_MAX6 ENGLISH GUIDE

On this page I will publish information- how use MAX6 :-)

!!! 2019-03 !!! - page after update Google web serwer - if something not work - please email me

2022-11-29 - fixing some links

- links must be copy and then paste to browser - just google add some protection :-)

- po prostu skopiuj czerwony link i wklej w przeglądarkę - Google wprowadziło zabezpieczenie przed linkami do programów EXE

COMPLETE SET:

- MAX6 antenna analyzer

- USB cable

- charger - 12V DC stabilised (internal pin + / external - )

- BNC-UC1

- ETUI - just nice bag

OPTION:

- RC6 remote ( based on chip dg3010 )

- SD card

- Bluetooth ( internal or externall )

Just click here for download short MANUAL

info about new functions ... please click on links below for firmawe Version:

- - >> v2-86 >>V2-92 >>> V2-9A

some important tips and "problems" >> Touch Ground

More on Bluetooth and Android on link ... >> Android

about upgrade and latest version info find on bottom of page ...

If You not find interesting info ... just write email > jarek@sp3swj.com

Few "pictures" about MAX6 :-)

BASIC INFO

MAX6 can work in three mode with measure electrical circuit and antenna:

VNA - Reflection measurement - Vector Network Analyzer

SNA - Transmission measurement - Scalar Network Analyzer

SVNA - Both together :-) - Vector & Scalar Network Analyzer

:-) but for what is SVNA.... just when You measure filter You can see in this same time Reflection and Transmision - this really speed-up tunning of each filter !!!

Connecting optional accessory ( external RF probe) to ACC port - MAX6 can work as three channel wobuloscope. RF probe can be 50 ohm or 10 kohm ... for steal the signal in RF paths ....

Current firmware of MAX6 support this function ;-) ... but PC software will be available soon...

This function is under development and accessory will be available soon ...

Version of MAX6

There is available two version of MAX6

- 180 ... working up to 180 MHz ... DDS internal clock work on 400 MHz

- 500 ... working up to 500 MHz ... DDS internal clock work on 400 M

More info about small differences soon.... but remember check dds clock on

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFO !!

Always discharge antenna before measure,

just short center pin with cable shield

Antenna shield and PC ground must be connected together before measure.

But when You use MAX6 in LCD standalone mode work from buildin battery

(separate from PC ) connected to nothing except antenna cable :-)

Coaxial cable shield must not be connected to the ground station.

Always discharge antenna before measure

Remember .. all type of antenna analyzer transmit some small RF signal

that can interfere or disturb other receivers.

FIRST SWITCH ON - work with LCD

SWITCH ON - just press & hold ON button - please hold about 4 seconds.....

SWITCH OFF - just press & hold ON button

... if we forgot about us MAX6... auto power off switch off MAX6 after about 5 minutes :-)

MAX6 is microprocessor controlled - if any problem happend with "hang-up" ... just press RESET for one second and release. Use for this thin wire

What is on the LCD in top line in VNA mode...

Pressing and hold MODE button we change backlit.... in this same time wee see help about LCD top line... We don't need this info is on LCD ;-)

FUNC button - change function of UP DOWN arrow

MODE button - change mode of current function

REMOTE CONTROL

All MAX6 is equipped with IR remote receiver. Any function can be fast call from remote control :-)

IR receiver is hidden under keyboard or under red glass close BNC connector - depend on model...

SD CARD

Working in LCD mode we can save our measurement to SD card to file. Available is three format;

- ZPLOT ( VNA )

- S2P - touchstone ( SVNA ) - for example to use with RFsim99 to calculate match for antenna

- TXT - simple TXT file to read in Notepad or any "Excell"

On field You can save file and later open using Your PC ;-)

SMART SCAN SWR

Just long press FUNC button...

and use keys below LCD to chose function

1M - scan from 1 MHz 100M - scan from 100MHz

When "dip" is to wide or to thin ... SmartScan sometime can not stop...

but always we can mannualy STOP scanning

BEFORE CONNECT TO USB

Before the first connection to the computer it is recommended to install the serial port driver.

WARNING !!! please not use latest driver version 2.12 from FTDI

Please use version 2.10 ....

http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/CDM/CDM%20v2.10.00%20WHQL%20Certified.exe

Adress to FTDI. download page

The file should be downloaded to your computer and run the driver, when installation is complete,

Firs connection ... take sometime long driver detection,

please first switch on MAX6 in LCD mode - and then connect cable.

It is recommended that you install the latest firmware version for MAX6 - read on bottom of page.

CHARGING ... and supply

Before connecting to the computer it is recommended to fully charge MAX6, but of course you can also use the uncharged supplying only the USB port. You can charge while working MAX6 computer via the USB port.

MAX6 is not charged via USB cable

MAX6 is charged by PSU 12V (> 200mA) stabilized !! ( both model 180 and 500 MHz )

Possible is charging from CAR cigarette lighter :-) with hombrewed cable :-)

Supply socket is protected from reverse polarity (center pin is + )

Charging process is fully automatic and internal LI-ION battery can by charged any time and finish automatically. You can charge anytime You need.

MAX6-180 work on battery about 4 hour continuous use ..

MAX6-500 work on battery about 1,5 hour continuous use ...

but in future will be extended by software upgrade to 4 hour... :-)

If You have MAX6-500 MHz and You plan using long time on desktop with LCD mode MAX6-500 must be supplied from 9V_1000mA supply. MAX6 is software protested from supply from higher voltage.

CONNECTING TO PC

MAX6 when connected to a computer start in a few seconds, the screen will show the inscription MAX6_SERIAL ( USB_MODE ) - this means that the USB drivers are working properly. You can now run the program on Your PC. >>>>

(... if MAX6 blink and not switch on - that mean driver in Your PC is not properly installed ... )

After connection MAX6 to USB will be hear sound "tik tik" every second - this is OK - "heartbeat".

In new model (MAX6 version >2,50) LCD blink instead of make sound "tick" and count up... in first 10 second waiting for PC communication MAX6 is additionally powered from the internal battery. After 10 seconds of inactivity power goes only with USB and expects to communicate with the program.

If Your windows don't have preinstalled USB drivers for FTDI ... you can find here :

- http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

- local FTP - for win XP

RUN FIRST PROGRAMM

For first start i recommend use simple and fast program written by PA7N.

First download program and save to some place - can be DESKTOP

Download PA7N >> http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/MAX6/pa7n-vna.exe ( copy - paste link )

after download program is ready for use - no install - just EXE file

Just run program - write to RL value 0 ( zero) and press START button

(program automatically find proper COM )

Antenna - VNA

Left and right mouse button over program window change MARKERS and press ZOOM button

New version of PA7N with support MAX6-500MHz.

Beta versions.... just download and run & use :-), any problem - please report by email

BETA - pa7nvna_mod_SP5G.exe just copy below link to browser for start download-
http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/pa7n_test/pa7nvna_mod_sp5g.exe

Please set RL offset value:

- connect MAX6 to PC

- run program

- leave ANTENA port with nothing connected

- set marker to freq about 10 MHZ

- read R.L. value dB ... for example " - 0.3 "

- write this value to RL offset with reverse sign .... for example " 0.3 "

Antenna - VNA

SECOND PROGRAM - IG miniVNA

Download program IG miniVNA http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/MAX6/Ig_MiniVNA.exe

After downloading program just run EXE file for unpacking archive, chose location for file and confirm saving unzipped files.

After unpacking run file IG_miniVNA.exe

When we first time run program - wee see message about calibration "Please calibrate ...." - CONFIRM

Next... we have message on unknown COM port just IGNORER ..

Before use MAX6 we must CONFIGURE >> COMport >> and chose our COM and OK

Now we should calibrate CONFIGURE >> miniVNA >> Calibrate Reflection

... don't connect anything to MAX6 ports and press OK ..

Now program is ready for measurement. Just connect some antenna do ANTENNA port and start.

Antenna - VNA

For using MARKER please switch on all needed marker. If we need big readout, switch on on right side of tablle.

...as you can see from the two programs have similar charts

Shortcut:

SPACE = start 1 scan

F12 - start sweep

ESC - stop sweep

Filter - SNA

With this program Transmission mearuremet works - but dB scaling is not fullu correct

but shape of characteristics is OK

for accurate measurement - please use DL2SBA vnaJ described below

preconfigured for MAX6-180MHz IG_niniVNA_v_2010.06.11.exe

http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/SP3SWJ/MAX6/PROGRAM/IG_VNA/Ig_MiniVNA_v_2010.06.11.exe

preconfigured for MAX6-500MHz IG_miniVNA dla MAX6-500

http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/SP3SWJ/MAX6-500/PROGRAMS/IG_VNA1_500MHz/Ig_VNA1_MAX6-500MHz.exe

(MAX6 works - but suportet range only up to 180 MHz)

to be continued... to be continued... to be continued... to be continued...

OTHER PROGRAMS

VNA230 http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/SP3SWJ/MAX6/INSTALL/VNA230_ins.exe

Antenna - VNA

Filter- SNA

VNA233

Antenna - VNA

Filter- SNA

SVNA306 http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/MAX6/SVNA306.exe

(first must be installed VNA230, decimal point must be DOT in regional settings)

Antenna - VNA

Filter - SVNA

ZPLOT+ AC6LA

http://sp2swj.sp-qrp.pl/SP3SWJ/MAX6/PROGRAM/Zplot_transmisja/Zplot_180_filter.xls

(first must be installed VNA230, need MS EXCEL and allowed MACRO and remove "kill bit" in registy)

Antenna - VNA

Filter - SNA

Xtal - SNA

vnaJ DL2SBA web page

Just download : JAR file ... You must have installed JAVA for work this programm on PC

all version vnaJ http://download.dl2sba.com/vnaj/

2.8.6c last tested by me :-)

2.8.6d not yet tested ....

MANUALS http://download.dl2sba.com/vnaj/manuals/

Before first use:

ANALYZER >> SETUP ... and chose proper COM and VNA model
ANALYZER >>> INFO ... after connect press RESET button to reset config data
CALIBRATION _>> LOSS .... and calibrate

DDS tick for 180 MHZ = 10737418

DDS tick for 500 MHZ = 3435973

This program work on Macintosh too :-)

FOUR Cursor... just left mouse over plot and... SHIFT CTRL SHIFT+CTRL

Antenna - VNA