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Re: IS IT JUST ME
John McCarthy
As someone who goes out portable it is hard work, as others have said 2mtrs is becoming almost pointless as the amount of power it requires to work the same distances I manage on 3cm is just too much. Battery life is a key factor in all this, if you want to last any amount of time on air it all has to be thought about. So I don't bother with hi power on 2mtrs I mainly use KST or more increasingly mobile phone. Maybe a whatsapp type group is needed ? As I do agree KST can be a bit tedious at times, especially when it's busy. One other thing I enjoy going out portable and I think that's a key factor in what ever way we go, keep it enjoyable don't make it to hard work 😁
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
John Fell
I gave up on running my masthead 10GHZ 20W TWT system over 10 years ago for all the previous reasons . I called for one way ,1/2 point , contacts a couple of times during the afternoon yesterday , when several were calling CQ for 10G and had no replies . I live on what passes for a good take off in this area (IO80) and regularly log several beacons , so I know my system capabilities . Surely even 1/2 points over 200 + km would be worth the effort , when activity has gone a bit slack ? Maybe we should just register a uwavers phone data base and use that for skeds - yes , I know it can be abused , but anyone in that frame of mind will soon become visible and I doubt they are amongst this group. 73 John G0API
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
Nick Peckett G4KUX
I will agree with David that conditions were down today, certainly when
compared to last months session, although the WX was better for the /P stations.
I don't use KST2ME and prefer the traditional KST set up which I’ve used
for years, and very comfortable with.
Living in a good tropo QTH I find that 144175 is practically useless, in
fact the odd time I have used it to set up contacts I usually find the stations
concerned are better copy on 3cms than 2M, generally because they are at
250-300k and using 10W to a 3-9ele ant, and this just doesn't cut the mustard
over these distances, add to that the increasingly noisy environment that is
what the 2M band is becoming today and you have some of the reasons that .175 is
not working. It was originally adopted in the days of WBFM where contacts of
100klmish generally were generally the order of the day, but in these days on
3cms where virtually everyone has NB SSB/CW and a few Watts of power, the ranges
of 3Cms contacts has vastly increased to the point where 2M from a small set up
just isn't adequate over the distances involved.
While KST might have it’s problems, it’s the best vehicle available for
setting up contacts and I cant see any alternative at the moment.
Nick G4KUX
From: g4asr@... [ukmicrowaves]
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2017 10:00 PM
To: ukmicrowaves@...
Subject: Re: [ukmicrowaves] IS IT JUST ME Well here I heard a fair bit of traffic on 144.175 from IO93 down to IO80 and across to IO91. Indeed stations needed to move to 185 to avoid causing qrm.
You do need a 'proper' aerial of course.
I always find 'KST irritating with stations asking for skeds and then
disappearing to work someone else.
I found conditions very poor on 3cm,, stations that I can normally work,
like G3XDY (JO02) or G4KUX (IO94),
were virtually inaudible. It just seemed like firing into a wet
blanket. Only 14 QSO's in 8 squares.
73 David G4ASR
IO81MX
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
Well here I heard a fair bit of traffic on 144.175 from IO93 down to IO80 and across to IO91.
Indeed stations needed to move to 185 to avoid causing qrm. You do need a 'proper' aerial of course. I always find 'KST irritating with stations asking for skeds and then disappearing to work someone else. I found conditions very poor on 3cm,, stations that I can normally work, like G3XDY (JO02) or G4KUX (IO94), were virtually inaudible. It just seemed like firing into a wet blanket. Only 14 QSO's in 8 squares. 73 David G4ASR IO81MX
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
Ed G3VPF
I used KST2ME, but had great difficulty seeing the screen in bright sunlight. I also had trouble attracting attention. To get it working at all I wasted a significant amount of time moving the mobile phone aerial around to get any sort of internet connection. I had 2m, but only by time-sharing the rig with the microwave i/f. I too heard no-one on 144.175. Can anyone confirm which aerial polarisation is generally used? Vertical is the easiest but I guess most will be on horizontal. Recently I have used text messages with some success. There does not appear to be an easy answer to this problem so I guess we will each sit on our preferred talkback method. Ed G3VPF
On Sunday, 27 August 2017, 21:14, "Adrian whatmore g4uvz@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: I was using KSTME but is was still of little use today On Sunday, 27 August 2017, 21:04, "Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: Well, I finally managed to master KST2ME and once you've set it up with the sounds and things, and follow the rules it becomes useful - which is more than can be said for the main KST itself.
In a /P environment, it might actually be persuaded to work provided the Inet connection keeps-up But couldn't believe how quiet 144175 was 6 stations on 5760 from home. Andy 'jnt On 27 August 2017 at 20:53, g4uvz@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
Adrian whatmore <g4uvz@...>
I was using KSTME but is was still of little use today
On Sunday, 27 August 2017, 21:04, "Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: Well, I finally managed to master KST2ME and once you've set it up with the sounds and things, and follow the rules it becomes useful - which is more than can be said for the main KST itself.
In a /P environment, it might actually be persuaded to work provided the Inet connection keeps-up But couldn't believe how quiet 144175 was 6 stations on 5760 from home. Andy 'jnt On 27 August 2017 at 20:53, g4uvz@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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Re: IS IT JUST ME
Well, I finally managed to master KST2ME and once you've set it up with the sounds and things, and follow the rules it becomes useful - which is more than can be said for the main KST itself. In a /P environment, it might actually be persuaded to work provided the Inet connection keeps-up But couldn't believe how quiet 144175 was 6 stations on 5760 from home. Andy 'jnt
On 27 August 2017 at 20:53, g4uvz@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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IS IT JUST ME
g4uvz@...
Well I was all ready for a great day working all the stations on the 10GHz contest! As Andy has said .175 was very quiet but there were many stations on KST..mostly French. Operating from home I had a good internet connection but try as I might, I had great difficulty getting contacts. Stations called looking for contacts called them on the keys...no Go. Last contest I worked a dozen stations ..mostly set up on 2M but quite a few direct on 10G Today I worked 3 stations two of which were set up on 2M It seems to me that /P stations probably can't see the wood for the trees maybe we need a dedicated KST type system for inter G contacts?
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Re: ADF5355 Signal Source
Mary Echternacht <scootiebug02@...>
Thank you, I just bought one of his boards. 73 AC0PY Richard
From: 'Bob VK6KW' rlockley@... [ukmicrowaves] To: "ukmicrowaves@..." Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2017 02:32:30 PM EDT Subject: RE: [ukmicrowaves] ADF5355 Signal Source Hi Richard, Try:
73, Bob VK6KW
From: ukmicrowaves@... [mailto:ukmicrowaves@...]
Can anyone give me the email address for Wayne? AC0PY Richard USA
On Thursday, August 24, 2017 03:19:48 PM EDT, DougF uwaves@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
Greetings to all readers!
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Looks like 144.175 really has died
I may not have much of an antenna (2 element ) but to hear NOTHING on 144.175MHz for uWave talkback really does seem a bit poor Still, KST2ME all seems to work, so ... 'jnt
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Re: Activity list for the UK Microwave Group 5.7GHz and 10GHz contests - Sunday 27th August
G1DFL
And another late entry: Pete G1DFL/P IO91NM Remenham Hill (Good to the South and SW) 10GHz 0.2W 60cm Dish 144.175MHz SSB, KST, 07713 432632 Planning for 2pm to 3.30pm Also 24G
On Sunday, August 27, 2017 9:43 AM, "'g7jtt@...' g7jtt@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote: Sorry very late entry G7JTT IO90LX53 2W 3cm sky dish 2mtr or 07762112271 talkback
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Re: Activity list for the UK Microwave Group 5.7GHz and 10GHz contests - Sunday 27th August
John McCarthy
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Re: Calibrating an RF detector
Mike Willis
Hi Terry,
I have of of those and also one of the OLED versions. I calibrated it against a signal generator which I believe is fairly accurate. It was within 2dB and much better in relative accuracy rather than absolute accuracy, i.e. measuring changes in power, so for example very useful to determine an amplifiers 1 dB compression point. You said you don't have one of those but they are often made available for testing at microwave round tables, as are good quality power meters that you can compare against. The next RT near you can be determined from the UKUG website. There may also be a local amateur with the right gear that can help. Bear in mind that these chips have some thermal drift so you also need to calibrate against temperature. In practice, they are not really for accurate metrology but as very useful when used with a directional coupler to verify the TX is more or less working. Mike
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Scottish Microwave Round Table 4th November 2017
Brian Flynn GM8BJF
The website is now open for bookings. It is at
http://www.gmroundtable.org.uk/ To book a place follow the link in the right hand side bar "Links to forms" and it will take you to the booking page. The bookings for the daytime events and the dinner are separate. The programme follows the tried and tested format of previous years. There are four main talks, the bring and buy/trade tables, the test and measurement facilities and of course the Museum of Communication exhibits. The speakers are:
In the evening there will be the dinner in the Kingswood Hotel about one mile east of Burntisland with the usual entertainments, (the Microwave Band!). Look forward to seeing you there. 73s Brian Flynn GM8BJF
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Re: ADF5355 Signal Source
Bob Lockley VK6KW
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From: ukmicrowaves@... [mailto:ukmicrowaves@...]
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 6:17 AM To: DougF uwaves@... [ukmicrowaves] Subject: Re: [ukmicrowaves] ADF5355 Signal Source
Can anyone give me the email address for Wayne? AC0PY Richard USA
On Thursday, August 24, 2017 03:19:48 PM EDT, DougF uwaves@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
Greetings to all readers!
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Re: Calibrating an RF detector
geoff Blake
First, you need to decide exactly how accurate you need to calibrate the sensor. RF power is notably fickle in this aspect. All but the best, most well equipped calibration labs are hard put to measure much better than +/- 5% over the range you speak of. Before other folk raise their pens to criticise me, at certain spot frequencies better figures are attainable. In amateur circles I cannot see that any better than +/- 10% is necessary. Of course your amateur SWR/power meter will be much better than this :-) 1) check the RF sensitivity of the device, i.e. RF in to outputted reading. This is the primary step and is best done at 0dB or 1mW. This is probably best done with the 1mW 50MHz reference fitted on many HP and other power meters. This power meter should have been recently calibrated - the specified power drift of the reference source is 0.7%/yr IIRC.OK, to sensibly and reasonably accurately calibrate a RF power sensor, you need to: 2) check the return loss of the sensor. Obviously, any reflected power is going to reduce the readout and make the sensor read low. This needs to be done at several frequencies over the range. 3) look at the linearity of the sensor, i.e. if you reduce the power by 10dB, the output reading should reduce by 10dB. 4) Check the noise floor of the sensor, i would expect this to be about -60dBm and would increase the error at -50dB by about 10% or so. In practice, and in an amateur world, I would choose Francois's option first, although I would go easy on the good beer, at least until the measurements are all finished :-) Andy's proposal, just to use the spec. sheet figures, would probably produce significantly better results that those of a typical SWR/power meter or dare I say it, a Bird model 43 system. Good luck Geoff G8GNZ ################################################# Geoff Blake, G8GNZ JO01fq: Chelmsford, Essex, UK <geoff@...> or <melecerties@...> Using Linux: Ubuntu 14.04 on Intel or Debian on UltraSparc and Apple OS X El Capitan on my Macbook Pro. Avoiding Micro$oft like the plague. #################################################
On 26 August 2017 at 15:54, Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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Re: Calibrating an RF detector
Feedback and PIN attenuators are fine, but how do you calibrate your 1mW in the first place? You need an accurate power level or meter to compare with. CMAS gates can work OK ish. Use AC series gate which at 50Mhz will be giving a reasonable squarewave its ouptut resistance is about 10 ohms so use 39R reistor and connect to 50R load. You now have a 2.5pk-pk square across your 50R load, that is delivering At the fundamental that is 2.5 * 4/pi = 3.2V pk-pk or 25mW = 14dBm Use resistors / attenuators appropriately. But remember that level is at the fundamental only. If unfiltered, harmonic components will add. 'jnt
On 26 August 2017 at 17:58, GORDONJ REASON gordonj.reason@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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Re: Calibrating an RF detector
GORDONJ REASON <gordonj.reason@...>
to give me a 0dBm , (1 mW ) source at 50 Mhz .............. I use a Xtal oscillator ........ and buffer .......... followed by a single , +V , pin diode attenuatror . the rf output is rectified with a shottky diode . That DC is fed to one input of an opamp . The other input is a DC reference from a TL431 . The output + feeds back to the PIN Diode attenuator , via a small resistor , and the opamp has a multiturn pot in the feedback path ..... Works like a charm ...... It's not inmportant to use a Crystal osc .......... the frequency is your choice .....
On 26 August 2017 at 15:54 "Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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Réf. : Re: Calibrating an RF detector
On 26 August 2017 at 15:54 "Andy Talbot andy.g4jnt@... [ukmicrowaves]" wrote:
First of all, download the datasheet for the AD8317 and study that to see what you've got
As the eva luation board you have "probably" has no additional DC conditioning on the output or RF gain or attenuation, until you can prove otherwise, it'll probably do what it says in the datasheet in terms of Vout vs Pin
'jnt
On 26 August 2017 at 15:50, terry.bailey@... [ukmicrowaves] <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote: Hi all, I have one of these I it works fine but I don't have any idea how to calibrate the readings I am getting from it. I don't have a reference source. I do have a spectrum analyser which is good to 10GHz, but it is totally uncalibrated and somewhat temperamental. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Cheers Terry
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Re: TF2600B
g4bao
Sorry Ed. I missed the 'B' Need to engage brain before typing ! 73 John
On 26 Aug 2017 08:49, "Edward Harland g3vpf@... [ukmicrowaves]" <ukmicrowaves@...> wrote:
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