10 GHz

My Other Interest in Ham Radio is Microwave Communication

This Transverter was my first attempt of getting something assembled for

my First Contact on the 10 GHz Band. It consists of a Magnum Brick Oscillator

crystalled and tuned to 10.224 GHz, which serves as my LO. To the left is the power supply producsing the -20vdc required by the Brick Oscillator.

The output of the Brick Oscillator passes thru 13db of attenuation and is then connected to the Mixer's LO input. The Output of the Mixer is connected to a small horn antenna.

The IF system consists of two SPDT coax switches. In one path has a total of 30db of attenuation and is the TX side. The other side has no attenuation and is the RX side. This is connected to the IF port on the Mixer. Obviously, care must be taken to make sure I don't transmit into the IF port of the Mixer without the attenuators in line. My IF Radio is the Yaesu FT-817.

On October 11, 2008, I made my first contact on 10 GHz. My friend Dave Calvert KB0PE set up his 10 GHz equipment across the street from me in a cemetery. He was about 100 yards away. I set up my gear next to my front porch. The signals were strong, and we had no problems working each other.

The good news was that my IF frequency was 144.1 MHz and Dave's DEMI transverter is set up for 145.1 MHz IF. This elliminated the posibility of working each other on our IF frequencies.

My output was in the range of 1 milliwatt into a 1x1 inch horn antenna.

The output from Dave's DEMI transverter was 10 milliwatts into a three foot dish.

My next setup will be with a DSS offset dish and a modified DSS feed, converted to 10 GHz. I also plan on inserting a Pipe Cap filter between the Mixer RF port and the antenna system. This will help attenuate the LO frequency and other Mixer products from being transmitted.

WB9PNU

Ham Radio Station