Microwave Field and Contest Station

From W&DARS

One of the most outstanding UK 10GHz portable stations to emerge in the past few of years is that of Peter Horbaczewkyj, G4ZXO, pictured here during the September 1999 10GHz Cumulative contest. Peter has spent a considerable amount of time and effort getting his 10GHz portable equipment to a standard that competes with the best around.

1 Contest Results
2 Regular Contacts
3 The Logistics of Operating Field Portable
4 Field Station Specifications

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Contest Results

Most microwave activity is centred around a programme of Summer Contests. The results for 2003's summer activities are now published, Peter came 1st in the 3cms open category and Jim came 1st in the 6cms open category.

Jim G4WYJ and Peter G4ZXO usually operate, for competitions, from the top of Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs 8k north of Brighton.

The ‘Service Crew’ which is needed to get the equipment to the remote contest location includes Clive G7APM, Dave G4RBQ, Laura and Pip, Sam & Zac. The first exercise is to get the gear from the car park to the top of the beacon, quite a climb, and they have evolved a very successful trolley for carrying most of the gear.

Congratulations to the entire team, good luck for this year. The contests are held one Sunday a month in May through to October, you are very welcome to visit.

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Regular Contacts

The world of microwaves is quite small, with a few very committed individuals. The W&DARS team have several regular contacts including:

G3PHO/P Peter in Sheffield, (see Page 62 of the March 2005 RadCom)
G3LRP Peter Ackley in Wakefield
F5HRY Urbay in Paris.

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The Logistics of Operating Field Portable

Having a good, regular location is one very important factor...the location used frequently these days is at Ditchling Beacon, IO90WV, in the South Eastern corner of England.

Peter is also fortunate in having a very keen and willing group of operators to form what is in effect a microwave contest team: Julian, G4UET and Jim, G4WYJ.

The equipment has been improved over recent years to that pictured above and described below. Whilst it may look quite modest here, it must be heard to be fully appreciated! It is one of the most consistent 10GHz signals heard in the North of England. Not only does the G4ZXO signal get out well, the station is also very good at receiving signals. Read on and study each photo to get more details of this excellent portable station....

This is a photo of the 'cart' used to get all the kit up to the top of the hill (no cars allowed up there!). It is made out of the dish and vhf beam support mast and a set of detachable wheels. Also shown is the 10GHz dish, batteries and portable seating for the tent.

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Field Station Specifications

This portable station, together with its team of operators can operate under harsh weather conditions, as was certainly evident during the September and October 1999 10GHz contests!

Look out for them in future!

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Comfort!!!

Comfort is provided by a Khyam Rigidome L Tent, able to withstand very high winds and heavy rain on exposed locations such as Ditchling Beacon (IO90WV) where the group operates from these days. The tent can be erected in about 15-20 minutes under very windy conditions and is large enough for 3 - 4 people and equipment, cooker etc.

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10GHz

G4ZXO's 10GHz station includes the DF9LN oscillator, DB6NT Mk III transverter, DB6NT 10 watt solid state linear and DB6NT HEMT preamp ... all of this is mounted on the 50mm diameter mast shown above.

The 10GHz antenna is a 75 cms ex Halifax forward facing radar dish, with a reduced waveguide double dipole feed. The typical distance worked regularly is 350-400 Kms

G4UET's tripod based system is a standard G3WDG lineup with DDK004 oscillator + WDG HEMT and 1 Watt linear. The dish is ex PW EXE 45cms with a Procom back reflector feed. The typical distance worked regularly is 275-300 Kms.

All kit built by Peter G4ZXO.

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