Telewave io 44DL Digital-Analog Broadband RF Wattmeter User Manual

44DL Digital/Analog
Broadband RF **Wattmeter
User Manual**

44DL Digital-Analog Broadband RF Wattmeter

19 August 2022
Firmware Version TiF.01.15M15 Copyright © 2022 Telewave.io.

Copyright:

Copyright © by Telewave.io. All rights reserved.
Please refer to www.telewave.com for the current Terms, Conditions and Warranty information.
This manual contains Telewave.io. proprietary information, which is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552). No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information recording and retrieval systems, for any purpose, without the written consent of Telewave.io.
Warranty:
Products sold by Telewave.io. and covered by this Warranty are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of and for a specified period after delivery to the Buyer. Seller’s entire warranty obligation is limited to making adjustments by repair, replacement, or refunding the purchase price of any product which is returned to the Seller as provided below within the specified period from the date of shipment by the Seller. In no event shall Seller be liable for direct, special, or consequential damages for breach of warranty.
Adjustment will not be allowed for products which have been damaged by lightning, subjected to abuse, improper application or installation, alteration or accident, or negligence in use, storage, transportation, or handling. Alteration or removal of the serial number or identification markings voids the Warranty. Seller shall have the right of final determination as to the existence and cause of a defect, whether adjustment will be allowed, and if allowed, whether adjustment will be by repair, replacement, or refund. Where adjustment is not allowed, a charge of 5% of the original purchase price will be made to the Buyer to cover the Seller’s cost of inspection and handling.
Shipping and packaging instructions must be obtained from the Seller before products are returned for adjustment. The Buyer will pay for packing, transportation, and transit insurance costs for returned products. The Seller reserves the right to discontinue models at any time or change specifications, design, or price without notice and without incurring any obligation. Products will be returned to the Buyer with transportation cost collect.
Subject to the provisions of its “Patent Indemnity” clause, the Seller also warrants that it has the right to sell its products, that the Buyer shall have and enjoy quite possession thereof as against any lawful claims existing at the time of the sale by the Seller, and that said products are free from any charge of encumbrance in favor of third persons existing at the time of sale by the Seller.
The foregoing constitutes the Seller’s entire warranty, express, implied, or statutory with respect to its products and states the full extent of its liability for breach of Warranty and for damages, whether direct, special or consequential resulting from any such breach. No change whatsoever thereto shall be binding upon the seller unless made in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of the Seller.
Warranty Periods:

• Antennas and antenna mounting hardware – 5 years
• All other products – 1 year

Precautions and Safety Instructions

1. Read the user manual carefully. All Warnings and Cautions should be noted.
   • Contact Telewave.io Technical Support with any questions.
   • Keep the user manual(s) for future reference.

2. Keep the 44DL away from sources of moisture or excessive humidity.
   • Never pour any liquid into the openings or connectors.
   • Do not immerse into any liquid. The 44DL is water resistant, not waterproof

3. Do not store this 44DL in an unconditioned environment for an extended time. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, cold or moisture may cause damage.

4. Check the current capacity of the USB charger/power supply before connecting to the 44DL.

5. Do not attempt to disassemble the 44DL, there are no user serviceable parts inside.

6. Inspect the 44DL if it has been dropped or exposed to excessive vibration.

7. Contact Telewave.io Technical Support if any of the following conditions arise:
   • There are any obvious signs of damage – case, display, connectors, switches, or etc.
   • Any liquid appears to have penetrated the case.
   • The 44DL appears to malfunction or is giving obviously incorrect readings.
   • The 44DL has been tampered with or opened by anyone other than Telewave.io.

8. Follow all normal Radio Frequency safety rules and High Voltage safety rules.
   • Double check all connections and configurations before applying power to transmitters
   • Double check all connections and configurations before keying any transmitters
   • Be mindful of short and long-term exposure risks to Radio Frequency Radiation

WARNING: This symbol alerts you to the risk of personal injury, hardware damage or irrevocable loss of data.
CAUTION: This symbol denotes situations where instructions must be followed carefully to avoid personal discomfort or to obtain expected results.

Quick Start Guide

The complete 44DLUser Manual is available for download at www.telewave.com.

• Unpack the 44DL and accessories (USB cable, AC power supply, & AC adapter kit)

• Check the box and contents for any damage immediately after it arrives

• In case of damage or missing items, contact Telewave.io immediately, 408-929-4400 Opt 1.

• Charge the Batteries

• Connect the supplied USB cable into the 44DL (connector on the back) and into the supplied AC power supply. Plug the power supply into a 90 to 250 VAC (50 or 60 Hz) wall socket (Charging begins automatically – there is no charging indication when the 44DLis off)

• The 44DLmust be charged for at least 2 hours before turning on for first use.

• The 44DLcannot be switched ON or OFF while charging via the USB. Disconnect the USB cable, toggle the power button, and then re-connect the USB to continue charging.

• See the section “Lithium Battery Management” for battery management details

• Build or procure “Primary Cables” (see “Appendix – Connecting the 44DLto the Circuit”)

• Press and hold the power button until the blue power indication in the switch illuminates

• The 44DLwill be functional in three to five seconds as indicated by:

• Backlight will be illuminated

• Frequency, battery indicators are displayed

• The HOME screen & menu tree:

• Freq Range > Set operating frequency range*

• Modulation > Selects the modulation type*

• Settings > Modify some look & feel parameters

• Info & Help > Show Version, Telewave.io contact
  ***** Set the Frequency Range and Modulation before use or measurement will be inaccurate, other settings are optional When in any MENU screen other than the HOME Screen, the function buttons will be UP, SELECT/EXIT, and DOWN.
  Press SELECT implements the selection & returns HOME

• Once the 44DL has been configured, the cables can be connected

• Connect the primary cable to the port labeled TX on the left side of the 44DL(RF input)

• Connect the cable leading to the antenna to the port on the right side of the 44DL(RF output)

• The RF Sample port can be connected to any monitor or source test equipment. The sample port is bi-directional, with connectivity to both the Thru Line TX and Thru Line ANT port.

Wiring Diagram

Lithium Battery Management

Lithium-ion batteries are used in the 44DLto supply power. The behavior of the 44DLbatteries is similar to other devices that use the same battery technology (cell phones, iPads, etc.). Please carefully read this section regarding battery safety and operation details.
Battery charging and discharging
The battery can be charged when the 44DLis on or off and can be charged from any USB source that can support a 2.4-amp load (wall charger, vehicle adapter, etc. – laptop not recommended) Charging begins automatically when power is applied to the USB port.
NOTE: Two Power Management Rules

1. Always make sure that there is at least one bar (2 hours) battery life before using the 44D.
2. Unplug the USB cable before operating the power switch (turning the power on or off) and then plug USB cable back in if needed for charging or operation
   • When the 44DL is powered off, the blue power ring will illuminate (but the display will not be illuminated) indicating that the batteries are charging.
   • When the 44DL is on, the battery life indicator turns yellow indicating that the batteries are charging.
   • Depleted batteries will require 8 hours of charging time to reach a full charge.
   • Fully charged batteries will support about 8 hours of active operation.

NOTE: The 44DL can be used when charging, but when the charger is in trickle mode there is not enough current provided to operate the 44D; the batteries will eventually be depleted.
WARNING

• The batteries must be discharged to 1/3 or less capacity before the unit can be transported by Air. This is a legal and safety requirement for all lithium batteries.
• The internal batteries are not user serviceable. The 44DLmust be returned to Telewave.io for service if the batteries no longer accept or retain a sufficient charge.
• Excessive cold or hot temperature can damage the batteries or create a fire hazard.

CAUTION

• Fully charge the batteries upon initial receipt, also before and after long term storage.
• Fully charge the batteries at least once a month during long term storage
• The batteries may self-deplete and malfunction unless they are periodically re-charged.
• Once the internal charging controller detects that the batteries are fully charged, it will reduce the charging rate to trickle. The rate will remain at trickle until the USB is unplugged.
• The 44DLcan be left on the charger for longer than 24 hours, but this is not recommended.
• The 44DLis protected by internal fuses. If the battery is shorted the fuses may blow requiring factory replacement.

Charging Power Supply & International Power Adapters
The included power supply for charging the batteries supports 100 to 240 volts at 50 or 60 hertz.
The power plug on the power supply is an IEC international “Plug Type A”.
Use only 1 USB port on the charger when charging a 44DL Wattmeter Type A to Type C, G, and I adapters are included with the 44DL. This AC adapter kit will allow the power supply to be safely connected to the power sockets in most countries.
Visit the International Electro technical Commission (IEC) website for a complete list of socket types, and power voltage/frequencies used in various countries: http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/.

Type A
Plug on the power supply| | North and Central America, Japan
Directly compatible with Type B sockets
Type C
Universal to Euro 2P AC Power Plug| | Europe (except UK), Ireland, Cyprus, Malta
Directly compatible with Type E, F, J, K, & N sockets
Type G
Universal to UK 3P AC Power Plug| | UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong
Type I
Universal to AUS 3P AC Power Plug| | Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, China

Power Control
The 44DL has a latching push power button in the lower left corner of the front panel.
To turn the 44DL ON, push the power button until you hear a clicking sound and/or you see that the power switch rim is illuminated with a blue glow. After a few seconds the display backlight will illuminate, and the power up sequence will be shown in the display.
The power up sequence, as is seen in the display is:

• The screen backlight will illuminate after about two seconds
• Then the HOME screen will display
• After that the frequency, temperature and battery status indications will be displayed

Once the power up sequence is complete the HOME screen will indicate the settings that were selected when the 44DL was previously turned off (units of measurement, backlight level, etc.) The power switch will remain partially depressed while the 44DL is turned on.
To turn the 44DL OFF, push the power button in slightly further, and release. The switch will return to the flush position, the blue rim light will extinguish, the display backlight will turn off and the display will become blank. There are no lights or display activity when the unit is off.
Plugging in USB power when the 44DL is powered off
The blue power switch indicator & display backlite will turn on, the 44DL is not operational
Push the power switch in to turn the 44DL on for use (frequenter & temp indication show)
Turning off the 44DL when USB power is applied
The blue power switch indicator & display backlite will remain on, 44DL is not operational
Unplug the 44DL for a few seconds and then plug in and/or turn the 44DL back on for use.
CAUTION: The 44DL will only go into sleep mode when the HOME screen is displayed.
When any screen other than HOME is displayed and the sleep timer expires, the 44DL will wait for the user to complete the pending action; and then go to sleep.
NOTE: RF signals will flow though the through line sensor un-impeded with the 44DL power turned On, Off or in Sleep Mode.

Menu Tree

HOME Screen and Fields Description

| | Battery Status
---|---|---
FWD (measured forward power)| Measured Value| Avg W / dBm
REFL (measured reflected power)| Measured Value| Avg W / dBm
| |
Measured Frequency MHz| |
| MENU|

After the system has completed the power up sequence the default screen configuration is shown.
Top Row indicates the Battery Life
The second and third rows indicate results measured from the main thru line connectors.
The last row indicates the measured frequency of the RF signal, and the ambient temperature of the critical RF detector circuits. The 44DL compensates for temperature changes, allowing high accuracy at any ambient temperature within the specification range.
NOTE: All measured power indications show a dash “—“ dBm or “0.0” Watts until the average forward power detected exceeds 5 watts.
The bottom row indicates the current function of the three buttons located just below the screen.
The purpose of each of these buttons change as the needed for easy configuration of the 44DL.
The HOME screen function buttons are:

• MENU Setup before measuring – Open the MAIN menu
  MAIN Menu
  The main MENU allows access to these categories:

• FREQ RANGE Configure the frequency range Low, Medium or High

• MODULATION Choose the desired modulation type

• SETTINGS Adjust the display parameters

• INFO & HELP Read only attributes and Telewave.io contact information

CAUTION: The frequency range must be set to the proper range before reading the power.
For the main MENU and all Sub-Menus

• Scroll up and down in the options by pressing the UP and DOWN buttons.
• Pressing the SELECT key will select the currently highlighted item.
• Selecting EXIT will return to the HOME screen without making any changes.

Frequency Range Menu
The frequency range sets the search window for locking onto the signal to measure.

CAUTION: The Frequency Range is a mandatory parameter setting. The 44DL may not be able to accurately measure the absolute power of a signal if the range is not set correctly.
CAUTION: The frequency counter indication is only a reference to validate that the transmitter is close to the expected frequency or that the correct transmitter is transmitting during testing. The 44DL counter should not be used to adjust the output frequency of a transmitter. Due to the step size of the 44DL counter there may be occasional toggling between indicated frequencies.
Modulation
The supported list of modulation/radio types are:

dPMR, NXDN (Kenwood NEXEDGE / ICOM IDAS), D-Star
DMR/P25-P2 UL| DMR, P25-P2 Uplink (TDMA), TETRA Uplink (TDMA & Quadrature)
LSM/P25-P2 DL| LSM, P25-P2, TETRA Downlink (Quadrature)

Settings Menu
This menu is for setting the units of measurements and other behavioral parameters of the 44DL:

Info & Help Menu
This menu is for query of the attributes of the 44DL:

Support
• EXIT| Return to the HOME screen

Specifications

If the 44DL is reading a signal that is outside the range of these specifications; the 44DL will indicate “—” dBm or “0.0” Watts as the measurement.
The 44DL is only certified for use on a 50 Ω coax style cables.
Frequency Range

Power Range (Constant Envelope) Modulation

RF and Measurement

MHz
Less than 0.04 dB up to 1 GHz

RF Sample Port Insertion Loss

• 50 dB +/- 2 dB from 200 MHz to 1 GHz
• 50 dB +0/-12 dB from 88 MHz to 200 MHz

See “Appendix – RF Sample Port Isolation” for isolation by frequency details

NOTE:
The current 44DL return power measurement accuracy is limited by two dominant factors, the directivity between the forward and reverse ports of the Through Line Coupler at approximately 15dB, and a detected noise floor of approximately 30 dBm. The REFL measurement should therefore be used For Reference Only as a rough check of the reflected power and not for calculation of the load return loss or VSWR.
USB Connector, Battery and Charging

C, G or I plug
Compatible Type B, E, F, J, K, & N socket
USB Charger VDC Requirements| 5.1 Volts DC at maximum 3.1 Amps (Simultaneous charging and operation)
USB Connector Back of 44DL| USB 2.0 Type B Jack

Mechanical

(25.40 x 20.32 x 15.24 cm)

Environmental

+50°C)
Temp Range Storage (Long) (USB Disconnected)| +68°F to +86°F (+20°C to Rost+30°C)

Miscellaneous: Accessories, Options, Maintenance

Included Accessories
The 44DL comes with:

• Universal USB power supply (3.1 Amp load capacity)
• USB 2.0 type A to type B cable
• Universal AC Plug Adapter Kit
  a. Type C Male to US Female Adapter (1 each)
  b. Type G Male to US Female Adapter (1 each)
  c. Type I Male to US Female Adapter (1 each)

Replacement parts for these items can be sourced locally
Optional TC44 Leather Carry Case
Contact Telewave.io sales for a quote or to order a carry case.
Maintenance & Calibration
There are no user serviceable parts inside the 44DL. Opening the cover voids the calibration.
Telewave.io recommends returning the 44DL to the factory every year for inspection & calibration. Calibration must be done at Telewave.io, contact Telewave.io sales for a quote.
Before each 44DL is calibrated it will be inspected. A report will be provided detailing any issues found (including battery health test report.) Any deficiencies found will be repaired (warranty for free, non-warranty if customer authorized) and then the 44DL will be calibrated.
Unrepaired deficiencies may cause calibration failure. Firmware version will be updated to latest, no charge.
To return a 44DL to Telewave.io for calibration or repair; complete the RMA request form located on our web site at https://www.telewave.com/rma-request- form/.
For Sales / RMA request assistance contact sales@telewave.com or call 408-929-4400 Option 1.
For Technical Support assistance contact support@telewave.com or call 408-929-4400 Option 2.
Storage
The 44DL can be stored for long periods of time in a climate controlled (cool & dry) environment with no damage. It is recommended to store the 44DL in the TC44 Case, or it can be wrapped in a cloth and placed into a box or other container.
If the 44DL is accidently left on or turned on when placed into storage, the power controller will eventually turn off the 44DL. Even when turned off, the batteries will discharge during storage.
The 44DL should be removed from storage one a month & fully charged before return to storage.
WARNING:

• Excessive cold or hot temperature can damage the batteries or create a fire hazard.
• Verify that the 44DL is completely dry before long term storage inside any container.

CAUTION:

• Fully charge the batteries upon initial receipt; also before and after long term storage.
• Fully charge the batteries at least once a month during long term storage
• The batteries may self-deplete and malfunction unless they are periodically re-charged.

Cleaning
The 44DL will not be damaged by wiping with a wet cloth, fog, mist, or light rain; when positioned with the display facing to the side or up (either set of rubber feet are facing down.)
To clean the 44DL, put some mild liquid soap onto a soft but moist cloth or towel. Wipe the dirt from the 44DL with a light touch. Use a rinsed moist towel to clean any residual soap from the 44DL. The 44DL can air dry or be towel dried.
The optional TC44 case can be cleaned using the same procedure.
WARNING:

• Make sure the power supply and USB cable are dry before connecting to AC power. An electrical shock hazard exists if the components are wet when plugged in to a mains outlet.
• Do not use more than a few drops of water or soap when cleaning the 44DL
• Excessive water or soap could leak into the 44DL and may cause damage or a malfunction.
• The USB connector on the back of the 44DL is vulnerable to water intrusion if the 44DL is positioned display down.

CAUTION:

• Do not use powder or abrasive soap. These soaps may scratch the case or display cover glass. Scratches or similar damage to the display cover glass are not warrantied.

Appendix: Connecting the 44DL to the Circuit

Concepts
RF power will transfer from the source to the destination with the most efficiency when:

• The source and load impedance are the same
• The source and the load are separated from each other by a cable that has been cut so that the electrical length of that cable is a ½ wavelength increment.

When the cables are ½ electrical wavelength increment long, any reflected energy from a load or source mismatch will arrive at the source 180 degrees out of phase compared to the energy emanating from that source. The reflected energy will cancel a portion of the source energy.
Cutting the cables to the proper length in the LMR environment has the following advantages:

• Energy reflected by mismatches is dissipated, rather than bounce back and forth
• Power amplifiers and other components will run cooler (less energy to dissipate)
• Power meters can more accurately measure forward vs. reflected power in the circuit
• Impedance mismatches at an antenna/feed interface are less likely to be masked by the losses encountered with long feed lines.
• Inserting a meter into the circuit has less impact on the behavior of the circuit.

To properly connect the 44DL to the circuit to be tested, the cables used to insert the 44DL into the circuit should be of a length that is close (within 10%) to an increment of ½ wavelength. These cables are a “Primary Cable” (always need) and a “Secondary Cable” (sometimes need).
When calculating the length of the “Primary” (sometimes called a “Launch”) or “Secondary” cable, subtract 3 inches (7.6 cm) from the length of the cable to allow for the insertion of the 44DL.
It is suggested to have one or two test cables built for each band that needs to be tested. For example, a cable built to 159 MHz would cover 144 MHz to 174 MHz. Another cable built for 455 MHz would cover 440 to 470 MHz. The key is to use the same cables in a consistent manner so that the test results are repeatable, thus any system changes will be noticed during maintenance.
CAUTION: The formulas for calculating the cut length of the test cable does not consider the length of any lead wire inside a radio, amplifier, or other device in the RF system. In some situations, the length of the primary and secondary cables should be shortened to compensate.
44DL Connection Diagram

Calculating the Primary & Secondary Cable Cut Length
The steps to calculate the length of the cables are:
Find the base cable length:
(Speed of Light in a vacuum (299,792,458 Meters/Second) divided by (Frequency in Hertz))
Times (Velocity Factor of the cable in %) Times (wavelength required… 0.5 for ½ etc.)
Speed of Light M/S / Frequency Hz (445 MHz)
Math = ((299792458 / 445000000) 0.85 0.5) = 0.286 meters or 28.6 cm
Subtract 2 cm for the 2 N Male connectors (one on the end of the cable): Sample = 28.6 cm minus 2 cm (for two each N Male connectors = 26.6 cm
Subtract 7.6 cm (3”) for the 44DL: Sample = 26.6 cm minus 7.6 cm (the distance across the thru line sensor) = 19.0 cm
In this example, the final cut length for the cable would be 19.0 cm (7.5”)
If a cable is required after the 44DL to reach back to the feed line, that cable should be built to the same specifications as the “Primary” or “Launch” cable.
The samples above are for a ½ wavelength cable. The cables can be made longer as needed in lengths at a ½ wavelength increment: 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, etc.
CAUTION: The formulas for calculating the cut length of the test cable does not consider the length of any lead wire inside a radio, amplifier, or other device in the RF  system. In some situations, the length of the primary and secondary cables should be shortened to compensate.

Appendix: RF Sample Port Isolation

The “RF Sample Port” provides a simple and safe path to connect test equipment to the circuit under test. The port is bi-directional, meaning that a signal from either direction of the thru line coupler can be monitored, or a signal can be injected into both directions of the thru line coupler.
The Sample Port is passive and has a usable bandwidth from 30 to 960 MHz.
The active components of the 44DL have a narrower bandwidth of 88 to 960 MHz.
The isolation provided by the sample port is consistent at 50 dB +/- 2 dB from 200 MHz up though 960 MHz (the highest frequency supported by the 44DL.)
Below 200 MHz the isolation begins to increase as shown in the tables below until it reaches a maximum of ~62.5 dB at 30 MHz. The response is detailed below for situations where absolute power levels need to be measured (from the circuit under test) or injected (into the circuit).

Sample Port response across the full 30 to 1000 MHz| Sample Port response across 30 MHz to 200 MHz`
---|---
|

NOTE: RF signals will flow though the through the sample port un-impeded with the 44DL power turned On or Off.

Copyright © Telewave.io
www.telewave.com
1-408-929-4400
Specifications subject to change without notice
220819
sales@avw.com.au
sales@avw.co.nz

References

• Telewave.io – Performance You Deserve With Quality You Can Trust
• Telewave.io – Performance You Deserve With Quality You Can Trust
• Telewave.io – Performance You Deserve With Quality You Can Trust
• RMA Request Form – Telewave.io

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