microHAM ARXC.REL User manual

microHAM © 2022 All rights reserved
ARXC
ARCO External Control
Accessories
ARXC.REL
ARXC.MAG
ARXC.LoRa
microHAM
www.microham.com
microHAM s.r.o.
Maticna 28
92401 Galanta
Slovakia
v1.1
2022
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microHAM © 2022 All rights reserved
TABLE OF CONTENT
1 - ARXC - GENERAL DE CRIPTION ...............................................................................................3
ARX .REL .................................................................................................................................................... 3
ARX .MAG ................................................................................................................................................... 3
ARX .LoRa .................................................................................................................................................. 3
2 - ARXC - HARDWARE ETUP ......................................................................................................4
ARX .REL addressing ................................................................................................................................. 4
ARX wiring ................................................................................................................................................. 4
3 - ARXC - OFTWARE ETUP .......................................................................................................9
ARX .MAG Settings ..................................................................................................................................... 9
Using ARX .MAG Sensor .......................................................................................................................... 10
ARX .REL Settings and Use....................................................................................................................... 13
DE LARATION OF ONFORMITY.............................................................................................................17
TRADEMARK
All other products, company names, brand names, and trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
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microHAM © 2022 All rights reserved
1 - ARXC - GENERAL DE CRIPTION
ARXC modules are AR O rotator controller accessories for expanded control and extra
functionality. Modules are built in IP65 enclosures designed to operate outside of the shack.
AR O supports up to four chained ARX modules at the same time. ARX accessories
connect D-SENSOR port on AR O, using only 4 wires of cheap AT5 cable. When extra
control cable is not a possible option, AR O can connect ARX modules using pair of
dedicated ARX .LoRa modules for wireless connection up to couple of kilometers distance.
ARXC.REL
ARXC.REL is four (4) external relays module allowing to control remote antenna switches,
polarization switches, mast preamplifiers or anything what is suitable to be controlled from the
AR O user interface, touch screen or VN for Internet remote control. AR O uses preset
buttons for relays control and relays can be optionally set as directional antenna control for
8-circle or 4-square antenna showing direction on great circle map.
ARXC.MAG
ARXC.MAG is magnetic azimuth sensor. Mounted on antenna boom reports true antenna
azimuth and can serve as a main azimuth sensor when original sensor in the rotator has
malfunctioned and as a watchdog sensor to alert user that antenna is no longer beaming to the
calibrated azimuth, that may happen if antenna slips in bolt during high wind or storm.
ARXC.LoRa
ARXC.LoRa is long range communication transceiver module operating on ISM band
converting bidirectional RS-485 communication used by AR O and ARX modules to RF data
and back.
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2 - ARXC - HARDWARE ETUP
Installation of ARX consists of hardware and software parts. Mechanical part of setup is to
insert rubber sealing into the slot in the module case lid. Trim its length as necessary. Sealing
might be installed by factory, in this case skip to next.
ARX .REL can be mounted anywhere with cable grommets facing down to avoid water ingress.
Although not necessary, it is advisable to mouth box on place protected against rain, snow or
direct sunlight.
ARX .LoRa is good to mount on place where antenna is not close to metal structures, best
when cable entry grommet is facing down and module is protected against rain, snow or direct
sunlight.
ARX .MAG sensor has to be mounted on bottom side of antenna boom in any orientation, as
far as possible from tower and fixed by zip tights included in the package. Keep alligator clamp
screws and nuts in case you are removing it, they made of nickel plated brass, steel screws
would influence magnetic sensor functionality.
Before proceeding to software setup it is necessary to set ARX module address (only on
ARX .REL) and connect it to AR O.
ARXC.REL addressing
To recognize and properly control particular
ARX .REL module, each module needs to have a
unique address. Address is set by combination of
two DIP switches according to drawing on P board
next to DIP switch. It is possible to set up to 4
different addresses: 1 (shown on picture), 2, 3, 4.
Each ARX .REL module has then its own setup in AR O System menu on respective tabs
ARX 1 – ARX 4. ARX .MAG has its address set internally and ARX .LoRa has no address.
ARXC wiring
In order to control ARX module, it must be connected to AR O first. On AR O, the
connection port is located at D-SENSOR connector. ommunication layer is RS-485 requiring
twisted pair of wires connected to port Z (ZA and ZB pins) and two additional wires for module
power. 12VD power is provided by AR O at D-SENSOR port on +12V and GND pins.
If control cable between AR O and ARX module; or between different ARX modules for any
reason cannot be installed, communication can be established by RF link using pair of ARX
LoRa modules. In this case, external 12V supply must be provided on ARX side of RF link.
Each ARX module has a 4 pole terminal for connecting wires of the communication cable.
ZA and ZB poles serve for communication wires, +12V and GND poles serve for power. On
ARX .REL there are two sets of terminals for simpler daisy-chain connection to additional
modules. Both terminals are connected in parallel, it is not important which one is used if you
are connecting a single module.
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ommunication line has to be twisted pair, we recommend to use readily available AT5 or
AT6 cable. In case of longer connection (hundreds of meters), terminate both ends of
communication line by 150 ohm resistor connected between ZA and ZB poles. Use unused
wires in parallel for each power pole connection to minimize power drop, especially if you use
power leads also for powering other device like preamplifier, antenna switch or similar device.
For proper ARX module functionality voltage at its power terminal should be at least 7V.
Maximal consumption (including powered device) is 500mA limited internally by AR O. It is
ample power for ARX devices alone, but if provided power reserve is not enough for powering
controlled devices, use D-SENSOR output only for ARX modules and power controlled
devices using separate power supply.
ARXC MODULE D-SENSOR PORT NAME PIN NUMBER
A A 2
B B 1
+12V +12 V OUT 10
GND GND 9
For controlling external devices, ARX .REL
provides one SPDT contact per relay,
allowing to connect and implement any kind
of switching requirement. ontacts are
located at a pluggable terminal for simpler
assembly. Each energized relay is indicated
by LED indicator and each relay can be
manually energized by related pushbutton to
help in-field troubleshooting.
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ARCO connection to single ARXC.REL

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ARCO connection to single ARXC.REL and ARXC.MAG
ARCO connection to ARXC.MAG

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ARCO connection to three ARXC.REL and ARXC.MAG

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Wireless ARCO connection to single ARXC.REL and ARXC.MAG using pair of ARXC.LoRa

microHAM © 2022 All rights reserved
3 - ARXC - OFTWARE ETUP
After wiring it is necessary to make software setup of ARX modules in the AR O menu
system. ARX .LoRa modules have no software setup, they are set to operate together in
factory. ARX .MAG and ARX .REL requires specific setup to let AR O know how to use each
module.
ARXC.MAG ettings
Menu->System->ARX .MAG window serves for magnetic sensor settings.
ENABLE: Enables or disables AR O communication with ARX .MAG sensor.
TATU : Shows current status of ARX .MAG sensor
•WAITING SENSOR RESPONSE = Sensor does not communicate to AR O.
•INIT = Temporary state during initialization and data transfer.
•TURN LIMIT-TO-LIMIT = Sensor is waiting for full rotator turn.
Turn rotator 360˚ using W/ W buttons.
•A TIVE = Sensor uses captured data.
•SENSOR POINTS = Sensor is in user, absolute azimuth calibration state.
RE UME/FINI H LEARNING: When ARX .MAG is not AR O main azimuth sensor, button
switches between “collecting” and “using” magnetic data to determine azimuth. While learning,
magnetic data are continuously sampled and AR O improves magnetic curve of the sensor.
ARXC.MAG AZI: Shows azimuth determined by ARX .MAG sensor
LIP CONTROL: Enables or disables background checking if azimuth of main sensor on rotator
matches azimuth determined by ARX .MAG sensor within +/- tolerance set next.
ACCEPTED LIP: Lets user know angle of antenna slippage. Angle should be used as “offset”
for antenna #2 or #3 for temporary use until antenna slippage is fixed. Angle can be manually
reset when slippage is fixed and antenna is back in its original position.
XYZ: Shows raw magnetic data from sensor. During
rotator movement AR O draws graphical magnetic data
used for azimuth computing. Deviations from circle or
ellipse visualizes strong magnetic interference in given
direction as shown on picture.
TEMPERATURE: Shows temperature of the sensor.
The Menu->System->ARX .MAG window behaves
similarly as Menu->Heading-> alibration,
i.e. when buttons Left or Right is pressed, the rotator motor starts to turn in given direction with
no ramps, using speed set as ALIB SPEED in Menu->Heading-> alibration.
In this window, the ARX .MAG sensor is continuously polled, unlike during normal operation,
when it is polled only when motor supply is turned on.
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Please note, that status transitions described in the following might take some time to be
reflected on the Menu->System->ARX .MAG window. So, after any parameter change/click,
please allow a few seconds for the displayed values to refresh.
Using ARXC.MAG ensor
Initial Setup
Prerequisite:
AR O is calibrated using original primary sensor.
•ENABLE Sensor
–Sensor changes STATUS from DISABLED to TURN LIMIT-TO-LIMIT by touching
ENABLE box. If Status did not change to TURN LIMIT-TO-LIMIT, check prerequisite.
–Turn rotator from one limit to the other, not necessarily in this window, you can do it in
any other way. This sets baseline ARX .MAG calibration and changes Status from
TURN LIMIT-TO-LIMIT to LEARNING, and azimuth from ARX .MAG is displayed as
ARX .MAG AZI.
In "Learning" state, when the rotator is turning, ARX .MAG calibration is continuously improved
based on the primary sensor's readings. By clicking FINISH LEARNING, Status changes to
A TIVE, and SLIP ONTROL can be enabled. It is possible to switch from A TIVE to
LEARNING mode by clicking on RESUME LEARNING button.
Note, that disabling ARX .MAG at this point deletes the ARX .MAG calibration. After transition
to A TIVE state, it is recommended to store AR O configuration to one of the stored
configuration slots in Menu->System->System-> onfig SAVE.
Slip ontrol
Prerequisite:
ARX .MAG is in A TIVE state.
•ENABLE Slip ontrol
•Set tolerance between primary sensor azimuth and ARX .MAG AZI
•When AR O detects antenna slippage, user is warned that antenna slipped. Until
slippage is fixed main screen shows “SLIPPED” sign.
•User has to confirm new antenna azimuth by visual check.
•Value of slipped angle is internally used to automatically compensate software stop limit
in slip direction in order to prevent feedline damage.
•Slipped angle is shown on System → ARX .MAG tab. If ARX .MAG sensor is not used
used as main azimuth sensor, user is advised to create antenna #2 or #3 with offset of
slipped angle to work with true antenna azimuth.
•Slip ontrol automatically updates value of slipped angle if another slippage happens.
•Slip ontrol is reset automatically after fixing slippage on antenna and performing new
main sensor calibration.
•Slip ontrol can be reset manually at ARX .MAG tab after fixing slippage and returning
antenna to its calibrated position.
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Switching sensor from rotator's primary sensor to ARX .MAG
hoice when AR O was calibrated with original rotator's sensor but sensor suddenly failed.
Prerequisite:
ARX .MAG is in A TIVE state.
•In Menu->Rotator->Settings change Sensor from the primary to ARX .MAG.
ARX .MAG calibration is automatically used and ARX .MAG becomes the primary
sensor for all rotator operation.
Note, that at this point, the original primary sensor's calibration is lost, and after restoring the
original sensor as primary sensor in Menu->Rotator->Settings->Sensor, new calibration of this
sensor is required. If there is a stored configuration from previous steps, loading it through
Menu->System->System-> onfig LOAD restores the setup from that point, including original
sensor's calibration, as expected.
ARX .MAG as the sole azimuth sensor
hoice for rotators without azimuth sensor.
Prerequisite:
ARX .MAG is selected as primary sensor in Menu->Rotator->Settings.
•In Menu->System->ARX .MAG set ENABLE box. Status changes from DISABLED to
SENSOR POINTS. It is possible that an interim INIT state is displayed for a few seconds,
it is normal. If Status did not change to SENSOR POINTS, check prerequisite.
•Now in Menu->Heading-> alibration, turn the rotator to at least 4 evenly spaced points
by 90˚ (i.e. North, South, East, West), and enter azimuth for these calibration points using
USTOM button. You can add calibration points more densely than that.
•After all alibration Points have been entered press the FINISH button. Move to the
center of rotator rotation and enter its azimuth, to finalize the calibration.
If the rotator has limit switches and they are enabled in Menu->Rotator->Settings, in
Menu->Heading-> alibration an AUTO button is displayed. By pressing AUTO button, the motor
will automatically move first to the W limit switch, and then while moving to the W limit
switch it will gather calibration points, assuming that the rotator moves with a constant angular
speed during the whole path between the limit switches. Finally, the rotator moves into the
estimated mid-position. Here, adjust the position of rotator to precise center of rotator rotation
and enter its azimuth. This finalizes the calibration assuming that angular distance between limit
switches is exactly TOTAL ROTATION parameter.
As usually, after calibration it is recommended to store the current AR O state into one of the
Menu->System->System-> onfig SAVE slots.
Please note, once ARX .MAG becomes the primary sensor, ARX .MAG cannot be disabled
and slip is checked on power up and wake up from sleep.
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Hardware status
To signal basic functionality of ARX .MAG, LED inside module indicates polarity of the X
component of uncalibrated measurement of magnetic vector. In other words, LED is on, if the
general direction of terminal block of ARX .MAG is towards North.
Besides that, LED indicates also presence or absence of communication from AR O: if AR O
communicates with ARX .MAG (i.e. during rotation, or in the Menu->System->ARX .MAG
screen, or in Menu->Heading-> alibration screen if ARX .MAG is selected as primary sensor),
LED blinks once a second, otherwise it blinks once in 5 seconds.
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ARXC.REL ettings and Use
Relay outputs of ARX .REL can be configured for different behaviour (Type) and these types
can be combined together.
There are three cathegories of ARX Types:
•B D-N
•1-of-N
•TOGGLE 1-4
Both BCD-N and 1-of-N consist of a group of the first N relays (where N = 2, 3 or 4), where
changing state of relays obeys certain rules; rest of the relays in given ARX are free to be
set/cleared/toggled individually. Both BCD-N and 1-of-N can also optionally represent azimuths;
in that case they can be used as an Antenna in Menu→Heading, and subsequently be
controlled using the same methods (local, remote) that are used to control the physical rotator.
In TOGGLE 1-4 type, all 4 relays are controlled freely.
In BCD-N, state of relays within the group represents a binary number, relay 1 representing the
least-significant bit, relay N the most-significant bit in that number. Presets targeting BCD-N
group can set the group to a particular number, or can increment or decrement the number
corresponding to the BCD-N group. However, individual relays can still be controlled freely in
the ARXC Control window, as well as in Menu→System→ARX x.
In 1- of- N there is always exactly one relay switched on. This rule is enforced even when
controlling relays in the ARXC Control window and in Menu→System→ARX x. Individual
relays can be assigned to Presets, however, when this Preset is clicked, this relay of the group
will be switched on and all other relays of the group will be switched off. Presets "moving" the
active relay forward and backward within the group, circularly, are available, too.
When one of the Types is selected, the menu window displays multiple items, depending on the
particular Type selected.
In default configuration, all 4 ARX are set as "NOT
ONNE TED", and AR O behaves as in older
versions without ARX , namely in Menu→Heading
and in Presets setup.
As the first step of setting up ARX , in
Menu→System→ARX x for the given ARX , is to
select Type.
When changing from one Type to a different one,
several related configuration parameters are reset to
default e.g. individual ARX relays and group names; if
this ARX 's group was selected as Antenna, this
selection is reverted to default antenna (i.e.
corresponding to the physical rotator with given offset and
other attributes, as it was in older versions); and all
Presets targeting this ARX will be changed to plain AZI
presets. To avoid inadvertent loss of these parameters,
changing ARX Type is subject to confirmation.
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TOGGLE 1-4 Type
TOGGLE 1-4 is the simplest Type, and items in its menu are present also in menus for other
Types.
A - this is a "live" visualization of current
state of individual relays; relays' state can
be toggled by clicking on the individual
"buttons" or their names. If given ARX is
not present on the bus, this field is greyed
out, although relays state can still be
toggled and upon connecting the ARX ,
relays will be switched accordingly.
B - each relay has an editable name, this is
then used as a reference in Presets etc.
C - this is a live indication of ARX internal
temperature.
B D-N Type
For BCD-N type, the menu window is slightly different:
A - the BCD-N group has an editable name,
again used as reference to this group.
B - one of applications of BCD-N group is
control of Four Square-type of antenna
arrays, so if azimuth control is enabled for
BCD-N, the primary direction corresponding
to number = 0 is North. Primary direction of
subsequent values increases clockwise, by
90º for BCD-2 by 45º for BCD-3 by 22.5º
for BCD-4.
C - the frame around individual relay status
"buttons" indicates their grouping.
D - relays within the group don't have
individual names, only the unused free relay has its own name (consequently, if BCD-4 type is
selected, there is no NAME row at all).
1-of-N Type
The menu window for 1-of-N is similar:
According to the switching rule for 1-of-N
group, when 1-of-N is selected in
Menu→System→ARX x, the first relay is
automatically switched on. ontrary to
BCD-N, individual relays in 1-of-N group do
have individual names, as they can be used
for individual Presets.
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When azimuth control is enabled for 1-of-N by ticking the ENABLE AZIMUTH ONTROL
tickbox, its menu slightly changes:
Individual relays in the 1-of-N group can be
assigned individual azimuths, which
represent the primary direction for the state,
when corresponding relay is switched on.
There is no requirement on particular values
of the azimuth, their order nor span.
In Menu→Heading, if any of ARX is set to a group with azimuth control enabled, headers to
columns corresponding to ANTENNA #2 and ANTENNA #3 are not static labels anymore, but
they are pull-down menus. When opened, ANTENNA #x is always the first option, followed by a
names of those ARX groups, which have azimuth control enabled. In the following screenshot,
for ANTENNA #2 an ARX group with the name 1OF3@1 is selected; for ANTENNA #3 the
pull-down is opened and displays the list of available options:
If ARX group is selected instead of ANTENNA #x, its name is given by the name of this group
set in its respective Menu→System→ARX x, and it cannot be changed in this menu. All other
settings apply in the same way as for normal ANTENNA #x, i.e. ENABLE determines presence
in the main screen's selection, OFFSET is added to the primary direction corresponding to state
of relays within the group, BIDIR is observed both for display and control, LINK determines
presence in the selection within the LINK group (either locally or through LAN).
BEAMWIDTH influences only display; azimuth control input is always decoded into the group
state which has the closest primary direction, taking into account both OFFSET and BIDIR.
ARX group is azimuth-controlled only if this group is selected as the current Antenna in the
main screen.
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Non-azimutal ARX features can be controlled from the main screen
through extended Presets. To preserve the previous behaviour, there
is a common set of Presets, which is by default assigned to all three
Antennas. However, as soon as at least one ARX is present, each
Antenna can be optionally assigned its own individual set of presets.
When a Preset is held pressed for more than a second, the usual
control for setting azimuth appears, but it contains a new "ARX "
button.
Pressing this button, a new window for setting Preset opens:
A - this tickbox determines, whether given Antenna has assigned an individual set of Presets,
or, if unticked, uses the common set of Presets. onsequently, in this window, the individual or
the common set of Presets is edited.
B - exit from this window, without changing the given Preset. All other buttons in this window
represent possible options, to which given Preset can be set. The currently set option is
indicated by green background color.
C - this option opens the ARX ONTROL window, described
below.
D - these options are present only for ARX which are of BCD-N
or 1-of-N type and advance forward or backward within the
values represented by the group.
E - these options switch individual relays within a 1-of-N group.
F - this option allows to switch to a particular value of BCD-N
group (this option is currently chosen, that's why it's highlighted in
by green background). It opens an additional window to choose
this value.
G - this is the option available for free relays. It opens an
additional window, allowing to choose the action for given relay.
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One of the options for Preset is the ARX ONTROL window. In this window, all ARX outputs
can be observed and controlled from one place.
The indication and control is similar to that in Menu→System→ARX x, except for the visual
style (buttons instead of the "radiobuttons"), and the different handling of BCD-N groups. In
ARX ONTROL window they contain "forward/backward" buttons instead of individual relays
control, and in between them, the current value, or, if azimuth control is enabled for given group,
the current primary direction, is displayed.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
European Union Declaration of Conformity
We, microHAM s.r.o., Matičná 28, 92401 Galanta, Slovakia, declare under our sole
responsibility for the equipment name ARX , model ARX .MAG, ARX .REL and
ARX .LoRa that the equipment is in conformity with the relevant Union
harmonization legislation directives.
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On behalf of microHAM s.r.o.
Ing. Jozef Urban, EO
30th September 2022