Soy Flor Jaja

A "Cheap & Easy" 2.4GHz Feed
By James H. Wolfe, KI7CX - EMAIL KI7CX@qsl.net
When the AATV group in Phoenix added a 2.4 GHz FM input to the ATV repeater, it provided hams a way to get on ATV "cheap and easy". The 2.4 GHz Wavecomä types of audio/video transmitter/receiver sets are certainly a reasonably priced unit for ATV use. The transmitters are easily modified for more power, and kits andadd-ons are showing up to boost the power even more. The only thing that seemed to be lacking was an inexpensive antenna. We know that when frequencies get above about 900 MHz, a parabolic dish is the real ticket for maximum gain. At 2.4 GHz, it is easy to get 20 to 25 dbi or more with a dish & feed that is manageable in size. Occasionally I have seen 16" to 20" inch obsolete HBOä type dishes athamfest’s and recently the larger Primestarä and other digital TV dishes are showing up. We also know that a parabolic dish is not frequency dependent. It is the feed for the dish that must be constructed for a specific frequency range. We also found that we could home brew a feed using common materials. Here is a "cheap and easy" circular waveguide feed that can be built for the 2.4 GHz ATV band.While it is not an ultimate ATV DX antenna, it is simple to construct, affordable, broadbanded and has about 10dbi gain right out of the can!

Required Materials
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. (1) Tuna can , 3.25"D x 1.45"L (1) Tall bean can, 3.25"D x 5.70"L (1) Chassis connector of your choosing: SMA, TNC, BNC, or type N. (UHF connectors don’t do well at these frequencies) (1) 3/32" tube or #10 copper wire1.125"L (1) Candy or Cookie tin, 5"D x 1.5"L

Construction
Solder the open ends of the two cans together to form a 7.15" tall cylinder. After soldering the cans together simply use a can-opener to remove the end of the bean can. Measure 1.82" (46.21mm or 1-13/32") from the closed end of the can. (Measure inside the can to the open end and transfer this measurement to the outside). This is the centerof the probe, (chassis connector). Drill a hole large enough for the insulated portion of the chassis connector to pass through. Solder a piece of 3/32" tube or #10 wire to the center conductor of the chassis connector, creating a probe 1.125" or 1-1/8" long. Solder the chassis connector in place. The body of the chassis connector remains outside the can. The probe extends into the can andremains isolated from it. (This is a driven element, or a waveguide quarter wave antenna at 2.4 GHz.) We now have a complete circular waveguide feed that can be used as a stand-alone antenna.

The Scalar Ring
While an open ended circular waveguide makes a simple feed for a parabolic dish, the illumination pattern is not as ideal as it first appears. We have too much energy in the center and toolittle at the edge. A satellite television antenna feed uses a unit made up of a series of shallow cavity rings surrounding the waveguide. This is known as a Chaparralä feed and it is so named for the originator. The Chaparral feed alters the illumination pattern and improves the efficiency of the feed. This type of feed is also well suited to the small HBO dishes with f/D in the range of 0.35 to 0.45.When scaled to our 2.4 GHz feed, the first of these rings is 5" in Diameter and 1-1/2" deep. For a larger dish application, additional concentric rings would be used. We used only one ring to avoid blocking too much of our small center fed dish. Cut the Candy or Cookie tin down to a 1.5" depth to create the scalar ring. Draw two concentric target circles on the bottom of this shallow can, thefirst a 2" diameter bull’s-eye and the second 3.25" diameter. Cut out the 2" bull’s-eye to make a hole in the bottom center of the can Cut from the edge of the 2" hole to slightly past the 3.25" circle a series of ¼" wide ‘teeth’ all the way around. Bend these teeth at the 3.25" circle away from the bottom of the can 90 degrees. This forms the scalar ring for the feed. Slip the scalar ring onto the...