BIRD AT-500 Operation Manual
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BIRD AT-500 Operation Manual

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AT-500 Antenna Tester
Operation Manual
©Copyright 2016 by Bird Technologies, Inc.
Instruction Book Part Number 920-AT500 Rev. D

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Summary of Contents for BIRD AT-500

  • Page 1 AT-500 Antenna Tester Operation Manual ©Copyright 2016 by Bird Technologies, Inc. Instruction Book Part Number 920-AT500 Rev. D...

  • Page 2: Safety Precautions

    Safety Precautions The following are general safety precautions that are not necessarily related to any specific part or procedure, and do not necessarily appear elsewhere in this publication. These precautions must be thoroughly understood and apply to all phases of operation and maintenance. WARNING Keep Away From Live Circuits Operating Personnel must at all times observe general...

  • Page 3: Safety Symbols

    Safety Precautions Safety Symbols WARNING Warning notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed, could result in personal injury. CAUTION Caution notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed, could result in damage to the instrument.

  • Page 4: Warning Statements

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Warning Statements The following safety warnings appear in the text where there is danger to operating and maintenance personnel, and are repeated here for emphasis. WARNING Live RF energy. Do not touch or ground the center conductor of a live RF connection. Failure to comply may result in equipment damage and serious burns or death to personnel.

  • Page 5: Caution Statements

    Exceeding the maximum input will cause damage to internal components. Do not connect transmitter output to the AT-500. Damage can also be caused by testing antennas near other transmitting antennas. If testing base station antennas, first measure the power at the coax end to be sure it does not exceed 250mW.

  • Page 6: Safety Statements

    AT-500 Antenna Tester CAUTION Harsh or abrasive detergents and some solvents can damage the display unit and information on labels. On page 28. CAUTION Replace with only the same type and rating fuse. 315mA 250V On page 35. Safety Statements...
  • Page 7 Safety Precautions SERVICE SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR USE BY SERVICE - TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY. TO AVOID DANGEROUS ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICING UNLESS QUALIFIED TO DO SO. SERVICIO LAS INSTRUCCIONES DE SERVICIO SON PARA USO EXCLUSIVO DEL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO CAPACITADO. PARA EVITAR EL PELIGRO DE DESCARGAS ELÉCTRICAS, NO REALICE NINGÚN SERVICIO A MENOS QUE ESTÉ...
  • Page 8 AT-500 Antenna Tester UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH RECHAREABLE BATTERIES. THESE ARE TO BE REPLACED BY AUTHORIZED SERVICE PERSONNEL ONLY!!! LAS UNIDADES VIENEN EQUIPADAS CON BATERIAS RECARGABLES. ¡¡¡Y SOLAMENTE EL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO AUTORIZADO PUEDE REEMPLAZARLAS!!! GERÄTE SIND MIT WIEDER AUFLADBAREN BATTERIEN BESTÜCKT.

  • Page 9: About This Manual

    About This Manual This manual covers the operating and maintenance instructions for the following models: AT-500 Changes to this Manual We have made every effort to ensure this manual is accurate. If you discover any errors, or if you have suggestions for improving this manual, please send your comments to our Solon, Ohio factory.

  • Page 10: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Safety Precautions ......... i Safety Symbols .
  • Page 11 Table of Contents Select Auto or Manual Scale ........19 Selecting the Sweep Type .
  • Page 12 AT-500 Antenna Tester Antenna Tester indicates a Perfect Match ..... . . 37 Customer Service ..........37 Parts List .

  • Page 13: Chapter 1 Introduction

    Chapter 1 Introduction Items Supplied Figure 1 Supplied Items 1. Bird AT-500 2. AC Mains Adapter 3. Female “N”-Type Connector 4. Field Strength Antenna 5. Operation Manual (Not Shown)

  • Page 14: Component Description

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Component Description Figure 2 Component Description...
  • Page 15 Introduction LCD Display Backlit liquid crystal display. External DC Connect either the ac adapter or the cigarette lighter adapter. External Connector supplies operate the unit and charge the internal battery. Cursor Keys Left Arrow Press in swept frequency mode to move the cursor to the left.

  • Page 16: Display Description

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Display Description Figure 3 Display Description...
  • Page 17 Introduction Sweep Rate Blinks when sweeping. Indicator Measurement Units Indicates selected measurement units. Trace Graphic display of measured results across selected frequency band. Menu Select Key Defines function of menu select keys located below the display. Labels Frequency Band Displays frequency band selected. Scale Cursor Used to select measurement...

  • Page 18: Features

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Features Fast scan shows VSWR, , match efficiency or Swept Frequency Mode — return loss across an entire band. A movable cursor can be used to pinpoint a scan frequency and the corresponding measurement value is displayed.

  • Page 19: Chapter 2 Basic Operations

    Chapter 2 Basic Operations Getting Started This section describes initial quick steps to get started. For detailed information regarding connecting the Antenna Tester refer to that section at the end of this chapter. Note: This unit is shipped with the batteries not charged. Charge batteries overnight or for at least 8 hours before use.
  • Page 20 The operator instructions written for this manual were based on stepping through the software menu using the keys below the display. Once you are comfortable operating the AT-500, you might find it faster to use the SELECT key to access some functions. These include: Units, Scale, Start and Stop Frequencies in swept frequency mode and Units, Scale and Frequency in single frequency mode.

  • Page 21: Messages

    Basic Operations Messages There are five utility messages that can be displayed to inform you of equipment, or procedural, conditions. “Lo Batt” Displayed when battery voltage is less than 6.6V, See "Charging Batteries" on page 28 “Busy” Displayed during mode changes indicating the measurement information is being updated.

  • Page 22: Return To Factory Presets

    3. Press the PRESET key. Set Serial Baud Rate Measurement data can be transferred between the AT-500 and a personal computer using the serial port and optional interface software. The data can then be used for analysis, printed, or stored.

  • Page 23: Chapter 3 Installation

    Power Supply The AT-500 can use an external power source. Using the ac adapter or the 12V cigarette lighter adapter will also charge the battery. Using the ac adapter, charge time is about 8 hours. Using the cigarette lighter adapter, charge time will depend on the car battery charge.

  • Page 24: Ac Mains Adapter

    AT-500 Antenna Tester AC Mains Adapter To use the AC adapter, insert the adapter’s barrel connector into the Antenna Tester’s DC jack. Insert the adapter plug into a wall receptacle. CAUTION Required input is 11 to 16 VDC @ 250mA. Connector is wired outside positive, inside negative.

  • Page 25: Connecting The Antenna

    At active sites, RF energy from transmitters can be coupled to the antenna under test. If large enough, these signals will cause inaccurate measurements. For best results, the AT-500 should be used with all transmit antennas powered down.

  • Page 26: Chapter 4 Measure Match

    User selections are customized, the power is on, and the top level menu is displayed ( see "Basic Operations" on page 7 Since the AT-500 will change the way antennas are tested, Bird recommends taking some time to explore the different operating modes and find what is best for specific applications.

  • Page 27: Measurement Units

    Measure Match Figure 6 Single Frequency Measurement Units Rho (Reflection Coefficient), VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio), Match Efficiency (%), and Return Loss (dB), are different units of measurement that can be used to present the same information. (Similarly, Celsius and Fahrenheit are different units of measurement used to express the same temperature).

  • Page 28: Auto Scale Vs. Manual Scale

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Auto Scale vs. Manual Scale In swept mode Auto Scaling sets the measurement unit scale to make the trace easier to read. However, if you plan to look at the size or shape of traces for quick comparisons, it might be more meaningful to set a standard scale.

  • Page 29: Sweep Type-Single Hold Vs. Continuous

    Measure Match Figure 9 Manual Scaling Swept Frequency Mode This setting is an operator preference based on the mode that best presents the desired information. Figure 10 Manual Scaling Single Frequency Model Sweep Type-Single Hold vs. Continuous Continuous sweep continually sweeps the selected frequency band updating the measured value with each sweep.

  • Page 30: Swept Frequency

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Swept Frequency Select Frequency Band There are two options for selecting the frequency band. The first is simply to enter the start and stop frequencies. The second is to enter a span frequency, which is the desired width of the band, and a center frequency, that will be used as the center of the band.

  • Page 31: Select Measurement Units

    Measure Match Select Measurement Units Antenna match information can be presented using four different measurement units. Depending on the application, follow the steps below to select Rho, VSWR,%Match or Return Loss. 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Press the SWEPT FREQ key. 3.

  • Page 32: Selecting The Sweep Type

    Note: The tester begins sweeping. Saving a Trace The AT-500 can store up to 12 traces. A saved trace can be used to evaluate long term antenna performance, compare performance under different conditions or for comparison to another antenna. A saved trace is also a powerful tool in limit testing (more about limit testing later in this section).

  • Page 33: Recalling A Trace

    Measure Match Figure 11 Save a Trace The desired units, band, and scale should be selected. You should be in the single hold mode and the trace you want stored should be displayed. If continuous sweep type is selected, the trace displayed when you save will be stored.

  • Page 34: Clearing A Trace

    Limit testing is probably the most labor-efficient mode for operating the AT-500. Since all the software settings are retained when the tester is turned off, once the limit test is set up its simply a matter of connecting the next antenna system, turning on the power and reading pass or fail.

  • Page 35: Selecting Limit Values

    Measure Match Selecting Limit Values Valid limit values depend on measurement units selected. Valid entries are: VSWR Between 1.0 and 100.0 % Match Between 0 and 100% Return Loss Between -32 and 0 dB Between 0.000 and 1.000 1. Press the MENU key. 2.

  • Page 36: Clearing A Limit

    AT-500 Antenna Tester 3. Press the LIMIT key. 4. Press the TRACE - > LIMIT key. 5. Press the REG-n key where the trace is stored. Note: A dotted outline of the limit trace will be displayed with the new trace displayed over it. Pass or Fail will be displayed.

  • Page 37: Select Measurement Units

    Measure Match Select Measurement Units Antenna match information can be presented using three different measurement units. Depending on your application, follow the steps below to select Rho, VSWR, %Match or Return Loss. 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Press the SINGLE FREQ key. 3.

  • Page 38: Turn Audio On/Off

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Turn Audio On/Off The pitch varies with the match condition allowing you to tune an antenna without having to look at the display. 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Press the SINGLE FREQ key. 3. Pressing the AUDIO key toggles between on and off.

  • Page 39: Chapter 5 Field Strength

    Chapter 5 Field Strength Field Strength Measurement With the field strength antenna installed, the Antenna Tester can be used to optimize the radiated signal of any transmitter from 2 to 520 MHz. This is a relative measurement. The measurement sensitivity is such that a full scale deflection will occur for a field of 8 Volts/Meter at 100 MHz.

  • Page 40: Chapter 6 Maintenance

    Clean the antenna tester and the display with a soft cloth dampened with mild detergent and water only. Calibration For best performance and accuracy, the Antenna Tester should be calibrated once every 12 months. Return the unit to an authorized Bird Service Center. Charging Batteries WARNING Care should be taken when handling batteries.

  • Page 41: Batteries And Long Term Storage

    Maintenance CAUTION Follow guidelines for battery charging. Avoid constant charging of batteries for long periods of time. Overcharging can result in reduced battery efficiency, service life, and possible permanent damage. Batteries and Long Term Storage Do not store the instrument for long periods of time without recharging the batteries.

  • Page 42: Operational Tests

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Operational Tests Power-up There are several operational tests run at power up. The test is displayed only if any of the tests fail. The results are displayed to the right of the test as shown in . If you would like the test screen displayed regardless of results, press Figure 13 any key while pressing the ON key at initial power up.

  • Page 43: Battery Test

    Battery Test If the voltage measured is less than 7V you should charge the batteries. Note: The AT-500 will shut off if the battery is too low however, full accuracy is maintained at any battery voltage. Be sure the AC mains adapter is not connected.

  • Page 44: Display Test

    When the test is started the display is filled with various characters. Each pixel then changes state, either from black to white or white to black. If there is any area that is not functional return the tester to Bird Electronic for repair. Figure 15 Display Test 1.

  • Page 45: Self Test

    Maintenance Self Test The self test is similar to the operational tests run at power up described on of this section. The one difference is the keypad test. page 30 Figure 16 Self Test 1. Press the MENU key. 2. Press the TEST key. 3.

  • Page 46: Battery Replacement

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Battery Replacement The batteries need to be replaced when fully charged batteries provide less than 2 hours operation. Carefully follow the instructions below to replace the batteries. For models equipped with 700 mAh Nickel-Cadium batteries (p/n 5A2230): Note: Unit may contain six 700 mAh Nickel-Cadium (NiCAD) bat- teries.

  • Page 47: Fuse Replacement

    Maintenance Fuse Replacement CAUTION Replace with only the same type and rating fuse. 315mA 250V Note: Follow the steps outlined in Battery Replacement replacing the fuse where replacing the batteries is indicated. Figure 17 Battery / Fuse Replacement...

  • Page 48: Troubleshooting

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Troubleshooting Operator maintenance or service is limited to battery and fuse replacement. Any other required service must be performed at an authorized Bird Service Center. Refer to the following paragraphs for help in isolating error conditions. The Antenna Tester will not power up.

  • Page 49: Noise" Is Displayed During Testing

    Antenna-Under-Test. If sufficiently strong, the interfering signals can over-power the measurement signal inside the Antenna Tester. Normally, this results in degraded measurement accuracy. Bird Antenna Testers minimize this effect by measuring the interfering signal during the time between match measurements.

  • Page 50: Parts List

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Parts List Part Name Part Number AT-500 Complete 7000A501 Parts Supplied with AT-500 Complete, or installed when shipped. Battery (6 required) 5A2230 (in older models) Battery 5B2230 (in newer models) Fuse RP5-1976-11 AC Mains Adapter, 115v 5A2229...

  • Page 51: Specifications

    Maintenance Specifications Frequency Range 2 to 520 MHz Frequency Resolution 20 kHz Measurement Range VSWR 1.00 to 100.00 Match Efficiency 0 to 100% Return Loss -32 to 0 dB 0.000 to 1.000 Measurement Speed (Typical) Single Frequency 5 Readings/second Swept Frequency 1 Sweep/second Test Port ...

  • Page 52: Menu Structure

    AT-500 Antenna Tester Menu Structure...

  • Page 53: Limited Warranty

    Limited Warranty All products manufactured by Seller are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year, unless otherwise specified, from date of shipment and to conform to applicable specifications, drawings, blueprints and/or samples. Seller’s sole obligation under these warranties shall be to issue credit, repair or replace any item or part thereof which is proved to be other than as warranted;...

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