Holzworth Instrumentation HSM Series User manual

HSM Series Quick Start Guide holzworth.com 1
HSM Series Quick Start Operation Guide
The following is a guide to connect and control any of the
HSM Series modules.

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Table of Contents
REQUIRED HARDWARE.......................................................................................................... 2
DEVICE CONNECTION............................................................................................................. 2
DEVICE CONTROL................................................................................................................... 5
MODULATION WINDOW .......................................................................................................... 6
Enable Mode Set Button ...................................................................................................... 6
SWEEP MODE WINDOW.......................................................................................................... 8
LIST MODE ..............................................................................................................................10
Wide List Mode Example.....................................................................................................11
Import/Export List Buttons .................................................................................................12
REQUIRED HARDWARE
Required hardware includes any of the above HSM units, an HCM1 or HCM3 communications
module, DC power supply, USB or Ethernet communications cable, and a PC with Windows 10
or later. For general information about the modules follow this link to our website:
https://holzworth.com/products/rf-synthesizer-modules
DEVICE CONNECTION
The HCM Communications Module is an SPI to USB (or Ethernet) adapter that includes a
power supply adapter allowing the user to connect the RF synthesizer to standard AC power.
The SPI connector on the module should be inserted into the synthesizer SPI receiving
connector and the screws should be tightened for a secure communications connection (see
figure below). Connect the power pin and either USB mini type B, or RJ-45 Ethernet
communications cable. The HCM module creates a USB (or Ethernet) connection to a Windows
PC so the Holzworth GUI can be used to control the synthesizer. No drivers are required to run
the Holzworth GUI.
HCM1 USB Communications Module with power supply (displayed)
HCM3 Ethernet Communications Module with power supply (also available)

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The modules are a recommended accessory for integrating the HSM Series synthesizers via the
SPI bus. More information can be found on our website: https://holzworth.com/products/rf-
synthesizer-modules
After providing power and a communications cable to the unit, locate the Holzworth Jar file on
the Windows PC in the figure below. The same GUI is used for both USB and Ethernet control
of the device. Making a connection is a manual operation and is dependent upon the
communications module attached to the module. Follow this link to the GUI software:
https://holzworth.com/resource-library/software
The application GUI is opened by double-clicking on the “HolzworthMulti.jar” executable file.
NOTE: A 32-bit or 64-bit version can be found on the website depending on the controller data
bus width.
After double-clicking, the GUI default SET window will open as shown below.

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To connect to the device, press the Locate Device button at the top center of the GUI window.
Pressing the button initiates the Devices popup window and lists all synthesizers connected to
your PC.
NOTE: The Deviceswindow appears with “No Devices” selected for either USB or Ethernet.
Click on the SEARCH button and then click directly on the “No Device Attached” text and the
Devices window will disappear.
Re-open the Locate Device tab and the model and serial number should appear. If a “no
connection error message,” appears ignore it and repeat the above process.
•If it does not connect, check HSM power, the communications connections, and the PC
connections.
•If a connection cannot be achieved, make sure the Ethernet or USB connections are
open and enabled under the windows “Network & Internet” settings.
oNetwork & Internet > Advanced network settings > Hardware and connection
properties.
Click on the model/serial number in the Devices window and the unit model/serial number will
appear in the SELECTED DEVICE box.
The power button will turn green and you can begin controlling the module (see figure below for
connections).

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DEVICE CONTROL
Once you are properly connected, the SET menu window is available and the GUI default
values are a 100 MHz carrier frequency at 0 dBm power and 0° phase offset.
Check the unit is operating with a spectrum analyzer, phase noise analyzer, or oscilloscope to
verify the output signal.
To change any setting, click on a digit in the appropriate window and the number will be
highlighted (figure above). Enter the desired value and press return on the PC keyboard. Other
digits can be modified by using the mouse, or the right and left arrow keys.

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MODULATION WINDOW
The Modulation window provides access to all the internal modulation capabilities of the
synthesizer. See the HSM datasheet for additional specifications on the modulation:
https://holzworth.com/products/rf-synthesizer-modules
Selecting the Modulate button will initiate a popup window that enables the various modulation
capabilities including triggered list mode for both wide and narrow band lists. The list modes
provide the fastest switching speeds between points but require a CSV list of appropriate
parameters.
Click on the Enable button to select a particular modulation type, including the Wide Band or
Narrow Band list functions.
Disable Modulation returns the SET menu (below) control for frequency, power, phase offset,
and input reference.
Enable Mode Set Button
The Enable mode set button displays the screen as pictured above. In this mode, the
modulation type, sweep, or list type is selected via radio buttons. The specific detail of each
mode is described in the following paragraphs.
FM Mode: The FM mode set button allows the user to set the frequency modulation deviation
to within the specified limits (in Hz). The maximum deviation is 100 kHz.
PM Mode: The PM mode set button allows the user to set the phase modulation deviation to
within the specified limits (in degrees). The maximum deviation is 180 deg.

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AM Mode: The AM mode set button allows the user to set the amplitude modulation deviation
to within the specified limits. The maximum AM depth is 75%.
Pulse Mode: The PULSE mode set button provides access to the pulse control panel. This
has panel settings for external and internal pulse modulation, or internal pulse modulation with
triggers. Settings related to internal pulse modulation include pulse repetition rate, pulse width,
and the number of pulses.
•REPETITION RATE: The pulse rep rate allows the user to set the time between rising
edges of a pulse. This setting does not apply when using external pulse modulation.
•WIDTH: The pulse width allows the user to set the time interval between the leading
edge and trailing edge of a pulse. This setting does not apply when using external pulse
modulation.
•NUMBER OF PULSES: The number of pulses allows the user to specify the number of
output pulses. This setting only applies when using internal pulse modulation with
trigger. A trigger signal at the modulation input port will start the output pulsing and the
counter to track the number of pulses.

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SWEEP MODE WINDOW
The Sweep mode set button gives the user access to the sweep function control panel. The
control panel allows for setting the start/stop frequencies, dwell time between points, and the
number of points to use within the sweep range. The user can also set the sweep direction
up/down, and the trigger sweep mode.
DWELL TIME: The DWELL TIME setting is for controlling the delay time (in microseconds) in
between each point in the sweep bandwidth.
Number of POINTS: The number of points may be limited depending on the sweep
bandwidth selected.
NOTE: The maximum number of points allowed for any sweep is 65535.
TRIGGER SWEEP Free Running: Selecting Free Running sweep mode will initiate the entire
set bandwidth sweep to begin the moment the Sweep radio button is selected under the Enable
mode.
TRIGGER SWEEP Ramp: Selecting the Ramp sweep mode will initiate an entire set bandwidth
sweep with a trigger signal at the modulation input port.
TRIGGER SWEEP Point: Selecting the Point sweep mode will initiate each individual point
step in the sweep bandwidth at each trigger signal.
NOTE: Once sweep mode is initiated, it will loop (restart) continuously until the routine is
manually interrupted.

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The Options window provides access to the factory preset, save/recall user settings, and
wide/narrow CSV list files in the figure below.
The factory preset modulation is 1 kHz FM deviation, 180° phase deviation, 95% AM depth, and
the pulse settings below.
The default sweep mode is in the figure below.

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LIST MODE
List mode allows for up to 3201 points (command lines) to be stored and each command line
allows for modification of any or all the following parameters: frequency, amplitude, and dwell
time between points.
Wide List and Narrow List modes use identical load commands with limitations in the narrow
list settings listed in the web datasheet: https://holzworth.com/products/rf-synthesizer-modules.
Selecting either list button will initiate a popup window represented in the illustration below.
The list can be edited in the GUI window, or outside the software program in a text editor
application.
NOTE: The recall factory preset does not include either list mode, and a CSV list must be
created by the end user.
Examples of wide and narrow band list files are stored in the HSM module directory of the main
Holzworth directory. These files can be created and modified to change the RF signal output.

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Wide List Mode Example
Below is a method to load a list via the GUI using a basic text editor like notepad.
•Example CSV list for GUI text window: “100, MHz, 10.00, dBm, 10, ms”
•Example “Wide List Mode” CSV file with 5 points that step from 95 MHz to 115 MHz in 5
MHz steps at an amplitude of +5 dBm with 100 ms dwell between samples (see figure
below).
•If dwell time is not specified on every line of your list, the dwell time is set in the main
menu.
•Narrow band files are created and modified the same as the wide list except the
amplitude parameters (C & D) are not available.
NOTE 1: As with the Wide List mode command line format, setting any dwell time (E) inside the
loaded list mode file will cause the global dwell time setting (at list mode control panel) to be
ignored.
NOTE 2: The 5% frequency range limitation for Narrow List mode is defined as: the center
frequency (fc) ± 2.5%.
SELECT FILE: Once the Wide List or Narrow List radio button has been selected, an Open
File window is displayed for the user to select and load a preconfigured, comma-delimited list
file. Selecting a file or pressing the Cancel button will then initiate the list mode control panel as
shown above.

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Import/Export List Buttons
This feature set is used for list file management. The function of each button is defined as
follows.
Open File: The Open File button is used to open a pre-formatted CSV file if a file was not
initially selected. Opening a file will load it into the List Transfer window, but not onto the
channel.
NOTE: The file will still need to be imported to the module.
Import List: Once a series of list command lines have either been manually entered into the
List Transfer window or via loading a preconfigured CSV file, the Import List button must be
selected to finalize the loading of the list.
Export List: This feature allows a user to export a list file into the List Transfer window. It is
useful for verifying that a specific list has been loaded.
Save to File: The Save to File feature is used to save a CSV file of whatever list command line
data is currently loaded in the List Transfer window.
NOTE: Free running list mode is available on all units and triggered list mode is only available
on units with the external modulation option as OPT-EXTMOD, which provides an external
stimulus input port for a trigger signal.
For more information about our modules or other products, please visit our website at:
https://holzworth.com