SWR/Wattmeter

ECE 4532: Design 1 Group 04

 What is an SWR/Wattmeter?

 An SWR/Wattmeter is an electronic testing

device used by ham radio operators to
measure the strength and quality of
transmissions. An SWR/Wattmeter is used to
measure the following values:

• Forward Power
• Reflected Power
• Standing Wave Ratio (SWR)
 Block Diagram

Directional
Transmitter
Coupler

Display
Unit Microprocessor Voltage
Regulator

Power Meter SWR Meter LCD

 User Interface
LCD Display (3 Modes)
2. Forward power, reflected
power, and SWR numerical
readings
Power Meter SWR Meter 3. SWR numerical reading and bar
Displays the forward and Displays the SWR graph
reflected power calculated by the calculated by the 4. Forward power and reflected
microprocessor microprocessor power numerical values and
bar graph

Forward/Reflected Switch Sensor Switch Mode Switch Lamp Switch

Switches the power meter Switches Switches the Activates the
between forward and reflective between the LCD between power and
power readings two sensor the three SWR meter
input ports modes lamps
 Hardware Design: Directional Coupler
Description and Constraints

 Connects in-line between the radio and the

antenna
 Samples forward and reflected power
 Several different designs

 Constraint 1: Must measure forward and reflected

power within 10% of full-scale (SWR also)
 Constraint 2: Must maintain accuracy at all
frequencies between 1.8 MHz and 30 MHz
 Constraint 3: Must maintain accuracy at all power
levels up to the legal limit (1500W)
Hardware Design: Directional Coupler
Choosing the Right Design

Frequency Handles
Model Low Cost?
Sensitive? High Power?

Reflectometer no yes yes

Resistive Bridge no no yes

Stripline yes no yes

Thruline Principle no yes no

Hardware Design: Directional Coupler
Schematic
 Hardware Design: Directional Coupler
Testing

 Tested at 9 120 1.6

different bands in
the HF range from 1.4
100
1.8-28.4 MHz 1.2
 Power values were 80
1 FWD
within constraints PWR
60 0.8
for all frequencies
at all tested power 0.6 REF
40 PWR
levels 0.4
 SWR values were 20 SWR
0.2
accurate for all
power values 0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 Hardware Design: Voltage Regulation
Description and Design Constraints

 Need to regulate 12-18V DC supply to 5V DC for

the microprocessor circuit and LCD

 Constraint 1: Must accept 12-18V DC power

source and use less than 1A
 Constraint 2: Voltage regulation must be accurate
within 10% of 5V
Hardware Design: Voltage Regulation
Choice and Schematic

 78M05 regulator is the best option

• Output current in excess of 0.5A
• Output voltage between 4.75V and 5.25V
• Internal thermal overload protection
• Cheap ($.30)
 Hardware Design: Voltage Regulation
Testing
Input Voltage Avg. Output Voltage  78M05 rated from 7.25-35V
6 3.22  Tested from 6-20V
7 4.67
8 5.00
 Output voltages were well
9 4.99
within tolerances (-1%)
10 4.99
6
11 4.99
12 4.99 5

Output Voltage
13 4.98 4
14 4.98 3
15 4.97
2
16 4.97
1
17 4.96
18 4.95 0
0 5 10 15 20 25
19 4.93
Input Voltage
20 4.91
 Hardware Design: Cost of Parts
Description and Design Constraint

 SWR/Wattmeters typically cost between $30 and

$300
• Projected retail price for our meter: $300

 Typical MFJ retail price: 2X cost of parts

• Cost of parts should be less than $150 for MFJ to make
a profit

 Constraint: Cost of parts must be ≤ $125

• Cost of parts should be ¼ retail price = $75
 Hardware Design: Cost of Parts
Unit Cost per
Materials Quantity Total Cost
thousand
Resistor 20 $0.05 $1.00
Capacitor 20 $0.10 $2.00
Diode 5 $0.01 $0.05
Variable Resistor 5 $0.50 $2.50
Variable Capacitor 2 $0.40 $0.80
Toroid 1 $0.50 $0.50
Ferrite Bead 2 $0.05 $0.10
Voltage Regulator 1 $0.30 $0.30
Speaker 1 $5.00 $5.00
Switch 5 $0.50 $2.50
Processor Socket 1 $0.15 $0.15
Microprocessor 1 $6.00 $6.00
LCD 1 $15.00 $15.00
Board 2 $10.00 $20.00
Case 1 $10.00 $10.00
Analog Meter 2 $5.00 $10.00
TOTAL COST 1 X $75.90
 Software Design: Microprocessor
Comparison and Choice

16C76 16C77 16C74 16F83

Program Memory 8 KB 8 KB 4 KB 512 B

Data Memory 368 B 368 B 192 B 64 B

Max. Clock Speed 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 10 MHz

8-bit A/D Channels 5 8 8 0

I/O Pins 22 33 33 13
Software Design: Microprocessor
16C76 Pinout and Usage

• 2 A/D channels used to

measure sampled power
values

• 3 PWM channels used

to control the meters

• 6 pins to control the

LCD
 Software Design: Code
Calculations and Control

 Calculate forward and reflected power using a

look-up table (LUT).
 Calculate SWR using forward and reflected power
values
• Used a LUT to measure square root of power
 Control meters using PWM value read from LUT
• Calibrated LUT for the meter (non-linear)
 Control LCD
• Average readings to minimize flicker
• Control LCD modes
• Convert binary values to ascii numbers
• Display labels, values, and bar graph on LCD
 Software Design: Code
Testing
 Tested using a voltage Input LUT LCD Meter
source vs. directional Voltage Fwd/Ref Values Values
coupler
0.2 1.2/ 1.2 1
 Values were correct for 0.5 9.5/ 9.5 10
the LCD and meter,
demonstrating 1.0 16/ 16 15
accuracy of the LUT for 1.5 33/ 34 33
power measurement 2.0 55/ 56 55
and meter control 2.5 85/ 85 85
 Calculated SWR values 3.0 120/ 122 120
by hand to verify SWR
calculation algorithm 3.5 163/ 163 160
4.0 207/ 209 200
4.5 262/ 264 260
5.0 320/ 320* 310
 Summary

 Working Features on Prototype

• Accurately measures forward power, reflected power
and SWR
• Correctly displays forward and reflected power on a
cross-needle meter
• Correctly displays power and SWR measurements to an
LCD

 Improvements for Packaged Product

• Accurately measure high-power levels
• Implement auto-range functionality
• Use separate meters for power and SWR
• Choose and implement SWR alarm
• Move hardware to PCB
• Design aluminum case
 Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people for

their support:

 Mr. Martin F. Jue, President of MFJ Enterprises

 Harry Wong, project engineer for MFJ Enterprises
 Dr. J. Patrick Donohoe, faculty advisor
 Dr. Picone
 Jordan Goulder
Questions

?
 References

[1] Kelson, Francis, “Calibration and Repair for Bird

Wattmeter Elements,” Amateur Radio, pp.48, April
1980.
[2] McCoy, Lewis G, “Meet the SWR Bridge,” QST, March
1955.
[3] Gray, John J, “How to Build a Simple SWR Bridge,” CQ,
pp.36-39, Sept. 1987.
[4] Bruene, Warren, “An Inside Picture of Directional
Wattmeters,” QST, pp.24-28, April 1959.
[5] Kemper, John Greben, “The Tandem Match - An
Accurate Directional Wattmeter,” QST, pp. 18-26, Jan.
1987.