Introduction
Microwave construction is surprisingly popular--hams love to explore new frontiers! While rarely easy, many adventurous hams are up to the challenge of building equipment for our highest amateur bands. There are ways of getting around the expensive test equipment issue, such as building equipment pairs or joining a nearby club and getting help from the local experts.
A Modern Approach to getting on Microwaves
Articles
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.
Gunnplexers (144,130 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 2002, pp. 96-97
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
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. These devices paved the way for Jim Davey, WA8NLC, to revitalize microwaves with the new generation of "No-Tune Transverters."
Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits--Part 2 (898,811 bytes, PDF file)
QST Mar 1987
See how to combine these devices for more power output.
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)
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
Technology >> Radio Technology Topics >> Technical Specialties >> Building Equipment >> Microwave