Homebrew HF SWR/Power Meter
Bill Leonard
NCU
NATC - 285 TechConnect Radio Club http://www.natc.org/
5/4/2012
Theory Standing Waves
SWR = 3:1
Dynamic Demo: http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/stwaverefl.htm
5/4/2012
Theory SWR Calculation
Not a direct measurement
1+ SWR = 1-
PR PF PR PF
EF + ER EF - ER
EF = Forward Voltage ER = Reverse Voltage PF = Forward Power PR = Reverse Voltage SWR accuracy is only as good as the power measurement accuracy (both Forward & Reflected)
5/4/2012
Theory How should RF Power be measured?
1. RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter
5/4/2012
Theory How should RF Power be measured?
1. 1. 2. No! RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter Voltage reading is dependent upon load impedance at the point of measurement Power meters on Ameritron Power Amplifiers To determine power, we need independent measurements of voltage and current
5/4/2012
Theory How should RF Power be measured?
1. 2. RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter Use a TRUE POWER meter that can measure both current and voltage of both the forward and reflected waves
5/4/2012
RF Power Meter Components RF Power Meter
RF OUT
Sensor
RF IN Directional Coupler X X
Envelope Detectors
*Meter can be: Analog or digital Current or voltage 0-100 uA typical (non-powered) Forward Switch
Reflected
Meter*
5/4/2012
SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor
RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT
Envelope Detectors
Forward Reflected
Digital Processor
Digital Display
5/4/2012
Alpha 4520 Digital Power/SWR Meter
5/4/2012
SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor
RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT
Envelope Detectors
Forward
Reflected
Processor
Digital Display
5/4/2012
SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor
RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT
Envelope Detectors
Forward
Reflected
5/4/2012
My Digital Power Meter
uV
Resolution: 100W/40000 uV = 0.025 W/uV
5/4/2012
Digital Power/SWR Meters
What is the main difference?
Sensor
Forward
Alpha 4520
Reflected
5/4/2012
Digital Power/SWR Meters
Cost!
Sensor
Forward
$30 up
Alpha 4520
Reflected
$800 ~$0-50
5/4/2012
Digital Power/SWR Meters Accuracy varies from ~5% to ? Power reading accuracy is very dependent on Sensor calibration accuracy (both Forward & Reflected)
Sensor
Forward
Alpha 4520
Reflected
Accuracy: 5-10% achievable
5/4/2012
Accuracy Spec = <5%
Ultimate Limit on Accuracy? Sensor Calibration! Initial CAL accuracy Volts out vs Power In SWR is a calculation, not a measurement Volts out vs Frequency Traceable to NIST? Drift with time Load impedance drift with heating (1-3 KW???) Having a digital readout: Doesnt improve accuracy Improves resolution May improve repeatability Having a digital processor does allow for better calibration of sensor characteristics
5/4/2012
Telepost LP-100A Digital Vector Wattmeter
Accuracy: Same specs as Alpha 4520 5% maximum 3% (typical) NIST traceable factory calibration What does this mean? eHam rating: 5.0/5 (121 reviews) $435 5/4/2012
Directional Coupler RF Power Meter
RF OUT
Sensor
RF IN Directional Coupler X X
5/4/2012
Directional Coupler
Only couples power flowing in one direction Only couples a small sample of the power flowing in the desired direction
RF OUT
RF IN
X
Forward Coupler
Green = desired coupling Red = undesired coupling
Forward
Coupling factor represents the primary property of a directional coupler To reduce 100 w to 100 mw => Coupling factor = -30 dB Directivity is the measure of how well a coupler isolates two oppositetravelling (forward and reverse) signals Creates region of uncertainty around all measurements Bird 43: Directivity >30 dB 5/4/2012
Dual Directional Coupler
RF IN
X
Forward Coupler
Reverse Coupler
RF OUT
Green = desired coupling Red = undesired coupling
Forward Reflected
5/4/2012
Common Directional Couplers
Coupled Transmission Line Coupler
Bird 43
5/4/2012
Common Directional Couplers
Tandem Match Coupler
Bruene Bridge*
*Most common type found in commercial amateur transmitters
5/4/2012
Common Directional Couplers
Tandem Match Coupler
Bruene Bridge*
*Most common type found in commercial amateur transmitters
How do we get Voltage & Current?
5/4/2012
Common Directional Couplers
Tandem Match Coupler
Bruene Bridge*
5/4/2012
Common Directional Couplers
Tandem Match Coupler
Bruene Bridge*
Null adjustment
5/4/2012
Common Sensors Tandem Match Coupler
This coupler has some nice features: Simplicity, excellent directivity Scalable to other power levels, and 50- load impedances on all ports Covering 1.8-30 MHz requires careful transformer design Input VSWR can degrade rapidly as frequency drops below 7 MHz
Bruene Bridge
Requires comparatively little space Most commonly used design by Ham equipment manufacturers Primary challenges with this design: 1. Parasitic lead inductance associated with C2 2. High values for C2 3. Excessive secondary wire length on T1, and 4. Impedance control in the bifilar secondary winding The lead inductance and C2 result in a series resonance that progressively deteriorates bridge balance as the frequency is raised
5/4/2012
Tandem Match Coupler
SWR Sensor (from 2010 ARRL Antenna Handbook)
5/4/2012
Tandem Match Coupler
Shield on coax used as a Faraday shield (grounded on one end only)
SWR Sensor (from 2010 ARRL Antenna Handbook)
Any small signal diode will work (Germaniums are best for QRP) At 100 watts, IFWDOUT (into a short) > 6 mA At 100 watts, VFWDOUT (into an open) > 2.0 vdc
5/4/2012
Tandem Match Coupler
Caution: Germanium diodes dont like heat
5/4/2012
Tandem Match Coupler Using Balun Core
DX Zone.com Digital QRP SWR/ Power Meter by KD1JV
Compensation Diodes (I dont recommend)
5/4/2012
Processor/Display
DX Zone.com Digital QRP SWR/ Power Meter by KD1JV
Whitmans Sampler tin http://kd1jv.qrpradio.com/ http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=18048
5/4/2012
Envelope Detector RF Power Meter
RF OUT X X
Sensor
RF IN
Envelope Detectors
5/4/2012
Common Envelope Detector
Forward
51
Diode
0.01 uF
100K
Diodes: Type not critical Germanium best for QRP Matched is desirable, but not required
Reflected
51
Diode
0.01 uF
100K
5/4/2012
Diode Options
Silicon: 1N3600 => VD ~0.7 volt Germanium: 1N34, 1N60, 1N270 => VD ~ 0.3 volt
5/4/2012
Diode Matching -Tandem Match Coupler
No matching attempted
2.5
1.5
Diode type dependent
1N34A-1 1N34A-2
VDC
1
0.5
?
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Watts
5/4/2012
Isolated Meter Circuit
+X VDC 1 uF 780X 1 uF +VIN
Forward
51
Diode
3
4 1 1 11
0.01 uF
100K
Forward OUT
LM324 or equivalent Reflected
51 Diode
5
0.01 uF
100K
Reflected OUT
Source
~ 300 ohm 2 vdc
5/4/2012
Meter Adjustment
+X VDC 1 uF 780X 1 uF +VIN
Forward
51
Diode
3
4 1 11
0.01 uF
100K
FWD Level Adjust
Forward OUT
Reflected
51
Diode
5
0.01 uF
100K
REF Level Adjust
Reflected OUT
5/4/2012
A SIMPLE SWR METER FOR QRP (1 WATT) LEVELS
X X X
Not required
5/4/2012
Performance Power Measurement
Homebrew (Tandem Match)
VDC
2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00 0 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 100 50 40 30
Diode type dependent
Bird (Coupled Line/Digital)
mVDC
20 10 0 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95
Pride (Breune)
Watts
100 80 60 40 20 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
5/4/2012
Watts
Performance SWR Measurement
25 ohm Load @ PF = 60 watts
3.0
2.5
Tandem 2.0 Bird Breune
1.8 MHz
1.5
14 MHz 28 MHz
1.0
5/4/2012
SWR Protection Circuit
+8 VDC 1 uF 7808 +13.5 VDC 1 uF
100 3 +4 VDC
15K LM324
1
4 1 11
15K
0.1 uF 0.1 uF
Latch Relay1
1
+12 VDC
1N3600
17 mA 16
150K 200K
1.21M
~1 sec Delay to Latch
1N3600
10
2N3501
Latch Relay1
11 6 4 9 8
Latch Treshold
1.0 uF
1.0 uF
10K
To +8 VDC
Reflected
100K
REF
Reflected Power
12
5.1K
4 Reset 14
13
13
1K
To +4 VDC
2N3501 1N3600
To SWR Shutdown
Forward
100K
FWD
0.1 uF
15K
5.1K
2N3501
390 W
+1.6 VDC
To +13.5 VDC
5/4/2012
Foldback Treshold
10K
1.1K
2N3501
SWR LED Radio Shack 276-0017
