SynthNV - Signal Generator / Power Detector Combo
The Windfreak SynthNV is a 137MHz to 4.4GHz software tunable RF signal generator controlled and powered by a PC running Windows XP or Windows 7 via its USB port. It includes an on board RF power detector which can be used with the sweep function as a basic RF network analyzer. It can also run stand alone on a battery.
Please scroll down for more info on the powerful hardware and software features.
Out of Stock. Ships by February 27th.
$499.00
(without aluminum case)
Use this device as a generic RF signal generator in your test setup, or use it as a high quality local oscillator in your RF / microwave communication system. Simultaneously measure and graph RF power in real time.
Shown below, the software is eloquently engineered giving professional performance at fractions the cost of a bench top generator.
You may enter data either with the touch pad, knob, directly with the PC keyboard, and also by clicking on arrows next to the controls.
RF single frequency generation tab.
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RF sweep generation tab. (Step as fast a 1mS per point. Resolution as low as 1KHz per step.)
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RF network analyzer and basic sweeper application. Shown is an actual sweep from a 2106MHz bandpass filter.
(This application is started from the RF sweep generation tab.)
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RF power measurement tab. (Continuously measure broadband RF power at Jll [10].)
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RF Amplitude Modulation tab. (Send burst or continuous AM with modulation rates up to 5KHz.)
Shown is maximum deviation AM in 0 Hz mode on the spectrum analyzer (time domain).
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RF Pulse Amplitude Modulation tab. (Send burst or continuous pulses with a resolution of 1uS steps.)
Pulse bursts are designed for low jitter. (Microcontroller interrupts are dissabled during bursts.)
Shown (in the frequency domain) is the absolute shortest pulse of 400nS.
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PLL Control tab. (Control some finer details of the ADF4350 to get higher accuracy or quality for a particular frequency.)
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Extras tab. (Check SynthNV firmware version and set Internal or External Reference. Also save to SynthNV internal EEPROM memory Frequency, Power, Reference, and Modulation setup for stand alone operation.)
The software is easy to install and use. It can control multiple devices, do an RF CW frequency, run an RF sweep, perform basic scalar network analyzer functions, Amplitude Modulate and Pulse Modulate, save many settings to EEPROM, register real time power measurements on connector [10], and fine tune the PLL registers for experienced users. Control is very similar to a bench top signal generator. It is also touch panel friendly.
This software was written in Labview and the open source code is included so that you can modify and enhance any way you see fit for your own use. Please do not distribute. If you don't own Labview, you will also get an executable that will install stand-alone and run on a PC. If you want to write your own software, it is best to get Labview and reverse engineer the Windfreak Labview source code. Labview is available with a free 1 month trial from National Instruments. All source code is sent on CD "saved as" using the latest version of Labview Basic. The device is easy to talk to via 1 simple command byte followed by PLL program data, a power setting byte or return responses from the power detector.
Click here to see the format for serial communications via the proprietary Windfreak firmware:
Both Pulse Modulation and Amplitude Modulation can happen in conjuction with a sweep. Both can be tuned in frequency automatically in real time. Pulse Modulation amplitude can be adjusted in real time. Note: Sweep can only be performed while connected to a computer via USB.
Click here for the operating instructions included with the device:
The Hardware:
The technology is based on Analog Devices ADF4350 chip [2] seen here:
Click here for the ADF4350 Datasheet
You can expect high quality RF performance at the RF connector [6] similar to the specs in the datasheet. The only significant RF difference from the ADF4350 datasheet is that the RF power is up to +17dBm settable in 1/2dB steps via the Hittite HMC625LP5 chip [5]. This chip is controlled via a high speed 6 bit parallel bus coming from the microcontroller chip [8].
Click here for the HMC625 Datasheet
RF power (max) into a 50 ohm load is similar to this: 17.0dBm @ 137.5MHz, 19.0dBm @500MHz, 19.0dBm @ 1GHz, 18.0dBm @ 2GHz, 17.0dBm @ 3GHz, 11.0dBm @ 4GHz (note: amplitude is adjustable via software over 2 amplitude ranges of 30dB in 1/2 dB steps for more than 60dB of adjustment.)
RF generator accuracy is based on an onboard 25ppm 10MHz crystal oscillator which is also routed to the outside world via the reference SMA connector [1]. This connector can also be used to input a higher precision reference if so desired.
When used without the aluminum extruded case, no sideband spurs can be found in a typical lab EMI environment. 4 mounting holes are provided on the PCB.
The synthesizer will run off of USB power. It will also run standalone via its DC power connector [9] and LM7805 linear regulator [4]. The required voltage is a range from 7-9 volts DC, with the center pin being positive and the outer conductor being ground. 12 volts is possible with enhanced heat sinking on the regulator.
There is also a 1MHz - 4GHz broadband RF power detector enabled by the Analog Devices ADL5513 [11] which is fed through the SMA connector at [10]. This RF detector has up to 70dB of dynamic range and can measure up to 0dBm of RF power. The software will report real time power measurements or can be calibrated to show gain over frequency between connector [6] and connector [10] which will give a basic ability to measure the performance of filters and other RF devices. The display will show RF power vs frequency, or gain vs frequency much like a lab quality network analyzer. By using an external circulator or coupler, there will also be the ability to measure the return loss / VSWR of RF devices such as antennas in possible future versions of the software.
Click here for the ADL5513 Datasheet
The Atmel microcontroller [8] is an ATmega32U4 and comes programmed with Windfreak Technologies proprietary firmware to allow basic control of the whole device. In conjunction with that, it also has the Atmel boot loader so that custom firmware can be loaded through USB by the end user. Many of the pins from the microcontroller go to .100" inch headers spread throughout the PCB. These pins can be configured as generic digital I/O, A/D convertors, or PWM outputs. All the headers are on .100" inch centers so perf board can be used for prototyping of special function daughter cards. Other functions that go to these headers are: SPI port, ISP (In System Programming) port, reset, boot load, and a basic FM analog connection to VCOs vtune port.
Click here for the ATMega32U4 Datasheet
USB communication is done via a virtual comm port directly to the microcontroller. Drivers are included with the software. The connector [7] requires a USB mini cable (not included).
Included with all of this is a hardcopy of the PC board schematics and a PCB reference designator map. This way you can see what bus wires are used to control the synthesizer chip and PA. You will also see what microcontoller pins are routed to headers. This helps with custom firmware development.
On board the PCB are 4 troubleshooting LEDs: one that shows USB power, two generic LEDs [3] from the microcontroller, and one that shows phase lock on the programmed frequency. The generic LEDs will blink differently with different commands. They will also show errors when the command is not understood. This helps with custom software development.
Compare this unit to other solutions worth thousands of dollars. Weve invested hundreds of man hours on software that you get to build upon for highly custom applications.
Some applications include: wireless communications systems, microwave point to point backhaul radios, Software Defined Radio (SDR), radar, Automated Test Equipment (ATE), computer controlled sweeping and hopping, Scalar Network Anaylzers (SNA), complex waveform jamming, Phase Lock Loop (PLL) Synthesizer Design, Local Oscillator (LO) replacement, and hobbyist radio development.
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