Re: K60XV Transverter question

[W1JHR]

I am currently using the K2 as an IF for the lower microwave bands.  I
initially  modified some my transverters to accept lower drive  ( 0 DBM). I find it
is not possible to get uniform  and  or adequate drive across more than
perhaps 500 khz. When switching between  902 which requires a 29 mhz IF and 1296
which requires a  28 MHZ IF  there is quite a variation in drive level. My
solution was to use the K2's  other option which appeared software driven. This is
changing from the OUT  settings "low" to OUT "high". I remodified the
transverters to take higher drive  in the area of 33 DBM so they could be used with
other equiptment and I could  vary the drive with the front panel power
adjustment.. I was disapointed  to find that the OUT selection in the "High" position
did not  work. Further reading in the manual revealed that although you can
toggle  between "low" and "high" with the software, apparently the path of the RF
 changes from the RX/TX on the KX60XV back to what it is without the K60XV.
What  this effectively means is that the K60XV only works in the low power
position so  that when you go to the "high" position to get more than 1 DBM you
have to  ignore the fact the interface has a special transverter path  and rig
it as  it would have been without the interface. Can someone explain the logic
of this  to me or has this been straightened out in a later software version?
 
George Vaccaro
W1JHR
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[Don Wilhelm-3]

George,

The bandwidth available on the 28 MHz band is limited, in fact the K2
specification is for 28.0 to 28.8 MHz with full 10 watts output, so yes,
with normal alignment the power available can be expected to drop off a bit
using the K2 as an IF at 29 MHz.  Most of the 'problem' is in the bandpass
filter - you may want to align it at a higher frequency than the normal 28.2
MHz - I would suggest aligning it at 28.6 MHz or so while testing to see if
more uniform output across your required band is obtained.  A bit of
experimentation with the center frequency of the bandpass filter may be in
order.  Be aware that when the inductor slugs are re-tuned for 10 meters,
the trimmer caps for 12 meters should be re-adjusted after the proper 10
meter settings are achieved.

The K60XV transfers only the power at the output of the bandpass filter to
the transverter jacks, so the power available is limited - there is no RF
amplifier associated with the K60XV).  If one choses to use the Hi power
transverter option, the normal high power output BNC antenna connector is
used (and the normal transmit output stages are active).

If a separate receive path is required, the K160XV option must be installed
and RANT turned on in the menu for that transverter band.

73,
Don W3FPR

> -----Original Message-----
>
> I am currently using the K2 as an IF for the lower microwave bands.  I
> initially  modified some my transverters to accept lower drive  (
> 0 DBM). I find it
> is not possible to get uniform  and  or adequate drive across more than
> perhaps 500 khz. When switching between  902 which requires a 29
> mhz IF and 1296
> which requires a  28 MHZ IF  there is quite a variation in drive
> level. My
> solution was to use the K2's  other option which appeared
> software driven. This is
> changing from the OUT  settings "low" to OUT "high". I remodified the
> transverters to take higher drive  in the area of 33 DBM so they
> could be used with
> other equiptment and I could  vary the drive with the front panel power
> adjustment.. I was disapointed  to find that the OUT selection in
> the "High" position
> did not  work. Further reading in the manual revealed that
> although you can
> toggle  between "low" and "high" with the software, apparently
> the path of the RF
>  changes from the RX/TX on the KX60XV back to what it is without
> the K60XV.
> What  this effectively means is that the K60XV only works in the
> low power
> position so  that when you go to the "high" position to get more
> than 1 DBM you
> have to  ignore the fact the interface has a special transverter
> path  and rig
> it as  it would have been without the interface. Can someone
> explain the logic
> of this  to me or has this been straightened out in a later
> software version?
>
> George Vaccaro
> W1JHR

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