Mizuho SB-2M reviews

I bought my Mizuho SB2M back in 1987 at the annual Flight Refuelling Hamfest. It was pre-used and I paid £45 for it. Since then, it has been my sole 2 metre band SSB rig, as I use other rigs for 2 metre FM operation. I ride motorcycles and the SB2M has been ideal for carrying up into the local Purbeck Hills and Bulbarrow Hills here in Dorset. In the early 1990's, using a 11.5 x wave centre fed dipole slung between two Jawa motorcycle, my little 1 Watt PEP SB2m managed to maintain a 5 minute QSO with a station in Majorca.

In 1995 I was leading a university engineering student exchange, in Prague and my SB2M travelled with me. I operated as an 2 meter SSB portable and made a few local QSOs whilst I was there.

At the home base station, I had the SB2M connected a Tonna 9 element Yagi, until the plastic components rotted and it rapidly fell apart, Then it was connected to the to a 3/4 wave vertical, normally used by my 2 metre FDK700EX FM rig.

Currently, it is using an NIR omnidirectional horizontally polarised antenna.

I have a 100 Watt PEP linear amplifier, but have never used it, because the little SB2M seems to do just fine on its 1 Watt PEP output. I managed to have a QSO, at one time, with a Southampton SB2M operator 48 miles away. For contest work, it does OK so long as one adds "QRP" to the CQ call or adds "QRP" to the callsign when attempting to be noticed. It is amazing just how far 1 Watt PEP of 2 metre SSB will reach.

In summing up, the Mizuho SB2M is a great little SSB & CW rig that is as effective as the antenna system its connected to. Being small, battery powered and easily portable, it allows for operating in remote and unusual locations. Its receive sensitivity is reasonably good and certainly not as deaf as the Yaesu FT290.

Unscrewing the top of the inbuilt telescopic antenna reveals a small metal pen, probably for sending written messages, perhaps.