[NLRS] Kuhne 10 GHz transverter kit question

[Doug Reed]

It must be 15 years since I assembled mine I wasn't too worried about
the SMT work because I was doing it at work and had lots of tools. If
you don't already do SMT, you might just want to buy the pre-assembled
version, but it is a simple kit. As I recall, the majority of tuning
was quite simple due to built-in test points. The main problem I had
was tuning the pipe cap filters. I didn't believe how far down the
tuning screw had to go, but it may have been because I made the probes
a bit too short.

Regarding operation, I don't think I had any problems once I got it
assembled and tuned. It was a minor annoyance that many 10GHz power
amps need less than 20mw of drive and an attenuator was required to
work with the DB6NT. But we also found that for most distances, 200mw
was adequate if the operator was careful to aim the dish well. Maybe
you can find a 22"-24" dish instead of the common 18" dish.

I will add two more items.... My biggest issue was finding hardline
jumpers to interconnect everything. It was critical to test them for
loss after they were bent to fit. I went through every one I had and
still had trouble finding enough of them with acceptable loss.

The second thing is that you should be sure to buy a QH40A crystal
heater if you don't have something better to stabilize the local
oscillator. I highly recommend you get two of them, one for your IF
rig too. After I installed the first QH40A, my impression was that my
FT-817 IF rig drifted more than the 10GHz transverter did. It may not
be true, but it was impressive.

You should also be looking for a DC-to-DC power supply to go between
your battery and the transverter and IF radio. You want something to
boost the battery voltage to 13.6 volts to keep the electronics
stable. I found a laptop car power supply to use.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.