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Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

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John Lawrence

Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

I'm laying out and gather up the parts needed to use of a XV-144 with my K3 for EME applications.

Since my aim is towards JT65, is there anyone on the Reflector who's done
it and found need to do a modification to the local oscillator in the XV-144 to enhance the
frequency stability? The K3 has the TXCO option. The 10 MHz reference using a GPS
reference seems necessary but I hope a GPS discipline is kill.

The output linearity on transmit should be ok but I'll be needing to
have an IPA plus PA chain without IMD growth as well and I'd like to
know how the EME boys are dealing with this side of their configurations.

Thanks, John, W1QS

John

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Mike Harris-9

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

Hi JOhn,

I used an XV50 with the optional crystal oven feeding my K2 and
successfully copied 6M EME JT65. The oven might be all you need for 2M.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

On 25/03/2014 12:43, John Lawrence wrote:

> I'm laying out and gather up the parts needed to use of a XV-144 with my K3 for EME applications.
>
>
> Since my aim is towards JT65, is there anyone on the Reflector who's done
> it and found need to do a modification to the local oscillator in the XV-144 to enhance the
> frequency stability? The K3 has the TXCO option. The 10 MHz reference using a GPS
> reference seems necessary but I hope a GPS discipline is kill.
>
>
> The output linearity on transmit should be ok but I'll be needing to
> have an IPA plus PA chain without IMD growth as well and I'd like to
> know how the EME boys are dealing with this side of their configurations.
>
>
> Thanks, John, W1QS
>
>
> John

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Colin VE3MSC

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

In reply to this post by John Lawrence

John - Get the OCXO for $49 for the XV. It helps a lot. Mine is always
powered (heated), and also, I used real heatsink goo between the PA module
in the XV and the case bottom, as the thin sheet of conductive stuff didn't
work well.
I've thought about some kind of PLL, but wondering what folks have cooked up
for that.
Colin VE3MSC

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John Lawrence
Sent: March 25, 2014 11:44 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

I'm laying out and gather up the parts needed to use of a XV-144 with my K3
for EME applications.

Since my aim is towards JT65, is there anyone on the Reflector who's done it
and found need to do a modification to the local oscillator in the XV-144 to
enhance the frequency stability? The K3 has the TXCO option. The 10 MHz
reference using a GPS reference seems necessary but I hope a GPS discipline
is kill.

The output linearity on transmit should be ok but I'll be needing to have an
IPA plus PA chain without IMD growth as well and I'd like to know how the
EME boys are dealing with this side of their configurations.

Thanks, John, W1QS

John

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John Lawrence

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

Colin

Thank you. I plan to add the OCXO option. A phase lock loop with
a common reference might be needed to stay within 3 or 4 Hz.

I know some are using a Trimble Thunderbolt disciplined reference but it would be
interesting to know how the configuration.

I'm looking for EME ops who can fill me in on their configuration with the XV-144 and K3.

73,

John, W1QS

-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Haig (VE3MSC) <[hidden email]>
To: 'John Lawrence' <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, Mar 25, 2014 2:16 pm
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

John - Get the OCXO for $49 for the XV. It helps a lot. Mine is always
powered (heated), and also, I used real heatsink goo between the PA module
in the XV and the case bottom, as the thin sheet of conductive stuff didn't
work well.
I've thought about some kind of PLL, but wondering what folks have cooked up
for that.
Colin VE3MSC

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John Lawrence
Sent: March 25, 2014 11:44 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

I'm laying out and gather up the parts needed to use of a XV-144 with my K3
for EME applications.

Since my aim is towards JT65, is there anyone on the Reflector who's done it
and found need to do a modification to the local oscillator in the XV-144 to
enhance the frequency stability? The K3 has the TXCO option. The 10 MHz
reference using a GPS reference seems necessary but I hope a GPS discipline
is kill.

The output linearity on transmit should be ok but I'll be needing to have an
IPA plus PA chain without IMD growth as well and I'd like to know how the
EME boys are dealing with this side of their configurations.

Thanks, John, W1QS

John

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W5COV

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

In reply to this post by Colin VE3MSC

I too would like to see more information, especially on how minimal this
station can be and still be able to work a decent amount of contacts.

Many years ago, before the current digital modes, and better, more
precise equipment was being used, I made a handful of EME 2 meter
contacts with a 4 long boom yagi station, using a home brew 500 watt
amplifier.

Not really enough interest these days or enough of a budget to duplicate
that setup, but still have an interest in it .

Charlie, W5COV

On 3/25/2014 6:30 PM, John Lawrence wrote:

> Colin
>
>
> Thank you. I plan to add the OCXO option. A phase lock loop with
> a common reference might be needed to stay within 3 or 4 Hz.
>
>
> I know some are using a Trimble Thunderbolt disciplined reference but it would be
> interesting to know how the configuration.
>
>
>
> I'm looking for EME ops who can fill me in on their configuration with the XV-144 and K3.
>
>
> 73,
>
>
>
> John, W1QS
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Colin Haig (VE3MSC) <[hidden email]>
> To: 'John Lawrence' <[hidden email]>; elecraft <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Tue, Mar 25, 2014 2:16 pm
> Subject: RE: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?
>
>
> John - Get the OCXO for $49 for the XV. It helps a lot. Mine is always
> powered (heated), and also, I used real heatsink goo between the PA module
> in the XV and the case bottom, as the thin sheet of conductive stuff didn't
> work well.
> I've thought about some kind of PLL, but wondering what folks have cooked up
> for that.
> Colin VE3MSC
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of John Lawrence
> Sent: March 25, 2014 11:44 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?
>
> I'm laying out and gather up the parts needed to use of a XV-144 with my K3
> for EME applications.
>
>
> Since my aim is towards JT65, is there anyone on the Reflector who's done it
> and found need to do a modification to the local oscillator in the XV-144 to
> enhance the frequency stability? The K3 has the TXCO option. The 10 MHz
> reference using a GPS reference seems necessary but I hope a GPS discipline
> is kill.
>
>
> The output linearity on transmit should be ok but I'll be needing to have an
> IPA plus PA chain without IMD growth as well and I'd like to know how the
> EME boys are dealing with this side of their configurations.
>
>
> Thanks, John, W1QS
>
>
> John
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
> delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

In reply to this post by John Lawrence

John,

There is no way that I know of to sync the XV series LO to any
standard. The crystal oven along with configuring the XV LO to be
powered anytime there is voltage on the XV transverter input will help a
lot.
The K3 itself can be synced to an external standard with the EXTREF
option, but that does not compensate for any drift in the XVxxx local
oscillator.

The XVxxx LO will be stable after a brief warmup period from power-on,
but the frequency may change a slight amount due to the cycling of the
crystal oven - that should be limited to a few Hz over a period of about
10 minutes. That should be good enough for JT65 and other modes
requiring high frequency stability.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/25/2014 7:30 PM, John Lawrence wrote:

Edward R Cole

Re: Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?

In reply to this post by John Lawrence

Charlie,

EME depends on the abilities of both stations. For CW-eme on 2m this
means the sum of antenna gain of both stations should equal 40 dBi,
and the transmit station runs a minimum of 600w output. JT65
effectively increases station performance by roughly 10-dB. That
means two stations running 15 dBi antennas and 600w.

The number that you need to calculate is EIRP=Effective Isotropic
Radiated Power. 15-dBi converts to a power ratio of
31.6. EIRP=31.6*600 = 18.97 kW

When I began using JT65 in 2005 I had four 10-element yagis with
total of 21 dBi and ran 150w. My EIRP = 125.9*150= 18.88 kW.

I could make contact with a single 10-element yagi station running
600w, or a station with two 10-element yagis and 300w. That was
right down at the bare minimum needed.

So you can trade off less antenna gain with more transmit power or
vice versa. I recommend at least two antennas as this helps receive
other small stations. With that you can get started with a 150w amp
if you realize that you will be limited to working larger
stations. If you want to work many stations then upgrading to 600w
will make a huge difference.

I currently run 1300w on the four antenna so my EIRP = 163.67 kW

My website has a lot of info about eme:
http://www.kl7uw.com

73, Ed - KL7UW

-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Charlie , W5COV" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Any EME gurus with the XV-144 monitoring?
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I too would like to see more information, especially on how minimal this
station can be and still be able to work a decent amount of contacts.

Many years ago, before the current digital modes, and better, more
precise equipment was being used, I made a handful of EME 2 meter
contacts with a 4 long boom yagi station, using a home brew 500 watt
amplifier.

Not really enough interest these days or enough of a budget to duplicate
that setup, but still have an interest in it .

Charlie, W5COV

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

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