Measuring devices for terrestrial and cable television from Broadcast Arsenal Group of companies

By Igor Kabo and Sergey Petrov

Review contents:

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Fast progress of all TV broadcasting systems in Russia defines growing need in equipment for their testing as well as produces hard requirements for it. It is explained by appearance of the Russian market a TV measuring equipment of pretty wide range manufactured by both Russian and foreign companies.

Broadcast Arsenal Group of companies keeping its conception of pushing streamlined foreign technologies to Russian market at affordable for domestic customer prices has begun manufacturing a series of measuring devices based on licenses of two foreign Deviser Electronics (USA — China) and JP Instruments (Italy) companies on group’s own factory (Microtech Company, Novosibirsk, Russia).

Due to its high user features the equipment produced by these companies gained in recent years wide acceptance on world TV measuring systems market but it was less known in Russian till present time.

Form the wide range of professional measuring devices for terrestrial and cable TV systems produced by Deviser Company as starting ones for production in Russian one DS1150 model for field tension and signals level measuring and one DS7710 model for circuits analyzing were selected. They are well accepted among such functionality devices and are characterized by high level upon features/price criteria in comparison with domestic and foreign similar devices. Wide use of digital technologies and automated measuring methods is these devices’ architecture guarantees high level of realized metrological characteristics while providing interface for operation in combination with PC sufficiently extends devices’ functionality.

DS1150 is multi-standard device for measuring wide specter of parameters for both analog and digital (QAM, QPSK) signals. Measures are being performed in 46…870 MHz (DS1150A model) or in 5…870 (DS1150B model) bands which allows analyze signals in return channel. DS1150 allows measuring field tension (for terrestrial broadcasting networks) or signal level (for cable TV networks) both for single frequencies and for groups of channels (up to 12) as well as perform measures in full frequency range (up to 150 channels). Amplitude measures can be done in error limit control mode defining necessary error limits for signals level. Parameters measured include also S/N ratio on carrier frequency, V/A carriers ratio, frequency response tilt for group of channels (4…12).

DS1150

Device supports specter analyzer function. Specter scanning can be done in both full band and in any band defined by user including separate channel scanning. There is a possibility of simultaneous display on the screen (using two-color curve) either RMS level of scanned signal or its peak level which is convenient for artifacts detection.

Offered as an option for DS1150 wideband measuring antenna allows using a device for terrestrial signal field tension measuring. Such device bundle looks very useful upon necessity, for instance in experimental field evaluation of terrestrial transmitter’s coverage area. Antenna’s design gives a possibility to measure signals with both horizontal and vertical polarization.

Device realizes automated testing mode which is very convenient for user and provides automated check of cable network once a day according to previously set by user parameters set. Measuring results are stored in device’s memory.

Measuring devices is designed as handheld unit with easy-to-use LCD display providing full and easy readable representation of measuring results. It operates reliably in wide temperature range. Device has internal speaker for audio channel monitoring.

Device is equipped with built-in battery which provides continuous operation during 6…8 hours. Battery’s charging time is less than 3 hours.

Typical technical characteristics of DS1150
Frequency range, MHz	5…870
Tuning step, kHz	10
Frequency measuring precision	±50×10-6
Input level of measured signals, dB/µV	35…120
Level measuring precision, dB	±1.5
Resolution at level measuring, dB	0.1
Input impedance, Ohm	75
Input and input connector type	Unbalanced BNC or F
Number of scanned channels	Up to 150
Scan speed, channel/sec	10
Bandwidth at specter measuring, MHz	2.5, 6.25, 12.5, 25.0, 62.5
Scale at specter measuring, dB/point	1, 2, 5, 10
Input signal level at S/N ration measuring, dB/µV	more than 85
Dynamic range at S/N ration measuring, dB	20…50
S/N ration measuring precision, dB	±2
Resolution at S/N ration measuring, dB	0.1
Bandwidth at digital signals’ average power measuring, MHz	0.28…9.99
Digital modulation types support	QAM, QPSK
Number of channels at frequency response tilt measuring	4…12
Resolution at frequency response tilt measuring, dB	0.1
Measure range of main circuit voltage, V	0…100
Precision of voltage measuring, V	1.0
Memory, KB	32
External interface	RS-232
Display	LCD, 128×128, backlit
Dimensions, mm	49×95×218
Weight with battery, gram	600
Operation temperature range,°C	-10 …+40
Power source	Ni-MH, 1.8 Ah/7.2 V battery
Operation time without recharge, hour	6…8
Charge time for switched off device, hour	up to 3

DS7710 circuit analyzer is designed for analysis of wide range TV and radio broadcast networks parameters in wide frequency range. Device can be also used as swing frequency oscillator and thus is an effective measuring device used for monitoring linear and non-linear devices within different radio systems. TV and radio broadcast stations, cable TV networks, communication receiving equipment and so on. This device is used at manufacturing and exploitation of narrow band filters, amplifiers, attenuators, antenna-feeder units, cables.

Offered as an option to DS7710 measuring bridge allows using a device for stationary wave factor measuring for different radio devices.

DS7710 circuits analyzer

Device features high degree of integration, measuring automation, ability of error limit parameters measuring, digital technology with built-in high resolution frequency synthesizer and serial & parallel interfaces for communication with PC. All this allows user make fast measuring with high level metrological characteristics and effectively use computers for measuring results processing.

DS7710 has two modifications oriented for device’s use in 50 and 75 Ohm impedance networks which is indicated by A and B indexes added to the model’s name.

Device is designed as compact desktop unit with convenient 7" CRT display. It is equipped with internal power supply providing operation from 192…250 V power network.

Typical technical characteristics of DS7710
Frequency range, MHz	0.3…1300
Frequency resolution, Hz	10
Frequency scan range, MHz	0.05…1300
Max output level, dBm (dB/µV)	+13 (120)
Output attenuator, dB	0…70
Attenuator adjustment step, dB	1
Output impedance, Ohm	50/75
Input impedance for external signal being detected, kOhm	100
Input signal dynamic range, not less, dB	60
Max input voltage, V	2 (peak)
Number of channels displayed	up to 2
Number of markers per channel	up to 5
Display type	VGA 7"
Displaying dynamic range, dB	80
Dimensions, mm	220×400×490
Wight, kg	16,5
Output interfaces	RS-232 and parallel interface
Built-in memory: ROM, KB RAM, MB	512 4
Operational temperature range,°C	5…40
Power AC voltage, V	192…250
Power consumption, VA	300

DS7710 circuit analyzer is certified by the manufacturing company according to ISO9001 standard. At present time DS1150 and DS7710 are going through certification in Russian by Gosstandard of Russian Federation.

Italian JP Instruments Company focuses on professional field tension measuring devices dedicated to terrestrial and satellite TV systems.

For production in Russian at present moment several devices were chosen which as full as possible cover a specter of main metrological tasks which industry specialists face.

MST1/DVRT field tension measurer is a complex device of this series and it has maximum features set. Thus let’s look at this device’s technical features deeply.

MST1/DVRT is designed for analog signals parameters as well as digital channels parameters with QPSK, QAM and COFDM modulation within terrestrial and satellite TV networks. Device allows measuring field tension, frequency and signal level, error rate, S/N ratio as well as specter of signal analyzed. Built-in testing noise generator and TV-text & MPEG-2 decoders extend metrological performance of a device pretty much.

MST1/DVRT field dencity meter

Device is designed as compact mobile unit with 4” CRT display which may be color or b&w according to user’s desire. Display and control panel combination features high level of ergonomics providing both ease and convenience in operation and good understanding and readability of output information for user. Signal level is shown on display in graphical form and in numerical view as also is indicated by audio tone signal via built-in speaker.

Device is equipped with universal power supply which provides device’s operation both from 210…240 V AC power network and from built-in battery12 V DC.

Device is delivered in convenient nylon coffer with a pocket for tools and accessories and with a belt for easy handling in field use.

Typical technical characteristics of MST1/DVRT*
Frequency range, MHz	45…870/900…2170
Frequency resolution, kHz	62.5/125 (step)
Measuring bandwidth at -3 dB, MHz	0.18…1.0/4.0
Measuring level, dB	20…130/30…120
Level measuring precision, dB	±2.0
Input attenuator, dB	0…50
Attenuator adjustment step, dB	10
Input impedance, Ohm	75
Number of channels in memory	180
Audio tone signal frequency range, kHz	0.06…22
Noise generator frequency range, GHz	0.04…1.2
Noise generator signal level in a bandwidth, dB/µV	45±3 dB
MPEG decoder input signal level, dB/µV	-65…-25 (no attenuation)
Symbols transfer speed at the decoder’s input, Mbaud	2…31
DVB compliance	Vitterby (1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8) + Reed — Solomon (188/204) + alternation
Dimansions, mm	90×250×350
Wight with battery, kg	7
Operational temperature range,°C	0…45
Display type	4", b&w or color
*Numerator shows a value for terrestrial VHF/UHF bands; denominator shows a value for satellite band

Characteristics displayed on a screen:

• TV image fragment, signal level as a bar and numerical value, line synch pulse;
• TV image in current standard, audio signal levels and battery charge status;
• Full screen TV image;
• Full and stretched specter image;
• DiSEqC menu (for satellite systems).

Other JP Instruments’ devices produced in Russia have narrower field of use and party support MST1/DVR functionality.

Devices described above form full functional line of measurers which allows effectively solve mostly total set of metrological tasks appeared at development and exploitation of any kind of TV broadcast systems.

Material is provided by Broadcast Arsenal Group of companies