Timewave AntennaSmith TZ-900 User manual

TZ-900
Hardware
Manual
AntennaSmith™
Revision 1.2
© Copyright 2006, Timewave Technology Inc., All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 5
1.1. Power On/Off...................................................................................................... 5
1.2. Automatic Power Off.......................................................................................... 6
1.3. Function Modes .................................................................................................. 6
2. SWEEP MODE........................................................................................................... 7
2.1. SETTING SWEEP START AND STOP FREQUENCIES................................ 7
2.1.1. GRAPHICALLY SETTING SWEEP FREQUENCIES ............................ 8
2.1.2. MANUALLY CREATING A NEW SWEEP RANGE.............................. 8
2.1.3. SWEEPING A STANDARD SCAN RANGE ........................................... 9
2.1.4. SWEEPING THE SAME RANGE AS A REFERENCE MEMORY........ 9
2.2.2. SWR.......................................................................................................... 11
2.3. POLAR GRAPH TYPES.................................................................................. 12
2.3.1. SMITH CHART........................................................................................ 12
2.3.2. REFLECTION COEFFICENT (RHO)..................................................... 13
2.3.3. PHASE SIGN CONSIDERATIONS:....................................................... 13
2.4. MEMORIES ..................................................................................................... 15
2.4.1. SCAN MEMORY USAGE: .................................................................... 15
2.4.2. REFERENCE MEMORY USAGE .......................................................... 16
3. MANUAL MODE .................................................................................................... 20
4. HI-RESOLUTION FREQUENCY SYNTHESIZER MODE .................................. 21
5. SYSTEM SETUP...................................................................................................... 22
5.1. Settings.............................................................................................................. 22
5.1.1. Graphic Settings........................................................................................ 22
5.1.2. Smith SWR ............................................................................................... 23
5.1.3. APO Settings............................................................................................. 23
5.1.4. Level Settings............................................................................................ 23
6. POWER SUPPLY..................................................................................................... 24
7. HOST COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................................. 25
8. SPECIAL SERVICE AND SETUP MODES........................................................... 26
8.1. Restoring default settings.................................................................................. 26
9. APPLICATION NOTES .......................................................................................... 27
9.1. Transmission Lines ........................................................................................... 27
9.2. Antenna measurements on coax........................................................................ 28
9.3. Obtaining the best accuracy.............................................................................. 28
9.4 Using the TZ-900 as a sweep generator............................................................ 28
10. QUICK TRICKS................................................................................................... 30
10.1. Rapidly Analyzing an Antenna..................................................................... 30
10.2. Rapidly zooming to a section of a sweep...................................................... 31
10.3. To rapidly set sweep start and stop frequencies using the knob................... 31
10.4. Rapidly setting a scan of 1.000.000 to 30.000.000....................................... 32
10.5. Doing a detailed analysis of a frequency from a sweep................................ 32
10.6. Rapidly starting and stopping a sweep using the same settings.................... 32
11. AntennaSmith™ Connectors ................................................................................ 33
12. Additional Reading ............................................................................................... 34

13. Troubleshooting .................................................................................................... 35
14. Specifications........................................................................................................ 36
15. Timewave.............................................................................................................. 37
16. Warranty ............................................................................................................... 38
17. Table of Figures .................................................................................................... 39
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1. INTRODUCTION
The Timewave TZ900 AntennaSmith™ is a versatile rugged hand-held color
graphical antenna analyzer.
The analyzer has a number of features required for use in a field application.
These features include:
A color graphic display visible in bright sunlight as well as at night.
Memory storage of measurements for reference and/or later download to a
computer through either a USB 2.0 or RS232 type interface.
Color graphic comparison of previously stored measurements. This can be
used for rapid determination of any changes made to the antenna system or for
comparison of antenna system changes over time.
In addition other features include:
Highly stable and accurate direct digital synthesizer frequency generation.
Through the use of one knob and 4 buttons, a simple user interface is provided
requiring a minimum of user inputs to rapidly acquire all of the data available.
An internal fast battery charger guarantees the instrument will always be
available for use.
A 1 Hz resolution frequency generator mode for bench top signal generation.
Remotely controllable by a RS232 serial or USB 2.0 port.
1.1. Power On/Off
The instrument is powered on by pushing and holding the power button until
the opening screen appears.
The instrument is powered off by pushing and releasing the power button or
by having the “APO” (automatic power off) function turn off the unit (see section
1.2).
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After powering the instrument on, the state of the internal battery charge can
be monitored by the battery bar graph indicator. If the indicator shows less than
about 10% green (90% red), it is advisable to connect the fast charger to the
instrument to initiate a fast charge and also guarantee enough power so the normal
measurement accuracy is maintained.
1.2. Automatic Power Off
The instrument has a battery conserving automatic power off mode. This
mode can be selected from the systems settings screen and has four settings (Off,
5 minutes, 10 minutes (default), and 30 minutes). When the instrument does not
receive a user input (either button, knob, USB, or RS232) for the “APO” time
selected, the instrument will automatically turn off.
1.3. Function Modes
There are three major function modes:
The SWeeP mode is a frequency-sweeping mode that graphs chosen parameters
as the frequency is swept from a start frequency to an end frequency. Graphs can
be X-Y type where the X-axis is frequency or polar types such as the Smith chart
or Reflection coefficient.
The MANual mode is used for analysis at a single frequency. This mode uses
bar graphs to display measurable parameters and numeric output on the bar graphs
when acquisition is stopped.
The Hi-resolution frequency SYNTHesizer mode is used to produce a stable
reference frequency that can be used for a number of bench type ham related
activities.
The instrument is switched between the three major modes using the top
“MODE” (#1) button.
The current MODE the instrument is in can be easily determined from viewing
the top button (#1) text. The current mode is shown in green. Modes are labeled
Swp, Man, and Synth on button #1.
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2. SWEEP MODE
The sweep mode provides the user with the ability to rapidly view selected
parameter(s) as the instrument is linearly swept between two chosen frequencies.
Two distinctly different graphic types of sweep are provided. When displaying
single dependent variable resultants, an X-Y type graph is displayed. Polar graphs
are used when two dependent variable resultants are simultaneously displayed.
Sweep type displays
(Single Variable)
SWR vs frequency
Impedance (Z) vs frequency
Real Impedance (R) vs frequency
Imag. Impedance (jX) vs. frequency
(Polar (Two variable))
Smith chart
Rho chart (Reflection coefficient)
Sweep ranges can be manually set, recalled from scan memory, recalled from
reference memory or manually set and saved to scan memory.
Graphics mode (SWR, Z…), and can be changed instantly using the “GRAPH” (#2)
button. The graphics mode is labeled in green on the button.
Upon stopping a running sweep either by pushing the knob or the “STOP SWP” (#4)
button, the sweep frequency range can be manually entered or recalled from the
SCAN or REFerence memories. If old values are OK, simply pushing the knob
restarts the sweep, however if new sweep frequencies are desired, push “SWP
SETUP” (#4) button and follow on screen directions to manually enter a new sweep
frequency range or select from a pre-saved scan memory location.
2.1. SETTING SWEEP START AND STOP FREQUENCIES
There are four methods that can be used to set the beginning and ending
frequencies required for a sweep type graph.
If the graph is currently sweeping --- pushing the “STOP SWP” (#4) button or
pushing the knob will stop the sweep and allow a new sweep range to be set.
At this point the device under test can be disconnected while still preserving the
display.
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(If it is desired to keep using the current range, simply pushing the knob will
restart the sweep.)
Once the sweep is stopped two options are available.
One option is to graphically set the sweep center frequency and the width of the
sweep. This method is rapid and convenient but limited to sweep frequencies that
are within the range currently being displayed on the graph. To use this method
see section 2.1.1.
The second option allows three different non-graphic manual methods. This
option is preferable if it is desired to manually create a new sweeping range
(Section 2.1.2), sweep standard ranges previously saved (Section 2.1.3), or
compare current measurements with a previously saved reference.
2.1.1. GRAPHICALLY SETTING SWEEP FREQUENCIES
If the sweep has been stopped (by pushing button #4 or the knob), a new
center frequency can be selected using the cursor and the “SET Center”
(#3) button. After selecting the desired center frequency with the cursor,
pushing the “SET Center” (#3) button will select the cursor as the center
frequency and display an additional “start sweep” and “end sweep” light
blue pair of cursors. These cursors can be positioned using knob to
accurately set the range of the sweep frequencies to be analyzed. When
the desired sweep width has been made, then the “SET WIDTH” (#3)
button can be used to initiate a sweep with the newly defined sweep
frequencies.
2.1.2. MANUALLY CREATING A NEW SWEEP RANGE
To set a new range it is first necessary to stop the sweep. This can be
accomplished by pushing the “STOP SWP” (#4) button or pushing the
knob. This mode can be identified, as button #4 will be labeled “SWP
SETUP”. Push this button to start manual sweep setup.
The first frequency that needs to be set is the sweep start frequency.
Rotate the knob to set the starting frequency. Pushing the knob will
sequentially step through the digits to be set and the current digit to be
changed will be temporarily shown in RED. To set a frequency less than
1000 kHz push the button to enter the 100 kHz digit after previously
setting the start frequency to 1000 kHz. When first entering the start
sweep frequency mode rapidly rotating the knob to a lower frequency will
rapidly set the lower limit to 1000 kHz for convenience.
After the desired starting frequency is showing in the window
pushing the “SET START” (#4) button will advance to the end sweep
frequency setting mode.
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Use the same technique as setting the start sweep frequency to set
the end sweep frequency. In this case rapidly rotating the knob to a lower
frequency will set the ending sweep frequency to the previously set
starting sweep frequency for convenience. Then rotate the knob to higher
frequencies to set the ending frequency pushing the knob to change the
selected digit. When the desired end sweep frequency has been set,
pushing the “SET END” (#4) button will start a new sweep over the
desired range.
It is possible to save this sweep range before starting the sweep by
using the “SAVE SCAN” (#3) button to enter the scan memory page. Use
the knob to select the memory location desired. At this point pushing the
“STRT SWP” (#4) button will start the sweep with the new endpoint
frequencies that have been saved for easy recall later (See Section 2.1.3—
Sweeping a standard scan range).
2.1.3. SWEEPING A STANDARD SCAN RANGE
To sweep over a previously saved scan range it is first necessary to
stop the sweep. This can be accomplished by pushing the “STOP SWP”
(#4) button or pushing the knob. This mode can be identified as button #4
will be labeled “SWP SETUP”.
Push button “SWP SETUP” (#4) and then “RCL SCAN” (#2) to
enter the scan memory page.
Use the knob to select the desired scan range previously stored.
Push the “STRT SWP” (#4) button to start sweeping over the scan
memory range.
2.1.4. SWEEPING THE SAME RANGE AS A REFERENCE
MEMORY
It is possible to scan and graphically compare results with a
previously saved set of data.
To choose a reference memory scan range it is first necessary to
stop the sweep. This can be accomplished by pushing the “STOP SWP”
(#4) button or pushing the knob. This mode can be identified as button #4
will be labeled “SWP SETUP”
Push “SWP SETUP” (#4) and then “RCL REF” (#3).
Choose the desired reference memory using the knob followed by
the “LOAD REF” (#4) button.
At this point the reference measurement will be displayed.
Pushing the “COMP SWP” (#3) button or the knob will start the
sweep with a colored graphic comparison of the current measurement and
the reference memory data.
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2.2. VARIABLE VS. FREQUENCY TYPE OF GRAPH
The sweep starting frequency is
shown at the bottom left of the graph
while the ending frequency is shown
at the bottom right of the graph.
Two yellow lines are also shown on
the graph. The vertical line is the
cursor, which can be moved using
the knob. The measured value and
the frequency of the cursor location
are displayed above the graph. The
horizontal line is a reference line
provided to assist the user in quickly
analyzing the results. The
frequencies with measured
parameters above the line are shown in red and those below are shown in green.
The location of this line and the span of the y-axis for each graphic type can be set
by the user (See System Setup Chapter 5).
Figure 1: Sweep
If desired, pushing the “MODE” (#1) button while sweeping will switch modes to
the “Manual mode” while automatically transferring the frequency of the current
cursor location to the manual mode for more detailed analysis (See Manual Mode
Chapter 3).
When in the sweep mode, the three lower buttons (#2, #3, #4) are active and let
the user change the sweeping frequencies and other parameters as required.
Button #2 (GRAPH) allows the user to switch sequentially between the six
different graph types. (SWR, Z, Real(R), Imag(jX), Smith Chart, and Reflection
Coefficient). This button is active when in Sweep mode if the sweep is currently
active or stopped.
Button #3 has two functions when in sweep mode. If the analyzer is currently
sweeping, button #3 allows the user to quickly access the reference memory
screen (see REFERENCE MEMORY USAGE Section 2.3.2) so that the current
measurement may be stored as a reference or a previously stored reference can be
loaded. If the sweep is stopped button #3 allows the user to set the new desired
center frequency.
2.2.1. SINGLE VARIABLE GRAPH TYPES
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