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Author Topic: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?  (Read 71334 times)

N8CBX

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SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« on: April 30, 2015, 03:45:04 PM »

I found many SWR/Power meter projects using PIC micro-controllers, but none yet that are using a Arduino controllers.
I think this will be my next project using the "Mini".
Jan N8CBX
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Dayton Ohio - The Birthplace of Aviation

W4OP

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2015, 06:29:30 AM »

Hi Jan,
I would be interested in helping with machining etc. I am looking for an accurate low power capability HF power meter. No interest in commercial products

Dale W4OP
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N8CBX

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2015, 06:52:23 AM »

Dale,
It would be fun to work with you on this effort. I have numerous articles an the subject and I would like to use a Log amp (AD8307) with a "Sontheimer Bridge" and the Adruino MINI to do the numerical processing. And also low power consumption.
Jan N8CBX
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K9AQ

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2015, 07:24:19 AM »

Jan,

There are several examples of this in the books that have been written for the Arduino and ham radio. I am not at home so I can't give you the titles until next week.

I also have incorporated SWR and Power reading into an amplifier controller that uses an Arduino Mega.  The code for this is very simple.  The hardest part is the bi-directional coupler.  I have built a couple of homebrew ones but have not been satisfied with their operation.  I switched to use on from Wavenode.  Their detector sells for $65 and it is worth every penny.

The output for this detector, and all others, is logarithmic, not linear, so your Arduino code will have to have the math to convert the output from the detector to power.  Once you have forward and reflected power it is very easy to calculate SWR.

73,

Don
K9AQ

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N8CBX

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2015, 07:49:08 AM »

Hi Don,
It's good to hear from you again. Yes, the links to the articles would be great. Yeah, the conversion from db to power is requirement to do, and I think I have an equation to solve for power, if not, I'm sure Dale W4OP would know how to do it.
It will require the "math.h" library.
Jan N8CBX
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ON5MF

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #5 on: May 02, 2015, 06:07:26 AM »

There is also this one made by my good friend ON7EQ: http://www.qsl.net/on7eq/projects/arduino_pwr_swr.htm
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Mostly (low power) digi contesting using OQ6A, sometimes dxing using ON5MF
www.on5mf.be

N8CBX

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2015, 08:49:14 PM »

Thank you, Jurgen. Your friend is doing some great work, that I can see on his web site.
Thanks,
Jan N8CBX
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K0JEG

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2015, 07:33:05 AM »

There is also this one made by my good friend ON7EQ: http://www.qsl.net/on7eq/projects/arduino_pwr_swr.htm

Very nice! I wonder how difficult it would be to add control of a tuning capacitor for magnetic loops?
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N8CBX

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #8 on: May 11, 2015, 05:14:55 PM »

If the capacitor is a one-turn pot, it can be direct driven by an RC servo. Actually, this can be done with a servo tester, no micro controller needed.
Jan N8CBX
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K2GWK

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2015, 05:49:26 PM »

There is a power meter only example on page 2 of this forum.
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Guy
Lawn Guyland, New York

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WM6H

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2015, 02:11:15 PM »

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N8CBX

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2015, 07:37:45 PM »

That's very cool. Its an antenna analyzer but very interesting. I'll try to built it.
Jan N8CBX
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WM6H

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2015, 06:03:01 AM »

If you are not comfortable with surface mount techniques, Jason takes you through the steps to build the accompanying synthesizer.

I use the Arduino based LightBlue "Bean" it is more expensive but has a wireless interface.
Here is what I have so far.
https://mobile.twitter.com/wm6h/status/577463305800843264

Sorry, thought SWR/Power meters and Antenna Analyers sort of overlapped functionality. One just leaves out the synthesizer.
My mistake.

Bob
wm6h
« Last Edit: June 08, 2015, 06:13:12 AM by WM6H »
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AK0B

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RE: SWR/power meter using the Arduino.....Anyone?
« Reply #13 on: July 06, 2015, 11:06:54 PM »

Excellent design in Jack Purdum W8TEE's book 'Arduino projects for Amateur Radio' page 283.  ISBN 978-0-07-183405-6

Stan AK0B
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