An ever-increasing number of interested parties QRP operation finds a hobby in various mini QRP transceivers, kits or ready-made devices from all over the world. Now, miniature (hand-held!) transceivers from the Japanese company MIZUHO, which are incredibly popular in Japan and also in the USA, are now entering the EU.
It is a relatively simple concept of a single-band CW/SSB transceiver with one mixing, but it has 4 crystal filters on the intermediate frequency, a built-in RIT, VXO, attenuator and even a space for accumulators. There is also charging, S-meter, W-meter and the like. Of course, the parameters are not amazing compared to the K2, but at a price of 4,000-6,000 CZK including postage from Japan or the USA to the Czech Republic/Slovakia, it is a pleasant "toy" with which it is very easy to establish QRP connections thanks to its excellent sensitivity.
With a power of 2 W, it is then possible with a decent antenna to follow up even from weekend ones QTH or from the DX car QSO. Very comprehensive information can be found at www.QSL.net/ok1rp including extensions, modifications and additions. The Japanese manufacturer is surprised by the continued interest in these transceivers despite their simplicity (and thus all the inherent shortcomings) and the limitation of production to a few bands. The company supplied bands 80–10 m + 6 m and 2 m.
Now there is only 15m/40m and 6m in small series production, which is why all other bands are in extreme demand and almost impossible to get even at the price of e.g. 300 USD. The products bear the designation MX-..S or their modifications. The 15 m and 40 m bands, which appear on the concession lists of beginner classes in Japan, are especially popular.