[VHFcontesting] What separates a decent transverter from an awesome transverter?

[Patrick Thomas]

Thanks for all the good info.  I realize my question is a bit theoretical vs. tied to a particular operating scenario.  That is deliberate; there is no one "best" answer, so I was looking for raw info... also, while operating is the end goal for most people, I find tinkering and learning is a big part of the enjoyment of ham radio for me.  Strangely enough, it's a part with far fewer awards and contests linked to it. ;)  Anyway, I would like to set the next goals for my own designing and learning activities.

With a couple exceptions (W1GHZ for example - thank you!), my experience with transverter info online or in ARRL or commercial kits is that the write-ups are along the lines of "here is a design you can duplicate but we're not going to really explain it beyond a block diagram" or else "here is a design we'll explain in depth, but we won't explain WHY these choices were made, what others were considered, or what could go wrong if something else was done.  If anyone is familiar with sources which go this extra step, I would be happy to know, by the way!  Or if anyone is knowledgeable on the subject, I would be glad to work with you to document a design from the ground up that is a little more exhaustive, for mid-level DIY neophytes like myself.

Linear transponders are even worse to find info on, by the way.

As to "just get on the air," I do have one of the Ukranian transverters to experiment with, and I do use it on the air... to paraphrase what others have said: "it's a transverter."  No slant against them as I think it's great to enable people to simply get on the air in VHF...  but I would love to build (and learn from) my own superior example.

Thanks again, all!

Patrick
KB8DGC