The radio amateur's microwave communications handbook

192 Pages·1985·13.14 MB·English

by  Dave Ingram

THE RADIO AMATEUR'S
1594
COM ' · CA 10 S
HANDBOOK
DAVE INGRAM, K4TWJ
THE RADIO AMATEUR'S -
MICROWAVE
COMMUNICATIONS ·
HANDBOOK
DAVE INGRAM, K4TWJ
ITABI
TAB BOOKS Inc. .
Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
OtherTAB Booksby the Author
No. 1120 OSCAR: TheHam Radio Satellites
No. 1258 Electronics Projects for Hams, SWLs, CSers &Radio Ex
perimenters
No. 1259 Secrets of Ham Radio DXing
No. 1474 VideoElectronics Technology
FIRSTEDITION
FIRSTPRINTING
Copyright © 1985byTAB BOOKSInc.
Printed inthe United States ofAmerica
Reproduction or publication of the content in any manner, without express
permissionofthepublisher,isprohibited.Noliabilityisassumedwithrespectto
the useofthe informationherein.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Ingram, Dave.
Theradioamateur'smicrowavecommunicationshandbook.
Includes index.
1.Microwavecommunicationsystems-Amateurs'manuals.
I.Title.
TK9957.154 1985 621.38'0413 85-22184
ISBN 0-8306-0194-5
ISBN0-8306-0594-0(pbk.)
Contents
Acknowledgments v
Introduction vi
1 The Amateur's Microwave Spectrum 1
TheEarlyDaysandGearforMicrowaves- TheMicrowave
Spectrum- MicrowavesandEME-MicrowavesandtheAm-
ateurSatellite Program
2 Microwave Electronic Theory 17
ElectronicTechniquesforhf/vhfRanges- ElectronicTech-
niques for Microwaves-Klystron Operation-Magnetron
Operation-Gunn DiodeTheory
3 Popular Microwave Bands 29
CircuitandAntennasforthe13-cmBand-Designsfor13-cm
Equipment
4 Communications Equipment for 1.2 GHz 42
23-cmBand Plan-Available Equipment- 23-cm OX
5 Communications Equipment for 2.3 GHz 51
Setting Up a 2.3-GHz Amateur System-Expanding the
2.3-GHzSystem-QRPat2.3GHz-Antennasfor2.3GHz
6 Communications Equipment for 10 GHz 63
ABeginner'sSetupfor10GHz-AQuickandEasy10-GHz
Communications Setup-A High-Quality 10-GHz Com-
munications Setup-A Phase-Locked 10-GHz Setup for
Long-DistanceCommunications
7 Microwave Networking and Data Packeting 85
Computer Communications-An Expandable Networkfor
MultimodeCommunications-Packet Communications
8 Power Supplies for Microwave Systems 95
Transformers-Capacitors-Regulators-A Rugged
General-Purpose Power Supply-Safe-Stop Power
Supply-The Pick-A-Volt Supply-Nickel-Cadmium
Batteries-Natural PowerSources
9 Setting Up, Tuning,
and Operating Microwave Systems 111
Characteristics of 2.3 GHz and Lower-Safety
Considerations-Expansions and Refinements for
MicrowaveSystems
10 Interfacing Microwaves With
Television and Computers 119
Fast-ScanTVat2.3GHz-Fast-ScanTVat10GHz-Scan-
Converting Relays-Linking Home Computers via
Microwaves
11 Amateur RADAR and Intruder Alarms 128
RADARTypes-lntruder/Motion-DetectorAlarms-10-GHz
Mini-RADARConcepts-1Q-GHzAmateurWeatherRADAR
12 Microwave Exclusive: TVRO and MDS 141
TheTelevisionBroadcastingSatellites-HomeSatellite-TV
Reception-MDS: What It Is- Operational Concepts of
MDS-MDS-Band Equipment
Appendix A AMSAT · 153
Appendix B Phonetic Alphabet 159
Appendix C International "Q" Signals 160
Appendix 0 Great Circle Bearings
(Beam Headings) 163
Appendix E International Prefixes 168
Index 182
Acknowledgments
\
Creatingabookofthisnatureisn'tasimpleoreasymatter.Iwould
thus like to extend sincere appreciation to the followingfor their
assistance and information included in this book: Tom O'Hara,
W60RG; P C Electronics of Arcadia, California; Fred Stall and
the gangat KLMElectronics ofMorgan Hill,California;Steve and
DeborahFranklinofUniversalCommunications,Arlington,Texas;
AlfWilsonandthepublishersofhamradiomagazineinGreenville,
NewHampshire; andJimHagan,WA4GHK,ofPalmBay,Florida.
Thanks also to Microwave Associates of Burlington,
Massachusetts; Jay Rusgroove of Advanced Receiver Research;
andPaulDeNapoli,WD8AHO,ofENCON,Inc.,Livonia,Michigan.
Finally, a very special thanks to my XYL, Sandy, WB40EE,
forbearing(andsomehowsurviving)thetribulationsoftyping this
eighthmanuscriptonanotheruniqueamateur-radiofrontier.Here's
wishingallofyoutheverybestluckandsuccessinyourmicrowave
pioneering.
v
Introduction
i
Somewhere on a country mountaintop an amateur microwave
repeater system sits in a heated and dimly illuminated building.
The large dish antennas outside the building give only a brief
glimpse ofthe futuristic activity happeninginside. The system is
handlingvariouscommunications,rangingfromcomputerinterlinks
andamateur-televisionoperationstomultiplevoicerelays between
variouscities.Anadditionaldishantenna isrelayingsignalstowide
bandamateurcommunicationssatellitesplacedingeostationaryor
bits at various points around the world. Many miles away, the
amateursaccessingthis systemuse small hand-held transceivers,
or computer terminals;yet their operations can reach the world.
Fantasyland?Indeed not;this is the shape ofamateurtrends that
are being developed and activated at this time. Operational con
cepts ofthese systems are outlined inthis book. I sincerelyhope
you find this information both beneficial and inspiring. Once in
volved in microwave pioneering, you'll surely agree this is ama
teurradio'sultimatefrontier. AsI'vesaidmanytimes-inprevious
books and inmagazine columns-theGoldenAgeofRadio isvery
muchaliveandwell.Itlivesinthe highlyspecializedareas ofmod
ern communications technology.
Involvement with amateur microwaves need not be highly
technicaloroverlyexpensive.The idea,andtheformatofthisbook,
isthusorientedtowardsenjoymentinthe leastexpensivemanner.
This isn'tby anycriteria projected as a final word;indeed, every
vi
communicationsfrontier isan areaofcontinualimprovementand
change.Thelogicalwaytojoinsuchactivityissimplysecureastart
ing point (such as this book)and progress with evolutions. I hope
the ideas herein inspire your ingenuityand creativity, and I look
forward to hearing of your works.
vii

Chapter 1
I
The Amateur's
Microwave Spectrum
Theelectromagneticspectrum ofmicrowave allocations isoneof
the hottestandfastest-risingfrontiers inamateurcommunications
technology. This unique frontier offers a true kaleidoscope of
unlimited challenges and opportunities for today's innovative
amateurs.Althougharelatively unchartedarea until recenttimes,
today's microwavespectrumisgainingawidespreadpopularityand
rapidly increasingacceptance.This trendshows nosigns ofwan
ing;indeed, microwave communications are destined to markthe
path offuture developments in amateur communications. These
communications willinclude all modes, from data packeting and
multichannel television relays to multichannel voicelinks ofFM,
SSB,andcomputerinterlinks. Whilethe line-of-sightpropagation
associated withmicrowavecommunicationswouldseemtorestrict
its capabilities,such isnotnecessarilythe case. Thissituation has
been commercially exemplified in such arrangements as long
distance telephone microwave links, television microwave net
works, etc. These systems provide broadband cross-country and
intercontinentallinking.Transcontinentallinkinghasbeenaccom
plishedbygeostationarycommunicationssatellites. Amateurradio
isdestined toprogressinasimilar manner; furthermore, amateur
satellitescapableofprovidingtheseinterconnectfunctionsare be
ingdevelopedatthistime.Thefuture ofamateurradiolooksquite
promising and very exciting,and microwave communications will
playa major role in its developments.
1