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Summary of Contents for Mini-Circuits RCM-100-6
- Page 1 Test Solutions - User Guide RCM-100 & RCM-200 Series Compact Modular Test Systems RCM-100 Series Programmable Attenuator Modules RCM-200 Series Multi-Function Switching Systems...
- Page 2 This guide is owned by Mini-Circuits and is protected by copyright, trademark and other intellectual property laws. The information in this guide is provided by Mini-Circuits as an accommodation to our customers and may be used only to promote and accompany the purchase of Mini-Circuits’ Parts. This guide may not be...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
6.1. Unpacking ............................11 6.2. Package Contents ......................... 11 7. SOFTWARE ............................12 7.1. Software Overview......................... 12 7.2. Installing Mini-Circuits’ GUI Software .................... 12 7.3. Connecting to the Hardware ......................15 Connecting via USB ......................15 Connecting via Ethernet ..................... 16 Demo Mode ........................ -
Page 4: Introduction
1. INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing Mini-Circuits RCM Series modular test systems to meet your needs! The purpose of the RCM Series User’s Manual is to instruct you on basic installation and setup of your equipment, to advise you on general precautions to be taken when installing and handling your RCM unit, and to provide instruction on installing and using the control software for this unit on your PC. -
Page 5: Warnings
Opening & Tampering: This equipment is designed to be serviced only by professional electrical technicians. Case openings by any person other than qualified personnel authorized by Mini-Circuits or the customer will void any and all terms of the Limited Warranty. Test Solutions - User Guide... -
Page 6: Physical Description
0 to 120 dB range, 0.25 dB step size, 1 to 4000 MHz Additional models up to 8 GHz are also available on request • Figure 1: Front & rear panel of RCM-100-6 multi-channel programmable attenuator Test Solutions - User Guide Page 6... -
Page 7: Rcm-200 Series
3.2. RCM-200 Series Mini-Circuits’ RCM-200 Series multi-function switch systems are housed in the same compact aluminum case measuring 8.25” wide x 4.25” high x 8.25” deep (210 x 108 x 210 mm). The front panel is fabricated with three windows, each measuring 2.43” wide x 3.35” high (62 x 85mm), which can be specified with the required RF switch components. -
Page 8: Rcm-200 Series (Sp8T Switches)
3.3. RCM-200 Series (SP8T Switches) The RCM-200 Series is also available in a configuration with either 1 or 2 SP8T switches populated on the front panel. Since these switch components are larger than the standard RCM Series windows, the SP8T switch models cannot be combined with other models. The rear panel of the unit includes inputs for a standard 24V DC power supply (AC mains adapter included), USB and Ethernet connections for software control and a hardware power switch. -
Page 9: Functional Description
The equipment may be controlled via USB or Ethernet (HTTP and Telnet Protocols), allowing setup flexibility and easy remote test management. All units come supplied with Mini-Circuits’ user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) software and DLLs for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows ®... -
Page 10: Performance Specifications
5. PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 5.1. DC Power Specifications Supply Voltage: 24V DC Operating Current will vary based on the number and type of components in your system. 5.2. RF Specifications For RF specifications of your RCM Series unit, please refer to the model data sheets for the individual components within your system configuration. -
Page 11: Unpacking
6. UNPACKING 6.1. Unpacking The equipment ships in a single large cardboard carton measuring 7 x 13 x 13” pictured in the figure below. A: 7” B: 13” C: 13” Figure 5: Shipping carton Within the carton, the RCM unit is protected by pink foam inserts on the top and bottom, left and right sides, and a pink anti-static bubble bag. -
Page 12: Software
7. SOFTWARE 7.1. Software Overview Mini-Circuits RCM Series test systems are supplied with user-friendly GUI software and a complete set of DLLs to write your own control software in 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. Full programming support is provided for a wide range of programming environments on both Windows and Linux operating systems. - Page 13 4) The software license agreement will appear. Review the agreement, select “I agree,” and click “Continue.” Figure 5: Software license agreement 5) Be sure all your work in other applications has been saved and closed. Click “OK” to proceed. Figure 6: Close other applications Test Solutions - User Guide Page 13 RCM Series Compact Modular Test Systems...
- Page 14 6) The destination directory prompt will appear. This allows you to specify where the GUI software will be saved on your computer’s hard drive. At this point, it’s a good idea to take a second and confirm the full destination address for the software. Change the destination if you prefer, and record the full destination address for your records.
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Page 15: Connecting To The Hardware
8) An “Installation Complete” message will appear once the software is successfully installed. Click “OK” to close the installer. Figure 9: Installation complete 7.3. Connecting to the Hardware When starting up the GUI software, a window will pop up prompting you to choose how the computer will connect to your RCM Series unit. -
Page 16: Connecting Via Ethernet
Search Results: o This field displays information about the device selected including serial number and IP parameters. You may use this field to identify the RCM Series unit if multiple Mini-Circuits devices are connected at once. Search: o This button searches the network for connected devices. You may need to click it multiple times to refresh results before the IP address of your hardware appears in the IP List field. - Page 17 2) Once the device IP address appears in the connection menu, enter your password in the password field (leave this blank if you haven’t set a password). Select which protocol (HTTP or Telnet) you wish to use to communicate with the device, and click “Start” to start open the GUI main control.
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Page 18: Demo Mode
Demo Mode Selecting Demo Mode allows the user to explore the GUI program features for demonstration without actually connecting to the equipment. To explore the GUI in demo mode, select the "RCM Series" radio button and choose one of the demo configurations from the drop menu. -
Page 19: Using The Gui Controls
7.4. Using the GUI Controls The Main Control Window Figure 15: Example GUI main control window for RCM-100-6 Figure 16: Example GUI main control window for RCM-200 Series Test Solutions - User Guide Page 19 RCM Series Compact Modular Test Systems... -
Page 20: Common Control Features
Common Control Features Model Name: o This field displays the device model name. Serial Number: o This field displays the 11 digit serial number of the device in use. (fw): o Firmware update. Clicking this button displays current firmware version and allows firmware update when available. -
Page 21: Attenuator Control Features
Attenuator Control Features Attenuator Displays: o The attenuator displays show the current attenuation level of each RUDAT-series programmable attenuator in the system in the “Set Attn:” field. Attenuation levels may be adjusted by typing the desired attenuation value directly into the “Set Attn:”... -
Page 22: Attenuator Sequencing
Attenuator Sequencing Clicking the button on any Attenuator Display opens the attenuator sequencing menu for that attenuator: Figure 19: Attenuator sequencing menu The attenuator sequencing menu displays controls for attenuation sweeping and hopping as well as other useful functions for automating various attenuation patterns for the selected attenuator. Sweep Mode: Selecting the “Sweep Mode”... - Page 23 Att. (dB): The given attenuation value at each step in the sequence. Values are entered by the user and must be in denominations of 0.25 dB. Dwell Time: Sets the time interval over which attenuation will remain at each step in the sweep.
- Page 24 Status: This field displays the current attenuation level setting of the selected attenuator. Save and Recall Test Profiles: The software allows you to save the settings for specific attenuation patterns as a configuration file and recall them for repeated use. If the same settings are used often and repeatedly for a given test, this function avoids having to restore settings individually, saving time.
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Page 25: Switch Control Features
Switch Control Features Switch Displays: o The switch displays show a visual representation of each switch with the active path highlighted red o The switch state is changed by clicking the port that the common port should be connected to o The yellow cells at the bottom of the display indicate the switch counts, with a separate count for each port of the switch (ie: the number of times that the common port has been connected to it) -
Page 26: Direct Mode
Direct Mode Clicking the “Run Direct Mode Program” button at the top of the GUI main screen opens the direct mode screen: Figure 23: Direct mode screen Direct mode allows the user to send commands directly to the RCM unit. Multiple legal commands may be sent simultaneously by separating them with a semicolon (;) or an ampersand (&). - Page 27 Send: Clicking “Send” executes the commands listed in the “Send Commands” field. Be sure to click the “Send” button corresponding to the connection type (USB or Ethernet) you are using. Commands listed in the “Send Commands” field will not be implemented until the “Send”...
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Page 28: Ethernet Configuration
Ethernet Configuration: NOTE: You must be connected to the RCM unit via USB to access Ethernet configuration controls. Clicking “Ethernet Config” from the GUI Main Control opens the Ethernet configuration screen: Figure 24: Ethernet configuration screen The Ethernet configuration screen enables the user to control the following IP settings: Use DHCP (Dynamic IP) –... -
Page 29: Updating Firmware
7.5. Updating Firmware All products are shipped with the latest available firmware and an update is usually not required. Mini-Circuits occasionally makes firmware update files available as a courtesy to add additional features or correct known issues. Please contact testsolutions@minicircuits.com for details. - Page 30 2) The firmware info window will appear, displaying the current version of firmware: Current Version Figure 26: Firmware info window 3) Once you’ve downloaded the latest firmware version provided by Mini-Circuits, you can begin updating by clicking “Update Firmware” in the firmware info window. Click to Update Figure 29: Click “Update Firmware”...
- Page 31 Figure 270: Firmware browse menu 5) A status indicator will appear on screen and advise when the update is complete. The RCM unit will then automatically restart for the new firmware to take effect. Test Solutions - User Guide Page 31 RCM Series Compact Modular Test Systems 4-Oct-17 (A3)
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Page 32: Programming Support
7.6. Programming Support In addition to the supplied GUI program, you may also create your own control interface for Mini-Circuits RCM Series test equipment. Mini-Circuits offers support for a variety of operating systems, programming environments, and third party applications including (but not limited to): ... -
Page 33: Return Material Authorization (Rma) Procedure
Mini-Circuits sales representative. They will review your RMA request, and per Mini-Circuits RMA policy, issue an identification number to ensure proper handling. All returns must be accompanied by appropriate Mini- Circuits identification and documentation to ensure proper handling.
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