[MAMS] Microwave activity day

[Zack Widup]

Hi Dave,

I called CQ in your (Bob's) direction for a while around 8 am Central
time on 144.260. Never heard anything. I think conditions on 144 MHz
were not so good this morning.

My 10 GHz transverter seems to have a problem with phase lock. I
suspect the trimmer cap that adjusts the tuning of the VCXO is bad.
It's an inexpensive ceramic cap. I am thinking of replacing it with a
piston cap. That should be easier to tune.

73, Zack W9SZ


On 12/1/12, Dave Sublette <k4to at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I was at K8TQK's all day, helping install a new PST2051 under his microwave
> antennas. That is a nice little rotator -- and powerful also.
>
> My 2304 and 10368 gear is down.  I suspect a failed 10Mhz ref osc.  I hope I
> can get strong enough to get back up the tower and get it down for repair.
>
> Take care Zack.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave
>
>
> On Dec 1, 2012, at 2:34 PM, Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Well, I tried! The only person I was able to find to work on the
>> microwave bands was Ron W9ZIH. We worked on 1296 and 3456. We tried
>> 10368 with no success. I had heavy fog on the hill in EN50rl and Ron
>> said he had fog and heavy frost. I pointed in various directions and
>> called CQ for microwave QSO's on 144.260 and the only response I got
>> was from Ron. 2 meters didn't seem to be in very good shape today.
>>
>> I could hear the K9MOT beacons on 2304 and 3456 down here. I could not
>> hear the 1296 beacon. Ron told me it is very weak at his place now
>> too, so it must be having some problems.
>>
>> I got to do some experimenting with my Softrock SDR for 144 MHz. It
>> picked up the WD9BGA beacon on 144.297 quite well and also the 2304
>> and 3456 MHz K9MOT beacons, using it as a monitor on the IF's of those
>> transverters. This is going to be a very useful tool!
>>
>> This will probably be my last on-air microwave activity for this year.
>> I have to go over some of my equipment to fix some little things from
>> wear and tear this year. I have some winter projects planned or
>> started already.
>>
>> 73, Zack W9SZ
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> MAMS mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mams
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:MAMS at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> MAMS mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mams
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:MAMS at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>