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26 •  BX-245

© Box 73 Amateurfunkservice GmbH 2019

– Unpack the packed directory containing

the update at any point on the PC 

– Firmware update starts when selecting

this  option  and  the  FA-VA5  display

starts flashing

– In the unzipped directory on the PC se-

lect and then start the batch file named

firmware_update_VA5_Vxxx.bat

(where

Vxxx  is  the  actual  Firmware  version)

with a double click. The batch file then

prompts to enter the assigned COM port

and the display stops flashing and the

current data transmission is displayed.

After successfully completing a firmware

update, the FA-VA5 must be re-initialized

in most cases, as the new firmware will

use different memory addresses. This is

done by resetting the FA-VA5 to the facto-

ry settings (see next section). Then, as a

precaution, the master calibration should

also be repeated. For each update, there is 

readme

file that lists the software changes

and  provides  installation  instructions.

These instructions must be followed each

time a firmware update is done.

Reset

When  this  option  is  selected  and  con-

firmed, all parameters are reset to the fac-

tory  settings  and  the  master  calibration

and all stored display views are deleted

(Fig. 54).

Forced reset

In the unlikely case that the Analyzer sud-

denly stops responding to operator inputs,

and this state persists despite switching off

and on again, a Forced reset can be applied

without a menu at any time: To do this,

switch off the Analyzer. Then press and

hold  all  three  buttons  at  the  same  time.

Now, when the power is switched on, all

parameters are reset to factory settings and

the device should work as usual. If neces-

sary, correct the language, backlight and

frequency settings. Note: a Forced Reset

does not erase existing master calibration

values or saved display views. Any exist-

ing values of the master calibration must

be enabled again. To do this, under 

Oper-

ating mode 

Setup 

SOL option “On”

must be selected. Caution: this step must

be performed even if the 

SOL

menu al-

ready displays the status as “

On

”, as mas-

ter calibration is only enabled once it man-

ually set to “

On

” following a Forced Re-

set. 

Fig. 54: This menu allows reset to the factory
settings.

Summary of Contents for FA-VA5

Page 1: ...Assembly and Operating Manual Kit for an easy to use vector antenna analyzer for use in the frequency range 10 kHz to 600 MHz Vector Antenna Analyzer FA VA5 Ver E 1 3 2019 08 06...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...Vectorial measurement means that unlike a scalar instrument not only the SWR is measured and displayed but also the value of the impedance including the signed imaginary part The so called SOL Short...

Page 4: ...3 4 0 dBm 3rd harmonic P5 8 3 dBm 5th harmonic f 200 MHz RL 50 P1 4 5 dBm 1st harmonic fundamental P3 7 2 dBm 3rd harmonic P5 15 3 dBm 5th harmonic Current consumption 38 mA 65 mA at 1 MHz 47 mA 85 mA...

Page 5: ...e board It should rest flush on the board with no space underneath its actuating knob must be horizontal with re spect to the board surface Fig 3 The easiest way to achieve this is if only one of the...

Page 6: ...he left side of the housing If necessary the accuracy of fit can now be corrected relatively easily If everything is correct then continue and solder all 16 solder pads of the USB Board to the main bo...

Page 7: ...connections of the 20 pin con tact strip Fig 6 It is recommended to use a suitable base under the display during soldering in order to fix it flush on the lighting unit Caution The protective film on...

Page 8: ...with the display board as the 20 pin strip is prone to bend slightly Place the display together with the socket strips on the board Next the four card board strips are inserted Fig 8 then turn over w...

Page 9: ...st and final Assembly Before installing the board into the hous ing a short functional test is required First fit the three plastic caps on the push but tons and fit the previously assembled dis play...

Page 10: ...pen when transmitting with the anten na connected in close proximity of the VA5 Likewise static charges must be kept away from the test socket Isolated antenna structures must therefore be dis charged...

Page 11: ...nce relative to known component values either directly or through the reflec tion coefficient after calibration has been performed All other values e g SWR are mathematically calculated from the measu...

Page 12: ...frequency dependent error During the master calibration the actual input impedance is automatically mea sured at intervals of 100 kHz or 1 MHz for all three reflection defined cases and the calculate...

Page 13: ...on can be enabled or disabled and is accessed via Operating mode Setup SOL Selecting Off sets the No Calibration mode Current calibration This can be performed for single frequen cy mode Fig 13 as wel...

Page 14: ...e Master Calibration will be invalid Note The Master Calibration process takes about 20 25 minutes but can be cancelled if desired In this case however inconsistent reference values may arise so this...

Page 15: ...R Impedance or Reflection coefficient measurement at current frequency SWR measurement with sound signal current calibration Multifrequency modes SWR Impedance or Reflection coefficient measurement wi...

Page 16: ...e g for antenna tuning As the SWR decreases the faster the beeps will sound making it easy to hear when the lowest SWR is measured The actual measuring frequency can be set using the three buttons Use...

Page 17: ...he use of master calibration current calibration via the menu item SOL 5 Band is also possible for this mode Fig 24 Prior to perform ing Current calibration however the five required measuring frequen...

Page 18: ...section Setup In contrast to modes and pressing a button does not trigger a new measuring cycle but merely displays the changed marker position including the correspond ing measured value The measure...

Page 19: ...ring run Con tinuous Sweep run This is automatically restarted by the Analyzer again and again Changes in the measured values are there fore relatively quickly visible The disad vantage however is a h...

Page 20: ...een views and or Da taset information can be selected here All measurement modes allow you to save a screen snapshot of the current display view To do this briefly press the left and right buttons at...

Page 21: ...Data from Memory Screen in opera ting mode Fig 35 The corresponding display memory can be selected with the and buttons Fig 37 Unused memory locations are displayed empty The left button allows you to...

Page 22: ...of the frequency value digit to be changed and if necessary correct this with the plus or minus button When jumping from the last digit left to the first digit right 1 Hz the abbreviation for Enter ap...

Page 23: ...ration Callsign Personalization option by entering the call sign Backlight Mode Setup of the display backlight options Display Update cycle Defines the repetition rate of the measurements USB Auto Mod...

Page 24: ...encies This item has already been covered in the section Basic Calibration SOL Compen sation Callsign If you want to personalize your FA VA5 you can use this menu item e g to save your call sign maxim...

Page 25: ...ller is clocked at a lower frequency Alonger dis play duration therefore meets a lower power requirement Fig 46 USB Auto Mode After connecting to a Personal Computer PC via USB cable the FA VA5 will b...

Page 26: ...correction Thereafter the frequency of the Analyzer output signal should be exactly equal to the set frequency It should be noted however that this frequency correction is usually not required for ant...

Page 27: ...kHz etc SWR minimum for multi frequency measurements With SWR multi frequency measurements the marker can be automatically set to dis play minimum SWR and this value can be transferred to the single...

Page 28: ...time a firmware update is done Reset When this option is selected and con firmed all parameters are reset to the fac tory settings and the master calibration and all stored display views are deleted...

Page 29: ...eaningful results are obtained Measuring impedance and SWR of an antenna at one frequency The antenna is connected directly to the base or via a cable to the analyzer You will need to decide if the wh...

Page 30: ...onances oc cur at wavelengths of 1 4 3 4 etc of the electrical length of the cable High Z impedance When the cable end is shorted the reso nances occur at wavelengths of 1 2 1 3 2 etc of the electrica...

Page 31: ...powered up via the USB connection The operating system does not automatically find the correct driver for Silicon Labs on all tested ver sions of Windows 7 or later It is therefore recommended to inst...

Page 32: ...u go to Setup USB Auto Mode the ana lyzer will automatically switch to USB mode when the USB cable is inserted Otherwise the USB mode can be manual ly selected at any time via the Operating menu Once...

Page 33: ...aset records Import After clicking on the second tab in Fig 58 a window appears as shown in Fig 59 Here analogous to the local menu of the FA VA5 the 16 available Dataset records are listed with their...

Page 34: ...display is pro cessed and is displayed in the main win dow of the program a popup info window confirms the read in process Fig 62 For the familiar SWR display the following quick fix solution is avail...

Page 35: ...this case in blue In the example in Fig 63 the frequency marker is at 6 29 MHz where an SWR val ue s 4 46 was measured The described procedure sounds a bit complicated due to its detailed description...

Page 36: ...clicking on one of the frequencies dis played below the bottom of the Grid left Start middle centre or right Stop fre quency The frequency window Input will open and allows you to enter the start and...

Page 37: ...onnect the Short cal ibration element to the FA VA5 After its connection and confirmation a measure ment cycle starts the circle turns green with red M in the middle Similarly the calibration for Open...

Page 38: ...p is meaningful for matting of the selected output traces In the main window Fig 66 colour coded top left shows the scale for each trace On the right side there is again colour coded the specification...

Page 39: ...52 MHz of the DUT the imaginary part of the reflection coefficient is zero here The VSWR at this frequency is s 1 45 We wish you great success and fun in set ting up and operating the FA VA5Antenna An...

Page 40: ...a wave is transmitted from the input to the output S21 or from the output back to the input S12 Furthermore the proportion of a reflected wave at the input S11 or at the output S22 can be measured The...

Page 41: ...2 for the display Main PCB SMD 1 components fitted Enclosure 1 consists of upper and lower shell Rubber foot 4 Cylinder screw M3 4 4 for mounting the Main PCB Countersunk screw M3 4 4 for assembling E...

Page 42: ...fully soldered OPEN element ready for use SHORT is ready for use Slide the centre pin with the wire until it clicks into place Remove the wire Slide the centre pin with the soldered wire until it clic...

Page 43: ......

Page 44: ...rt problems to support funkamateur de Order no BX 245 When disposing of this product please observe the regulations for the handling of electronic waste Electronic devices batteries and components do...

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