ELAD FDM-S3 Direct Sampling Wideband Receiver User Manual

ELAD FDM-S3 Direct Sampling Wideband Receiver User Manual

Revision History

• Minor corrections on some descriptions.
• Revised section 1.1 – Overview.
• Revised section 1.3 – Features.
• Revised section 3 – Optional Preselector Filters.

Rev 3| 10/2020|

• Added section 1.5 – Front End Block Diagram.
• Added section 4 – USB COM Ports.
• Updated Technical Specifications to rev 2.

Package Contents

• 1 ELAD FDM-S3.
• 3 SMA/BNC adapters.
• 1 USB flash drive.
• 1 DC power cord (Powerpole to open wires).
• 1 USB 3.0 A-B cable.
  

The Gnss antenna is not supplied with all versions, please check ELAD websites for details.

Introduction

Overview

The FDM-S3 is the third device of the FDM-Sx series, in addition to the usual 192kHz, 384kHz, 1.5MHz, 3MHz and 6MHz bandwidths it features two additional bandwidths of 12MHz and 24MHz.
Frequency coverage range is from 9kHz to 108MHz with pre-amplifier and internal filter for the FM band, an optional downconverter will be soon available to extend frequency covering range over 108MHz.

Two versions of the FDM-S3 with different oscillator characteristics are available :

• version with TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator), with a good frequency stability and a lower power consumption,
• version with OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator), with a higher degree of frequency stability but also a higher power consumption.

The FDM-S3 embeds a 16 bits AD converter (LTC2208) which runs at a variable sample rate of 122.88MHz or 98.304MHz. This technique allows to choose the better sample rate in function of the tuning frequency.

Even if the maximum frequency declared is 108MHz, tuning is left open above 108MHz for experimental purposes. The following table summarizes some information about the FDM-S3 behavior in function of the RF input chosen and the tuned frequency.

The table below shows the availability of the variable sample rate feature in relation to bandwidths.

Bandwidth| 192 kHz| 384 kHz| 1 536 kHz| 3 072 kHz| 6 144 kHz| 12 288 kHz| 24 576 kHz
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
Variable SR| yes| yes| yes| yes| yes| no| no

Note that tuning between 54MHz and 68.88MHz with 12MHz and 24MHz bandwidths is not recommended.

Reference Clock Manager Module

The FDM-S3 has a so-called Reference Clock Manager Module (RCMM) which allows to choose between two reference clocks :

• a GnssDO (Global navigation satellite system Disciplined Oscillator) which supports the main satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO),
• a 10MHz/0dBm external signal.

Reference clock activation is automatic, just connect the Gnss antenna or provide a 10MHz signal. If both inputs are used priority is given to the 10MHz signal. Three leds on the front panel allow to check the reference used and the lock state of the Reference Clock Manager Module.

If no reference clock is used a factory calibration ensures a correct setting of the internal oscillator.
This calibration value is loaded and used at start-up but is bypassed if a reference clock (GnssDO or 10MHz) is connected.

If used without reference clock (RCMM not locked) the FDM-S3 has a frequency calibration less than ±0.1ppm. If used with a reference clock (RCMM locked), characteristics depend on the oscillator version :

• with TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator):
  • frequency stability : ±0.1ppm vs. temp , ±1ppm/year vs. aging,
  • Allan deviation : TBD,
•  with OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator) :
  • frequency stability : ±0.01ppm vs. temp, ±0.05ppm/year vs. aging ,
  • 10 minutes warm-up,
  • Allan deviation : TBD.

Features

An integrated USB hub allows to have only one USB 3.0 connector that provides three USB connections to :

• the ELAD FDM-S3 sampler, used by the FDM-SW2 software,
• the USB COM Port of the Reference Clock Manager Module, some information about status are supplied with a proprietary protocol,
• the USB COM Port of the internal Gnss (global navigation satellite system) module, which can be connected to the u-center software from u-blox (or equivalent software), the protocol used is NMEA.

The FDM-S3 has two antenna biases, one for the HF-1 input and one for the VHF input. The supplied voltage is 5V. They are activated and deactivated via the FDM-SW2 software. Two leds on the front panel allow to check the biases status. Antennas biases can be managed through the Tuning Step tab of the Setup window of the FDM-SW2 software.

The FDM-S3 has also eight slots for preselector filters that can be used on HF-1 and HF-2 inputs (from 9kHz to 54MHz). These filters are optional, therefore the FDM-S3 is shipped with a bypass filter.

A series of attenuators allow to have up to four levels of attenuation : 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18dB

Requirements

An USB 3.0 port is required to connect the FDM-S3 to a computer.

Computer requirements to run the FDM-SW2 software with the FDM-S3 at 24MHz are the following:

• suggested configuration : 8 th generation or higher Intel Core i5/i7 (or equivalent) processor and 16GB of RAM,
•  minimum recommended : 5 th/6 th/7th generation Intel Core i5/i7 (or equivalent) processor and 8GB of RAM.

To recording at 24MHz of bandwidth a SSD with at least 250MB/s write speed is recommended.

Front End Block Diagram

The diagram below shows the front end block diagram of the FDM-S3.

Panels Description

Front Panel Description

1. Power button / power led
   Press the power button to turn the FDM-S3 on/off. The power led lights up when the FDM-S3 is powered.

2. Antennas biases leds
   These leds turn on when the related bias feature is activated :

   • led 1 for HF-2 input,
   • led 2 for VHF input,

see rear panel description for inputs location.

Biases are current limited however avoid to use biases with short circuited antennas.

Clock leds

Clock leds give information about the in use reference clock :

• No leds on : no reference is used,
• Gnss led on : Gnss (global navigation satellite system) is used as reference,
• Ext led on : 10MHz external source is used as reference.

When a reference is used the Lock led turns on when the Reference Clock Manager Module of the FDM-S3 is locked onto the reference.

Rear Panel Description

Reference clock inputs (SMA connectors)

GNSS ANT is the input where connect a Gnss (global navigation satellite system) antenna. The Gnss antenna is not supplied with all versions, please check ELAD website for details.
REF IN is the input for a 10MHz/0dBm reference signal.

Reference clock activation is automatic, just connect the Gnss antenna or provide a 10MHz signal. If both inputs are used priority is given to the 10MHz signal (REF IN).

RF antennas inputs (SMA connectors)

The FDM-S3 has three antenna connectors :

• HF-1 for HF bands and the 50MHz band,
• HF-2 (with bias 1 feature) for HF bands and the 50MHz band,
• VHF (with bias 2 feature) for frequencies over 54MHz.

Clock reference output (SMA connector)

A 10MHz reference signal is always supplied on this output.
TCXO version : square wave type waveform of about 1.3Vpp.
OCXO version : sine wave of about 2.8Vpp.

EXT I/O

External Hardware Input/Output DB9 connector, used to connect future external hardware. This is NOT a serial port.

USB 3.0 connector

USB 3.0 type B connector for computer connection.

The FDM-S3 has only one USB connector but provides three USB connections to :

• the ELAD FDM-S3 sampler,
• the USB COM Port of the Reference Clock Manager Module,
• the USB COM Port of the internal Gnss (global navigation satellite system) module.

Power supply connectors

Powerpole connectors type, both may be used indistinctly, they are connected inside in parallel.
Provide a typical voltage of 13.8Vdc to power the FDM-S3.

Optional Preselector Filters

The FDM-S3 has eight slots for preselector filters, also simply called preselectors or filters. These filters are optional and therefore not required for operation, only the included bypass filter is needed as shown in the picture below. Filters are connected to the HF-1 and HF-2 inputs where the allowed frequency range is from 9kHz to 54MHz.

To change the preselector filters configuration remove the top cover of the FDM-S3 and the preselector filters shield as shown in the picture above. Insert the desired filters, take note of filters positions and then replace the shield and the cover.

To enable the new configuration open the Setup window of the FDM-SW2 software, and fill the preselector configuration tab with the correct data.

USB COM Ports

As stated before in this user manual the FDM-S3 presents two USB COM ports

• the COM port of the Reference Clock Manager Module (RCMM) where some information about status are supplied with a proprietary protocol,
• the COM port of the internal Gnss (global navigation satellite system) module, where data are sent using the NMEA protocol.

Use the Windows Device Manager to identify the COM ports.

Reference Clock Manager Module COM Port

To view status information open this COM port with a Serial Terminal Software like Realterm, baud rate is 115200 and settings are 8N1. A status information string is sent every second, the two main data available are the reference clock used and the lock state. Below is an example :

• 00153|0100000000|0100000000|0000|34953|x800092y|0003|+0000|00002|00003| = |00000

Reference clock used, identified by x in the string above :

• ‘I’ : Internal, factory calibration is used,
• ‘G’ : Gnss, GNSS ANT reference clock input is used,
• ‘E’ : Ext, REF IN reference clock input is used,
• ‘H’ : In Hold, one of the reference clock inputs was used but they are now disconnected.

Lock state, identified by y in the string above :

•  ‘0’ : Reference Clock Manager Module not locked on the reference clock input,
•  ‘1’ : Reference Clock Manager Module locked on the reference clock input.

Some CAT style commands can also be sent to have information about the RCMM, like :

• get serial number : SN;
• get hardware version : HV;
• get firmware version : VSM;

Internal Gnss module COM Port

Data sent on this COM port use the NMEA protocol, a Serial Terminal Software like Realterm can be used to receive the data. Baud rate is 115200 and settings are 8N1. Here an example :

• $GNRMC,132932.00,A,4559.82760,N,01227.92444,E,0.030,,061020,,,D*6A
• $GNVTG,,T,,M,0.030,N,0.055,K,D*3B
• $GNGGA,132932.00,4559.82760,N,01227.92444,E,2,12,0.69,103.2,M,44.8,M,,0000*42
• $GNGSA,A,3,04,22,03,07,02,17,26,19,09,06,,,1.29,0.69,1.09*16
• $GNGSA,A,3,73,87,70,86,71,80,,,,,,,1.29,0.69,1.09*1D
• $GPGSV,4,1,14,02,23,315,33,03,34,107,31,04,60,055,21,06,57,273,27*7B
• $GPGSV,4,2,14,07,29,180,39,09,76,268,34,16,05,086,23,17,06,231,08*73
• $GPGSV,4,3,14,19,13,245,18,22,15,115,27,26,09,052,28,30,04,195,*75
• $GPGSV,4,4,14,36,34,154,38,49,37,190,41*71
• $GLGSV,3,1,11,70,32,069,27,71,66,356,34,72,32,286,,73,31,122,34*62
• $GLGSV,3,2,11,74,02,162,,79,04,013,09,80,35,059,31,85,02,193,*65
• $GLGSV,3,3,11,86,35,230,27,87,33,316,27,88,06,344,*52
• $GNGLL,4559.82760,N,01227.92444,E,132932.00,A,D*75

Alternatively, open the COM Port with the software u-center from u-blox, it can display various information about the Gnss module.

Also, other software which use the NMEA protocol may be used

Order Options

Oscillator Version

The FDM-S3 is shipped in one of these two versions :

• version with TCXO (Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillator),
• version with OCXO (Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator).

The installed version can be factory changed by replacing the Reference Clock Manager Module (RCMM).

Preselector Filters

The FDM-S3 is shipped with one (1) bypass filter. Up to eight preselector filters can be self-installed.
Refer to ELAD websites for a list of available filters.

Downconverter Module

The FDM-S3 Downconverter Module will allow to extend frequency coverage range over 108MHz.
The FDM-S3 will be shipped with this option if requested. Also, the Downconverter Module will be able to be self-installed by customer.

Technical Specifications

Product Warranty

ELAD S.r.l. warrants the FDM-S3 for a period of 2 years inside Europe, and for a period of 1 year outside Europe unless otherwise specified. Warranty begins from the purchase date. All FDM-S3 will be repaired or replaced due to malfunction resulting from no fault of the end user. This warranty covers normal intended usage of the product and does not cover misuse, abuse, accidents, viruses, incorrect or overloaded computer installations, unauthorized service parts or the combination of other unauthorized branded products used in conjunction with the FDM-S3.

Declaration of Conformity (EC)

The product marked as

• FDM-S3

manufactured by

• Manufacturer: ELAD S.r.l.
• Address: Via Col De Rust, 11 – Sarone 33070 CANEVA (PN)

is produced in conformity to the requirements contained in the following EC directives:

• R&TTE Directive 1999/5/CE
• EMC Directive 2004/108/CE
• Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/CE
• RoHS Directive 2011/65/CE

The product conforms to the following Product Specifications:

Emissions & Immunity:

• ETSI EN 300 330-1
• ETSI EN 301 489-1
• ETSI EN 301 489-15
• ETSI EN 301 783-2
• EN 55022: 2006 + A1: 2007
• EN 55024: 1998 + A1: 2001 + A2: 2003

Safety:
EN 60950-1: 2006 + A11: 2009

And further amendments.

This declaration is under responsibility of the manufacturer:

ELAD S.r.l.
Via Col De Rust, 11 – Sarone
33070 CANEVA (PN)

Issued by:

• Name: Franco Milan
• Function: President of ELAD

Caneva
Place
September, 3
th 2020
Date
Signature

USA Sales Email: Sales@elad-usa.com
USA Support Email: Support@elad-usa.com
Phone: 312-320-8160

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