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K6bez Antenna Analyzer PDF

The document describes how to build your own inexpensive antenna analyzer for under $50 using an Arduino microcontroller, an AD9850 DDS signal source, a VSWR bridge, and a PC. It provides the schematics, code, and instructions to configure the components to sweep through frequencies and measure the voltage on the VSWR bridge to analyze antennas. Commercial antenna analyzers can cost over $1000 but this DIY project is much more affordable and allows amateur radio operators and hackers to experiment with antenna design and analysis.

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508 views25 pages

K6bez Antenna Analyzer PDF

The document describes how to build your own inexpensive antenna analyzer for under $50 using an Arduino microcontroller, an AD9850 DDS signal source, a VSWR bridge, and a PC. It provides the schematics, code, and instructions to configure the components to sweep through frequencies and measure the voltage on the VSWR bridge to analyze antennas. Commercial antenna analyzers can cost over $1000 but this DIY project is much more affordable and allows amateur radio operators and hackers to experiment with antenna design and analysis.

Uploaded by

mostexcellent
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Build Your Own Antenna

Analyser for under $50


Beric Dunn K6BEZ
Inspiration
AD9850 DDS
$4 on Ebay
DC - 40 MHz
DIL package - no Surface Mount Soldering

What to do with it?


Audio generator?
General Purpose Signal Source?
LO for something or other?
Idea!

+ +

= Cheap Antenna Analyser?


What is an Antenna Analyser?
Something that tells you...
What Frequencies will this piece of wire
resonate on?
Will it damage my rig if I key up?
Commercial Options
MFJ-259B
Gold Standard for Hams
Does Not Sweep

Anritsu VNA Master


Wide Frequency Range
Bargain Priced at $40,000
Other Commercial Options
RigExpert

MiniVNA
Why DIY?
Cheaper
Ham License
...wireless experimentation & self-training...
Because We Can
Block Diagram

Signal VSWR Bridge


Source

PC Micro-controller
Micro-Controller Design
Accept sweep parameters from PC
For each sweep point
Configure the DDS
Read the detector voltage
Send the frequency and voltage to the PC
Micro-Controller
Arduino Uno
Hacker Favourite
Easy to get going
Plenty of online support
Pin spacing not useful for Vector-board

Arduino Micro
DIL 0.1 pin spacing
VSWR Bridge
Resistive Bridge
Used in many commercial products
Cheap
Can work to few GHz
PC
Considered Free
Windows 7
Visual Basic
Free Edition from Microsoft
Very easy to get a program up and running
Could have also been written in Java
Cross Platform
Arduino Solution
Photo of Arduino board

Arduino Micro $35


MCP6002 $1
AD9850 Board $4
RF Connector $1
Vector Board $4
Bridge componenents < $2
Total About $50
PC Software
What about a PIC Processor?
Cheaper than Arduino
How do I program them?
Assembler
C
BASIC

Basic, huh?
Swordfish Basic = Free download
Build Your Own Antenna
Analyser for under $50
Beric Dunn K6BEZ $20
PIC Solution
PIC Processor $5 Photo of PIC board

MAX232 $1
MCP6002 $1
AD9850 Board $4
RF Connector $1
Vector Board $4
Power Regulator $1
Bridge componenents < $2
Total About $20
How Well Does it Work?
But I Don't Have A Computer
Add an $8 LCD Display

Total: About the same price you paid for your


Pacificon ticket
What Next?
For accurate VSWR needs more power
Add Amplifier ($1)
Tablet instead of PC?
Bluetooth Serial Module ($7)
Higher Frequencies?
Silicon Labs Si5xx ($13 - $35)
Scalar Network Analyser?
Add another connector and detector ($2)
...
Where can I find out more?
Come and see me at the Bay-Net stand outside
Exhibit Hall

Schematics and code can be downloaded from


the Hamstack Project Gallery:
http://www.hamstack.com/project_antenna_analyzer.html
Presentation on Bay-Net website:
http://www.bay-net.org/articles.html
Email: k6bez@arrl.net

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