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LAN-SDR

User Manual

Version V1.2

SSB 2010

Document

LAN-SDR - User Manual

Version V1.2, Issue 11/18/2010.

Copyright

This document is protected by copyright laws.

Trademarks

For better legibility, in this document marking of trademarks is waived. This should not mislead to the assumption that these trademarks are to be used freely by anybody.

Contact for Errors or Complaints

The product is the result of highest possible effort for reliable function and easy usability. When editing this document, greatest importance was attached to com-pleteness and correctness.

Even so, if you find an error or incompleteness, contact the address above.

The document is subject to change without prior announcement.

SSB-Electronic GmbHHandwerkerstraße 19

D-58638 Iserlohn

Tel.: +49-(0) 2371-9590-0

E-Mail: [email protected]

User Manual

LAN-SDR

Table of Contents

1 About this Document 5

1.1 Purpose of this Document 5

1.2 Using this Document 5

1.3 Special Representations 6

2 Introduction 9

2.1 Overview 9

2.2 Tuner 92.2.1. Front Panel 102.2.2. Rear Panel 112.2.3. Block Diagram 122.2.4. Technical Data 122.2.5. Preselectors 142.2.6. Environmental Requirements 15

2.3 Software Program 162.3.1. Features and Functions 172.3.2. PC Requirements 19

3 Preparations and Maintenance 21

3.1 Checking the Delivery 21

3.2 Installing the Software 22

3.3 Setting up the Tuner 24

3.4 Setting up the Connection between Tuner and PC 253.4.1. Preparations 263.4.2. Checking the Network Settings 273.4.3. PC with a Network Connection 293.4.4. Standalone PC 303.4.5. Setting up the Tuner IP Address 333.4.6. Testing the Connection 363.4.7. Adjusting the Windows Firewall 39

3.5 Setting up Audio and DRM Output 40

3.6 Maintenance Activities 41

3.7 Disposal 41

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4 Working with LAN-SDR 43

4.1 Starting the Program 43

4.2 Using Online Help 44

4.3 Menu Bar 45

4.4 Status Bar 46

4.5 Control Panels 474.5.1. Antenna and Tuner Control 484.5.2. Analog Demodulator Control 504.5.3. Speaker Control 544.5.4. Signal Recording and Replaying 554.5.5. Viewer Panels 594.5.6. Spectrum Display 604.5.7. Spectrogram Display 614.5.8. Freezing the Displays 62

4.6 Working with Graphical Displays 624.6.1. Adjusting Demodulator Center Frequency and Bandwidth 634.6.2. Measuring in Graphical Displays 654.6.3. Resizing, Zooming and Panning 68

4.7 Customizing the Viewers 724.7.1. Spectrum Representation 724.7.2. Spectrogram Representation 744.7.3. Visible Components 764.7.4. Reset 77

4.8 Working with Setups 774.8.1. Managing Setups 784.8.2. Working with Categories 804.8.3. Automatically Stepping through Setups 824.8.4. Exporting and Importing Setups 834.8.5. Changing the Parameters of a Setup 84

4.9 Displaying System or UTC Time Values 85

4.10 Resetting the Tuner 85

Index 87

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1 About this DocumentUser Manual

LAN-SDR

1 About this DocumentThis chapter provides an overview of this document and informationon its use.

1.1 Purpose of this Document

This manual contains information about the structure, function andoperation of LAN-SDR (LAN – Software Defined Receiver). Themanual is intended to enable and to facilitate your work and the us-age of the LAN-SDR.

Read and use the manual if you work with the LAN-SDR and oper-ate the software.

1.2 Using this Document

This manual consists of:

• an overview of the LAN-SDR

• a list of the components of the system to check the complete-ness of the delivery

• instructions how to put the LAN-SDR into operation

• detailed operating instructions how to use the receiver and the software

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1.3 Special Representations

This sections shows special representations as they are used in thismanual.

Cross references Cross references are displayed as shown here.

Controls The steps in the chapters containing step wise instructions partiallyrefer to on-screen controls. These are, e. g.:

• buttons or register tabs to be clicked with the mouse

• lists from which elements are to be selected (drop down list fields etc.)

• fields into which text is to be entered (text fields)

All these carry labels which are represented as shown here.

Keys If keys or combinations of keys are required for operation, then thisis represented as follows:

• [Ctrl + a] means that the "Ctrl" key and the "a" key (lower case) must be pressed simultaneously

• [Return] means that the "Return" key must be pressed.

• [Shift] means that the "Shift" key must be pressed

The steps of the instructions are numbered and should be carriedout in the given order if nothing else is denoted.

Warnings Warnings are indicated like this:

This means that you need to act and follow the given instructionscarefully, otherwise data loss or other damages occur.

Important!

Total Data loss possible!

Before you activate this function, ensure that important data are saved to another place previously!

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Notes Notes are indicated like this:

Notes give advice or recommendations in special situations. Theymay demand special attention, however, if they are not followed, nodamage or danger occurs.

Note(s):

Contact your system administrator if you need a user account to log on to the computer system.

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2 IntroductionUser Manual

LAN-SDR

2 Introduction This chapter gives an overview of LAN-SDR. It introduces the com-ponents tuner and the operating software.

Furthermore, the chapter lists the core features of the system, thetechnical data and environmental and system requirements.

2.1 Overview

LAN-SDR is intended to be used to receive radio signals and to out-put them over LAN or USB for visualisation, and, if desired, for re-cording.

It consists of

• the tuner hardware to connect antenna and LAN or USB cable

• a software program that allows to control the tuner and to record radio signals

In the following, the components are described in more details.

2.2 Tuner

The tuner receives radio signals from the connected antenna.

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Features are:

• HF Tuner 100 kHz – 30 MHz

• Built-in Digital Down Converter (DDC)

- wideband: 500 kHz IF bandwidth,

• High dynamic range of 16 bit ADC

• LAN interface

• USB interface

• Software controlled

• Flexible for customising

• Fully remote controllable

• CBB (complex base band)

2.2.1. Front Panel

The tuner front panel provides the On/Off switch and LEDs indicat-ing the tuner status:

On-/Off Switch message Error indicator

status Receiving status power Power indicator

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LEDs The LEDs at the front panel have the following meaning:

After switching on or resetting the tuner, the status and the messageLEDs light up shortly.

2.2.2. Rear Panel

The tuner rear panel provides the connectors for antennas and LAN/USB, and power

status Receiving status of the tuner. The LED flashes when the tuner is receiving. The larger the bandwidth of the receiver is, the faster the LED will be flashing. If the LED is off, the tuner receives nothing.

message Error indicator. The LED lights red while

• the internal analogue-digital converter ADC is overloaded

• a LAN error occurs (only if an existing LAN connection is interrupted)

power Power indicator:

• on: power is on

• off: power is off

HF1/HF2 Antenna input USB USB output

Power Supply

Power connector LAN LAN output

GND Ground connector

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2.2.3. Block Diagram

The following figure shows the block diagram of the tuner:

2.2.4. Technical Data

The technical data of the tuner are:

Analog to Digital ConverterSampling Rate 66.66 MS/sec

Digital Post Processing

Bandwidth over LAN

Bandwidth over USB

Digital Down Converter

Selectable: 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, 150, 250, 500 kHz

Selectable: 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, 150 kHz

Digital Output via LANComplex Baseband Maximum Data Rate

16 bit signed integer, I and Q samples approx. 2.5 MByte / sec

Digital Output via USBComplex Baseband Maximum Data Rate

16 bit signed integer, I and Q samples approx. 750 kByte / sec

Operating Temperature 0°C to 50°C

Storage Temperature -40°C to 70°C

Humidity Max. 85%, non-condensing

Supply 85-264 Volt AC, 50-60 Hz, 25 Watt

Mechanical Table HousingWidthHeightDepthWeight

215 mm 1 RU (Rack Units)320 mm1.6 kg

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Mechanical 2 Tuners combined with option RMKWidthHeightDepthWeight

19 inch 1 RU (Rack Units)322 mm3.2 kg

InterfacesRF Inputs

LANUSBPower Supply

HF1 and HF2, N, Female, 50 Ohm

RJ45, (100 Base-T)USB SocketIEC 320

StandardsMTBF

Compliant to

> 10.000 hrs (MIL-HDBK)EN 61010-1:2002 / EN 61000-6-2:2002/ EN 61000-6-3:2002

Frequency Range 100 kHz - 30 MHz

Tuning Resolution 1 Hz

HF Bandwidth 8 kHz to 500 kHz

RF Gain Max. HF 20 dB min.

Maximum Attenuation HF 30 dB

Attenuator Stepwidth HF 10 dB

Gain Control AGC, MGC

Input Sensitivity

AM, 6 kHz BW, Mi=0.5, Fm=1.0 kHz for 10 dB /SNR

-108 dBm

SSB, 2.7 kHz BW for 10 dB /SNR

-116 dBm

FM, 15 kHz BW, 5 kHz Deviation, Fm=0.4 kHz for 20 dB /SNR

-103 dBm

Oscillator Phase NoiseHF@ 1 kHz offsetHF@ 10 kHz offset

-120 dBc/Hz typ.-110 dBc/Hz max-130 dBc/Hz typ.-110 dBc/Hz max

Maximum Input Power +14 dBm with input attenuator active

Input IP3 > 35 dBm (1 - 30 MHz)40 dBm typ.

Input IP2 > 75 dBm85 dBm typ.

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2.2.5. Preselectors

The tuner provides an 11-band preselectors with the following band-widths:

The preselector suppresses outband signals.

Noise Figure 9 dB typ.

Preselector 11-Band

SFDR(referred to full scale of A/D converter)

> 85 dB

Oscillator Reradiation at antenna input

< -110 dBm

Spurious Response < -110 dBm (1 – 30 MHz)

HF11 Band Preselectors

Band 0 Preselector bypass

Band 1 0.1 MHz 0.5 MHz











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2.2.6. Environmental Requirements

Keep to the environmental data given in Technical Data on page 12.

Additionally, the following environmental requirements must be ful-filled at the location where to use the tuner:

• The place must be free of dirt and liquids and should not be exposed to direct sunlight, excessive heat, dust, humidity and vibrations.

• Protect the tuner from

- any contact with liquids

- static discharge from discones or long wire antennas

- strong RF fields from nearby transmitters

• Use grounded antennas only.

• The distance to the computer to connect cannot be more than the cable length (USB or LAN)

• Ground connector must be present

• Power supply must be present

• the antenna connector must be present

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2.3 Software Program

The software program is used to control the tuner.

Core features of the software are:

Controlling the tuner Navigating within the signals

Selecting the antenna Managing different tuner and pro-gram setups

Controlling the analog demodulator

Narrowband recording

Controlling AGC and MGC (auto-matic and manual gain)

Wideband recording

Using preselectors Replaying wideband recordings

Visualising signals (spectrum, spectrogram)

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2.3.1. Features and Functions

This subsection describes briefly which functions and features thesoftware provides to control the tuner.

Controlling thetuner

The software is used to control the tuner. The tuner outputs an IFsignal. After the connection to the tuner is set up, the software al-lows to

• set the tuner frequency and bandwidth

• to set the gain manually or automatically

• select the receiving antenna

Controlling theanalog

demodulator

The analog demodulator demodulates an AF signal that is con-tained in the IF signal from the tuner. To do this, demodulator fre-quency and bandwidth, different modulation types, and filters canbe applied.

The output of the analog demodulator is audible over the PC speak-ers and/or headset.

Usingpreselectors

Usage of the tuner preselectors can be enabled and disabled. Thepreselector is used to suppress outband signals.

Visualising andnavigating within

the signals

The program shows the wideband signal graphically as spectrumand spectrogram.

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The instruments to navigate in the graphics, as known from com-mon graphic processing applications (moving, zooming in and out,etc.) can be applied easily.

The program allows for navigation in both time direction and fre-quency direction, and there are several tools as buttons and scrollbars for zooming and step wise scanning the signal (step mode).

Additionally, the software allows to set the demodulator center fre-quency by a special cursor that can be moved through the spectra.

Measuring The software allows measurements within in the signals. Differenttypes of measurement cursors can be moved over signal segments,which can be zoomed in and out. It is easy to find the difference be-tween peaks and channels or the time distance of bursts or hops.

Managingdifferent tuner

and programsetups

If the tuner is once set up to receive and demodulate a certain sig-nal, it may be of interest, to document the settings or to transferthese settings to another computer or to store them for later reuse.

For these cases, the software provides easy-to-use means to saveand restore program settings as setup files.

Widebandrecording and

replaying

While it is received, the wideband signal can be recorded for furtherprocessing and analysis. The stored signal can be reloaded for vis-ualisation and navigation and demodulation of narrowband signals.

Narrowbandrecording

The demodulated signal can be recorded while it is received. Theresulting AF file can be played by the WAVE-file player of the oper-ating system and/or post processed by other audio processing soft-ware.

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2.3.2. PC Requirements

The PC used to run the software and to control the tuner, must fulfilthe following technical requirements at minimum:

Processor Dual Core 2x2 GHz

Graphic Memory min. 256 MBHardware accelaration

Monitor Resolution min. 1152 x 768

RAM > 1 GB recommended

Disk Space minimum 200 MB

Operating systems Windows 7/Vista/XP

Interfaces LAN and/or USB according to Technical Data on page 12.

Audio System audio device required

CD/DVD drive Required

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3 Preparations and MaintenanceUser Manual

LAN-SDR

3 Preparations and MaintenanceThis chapter describes and instructs what must be prepared beforeLAN-SDR can be used.

Proceed in the following steps:

• unpack the tuner and check the completeness of the delivery

• install the software on your computer

• setup the tuner

The chapter also contains information about the maintenance of thetuner. All the steps are described in the following sections.

3.1 Checking the Delivery

Unpack the tuner and check the delivery for completeness and dam-ges.

The delivery comprises of:

1. Tuner

2. Power cable

3. USB cable

4. LAN cable

5. Software CD

6. Quick installation guide

If any of these parts are missing or are defective or damaged, con-tact your supplier.

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3.2 Installing the Software

Before you can work with LAN-SDR, the software needs to be in-stalled.

In the following, the installation procedure under Windows is shown.

To install the software:

1. Switch on your computer. If requested, log on to a user ac-count with administrator privileges.

2. Insert the LAN-SDR CD into the CD drive of the computer.

3. If autostart is active for this drive, the CD starts automatically.Otherwise start the program install.exe on the CD manu-ally.

The installation program starts with a window like this:

Do not change any of the settings shown and click on Next.

Note(s):

To install the software, administrator privileges are required!

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4. Read the license information and click on Next.

5. You can select an installation directory different to the sug-gested, if desired. If so, click on Browse and select the other di-rectory or enter the path manually.

6. If the indicated installation directory is correct, click on Next andconfirm that the directory is to be created. Now the driver in-stallation starts.

7. Click on Next and finally on Finish. The driver is installed. Thenext installation window shows up.

The installation process starts. Progress is indicated by the progress bar. During the process, you are requested to con-firm, that a driver is allowed to be installed.

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8. Click on the button to the next step to install the driver. Instal-lation is complete.

9. Click on Done.

Afterwards, the software is installed and ready to use.

3.3 Setting up the Tuner

Follow the instructions to set up the tuner:

1. Search a proper place for the tuner. Refer to EnvironmentalRequirements on page 15.

2. Connect the antenna plug to the HF1 or HF2 connector of thetuner.

3. Connect ground to the wingnut next to the antenna inputs.

4. Connect the tuner to power. For the next steps, the tuner is ex-pected to be switched off.

Continue with setting up the connection between tuner and PC.

Important!

Overload can damage the tuner!

Ensure that the antenna inputs cannot be overloaded, especially if you con-nect signal generator devices.

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3.4 Setting up the Connection between Tuner and PC

If you just want tocheck an existing

connection, refer toTesting the

Connection onpage 36.

Before you can work with the tuner, the connection between tunerand PC must be established. The tuner provides two interfaces:

• LAN interface

• USB interface

The LAN interface is to be preferred because data transmission ismuch faster than over the USB interface. The purpose of the USBinterface is just to set up the tuner for operation over the LAN inter-face or may replace the LAN interface if it cannot be used for certainreasons.

However, to avoid conflicts with the network settings, please followthe instructions in the subsequent sections.

Note(s):

If a USB connection is present and the tuner is concurrently connected directly by a LAN cable (i.e: without a LAN switch between tuner and PC), the connection may fail due to the automatic Windows network configuration.

In this case remove the LAN cable, conduct the IP configuration via USB only, then replace the USB by the LAN connection.

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3.4.1. Preparations

To use the LAN interface of the tuner, the network configuration ofyour PC must be checked and possibly changed, so that the tunercan be accessed, and, if the PC is connected to a network, the ac-cess over the network is possible without disturbing network opera-tion.

Furthermore, keep the following rules in mind when operating thetuner via the LAN interface:

• The tuner must be provided with a fix IP address. The IP address is permanently stored within the tuner and cannot change dynamically.

• The IP factory settings of the tuner are:

If you are not familiar with the network to which your PC is connect-ed, it is recommended to ask your network administrator for assist-ance.

Operating system The following instructions describe the configuration process underMicrosoft Windows 7. If you use a different Windows version, thesteps are similar. In doubt, consult the online help of the operatingsystem (available if you press the [F1] key on the Windows desk-top).

IP Address: 192.168.0.10

Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Gateway 192.168.0.1

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3.4.2. Checking the Network Settings

Before you begin you need to know whether your PC is connectedto a network or standalone. You might know this anyway from dailyoperation, but if you are not sure, you can find out it by checking thenetwork settings of your PC:

1. Ensure you are logged on to your PC with administrator pri-vileges.

2. Call Start | Control Panel | Network and Internet and select Networkand Sharing Center.

3. If there is a network connection indicated under View your activenetworks, then networks are available.

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4. If so, click left on Change adapter settings:

5. Consider the network connections: wireless connections arenot relevant, and if LAN connections are virtual networks thatare not assigned to any physical network adapter, they can beignored, too.

If active LAN connections are indicated, your PC is connected to a network. In this case, proceed as described in PC with a Network Connection on page 29.

– or –

if no active networks are indicated, there is no network con-nection and your PC is standalone. In this case, continue with Standalone PC on page 30.

Now you have determined whether your PC is part of a network orstandalone. This is important to know how to continue correctly.

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3.4.3. PC with a Network Connection

Continue with this section if you found that your PC is part of a net-work, as described in section Checking the Network Settings onpage 27. If you are not sure if your PC is standalone or in a network,follow the instructions given there.

If your PC is part of a network, IP data for the tuner must be chosenthat allow PC and tuner to communicate over the network withoutcausing network problems. How to chose the IP settings for the tun-er properly is shown and explained in the following steps.

To enable communication to the tuner, it must be configured so thatit is within IP subnet that is also used by your PC, and you need tofind an IP address for the tuner that is not used by other deviceswithin the subnet.

Keep in mind the following rules:

• The tuner needs a fix IP address. The IP address is perma-nently stored within the tuner and cannot change dynamically.

The IP address must be unique within the LAN subnet, it can-not be used by any other device within the subnet. Address conflicts can result in network problems.

If a DHCP server is in use, the address of the tuner must be out of the IP address range from which the DHCP server automatically grants IP addresses to requesting devices.

• Tuner and PC must reside within the same IP subnet.

Note(s):

Static IP data required!

To operate the tuner in a LAN requires that the PC is operated with always the same IP subnet with the same IP netmask and gateway.

This is usually true in networks with DHCP servers (DSL router, company LAN). In doubt, consult your network administrator.

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In doubt, ask your network administrator for a suitable IP address.You need to know the following network settings for the tuner PC:

• IP address

• Subnet

• Gateway

When you a suitable IP configuration for the tuner is availabe to you,continue with Setting up the Tuner IP Address on page 33.

3.4.4. Standalone PC

Continue with this section if you found that your PC is standaloneand not part of a network, as described in section Checking the Net-work Settings on page 27. If you are not sure if your PC is stan-dalone, follow the instructions given there.

If your PC is standalone, tuner and PC need different IP addressesin the same subnet. To arrange this, proceed as follows:

1. Bring the Network Connections window to front (it is probably stillopen from the previous steps):

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2. Right click the network adapter to which you want to connectthe tuner and select Properties:

3. Select Internet Protocol Version IPv4 under This connection usesthe following items:

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4. Click on the Properties button below. The following windowshows up:

5. Select Use the following IP address and enter the following val-ues.

Click on OK when finished. The window closes.

6. Click on OK again, to close the Connection Properties window.

Now, the PC is set up. Continue with setting up the tuner IP address.

Note(s):

Make notes of your current network settings!

It is recommended to note the network settings before changing your PC con-figuration to be able to restore them later if needed.

IP Address: 192.168.0.100

Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

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3.4.5. Setting up the Tuner IP Address

To set up the IP address of the tuner, the software provides the tun-er configuration wizard guiding you through the procedure.

USB connection Connect tuner and PC per USB cable:

1. Use the USB cable to connect the tuner to the PC. All connec-tors are located at the back panel of the tuner.

Connect the cable to the tuner:

Connect the other end of the cable to the referring interface of your computer.

If tuner and PC are connected by a LAN cable, remove it.

Driver installation If the tuner is connected to the PC the first time, the process startswith the software driver installation for the tuner:

1. Switch the tuner on.

The Windows hardware assistant asks for a hardware driver.

2. Select the radio button that you do not want to connect to Win-dows Update to search for software, and click on the button tothe next step.

Note(s):

Use the USB cable to set up the LAN interface!

It is strictly recommended to use the USB connection to adjust the IP address!

USB

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3. Select the radio button, that you want to conduct automaticsoftware installation, and click on the button to the next step.

A progress bar indicates the progress of the driver installa-tion.

4. Click on the button to finish the installation.

Now the driver is installed.

Entering thetuner IP address

Continue with entering or editing the IP address of the tuner:

1. To continue, administrator privileges are not needed anymore.Change to a user log-in with normal user privileges.

2. Double click the LAN-SDR program icon on the PC desktop:

Wait until the the program has started. A splash screen shows the progress of the starting procedure.

3. Call File | Tuner Configuration Wizard.

4. Ensure that the checkmark Connection over USB is set.

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5. Click on Configure.

6. Enter the new IP settings for the tuner:

– either –

enter the IP data you have investigated or received from your network administrator if the PC is connected to a LAN, as described in PC with a Network Connection on page 29

– or –

enter the following IP data if the PC is standalone and you used the PC IP settings as described in Standalone PC on page 30:

7. Click on Apply and Next. The new settings are loaded to thetuner.

A window shows up requesting you to switch off and on the tuner.

8. Remove the USB cable and reconnect tuner and PC by theLAN cable.

9. Switch off and on the tuner as requested.

10. Click on OK and on Finish.

IP Address: 192.168.0.10

Netmask: 255.255.255.0

Gateway 192.168.0.1

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Now tuner and PC are connected over the LAN interface and the IPsettings are permanently stored in the tuner. They will be present,even if the tuner is switched off and on.

If the tuner is switched on, the indicator colour in the program turnsto green, the status LED flashes, and the spectrum and spectrogramwindows start displaying the received signal. Otherwise, refer toTesting the Connection on page 36.

Continue with Adjusting the Windows Firewall on page 39.

3.4.6. Testing the Connection

If you are in doubt about the functionality of the connection betweentuner and PC, you can test it:

1. Run the LAN-SDR program.

2. Call File | Tuner Configuration Wizard.

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3. Click on Check to test the connection. The result of the checkis indicated in the upper area of the window:

If the checks fail, the tuner was not reachable. The reasons can be manifold:

- tuner is switched off

- improper cable connections

- improper installation/configuration

- firewall settings

- defective cable or interfaces

- improper IP address setting (resulting in network prob-lems with and of other networking devices)

Try to solve the problem and retry to check the connection.

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4. If the check passes, the connection is established and youcan use the tuner over USB or LAN, depending on your selec-tion.

If you want to use the tuner over LAN, you can remove the USB cable.

If the tuner is switched on, the indicator colour in the program turnsto green, the status LED flashes, and the spectrum and spectrogramwindows start displaying the received signal.

Note(s):

If you switch from LAN to USB or vice versa, switch off and on the tuner!

Note(s):

If the connection fails:

• ensure that the tuner is switched on

• check the IP address if you use the LAN connection

• reduce the bandwidth if you use the USB connection

• check the connection cabling

• check the firewall settings of your PC

• check the installation

Note(s):

If a USB connection is present and the tuner is concurrently connected directly by a LAN cable (i.e: without a LAN switch between tuner and PC), the connection may fail due to the automatic Windows network configuration.

In this case remove the LAN cable, conduct the IP configuration via USB only, then replace the USB by the LAN connection.

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3.4.7. Adjusting the Windows Firewall

The firewall may cause problems, if it blocks the traffic between PCand tuner. In this case, make the firewall allow the communicationprogram between PC and tuner to send and receive data over theLAN interface.

When first usingthe program

When running the LAN-SDR program the first time:

1. The firewall software will question whether you want to haveLAN-SDR communication components VGStart and VG-Group to be blocked. In this case, refuse blocking the components.

Correcting theSettings

Under Windows, the firewall settings can still later be corrected inthe following way:

1. Open the Windows Firewall panel. Call Start | Settings | ControlPanel | Windows Firewall.

2. Select the Exceptions tab.

3. Press the Add Program button.

4. Select the communication programs for the tuner VGStart.and VGGroup.Find the program files VGStart.exe and VGGroup.exe in:\vg\system\win32Note that represents the path to the LAN-SDR soft-ware installation directory on your computer (this is typically C:\Program Files\LAN-SDR).

Different firewall software may require a different procedure. Referto the manual of that software for instructions.

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3.5 Setting up Audio and DRM Output

Usually the audio settings of your computer will allow for listening tothe demodulated analogue signals.

However, LAN-SDR needs some preparation if you want to listen toDRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) broadcasts. In this case you need:

• software to decode DRM signals

• software directing the DRM signal from the LAN-SDR pro-gram to the decoding software (virtual audio cable).

LAN-SDR can receive DRM signals and outputs them to the “virtualaudio cable”. The DRM decoder software uses the “virtual audio ca-ble” as input and makes the signal audible.

To prepare LAN-SDR, proceed as follows:

1. Ensure that the DRM decoder software and a virtual audio ca-ble software are properly installed on your computer.

2. Set up an audio channel for the DRM signal with the virtual au-dio cable software. The sample rate must be 44 kHz minimum.Keep the name of this channel in mind.

3. Set up the DRM decoder software to read the signal from thischannel. Refer to the manual of the DRM decoder software.

4. Start the LAN-SDR software and call File | Audio Settings ....

5. Select the virtual audio cable channel under DRM Signal De-vices.

6. Click on OK.

Now the channel is available and ready to use.

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To listen to a DRM broadcasts, you need to adjust the tuner fre-quency and select the correct demodulation type and bandwidth.This is described in Analog Demodulator Control on page 50.

3.6 Maintenance Activities

The tuner does not need any maintenance.

• Keep the tuner free of dust and water.

• Use a smooth dry cloth and wipe the tuner clean from time to time.

3.7 Disposal

Electronic devices, such as the tuner, are no domestic waste andmust be disposed according to the national and regional regula-tions.

Important!

Tuner can be damaged or destroyed by liquids!

Do not use water, benzine, alcohol, thinner, or other liquids because they could damage the tuner casing, and ingress of moisture can cause electrical and mechanical defects or damages.

Important!

Unlawful disposal of electronic devices is hazardous to the environment and can be prosecuted!

Keep to the national and regional regulations of disposal of electronic devices.

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4 Working with LAN-SDRUser Manual

LAN-SDR

4 Working with LAN-SDRThis chapter contains step-by-step instructions showing how towork with the LAN-SDR.

4.1 Starting the Program

To start the LAN-SDR program:

1. Switch on both, tuner and computer. Wait until the computerhas started.

2. Double click the LAN-SDR program icon on the desktop:

The program starts. A splash screen shows the progress of the starting procedure.

Then, if the program started correctly, a window is visible, similar tothis shown in the figure:

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Exit program Later, when finished working, exit the program as follows:

1. Call File | Exit from the menu bar of the window.

4.2 Using Online Help

The online help contains all information needed and useful for pro-gram operation.

Call the online help as follows:

1. To become familiar with the program, it is recommended to ac-cess online help via the table of contents to get an overview.To do so, call Help | Contents.

– or –

If you need help to a certain part of the program panel, click into it to activate it and press [F1]. Within dialogue windows, you might click on the Help button instead.

– or –

To get help on a visible item, call Help | Direct Help and click on the item.

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4.3 Menu Bar

The menu bar is located in the upper edge of the windows.

It contains the following submenus:

• File – contains the commands to

- exit the program (see Exit program on page 44)

- set up the connection between tuner and PC (see Setting up the Connection between Tuner and PC on page 25)

- reset the tuner (see Resetting the Tuner on page 85)

- Audio configuration (see Setting up Audio and DRM Output on page 40)

• Help – contains commands to call online help, see Using Online Help on page 44, and for program information.

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4.4 Status Bar

The status bar is placed in the footer of the window. It contains dif-ferent status indicators:

The meanings of the indicators are:

• application: indicates whether the program started correctly and runs properly. Error messages indicate problems with the software installation.

• connection: indicates whether the connection is fast enough for signal data transmission. Error messages indicate data loss or data gaps.

connection statusapplication status

Note(s):

Data gaps are the result of a poor connection between tuner and PC. To solve the problem:

• Decrease the bandwidth of the tuner to reduce the amount of data to transmit.

• Check the connection cables between tuner and PC.

• If USB connection is used, better switch to LAN connection. USB is suitable for slow connections only.

• If LAN connection is used, ensure that the connection is not obstructed by other LAN traffic.

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4.5 Control Panels

The control panels are used to set all parameters needed to receiveradio signals:

The control panel provides the following subpanels (from left up toright down:

• Antenna and Tuner Control – selects the antenna from which the tuner receives the signals. See Antenna and Tuner Control on page 48.

• FFT Control – controls the settings for the calculation of the graphical displays. See Antenna and Tuner Control on page 48.

• Signal Recording and Replaying – starts and stops record-ing of signal data. Signals are stored to files. You can record wideband signals (IF) as well as narrowband signals (AF). See Signal Recording and Replaying on page 55.

• Analog Demodulator Control – controls the analog demod-ulator to achieve a best possible demodulation results. See Analog Demodulator Control on page 50.

• Speaker Control – controls the audio output of the signal: mute the left and right speaker and control the volume. See Speaker Control on page 54.

The control panels are shown and explained in the following sub-sections.

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4.5.1. Antenna and Tuner Control

You select the receiving antenna inputs HF1 or HF2 of the tunerwithin this panel:

1. Click on the button to select the antenna input. Only one an-tenna input can be active at a time.

The change will take effect immediately.

This panel also controls the FFT settings for the display and the tun-er settings for best possible reception and signal quality.

The parameters are:

FFT Length Sets the length of a block of samples over which the spectrum is calculated.

Average Sets the number of FFTs to averaged to achieve a smoother display.

Frequency (kHz) Sets the center frequency of the tuner in kHz.

Adjust the center frequency by:

• You may enter a k for kilo, an m for Mega, and a g for Giga to faster enter Kilohertz, Megahertz, and Gigahertz values.

• clicking on the up and down buttons to the right of the textfield. The fre-quency changes step-by-step.

FrequencyCorrection

Allows to correct minimal frequency deviations between displays and tuner fre-quency that may occur due to irregularities of the tuner hardware. The value is given in ppm (parts per million) relative to the current center frequency of the tuner.

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FFT Length andAverage

FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation) is the mathematical function withwhich the information in the graphical displays is calculated from theincoming signal. More exactly: FFT calculates the energy magni-tude at each displayed frequency, so that the signal can be visual-ised as spectrum and spectrogram.

The FFT function computes the spectrum over a block of samples.The length of the block is the FFT length. The larger the block is, themore time the calculation needs, however, the more detailed is theresult. If the blocks are shorter, the update frequency of the displaysincreases, but the display becomes more grainy.

To achieve a smoother display, the FFT result of blocks can be av-eraged. The more blocks are averaged, the smoother the displaywill be, however, the update frequency of the display will decrease.

Overloadindicator

The indicator shows if the antenna input is overloaded.

Bandwidth (Hz) Sets the tuner bandwidth.

Preselector Activates or deactivates preselectors.

The preselectors allow to suppress outband signals. For details see Preselec-tors on page 14.

Attenuation Controls the attenuation of the tuner. You can select between AGC (automatic gain control) or different attenutation values in dB.

Tuner foundindicator

The indicator shows whether and where an operational tuner is connected and works properly (green indicator) or if an error occurred (red indicator).

Important!

Overload can damage the tuner!

Ensure that the antenna inputs cannot be overloaded, especially if you con-nect signal generator devices.

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4.5.2. Analog Demodulator Control

This panel controls the analog demodulator to achieve best possibledemodulation results. It provides panels to adjust demodulation aswell as graphical views of the signal spectrum and input level.

In this panel you set up the analog demodulator for proper demod-ulation of the incoming signal. You can vary its center frequency andbandwidth, select between different demodulation types and filtersand control gain.

Spectral Display The spectrum of the signal at the analog demodulator output is vis-ualised left in the spectrum display.

For a detailed description of what capabilities the display provides,read Spectrum Display on page 60 (this refers to the large spectrumdisplay above the analog demodulator panel, however, the two pro-vide the same features).

Signal LevelIndicator

The signal level indicator allows to adjust gain in a way to set the sig-nal to optimum strength.

1. Right click into the indicator, and select whether you desire tosee Peak or RMS (root mean square) displayed.

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AnalogDemodulator

Parameters

The parameters of the analog demodulator are:

CenterFrequency (kHz)

Sets the center frequency of the demodulator.

Adjust the center frequency by:

• entering the frequency value via keyboard. Enter an “m” for Megahertz or and “k” for Kilohertz. Hit the [Return] key to complete the entry.

• move the mouse cursor over a digit in the frequency display and move the mouse wheel up or down. The stepwidth depends on the digit over which the mouse cursor is.

Note that the frequency can also be adjusted by using a cursor in the graphics. See Adjusting Demodulator Center Frequency and Bandwidth on page 63.

BW (Hz) Sets the bandwidth of the demodulator to filter undesired spectral portions. The bandwidth can be coarsely preset by the buttons and refined by the entry field below the buttons.

Note: To change the preset bandwidth value of a button, right click it. A dia-logue window shows up into which you may enter the new value.

Note that the bandwidth can also be adjusted by using a cursor in the graphics. See Adjusting Demodulator Center Frequency and Bandwidth on page 63.

Squelch Activates and deactivates the squelch function.

The squelch function mutes the analog demodulator output when no carrier is found in the input signal.

AFC Activates and deactivates automatic frequency control. AFC corrects the center frequency if it is not exactly set to the signal carrier.

NR Activates and deactivates noise reduction. Noise reduction improves the signal quality.

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NF1, NF2 Notch filters 1 and 2. A notch filter is a band stop. Adjust its center frequency relatively to the analog demodulator frequency, and its bandwidth.

Right click the buttons to adjust the bandwidth of the filters.

The frequencies of the notch filters are indicated by cursors and can be adju-sted in the spectrum viewer of the analog demodulator. The figures show the effect of a notch filter used to suppress an unwanted signal:

AGC/MGC Activates and deactivates automatic gain control. AGC adjusts the signal level so that optimum signal-to-noise ration (SNR) is achieved.

• Control speed can be set to slow, medium or fast.

• If AGC is disabled, gain can be set manually (MGC) by the slide.

The input level meter shows the signal. If it exceeds the maximum, the antenna inputs are overloaded.

off on

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Modulation Type Selects the modulation type.

Signals can be demodulated only if the same modulation type is used for demodulation as for modulation. Select between:

• AM – Amplitude Modulation

• FM – Frequency Modulation

• Wide FM – Wideband FM

• AM-LSB – Lower Side Band

• AM-USB – Upper Side Band

• CW – Continuous Wave

• LSB – Single Side Band, Lower Side Band

• USB – Single Side Band, Upper Side Band

• DRM – DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale, see also Setting up Audio and DRM Output on page 40. Note that this disables speaker control, see Speaker Control on page 54.)

You can select the modulation type over the keyboard: press the [Alt] key and at the same time the key to select a modulation type as is underlined on the referring modulation type button.

BFO Beat Frequency Oscillator.

If modulation type CW is selected, set an appropriate BFO frequency to make the Morse signal audible.

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4.5.3. Speaker Control

You can listen to the audio output over the audio equipment of yourcomputer. The program allows to set the volume and to mute the leftand right speaker.

You can set:

• the volume by moving the slider to up and down

• switch on and off the left and right audio channel (speakers or head phone)

To control the speakers:

1. Move the slide to control volume.

2. Click on the green/red indicators L and R to switch on and offthe left or right channel.

DRM Output Note that speaker control is disabled, if DRM modulation type is en-abled. LAN-SDR DRM output volume is always 100 %. Adjust thevolume with the DRM decoder software.

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4.5.4. Signal Recording and Replaying

This section shows how to save and replay signal files.

Recording AFand IF signals

This panel allows to control recording of AF and IF signal files.

You can record AF (narrowband signals, audio frequency) and IF(wideband signals, intermediate frequency) signals.

• IF signal – the signal record is taken directly from the tuner, according to the tuner settings. The record format is DAT, a specific format for wideband signal files.

• AF signal – the signal record is taken from the analog demodulator, according to the analog demodulator settings. The record format is WAVE.

You can take records of both, AF and IF, simultaneously.

Note(s):

Disk overflow!

Even IF files can grow to big size, depending on bandwidth and recording duration.

To avoid disk overflows it is recommended to purge the disks from time to time from obsolete recordings.

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To record files:

1. Right click into the panel and select Record Options to set therecording parameters:

2. Set the parameters according to your requirements and clickon OK.

The parameters are:.

File name Location and name of the file, into which the signal is recorded. Either type in the location in or click on the folder symbol to look it up.

The programs appends automatically the selected file name postfixes and a consecutive number to the filename. It creates a new file each time you start a new record.

Do not enter a location file suffix, they are preselected by the system (*.wav for AF files and *.dat for IF files).

Signal Type Check the signal type to record:

• AF – audio signal

• IF – wideband signal

File NamePostfixes

Select the postfix variables that are to be appended to the filename.

• Date

• Time

• Frequency

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3. Start and stop recording

Replaying AFfiles

Use the audio player of your computer to replay AF files (WAVEfiles).

Replaying IF files The player allows to replay previously recorded IF signal files (DATfiles). You can navigate in the signal to start playing from a certainentry point. The time values displayed can be absolute or relativetimes.

The signal is displayed in the graphical viewers. You can work withit as if it was currently received by the tuner.

When the file is replayed to its end, the program automatically re-turns to replaying the signal from the tuner. Thus, if you want to con-duct examinations on the file:

• activate Repeat, so that it is replayed continuously

– or –

• click on Pause, so that replaying stops.

Starts AF or IF recording or both depending on your selection.

Stops recording.

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The parameters are:

To play the signal:

1. Right or double click into the panel and select Open file ..., lookup the file (DAT files) and click on OK.

2. Click on the Play button .

Filename The file name of the currently loaded wideband recording file is displayed above the slider.

Slider Sets and shows the current play position.

Time displaysleft and right to

the slider

The date and time at which the wideband recording has been recorded shows up if the mouse cursor remains a while over the slider. The current play position or the start time is additionally displayed left to the slider, duration or end time to the right. The time displayed can be absolute or relative values:

• If absolute, time displayed left and right to the slider are the clock time at which the sample started and ended, if available. The left time display is marked with an A.

When the wideband recording is being played, the left time display shows the original time of the current play position.

• If relative, time displayed left is 0, the time displayed right of the slider is the duration of the sample. The left time displayed is marked with an R.

When the wideband recording is being played, the left time displays the time the signal has been already played, the right time displays the remaining time.

Note that the time can be switched between system time and UTC, see Dis-playing System or UTC Time Values on page 85.

Rewinds/fast forwards about 5 seconds.

Plays the recording once.

Repeat: plays the wideband recording in an endless loop. Click again to stop.

Pauses playing the recording. Click again to continue.

Stops playing the recording.

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4.5.5. Viewer Panels

The viewer panels show the signal as spectrum (power spectrumdensity) and spectrogram. It allows to quick set the demodulatorcenter frequency and to navigate in the graphical displays (zoom,pan, etc.)

The viewer window provides the following sub windows:

• power spectrum density display (upper graph)

• spectrogram display (lower graph)

Both are spectral displays, i. e. the frequency is plotted on the hori-zontal axis. You may scroll through or zoom into and pan the graph-ic and readjust center frequency and bandwidth of the analogdemodulator.

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Control Buttons Furthermore, the viewer window provides a set of buttons to controlthe display:

• enable and disable spectrum and spectrogram display (see Spectrum Display on page 60 and Spectrogram Display on page 61)

• autoscale and scale (see Resizing, Zooming and Panning on page 68)

• freeze (Freezing the Displays on page 62)

• pan left and right and adjust the pan step width and center (see Resizing, Zooming and Panning on page 68)

These are shown and explained in the following subsections.

4.5.6. Spectrum Display

The spectrum display shows the current distribution of signal powerover the frequency:

The display allows to recognize emissions and channels easily. Fur-thermore it can be used, together with the spectrogram display, tonavigate within the signal and to comfortably set center frequenciesand bandwidth of the demodulator.

This is explained in Working with Graphical Displays on page 62.

Certain functions can be called by the context menu.

1. Right click into the graphic to call the context menu.

2. Select the menu command. They are described inCustomizing the Viewers on page 72.

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4.5.7. Spectrogram Display

The spectrogram display shows the distribution of signal power (col-our) over time (vertical axis) and frequency (horizontal axis):

The display allows to recognize emissions and channels easily. Thefrequencies refer to those of the power spectrum density display:their scale is identical.

Furthermore it can be used, together with the power spectrum den-sity display, to navigate within the signal and to comfortably setcenter frequencies and bandwidth of the demodulator.

This is explained in Working with Graphical Displays on page 62.

Certain functions can be called by the context menu.

1. Right click into the graphic to call the context menu.

2. Select the menu command. They are described inCustomizing the Viewers on page 72.

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4.5.8. Freezing the Displays

To view an emission in more detail, to measure, or to take a screen-shot, the graphical displays can be stopped (“frozen”).

1. Click on Freeze.

The displays stop. You can still zoom in and out the display and perform measurements within them.

2. Click the button again to continue the displays.

4.6 Working with Graphical Displays

The graphical displays give an overview of the received signal. Youmay zoom into the signal to see more details and to select part sig-nals for further analysis.

Additionally you may perform measurements: using cursors, youcan determine frequencies and frequency differences as well asamplitudes and amplitude differences and time stamps or durationof signals.

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4.6.1. Adjusting Demodulator Center Frequency and Bandwidth

See also AnalogDemodulator

Control onpage 50.

You may graphically change the position of the analog demodulatorcenter frequency and its bandwidth. To do this, you use the centerfrequency cursor, consisting of a vertical blue line and three blue tri-angles in the navigation bar area, indicating the center frequencyand the bandwidth of the demodulator.

To set both by graphical means, follow the descriptions below.

Adjusting theCenter Frequency

To set the center frequency:

1. Press the [Ctrl] key and left click into one of the graphics at theposition to place the center frequency cursor. The cursorjumps to the clickpoint.

Keep the [Ctrl] key pressed while turning the mouse wheel: the frequency alters in steps of:

- 1 Hz

- 10 Hz if the [Alt] key is pressed additionally

– or –

2. Move the mouse pointer over one of the displays. When it islocated over the center frequency cursor, its shape changes toa horizontal double arrow.

Press the left mouse key while moving the mouse left and right.

Release the mouse key when the cursor is in the desired position.

Center Frequency Cursor

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Or, altvernatively:

1. Use the arrow buttons at the foot of the displays to changethe center frequency in steps. Adjust the step width of eachstep in the text field next to the arrow buttons.

– or –

more comfortable than clicking on the arrow buttons, just turn the mouse wheel up and down while the cursor is in the area below the graphics.

The value of the demodulator center frequency is automaticallytransferred to the frequency field in the Analog Demodulator paneland the analog demodulator is readjusted to the new center fre-quency and bandwidth.

If the Center function is active, the displays are rearranged that thecenter frequency of the analog demodulator is always the center ofthe displays.

AdjustingBandwidth

If the center frequency of the demodulator is set to that of a signaland the appropriate modulation type is selected, continue with set-ting the bandwidth:

1. Press the [Ctrl+Shift] key and left click into one of the graphicsat the position to place the bandwidth cursor. The bandwidth isset to:

- the double value of the difference between center fre-quency and clickpoint for all modulation types whose carrier is in the center fo the signal.

- the single difference between center frequency and clickpoint for USB and LSB signals.

Keep the [Ctrl+Shift] key pressed while turning the mouse wheel: the bandwidth alters in steps of:

- 1 Hz

- 10 Hz if the [Alt] key is pressed additionally

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4.6.2. Measuring in Graphical Displays

Measurements are performed by moving cursor lines over signifi-cant spots in the graphics (peaks and troughs of curves, points em-phasized by colour, etc.). The position of points can be determinedas well as the difference between points.

There are two cursors in horizontal and vertical orientation, betweenwhich the difference is calculated.

This requires enabled cursors and legend. Refer to Visible Compon-ents on page 76.

The measurement cursors are red, but their colour is adjustable.They are located at the edges of the display until used or zoom isactivated. Their position is indicated by small red triangles in thescroll bars with which they can be moved.

Measurement results are shown in the legend at the right of the dis-play. Alternatively, they can be faded in by a mouse click.

Measuring To measure in the displays:

The mouse cursorposition is faded in

when the mousecursor rests for ashort time over a

location within thegraphical displays.

1. Move the mouse pointer over the edge or one of the small tri-angles in the scroll bar of the display where to measure.

2. When the shape of the mouse pointer changes, press the leftmouse key and keep it pressed while you move the mousepointer into the inner of the graphic. The cursor line will followthe movement.

3. Release the mouse button when the cursor is positioned.

Vertical Cursors

Horizontal Cursors Legend

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Alternatively:

1. Bring the mouse pointer over the point you want to measure.

2. Press the [Ctrl] key and right click the measurement point.

3. All measurement cursors are set to the clickpoint.

Hidingmeasurement

cursorstemporarily

You can hide the measurement cursors temporarily, for example, ifthey constrain the visibility of other objects.

1. Double click the cursor or its triangle in the navigation bar toswitch between hiding and showing the cursor.

Result display Cursor positions and differences are displayed in the legend and ap-par in the context menu when you right click a cursor:

Cursor Colour If the measurement cursor is not well visible in front of the back-ground, you can change its colour:

1. Right click the cursor and select Edit Colour. A colour palette isopened.

2. Select a cursor colour.

3. Click on OK.

Note(s):

Measuring time values

If measuring in time domain, note that you can switch between different types of time displays: relative and absolute, and if absolute, between system time and UTC (see Displaying System or UTC Time Values on page 85).

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Using harmoniccursors

Harmonic cursors are a set of equidistant cursors. They are usefulfor measurements within frequency combs etc.

To move harmonic cursors, proceed as follows:

1. To move the complete set of cursors, click with the left mousekey on the first of the cursor lines and move it. Keep the mousekey pressed until the cursor is in the desired position.

2. To change the grid of the cursor set (i. e. the distance betweenthe cursor lines), click with the left mouse key on any of thecursor lines except the first one, and move it. Keep the mousekey pressed until the desired cursor grid is achieved.

The coordinates are displayed as follows:

• Cursor 1: position of the first cursor with which the position of the cursor set is adjusted.

• Cursor 2: position of the cursor next to the first with which the grid is adjusted.

• Delta: grid, or difference between cursor 1 and 2.

In the legend, the distance is indicated as ha-x (or ha-y in the spec-trogram).

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4.6.3. Resizing, Zooming and Panning

To better view details, you may resize the displays, zoom and nav-igate through the signal. If you later need more overview again forbetter navigation, you may return to the previous view, zoom out ororignal size view.

Zoom in horizontal direction (frequency) always is performed onboth displays in the same scale.

Resize You can enlarge the viewer windows horizontically and vertically.

1. Enlarge the window by clicking the indicators in the framearound the viewers:

2. If you enlarge the window horizontically, the Setup panel dissa-pears. To call it back if you want to work with setups, click onthe horizontal indicators again.

For more information on setups, see Working with Setups on page 77.

Furthermore, the program can fit the signal into the current availablespace, so that the best cut-out is displayed automatically. SeeAutoscale on page 71.

Adjust the vertical size of the display here and here:

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Manual Zoom To zoom in:

1. Draw a rectangle with pressed left mouse key around the areayou want to enlarge.

2. When you release the mouse key, the displays change intozoomed view.

3. Repeat the step to zoom again.

To zoom out:

1. Right click into the display and select Zoom Home

– or –

Right click into the display and call Step Back to scale down the view step-by-step

– or –

click on the small house symbol button between the navi-gation bars to return to the “unscaled” view.

Or, alternatively:

1. Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

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Zooming andPanning with

Navigation Bars

Panning means to navigate vertically and horizontally through thesignal. This is possible only after zooming because the completespectrum is displayed when zoom is off.

Use the navigation bars above and right the graphical display tochange the zoom factor and to navigate vertically and horizontally(pan) through the signal:

1. To change the zoom factor, move the mouse pointer over anedge of a navigation bar. If it turns to a double arrow, left clickand move the edge. The display changes accordingly.

The smaller the navigation bar is, the larger is the zoom fac-tor.

2. To navigate (move) within the zoomed display, left click any-where in the navigation bar but the edges. When you move thenavigation bar, the display moves accordingly.

3. To return to the original view without zoom, click the homesymbol up right between the navigation bars.

Scroll bars Home symbol

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Autoscale The program can automatically fit the signal to the available displayand colours. The program can do this either repeatedly when view-ing or once at the beginning.

1. Right click into a display.

2. Select Dynamic Autoscale (or click the Autoscale button) for con-tinuous adaptation:

- On – the display is updated continuously with a short time delay

- Off – no adaptation

- Reset – optimises the display to the current signal, if the delay time is too high and the display is not optimal for a short time. After reset, adaptation continues as described at On.

– or –

select Interactive scale (or click the Scale button or double click the color scale right next to the sonagram) to adapt display and signal once.

Manual Scale You can manually fit the signal into the displays. This requires, thatthe color scale right next to the sonagram is visible (see VisibleComponents on page 76).

1. Ensure that Dynamic Autoscale is off, as described in the sub-section above.

2. Move the mouse cursor over the color scale: either over theupper half of the scale to adjust the upper limit, or over the lo-wer half to adjust the lower limit.

3. Turn the mouse wheel: the limit and thus both displays, spec-trogram and sonagram, are altered according to the new limitvalues.

Still you can adjust the limits as described in Spectrogram Repre-sentation on page 74.

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Zoom Home Displays the complete signal. Alternatively click on the small buttonupright between the navigation bars.

Step Back Returns to the previous zoom step.

4.7 Customizing the Viewers

The following subsections describe the context menu commands ofthe viewers. Context menus are called by a right click in the graph-ical displays.

4.7.1. Spectrum Representation

You can set the colour of the curve and the envelope in the spec-trum. The envelope shows the minimum and maximum values overa given time.

To set the properties:

1. Right click into the desired display and select Spectrum Repre-sentation:

2. To set the curve and envelope colour, click on ... behind thecoloured field and select a colour.

3. Select a range for the y axis.

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4. Set the other parameters:

5. Click on Apply to test the new settings. You can alter the set-tings until the display meets your requirements.

6. Click on OK when the display meets your requirements andyou want to return to the display.

– or –

Click on Cancel to cancel the process and return with the orig-inal values.

Paint only thelast curve

Averaging is switched off. The latest, most recent curve is displayed.

SmoothingAveraging Time

The most recent curves are summarized and averaged. This results in a smoo-thed curve.

The average value sets the number of curves summarized, average time sets the time over which they are averaged.

Factor forEnvelope

The envelope shows the minimum and maximum amplitude value over a cer-tain time. With this factor, you determine this time.

Frequency/Power Axis First/

Last

Determines whether the scales of the axes are labelled completely in substeps or only the lowest and highest value are diplayed.

Only SpectrumOnly EnvelopeSpectrum and

Envelope

Selects between spectrum, envelope or both.

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4.7.2. Spectrogram Representation

You can set the colours, on which the signal dynamic is mapped,and adjust some further settings.

1. Right click into the spectrogram and select Spectrogram Repre-sentation:

2. Select a palette behind Default. The second palette is unused.

3. Set Maximum and Minimum signal strength between which thecolour palette is to be applied.

Test which settingreturns the best

result.

4. Select Linear Scale if the signal strength is mapped to a linearcolour scale. Signal strengths below minimum are mapped tothe lowest colour value, those above the maximum to the high-est.

– or –

select Colour Circle if the signal strength is mapped to the pal-ette circularly, that is: signal strengths outside the given range are mapped to the colours again.

5. Set the parameters under Settings according to your require-ments.

6. Click on Apply to test the new settings. You can alter the set-tings until the display meets your requirements.

7. Click on OK when the display meets your requirements andyou want to return to the display.

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– or –

Click on Cancel to cancel the process and return with the orig-inal values.

The Settings parameters are:

Scroll Mode Sets whether the displays scrolls or if it is overwritten after it has been filled completely.

Max Mode Sets whether the display keeps the maximum values when averaging. Other-wise maximum values can be suppressed accidentally by averaging.

Cascade Mode Inverts the orientation of the timeline: usually the display runs from down to up, in cascade mode from up to down (like a cascade).

Clocked TimelineMode

Sets how the incoming spectra are mapped to the timeline, clocked or uncloc-ked.

Absolute Time Sets wether absolute clocktime values or time values relative to the signal beginning are indicated at the axes.

See also Displaying System or UTC Time Values on page 85.

Time in Viewer Sets whether time values are faded directly into the signal graphic.

This may be useful if the scale values of the axes are switched off for better visibility of the signal.

See also Displaying System or UTC Time Values on page 85.

Frequency/Power Axis First/

Last

Determines whether the scales of the axes are labelled completely in substeps or only the lowest and highest value are diplayed.

Grid If Time in Viewer is active, set after how many seconds a new time entry is faded into the display.

Grid Color If Time in Viewer is active, set the color of the time entries.

Smoothing The most recent curves are averaged for smoothing. This results in a smoothed curve. Set over how many curves the avarage is to be used for smoothing.

Time for Axis Sets over which period of time the signal is displayed in the viewer.

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4.7.3. Visible Components

You can set the components visible in the displays.

Depending on the type of display (spectrum or spectrogram), differ-ent components can be selected.

• Axes – Text labels of horizontal and vertical axes.

• Grid – the light grey grid in the background of the displays facilitates reading-off frequencies, amplitudes or time values (spectrum viewer only).

• Colour Scale – the colour scale is displayed for fast overview of the amplitude values (spectrogram viewer only).

• Harmonic Cursor – cursor set to measure frequency or time periodicals, see Using harmonic cursors on page 67.

• Legend – display of measurement results, see Measuring in Graphical Displays on page 65.

• Navigation Bars – scroll bar allowing for zooming and navi-gation in the zoomed signal, see Zooming and Panning with Navigation Bars on page 70.

• Signal Cursor – cursor to set the center frequency of the analog demodulator, see Adjusting Demodulator Center Fre-quency and Bandwidth on page 63.

• Simple Cursor – Measurement Cursors, see Measuring in Graphical Displays on page 65.

• Tooltip – switches on or off the fading in of the current cursor position.

• Viewer Title – switches on or off the title of the viewer (Spec-trum or spectrogram).

Set the components to be visible as follows:

1. Right click into the desired display and select Visible Compon-ents.

2. Switch the desired component on or off. The new setting is ap-plied immediately.

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4.7.4. Reset

You may delete obsolete curves from the display.

1. Activate Reset to reset and repaint the graphical display.

4.8 Working with Setups

The program provides a setup management tool, with which youcan manage and select the setups.

What are Setups? The program stores the current parameter settings in setups in or-der to recall them at any time later or at other locations where theprogram is installed. A setup can be stored at any time, the programsettings at this moment are stored. They can be recalled any timelater to replace the current program condition.

Note that signals are not stored in the setups.

Application Use this function, for example, if a setup is especially useful for solv-ing a certain problem. Or the same setup may be used at differentworkstations in order to work with equal settings. Finally, the setupscan also be used for documentation and reproduction of working re-sults.

Categories You can group associated setups and store them in categories.

Additionally, setups of a category can be activated automaticallyone after the other.

If you want to work with setups and categories, follow the instruc-tions on the next pages.

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4.8.1. Managing Setups

You manage the setups in the Setup Service Panel.

If this panel is notvisible, refer to

Resizing, Zoomingand Panning on

page 68.

The panel shows a list of available setups. A checkmark indicateswhich setup is currently used. If the current parameter settings donot refer to any setup, the entry Current Settings is marked.

1. To add the current settings to the setup in the list, click on .Add a name for the setup and a comment and click on OK. Thesetup is added to the list.

You can enter more information than only the setup name. For details refer to Changing the Parameters of a Setup on page 84.

2. To use a setup, click on the check mark in the list. The setupis check marked and the program uses to the parameter set-tings stored in this setup.

Unless you change any parameters, the check mark indicates that the setup is in use. In the moment you change a parame-ter, the check mark moves to the Current Settings list entry.

To store the current settings in the selected setup (blue indi-cator, not checkmark), click on Update Setup .

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Arranging theSetup List

You can sort the entries, arrange them in different orders and deleteentries from the list.

1. To sort the entries after their:

- name: click on

- center frequency: click on

2. Click again to return to the previous order.

3. To re-arrange the order of entries, you can move an entry upand down (only if alphabetical order is disengaged). To movean entry, click on it and keep the left mouse key pressed, whileyou move it up or down. If it is at the desired place, release themouse key to drop the entry.

4. To delete entries, select them click on Delete Setup .

To select the setups:

- left click a single entry

- keep the [Ctrl] key pressed while you click on further entries to select or unselect them.

- to select a block of adjacent entries, keep the [Shift] key pressed while you click on the first and last entry of the block.

5. You can adjust how many entries are visible in the list windowby adjusting the vertical distance by clicking on and .

With these functions you can arrange the list of existing setups. Re-fer to Managing Setups on page 78 if you want to add setups.

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4.8.2. Working with Categories

After you created some setups, you will conceivably want to sort andcategorise them. To do so, you create categories into which youshift the setups.

Adding aCategory

To add a new category:

1. Right click on the list below Category andselect Add Category.

2. Enter the name for the category and click on OK.

The new category is created. Now fill it with new setups or move exi-sting setups from other categories into it.

Adding Setups To add the current settings as a setup to a category:

1. If the category into which you want to insert categories is notactive, click on it to activate it.

2. To add the current settings as a new setup entry to the cate-gory, click on .

3. Enter a name and a comment for the setup and click on OK.

The new setup is added to the list.

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Moving Setups If you want to move setups between categories:

1. Change to the category with the desired setups.

2. Select and right click them.

3. Select Move selected Setups to > and the target category in thesubmenu. When you release the mouse key, the setups aremoved.

– or –

Select Cut.

Change to the target category and right click into it again.

Select Insert to insert the setups into the category.

The setups are located in the new category.

Copying Setups If you want to copy setups:

1. Change to the category with the desired setups.

2. Select and right click them.

3. Select Copy selected Setups.

4. Change to the target category and right click into it again.

5. Select Insert.

The setups are copied to the new category.

Deleting Setups If you want to delete setups from a category:

1. Activate the category and select the setups to delete.

2. Right click it.

3. Select Delete selected Category.

The setups are deleted.

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DeletingCategories

To delete a category:

1. Activate the category to delete in the list Category.

2. Rightclick the list and select Delete selected Category.

The category is deleted.

4.8.3. Automatically Stepping through Setups

The setups can be stepped through automatically, that means: theyare active one after other for a certain time until the next one in therow is activated. This allows to monitor the presence of distinct emit-ter automatically.

1. Select the category containing the setups you want to stepthrough.

2. Click on . The setups are activated one after the other.

3. To stop the process, click on again.

You can set the interval (holding time) the setups remain active be-fore the next is activated:

1. Right click .

2. Enter the Interval into the dialogue window and click on OK.

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4.8.4. Exporting and Importing Setups

You can save selected setups to file for export. These can be re-used later at other workstations by importing.

Exporting To export selected setups:

1. Select the setups to be exported:

- left click a single entry

- keep the [Ctrl] key pressed while you click on further entries to select or unselect them.

- to select a block of adjacent entries, keep the [Shift] key pressed while you click on the first and last entry of the block.

- to select all, press [Ctrl+a].

2. When the setups to be exported are selected, click on (orright click the block and select Export Setups).

3. Enter a directory and a file name to save the setups and clickon OK.

Now the selected setups are stored in the file.

Importing To import setups from a previously exported file:

1. Click on , select the file to import and click on OK.

The setups are added to the list. It is recommended to check wheth-er setups with the same name exist, and if so to find different namesto avoid mixing up the entries.

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4.8.5. Changing the Parameters of a Setup

The program allows to select the parameters and their settingsstored in the setup. You can select the panels from which the set-tings are saved, and per panel, which parameters. Parameters notstored in the setup cannot be restored by recalling the setup.

1. To edit a setup, double click or right click it in the list and selectOptions.

2. Bring the tab with the name of the panel to front, which youwant to include in or exclude from the setup, or of which youwant to edit the parameters.

3. If you want to include or exclude it in or from the setup, set orremove the checkmark Activate component at the foot of the tab.

4. To select parameters of which the settings are intended to bestored in the setup, checkmark the referring entry in the rightmost column.

5. Repeat the steps for each tab.

6. Click on OK.

The settings are applied immediately if the setup is active, otherwisethey will be applied when the setup is activated.

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4.9 Displaying System or UTC Time Values

You can switch between system time of your computer and UTCtime display for absolute time values. The UTC time value is com-puted from your system time and the active time zone of your com-puter.

To switch between the time value displays:

1. Activate or deactivate File | UTC Timezone.

All absolute time values are displayed accordingly.

4.10 Resetting the Tuner

If you are in doubt about the proper function of the tuner, you mayreset it.

1. Call File | Reset Tuner.

The tuner will be reset immediately. After a short time you can seethat the graphical displays in the program restart.

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IndexUser Manual

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Index

Aadjusting demodulator center frequency • 63AF recording • 55AFC • 51AGC • 52analog demodulator • 50antenna control • 48attenuation • 49average • 48average time • 73axis • 76

Bbandwidth • 51BFO • 53block diagram • 12BW (= bandwidth) • 49, 51

Ccenter (button) • 70center frequency (demodulator) • 51, 63checking delivery • 21colour scale • 74, 76connecting tuner and antenna • 24control panels • 47cursor colour • 66curve display • 72customizing (program) • 72

Ddelivery • 21demodulator • 50demodulator center frequency • 63disposal • 41

Eenvelope • 72environmental requirements • 15exit program • 44

Ffeatures • 17FFT length • 48file • 45file name (recording) • 56file name (replaying) • 58freezing (display) • 62frequency • 48frequency correction • 48front panel • 10functions • 17

Ggraphical displays • 62grid • 76

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Hharmonic cursor • 76ha-x/ha-y • 67help • 45HF1/HF2 • 11hiding cursors • 66

IIF recording • 55installing software • 22introduction • 9IP address • 25

LLAN • 11LAN connection • 24, 25LED (tuner front panel) • 11legend • 76

Mmain menu • 45maintenance activities • 41manual scale • 71manual zoom • 69measuring in gr

lan-sdr - ssb-electronic gmbh · lan-sdr version v1.2 9 2 introduction this chapter gives an...

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