[DSP-10] sequencing and control question

[Bob Larkin]

Hi Courtney -

If one uses the DSP-10 built in sequencer, they have the two external 
lines that can have their times adjusted, and then the time to the 
actual start of RF is also adjustable.  I doubt that anyone really needs 
any more than that.  At most one would want to get the antenna relay in 
the correct state before turning on a power amplifier.  Than another 
delay and apply drive.  I have seen provision for more lines, but it 
seems unneeded.

If you remote the microwave gear, it always seems to need some DC or 
control/measurement lines.  Our house is sort of down in the trees, but 
about 125 feet away is a decent place for microwave gear (clear of 
trees). So I built a box out there, and ended up running about 30 
wires.  It started with just coax and 115V, and I think a rotor cable, 
but there always seemed to be a need for more.  I bring a RF power 
detector pair of wires in to see if the transmitter is doing its thing.  
And then a couple of wires for a PLL sense.  And on and on.  So a few 
more for controlling anything would not be noticed.  I like the multi 
conductor wire they sell for lawn and garden irrigation.  It is about 
#18 and intended for burial.  They come in various sizes, like 9-conductor.

I am interested in getting a 432 high side transverter one of these 
days.  Mike, KD7TS has been playing with this, as well.  He is farther 
along than I am.

We did not make it to Marys Peak.  The rain and wind were excessive, and 
then they closed things for maintenance.  The road is sliding down the 
hill in places.  So, a couple of weeks later K7ITA and I went up Bunker 
Hill in CN85.  We worked W7SZ easily on 10 and 24 GHz.  he is about 35 
miles, and may be LOS.  KD7TS and W7GLF were up by Mt Rainier, and we 
worked them on a mountain bounce with SSB signals on 10 GHz.  But on 24 
GHz, we never saw a sign of anything on the waterfall, and they never 
heard us.  We are going to pursue the why of this, one of these days.

73,  Bob  W7PUA



On 11/01/2010 09:07 PM, Courtney Duncan wrote:
> Hi Bob,
>
> Yes, it continues to be very educational getting the 1296 station
> running the way I want it to.  The good news is that I think I
> understand the transverter issues well enough now to attempt to design
> and homebrew the 432 to 144 version that we talked about (576 LO).
> The bad news is that I don't have any more spare time than before, so
> it will take a while to "get to it."
>
> For sequencing I've decided for this rev to bring out all 8 lines from
> the DSP-10, go ahead and use the two that are already supported as you
> describe, but design my interface board to where it will take
> additional inputs should I want to increase the number of sequencing
> points in software later, just wiring logical ones together for now.
> This means keeping the 23 cm stuff in the same room with the DSP-10
> for now, i.e., not remoting it closer to the antenna, but that's OK
> for now due to the educational nature of the whole project.  I want to
> keep my eye on it while it's working.
>
> I visited KB5MU over the weekend.  He and W5NYV are working on a 10
> GHz project.  We swapped war stories.  He also brought me up to date
> on the Microwave Update held near here last month.  Didn't make it to
> that but might make it to a San Bernardino Microwave Society meeting
> sometime soon (like maybe even this Thursday!).
>
> How did the Marys Peak 24 GHz work go?
>
> 73, Courtney, n5bf/6
>