FlexRadio Systems SDR-1000 Troubleshooting Manual

Sdr-console troubleshooting guide
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SDR-1000/SDR-Console Troubleshooting Guide
This guide is intended as a companion to the SDR-1000 Hardware Manual and the SDR-
Console Installation and Quick Start Guide. It addresses common installation and
configuration problems and their possible solutions. Please read the appropriate sections
of the above referenced manuals for more detail on these topics.
Relays Don't Click When SDR-Console Software Loads
Operational Description: The SDR-1000 uses a set of four 8-bit latches for controlling
the relays and DDS. When the unit is powered on, these latches are in an unknown state.
The SDR-Console should be loaded after powering on the radio for the first time. This
will reset all of the relays and the DDS to a known state. Pull down the bottom of the
SDRConsole form to reveal a Reset button that can be used after software is loaded.

Probable Causes:

1. Parallel cable does not have 25 conductors – The cable must be a 25 conductor
straight through cable with a DB-25P on each end. Some cables may have 25 pin
connectors but less than 25 conductors. The cable should be the shortest available
and in no case longer than 6 feet in length. Caution: most flat cables do not
work in this application.
2. Parallel port base address not set properly – For the radio to function, the base
address must be correctly set on the Setup Options/General tab under PIO Base
Address. The base address may be located by finding the first (lowest)
hexadecimal number under Setting column on the Resources tab under the Printer
Port (LPT?) Properties, which may be found in the Windows Device Manager.
3. Shorts caused by metal spacers or washers – Do not use metal spacers or washers
between the boards. They can short one of the power supplies to ground.
However, you can safely use metal screws on top of the BPF board to screw into
the nylon spacers below. You should place a set of four nylon washer and 3/8"
nylon spacer combinations between the BPF and TRX boards, and between the
TRX and PIO boards respectively.
4. Power supply does not handle sufficient current – The SDR-1000 can pull as
much as 1.25A before reset and will normally draw 600-700mA in receive mode.
Place a current meter in line with the power supply to see that it is drawing the
600-700mA after reset. This is a good general indicator to tell if the radio is
working properly.

Relays Reset but Operation is Intermittent

Operational Description: See the previous Operation Description. Capacitive loading
on the parallel port cable as well and insufficient drive from the parallel port itself can
adversely affect reliability of the signals that control the SDR-1000 latches. This can
cause the DDS to tune to random frequencies and/or the relays to operate erratically.
FlexRadio Systems 2003
TM
Page 1

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Summary of Contents for FlexRadio Systems SDR-1000

  • Page 1 SDR-1000/SDR-Console Troubleshooting Guide This guide is intended as a companion to the SDR-1000 Hardware Manual and the SDR- Console Installation and Quick Start Guide. It addresses common installation and configuration problems and their possible solutions. Please read the appropriate sections of the above referenced manuals for more detail on these topics.
  • Page 2 The Radio Resets but I Don’t Hear Any Signals Operational Description: The SDR-Console uses the Windows Multimedia Mixer to control the baseband audio input and output from and to the SDR-1000 respectively. The mixer controls may be accessed by double clicking on the speaker icon in the Windows system tray or through the Windows Control Panel.
  • Page 3 Probable Causes: 1. Make sure you are using one of the officially supported sound cards that are listed on the Specifications Page of the FlexRadio Systems website and in the SDRConsole Installation and Quick Start Guide. These are the ONLY cards that we guarantee will work with the SDRConsole software.
  • Page 4 You may also see a very high noise floor if the oscillator is not properly seated. It is possible to confirm proper operation of the mixer setup without the SDR-1000 hardware present. Simply connect an audio signal generator to the line input of the sound card.
  • Page 5 In this case you will need to install a USB sound card such as the SoundBlaster Extigy or MP3+. It is possible to test for proper operation of the SDR-1000 hardware independently. To do so you will need to power up the hardware and load the SDR-Console software. Turn the radio on with the On/Off button and set it to the desired frequency with the INA gain set to 26dB.
  • Page 6 All of these limit the effective dynamic range of the SDR-1000. Just because a board is called a 16-bit board does not mean that it has 16 usable bits of dynamic range. Some cards may only have 12-14 usable bits. A true 16-bit card will have 96dB of dynamic range.
  • Page 7 Operational Description: Not all PCs are created equal. The CPU clock rate alone does not tell the whole story. SDR-1000 performance will be directly affected by bus, video, sound card, and memory performance. Also, the number of applications running will affect the performance of the radio.
  • Page 8 OPA2677) Dual Wideband, High Output Current Operational Amplifier for the 1W driver stage. As stated in the SDR-1000 Hardware Manual, the user should use caution not to connect the amplifier into unknown or highly reactive loads. An open circuit or highly capacitive load can cause the circuit to oscillate, resulting in a damaged part.
  • Page 9 Operational Description: The SDR-Console frequency displays are best viewed with the TBLCD font that may be retrieved from the link under the Software section on the FlexRadio Systems Download page. Install the font according to the SDR-Console Installation and Quick Start Guide.
  • Page 10 3. –15V unregulated – J5 pin 1 (no load - approximately –18 to –21 volts) CAUTION, DO NOT SHORT!!! 4. +5V regulated – J5 pin 6 5. +3.3V regulated – J4 pin 9 6. +3.3V regulated – J4 pin 10 FlexRadio Systems 2003 Page 10...

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