Any microwavers here? I am thinking of having a play. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 10:21:57 am
content: I want to make a start with microwaves, but am unsure just *where* tostart. My limitations (apart from financial....) are that I will beinstalling my antenna mast, a Versatower P60 (60 foot mast), some way from my "shackroom" in our bungalow. This is set in stone, neither I nor my wifewant it in the front garden near the house. So I either try andoperate using an antenna on the mast, about 60 metres at best from thehouse, or site something much lower and nearer, on say the chimney ofthe bungalow. I sort of understand feeder losses, but don't quitefollow what is involved in running and remotely controlling say 144 or28 MHz from my transceiver in the house to a transverter in a box atthe base of the mast. No cabling is currently installed, nor is themast up yet, so I need to address this before groundworks start.I need advice on what frequency to start with, I am only interested inverbal communications, not CW or data, so what band might I be beststarting with? I am at SY13 2BT, in north Shropshire, England UK.I have an old but really nice Yaesu FT-902DM transceiver which willrun 28 MHz, and a Yaesu FT-2800M 2 metre transceiver that will output5 watts on its lowest setting. I am told that it should not spike ahigh output on initial transmit, is there a simple way to test this?I would have more confidence in my project if i could buy a basicmicrowave receiver and convince myself reception from this low lyingplace is possible at all, before spending a lot on a permanent aerialinstallation and a means of transmitting.Can anyone recommend asuitable receiver and basic aerial to test this out with?Thanks.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 10:39:43 am
content: Chris,I think hams are a bit thin on the ground here.I would suggest joining QRZ.com,or maybe VK Logger,but obviously there must be a major Amateur Radio site in the UK.After all,there are a lot of hams in the"Old Dart".PS:I found one!http://www.aruk.org.uk/

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 10:48:33 am
content: http://www.rsgbshop.org/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Microwave_11.html

author: siliconmix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 03:19:56 pm
content: where did that saying come from "Old Dart"

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 05:34:55 pm
content: "8 mhz is short wave and 144 is 2 meter band that's VHF if you want microwave you are talking about 1.2 Ghz in the uk for amateur use. If you want to play with micro wave I have some transmitters and receivers that fell of the back of a military airfield.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 09:13:07 pm
content: you definitely don't need a 60' tower to play...search "attic dipole", "inverted vee" & "random longwire antenna"-wd4awb

author: steve_w
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2012, 09:38:16 pm
content: Dartmoor prison?

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2012, 07:45:40 am
content: Quote from: sonicj on April 02, 2012, 09:13:07 pmThose aerials are ok for short waves but a 60' tower definitely helps working at microwaves frequencies!