ThinkRF R5700
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
with GNSS
User Guide
Version 1.0
December 2018
Document no. 75-0037-181220
Copyright © 2018 ThinkRF Corporation, All rights reserved.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
Important notice
The information in this
guide is furnished for
informational use only
and is subject to change
without notice. ThinkRF
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ThinkRF Corp
390 March Road
Kanata, ON K2K 0G7
(613) 369-5104
HARDWARE WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Read this warranty carefully before you use the product.
R5700 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers with GNSS are warranted for workmanship
and materials for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment as identified by
the Customer’s packing slip or carrier waybill. ThinkRF reserves the right to void the
warranty on any equipment that has been altered or damaged due to Customer
negligence, unauthorized repair, misuse of equipment, evidence of physical or
environmental damage, transportation abuse or removal of any ThinkRF
identification labels or serial numbers.
It will remain the responsibility of the Customer, having obtained a Return Material
Authorization (RMA) and shipping instructions from ThinkRF, to return, at the
Customer's expense, the defective unit to ThinkRF’s repair facilities. ThinkRF will
incur shipping charges for the return of warranty repaired equipment. The RMA
number can be secured by calling ThinkRF Customer Service and Support (1-613369-5104). If the product does not fall within ThinkRF’s warranty period or the
product is found to be functioning as designed, then under the terms of ThinkRF’s
warranty policy, all costs of repairs and shipping will be charged directly to the
Customer. ThinkRF will warrant repaired units for a period of 90 days from date of
shipment from ThinkRF to the Customer. If the remaining period on the original
hardware warranty is greater than 30 days, then ThinkRF will honor this remaining
warranty period.
THINKRF EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES AND
CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION, WARRANTIES, CONDITIONS OR REPRESENTATIONS OF
WORKMANSHIP, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
DURABILITY, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE HARDWARE OR LICENSED
SOFTWARE WILL BE ERROR FREE. IN NO EVENT WILL THINKRF BE LIABLE
FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
USE OF PRODUCTS IN HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES
THINKRF PRODUCTS ARE INTENDED FOR STANDARD INDOOR COMMERCIAL
USE. WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE NETWORK DESIGN ENGINEERING, THEY
MUST NOT BE USED FOR ANY “HIGH RISK ACTIVITY”, as described in this
paragraph. Customer acknowledges and agrees that the products supplied
hereunder are not fault-tolerant and are not designed, manufactured or intended for
use or resale as on-line control equipment in hazardous environments requiring fail
safe performance including but not limited to the operation of nuclear facilities,
aircraft navigation or communication systems, air traffic control, direct life support
machines, or weapons systems, in which the failure of products could lead directly to
death, personal injury, or severe physical or environmental damage, all of which are
examples of “High Risk Activity”. THINKRF AND ITS SUPPLIERS EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIM ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR HIGH
RISK ACTIVITIES.
GNU General Public License
This device contains free firmware: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software
Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version. This
program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more
details. GNU General Public License is available at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
Table of Contents
Preface ........................................................................................................................... 5
Audience ........................................................................................................................ 5
Conventions ................................................................................................ ................... 5
Obtaining the Latest Documentation and Software ......................................................... 5
Document Feedback ...................................................................................................... 6
Obtaining Technical Assistance ...................................................................................... 6
Overview of the ThinkRF R5700 ................................................................................... 7
Getting Familiar with the ThinkRF R5700 ....................................................................... 8
Installing the ThinkRF R5700 ................................ ................................ ..................... 10
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage ..................................................................10
Unpacking the Box ........................................................................................................ 11
Connecting the Antennae, Ethernet and Power Cables ................................................. 11
Choosing the Mount Location for the R5700 ..................................................................12
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700 ................................ ................................ ............. 13
Determining Your Network Topology and IP Address Allocation .....................................13
Connecting Directly to the R5700 ..................................................................................14
Connecting to the R5700 across a Network ...................................................................16
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console .................................................. 18
Viewing Device Status ...................................................................................................18
Configuring R5700 Time Synchronization ......................................................................19
Configuring the R5700 IP Address .................................................................................20
Updating the R5700 Firmware .......................................................................................21
Customizing R5700 Calibration Settings ........................................................................22
Restarting the R5700 .....................................................................................................25
Using the ThinkRF R5700 USB Console ................................................................... 26
Installing USB drivers ....................................................................................................26
Connecting to the USB Console ....................................................................................26
Configuring the R5700 IP Address .................................................................................28
Using the GNSS Module ............................................................................................. 29
Configuring the ThinkRF R5700 GNSS Module .............................................................29
Selecting the GNSS 10MHz Reference Source .............................................................29
Getting Real-Time Geolocation Data .............................................................................30
Resetting the ThinkRF R5700 to Factory Settings ................................................... 32
Status Indicator LEDs ................................................................................................. 33
Power (PWR) Indicator LED ..........................................................................................33
Status (STS) Indicator LED ................................................................ ...........................33
Reference (REF) Clock Source LED .............................................................................34
LOCK Indicator LED ......................................................................................................34
LINK Status LED ...........................................................................................................35
ACT Indicator LED .........................................................................................................35
Hardware Reference .................................................................................................... 36
System Specifications ...................................................................................................36
SMA Connectors ...........................................................................................................36
Ethernet RJ-45 Port Pinout ................................ ............................................................ 37
GPIO Port Pinout ...........................................................................................................38
USB Console Port Pinout ..............................................................................................38
RJ-45 Straight-Through Ethernet Cable .........................................................................39
RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable ...................................................................................39
Operational Considerations and Maintenance ...............................................................40
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 5
Preface
This section describes the audience for, the organization of, and conventions used in this
document. It also identifies related documentation and explains how to access electronic
documentation.
Audience
This document is written for technical people who have basic understanding, familiarity
and experience with network test and measurement equipment.
Conventions
The following conventions and notations are used in this document:
Note: This symbol means take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to
additional information and material.
Caution: This symbol means be careful. In this situation, you might do something that
could result in equipment damage or loss of data.
Warning: This symbol means danger. You are in a situation that could cause bodily
injury. Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with
electrical circuitry and be familiar with the standard practices for preventing accidents.
Obtaining the Latest Documentation and Software
Please visit the ThinkRF website at https://www.thinkrf.com/documentation/ to obtain the
latest R57000 documentation. Latest software and firmware releases are also available
on the ThinkRF website at https://www.thinkrf.com/download-updates/.
Preface
6 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Document Feedback
Please send your comments about this document or any ThinkRF documentation to
support@thinkrf.com. We appreciate your feedback.
Obtaining Technical Assistance
The ThinkRF Support website provides online documents for resolving technical issues
with ThinkRF products. Visit https://www.thinkrf.com/documentation/ for more information.
For all customers who hold a valid end-user license, ThinkRF provides technical
assistance 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time, Monday to Friday. Contact us at
support@thinkrf.com or by calling +1.613.369.5104.
Before contacting support, please have the following information available:
• R5700 serial number (located on the identification label on the R5700 device’s
underside)
• The product version
• The firmware version running on the R5700
• Versions of ThinkRF software you are using, potentially including the API libraries
to third-party applications
• Operating system and version on your PC
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 7
Overview of the ThinkRF R5700
The R5700 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) with Global Navigation Satellite
System (GNSS) is a high-performance software-defined RF receiver, digitizer and
analyzer with integrated GNSS technology to offer location and time information in one
package.
It is designed for stand-alone, remote, distributed, and/or embedded real-time spectrum
analysis, monitoring and intelligence applications.
ThinkRF has patented software-defined RF receiver technology that provides industry
leading combined sensitivity, tuning range, instantaneous bandwidth and scan rate.
Additionally, the R5700 provides real-time sophisticated triggering, search and loss-less
capture of signals of interest using an integrated patented digital signal processing
engine.
The R5700 is ideal for monitoring, management and surveillance of transmitters, whether
they are in-building or spread across a geographic area. Applications include but are not
limited to spectrum analysis, 5G wireless technology, research, test and measurement,
spectrum monitoring and OEM integration. When the GNSS module is enabled, GNSS
position and time information is sent to users through VRT context packets roughly every
second.
In addition to the two internal and external 10 MHz reference clock sources, the GNSS
module also provides a third 10MHz reference clock source option for synchronized time-
stamps on VRT packets.
Overview of the ThinkRF R5700
8 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
The R5700 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer provides Gigabit Ethernet for stand-alone,
remote and distributed applications. ThinkRF supports a rich set of industry-leading
standard protocols and APIs, enabling the R5700 to easily integrate into your new or
existing applications.
Standard protocols include the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments
(SCPI) protocol for controlling and obtaining status from the R5700 and the VITA 49
Radio Transport (VRT) protocol for digitized data and its associated context information.
APIs are provided for interfacing and performing data acquisition and spectral analysis
with Python™, C/C++, MATLAB® and LabVIEW®.
Applications can also be built within the PyRF development framework. PyRF is built on
the Python programming language and is open-source under BSD licensing. PyRF
handles the low-level details of real-time acquisition, signal processing and visualization,
and provides feature rich libraries, example applications and source code, all specific to
the requirements of signal analysis.
Getting Familiar with the ThinkRF R5700
This section provides information about the front and rear panels, connection ports and
identification label of the R5700 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer.
Note: The type and placement of connectors and components on the panels and the
case may vary depending upon the product variant and version.
Front Panel
The front panel of the R5700 contains the power switch, status indicator LEDs, and the
input connector for the RF antenna port.
Overview of the ThinkRF R5700
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 9
Rear Panel
The rear panel of the R5700 contains the power input, 10 MHz reference clock I/O,
hardware reset button, input connector for the GNSS antenna, USB console (CNSL) port,
Ethernet port, and GPIO port.
Underside
The underside of the ThinkRF R5700 includes a label that identifies the device. The
information on the label may vary depending on your product variant and version. The
product “Version” number is important for identifying which firmware can be used to
update your product.
10 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Installing the ThinkRF R5700
Ensure that you read and understand the following information about safety and
electrostatic discharge before you unpack and install the R5700 device.
Warning: Only trained and qualified personnel should be allowed to install or replace this
equipment. Read the installation instructions before you connect the system to its power
source.
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is a single-event, rapid transfer of electrostatic charge
between two objects, such as an operator and a piece of electrical equipment. ESD can
occur when a high electrostatic field develops between two objects in close proximity.
ESD occurs when electronic components are improperly handled and is one of the major
causes of device failures in the semiconductor industry.
Electrostatic discharge is more likely to occur with the combination of synthetic fibers and
dry atmosphere. Always follow these steps to prevent ESD.
Warning: Never open the front or rear panels of the R5700 as personal injury may result
and opening the chassis will void the warranty. There are no user-serviceable parts
inside. Always contact ThinkRF support for service through the online support form at
http://www.thinkrf.com/support/.
Caution: To prevent ESD, wear an ESD-preventive wrist strap that you provide, ensuring
that it makes good skin contact.
Caution: Do not touch any exposed contact pins or connector shells of interface ports
that do not have a cable attached. If cables are connected at one end only, do not touch
the exposed pins at the unconnected end of the cable.
Installing the ThinkRF R5700
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 11
Unpacking the Box
This section lists the items that come with your R5700 analyzer. If any of the items are
missing or damaged, please contact your ThinkRF customer service representative.
The R5700 shipping box contains the following:
R5700 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer
Power adapter and cable
Straight-through Ethernet cable
USB console cable
Receiver antenna
GNSS antenna and cable
Precautions & Quickstart Guide
Note: The receiver antenna is included for your convenience and only intended to
perform adequately across a limited frequency range.
Connecting the Antennae, Ethernet and Power Cables
Caution: Never connect a transmitter directly to the receiver with a cable.
Follow these steps to connect the receiver and GNSS antennae, the Ethernet cable, and
the power cable:
1. Screw the antenna on to the R5700 "RF IN" antenna input SMA connector on the
device’s front panel.
Carefully turn the antenna screw by hand until you encounter resistance. See the
System Specifications section for the maximum allowable input and cautions.
Caution: Do not over-tighten the antenna connector on the jack. Using a wrench, pliers
or even your hand to over-tighten the antenna can cause permanent damage to the
receiver. See the SMA Connectors section for the torque recommendations.
2. Screw the GNSS antenna on to the R5700 "GPS" antenna input SMA connector
on the device’s rear panel.
Carefully turn the antenna screw by hand until you encounter resistance. See the
System Specifications section for the maximum allowable input and cautions.
3. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the R5700's Ethernet port (on the rear
panel) and the other end to an Ethernet port on your router or PC.
Installing the ThinkRF R5700
12 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
4. Connect the R5700 analyzer to its power adapter.
Warning: Use only the power adapter provided with the unit.
5. Plug the power adapter into a power outlet.
6. Push the power switch towards the power symbol to power the unit on.
Note: See the Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console section for a
description of the R5700 status.
Choosing the Mount Location for the R5700
After you have connected the R5700 receiver and GNSS antennae, Ethernet Cable, and
power cable, you can select a location to mount the R5700 analyzer.
Caution: To prevent damage to the R5700 radio receiver, do not install or operate the
R5700 within 2 feet (60 cm) of devices that transmit more than +15 dBm power, such as
Wi-Fi access points.
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 13
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700
The R5700 analyzer is a network device. Typically, all communications with the R5700
analyzer occur via a Gigabit Ethernet connection, either directly from a computer or
across an IP network.
The R5700 analyzer's Gigabit Ethernet connection allows control and monitoring of the
R5700 using SCPI commands, and transmission of data using the VRT protocol.
Determining Your Network Topology and IP Address Allocation
To connect with the R5700 analyzer, you must decide the topology of your network
connection and how your R5700 obtains its IP address.
Network Topology
The R5700 analyzer supports any IP network topology via its Ethernet port, including:
direct connection to a computer across an RJ-45 Ethernet cable (as described in
the Connecting Directly to the R5700 section)
connection across a routed local network, whether on the same subnet or across
different subnets or a routed wide-area network (WAN) such as the Internet (as
described in the Connecting to the R5700 across a Network section)
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700
14 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
IP Address Allocation
The R5700 analyzer also supports different methods for obtaining its IP address,
including:
Dynamic IP address allocation (DHCP)
The IP address is assigned via the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP),
for a routed network topology that has a DHCP server.
Dynamic IP address allocation (APIPA)
The IP address is assigned via the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
protocol (otherwise known as Auto-IP), where a DHCP server is not available.
This method allows a direct connection to a computer that supports Auto-IP or to
a local network using a switch. With Auto-IP, a host network device randomly
assigns itself a link-local address in the 169.254.x.y subnet when it fails to
contact a DHCP server. Many operating systems, including Windows, support
Auto-IP.
Static IP address allocation
IP address is assigned locally. This method is applicable to any network topology.
By default, the R5700 analyzer is configured for dynamic IP address allocation. You can
change the method of IP address allocation from one supported method to another.
For instructions on configuring a static IP address (via the Administration Console), see
the Configuring the R5700 IP Address section.
If your R5700 is configured with a static IP address, you can configure dynamic IP
address allocation using the Administration Console or USB console, or via a hardware
reset.
A hardware reset is the simplest method for reconfiguring the R5700 to dynamic IP
allocation.
Connecting Directly to the R5700
This section provides instruction on connecting the R5700 analyzer directly to a computer
via the Ethernet port.
The host PC might require a spare Ethernet interface that is not otherwise used as its
primary network connection. For example, you may use a wireless connection for primary
network connectivity or obtain a second Ethernet card or USB adapter to connect to the
R5700.
Note: The Ethernet interfaces on both the PC and the R5700 must be configured for the
same IP address allocation method before you can make a direct connection.
For the purposes of these instructions, the ThinkRF S240 Real-Time Spectrum Analysis
software is used to connect to the R5700 analyzer. The latest version of this software is
available at http://www.thinkrf.com/resources.
To connect your computer directly to the R5700 analyzer:
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 15
1. Connect the Ethernet cable provided with the R5700 to the Ethernet port on the
PC and the Ethernet port on the R5700.
2. Power up the R5700 and wait a minute for it to complete booting.
3. Check to ensure that the R5700 LINK indicator is illuminated. If it is not
illuminated, your PC may not support automatic crossover on its Ethernet
connection and you may require an RJ-45 crossover Ethernet cable.
4. If you are using static IP allocation, go to the next step. If you are using dynamic
IP address allocation, check the STS LED for the Auto-IP setup completion (this
takes approximately one minute or longer).
Note: While the R5700 is searching for a DHCP server, the STS LED blinks yellow slowly
until it obtains an IP address either via DHCP or Auto-IP. The STS LED blinks in a green
heartbeat pattern if it has set up successfully to using an Auto-IP address.
5. Verify the PC's IP configuration by opening a Command window and typing the
ipconfig command to show the IP addresses assigned to each interface.
The Ethernet interface should show a 169.254.x.y address as shown in the
example below:
6. Launch the S240 Real-Time Spectrum Analysis Software to determine the
assigned IP address of the R5700.
In order for the Discovery tool to locate the R5700, your computer and the R5700
must be configured for the same subnet. If you are using Auto-IP dynamic IP
allocation, then they will both be on the same 169.254.x.y subnet.
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700
16 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
If you are using static IP and the Discovery tool cannot locate the R5700, you
must have prior knowledge of its static IP address or use the USB console.
Once you have the R5700 IP address, you can use it to communicate with the device.
Note: Link-local addresses used for Auto-IP are non-routable, so communications is
limited to devices within the local subnet. This restriction may be an issue when running
virtual machines (e.g. Mac Parallels, VirtualBox, etc.) that may be connected through
virtual routers to the host PC's physical network interface.
Note: After obtaining a link-local address, the R5700 continues to request a DHCP
address. If a DHCP server responds at a later time, the link-local address is overwritten
with the offered IP address. This new address is retained until the network cable is
physically unplugged or the R5700 is restarted.
Connecting to the R5700 across a Network
You can connect to the R5700 analyzer from a computer across a local area network
(LAN), whether on the same subnet or different subnets, or across a wide area network
(WAN), such as the internet.
Before you connect to the R5700, you must decide on your IP address allocation method.
The PC and R5700 do not need to use the same IP address allocation method, but if you
are using the ThinkRF Discovery tool to locate the R5700 analyzer, they must be on the
same subnet.
If you are using dynamic IP address allocation, your router or network must support a
DHCP server.
To connect to the R5700 across a network:
1. Connect the Ethernet cable provided with the R5700 to the Ethernet port on the
router and the Ethernet port on the R5700.
2. Power up the R5700 and wait a minute for it to complete booting.
3. Check to ensure that either your PC's or the R5700 LINK indicator is illuminated.
4. If your R5700 is behind a firewall or a router with firewall capability, then your
network's DHCP server is likely assigning private IP addresses (e.g. 192.168.x.x,
10.x.x.x, 172.x.x.x), and the firewall is likely providing some form of network
address translation (NAT) function. If this is the case and you require access to
the R5700 from outside your firewall, then you will likely have to configure the
firewall to allow port forwarding on port 37000 and 37001. If necessary, consult
your network administrator.
5. Use the PyRF Discovery tool or the S240 Real-Time Spectrum Analysis software
to determine the R5700's assigned IP address.
In order for the Discovery tool to locate the R5700, both your computer and the
R5700 must be configured for the same subnet. If you are using DHCP then you
may have to query your router's allocation tables to determine the IP that is
allocated to your R5700 MAC address.
Connecting to the ThinkRF R5700
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 17
If you are using static IP and the Discovery tool cannot locate the R5700, you
need to have prior knowledge of its static IP address or use the USB console. If
necessary, consult your network administrator.
Once you have the R5700 IP address, you can use it to communicate with the device.
18 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration
Console
This section provides instruction on connecting to the R5700 via its web-based
Administration Console. The Administration Console provides the ability to:
obtain status information from the R5700
change date and time configuration
change IP configuration
upgrade the R5700 software and firmware
upload customized calibration settings
restart the R5700
All of these functions may be performed over the network either locally or remotely.
You can connect to the R5700 Administration Console by entering the IP address of your
R5700 into a web browser. The IP address is shown in the S240 software as the
connected device.
Viewing Device Status
When you connect to the Administration Console, the main window shows Device Status
by default, and includes information such as the device serial number and firmware
version.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 19
Configuring R5700 Time Synchronization
You can set the R5700 analyzer time manually, configure the R5700 to synchronize with
the PC’s time, or configure time synchronization with an NTP server.
Note: The R5700 analyzer stores its time based on the Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) and otherwise has no notion of local time-zones. Conversely, the web dialog
translates and displays the R5700 time based on the local time-zone setting of the PC.
To configure the R5700 time synchronization method:
1. Click on the Time Configuration link in the left pane of the Administration
Console.
2. In the R5700 Device Time Configuration window (main pane), select “NTP” as
the Time sync source.
3. Enter the IP addresses for up to 3 NTP servers (you can find the NTP server list
at https://www.ntppool.org/en/
4. Select “Continuous” as the Time sync mode.
The R5700’s time is synchronized to the NTP server on a regular basis (the
interval is optimally determined automatically).
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
20 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Note: It is important that NTP be set up in order to get a precise time and provide a
synched VRT time to global time.
5. Click Apply to save your changes.
Configuring the R5700 IP Address
You can configure the R5700 to obtain an IP address dynamically (using DHCP) or you
can set the IP address manually (using a static address).
Caution: If the R5700 IP address is set to a static IP, the only way to communicate with
the R5700 is via that IP address. If you mistakenly enter the wrong IP address and/or
subnet mask, or forget the IP address, you can change the IP configuration using the
USB console or by resetting the R5700.
To configure the R5700 IP address:
1. Click on the IP Configuration link in the left pane of the Administration Console.
2. In the R5700 Device IP Configuration window (main pane), select the method
for IP address allocation.
3. If you select the static IP address option, enter the IP address information as
appropriate.
4. Click Apply to save your changes.
The configuration changes take effect immediately, and your current connection
(based on the previous IP address) will no longer be valid.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 21
Updating the R5700 Firmware
This section describes how to update the R5700 firmware.
The firmware installation file contains firmware images associated with the R5700 FPGA,
Linux operating system and the embedded application. The update process copies the
new images to the R5700, but does not remove the currently installed images. The new
firmware installation will only take effect after the R5700 is restarted.
You can obtain the latest R5700 firmware file from the ThinkRF website (at
https://www.thinkrf.com/firmware-updates/).
Note: Updating the R5700 firmware may over-write any user-defined calibrated values.
See the Customizing R5700 Calibration Settings section for more information.
To update the R5700 firmware:
1. Click on the Firmware Install link in the left pane of the Administration Console.
2. In the R5700 Device Firmware Install window (main pane), enter or browse to
the location of the ThinkRF_R5700_firmware_vX.Y.Z.img (or similar *.img)
firmware image file.
3. Click Install to install the firmware.
Warning: Do not unplug the R5700 during a firmware update or the device may become
inoperable.
When the firmware image for the intended product version is installed, the
Installing page appears, showing the progression of the firmware being
uploaded and installed.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
22 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
4. When firmware installation is complete, a web dialog appears requesting
confirmation that you want to restart the R5700 for the changes to take effect.
You can click OK to proceed, or Cancel to defer the device restart.
Note: If the R5700 is not restarted immediately after a firmware install process, then the
newly installed firmware will take effect upon the next restart of the R5700 regardless of
whether it is a software restart or a power-on reset.
In addition, the boot-up might take over a minute when there are new changes to the
calibration setup or Auto-IP connection method is used.
Customizing R5700 Calibration Settings
The R5700 supports user-defined calibration settings if you do not want to use the
ThinkRF default calibration settings. This allows you to calibrate the R7500 analyzer's
RFE with reference levels based on, for example, frequency ranges, temperature ranges,
and insertion loss of the attenuator that are specific to your own applications.
You can upload your own calibration settings through the R5700 Administration Console
using the instructions described in the following section.
Uploading a Custom Calibration File
You can upload your custom calibration settings file to the R5700 via the administrative
console. Changes to calibration settings do not take effect until you restart the R5700.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 23
Note: Custom calibrated values may be over-written by a new firmware update. After
restarting the unit once the firmware update is done, check on the Calibration link in the
Administration Console to see which calibration file is specified at the top of the Filename
list (for example, “System” or your customized file).
To upload a custom calibration file:
1. Click on the Calibration link in the left pane of the Administration Console.
2. In the R5700 Device Calibration window (main pane), click Browse to open an
Explorer window to navigate to the calibration setting file you want to upload.
3. Click Upload to upload the file.
When the upload is complete, the custom calibration file appears on the list of
calibration files. The most recently uploaded file is listed at the top of the table.
4. Restart the R5700 (you can click Restart in the left pane, or toggle the power
switch).
The boot-up may take longer than usual because the embedded system applies
the new calibrated values.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
24 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
If more than one calibration settings file are present when you restart the R5700,
the R5700 selects the calibration source in the following priority:
firmware version specified in the calibration file
user-defined file
factory defaults (from ThinkRF factory calibration)
Any calibration data that is not specified or missing in the new calibration file is
retrieved from the calibration file of the next highest priority.
Restoring the Default Calibration Settings
You can restore the calibration settings to system defaults at any time by deleting all
custom calibration files from the system. You cannot delete the system calibration file.
To restore the default calibration settings:
1. Click on the Calibration link in the left pane of the Administration Console.
2. In the R5700 Device Calibration (main pane), select a custom calibration file
from the list and click DELETE in the Actions column.
3. Repeat step 2 for all custom calibration files listed in the table.
4. Restart the R5700 (you can click Restart in the left pane, or toggle the power
switch).
Note: If you perform a factory reset (as described in the Restarting the R5700
section), the calibration settings are also reset to factory defaults or system defaults,
according to the file source selection priority described above.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 25
Restarting the R5700
You can restart the R5700 via the Administration Console. Performing a device reset from
the Administration Console is equivalent to a power-on reset.
To restart the R5700:
1. Click on the Restart link in the left pane of the Administration Console.
2. In the R5700 Device Restart window (main pane), click Restart.
Depending on your network settings, the R5700 may obtain a different IP
address after it restarts, which will result in the links to the Administration
Console being interrupted. This will only happen when the unit is not in static IP
address mode or a factory reset has been initiated.
Please check with your network administrator to determine the IP address of the
R5700.
26 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Using the ThinkRF R5700 USB Console
This section provides instruction on connecting to the R5700 via its USB console. The
USB console provides control and status of the R5700 using SCPI commands. Typical
applications may include configuring and querying the R5700 network IP or controlling
and querying the R5700 in an external digitizer application.
The R5700 USB console supports communication of SCPI commands and status. It does
not support the transfer of VRT data or commands via the Administration Console.
Installing USB drivers
The R5700 USB console uses a Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM
Port driver, which may require configuration of drivers on your PC.
To install the USB drivers:
1. Power on the R5700 and wait approximately 30 seconds for boot-up.
2. Connect The USB cable to the R5700 USB console port and your PC’s USB port.
Your PC should automatically detect the R5700 as a new USB device and install
the appropriate driver.
3. Open the Windows Control Panel > Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT),
and verify that there is an entry for “Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge
(COM7)” (or equivalent COM#).
If the driver is not installed or there are errors, go to
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/pages/usbtouartbridgevcpdrivers.aspx to
obtain the drivers.
4. Note the assigned COM port number.
Connecting to the USB Console
You must have a serial terminal program on your PC to connect to the R5700 USB
console. These instructions provide an example using PuTTY from http://www.putty.org/.
To connect to the USB console:
1. Install the required USB drivers, as described above.
2. Launch your terminal application (for example, PuTTY) on your PC.
3. Configure the terminal application to connect via the COM port associated to the
USB to UART Bridge (as shown in the terminal configuration panel image below).
Using the ThinkRF R5700 USB Console
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 27
If you are using a different serial terminal program, ensure the serial settings are
as follows:
Baud speed (bits per second): 9600
Data bits: 8
Stop bit: 1
Parity: none
Flow control: none
4. Open the terminal session.
5. Press the “Enter” key until the “>” cursor appears in the terminal window.
If the cursor does not appear, the USB to UART Bridge may be expecting a
typical VT100 terminal response. Press “Ctrl + C” and “Enter” until the cursor
appears. The cursor may take several seconds to appear.
6. Enter the *IDN? command and press the “Enter” key.
The R5700 returns a message with its device identification such as “ThinkRF,
R5700....”
7. Refer to the R5700 Programmer's Guide associated with the firmware release of
your R5700 for the SCPI commands to use with your R5700 via the USB console
terminal window. The firmware release version of the R5700 is returned with the
*IDN? SCPI command.
Using the ThinkRF R5700 USB ConsoleUsing the ThinkRF R5700 Administration Console
28 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Configuring the R5700 IP Address
The R5700 supports dynamic IP address allocation using DHCP, or manual IP address
configuration (via static IP address).
Caution: If the R5700 IP address is set to a static IP, the only way to communicate with
the R5700 is via that IP address. If you mistakenly enter the wrong IP address and/or
subnet mask, or forget the IP address, you can change the IP configuration using the
USB console or by restarting the R5700.
To configure the R5700 IP address via the USB console:
1. Open a connection to the R5700 USB console (as described above).
2. Enter the following SCPI commands. Press “Enter” after each line and substitute
the appropriate IP address for your R5700 analyzer:
:SYST:COMM:LAN:CONF STATIC
:SYST:COMM:LAN:IP?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:IP <IPs address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:GATE?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:GATE <gateway address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:NETM?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:NETM <netmask address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:DNS?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:DNS <DNS address>[,DNS address 2]
:SYST:COMM:LAN:APPL
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 29
Using the GNSS Module
The R5700’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) supports location coordination
activities with a number of different satellite constellations, including GPS/QZSS,
GLONASS, and BeiDou. The R5700 GNSS module supports up to 2 concurrent
receptions.
Location position and time are transmitted through VRT packets, along with timestamping
and data output for captures.
The ThinkRF R5700 GNSS module supports GPS and GLONASS. Please refer to the
R5700 datasheet (available on the ThinkRF website at
https://www.thinkrf.com/documentation/) for detailed specifications.
Configuring the ThinkRF R5700 GNSS Module
GNSS settings are accessible via SCPI commands, through the USB console, or via
Telnet or HiSLIP protocols. Please refer to “Appendix A: Connecting to RTSA” in the
ThinkRF R5700 Programmer’s Guide for more information on Telnet and HiSLIP
connections.
You can also configure GNSS settings via various APIs such as C API, Python, etc.
Note: GNSS timestamp information is recorded in the GNSS VRT packets, which are
returned approximately every 1 second. Refer to “Table 21: Formatted GNSS
Geolocation Fields” in the VRT section of the ThinkRF R5700 Programmer’s Guide for
more information.
Selecting the GNSS 10MHz Reference Source
In addition to the two internal and external 10 MHz reference clock sources available with
the R5700 analyzer, the GNSS module also provides a third 10MHz reference clock
source option for synchronized time-stamps on VRT packets.
You can configure the R5700 to use the GNSS reference clock, via the USB console, or
via Telnet or HiSLIP connections. The USB console is used in the following examples.
Follow these steps to ensure the device is using the GNSS module for clock reference:
1. Connect to the R5700 USB console (as described in the Connecting to the USB
Console section).
2. In the terminal application (for example, PuTTY), check the reference source the
R5700 PLL is currently locking to with the following command:
:SOURCE:REFerence:PLL?
Using the GNSS Module
30 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
3. Set the reference source to the GNSS reference clock with the following
command:
:SOURCE:REFerence:PLL GNSS
4. Verify that the internal 10 MHz clock is disciplined by the GNSS system with the
following command:
:GNSS:REFerence?
If the system response is “GNSS”, the internal 10 MHz is disciplined by the GNSS
module and the GNSS module has a valid fix.
If no GNSS fix is available, the system response is “INT”.
Getting Real-Time Geolocation Data
You can obtain real-time GNSS position data from the R5700 GNSS module.
During data capture, the real time GNSS location context packets are sent periodically in
the VRT data stream. It is up to the host application to make use of this information.
Please refer to “Formatted GNSS Geolocation” section in the ThinkRF R5700
Programmer’s Guide for more information.
To obtain geolocation data:
1. In the terminal application (for example, PuTTY), retrieve GNSS position data
with the following command:
:GNSS:POS?
The system returns the last known GNSS position by latitude (degrees),
longitude (degrees) and altitude (meters) data.
If GNSS is out of lock, the response is
“512.000000,512.000000,67108863.968750”.
Using the GNSS Module
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 31
2. You can also check the status of the GNSS geolocation data with the following
command:
:STATus:QUEStionable:CONDition?
This command queries the Questionable Status Register (QSR) and returns the
decimal equivalent of a binary value. When 0 is returned, the GNSS data is
current. When 512 (or bit 9) is returned, the GNSS is out of lock.
See “Appendix D: Questionable Status Register (QSR) in the ThinkRF R5700
Programmer’s Guide for more information.
32 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Resetting the ThinkRF R5700 to Factory Settings
If for any reason you cannot connect to the R5700 via the Ethernet port, you can restore
device factory settings to reset IP configuration, and obtain an IP address dynamically
using DHCP.
Performing a factory resent also sets the reference level calibration back to factory
default values.
Follow these steps to reset your R5700 analyzer:
1. If not already powered on, power on the R5700.
2. When the R5700 is powered on, press and hold the Reset button on the rear
panel of the device for at least 5 seconds. You can insert a pin or paperclip to
push the Reset button.
The STS LED blinks green quickly several times to acknowledge the factory
reset.
3. Wait for the device to finish booting up (approximately 20 seconds) and use the
PyRF Discovery tool to determine the unit’s IP address, or use the USB Console
to verify the network settings (as described in the Configuring the R5700 IP
Address section).
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 33
Status Indicator LEDs
The front panel of the R5700 analyzer includes status indicator LEDs as shown in the
following figure and described in the following sections.
Power (PWR) Indicator LED
The PWR indicator LED indicates that the input and internal power voltages are correct.
During normal boot-up, the Power (PWR) Indicator LED is green while the remaining
LEDs will flash orange in sequence, from left to right, until the firmware is initialized. The
sequence may occasionally stop briefly during the boot-up phase.
PWR Indicator LED
Internal Power Status
Off
Not receiving power from power adapter
Green
All internal power conditions are good
Orange or Red
One or more of the internal power conditions are not
present or corrupted
Status (STS) Indicator LED
The STS indicator LED indicates the status of the R5500 as it boots from power-on
and/or reset and the network activity.
STS Indicator LED
Boot Error Condition
Off
Not applicable
Slow blink orange
Waiting for DHCP address
Solid orange
Hardware failure
Slow blink red
Firmware failure
Fast blink red
Hardware failure
Status Indicator LEDs
34 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
STS Indicator LED
Boot Error Condition
Slow blink green
Busy
Heartbeat blink green
Auto-IP address used
Solid green
Ready for connection
Reference (REF) Clock Source LED
The REF LED indicates whether the R5700 is using the internally generated 10 MHz
reference clock or an external reference clock provided via the 10 MHz IN SMA
connector, and whether that selected reference clock source is of sufficient quality for the
internal PLL to lock to it.
REF LED
10 MHz Reference Clock Source
Solid green
Internal clock reference selected and PLL has successfully
locked to it
Slow blink green
External clock reference or GNSS clock reference
selected and PLL has successfully locked to it
Slow blink amber
GNSS clock reference selected but no signal received
Slow blink red
External clock reference selected but PLL cannot lock to it
Solid red
Internal clock reference selected but PLL cannot lock to it
LOCK Indicator LED
The LOCK LED indicates whether the clock sources in the selected RF chain are of
sufficient quality for the internal PLLs to lock on them.
LOCK LED
Reference Clock Quality
Green
All PLLs in the current RF chain have locked to their
corresponding frequencies
Red
One or more PLLs in the current RF chain have not locked
to their corresponding frequencies
Status Indicator LEDs
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 35
LINK Status LED
The LINK Status LED indicates the status of the Ethernet connection.
LINK Status LED
Ethernet Link Status
Off
No Ethernet link connection
Orange
10/100 Mbit Ethernet link connection
Green
GigE Ethernet link connection
ACT Indicator LED
The ACT indicator LED indicates whether there is any activity on the Ethernet connection.
ACT Indicator LED
Ethernet Activity
Off
No Ethernet activity
Green
Ethernet transmit or receive activity
36 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Hardware Reference
This section provides physical and performance specifications, and port and
cable pinouts for the R5700.
System Specifications
The following table outlines the physical and electrical specifications for the R5700.
Description
Design Specification
Dimensions
H x W x D
(D with rubber feet)
10.58 x 6.81 x 2.15/2.40 in. (26.9 x 17.3 x 5.46/6.1 cm)
Weight (approximately)
6 lbs (2.7 kg)
Digital interface ports
Ethernet 10/100/1000, USB 2.0 console, micro-DB25
GPIO
Analog interface ports
RF IN, 10 MHz REF IN and OUT
1
, GPS
Input supply voltage
12 VDC +/- 5%
Input supply current
1.8 A maximum
Operating temperature
32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C)
1
Availability depends on the product model or application. Check your product specification.
SMA Connectors
The SMA connectors on the front and rear panels are all female jacks with 50Ω nominal
impedance.
Note: The recommended torque setting for all SMA connectors is 45 N.cm (4lbs.in). An
example of a torque wrench that can be used for this is Huber-Suhner P/N 74 Z-0-0-79.
The following table outlines the maximum and minimum power level restrictions on the
SMA connectors.
Caution: Injecting signal levels that exceed the specifications described in the following
table will result in permanent damage to the receiver.
Hardware Reference
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 37
Connector Name
Direction
Max Power Level
Min Power Level
RF IN
1
in
+10 dBm, 0 V DC
N/A
10 MHz IN
2
,
3
in
0 dBm
-10 dBm
10 MHz OUT
4
out
N/A
N/A
GPS
in
N/A
N/A
1
It is recommended that the output of a signal source be verified with the use of a power
meter prior to connecting the source directly to the RF IN connector. Until you can
determine that the front-end attenuator is in the circuit (see the R5700 Programmer's
Guide), it is best to inject signals lower than 10 dBm. Additionally, any external signal
sources connected to RF IN must be turned on only after powering on the R5700 and
turned off prior to powering down the R5700.
2
The 10 MHz reference input must be powered down prior to powering down the R5700.
3
To set the R5700 to use the external 10 MHz reference, see the SOURCE:REF:PLL
EXT command (see the ThinkRF R5700 Programmer’s Guide).
4
Availability depends on the product model or application. Check your product
specification.
Ethernet RJ-45 Port Pinout
The following figure shows the R5700 Ethernet RJ-45 pinout:
Pin
Signal
1
BI_DA+
2
BI_DA-
3
BI_DB+
4
BI_DC+
5
BI_DC-
6
BI_DB-
7
BI_DD+
8
BI_DD-
Hardware Reference
38 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
GPIO Port Pinout
The GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) port supports extended hardware capability
including SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) bus, I2C serial interface, PPS (Pulse Per
Second) input, external triggering input/output and specific radio front end control and
status.
Caution: Improper use of the GPIO may cause irreparable damage to the R5700. Do not
use the GPIO without prior consultation with ThinkRF's service organization.
The following pinouts are specific to the R5700 models only.
Pin
Direction
Voltage
Signal
1-2, 5-8, 10-13
not applicable
3.3 V
Reserved
3
out
3.3 V
TRIG OUT
4
in
3.3 V
TRIG IN
14
in
3.3 V
PPS
16
out
3.3 V
Spectral Inversion
17-20
bidirectional
3.3 V
EXT IO D[3:0], respectively
23-25
power
12 V
VCC12V
9, 15, 21, 22
ground
0 V
GND
Note: The functionality of the EXT IN/OUT/IO pins is application-specific and thus could
vary. Refer to ThinkRF's Application Notes or contact ThinkRF support for more
information.
USB Console Port Pinout
Hardware Reference
ThinkRF R5700 Real-Time Signal Analyzer User Guide 39
Pin
Signal
1
+5 VDC
2
Data -
3
Data +
4
Ground
RJ-45 Straight-Through Ethernet Cable
RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable
Hardware Reference
40 ThinkRF R5700 Real Time Signal Analyzer User Guide
Operational Considerations and Maintenance
The R5700 should be operated only within its specified operation temperature and
specification of 0°C to 50°C. The ideal operating temperature for optimum performance is
between 20°C to 25°C.
Caution: Do not expose the device to direct sunlight or radiation from other sources of
heat.
Some regular maintenance is needed to maintain the unit in its good working state. This
includes:
cleaning the box with a slightly damp cloth from time to time to remove any dust
or debris that may accumulate in the device through any openings
keeping all connectors clean (especially the threads) with a soft cloth
cleaning the device with a fan (for example, an air can) to remove dust
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