RF Power Meter with 1MHz-10GHz

bandwidth and 55dB dynamic range

The power meter can measure the power of frequencies between 1MHz and 10GHz with a 0.1dB
resolution and a 0.1dBm accuracy. The frequency to be measured can be set in 10MHz increments
and the attenuation can be set in 0.1dB increments. Measurements can be done with an antenna or
a power source can be connected directly to the device via a coax cable. The can be connected to
the meter using the female SMA connector of the meter.

It is advised to use an attenuator for signals with -15dBm power or more. The meter is less accurate
below -+45dBm and above -15dBm. The maximum power the meter can handle is +12dBm. More
power will damage the meter permanently and the AD8317 will have to be replaced When
measuring higher power than -10dBm please use a suitable attenuator and enter the value of the
attenuator in the attenuation menu. The advice is to use an attenuator for signals stronger than -
15dBm for the best results.

A custom attenuation can be set, but meter contains profiles of two Mini-Circuits attenuators.

VAT-20W2+ 20dB attenuator / 2W / 6GHz

The meter will display the power at take the attenuation into account. It displays the power at the
input of the attenuator. For an accurate measurement the frequency of the signal to be measured
should be selected in the frequency selection menu. The meter contains calibration data for
different frequencies, but these data can be overwritten in the calibration menu. Deleting a
calibration point you entered will result in reverting back to the original calibration data hardcoded
in the firmware.

The meter needs a voltage between 6-18V to operate and is protected against reversed polarity of
the power supply with a diode.
Operation and menu system
Here is a brief explanation of the menu system implemented in the device.

Main menu

The first line show the current selected frequency, the attenuation and the measurement error. The
second line displays the current average power measurement in dBm and Watt.

Actions
Up: First Minimum power is shown. Second push Maximum power. Third push PEP/AM Mod, Fourth
push back to main menu.
Down: First push PEP/AM Mod is shown. Second push Maximum power. Third push Minimum
power, Fourth push back to main menu.
Enter: Navigates to the frequency selection menu.
When holding the enter button for 2s you will enter the calibration menu.

Minimum power

The minimum power menu displays the minimum power measured in dBm and Watt since the
device has been powered up or the statistical values have been reset.

Actions
Up: Maximum power. Second push PEP/AM Mod, Third push back to main menu.
Down: Navigates to the main menu.
Enter: Resets the statistics (minimum and maximum value).

Maximum power

The maximum power menu displays the maximum power measured in dBm and Watt since the
device has been powered up or the statistical values have been reset.

Actions
Up: Navigates to the PEP and AM modulation menu.
Down: Navigates to the minimum power menu.
Enter: Resets the statistics (minimum and maximum value).

PEP and AM modulation index

Displays the Peak envelope power (PEP) in dBm and the AM modulation index in percent. Whereas
the main menu displays the average power, the peak envelope power displays the highest power
measured. It is the top of the envelope of a AM modulated signal.

Actions
Up: Navigates to the main menu
Down: Navigates to the maximum power menu
Enter: -

Frequency selection

When the enter button is pressed in the main menu you will enter the frequency selection menu. In
this menu you can set the frequency of the signal you are going to measure the power of. The
frequency is important because the characteristics of the meter change by frequency.

Actions
Up: Increments the current selected digit.
Down: Decrements the current selected digit.
Enter: Navigates to the next digit or when at the last digit to the attenuation menu.
Attenuation selection

In the attenuation menu you can set the attenuation you are using. The power meter will take that
value into account when displaying the power. So it displays the power at the input of the
attenuator, which is the power which the device you are measuring outputs.

Actions
Up: Selects a predefined attenuator from Mini-Circuits VAT-30W2+ or VAT-20W2 or a custom
profile. Press Enter to make your choice.
Down Selects a predefined attenuator from Mini-Circuits VAT-30W2+ or VAT-20W2 or a custom
profile. Press Enter to make your choice.
Enter: Selects the attenuator profile or in case of custom profile navigates to the most significant
digit. When at the least significant digit it will navigate to the main menu.

Calibration

Press the enter button in any menu until the calibration menu appears (after 2s). The calibration
menu is used to add or delete calibration data. You can enter calibration data for 20 different
frequencies. Calibration is done by entering the frequency you are going to add a calibration point
for, connecting a signal of that frequency with a known power and then entering that power. Only
one calibration point per frequency is possible and needed.

Actions
Up: Navigates to the first frequency with a calibration point or the Exit calibration menu when there
are no calibration points.
Down: Navigates to the Exit calibration menu
Enter: Navigates to the Add new calibration menu
Delete calibration point

Show a frequency for which a calibration point has already been added. This calibration point can be
deleted by pressing the enter button. The power meter will revert to the default calibration data
which comes with the firmware.

Actions
Up: Navigates to the first calibrated frequency or the Exit calibration menu
Down: Navigates to the previous calibrated frequency or the calibration menu
Enter: Will show a confirmation screen. Pressing enter in that screen will delete the calibration for
the selected frequency. Pressing up or down will cancel the delete action.

Exit calibration

When pressing enter you will exit calibration mode and return to the main menu.

Actions
Up: Back to calibration menu. Press again navigates to the last calibrated frequency or Exit
calibration menu.
Down: Navigates to the last calibrated frequency or the calibration menu when there are no
calibrated frequencies
Enter: Back to main menu.

Add new calibration

The frequency to add a calibration point for has to be entered.

Actions
Up: Increments the current selected digit
Down: Decrements the current selected digit
Enter: Navigates to the next digit or when at the last digit to the a menu where you will be asked to
connect a signal with a known power of the entered frequency.
Actions

Enter: When the signal has been connected press enter to continue to the next calibration step.
Up or Down: Cancel and back to calibration menu.

Next calibration step

Enter the input power you have connected to the device. The signal should have the same frequency
as you entered in the previous step. The power should be in the linear region of the power meter
between -10dBm and -50dBm.

Actions
Up: Increments the current selected digit
Down: Decrements the current selected digit
Enter: Navigates to the next digit or when at the last digit it will save the calibration data in EEPROM
and navigates to the calibration menu.