OK1KIR Gallery: 10 GHz, Our new system

The picture gallery shows our new system for 10 GHz. The first QSO was with F6KSX on November 16^th 2003. We made 163 CW and SSB QSOs until now (May 2010).

The system currently consists of 4.5 m solid dish 4.5m f/D=0.42, linear polarization horn, two transvertors 10 GHz/145 MHz (DB6NT design) rotatable in the dish focus point, 0.7dB WG LNA (DB6NT) and new 50 W SSPA (DB6NT) producing about 45W rf in the feed. We can operate TX/RX 10368 and 10450 MHz.

2003 February

How to find focus point? One small engine moves the whole feed and the second one moves the choke position. We measured Sun noise and G/CS ratio.
2003 February

Preparation for finding of focal point. Small rubber returned the position of choke back.
2003 February

Temporary installation of SHF contest TRX for noise measurement and finding of best position for feed in focus point.
2003 March

SUN noise measurement with SHF tropo TRX.
2003 October

Another temporary installation of TRX for tests
2003 October

Another temporary installation of TRX for tests in October. Fortunately weather was nice!
2005 April

Almost final set up used during the first VK - OK QSO on 3 cm.
2005 April

TRX in 2005, up about 40 W TWT with heatsink, down high voltage TWT power supply. Polarization change is done by turning the whole TRX together with feed.
2005 April

Linear feed, the long horn is designed for f/D 0.42. The whole TRX is rotatable.
2006 April

Polarization test with DK0SB. We measured their signal level for different polarization in 10° steps.
2006 April

TRX with TWT and its power supply (bottom), horizontal polarization.
2007 March

New position of TWT power supply for better weather proofing.
2007 March

TWT power supply covered with weather proofing bag.
Septum Feed

Square septum polarizer and circular feed with simple choke from 1993, designed by Jarda ex. OK1AHH. Unfortunately there is no usage for circular polarization feed as all station are using linear polarization.
Polarization Rotor

Small DC engine that rotates the whole rig was modified with cam that indicates 10° steps for polarization tests.
2010 SEPT

Dual band 10GHz transceiver (10368/10450 MHz). Unreliable TWT was replaced by SSPA (AL block sandwiched between the bottom side of transceiver and the big heat-sink. 4-port WG switch in the centre controls RX/TX switching of the both DB6NT transverters (bottom 10450MHz, upper 10368MHz). LNA sits directly on WG switch. R100 flange on the right supports the feed.
2010 SEPT

Dual band 10GHz transceiver (10368/10450 MHz). The transceiver box from the other side. The dish feed sits directly on the R100 WG flange.
2010 SEPT

10GHz transceiver with new SSPA (big heatsink on the bottom side) mounted in the dish focus. Steel cylinder on a paddle provides balancing counterweight. It moves the gravity centre of the whole rotatable compartment close to the axis of rotation to stabilize the rotation remote control in the range of +/- 90deg.
2010 SEPT

10GHz transceiver with SSPA – detail of cabling. Red/blue wires dliver 12V DC power for SSPA, the bundle of yellow wires supplies and controls transceiver and remaining wires provide remoter control of rotation gear.
2010 SEPT

Horizontal polarization in +90deg position.
2010 SEPT

Horizontal polarization in -90deg position.
2010 SEPT

The 10GHz horn feed in horizontal polarization position.
10 GHz feeder

Linear feed with simple trapezoidal choke
New 3 cm choke 1
New 3 cm choke 2
Old and new 3 cm choke

OK1KIR EME Team - 10 GHz, Our new system