W4DEX MICROWAVE PAGE
I am active on all microwave bands, 1296 MHz thru 10 GHz, with the following equipment:
1296 MHz The antenna for this band is a 45 element loop Yagi (just left of the 5.7 GHz horn) Coax is 7/8" pressurized air dielectric. Rig is a SSB Electronics LT-23 transverter with a 144 MHz IF. The IF rig is a Yaesu FT-221R which is dedicated as an IF radio for all bands 903 MHz thru 10 GHz. IF switching is done manually with an IF patch panel. A pair of 2C39 tubes provides about 200 watts of RF output.
2304 MHz The antenna here is another 45 element loop Yagi (just below the 1296 MHz antenna) Coax is 7/8" Heliax. The transverter is based on a "no tune transverter" board and uses surplus Farinon amplifier boards. Power output is 5 watts.
3456 MHz The antenna.....yes, you guessed it....a loop yagi. (just above the 5.7 GHz horn) Coax is 7/8" Heliax. The transverter is a combination of surplus items, a TVRO LNA, California Microwave LO and Western Electric power amps. Output power is 7 watts.
5760 MHz The antenna at 105 feet is a homebrew 20 db horn made from sheet copper. A short section of Superflex around the rotor connects the antenna to pressurized elliptical waveguide. The transverter is a collection of surplus items, a DR-6 preamp for the front end and an Aventek 10 watt power amp for the output.
10 GHz The antenna is a 24 inch diameter "Kruth Special" fed with a section of WR-90 flex connected to EW90 pressurized elliptical waveguide. The transverter is made from SSB Electronics boxes which were assembled by W4OJK (sk). A modified Ku band LNB is used for the LNA. Power output is courtesy of a Hughes TWT capable of a little over 20 watts. T/R switching is done with a waveguide relay.
The tower is 100 feet of Rohn 45G. View to the far horizon is 30+ miles in all directions.