UHF/SHF

23cm Wide/Narrowband

For 23cm I started out with ATV Amateur Television with a 24 element JVL design Loop-yagi antenna made from copper brake pipe and aluminium U section about 2m long. This worked very well for Receiving ATV and has a reasonable amount of gain, but I managed to get hold of 2x28 element G3JVL yagi's off-the internet on G3CWI's site including a 1W ATV transmitter. This was bought in dec 2003, the gear finally came in may 2004! ! ! The guy who I bought it off had some family problems and the gear was not one of his main priorities! All was ok in the end but I was about sick of waiting! ! .
Anyway, these antenna's were phased together and improved the 23cm setup dramatically and with the transmitter I could join in with the other local stations finally.

Next on 23cm I bought a transverter from gm4wll, a kit made by DEM in the USA.
Now I can hear the GB3MLE beacon over 80km away at S7 all the time, with the old homebrew antenna it is only about S1 ! ! Since then I have added a preamp on 23cm and switching relays at the top of the mast for tx/rx and replaced all the coax with mostly Andrews heliax LDF4-50 which reduced losses A LOT, this is the way to go with microwaves :)

Currently on 23cm i am using the Yaesu FT-736R 23cm module which i purchased in early July 05, this is a lot more stable than the transverter and the tx quality is much improved, but with the cable loss i have to the antennas i needed an amplifier. I recently bought a 23cm PA from DG0VE rated at 60W and this is fitted in a remote box at the bottom of the mast (with the 2m/70cm/13cm PA's) driven from the 736 in the shack to cover the cable losses.

1.2GHz Block diagram Wide/Narrowband

New 23cm Amplifier installed for both EME and tropo setup:

Amp installed in the remote Amp/pre-amp box.

(Handy diagram: Yaesu FT-736R 23cm module schematic (5Mb) - I hope you never need it !)

Recordings from the Tropo opening in Late January/Early February 2006 on 23cm SSB.

DJ7JG

DJ6JJ

DK6AS

DM2AFN

F1ANH

DX in 2007

LA3EQ

OZ3ZW

DX in February 2008 3 new squares worked :-)

OZ5BZ

SM7ECM

PA2M

DX worked on 23cm since 2005 from IO94IL

Updated August 2008

Mast Control Setup

2006: Currently updating the antenna setup with all amplifiers and antenna switching done at the bottom of the mast.

Shack Control Box : PTT control and monitoring of the remote power sensors etc..

23cm Remote Unit : New 23cm Amplifier from Bert, PE1RKI installed giving >100W (can't yet measure!)

Try this simple Sequencer by G3SEK, works a treat. Only difference is that i used a 2200uF for a longer delay.

Mast Remote Cabinet : Currently seeking a weather proof cabinet to house the 2m/70cm/23cm amps, pre-amps, relays, batteries etc..

Photos:

23cm GB3MLE beacon aircraft scatter

2M Dish