Quick Start Guide | 4071.5546.62 – 05
Radiomonitoring and Radiolocation
Quick Start Guide
®
R&S
GX430
PC-based Signal Analysis and
Signal Processing
© Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG
81671 München, Deutschland, 2008
Gedruckt in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Änderungen vorbehalten - Daten ohne spezifizierte Fehlergrenzen,
Messunsicherheitsgrenzen oder Messunsicherheiten stellen nur Größenordnungen dar.
®
R&S
ist ein registrierter Markenname der ROHDE & SCHWARZ GmbH & Co. KG.
Eigennamen sind Warenzeichen der jeweiligen Eigentümer.
© Rohde & Schwarz, GmbH & Co KG
81671 Munich, Germany, 2008
Printed in Germany - Subject to change - Data without tolerance limits is not binding
®
R&S
is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.
Trade names are trademarks of the owners.
R&S®GX430 PC-based signal analysis and signal processing
uses color highlighting for illustrative purposes.
not coincide with
In advance…
If in doubt…
Read the Frequently Asked Questions section towards the end of this document.
Press the key on the keyboard. This offers context-sensitive access to the
GX430 manual.
Right-click on the panel of interest. Invariably this will raise further options, valid
within the current context, that may help.
Refer to the GX430 manual. Follow…
ATTENTION Versioning
This document has been prepared based on GX430…
Version: 02.50
This GX430 Quick Start Guide
Because of this, the graphic representations used in the QSG
what is shown on the user’s PC-workstation.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 1
R&S®GX430 PC-based signal analysis and signal processing
About this document…
It is intended that this document will provide you with a ‚fast-track’ introduction to the
R&S®GX430 PC-based signal analysis and signal processing product.
The document provides:
An outline of the position of GX430 within the radio monitoring and radio location
products offered by Rohde & Schwarz
summary of GX430 core functionality
a short guide to GX430 installation, and platform requirements
a short guide to starting and configuring GX430
sample GX430 usage scenarios
GX430 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The ultimate reference for the themes addressed in this document is the GX430
Manual. The manual is included in the GX430 delivery scope.
Within this document, the ‚R&S®GX430 PC-based signal analysis and signal
processing’ product is frequently referred to as ‘R&S®GX430’, or simply ‘GX430’.
Within this document, the term ‘receiver’ and ‘tuner’ are used interchangeably.
The sample GX430 usage scenarios in this document are offered ‘as is’.
The scenarios do not aspire to represent complete work-flow processes. They are to
be seen as a guide to aid the novice to gain familiarity with GX430, and to surpass the
initial threshold of ‘Yes, but what is it good for?’.
ATTENTION Licensing functionality
Some of the functionality described in this document is only available with the proper
license.
Please refer to the GX430 Manual and the GX430 data sheet for details on licensed
functionality.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 2
R&S®GX430 Contents
Contents
..................................................................................................................
1Product outline............................................................................................................. 6
2GX430 core functionality ............................................................................................. 7
2.1 Signals 7
2.2 Results 7
2.3Classification 8
2.4Automatic search and classification .....................................................................................................8
2.5Manual modulation analysis...................................................................................................................9
3Installing, starting, configuring GX430..................................................................... 10
3.1Installing GX430.....................................................................................................................................10
3.2Starting GX430 .......................................................................................................................................10
3.3Configuring GX430 for operation.........................................................................................................11
3.3.1Configuring receivers............................................................................................................................11
3.3.2Preparing the audio output device........................................................................................................19
3.3.3Further settings.....................................................................................................................................19
4GX430 Graphical User Interface familiarisation ......................................................20
4.1Graphical User Interface (GUI) configuration .....................................................................................20
4.2GUI principle elements..........................................................................................................................22
4.3Configuration paradigms......................................................................................................................30
5GX430 usage scenarios............................................................................................. 31
5.1Usage scenario ‘Classification’............................................................................................................31
5.2Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ ..................................................................................................45
5.3Usage scenario ‘Automatic Search & Classification’ ........................................................................56
6Frequently Asked Questions about GX430.............................................................. 65
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 3
R&S®GX430 Figures
Figures
Fig. 1 Adding a networked receiver ...............................................................................12
Fig. 2 Audio cable connection between 3
ig. 3 GUI configuration after ‘Reset Layout’.................................................................21
F
Fig. 4 Title and menu-bar...............................................................................................22
Fig. 5 GUI panels for configuring operational components ...........................................23
Fig. 6 Configuration panel selection ..............................................................................23
Fig. 7 GUI results, measurement, and analysis.............................................................25
Fig. 8 GUI tabs for results, measurement, and analysis................................................25
Fig. 9 Configuring, using a selection from the spectrum display ...................................29
Fig. 10 Fine adjusting boundary cursors in the spectrum display .................................29
Fig. 11 Saving a ‘Job’ ....................................................................................................30
Fig. 12 Select which elements are to be retained in a ‘Job’ ..........................................30
Fig. 13 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – start-up..........................................................32
Fig. 14 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – tuning the receiver ........................................33
Fig. 15 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – configure the classifier..................................36
Fig. 16 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – start processing ............................................37
Fig. 17 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – classification results......................................40
Fig. 18 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – classification results panel............................42
Fig. 19 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – view results list entry ....................................42
Fig. 20 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – ‘Dec. mods’ – ‘Spacing’. ...............................43
Fig. 21 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – results applied...............................................43
Fig. 22 Usage scenario ‘Classification’ – list options.....................................................44
Fig. 23 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – start-up ................................................46
Fig. 24 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – Spectrum processing configuration.....47
Fig. 25 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – select pre-recorded signal file .............48
Fig. 26 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – playing the pre-recorded signal file .....49
Fig. 27 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – spectrum display segment selection ...50
Fig. 28 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – spectrum with highlighted segments ...50
Fig. 29 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – spectrum processing options...............51
Fig. 30 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – spectrum measurement tool................52
Fig. 31 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – pass bordered spectrum selection to…
.............................................................................................................................53
Fig. 32 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – configure classifier...............................54
Fig. 33 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – configure the digital demodulation using
results from classification ....................................................................................55
Fig. 34 Usage scenario ‘Production - Morse’ – observe decoded results .....................56
Fig. 35 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – start-up .....................................................................57
Fig. 36 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – select a receiver.......................................................58
Fig. 37 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – AS&C configuration panel........................................59
Fig. 38 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – ‘Manage Parameter Sets’ window ...........................60
Fig. 39 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – AS&C pass ‘scan and detection’..............................61
Fig. 40 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – AS&C pass ‘classification’........................................61
d
r
party receiver and PC-workstation. ...........15
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 4
R&S®GX430 Figures
Fig. 41 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – results being added to emissions list .......................62
d
Fig. 42 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – result produced after 2
n
classification .....................62
Fig. 43 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – selected emission highlighted in panorama spectrum
.............................................................................................................................63
Fig. 44 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – emission options ......................................................63
Fig. 45 Usage scenario ‘AS&C’ – log emission list to file ..............................................64
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 5
R&S®GX430 Product outline
1 Product outline
R&S®GX430 is a PC-workstation based application for analysing and processing
signals. Typically these are signals found in the RF domain.
GX430 offers a comprehensive list of features which enables the operator to cover all
phases of signal interception, from acquisition, to classification, to demodulation, and
through to reporting.
GX430 complements the remaining Rohde & Schwarz radio-monitoring products.
These include
GX400 AMMOS – scalable single- / multi-channel narrowband and wideband HF
and VHF / UHF signal interception
GX410 AMLAB – signal analysis
GX420 AMREC – narrowband and wideband signal recording and replay system
Bespoke systems can be realised using these products together with the radiomonitoring, radio-location, and spectrum management products offered by Rohde &
Schwarz.
Visit [ www.rohde-schwarz.com ] for further details.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 6
R&S®GX430 GX430 core functionality
2 GX430 core functionality
GX430 is a standalone PC-workstation based application for analysis, classification,
demodulation, and decoding signals.
2.1 Signals
Signals for GX430 processing may be provided from several different sources.
These include:
Live - complex digital signal. Several HF and VHF / UHF receivers from by Rohde
& Schwarz offer digital IF data conform with the Rohde & Schwarz AMMOS IF
format
Live - analog signal via the hosting PC-workstation sound interface (‘sound-card’).
This signal may, for example, originate from a legacy ‘analog’ receiver.
Replay - complex digital signal previously imported to the GX430 hosting PCworkstation.
Replay – signal in ‘WAV’ format, previously imported to the GX430 hosting PCworkstation.
2.2 Results
GX430 offers visualisation tools (e.g. waterfall) for presenting results. Audio-data may
be presented ‘live’ via a sound interface.
As well as this, results produced by GX430 may be recorded on the hosting PCworkstation storage (e.g. hard disc). Recorded results may be presented, and also
made available for processing by 3
Recorded results include:
Digital IF (Rohde & Schwarz AMMOS IF format)
Digital audio (WAV format)
Symbol data (Rohde & Schwarz symbol data format)
Decoded text (UNICODE)
Images (public domain formats)
Dot / dash and decoded (UNICODE) MORSE
Transmission system (e.g. PACTOR) results (Rohde & Schwarz transmission
system data format)
rd
party applications.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 7
R&S®GX430 GX430 core functionality
2.3 Classification
GX430 contains a signal classifier. When applied to a signal derived from an HF or
VHF / UHF scenario, the classifier automatically determines the signal modulation type
analog and / or digital), and the HF coding or the VHF / UHF transmission system.
(
A suitable demodulator and / or decoder may be selected and configured using the
results from the classifier.
For HF scenario signals, the demodulator output (symbol stream) may be classified
(‘bitstream-classification’) to identify a suitable decoder.
Bitstream-classification and bitstream-decoding
GX430 provides two modes for bitstream-decoding.
In production mode, GX430 starts a given decoder, passes the incoming symbol
data to the decoder, and passes the decoder output (e.g. status reports and text)
to the visualization.
In classification mode, GX430 starts a list of decoders, and passes the incoming
symbol data to each decoder. GX430 monitors the status reports from each
decoder, and terminates those decoders least suited to the incoming symbol data.
The decoder exhibiting the best suitability to the incoming symbol data remains
running. The decoder output (e.g. status reports and text) is passed to the
visualization.
2.4 Automatic search and classification
GX430 extends classification with the automatic search and classify option ‘AS&C’.
This combines GX430 classification with ‘panorama scanning’ offered by receivers like
R&S®EM510 or R&S®EM550.
For AS&C, the spectrum segment (or segments) specified by the operator is (are)
‘panorama scanned’ (using one or more receivers) and those detected emissions
which pass the qualifying criteria, are classified according to the list of user selected
rules.
AS&C offers a spectrum of the searched frequency range, and a list of the emissions
detected.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 8
R&S®GX430 GX430 core functionality
2.5 Manual modulation analysis
GX430 offers tools with which the operator can measure signal specific attributes.
These include symbol rate, frequency shift, and amplitude stroke. The tools are applied
irectly to the chosen segment of the spectrum display; this may be based on the
d
baseband signal, signal envelope, baseband-squared, or the instantaneous frequency.
The selected spectrum segment may be further processed in the time domain (‘Time
Analysis’), where shift and symbol rate can be measured (where relevant).
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 9
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
3 Installing, starting, configuring
GX430
3.1 Installing GX430
Requirements:
The GX430 is hosted on a PC-workstation platform.
The hosting PC-workstation must have a suitable peripheral device to accept the
GX430 delivery medium (CD-ROM, WWW-download, etc.).
GX430 operation requires a vacant USB port on the hosting PC-workstation.
Procedure:
1. Using the facilities of the hosting PC-workstation, locate the installation archive on
the GX430 delivery medium.
2. Double-click on the installation archive to open the application starter.
3. Select ‘Start Installation’.
4. Follow the installation procedure through to the end by selecting
finally
This will ensure a ‘plain vanilla’ installation. Alternatively, the installation may be
customised to suit specific platform requirements.
5. Switch off the PC-workstation.
6. Mount the dongle (delivered with GX430) in the PC-workstation USB port
The installation is now complete.
When the PC-workstation is switched on again, the icon for starting application
will be found on the PC-workstation desktop.
.
.
3.2 Starting GX430
Click on the icon to start GX430.
Alternatively follow…
and
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 10
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
The application verifies the available licenses, presents a product ‘splash’ screen, and
is then ready for use.
If it is intended to use GX430 with one or more receivers, then these should be
connected (either to the audio input device on the hosting PC-workstation, or to the
network domain of which the PC-workstation is a member), and switched on.
3.3 Configuring GX430 for operation
3.3.1 Configuring receivers
GX430 can be used with network-capable receivers offering a digital IF-signal interface
conform to the Rohde & Schwarz AMMOS IF format (e.g. EM510 or EM550), or it
can be used with a legacy receiver offering an analog signal output.
In the former case, GX430 receives the IF-signal via hosting PC-workstation LAN
interface. In the latter case, GX430 receives the IF-signal via the PC-workstation audio
input device (‘soundcard’). In this case, the receiver can be considered to have mixed
the signal at the frequency to which the receiver is tuned, down to a signal in the
audible range (AF).
3.3.1.1 Adding a networked receiver
This requires:
The IP address of the receiver. This is system dependent. The Network
configuration manager will have to provide this.
The network port number used by the receiver. This is system dependent. The
Network configuration manager
Schwarz receivers, the default network port number ‘5555’ is frequently used.
The name with which the receiver is to be identified.
will have to provide this. When using Rohde &
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 11
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
tion
Network configuration manager
This person is responsible for applying the network configuration specific to the
network where GX430 is being used.
Smaller system configurations may not enjoy the luxury of having a person specifically
responsible for this. In this case, the odious task of studying the product documenta
is the only alternative!
Procedure:
Follow:
Edit Settings Subsystem Tuners
Fig. 1 Adding a networked receiver
Configure tuner name, IP address, and the port number for accessing the receiver.
To register new settings, click
, , and then close the window.
3.3.1.2 Configuring a signal source connected to the PC-workstation audio
input device
This involves:
selecting the characteristics of the physical interface
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 12
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
selecting the characteristics of the input signal, as configured at the signal source
rd
(e.g. 3
party receiver). This is necessary, as the input signal characteristic data is
not embedded in the analog signal.
Rohde & Schwarz receivers / 3rd party receivers
The IF-signal from Rohde & Schwarz receivers which support the Rohde & Schwarz
AMMOS IF format, contains supplementary information (including signal
characteristics) embedded together with the digitized analog signal.
rd
party receivers are used, then this information is not available to GX430 through
If 3
the analog IF-signal interface. This ‘missing’ data has to be provided to GX430. See
Selecting the characteristics of the input signal
.
Using ‘audio’ signal sources
When recording a signal for later use with GX430, it is important to avoid using
compression methods.
ATTENTION
Compressing a signal can introduce signal phase distortion / frequency instability.
Selecting the characteristics of the physical interface
For the purposes of this description, it is assumed that the signal sourcing
device which is to be connected to the PC-workstation audio input device is a
radio receiver.
Alternatively, the signal sourcing device may be a tape-recorder, CD-player etc.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 13
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
Use this procedure when configuring a 3rd party radio receiver.
The signal output from the receiver must be connected (audio cable) to the audio input
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 14
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
device on the PC-workstation.
Fig. 2 Audio cable connection between 3rd party receiver and PC-workstation.
ATTENTION
Analog signal interface
If the signal produced by the receiver overdrives the input interface on the PCworkstation audio device, or is at such a low level as to be unusable, then this will
adversely influence the ability of GX430 to operate correctly on the input signal.
It may be possible to adjust the signal level on the receiver. Consult the receiver
product documentation for help on this.
It may be possible to balance the level of the input signal to the PC-workstation. Use
the controls provided on the PC-workstation.
Procedure:
Follow:
File Select Audio Device
Or alternatively, use the icon.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 15
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
Select the audio device from the list offered.
Select the sample rate, type, and sample format (‘Select channel’) and the channel
configuration (‘Sample mode’) from the lists offered.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 16
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
phase (‘I’)
Audio device ‘channel’ and ‘sample mode’
‘Select channel’ describes the sampling rate and sampling format used by the audio
input device.
Higher sampling rates and larger number of bits per sample, offer higher signal
dynamic capability. However, selecting higher sampling rates increases the amount of
data to be processed. This may adversely affect the PC-workstation performance.
d
r
Some 3
party receivers offer a complex (‘I&Q’) signal AF output, with the inand quadrature (‘Q’) signals on separate AF channels. These may be presented to the
PC-workstation audio input device as a ‘stereo’ signal (with, for example, the ‘I’ signal
on the ‘left’ channel, and the ‘Q’ signal on the ‘right’ channel). In this case the audio
input device has to be configured to ‘stereo’.
‘Sample mode’ selects which of the physical channels (‘wires’) at the physical
interface (connector) carries ‘what’ signal. In the case of ‘stereo’, ‘Sample mode’
decides the ‘I&Q’ channel ordering. In the case of ‘mono’, use ‘Sample mode’ to
choose which of the two physical channels is carrying the ‘mono’ signal.
To summarise:
If the 3rd party receiver offers a ‘mono’ (monophonic) AF signal, then select a
‘mono’ option for ‘Select channel’, and select the ‘live’ channel for ‘Sample
mode’.
If the 3rd party receiver offers a complex (I/Q) AF signal, then select a ‘stereo’
option for ‘Select channel’, and select the correct I/Q orientation for ‘Sample
mode’.
Refer to the product documentation for the signal source (receiver) and for the PCworkstation audio device.
Selecting the characteristics of the input signal
Select the domain (‘Range’ – HF or V/UHF) to which the input signal belongs. This is
critical for subsequent processing (especially classification), as many signal types are
considered to be domain specific.
Select the ‘Frequency’ tuned at the signal source. This frequency should be
appropriate to the chosen signal domain (‘Range’ – HF or V/UHF). For GX430
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 17
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
s), then the maximum meaningful signal bandwidth is calculated to be
purposes, frequencies under 30 MHz are considered to belong to the HF domain, and
frequencies from 30 MHz are considered to belong to the V/UHF domain.
Select the ‘Bandwidth’ of the incoming IF-signal.
The maximum configurable bandwidth depends on the selected sampling rate
(see ‘Select channel’), as well as the interface configuration type (‘mono’ or
‘stereo’).
If ‘mono’ is chosen, then the maximum meaningful signal bandwidth is calculated as
sampling rate / 2. Thus a sampling rate of 48 kHz (i.e. 48 kilo samples / second) yields
a maximum signal bandwidth of 24 kHz.
If ‘stereo’ is chosen (i.e. the incoming IF-signal is complex, with I&Q components on
separate channel
the same as the sampling rate.
ATTENTION
Select the antenna reference voltage (‘Antenna V-Ref.’) as measured at the receiver
antenna.
Choosing the antenna reference voltage
The antenna reference voltage is the signal level that must be present at the antenna
to give a full scale signal value. The antenna reference voltage is calculated to include
the maximum configurable attenuation in the path between the antenna and the
analog-to-digital conversion.
The antenna reference voltage is only used by GX430 for presentation purposes, and
does not impact GX430 otherwise.
The antenna reference voltage may not always be available when GX430 is used with
rd
party receivers. Where this is the case, it is best practice to choose the default
3
value offered by GX430.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 18
R&S®GX430 Installing, starting, configuring GX430
3.3.2 Preparing the audio output device
Procedure:
Follow:
Edit Settings Audio General
Selecting ‘Local audio device’ ensures that the audio output uses the hosting PC-
workstation audio facilities.
To register new settings, click
3.3.3 Further settings
The ‘Settings’ menu offers further options for, amongst others, language, storage
paths, diagrammatic representation, RAMON Settings, decoded text, images,
demodulator / decoder mapping.
The default settings offered, are sufficient for the scope of this guide.
, and then close the window.
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 19
R&S®GX430 GX430 Graphical User Interface familiarisation
4 GX430 Graphical User Interface
familiarisation
his section offers a guide to the key elements available in the GX430 graphical user
T
interface (GUI).
All the functionality available through icons depicted here, may be accessed via
the menu-bar at the top of the GX430 window.
4.1 Graphical User Interface (GUI) configuration
Each time GX430 is started, the same GUI configuration is restored as it was when
GX430 was last terminated.
A common basic configuration can always be reached via:
Procedure:
Follow:
View Reset Layout
The user interface should then look similar to this…
Quick Start Guide 4071.5546.62-05.00 20
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