AlbFer

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Highlights:

• Marker monitor by an audible tone
• A new reliable Waterfall
• Auto-export spectrum analyzer data
• Save/load SNA calibration data
• Restore window size and position saved at the application start
• Gesture on spectrum analyzer scope
• Spectrum analyzer resource monitor

Marker monitor

By enabling the marker monitor, an audible tone will be generated from the PC audio with frequency and intensity depending on the values of the marker currently selected in SATSAGEN. This function can be useful for calibrating signals or sources in amplitude/frequency without necessarily having to look at the PC screen. This feature is enabled by clicking on the ON button from the MKR Monitor panel from the SATSAGEN main window and is operative both in Spectrum Analyzer mode and in SNA or in VNA mode. It is also possible to use a Marker monitor even with a Log detector connected, in this case, there is no need to create a reference marker, as the monitor will work based on the immediate reading of the detector.

You can define the amplitude range with the Min and Max knobs. The amplitude range is -80 dBm to 0 dBm in the above example.

With the Type set to Magnitude, you will get an audible tone that will vary from 100Hz to 10kHz on a linear scale over the range -80dBm to 0dBm.

E.g., an about 5 kHz tone will be out if the selected marker indicates a -40 dBm signal. The volume of the audio tone will also follow the amplitude of the signal indicated by the marker in percent. So in the example above, the volume of the 5 kHz tone will be half the overall volume set with the Volume knob.

You can activate a flat volume with the Steady button if you do not want it to follow the amplitude of the marker.

The Reverse button reverses the tone scale. You will get a 10kHz tone with the -80dBm marker and a 100Hz tone with the 0dBm.

The types Frequency and Frequency to/from center configure the monitor to produce a tone related to the frequency locked by the marker rather than the amplitude. The Bandwidth field of the selected marker determines the frequency range of the above two types. These two types are allowed only in Spectrum Analyzer mode. A magnitude type is a default in SNA or VNA operations. Here is an example of using the Frequency types with the Spectrum Analyzer:

Create a new marker from the Edit SA markers table window:

Fill in the ReqFrequency field with 145000000 and Bandwidth with 100000, for example.

The LockFrequency field is filled at the spectrum analyzer start. The LockFrequency field will be the strongest signal frequency inside the range of the Bandwidth field.

When the Marker Monitor is set to type Frequency, SATSAGEN generates a 100Hz of audible tone when the above marker has a LockFrequency field of 144,950 MHz. While a 10kHz tone will be generated at 145,050 kHz.

With the marker monitor activated of type Frequency to/from center, a 100 Hz tone will be generated if the detected signal is exactly at the required frequency of the marker, in the example 145 MHz, while 10 kHz tones will be generated if the signal found at 144.950 MHz or 145.050 MHz.

The Reverse function reverses the tone scale in both of the above types.

Waterfall

The new Waterfall of this version provides a fixed resolution configurable in Settings->Appearance instead of a dynamic resolution of the previous Waterfall. This means that any resizing of the window does not cause the waterfall to be reset.

From this version, it is possible to activate the Waterfall on an independent window rather than having it integrated into the main application window.

In the control panel of the new integrated Waterfall, there are the new Stand-alone, Max PeakH and Res Adapt controls:

The Stand-Alone control starts the Waterfall on an independent Window.

The Max PeakH function allows the data acquired between one UpdateTime and another not to be lost. For example, if UpdateTime is set to 500ms and Max PeakH is off, every half second a line will be added to the waterfall with the spectrum of the instant, while with Max PeakH on each line will be the max hold of the last 500ms. By clicking on the label Max PeakH, it is possible to select an Average update process rather than a max hold.

The Res Adapt function adapts the data resolution to the pixel dimension of the waterfall window so that any signals present “narrower” than the video resolution is anyway displayed. If you use the zoom function, the Res Adapt function should be turned off to take advantage of the maximum detail available.

The functions just seen are also present on the Waterfall panel on an independent window:

Furthermore, the Vertical controls are available on this panel for orienting the Waterfall vertically, Levels for displaying the legend with the colors assigned for each signal amplitude, a Time Axis for displaying the abscissa with time information, Time Labels for a display of time labels inside the Waterfall, Hold to stop the display and finally ZReset to reset the zoom to the initial values.

Auto-export spectrum analyzer data

From this version, it is possible to set the automatic export of spectrum data in comma-delimited text format. There are all settings for this function In Settings->Logs/Export:

First of all, it is necessary to define a destination path for the text files that SATSAGEN will create before enabling the automatic export. Sets the desired path in the Destination path field and Min disk free space with the free disk threshold value.

Once the destination path and the minimum free disk threshold have been defined, the enabling takes place with the choice of the method with which the triggering of the automatic export will take place.

By enabling the Timer control, the export will take place at every interval in seconds specified in the adjacent field.

By selecting the MKR monitor max level, the export will be triggered when a signal monitored by the MKR monitor function (previously seen in the Marker monitor paragraph) reaches the level defined by the Max knob on the MKR monitor panel.

If the Triggers checkbox is selected, the export will take place as a result of the activation of one of the triggers set up in the SA Triggers panel.

Both the above MKR monitor max level and Trigger methods are conditioned by a minimum reactivation interval defined by the Min interval field, within which any triggers will be ignored.

The above methods are not exclusive, so any combination of Timer configuration, Triggers, and MKR monitor max level is allowed.

Finally, if the Spectrum screenshot and/or Waterfall screenshot controls are activated, the relative screenshots will also be taken with each automatic export that will be activated.

Save/load SNA calibration data

From this version, there is a function that allows the saving and loading of the SNA calibration data from a file.

This function is accessed via the menu items under File->Calibration data:

If you are using the VNA, the above menu items will act like the Load and Save buttons of the VNA Calibration panel.

Restore window size and position

By enabling the Restore saved window size and positions function from Settings->Appearance, the dimensions and position of the main window, of the integrated waterfall, and the independent window, will be saved when the application is closed and re-applied when it is restarted.

The maximized or minimized states of the main window will also be saved and restored when the application is restarted.

Gesture

By activating the Gesture enabled control from Settings->Appearance, the following gestures are available within the scope window of the spectrum Analyzer, provided that the mouse cursor is within the Scope of the Spectrum Analyzer but away from the edges and from any cursors present:

• Central frequency. The central frequency will vary with the defined steps by holding down the left mouse button and moving horizontally. Imagine viewing the spectrum as a sheet of paper: shifting to the left will increase the center frequency, and shifting to the right will decrease it.
• Span. By holding down the right button (or the middle mouse button) and moving horizontally, the span will increase in the left direction and decrease in the right direction.
• Zoom. Holding down any of the mouse buttons and simultaneously holding down the Ctrl key, vertical and horizontal mouse movement will respectively vertically and horizontally zoom the displayed spectrum. On touch screens, the horizontal zoom will be managed using the classic two-finger gesture on the screen.

The above gestures will work reversed If the Gesture reversed checkbox is enabled from Settings->Appearance. E.g., the central frequency will increase if you hold down the left mouse button and move it to the right.

Spectrum analyzer resource monitor

An automatic PC processing time control feature is enabled by default when the SATSAGEN spectrum analyzer is running. This function detects any exceeding of pre-set timeout thresholds, in particular on the acquisition and processing times of data from the SDR devices, and intervenes by progressively reducing the workload to bring the times back below the above thresholds to avoid slowdowns or hangs of the user interface. For example, this function can intervene by reducing the FFT size or turning off the Fast cycle when it detects that these settings can lead to slowdowns or blockages of the application. Automatic interventions are signaled with the opening of the trace log window and an explanatory message of the intervention.

It is possible to disable or re-enable this feature via the Settings->SA resource monitor menu.

Download Page

This version includes the VNA feature.

To run the VNA feature are required an ADALM-PLUTO Rev.C/D or a Pluto+ and a bridge or a directional coupler!

From this version, SATSAGEN will not perform the Pluto frequency range extend anymore at the first power on by default. The user could choose the preferred transceiver from Settings->Devices now.

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SATSAGEN VNA

Setup guide and basic operations

Minimal prerequisites:

• One ADALM-PLUTO Rev.C/D upgraded to >=0.33 firmware version.

or

• One Pluto+ with the firmware shipped with Pluto+ and provided by the vendor

• An SMA-based directional coupler or directional bridge with the proper specifications of the frequency range, directivity, and coupling factor is needed.
• One short female to female IPEX4 cable or one male to male SMA cable
• One male to male SMA cable
• One male to male SMA adapter
• A VNA calibration kit consists of Short, Open, and Load SMA adapters.
• Two SMA attenuators as optionally

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Hardware setup:

• Connect Pluto’s RX/TX internal 2nd channel ports with the F/F IPEX4 loopback cable. I used an F/F IPEX4 cable with a homemade attenuator. The attenuator is optional.

• Connect the directional coupler to Pluto, as shown in the image. The attenuators are also optional in that case. I used a 16dB SMA 2-18GHz directional coupler in this example.

• There is a setup example in the below image with a cheaper bridge working until about 1,5 GHz.

• Another setup example with the Pluto+ device

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Software setup steps to do only the first time:

• Run SATSAGEN on fresh installation and go to Settings
• Select Model to ADALM PLUTO and Transceiver to AD9361 + 2r2t
• Connect the Pluto to the computer’s USB port
• Wait until the computer recognizes the device. Next, press the Scan button. The Pluto device should appear on the SDR Device control.
• Click OK to close the Settings page.
• Press the Power button, and the Pluto config phase should start.
• The grid should appear in about 15 seconds.
• Back to the Settings page and go to SNA/VNA Mode tab.
• Select Mode to VNA
• Go to the Level correction tab.
• Set the TX level offset and RX level offset with the values of the attenuators eventually connected to Pluto’s external ports. Be sure to enter negative values or press the Loss controls.
• Set the 2nd Channel – TX level offset with the value of the attenuator eventually present on the F/F IPEX4 loopback cable.
• Click OK to close the Settings page.

A calibration example:

• Click the Power button to power on SATSAGEN.
• Set the Start Freq. MHz and Stop Freq. MHz with a range frequency desired (depending on the directional coupler frequency range). E.g., Start Freq. = 1000 MHz and Stop Freq. = 3000 MHz
• Set the Resolution to 100 points initially.
• Start VNA by clicking on the VNA button.
• Connect the Short SMA adapter (from the VNA calibration kit) to the directional coupler port.
• Press the Short button on the VNA Calibration tab and wait until it goes to green color.
• Disconnect the Short SMA adapter and connect the Open SMA adapter now.
• Press the Open button on the VNA Calibration tab and wait until it goes to green color.
• Disconnect the Open SMA adapter and connect the Load SMA adapter now.
• Press the Load button on the VNA Calibration tab and wait until it goes to green color.

• Press Apply on the same VNA Calibration tab, and a single point and marker should appear on the Smith chart center.

• Disconnect the Load SMA adapter and connect the Open SMA adapter to the directional coupler. A point or a little segment should appear on the Smith chart open circuit region.

• Disconnect the Open SMA adapter and connect the Short SMA adapter to the directional coupler. A point should appear on the Smith chart short circuit region.

A “semi-two-port” VNA operation is possible with the above setup. It means that one port at a time measuring is possible.

The first channel of the display format selected determines what port you use. E.g., Port 1 (or CH1, or S11) is measured if the CH1 Logmag, CH1 Phase display format is specified. Work on Port 2 (or CH2, or S21) when the CH2 Logmag, CH2 Phase display format is selected. The same rule is valid for the Custom Display Format. The Main trace setting determines the port used. The 2nd and 3rd trace settings must follow the channel selected by the main trace.

An RF switch and related interface can enable effective two-port VNA operations, allowing free display format combinations. No manual processes are longer needed to pass from one port to another.