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A 10GHz receiver using an LNBF and an RTLSDR – 10GHz RX for £20 or less?
25 July 2013 | by Laurent F6FVY tweeted the other day a very interesting link, showing that people had used a LNBF designed for broadcast satellite reception and an RTLSDR dongle for 10GHz reception.
There are two good videos and I particularly liked the one from EA5KGD showing his reception of EB5EA’s 10GHz signals using the LNBF and the RTLSDR as an IF on around 618MHz.
So, I’ve ordered a suitable LNBF from the USA, which came in at just over £14 including shipping. If I can get a 10GHz receiver going for just under £20, I’ll be happy!
The only puzzle I have at the moment, which I am sure is easily solved, is that the LNBF requires its power to be fed up the coax. I am not sure what arrangement to use for this in conjunction with the RTLSDR. If anyone has seen anything suitable written up, I’d be very grateful! It looks like I need to find a way of feeding the 12V up the coax…
This looks like it would be fun to get going. There’s a 10GHz beacon on Cleeve Hill about 40 miles from here. I wonder if I could receive it and potentially look for rainscatter.
4 Responses to “A 10GHz receiver using an LNBF and an RTLSDR – 10GHz RX for £20 or less?”
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The interface for the LNBF is REAL simple…All you need to do is connect the coax to the LNBF and at the other end you need two components: An Inductor (about 10uH) and a Capacitor (about 10pF). Twist ONE inductor lead to ONE capacitor lead and attach to the center conductor of the coax cable. Feed +12V (using a power supply) on the free end of the Inductor and connect the ground of the power supply to the coax shield. Use the free end of the 10pF capacitor as the feed to the RTLSDR. Use the shield of the coax as the ground connection to the input of the RTLSDR. YOU’RE DONE..!
73 de Marty, KN0CK
Hello Tim …. my home is at Croughton , sth northants … I’ve just put one of these systems together , but have yet to try it out …. still learning to drive the software …
I am up in west yorks at this time but will be coming down home late next week for about a fortnight ….
I intend to stop off the M1 north of Leicester and take a listen for the 10 ghz beacon there …. if successful , the take a listen for the Cheltenham beacon later in the week …
Please let me know if you have any success please …. tnx , Gordon .
When at home I monitor 2 metres on 144 . 515 , the Banbury club frequency ….
When at home I monitor 2 metres on 144 . 515 , the Banbury club frequency ….
My Bias tee , from Map+++ , a f type socke , a Belling type socket , fit them to a small metal box …. take a short length of rg59 , 75 ohm coax , connecy the braids and connect the coax centre to the belling socket tab .
On the tab of the F connector fit a 10 pF , or similar capacitor , value unimportant , then solder the other and of the cap to the other end of the coax centre .
Next , again value is unimportant , solder a small inductor , 10 uH ? to the F socket tab … the other end of the inductor , must connect to a 10 NH capacitor , the other end of that cap soldered to the coax braid .
Then a twin dc cable connects across the capacitor , RED , for + 12 volts Positive …… and black , common …..
This will allow for a +12 volt supply to go up the coaxial to the LNB , and the 10 pF cap will prevent the supply getting to the dongle , or any other radio , and preventing damage ……. the inductor prevents the rf signal slipping away down the dc leads ….