TOTAL POWER

MICROWAVE RECEIVERS
FOR AMATEUR RADIO ASTRONOMY

RAL10 Series
Microwave receivers for amateur radio astronomy

For lovers of science who are interested or curious about radio astronomy, it is now possible to start an interesting
amateur research although not very experts in electronics and radio technologies. RadioAstroLab, a leader in this
sector, offers a wide range of products for every need and cost, to allow everyone to approach, with the necessary
support, to this wonderful discipline. Even schools, universities and institutions of science education can benefit from
our proposals, discovering how easy and fun it is to experience radio astronomy.
The RAL10 family consists in a series of very sensitive receivers dedicated to radio astronomy, in particular microwave
radiometers (working at 11.2 GHz frequency). They are Total-Power instruments, which can measure the radiation
emitted from any celestial object intercepted by the antenna. The series proposed is complete: it ranges from the kit
of pre-assembled and calibrated modules for those who want to "get their hands dirty" by building a small radio
telescope in their garden, to the more sophisticated and ready to use instrumentation, complete with accessories
necessary to the proper tracking of radio sources. The construction of small radio telescopes operating in 10-12 GHz
frequency band is today economic and simplified if you use antenna systems and components from the market of the
satellite TV, available everywhere at low cost.
With such equipment it is simple to install a microwave radio telescope remotely controllable also via Internet. Of
course, our kit also provides the software for the acquisition and the automatic recording of data on your PC.
We refer to other articles published on our website for further information about the functioning of a radio telescope,
the structure of a Total-Power receiver and the observing possibilities of the amateur radio astronomy.
We are working on other interesting tools and they will be introduced soon, along with many scientific projects
proposals: the attention of RadioAstroLab towards the amateur radio astronomy and science is constant and always
up-to-date!
 Our range for amateur radio astronomy
RECEIVERS

RAL10KIT
RAL10AP
RAL10
ACCESSORIES

RAL10BT
RAL10LNB RAL164
 RAL10KIT

It is a kit for self-builders with a minimum of practice in the electronic assembly. The package includes the
radiometric module microRAL10, the USB interface to connect with the PC, the assembly instructions and the
control software. The modules are pre-assembled: they only have to be enclosed in a suitable case, complete with
a power supply (as specified in the instructions), with a coaxial cable and a common antenna with LNB operating in
the 10-12 GHz satellite TV band. The first microwave radio telescope is thus created.
Together with the RAL10AP receiver, it represents the starting point for the first radio astromomy experiences.
 RAL10AP

It is the smallest radiometer of the RAL10 series, complete, assembled and ready to use, "elder brother" of the
RAL10KIT. The basic characteristics of the receiver are identical to those of the previous device, with the difference
that the instrument is supplied already mounted in a robust and elegant metal case. To start working you just need to
connect the antenna (with LNB), the external power supply and the PC: activating the DataMicroRAL10 software, the
acquisition of the measures starts. A peculiar feature of RAL10AP is an audio output (downstream of the detector)
useful for monitoring purposes. The USB interface for connection to the PC and the control software are identical to
that of the previous product, the main power can be supplied via a 12V external power supply (supplied separately, on
request), a rechargeable battery or our Rechargeable Battery Unit RAL10BT (available on request).
 RAL10

Equipped with a couple of microprocessors that manage all functions, it is the most complete instrument in the over-
the-top version (installation of radio telescope with the receiver positioned inside a labo-ratory, near the acquisition
PC). The receiver electronic is inside a robust metal case, it is highly sensitive and thermally stabilized (to optimize the
reproducibility and accuracy of the measurement). It has a front panel with keypad for manual setting of the controls
and a backlit LCD display for the visualisation pf the functions. A USB port connects the PC station managed by the
supplied software.
The wide possibility to program and control the operating parameters make this receiver the tip tool of the RAL10
family.
External unit RAL10_LNB
Complete with adjustable illuminator

LNB (Low Noise Block Converter) with input frequency in the band 10-12 GHz completed with
adjustable illuminator is designed for radio astronomy applications where high sensitivity and
stability are required.
The unit, built in a sturdy aluminum insulated frame, is thermally stabilized with an internal
regulator that powers a heater: the internal temperature (around 47 ° C) is kept constant and the
effects of external temperature variations are minimized. A dedicated power cable supplies the
stabilization circuit (12-22 V). The best performance is obtained when the stabilization circuit is fed
at a voltage close to 20 V and when the outdoor temperature hikes are kept below the internal
temperature. Thermostat control does not work when the outside temperature is very high, such as
in the central days of summer at low latitudes, or when the antenna is oriented toward the sun
(excessive solar radiation heating). The current absorbed by the heater is about 1.5 A when it is
powered at 12 V, about 3 A when it is powered at 22 V.
The device is equipped with a corrugated illuminator for circular parabolic reflector antennas, to be
installed on the focus of the antenna: through a TV-SAT coaxial cable, it can be connected to all the
receivers of RAL10 line. The illuminator is designed for circular parabolic reflector antennas (prime
focus) and can be adapted to the LNB though a C-120 flange. The system works in the universal
band 10-12 GHz, and can be used with antennas having a F/D (focal length / diameter) between
0.32 and 0.43: for an optimal operation, the size of the antenna used is not relevant, provided that
the given F/D ratio is respected.
Attenuator RAL164
Essential accessory for observing the Sun with very sensitive instruments (eg. RAL10)
combined with large antennas. The function of the device, which is inserted at the
receiver input after the descent of the coaxial cable from the antenna, is to alleviate
the powerful solar radiation, thus avoiding saturations and non-linearity in the system
response.

Rechargeable battery unit RAL10BT

RAL10BT is a rechargeable power source at low
voltage designed to allow the use of our tools (or
any other instrument operating at 12 VDC) in areas
not served by the electricity grid. The device,
equipped with a hermetically sealed rechargeable
battery capable of ensuring high operational
autonomy, includes the charging electronic circuit at
high efficiency.
ARIES software
We have developed Aries, an advanced and
easy to use software, to manage all the
receivers of the RAL10 series.
Designed to make the most of the
"robustness" and flexibility in the serial
communication typical of our tools, the
software controls all operating parameters
of the specific model used. As a graphic
recorder, Aries shows the trend of the
measurements over time and stores the
acquired information in different ways and
formats.

With Aries you can easily set the parameters of a single receiver, or manage different and simultaneous measurement sessions with
multiple devices (even of the same type) connected to a single PC: the communication protocol implemented in our tools, coupled to
Aries interface, enables a very reliable communication management, perfect even in applications involving continuous measurements
for a long time and in remote locations not controlled by operatives. The automatic recording of data and the ability to set
appropriate alarm thresholds to the occurrence of events in the measured signal, make the kit RAL10 + Aries very versatile and
practical, used with success in many areas. Aries can be used with no limits in license and/or number of installations: the program will
always be provided for free with our instruments. In any case, we always guarantee the support of the application, along with the
improvements that simplify and optimize the performances.
Radiometric module microRAL10

The microRAL10 radiometric module is common to all RAL10 products: is the central unit of the receivers and
implements all the functions required for a microwave radiometer suited for radio astronomy. It is a radiometer
managed by a microprocessor which amplifies the signal from the external unit (LNB), performs the calculation of the
RF power (quadratic detector compensated in temperature), "digitizes" the detected signal with high resolution (14-bit
analog-to-digital internal converter) and communicates with the PC station (USB port) via a serial data channel with
proprietary protocol. The module provides power to the external unit LNB via the coaxial cable (protected with fuse
against accidental short-circuits), with the voltage jump for polarization change in reception. The processor controls
the parameters of the Total-Power radiometer such as the offset setting and the automatic calibration of radiometric
baseline, the setting of the gain and of the post-detection constant of integration (with time from about 0.1 up to 26
seconds), the selection of the polarization in reception (if allowed by the chosen LNB).
 RADIOASTROLAB S.r.L.
Strada della Marina 9/6 –
60019 Senigallia (AN) Italy
T: 071.6608166
www.radioastrolab.it
www.radioastrolab.com
commerciale@radioastrolab.it

Rev.04 del 13/01/2018