BIRD SignalHawk SH-36S-RM-ASL User manual

SignalHawk™
PC and Rack Mount Models
Operations Manual
Model SH-36S-RM-ASL
© Copyright 2015 by Bird Electronic Corporation
Instruction Book Part Number 920-36S-RM-ASL Rev. A
SignalHawk is a trademark of Bird Electronic Corporation
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation
Adobe, Acrobat Reader are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated

ii
Table of Contents
Safety Precautions .......................................................................................................................... 6
Safety Symbols Used in this Documentation.................................................................................. 7
Warning Statements ....................................................................................................................... 8
Caution Statements ........................................................................................................................ 9
Safety Statements......................................................................................................................... 10
About This Manual........................................................................................................................ 13
Changes to this Document........................................................................................................ 13
Document Contents.................................................................................................................. 13
Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1
Items Supplied ............................................................................................................................ 2
Controls, Indicators, and Connectors ......................................................................................... 4
Power Supply - PC SignalHawk.................................................................................................... 7
Power Supply - Rack Mount SignalHawk .................................................................................... 9
Spectrum Analyzer Quick Start ................................................................................................. 10
Installation .................................................................................................................................... 12
PC SignalHawk Set-Up............................................................................................................... 12
Rack Mount SignalHawk Set-Up ............................................................................................... 15
Connecting the Rack Mount SignalHawk via USB Connection ................................................. 16
Connecting Remotely via LAN/WAN Connection ..................................................................... 19
Connecting a Remote Computer to the Host Computer.......................................................... 24
User Interface Menus and Settings .............................................................................................. 26

Table of Contents
iii
Getting Started with the SignalHawk........................................................................................ 26
Start Menu ................................................................................................................................ 27
Setup Menu............................................................................................................................... 29
SignalHawk Spectrum Analyzer Screen Overview.................................................................... 36
Adv. Logging Menu ....................................................................................................................... 80
Advanced Spectrum Logging (ASL) ........................................................................................... 80
Adv. Logging — Database/Configuration Menu....................................................................... 81
Adv. Logging — Logging/Playback Menu.................................................................................. 83
Sweep Logging Menu................................................................................................................ 84
Database Search Menu............................................................................................................. 87
Database Search Recall Playback Menu ................................................................................... 91
Configuration Settings Dialog Box ................................................................................................ 93
Select Sweeps Dialog Box ............................................................................................................. 97
Create Configuration File.............................................................................................................. 99
Edit Configuration Files............................................................................................................... 100
Create a Database....................................................................................................................... 101
Attach an Existing Database ....................................................................................................... 102
Spectrum Trace Logging.............................................................................................................. 103
Spectrum Trace Playback............................................................................................................ 104
Database Search ......................................................................................................................... 104
Recall Saved Database Search .................................................................................................... 106
Measurements............................................................................................................................ 107
Spectrum Analysis Measurement........................................................................................... 108

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
iv
Occupied Bandwidth Measurement....................................................................................... 109
Channel Power Measurement................................................................................................ 111
Adjacent Channel Power Measurement................................................................................. 113
Time Domain (Zero Span) Measurement ............................................................................... 115
Field Strength Measurement.................................................................................................. 117
Demodulate Signal Measurement.......................................................................................... 120
Carrier-to-Interference Ratio Measurement.......................................................................... 122
Out-of-Band and In-Band, Out-of-Channel Spurious.............................................................. 125
Utilities........................................................................................................................................ 126
Utility Menu ............................................................................................................................ 126
Customizing SignalHawk Content ........................................................................................... 128
Creating Database Search Limit Masks................................................................................... 130
ASL Report Generator............................................................................................................. 132
PC Tool ........................................................................................................................................ 135
Downloading and Installing Software..................................................................................... 135
Installing the PC Tool Software............................................................................................... 135
Menu Bar................................................................................................................................. 136
Tool Bar................................................................................................................................... 137
Options Dialog Box (View>Options)........................................................................................ 140
Maintenance............................................................................................................................... 146
Cleaning................................................................................................................................... 146
Charging PC SignalHawk Battery............................................................................................. 146
Replace PC SignalHawk Battery .............................................................................................. 146

Table of Contents
v
Update PC SignalHawk Firmware ........................................................................................... 148
Update Rack Mount SignalHawk Firmware - Remotely ......................................................... 150
Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................... 152
Customer Service .................................................................................................................... 153
Specifications .......................................................................................................................... 153
Parts List.................................................................................................................................. 163
ROHS ....................................................................................................................................... 166
Software License Terms.............................................................................................................. 167
MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS WINDOWS 7 PROFESSIONAL ................................ 167
LIMITED WARRANTY ............................................................................................................... 179
Limited Warranty........................................................................................................................ 181

vi
Safety Precautions
The following are general safety precautions that are not necessarily related to any specific part
or procedure, and do not necessarily appear elsewhere in this publication. These precautions
must be thoroughly understood and apply to all phases of operation and maintenance.
WARNING
Keep Away From Live Circuits
Operating Personnel must at all times observe general safety precautions. Do not replace
components or make adjustments to the inside of the test equipment with the high voltage
supply turned on. To avoid casualties, always remove power.
WARNING
Shock Hazard
Do not attempt to remove the RF transmission line while RF power is present.
WARNING
Do Not Service Or Adjust Alone
Under no circumstances should any person reach into an enclosure for the purpose of
service or adjustment of equipment except in the presence of someone who is capable of
rendering aid.
WARNING
Safety Earth Ground
An uninterruptible earth safety ground must be supplied from the main power source to test
instruments. Grounding one conductor of a two conductor power cable is not sufficient
protection. Serious injury or death can occur if this grounding is not properly supplied.
WARNING
Resuscitation
Personnel working with or near high voltages should be familiar with modern methods of
resuscitation.
WARNING
Remove Power
Observe general safety precautions. Do not open the instrument with the power on.

vii
Safety Symbols Used in this Documentation
WARNING
Warning notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed, could result in
personal injury.
CAUTION
Caution notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed, could result in
damage to the instrument.
NOTE
Calls attention to supplemental information.
The caution symbol appears on the equipment indicating there is important
information in the instruction manual regarding that particular area.

viii
Warning Statements
The following safety warnings appear in the text where there is danger to operating and
maintenance personnel, and are repeated here for emphasis.
WARNING
When using the AC adapter, connect the AC plug only to a properly grounded receptacle.
Serious injury or death can occur if not properly grounded..
See AC Power Adapters.
WARNING
Care should be taken when handling batteries
•Keep out of the reach of children.
•Do not heat or dispose of batteries in fire. May burst or release toxic materials.
•Avoid forced discharge.
•Do not short circuit.
•Restrict charging current and time to the recommended value.
•Do not solder the battery directly.
•Do not disassemble, apply excessive pressure, or deform battery.
•Avoid placing the battery in reverse polarity.
•Battery disposal method should be in accordance with local and state regulations.
See Maintenance.

ix
Caution Statements
The following equipment cautions appear in the text whenever the equipment is in danger of
damage and are repeated here for emphasis.
CAUTION
Spectrum Analyzer has a +20 dBm (100 mW) max. RF input. Exceeding the maximum input
will damage the SignalHawk. If unsure of power levels, measure the test connection with a
power sensor before using the SignalHawk.
See Spectrum Analyzer Quick Start and/or Settings.
CAUTION
Do not block the fan airflow to prevent overheating.
See Rack-Mount SignalHawk Set-Up.
CAUTION
Harsh or abrasive detergents, and some solvents, can damage the unit and labels.
See Maintenance.
CAUTION
Replace battery pack with identical battery pack (4 or 6 Cell). Use only manufacturer
supplied battery pack with the same number of cells as the battery being removed.
See Maintenance.

x
Safety Statements
USAGE
ANY USE OF THIS INSTRUMENT IN A MANNER NOT SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER MAY
IMPAIR THE INSTRUMENT'S SAFETY PROTECTION.
USO
EL USO DE ESTE INSTRUMENTO DE MANERA NO ESPECIFICADA POR EL FABRICANTE, PUEDE
ANULAR LA PROTECCIÓN DE SEGURIDAD DEL INSTRUMENTO.
BENUTZUNG
WIRD DAS GERÄT AUF ANDERE WEISE VERWENDET ALS VOM HERSTELLER BESCHRIEBEN, KANN
DIE GERÄTESICHERHEIT BEEINTRÄCHTIGT WERDEN.
UTILISATION
TOUTE UTILISATION DE CET INSTRUMENT QUI N'EST PAS EXPLICITEMENT PRÉVUE PAR LE
FABRICANT PEUT ENDOMMAGER LE DISPOSITIF DE PROTECTION DE L'INSTRUMENT.
IMPIEGO
QUALORA QUESTO STRUMENTO VENISSE UTILIZZATO IN MODO DIVERSO DA COME
SPECIFICATO DAL PRODUTTORE LA PROZIONE DI SICUREZZA POTREBBE VENIRNE
COMPROMESSA.

Safety Statements
xi
SERVICE
SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR USE BY SERVICE - TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY. TO AVOID
DANGEROUS ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICING UNLESS QUALIFIED TO DO
SO.
SERVICIO
LAS INSTRUCCIONES DE SERVICIO SON PARA USO EXCLUSIVO DEL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO
CAPACITADO. PARA EVITAR EL PELIGRO DE DESCARGAS ELÉCTRICAS, NO REALICE NINGÚN
SERVICIO A MENOS QUE ESTÉ CAPACITADO PARA HACERIO.
WARTUNG
ANWEISUNGEN FÜR DIE WARTUNG DES GERÄTES GELTEN NUR FÜR GESCHULTES
FACHPERSONAL.
ZUR VERMEIDUNG GEFÄHRLICHE, ELEKTRISCHE SCHOCKS, SIND WARTUNGSARBEITEN
AUSSCHLIEßLICH VON QUALIFIZIERTEM SERVICEPERSONAL DURCHZUFÜHREN.
ENTRENTIEN
L'EMPLOI DES INSTRUCTIONS D'ENTRETIEN DOIT ÊTRE
RÉSERVÉ AU PERSONNEL FORMÉ AUX OPÉRATIONS D'ENTRETIEN. POUR PRÉVENIR UN CHOC
ÉLECTRIQUE DANGEREUX, NE PAS EFFECTUER D'ENTRETIEN SI L'ON N'A PAS ÉTÉ QUALIFIÉ
POUR CE FAIRE.
ASSISTENZA TECNICA
LE ISTRUZIONI RELATIVE ALL'ASSISTENZA SONO PREVISTE ESCLUSIVAMENTE PER IL PERSONALE
OPPORTUNAMENTE ADDESTRATO. PER EVITARE PERICOLOSE SCOSSE ELETTRICHE NON
EFFETTUARRE ALCUNA RIPARAZIONE A MENO CHE QUALIFICATI A FARLA.

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
xii
UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
THESE ARE TO BE REPLACED BY AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL ONLY!!!
LAS UNIDADES VIENEN EQUIPADAS CON BATERIAS RECARGABLES.
¡¡¡Y SOLAMENTE EL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO AUTORIZADO PUEDE REEMPLAZARLAS!!!
GERÄTE SIND MIT WIEDER AUFLADBAREN BATTERIEN BESTÜCKT.
BATTERIEN SIND NUR VON QUALIFIZIERTEM SERICE PERSONAL AUSZUWECHSELN!!!
CES DISPOSITIFS SONT ÉQUIPÉS DE BATTERIES RECHARGEABLES.
SEUL LE PERSONNEL D'ENTRETIEN AUTORISÉ EST HABILITÉ À LES REMPLACER!
LE UNITÀ SONO DOTATE DI BATTERIE RICARICABILI,
CHE DEVONO DA COME SPECIFICATO DAL PRODUTTORE LA PROTEZIONE DI SICUREZZA
POTREBBE VENIRNE COMPROMESSA.
USE CORRECT VOLTAGE SETTING AND FUSE - SEE MANUAL.
UTILISER UNE TENSION ET UN FUSIBLE CORRECTS - CONSULTER LE MODE D'EMPLOI.
USE LA INSTALACION Y FUSIBLE DE VOLTAJE CORRECTO - VEA EL MANUAL.
AUSSCHLIESSLICH VORSCHRIFTSMÄSSIGE WECHSELSPANNUNGS-EINSTELLUNG UND
SICHERUNG BENUTZEN - SIEHE DAZU HANDBUCH.
UTILLIZZARE TENSIONE E FUSIBLE ADATTI - FARE RIFERIMENTO AL MANUALE.

xiii
About This Manual
This manual covers the operating and maintenance instructions for the following models:
SH-36S-RM-ASL
Changes to this Document
We have made every effort to ensure this manual is accurate. If you discover any errors, or if
you have suggestions for improving this manual, please send your comments to our Solon, Ohio
factory. This manual may be periodically updated. When inquiring about updates to this manual
use the following information:
Part Number: 920-36S-RM-ASL Revision: A
Document Contents
Introduction
Describes the features of the Bird SignalHawk, lists equipment
supplied, introduces the controls and indicators, explains power
sources, and provides quick start instructions.
Installation
Describes how to install and configure the SignalHawk PC and Rack
Mount systems and connect SignalHawk to the user's systems.
User Interface Menus
and Settings
Describes the screens and menus of the User interface.
Advanced Spectrum
Logging
Describes how to log SignalHawk traces, play them back, and perform
searches for spectrum anomalies.
Measurements
Describes the automated measurement features of the SignalHawk.
Describes the steps required to perform each available measurement.
Utilities
Describes the utility menu, customizing SignalHawk menu features,
and exporting data using ASL Report Generator.

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
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PC Tool
Describes Bird's SignalHawk PC Tool which allows the use of a user's
PC to store measurement data, transfer it between units, and do
individual analysis.
Maintenance
Lists routine maintenance tasks as well as troubleshooting for
common problems. System specifications, parts information, and
optional accessories are included in this section.

1
Introduction
The SignalHawk is a multifunction test instrument for use in the installation and maintenance of
Radio Frequency (RF) and wireless systems. The model number is identified on the unit and also
on the display screen at the end of the power-on sequence.
The firmware installed on the SignalHawk is updated on a regular basis. The operator's manual
covers the most recent upgrade to the firmware up to the date listed on the manual. See
Troubleshooting.

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
2
Items Supplied
PC SignalHawk - Hardware and Software Supplied
Item
Description
1
PC SignalHawk
2
AC Power Adapter and Cord
3
Software CD
4
USB Cable
5
Car Adapter Cable

Introduction
3
Rack-Mount SignalHawk - Hardware and Software Supplied
Item
Description
1
Rack-Mount SignalHawk
2
Software CD
3
AC Power Cord
4
Ethernet Cable
5
USB Cable
6
2 SLO-BLO 5mm x 20mm .63A Fuses
7
Fuse Drawer with Shorting Bar

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
4
Controls, Indicators, and Connectors
PC SignalHawk - Controls and Indicators
Item
Description
1
USB Host Power Indicator
2
Power Switch
3
Charge Indicator Light
4
USB Type B for PC connection
5
Battery Charge Indicator
6
2.1mm DC jack for external power supplies
7
BNC(F) external trigger input, 5V TTL
8
Spectrum Analyzer Port, N(F) RF input, +20 dBm
max.

Introduction
5
Rack-Mount SignalHawk - Controls and Indicators
Item
Description
1
Fan
2
Controlling Host Indicator. Green: USB, Blue: LAN.
3
Pass-Thru LAN Connector (provided for Laptop connection to
the LAN)
4
Power Indicator
5
Power Push button
6
RS-232 Connector
7
PS/2 Connector
8
Parallel Port
9
LAN Connector
10
AC Power Switch
11
Spectrum Analyzer Port, N(F) RF input, +20 dBm max.
12
USB Type B for PC connector
13
Pass-Thru LAN Connector (provided for Laptop connection on
the front panel)
14
BNC(F) external trigger input, 5V TTL
15
External 12/24/48 VDC Connector

PC/Rack Mount SignalHawk with ASL
6
16
Ground Post
17
AC Power connector
18
Audio connectors
19
USB connectors (2 Places)
20
DVI display connector
21
VGA display connector