UHF/Microwave Equipment and Components
Introduction
Microwave construction is surprisingly popular--it is one of the frontiers of amateur radio for advanced amateurs to explore.
Additional information on this subject and related topics can be found in back issues of QST and the following:
Articles
Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 7.0 or later required). More information here.
- Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits--Part 1 (926,962 bytes, PDF file)
QST Feb 1987
Use these low-level gain blocks in your next RF project.
- Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits--Part 2 (898,811 bytes, PDF file)
QST Mar 1987
See how to combine these devices for more power output.
- Gunnplexers (144,130 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 2002, pp. 96-97
A tutorial on these devices
- Putting the G Line to Work (1,572,132 bytes, PDF file)
QST June 1974
This single-wire transmission line has some interesting and unique properties.
Simple Projects
A Simple 5 band CW Transceiver by Rick Campbell KK7B (415,411 Bytes, PDF file)
Microwave Update, 1994, pp. 233-239
For 2.3, 3.4, 5.7, 10.3, and 24.2 GHz. Uses a pair of no-tune LOs, a simple HF receiver, a harmonic generator, and a harmonic mixer to form a simple narrowband transmitter and receiver.
Just about as Cheap as you can get 10 GHz, by Kent Britain, WA5VJB (575,942 Bytes, PDF file)
Microwave Update, 1996, pp. 123-127
How to use a radar detector and Ramsey FR10 FM receiver to make a simple Gunn diode based WBFM system. QEX May/June 2002, pp. 42-51 QEX May/June 2002, pp. 26-35
An “old-tech” receiver rot 4-15 MHz
Periscopes for Microwaves: 10 GHz without Feed-Line Loss (1,158,773 bytes, PDF file)
A Multimode Phasing Exciter For 1 to 500 MHz (1,205,616 bytes, PDF file)
QST April 1993, pp. 27-31
A simple transmitter that generates SSB, CW and more. (a mate to High-Performance, Single-Signal Direct-Conversion Receivers )
More Complex Designs
A Single Board No-Tuning 23-cm (1296MHz) Transverter (1,301,863 Bytes, PDF File)
ARRL UHF/Microwave Projects Manual, pp. 3-21 - 3-23
PC board template (32,768 bytes, PDF file)
A No-Tune Transverter for 2304 MHz, by Jim Davey (447,094 Bytes, PDF File)
ARRL UHF/Microwave Projects Manual, pp. 3-24 - 3-27
The latest in the family of simple, high-performance microwave transverters. This version, like its 903, 1296, 3456, and 5760MHz cousins uses etched band-pass filters and monolithic amplifiers for simplicity and reliability.
A 2-W 13-cm Amplifier
QEX May 1994, pp. 27-31
A 50-mW, 13-cm amplifier using the MAV-11/MSA-1104 MMIC
QEX September 1993, pp. 23-25
How to Work 10-GHz DX, Part 1 (149,177 bytes, PDF file)
QEX Jan/Feb 2002, pp. 58-60
Location, Location, Location
How to Work 10-GHz DX, Part 2 (399,911 bytes, PDF file)
QEX Mar/Apr 2002, pp. 55-69
Hardware
Microwave Propagation in the Upper Troposphere (876,911 bytes, PDF file)
QEX July/August, 2003
Amateur microwave work need not be restricted to operation
Note:
Contact information for suppliers mentioned in the above articles should first be confirmed using TIS Address Database Search.
Bibliography
Annie Get Your Gunnplexer! by ARRL Staff QST September 1993, pp 68-79
A Synplexer rig for 13 cm, by Ed Munn W6OYJ 1999 Microwave Update pp.117-126.
A Single Board No-tuning 902-MHz Transverter QST July 1991, pp. 25-29
Building a 6-cm Transverter QEX June 1996, pp. 23-29
Single Board Bilateral 5760 MHz Transverter QST October 1990, pp.27-31
3456 MHz Transverter QEX September 1996, pp. 14-20
Home-Brewing a 10-GHz SSB/CW Transverter - Part 1 QST May 1993, pp. 21-28
Home-Brewing a 10-GHz SSB/CW Transverter - Part 2 QST June 1993, pp. 29-31
A single Board Transverter for 10 GHz, by Paul Wade, W1GHZ and Steve Kostro, N2CEI 1999 Microwave Update Proceedings, pp. 260-275
A Reliable Frequency Multiplier, by Dale Clements, AF1T 25th Eastern States VHF/UHF Conference Proceedings (1999), pp. 361-366
10 GHz Easyverter by Judson Snyder K2CBA 25th Eastern States VHF/UHF Conference Proceedings (1999)
24 GHz Transverter MKIII by Michael Kuhne DB6NT DUBUS February 1998
Note: PCBs, kits, and assembled units can be purchased from the author. SSBUSA sells assembled units. DUBUS reprints can be purchased from KB5UBE. Kyle Britain 1626 Vineyard Rd, Grand Prarie, TX 75052-1405
Suppliers
Directive Systems Manufacturer of VHF and microwave antennas and related products
Down East Microwave Manufacturer of microwave equipment for hams
Kuhne Electronic (DB6NT) German manufacturer of microwave equipment for hams. Michael Kuhne's German call is DB6NT--he started this company with his wife.
SHF Microwave Parts Sells parts to individuals interested in microwave experimentation
SSB Electronic USA Sells imported microwave equipment to USA hams
Rogers Microwave Materials Division Manufacturers circuit board designed for microwave
Bibliography (Members Only)
ARRL Periodicals Index Search - This database contains the QST index from 1915 to the present and the QEX index from 1981 to the present. For QST issues from 1970 to the present, and some selected articles back to 1922 (when construction articles featuring tubes began in earnest), identifying keywords have been added to the technical articles. By entering keywords (ANTENNA) or combinations of keywords (CONSTRUCTION ANTENNA VERTICAL HF) into the Title words: field, you may create dynamic bibliographies.
Technical article KEYWORD list. Hints for more successful searching
Suggested keywords for more articles like the ones on this page are: MICROWAVE CONSTRUCTION UHF
Article Reprints:
You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3 ($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical Department (reprints@arrl.org ), or 1-860-594-0390, Noon to 5PM, Tuesday through Friday, Eastern time, if you wish to get photocopies.
This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:
TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)
Page last modified: 10:30 AM, 12 Oct 2007 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
Copyright © 2007, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
