North

W5HN
Texas

NTMS
Microwave
Society

Portable 3 cm EME with a

1 meter Offset Fed Dish

Al Ward W5LUA
July 28, 2018
Central States VHF Society
Wichita, Kansas

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Texas

10 GHz EME in EM10cf – July 2014 NTMS

Microwave
Society

W5LUA Portable 10 GHz Setup

WA5YWC

W5LUA

WA5YWC built the dish mount and feed for the 35 inch (.89m) prime focus dish
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WA5YWC / W5LUA Texas

NTMS

Portable 3 cm EME Station Microwave

Society

• W5LUA Rover Rig consisting of a 25 watt TWT and a system NF of

1 dB
• 2 m WR-90 Flexible waveguide with 0.5 dB loss, compare to 2m of
flexible .25 inch cable which will have 2 to 3 dB loss!
• What really matters for EME is what is the performance at the feed.
• Measured performance at feed was 22 watts power and a noise
figure of 1.5 dB
• Combined with WA5YWC’s 35 inch prime focus dish with a VE4MA
scalar feed resulted in 5 dB of sun noise.
• Moon noise = 0.2 to 0.25 dB, making it easy to track and or calibrate
az/el by moon noise which is a plus.
• Net result was an easy JT-4F QSO with OK1KIR who was running a
4.6 m dish and 50 watts
• So what is next?
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Next Generation IF NTMS

Microwave
Society

• The Flex-1500 provided excellent performance

plus a built-in panadapter and software
controlled VAC (virtual audio cable) and VCOM
(virtual com port) to connect to WSJT
• The only downside was the whole system is tied
to a computer.
• I decided to try the Elecraft KX-3 and PX-3
combination for a rover/portable EME IF
• Laptop only used for WSJT

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Texas

KX-3 & PX-3 as MW IF NTMS

Microwave
Society

Connections to Computer
Mic, rcve audio, and USB

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Texas

Next Generation EME Setup NTMS

Microwave
Society

• No matter what size dish one uses for EME, there are a
couple of things that should always be considered.
• Mounting the LNA at the feed is a major goal in building
an EME station.
• Generating the most power possible at the feed is also
important.
• I use TWTs at home in the shack but only so I can take
advantage of having high power on both EME and tropo.
• Since my 25 watt rover TWT decided to “let the smoke
out”, I figured it was time to try some “SSPA” power…..

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Texas

New LNA / SSPA Feed Assembly NTMS

Microwave
Society

Pin =
Avantek Discrete Qorvo
+2dBm
+28dBm +38 dBm +47dBm (50w)
WR-75 Waveguide Relay

From DEMI XVTR R T

50 Ω Termination
T R
Feeds DEMI 10 GHz XVTR ~ 4 dB NF Feedhorn
LNA
<1 dB NF, 20 dB Gain

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Texas

GaN Power NTMS

Microwave
Society

• Triquent (Qorvo) has

some rather nice but
pricey parts for 10 GHz.
• Charlie G3WDG did a
nice write-up in DUBUS
on a 50 w part for 10
GHz- I decided to give
this part a try in the
rover set-up
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Texas

TGA2312-FL @ 10 GHz NTMS

Microwave
Society

TGA2312-FL G3WDG Power Supply Board

50 watt device at 9
dB gain
Vdd = 24V
Idq ~ 2A
Id max = 4.5 to 5A
Device mounted to a
copper or nickel plated
aluminum block

G3WDG can help with

the PCB

Cost $1050 from

Mouser but compare
at over $3500 for
German made
amplifiers
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Texas

G3WDG FET Sequencer Board NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

Surplus Corrugated Feed Horn NTMS

Microwave
Society

These are typically designed for

12 GHz

ID drilled out to .875 inch to

accept the OD of standard .75
inch water pipe

.75 inch copper pipe can then

be formed into WR-90 and then
soldered to WR-90 flange

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Texas

New Portable Set-Up NTMS

Microwave
Society

Heavy duty manual AZ-EL mount built by

TerraCom that was originally used for
portable point to point microwave link with
a 4 ft fiberglass dish

Mounted a 1 m Winegard off set fed dish

to mount
Gain ~ 37 to 38 dBi
3dB BW ~ 2.2 deg
First null at 2.8 deg

Extended and raised feed support arms to

handle weight of new feed/wg
relay/LNA/SSPS

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 Improved Feed Platform &
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Texas

NTMS

Relocation of Feed Support Arms Microwave

Society

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Manual EL over EL over AZ Texas

NTMS

Portable Mount Microwave

Society

The AZ-EL table provides Course

El adjustment while the bolt
arrangement shown here
provides fine El adjustment

Plan to replace wrench with a

small actuator

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Texas

Feed/LNA/50W SSPA NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Sears Digital Level Used to Texas

NTMS

Calibrate System Elevation Microwave

Society

After calibrating elevation on “sun” noise, it was determined that the angle of
the feed support arm was approximately 3 degrees below actual sun elevation
on “my” offset fed dish – this value gets us close..

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GR-1216 for Measuring Texas

NTMS

Sun & Moon Noise Microwave

Society

However, the only way (or the best way) to track the moon with a “field or
portable setup” is by moon noise ……

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Texas

DL0SHF 10GHz EME Beacon NTMS

Microwave
Society

• 10368.024 MHz
• Your actual received frequency will be
higher or lower based on your mutual
doppler with grid JO54cg
• 7.2m dish and 50 watts
• QRV when moon is above 10 degrees
elevation in JO54cg
• IDs CW and QRA-64D
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Doppler from the Moon NTMS

Microwave
Society

• Due to the relative rotation of the moon

with respect to the earth, the doppler of a
transmitted signal reflected from the moon
on “moon rise” is at a maximum “positive”
frequency offset.
• Conversely on “moon set” the doppler is a
minimum “negative” frequency offset.
• When the moon is at zenith, the doppler is
zero
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Texas

Doppler Varies with Frequency NTMS

Microwave
Society

• Doppler scales with frequency

• Where maximum doppler may be .3 kHz at 144
MHz, the equivalent doppler at 10368 MHz will
be 10368/144 = 72 X .3 kHz = 21.6 kHz at
10368 MHz
• This is considered your self doppler…where
your echoes will be based on your transmit
frequency
• And there is mutual doppler…where you will
hear the other station based on your location
and the other station’s location
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W5HN Doppler Options – both North
Texas

NTMS
stations must agree Microwave
Society

• First option – Call CQ and listen on my self doppler frequency, i.e

10368.121 MHz as an example…normal operation on 1296 and below
• Second option when scheduling - listen on our mutual doppler
frequency, i.e. 10368.100 MHz based on my location and the location of
the station calling..more common when scheduling on 10 GHz CW
• Third option – I do the mutual doppler correction on both receive and
transmit for the other station…typically home station does this for a
portable station
• Fourth option but most desirable “out in the field” –
I transmit and receive on prearranged frequency of 10368.050 MHz –
works well if station calling us has capability to offset their transmit and
receive frequency based on mutual doppler between his 6 digit grid
square and our portable location
• Fifth option – CFOM “Constant frequency on moon” – actually the best
option if both stations are GPS frequency locked…..
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W5HN Constant Frequency on Moon North
Texas

“CFOM”
NTMS
Microwave
Society

• Fifth option – Constant frequency on moon “CFOM” – actually the best

option if both stations are TCXO or GPS frequency locked.
• A station’s self doppler is the offset in frequency of your echoes relative
to your transmit frequency. Self doppler is based on the relative position
of the moon with respect to your location and is based on the total
distance to the moon and back to earth.
• As an example on 10 GHz, if your self doppler is +20 kHz then the
doppler to the moon is only 20/2 = 10 kHz. This is the basis of CFOM.
• Example…Pick a CFOM sked frequency of 10368.1 MHz. If half our self
doppler is +10 kHz then we will transmit on 10368.090 MHz and listen
on 10368.110 MHz
• All stations that can see the moon and are using CFOM on 10368.1
MHz will appear on my radio at 10368.110 MHz…..plus as a bonus, I will
always hear my echoes as well.

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W5HN Constant Frequency on Moon North
Texas

“CFOM”
NTMS
Microwave
Society

• Requires precise frequency control for frequency accuracy and stability

over time.
• In my rover I use an ISOTEMP 10 MHz reference. Takes about 10 or 15
minutes to temperature stabilize and is generally within 200 Hz at 10
GHz which is more than adequate. Stability is very good over time.
• At home I use an HP Z3801A with 10 MHz output.
• As a second 10 MHz reference, I use a Trimble GPS receiver with a
small remote antenna mounted on the window of the shack window.
• Most important.
The signal must fall within the passband of the WSJT waterfall
The signal must be constant in frequency over the length of a
transmission.
Otherwise decoding will be difficult.

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Texas

Precise Timing is Required NTMS

Microwave
Society

• Dimension 4 works great if an internet

connection is available.
• For remote / rover operations consider the
Microsoft 360 USB GPS timing piece and
IZ1BKT’s program bkttimesync. The latest
version will keep correct time with an internet
connection, GPS connection or with an I phone.
• http://www.maniaradio.it/en/bkttimesync.html

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Texas

K5GW DOS Tracking Program NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

F1EHN EME System V7.0 NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

HB9Q Logger NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Results in Rochester, MN in Texas

NTMS

July 2016 Microwave

Society

• 8 QSOS on JT-4F
• Worked OZ1LPR, HB9Q, G3WDG,
OK1KIR, WA3LBI
• Heard and called SP6JLW on CW with no
success. SP6JLW was armchair copy
most of the time calling CQ
• Now on to results at MUD in St. Louis….

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Texas

NTMS
Microwave
Society

Microwave Update Conference

St. Louis, MO
October 13 & 14, 2016

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Texas

G3WDG at 2257Z NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

OZ1LPR at 2305Z NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

OK1KIR at 0033Z NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

K5GW QSO NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

Big surprise – G4CBW called us! NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

Screen at G4CBW – 1.5m dish/75W NTMS

Microwave
Society

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Texas

Results in EM48ss NTMS

Microwave
Society

• 8 QSOs on JT-4F
• Worked G3WDG twice, OZ1LPR,
OK1KIR, WA3LBI, K5GW, G4CBW, and
OK1CA
• Highlight was working G4CBW who was
running a 1.5 m dish and 75 watts

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W5HN
VK7MO Operating Location at North
Texas

QH19, the most Northerly Grid NTMS

Microwave

locator on the Australian mainland Society

1.13m Prime Focus Dish and 90 watts SS

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Grids activated over the last few years on Texas

NTMS

3 cm EME by Rex VK7MO Microwave

Society

OK1KIR’s grid map

showing the grids
they worked Rex in

The high lighted

grids are on Rex’s
recent grid run in
2018

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QRA-64D QSO with VK7MO Texas

NTMS

QH24fk Microwave
Society

Stations start QSO by sending 1000 Hz tone in WSJT and view received signal
in waterfall

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QRA-64D QSO with VK7MO Texas

NTMS

QH24fk Microwave
Society

When one station, usually dx station, is content with signal strength,

he sends 1250 Hz indicating it is time to send messages

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QRA-64D QSO with VK7MO Texas

NTMS

QH24fk Microwave
Society

The QSO is completed in a short amount of time

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Random QRA-64D QSO with Texas

NTMS

VK7MO QH17hu Microwave

Society

No internet required
Just time and frequency
with CFOM mode

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Texas

WSJT1.9.1 NTMS
Microwave
Society

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“Full Doppler to DX Grid”

Texas

NTMS
Microwave
Society

Sets your receive and transmit

frequencies based on the
mutual doppler between your 6
digit grid square and the 6 digit
grid square of the station that
you are attempting to work.
This allows the other station to
merely set their receive and
transmit frequency on the
“sked frequency” and operate
transceive and you do all the
“hard lifting” with doppler. This
mode only works between you
and the station that you are
scheduling.

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Texas

“Own Echo” NTMS

Microwave
Society

Sets your transmit

frequency on the “sked
frequency” and sets
your receive frequency
to your echo or self
doppler frequency.
Useful for hearing your
echoes at your location
only.

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Texas

“Constant Frequency on Moon” NTMS

Microwave
Society

Sets your receive and

transmit frequencies such
that the “man on the moon”
would be able to
communicate with you on the
sked frequency with you
living on earth. In effect the
frequency offset is half your
self doppler frequency.
This allows you to hear your
own echoes all the time and
also any station that is calling
you on EME using CFOM on
the sked frequency.
This is the preferred mode!

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“On DX Echo”
Texas

NTMS
Microwave
Society

DX station announces their

transmit frequency. You want
to be on their echo frequency.
Even if they are a small
station, they know where to
tune for their echo. So you
want to position your transmit
frequency such that you will
appear on their echo
frequency. This mode will
provide the correct transmit
and receive frequencies for
you to hear the DX station and
you to be heard by the DX
station.

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Texas

WSJT “Call DX” NTMS

Microwave
Society

Adjusts your transmit

frequency to put your
echo on your received
frequency.
Useful for hearing your
echoes and putting your
echoes on the
frequency of the station
that you are listening to
and trying to work.

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Texas

Now that you are confused.. NTMS

Microwave
Society

• If you are confident of your frequency and your location

with a 6 digit gridsquare by being GPS locked but lack
the ability to do any mutual doppler frequency correction
then..
• Request the following of the station you are attempting to
work.
• Have the station you are trying to work do the full mutual
doppler frequency correction on your desired sked
frequency. This is the “Full Doppler to DX Grid” mode.
This allows you to run transceive on the sked frequency.

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What if you decide to call CQ Texas

NTMS

on a particular frequency? Microwave

Society

• Stations you are trying to work will need to know

your 6 digit grid square to calculate where they
will receive you on their radio dial and where
they need to transmit based on mutual doppler
between their grid square and your grid square.
• Stations using WSJT will use the “Full Doppler to
DX Grid” mode to find you and call you. This
method involves the use of mutual doppler
based on their 6 digit grid square and your 6
digit grid square.
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Summary NTMS
Microwave
Society

• Although the frequency aspect may sound

intimidating don’t be alarmed.
• If you are peaked on moon noise and are
within a couple hundred Hz on frequency
at 10 GHz and you are within a second or
two on time…..you will be successful.
• I will be glad to try with you on 10 GHz
EME…I have a 5 meter dish and 250
watts in the shack.
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Texas

Thanks for Listening! NTMS

Microwave
Society

• Any questions?
• pdf will be up on www.ntms.org
• My email is w5lua@sbcglobal.net
• 73 and see you on the moon!

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