[FLWSS] higher bands

[wlbaber at bellsouth.net]

Hello All,

As a new comer to the microwave bands I have today concluded 18 months of "beginner testing" (for me not Chuck) with Chuck on 2304 and some on 3456.  I started with 1 watt DEMI stand alone transverters (almost plug and play) and loopers at 62 feet.  As you all know, I am capable now of 25 watts on both of these bands with the same loopers but now at 80 feet.

I have concluded, and Chuck (K0VXM) can verify this, that the significant difference in a 130 mile path between me and Chuck was not the increase in power to 24 watts but rather the height of my antennas that now clear the tree line in my area.  Given the power that we can run, Chuck and I chatted on 2304 similar to 432, on ssb, with the very moderate enhancement typical of most morning.

With 1 watt on 2304 I could work cw out to 150 miles on most days (I worked chuck on ssb on 2304 during tropo with well over an s-9 signal).  I did so with antennas at 62 feet and having some obstruction to my antennas.  I would reduce this distance to 100 miles on 3456, again using1 watt, cw.  The most important criterion is an antenna that is in the clear, and this is far more important than output power.  

Also, I learned today that the noise figure on DEMI transverters are more than sufficient if you mast-mount them.  I took my preamps out today, but I am keeping them so that if and when the gasfets go out of the transverters I can bypass them and put the preamps back into service.  I was hearing Joe, KI4NPV very weak on 2304, and it turns out that the reason was that I didn't need the preamps (and I read that in the transverter's manual but was I listening?).

In short, if you have a tower and or can get an antenna "in the clear" at 40 feet or so, then you are 97 percent microwave ready!  

I was told at the start that 1 watt and great care to keep loss low would open 2304 and 3456 mhz, but I had difficulty believing this.  It is true, try it!

End of beginner's test.

73, will, wj9b, dit dit
 
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