[NLRS] Light communications club project, UK style

[Doug Reed]

For anyone who might be interested in "light wave" communications, as in 
the 10GHz and UP contests, the U.K. has shown a surge of interest in the 
last few years and below is one of the practical results.

Finningley is a VHF/UHF/Microwave/hamfest/conference type event similar 
to an ARRL Division convention or the CSVHF conference. As one of the 
event projects, this year they will have light wave communicator kits 
available for people to build. The project docs are listed on the web 
sites below.

They assemble the hardware from "kits" of parts right at the conference 
and help the builders test and repair the resulting device before they 
leave. The intent is that before they leave they should have a complete 
"starter" station to begin making some Q's and to use as a basis to 
build on.

I offer this as an interesting note regarding the technique used for a 
club project. The PCB and project is intended to be a low cost entry 
level device good for a few miles of distance. It is not an optimum 
design in any sense of the word. But it is certainly a "better" unit 
than the Ramsey light wave kits of a few years ago.

Something like this could certainly make Q's for the ARRL contests. It 
was good enough to make 65 KM Q's in the UK but is a long way from what 
would be required for 100 mile Q's. But it *is* just a starter kit....

If we wanted to pursue light wave comms as a club project, this would be 
a possible design.... Simple MCW has always been the entry level option 
and has the best oportunity for very long range comms, but it is at the 
mercy of light pollution in any metro area or suburb. Subcarrier systems 
such as FM modulation or SSB mixed down from 80M like the UK guys do has 
much clearer voice capability, but less ultimate range. There is also 
the option for digital techniques using computer sound card software and 
even SDR techniques. The UK guys are making good use of laptops and 
sound card spectrum analyzer software to extend the range of their systems.

Of course I don't think any of this is really applicable to the 10GHz 
contest this year unless you are a speed builder.... And I don't think 
anyone has (yet) built a system that could be mounted on top of your 
10GHz dish to make aiming automatic. :-)

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.

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 From the UKnanowaves Yahoo group:

Finningley nanowave transceiver
Posted by: "bernie" bernie at earf.co.uk g4hjw
Date: Thu Jun 7, 2012 4:07 am ((PDT))

Morning all,

The boards have now been ordered for the Finningley nanowave 
transceiver, and the write-up linked to in the Files section, updated, ie:

http://www.earf.co.uk/nanotrx.htm

The Finningley event is event is now less than 6 weeks away, so all the 
current effort is being put into getting kits and 4" telescopes ready 
for the build session over that weekend (July 14/15th). The organizing 
club's web-site is as below, for anyone interested:

http://www.g0ghk.co.uk/

There's no entry fee for either day, and it makes an interesting 
weekend, so please feel welcome to drop-in.

Bernie G4HJW
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4 inch optic telescopes for Finningley
Posted by: "bernie" bernie at earf.co.uk g4hjw
Date: Sun Jun 10, 2012 1:51 am ((PDT))

Morning all,

We now have 25 four-inch optics telescopes ready for the transceiver 
build session in July. These will be £10 each on the day, which just 
covers the material cost. I've added a few details to the project 
web-site for anyone who might be interested:

http://www.earf.co.uk/nanotrx.htm

This is lodged in the 'Links' section also.

The current batch of cheap magnifying glasses available at 
'Thing-me-bobs' and 'Warehouse Superstore' are ideal for use with 
standard 110mm plastic pipe - the frame is not only a good tight fit 
once the handle has been sawn off, but the frame is slightly tapered and 
can be force-fitted into the plastic tube.

Bernie G4HJW
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