10GHz Beacon

 

February 20, 2022 - I put the RX only antenna up on the roof.

February 19, 2022 - Beacon up at shed (125' away) on 10.36835 MHz (without amp) receiving on my RX only system.

November 28, 2021 - testing on bench with and without the amp.

Beacon being received on my SDR RX only system with converter to 618.xxMHz.

Beacon connected to amp and slot antenna (below)

Beacon power with AMP (below) - I was able to drive my DEMI 3W amp to 2.5W with this amp.

With amp (below)

Without amp (below)

Test settings (below)

November 18, 2021 - Just started on this.

DSA815TG - Testing Offset

 

10GHz Low Cost DTV32LNB-02 RX Systems

December, 29, 2021

 Using a DTV36LNB-02 and DTV 21 volt Power Inserter

Using a DTV36LNB-02 and 12 volt Power Inserter 

10GHz Blevins GAP

 Blevins Gap near Huntsville, Al

November 13, 2021 - Dixieland GHzeers

Ben K4QF (below)

Ben's 1296 Transverter (below)

Me - KD4APP  (below)

KV4PC - Bob (left below)

Bob's IF SDR - Ailunce HS2 (below)

View north towards MO

SMD Practice

 

Doing SMD Soldering on Practice Boards

I am using a soldering iron to do this work.

I did purchase a reflow Hot Air gun and it's great for rework/removal, but I've not mastered using it to put the chips in place yet - thus the reason for the boards - practice.

Placed a few of the LEDs in the wrong orientation.

122GHz

September 18, 2021

Started working on the first dish - below I am measuring the brass tubing which is being used as circular waveguide for the the stock chaparral feed mount.  The units will mount to the back of the dishes.  The excessive length on the brass tubing will be removed once I complete the measurements.

September 17, 2021

Unit #2 before closing it up.  Both units complete except A/B switch connection.

September 10, 2021

Unit 1 on left and unit 2 on right

September 9, 2021

Working on unit #2

Above - 1st unit RX - 2nd unit TX.

Below - 2nd unit TX below and being built.

September 5, 2021

Working on the case for unit #2

September 3, 2021

The CW sounds better now - I changed the filter 3 setting on the IC-705 IF radio.

Finally success in TX/RX - I had to point the two units directly at each other - one has the conical horn (RX) and the other has the chaparral feed (TX).  This was before I tuned the filter 3 on my IC-705 radio - see better results above.

August 31, 2021

Started working on second unit yesterday.

August 29, 2021

Did the same 10MHz mod to my first board as VA3TO.  I no longer need the 1PPS source.

VA3TO Mod on his board below.

August 26, 2021

Checked the VCO Test Point and received the expected 1.914GHz on the first unit.

August 26, 2021

Everything so far setup and tested except the reset or the channel A/B switch.  I have tested the PTT and the key and beacon mode - all testing good.  I am waiting on info to do the 10MHz modification and then this first unit will almost be complete except the reset and channel A/B switch.

August 24, 2021

August 21, 2021

I have my first unit connected to power, 1PPS, serial RX/TX and the 10MHz out connected to my SA.  I see the light on and I'm getting a 10MHz signal from the board.  

Seeing the boot messages and the GPS info.

The red and black mini-grabbers connecting to the GPS header are supplying 1PPS from my GPSDO.

In the first picture you see the power wires near the bottom of the picture.

Tests successful so far.    

Serial tests below

My units arrived - August 18, 2021

 Progress on case - June 1, 2021

Waiting on my boards to arrive - working on the case for the first board.

Inside - above

Left ( <- top) - above

Right (top -> ) - above

Top - above