Table of Contents
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Revision 2.3
Contents
1.0 Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.0 Features .................................................................................................................................................... 3
3.0 Connections & Controls .......................................................................................................................... 4
4.0 Operation ................................................................................................................................................. 5
5.0 Basic Usage................................................................................................................................................ 9
6.0 Advanced Usage ..................................................................................................................................... 10
7.0 Technical Support ................................................................................................................................. 11
Appendix A: Specifications .......................................................................................................................... 12
Appendix B: Loading New Software ........................................................................................................... 13
Appendix C: Calibration ............................................................................................................................ 15
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Summary of Contents for Palstar ZM30
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Page 1: Table Of Contents
Revision 2.3 Contents 1.0 Overview ..............................2 2.0 Features ..............................3 3.0 Connections & Controls .......................... 4 4.0 Operation ..............................5 5.0 Basic Usage..............................9 6.0 Advanced Usage ............................. 10 7.0 Technical Support ..........................11 Appendix A: Specifications .......................... 12 Appendix B: Loading New Software ...................... -
Page 2: Overview
1.0 Overview The ZM-30 “Digital Antenna Z Bridge” is a quality measurement instrument that determines antenna system performance across the amateur bands through use of automatically collected SWR and complex impedance readings. It was designed to be easily operated on the bench as well as in-hand while portable. The analyzer is comprised of a single printed circuit board containing all components, connectors, controls and a 2 row by 16 character liquid crystal display (LCD). -
Page 3: Features
2.0 Features Manual and automated antenna analysis based on SWR and complex impedance measurements Operating modes provide for measurement of network impedance, and components (inductors and capacitors) VFO operating mode provides RF signal source at output, serving as VFO and test signal Powerful 8-bit microcontroller controls all aspects of the operation High-precision, low power DDS signal generator is used as rock-solid signal source Internal reflectometer measures forward, reflected and impedance signals... -
Page 4: Connections & Controls
BAND User can select one of three bands, or a custom set band, for the scan operation: MODE User can change - 1-10 MHz the ZM30 to any of the 4 - 10-20 Mhz available operating - 20-30 Mhz modes: - Custom Band... -
Page 5: Operation
4.0 Operation 1) Power Control The ZM-30 utilizes a unique power circuit that is controlled by the momentary contact On/Off pushbutton located on the front panel. Power is turned on to the unit by pressing-and-holding the On/Off pushbutton until the version of software is displayed, and then the pushbutton can be released. - Page 6 determine if a minima, or a “dip”, has occurred at this point in the scan. If so, that data point is stored for later display. The Scan takes approximately 6 seconds at the 1 kHz step rate. At the end of the scan, the Impedance mode is automatically entered and the SWR and impedance data at the frequency of resonance is displayed.
- Page 7 • Capacitance -- Capacitance mode may be entered at any time by pressing the dial pushbutton when Capacitance is displayed. Upon entry to the Capacitance mode, you will see the following typical display for about ½ second: Capacitance (pF) Then, the capacitance display screen is shown, as illustrated below when a 120 pF capacitor is connected to the RF output jack.
- Page 8 Update Software – This function is used when upgrading the ZM-30 software in the field. Whenever newer or improved capability software is available, the user may download the binary file from the PalStar website to his local PC. (For additional detail on upgrading ZM-30 software programs in the field, see Appendix D.)
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Page 9: Basic Usage
5.0 Basic Usage The ZM-30 antenna analyzer is an extremely useful instrument to have around the ham shack or homebrewer’s workbench. The analyzer is suitable to serve in the following ways: Antenna measurements: The antenna is simply connected to the analyzer antenna terminal and the analyzer is set to the desired frequency. The readout gives the resultant SWR, impedance, reactance and resistance. -
Page 10: Advanced Usage
6.0 Advanced Usage The ZM-30 antenna analyzer is an instrument that can be used for a number of uses well beyond simple SWR and impedance measurements. The following list presents some of these advanced uses. Tuned Circuit Resonance Resonance of a tuned circuit can be measured in several ways. 51Ω... -
Page 11: Technical Support
7.0 Technical Support If you experience any problems with the ZM-30, or if you have any questions relative to its operation or specifications, please contact Palstar at (937) 773-6255. Be sure to visit the ZM-30 product website at www.palstar.com to check for product updates and other technical information... -
Page 12: Appendix A: Specifications
APPENDIX A: SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Generation & Control: • 1 - 30 MHz • Source Impedance: 50-Ohms • Stability: +/- 50 ppm • Spectral Purity: Harmonics down >-35 dB beyond 30 MHz • Step Size: User configurable increments of 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz Usable Measurement Range: •... -
Page 13: Appendix B: Loading New Software
So instead of needing to send your instrument back for re-programming to get these new features, you can now simply download the program update from the Palstar website and send it to the ZM-30, and the instrument will automatically update its internal memory with the new program. What a great way... - Page 14 IN CASE OF SOFTWARE LOADING PROBLEMS The normal indication of new software being successfully sent to the ZM-30 is seeing line-after-line of nicely- formatted text data being displayed to the PC terminal screen, as indicated in Step #10 above. However if this process is interrupted for some reason (such as your computer accessing the Internet in the background, or you task switching over to another program), the PC data link to the ZM-30 can get out of sync, resulting in either a complete stopping of the scrolling data lines, or unusual and unformatted data continually being displayed to the screen.
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Page 15: Appendix C: Calibration
APPENDIX C: Calibration The user may occasionally find the need to recalibrate the ZM-30 instrument, such as when new software updates are available that change the way in which calibration data are used, or when the characteristics of the DDS signal source change in any regard.
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