[Rover] Transverter construction question

[Mike Wechsler]

Good Morning Jacob,
Perhaps another view of how to get on the bands as a rover with limited
resources.....like me..first let me preface my remarks by saying that I have
several DEM transverters and love them, they are very good gear.

HOWEVER, my advice is for the money and also for ease of operation ,
you have a couple of choices....both come down to money available.  Bang
for the buck so to speak.

Buy a used 706mkII, they are going now for 600 or so.....then you will have 
two
bands for the same price or less of using a transverter....then when you 
get to
add a 222 transverter you can use that same radio as a IF to run 
it.....same for
432 transverter.....simple is the best way as a rover, less wires less 
problems.
By the way, the original 706's are even less, but I would opp for the MKII.

Second choice.
We have used the Kenwood 751 2mtr rig with great success, they are a fine rig
for a rover and lots are using them.....priced from 300-400....great 
overall rig for fm
or ssb work, has memories, small and easy to use with a nice full display.
Yes they are used and you can get burnt, but that has not been my experience.
You now have a top of the line rig for your best band, you won't regret 
spending the
money for this one.  Other rigs are also good choices, this is one that I 
use and know
well.

Probably the best money spent to get on 6mtrs is the ten tec transverter, 
not entiredly
problem free but I work a ton of them on six, and they sound well.  You can 
pick them up
already built and working for less than 100, buy from someone you trust.

BACK TO THE USE OF TRANSVERTERS
Negatives of use
1. they have to have a IF radio set up specifically for transverters or 
just use rf sensing.
2. More than one transverter using a common IF radio needs some kind of 
switching
between transverters with RF and PTT lines.....more complicated , more lines,
more problems........(Rule one "Simple is Good")
3. Easy to fry the front end of your transverter.....been there done 
that'........with a common
radio  with multible bands that cannot happen but with transverters you 
sometimes are sending
rf from another band into them.......something to watch.  When you have 
antennas closely
mounted  you can have this problem.......separating them cures this problem.
4. Cost.......2, 432, 6mtrs.....buy them and you have spent more than you 
would have in a
good modern day 706 or ft100 rig, or even a 847 or 746 radio......but 
getting the
initial money for one of those rigs is almost impossible for some of 
us.  Buying one
band at a time is our only choice it seems.  Say....I just thought of my 
best radio,
the Yaesu FT 726r.....great choice for a rover....kind of a poor mans 
736.  Only
ten watts out but three band modules available for them, Mine has 2, 432, 
and 440.
You can get 6mtr and 28mhz (rare)......I really like mine and use it as IF 
for 903,
1296, and 2304 transverters and now for 10ghz, (I think).  Take your time and
you will find a good buy.......

Tips for getting your transverters.
Instead of you attempting to build them, just buy them on the use 
market.  I see them all
the time at reasonable price.....most of the time they are the price of the 
kit, but they work.
instant gratification to put them on the air.....and you can get parts for 
them.  Buy from
someone that use the item, that knows it works properly.

I can't build transverters but I will put grids on for the big 
stations....they like that a lot,
especially when the rover fills in a nice hole in their grid map.......
THEY WILL BUILD TRANSVERTERS FOR YOU IF THEY LIKE YOU.  THEY LIKE ME
and that is how I got most of my transverters, someone else built them for 
me, I am forever
in their debt for this kindness.  So........talk to other technicial guys 
and see if they would
be willing to build a transverter for you.....keep in mind thay they need a 
long time frame.
Sometimes I waited 6mo or more ......they did it when they could.  Find a 
tech friend or two.

10% off,  Get in on a club buy from Dem and get the discount.....every 
little bit helps.
Quanity buys .......they are good.

So Jacob....let me know how I can help.....if you are interested in used 
gear, I could send
you info on what I find available........Keep the Rover Fire.  Please let 
me know your
opinions on my suggestions.

73  Mike Wechsler  N4OFA/R EM86 AND BEYOND

t 10:12 PM 5/21/02 -0400, you wrote:
>I am in the process of selling my Alinco DX-70T HF+6M radio so as to raise
>some money for a Downeast Microwave transverter.CHEAP!!!
>
>*** If interested in this radio, contact me directly.  k8jwt@ntelos.net
>
>My question is how difficult are the transverter kits to build? I have only
>built one other kit in my ham life (Tentec 1210) a couple of years ago and
>it worked when finished.
>
>Debating whether to buy a kit of spend the extra money for a built and
>tested unit since I only have basic electronics tools ie... soldering
>iron,DVM,small tools.
>
>Would hate to spend $300.00 and it not work or be ready for the Sept VHF
>contest use! When for $400.00 I can relax and enjoy the radios instead of
>the frustration.
>
>PS: Patience is not my biggest virtue...
>
>Jacob Tennant - K8JWT
>
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