Message	Date	From	Subject
14366	2017-09-28 16:22:12	Jim Strohm	Maybe a little OT -- my new microwave project
Hi all This may be a little off-topic. I've gathered some microwave test gear with the intent to do some base-station microwave comms, likely moonbounce. I have a 12' (4 M) dish and some smaller dishes to use. My RF source is an HP CW sig generator for 2 - 18 GHz. I have a 2 - 4 GHz amp and a 7 - 12 amp. Both are spec-ed at 6 watts or thereabouts. I also have a spectrum analyzer good for 0.1 to 21 GHz to watch what I am doing. These all live nicely in a surplus rack on casters. I can build transverters as needed, and use the spec an as a receiver. Expected mode is CW only, but the amps will take a modulated input so I could do voice AM with just a mic and audio amp. There's not a lot of folks doing AM moonbounce ... it might be fun. Now, what I am wondering about is -- all I need to get the signal to the dish is some nice hardline (which I have), but I am wondering about the plumbing between the sig gen, the amps, the spec an, and whatever transverters I use. I have 1U (1.75") left in the top of the rack that I intend to use for a control panel for everything. I am thinking -- would SMA coaxial relays be my best choice for signal steering? Yes, I have some of those -- this little project has been years in the making, and I've been collecting junk since forever for it. My questions to this group: What about a dummy load for GHz? What about a 40 dB tap at this frequency? And of course, whether SMA coaxial relays are a good choice. And anything else you might think of. Suggestions? All thought are welcome, even laughter. Oh -- you may see this post on other groups, so please don't complain about the velveeta. Because -- it melts in the microwave ;) 73 Jim N6OTQ

Hi all

This may be a little off-topic.

I've gathered some microwave test gear with the intent to do some base-station microwave comms, likely moonbounce.

I have a 12' (4 M) dish and some smaller dishes to use. My RF source is an HP CW sig generator for 2 - 18 GHz. I have a 2 - 4 GHz amp and a 7 - 12 amp. Both are spec-ed at 6 watts or thereabouts. I also have a spectrum analyzer good for 0.1 to 21 GHz to watch what I am doing. These all live nicely in a surplus rack on casters.

I can build transverters as needed, and use the spec an as a receiver. Expected mode is CW only, but the amps will take a modulated input so I could do voice AM with just a mic and audio amp. There's not a lot of folks doing AM moonbounce ... it might be fun.

Now, what I am wondering about is -- all I need to get the signal to the dish is some nice hardline (which I have), but I am wondering about the plumbing between the sig gen, the amps, the spec an, and whatever transverters I use.

I have 1U (1.75") left in the top of the rack that I intend to use for a control panel for everything. I am thinking -- would SMA coaxial relays be my best choice for signal steering? Yes, I have some of those -- this little project has been years in the making, and I've been collecting junk since forever for it.

My questions to this group:

What about a dummy load for GHz? What about a 40 dB tap at this frequency? And of course, whether SMA coaxial relays are a good choice. And anything else you might think of.

Suggestions? All thought are welcome, even laughter.

Oh -- you may see this post on other groups, so please don't complain about the velveeta. Because -- it melts in the microwave ;)

73
Jim N6OTQ