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Author Topic: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz  (Read 478 times)

VE3WGO

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Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« on: April 20, 2022, 05:28:53 PM »

Icom is going to demo a new Super High Frequency "design concept" at Dayton, for the 2.4 and 5.6 GHz bands.   https://www.icomjapan.com/lp/shf/

If this makes it to product, it could spur more interest in those bands.  Might even be adaptable (with an X-band converter) to use on the QO-100 satellite.

Maybe you've already heard about it?

73, Ed
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G4AON

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2022, 10:07:52 AM »

There is a group for this project:
https://groups.io/g/icom-shf

73 Dav
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WA3SKN

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2022, 12:16:55 PM »

I remember the old Microwave Associates 10.5 GHz Gunn Diode units... $185 would get the unit plus the horn antenna!  I see you can get them used around $300 with no horn.  It would be nice to have more commercial units in the microwave bands to play with... and not just FM.
I see their complaint is coax losses, but that is why they developed waveguide.  2.4 Ghz is a bit big, but 5.6 Ghz gets reasonable.  Looks like they plan a tower install and LAN cable to remote it.
I just hope they can price it for hams!  I may have to keep an eye out for used TVRO dishes!

-Mike.
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WB8VLC

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2022, 12:46:54 PM »

I had no idea how much they were worth?

I was just gifted a box of old ham equipment just over a month ago from a retiring friend and I found 2 of those old NIB ~10 Gig Microwave associates gunn plexers with the horn antennas.

Since he didn't know they were in his gifted junk box I gave him 1 back and we are going to be setting them up over a 15 mile path to see how  they perform.

We already have a couple hundred feet of 7/8th inch coax to use.
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WA8NVW

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2022, 01:21:05 PM »

First thing you will find is that 7/8 coaxial cable is UGLY LOSSY at 10 GHz.  N connectors have a very high VSWR above 5 GHz - at 6.9 they are useless.   You need waveguide running between transmitter output flange and the feedhorn, probably 0.4 x 0.9 inch for X band (10-12 GHz).  I used to remember the exact Andrew WG number, but not any more, been retired too long.
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AA4Q

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2022, 10:33:36 AM »

I sat next to an active 10 GHz op at yesterday's club dinner meeting and he said 3/4" copper pipe makes the best 10 GHz waveguide. so you buy your transmission line at home depot.

the GunnPlexers we designed to operate directly or feed a dish, no additional waveguide, but you needed a 30 MHz IF receiver for WB FM, still need to build those....

back on topic.... if the ICOM thing proves to be real and not april fools joke, I hope they add a 1296 version, that would make it a companion to the IC-705 for VHF/UHF mountain topping & portable.

AA4Q
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W1VT

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2022, 11:15:55 AM »

Water pipe works, but beware of polarity rotation down the pipe.  I've heard that most folks use linear polarization and rotate the the lower waveguide transition for maximum signal.

I've used 1/2" Heliax for a 10GHz mobile station and it works on 10.368MHz.  With large coax you also have waveguide transmission down the line that can cancel out the desired signal.  But, you may be fortunate and find that it works on the frequency you need.

I've used both 10.7 and 30MHz WBFM IF receivers.

I built a deluxe 10GHz WBFM setup with both a 200 mW amp and a 3 dB NF preamplifier to improve signals on transmit and receive.  Pair of 20 dBi horns.  Worked really well.

Zak W1VT
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WA3SKN

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2022, 02:22:32 PM »

Waveguide gets expensive.
That's why most just mounted the gunplexer as high as possible in a waterproof box and fed the IF and power down the tower.  And don't forget that 10 GHz is prone to "rain fades", as the water absorbs the signals during heavy rain.  The gunplexer does not generate a lot of heat.
10 GHz is a lot of fun because you can "bounce" the signals around.

-Mike.
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W9FIB

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2022, 04:23:37 AM »

Be nice to have ready-made appliances for these bands. Problem is the demand would be so small they would cost a fortune.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

K0CFI

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2022, 05:05:01 PM »

Has there been any thought of a CUBESAT that operates on these frequencies?
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KD7RDZI2

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #10 on: June 15, 2022, 01:19:21 PM »

Has there been any thought of a CUBESAT that operates on these frequencies?
That would be nice. A helix or a long yagi to operate birds. BTW, 2.4 is technically within UHF, not SHF. Otherwise the 10 and 11m would be VHF... hi hi
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KF4HR

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2022, 10:31:14 PM »

I have no doubt if ICOM's SHF project goes into production it will definitely increase interest in the higher frequencies, just as the IC-9700 has increased interest in satellite operation and the 23cm band.  I started working satellites back in the 70's and used to regularly receive down link signals on 2.4ghz, but I don't recall any US amateur satellite using 5.6ghz, although 5.650-5.670 Ghz is designated as Earth-to-Space amateur spectrum.  (https://www.iaru-r1.org/wiki/Amateur_satellites
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K4IBC

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Re: Icom SHF Project for 2.4 and 5.6 GHz
« Reply #12 on: June 23, 2022, 01:29:38 PM »

I read some disturbing news that the 23CM band maybe lost in Region 1.
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