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

24 ghz horn

Left: feed f/D = 0.66
Right: feed f/D = 0.71

24 ghz horn

24 ghz horn



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.

wavelab module



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.

wavelab 24GHz addon module


5. Preamplifier

DB6NT preamplifier:
Noise figure: ~2 dB
Gain: 24 dB
Current consumption: 60 mA

24 ghz preamplifier LNA


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).

10 MHz OCXO 10 MHz OCXO


8. IF receiver/transmitter

Therefore I use my modified IC-705 to switch the transverter into TxOut mode.

IC-705


9. Accu Pack

I use a 12V LiFePO4 accu with 10Ah because of its light weight, only 1.4 kg.