Radio amateurs and Microwaves An overview of Basic principles Techniques used Activities Results This is an invitation to join the microwave activities !!

Figures Microwaves are the frequencies above 1000 MHz More than 99% of the radio amateur frequency allocation is in the microwave bands…. Amateur frequencies 23 cm, 13 cm, (9 cm not in ON), 6 cm, 3 cm (= 10 GHz), 1.2 cm (= 24 GHz) 47 & 76 GHz,...

But our motto is: Microwave are …. Fun! Everybody says Microwaves are Difficult No activity Very specialized Home made equipment needed Etc… But our motto is: Microwave are …. Fun! LOOK FURTHER

Signal strength The power received can be calculated with the formula of Friis: WIKIPEDIA: Conclusion: The power received decreases at higher frequencies, but…… It looks like that the signals on microwaves are weaker, but

Signal strength with equal antennas Formula of Friis is not “fair": at higher frequencies the dimensions of the antennas decrease! Alternative: compare signal strength with equal antenna dimensions Assume an antenna area of 1 m^2: the equation is now: Conclusion: the received power increases with the frequency!!

Noise There is less atmospheric noise at the microwave bands A: estimated median business man-made noise B: galactic noise C: Galactic noise (to galactic centre with narrow beamwith) D : quiet sun E: sky noise due to oxygen and water vapour F: black body (cosmic background) 2.7 K

Microwave Propagation Troposphere Good location is an advantage High altitude & “free horizon” Reflection (rain & snow) For microwave amateurs with a “bad” location rainscatter on 6 cm and on 10 & 24 GHz is an alternative

Atmospheric absorption <10GHz the absorption is neglect- able >10GHz absorption becomes significant Atmospheric absorption

Graphical presentation of atmospheric absorption Different graphs Reference attenuation at 1 GHz 1296 MHz 2320 MHz 10 GHz 24 GHz much more attenuation! * 100 KM

Rainscatter Antennas become efficient when their dimensions are in the same range as the wavelength Water is polarised Raindrops dimensions are typical 2-3mm At 10GHz raindrops are (small) antennas which relay the incoming signals Doppler ! Caused by random (wind) movement of the ‘antennas’. Examples USA DX is 1015 km 8/2005

Some considerations about components De dimensions of “components” have big influences at microwaves Classical R’s, C’s, PCB’s etc. cannot be used in many places (parasitic effects) “Special microwave” components are needed E.g. GaAs Fets, SMD components, Teflon PCBs, .... At microwaves antennas with dimensions of several wavelengths are possible; e.g. a dish can be used. The attenuation in coax cables can be extreme; pay attention to it and use special coax or, if possible, use waveguides (the dimensions of waveguides is at frequencies of 8 GHz and up reasonable)..

Microwave transverter setup (very) stable X-tal oscillator Frequency multiplier Receive amplifiers receive mixer Antenna To transceiver 2 m, 70 cm Transmit mixer Antenna relay Transmit amplifiers

23 cm Lowest Microwave band Transceivers for this band are available, but you can also use transverters (E.g. DB6NT) Modes used: DX tropo, EME: CW/SSB ATV, FM relays stations: FM Typical contest ODX ~ 750Km

30 Watt power amplifier with Toshiba modules 23 cm modules examples DB6NT transverter Pre amplifier Nf < 1dB 30 Watt power amplifier with Toshiba modules 150 Watt power amplifier

23 cm Antennas 2 meter dish yagi Loop yagi

13 cm Behavior is comparable with 23 cm Transverters (E.g. DB6NT design) are frequently used Not a lot of activity outside the contests DX-ing during contests (ODX ~ 600 km) Oscar Mode S down link…..(dead now) ATV (…?...)

Technical parts of 13 cm contest station ON4SHF 13 cm transverter DB6NT Medium power amplifier Transverter Power amplifier 80 Watts out (GSM tuned to 13cm) Antenna relais and sequencer Other example of GSM amplifier

6 cm Amateur band “in between” 23 cm en 3 cm One hand 13 cm tropo behavior Other hand rain scatter possibilities Transverters are commonly used (E.g. DB6NT kits) Low activity on this band; in practice only activity during contests DX ~ 600 Km 2 examples

10 GHz Popular microwave band with reasonable amount of activity CW/SSB mode is used for DX-ing ATV uses FM modulation Propagation 10 GHz is the highest frequency band which does not suffer from atmospheric absorption Troposferic ducting frequently possible Rain & Aircraft scatter possible Contest and activity day distances: > 500 Km European record 1400 km

10 GHz technics The “plumbing” time is over, a modern 10 GHz station contains PCBs with SMD components! Building a 10 GHz station is not a project for starters, but on the other hand those who can handle SMDs is able to assemble a 10 GHz transverter PCB in a few evenings. Tuning and testing such a PCB is not simple; the help of an experienced amateur is recommended. Note: ‘complex’ measuring equipment is useful but not needed at all

10 GHz station example Dish 48 cm Box with transverter

Transition coax to waveguide Power amplifier 4 Watt Waveguide to antenna Medium power amplifier Pre-amplifier Oscillator 2.5 GHz Antenna relay Transverter DB6NT 2m -> 3 cm

24 GHz “Difficult” amateur band due to absorption by water vapour ( ~0.2 dB/Km) Propagation experiments needed The behaviour and dependencies of conditions on 24 GHz are not completely clear. Our (ON4SHF) best DX is 260 km Reasonable amount of components and equipment is available at surplus markets Example 24 GHz QSO:

24 GHz station components 24 GHz components 24 GHz station components Antenna relay Toshiba 24 GHz amplifier DB6NTX-tal Oscillator Exciter 2m – 24 GHz

Examples of 24 GHz stations

Microwave operations CW frequently used (but very slow is good enough ....) Site (use e.g. Radio Mobile) Weather (e.g. scatter possibilities) Frequency accuracy OCXO, GPS Antenna direction AZ/EL Calibration is important: Sun, beacons, 1st contact with known station. Talkback!!! - /P To UK: 144.175 MHz; To F: 144.390 MHz; IARU EUR 432.350 MHz; DXCLUSTER; CONVERS; WWW.ON4KST.COM (also via GSM/GPRS)

10 MHz frequency standard

In the box Display processor 10 MHZ PLL GPS RX

LO PLL

LO driver for microwave frequencies Locking the OCXOs to the 10 MHz frequency standard G8ACE OCXO LO PLL 124.500 MHz out

Microwave activities Contests 4 times a year Activity days March, May, July & October Activity days In France, in UK, NAC (SM, LA, ..) Special activities E.g. Ysselmeer contest

Contests – the ON4SHF sites

Contests – the ON4SHF antennas

Contests – the ON4SHF operators

Activity days - ON4SHF/P

Microwaving in the US (1) Differences: More bands: 222 MHz, 903 MHz, 3.4 GHz Topography: mountain topping (East-West coast) Possibilities for coastal ducts (Nord-South at east coast, California-Hawaii at west coast) Bigger and better surplus Contest rules: much advantages for mobile stations: /R suffix (to be introduced in Europe!?)

Microwaving in the US (2) Rover example W3IY/R “shack in a van” 50,144, 432,903,1296, 2304, 3564, 5760, 10368, 24192, 47088 1000Qs/contest 23 2 70 6m 13 9 6-3cm 903 12-6mm

Thats’s all JOIN THE CLUB It is question time on4cdu, on4iy

Back-up slides

Detailed Photos 10 GHz station Transverter DB6NT 2m -> 3 cm 10 GHz Pre-amplifier

Attenuation at 24 GHz

Beacon 10 GHz beacon ON0KUL/B