[VHFcontesting] transverter questions

[Zack Widup]

Since I'm into building my own equipment, I made the W1VT 222 MHz 
transverter that appeared in QEX some years ago.  The patterns for the pc 
boards are on the ARRL website.

It uses identical boards for transmit and receive, which are configured 
differently and according to what you want to do.  The neat thing about 
the design is that you can swap out and try different MMIC's for better 
performance.  The Sirenza SGA4586 is a great choice for the front-end 
amplifier.

It also uses a separate board for the LO which is the same physical size 
as the xmit/rcv boards. All boards use hairpin filters resonated with 
capacitors.

I've gotten a lot of QSO's with mine.  It's an excellent performer. I 
added an M67712 module which gives me 10-20 watts out depending on drive 
level.

73, Zack W9SZ


On Mon, 4 Feb 2008, aa4zz at aol.com wrote:

>
> Gene
>
>
>
> I use the Demi 222 xvtr at our station. I think that it has the hottest rcv of anything we run. We have just started using the TS2000 with it. I use the 2000?with the hf xmit power turned down to the lowest setting and a?15db atttenuator in the xmit line.?I run the?xvtr rcv to the HF antenna port. This port must be turned on?by??menu.?
>
> I do no run the?TS2000 xvtr frequency readout adustment as it just adds the same amount to all bands so 222 is?OK but then?144,?432 and 1296 are off by 194 mhz.
>
> This set up is great as long as you?do not?need to run the Ts2000 ON HF.
>
> 73?Paul AA4ZZ?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gene Gabry <gene_n9tf at yahoo.com>
> To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
> Sent: Sun, 3 Feb 2008 11:58 pm
> Subject: [VHFcontesting] transverter questions
>
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
> First, please reply direct with your comments.
>
> I am going to be adding a 222mhz transverter to my
> station and would like to hear opinions pro/con from
> users of the DEMI 222-28 and Elecraft XV222. How do
> each of these perform in contest conditions? I think
> the noise figure spec on the Elecraft is slightly
> better than the DEMI, according to the specs on each
> suppliers web site.
>
> Anyone using a Kenwood TS-2000 as the exciter? If so,
> how do you have your transverter configured? Do I need
> to modify the TS-2000, or will either of these be plug
> and play? It looks like I will need the AOS-28
> interface if I go with the DEMI unit. If I read the
> manual correctly for the Elecraft, I should not need
> an interface.
>
>> From a kit construction stand point, comments on how
> the two compare, parts count, difficulty to build,
> test equipment required?
>
> The TS-2000 manual is not very intuative as far as
> transverter operation. I think the keying line is the
> same line that would be used for keying a VHF amp, via
> the EXT.CONT connector? Comments.
>
> Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.
>
> I am hoping to be active on 222 SSB in the june
> contest.
>
> Respond with comments to either < n9tf at comcast.net >
> or < gene_n9tf at yahoo.com >
>
> 73 Gene N9TF, EN52xg
>