[NLRS] 10 Ghz setup - KM0T

[Mike King - KM0T]

Hi all, since a few were asking, just for the record, here are the specifics
on the 10 Ghz setup

The dish is 2' - MACOM commercial dish with waveguide button hook feedhorn.
I will have one measured at central states this upcoming weekend to see what
the gain is.  Claimed is +30 db.  These dishes are pretty available on
ebay - KMEC (ebay name)- Jeff Kruth I think is his real name and he is a
ham.  $125 + shipping.

DB6NT 10 ghz transverter mounted in an enclosure behind the dish with a
DL2AM 15 watt amp.  This amp gives me over 10 watts to the feed horn.

All of it is mounted about 40 feet high on a MA-40 crankup mast.  The mast
is really about 36 feed with an extension at the top to make it closer to 40
feet.  I have a Yaesu G-550 elevation rotor up there on it to get it peaked
on horizon.  The whole tower is rotated on a M2 Orion rotator with digiatal
readout.

I run LRM400 to the base of the tower and then RG8X up the tower for the IF
line.  I run two #8 AWG conductors to bring DC up to the top.  The power
supply is at the base of the tower in a weatherproof enclosure, all on/off
control from the shack.

IF rigs - 756PROII 28 Mhz to SSB LT2S 144 Mhz transverter.  I use an IF
swtichbox in the shack that controls the IF lines and all PTT control for
all bands 902 Mhz and above.

The bandscope is a very neat feature on this setup, it has been very handy
but not sure its worth it however.  I am having a bit of trouble with the
756 PRO II interface as it does not give the same output for CW and SSB at
the same RF Gain setting, a very troublesome quirk. Also, some higher output
spikes have been observed at 144 Mhz depending on how long I am sending.
This causes me to pause and reset the RF Gain control on the Icom so I dont
send too much 144 power up the line.  It has been troublesome.  If I cannot
get it resolved, I am going back to the Yaesu FT-100D IF.  That gave solid 3
watts out on the lowest menu setting and never varied.  Any ideas on
tracking this down are appreciated.  The FT-100D however is nowhere as easy
to operate as the PRO.

I believe I know what the drifting problem is and will resolve it over the
winter.  The case of the transverter needs to be in contact with metal.
According to sources, this will help on the internal heat generation of the
Voltage regulator chip, final, etc.  Right now I have it mounted to metal,
but with 2 sided adhesive foam tape, so there is little contact.  Please
bear with me for the time being.

73

CU at Central States this weekend.

Mike - KM0T
www.qsl.net/km0t