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)
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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

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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*

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SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor

RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT

Envelope Detectors

Forward Reflected

Digital Processor

Digital Display

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Alpha 4520 Digital Power/SWR Meter

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SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor

RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT

Envelope Detectors

Forward

Reflected

Processor

Digital Display

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SWR/Power Meter - Digital Sensor

RF IN Directional Coupler X X RF OUT

Envelope Detectors

Forward

Reflected

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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
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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

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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

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Common Directional Couplers

Coupled Transmission Line Coupler

Bird 43
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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?

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Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

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Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

Null adjustment

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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)

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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

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Diode Options
Silicon: 1N3600 => VD ~0.7 volt Germanium: 1N34, 1N60, 1N270 => VD ~ 0.3 volt

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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
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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

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A SIMPLE SWR METER FOR QRP (1 WATT) LEVELS

X X X

Not required

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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