Amateur Microwave - It's easier than you think!

Microwaves are the highest frequency radio bands in Amature Radio. It's the final frontier for many amateur radio operators offering unique challenges with big rewards. This video was made to inspire and encourage the use of these bands. The demands on the spectrum around the world from commercial users have never been so great. If we want to keep these bands, we have to use them.
More at bit.ly/3QMpuyg
00:00 | Introduction
01:17 | FCC closes 3.5 GHz to US Amateurs
02:14 | Electromagnetic Energy
03:03 | Microwave Spectrum
03:22 | Foundation Licence
04:00 | Standard Licence
04:30 | Advanced Licence
06:19 | Microwave Spectrum in Australia
06:57 | Resources - Websites, Social Media and Magazines
07:21 | Dubus
08:34 | Radio Clubs and Contests
08:57 | MADs
09:26 | Equipment needed and where to get it.
10:46 | IF Radios
12:22 | Transverters
13:15 | Antennas including PCB test
15:10 | 23cm equipment
15:56 | 13cm equipment
16:52 | 9cm equipment
18:16 | 6cm equipment
18:49 | 3cm equipment
20:51 | mmWave
21:18 | Where and how to buy a 13cm transverter

[@R2DMD]

Thanks for this best ever video on amateur microwaves. This is a real treasure trove for newbies! VK microwave community has probably the strongest presence on KZbin. Do you plan a tutorial on assembling a microwave station from components? How to hook up all the components via sequencer? If you already have links to articles/videos please share.

[@VK3FS]

Glad you like it Anton. I haven't gone down the path of making any construction videos yet, but I may in due course having just put a new 3.4GHz system together.

[@myamateurradioadventures2516]

This is brilliant - thanks for producing such a wonderful video.

[@VK3FS]

Many thanks!

[@ManuelPinner]

Here in the US, We have lots of Microwave Radios like the Icom 9700, also to on Higher Frequencies a Hacker RF and Adam Pluto SDR,

[@ChatGPT1111]

Probably the best, most professionally done and entertaining amateur radio video I've ever seen! You got me hooked. 73 and Cheers de KI1Y, Cocoa Beach, Florida USA.

[@VK3FS]

Thank you Jim.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Watched the whole thing !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏❤

[@JoseRibeiro-de9rw]

Amazing video. Thank You

[@vk3hau]

Another fine video, Thanks for the info.

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Michael.

[@microrecording]

excellent demo, thank you!

[@VK3FS]

Glad you liked it! There's an updateded version out now. ;)

[@WA1LBK]

Thanks for posting this, lots of good information. I'm currently active on 1296 MHz., originally with a Downeast Microwave transverter, now with an IC-9700. Looking forward to Icom's just announced IC-905, hopefully that will spur more microwave activity here in the US. 73, Tom WA1LBK

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Tom. I hope you find your way up the spectrum soon. Yes, the 905 is a game changer. Cheers A.

[@paulalbers1935]

Excellent and very informative Andrew

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Paul. :)

[@nbm408]

very nicely produced. great job!!!!

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Nathan.

[@Jonny10001]

Extremely well put together, will show on Sydney ATV, de VK2ATU

[@VK3FS]

Thanks John. I'd encourage everyone who's involved in ATV to run it. Just today the ACMA are looking for feedback on their "Planning for wireless broadband use of urban areas in the 3400-3475 MHz band"

[@ManuelPinner]

Now the ICOM 905 is on Sale on HRO Ham Radio Stores,

[@tomgeorge3726]

Great production and extremely informative about the Microwave situation and experience on Amateur Radio Microwaves.👍👍 de VK3DMK

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Tom. Glad you found it informative. Hope to hear you on the bands some time. :)

[@cathrynm]

This is a nice video. Makes microwave look cool.

[@VK3FS]

It is. ;)

[@Lync512]

Thanks for making this video! I've honestly been wanting to get into microwave myself for a while, just was a bit lost where to start

[@VK3FS]

Good luck Lync. There appears to be a global component shortage at the moment due to current world events, so getting gear sooner than later may be good.

[@Lync512]

@@VK3FS Yeah. This decade has been a wild ride. My entire station has to get redone anyway. My hf radio died on me so been trying to figure outa plan. Having equipment for higher bands definitely won’t hurt. I’ve got to see if there’s a local microwave group, if not no reason something can’t get stated up. Aside from voice I’m also interested in data network’s using these bands. Similar to ARDEN. It’s all rather fascinating. Additionally I could see this having great utility in the service aspect of amateur radio, small enough portable stations can potentially pass large amounts of data quickly. 73, KE8GAH

[@VK3FS]

@@Lync512 That's no good that the HF radio died. The bands are coming to life again. SSB into your part of the world is possible again on 10m from here in VK - even mobile. Data on microwave is challenging but fun. GPS locking will be very helpful. :) Hopefully there are others interested ops in your area.

[@Lync512]

@@VK3FS oh yeah it really hurts to see The bands going green up and down the entire hf spectrum and being unable to ride that wave. It’s been so long since I’ve seen these conditions as well. Being a data mode operator I have a slight resistance to bad band conditions. But it’s still always easier with good conditions. I had just gotten everything dialed in with winlink and VaraHF but radio just decided one day to not work as I’m tuning up my antenna. It atleast turns on. But no power on TX even if I have it sent to full power. No idea what happened, I can’t even flash firmware anymore. Regardless I wouldn’t get another radio from this company.

[@ivorydawn]

Excellent, top quality video. Thank you de g7mns

[@VK3FS]

Thank you Andrew :)

[@nickwallace7128]

Well done guys...roll on the DX season ZL1IU

[@VK3FS]

Indeed Nick. Thanks.

[@captainchrisfishing]

Wow that first part of the video was intense bravo my friend 73s from 2 papa tango 731 ohio chris .

[@k8ktoamateurradio671]

Absolutely amazing video. This has been the most helpful video that I have watched so far about getting into microwave radio. I emailed SG-Labs today. Thanks for putting this video together. 73s! Ben K8KTO

[@VK3FS]

Hi Ben, I'm glad you're inspired. I just had a look at your QRZ page and I think your furry companion will also enjoy the benefits of microwave ;) Hopefully you can inspire a few at the Findlay ARC to embark on the microwave journey too. 73 Andrew VK3FS

[@philipclancy1779]

Another awesome video Would be good to see setting up equipment for 6cm in the future Phil VK2JDL

[@VK3FS]

It's coming Phil It's in the queue. A few projects in front of it. ;)

[@leeduncan447]

Another great video Andrew, well done very inspirational. de VK3MLD

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Lee. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@DL2SDR]

Greetings from Germany! 73, DL2SDR

[@VK3FS]

Hello from VK :)

[@TheArtofEngineering]

Thank you …. I use microwaves… in my kitchen. 😂😂 SERIOUSLY NOW…. Thanks for this video …. It is on my to do list!

[@cqpy2rn]

nice video production, missing to show the ADALM-Pluto which works well from 70MHz to 6GHz :) easier than ever!

[@VK3FS]

Yes. The Pluto is becoming quite popular.

[@TheArtofEngineering]

LF and VLF …. Also a final frontier! 73 de VK2AOE

[@leomartihart]

Buenas guia! Apunto a la banda de 3CM (X band) y estoy experimentando con la contruccion artesanal de un down converter. Necesito un buen VCO estable!!! LU3MKH 73

[@VK3FS]

3cm is a great band Leo. Good luck with your project.

[@robertallbright]

Thanks, most interesting 73 Rob G3RCE

[@VK3FS]

Thanks Rob. I hope you have some local microwave activity in your part of the world.

[@robertallbright]

@@VK3FS I will investigate I have an IC705 and a local has just purchased a 9700👍 73 Rob

[@larry785]

Lightwave communication is higher :)

[@ManuelPinner]

There even Hams Using Lasers to Communicate,

[@VK3FS]

Light is popular here too. Here's what the locals get up to. kzbin.info/www/bejne/onq7mY2fqdt1h9E

[@VK9TOM]

Are the only one who believes every microwave band should be available to every class of license like in the us it would be good to have that here in vk but it’s probably not going to happen

[@VK3FS]

Not any time soon Tom. We still have bands with split privileges. :(

[@VK9TOM]

@@VK3FS 6 is a classic example

[@VK3FS]

and 13cm

[@geoffmatthews6283]

My neck of the woods! Home & Station QTH Werribee. After moving house I'm slowly building up my shack. Back on air in the next few months. 73 de vk2tfg.

[@VK3FS]

Come up a say hello Geoff. 439.0 FM

[@geoffmatthews6283]

@@VK3FS ALL of my gear is in boxes ;-(. If I find my TM733 early on It'll be the first thing set up. One of the boxes has a lot of WR90 stuff in it.....