Thales TGTR-26 used for 24GHz amateru band

In the middle of 2009 I bought a 26GHz transceiver to use in amateur-DSN. It was to try to receive the 25GHz downlink of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spaceprobe. After much time without succes and after the confirmation of Paul J Marsh, that he never has received the probe too I decided give a new life to the module and try to use in 24GHz amateud band.

Thales TGTR-26 trasnceiver

The module is a THALES TGTR-26 and googling a bit, looks the some Autralian amateurs are using the module without problems. The first was get a suitable local oscillator , this unit should accept a frequency range from the 10 to 14Ghz. The idea is ise a IF of 1.3Ghz then need a LO over 11.45Ghz. Using the cavity and electronics of a Magnum MC PLS22 that accepts 10MHz input reference and the SRD and output filter of a Magnum MC PLX31 that cover from 10.4 to 10.7GHz, I put all totgether and after retuning the SRD I get a nice brick of 11.36 GHz, pefect to use as LO.

Magnum brick oscillator

The TGTR-26 uses +5V (1A),-10V and +8V to enable the TX branch. One time solved the power issues, the unit was start to receive very well, giving a conversion gain of 29dB aprox. To test the RX branch I was use the Marconi / Aeroflex 6203 microwave test set as signal reference.

RX Test setup

Marconi 6203 tuned at 24.050GHz as RX reference

Marconi 6203 tuned at 24.050GHz -90dBm

IF at at 1.3Ghz, signal at -63dBm

After to verify the good results of the RX branch, is the time of the TX branch. To put the transceiver in TX only need aply +8V in the TX pin. The result was amazing, receiving peaks of 32dBm, it can be more than 1.5W! This test has ben used a 10dBm IF at 1.3GHz.