Microwave Activity Day - May 7th, 2016

This posting comes after long, long period of doing nothing .. I mean nothing for my ham radio hobby. Looks like the overload from my job is finally over and some weekends not spent on job sites are in line now.

We (WA0CNS, N5MU and myself - AF4JF) went to our local hilltop in EM48rq with open view towards West and tested our 24GHz equipment.

Results were not perfect, but promising. My transverter copied 24GHz signal from Harry WA0CNS quite nicely, but Harry didn't hear mine. My station was only a mixer, no PA used today.

It was very interesting to watch how narrow the signal beam from dish antenna on 24GHz actually is. We need to work on aiming system, probably make contact on 10GHz first and then switch to 24GHz. Some more testing still needed.

73 Herbert

AF4JF

MAD (Microwave Activity Day) on 7/6/2013

The SLAMS group participated on another Microwave Activity Day (MAD) on Saturday July 6th, 2013. I went to my usual location, YMCA parking lot in EM48sq, together with Mel K0PFX and Armand, KD0PXF:

I was set up for 10GHz (dish on the left side), 23cm and 70cm - mostly because this was a first test on few 15el. Comet antenna. It worked well and, even better, this antenna is easy to assemble/disassemble in field. I am going to replace my 12el. Cushcraft with this one and use the Cushcraft at my house for Packet Radio 9600Bd.

Detail of my 23cm gear laid out on a table:

I have experienced the same problem with my transverter - it was overheated even when taken out of the car! Direct sunshine  is able to heat the box to high enough temperature to trip the PA thermal protection. I will have to do something about that before next contest ...

73!

MAD Activity on September 1st and 2nd

Update: Report from this MAD Activity (09/01 and 02)  here, more here.
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Next MAD Activity is planned for Saturday, September 1st.

I will be at YMCA in EM48sq. Planning to be ready for 10GHz at 6:00am. I might set up 1296MHz later in the morning, assuming there will be stations to work.

Will try to have 144.260MHz with me. Calls on my cellphone will be OK.

73 Herbert

MAD activity on a Hot 100F Day 07/07

We have tried to participate on MAD (stands for "Microwave Activity Day") activity today.
I have met with Jim N5MU at the YMCA parking lot in EM48sq again. Today's goals were:

• work W9SZ on 10GHz in EN50rl ... didn't happen
• work NG9R on 144/1296MHz in EN40na .. achieved
• test "Eggbeater" antenna on 144MHz liaison frequency SSB ... worked well
• test my "new" 30W/1296MHz amplifier ... worked very well

Would you believe that it takes almost half an hour to set up all this equipment?

AF4JF equipment for 144/1296/10368MHz used today

I have obtained a 23cm PA from KM5PO (on eBay) long time ago. It works very well, but requires 24V for the power FET and 16V for transfer relay. I have used a power inverter to generate these voltages from my 12V battery.

The 23cm PA, SBMS concept with Infineon PTF10021 FET, is the box with huge heatsink in the middle. The gray diecast box on its left is my 23cm DEMI transverter. Power inverter is on its right. You can also see two power supplies (24V and 16V) in the front of the picture, next the the Diamond SWR meter:

AF4JF gear

Detail on the 23cm PA and the MFJ Power Booster

12V Deep Cycle Marine Battery

(see Power Poles for the Booster and Clamps for Power Inverter)

Overall, a successful day. I will try to consolidate all that 23cm gear into one nice compact box with one power connector. Well, maybe two, but not 4 ... Some day.

73 de AF4JF

EM48sq

MAD activity on July 7

Next MAD will be held on Saturday 07/07.

Time to start making plans. I intend to be at YMCA (EM48sq) with my 10GHz as usual. I intend to bring a laptop and try to monitor the 10GHz band on its screen. This should detect even weaker signals that can't be heard by human ears.

I also intend to test a portable PA for 23cm (approx. 20W). Furthermore, I will also bring an omnidirectional antenna for 144MHz ("eggbeater") for liaison frequency of 144.260MHz.

MAD on June 2nd again

We have achieved some progress with 10GHz transverters, worked KO0Z (EM59bc) over 42.6 miles (68.5km) CW and SSB with full scale signals on all 3 stations. We have also worked W9SZ (EN50rl) on 1296MHz CW over 160.5 miles (258.2km). See pictures below. I have identified couple of issues to be improved before next contest, but overall this MAD was very successful.

MAD activity on June 2nd, 2012

Once again, several members of the SLAMS group from St. Louis will show some "radio-activity" and try to make contacts on microwave frequencies. I will be at the YMCA parking lot in Westport, EM48sq as usual. QRV on 1296MHz and 10368MHz CW/SSB.

Liaison frequency 144.260 SSB. This is not a contest, so cellular phone calls will be accepted.

MAD Day on April 7, 2012

Couple of pictures of my 10GHz station used during MAD Day activities with the SLAMS team today:

In EM48sq (on the right side)

In EM48tq (Dorsett / Lindbergh, 672ft. a.s.l.)

Same location in EM48tq