Frank N. Bauregger, W6QI - Microwave Amateur
Radio Page
This past Sunday evening
after the Microwave Update Conference in
and AD6FP completed a 47 GHz
contact over a 343 km distance to extend the current
world record on that band.
Previous records were 313 km and 290 km, by AD6FP and
W6QI. W6QI operated from
Frazier Mountain DM04MS north of
operated from Pilot Peak DM07AS just
west of
on the W6QI end and about 8 dB
on the AD6FP end. The weather conditions were clear,
cold, and dry at both locations.
The station details are as
follows:
W6QI: 12" splash plate
dish, +10 dBm TX Power, 8 dB NF, OCXO locked
AD6FP: 36" Cassegrain
dish, +45 dBm TX Power, 4 dB NF, Rb locked
W6QI on
This past Sunday afternoon during the "10 GHz and Up
Cumulative Contest"
W6QI and AD6FP completed a 47 GHz contact over a 313 km distance to extend
the current world record on that band. W6QI operated from
DM04MS north of
south of
on the AD6FP end. The weather conditions were sunny, clear, warm, and dry at
both locations. An earlier attempt was made from
km path) at 0600 on Saturday morning with no results. However, after
successful completion of a 170 km QSO between Frazier and the valley floor
(DM06AB) on Saturday evening, it was decided to try
The station details are as follows:
W6QI: 12" splash plate dish, +10 dBm TX Power, 8 dB NF, OCXO locked
AD6FP: 36" Cassegrain dish, +45 dBm TX Power, 4 dB NF, Rb
locked
W6QI on
On Sunday afternoon (
and AD6FP completed a 47 GHz contact over a 290 km distance to set a new
world record. W6QI operated from Shuteye Peak DM07GI just south of
and AD6FP operated from Frazier Mountain DM04MS north of
had to brave 30 degree temperatures and snow for two tense hours while
modifying the radio in order to complete the contact. Signal margins were
>40 db on the W6QI end, so AD6FP sent his exchange by FM voice. Margins were
about 8 db on the AD6FP end so W6QI sent CW to complete the QSO. The weather
conditions were quite unusual for September with scattered rain showers in
the central
The station details are as follows:
W6QI: 36" Cassegrain dish, +10 dBm TX, 8 db
NF, OCXO locked
AD6FP: 12" splash plate dish, +45 dBm TX, 4
db NF, Rb locked
Follow this link for read an entertaining account of Frank’s adventures in the Sierras.
Figure 1 - W6QI with his 47 GHz rig on
! Click on this link to see photographs of the installation which occurred on
A 24 GHz Propagation Beacon
With help from Gary AD6FP, I've built a 24 GHz microwave beacon which will
be used in radio propagation studies and as a tool for optimizing microwave
communication antennas. The beacon is located on
24 GHz Beacon Specifications
|
Frequency |
24,192.014 MHz |
|
Power Output |
50 mW |
|
Antenna |
12 dBi Omni, Horizontal Polarization |
|
Location |
|
|
Elevation |
2,658 feet |
|
Frequency Accuracy |
+/- 1 kHz |
|
DC Power Consumption |
320 mA at -48 VDC, 15 Watts |
Block Diagram
The beacon design is rather simple in concept. Frequency accuracy is maintained by a 10 MHz oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO). A 96 MHz crystal oscillator (XO) is locked to this very stable reference. Next, a California Microwave "brick" oscillator is phase locked to the 96 MHz XO, and provides +6 dBm at 12,096 MHz. This signal is then fed to a frequency doubler, which is connected directly to the slot antenna. A PIC keys the power amplifier in the doubler to generate the morse code identification.
Photographs
The beacon is shown here in a weatherproof enclosure. The DC power connector is an N connector. The slotted waveguide antenna is shown extending from the top of the enclosure. The antenna has 8 slots per side. Kapton tape protects the antenna from moisture.
The main beacon plate contains all the RF and power supply circuitry. Shown here is the top side. The 10 MHz OCXO is visible at the upper left, and the 12,096 MHz brick oscillator is in the center.
The bottom side of the beacon plate contains the PIC Morse code ID'er at the upper left, and a phase locked 96 MHz crystal oscillator in the center. Switching power supplies are visible to the right.
The bottom side of the antenna plate supports an active doubler, which is connected directly to the antenna by means of a WR-42 waveguide flange.
2 Meter EME
Every year a group meets at the W6YX club station near the Big Dish to operate EME. Our setup this year is a Yaesu FT-847, 8877 PA, MGF 1302 LNA, and 2x9 element Yagis.
10/26-27/02:
Complete QSOs:
F3VS
HB9Q
KB8RQ
N5BLZ
RU1AA
Incomplete QSOs:
I3DLI (1)
I3DLI (2)
KB8RQ
Mystery Call
Can you pull the mystery call out of the noise?!
We will operate in November as well.
2002 10 GHz and Up Microwave Contest
I participated in the ARRL sponsored 10 GHz and up microwave contest in 2001
and 2002. In 2002, I managed to place 3rd in
Frank W6QI and Goran AD6IW on
Frank W6QI, evening before the contest.
Frank W6QI sweating in the
Frank W6QI, at
Frank, W6QI staking out an operating position on
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