Rohde & Schwarz RPG HATPRO Product manual

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
Installation and Maintenance Guide ►2.1 Choice of location 1
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Setup, Operation, Maintenance of
RPG standard single-polarization radiometers
Applicable for
HATPRO, LHATPRO, TEMPRO, HUMPRO, LHUMPRO,
LWP, LWP-U90, LWP-U72-82, LWP-90-150,
Tau-225, Tau-225-350

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
2 Document Change Log ►2.1 Choice of location
Document Change Log
Date Issue/Rev Change
07.07.2011 00/01 Work
20.07.2011 01/00 Release
15.12.2011 01/01 description of weather station installation added (2.6.5)
20.12.2011 01/02 description of new 2 line fibre connector system added (2.7.4)
17.04.2014 01/03 changes in packing materials
23.03.2015 01/04 Mounting procedure for new IRR housing added

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
Table of Contents ►2.1 Choice of location 3
Table of Contents
Installation and Maintenance Guide.................................................................................................. 1
Document Change Log ..................................................................................................................... 2
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................. 3
1 Scope of this document.................................................................................................................. 5
2 Setup and Installation..................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Choice of location .................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Unpacking the radiometer and accessories ............................................................................ 6
2.2.1 Radiometer Box ................................................................................................................ 6
2.2.2 Accessories....................................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand..................................................................................................... 7
2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional) ........................................................................... 11
2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box ................................................................................................. 17
2.6 Mounting of Externals (Blower, Heater, IRR, Weather Station)............................................. 22
2.6.1 Dew Blower..................................................................................................................... 22
2.6.2 Heater Module ................................................................................................................ 23
2.6.3 Mounting of IR Radiometer (Optional) ............................................................................ 25
2.6.4 External Rain Sensor and GPS Clock ............................................................................ 32
2.6.5 External Weather Station ................................................................................................ 33
2.7 Fibre Optics Converter .......................................................................................................... 35
2.7.3 Old Version (6 Lines) ...................................................................................................... 35
2.7.4 New Version (2 Lines)..................................................................................................... 38
2.8. Electrical Connections .......................................................................................................... 40
2.9 Recommendations for Viewing Directions and Angles.......................................................... 42
3 Quick Start Guide......................................................................................................................... 44
3.1 Safety precautions................................................................................................................. 44
3.1.1 Safety of the instrument .................................................................................................. 44
3.1.2 Safety during liquid nitrogen calibrations ........................................................................ 45
3.1.3 Safety considerations with moveable parts (azimuth, elevation) .................................... 45
3.2 Power up ............................................................................................................................... 45
3.3 Connect Host to Radiometer ................................................................................................. 46
3.4 Sending a Measurement Definition File................................................................................. 49
3.5 Browsing Through the Measurement Displays...................................................................... 50
3.6 Starting/Stopping Measurements .......................................................................................... 55

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
4 Table of Contents ►2.1 Choice of location
4 Maintenance................................................................................................................................. 56
4.1 Cleaning ................................................................................................................................ 56
4.2 Software Upgrades................................................................................................................ 56
4.3 Absolute Calibration Procedure............................................................................................. 57
4.3.1 External Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Calibration Target........................................................ 58
4.4 Exchange/Replacement of Parts ........................................................................................... 64
4.4.1 Changing the Rain Sensor.............................................................................................. 64
4.4.2 Changing the GPS Receiver........................................................................................... 65
4.4.3 Changing the Temperature and Humidity Sensors ......................................................... 65
4.4.4 Changing the Microwave Window Sheets....................................................................... 66
4.5 Preventive maintenance ........................................................................................................ 69
5 Trouble Shooting.......................................................................................................................... 70
6 Spare part list ............................................................................................................................... 72
7 Radiometer dimensions ............................................................................................................... 73
8 Safety Instructions........................................................................................................................ 74
8.1 Operation Safety Issues ........................................................................................................ 74

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
2 Setup and Installation ►2.1 Choice of location 5
1 Scope of this document
This document describes all processes needed for installing and setting up the standard RPG
radiometer models. The target audience is mainly the engineering and support personnel who are
in charge of the initial installation, maintenance, station supervision, calibration, cleaning and
repairs. All the technical aspects of such tasks are covered. In addition, the basic operations of how
to start a pre-defined measurement and how to stop a measurement and shut down the instruments
are explained.
The procedures in this document apply to single-polarization radiometers of HATPRO types
(profiling radiometers RPG-XXXPRO series), LWP multi-channel radiometers (RPG-LWPXXX
series) and Tau/Tipping radiometers (RPG-Tau-XXX).
What is not covered here (but in other manuals for standard radiometers) is:
• Theory of operation, scientific background (Operational Manual)
• Software details and how to define a measurement ( Software Manual)
• Measurement Examples
• Deployment Examples
Furthermore, all dual-polarization instruments (RPG-XCH-DP) are not described here, but in a
separate set of manuals.
2 Setup and Installation
This chapter covers the complete installation of the radiometer up to the point of starting operations.
2.1 Choice of location
The location for a radiometer installation needs to comply with several requirements in order to
guarantee successful recording of valid data. The following list of requirements shall be matched:
●Flat and stable grounds to support 100 kg of weight (plus personnel), preferably a concrete base
plate or a flat rooftop.
oIf vegetation covered soil or bare soil is chosen, then some extra provision is needed to
prevent the radiometer stand from sinking into the ground.
oIf the surface does not allow the mounting of steel cables to tie the radiometer to the ground,
then the radiometer stand needs to be loaded with extra weight
●The view to the horizon should be unobstructed by trees, fences, and buildings into at least one
direction (for radiometers without azimuth positioner it needs to coincide with the main scan
direction indicated by orange arrows on the housing).
●For sky scanning, a significant distance from obstacles like houses and trees is beneficial.
●The distance from the radiometer to (a) power outlets and (b) the location of the controlling host
PC should match the length of the cables ordered with the radiometer
●A safe routing option for the cables (outdoor indoor) should exist. The power cable diameter is
12 mm, the data cable is a fibre optical cable which needs to be handled with great care. The
fibre optics connectors are even bigger (up to 10cm). Pushing and pulling the cables can lead to
a malfunction of the cable performance.
●To avoid in-band RFI, the user may want to check for radars and telecommunication links directly
in the observation bands (22 GHz to 32 GHz, and 51 GHz to 59 GHz).

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
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6 2 Setup and Installation ►2.2 Unpacking the radiometer and accessories
2.2 Unpacking the radiometer and accessories
The following standard components are delivered in addition to the radiometer:
• Instrument stand with adjustable feet
• External absolute calibration target (cold load)
• Air flow reduction for winter operation of thermal stabilisation system
• Connector protectors
• Interconnecting cables (main power, fibre optics data interface cable), 60 m long
• (default)
• Powerful dew blower system + heater module
• USB drive with complete host software folder for easy software installation on
• Microsoft Windows® operating systems.
• An optional infrared radiometer (or dual IR twin system)
• An optional azimuth positioner + azimuth driver power supply unit
2.2.1 Radiometer Box
The radiometer system is shipped in up to four flight cases. One contains the radiometer itself
(Fig.2.2.1) while the others contains all accessories needed to operate and calibrate the instrument.
The radiometer case is fastened to the container by two straps as indicated in Fig.2.2.1. Rain sensor
and GPS-clock are not disassembled from the radiometer box for packing.
Fig.2.2.1: Radiometer packed to the transport container’s base plate.

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
2 Setup and Installation ►2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand 7
2.2.2 Accessories
Fig.2.2.2: Accessory boxes with radiometer stand, calibration target, heater module,
cables, IR Radiometer and azimuth drive.
Fig.2.2.3: Folded stand and azimuth turn table both packed to their container.
The radiometer stand and calibration target are both fastened to the box’ side walls with ribbons as
indicated in Fig.2.2.3.
2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand
The instrument stand is packed folded without the four feet mounted to the stand’s legs. Among the
radiometer’s accessories you will find a plastic bag with the four stainless steel feet as shown in Fig.
2.3.1a):

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
8 2 Setup and Installation ►2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand
Fig.2.3.1: One of the four stand’s feet.
A nut and washer is screwed on the thread rod. Remove both from the thread bar as indicated in
Fig.2.3.1b). Then screw the four bolts on the stand’s legs (Fig.2.3.2a)) and mount the washers and
nuts from the top as indicated in Fig.2.3.2b).
Fig.2.3.2: Mounting the feet to the stand’s legs.
Lay the folded stand on the top side of the table plate (Fig.2.3.3). Please use a soft underground or
matte to prevent the table surface from being scratched.
The two leg pairs are clamped by two clamps with black steel handles each. Open the clamps to
turn the two leg pairs into upright position. The leg pairs should be pushed outside as much as
possible (see Fig.2.3.4b)). Then fasten the clamps firmly (Fig.2.3.4a)) and turn the stand to its
normal orientation, with the table surface pointing upwards.
Unpack the two black stabilizing bars (Fig.2.3.5a)) and the four mounting nuts (Fig.2.3.5b)). Then
push the two bars onto the stand’s cross-beam threaded bolts as in Fig.2.3.6a) and fasten them with
four special nuts (Fig.2.3.5b)). There are no special tools needed to set up the stand.
a)
b
)
a)
b)
nut and
washer

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
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2 Setup and Installation ►2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand 9
Fig.2.3.3: The folded stand.
Fig.2.3.4: Open clamps and turning legs into upright position.
Fig.2.3.5: Stabilizer bars and mounting nuts.
b
)
a)
a) b)

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10 2 Setup and Installation ►2.3 Setup the Instrument Stand
Fig.2.3.6: Mounting the horizontal stabilizer bars.
Fig.2.3.7: Completely mounted stand.
Finally, the stand should be horizontally aligned. For this purpose, 4 spirit levels are located on the
table plate’s edges (Fig.2.3.8a)). Adjust the feet as indicated in Fig.2.3.8b) for horizontal alignment.
a)
b)

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
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11 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
Fig.2.3.8: Spirit levels on table base plate for horizontal adjustment of the stand.
Without this adjustment, the reading of the elevation axis during measurements is not equivalent to
the real observation elevation angle. The inclination angles of the elevation axis and the direction
normal to it are adjusted by inspecting the spirit levels attached to the stand’s table and changing
the stand’s 4 individual feet lengths (M19 wrench required).
2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
The azimuth positioner is an optional equipment which is required when the radiometer shall perform
full sky scanning or other scanning patterns.
spirit levels
a)
b)
Fig.2.4.1: Azimuth positioner
DATA / AZ cable
azimuth driver
DC cable
azimuth driver
motor
azimuth driver
controller

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
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12 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
After unpacking the azimuth drive and laying it on its table plate, the sub-unit looks like in
Fig.2.4.1. Two cables are important for the later installation steps: The driver’s DC power cable
(orange) and the controller’s RS-232 interface cable (black), labelled ‘DATA / AZ’. When the
azimuth drive is mounted on top of the stand, it is important that the two red arrows, as indicated in
Fig.2.4.2, are located on the same side.
Fix the azimuth drive with 6 screws (M8, 20 mm thread length) from the bottom side of the stand’s
plate (see Fig.2.4.3).
The next step is to mount the azimuth drive power supply (Fig.2.4.4) to the bottom side of the table
(see Fig.2.4.5), using 6 M6 screws (20 mm thread length). The power supply has two cables
attached to it: AC1 (blue) and AC2 (yellow).
Plug in the azimuth driver’s DC power connector to the socket on the right side of the power supply
box (Fig.2.4.6).
If a radiometer is installed without the optional azimuth drive, the power supply in Fig.2.4.4 is
replaced by the power splitter in Fig.2.4.7, which is also mounted to the bottom side of the table.
Fig.2.4.2: Azimuth positioner on the stand’s table plate.
the two red arrows
must be on the
same side
dew blower side
to radiometer’s
power and data
connectors

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
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13 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
Fig.2.4.3: Fixing the azimuth drive with 6 M8x20 screws.
Fig.2.4.4: 6 M6x20 screws for mounting the azimuth drive power supply (on the right).
Fig.2.4.5: Mounting the azimuth drive power supply.

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
Date: 23.03.2015 Pages: 74
Installation & Maintenance
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14 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
Fig.2.4.6: Plug in the azimuth drive DC power connector.
Fig.2.4.7: Power splitter unit used instead of the power supply in Fig.2.4.4, if no azimuth positioner
option is installed.
azimuth drive
DC power cable
28 Volts
DC output

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
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15 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
Unscrew the black plastic brackets (Fig.2.4.8) on the top of the azimuth table. The cable channels
are labeled with the cable designations as shown in Fig.2.4.9a),b).
Fig.2.4.8: Plastic brackets on cable channels.
Fig.2.4.9: Labeled cable channels for a): AC1 cable (blue), DATA/AZ cable (black), fiber optics DATA
cable (black) and b): AC2 cable (yellow).
Now feed the AC1 cable (blue), AC2 cable (yellow), the DATA/AZ cable (black) and the fiber
optics data cable (see Fig.2.4.10a) and Fig.2.4.10b)) through the central azimuth drive hole from
the bottom table side to the top.
a)
b

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16 2 Setup and Installation ►2.4 Setup of the Azimuth Positioner (Optional)
Fig.2.4.10: Feeding AC1, AC2, DATA/AZ and fibre optics data cable through centre hole.
Thread the different cables into their associated channels and mount the black plastic brackets
(Fig.2.4.11).
Fig.2.4.11: Mounting the cables into the cable channels.
a)
b

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17 2 Setup and Installation ►2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box
2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box
Fig.2.5.1: Radiometer box on azimuth turn table.
Fig.2.5.2: Four M8x20 screws for fixing the radiometer box on the azimuth driver table.
After the installation and adjustment of the instrument stand and optional azimuth positioner, the
radiometer box has to be lifted on the azimuth table (Fig.2.5.1) if the optional azimuth drive is
installed, or directly on the stand’s top plate, if no azimuth positioner is used. The radiometer box
has to be oriented, so that all red arrows are on the same side. Before lifting the radiometer box, the
dew blower (Fig.2.2.1) must be removed from the radiometer (see section 2.6).
red arrows
table between these screws

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
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Installation & Maintenance
(standard radiometers)
18 2 Setup and Installation ►2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box
For fixing the radiometer box on the azimuth table, four M8 screws (20 mm thread length) are used.
If the radiometer box is directly mounted on top of the stand, eight M8 screws (30 mm thread length)
are used.
Fig.2.5.3: Use Allen key to fasten the box with four M8 screws.
Fig.2.5.4: Connectors on the side wall.
Fig.2.5.4 shows the different connectors, switches and sensors on one of the two side walls. For
transportation, all connector sockets are protected by caps (See Fig.2.5.5).
rain
sensor
GPS clock
motor drive for
optional IR
radiometer
IRR interfaces
access to radiometer PC
azimuth
driver
interface
radiometer
power
fiber optics
data cable
connector
ON / OFF
switch

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
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19 2 Setup and Installation ►2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box
Fig.2.5.5: Connector protection caps and ON / OFF switch.
Before connecting the AC1, DATA/AZ and fiber optics cable, the connector socket protection caps
must be removed. Keep these protection caps for future transportation use. If a socket is left
unprotected during transportation, condensation water may accumulate inside the connector, which
may lead to malfunctioning of the radiometer.
Fig.2.5.6: Connecting the blue AC1 cable and the black azimuth driver interface cable (DATA/AZ).
The fibre optics connector contains 6 fibre optics pins that have to be precisely aligned (see
Fig.2.5.7).
power
azimuth
drive
interface
IR1
IR2

Code: RPG-MWR-STD-INST Issue: 01/04
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20 2 Setup and Installation ►2.5 Mounting of Radiometer Box
Fig.2.5.7: Sequence for connecting the fibre optics data cable.
After these connections have been performed (Fig.2.5.8), the cables should be pulled back to get
the right length on the side wall (Fig.2.5.9). Finally they are fixed to the radiometer’s bottom plate by
one or two cable ties (Fig.2.5.10).