to work as much as I build a homebrew converter.
But the important thing is, we can restore them just because they are tube radio! Each device is separated and independen, and therefore, we can find out the problem and fix it.

** I felt a certain Starting Point of the Radio Amateur in this nostalgic world!

** When we think about an all tube AM transmitter/receiver, there would be no doubt about that people reminds of TRIO's 9R59 Line. I firstly got this line and conentrated in restoring them. Receiver 9R59, Transmitter TX-88A, VFO-1, X'tal converter for 50MHz CC-6, Preselector + double converter SM-5, and a Speaker SP-5 all came back to be ready to be used.

** I can not forget those days as senior high student when I had to control myself with local ragchews on 50MHz AM, giving up to buy HF radios, suffering from mental agony. TRIO'sTR-1000is a solid state transceiver, but as it was the radio which used to support me in those days, I purchased three of them to restore one TR-1000 in the complete condition. I also purchased a few set of NISSHIN's 50MHz all tube transceiverSKYELITE 6 was one of the ideal radio in those days, together with INOUE(former ICOM)'sFDAM-3, to restore them into a complete one.

** Starting with collecting all tube AM radios to restore them, the target was expanded to SSB radios which had just started to be n the market in 1960's. The most ideal set at that time was YAESU FL/FR400 Line. The receiver FRDX-400, the transmitter FLDX-400, 50MHz Transverter FTV-650, the speaker SP-400, and the linear amplifireFL-2100B are full line. I also purchased three set of these to restore them into a complete line.

** Lastly, I reached to the world highest peak in those days, COLLINS's SSB transceiver KWM-2A and the speaker console 312B-4 Nothing exists before or later, the better all tube SSB transceiver than this one in the world.

** At the same time, I learned that a series of measuring instrument is essential to do maintenance and keep the best condition for all of these all tube radios. I spend a lot of time to get them all in secondhand market. All what I need now, is my skill!




** This is something what I did in addition as an extra, I collected my old radios which used to support me to devote to ragchews with U.S. stations in my youth, such as YAESU FT-401D, TRIO TS-520D, and radios for my mobile such as YAESU FT-7 and ICOM IC-721


[My AM radios, and SSB radios which had just started to be spread out, in 1960s]
Maker Category Model Frequency Emission Type Output Power Final device Remarks
TRIO Transmitter(HF+50MHz) TX88A 3.5MHz-50MHz AM/CW 10W 807 This series of radio were the best line and dream in those days, and I used to see them visting old-timer's shack in local. I was just impressed and excited looking at him working Europes after another on AM with a 21MHz dipole antenna put up in the garden.
It was very common that strong stations on 50MHz were also using TX88A. Those who put modification on final, changing final tube to 6146B, supplying extra electric power from homebrew external powersupply, using external modulator putting out a "big power" of 50W, were Court nobles.
A viblation noise from the modulation transformer of TX-88A for its AM modulation work used to freak me out.
TRIO VFO(HF+50MHz) VFO-1 3.5MHz-50MHz - - -
TRIO Receiver(HF) 9R59 0.55MHz-30MHz AM/CW/SSB - -
TRIO Preslector(3.5/7MHz)+
X'tal converter(14/21/28MHz)		 SM-5 14/21/28MHz
-->3.5MHz		 - - -
TRIO 50MHz X'tal converter CC-6 50MHz
-->7MHz		 - - -
NISSHIN 50MHz Transceiver SkyElite6
(Panasky Mark6)		 50MHz AM (FM: Option) 10W 2E26 A dreamful outstnading high-power(10W!!) transceiver for local ragchew, covering all the band with VFO.
INOUE 50MHz Transceiver FDAM-3 50MHz AM/FM 1W 2SC776 This is a solid-state radio covering all the band completely, and was absolutely outstanding feature. Local stations used use this, and was also my dream radio. Of course, this is the first portable 50MHz transceiver with VFO built in in Japan.
TRIO 50MHz Transceiver TR-1000 50MHz AM 1W 2SC697 This is also a solid-state radio, but this was my best friend in my senior high student time. This is the first portable 50MHz transceiver in history, and is very big and heavy using eight size-D batteries!! Transmitter part is X'tal controlled, therefore only five spots are given for the transmission. However, in those days, it was common to listen to all the band after calling CQ, and there was no problem to enjoy QSOs. (What a lovely days, then!)
I can never forget an experience to work VK station, while I was taking a walk on a bicycle, with the installed whip antenna with 59+ RS report, under extremely high solar activity. (I called back on 50.3MHz to his CQ call on 52.0MHz!)


[TRIO 9R59] 0.55 - 30MHz Single Super All Tube Receiver (BFO/Q-multi installed)

Schematic (PDF file)







Finding this receiver is not very difficult as it is quite frequently exhibited to the net auction, however, it is rather hard to see one in a good condition. I was lucky to be able to get a good one with my first bid.

[TRIO TX-88A] 3.5-50MHz 10W All Tube AM Transmitter using 807 for final.

Schematic (PDF file)







I was also lucky to get one in a good condition with my fist bid.
As it was not user-friendly that the plug shuold be changed to switch the mode between AM and CW at the back of the cabinet, I modified it to add a relay so that the mode can be changed by an external switch on the separate small control box.


[TRIO VFO-1] 3.5-50MHz All Tube Variable Frequency Oscilator

Schematic (PDF file)







 I needed to bid and get three of this, before I met the good one. (However, wiring work is not done well. As the parts used here are not so many, I think I will re-wire all of them sometime.) **Note: TRIO 9R59 Line was supplied as a Kit like Heathkit radios.


[TRIO SM-5] All Tube Preconverter (3.5/7MHz:Preselector, 14-28MHz:X'tal converter to 3.5MHz)

 Schematic (PDF file)







This came in an original package, and its outlokk as well as inside are all beautifull conditions.


[TRIO CC-6] 50MHz All Tube X'tal converter to 7MHz

Schematic (PDF file)





It is very very hard to find this CC-6 in the auction market, but I was lucky to find it and get it. However, it was absolutely a complete junk, and many parts were missing.(X'tal, Coils, Trimmers and Tranformer) I needed a lot of work to restore it. (I even ordered a HC49U X'tal to a small factory, and I put it in a case of old HC16U to set it in CC6.)


[NISSHIN SkyElite 6] 50MHz 10W All Tube AM transceiver (VFO built in) using 2E26 for final.

Schematic (PDF file)



It is hard to find one in a good condition in auctions. I got 2 set, to restore it to complete one set.



"Is this all?", "Is this a real transceiver?" would be the words for this. Unbelievable final stage with almost nothing for the shield! TVI and QRH used to represent this radio. All the amateures used to dream have this one. This is such a nice and lovely radio.



"What's the matter with this wiring! Is this a maker made radio?" " Does this work fine without any parastic oscilations?" Well, therefore, this is such a nice and lovely radio!

[TRIO TR-1000] 50MHz 1W Solid-state AM Portable Transceiver (X'tal controlled) using 2SC697 for final.

Schematic (PDF file)



This one is also very difficult to find one in a good condition. I got three of them in auction to restore a complete set.
 I did not like to add any modifications, but I only added an old squelch (The right nob above the mic connector.) just I used to do 40 yeras ago.
With an illumination installed, a little meter seems to get breath like a living ceature, and warm our heart up. The warmness I used to feel 40 some years ago back again let me feel the same still now.


[INOUE FDAM-3] 50MHz 1W Solid-state AM/FM Portable Transceiver (VFO covering all band) using 2SC776 for final.

Schematic (PDF file)



I was lucky to get a complete one with my first bid in auction, althoug this radio was made at the same times of TR-1000.


[TRIO TR-1100] 50MHz 1W AM/FM Portable Transceiver (Covered all band with a VFO) Made with transistors. Final: 2SC697

Schematic (PDF file)

This radio is not build solidly, and it is hard to find a perfect one. I purchased two of them, and under hard work, I restored a complete one.



[TRIO TR-1200] 50MHz 1W AM/FM Portable transceiver (With a transceive VFO) Made with transitors. Final: 2SC614

Schematic (PDF file)

I had to purchase three sets till I finally got a good luck to get a complete one looks brandnew being kept in a original carton box for 30 some years. (But it was so expensive...)



[National RJX-601] 50MHz 3W AM/FM Portable transceiver (With a transceive VFO) Made with transistors. Final: 2SC1306

Schematic (PDF file)



It is easy to find a good one, as it was manufactured a lot. I purchase two sets and restored a complete one.



== A snap shot of old successive 50MHz AM/FM radios on parade ==




Started from TR-1000, and completed with RJX-601. This is a history of 50MHz AM/FM Portable radios!



All old 50MHz AM/FM radios line-up being added Skyelite6


[YAESU FRDX-400] 1.9MHz-28MHz CW/SSB/AM/FM All Tube Receiver (50MHz/144MH X'tal converter built-in)








Most of the 400 Line found in auctions are in terrible conditons, and unable to run at all. I met the good one at the third set, but a lot of work to restore were needed.
The surface of shashi seems to damaged, but all the parts are in a good conditions. All the options are build in. It is a perfect conditon now, after the hard restore. Many peoples are surprized to hear the audio. Signals sound very soft and comfortable to listen to. There was a hole for MT 7-pin tube socket and a crystal socket in a shashi being opend originally in 455KHz oscilator section, so I added 455.6KHz oscilator circuit using a special order crystal and a tube(6C4). As a result, CW tone came down to 600Hz from the original 1,500Hz which is extremely high (At the mode swithch CW1, the new circuit works), and it is really comfortable to listen to CW signals now.


[YAESU FLDX-400] 3.5MHz-28MHz 100W CW/SSB/AM All Tube Transmitter using 6JS6 X 2 for final







This is also the third one. They have three types in its dial mechanism. I love this 25KHz/turn dial best. (Feeling is just like a COLLINS!)
A little PCB at the right of the power trnsformer is a homebrew FSK circuit (under trial), which used to be sold only for the export model as an option.
It works perfectly after the restore with full power in all bands.


[YAESU FTV-650] 50MHz <---> 28MHz All Tube Transverter. 20W output using 6146B for final.

Schematic (PDF file)





I needed two set to restore.


[YAESU FL2000B] 3.5MHz-28MHz 500W Linea amplifire using 572B X 2



They used to have FL2000 and FL2500 which use TV power tubes. But the best one was this FL2000B with two 572Bs.








[Collins KWM-2A, 312B-4] 3.4MHz-30MHz 100W CW/SSB All Tube Transceiver using 6146B X 2 for final

Schematic (PDF files) 1/4 2/4 3/4 4/4



The highest peak, KWM-2A normally cost a lot. But I was lucky to get a good one at JPY110,000 (US$1,000.00). Otherwise, I could not get into this world...
Collins radios now require complete adjustment, restore and maintenace, and there are millions of know-hows and parts and tools in all over the world. This means the maintenance technique for tube SSB radio should be also at the highest peak, and is good for brush me up, hi hi.





The Ilidite alminium shashi and cabinet which never rusts, clear and beautiful black print, well designed and placed parts, an outstanding IF tuning mechanism, a cabinet which is very light with adequate room and easy to maintenace, professional wiring and solid soldering for each parts...These are typical features of this outstanding super radio.



** My Old Rigs which enabled me to enjoy ragchew day after day in my 20's are also exhibited as below.


[YAESU FT-401D] 3.5MHz-28MHz 100W CW/SSB Transceiver using 6JS6 X 2 for final



This is the first radio that I bought in my life with the money that I earned with a parttime-job after I entered to the University. This radio is full of memories as it at last let me realize ragchews with U.S. stations.
I was lucky to get a ready-to-use one with the first bid in auction.

[TRIO TS-520D] 3.5MHz-28MHz 100W CW/SSB Transceiver usin 6146B for final



 I used to get this because of its fine audio quality and a comfortable feeling of main dial. This radio did the best job during my college student times.
To get full options like a DC-DC converter, a CW filter, and a cooling fan, together with a beautiful body, I needed to get three set of this from auction.

[YAESU FT-7] 3.5MHz-28MHz 10W CW/SSB Solid-state Transceiver



This radio used to do a great job in my mobile. A compact body, simple operation, and a stable performance is still No.1 now. The output power 10W was a problem for working DX.
I was very lucky to find an unbeleivable beautiful set in a ham shop in Toyama prefecture.

[ICOM IC-721] 3.5MHz-28MHz 100W CW/SSB/AM Solid-state Transceiver



This also used to do a great job in my mobile. The performance is not much different from one for use at base station. This radio has been with me all the way without being sold.



== Recent Shack (Aug. 1, 2010) ==



After that, I got into a homebrew world. It must be a natural consequence of collecting 1960's all tube rigs, and retored them all. Before I recognized so, I was unable to stand the facts that they all are maker manufactured goods. I could not get any feeling of satisfaction and could not go along with it any more.

To start with, I built an all tube AM/CW portable transceiver for 3.5/7MHz, and a n all tube AM/CW heterodyne transmitter for 50MHz, etc.
You see the brandnew cabinets are in a line in the VIP seat of the shelf. Using these cabinets I am now going to build a very traditional All tube AM/CW transmitter , receiver, VFO, and a crystal convertor for 3.5MHz to 50MHz.

On the other hand, I bought a modern DSP transceiver, ICOM's IC-756PRO3 (As IC-7600, a successor of IC-756PRO3 was sold in the same marked price in parallel, I could buy IC-756PRO3 at almost 50% discount from the marked price!) for valuation of homebrew rigs, and for emergency back up for all the equipment in the shack. It looks really uncomfortable in my shack, hi hi.



== Recent Shack (Oct. 27, 2010) ==



At last I could comlete the All tube AM/CW trasnmitter and receiver, VFO and crystal convertor for 3.5MHz to 50MHz. (Oct. 27, 2010)
It has a 6146 for the final tube to provide 10W output for all bands from 3.5 to 50MHz. Plate-Screen grid AM modulation is achieved with a pair of 6BQ5 in push-pull.
The receiver has one stage for RF and three stages for IF amplifire, adn is a single super heterodyne covering from 3.5MHz to 4.0MHz. Fot the bands above 7MHz, it works as a double super heterodyne adding Crystal convertor.

==> Please see details about these homebrew equipments, in the page of "Homebrew Factory" in the sub-menu at the left.



== Recent Shack (Jun. 14, 2011) ==





These are only modern radios that I have in my shack. ICOM IC-756PROIII is working as a main HF radio, and FM transceivers for 430MHz are for local communications.
The microphone for IC-756PROIII is AIWA's old super "Velocity(Ribon) microphone", VM-15 which produces a satisfying audio in combination with a tube preamplifire and a 9 position graphic-equalizer.
I am usually driving a YAESU's small antique linear amplifire, FL2000B (two 572Bs), which is a part of the YAESU 400Line/Series to gain 500W output at the maximum.



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