SM5LE homepage

SM5LE links :  http://web.telia.com/~u14901546/home_page_no_3.htm  and  http://web.comhem.se/sm5le

My E - mail address :     

Page updated 25 okt 2009

SM5LE is EME QRT.

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SM5LE "picture findings" , SM5LE and the moon.

Picture 1 : note the short TX-coax cable 1.5m  7/8"  +  4m Ecoflex 15.

Picture 2 : note the "ballast weight" a blue plastic bag from the Swedish spirit company "Systembolaget", filled with 12 kg sand.

Picture 4 : note the apple tree ; "EME trimmed" branches :-)

Photo by Ann-Mari SM5LE´s  xyl .     November. 2008
 

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Many happy radio-amateurs here :

http://sm0fob.blogspot.com

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SM5LE moonvoice (at LX1DB) coverted to stereo afterwards.

" lima echo ... sugar mike five lima echo ... cq eme "

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/sm5le_eme_voice.mp3

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whoops, this can happen when doing 1296 MHz EME with 2.2m dish.

Transmitting  "T" and have a "U" back from the moon ! J

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/sending_T_rxing_U.mp3

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3_echo_samples_400W.mp3

The TX tone is 800 Hz and echo 550 and 375 Hz (just adjusting the pitch with RIT).

The echos is very VISIBLE !

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For sale :

Hybrid Coupler (3dB 90 º),  Anaren XC1400P-03S 

        25 kronor /st

Anaren XC1400P-03S data you find here :   http://anaren.com/products/index.cfm?c=12

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15th Italian EME Contest CW / SSB 2008

Band: 1296 MHz

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For sale :

Hybrid Coupler (3dB 90 º),  Anaren XC1400P-03S 

        25 kronor /st

Anaren XC1400P-03S data you find here :   http://anaren.com/products/index.cfm?c=12

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ARRL EME contest 2007 results here:

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/2007%20ARRL%20EME,%20Scores.doc

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Worked on JT65c : PY2BS 2.7m dish and 50w @ feed !

From Sao Paulo city in Brazil to Stockholm/Haninge via moon ! #My station

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/PY2BS_2.JPG    http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/PY2BS_3.JPG   

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/PY2BS_1.JPG    http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/PY2BS_4.JPG

Fantastic !

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Results from first leg in ARRL EME contest (18/19 Oct.)

Worked on CW , 19 QSO´s  (9 more than last year) :
 

OK1DFC , OK1CA , G3LTF , LA9NEA , HB9HAL , K1JT , SM4DHN ,
ES5PC , K1RQG , DL4MEA , OH2DG , DF3RU , ON4BCB , F2TU , HB9Q , VK3UM ,
SP6JLV , F5FEN (new#) , SD3F.
 

Comments from participants :

- I certainly noticed the extra ERP Sven, last night you were an excellent signal.

- I recognized that you were stronger with that new PA

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Improvements pays off. This is two echo tests (print screen) one from Dec. 2006 and one from Okt. 2008.

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Echo%20printscreen_2.JPG            http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/EKO_500_2.JPG

"a dB here and a dB there" makes ~10dB echo improvements.

The dec 2006 is without Septum ring and no insect mesh and no cavity LNA and app. 200W TX power

and 1.5 dB worse TX coax.

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The Kildal report (most of it advance theory)

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/kildal1997.pdf

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Nine (#9) stations worked in Italian EME CW/SSB contest (20-21 Sept.)

[power / dish diameter]

SP6JLW [4xBLV958 / 6.5 m], IW2FZR [TH308 / 4 m], IK2MMB [TH327 / 3.6m],

ON7UN [2 kW / 6.1 m] , K5PJR [300 W / 5 m], 

SV3AAF [1  kW / 3.6 m ], ON4BCB [350 W / 4.8 m], K5JL [1.5 kW / 8.5 m] and LA9NEA [250 W / 5.3 m].
 

Hrd : IK3COJ [300 W / 3.8 m] and UT5JCW [250 W / 3.7 m] and a station with "MM" in call. Probably VA7MM,
 

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Comments from some abt new PA :

- Wow, 3 dB helps a lot :-) Congrats on this big improvement!!
- Sven, I has received your signal very good yesterday.
- Hi Sven, congrats for the signal with the new PA.
- Bravos to SM5LE !
- Hello Sven, I experienced the difference comparing to the signal strength you had before the power increase, congrats!!

- Sven, A really nice increase in signal strength!

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Todays sigs : CQ from ON7UN   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/CQ_ON7UN.mp3

Todays echo with 500 W :  http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/3_echo_samples_500W.mp3

New init on CW :  IK2MMB 3.6 m dish  and TH327 in PA

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New JT init : RW6AG , 3.7 m 70 W.

Comments from some abt new PA : Tnx QSO Sven, an impressive improvement!
Well, your extra 3 dB is also very audible … you had an arm chair copy signal.

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 500 W

The "in-phasing" two PA´s was a success. By "coarse cutting" coax and fine tuning by a slide

the max output power and minimum unbalance was achieved. The setup http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/phase_setup.JPG 

The cutting procedur :  http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/fine_tune_phase.JPG   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Cutting_phase.JPG   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Cutting_diagr.JPG   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/pahes_scale.JPG  

The resulting unbalance is -27 dB at 500W. (only 1W is "burned" in the isolation port)

Very little (none) difference at the reduced power 150 W and max output was seen ,during phase tuning.

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Combining two PA (Power Amplifiers) with unknown phase.

The idea is to use the "Isolated" port in the "High-Power 3dB HYBRID RING COUPLER"  for monitoring power.

However MINIMUM power in this port, hopefully that will occur at the same time as maximum output power!

The minimum will be sharper than tune for max. output.

 http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Combining_1.JPG

 Using low power and CW dots (50% duty cycle) to start with, and going up smoothly in power will do the trick , I hope  J.  

Follow the combining story here. The equipment is installed and main power connected ... T.B.C. (To Be Continued)

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/PA2_ready.JPG       http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Combining_3.JPG      http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Combining_2.JPG     http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Devider1.JPG 

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Measured to day the "High-Power 3dB HYBRID RING COUPLER"  from RF HAMDESIGN.

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/RF_design_3dB.JPG

Insertion loss ( measured with NF-meter HP8970A [gain] ) ≤ 0.1 dB

Isolation 180° = 39dB  and   0° = 47dB ( measured with spectrum analyzer )

Reflection ≤ -30dB all ports ( measured with HP directional coupler 87300B )

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My ordinary PA is now cloned, if all goes well (phasing together etc) the result should be : 500W CW (400W JT) !

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/cloned_PA.JPG     http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/klonat_PA.JPG  

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       My very first attempt to do Software Defined Radio (SDR).

A Softrock v 6.1 RX (at 28 MHz, the 1296 MHz  IF) and a external soundcard E-MU 0202 at 176.4 kHz sample rate and a Lap Top with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (important) are used.    http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/EMU_0202_Softrock.JPG    Software is Rocky 3.4 .

For experimenting purpose I did use an external oscillator for the Softrock RX,  

from a shortwave RX , SRT CR302A. (the local oscillator, 28.0MHz)   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/external_osc_1.JPG    http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/external_osc_2.JPG

The X-tal inside Softrock was disconnected and replaced with a coax-cable for feeding the external oscillator.  http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/cable_1.JPG http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/cable_atandoff.JPG    http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/Softrock_external_osc_1_schematic.JPG  The SRT RX has an oven for the 5 MHz reference oscillator and very stable. Not really necessary for this application , only for experimenting ...  J

I can now easy see sigs from 1296.005 to 1296.090 MHz on my Lap Top.

The frequency scale is done the "SM5LE way" .http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/LapTop_1.JPG     

and a carrier on 1296.065 MHz.   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/LapTop_2.JPG

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http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/ARRL_Contest_Award.JPG

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http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/W7UPF_QSL.JPG

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SV3AAF dish picture.  http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/SV3AAF_dish.JPG

The dish was f/d=0.35 at 3.05m diameter, now it is f/d=0.30 at 3.6m dia.   ...

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New JT65C init : UE6YYY       3.7 m 75 W @ feed.      Russian Hamfest in Maykop  loc. LN04

Print screen : http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/bara%20myror.JPG

Waterfall speed : http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/UE6YYY%20slow%20speed.JPG

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SM5LE did measure moon echoes during the partial solar eclipse 2008 Aug 01 :

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/eclips%20and%20echos.JPG

The trend line shows maximum echo (min sun noise) for maximum eclipse. 

Is EME possible when total solar eclipse occur ... ?

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SM5LE  *EME*  SSB voice recording  !

(SM5LE recorded by PI9CAM)

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/SM5LE_SSB.mp3

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/SM5LE%20SSB%20voice.JPG

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New JT65C init : W7UPF 3m / 200 W   DM42

JT65c WAV-file here :   http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/W7UPF_JT65C.WAV  (use "save target"  ["spara som"] and open from inside WSJT)

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Uraguay QSL 

http://web.comhem.se/sm5le/DL1YKM_CX.JPG

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When looking for Hybrid Coupler (3dB 90 º) for TX , I realised that GPS band include 1296 MHz.

Can this little Anaren XC1400P-03S     handle 100W ?

Puff ... smoke   no L   !

But, YES !  With improved WirePac SWR and a cooling flange it is now delivery 100W .

The cooling flange is 1/4 l long so that "infinite" (upper) is transformed to zero (bottom) and

the Hybrid Coupler is grounded also to the air !    (  Is that true ... J ? )

Anaren XC1400P-03S data you find here :   http://anaren.com/products/index.cfm?c=12

Anaren_dB to  VSWR Conversion.pdf

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When using Wire Line or Wire Pac I always have used the calculator at http://www.filss.com/comp/hybrids_couplers.shtml when hybriding power modules together. But difficulties to get best SWR and insertion loss made me do an investigation. Find that, when using the calculator (and formula) the length should be 38 mm (1.52 inches) @ 1296 MHz, but when checking the resonant frequency it was under 1000 MHz! Start cuttings to have it on 1296 MHz ended up at 29 mm. The isolation, SWR and insertion loss become much better!

Reflection: from abt 12-15 dB improved to 20 dB. Isolation from 18 dB improved to 22 dB and best of all: insertion loss from ~0.5 dB to 0.2 B.

     100MHz/div          

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     10 Amp.  NTC-resistance

High "on current" problem solved !

When I turned on the 230 volt AC, high current blow the main fuse (10 Amp.).

The 5 power supplies didn't  start "in phase" maybe ...

I did put two NTC (paralleled) in series with the 230 volt AC and all went OK.

Type nr RTI SG64LF (ELFA 60-292-68 , 88 SKR)

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Finaly a SSB QSO !!! LX1DB was 55 at SM5LE and I was 43 at LX1DB. Vy super tnx Willi !

LX1DB_SSB.mp3

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Measured was: with metallic pole and with glass fiber pole. The metallic pole was simulated by wrapping Al. foil to the glass fiber pole. See pictures. Sun noise and WSJT echo's was used.

#3 different series ; Al. foil "on and off" was done. Mean value for echo's was N=10.

Results : the sun noise was 0.2 dB worse (less) with foil and echo's was 0.8 dB worse (less) with foil.

Those results goes for my 2.2 m dish.

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Measured sun noise vs. cm focal distance. Y factorfor sun noise level was measured and

the septum feed was moved forth and back from the dish.

Have also putted in the diagram from WSJT4 echo test for comparison.

Looks like the phase focal point is 2-3 cm in into the septum.

"0" , zero , cm is the edge/rim of septum and - (minus) cm closer to dish.

The peak are not at the same distance for the curves ; WHY ? comments are welcome.

see also :  http://web.telia.com/~u14901544/measured_focal_maximum_gain.htm

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Sunclose.htm

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SUPER Echo

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measured_focal_maximum_gain.htm

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My powerdivider with phaser here :  http://web.telia.com/~u14901546/home_page_no_3.htm

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Nice sigs from K9SLQ giving me 559 :  K9SLQ_559.mp3

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Mesh spetum feed and all pictures abt TX RX etc:  PICTURES CLICK HERE

All pictures abt dish here (this is a Picasaweb page) :  DISH AND SHACK KLICK HERE

CW and SSB EME sound recordings 2.2 meter dish here :  SOUND CLICK HERE

WSJT WAV files here : WAV CLICK HERE

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BIG sigs on 2.2 m dish !

HB9BBD_K9SLQ_HB9SV.mp3

Own echos not that big 

Eko_1_1.mp3     Eko_1_2.mp3      Eko_1_3.mp3

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All active (?) calls on 1296 EME that I know of  (Excell doc.) :

All calls more than 1.5 m.xls

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 SSB voice clip  ,G4CCH   Charlie Charlie Hotel.mp3

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 Sun shadow from choke ring adjusted !  PICTURES CLICK HERE

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QSL_pictures.htm

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My EME station , 1296 MHz :

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Summer 2006 - My N.A and S.A. window full of "greengrocery"                                   January 2007.

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SM5LE wrkd inits 1296 EME with 2.2 meter dish.  

      76 CW      +     31 JT65c   =   # 107 inits

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My  horizon.     All numbers are degrees.   I need decl. > 10 dgrd.

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Echotest after new LNA. The "Cavity LNA".

Indicating   ~1 dB improvement !

Meanvalue sig. -23.4 dB with Dgrd -0.8 dB

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WSJT echo test wtih old "Hairpin LNA" 

Meanvalue sig. -24.2 dB with Dgrd -0.6 dB

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   Conds 8-9 sept 07   Conds.htm 

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Echo test with new Cavity LNA

(Compared with "old Hairpin LNA")

aprox. 1 dB improvements !

Sun noise measurements. Difference between old "hair-pin" LNA and the new cavity LNA:

aprox. 1.4 dB improvements ! note: flux 74 and 78 difference is 0.2 dB

The groundnoise to cold sky did rise from 4.5 to 5.0 dB

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Echo testing with WSJT (TX:ed with WSJT4 and RX:ed with WSJT6).

Left "hairpin" LNA (NF=0.4dB) and right cavity LNA (NF=0.3 dB).

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Measured the difference for an OK1DFC septum feed with and without choke ring, on my 2.2 m dish.

Also measured was ; with poor, almost zero, grounding for the ring on the septum feed.

The outcome from these measurements must be that it is an advantage to have a choke ring also for a 2.2 meter dish.

 Note: Test equipment; Attenuator R&S ”RF step Attenuator” 0.1 dB step and AC voltmeter HP400FL.

Measuring BW ~5 kHz (max for TS-2000) AGC off and RF gain middle , AF gain almust max.

The WSJT echo test is mean value for #20 TX/RX cycle (also note ; higher number [in -dB] is weaker signal).

The diameter for the ring is 42 cm and deep 12cm and possision behind rim 0(zero) λ .

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My choke-ring blockage. (In theory).

2.2 m dish is 38013 cm²

Area for ring (42cm diameter) is 1385 cm²

Fictive area: 38013-1385 =36628 cm²

Fictive dish; radius is: r²  = 36628/2π = 36628/6.28 =5833 and √5833=76cm. Gives diameter = 1.52 m

Gain for 2.2m 26.73dBi (VK3UM software)

Gain for 1.5 m 23.31dBi

And finally; ring blockage: 26.73-23.31= 3.42dB

And without ring: Square septum (OK1DFC) 14.9x14.9 cm = 222 cm²

Fictive dish 38013-222=37791 cm²

r² = 37791/6.28 = 6018 and r=√6018 = 0.78cm and diameter 1.55 m.

Gain for 1.55m 23.60dBi

Gain for 2.2m 26.73dBi

And "naked" Septum blockage : 26.73-23.60=3.13dB

And difference (ring minus”naked” septum) 3.42-3.13=0.29 dB so the ring will add only  ~ 0.3dB blockage.

(Hope that I am right now – hi)    The above is wrong . This is the right solution :

The signal power intercepted by a dish is directly proportional to its aperture (cross-sectional area).  If the aperture of dish without the ring is 38013 cm2 and the active area of the dish with the ring is 36628 cm2 then the loss in signal power due to blockage by the ring is:  dB = 10 log (36628/38013) = -0.16 dB. 

So ; not ruch for going to offset dish of blocking reasons.

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Superlatives.htm

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My E - mail address :     

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Number of visitors: started 15 januari 2007

This is my first attempt to create a home page for my hobby amateur radio.

 My first name is Sven. Born 1940 in Stockholm , Sweden and got my A-license 1961.

My main interest is moon bounce on 1296 MHz. I am using a 2.2 meter dish .

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