How to do the tests:

Antenna SWR tests:
 
 

Notes: Be sure the cable from the test transmitter to the swr meter is ½ wavelength long:

Be sure you DO NOT ADD any cable from the swr meter to the antenna feed cable.

Perform test with test transmitter on transmit and receive frequencies.

Duplexer SWR Tests:

Notes: Be sure to use the cables from the transmitter to the duplexer and the receiver to the duplexer during ALL tests.

Set-up as above, antenna dummy load should be placed on or as close as possible to the duplexer.

Cable from test transmitter to swr meter should be ½ wavelength.

Perform above test, then switch swr meter and test transmitter to receiver port, retest, and then switch to antenna port and retest.
 
 
 
 

Power Output Tests:

Notes: Use ½ wavelength jumper between meter and exciter.

When inserting duplexer for testing, be sure to use the proper cables from the exciter to the duplexer and ½ wavelength cable from duplexer to power meter. Terminate the receive port of the duplexer with a dummy load.

Use the same method for testing the power amplifier. Cable from the exciter to the power amplifier should be ½ wavelength or a multiple if possible.
 
 


 
 

Perform the above power test for the receive frequency (using the test transmitter).

Use a Frequency Counter to check the transmit frequency.

Use a deviation meter to check input vs. output deviation. Measurements should be taken at 1.5, 2.5,3.5,4.5,5.5, and 6.5 kHz of input deviation. Output should match input below 5kHz, at 5.5kHz and above no more than 5khz of deviation should be visible.
 
 

Receiver Measurements:

Notes: Be careful when injecting a signal directly into the receiver not to exceed 1volt rms. of RF as most receivers will disintegrate above this amount.

AC Voltmeter and/or sinad meter should be connected across the receiver speaker and the output of the receiver (volume control) must not be adjusted during tests. Set the volume for a 75-80% full scale reading un-squelched (with noise). An analog voltmeter or an oscilloscope is preferred for these measurements.

If the input signal level is not calibrated, try to note the values as relative. If different test setups will be used, try to get both setups together at one time so readings on one may be referenced to readings on the other.

Cable from the signal generator to the receiver should be ½ wavelength.

Quieting can be estimated without a sinad meter using the following technique:

    1. Increasing the input signal until it is full quieting.
    2. Record this rf signal value.
    3. Note the output signal level (ac volts at the speaker).
    4. Decrease signal strength and watch for the output signal to double in value (should be half the un-squelched noise figure at the speaker).
    5. Record this rf signal value.
The difference of these two rf values to produce these two ac voltage values can be easily reproduced and would be sufficiently accurate to note subtle changes in system performance.
 
 

De-sense testing:

De-sense testing is the most difficult and the easiest of tests to perform. If de-sense exists, it can be easily found, however, being able to quantify it is one of the most difficult tests to perform.

How do I know if there is de-sense ?

With a weak signal on the input (read as scratchy), turn off the transmitter with the local transmitter disable switch. If the signal sounds better (on the local receiver) without the transmitter running, you have de-sense.

How can I measure how bad the desense is ?

As seen in the earlier tests, the ac voltmeter or sinad meter will be connected to the local speaker terminals. In this case the RF signal generator will be connected to an antenna to ‘leak’ the signal into the system. These measurements are only RELATIVE. Very sophisticated connections are required to make duplicateable measurements. For this reason, it is a good idea to start with a receiver only measurement for full quieting and for ½ noise as seen above but using this configuration as well and then adding in the transmitter and/or the power amplifier recording the information all along the way. This will allow us to compare the measurements from two different sessions. Don’t forget to also do the receiver sensitivity measurements for sinad or the numbers cannot be cross-referenced.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTES:

Do not allow the signal generator antenna and the repeater antenna to be physically close to one another or significant damage to the signal generator may result.
 
 

General Repeater Notes:

Try to always use double shielded cable for all RF connections on the repeater.

All interconnecting RF cables should be in multiples of ½ wavelength at the operating frequency. This will allow proper impedance matching at both ends of the cable.

All miscellaneous leads for all connections of any signals that feed from one component to another should be shielded.

All RF entities, (the receiver, transmitter, power amplifier) etc. should be in rf tight enclosures that utilize feed through isolation caps for interconnections.

All control entities should be shielded from rf wherever possible.

NO ADJUSTMENTS TO DUPLEXER CAVITIES SHOULD EVER BE PERFORMED WITHOUT ADEQUATE TEST EQUIPMENT. REGARDLESS OF ANY MEASUREMENTS PERFORMED IN THE FIELD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember, if all you do is look, (read as test and measure but NOT adjust), nothing can/should be damaged.