24 GHz transverter III (wavelab system)
1. Offset dish and tripod with pan/tilt mount
Same design as for my 76 GHz transverter and pan/tilt head.
2. W2IMU dual mode feed horn
Slightly modified new version for better receive performance: f/D = 0.66
It is a circular wave guide with a diameter of 9.5 mm and the aperture is 19.3 mm (depth of 30.4 mm). As it is not easy to make inner 29° angle this horn consists of 2 parts.
Wave length = 12.5 mm
WR-42: 10.7 x 4.3 mm
Left: feed f/D = 0.66
Right: feed f/D = 0.71
3. Wavelab Transverter
It is a 23GHz WAVELAB 23x1008xp module bought on eBay.
Tx - PA: 21.2 - 23.6 GHz
Noise figure: 3.5 dB
Output power: max 2W
See here.
4. PA0MHE wavelab addon PCB
PA0MHE has designed an addon PCB to convert the surplus Wavelab 23 GHz module to 24 GHz ham band.
On Github you will find all information about the Wavelab-24G-Addon-module.
Here is another information by KM5PO about the Wavelab project.
5. Preamplifier
DB6NT preamplifier:
Noise figure: ~2 dB
Gain: 24 dB
Current consumption: 60 mA
6. SMA relay and sequencer
The sequencer is a bi-stable switch with common (-) for my latching coaxial relay.
7. 10 MHz reference oscillator to set PLL reference input
Here I use a nice unit by PCS electronics.
It is a an OCXO 3-channel signal generator (330 kHz to 330 MHz) with an extra 10 MHz output (3.3V CMOS level).
8. IF receiver/transmitter
Therefore I use my modified IC-705 to switch the transverter into TxOut mode.
9. Accu Pack
I use a 12V LiFePO4 accu with 10Ah because of its light weight, only 1.4 kg.