Summary of Contents for microHAM SMORF
- Page 1 © 2015 All rights reserved SMΩRF RF VECTOR SIGNAL METER microHAM fax: +421 2 4594 5100 e-mail: support@microham.com homepage: www.microham.com Version – 1.4 8 April, 2016...
-
Page 2: Table Of Contents
© 2015 All rights reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE 1. FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS ....................4 2. IMPORTANT WARNINGS ......................5 3. HARDWARE DESCRIPTION ...................... 5 Front Panel .......................... 6 Rear Panel ........................... 7 4. INSTALLATION .......................... 8 5. OPERATION …........................... 9 Sensor Selection ......................... - Page 3 © 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU ........................56 Alarms Handling and Operation ..................56 Alarm Settings ........................57 SWR Alarm ........................60 LOW POWER Alarm ......................61 HIGH POWER Alarm ......................62 PSK IMD Alarm ........................62 ARCING Alarm ........................63 DATA STRUCTURE DIAGRAM ....................
-
Page 4: Features And Functions
© 2015 All rights reserved 1 – FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS SMΩRF™ is unique metering instrument, the most powerful and accurate, in-line vector RF power meter to date with accuracy rivaling the professional instruments. Has tons of extra features, and very high level of user customization to fit every hamshack, every operator's needs. -
Page 5: Important Warnings
© 2015 All rights reserved 2 - IMPORTANT WARNINGS ALWAYS check the polarity of the 13.8 V power supply before you connect it to the meter. If you use meter without sensors, NEVER exceed 26dBm level to the meter's IN RF ports. -
Page 6: Front Panel
© 2015 All rights reserved Front Panel TOP BAR GRAPH BOTTOM BAR GRAPH TOP BAR GRAPH SCALE INDICATOR BOTTOM BAR GRAPH SCALE INDICATOR BAR GRAPH SCALE RANGE INDICATOR green color indicates top bar graph range ◦ red color indicates bottom bar graph range ◦... -
Page 7: Rear Panel
◦ IEEE 802.3 Ethernet port ◦ Accessory port ◦ iLINK first iLINK port for connection to iLINK enabled microHAM devices ◦ iLINK second iLINK port for connection to iLINK enabled microHAM devices ◦ SERIAL RS232 port for general low speed connectivity ◦... -
Page 8: Installation
• cable from iLINK port of the meter to the iLINK port on microHAM interface. If you have multiple microHAM interfaces and you are unsure where to connect iLINK port, please refer to METER MODE chapter for more details. If you don't have our interface, or you have interface without iLINK port, please refer to ALARM •... -
Page 9: Operation
© 2015 All rights reserved 5 – OPERATION Operating SMΩRF is easy and intuitive, but to use it effectively and to maximal pleasure, it is important to understand its structure and relationship between data and settings. SENSOR SELECTION First basic selection on SMΩRF is a SENSOR focus. - Page 10 © 2015 All rights reserved multiplier is indicated by flashing x100 indicator. Bottom power reading scale is shortened to half. Final value is given by multiplying indicated value on the current scale by RANGE multiplier. Current scale on TOP bar is indicated by one of SCALE indicators [3], and current RANGE is indicated by one of RANGE indicators [5].
-
Page 11: Screen
In this case the F indicator is off and meter uses last measured frequency. If SMΩRF is connected and coupled to microHAM device over iLINK port (MKII, MK2R+, SM, SMD), •... -
Page 12: Screen: Edit Mode
© 2015 All rights reserved EDIT MODE Built in SCREENs can be very easily customized in real time, cloned for the same layout but different parameters, copied between sensors etc. As was written above, to each sensor up to 16 screens can be associated, doesn't matter if they are built in, customized or cloned. -
Page 13: Screen: Bar Graph Functions
© 2015 All rights reserved Another suffix used in provided measurements is superscripted -REF as in FWD -REF -REF abbreviation appears only after forward power (FWD) and stands for delivered power, power which was transferred to the cable or to the antenna, cleared of reflected power. -
Page 14: Screen: Bar Graph Settings
© 2015 All rights reserved BOTTOM BAR GRAPH FUNCTIONS SWR – TX Standing Wave Ratio at the TX (Sensor) feed point. • SWR – ANT Standing Wave Ratio at the ANT (Antenna) feed point. • REF – TX – PK Peak envelope reflected power at the TX (Sensor) feed point. - Page 15 © 2015 All rights reserved PK ATTACK Sets attack time used for peak values (PK). • Range: 0 – 200ms, Step: 1ms. PK DECAY Sets decay time used for peak values (PK). • Range: 0 – 200ms, Step: 1ms.
-
Page 16: Screen: Tone Generator
© 2015 All rights reserved MENU SYSTEM - INTRODUCTION In above chapter we mentioned MENU system. To edit all parameters, tables and functions, SMΩRF has extensive, still easy to understand MENU system. MENU system has a tree structure always starting from the... - Page 17 © 2015 All rights reserved FREQ. 1 to the FREQ. 2, duration is defined in the TIME field. MODE SINGLE/CONTINUOUS. • If CONTINUOUS, generator generates output signal until stopped manually. If SINGLE, generator generates output only for time specified in the TIME field, then stops automatically.
-
Page 18: Screen: Screens Menu
© 2015 All rights reserved SCREEN MENU This menu serves for setting up the SCREEN to meet user requirements. SCREEN Menu contains data which are the same (but independently adjustable) for each SCREEN, as well as data specific to particular SCREEN e.g. - Page 19 © 2015 All rights reserved SCREEN ALARMS Alarms settings and adjustments will be described in details in separate chapters, but now it is necessary to put in some introduction. SMΩRF has built-in five (5) type of user configurable alarms in three (3), “importance” levels. Each alarm “importance”...
-
Page 20: Single Sensor Screen Templates
© 2015 All rights reserved 7 - SINGLE SENSOR SCREEN TEMPLATES In following chapters we are going to describe single sensor SCREEN templates, their purpose of use, settings and available functions. STANDARD SCREEN Standard screen is a general screen providing four (4) user configurable measurements. Each measurement is related to one of two points of measurements (TX or ANT), has its numerical value, UNIT and TYPE. -
Page 21: Large Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved REFLECTED POWER • Reflected power at the TX (Sensor) feed point. • Reflected power at the ANT (Antenna) feed point. REFLECTION • Standing Wave Ratio at the TX (Sensor) feed point. • Standing Wave Ratio at the ANT (Antenna) feed point. -
Page 22: Psk Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved REFLECTION • Reflected power at the TX (Sensor) feed point. • Reflected power at the ANT (Antenna) feed point. • Standing Wave Ratio at the TX (Sensor) feed point. • Standing Wave Ratio at the ANT (Antenna) feed point. -
Page 23: Tune Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved TUNE SCREEN TUNE screen is specialized screen helping to tune manual Power Amplifiers or Antenna Tuners. It provides two forward power readings (1), reflection measurement (2), ratio of current power to user adjustable 100% power level set in SENSOR MENU displayed in percents (3), tuning progress display (4) and instant tuning status indicator (5). -
Page 24: Technical Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved Filled UP ARROW informs that instant power is rising and at the same time it is the highest achieved • peak power. BEST FWD PEAK updates to new maximum. CHECKMARK means that 100% power level has been achieved, tuning is done. At the same time •... - Page 25 © 2015 All rights reserved TL PARAMETERS R, X • Rectangular coordinates complex impedance for both TX and ANT points. Z = R + jX; R = Resistance [Ω], X = Reactance [Ω] |Z|Φ • Polar coordinates complex impedance for both TX and ANT points.
-
Page 26: Oscilloscope Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved OSCILLOSCOPE SCREEN Oscilloscope screen is another great feature of the SMΩRF. Serves for waveform inspection, overshoots visualization, lead and tail time measurements etc etc … It mimics standard digital bench oscilloscope but since SMΩRF is an instruments for RF power measurements, it is optimized for this job, and adds some features you will not find on any standard digital oscilloscope. - Page 27 © 2015 All rights reserved TRIGGER Sets trigger level. While trigger level is adjusted, its position is indicated by vertical line on the scope screen and numerical value is shown at Δ position in the table located on the right side.
- Page 28 © 2015 All rights reserved AVERAGE • Uses averaged value from samples captured for one display point. This choice should be used when smoothness of provided waveform is more important than peaks. MIN-MAX • It is a special acquisition type providing two waveforms on display. Lower is related to minimal value of the measured signal, higher to peak value of measured signal.
-
Page 29: Spectrum Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved SPECTRUM SCREEN Spectrum screen is similar screen to the Oscilloscope screen but visualizes data in the frequency domain instead of oscilloscope's time domain. It uses SMΩRF's peak detector data and with help of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) translates them into frequency domain using Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). - Page 30 © 2015 All rights reserved intentionally left blank...
-
Page 31: Auto Mode
© 2015 All rights reserved AUTO MODE AUTO mode is a special operating mode of the SMΩRF which can be applied for any single sensor screen. In AUTO mode, meter makes automatic sensor focus to the first sensor from which detects power. Unfocused sensor is ignored and alarms for this sensor are not generated. -
Page 32: 2Tx Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved 2TX SCREEN 2TX screen is a DUAL sensor screen, providing simultaneous measurements for both sensor. This screen is available in TWO INDEPENDENT RADIOS AND SENSORS meter mode, and is suitable for setups with two radios when it is normal that both radios transmit at the same time and it is necessary to monitor power of both radios simultaneously. -
Page 33: Pa Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved PA SCREEN PA screen is a DUAL sensor screen providing “phase locked”, simultaneous measurements for both sensors operating at the same frequency. This screen is available in SINGLE RADIO, SENSORS IN SERIES meter mode. - Page 34 © 2015 All rights reserved intentionally left blank...
-
Page 35: 4In Screen
© 2015 All rights reserved 4IN SCREEN 4IN is a very special screen designed to use SMΩRF as a four channel level/phase meter without any sensors. This screen is available only in special, 4 DIRECT INPUTS meter mode. The 4IN screen is a big help for low level measurements. Accurate measurements of amplitude and phase on four inputs simultaneously is unique feature of the SMΩRF you can find only on 4 channel oscilloscopes which... - Page 36 © 2015 All rights reserved Bottom line: If you are going to measure just one signal, use IN1 or IN3 input on the SMΩRF. If measured level is below the frequency lock level (-35dBm), rise amplitude first until it locks.
-
Page 37: Main Menu
© 2015 All rights reserved 9 - MAIN MENU As was already mentioned, SMΩRF has extensive, yet still easy to understand MENU system to get access to various settings and parameters. MENU system has a tree structure always starting from the root MAIN MENU,... -
Page 38: Meter Mode
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – METER MODE METER MODE is important system setting which defines how SMΩRF has to handle sensors and sets relationship to radios and iLINK bus. Setting correct meter mode is essential for proper SMΩRF functionality, especially if you are using more than one sensor, more than one SMΩRF device and connecting them to iLINK... - Page 39 © 2015 All rights reserved SINGLE RADIO / SENSORS IN SERIES mode This METER MODE has been designed for use with two sensors operating at the same frequency. In this meter mode SMΩRF provides unique features, gain (or attenuation) and phase shift measurements between sensors.
-
Page 40: Miscellaneous Settings
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – MISCELLANEOUS SETTINGS In this menu it is possible to check the version of the firmware, serial numbers of internal boards and set various global and user interface settings. Settings are applied to both SENSORs and all SCREENs. -
Page 41: Brightness Settings
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – BRIGHTNESS SETTINGS Sets the brightness of the display and LED BAR GRAPHs to a fixed level or to automatic control according to ambient light. Brightness intensity of the display and LED BAR GRAPHs can be set separately. -
Page 42: Lan Settings
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – LAN SETTINGS This menu serves for setting of everything related to the LAN connectivity and shows real time status of the network connection. CONTROLS: LAN ENABLED Enables or disables LAN connection. -
Page 43: Power Saving
(best saving) or to two modes displaying “moving” parameters. Parameters can be individually enabled or disabled. Available parameters are: UTC time, DATE, LOCAL TIME and CALLSIGN. Callsign can be edited on screen, by default it is set to “microHAM”. SCREEN MODE Sets mode of the screen saver. - Page 44 © 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – AUX PORT intentionally left blank...
-
Page 45: Time And Date
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – TIME/DATE SMΩRF has built-in Real Time Clock (RTC) to allow to mark backups with date signature as well as to provide UTC and local time/date for screen saver. Special feature is that RTC can be synchronized by internet clock reference and keep time in the SMΩRF updated and very accurate. -
Page 46: Backup And Restore
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – BACKUP/RESTORE Backup/Restore menu serves for backups management. SMΩRF provides three (3) separate slots where you can backup your settings. All three backup slots can be restored from the computer or exported to the computer or as single file through the web interface. -
Page 47: Screens Management
© 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – SCREENS MANAGEMENT SCREENS MANAGEMENT menu allows to set appearance of the each screen in the screens sequence and copy screen's data which forms the screen (TOP/BOTTOM LED BAR, TONE GENERATOR, ALARM's table of the SCREEN SETTINGS) from one screen to another, between sensors, copy some screen in place of another or create a new screen from scratch based on built in template. - Page 48 © 2015 All rights reserved SYSTEM MENU – SCREENS MANAGEMENT – COPY SCREENS SETTINGS This menu allows to copy screen's data, (TOP/BOTTOM LED BAR, TONE GENERATOR, ALARM's table of the SCREEN SETTINGS) from the current screen to the another screen of the same or the other sensor.
-
Page 49: Sensor 1 Menu
© 2015 All rights reserved 11 – SENSOR 1 MENU SENSOR 1 MENU is a sub menu of the MAIN MENU and serves for all sensor related settings. Actually there are two sub menus, SENSOR 1 MENU and SENSOR 2 MENU but since both have same sub-menus and... - Page 50 © 2015 All rights reserved Nature of the coaxial cables is that they have monotone (but not linear) attenuation characteristic, with rising frequency attenuation rises. If cables connecting the SMΩRF are not absolutely same in the electrical length, also some phase shift is introduced. Both this parameters have huge impact to accuracy and need to be eliminated.
-
Page 51: Sensor Cables Calibration
© 2015 All rights reserved SENSOR 1 MENU – SENSOR CABLES CALIBRATION When supplied cables are not long enough to connect a sensor to the SMΩRF, and it is necessary to use longer cables, the question is how to obtain new calibration data to the Sensor Cables Table. Solution is in this menu,... - Page 52 © 2015 All rights reserved On screen set CURRENT cables to NEW CABLE. [1] On screen set frequency [2] again to the first calibration frequency and switch the radio to this band. Verify that the frequency on the screen and the radio match.
- Page 53 © 2015 All rights reserved SENSOR 1 MENU – ANTENNA CABLES In previous chapters we have several times used and described term “two point measurements”, so you should be already familiar what does mean ANT feed point. To calculate power at the ANT feed point, SMΩRF needs to know what kind of cable is used to connect antenna and its physical length.
-
Page 54: Miscellaneous
© 2015 All rights reserved SENSOR 1 MENU – MISCELLANEOUS MISCELLANEOUS menu allows to set two operating parameters. First is an ability to suppress ALC overshoots. Virtually every transceiver generates overshoots at the beginning of transmission until ALC loop stabilizes (hundreds μs up to several ms). -
Page 55: Antenna Cables
© 2015 All rights reserved SENSOR 1 MENU – COPY SETTINGS In situations where both sensors are connected to similar or same setups like SO2R, it is useful to clone customized settings from one sensor to another in order to save a lot of duplicate adjustments. This menu allows to copy selected sensor's data from the SENSOR 1 to the SENSOR 2. -
Page 56: Alarm 1 Menu
© 2015 All rights reserved 12 – ALARM 1 MENU ALARM 1 MENU is a sub menu of the MAIN MENU and serves for all settings related to alarms and protection. Actually there are two sub menus, ALARM 1 MENU and ALARM 2 MENU but since both have same sub-menus... - Page 57 © 2015 All rights reserved Every tripped alarm needs to be RESET. SMΩRF provides three (3) methods how to reset tripped alarm, AUTO, PTT and MANUAL. AUTO resets alarm automatically when defined AUTO time expires. It doesn't require output power to •...
-
Page 58: Alarm Settings
© 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU – ALARM SETTINGS ALARM SETTINGS menu serves for two purposes. First to let choose and adjust sound alerts for all importance levels of alarms, second for definition of IN and OUT port behavior. - Page 59 © 2015 All rights reserved Transceivers without inhibit input Unfortunately, not all transceivers have inhibit input, Icom and Kenwood radios generally lack this important feature. While with these radios fool-proof setup cannot be made, there is still some solution, better than do nothing.
-
Page 60: Swr Alarm
© 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU – SWR ALARM First type of the alarm is the most common SWR ALARM. But name of the alarm is probably the only thing what SMΩRF has in common with other units. SMΩRF allows to set three different SWR values to trip three importance levels (WARNING, ALARM, FAULT) for each band separately. -
Page 61: Low Power Alarm
© 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU – LOW POWER ALARM LOW POWER ALARM is a second common alarm type. Same as SWR alarm, also LOW POWER ALARM has extensive settings, allows to set three different POWER values to trip three alarm levels (WARNING, ALARM, FAULT) for each band separately as well as provides two power ranges where different power levels can trip different alarm levels. -
Page 62: High Power Alarm
© 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU – HIGH POWER ALARM HIGH POWER ALARM is a third common alarm. Same as the LOW POWER ALARM, it allows to set three different POWER values to trip three importance levels (WARNING, ALARM, FAULT) for each band separately as well as provides two power ranges where different power levels can trip different alarm levels. -
Page 63: Arcing Alarm
© 2015 All rights reserved ALARM 1 MENU – PSK IMD ALARM PSK IMD ALARM is special, advanced type of the alarm. SMΩRF makes background DSP analysis on the signal receiving from the sensor all the time, and when finds PSK idle tone pattern in incoming samples, measures its spectral purity. -
Page 64: Data Structure Diagram
© 2015 All rights reserved 13 – DATA STRUCTURE DIAGRAM... -
Page 65: Sensors
© 2015 All rights reserved 14 – SENSORS SMΩRF connects to RF signal by remote sensor. Sensor is a box, inserted in the transmission line (coaxial cable) from the source of power (transceiver of power amplifier) to the load (antenna) and provides attenuated sample of current (I) and voltage (U) on load, or attenuated sample of forward (FWD) and reflected (REF) power. -
Page 66: Remote Control
© 2015 All rights reserved 15 – REMOTE CONTROL Last feature described in this manual is SMΩRF's Remote Control capability. For Remote Control, SMΩRF provides three ports, AUX, SERIAL and LAN. AUX port is reserved for future hardware accessories. - Page 67 © 2015 All rights reserved FIRMWARE Serves for firmware updates. Firmware update can be downloaded from www.microham.com After download, click Choose file button and select downloaded firmware file. Click Update. During firmware upload do not disconnect SMΩRF from the power and LAN, do not turn it off, and do not touch any buttons on its front panel.
-
Page 68: Vnc Server
© 2015 All rights reserved VNC SERVER If there is any need to change something in the SMΩRF's screen settings or menus remotely, it is a task for VNC Server. VNC server in the SMΩRF allows remote operation of the SMΩRF in a same fashion as if you operate its front panel. -
Page 69: Remote Control Application
SMΩRF Remote Control Application is native, touch screen friendly application for Windows and OS-X provided by microHAM, which fully exploits strengths of direct TCP connection to the SMΩRF, providing real time access to the SMΩRF measurements. Application can be downloaded from www.microham.com. - Page 70 © 2015 All rights reserved CONTROLS: TOP bar graph SESSION NAME functions Shows name of active session. SENSOR Remote Control in COMPACT mode Shows active sensor. SENSOR 1/2 Selects active sensor. AUTO Sets AUTO sensor mode. DUAL Sets DUAL sensor mode.
-
Page 71: Technical Specification
© 2015 All rights reserved 16 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SMΩRF (Meter) CHARACTERISTIC Main Display Point of measurement Sensor (TX) and antenna (ANT) for all measurements Power range 0.001W to 19,999W, -9.99dBm(dBW) to 72.99dBm(42.99dBW) depends on sensor, -80dBm to +23dBm in 4IN mode... - Page 72 DC Power 12-15V DC, 1300mA max. depends on brightness setting iLINK 2x miniDIN6 for proprietary connection to iLINK enabled microHAM devices RJ45, auto MDI/MDIX, 100BaseTX, IEEE 802.3 Ethernet port DIN6, Do not connect, reserved for future updates PTT/INHIBIT OUT1, OUT2 2x RCA, open collector output, max.
- Page 73 © 2015 All rights reserved SENSORS All sensor parameters are typical CHF-3 Operating frequency range 1.8MHz to 54MHz, U/I type sensor Maximal Power 3000W ICAS, 1500W CCS RF ports connectors Power side 2x SO-239 (N optional), meter side 2x SMA female Input Return Loss >...
- Page 74 © 2015 All rights reserved CVHF-6 Operating frequency range 70MHz to 500MHz, directional coupler Characteristic impedance Ω Maximal Power 6000W ICAS, 4000W CCS RF ports connectors Power side 2x 7/16DIN female, meter side 2x SMA female Input Return Loss >40dB up to 250MHz, >35dB at 435MHz...
-
Page 75: Package Content
SLOVAKIA 18 – WARRANTY microHAM warrants RF VECTOR SIGNAL METER for two (2) years. The product must not be modified in any way, or the warranty is voided. The warranty does not cover damage caused by improper or abnormal use, failure to follow instructions, improper installation, lightning, or excessive power. -
Page 76: Declaration Of Conformity
© 2015 All rights reserved DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY Federal Communications Commission Statement (USA) This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.