Microwave Bibliography

903 MHz 

144 MHz IF transverter July 1991 QST p.25
20 mW output, under 4 dB NF.  28 MHz IF operation
is possible if tighter filters are used.  Unfortunately,
such filters normally require tuning or a precision 
machine shop.  Precision teflon board filters are also 
possible, except that nobody has done the work necessary.
Ordinary G-10/FR-4 is not made to high tolerances, so 
precision work with this involves adapting the design to
each production run of board.

Recommended way of getting to 10 watts on this band
is to buy a hybrid module, such as the Hitachi PF0011
(DEM), and hook it up according to the data sheet.
DEM also sells kits.  If linear operation in necessary,
make sure your hybrid is linear.  Many class C hybrids 
are available, though the newer ones tend to be linear 
to allow the power to be controlled.

125 watts, 10 dB gain.  April 1988 QEX Two 7289s on 
903 MHz.  An air cooled amplifier that is rather 
complex mechanically to build.  It is assumed that the
builder knows how to build the amplifier in the March
1970 issue of Ham Radio for 23 cm.


1296 MHz

144 MHz IF transverter ARRL Handbook p 32-15.  Boards are 
available from DEM.  Unfortunately, board artwork is not 
available from the ARRL.

28 MHz IF transverter ARRL Handbook 32-5.  Requires a fair amount 
of tuning to get going.

10 mW to 3 watt power amplifier.  1993 ARRL Handbook p. 32-18.  
DEM sells kits and parts.  The only critical traces on the 
circuit board are the input and output 50 ohm microstrips.  They
could be replaced with coax.

7 and 18 watt power amplifiers.  1993 ARRL Handbook p. 32-19.
Perhaps superseeded by hybrid modules such as the M57762. These 
are available from DEM amd RF Parts.

250 watt amplifier.  1993 ARRL Handbook p. 32-29.  2C39 tube 
operated in excess of rating, but is the most common way of 
generating lots of power on this band.  Lots of metal work 
needed.  Caution is needed, since this much power can easily be 
dangerous.
Power combining 250 watt amplifiers to get 400 watts.
April 1991 QST pp. 28-30

2304 MHz.

No-Tune Transverter Dec 1992 QST.  Artwork is available from the 
Technical Department secretary.
A 0.8 dB NF 14 dB gain preamplifier appears in the May 1989 QST, 
p 31-36 and the ARRL 1993 Handbook p. 32-22 to 32-28.  While 
no-tune, adjusting the bias current is sometimes necessary for
optimum performance with these preamps.

If a 14 or 15 volt supply is available, the Avantek UT0-2013
hybrid module in a TO-8 case will deliver 20 dBm.  This unit
is sometimes available in surplus assemblies.  The ATF-10135
may work as a power amplifier, except that device variations
(within specifications) as well as biasing/stabilizing circuit
limitations often limit the power below its 20 dBm power 
specification.

A repeatable no-tune 2304 power amp has yet to be published for
getting above the 20 mW level.  The adventurous may wish to take
nearly any power GaAs FET available, put it on a board with half 
wavelength 50 ohm traces, bias it according to the manufacturer's 
specification sheet (or whatever seems reasonable), and tune it
for maximum output power with copper foil.  A major difficulty is
that power GaAs FETs basically aren't designed for 2 GHz operation in
mind--perhaps indicating the lack of a big customer.  28 volt 
bipolar devices are available, except that amateurs don't seem to 
be interested enough to develop designs.

3456 MHz.
No-Tune Transverter June 1989 QST. Etching your own high accuracy 
teflon board isn't recommended, though the author will supply 
artwork.  Most people buy etched boards from DEM.

A 0.9 dB NF 23 dB gain preamplifier appears in the May 1989 QST, 
p 31-36 and the ARRL 1993 Handbook p. 32-22 to 32-28.  While 
no-tune, adjusting the bias current is sometimes necessary for
optimum performance with these preamps.

WA8NLC sells a pair of boards for using the AT-8140 and Avantek 
IMFET.  The AT8140 should put out a watt with 10 dB of gain.  The
IM2935-3 IMFET costs about $300+ new, but is one way to get 4 or 
5 watts on this band.

Much of the high power work is done with surplus TWTAs and solid 
state amplifiers.

5760 MHz
Simple transverter with no RF amplifiers.  A Single-Board 
Bilateral 5760 MHz Transverter," QST October 1990 pp 27-31.

Mixers, filters, and low level (4 mW??--data sheet says 5 mW
at 4 GHz) amplifier.  1992 Microwave Update. Mixers, etc. for 5760 MHz, Paul Wade p. 71-79.

A 1.2 dB NF 18 dB gain preamplifier appears in the May 1989 QST, 
p 31-36 and the ARRL 1993 Handbook p. 32-22 to 32-28.  While 
no-tune, adjusting the bias current is sometimes necessary for
optimum performance with these preamps.

Much of the high power work is done with surplus 5 watt solid 
state amplifiers and TWTAs.

10 GHz
A transverter for duplication by experienced microwave 
experimenters has been written up for QST and is currently being 
edited.  It puts out 10 to 20 mW and has a noise figure under 3 
dB.

The Microwave Update 1991 and the Microwave Handbooks by the RSGB 
describes some kits sold by Petra, G3WDG's XYL.  The kits will run 
about $500 U.S.  The claimed noise figure is 3 dB and the saturated 
power output is +20 dBm.  There are many tuned stages to adjust 
for proper operation. (circa March 92)

Petra Suckling
314A Newton Road
RUSHDEN
Northants
NN10 0SY UK  Tel 8-01144-993-411446

NF 18 dB gain preamplifier appears in the May 1989 QST, 
p 31-36 and the ARRL 1993 Handbook p. 32-22 to 32-28.  While 
no-tune, adjusting the bias current is sometimes necessary for
optimum performance with these preamps.

A 0.8 dB NF 11 dB gain preamp appears in the Dec 1992 QEX.  A 
template is available for an sase from the Technical department 
secretary.

SHF Microwave Parts Company
7102 W. 500S.
La Porte IN  46350

She sells a wide variety of 10 and 24 GHz Gunn modules (new and 
used), as well as a small selection of parts and small horn antennas.

For the Really Ambitious:

5.7 and 10 GHz transverters that put out over 1 watt, 100 mW 24 
GHz transverter.  Noise figures are 2.4, 3.0, and 4.0 dB for the 
LNAs.  Parts availability could be a problem, as the author is 
Japanese.  Microwave Update 1992  5.7-GHz, 10-GHz, and 24-GHz 
All-Mode Linear Transverter 
p.100-146.

SSB/CW Equipment concepts for 24 and 47 GHz.  1989 Microwave 
Update.  How you might go about building equipment for these bands, assuming you can find the right pieces.  It took Tom two 
years before serious construction of the 47 GHz unit could begin, 
and he knew what he was doing.

24 GHz Low Noise Amplifiers. 1991 Microwave Update.  How to build 
amplifiers that take hours to tune up, even with experience and 
expertise.  10.8 dBm output for the best transmit amp, 3.5 dB NF 
for the best LNA.

Various Parts Sources
RF Parts MGF 1302, MGF 1402, and Hybrid Modules

Mainline Electronics 
P.O. Box 235 
Leichester LE2 9SH  England
has MGF1302, MMICs, and other semiconductors Dayton 92

Microwave Components of Michigan
P.O. Box 1697 
Taylor MI  48180  313-753-4581

Wide selection of parts, including MMICs, diodes,
and teflon board material.

DEM=Down East Microwave
Box 2310, RR1
Troy ME  04987   phone 207-948-3741   FAX 207-948-5157

MCM=Microwave Components of Michigan


M/A-Com Semiconductor Products Inc
Burlington MA  01803  Phone 617-272-3000
Probably not as helpful to amateurs as when the company was
owned by a well known amateur.

Advanced Receiver Research Box 1242
Burlington CT  06013 is a distributor for MA/-Com.
phone 203-582-9409.  They sell complete Gunnplexer transceivers 
with genuine FM for 10 and 24 GHz.


