I've started conversion on my 3.5GHz panel after being donated it by Matt VK3PP (thanks Matt). I was motivated to convert one after Peter 7PD's contact earlier this week with Chas 3PY over Bass Strait using one.
I'm now up to the stage in the manual to test the 3.4GHz RX/TX before going onto installing the switcher, which is yet to arrive from Lou 3ALB. I have hit a speed bump because I don’t have any means of measuring output power at 3.4GHz.
I also don’t have a signal source, my HP8924C will only go up to 1GHz. I did do some tests though and the board powers up, and draws about 350mA on receive. TX current is about 850mA with -4dBm on the IF TX input so that sounds good. I can see it vary a little when I adjust the input up and down on 444MHz from my signal generator too and the beeper goes nuts.
I did try a quick test with my sig gen on 850MHz and hoped for a 4th harmonic at 3400MHz but I think my test set is too clean. At maximum 16dBm output connected to the RX input I can’t get the beeper to go any faster. I also don't have a handheld that will go down to 425MHz to use as a signal source.... I used to have a Baofeng, perfect harmonic generator, but I can't find it now
I can pop the sig gen on 444MHz and wave the probe around near the UHF IF filter and the beeper starts going crazy, so from that point onwards seems to be working.
Now to see if I can find a screwdriver small enough to adjust the trimmers on the UHF filter board.
Regards
Hayden VK7HH