New QO-100 uplink setup.

Just finished new version of uplink TX setup based on DxPatrol unit and SG-Lab PA with voltage up-convertor (12V to 27V). Output power on SMA is +39dBm (cca 8W). there is also remote box with indicator for driving power, forward and reflected power as all of them are in SG-Lab PA unit ready.

QO-100 uplink box during measuremnt before final montage to 80cm offset dish.

My QO-100 station setup

On RX side I have 70cm offset with modified LNB with external GPSD LO for direct conversion to 144MHz, splitter on downlink line to feed SDR USB RX and analog IC-910H in parallel. Listening on IC-910H in SAT mode transmitting on 432MHz into my external transvertor system, based on LZ5HP HW and with output power 50W.  Using septum feed as transmitting antenna for uplink (gain cca 8dB). There are also used DC voltages going from internal directional coupler connected to simple box with indicator to see Fwd/Rev power levels on the output from transverter system and check possible changes in SWR. For SSB mode I am using MFJ Voice Keyer (to run CQ in loop) and for CW ETM-8 memory keyer. In RX path I am using simple 4 port AF mixer to select output to DSP filter from ICOM 2m RX channel, ICOM CW monitor from 70cm TX, output from HF RIG (TS-850) and line output from SDR Console 3.0.21. Output from DSP unit is going to wireless headphones and also external speaker can be simply switched on. 

How my 0,5W 160m WSPR station is heard...

OK1DST 0,5W WSPR 160m 30/31.1.2020

Updated map of my QSOs via QO-100 satellite

Updated map of my QSOs via QO-100 (as of 3.2.2020). After small repair in my transvertor I am back and operational again. Using now modified LNB with external LO and downcorverting  to 144MHz for RX on IC-910 in satellite mode to have "pure" radio-setup w/o need for SDR with PC. Of course, I have a splitter in 144MHz downlink to "see" band on SDR-Console ;-)

My QO-100 statistics update

Thanks to very useful tool on  http://tools.adventureradio.de/analyzer/ there are some new statistics for my station operating via QO-100 satellite. Thanks for any printed QSL sent to me - I will answer to all in one bigger batch later on. All log is on eQSL uploaded and updated.

Updated map of my QSOs via QO-100 satellite

For now 297 QSOs and 128 Squares worked.

It was nice to hear Pavel OK1AIY there and make first QSO to Siberia with R0AU (QTH Krasnodarsk). 

Also appreciated interesting setup of Ron, G8DVR with solar power driven QO-100 system.

Updated map of my QSOs via QO-100 satellite

Updated map of my QSOs via QO-100 satellite

OK1DST - QSO Map via QO-100 - 11.5.2019

Something about my QO-100 uplink (2400 MHz) TX antenna

As there are very often questions related to my TX setup and used septum feeder as the antenna there is link to basic informations by W1GHZ in his Microwave Antenna Book .

http://www.w1ghz.org/antbook/conf/SEPTUM.pdf

Some more informations about practical applications are also on page of  Zdenek, OK1DFC

http://www.ok1dfc.com/eme/emeweb.htm#Septum

A lot of informations via Google and "septum feed" entry. This kind of feed is very popular in EME community as simple solving RHCP/LHCP systems for TX/RX. My application as RHCP TX antenna directed to QO-100 satellite is as provisonial before finishing my prime-focus 1,2m dish.
73
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Feed for new system with 1m prime-focus dish

Next small progress - new feed for 2,4/10G, today checked thanks to Zdenek, OK1DFC, in his lab. SWR seems to be now ok, small pressure to reflector plate was needed ;-)