[10gigs] Power loss thru T/R relay

[WA2VOI, Donn]

Quick question, Jon:  Do you have any kind of sequencer in the system ?  Its possible the 
loss is due to (at least) partial "hot switching" whicl can (will) pit the surfaces of the 
TX-side contact.  Is it possible to get inside the relay to look ?

In any case, good luck.

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jon Platt via 10gigs" <10gigs at www.chris.org>
To: <10gigs at www.chris.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2020 9:49 PM
Subject: [10gigs] Power loss thru T/R relay


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Most of you are familiar with my portable 10 GHz system .... a DB6NT transverter with a 
DK2FD 6.2 watt amp on a 65cm dish. Looking back through my documents I see the 6.2 watt 
amplifier was purchased in early 2004, and although I can't find my original DB6NT 
information, I think that it was purchased a full year prior to that, 2003 or 2002.  In 
any case, since 2004, my system has been unchanged, aka 16 years or so.  Over those 16 
years I estimate maybe 7,000 to 10,000 Q's, most during the 10 GHz contest but also 
including RS Q's, June & September VHF, Aug UHF, and SBMS. Â
During last falls 10 GHz contest some commented that my signal wasn't as strong as usual 
compared to other stations .... not terrible but perhaps noticeably down. I finally got 
to looking into things and discovered that there is about a 4 dB loss going through the 
transmit side of the original SMA T/R relay so my 6 watts was maybe around 2 watts. 
Again, not terrible but noticeable.  Receive seems OK, its the transmit side.  So 
tomorrow I will replace that SMA T/R relay and see where we stand. Â
I suppose it pays to actually check things out every once in a while, not every 16 years.
73, JonW0ZQ


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