OK1KIR Gallery: 24 GHz, Our new System

This gallery shows picture of construction of our new 24 GHz transvertor. The whole compartment is rotatable in the focus of our 4.5m prime focus dish.spread measurement on 24 GHz.

MKU 2410AW

MKU 2410AW (DB6NT) – after the last unreliable TWT+PSU failed, TWT PA was replaced by expensive, but reliable SSPA from DB6NT.
MKU 2410AW

MKU 2410AW (DB6NT) – DC power supply stabilizer and protection circuit recommended by DB6NT.
1x PA on heatsing

SSPA - MKU 2410AW (DB6NT) on heat-sink. SSPA output goes through “magic T” power combiner to WG switch and further to the feed at the top.
New 24GHz transverter

Big massive heat-sink frame generates most of the total weight (16 kg).
New 24 GHz transverter

A look inside power combiner (“Magic T”) with removed balancing load used as the input power divider of SSPAs.
New 24 GHz transverter

Another look on the power combiner (“Magic T”) with removed balancing load used on the input power divider of SSPAs.
New 24 GHz transverter

A look on completed “magic T” with low power balancing load.
New 24 GHz transverter

Input phasing power divider with “magic T” used for combining two power amplifiers together. On the left and right side there are trays for short flexible WGs, which are squeezed by the screw mechanism to provide variable phases on the both outputs (WG to SMA transitions). The compartment serves for phase balancing of combined SSPAs.
Flexible waveguide.

Two identical pieces has been used.
New 24GHz transverter during construction

One arm of the waveguide phasing line which divides input power to both SSPA. Depressing mechanism driven by the screw squeezes short piece of flexible WG to provide phase change on its output. Both arms are identical.
New 24 GHz transverter during construction

On the left side on the bottom heat-sink sits small OCXO 124.5 MHz, above it LO multiplier to 11.951 GHz. About 15mW on 12GHz drives DB6NT 24GHz transverter, which is hidden behind LO on the left side. WG switch in the middle WG holds the feed on its front and 90deg E bend on the switch top goes to output power combiner (“magic T”). 90deg H bend on the right side of combiner supports output balancing load (removed).
New 24 GHz transverter - Top view during construction.

In the middle sits phasing compartment with “magic T” input power divider. In front on the right hangs modified driving amplifier DB6NT(stable gain close to 30dB) and SMA HP relay RX/TX. OE9PMJ 24GHz filter (RX/TX) is hidden below relay. Above it in vertical position DB6NT transverter. On the right top LO with OCXO below it.
New 24 GHz transverter – rear view during construction.

Rear view on the bottom heat-sink with three cooling fans. Above it high gain driving amplifier 24GHz (DB6NT), on the right superior RX/TX band-pass filter OE9PMJ, mounted directly on DB6NT transverter. Above the filter SMA relay RX/TX (HP 20GHz).
New 24 GHz transverter - top view during construction.

All parts dislocated on the bottom heat-sink.
New 24 GHz transverter

The assembly with upper heat-sink. Found error in parallelism of output WG flanges soldered on SSPAs. It created a mechanical stress problem when tightening flange to flange.
New 24 GHz transverter

Measurement of small differences in unequal parallelism of both SSPA’s WG flanges enabled its elimination by careful small deformation of the soft soldered output WG on SSPAs.
New 24 GHz transverter

Close to finalization – functional testing, alignment and measurement.
New 24 GHz transverter

Balancing load on the output combiner (“magic T”) connected via WG-SMA transition.
New 24 GHz transverter

Bottom thick plate allows 3-D position aligment of the whole tranverter in the rotatable focal holder.
24 GHz feed

More info in this file 24GHz_feed_design_OK1KIR.pdf
24 GHz feed

Alignment of 24GHz feed for minimum VSWR by two brass screws M2.
New 24 GHz transverter – front view

The feed in the middle, WG switch just behind the front panel. 70mm of brass WG (R220) goes down from WG switch directly to LNA WG input.
New 24 GHz transverter – the right sideview

The hand-rail on the right side serves as carrying holder when climbing upwards along the foldaway ladder to the dish focus with this 16 kg of solid state power, hi.
New 24 GHz transverter – rear view

The backside panel with connectors (BNC for IF 145MHz, N for LO-INT/EXT, screws for SSPA 12V DC and 14-pins for remaining RX/TX control).
New 24 GHz transverter

The bottom shelf with changeable height protects both LNAs and First of all supports mechanical adjustment in all(x,y,z) coordinates when the whole transverter sits in the focal rotatable holder.
New 24 GHz transverter

First LNA (DB6NT) connected to WG switch via 70mm of R220 (WR42).
New 24 GHz transverter

Second LNA (from flea market)
9th March 2011

Overall view on the tower with 4.5m dish. The new 24Ghz transverter sits in remotely controlled rotatable focal holder.
9th March 2011

Closer front view on 4.5m dish. Rotatable focal compartment with the new 24GHz transverter.
9th March 2011

Overall side view on 24GHz transverter in focal rotatable holder of 4.5m dish. Detail of transvertor in the dish, photo from left side.
9th March 2011

24GHz transverter in rotatable focal holder – overall view when rotated to vertical polarization +90deg. the steel cylinder at the bottom serves as balancing counterweight.
9th March 2011

Position in vertical polarization
9th March 2011

24GHz transverter in rotatable focal holder – overall view when rotated. Position in horizontal polarization -90°. to horizontal polarization -90deg.
9th March 2011

Front view on 24GHz transverter in position for horizontal polarization +90deg.
9th March 2011

The phase centre of 24GHz feed together with the whole transverter. Detail, feed in vertical polarization. were carefully aligned to the dish focus by means of Sun and Moon noise and G/CS ratio measurements. Picture above shows position for vertical polarization.
9th March 2011

New 24GHz transverter in rotatable focal holder – position for horizontal polarization +90deg.
9th March 2011

24GHz transverter in rotatable focal holder – position for horizontal polarization -90deg.
9th March 2011

24GHz transverter in rotatable focal holder – position for vertical polarization.

OK1KIR EME Team - 24 GHz, Our new System