|
Re: LZ 13cm transverter
G1DFL
Hristiyan, LZ5HP has confirmed that the first production batch of SG Labs Transverters for 13 cm band (V1.4a) are available for sale. See attached PDF for the spec, they have a 70cm IF and the units can also cover the NoV part of the band. Price is 210 Euro + 8 Euro for economy shipping. Payment can be made by Paypal as per the 23cm ones. Contact details on the SG-Labs website: http://www.sg-lab.com/amateur.html All queries and questions to Hristiyan. Regards...Pete G1DFL
On Monday, June 13, 2016 12:30 PM, "willis.mj@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: I am talking about the new 13cms model. Not sure how that could be misunderstood?
Mike
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: LZ 13cm transverter
Mike Willis
I am talking about the new 13cms model. Not sure how that could be misunderstood?
Mike
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: MMICs (was Modamps)
I think I'd agree, having also had only modest success using wafer scale chips. In my case it was the AD8312 log-power detector. Details of it, along with some photos are in June 2015 RadCom, page 40 That is a 1 x 2mm Ball Grid Array package with 6 pads spaced about 0.5mm. Connecting BGA chips mandates reflow soldering - there's no hot iron option there - and I did manage to do it after much effort. However, only 50% success rate as I managed to break one of the devices though rough handling. As Chris mentions, a vacuum pick-up is useful. I'd had recommended a dampened wooden cocktail stick and that does work with small components but not with that larger device. So the non-advised metal tweezers and sure enough, one chipped and damaged. Other one works fine and I have a decent 3GHz power meter for the -50 to 0dBm region with line-of-LEDs display So after reading Chris's comment below, won't bother ordering some to play with. After pondering a bulk Mini-Circuits order, went instead for Mini-Kits (AU) to stock up on a few ERA-1 for legacy stuff and some GALI-1 devices to try out. The chip Sam mentions looks good too - next Minicircuits order, worth getting a few Andy G4JNT
On 13 June 2016 at 10:07, Christopher Bartram cbartram@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
MMICs (was Modamps)
Christopher Bartram <cbartram@...>
(The term Modamp has been obsolete for a very long while ...)
As I seem to be the only person on this list to have actually used the VMMK-2203 (and also some other parts within that range) I can offer the potential insight that I've stopped using them! The devices work well (I used them in my 10GHz transverter boards) , but despite having a great deal of experience working with SMD devices, the chip-scale package is a complete pain to handle! It would be VERY difficult to solder using even a very fine soldering iron. I never succeded (and I use an ERSA soldering station with a 0.1mm bit for working with 0402s). Reflow worked OK - most of the time. Also, the package itself, being a liquid crystal is very fragile., and a vacuum pick-up tool is essential. I'm not sure if they are still currently manufactured. Had I continued with the transverter, I planned to replace the VMMKs with a (from memory) RFMD NBB310, even that, though, is a pretty long-in-the-tooth part. However, over the last few months some other devices have begun to appear which look even better, including some from Mini-Circuits, but I've not had time to investigate them. Vy 73 Chris GW4DGU --
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
G3GRO funeral - detailed arrangements
Chris G0FDZ
Hi folks
If you are coming to Derek's funeral this Thursday the detailed arrangements and information are attached FYI. Regards Chris G0FDZ
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
GORDONJ REASON <gordonj.reason@...>
Thankyou Neil ............... I've ordered some tips for my Antex , which I use withan Variac for lower temp stuff ....................
On 12 June 2016 at 23:29 "Neil Smith G4DBN neil@... [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
Neil Smith G4DBN
Can’t remember where I got the iron from sorry, it was about two years ago, but the tips it uses are these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soldering-Tip-Conicle-Solder-KD-M-1/dp/B007EWKMUA
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
The end of the tip is rounded and seems to work OK with even the smallest SMD Rs/Cs and gullwing chips etc, and it is OK for leadless chips, although something a bit more angular would be better. I’ve had one tip get stuck to the element and had to slice it off with a Dremel, and one of the five or so I’ve used so far needed dressing a bit to remove a sharp corner. It has a digital temp display, but no backlight, and it is a pain to use as a result. I keep leaving it switched on overnight because I can’t tell it is on or off…. There is another make which uses the same tips, it has three preset temps and a motion-detecting sleep mode, which would suit me well, so I might keep this one for seam soldering with a fat tip and get one of these for the fine stuff: https://www.amazon.co.uk/PREMIER75W-Digital-Temperature-Controlled-Soldering/dp/B00T0M9XWK. Not exactly a Weller, but then it isn’t Weller pricing… Neil
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
GORDONJ REASON <gordonj.reason@...>
where did you fond the 0.5 mm tip and for which iron , Neil ?
On 12 June 2016 at 18:47 "Neil Smith G4DBN neil@... [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
SAM JEWELL
The GVA123+ from MCL is just over £5.43 in small quantities and comes in the easy to use SOT89 package. It is rated to 12GHz and has useful gain at 10GHz WA5VJB's little PGA Amp boards, on Arlon low loss material, will take the 89 package. I have lots of the PCBs at £3 each! 73 de Sam
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: UKAC SHF - Some ideas how to get more folks active?
Ed G3VPF
Thanks Neil, will give it a try on my Android phone. Interestingly I have just received a message from Vodafone to say the local network in South Dorset will be disrupted over the next few days while it is upgraded. Hopefully that means we will have 4G available very soon. Ed G3VPF
On Friday, 10 June 2016, 17:58, "m0ghz.david@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: As one of the few stations that is active on all the SHF bands for the UKACs I find there is too little time to work everybody, especially when 13cm starts late. The activity on 6cm (narrow band!) in particular is very low and we need to encourage those with equipment to get back on. Many microwavers have to go portable to operate, evenings proabably makes it difficult for some.
I would favour combining the SHF UKACs with the weekend microwave contests, then we might get more activity. This would then give me (or Pete) the opportunity to enter the 6m UKAC! David M0GHZ
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: LZ 13cm transverter
Paul G8KFW
Hi I might be dum but the title is 13 cm transverter please elaborate as you talk about a 23 Cm, model From:
ukmicrowaves@... [mailto:ukmicrowaves@...]
Not sure
how many people have tried the new 13cm transverter that complments thier 23cm
model, but I have one on order and hope to check it out next weekend.
No virus found in this message.
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: RAL
Paul G8KFW
Hi mike Sorry I don’t understand your comet below was this related to another posting ? if so please include the origin posting / question / subject
From:
ukmicrowaves@... [mailto:ukmicrowaves@...] Not
this year because there were no available dates in June. This was because
all the weekends we could make were either major contests or local rallies. Posted by: willis.mj@...
Have you tried the highest rated email app? With 4.5 stars in iTunes, the Yahoo Mail app is the highest rated email app on the market. What are you waiting for? Now you can access all your inboxes (Gmail, Outlook, AOL and more) in one place. Never delete an email again with 1000GB of free cloud storage. .
No virus found in this message.
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
GMRT 2016 date announced
The GM Microwave Round Table will be on Saturday 12 November 2016. (Note the change from first to second Saturday this year.)
Details will be posted on the website as usual: GMRT - home
73 John GM8OTI
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
John Fell
Have several of the WDG Avantek devices if needed Neil.Trade for real Yorkshire puddings! John G0API
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
Neil Smith G4DBN
re: stereo microscopes and teensy devices:
I do like the look of those devices, thanks for the heads-up Andy. Not sure what their longevity of supply is though. Mouser show them as obsolete/discontinued, and even the VMMK-3803-BLKG is marked as obsolete, but RS and Mouser have stock of those at about a fiver each. 2dB NF, 18dB gain at 10GHz, same package. I can’t see anyone doing an alternative, so maybe time to find a cheap source and stock up on them like I did for the old Modamp devices in 1983 or so. I am down to my last two Avanteks... I use a scope like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/7X-45X-Binocular-Stereo-Microscope-Double/dp/B006QXBP6I and it has been superb for working on even the teensy DFN packages with 0.5mm spacing. The working distance is about 100mm, which is a bit too close if you are working on boards which are seam-soldered inside a box. The very long reach arm is a joy to use, leaves plenty of free bench space. I had to drill some small holes in the conical lens shroud to fit my ultra-cheap LED ringlight, but luckily it is radio-silent. I have a 0.5mm needle tip on a temp-controlled iron that works for most devices, but I have done a few boards using a 100x100x12mm aluminium slab on top of a single mains cooking hotplate. I use a fine hypodermic to apply medium-temp solder paste to the pads, then pick-and-place the devices under the microscope with tweezers. I have drilled a hole into the ally block and fitted a thermocouple so I can ramp up the heat to just under soldering temp, then use a hot-air reflow blower to do the final melt. I then move the block on to a cooling plate to ramp the temperature down. Haven’t killed any devices yet. If/when I mess up, I use one of those 15 quid soldering tweezer things to remove the offending device. Main use of the hotplate is for soldering LDMOS devices to copper heat spreaders, but for those I use 138C melting point solder paste rather than the higher-temp stuff. Neil G4DBN
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps [1 Attachment]
They turn up at rallies quite often. I picked up a nice one last year for just £40, two fixed magnifications. I'd had another stereo microscope that I got for £60 about a decade ago, that had a nice zoom. It came with had no support so I had to make a stand which actually made it a useful bit of kit, as I could then customise it onto an SMD soldering platform with metal tray / clamp arrangement. 'jnt
On 12 June 2016 at 15:11, GORDONJ REASON gordonj.reason@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
GORDONJ REASON <gordonj.reason@...>
Get one of these ...... Excellent value ........... make's a tough job easier .......... and get the 0.5 reducer ........... about £20 .... The ring light psu , is the best rf wideband source ever ............... so , swopped the dc socket wiring to a positive centre pole , and use a "normal" quiet dc supply ............... Incidently , for these very small packages , is there perhaps , a small infra red "iron" type device for soldering them in place ....
On 12 June 2016 at 14:43 "Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: LZ 13cm transverter
Keith D. Le Boutillier <keithl@...>
Hi Mike
Interested in your email do you have any further info or a web link
73 Keith GU6EFB
From: ukmicrowaves@... [mailto:ukmicrowaves@...]
Sent: 12 June 2016 14:50 To: ukmicrowaves@... Subject: [ukmicrowaves] LZ 13cm transverter
Not sure how many people have tried the new 13cm transverter that complments thier 23cm model, but I have one on order and hope to check it out next weekend.
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
LZ 13cm transverter
Mike Willis
Not sure how many people have tried the new 13cm transverter that complments thier 23cm model, but I have one on order and hope to check it out next weekend.
Very good price and lockable to 10MHz. Also capable of LO reprogramming which might be important for us. Mike
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
Re: Modamps
Where's your spirit of adventure ! A 1mm long package with three pads is no big deal ;-) And nearly twice the gain. 'jnt
On 12 June 2016 at 14:10, geoffrey pike gi0gdp@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
|
|||||||||
|
|
