MR. QRP

by Ian Ranoy "Bosconian Forum Issue

Have you ever imagined talking with a friend or establishing contacts with other people in different countries? How about having your work published because it is something new or unique? It is a remarkable fact that you could do all these because you yourself built the equipment you need…considering that you're just an enthusiast.
'Enthusiast' means a person who is ardently attached to a cause, object or pursuit; a person who is a visionary extravagant with an enthusiastic cast of mind and one who tends to give himself completely to whatever engages his interest. 'Electronics Enthusiast' means a person who engages himself in the electronic field of works. Mr. Emmanuel Averilla is an electronics enthusiast. He is well versed with different electronic and communication equipment and theories.

Emmanuel, popularly called Mannix, had his preparatory and elementary at Don Bosco. He took his high school at NAMEI Polytechnic Institute. He went back to DBTC to get a Bachelor of Science in Electronic and Communication Engineering degree. He was also a dean's medallist awardee in college. He recalled that it was in high school that his interest in the field of electronics started.

"Mahilig akong tumambay sa library looking for a new circuit. I try to analyze it, then see if can be modified. Then I sketch the circuit, experiment and finally arrive at a project. This is my way of experimenting, where is a lot cheaper than the original circuit."

This hobby made him well versed in electronics and communication. He studied more on High Frequency(HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) communication antennas. With these he became active on both local and international radio communications. He is also an active member and the club adviser of Don Bosco Amateur Radio Club with a class C Amateur Radio Station licensed by the National Telecommunications Commissions (NTC) with a call sign of DU1NKX.

With all this familiarity he came up with ideas of making his own short wave communication transceiver. He designed a 40-meter transmitter for the short wave communication receiver, which was a low power or QRP transmitter. "This antenna transmits a Morse code signal for international radio communication. Actually, modification lang to ng isang circuit na nabasa ko. The material used was not available here in our country so I used materials locally available. It started by cannibalizing materials, mostly scraps or galling sa basura but still useful. Gumamit lang ako ng soldering iron, a few tubes, mga gamit na PCB and some RF chokes then nagawa ko na 'tong antenna. It is much cheaper than the original but the desired output was the same."

QRP transmitters are special because they use a very low amount of power. This allows for interesting features, such as portability (since you can end up carrying an entire ham radio station inside a suitcase, running on batteries). They are, however, difficult to design and build.

One of his students and club member said, " Magaling magturo yang si Sir Mannix. Si Mr. QRP nga ang bansag naming dyan ditto sa ARC (Amateur Radio Club). Nakakabelieve kasi sya. Kung ano yung mga nalalaman nya, sini-share nya sa amin," they ended.

"First of all, I did this project because I was inspired and of course for personal use. However, this design was also a prelude to my design in college, under Engr. Stephen Ruiz. They were the ones who said that my design was marketable. They said that this design was not available in the Philippines. So I decided to get a license for it in the National Telecommunications Commission. It was published too in a newsletter of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA), dated April-June 1999. it is the official publication of the Philippine Amateur Radio Association, Inc for their members nationwide. Only that it's not patented because there's a rumor that pagpasa mo ng prototype, kinabukasan binibenta na sa Raon. Ang mga Pinoy kasi merong ugali yung crab mentality. I know that nakikita natin yan halos sa lahat ng aspects."

If a foreign company would offer to buy his invention of or design, would he sell? "Depende na yas sa offer. Pero I would prefer that it stays here in the Philippines. Syempre mas maganda kung tayo ang nauuna. Para sa akin ang mga Pinoy inventor ay kayang makisabayan sa mga foreign inventor. Napakagaling ng mga Pinoy, mataas ang ingenuity level natin. For example, looking at a picture or a painting, others would easily describe the picture by its physical aspect, while Pinoy would go on into detail. Always looking beyond things. Only that they rather go abroad because of money. In my case, I choose to stay here in our country to teach. Mas kailangan kasi ako rito. I don't know with other bosconians if they share the same spirit of nationalism. Para sa akin before going abroad, kunting malasakit muna sa bayan."

Since we're tackling about nationalism, sir Mannix gave his side about the "Buy Filipino" program of the government. "Alam nyo kasi, ang Filipinos are very meticulous when buying things. In my case kasi to be honest I buy it because matibay sya and it will last. It's not necessary that when I buy a watch, kelangan casio ang tatak and etc. I really look for quality. I would suggest that we patronize our Filipino product because we're not only helping the economy we're helping our people as well. In my case I patronize Filipino products. Let's buy Filipino products for a change…"

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