AOR SDU5600 Spectrum Display Unit Operating Manual

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®
FFT spectrum display unit
SDU5600
OPERATING MANUAL
PROFESSIONAL SPECTRUM
DISPLAY UNIT FOR USE WITH
A COMPANION RADIO  
						

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Index
Index
Safety notices  .................................................................................................  5
SDU5600 brief circuit description  ....................................................................  6
LCD resolution  ................................................................................................  6
Block diagram  .................................................................................................  7
Introduction  .....................................................................................................  8
1 Controls and Descriptions  .........................................................................  9
1.1 Front panel  ................................................................................................  9
1.2 Rear panel  ................................................................................................ 10
2 Connection  ................................................................................................. 11
2.1 Connection with the power supply  ............................................................. 11
2.2 Connection with the receiver  ..................................................................... 11
3 Preparations  ............................................................................................... 12
3.1 Configuration of the receiver  ..................................................................... 12
3.2 Start-up  ..................................................................................................... 12
4 Basics  ......................................................................................................... 13
4.1 Control  ...................................................................................................... 13
4.2 Display  ...................................................................................................... 14
4.3 Main key layout  ......................................................................................... 15
4.4 Clear (CLR) key  ........................................................................................ 16
4.5 Default mode and clear mode  ................................................................... 16
4.6 When the communication with the companion receiver has failed  ............. 16
5 Configuration of the SDU5600  ................................................................... 17
5.1.1 Configuration (CONF)  ............................................................................. 17
5.1.2 Applicable receivers  ............................................................................... 18
5.2.1 Configuration of the receiver  .................................................................. 19
5.2.2 Selecting the receive frequency  .............................................................. 20
5.3 Setup of the monitoring mode  ................................................................... 22
5.4 Basic setup for each monitoring mode  ...................................................... 23
5.4.1 Spectrum analysers mode  ...................................................................... 23
5.4.2 Step resolution mode  ............................................................................. 24
5.4.3 Channel scope mode  ............................................................................. 25
5.4.4 Common features shared by different monitoring  ................................... 26 
						

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Index
5.5 Marker  ...................................................................................................... 28
5.6 Calculation facility  ..................................................................................... 30
5.7 Waterfall display facility  ............................................................................. 31
5.8 On/off of the display information  ............................................................... 32
5.9 Beep alert    ................................................................................................. 32
5.10 Factory default/reset  ............................................................................... 32
6 Operating the SDU5600  ............................................................................. 33
6.1 Operate the SDU5600 with the AR5000A+3  .............................................. 33
6.2 Monitor the VHF FM band in the spectrum analyser mode  ........................ 34
6.3 Monitor the FM broadcast band in the step resolution mode  ..................... 35
6.4 Monitor the VHF air band in the channel scope mode  ............................... 36
6.5 Suitable applications of each monitoring mode  ......................................... 37
7 Useful information  ..................................................................................... 38
8 SDU5600 Computer control  ....................................................................... 39
8.1 Communication parameters and connecting lead  ...................................... 39
8.2 Delimiter  ................................................................................................... 39
8.3 Basic format of the command  ................................................................... 40
8.4 RS232 command list  ................................................................................ 40
Spectrum analysis  ............................................................................... 41
Visual command  .................................................................................. 43
User interface  ...................................................................................... 44
General information  ............................................................................. 46
Notes for programmers  ........................................................................ 48
9 Specification  .............................................................................................. 49 
						

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Every effort has been made to make this manual correct and up to date.  Due to continuous
development of the product and by error or omission, anomalies may be found and this is
acknowledged.
© This manual is protected by copyright AOR Ltd 2003.  No information contained in this manual may
be copied or transferred by any means without the prior written consent of AOR Ltd.  AOR and the ‘AOR
logo’ are trade marks of AOR Ltd. All other trade marks and names are acknowledged.  
E&OE
& Level of risk
As there SDU5600 is powered from 12V DC, there is little chance of serious injury as long as common
sense is applied.
Observe the polarity of connections if the supplied AC power unit is not being used. DC input is a
nominal 12V DC wired centre positive. Reverse polarity connection will damage the SDU5600 and
potentially could lead to the risk of fire or explosion under severe circumstances.
Carefully handle the AC plug of the supplied AC power unit to prevent touching the terminals when
inserting or removing from the AC socket. NEVER connect the SDU5600 directly to the AC supply.
SAFETY NOTICE - Always disconnect the power supply from the AC socket when not in use.
Explanation of risk warning mark
Whenever the book symbol & is used in this operating manual, an important point is being made which
may relate to risk of personal injury or damage to the unit if ignored.
When the pointing finger 
 is used, the associated text provides useful operational information of
special note (such as a tip). No risk or personal injury or damage is associated.
Handling the SDU5600
Use a soft, dry cloth to gently wipe the SDU5600 clean, never use abrasive cleaners or organic solvents
which may damage certain parts.  Treat the unit with care, avoid spillage or leakage of liquids into the
cabinet and power supply.  Special care should be taken to avoid liquid entering around the keys, main
dial or via the connection sockets.  
Never push or knock the TFT LCD display screen which is very
fragile and sensitive to shock.
Special remarks
Do not use or leave the SDU5600 in direct sunlight (especially the TFT display).  It is best to avoid
locations where excessive heat, humidity, dust and vibration are expected.  Always keep the SDU5600
free from dust and moisture.
AC adaptor (power unit)
The SDU5600 may be provided with either a suitable AC / DC power unit.  The SDU5600 is designed for
operation from a nominal 12V DC regulated power supply (12 to 14V is acceptable), which should be
capable of supplying a minimum of 1A continuous, ideally a 2A unit should be employed.
& Note: Never connect the SDU5600 directly to an AC supply.
The DC input socket uses a mini power connector (subject to EIAJ RC-5320A) and is wired centre
positive (+), the chassis of the unit is at negative ground.  To minimise the potential for power cable
interference, it is suggested that a ferrite clamp be fitted to the connecting cable.
Other warnings
There are no internal operator adjustments.  In the unlikely event of servicing being required, please
contact your dealer for technical assistance.
Should the SDU5600 appear to behave strangely, normal operation may easily be regained by resetting
the microprocessor.  Simply power down the SDU5600 and disconnect the power supply... leave for 30
seconds then reconnect and power-up again.
It is possible to RESET the microprocessor, please refer to section 5-10, page 32 for further information.
If used with the AR3000A, a small modification is required to the receiver in order to provide the required
10.7 MHz IF output.  If using the ICOM IC-R7100, the optional ICOM CT17 (RS232/CIV) interface is
required.
Safety notices  
						

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Circuit description
SDU5600 Brief circuit description
The RF signal is fed by BNC socket into the SDU at a selected frequency of either 10.7MHz or 45.05MHz depending on the radio IF
frequency being used. This signal is split into two different signal paths depending upon which input frequency is selected. Both paths
are buffered and have Band Pass Filters with a bandwidth of +/-5kHz to eliminate unwanted signals outside of this range.
After the BPF, both signal paths join and are  amplified by a single LNA (Low Noise Amplifier). The output signal feeds a pair of Dual
Balanced Mixers.
Here the input RF signal is mixed with two orthogonal sinusoidal signals produced by the DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) section to
give two resultant signals at audio frequencies (one used as real, one as imaginary). The gain of both signal paths is also controlled at
this point.
The audio level signals are fed through 80kHz LPFs (Low Pass Filters) and finally converted from Analogue into Digital signals before
being fed to the FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).
The digital signal is now processed by the DSP (Digital Signal Processor) to give an RGB Video output via the FPGA which drives a
colour TFT LCD display.
The DSP is controlled by the main CPU and its EEPROM memory. The front panel keypad switches and rotary encoder are fed to the
main CPU via a separate slave microprocessor on the front panel.
RS232 control and Receiver control ports connect (indirectly) to the main CPU.
A comprehensive power supply section has been used in the unit to give the required supply levels of 2.5v, 3.3v, 5v, 6v, 9.5v, 17v, -5v,
-7v and -15v. The input is protected for reverse current & unwanted RF and is internally fused.
LCD resolutionThe LCD provides high resolution of 320 horizontal dots from the left to right edges of screen.  As a result, there are about 40 steps
per graticule division with eight divisions making up the total width. The minimum displayed bandwidth is 160kHz and the maximum
displayed width is 10000 kHz (10 MHz) representing ± 5 MHz.
To calculate the LCD-step, divide the SPAN bandwidth in kHz by 320.  Examples are as follows:
10000 kHz (10 MHz) 32.250 kHz
5000 kHz (5 MHz) 15.625 kHz
2000 kHz (2 MHz) 6.250 kHz
1000 kHz (1 MHz) 3.250 kHz
160 kHz  (0.16 MHz) 0.500 kHz
It is possible to force the LCD-step to equal the receive tuning step using a similar process.  Multiply the receive tuning step size in
kHz by 320 (dots) to obtain the required total span width in kHz.
For example, for a 5 kHz tuning and LCD step, 5 x 320 = 1600 kHz span
The following table presents commonly used step sizes:
0.5 kHz (minimum step size) 160 kHz (0.160 MHz)
5 kHz 1600 kHz (1.600 MHz)
6.25 kHz 2000 kHz (2.00 MHz)
9 kHz 2880 kHz (2.880 MHz)
10 kHz 3200 kHz (3.200 MHz)
12.5 kHz 4000 kHz (4.000 MHz)
20 kHz 6400 kHz (6.400 MHz)
25 kHz 8000 kHz (8.000 MHz)
31.25 kHz represents maximum span of 10000 kHz (10 MHz) 
						

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Block diagram  
						

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Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the SDU5600 FFT spectrum display unit.  AOR was the
first company in the world to market a colour spectrum display unit (SDU5000) for
professionals and the top-end of hobbyist listeners. The SDU5500 followed adding
sophistication and the SDU5600 is truly a successor incorporating a high resolution
5 inch (127mm) colour TFT display featuring FFT signal analysis and built-in waterfall
display backed by the latest microprocessor technology to ensure high versatility and
reliability.  To get the best possible results, we recommended that you read this manual
to fully familiarise yourself with the SDU5600.
Major features
The SDU5600 has been designed to be a highly effective spectrum monitor unit which
is capable of digitally processing the IF frequency taken from a communications
receiver through the use of FFT for professional quality spectrum analysis. The 5 inch
TFT colour LCD screen is used to achieve the finest possible resolution.
The SDU5600 has been primarily designed to complement to the AOR AR5000 series
of receivers in terms of operational features and cosmetic design.  Also other types of
receiver such as the AOR AR-ONE, AR3000A and AR8600MK2 and ICOM ICR8500 +
ICR7100 can be used (modification and additional hardware required).
A wide variety of monitoring modes are available with the convenience of operators in
mind which include Step Resolution Mode for general monitoring or Channel Scope
Mode for monitoring the channelised signals. It also incorporates a Waterfall facility
(as commercial grade spectrum analysers do), to display the changing conditions of
signal spectrum with varying colours in a form of waterfall.
Following the success of its predecessors, SDU5000 and SDU5500,  the new
SDU5600 provides the same AV, Peak Hold and Peak value readings which are
downloadable to the PC via a communications port.  The SDU5600 can be remote
controlled through the use of the communications port to further expand the range of
applications for spectrum monitoring.
Supplied accessories
1 x SDU5600 main unit
1 x BNC RF patch lead for IF connection
1 x DB9 patch lead for serial communications - male to male
1 x Handbook
1 x AC power supply
Introduction & preparation 
						

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1  Controls and Descriptions
Control and display of the SDU5600 is via the front panel with the rear panel
providing connections for the companion receiver, power and computer.
1-1 Front panel
LCD:  The large high resolution 5 inch colour TFT display provides all operational information and
spectrum display. The background is black with green graticule and white lettering for critical
information.  Menu items are varying shades of blue, the valid indicator is green with the function
indicator in ‘reverse lettering’ yellow. The marker line is white and changes to purple when exactly
positioned over a graticule line. The colours cannot be changed.
Power switch:  Press once to latch the switch in, switching on the SDU5600.  To switch off the
SDU5600, press the switch a second time, the switch latches outward. When switched on, the LCD
briefly displays the model and firmware numbers.
Tilt bail bar:  A tilt bail bar is provided under the front panel (on the bottom case half) so that the
SDU5600 may be tilted upward at the front to improve visibility in certain installations.
Soft function keys: Each one of these three ‘soft keys’ has multiple roles as indicated on the LCD
screen depending on the circumstances in operation.
Special function keys: These three keys positioned to the left of the DIAL are to be used solely for
specific purposes such as to enter a centre frequency, frequency span, display increment and input
sensitivity.
Dial: The DIAL is a rotary control and is used to move the cursor, to make a selection or to move the
marker/centre frequency.
Main keypad: Used to enter numeric information, to control the companion receiver, etc.  When a
valid key press is sounded, the SDU5600 will provide a high pitch ‘beep’ (happy), if an invalid key
press is made, a low pitched ‘beep’ (sad) is sounded. The beep can be toggled on/off using the key
sequence FUNC + 6 (BEEP), the default is on.
Section 1, 1-1 
						

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1-2 Rear panel
RF Input socket:  The IF output (10.7 MHz / 45.05 MHz) from a suitable receiver such as the
AR5000A should be connected to this BNC input socket using a 50 OHM patch lead constructed of
quality coaxial cable such as RG58/U, UR43, UR76 etc. A suitable BNC-BNC lead is supplied.
PC I/F socket (male):  A controlling computer may be connected to this 9-pin D-type male socket.
Ensure this socket is only commented to a computer for hands-off operation, although it is very
unlikely that incorrect connection to a computer or similar device would cause damage.
RX connection socket (female):  The supplied 9-way to 9-way ‘D-type’ male to male lead is used to
connect the SDU5600 to the AR5000A receiver.  If used with another receiver, a suitable serial-
adapter or connecting cable will be required.  Wiring should be as follows:
SDU5600 9-pin male        9-pin male (AR5000A)    25-pin male (AR3000A)
223
332
5 5 7  GND
774
885
12V DC input socket:  The supplied power unit is terminated with a centre positive  (+) polarity.
The plug specification follows EIAJ RC-5320A (Class-4).
There are four screw holes (unused), two on each side of the cabinet.
They are a provision for rack mount application. Size of the screw is M4x8.
Section 1-2