SARK-100 Antenna Analyzer Kit
The SARK-100 Antenna Analyzer it is yet another antenna analyzer but available in kit form and designed to be easy to assemble and with an affordable pricing. You will enjoy of this DIY experience that it will not only help for improving your SMD soldering skills and learn about the analyzer basics but you will get a useful instrument for your shack. In addition you will have the possibility of modifying and updating the analyzer software via USB at your convenience, but even more, part of hardware is software configurable because of the programmable features of the PSoC micro-controller. For instance, you can change the ADC type, increase or decreasing the resolution or the sample rate, etc; therefore it is excellent training kit for the learning of the PSoC microcontroller.This kit requires some soldering skills so I would not recommend it if it is your first experience with the soldering iron. In this case it is better starting with a kit based on trough-hole components. If you have experience with the soldering iron but you are new to the SMD, don’t be afraid, it is much easier that it seems using the correct technique and (basic) tools. It is a kit with a moderate component count in which the assembly should not lead more than four hours, so once you have completed I’m sure that you will be more confident to embrace the building of more complex SMD kits.
KIT
The SARK100 kit consist of a double sided printed circuit board with silkscreen and solder mask, the components including the pre-programmed PSoC microcontroller, welding supplies, and a suitable instrument box in grey color (supplied without machining).
The SARK100 Kit was discontinued in October 2011 !
It has been replaced by the advanced SARK-110 Antenna Analyzer
Important notice!
I do not provide support for the SARK-100 derivatives that are currently sold at eBay, AliExpress, and similar sites. These devices are supplied by third parties and I do not have any control over them.
OVERVIEW
The SARK100 Antenna Analyzer Kit is a measurement instrument which determines antenna system performance across the HF/6M amateur bands without the need of connecting the transmitter to the antenna. It is ideal for checking the resonance, bandwidth, and SWR in an easy and fast way. The meter also measures the resistance, reactance, and the magnitude of the impedance.
The analyzer is comprised of a single double-sided printer circuit board PCB (145mm x 81mm) containing all components, controls, and a 2x16 LCD display with backlight; all inside an enclosure that allows in-hand use. The enclosure holds an 8-cell AAA battery pack enabling convenient field use.
The analyzer design is based on a DDS signal generator, a PSoC microcontroller, and a reflectometer for the impedance measurements. The features and flexibility of the PSoC microcontroller allows for a simple hardware design. The design provides an USB interface to allow FW updates and uploading of the real-time measurements to the PC. The development environment is the free PSoC Designer tool and the code has been programmed in 'C' language allowing along the USB update capability the easy customization of the code without the need of acquiring any tool.
The figure below illustrates the block diagram of the analyzer:
The DDS, filter, and power amplifier form a sinusoidal signal generator which frequency and amplitude is controlled by the PSoC micro-controller. The amplitude control allows compensating the roll-off effect of the digital to analog converter in the DDS. The signal generator signal is delivered to the antenna through a reflectometer consisting of an absorptive SWR bridge using matched diode detectors and compensated buffer amplifiers. The data provided by the reflectometer are digitized and used by the micro-controller to compute the SWR and impedance values for each sampled frequency.
The user iteration is provided by a 2x16 display with backlight, a keypad, and a buzzer. In SCAN mode the micro-controller sweeps the signal generator in the selected band looking for the minimum SWR point, the resonant frequency, and the 2:1 SWR limits in order to determine the 2:1 bandwidth. At the end of the scan the resonance frequency is selected and it is shown the impedance values. In manual mode the frequency and bands can be selected using the keypad and allows selecting four operating modes: SWR, complex impedance, capacitance, and inductance.
The analyzer is able to determine the sign of the impedance by a dizzling technique. It takes the measure of the reactance at the selected frequency and compared with the value of the reactance at a frequency slightly higher. In the case that the value of the reactance is greater it is likely that the reactance be inductive (+ j). If the case that value of the reactance is less it is likely that the reactance be capacitive (-j).
The analyzer is designed to be field-usable and operating friendly. It has a convenient form-factor for hand operation and the push-button controls are positioned along the left top side of the unit. The RF connector is located at the top of the unit to provide a convenient connection to the antenna being measured. The external power jack, the USB connector, and the power switch are located in the bottom side of the instrument.
The unit provides both operation from the internal batteries or from an external power adapter. The analyzer software implements some power saving features in order to extend the battery autonomy. The internal batteries are charged automatically by a constant current battery charger when the external power adapter is connected.
FEATURES
Automated antenna SWR analyzer
Supplied as an easy to assemble kit at an affordable cost
Hardware:
Powerful and flexible PSoC microcontroller to control instrument operation
Precise and self-calibrating reflectometer design measures forward and reflected signals and impedance data
Display 2x16 with optional backlight
Precision DDS signal generator (AD9851) used as signal source
USB port connects to PC for field-upgradeable software and uploading of real-time measurement data
Buzzer
Software:
Microcontroller software programmed in 'C' language
Open source GPL license
Free PSoC Designer tool and field-upgradeable capabilities allow user customization of the analyzer operation
Operation:
Manual control option displays SWR and complex impedance at selected frequencies
Automatic scanning results displayed as frequencies of lowest SWR and complex impedance
Battery operated for field use or use external 13.8V wall adaptor
Power saving modes
Multi-point calibration for better accuracy
Instrument Capabilities:
Measure antenna electrical parameters: SWR, impedance (resistance + reactance), capacitance, inductance
Measure feedpoint impedance
Measure ground loss
Adjust antenna tuners and determine loss
Measure inductors and capacitors
Measure coax transmission line (SWR, length, velocity factor, approximate Q and loss, resonant frequency, and impedance)
Measure and determine optimum settings for tuning stubs: SWR, approximate Q, resonant frequency, bandwidth, impedance
Determine characteristic impedance of transmission line
Determine length of ¼ and ½ wave phasing lines
Coaxial Cable Loss
Determine antenna tuner loss
Measure balun loss
Measure inductor Q
Estimate quartz crystal parameters
Measure magnetic loop resonance and SWR
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Generation & Control:
1 - 60 Mhz
Source impedance: 50 Ohms
Stability: +/- 100 ppm
Step Size: User configurable increments of 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, and 100 kHz
Usable Measurement Range:
SWR: 1.0 to 9.99
Impedance: approx. 5 to 2000 ohms
RF Output:
Adjustable: 2.0 Volts pp (typ)
Power supply:
External: 13.8 to 19 Volts DC, 500mA
Internal: 8xAAA 1000mAh NiMH cells
Charging time: 12 hours (charge rate 0.1C)
Controls:
Pushbuttons (5): "Mode", "Band", "Config", "Scan", "Up", "Down"
Switch: "Power On"
Connectors:
RF Out: BNC
USB: Mini-B receptacle
External power: 2.1mm Power Jack (center pin positive)
HARDWARE
Schematics
Board
Enclosure
SOFTWARE
SARK100 Source files: http://sark100swranaly.sourceforge.net/
FTDI USB Drivers: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm
PSoC Designer: http://www.cypress.com/?rID=34517
BOARD ASSEMBLY
The basic tools needed for the board assembly, see the illustration, are a solder iron (better if it has temperature control), tweezzers, and magnifying glasses; It is also required thin solder wire, solder flux, and 1.5mm solder wick but they are supplied with the kit.The assembly of the board should not take more than four hours.There is a great video explaining surface mount soldering techniques. You will discover that the use of the solder flux and the wick are key for the success of the work.
IMAGES
Below are some images of the SARK100 prototypes: