ThinkRF WSA5000
Wireless Signal Analyzer
Version 3.9
User Guide
February 2015
Document no. 75-0015-150216
Copyright © 2013, 2014, 2015 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
Corporation assumes no
responsibility or liability
for any errors or
inaccuracies that may
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logo and WSA5000 are
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trademarks of their
respective companies or
owners:
Windows, Windows XP /
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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.
WSA Wireless Signal Analyzers 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 .......................................................................................................................... 5
Obtaining Technical Assistance ......................................................................................................... 5
Overview of the ThinkRF WSA5000 ............................................................................. 7
Getting Familiar with the ThinkRF WSA5000 ..................................................................................... 7
The Front Panel .......................................................................................................................... 8
The Rear Panel .......................................................................................................................... 8
The Underside ............................................................................................................................ 9
Installing the ThinkRF WSA5000 ................................................................................ 10
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage .................................................................................... 10
Unpacking the Box ........................................................................................................................... 10
Connecting the Antenna, Ethernet and Power Cables ..................................................................... 11
Selecting Where to Mount the WSA5000 ........................................................................................ 12
Connecting to the WSA5000 ....................................................................................... 13
Deciding on Your Network Topology and IP Address Allocation ...................................................... 13
Changing the WSA5000's Method of IP Address Allocation ............................................................ 14
Connecting the WSA5000 Directly to a Computer ........................................................................... 14
Connecting to the WSA5000 Across a Network ............................................................................... 16
Administration Console .............................................................................................. 18
Connecting via Your Web Browser .................................................................................................. 18
Configuring the WSA5000's Time .................................................................................................... 19
Configuring the WSA5000's IP Address .......................................................................................... 20
Updating the WSA5000's Firmware ................................................................................................. 21
Customizing the WSA5000's Calibration ......................................................................................... 23
Uploading a Custom Calibration File ........................................................................................ 24
Calibration File Source Selection .............................................................................................. 26
Restoring the Default Calibration Settings ................................................................................ 26
Restarting the WSA5000 ................................................................................................................. 27
Reset to Factory Settings ........................................................................................... 28
Using the USB Console ............................................................................................... 29
Installing the USB Drivers on Your PC ............................................................................................ 29
Connecting to the USB Console ...................................................................................................... 29
Configuring the WSA5000's IP Address via the USB Console ....................................................... 31
Status Indicator LEDs ................................................................................................. 33
Power (PWR) Indicator LED ............................................................................................................ 33
Status (STS) Indicator LED .............................................................................................................. 33
10 MHz Reference (REF) Clock Source and Lock Indicator LED .................................................... 34
RF Chain PLLs LOCK Indicator LED ............................................................................................... 34
Ethernet LINK Status and ACT Indicator LEDs ................................................................................ 34
Hardware Reference .................................................................................................... 35
System Specifications ...................................................................................................................... 35
SMA Connectors .............................................................................................................................. 35
Ethernet RJ-45 Port Pinout .............................................................................................................. 36
GPIO Port Pinout ............................................................................................................................. 36
USB Console Port Pinout ................................................................................................................. 38
RJ-45 Straight-Through Ethernet Cable .......................................................................................... 38
RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable ..................................................................................................... 38
Preface
This preface 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
This section describes the conventions 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 regularly visit our website's resource page at
http://www.thinkrf.com/documentation to obtain the latest documentation, and our
website's releases page at http://www.thinkrf.com/download to obtain the latest
releases of new firmware and software.
Document Feedback
Please send your comments about this document or our other documentation to
support@thinkrf.com.
Thank you, we appreciate your comments.
Obtaining Technical Assistance
The ThinkRF Support website provides online documents for resolving technical issues
with ThinkRF products at this URL: http://www.thinkrf.com/documentation.
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:
WSA5000 serial number which is located on the identification label on the
WSA5000's underside.
The product version.
The firmware version running on the WSA5000.
Versions of ThinkRF software you are using, potentially including the API
libraries to third-party applications.
The operating system and version you are using.
Overview of the ThinkRF WSA5000
Overview of the ThinkRF WSA5000
The WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer is a high-performance software-defined RF
receiver, digitizer and analyzer. It is designed for stand-alone, remote and/or distributed
wireless signal analysis, monitoring and intelligence applications.
ThinkRF has patent-pending software-defined RF receiver technology that provides
industry leading combined sensitivity, tuning range, instantaneous bandwidth and scan
rate. Additionally, the WSA5000 provides real-time sophisticated triggering, search and
loss-less capture of signals of interest using an integrated patent-pending digital signal
processing engine.
The WSA5000 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, wireless network management and interference
mitigation; cognitive radio and white space spectrum sensing, enterprise wireless signal
intrusion detection (WSID); government spectrum licensing monitoring and enforcement;
technical security counter measures (TSCM) and military communications and signals
intelligence.
The WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer provides Gigabit Ethernet for stand-alone,
remote and distributed applications. ThinkRF conforms to standardized protocols and
provides APIs designed for easy integration with third-party applications. Standard
protocols include the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI)
protocol for controlling and obtaining status from the WSA5000 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 as well as for
spectral analysis with MATLAB® applications. Digitized RF signals (I/Q data) are passed
directly to MATLAB®, and/or MATLAB® communications system or signal processing
toolboxes.
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 WSA5000
This section provides information about the WSA5000's front and rear panels, connection
ports and identification label.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 7
Overview of the ThinkRF WSA5000
Note: The type and placement of connectors and components on the panels and the
case may vary depending upon the product variant and version.
The Front Panel
The following figure shows the front panel of the WSA5000. The front panel contains the
power switch, status indicator LEDs and input connectors for the RF antenna and analog
IQ ports.
Note: The WSA5000-208 and -220 include Analog IQ inputs, Analog IQ outputs and 10
MHz reference clock output, and the WSA5000-108 does not. WSA5000-3XX and -4XX
does not include Analog IQ input. In addition, the type and placement of connectors and
components on the panel may vary depending upon the product variant and version.
The Rear Panel
The following figure shows the WSA5000 rear panel. The rear panel contains power
input, and digital ports for Ethernet, USB console and GPIO, and analog I/Q outputs, 10
MHz reference clock I/O and hardware reset push-button.
8 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Overview of the ThinkRF WSA5000
Note: The type and placement of connectors and components on the panel may vary
depending upon the product variant and version.
The Underside
The underside of the ThinkRF WSA5000 provides an identification label, as illustrated
below for product version 1 and 2. The label on your product may vary depending on
your product variant and version. The main difference is that for product version 2 and
above, a version number is listed beside the S/N value. This product version number is
important for identifying which firmware image can be used to update your product (see
Updating the WSA5000's Firmware).
Product Version 1: Product Version 2 and higher:
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 9
Installing the ThinkRF WSA5000
Installing the ThinkRF WSA5000
Ensure that you read and understand the following information about safety and
electrostatic discharge before you unpack and install the WSA5000.
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 WSA5000 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.
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.
Unpacking the Box
The following table lists the items that come with your WSA5000. If any of the items are
missing or damaged, please contact your ThinkRF customer service representative.
10 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Installing the ThinkRF WSA5000
ThinkRF WSA5000 Shipping Box Contents:
• WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer
• Power adapter and cable
• Straight-through Ethernet cable
• USB console cable
• Antenna
• Quick start guide
• Precautions note
Note: The antenna is included for your convenience and only intended to perform
adequately across a limited frequency range.
Connecting the Antenna, Ethernet and Power Cables
Caution: Never connect a transmitter directly to the receiver with a cable.
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.
1. Screw the antenna on to the WSA5000 "RF IN" antenna input SMA jack.
Carefully turn the antenna screw by hand until it encounters resistance. See
SMA Connectors section for the maximum allowable input and cautions.
2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the WSA5000's Ethernet port and the
other end to an Ethernet port on your router or PC.
3. Connect the WSA5000 to its power adapter.
Warning: Use only the power adapter provided with the unit.
4. Plug the power adapter into a power outlet.
5. Push the power switch towards the power symbol to power the unit on.
Note: See Status Indicator LEDs section for description of the WSA5000's status.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 11
Installing the ThinkRF WSA5000
Selecting Where to Mount the WSA5000
Caution: To prevent damage to the WSA5000 radio receiver, do not install or operate
the WSA5000 within 2 feet (60 cm) of devices such as Wi-Fi access points that transmit
more than +15 dBm power.
12 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Connecting to the WSA5000
Connecting to the WSA5000
The WSA5000 is a network device and typically all communications with the WSA5000
are via a Gigabit Ethernet connection, either directly to a computer or across an IP
network. The WSA5000's Gigabit Ethernet connection provides control and status of the
WSA5000 using SCPI commands and data using the VRT protocol.
This section provides instruction for different methods of connecting to the WSA5000 via
its Ethernet port and obtaining its IP address.
Deciding on Your Network Topology and IP Address Allocation
Note: To connect with the WSA5000 via its Ethernet port, you must decide on both the
topology of your network connection and how your WSA5000 obtains its IP address.
As illustrated in the following picture, the WSA5000 supports any IP network topology
connected via its Ethernet port including:
a direct connection to a computer across an RJ-45 Ethernet cable as per the
Connecting the WSA5000 Directly to a Computer section;
a connection across a routed local network, whether on the same subnet or
across different subnets or across a routed wide-area network such as the
Internet, as per the Connecting to the WSA5000 Across a Network section.
The WSA5000 also supports different methods of obtaining its IP address including:
dynamic IP address allocation via the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
(DHCP), which is applicable to a routed network topology that has a DHCP
server;
dynamic IP address allocation via the Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
protocol (otherwise known as Auto-IP) which is applicable for where a DHCP
13 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Connecting to the WSA5000
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 (OSs),
including Windows, support Auto-IP;
static IP address allocation, which is applicable to any network topology.
Changing the WSA5000's Method of IP Address Allocation
This section provides the instruction for reconfiguring one IP address allocation type to
another.
Note: The WSA5000 is configured for dynamic IP address allocation by factory default.
If your WSA5000 is configured for dynamic IP allocation, then it may be reconfigured for
static IP address allocation using either its web administration or USB console. Using the
administration console in this scenario requires first a connection to the WSA5000 via its
Ethernet port, which in turn requires dynamic allocation of its IP either by DHCP or AutoIP.
If your WSA5000 is configured for static IP allocation, then it may be reconfigured for
dynamic IP address allocation using its administration or USB console or via a hardware
reset. Using the hardware reset to reconfigure to dynamic IP allocation is the simplest
method and is described in the Reset to Factory Settings section. Using the
administration console requires a connection to the WSA5000 via its Ethernet port.
Connection to the WSA5000 using dynamic or static IP allocation is described in the
following sections. The console usage is described in the Administration Console or
Using the USB Console section.
Connecting the WSA5000 Directly to a Computer
This section provides instruction on connecting the WSA5000 directly to a computer via
their Ethernet ports using an Ethernet cable.
In order to connect directly to a WSA5000, 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 WSA5000.
To connect the WSA5000 directly to your computer:
1. Decide on whether you will be using static or dynamic IP allocation. Regardless
of which method you choose, both your PC's and the WSA5000's Ethernet
interface must be configured for the same method of IP allocation. If necessary,
configure your WSA5000 to your chosen method of IP allocation following the
instruction in the Changing the WSA5000's Method of IP Address Allocation
section.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 14
Connecting to the WSA5000
Note: Auto-IP support is only provided in WSA5000 with firmware v4.0 or higher.
Update your unit with the correct firmware before using the Auto-IP capability.
2. Connect the provided Ethernet cable to both your PC's and the WSA5000's
Ethernet ports.
3. Power up the WSA5000 and wait a minute for it to complete booting.
4. Check to ensure that either your PC's or the WSA5000's LINK indicator is
illuminated. If it is not then your PC may not support automatic crossover on its
Ethernet connection and you may require an RJ-45 crossover Ethernet cable as
specified in the section.
5. If you're using static IP allocation then skip to the next step. Otherwise, check
the STS LED for the Auto-IP setup completion (take a minute or longer).
Note: While the WSA5000 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.
Then verify the host PC's IP configuration using the PyRF Discovery Tool or with
a Windows OS, open a Command window and type ipconfig to show the IP
addresses assigned to each interface. The Ethernet interface should show a
169.254.x.y address as seen in the following picture as an example.
6. Use the PyRF Discovery tool or the RTSA GUI (as shown in the following figure),
both provided by ThinkRF, to determine the WSA5000's assigned IP address. In
order for the Discovery tool to locate the WSA5000, both your computer and the
WSA5000 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. If
you are using static IP and the Discovery tool cannot locate the WSA5000, then
you need to have prior knowledge of its static IP address or use the USB
console.
15 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Connecting to the WSA5000
7. The assigned IP address may now be used to communicate with the WSA5000.
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 WSA5000 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 WSA5000 is restarted.
Connecting to the WSA5000 Across a Network
This section provides instruction on connecting the WSA5000 to a computer across a
routed local network whether on the same subnet or across different subnets or across a
routed wide-area network such as the Internet.
To connect the WSA5000 across a network:
1. Decide on whether you will be using static or dynamic IP allocation. Both your
PC and the WSA5000 do not need to be configured for the same method of IP
allocation; although to locate your WSA5000 using ThinkRF's Discovery tool
requires that they be on the same subnet. If necessary, configure your
WSA5000 to your chosen method of IP allocation following the instruction in the
Changing the WSA5000's Method of IP Address Allocation section. If you are
using dynamic IP allocation then your router or your network must support a
DHCP server.
2. Connect the provided Ethernet cable to both your router's and the WSA5000's
Ethernet ports.
3. Power up the WSA5000 and wait a minute for it to complete booting. The
sequence of connecting and powering on are inconsequential.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 16
Connecting to the WSA5000
4. Check to ensure that either your router's or the WSA5000's LINK indicator is
illuminated.
5. If your WSA5000 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 if you require access to
the WSA5000 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
with your network administrator.
6. Use the PyRF Discovery tool or the RTSA GUI (as shown in the following figure),
both provided by ThinkRF, to determine the WSA5000's assigned IP address. In
order for the Discovery tool to locate the WSA5000, both your computer and the
WSA5000 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 WSA5000's MAC address. If you are using static IP and the
Discovery tool cannot locate the WSA5000, then you need to have prior
knowledge of its static IP address or use the USB console. If necessary, consult
with your network administrator.
7. The assigned IP address may now be used to communicate with the WSA5000.
17 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Administration Console
This section provides instruction on connecting to the WSA5000 via its web-based
administration console. The administration console provides the ability to:
obtain status information from the WSA5000;
change date and time configuration;
change IP configuration;
upgrade the WSA5000's software/firmware;
upload customized calibrations settings;
and/or reset the WSA5000.
All of these functions may be performed via the network either locally or remotely.
Connecting via Your Web Browser
Connect to the WSA5000's administration console by entering the IP address of your
WSA5000 into a web browser's web address dialog. The following "Status" web page
should appear providing information on the WSA5000's MAC address, hardware and
software versions.
Administration Console
Note that if you have product version 1 with firmware image v3.2.6 or earlier, the “Product
version” field would be labeled as “Hardware version”. This field is important for selecting
the correct firmware image to update, i.e. product version 1 can only be updated with
firmware v3.2.7 or lower; and product version 2 with firmware v4.0.0 or higher.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 18
Administration Console
Configuring the WSA5000's Time
The WSA5000 provides for setting its time either manually or as per the PC's time or via
an NTP server.
Note: The WSA5000 stores its time based on the UTC Coordinated Universal Time zone
and otherwise has no notion of local time-zones. Conversely, the web dialog translates
and displays the WSA5000's time based on the local time-zone setting of the PC.
1. Click on the "Time Configuration" link in the left column menu of the
administrative console web page. The following "WSA5000 Device Time
Configuration" web page should appear.
2. Select the time synchronization source.
3. If “Enter time manually” is selected then enter the date and time based on your
local time-zone.
4. If “Use current PC time” is selected then the data and time fields will be
populated automatically.
19 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
5. If “NTP” is selected, enter at least one NTP server IP address and select whether
the time be synced just this one time or continuously. If “continuously” is
selected, the WSA5000's time is synchronized to the NTP server on a continuous
and regular basis, the regularity of which is optimally determined automatically.
6. Click the “Apply” button.
Configuring the WSA5000's IP Address
The WSA5000 provides options for selecting whether the WSA5000's IP address is
obtained dynamically using DHCP or is set manually to a static address.
Caution: Please note that if the WSA5000's IP address is set to static IP then the only
way to communicate with the WSA5000 is via that IP address. If you mistakenly enter
the wrong IP address and/or subnet mask, or forget the IP address, then you can change
the IP configuration Using the USB Console or perform a Reset to Factory Settings.
1. Click on the "IP Configuration" link in the left column menu of the administrative
console. The following "WSA5000 Device IP Configuration" web page should
appear. Once the “Apply” is clicked, the new configuration will take effect
immediately and the current configuration and web page will no longer be valid.
Administration Console
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 20
Administration Console
Updating the WSA5000's Firmware
This section will step you through updating the WSA5000's firmware. The firmware install
file contains firmware images associated with the WSA5000's FPGA, Linux operating
system and the embedded application. The process of updating will copy the new
images to the WSA5000 in addition to and without erasing the current installed images.
The new install will only take effect upon the WSA5000 being restarted.
Note: Updating firmware might over-write any user-defined calibrated values, see
Customizing the WSA5000's Calibration for more information.
1. Click on the "Firmware Install" link in the left column menu of the administrative
console. The following "Firmware Install" web page should appear.
Warning: Do not unplug the WSA5000 during a firmware update or the device may
become inoperable.
2. Enter or browse to the location of the "ThinkRF_WSA5000_firmware_vx.y.z.img"
(or similar *.img) firmware image file and then click the "Install" button.
Note: Make sure the correct firmware image is selected for the right product version.
Firmware v4.0.0 or higher can only be used for product version 2; any earlier firmware
version would be for product version 1. If a firmware is selected for the wrong product
version, the following image with an error message will appear and the installation
process would stop.
21 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Administration Console
When the firmware image for the intended product version is installed, the
following "Firmware Install" web page should appear which will step through the
progression of the firmware being uploaded and installed.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 22
Administration Console
3. Upon completion, the following web dialog box should appear. Press the "OK"
button to restart the WSA5000 or "Cancel" to defer restarting until a later time.
Note: If the WSA5000 is not restarted immediately after a firmware install process, then
the newly installed firmware will take effect upon the next restart of the WSA5000
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 the WSA5000's Calibration
The WSA5000 supports user-defined calibration settings if you do not want to use
ThinkRF's default calibration settings. This allows you to calibrate the WSA5000's RFE
with reference levels based on, for examples - frequency ranges, temperature ranges,
and insertion loss of the attenuator that are specific to your own applications.
To create your own custom calibration file, refer to the ThinkRF's AppNote – How to
calibrate WSA5000 document. You can upload your own calibration settings through the
WSA5000 administration console using the instruction described in the following section.
23 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Administration Console
Uploading a Custom Calibration File
You can upload your custom calibration settings file to the WSA5000 via the
administrative console.
Note: You must restart the WSA5000 for the new calibration settings to take effect.
Note: Custom calibrated values might get over-written by a new firmware update. After
restarting the unit once the firmware update is done, check the Calibration tab of the
administration console to see which calibration file source is listed on the top of the
Filename list (ie. “System” or your customized file).
1. Click the "Calibration" link in the left column menu of the administrative console
web page. The "WSA5000 Device Calibration" page will appear.
2. Click “Browse”. An Explorer window will open on your PC.
3. Navigate to the location of the desired file and click “Open”. The selected file
name appears beside the “Browse” button in the Administration console.
4. Click “Upload”. When successful, the custom calibration file is uploaded to the
WSA5000 and appears in the list of calibration files. The most recent uploaded
file will be listed at the top of the table.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 24
Administration Console
5. Restart the WSA5000 by using the administrative console or toggling the power
switch. The boot up will take longer than usual after the restart as the embedded
system applies the new calibrated values.
However, if a tag or its value is incorrectly created in the custom file, an error, when
detected, will be displayed with the appropriate message and the file will not be
uploaded. See the following picture for example.
25 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Administration Console
Calibration File Source Selection
When more than one calibration settings file are present in the system, the WSA5000
selects the calibration source using the following priority:
1. Firmware version specified in the calibration file
2. Calibration file source with the following priority going from higher to lower:
a. User-defined file
b. ThinkRF's factory defaults (from factory calibration)
c. ThinkRF's system defaults (from firmware update)
3. Created date and time of the calibration file (as listed in the <created> field)
For example, if two calibration files have the same firmware version, then the file source
is compared. If the source is the same, then the created date and time is compared. The
most recent date will be used.
Any calibration data that is not specified or missing in the new calibration file will be
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 will not be able to delete the system
calibration file.
1. In the "WSA5000 Calibration Upload" page, select a custom calibration file from
the list and click “DELETE” in the Actions column.
2. Repeat step 1 for all custom calibration files on the system.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 26
Administration Console
3. Restart the WSA5000 either by using the web administrative console or toggling
the power switch. The default calibration settings take effect upon device restart.
Note: Performing a Reset to Factory Settings will also reset all the calibration data to
either factory defaults or system defaults following the file source selection priority
mentioned above.
Restarting the WSA5000
The WSA5000 may be restarted via its internet connected administration console.
Performing this type of restart is equivalent to a power-on reset.
1. Referring to the previous "Status" web page, click on the "Device Restart " link in
the left column. The following "Restart" web page should appear.
2. Click on the "Restart" button.
Note: Depending on your network settings, the WSA5000 might obtain a different IP
address after it restarts which will result in the links to the web pages no longer being
valid. Please check with your network administrator to determine the IP address of the
WSA5000. This might happen only when the unit is not in static IP mode or a factory
reset has been done to the unit.
Note: If the WSA5000's firmware has been previously installed without being restarted,
then the most recently installed firmware will take effect after the restart is applied.
27 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Reset to Factory Settings
If for any reason you cannot connect to the WSA5000 via the Ethernet, then performing
this following procedure will reset the WSA5000's IP configuration to obtain an IP address
dynamically using DHCP.
The reset will also set the reference level calibration back to factory default values.
Follow the steps below to reset your box.
1. Power off the WSA5000 by toggling its power switch
2. Power on the WSA5000
3. Wait until the status indicator LEDs flash sequence stops (take a few seconds)
4. While the STS LED blinks green slowly, momentarily press and release the reset
button (locate in The Rear Panel) by inserting a paper clip or similar object
5. The STS LED will blink green fast several times to acknowledge that factory
reset has been performed
6. Wait for the unit to completely boot up (another ~30 seconds) and run the PyRF
Discovery tool to determine the unit's IP or use the USB Console to verify the
network settings (see Using the USB Console section).
Reset to Factory Settings
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 28
Using the USB Console
Using the USB Console
This section provides instruction on connecting to the WSA5000 via its USB console.
The USB console provides control and status of the WSA5000 using SCPI commands.
Typical applications may include configuring and querying the WSA5000's network IP or
controlling and querying the WSA5000 in an external digitizer application.
Note: The WSA5000's USB console allows for the communication of SCPI commands
and status. It does not support the transfer of VRT data nor does it support the web
administration console.
Installing the USB Drivers on Your PC
The WSA5000 USB console uses a Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge Virtual
COM Port driver, which may require configuration of drivers on your PC.
1. Power on the WSA5000 and wait approximately 30 seconds to allow it to boot
up.
2. Connect the USB cable to the WSA5000's USB console port and your PC's USB
port.
3. Depending on the version of your PC's Windows OS, your PC should
automatically detect the WSA5000 as a new USB device and install the
appropriate driver. Check to ensure that the driver is properly installed by
inspecting Control Panel > Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT), at which a
“Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge (COM7)” (or equivalent COM#)
should appear without error. If the driver has not appeared or has errors, then
proper drivers may be found at
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/pages/usbtouartbridgevcpdrivers.aspx.
4. With the USB to UART Bridge drivers installed, again take note of the COM port
number that it has been assigned by inspecting Control Panel > Device
Manager > Ports (COM & LPT).
Connecting to the USB Console
Connection to the USB console requires a serial terminal program on your PC. The
following provides an example using PuTTY from http://www.putty.org/.
1. Follow the instructions above to install the USB drivers on your PC.
2. Launch your terminal program (i.e. PuTTY) on your PC.
3. Configure your terminal program to connect via the COM port associated to the
USB to UART Bridge (as seen in the terminal configuration panel image below).
If using a different serial terminal program, ensure the serial settings used are
baud speed (bits per second) 9600; data bits 8; stop bit 1; parity none; and
flow control none.
29 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Using the USB Console
4. Open the terminal session.
5. Press the “Enter” key and a “>” cursor should appear in the terminal window. If
the cursor does not appear then the USB to UART Bridge may be expecting a
typical VT100 terminal response. Repeatedly press “Ctrl+C” and “Enter” until the
cursor appears. The cursor may take several seconds to appear.
6. Enter *IDN? command and press the “Enter” key. The WSA5000 should return
a message with its device identification such as “ThinkRF, WSA5000....” and as
per the illustration below.
7. Refer to the WSA5000 Programmer's Guide that is associated with the firmware
release of your WSA5000 for the SCPI commands to use with your WSA5000 via
the USB console terminal window. The firmware release version of your
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 30
Using the USB Console
WSA5000 will be noted in the device identification string reported by the “*IDN?”
SCPI command.
Configuring the WSA5000's IP Address via the USB Console
The WSA5000 provides options for selecting whether the WSA5000's IP address is
obtained dynamically using DHCP or is set manually to a static address.
Caution: Please note that if the WSA5000's IP address is set to static IP then the only
way to communicate with the WSA5000 is over the network via that IP address or via the
USB console. Hence, if you mistakenly enter the wrong IP address and/or subnet mask,
or forget the IP address, then you can query/reconfigure the IP settings via the USB
console as described below or perform a Reset to Factory Settings (page 28) to reset the
IP back to the factory DHCP default configuration.
1. Follow the instructions above to install the USB drivers on your PC and connect
to the USB console.
2. Refer to the illustration below as an example, enter the following SCPI
commands substituting in the appropriate IP address configuration for your
WSA5000:
:SYST:COMM:LAN:CONF?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:CONF STATIC
:SYST:COMM:LAN:IP?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:IP <IP address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:GATE?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:GATE <gateway address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:NETM?
:SYST:COMM:LAN:NETM <netmask address>
:SYST:COMM:LAN:APPL
31 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Using the USB Console
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 32
Status Indicator LEDs
Status Indicator LEDs
The WSA5000 has status indicator LEDs as illustrated and described in the following.
Power-up Sequence
During normal bootup, the Power (PWR) Indicator LED will be green while the remaining
LEDs will flash yellow in sequence from left to right until the firmware is launched. The
sequence may occasionally stop briefly during the bootup phase.
Power (PWR) Indicator LED
The PWR indicator LED indicates that the input and internal power voltages are correct.
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
Status (STS) Indicator LED
The STS indicator LED indicates the status of the WSA5000 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
Slow blink green Busy
Heartbeat blink green Auto-IP address used
Solid green Ready for connection
present or corrupted
33 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Status Indicator LEDs
10 MHz Reference (REF) Clock Source and Lock Indicator LED
Referring to the above illustration, the REF LED indicates whether the WSA5000 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 provided via the 10
MHz IN SMA connector) and PLL has successfully locked
to it
Slow blink green External clock reference selected and PLL has
successfully locked to it
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
RF Chain PLLs LOCK Indicator LED
Referring to the above illustration, 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
Ethernet LINK Status and ACT Indicator LEDs
The Ethernet LINK status and ACT indicator LEDs indicate 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 Ethernet Activity
Off No Ethernet activity
Green Ethernet transmit or receive activity
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 34
Hardware Reference
This section provides physical and performance specifications and port and cable pinouts
for the WSA5000.
System Specifications
The following table outlines the physical specifications for the WSA5000.
Description Design Specification
Dimensions (H x W x D without/D with rubber feet)
-1XX Model
-2XX Model
-3XX & -4XX Models
Weight (approximately)
-1XX Model
-2XX Model
-3XX & -4XX Models
Digital interface ports Ethernet 10/100/1000, USB 2.0 console, micro-DB25
Analog interface ports RF IN, I and Q IN1, I and Q OUT, 10 MHz REF IN and
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 depending on the product model or application. Check with your product specification.
Hardware Reference
9.8 x 6.5 x 1.2/1.45 in. (24.9 x 16.5 x 3.1/3.68 cm)
10.4 x 6.5 x 1.2/1.45 in. (26.4 x 16.5 x 3.1/3.68 cm)
10.58 x 6.81 x 2.15/2.40 in. (26.9 x 17.3 x 5.46/6.1 cm)
3 lbs (1.4 kg)
TBD
6 lbs (2.7 kg)
GPIO
1
OUT
SMA Connectors
The SMA connectors on the front and back panels are all female jacks with 50Ω nominal
impedance. The following table outline 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.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 35
Hardware Reference
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Connector Name Direction Max Power Level Min Power Level
RF IN
10 MHz IN
10 MHz OUT
IQ IN
IQ OUT out 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 it can be determined the frontend attenuator is in the circuit (see the INPUT:ATT? command of the 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 WSA5000 and turned off prior to powering
down the WSA5000.
2
The 10 MHz reference input must be powered down prior to powering down the WSA5000.
3
To set the WSA to use the external 10 MHz reference, SOURCE:REF:PLL EXT command of the
Programmer’s Guide.
4
Availability depending on the product model or application. Check with your product specification.
1
in +10 dBm – with attenuation
N/A
-10 dBm – without attenuation
2
,3
4
4
in 0 dBm -10 dBm
out N/A N/A
in 0 dBm N/A
Ethernet RJ-45 Port 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-
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.
36 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
Hardware Reference
Caution: Improper use of the GPIO may cause irreparable damage to the WSA5000.
Do not use the GPIO without prior consultation with ThinkRF's service organization.
Pin Direction Voltage Signal
1 bidirectional 3.3 V
2 bidirectional 3.3 V
1
1
I2C SDA
I2C SCL
3 out 3.3 V TRIG OUT
4 in 3.3 V TRIG IN
5 in 3.3 V
6 in 3.3 V
7 out 3.3 V
8 out 3.3 V
10 out 3.3 V
11 out 3.3 V
12 out 3.3 V
13 in 3.3 V
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
SPI SEL
SPI SCLK
SPI MOSI
SPI MISO
14 in 3.3 V PPS/EXT IN
16 out 3.3 V EXT OUT
17-20 bidirectional 3.3 V EXT IO D[3:0], respectively
23-25 power 6 V or 12V
2
VCC
9,15,21-22 ground 0 V GND
1
These signals are only available with WSA5000-1XX and -2XX models. In -3XX and
-4XX, these are no-connect pins.
2
Please see the Caution note below.
Caution: The voltage level of the power pins is WSA5000-XXX model dependent: 6V
for -1XX and -2XX models and 12V for -3XX and -4XX models. Please check your model
for the proper hardware interface when use to avoid potential damage.
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.
ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide 37
Hardware Reference
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 3 41 2 3 4
USB Console Port Pinout
Pin Signal
1 +5 VDC
2 Data -
3 Data +
4 Ground
RJ-45 Straight-Through Ethernet Cable
RJ-45 Crossover Ethernet Cable
38 ThinkRF WSA5000 Wireless Signal Analyzer User Guide
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