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Calculating SWR Meter: t1 1 / (Uv - Ur) A t2 1 / - Ur - B T t1 + t2 1 / (Uv - Ur) + 1 / - Ur - A + B
Calculating SWR Meter: t1 1 / (Uv - Ur) A t2 1 / - Ur - B T t1 + t2 1 / (Uv - Ur) + 1 / - Ur - A + B
t1 ~ 1 / (Uv - Ur) = A
t2 ~ 1 / |Ur| = B
T = t1 + t2 ~ 1 / (Uv - Ur) + 1 / |Ur| = A + B
The assignment between SWR and the relative current is done graphically when calibrating the indicator scale. At Ur = 0 V no
current flows through the indicator and the pointer remains at 0% and shows a SWR of 1. Ur = 0.5 x Uv makes a current flow
over 50% of the period time T. The pointer stays at the center position corresponding to SWR = 3. At Ur = Uv the 100% end
position (SWR = infinity) is reached.
Function
The timer IC NE555 is used as a window comparator in this application. It controls the charging and discharging of capacitor C6.
The discharge period, t1, begins when VT1 is switched off. Both NE555 outputs 7 and 3 go "high" when the OP amp output
voltage falls below the 1/3 threshold of the comparator. VT1 short-circuits Uv to the +3 V virtual ground potential and therefore
only -Ur is active. The negative voltage, -Ur, begins the t2 charge period until the OP amp output voltage exceeds the 2/3
comparator threshold and the outputs 7 and 3 go "low". VT1 is switched off again and the process repeats indefinitely. "High" at
pin 3 means no current flow and "low" means 100 uA current flow through current limiter R9 and the indicator.
Examples:
The table shows that identical Ur/Uv ratio at different absolute voltages Ur and Uv result in the same SWR readings.
Power supply
The SWR meter needs an unregulated voltage Ub= 7....15 V. IC3 provides TL071 and NE555 with a regulated voltage of +6 V.
The saw tooth amplitude and the pulse current though the indicator are independent from Ub by this measure. +3 V reference
voltage (virtual ground) allows symmetrical OP amp operation with a single supply voltage. The circuit current consumption is
about 8 mA. For battery operation a current saving NE555 CMOS version is recommended.
Parts list
Alignment
To align, set the Uv terminal to +2 V and the Ur terminal to -1 V. The voltage rates are referring to the + 3 V virtual ground. To
get the fixed voltages, use two potentiometers and feed each with +6 V against real ground ( 0V). Connect one slider to the Uv
terminal and the other one to the -Ur terminal. Against the real 0 V ground the slider voltages should be +5 V and +2 V. The
related SWR calculation looks like this:
Because (Uv - Ur) and |-Ur| are equal, the pulse to break ratio will be equal too (symmetrical rectangle signal at IC2 pin 7). The
indicator pointer should stay in the 50% position. This corresponds to the before manually calculated SWR of 3. A deviation from
the center position may require a balancing resistor in series or in parallel to R9.
Now remove both potentiometers and adjust the reflectometer by C1 to very little or no |-Ur|. The transmit power should be about
1 to 2 watts for this and the ANT terminal has to be terminated with a non-reactive 50 Ohms load. 50 Ohm transmitter output
impedance is obvious.