Ely Cathedral Octagon - NOT amateur radio

This image (or one very similar) has been on the blog before, but I make no apologies. 

The very heavy wooden octagon replaces the original tower that collapsed centuries ago. The octagon dates from 1342. 

Imagine designing and constructing this back then!

See https://www.elycathedral.org/events/octagon-tower-tours .

Low cost, high performance 10GHz receiver

Recently Ian G3KKD has been telling me about some remarkable results on 10GHz using an Octagon satellite LNB that is available for around £12-15 via eBay. This has a crystal controlled PLL and has good frequency accuracy, stability and phase noise. I believe the LNB outputs a signal around 600MHz which is then down converted to a suitable IF.

Using this set-up Ian can copy the 10GHz beacon GB3CAM at around 30km with just the LNB handheld in his front or back garden which is badly screened by tall trees! Using a small Sky dish, the signal is S9+60dB from a point just along the road.

Of course, with a small surplus satellite dish, a low cost TV USB dongle used as an SSB/CW RX at the LNB output frequency, this would make an excellent SDR for 10GHz with VERY low noise figure. The LNB quotes the NF as 0.1dB, which is remarkable.

With a small 10GHz FM or CW TX into a separate dish, a complete low cost 10GHz station is possible, probably for less than £50. I am sorely tempted to try this.

I have just seen Andy G4JNT's note about this http://www.g4jnt.com/PLL_LNB_Tests.pdf .