PDA

View Full Version : Japan Ham Fair 2005


7j1ajh
08-24-2005, 05:37 AM
http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/ham_fair_2005.jpg This weekend was the large Japan Ham Fair 2005 at Tokyo's Big Sight (sic) Convention Center. Total attendance was up 2000 people over last year, with 16,000 on Saturday and 13,000 on Sunday. I've collected a small photo gallery (http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/) of some of the products, clubs, and events at the fair.

In the commercial exhibits, Icom, Kenwood, and Standard all had nice booths. Each had historical links, with Icom including a small collection of their rigs through the years. Icom was featuring the new IC-7000 and their D-Star products. #Kenwood showed off the computer and remote control features of their TS-2000 and TS-480 rigs. The FT-9000 series and a prototype of a new FT-2000 transceiver (http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/index4.html#ft2000) due out next year were the stars of the Yaesu section of the Standard booth.

Alinco showed their mobile rigs, handhelds, and accessories. Comet, and Diamond were each showing new generations of limited space antennas. Radix had their own take on small antennas, and FR Radio Labs was again showing EH "Activator" antennas for 160 through 6 meters.

Tokyo Hy-Power (http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/index3.html) had quite a number of new amplifier and antenna tuner products. Their new HC-100AT 1.8~54MHz automatic antenna which can tune with as little as 1.5W (and handle up to 100W) may be of interest to QRP fans. They also have a HC-1KAT auto- tuner for the high power group.

Namics was showing a conductive paste pen that you draw on Vector board and then bake 10 minutes with an electric skillet or toaster oven to set. A quick way to put together a one-of-a-kind circuit board.

As usual, the JARL QRP Club had a number of interesting homebrew projects on display (http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/index7.html). Perhaps the most fun were the "1000 Yen rig" challenge, putting together a rig for about US$9. There were also a number of milliwatt rigs in the "eco" class for racking up big km/Watt numbers.

Among the interesting presentations was a talk by Victor Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, the president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka (http://www.qsl.net/rssl/), about their experiences in tsunami disaster relief communications. JA3ELR also drew a large crowd for his QRP talk.

Japan Ham Fair 2005 Photo Gallery (http://www.OnJapan.net/2005/hamfair/)

Jim Tittsler 7J1AJH/AI8A
Tokyo, JAPAN
EchoLink: *TIARA* Conference

G3SEA
08-29-2005, 08:51 PM
Arigato Jim San ! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Some nice displays there

KH6/G3SEA

VQ9LA
08-30-2005, 05:15 AM
Nice writeup Jim. Sorry to miss the Ham Fair 2005. I picked Dayton 2005 this year. Maybe next year.
73 from the Indian Ocean
Larry VQ9LA
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

W9GRN
08-30-2005, 07:07 AM
Really like the pictures from the gallery.Shows that they put on a first class show.Wish I could go just to check it out.

7j1ajh
08-30-2005, 11:58 AM
Having grown up in Columbus and been a regular at Dayton, it is interesting to compare it with the Ham Fair. #The Ham Fair doesn't have the number or breadth of "forums" that are a part of Dayton. #On the other hand, the special interest clubs have a strong presence in the club booths... so you can stop and chat one-on-one rather than listening to a prepared presentation. #Each has its advantages.

The worst part is traveling to the fair by train/subway. #You just about have to use one of the shipping services to get your boat anchor bargains home from the flea market (which is also part of the "club area"). http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

W9WIS
08-30-2005, 06:40 PM
Wow ! I like that FTI operating desk ! I sure wish someone in this country made communication gear specific desks again. I see in old QST's that there were at least two companies up until at least 1980 that marketed to amateurs. Wonder if FTI has any US dealers ?

Mike, W9WIS

7j1ajh
08-30-2005, 11:43 PM
The FTI (http://www.f-t-i.co.jp/) desk looked interesting, but its Y378,000 (US$3400) price tag seemed a bit much. (Of course, its size is also a problem for apartment dwellers like me. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) I would think you might be able to get some custom cabinetry done for not much more than that. But I did like the design of the rig "shelf" on casters, making it easy to pull gear out to get access to the rear panels.