New circuit boards for 23cm and 13cm Pluto

[DL5BCA]

With these circuit boards, it's relatively easy to get on the air on 23 cm and 13 cm with a Pluto or similar antenna.

More information here: https://dk6jl.de/wordpress/shop/

I received no benefit from this message. I just find it interesting.

73 Thomas DL5BCA

[g0mjw]

These "non-transverter" type boards are effectively everything in a transverter apart from the mixer and are the answer to filtering for the Pluto. EME Kits were producing a range but since the customs rule changes not really viable.

I did wonder if it might make a useful BATC project to design a board that could take various filters with a gain block to enable the pluto or lime to be used on 4m-6cm. However, that idea was shelved when the LimeRFE came out, which does exactly that.

Instead for my own use I have tended to build individual amplifier/filter units from old BNOS amplifiers. Many people will have old BNOS PAs or wonder why I keep looking for broken ones at rallies. After removing the existing amplifier parts, the 50W BNOS amplifier heatsink/cases are great for building 3W DATV PAs into using the 20W Mitsubishi bricks or similar pallets. The 100W BNOS heatsink/cases can take larger PAs and produce over 10W from the 70W modules, MRF300 or XRF286s PAs. The powers might seem low but that is with acceptable shoulders over 40dB down. On SSB etc you get a lot more power.

So, the question I have is should the BATC develop a project or should we just buy (as in make it possible to get them from the BATC shop) these DK6JL boards? I am a bit worried about that switching supply and two modamps in series can be troublesome, especially when followed by a filter, but otherwise it seems a sensible layout. I would not use a POT on 23cm or 13cm RX and I don't think DK6GL would either so that photo must be a VHF version.

Mike

[radiogareth]

I wonder is a 'multi-band' board could be produced, a bit like the 4 band unit from the filter-modulator board?
Maybe use the 8 way switch and cover 2m -10GHz....
There is a HF version that uses Pin-diodes but I'd guess that they won't work well above HF??
Gareth

[M0NDE]

Gareth

Filtering after my Pluto is my next step. Who in BATC could take say a 2m/70cm/23cm filter board forward as a PCB project?

There must be someone with this skill level

73 Nigel M0NDE

[DL5BCA]

Hello everyone,

Perhaps you'd like to check out CAT2020 (I hope I got the year right).

Alex EA4BFK presented his multiband board for the Pluto.

Here a spanisch presentation: https://www.ea2rcf.org/galerias/galeria ... onados.pdf


When using such a board for multiple bands, you also have to operate the power amplifiers/coaxial relays, etc., behind the board. This involves a lot of measuring, switching, and configuration.

It's quite demanding.

73 Thomas DL5BCA

[DL5BCA]

@Mike,

I bought a 13cm version and it arrived yesterday.
The picture isn't of the VHF version; it's definitely for 13cm.


This section is called "Getting Started".
It should provide suggestions on how to easily transmit/receive with a Pluto on a 23/13cm.

73 Thomas DL5BCA