Transverter

A transverter for ATV operation on 5.7Ghz.

A transverter is a radio frequency device that consists of an upconverter and a downconverter in one unit. Transverters are used in conjunction with transceivers to change the range of frequencies over which the transceiver can communicate. A transverter is a universal electrical power converter that can combine, convert, analyze and control any combinations of DC or AC power.

Amateur radio use

Transverters are used in amateur radio to convert radio transceivers designed for use on the HF or VHF bands to operate on even higher frequency (microwave) bands. A transceiver used in this fashion is referred to as an IF radio, indicating its role as the "intermediate frequency" stage in the chain of radio electronics. Common transceiver/transverter combinations include transverters for 50 MHz, 70 MHz, 144 MHz, 222 MHz, and 432 MHz designed for use with 28 MHz IF radios, and transverters for 50 MHz, 902 MHz, 1296 MHz, 2304 MHz, 3456 MHz, 5706 MHz, and 10368 MHz designed for use with 144 MHz IF radios. Some transverter units include transmit/receive switching built into the design, whereas other units require external switching. The use of external switching is popular in applications where preamps and amplifiers are included. Many transverters are built into waterproof enclosures for installation on a radio tower or other antenna support structure to get the device as close as possible to the antenna so as to reduce signal loss in the transmission line.

The High Speed Multimedia Radio article discusses the radio transceivers that use 802.11 (WiFi) with the transverters to achieve Wireless Broadband communication in the frequency bands reserved for Amateur radio operators.

Low band use

Transverters can also be used in applications where the transverter frequency is lower than the transceiver frequency. Several low frequency bands are available around the world to amateur radio operators, licensed experimental stations, and some unlicensed hobbyists. Transverters for these LF bands generally use HF transceivers as the IF radio. Some are used for communications where one or more of the stations are underground.

Energy conversion use

A transverter power module for energy conversion, 2000 watt, HT2000.

Transverters are used to convert and combine different types of electrical power such as solar panels, batteries, wind generators, fuel cells, the grid, generators and both DC and AC loads. By automatically analyzing and converting the power between different voltages and AC or DC, it allows for energy to flow between all types of devices. With the advent of the Smart Grid it is becoming very popular since it combines renewable energy, demand management and community energy storage within the home or office. Transverters also correct for power factor locally, which creates significant reductions in transmission loss for the grid. EPRI Smart Grid Demonstration Update [1]

Historically a "transverter" was an electromechanical device used to produce high-voltage direct current from AC sources for long distance transmission, invented in Britain in the 1920s.

References

• "Making Advanced Power Electronics for Sustainable Energy" by Heart Akerson
• "Multiband Microwave Transverters for the Rover" by Paul Wade W1GHZ
• "222 MHz Transverter for the FT-817" by Paul Wade W1GHZ
• "A Single Board No-Tuning 23-cm (1296MHz) Transverter" by Rick Campbell KK7B
• "A No-Tune Transverter for 2304 MHz" by Jim Davey WA8NLC
• "Modified Transverter for Converting SSB CB to LF for Thru-the-Earth Voice Communications" by Brian Pease W1IR
• "A 70 MHz transverter design with detailed description and construction details" by Bo Hansen OZ2M