Operational ;
Partially Operational ;
Not Operational.
Operational ;
Partially Operational ;
Not Operational.
GB3XGH, Freq 10368.810000 MHz, LOC IO83WO, GPS locked, ERP 13dBW
First Operation from Rochdale IO83VO as from April 2000, Locked to GPS since March 2001.
Operational at new site, IO83WO as from 2007 09 03 19:07 UTC
DX propagation:-
NW GM8BJF 194 km,
NE M0DTS 113 km,
SE G3EAT 279km, G8DDK 223 km,
S G4BRK 224 km, G3VKV 190 km,
SW G3CWI/P various to 150 km, G3UKV 100 km
parameter check:-
Temp 1(heat sink): 10.7
Temp 2(PA2) : 14.7
PA1(rel output): 113
PA2(rel output): 198 Output is higher during cold Weather!
Recorded at 2008 01 12 - 11.50 UTC
More info
GB3MAN, Freq 24048.850000 MHz, LOC IO83WO, OCXO based, ERP 5dBW
Status: Beacon has been switched off due to mechanical problem(20100316 Tues). Whilst down the beacon will be retested - and re-erected asap.
Modifications to ODU are complete and LO freq of 23737MHz is now stable and locked to a 105Mhz source.
The remaining variation is due to the unlocked xtal 14MHz oscillator which sets the
108.5MHz offset frequency in the LO. The new IF of 311.850MHz has been reprogrammed into the DDS.
The expected variation in frequency is within 1KHz.
(2009 Apr)
The beacon was first operational as from 09:00 UTC Sunday 26 Aug 2007, and locked to GPS as from April 2009.
Latest parameter check:-
Temp 1(heat sink):
Temp 2(PA) :27degC
freq within ...Hz of nominal (not checked recently since higher temperatures in May)
Recorded at April 09
GB3MAN Freq 5668.880 and 5760.870MHz LOC IO83WO
Design:
The beacon will be a new dual frequency beacon and the freq generation uses a 5.7 GHz mixer fed
from a LO (using a PLL osc and doubler) working at 5.714.875MHz. The IF
is 45.995 MHz generated by DDS. Both of the resulting sidebands are
utilized.
The plan is to get the beacon up and running by end of Jun 2009
History:
2008 06 08, NoV received after only three months from application - this amazing speed caught us out, in that the equipment had not then been built.
2009 02 25,
(ODU) PA tested, Filter constructed, Antenna completed and all these units are mounted in a plastic weatherproof box with mast clamps. GeMMA LO outstanding.
(IDU) The DDS which provides the 45.995 MHz IF, completed and tested. PSU's outstanding
Status:
The design will incorporate the new GeMMA PLL by Grant Hodgson - which is currently under development. The board is currently producing 2.8GHz which is doubled to 5.714.875MHz at about -5dBm.
Work is now progressing on the incorporation of some post doubler gain and an ADL5375 IQ Modulator.
GB3MAN Freq 47088??? MHz LOC IO83WO
Status: A P-Com 50GHz link unit has been obtained and its
multiplier and PA will be used in the ODU of this beacon. License
application to be made after the feasibility and usefulness of the
scheme have been established. (2007 09 03)
GB3MAN Freq 3400.??? MHz LOC IO83WO
Status: PA obtained, Antenna design progressing. License application not yet made. Antenna is to be a slotted WG constructed using a novel method of manufacture from sheet aluminium. PA PSU to be similar to the 5.7GHz unit and PCB for this in work. Source to be a GPS locked DDS with multiplier (2009 11 23)
3400 MHz band info - link to UKuG
GPS disciplined Freq Std
Status:
The Beacon cluster is locked to a single freq std based on the Brookes Shera controller and a Motorola UT receiver controlling a Hewlett Packard OCXO.
It has been decided that a more secure method would be to use a dual GSP freq standard, set with freq limits to minimise the possibility of any wild shifts due to malfunction. Such a dual unit is currently under construction based on twin trimble palisade units driving VA2ZAZ controllers each controlling a separate OCXO. These will be run in parallel working as main and standby with deliberately limited freq control. An out of limits alarm on one will be able to switch to the other unit.(2009 05 20)
The Manual for the GB3MCB 23cms Beacon - This Manual contains the system and circuit information necessary for the maintenance of the beacon
UK Microwave Group - link to site
Mail to:
© David Wrigley 2000-9
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