BATC Forum

UPDATE!!!

Sunday 10/08/13 I made a test TX with the stand alone digilite at 3406MHz and 20 watt amp using a small patch antenna. This was RX'd by M0DTS Rob.

Tonight I finished the antenna a double helix Horizontaly polarized omni. Tested it for SWR and obtained a better SWR result than the patch antenna 1.2:1 (havnt tryed tuning it yet as seemed to work straight off, Hope it radiates ok design says 7dBD gain)

Next step isto make the mounting brackets and carry out test TX to Rob with this antenna before water proofing it.
If you want to join in get the antennas put up ready for this Sunday weather permitting.

Regards
Terry G1LPS

pictures to follow

14-08-13
Tonight tested the double helix Horizontal omni antenna.
Rob managed to RX the 4M/s TX at a good signal and qulity level.
Now to water proof the antenna and mount it for more tests Sunday

Regards
Terry

NOV arrived Friday 13th September. over 3 years since applications started to find a new output frequency.
Equipment is ready to go but had trouble trying to mount the antenna last night to switch on.
My bottle went while on the roof and failed to mount it.
Any one got a couple of sky hooks I can borrow Hi hi.
Having a re think what to do as KM's Mast is getting too heavy to be easily handled now.
Plan in the meantime is to modify the antenna bracket to stand it off the mast below the repeaters rotator, which will allow testing to take place until a solution is found.

Get your sytems ready.
Regards Terry G1LPS

Some time since an update so here it is

On the 21st December the antenna was successfully mounted in a gale and rain storm. (The wind had dropped so went for it, but got caught out "never again"!!)
Switch on of the repeaters 3406 MHz DVB-S output was made at 16:00.
Thanks Rob for putting your mast up in the strong winds to confirm it was radiating ok.
Confirmation was 28km to an open waveguide LNB.

The antenna is an Alford slot which is mounted on top of the two 10ghz slot antennas in a single newly constructed fibreglass radome.

Other RX report so far was from Brian G3KJX/P also braving the rain and winds who received it 75% quality and signal with the LNB and a small feed horn both on the ground and in the back of the car at 50km range. Thanks Brian

One year 3 days since the 3.4 GHz output application was made. Not bad!!
A couple of firsts here I think
First repeater on 3.4ghz in the UK
First repeater using a Digilite / mk808 combination. Anyone know of another?

Still to do is sort out the video feed to the TX some interference present on the video.
Tweak the TX for a better constellation
and mount the thing in the rack unit as it’s currently across my work bench to allow tweaking.

Cheers and beers all have a good Christmas
Terry G1LPS

Hi Terry,

Good news, like this, keeps us all going.

Best 73's

Peter

Excellent - well done team and you did beat me to it!

It will be very interesting to see what 3.4GHz really is like - make a good CQ-TV article

Best 73's to you all in KM land and have a great Christmas.

Noel - G8GTZ

Yes well done Terry & the the KM guys, great to see ATV enthusiasm at its best, I'd love a try at 3.4Ghz next, nothing within range around here at the moment, but you never know what the future holds in store, all the very best for Xmas & 2014, Tony

Hello,
Happy to report super pictures from GB3KM with a "quick and dirty" horn antenna.
Located indoors in my loft, gain about 15dB and using the Panorama ER-863 lnb from BATC at Finingley.
Only a sniff of a signal with bare lnb but the horn makes a considerable difference.

Microwaves do work in lofts

Regards,
Eddie
G0EHV

Eddie,

Great idea, but you should have used a Waitrose box - it would have been worth at least another 2 dB

73

Noel

Hello,
I've had a few requests on the KM stream for horn info.
See attached file. Drawn half size on graph paper (Thats an analogue medium!)

My horn was made from M&S Taste the Difference cardboard and covered with aluminium foil before folding.
Other cardboard may work just as well Tinplate or solid brass, copper or what have you would be better outside

Don't forget the extra material shown to enable a simple flange and seam joint.
I stuck my flange to the lnb with double sided stick pads.

Regards,
Eddie
G0EHV