10 GHz: An Introduction to the X-Band for Amateur Radio

[Moleculo]

This is a video that I shot with Gordon West, WB6NOA that is a pretty neat introduction to 10 GHz. It describes the equipment you need, how it works, and most of the basics to get you started. I hope you enjoy!

10 GHz: An Introduction to X-Band for Amateur Radio - YouTube

 

[gamegetter]

good info...

San Bernardino Microwave Society

 

[Robb]

'Flexible wave guide'?
How does that work?

Xlnt job, Tim and Gordon.
Great info.

The plus and minus of the Xband are the same, in that they are so directional and so easily interrupted. One would need to have a repeater on the mountain; but even that has a limited angle of view IMO. But I really don't know anything about it; those are just observations at this point.

 

[Moleculo]

'Flexible wave guide'?
How does that work?

Xlnt job, Tim and Gordon.
Great info.

The plus and minus of the Xband are the same, in that they are so directional and so easily interrupted. One would need to have a repeater on the mountain; but even that has a limited angle of view IMO. But I really don't anything about it; those are just observations at this point.

Flexible Waveguide - I had never seen it before either.

Here's a link that explains a little about it: Flexible Waveguide

The distances these guys get on 10 GHz is quite amazing actually. Gordon told me that he's talked from Costa Mesa to the other side of the San Bernardino mountains up to the high desert. According to him, the "holy grail" of 10 GHz on the west coast is to make a contact in Hawaii.

 

[gamegetter]

Is it not like dx? you hear the beacon and start calling cq...

on edit: the rest being up to conditions.?

 

[Robb]

Sooooo; the flexible waveguide is kinda like a tuned 'hose'. The 'transducer' is where the coax plugs in; and then the microwave freq's are 'piped' through this flexible waveguide down to an antenna that reflects it coherently. That is a pretty slick trick. Wonder what materials they use inside that 'pipe'?

Does the same xverter converrt 10m and 2m?
Or do you run a separate unit for either?

What is ultimately the purpose and 'plus' that this freq can provide the amateur?

 

[Moleculo]

There's actually no coax except between the 2m radio and the transverter. Everything between the transverter and the antenna is either waveguide or directly connected because of the ridiculous line loss at 10 GHz.

The tranverter doesn't convert BOTH 10m and 2m: It converts from whichever band you prefer to start with. Something like an Elecraft KX3 or Yaesu FT-817 would be a good choice to drive a 10 GHz tranverter because you only need a small amount of power and they are also both battery powered.

Is it not like dx? you hear the beacon and start calling cq...

on edit: the rest being up to conditions.?

Everything on this band is pretty much either a sked or done during contest. With skeds, you have people trying to make a contact over a distance just to see if it's possible.

What is ultimately the purpose and 'plus' that this freq can provide the amateur?

It's fairly experimental, although it has become somewhat popular in Europe and on the east coast of the U.S. Any place that has antenna restrictions can benefit from this type of setup because you can use pretty small dishes. The distances and number of contacts that people are making in Europe with really pretty small amounts of power is pretty neat. The whole setup can be made really portable, as well.