microHAM SMORF User manual

microHAM © 2015 All rights reserved
SMΩRF
RF VECTOR
SIGNAL METER
microHAM
fax: [phone]
e- ail: support@ icroha .co
ho epage: www. icroha .co
Version – 1.4
8 April, 2016
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microHAM © 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
ensor election ................................................................................................................. 9
Bar Graphs cales and Ranges........................................................................................... 9
6. SCREEN …............................................................................................................................... 11
CREEN: tatus Bar ........................................................................................................ 11
CREEN: Edit Mode ........................................................................................................ 12
CREEN: Two Point Measurements ................................................................................ 12
CREEN: Bar Graph Functions ....................................................................................... 13
CREEN: Bar Graph ettings ...........................................................................................14
CREEN: Tone Generator ................................................................................................16
CREEN: creens Menu ..................................................................................................18
7. SINGLE SENSOR SCREEN TEMPLATES ............................................................................... 20
TANDARD creen .......................................................................................................... 20
LARGE creen ................................................................................................................. 21
P K creen ...................................................................................................................... 22
TUNE creen .................................................................................................................... 23
TECHNICAL creen ........................................................................................................ 24
O CILLO COPE creen .................................................................................................. 26
PECTRUM creen ......................................................................................................... 29
AUTO Mode ..................................................................................................................... 31
8. DUAL SENSORS SCREEN TEMPLATES ................................................................................ 31
2TX creen ....................................................................................................................... 32
PA creen …..................................................................................................................... 33
4IN creen ........................................................................................................................ 35
9. MAIN MENU .…........................................................................................................................ 37
10. SYSTEM MENU ....................................................................................................................... 37
METER MODE ...................................................................................................................38
Miscellaneous ettings .......................................................................................................40
Brightness ettings .......................................................................................................... 41
LAN ettings ..................................................................................................................... 42
Power aving .....................................................................................................................43
Time and Date .................................................................................................................. 45
Backup and Restore .......................................................................................................... 46
creens Management ........................................................................................................47
11. SENSOR 1 MENU ..................................................................................................................... 49
ensor Details ....................................................................................................................49
ensor Cables Table ........................................................................................................ 49
ensor Cables Calibration ................................................................................................. 51
100% Power Levels ............................................................................................................51
Antenna Cables ................................................................................................................ 52
Miscellaneous .................................................................................................................. 54
Copy ettings .................................................................................................................... 55
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12. ALARM 1 MENU ....................................................................................................................... 56
Alarms Handling and Operation .........................................................................................56
Alarm ettings .................................................................................................................... 57
WR Alarm ...................................................................................................................... 60
LOW POWER Alarm ........................................................................................................ 61
HIGH POWER Alarm ........................................................................................................62
P K IMD Alarm ..................................................................................................................62
ARCING Alarm ...................................................................................................................63
13. DATA STRUCTURE DIAGRAM ................................................................................................. 64
14. SENSORS …..............................................................................................................................65
15. REMOTE CONTROL …..............................................................................................................66
HTTP erver …..................................................................................................................66
VNC erver ….....................................................................................................................68
Remote Control Application ................................................................................................69
16. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION …...............................................................................................71
17. PACKAGE CONTENT …............................................................................................................75
18. WARRANTY …...........................................................................................................................75
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ........................................................................................ 76
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microHAM © 2015 All rights reserved
1 – FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS
MΩRF™ 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.
MΩRF™ connects to RF signal by remote sensor (coupler), available in several models for power levels from
miliwatts up to 12kW and frequencies up to 500MHz. HF + 6m sensors provide sample of passing current (I) and
voltage (U) on its LOAD port. VHF and UHF sensors provide sample of forward (FWD) and reflected (REF)
power to meter. The meter can simultaneously measure two independent signals from any two sensors and
shows measurement results on its front panel or computer.
Main features:
•Operating frequency from 1.8 – 500MHz.
•igned phase measurement.
•Two points of measurement, at the sensor point and at the antenna point.
•Phase measurement between sensors.*
•Real time temperature compensation in meter and sensor.
•Dual, high speed, three color, user adjustable auto-ranging LED bar graphs with configurable peak hold.
•Every meter and every sensor individually factory calibrated for best accuracy. Temperature controlled,
computer automatized calibration setup makes over 10,000 calibration points in each meter and over 100
points in each sensor. Calibrated per port for level, frequency, phase, and temperature.
•Very wide viewing angle, sunlight readable, high contrast graphics OLED display.
•Multiple, user configurable display screens for powers, impedance, waveform, spectrum, P K, O2R …
•User configurable alarms in three importance levels (warning, alarm, fault) for two power ranges on per
sensor, per band basis for WR, Low Power and High Power alerts.
Connectivity:
•Internet enabled, native IEEE 802.3 Ethernet port for remote connectivity.
•Internal web server for simple access from the computer browser for status checking, maintenance and
firmware updates, no drivers, no specialized software installation.
•TCP port for high speed remote control applications, open protocol.
•High purity, DD based test signal generator (single/dual tone, noise) for linearity and bandwidth tests.
•iLINK port for simplified connection to our interfaces.
•Two keying, pass thru ports and R 232 serial port for legacy connections.
•Well featured Auxiliary port for future expansions (wall mount 7 segment LED displays, analog meter).
Other features:
•Internal speaker for audible alerts.
•Internet synchronized real time clock.
•Ambient light sensor for display and led bars brightness control.
•Free Remote Control application for Windows and O -X.
•EMI shielded, aluminum die cast enclosure.
Internal processing highlights:
•210 MIP , 32bit floating point Cortex M4 D P processor for extremely fast updates and accurate
calculation of complex functions.
•hi-grade, parallel 16bit ADC, sampled at 125ksps.
•24bit DAC at 160ksps for signal generator.
* Both sensors are of the same type (U/I or FWD/REF), connected by the same length leads and operating at the same frequency.
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microHAM © 2015 All rights reserved
2 - IMPORTANT WARNINGS
ALWAYS check the polarity of the 13.8 V power supply
before you connect it to the eter.
If you use eter without sensors,
NEVER exceed 26dB level to the eter's IN RF ports.
If you use so e accessory injecting DC power to the coaxial cable,
connect it ALWAYS behind the LOAD port of any CHF sensor.
DO NOT connect OUT ports to inductive, AC or >24VDC loads.
DO NOT place eter on hot surfaces.
DO NOT touch the sensor under RF power.
ALWAYS backup your settings prior fir ware update.
3 - HARDWARE DESCRIPTION
MΩRF system consists of two parts, sensor and eter.
Sensor is a box, inserted in transmission line (coaxial cable) between source of power (transceiver or power
amplifier) and the load (antenna). Depending on used sensor, it provides sample of current (I) and voltage (U) on
transmission line, or forward (FWD) and reflected (REF) power sample. All HF sensors are U/I type with current
and voltage transformers inside. All VHF/UHF sensors are FWD/REF type directional couplers. All sensors have
internal micro-controller and EEPROM memory for calibration data storage. Micro-controller measures internal
temperature of the coupler and provides these data on request to the meter.
Meter connects to sensor's sample outputs, and measures their magnitude and phase at a rate of 125,000
samples per second as well as internal and sensor temperature. Captured data are than corrected by four
dimensional calibration tables taken during individual calibration for magnitude, phase, frequency and
temperature for both sensor and meter. Meter then further processes the captured data. For some type of
measurements where high data rate is required (alarms, oscilloscope and spectrum screens), raw data are
used. For measurements where stability and smoothness is more important, data are additionally filtered in
various IIR or FIR filters according to their nature. Computed results are than provided on meter's front panel or
computer screen through Ethernet port. Thanks to powerful D P CPU in the meter and optimized code, meter is
capable to do all above tasks in real time and at the same time provide DD based tone generator output for
some kind of specific measurements.
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Front Panel
1. TOP BAR GRAPH
2. BOTTOM BAR GRAPH
3. TOP BAR GRAPH SCALE INDICATOR
4. BOTTOM BAR GRAPH SCALE INDICATOR
5. BAR GRAPH SCALE RANGE INDICATOR
◦green color indicates top bar graph range
◦red color indicates bottom bar graph range
◦yellow color indicates same range for both bar graphs
6. ALARM INDICATORS
◦green color indicates warning
◦red color indicates alarm
◦flashing red color indicates fault
7. SENSOR INDICATORS
8. MAIN DISPLAY
9. LEFT ← SCREEN ROTATION BUTTON
◦button serves as left navigation button in EDIT mode and MENU system
10. RIGHT → SCREEN ROTATION BUTTON
◦button serves as right navigation button in EDIT mode and MENU system
11. EDIT/MENU BUTTON
◦short press enters EDIT mode and allows editing outlined fields on current screen
◦pressing and holding for one second enters MENU system of the meter
12. SENSOR 1 BUTTON
◦when pushed briefly together with EN OR 2 button, meter switches to the AUTO mode and automatically
focuses to the first sensor passing sensing nonzero power
◦when pushed and held together with EN OR 2 for one second, meter switches to the DUAL mode and displays
special screens designed for two sensors measurements
◦button serves as up navigation button in MENU system.
13. SENSOR 2 BUTTON
◦when pushed briefly together with EN OR 1 button, meter switches to the AUTO mode and automatically
focuses to the first sensor passing sensing nonzero power
◦when pushed and held together with EN OR 1 for one second, meter switches to the DUAL mode and displays
special screens designed for two sensors measurements
◦button serves as down navigation button in MENU system
14. ROTARY KNOB
◦when rotated sets top bar graph range
◦when pushed and rotated sets bottom bar graph range
◦changes selected value in EDIT mode and MENU system
◦when pushed in EDIT or MENU system, it pop ups short help for selected item
◦during ALARM condition push snoozes or resets active alarm
15. AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR
◦measures ambient light for automatic brightness control of bar graphs and main display

microHAM © 2015 All rights reserved
Rear Panel
1. SENSOR 1 FORWARD (FWD) or VOLTAGE (U) SAMPLE INPUT
◦FWD/U connection port of EN OR 1
◦serves as INPUT 1 in 4 INPUT mode
2. SENSOR 1 REFLECTED (REF) or CURRENT (I) SAMPLE INPUT
◦REF/I connection port of EN OR 1
◦serves as INPUT 2 in 4 INPUT mode
3. SENSOR 2 FORWARD (FWD) or VOLTAGE (U) SAMPLE INPUT
◦FWD/U connection port of EN OR 2
◦serves as INPUT 3 in 4 INPUT mode
4. SENSOR 2 REFLECTED (REF) or CURRENT (I) SAMPLE INPUT
◦REF/I connection port of EN OR 2
◦serves as INPUT 4 in 4 INPUT mode
5. PTT / INHIBIT IN1
◦configurable input coupled to EN OR 1
6. PTT / INHIBIT OUT1
◦configurable output coupled to EN OR 1
7. PTT / INHIBIT IN2
◦configurable input coupled to EN OR 2
8. PTT / INHIBIT OUT2
◦configurable output coupled to EN OR 2
9. TEST TONE
◦internal tone generator output, 4 pole 3.5mm jack
10. LAN
◦IEEE 802.3 Ethernet port
11. AUX
◦Accessory port
12. iLINK
◦first iLINK port for connection to iLINK enabled microHAM devices
13. iLINK
◦second iLINK port for connection to iLINK enabled microHAM devices
14. SERIAL
◦R 232 port for general low speed connectivity
15. DC 13.8V
◦power input, max. 16V, center positive, shell negative
16. POWER SWITCH
17. GROUNDING SCREW
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4 – INSTALLATION
1. Connect sensor to the eter
•Connect U or FWD sample output of the sensor to the meter's SENSOR 1 – U/FWD input using
supplied MA – MA cable. It isn't important which one of two supplied MA – MA cables you use,
but keep the calibration certificate of the cable and mark it to reflect the connection ( EN OR
# N/U). Later you can enter calibration table of the cable from the certificate sheet to the meter
memory in EN OR MENU. It will slightly improve metering accuracy but you will need to pair
calibration table to the cable, each is individually calibrated in the factory.
•Connect I or REF sample output of the sensor to the meter's SENSOR 1 – I/REF input using second
MA – MA cable. Again, keep the calibration certificate of the cable and mark it to reflect the
connection ( EN OR # N/I).
•If you are connecting the second sensor,
use EN OR 2 ports on meter in the
same manner as for EN OR 1 above.
2. Connect sensor to the transceiver and the
antenna
•Connect antenna port of your transceiver
or power amplifier to the sensor's TX
port.
•Connect your antenna to the LOAD port
of the sensor.
3. Connect eter to the transceiver or
microHAM interface
•Connect supplied miniDIN6 – miniDIN6
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
ETTING chapter for more details. This connection is not necessary for MΩRF functionality, but
when used, MΩRF can protect your TX chain using internal ALARMs.
4. Connect power to the eter
•Connect 13.8V DC power supply to the DC power jack of the meter. DC power jack is standard
2.1/5.5 mm power jack, use supplied plug if you haven't one.
•Observe the polarity!!! Center is positive (+), shell is negative (-).
•Use well regulated and filtered power supply capable to provide 1.3A.
•Connect grounding lead from your central grounding point in the shack to the ground terminal screw
on the meter.
5. Turn power On
•Flip the power switch on the rear panel.
•After power up, meter checks for presence of sensors on its inputs. When the meter finds a new
sensor, it copies calibration data from the sensor's memory to the meter's memory. Each sensor has
built in a large calibration table, transfer of these data to meter may take several minutes. Be patient
and don't worry, it is just a one time procedure and happens only on the very first connection to the
new sensor. When done, meter will automatically switch to one of the metering screens.
6. Select etering ode
•Press and hold MENU button for a second. Using ← / → buttons select Y TEM MENU. Press
briefly MENU to enter. elect METER MODE. Press briefly MENU to enter.
•If you are connecting second sensor or both sensors at the same time, please refer to METER
MODE chapter to understand what metering mode means and does in order to use correct one for
your purpose. Otherwise select INGLE RADIO / INGLE EN OR mode by rotary knob. Press
MENU briefly to register.
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microHAM © 2015 All rights reserved
5 – OPERATION
Operating MΩRF 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 MΩRF is a
EN OR focus. If you have only one
EN OR, it is just the matter of pressing
bottom SENSOR 1 button [12]. Press
bottom EN OR 1 button briefly to
change focus to that sensor. When
EN OR 1 is selected, red EN OR 1
indicator [7] is steadily lit.
If MΩRF has both sensors installed,
there are more options. For manual
selection of the sensor press SENSOR 1 [12] or SENSOR 2 [13] button. EN OR 2 focus is indicated by green
EN OR 2 [7] indicator.
When EN OR 1 and EN OR 2 buttons are pressed briefly together, meter switches to AUTO mode. In
AUTO mode, meter switches focus automatically to the first sensor which detects power. Activated AUTO mode
is indicated by gently flashing EN OR 1 or EN OR 2 indicator [7].
AUTO mode is useful for multiband HF+VHF/UHF transceivers where meter automatically switches between
sensors according to operating band (HF vs VHF or UHF). For O2R contesting setups where only one
transceiver transmits at a time, AUTO mode is invaluable.
When EN OR 1 button and EN OR 2 buttons are pushed and held together for one second, meter switches
to DUAL mode. When meter switches to the DUAL mode, it provides measurement results of both sensors at
the same time.
Please note, AUTO mode and DUAL mode availability depends on selected METER MODE. It will be described
in details later, just to not panic if you can't do it right now :-) .
BAR GRAPHS SCALES and RANGES
Bar graphs in MΩRF are well featured and deeply customized indicators capable of displaying much more than
just power or WR. The selection of what is actually shown on the bar graph - one of available power readings
(forward, reflected, delivered, all these variants at antenna) or parts of the complex impedance or WR - can be
quickly set in CREEN EDIT mode (described below). Full functionality and settings of bar graphs will be
described in separate BAR GRAPH ETTING chapter, here, handling of scales and ranges is described.
At the very beginning one important note to remember. Information presented on bar graphs are always related
to one sensor, either EN OR 1 or EN OR 2 according to the EN OR selection (see above). In DUAL
mode, it is possible to select whether the bar graph shows data of EN OR 1 or EN OR 2 individually but both
bar graphs show data of one sensor. Remote Control application on computer shows four (4) bar graphs in
DUAL mode.
Both TOP BAR [1] and BOTTOM BAR [2] has its own POWER reading scale. There are three (3) linear scales
for each in 10/20/50 full scale divisions, and five RANGE multipliers: x0.1, x1, x10, x100, x1000. Last x1000
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microHAM © 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 CALE indicators [3], and current RANGE is indicated by one of
RANGE indicators [5]. BOTTOM bar scale is indicated by its own CALE [4] and RANGE indicator [5]. While
scale indicators for top and bottom bar are separate, range indicators are shared and differentiated by color.
TOP bar uses GREEN range indicator, BOTTOM bar RED indicator. When RANGE multiplier for both bars is the
same (rare but may happen), RANGE indicator is YELLOW.
Any selected power type for top and/or bottom bar graph is always shown in W [Watt] units. When bar shows
POWER, both bars can have independently defined four (4) power ranges, and for each power range one of
three (3) available colors can be assigned, for each band, each screen separately. These ranges and not related
to scale ranges described above, they may start and end anywhere from 0W up to maximal power. Advantage of
colored ranges is readability. When you set for example 50-100W range to be shown in red color, power from
50-100W will always be shown in red color, regardless of scale range (it doesn't matter if you are in 100W scale
or 2000W scale). In this way you can make some nicely visible important power areas like optimal driving power
for amplifier, maximal power to certain antenna etc ...
When bottom bar [2] shows SWR instead of reflected power, it is indicated by YELLOW WR scale indicator [4].
WR has its own, specialized scale divided to four (4) linear sub-scales in order to achieve fast, simple and
precise readout. WR from 1.0 to 3.0 - the most important section - has linear division of 0.05 per bar segment.
It takes 80% of the bar length. WR from 3.0 to 4.0 has division of 0.2 per segment, from 4.0 to 7.0 division 1 per
segment, while WR 7 segment is lit when WR is up to 10. Last but one shows WR from 10 to 15, last one
everything higher than 15. ame as for the power, also for WR four (4) custom color ranges can be defined in
the BOTTOM BAR MENU, on per band basis, settings follow the same segmented scale, but this time in a same
division and ranges as are defined WR sub-scales.
When bars are configured to show parts of Co plex I pedance, the two scales printed in between the two LED
bars are used. cale above the central line applies to the top bar graph and shows Resistance R or Absolute
value of Impedance |Z| in 0 - 100Ω range. cale below the central line applies to the bottom bar graph and
shows Reactance X or Phase angle Φ in -100 to +100Ω or -100 to +100º range.
Bar graphs can operate in MANUAL or AUTO RANGE mode. ROTARY KNOB [14] is used to select the mode
and to select range in MANUAL mode. When rotated in CW direction it changes range from the lowest (least
sensitive) to the highest respectively. When rotated in CCW direction, very last CCW position is AUTO RANGE.
In AUTO RANGE mode meter switches range upward immediately but down-ranges with timeout. BAR
DOWNRANGING timeout is adjustable in Y TEM MENU | MI CELLANEOU if you don't like the default
value.
When rotary knob is depressed and rotated, it changes ranges for bottom bar in a same manner as for top bar.
In MANUAL mode it is possible to overload current range. Overloaded range is indicated by fast flashing CALE
indicator [3]. Each range allows 2% overload without overload indication. ince bar graphs are software driven,
there is no damage even if they are hugely overloaded for a long time, don't worry if it happens.
Last but one CCW range position of the rotary knob is percentage (%) range. When enabled, it is indicated by %
RANGE indicator [5]. This range is useful for instant checking if everything is as should be, because 100% power
level is always full deflection on linear scale without any range switching. 100% power levels can be precisely set
on per sensor, per band basis in EN OR MENU according to your specific requirements or available power.
100% power level value is also used in TUNE CREEN, optimized CREEN for tuning manual Power Amplifiers
or Antenna Tuners.
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