flexible switching of up to twelve antennas
several options are available to provide a high degree of flexibility for antenna switching, e.g. to facilitate antennas covering different frequency ranges or polarizations. the r&s®msd is ideal for microwave monitoring. the r&s®msd-sm8 switch module provides a single-pole sixthrow (sp6t) antenna switch for the frequency range from dc to 8 ghz and the r&s®msd-sm26 switch module provides an sp6t antenna switch for the frequency range from dc to 26.5 ghz.
both modules can control additional external switch units. the r&s®zs129a2 switch unit can be controlled via the i2c bus interface. this switch unit is designed for outdoor use. when it is placed on the mast close to the antennas, the number of required rf cables can be significantly reduced. since the switching is done on the mast, only one rf cable needs to be routed down to the equipment inside the station.
the r&s®zs129a5 switch unit can be controlled via the open collector outputs. the r&s®zs129a5 is a configurable indoor switch unit that can be adapted to special system requirements.
the i2c bus interface and the open collector outputs can also be used to control other external equipment e.g. the r&s®zs129z1 or suitable third-party equipment with open collector control.
monitoring equipment such as the r&s®esmd wideband monitoring receiver or the r&s®eb500 monitoring receiver provides ttl outputs. when connected to the ttl inputs of the r&s®msd, the receiver can directly initiate the r&s®msd switching.
any combination of the r&s®msd-sm8 and r&s®msd-sm26 can be integrated, with a maximum of two per device.
additional system capabilities
further flexibility is provided by a single-pole double-throw (spdt) antenna switch (dc to 8 ghz).
the optional splitter can be used to distribute an input signal to two outputs (dc to 8 ghz).
8 khz to 8 ghz active antennas can be directly powered by dc feeds that supply dc voltage to an antenna input. the optional dc switch (dcf-s) switches the dc feed on/off.
the spdt antenna switch, the splitter and the dc feeds are options that can be used in conjunction with the r&s®msd-sm8 and the r&s®msd-sm26 switch modules. they are integrated into the switch modules so that no further module slot is occupied. per switch module, up to two spdt antenna switches or splitters, up to four dc feeds and one dc feed switch can be assembled.
the r&s®msd-sm8 switch module and the spdt switch are also available as terminated versions, where the unused outputs are terminated with 50 ω.
powerful control of up to four axis
the rotator control options can be used to control up to four axes: azimuth, elevation, polarization and antenna height.
the rotator control basic module controls up to two rotators, either one ac-powered and one dc-powered rotator or two dc-powered rotators. this constellation is typically used to control movement in the azimuth and elevation or polarization range.
the rotator control extension modules allow control of one additional ac-powered or dc-powered rotator (e.g. for elevation or polarization) and the antenna height. the height of the antenna is managed via the r&s®gb127mu mast control unit.
the rotator module can be used to directly control various rotators or to operate the r&s®rd127 rotator control unit and the r&s®fu129 filter unit. rotators currently supported by the r&s®msd include the yaesu g2800 azimuth rotator, the yaesu g550 elevation/polarization rotator, the winter ar/ae1002, winter ar/ae 1042 and the r&s®ro129. for these devices, the r&s®msd-rcb option is required.
the r&s®msd also supports the prosistel pst2051d-pro azimuth rotator and the prosistel pst2051e polarization rotator. these devices have an extended lower temperature range. to control them, the r&s®msd-rcb-p option is required.
please note that the extension module requires the basic module. the extension hardware will be integrated into the basic module so that only one module slot is occupied.
one rotator control module (either the basic module or the basic module plus integrated extension module) per device is supported.
modular structure for easy adaptation to customer-specific requirements
the r&s®msd has been designed to allow easy adaptation and configuration to individual tasks and requirements. the figure below shows the main components of the r&s®msd. while mainboard, process controller and touchscreen are always integrated into the 19" 2 hu case, the two slots can be flexibly equipped with r&s®msd options to perfectly match individual customer’s requests. the customer can choose between ac or dc operation.
if requirements change during operation, it is possible to upgrade the r&s®msd, e.g. an additional module can be inserted in an empty slot, or the basic rotator control module can be upgraded with the extension module. these modifications will be done in a rohde & schwarz factory.