2 Meters: TS-2000, Home Brew dual 4CX250 amplifier (600+ Watts), & 14 element KLM Yagi @ 51 ft. (HAMCOW Tower)
222 MHz: FT-847, Converted FAA amplifier (260 Watts), & 12 element Yagi @ 45 ft. (Tower #3)
432 MHz: FT-847, Teletec amplifier (150 Watts), GaAsFET Preamp, 25 element Yagi @ 48 ft. (HAMCOW Tower)
903 MHz: TM-255 IF Rig, DEMI transverter, 50 Watt amplifier, 47 element loop Yagi @ 46 ft. (HAMCOW Tower)
1296 MHz: TM-255 IF Rig, DEMI transverter, HEMPT preamp, 32 Watt amplifier, 55 element loop Yagi @ 46 ft. (HAMCOW Tower)
2304 MHz: TM-255 IF Rig, DEMI transverter @ 1 Watt, 54 element loop Yagi @ 36 ft. (Tower #2)
3456 MHz: TM-255 IF Rig, DEMI transverter @ 1 Watt, 76 element loop Yagi @ 36 ft. (Tower #2)
5760 MHz: TM-455 IF Rig, DEMI Transverter, 0.5 Watt amplifier, GaAsFET Preamp, 4 ft. dish @ 32 ft. (Tower #2)
10368 MHz: TM-455 IF Rig, DEMI Transverter, 1 Watt amplifier, GaAsFET Preamp, 4 ft. dish @ 32 ft. (Tower #2)
We arrived on site around 3 PM on Friday to begin the setup. Getting to the top of
the hill with the HAMCOW was a challenge, but thanks to KE1LI & N1ROZ, the
long hilly driveway was meticulously prepared and covered with plenty of
sand. My trusty Tahoe was put into 4WD-Low and I carefully dragged the
HAMCOW up the hill on the first attempt! We were prepared with tire chains
for all 4 tires on the Tahoe, but to everybody's amazement, we didn't need them!
A large area was snow plowed in the hay field, and I was able to easily jockey the HAMCOW
into position. The temperature was in the single digits, and dropping fast!
One of the first things we did was put up the new TEAM HAMCOW banner!
It was a surprise and the guys loved it! I followed up with a box full of
official TEAM HAMCOW T-Shirts! Now we're styling!
Thanks to K1TLI for the banner, and N1DU for the T-Shirts!
The first order of business was to get the microwave tower erected. The 4ft. dish for 5 & 10 GHz,
along with the Loop Yagi's for 2 & 3 GHz were hoisted in the dark. The HAMCOW flood
lighting proved its worth for this effort. Here KE1LI & N1JOY wrestle with cold metal!
It's close to zero degrees out at this point!
Here is the microwave antenna package, complete with transverters for
2304, 3456, 5760, & 10368 MHz bands! The Loop Yagis' were for 2304 & 3456,
and the dish has a dual-band feed for 5 & 10 GHz. This made for some heavy
hoisting!
Here is the microwave tower in the daylight.
Here is a peek inside the transverter box at the rear of the dish. Inside you can
find transverters for 2, 3, 5, & 10 GHz, with external PA's & Preamps for 5 & 10 GHz.
There is also all of the T/R sequencing and transverter selection circuitry.
KB1TIM also brought along his military shelter & tower,
and showed off his new trailer installation for ease of
portability. No more loading on and off the F-350; it's
a hitch-and-go operation now. This tower supported the
6 Meter & 222 MHz Yagis.
