47 GHz transverter

This 47.088 GHz transverter concept is a 9A4QV (Adam) design.
Only a few parts are needed and I will give them a try. A 12 GHz module, a Philips up/downconverter, IF-interface, IF transmitter/receiver and an antenna.







Click on image, download and extract my Excel sheet "Link budget v2.1" to calculate microwave links up to 1000 GHz. Calculation of atmospheric attenuation (ITU-R P.676-12) is included.

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

hdl_ant software by W1GHZ is a good choice to calculate a dual mode feed horn. It is a circular wave guide with a diameter of 4.8 mm and the aperture is 9.9 mm (depth of 15.5 mm).
Wave length = 6.4 mm
WR-28: 7.1 x 3.6 mm

3. Up/down mixer

I use a Philips ML202938-002 upconverter. It is mainly designed for 38-39 GHz but it works as mixer up to 47 GHz. IF has a wide range up to 10 GHz or more. LO should be less than 38-39 GHz because of the low pass filter after the tripler diode.

11736 * 4 + 144 IF = 47088 MHz, in this case LO is too high and LO filter degreases the signal

OR the preferred solution:

12240 * 3 + 10368 IF = 47088 MHz, in this case LO fits to LO filter



NORT PLL with mixer and dual mode horn:



In combination with my 10 GHz transverter (Philips module: LO= 12.5 dBm, max. IF= 12 dBm) I measured 0.1 mW at 47.088 GHz.
With a LO = 15-15.5 dBm I reached 0.2 mW. That's more than enough for this simple diode-mixer transverter. I guess LO power for the tripler could be up to 18 dBm and IF power should be max. 10 dBm.

Inside view of module:




There is also a Philips downconverter available, ML202938-001. We found no differences between down- and upconverter.
The label shows that there are "band 1/3" and "band 2/4" modules available for down- and upconverter. Again we found no difference.

4. PLL with 12240 MHz output

1st solution:

I use a modified NORT PLL to obtain 12240 MHz for the up/down mixer input. Inside the module is an additional controller to program the ADF chip after switch on.
See more under electronics.
Output power : 13.2 dBm



ADF4153 parameters for (internal) reference frequency of 20 MHz. VCO output is 3060 MHz and this gives 3060 *4 = 12240 MHz for the mixer.




2nd solution:

Another solution could be a CTI-PDRO oscillator with up to 15 dBm output power.
Current consumption @12V: 250 mA




3rd solution:

LO/3 power could be higher to get more power for the mixer and 47 GHz output. I built a 12 GHz LO module designed by DB6NT.
12.240 GHz ouput: 85 mW (19.0 dBm)
Current consumption @12V: 220 mA

5. GPS disciplined 122.4 or 127.5 MHz reference oscillator to set PLL reference input

I use the latest unit LBE-1421 by Leo Bodnar for the MKU10-G3. It has 2 separate outputs (3.3V CMOS level) from 1 Hz to 1400 MHz and it uses GPS reveiver for very stable output frequency.
Output power up to 13.7 dBm
Current consumption @ 12V DC: 250 mA

6. IF interface and IF receiver/transmitter

For the 3cm (10368 MHz) IF version I use a "Simple 10 GHz transverter" by DB6NT followed by the IC-705. See more here.

7. Accu Pack

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

8. Test results

19th of July 2020: First successful 47 GHz (SSB, FM) test QSO.