3.4GHz gain solution perhaps?

[radiogareth]

I bought a couple of these from Mainline Electronics https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wifi-max-Aer ... 2749.l2649
and other than having to cut the heat-sealed lip off the finished box these flat-plate arrays look promising. Theres also a couple of 'expensive' looking TXCO (?) lurking on the control board which I will look up later.
Hoping its got some sort of match at 3.4, on the experiment later with Satsagen and a directional coupler.
Opinions welcome.....

Gareth

2020-10-19 17.39.12.jpg (78.61 KiB) Viewed 5869 times

[radiogareth]

This is the TXCO http://www.quartz1.com/downloads/Tecdoc ... 496C4).pdf 2.5ppm with a control input. Might be of some use somewhere, just removed and tested it.
Gareth

[g8gtz]

These look similar to, but not identical to, the Airspan units described on this wiki page:
https://wiki.batc.org.uk/3.4_GHz_DATV

The original airspan units are easily modified for 3.4 and run ~ 200 milliwatts....

Noel

[g0mjw]

With the Stealth 20W PAs so readily available and cheap might make a useful 3.4GHz TX.

Mike

[radiogareth]

Thanks for the pointers and links, these units only have 'phone and network' connections into them, and what looks like a couple of small TX strips into a tiny combiner. Each half is based on a RFMAGIC chip one each of 2000 & 3000. Its all VERY small though so I doubt its worth any salvage or reuse attempt when I can use a Pluto or Lime and as Mike says, a Stealth amp (got one, and an Ionica PA). Bought mainly for the PCB aerial as a dual Bi-quad I made didn't seem to match very well.
Start of the chain is http://www.rfmagic.com/rf2000.asp, last device is a https://www.qorvo.com/products/p/RF5117
Think the technology has moved on really, but a radiating element is still a radiating element .....
Gareth

[M0DTS]

Yes these are quite different to the Airspan ones, i have one they sent to me quite a few years ago to investigate it's possibilities but i didn't get that far due to lack of datasheets etc.
The layout it not well suited to bodgers!
Output power was a bit low too.

If i remember correctly the antenna is not a great match at 3.4GHz (more like 3.5GHz) but will be ok for Rx.

Rob

[radiogareth]

So, inspired to try, I set up my Satsagen with my -40dB return loss bridge, set SSG to scan from 3.3-3.6GHz and with a 50R on the out port ran the calibration routine to 'normalise' the measuring.
Then I connected the FPA to the out port and got the following trace which I THINK shows it suitable for both TX and RX.
Easy enough to fix a suitable SMA socket on the back.
Comments??
Thanks
Gareth

2020-10-21 11.22.21.jpg (186.69 KiB) Viewed 5718 times

3_4GHz_flat_plate_16_ele.jpg (150.45 KiB) Viewed 5718 times

[M0DTS]

Better than i remember
I may have to re-visit that antenna sometime then...
Rob

[G1ZAR]

If you removed the TX/RX board, would there be enough room to include an SG-Lab transverter within the original housing?

[radiogareth]

For my usage, its portable Langstone with a 15W Ionica amp on one, RX on the other. Unfortunately the case is plastic-welded together and doesn't lend itself to repurposing, much as I would like to. Be easy enough to make a sheet metal frame and simple Radome for something more permanent.
Gareth