VK Logger Ham Radio Forum Archive

Hi Folks,

I'm setting up my first 10 GHz transverter system and wonder if anyone has any of the following spare that they can sell me:

- WR90 waveguide/sma transition
- WR90 waveguide lengths, flanges etc.
- Suitable starter dish, something like a 60cm Mitec prime focus, or other similar quality.

I'm also looking for a suitable power sensor & meter.


- James VK2TXP

James,

Great to hear that someone else is at a potentially similar stage of progression towards being active on 10GHz ) If you don't not already, apparently we'll need to grow beards soon to become part of the inner circle! )

Whilst I have already sourced the 600mm prime feed dish that does currently have a complete feed (including the SMA adaptor) but from all reports in circular polarised, so I'm currently scouring the earth seaching for the appropriate WR-90 adaptor and waveguide to make a new feed.

In that search I've come across SP7DYN on EvilBay, and he has a few different WR-90/SMA adaptors, at not too ridiculous prices. Take a look here:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 98&alt=web

I'm yet to commit to a final solution, so will be keen to see what others can offer to help get a couple more stations active on 10GHz

I also posted a pic of the dish I recieved on another social media, I recieved quite a few comments from other amatuers stating they couldn't give their dishes away... and a couple stated that they still had on in their posession (or storage somewhere).

Please keep us advised of progress....

Good to see more activity coming up on 10 GHz.

FYI, If you get a Mitec 600mm dish (which I also use, and have a beard ), it uses WR75. Same with the 1200mm.

Regards,
Dave
VK3HZ

David,

Thanks for your help.

Could you please share some pics of you dish and feed?

Following are images of mine which is not WR72:





Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

I might have some bits James like a power detector and some other useful bits at port mac field day on sunday if your going to be there.

Thanks all for the info -- glad to see others also getting into this at the same time. I think we're all looking at the same ebay stuff.

VK2XSO: I won't be there on Sunday (I'm in Sydney and have family events planned), but I've registered for Gippstech.

I'm after a feed for one of these dishes too!
I've had mine in the back of the shed for a while, and I too am looking for something that has the transition to SMA at the back ofthe dish.

If anyone has a good feed design that is made out of readily available waveguide, I'm sure there would be plenty of others out there who would be thankful.
Where do people source waveguide for 10 GHz? the only stuff I have seen recently was previously used around 7GHz and was very corroded and full of ants..

I have 10GHz plans but I need to find the dosh. Got 5.76 GHz gear but not on air ready.

James VK2TXP,

James,

Don't discount the idea of using an offset feed dish for 10GHz. There are plenty of suitable offset dishes out there ex- K band satellite dishes that can be pressed into service - some at give away prices.

Also, by using an offset dish, it is possible to mount your entire transceiver on the feed arm and use a very short piece of cable, instead of waveguide, and also eliminate the need for a suitable SMA/Waveguide transition - the small horn feed that you can use already has an sma socket and probe into the feed.

An excellent article to get you thinking on offset dishes is the following: http://www.microwavers.org/files/10GHz/ ... _aug07.pdf

The article has plans for a simple horn feed as well as running through the advantages of offset feeds.

If you have a look at the following link you will see how some of us in VK3 do it. http://www.vklogger.com/forum/viewtopic ... 8&start=60

Some of us choose to run the offset dish in a vertical configuration, others in a horizontal configuration - there are advantages and disadvantages in both methods.

Any questions?

Cheers

Peter VK3QI QTHR

VK3QI: Thanks for the info. I was thinking about a prime focus dish so I could simply mount the transverter at the back, with waveguide feeding through the dish to a shepherd's crook or backward feed of some kind. I figured this would be the simplest and most sturdy setup. At my current level of knowledge, correctly illuminating the dish also seems easier, or at least, there seems to be more info available on that. I also have some ideas about exploring higher frequencies down the track, and having a commercial quality prime focus dish may be better suited to that.

A 65cm offset dish (new Hills ones are under $50) is something I'm considering to get up and running, at least.

VK2TIM: good to hear. Keep us posted, as well. Any info will be useful to myself other newcomers. The only waveguide I've seen around is on ebay and overseas surplus sites. In Australia, Rotronix sells new Procom gear, including waveguide.

Hi Scott,
My dish has a standard Shepherds Crook feed. I also have a smaller dish (300 mm?) that has a feed like yours. It is both H and V pol through separate connectors. If you use it with the connector horizontal, it's H pol.
Regards,
Dave
VK3HZ

David.... that makes life a whole lot easier

With the two feedpoints, and cavity filters on the rear it makes sense why it was also circular polarised.

Tnx

Hi James,

Welcome to "the mob". I have a 65cm offset-feed ex-satellite TVRO dish with a 10 GHz transverter, Trimble Thunderbolt (GPS unit) & etc mounted on the feed arm. The dish is mounted to a re-purposed PA speaker stand A 2m transceiver is mounted behind the dish, hanging off the vertical section of the feed arm. The feed horn is linked to the changeover relay by about 120 mm of RG141.
The rig was originally assembled by Rob VK2GOM.

I have managed to work a VK1, a VK2, a VK4 and a VK5. All from portable locations . . . in VK1 and VK2.

Roger -- thanks for posting the photos. Mounting the offset dish upside down is an interesting approach.

I have a 10GHz transverter for sale. It is surplus to my needs, because I have three of them (Tvtr's). I have had it advertised on VKHam for two weeks, with only 1 enquiry. It is definitely 'pick-up' only.
Anyone interested can call me on 0414 532496.
73 Bruce VK2EM

I had an identical set up with the same dish but used a simple feed (the 1/4 wave vert in a copper plumbing pipe solution) with coax feed all worked well with 1W but not ideal I know!