[600MRG] Fwd: Re: Testing new Transmit downconverter

[John Langridge]

Oh I certainly understand that problem.  I've been fortunate so far with my 
yaesu rigs to be relatively stable and I realize that my situation may be the 
exception rather than the rule - both the FT1000 MkV and the FT 920 seem to be 
pretty good.

That said, I'm not too interested in the longer modes personally, and really 
prefer QSO's but I do think there is a lot of value in the data recovered from  
WSPR2.

Thanks again.  What I really like about this option is that it gives an 
affordable solution to get on than band that is not surface mount.  I am sure 
there will be others that come out of the woodwork shortly.

73,

John /XIQ/NJD




________________________________
From: pat bunn <pbunn at patbunn.com>
To: 600mrg at w7ekb.com
Sent: Thu, April 25, 2013 10:58:52 AM
Subject: [600MRG] Fwd: Re:  Testing new Transmit downconverter




-------- Original Message --------
Subject:     Re: [600MRG] Testing new Transmit downconverter
Date:     Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:56:15 -0400
From:     pat bunn <pbunn at patbunn.com>
To:     John Langridge <jlangridge at sbcglobal.net>



John,

The one that I built worked flawlessly also - That was not my point - The 
stability is in the transceiver driving the transverter - Most transceivers are 
not frequency stable enough in transmit mode to work with slow mode 
transmitting. They get hot and drift a few cycles.

If you can find a transceiver that will be stable during long 10-15 minute 
transmit cycles, you will have no problem.

Pat


On 4/25/2013 10:06 AM, John Langridge wrote:
> Hey Pat - sorry to hear about you experience.  The one I built based on the 
>G3XBM-design driving the GW3UEP amp worked flawlessly through the 2012/2013 
>season and continues to function pretty stable even using a 3.2 rock for an LO.
> 
> For CW I use a homebrew VFO and separate amp but could use the transverter with 
>good success.  I just hate dealing with the offset that the radio automatically 
>applies to the carrier freq which is why I prefer the home brew VFO.
> 
> John Molnar's board is very unique in that it has an option for and out board 
>10 MHz GPS locked LO instead of the crystal.  That is something I will look at 
>going forward. The board seems to do well and is good value for someone who may 
>be new to putting kits together and wants to get on the band.  I give it a 
>thumbs up so far and I am doing some tweeking this morning to make sure I got 
>the toroids wound properly.  My original downconverter does not use toroids but 
>had equal adjustments that had to be made to make sure I was getting max power 
>and best wave form.. Too bad we can't just wind them and put them in HI!
> 
> thanks for the comments.  SO far I like what I see on the board XKA designed.  
>Its certainly much easier than the dad bug design I used for the original box!
> 
> 73 and looking for you in the noise!
> 
> John /NJD/XIQ
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* pat bunn <pbunn at patbunn.com>
> *To:* John Langridge <jlangridge at sbcglobal.net>
> *Sent:* Thu, April 25, 2013 8:45:59 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [600MRG] Testing new Transmit downconverter
> 
> My experience with transmitting down converters is not all that good - actually 
>bad. They are easy to make from scratch, but the problem is with stability in 
>the transmitter or transceiver. I found my IC718 to be worthless for WSPR, 
>especially WSPR-15 even at 1 watt output due to thermal heating causing 
>significant frequency drift. I think Dex also had the same problem with a newer 
>ICOM tranceiver.  The IC718 set at one watt out got physically hot to touch 
>after a 15 minute WSPR transmission and was impossible to decode by Dex,  80 
>miles away( a very strong signal) due to drift
> 
> They are probably fine for CW, but for long QRSS or other long transmit modes, 
>you are likely to be disappointed.
> 
> After testing several different methods to stabilize the transceiver, I bought 
>a used HP signal generator to generate my transmit signal to feed the class D 
>Amps. I have this GPS disciplined and am very happy with this solution.
> 
> 
> Pat
> WG2XCT
> N4LTA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 4/24/2013 8:47 PM, John Langridge wrote:
> > First of all, let me say thanks to all of the stations that continue to 
>listen
> > and transmit on 630m as the days seem to get longer at an alarming rate and
> > noise keeps going up.  The last month has been brutal here in NTX but the 
>last
> > few nights have shown some improvements.  Thanks again!
> >
> > Tonight I am testing a new transmit down converter developed and kitted by 
>John
> > Molnar, WA3ETD/WG2XKA.  The kit is pretty sweet, with a minimum of parts and
> > appears to be capable of producing close to 20 watts using an IRF510 at 
13.6v
> > and around 2 amps.
> >
> > SO far I really like what I am seeing.  Anyway, I will be testing it tonight 
>but
> > plan on letting it run in some capacity over night, whether as exciter only 
>or
> > driving the amp, I have not yet decided.
> >
> > 73 and again, thanks for listening!
> >
> > John KB5NJD/WG2XIQ
> > _______________________________________________
> > 600MRG mailing list
> > 600MRG at w7ekb.com <mailto:600MRG at w7ekb.com>
> > http://w7ekb.com/mailman/listinfo/600mrg_w7ekb.com
> >
> 



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