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Breaking a Two-Way 10GHz Distance Record
- 1. Microwave Update 2007 Busting the North American X-Band Record XE2 to W6 in the 2007 ARRL 10GHz and Up Contest San Carlos, Mexico to Central California: 900-Plus Miles Presented by Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ Frank Kelly, WB6CWN/4C2WH Gary Lauterbach, AD6FP Chip Angle, N6CA Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ Steve Miller, W6QIW
- 2. Busting the North American X-Band Record During the first half of the 2007 10GHz and Up contest, the North American distance record for terrestrial X-Band contacts was broken and re-broken 5 times. This milestone for ham radio X-Band operations was made possible by a one-man DXpedition by Frank Kelly, WB6CWN/4C2WH in DL34wt. The average contact distance was 1,178km (732mi) and the accumulated score on just two of Franks log pages was over 65k points! Here are some notes on the story. . . . KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 2 / 14
- 3. Where is DL34wt? Operation in Mexico is advantageous because there is a long over water path between Baja California, Southern California and Mexico numerous points along the western shores of the Baja Peninsula. XE This path is a host to the weather that produces coastal ducting, a principal DL34wt propagation mode. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 3 / 14
- 4. The Duct Coastal ducting is caused by an abrupt change in the moisture and temperature of the atmosphere at the The 900mi shots to AD6FP, boundary between N6CA and KH6WZ required the relatively cool wet large antenna gains and high layer of air hugging power to extend signals the ocean and the dry beyond the duct and inland warm air above it. another 100+ miles and over This boundary zone 6000' mountains and up the acts like a lens for California Central Valley. radio and optical signals which then follow the curvature of the earth for great distances. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 4 / 14
- 5. The Broken Records Frank made 53 10GHz contacts from DL34wt on the first weekend. The NA 10GHz DX record was broken five times, first by W6QIW in DM04am at 1315km (817 mi). Steves record lasted approx. 7 minutes Then N6CA and KH6WZ worked Frank from CM94xm (1320km/820 mi), then CM95qi (1426km/886 mi) and again from DM05ax (1448km/899 mi) Finally, on 8/19/2007 at 0845, AD6FP completed a contact with Frank at CM96wa, a record-breaking distance of 1460km (907.2mi) The 10GHz Frazier beacon was copied in DL34wt at 1286km - a new DX record for 10GHz beacon DX KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 5 / 14
- 6. The DX Station: Frank Kelly, 4C2WH Franks system includes 2 10MHz references, 2 IF rigs, 3 waveguide relays and 3 amplifier/power levels. The design goals were to minimize power consumption and RF losses. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 6 / 14
- 7. The Rest of Us: Gary Lauterbach, AD6FP Dual-band feed on the AD6FP rig The AD6FP rig is a dual-bander, with 10GHz and 24GHz capability. The IF is 144MHz for both bands, and all LOs are locked to a single Rubidium source. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 7 / 14
- 8. The Rest of Us: Chip Angle, N6CA Chips rig includes a Verticom synthesizer and 10W SSPA. The Elecraft K2 is modified for IF-rig-only use (28MHz IF). He uses a straight key and turns the sidetone off when operating. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 8 / 14
- 9. The Rest of Us: Wayne Yoshida, KH6WZ This is the DB6NT-based rig before exchanging the 24-inch M/A-COM dish with the new 30-inch offset- feed dish. The revised KH6WZ rig, with transverter system on the ground and IF radio placed on the antenna deck. The 30-in. dish is supported with an N6CA folding support structure made with aluminum tubing. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 9 / 14
- 10. The Rest of Us: Steve Miller, W6QIW Everything is mounted at the antenna feedpoint on W6QIWs rig. The RF runs are short, so waveguide is avoided. A steel offset 30" dish was selected to keep the weight down. KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 10 / 14
- 11. Summary and Observations: Equipment The X-Band rigs used can be duplicated; typical performance can be built with ham techniques and resources RX performance: 1dB NF, 25dB gain For terrestrial work, there is little improvement below a 2dB system NF due to ground noise (about 150K). No need to spend $300 on an EME preamp! TX performance: 10W range Antenna: 30-in. plus dish Bigger antennas are better But are they practical and transportable? Offset feed dishes have higher efficiency, and are becoming more popular. Other dishes (prime-focus) are a low side-lobe design and not designed for efficiency KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 11 / 14
- 12. What Can New Ops Do to Compete? A list of goals for new ops Know The Code 2' offset feed dish minimum RX: 2dB system NF TX: 1W minimum Frequency stability, or at least, make it predictable This will work 99% of the stations and be affordable Bigger stations are better, of course, but not dramatically so Make the rig modular so improvements can be made in steps Partner with another experienced and successful operator KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 12 / 14
- 13. Seeds Planted: Future X-Band XE Contacts The next point down range near the tip of Baja is over 1000 miles XE2HWB and XE2HWH in La Paz, Baja, Mexico now have their own 2W 10GHz radios built by WB6CWN The record can definitely be extended on the Northern side KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 13 / 14
- 14. References and Resources MUD Proceedings of Microwave Update 2001 A Flip-Switch 10/24 GHz Dual Band Radio Proceedings of Microwave Update 2005 Tripod Stretching for More Stability N6CA Fold-Up 30 Inch Offset Dish Mount Websites N6CA http://n6ca.com San Bernardino Microwave Society http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms 50MHz and Up Group of Northern CA http://www.50mhzandup.org/ KH6WZ / San Bernardino Microwave Society / http://www.ham-radio.com/sbms Page 14 / 14