First, a basic of basics, this is a germanium radio. It is nice not to be needed power supply and easy circuit. But difficult to hear except you live near a broadcasting station, and it is no good that we have to do an effort to collect parts nowadays.

Collecting parts with an effort, and I think that I will provide a chance for you to experience vicariously doing DIY I have done. Now electronic DIY kits are on sale from Atatan. If you are interested in, please visit there.


These photos are complete shape. The color is not to be seen as being used a toilel roll core. It looks like large size silicon audio player with no battery, isn't it ? Without an antenna and a ground, it is difficult to hear. I can receive NHK1, NHK2, AFN, TBS, Nippon Hoso, and Radio Nippon from Machida, Tokyo, JAPAN at the nice condition day with 20 m vinyl wire antenna and AC power line ground.

If you already have a power supply for an electronic circuit experiment, it's OK. But if you don't have it, to prepare the power supply is some trouble. For example, common digital ICs need 5 V DC, but dry batteries generate only 4.5 V in series connection of three. In analog circuits, some transistor circuits need around 9 V. In OP amp circuits, though +/- 15 V are no longer need like in old days, it is convenient to be ready for +/- power supply or around 12 V DC. Further, recent devices don't need big power than old days one, the small power supply is OK now. In a power supply itself, it is easy to make high efficiency circuit withour a heat sink by brand-new MOS FET and switching regulator circuit.



This photo is a complete shape. You can choose your favorite design by a pdf file. For example, this is
Atatan original character "I am Megu.".

If we use IC, it is easy to make nice circuits, but we cannot understand principle of it easily. And I make most basic amplifier circuits using discrete electoronics parts; e.g. an FET amplifier, transistor Base-grounded, Emitter-grounded, and Collector-grounded (Emitter-follower push-pull) circuits for only one time. Because I measure characteristics of each circuit, I can have an experience again for character of each circuit, and designing gain or impedance etc.



This photo is a complete shape. I make it on a normal perforated board. Above Atatan power supply is covenient for the experiment. If you have an oscillator and oscilloscope etc., you can check the operation of your circuits. This is quiet because generate no sound or no light, but good experience for basic experiment.

At last, "I am MEGU." becomes a policewoman !? The content is a transistor oscillation circuit without any IC. Further, we can do experiment of an inverted-darlington connection circuit in this kit. Not depending on looks, the content is deep. Of course, we use it as a toy for kids after DIY completed.

This is not an ordinary light communication kit. I try to do FM to generated sub-carrier. In practical use, a laser is better maybe, but I adopt visible LED. It means having fun with safety. The case is cheap plastic. This is also my experiment for making special goods using low price general purpose devices.

This is not "not ordinary strategy" like before. This kit is very easy to make. Very simple circuit but the performance is so nice. We can insist originality visually by a case and a paper put in it.

Pillow AM Radio. It's fun that I hear a speaker sounds by only one AA battery. "I am MEGU." is on the beach ! Anyway, I bought ST-32 much, and I start to think how to use them.... I do not bought 2SB54 and 2SB56 yet.... This is a combination of modern IC and beloved SANSUI transformer ST-32.