UHNE electronic GmbH

MICROWAVE COMPONENTS
 1,3 GHz Transverter MK2
DB6NT 4.2003

1. Introduction

The new version of the 23cm transverter is an improved circuit of the transverter described in
1991 (8). By use of modern semiconductors and refinement concerning cooling and the easy
replication of the circuit a further optimisation of the Transverter had been possible.

The current Transverter is a singleboard construction on RO4003 substrate. The receiver has a
noise figure of typical 0.6dB at more than 20dB gain.

The transmitter achieves an output power of more than 1.5W in a frequency band of
1296...1298MHz at an IF of 144MHz. The spurious rejection is better than 60dB. Harmonic
rejection is better than 40dB.

Everything -TX, RX, LO, IF-Switch and T/R-control is on a single board housed in a
55x74x30mm large box from tin-plate.

For tuning only a simple detector is necessary. All filters are helical filters with restricted
tuning range. The restricted tuning range of the helical filters doesn’t allow tuning on ‘false’
resonance.

2. Description

LO
The proven ‘simple’ XO uses the FET SST310 in a grounded gate circuit. The crystal
frequency for a 144 MHz IF is 96 MHz. The coil is tuned by the usual ferrite tuning screw. A
heater which is mounted on a 40° C thermostat crystal stabilizes the crystal temperature and
keeps the frequency drift in limits. Extra pads are provided for fitting additional capacitors
which can be selected for temperature compensation. For normal use in a restricted
temperature change environment the stability is sufficient. But for more serious work a
special outboard solution like the OCXO from DF9LN is required. This can be fed in at the
source of the SST310, as indicated in the circuit diagram. The crystal and the heater have to
be removed in this case.

The XO is followed by a quadrupler to 348MHz which utilises a BFR92P transistor. The

fourth harmonic is filtered by a helix bandfilter and drives the tripler with the BFG 93A. The
output filter selects the harmonic at 1152MHz. The power at this point is around 5mW
(7dBm).

T/R-Switch
The IF-port of the mixer is terminated by selectable attenuators for transmit and receive.
These are switched by PIN-Diodes BAR64-03W to a common IF-connector. A voltage of at
least +9V, which can be supplied by a FT-290 for example, activates the T/R-switching.
Other brands of 2m transceivers have to be modified accordingly.

Whilst this method of T/R-switching via the IF coaxial cable is quite elegant, also a separate
method via the PTT-manual input can be accomplished.
An extra output is fitted for TX+, which can be used for external coaxial relays or PA’s. This
output must be guarded by a 0.63A fuse. It is not safe in case of short circuit!

RX
The RX-chain uses a HEMT- Amplifiers (NE32584C) and a second stage with a INA03184C
MMIC from HP. The Gain of >30dB makes an extra IF-amplifier obsolete. The stages are
coupled with a helical filter F4. The second stage is coupled to the mixer via then PIN-Switch
and a second helical Filter F3.

TX
After the PIN-Switch and the helical Filter F3, which is used both for receive and transmit, a
INA 10386 MMIC from HP follows and drives via a second helical filter F5 the Mitsubishi
hybrid M67715.

The Mitsubishi hybrid can deliver around 1.5W output. A directional coupler with a BAT15-
03W Schottky diode allows for a monitor voltage of the RF output power.

3. Construction

To achieve a successful construction of this transverter the builder has to have

experiences in the use and handling of SMD-parts. Furthermore experiences with
smaller projects in microwave circuits are valuable. In any case the construction of this
Transverter is not a beginners project.

The usual ESD protection measures should be obeyed.

Construction Steps

1. Solder the walls of the tinplate box and trim the PCB for fitting into the tinplate box.

2. Mark the holes for the SMA-connectors

3. Drill holes for SMA-connectors and feedthrough caps.

4. Solder PCB into the box. Use a 10.2mm high piece of wood as a ruler to find the
right height adjustment.

5. Insert the LM7808 (B) regulator into the PCB (Remove middle pin of the regulator!). Drill
two holes for the heatsink and one hole for the regulator into the side wall of the box. The
heatsink should be lie in the mid of the PCB. Diameter of the holes is 3mm.

6. Mount the parts onto the PCB. Mount the feedthrough caps. Solder the helix filters.
Solder the regulator LM7808 (A) with its heatsinks to the wall of the tinplate box.
The FET BUZ171 should be fitted to the PCB by holding it tightly down and soldered.
Clean the finished PCB with alcohol. The tuning screws of the resonators should be
removed. Dry the module in a stove (1h at 80°C) or over night lying on a central heating.

7. At least mount the LM7808 (B) and the PA-hybrid. For the latter some heat sink compound
should be applied.
4. Alignment
The following steps are necessary for the alignment of the transverter:

1. Apply 12V. Use a current limited (<0.6A) power supply. Check the voltage at the output of
the fixed voltage regulators.

2. Measure the collector voltage at the BFR92P (Testpoint M1). Turn the tuning screw of the
oscillator coil until the decrease of the collector voltage indicates the proper oscillation.
The
measurement should read around 5.8V.

3. Measure voltage at M2. Tune bandfilter F1 (348MHz) to minimum voltage

(about...5.5V) at M2.

4. Connect dummy load or antenna at input connector of RX.

5. Adjust 10k pot for a reading of 2V at the drain of the RX-FET NE32584C.

6. Connect 2m receiver at IF connector. Turn RX-Gain and TX-Gain pots fully CCW. You
will observe an increase in noise level. By tuning the helical filters F3 and F4 you can
maximise the noise output. If there is an indication of more than S1 at the 144MHz
transceiver you should adjust the RX-Gain Pot accordingly.

7. Connect a 50 Ohm dummy load to the TX output. Switch transverter to transmit by

grounding the PTT input. Drive the transverter with 1...3W on 144MHz. Measure
the monitor voltage at MON OUT. It should read 2...3V. Adjust TX-Gain pot to a
reading of about 1V. Now the helical filter F5 and the LO-filter F2 can be readjusted
to maximum output.

8. Reduce the TX-Gain by clockwise rotation of the TX-Gain pot until the TX output starts to
decrease. A value 80% of the maximum assures linear operation.

9. Connect antenna to RX input. Adjust the XO until a known beacon reads the correct
frequency. If the correct frequency cannot be adjusted solder a 220nH choke in parallel to
the crystal.

10. Take low resistance carbonised foam and glue it into the bottom cover. This damps the
resonance of the Box. The heatsink should be mounted onto a chassis plate to further
reduce the thermal resistance.

A 1,3GHz coaxial relay is usefully for RX/TX switch.

Ready! Go on for QSO!

My special thanks to Lorenz, DL6NCI. His support and the discussions were mandatory for
the success of this development. Also my thanks to Gert, DG8EB, Richard, DF5SL, and to
DG8NEI, DL4DTU and DG2DWL, who verified the reproducibility of the design by building
this transverter.

Literatur:

1.) ROGERS company, Data sheet RO4003

2.) NEC Data sheet NE32584C

3.) SIEMENS Data sheet RF- semiconductors

4.) NEOSID Filter Data sheet

5.) Philips Halbleiter Data sheet

6.) TOKO Data sheet Helixfilter

7.) Mini- Circuits Data sheet Ringmixer

8.) „Transverter for 1,3 GHz by DB6NT“ DUBUS 3.91 (DUBUS Buch III)

Purchase:

Ready made modules and kits:

KUHNE electronic GmbH,

Scheibenacker 3
D-95180 BERG
Tel.: 0049 (0) 9293 800 939
Fax: 0049 (0) 9293 800 938
Email: [email protected]
http://www.db6nt.de
All rights to the author DB 6 NT Michael Kuhne

For operating the high frequency modules the legal instructions have to be considered.
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 Precision crystal heater QH40A
This precision crystal heater provides temperature compensation for
crystals, usually found within crystal oscillators. The assembled
circuit, which is built on AL2O3 ceramic substrate, should be
mounted against the crystal using heat shrink tubing. The circuit
heats the crystal to a temperature of 40.8° C with an accuracy of
better than 0.1° C. This provides high frequency stability over the
temperature range of -5 to +40° C. This crystal heater is a reasonable
alternative to completely heated OCXO´s.
Reverse polarity of the supply voltage can lead to the destruction of
the circuit. Thin wires should be used for the connections to avoid
heat transfer and mechanical load. For operation in ambient
temperatures of 10° C or below, add some polystyrene insulation.

Specifications:
Adjustment tolerance: 40,8 °C +/- 1,5 °C
Regulation accuracy: better 0,1 °C
Operating voltage: 8...12 V
Inrush current: ca. 80 mA
Dimensions mm: 10,5 x 14,0 x 3,5

1. 2. 3.

1. The wires should be soldered to the pins provided. The S

shape of the wires (figure 1) reduces the mechanical load on
the heater plate (figure 3).
2. Warm the heat shrink tubing to hold the circuit next to the
crystal (figure 2), ensure that the temperature is not too high.
3. Installation of the crystal heater (figure 3)