Homebrew HF SWR/Power Meter

Bill Leonard
NCU

NATC - 285 TechConnect Radio Club

http://www.natc.org/

5/4/2012
 Theory

Standing Waves SWR = 3:1

Dynamic Demo: http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/stwaverefl.htm

5/4/2012
 Theory

SWR Calculation
Not a direct measurement

PR
1+ PF EF + ER
SWR = =
PR EF - ER
1-
PF
EF = Forward Voltage
ER = Reverse Voltage
PF = Forward Power
PR = Reverse Voltage

SWR accuracy is only as good as the power measurement

accuracy (both Forward & Reflected)
5/4/2012
 Theory

How should RF Power be measured?

1. RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter

5/4/2012
 Theory

How should RF Power be measured?

1. RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter

No!
1. Voltage reading is dependent upon load impedance at the point
of measurement
Power meters on Ameritron Power Amplifiers
2. To determine power, we need independent measurements of
voltage and current

5/4/2012
 Theory

How should RF Power be measured?

1. RF voltmeter connected at the output of the transmitter
2. Use a TRUE POWER meter that can measure both current
and voltage of both the forward and reflected waves

5/4/2012
 RF Power Meter Components

Sensor RF Power Meter

RF Directional RF
IN Coupler OUT
X X
*Meter can be:
Envelope
Analog or digital
Detectors Current or voltage
0-100 uA typical (non-powered)

Forward Switch

Reflected Meter*

5/4/2012
 SWR/Power Meter - Digital

Sensor
RF Directional RF
IN Coupler OUT
X X

Envelope
Detectors

Forward

Digital Digital
Reflected
Processor Display

5/4/2012
 Alpha 4520 Digital Power/SWR Meter

5/4/2012
 SWR/Power Meter - Digital

Sensor
RF Directional RF
IN Coupler OUT
X X

Envelope
Detectors

Forward

Digital
Reflected Processor
Display

5/4/2012
 SWR/Power Meter - Digital

Sensor
RF Directional RF
IN Coupler OUT
X X

Envelope
Detectors

Forward

Reflected

5/4/2012
 My Digital Power Meter

uV

Resolution:
100W/40000 uV = 0.025 W/uV

5/4/2012
 Digital Power/SWR Meters

What is the main difference?

Alpha 4520
Sensor
Forward

Reflected

5/4/2012
 Digital Power/SWR Meters

Cost!

Alpha 4520
Sensor $30 up
Forward

Reflected

$800

~$0-50

5/4/2012
 Digital Power/SWR Meters
Accuracy varies from ~5% to ?
Power reading accuracy is very dependent on Sensor
calibration accuracy (both Forward & Reflected)

Alpha 4520
Sensor
Forward

Reflected

Accuracy: 5-10% achievable Accuracy Spec = <5%

5/4/2012
 Ultimate Limit on Accuracy?

Sensor Calibration!
Initial CAL accuracy
Volts out vs Power In
SWR is a calculation, not a measurement
Volts out vs Frequency
Traceable to NIST?
Drift with time
Load impedance drift with heating (1-3 KW???)
Having a digital readout:
Doesnt improve accuracy
Improves resolution
May improve repeatability
Having a digital processor does allow for better
calibration of sensor characteristics

5/4/2012
 Telepost LP-100A Digital Vector Wattmeter

Accuracy:
Same specs as Alpha 4520
5% maximum
3% (typical)
NIST traceable factory calibration
What does this mean?
eHam rating: 5.0/5 (121 reviews)
$435
5/4/2012
 Directional Coupler

Sensor RF Power Meter

RF Directional RF
IN Coupler OUT
X X

5/4/2012
 Directional Coupler

Only couples power flowing in one direction

Only couples a small sample of the power flowing in the desired direction

RF RF
OUT
IN
X X
Forward
Coupler

Green = desired coupling

Red = undesired coupling

Forward

Coupling factor represents the primary property of a directional coupler

To reduce 100 w to 100 mw => Coupling factor = -30 dB
Directivity is the measure of how well a coupler isolates two opposite-
travelling (forward and reverse) signals
Creates region of uncertainty around all measurements
5/4/2012Bird 43: Directivity >30 dB
 Dual Directional Coupler

RF RF
OUT
IN
X X X X
Forward Reverse
Coupler Coupler

Green = desired coupling

Red = undesired coupling

Forward Reflected

5/4/2012
 Common Directional Couplers
Coupled Transmission Line Coupler

Bird 43
5/4/2012
 Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

*Most common type

found in commercial
amateur transmitters

5/4/2012
 Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

*Most common type

found in commercial
amateur transmitters

How do we get Voltage & Current?

5/4/2012
 Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

5/4/2012
 Common Directional Couplers

Tandem Match Coupler

Bruene Bridge*

Null adjustment

5/4/2012
 Common Sensors

Tandem Match Coupler

This coupler has some nice features:
Simplicity, excellent directivity
Scalable to other power levels, and
50- load impedances on all ports
Covering 1.8-30 MHz requires careful transformer design
Input VSWR can degrade rapidly as frequency drops below 7 MHz

Bruene Bridge
Requires comparatively little space
Most commonly used design by Ham equipment manufacturers
Primary challenges with this design:
1. Parasitic lead inductance associated with C2
2. High values for C2
3. Excessive secondary wire length on T1, and
4. Impedance control in the bifilar secondary winding
The lead inductance and C2 result in a series resonance that
progressively deteriorates bridge balance as the frequency is raised
5/4/2012
 Tandem Match Coupler

SWR Sensor (from 2010 ARRL Antenna Handbook)

5/4/2012
 Tandem Match Coupler
Shield on coax used as a Faraday shield (grounded on one end only)

SWR Sensor (from 2010 ARRL Antenna Handbook)

Any small signal diode will work

(Germaniums are best for QRP)

At 100 watts, IFWDOUT (into a short) > 6 mA

At 100 watts, VFWDOUT (into an open) > 2.0 vdc

5/4/2012
 Tandem Match Coupler
Caution: Germanium diodes dont like heat

5/4/2012
 Tandem Match Coupler Using Balun Core
DX Zone.com Digital QRP SWR/ Power Meter by KD1JV

Compensation Diodes
(I dont recommend)

5/4/2012
 Processor/Display
DX Zone.com Digital QRP SWR/ Power Meter by KD1JV

Whitmans Sampler tin

http://kd1jv.qrpradio.com/
http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=18048
5/4/2012
 Envelope Detector

Sensor RF Power Meter

RF RF
IN OUT
X X

Envelope
Detectors

5/4/2012
 Common Envelope Detector

Forward Diode

0.01 uF
51 100K
Diodes:
Type not critical
Germanium best for QRP
Matched is desirable, but not required

Reflected Diode

0.01 uF

51 100K

5/4/2012
 Diode Options

Silicon:
1N3600 => VD ~0.7 volt
Germanium:
1N34, 1N60, 1N270 => VD ~ 0.3 volt

5/4/2012
 Diode Matching -Tandem Match Coupler

No matching attempted
2.5

1.5
Diode type dependent

VDC 1N34A-1
1N34A-2
1

0.5

?
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Watts

5/4/2012
 Isolated Meter Circuit

+X VDC 780X
+VIN
1 uF 1 uF

Forward Diode
3 4
+ 1
1 Forward OUT
0.01 uF
2
- 1
11
51 100K

LM324 or equivalent

Reflected Diode
5 3
+ 7
2 Reflected OUT
0.01 uF
6
-
51 100K
4

Source
~ 300 ohm

2 vdc

5/4/2012
 Meter Adjustment

+X VDC 780X
+VIN
1 uF 1 uF

Forward Diode
3
+
4 FWD
1
1 Level Forward OUT
0.01 uF
2
- 11 Adjust
51 100K

Reflected Diode
5
+ REF
7
2 Level Reflected OUT
0.01 uF
6
- Adjust
51 100K

5/4/2012
 A SIMPLE SWR METER FOR QRP (1 WATT) LEVELS

X
X
X

Not required

5/4/2012
 Performance Power Measurement

2.50
Homebrew 2.00
(Tandem Match)
1.50
VDC
1.00 Diode type dependent
0.50

0.00
0 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 100
50
Bird 40
(Coupled Line/Digital) 30
mVDC 20

10

0
2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95
100
Pride
80
(Breune)
60
Watts
40

20

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

5/4/2012 Watts
 Performance SWR Measurement

25 ohm Load @ PF = 60 watts

3.0

2.5

Tandem
2.0 Bird
Breune
1.8 MHz
14 MHz
1.5 28 MHz

1.0

5/4/2012
 SWR Protection Circuit
+13.5
VDC
+8 VDC 7808

1 uF 1 uF
15K
100
+4 VDC Latch
LM324 15K Relay1
3 4
+ 1 0.1 uF
+12 VDC 1
1 +
2
- 11 0.1 uF 1N3600
~1 sec Delay 17 mA
150K 1.21M to Latch
16
-
1N3600 10 10K
200K + 8
Latch 3
2N3501
Treshold 1.0 uF 1.0 uF 9
- To
+8 VDC Latch Relay1
11 6

Reflected 5
+ 7
REF 12 5.1K
13 4
2 + 9 8
- Reflected 4 Reset

100K
6 Power
13
- 14

To 2N3501
1K +4 VDC
1N3600
Forward FWD To SWR
Shutdown
0.1 uF 15K 2N3501 390
5.1K W
100K To

-
+
+13.5 VDC
+1.6 VDC
2N3501 SWR LED
1.1K Radio Shack
5/4/2012 Foldback 10K
276-0017
Treshold