Steve

Amateur radio, EME, GHz_bands, VHF, HF and Digimodes.

[Steve @G8GKA]

@G0MOH_Rob Thanks Rob. 25W and 1.2m offset dish. Waveguide switch / LNA setup.

[Steve @G8GKA]

Yesterday was my 1st day back on 10GHz EME after an extended winter break. Excellent conditions plus an extra 3dB or so on TX resulted in a few fun hours. YO2LAM was a new DXCC followed by G8RWG for a new initial, plus an additional six contacts.

[Steve @G8GKA]

@g0lbk Thanks David. Hope you can get it all sorted for the contest. Look forward to working you soon.

[Steve @G8GKA]

Made good progress on the 2nd homebrew 10GHz TVTR this weekend. Old school modular approach, based on W1GHZ + G3WDG designs with new PMA5-123-3W MMIC PA. TX path above deck, LO, VRegs, sequencer and RX plus LNA below.
144MHz IF, 2.5W out on 10368MHz.
#GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

My build experience:
https://t.co/DcbbNxporo

#GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

@g8kmh @uhf_satcom RO material

[Steve @G8GKA]

My PMA5-123 10GHz PA is working well. After a couple of minor HW changes and two parameter changes in the DC-bias MCU SW I can now measure 2.5W with 24dB gain. A nice add-on for my homebrew TVTRs. Now to think about a suitable enclosure and putting the second one together. #UKGHz

[Steve @G8GKA]

I applied volts to the PA. No magic smoke escaped! Calibration ran okay.
A very quick test (with low bias current) indicated it’s giving 22dB gain. These boards have been a real challenge, 0603 parts and QFN devices are at the limit of my soldering capabilities now. #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

@g1dfl_pete I saw that track but wasn’t sure about the parking up there. As time was short I opted for the lower car park which was still spectacular compared to anything near home.

[Steve @G8GKA]

I was near Combe Gibbet today & had my 10GHz gear with me, so took the opportunity to visit.
Wow! Location… ✔️
Unprepared, no headings etc. GB3CMS & PKT audible via RS. GCT was S9++ on open WG.
1st time I’ve used uW gear at a decent site. So different to /P in Essex #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

Just testing a new RPi SDR Panadapter setup. Good 10GHz RS at the moment. GB3PKT beacon peaking 59s on indoor /P gear with horn antenna. Seeing my personal QRPp beacon and PKT on 10368.945MHz on the waterfall. The 5” display seems okay for /P operation.
Fun on the #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

I only have the QO-100 feed mounted on my dish atm. 10GHz EME condx are looking good so I tried decoding the DL0SHF/B. Results not too shabby given manual tracking both AZ/EL & Doppler shift.
Setup: 1.2m OS dish, MCTV-670 LNB → Pluto SDR → SDRConsole → VAC → WSJT-X
#GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

Nice 10GHz Q65-60D EME QSO (Initial #34) this morning with Hans, ON4CDU. My second 1.2m to 1.2m dish QSO. Only 10W at the feed this end. There would have been no repeats needed had I not forgotten to nudge the dish! 🙂
Fun on the #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

ARI EME Contest today. Conditions were challenging, spreading >200Hz for much of my Moon pass and -2dB Dgrd made it pretty tough going with my small 1.2m/10W 10GHz setup. Still fun, one new initial in the bag, Bert – DL4DTU with his 2.4m dish. TU to my QSO partners.🙂 #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

Four 10GHz beacons were visible all together on the waterfall last night via RS. Using indoor setup with 20dB horn antenna pointing East.
GB3FNY was ODX at 219km, GB3GCT was -17dB (PI4) at 128km from JO01fs.
Fun on the #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

Dull and wet outside with light drizzle. New 10GHz transverter propped up on a chair pointing up at the clouds. GB3PKT beacon in on RS. Best -15 so far.
Fun on the #GHz_Bands

[Steve @G8GKA]

@WA4OSH It’s a surveyors tripod. I dispensed with the 11/16 & made a 1/2” thick hard wood disc with 3/8 hole. This sits in the in the tripod head and centralises things. A 3/8-16 stud with large washer & wing nut secures the P&T head. A spacer is also needed between the P&T and tripod.

[Steve @G8GKA]

The new 10GHz PA module is now installed and working. Hope to get out later today to do some /P tests. Fun on the #GHz_Bands.

[Steve @G8GKA]

@WA4OSH I’m using a heavy duty pan & tilt head unit (Gitzo PL5) fitted with a wooden tray that grips the TVTR box. A couple of bungee cords can be used if it’s windy. The PL5 attaches to the tripod with a threaded stud and a wing-nut on the underside. Hopefully this photo shows it better

[Steve @G8GKA]

@w3ipa Thanks Tim. It’s QRP, the output is only 75mW into the dish. The TVTR setup is homebrew and produces 5mW output. My goal is to get to 1-2W. I guess a better description would have been “Driver Amp”. 🙂