SLAMS Breakfast Meetings in 2012

SLAMS will be meeting at DENNY's on Dorsett Rd., just off I-270, again.
Next breakfast meeting will take place there on Sunday 01/08/2012 at 8:00am.

!! We have moved our meeting start time to 8:00am (used to be 8:30) !!

PF2012

Happy New Year and many DX contacts in 2012!

Starting New 24GHz Project!

I am going to assemble new 24GHz transverter and a small 24GHz beacon. Here are the parts that I have collected so far:

THALES transverter unit

ELCOM Synthesizer (upper-side L.O. injection)

Rear view of the synthesizer

Frequency Multiplier (x2), 1mW out

Microsource Synthesizer

(driven by YIG)

Identical synthesizer outside of its case

(this one will control the 24GHz beacon)

Small PA for the 24GHz beacon



New Paddle

Finally found good iambic paddle, suitable for microwave operations from portable locations

Sad News - OK1WPN SK

Very sad news. One of my HAM elmers, Petr OK1WPN, passed away on Thanksgiving Day 11/24/2011.

   http://www.ok1kvk.cz/upload/ok1wpn/OK1WPN_parte.pdf

Petr was excellent designer. He published several "home brew" transceiver designs and many, many technical articles. It would be difficult to find a HAM with OK callsign who didn't know his work. Rest In Piece!

Finally 24GHz QSO !

My first 24GHz 2-way QSO with John WB9PNU happened on Saturday 10/22/2011 at 9:36am local in EM48tm:

AF4JF

WB9PNU

I have written some more info on SLAMS web site. You can also find some more pictures from the event there.

First 24GHz Success !!

We have tested my new "24GHz-xverter-to-be" in WB9PNU's lab. John's spectrum analyzer definitely shows a need of a waveguide filter, but otherwise didn't reveal anything bad. Output power on 24GHz seems to be comparable with John's xverter (John uses harmonic mixer x4 from 6GHz and 144MHz IF, I am using different mixer x2 from 11.88GHz and 432MHz IF).

Important is, that we have heard each other today! I have to make a little change on my receiving preamp, but we are generally ready for first field test on Saturday 10/22 during SPRINT Microwave contest.

Both stations on the test bench

(IF radios are FT-817 on both sides):

My station detail:

Let's hope for first QSO this coming Saturday!