Help File for WaveNode WN-1 Station Monitor System.

Revision 8.0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Description of Operation

2. Features

3. Additional Inputs/Outputs

A. Logical Outputs

B. Analog Inputs

4. Installation and Checkout

5. Graphical Menus

6. Software/Hardware Expansion

7. Connector Layout/Location

8. Operation Instructions

9. Operation with Sound Announcing

10. WN-1 communication Status

11. How To View Only One Meter or Save Screen Space

12. The Stand-Alone Gain Graph (Easy Amplifier Tune-up)

13. The Mini-Panel

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION

The Basic Station Monitor consists of the WN-1 signal processing unit, in-line coax sensors and your PC . The WN-1

contains all signal processing for four coax in-line sensors, and no calibration is necessary. An additional input is

available for monitoring D.C. supply voltage and current (< 16 volts and < 25 amps). The interface to the computer is made via the

parallel port with the standard DB25 connector cable provided.

All software is in your host PC, therefore system updates are performed by simply installing new software. Future software

enhancements will be made available at the Wavenode website at www.wavenode.com.

Software Upgrades are ALWAYS provided to WN-1 owners at NO charge.

2. FEATURES:

A. The RF sensor modules require no calibration. The user can add additional sensors at any time. Accuracy is guaranteed when

installed at any time.

B. All input sensors are sampled simultaneously for forward and reflected power in the signal processing unit by a 12-bit A to D

converter for maximum resolution and repeatibility. It’s not the least expensive way, but the user will be surprised by the

resolution and accuracy provided by this instrument at any power level.

C. The sensor values are digitally processed to provide Peak, Average and accumulated power. Sensor values are compared for gain,

linearity, and statistical views of transmitted power. Continuous graphical displays are provided for gain, speech compression,

SWR, Peak, Average power, and other data.

D. The user can label the meter titles and add additional graphic information to the interface screen to personalize the screen as he

likes. Meter titles can be changed as station equipment is changed or re-configured by the operator. Your screen is personalized

to minimize confusion about which sensor is monitoring which antenna or tuner input.

E. Power Supply voltage and current information is displayed on the screen, and accumulated Amp-Hours of DC current is shown on

the screen.

F. The RF power is sampled .each 50 milliseconds, and all data is updated. All data and statistics are updated, and accurate data is

provided in any transmission mode including SSB. This allows manual tuner optimizing even during an SSB QSO. A single CW

dit gives accurate power and SWR data that is held on the screen for a user selectable time up to 1 seconds.

G SWR Protection is provided on any of the four input sensors. The operator selects which sensor is to be monitored.

The SWR trip level and time duration can be set to provide protection for linear amplifiers and other SWR sensitive equipment.

When SWR exceeds the level and time set by the operator, an internal relay is latched and the sensor panel reporting an SWR

failure flashes RED until the reset button on the graphical screen is pressed. If the software is running in Background mode, a message

will pop up on the screen and an audio alert will sound. Two separate sets of contacts are provided to allow two amplifiers to be protected

without changing connector wiring.

H. An LED shows Power On and a second LED shows proper interface communication to the computer. Proper WN-1 operation is

indicated on the graphical screen for Network -based Monitoring.

I. Supply power can be supplied via a “wall-wart” supply or any station supply of 11 to 16 volts DC.

J. Power Ranges are selected by the user, or an auto-ranging mode can be chosen. Each sensor has

independent range selection.

K. SWR display is shown on a panel for each sensor. In addition, SWR is shown on a graphical pie-chart-style indicator for easy

adjustment of antenna tuners. No staring at crossed-meter SWR indicators again.

L. Accurate Peak RF power is assured by use of an Analog Sample-and-Reset circuit for each sensor. The Peak Power reported is

the true Peak Envelope Power during each 50 millisecond sampling period.

M. A complete menu of SWR. graphing capability is provided. An SWR. graph can be generated for any combination of the four

in-line RF sensors. Frequency range and frequency interval are chosen by the user. The minimum power required is 2 watts.

N. Audio announcing of RF Power, SWR, and SWR protection events. Useful to the visually-impaired operator. Single key strokes

make the announcement.

O. All graphs, button selections, screen positions, etc are saved on power down. The software will return to the same state when \

re-opened. This saves you time when starting up the software.

3. ADDITIONAL INPUTS/OUTPUTS AVAILABLE TO THE OPERATIOR:

A. Three Logical Outputs:

Three additional outputs that are controlled by buttons on the graphical screen are provided to used as desired.

Some possible uses include amplifier control or on/off control of remote equipment.

B. Four Analog Inputs:

These inputs are available to the operator to be configured as desired, and their value is continuously updated on

an auxiliary meter viewing panel. Potential uses include Linerar Amplifer monitor functions that have

traditionally been done with mechanical panel meters. These analog inputs have a total range of 0-4 volts, and are

turned on by the button underneath the four meters on the Aux #1 Screen.

Additional information on these functions are available on the WaveNode website. Circuit information is

also provided to use these I/O ports in practical applications.

4. INSTALLATION AND CHECK-OUT:

A. Each sensor is factory calibrated and is ready for plug-in and use. Plug the sensor(s) into the rear

panel 6-pin MiniDin connectors, and the DB25 connector to the computer printer port. Refer to

figure 8 to locate the connector locations.

B. Insert the installation disk into your CD-ROM and follow the installation prompts. An additional software

installation sheet is provided with the unit.

C. Choose how to power your interface unit. You can choose either “wall-wart” operation, or a

simple connection to your rig’s +13.8 supply. A supply voltage between 11 and 16 volts must be

supplied. Maximum current is 150 ma. (80ma typical).

Power the WN-1 control box by either 1 or 2 below:

If using the station power supply to run the WN-1:

1. Run a wire from the 13V supply to the “PWR 1” terminal post on the back of the WN-1.

Run the provided ground wire (16 GA. ) from the ground terminal on the back of

the WN-1 to the transceiver ground terminal . If you wish to use more than one

transceiver with your WN-1, use an additional ground wire from the WN-1 to each

transceiver ground.

Do NOT run the ground wire for the WN-1 to the Transceiver Power Supply.

This will result in inaccurate SWR data since there is a DC voltage drop between

the DC power supply and the tranceiver.

If using the “wall-wart” supply:

2. Plug in a 12V DC supply (3.5mm plug, +12 volt center pin) into the WN-1 supply plug.

Run the provided ground wire (16 GA. Or larger) as described above.

REMEMBER: Power supply voltage and current monitoring requires that you use your station

power supply to provide power to the interface unit. Supply voltage is monitored

automatically when the station supply is used. To sense and monitor the current,

you must run the supply current through the WN-1 unit using the “PWR 1” and

“MON 1” terminals on the rear panel.

3. Start the program and apply power to the interface. The flashing LED on the front panel will

indicate the unit is operating correctly and the software is communicating with the unit. Each

flash represents a sample period, typically 55 milliseconds. The round communication indication

on the screen also indicates correct operation when flashing Green.

4. Each RF sensor is placed in series with the coax cable to be monitored. Coax cables should be

kept as short as possible between Tranceivers and sensors. Refer to the diagram below for a

suggested connection using two tranceivers and two tuners. Other configurations can be

used with different station equipment.

FIGURE 1.

The RED DOTTED lines show how to hook up a system where no power supply monitoring is desired. The connections

shown as 1,2,3 are not made, therefore bypassing the wavenode supply monitor. This would also require the wavenode

WN-1 be powered with another power supply, most easily a +12V wallwart supply.

5. If linear amplifier performance monitoring is desired, a sensor must be installed in series with the

ampliflier’s input and output. A connection diagram is shown in Figure #2 below to allow

monitoring of the amplifier input, output to the tuner, and the SWR of the antenna/coax system.

An additional sensor (#4) is shown to allow monitoring of another antenna system, if desired.

Note that sensors #1 and #2 will sense the amplifier input and output, and can be used to

constantly provide gain, linearity, and excess- S.W.R. protection. In the system shown, sensor

#2 would be chosen as the SWR monitoring sensor to trip the protection relay.

VOLTAGES TO THE SWR PROTECTION RELAY MUST NOT EXCEED 20 VOLTS DC.

IF YOUR APPLICATION REQUIRES 120 VAC OPERATION, YOU MUST ADD USE AN

EXTERNAL BUFFER RELAY WHOSE COIL CAN OPERATE ON < 20 VDC.

FIGURE #2

5. GRAPHICAL MENUS:

The graphical screens consist of a top screen and several secondary screens that can be activated to provide

additional graphical data screens. Closing a screen does not stop the data gathering functions for that screen,

the data screen is simply not visible until re-activated. Pausing the mouse over a button or display will give a

short text description for that item. Also, clicking the Mouse button over any of the Meters will

provide a large view of that meter for easy viewing at a distance.

A. TOP SCREEN:

The top screen has four meter panels as shown below. Each meter panel indicates updated data

every 50 milliseconds. The top panel also has list boxes to select swr metering, swr trip level, and

swr fault time to trigger an SWR fault warning. Large versions of each meter can be turned ON by

clicking on a meter. The SWR protection circuit operates even if the screen is closed to the system tray.

You can observe a single, large meter by clicking on any meter, then minimizing the large screen with the "Minimize"

selection in the top row of the Main screen. Minimizing the Main screen will allow a small Message screen to pop up

in the event of an SWR protection event, even if the Main Screen is not visible. Minimizing the screen with the Minimize

selection at the top-left is preferable to using the "-" button at the top-right.

A panel box allows selection of Peak or Average to be displayed in the meter panels. The

peak hold time and averaging time are also selected by list boxes. Note that the graphical meters

show peak and average power at all times.

The three auxiliary digital outputs are set or reset with the buttons on the bottom row. The

auxiliary graphical screens are accessed by the buttons on the top left.

At Bottom-Left a button is provided to toggle the Audio Announcing feature On or Off.

FIGURE 3.

The MAIN screen of the WaveNode Interface. The “Callsign”, Meter titles, and preferences are input by the operator, and are saved

at power-down.

B. Power Screen:

This panel displays the total, elapsed DC current, average RF elapsed power, and the auxiliary meters that display the auxiliary analog

inputs. The operator can program and use these inputs to display other station data. These meters are set in software to read the

four auxiliary analog inputs. All four auxiliary inputs are available on Pin 5 and 6 of the two 16-pin connectors on the main PC board.

The scale is 0-4 Volts DC gives zero to full scale on the meter. Do not exceed 4 volts and always provide >10K resistor to the analog input.

Notice that the Configuration Menu on Figure #9 provides the user with a method to label the title, vertical axis and Vertical Maximum on

each meter. The "Scale Factor" input box allows the user to scale the voltage on the meter. By example, if the user wants 100 millivolt to be

shown as 1.0 volt on the meter, the "Scale Factor" should be set to 10. Note that meter #1 below has been configured for 200 degree max

scale, and the meter reads degrees Fahrenheit directly using a 10 millivolt/degree semiconductor sensor.

FIGURE 4 –The Aux.#1 Screen

Figure 4, top/left panel, shows DC power statistics for the power supply. The bottom/left Panel displays watt hours of radiated

RF power for each sensor. The meters at right are auxiliary meters for operator use. The Meter titles, scales and Vertical axis are

labeled by the user for their unique application with the Configuration Menu.

C. RF Power Graph Screen (Aux. #2)

This panel has three graph panels. Each graph displays the data for the sensor selected in the list box for that graph. The top and

middle panel can display data for any sensor selected and the bottom graph is used to display gain data for the top two graphs.

The graph can be set to display sensor level vs time, or a histogram of samples and power levels. The data can be reset and started

with the GRAPH RUN /STOPPED button.

The graph update rate can be controlled to allow for older computers with slow video cards. If the user tries to set the update rate too

fast for the video card available, the program will continue to run, but the sensor sampling rate may fall below 20 samples/second.

The peak or average data shown on the graphs is the peak or average power for THAT specific 50 millisecond time sample point on the

graph, and updated data is provided for each data point.

FIGURE 5- The Aux. #2 Screen

THE REAL-TIME STATISTICS SCREEN (Aux #2)

Figure 5 shows a peak power Histogram of a 60 watt transmitter on SSB with Speech Compression turned On.

D. SWR Graphing Screen (Aux. #3):

This screen is used to plot antenna SWR. The screen prompts the user for the frequency range to be plotted

and the frequency datapoint intervals.

The user tunes the transceiver to the frequency prompt, and keys the transmitter with a short pulse

(CW, FM, etc.). The SWR data is entered on the graph and prompts the user for the next frequency

point. When the desired frequency end point is reached, the graph data is automatically updated.

Multiple sensors can be plotted on the same graph by selecting the sensors in the Sensor

Selection panel at the top/right.

NOTE: The user must not exceed the bandlimits imposed by their license and/or country

restrictions. The user must stay within the authorized band-edge limits.

FIGURE 6- The Aux #3 Screen

THE SWR GRAPHING SCREEN (Aux. #3)

Figure 6 shows an SWR plot on 20 Mtrs using sensors 3 and 4. Sensor 3 shows the SWR into the

antenna tuner, and Sensor 4 shows the SWR of the antenna/coax system. Note the antenna tuner is

doing exactly what it should do, it provides SWR matching between 14.1 and 14.15 Mhz as tuned for

this application.

E. Additional Access Connectors:

Four connectors are provided on the PC board to allow the user access to the parallel port pins and provide additional I/O capabilities.

Examples include DAC ports, or additional signal processing for more than four RF coax sensors (for those operators who like to monitor

EVERYTHING around the station). The connectors are the 0.100” in-line connectors.

Additional circuitry and software possibilities include:

Linear Amplifier Meter Monitoring.

Rotor Control.

Antenna Switching

Remote radio and accessory operation.

The accessory connector pinouts are shown below:

FIGURE 7 CONNECTORS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

6. INFORMATION FOR SOFTWARE/HARDWARE EXPANSION:

The WaveNode website provides information for programmers wishing to configure additional graphic or software capability for the

control unit. The information includes:

A. Function calls to access the ADC input and logical outputs.

Shared parameter names to access the sensor data. This allows further manipulation of the

sensor data for logging, viewing or presentation of the data in a different format.

B. Function calls to allow additional I/O hardware to be added.

C. Access to SWR, RF POWER, DC POWER and other parameters to allow the user to write their

own graphical and data handling routines.

7. CONNECTOR LAYOUT INFORMATION:

The figure below shows the PC board connector positions and their pin orientation.

FIGURE 8. CONNECTOR POSITION

8. DETAILED DIRECTIONS OF OPERATION:

A. Main Screen

1. The top screen shows the meters and digital values for the four power sensors. The meters display Forward Peak,

Reflected Peak, Forward and Reflected average power for all four sensors simultaneously. The rectangular panels show

forward, reflected power and SWR for each sensor. The power display can be set to a selected range, or the “Auto” button

will automatically select the correct range. This is a matter of operator preference.

2. Several list boxes are provided to select the following operator preferences:

The level at which the SWR protection relay will trip.

The Averaging time for meter display. The number chosen represents the number of samples averaged together for the

average power display on the panel.

The Peak Hold Time. The number of sample times that the peak envelope power and SWR will be displayed. A larger

number will allow the operator to easily view SWR when a single pulse or CW dit is transmitted.

SWR Monitor. This selects which of the power sensors will be monitored for excess SWR and trip the SWR relay. Only one

sensor can be selected. This allows coupling between antennas at the user site to not accidently trip the SWR protection.

The "NO" selection is used when SWR protection is not desired.

3. The SWR reset button. This button resets the SWR relay.

4. SWR Tuning Indicators: These are provided to allow easy tuning of the station antenna

tuners. The operator has immediate feedback of SWR as the tuner is adjusted. Simply

adjust your tuner for maximum green in the pie-chart, the chart will turn completely red

when the SWR exceeds 5:1.

5. Access to the other screens functions are selected by the buttons at top-left. The lower

three buttons Set/Reset the optional logical outputs that are controlled by the user. These are

5 volt logic signals available on J15-pin3, J15-pin3 and J-16 pin3. See the connector figure for more

details.

B. The Aux. #1 Screen:

This Screen provides elapsed watt-hours for each power sensor and the DC supply.

The four meter inputs can be accessed by the connectors J15 and 16. The reset buttons simply

reset the panel power displays.

C. The Aux. #2 Screen:

This screen is used to provide various data regarding power, linearity, gain, etc. There

are three graphs shown on this screen. The upper two are identical, and can display data for

any one of the four sensors. The sensor is selected in the list box for that graph. The

graphs can be stopped, or will run continuously. The user can clear the graphs by

stopping, then starting, the graphs again. The power range for each graph is selected in

the panels on the left.

The top two graphs can be chosen to show a histogram of power level vs number of

samples. This is a visual graphic of your transmitted power samples and is updated each

sample period. The effect of speech compression is to push more samples to the upper

end of the power spectrum, and this can be observed if compression is turned off. The

other graph option is a traveling waveform of sample value vs time (much like an

oscilloscope).

The bottom graph is used to display the relationship of the sensors plotted in graphs

1 and 2 above it. The user can graph gain vs power output (to show linearity) as a scatter

graph, or gain as a function of time. The samples are collected in SSB or AM mode, and

a linear system shows the gain as constant with power. CW operation has only one

power, either ON or OFF, so linearity can be plotted by sending a string of dits while

varying the linear amplifier drive power. This graph is especially useful with linear amplifiers, with

one sensor on the input and the second sensor on the amplifier output.

D. The Aux. #3 Screen:

This screen is used to plot SWR of antennas. Any sensor, or combination of

sensors can be selected for the plot. The user follows the steps outlined below:

Select the sensors to be plotted

Select the frequency range to be plotted in the listbox.

Select the frequency step size increments (more increments takes longer).

Follow the message box instructions. They will remind you what the next frequency is

to be set on the transmitter. Send a single dit at each frequency prompted by the

message box.

A green box on the top left will flash when a good SWR value is computed at each

frequency. You should see the box flash green before moving to the next frequency

point.

When the last point is entered, the graph will be complete.

E. The configuration Menu:

The configuration Menu is used by the operator to make the screen titles suit your station equipment, The menu

is accessed by the button at the top left of the Main Screen labeled "File".

The software comes with default titles, such as “METER #1”, however, you may not remember what Meter #1 means,

so you could change it to “40 MTR DIPOLE” or “HOMEBREW AMP”. Also, the top panel can contain your callsign.

The auxiliary button titles on the main screen, the auxiliary meter titles and scales are customized with this screen also.

When you have finished modifying the software titles, click the Save button and these items will be saved and reloaded

each time you start the software.

For each meter, click on the button that describes the sensor you have installed for that meter number. For instance, if

you have installed the LP-1 HF sensor in meter #2 position, click the button in the LP-1 column adjacent to Meter #1. This

will instruct the software what type of sensors are in each meter position. You only need to do this one time, the settings are

saved in a separate .ini file. You can put any sensor in any location, just select the appropriate sensor next to each meter on

the configuration menu.

The Maximum Meter Range for any of the four meters on the Main software page can be set to any integer number desired

by the operator. For example, if the user wants Meter #1 full scale to be 150 watts, enter "150" in the User Meter #1 Range

box at the top-right. All the meter maximum scales can be set by the operator, and then selected whenever they wish by

clicking the "User" Radio button under the corresponding meter.

LPT1 parallel port is used unless the user installs an LPT2 port in their computer. The Base memory for LPT1 is always

378, and the base memory for LPT2 is 278. These are the standard Windows OS memory locations. If you wish to add an

additional LPT port card, see the instructions in section H below.

FIGURE #9

F. Front Panel LEDS:

The front panel has the following items:

1. A red LED indicates the unit is communicating correctly with the computer when it is flashing. If it is not flashing, the

WaveNode program is not running, or some other error exists. The flashing LED is simply one of the I/O pins on the

PC board being toggled by the software, and flashes once for each data sample taken.

2. A red LED that indicates the control box is powered.

G. The SWR Protection Relay:

The SWR protection relay has two separate sets of contacts to two separate connectors J2 and J8. Refer to figure #8 for connection

information. This relay is for +24V maximum operation and the contacts are rated for 1 Amp. This relay has automatic wiping, bifurcated,

gold contacts to handle low current operation without accumulating oxide on the contacts. Therefore , low current or high-current applications

will be appropriate. Two sets of contacts are supplied to allow control of two independent linear amplifiers.

The default power-up condition is to select no RF sensors to be monitored. The user can then select which RF sensor to monitor by

means of the "SWR Monitor" list box on the main panel. The SWR protection relay will never stay "on" if the