$75 Ukrainian VHF Transverter with the Flex-6000 SDR and SmartSDR 

+Richard Lawn Thanks, Rick. I use an old Cushcraft 13B2 on 2m. I have done some satellite work in years past but never tried EME. I'm told you can work the big guns (like W5UN) on EME with a 100w station but I think a couple of antennas and more power would help a lot. I'm currently looking at buying an amp from a friend of mine, a homebrew setup for 2m with a pair of 4CX250Bs.

Excellent video! Thank you!

+Dennis “The Menace” Franssen Hi Dennis, the track is just some royalty-free music from the video editor I use (Adobe Premiere.) I'll look it up next time I'm editing some video and see what it's called.

Hi Johnny. The first thing to do is to get a transverter and configure it as shown in the video and make sure you can work the local nets using your 6300 and transverter. Then you'll need to configure SmartLink, the remote control feature in SmartSDR 2.0, so that you can operate the Flex remotely. Unfortunately I don't have any experience with the iPad and SmartSDR iOS, but there are some videos explaining that part of the process. Good luck!

Thanks Doug. I am operating the 6300 with the ipad remotely. Just wanted to make sure I was not missing anything before I make the investment. I plan on buying the assembled 144 mhz without the attenuator. Hope it will output 5 watts. Your video has helped a lot of people I'm sure.

Using a scope or voltmeter make sure that the PTT line (shown as pin 3 on the transverter schematic) is being pulled low (0 v) when you key the Flex. If not, check the connection back to the Flex and make sure the TX line on the Flex is connected and configured properly.

Rick, if you are driving the transverter board from the Flex transverter output then you have to disconnect or otherwise disable the attenuator. The attenuator is intended (and only needed) for users whose radios do not have transverter outputs.

Thank you, Doug. I'll figure out how to do that asap. I think I saw on your, or someone's video on how to do that. 73 K5RHA

+Mike Thompson It's just a display issue - I had an external attenuator on the input to ensure that the input signal stayed well within the Rigol's limits. I don't know how this board compares with the DEMI equipment - it would be interesting to get access to one to do some tests. The TX IMD figures in the ARRL review weren't stellar as I recall. The gold standard is apparently the stuff from Kuhne, but that's pricey stuff.

Yes, SmartSDR provides for repeater offsets and CTCSS. I have used this transverter with 2m repeaters.

Great! I had a Flex 3000 in the past and now I´m considering buying the 6300. Would be great to have 144, 220 and 440 with Flex and add ThumbDV for DSTAR and other digital modes. Do you think in add more transverters? If you do, do have any suggestion how to hook all three in the transverter port and switch automatically?

I haven't thought about adding more transverters, so I don't have any ideas on how to switch automatically between multiple devices. It seems that you would need some relays since there is only a single transverter output from the 6300. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

I doubt it. The 1500 has a transverter output, so I don't think you need the attenuator. Also the 1500 uses PowerSDR instead of SmartSDR, so the software configuration will definitely be different.

Using two or more transverters would require some kind of external switching since the Flex-6300 only has a single transverter port. I only have the 2m transverter so I have not had to deal with interfacing multiple transverters. Sorry I can't be of more help.

I don't think there is any way to use the transverter port with the attenuator in place. It just doesn't put out enough power. With the attenuator board installed you need 10 to 15 watts of drive. I don't know what's involved in bypassing the attenuator but it shouldn't be too difficult.

He just lists it as an internal control point used to adjust the board. I don't have anything attached to this pin. From the instruction sheet: 4.Control point (we used it to adjust the board)

Got it. I had that sheet turned over to the side with the scematics on it, hadnt turned it over!

Oh wait, the transverter output goes from 28-32 MHz without issue? that's great, I missed that the first few times watched the video... great to know! If I used the attenuator/transverter I would only get coverage of the lower 1.7 MHz of the 2m band, since the Flex 6300 only puts out RF on 28-29.7 MHz - correct? Thanks for this very helpful video.

As long as you feed the transverter from the XVTR output on the Flex you won't have any issues with band coverage. The XVTR output allows continuous coverage on TX and RX from 28 to 32 MHz which provides 144 to 148 MHz coverage with this transverter.

Hello Frank, Please see the email that I sent to you this morning.

May I please have the same e-mail. I have a 6300 as well. Great video! Thanks

I use an old RF Concepts rfc2-217 which can be driven with 2 watts and gives 170 watts output. I run the RF output from the transverter to the RF input on the amp, and the amplifier RF output goes to the antenna. But this is an old amplifier and no longer available. I haven't tried any other amplifiers.

Yes, you can use any mode with this transverter. I mainly use mine on 2M SSB and CW, but I have used it on FM as well.

well, i suppose does it just keep the modulation from the transceiver itself? or does it actually convert it (ie from FM to SSB)? reason i'm asking is because I have a quad-band (10m/6m/2m/70cm) FM only radio, but i'd like to do some SSB for 10m/6m/2m. the only way i've found so far would be to get a dedicated radio, which is going to cost me $800+ unless i can manage to find a used yaesu 857D or Icom 706 MK2G. but if a transverter can be used to convert, that might be a better option for me?

No, it doesn't do any conversion. It takes whatever mode your transceiver uses and that's what you get on the 2M side. So you'd need a transceiver capable of 10M SSB operation in order to to 2M SSB with the transverter.

I don't have any experience with the SDR-1000, but if the transverter output is similar to that of the 6300 it should work fine.

Okay, how do you get PowerSDR to recognize an external transverter? I can't seem to enter it manually in "demo mode", and I can't transmit up to 32MHz as an IF to cover all of 2 meters.

Sorry, I don't have anything here that works with PowerSDR anymore. I sold my Flex-1500 when I got my Flex-6300.

I just laser printed them on white stick-on poly-label material with white letters on a black background. Since the case is painted black it just looks like white lettering.

doug 1 more silly question is there any way i can get a step down transveter 432 down to 144 this is not heard of i guess 7 3 s

Yes, Patrick, I was informed of this shortly after I posted the video, and I added a note in the description. I had to go brush up on all the "U" prefixes :-)

+satexas520skyjacker If I recall correctly I believe it was RG174.

No, sorry, I never got around to taking photos of the connections to the Flex.

@@doughall1415 I figured it out. It is working. Can hit a local repeater.

Serge, UT5JCW is who I corresponded with and is the callsign associated with transverters-store.com

I have not. The transverter doesn't have a TCXO so I'm sure there would be some thermal drift. In my use it hasn't been a problem.

I was curious of that, too. Do you believe it would be stable enough to run JT modes? Or would you recommend using a crystal oven?

The drift is really bad on these units, I took mine out of line because everyone was constantly chasing me all over the frequency. It does work, but extremely drifty. K5RWD

+Sergey Mitsay My apologies Sergey. I have added a note indicating this in the description.

+Doug Hall Thanks a lot!

Sorry, not Russia. My mistake. Believe me, I'll never refer to the Ukraine as Russia again! :-)