OPERATION MANUAL Model MS1400 Digital Scanning Signal Level Meter
OPERATION MANUAL MODEL MS1400 DIGITAL SCANNING SIGNAL LEVEL METER This document contains information proprietary to Acterna. The information in this document is not to be used or duplicated in any manner without the prior approval, in writing, of Acterna. Acterna CATV Division 5808 Churchman Bypass Indianapolis, IN 46203-6109 Tel: 1-866-ACTERNA Tel: 1-866-228-3762 E-Mail: catvsupport@acterna.com Internet: http://www.acterna.com 04/04 Rev. D Manual Part No.
WARRANTY The warranties described herein shall apply to all commercially available Acterna products. Any additional or different warranties shall apply only if agreed to by Acterna in writing. These warranties are not transferable without the express written consent of Acterna. Hardware Warranty --- Acterna warrants that Hardware Product sold to customer shall, under normal use and service, be free from defects in materials and workmanship.
Software is altered or modified or is merged with other software by Customer or any third party or (b) all or any part of the Software is installed on any computer equipment other than the Designated Server or used with any operating system for which the software was not designed. Services Warranty – Acterna warrants that the Services provided by Acterna, if any, shall be performed promptly, diligently and in a professional manner in accordance with the commercial standards of industry.
Contents SECTION 1: INTRODUCING THE MS1400 INTRODUCTION ............................................................... 1-1 DIGITAL CARRIER MEASUREMENT ............................. 1-1 MEASUREMENT LOGGING ............................................ 1-1 AUTO TESTS ................................................................... 1-2 INGRESS SCAN............................................................... 1-2 THE FRONT PANEL AND KEYBOARD .......................... 1-2 Soft Keys ........................
THE SCREEN................................................................... 1-9 The Title Bar .......................................................................................1-9 Title Bar Indicators .............................................................................1-9 The Status Bar .................................................................................1-10 Soft Key Icons ..................................................................................1-10 Lists ..............
Noise Floor Correction .....................................................................1-23 CHANNEL PLAN CONFIGURATION..............................1-24 What is a Channel Plan?..................................................................1-24 Why do we need a Channel Plan?...................................................1-24 How to build a Channel Plan?..........................................................1-24 Select a Channel Plan.............................................................
INSTALLATION................................................................ 2-2 Selecting Channel Packages .............................................................2-2 Selecting The Test Point ....................................................................2-2 Installation Results Summary.............................................................2-3 The Channel List ................................................................................2-4 The Pass/Fail Indicator.........................
Adjusting The Scale .........................................................................2-18 Measurement Hold ...........................................................................2-18 Printing The Screen..........................................................................2-18 Storing A Tilt File ..............................................................................2-18 SCAN...............................................................................2-19 Moving The Marker .........
Zooming In And Out .........................................................................2-35 Resolution ........................................................................................2-35 Peak Measurement Hold..................................................................2-35 Measurement Hold ...........................................................................2-36 The Pass/Fail Indicator.....................................................................2-36 Printing The Screen......
MODEL MS1400 Introducing the MS1400 INTRODUCTION The MS1400 is a high-performance instrument designed for cable television technicians. The meter permits level measurements on analog signals and digitally modulated carriers. The durable, water-resistant MS1400 makes innovative use of a graphics LCD screen to simplify operation. The LCD backlight makes measurements easier in crawl spaces and behind television sets. Also, the display is easy to see in bright sunlight.
When viewing a file, you can adjust the screen settings the same as when you are viewing a “live” measurement. Using the built-in serial port, you can print files and even upload them to Acterna's StealthWare for further analysis and archiving. AUTO TESTS Automated tests are easy with the MS1400. These tests provide a convenient way of acquiring proof-of-performance compliance data. Tests can be executed immediately or scheduled over a period of time.
MS1400 Front Panel: Keypad and Display Screen 1-3
MS1400: Rear, Top and Bottom Views 1-4
A description of these follows: Soft Keys There are three horizontally oriented soft keys located below the display screen. The function of each soft key changes and is determined by the particular operation being performed. An icon immediately above the key represents it. Power Key - On/Off Turns your MS1400 on and off. Mode Selection Keys Installation Mode Easily checks the channels that you have installed and verifies that they are within limits.
This key to used to enter or input your entry or selection. Alphanumeric Keys The alphanumeric keys are used to enter data while operating your MS1400. Notice that these keys have a numeral and up to three alphabetic characters labeled on them. You can only access the characters when alphanumeric entry is appropriate. In the alphanumeric entry mode, you sequence through each character and the numeral by repeatedly pressing the key.
Configures your MS1400 for your own specific needs. Auto Reference Lets MS1400 automatically set the reference level for you. Snap Shot Holds the measurement. The measurement is retained even if the cable is disconnected from the input. Clear Clears your entry and lets you start over again. Backlight On/Off Toggle On/Off. Press Shift key twice to turn the backlight on or off. Positive/Negative Permits entering positive and negative values (when allowed).
Prints a measurement screen, installation report, auto test report, or configuration report to a serial printer. Store File Stores an Installation, Scan, or Tilt screen for later viewing, or printing or uploading to StealthWare.
THE SCREEN There are certain elements of the screen that will become familiar as you use your MS1400. The Title Bar Notice the title bar at the very top of the screen. It presents the title and icon for the current mode you are using. Title Bar Indicators You may see indicators appear above the title bar from time to time. This is what they represent: This indicator appears in the top right-hand corner of the screen when you press Shift key.
The Status Bar Look for the status bar in the lower portion of the screen. It displays the current date and time. A bar meter indicates the charge remaining in your MS1400's battery. When the battery meter reads low, you should switch to a freshly charged battery soon. NOTE: When viewing an Installation or Scan file, the status bar shows the date and time that the file was stored instead of the current date and time. Soft Key Icons There are three soft keys located immediately below the display.
Exit Limits Submenu Enter Scale Submenu Exit Scale Submenu Save Location Information Sequence Maximum digiCheck™ Accuracy Normal digiCheck™ Accuracy Enter Zoom Mode Exit Zoom Mode Zoom In Zoom Out Increment Decrement Save Retrieve Channel Package Autoscale or Auto Reference Level Enter Measurement Bandwidth Screen Select Low Tilt Pilot Channel Select High Tilt Pilot Channel 1-11
Tilt Mode Auto Test Create New Location Delete Location Okay Cancel Multiple file select Delete Information Toggle Peak Hold Configure Lists Lists present several items for viewing and/or selecting. Notice that the currently chosen item is highlighted. You can scroll through the list by pressing Up/Down Arrows. A list can be either "active" or "inactive". You can tell by looking at the border. If the border is solid, the list is active and any keys that you press are directed toward it.
list. You can use this to get an idea of where you are. When you have reached the first or last item, an arrow appears inside the scroll box pointing to the direction you can go. The Edit Box: How to Enter Values The edit box appears in the lower portion of the screen when it is necessary to enter values into your MS1400. An edit box can be either “active” or “inactive”. You can tell by looking at the border.
THE NAVIGATOR SCREEN You can easily travel to any mode using the NAVIGATOR. To access the NAVIGATOR, press Navigator key. An icon appears on the screen for each available mode. Press Up, Down, Left, and Right Arrows to highlight the icon that represents the mode you want to use. Notice that the name of the mode appears on the lower portion of the screen beneath the status bar. To get a description of the highlighted mode, press Shift + Help key.
CONFIGURE SCREEN Before using your MS1400, you may want to configure it for your specific needs. The CONFIGURE mode allows you to select global, and measurement related preferences and to build and edit a channel plan that matches your cable plant. To configure your MS1400, press Shift + Configure keys or select the Configure icon from the NAVIGATOR. The following screen appears: Configuration settings fall into four categories; GLOBAL, MEASUREMENT, CHANNEL PLAN and INGRESS.
GLOBAL CONFIGURATION SCREEN Operator Name You can personalize your MS1400 by entering your name here. Your name will then appear on report printouts. Contrast Level Adjusts the contrast level of the LCD for optimum viewing. NOTE: The contrast of the LCD is affected be variations in temperature. Your MS1400 will automatically optimize the contrast level based on the current temperature as measured from the built-in sensor.
IMPORTANT: Before performing Scheduled Auto Tests, make sure that the Unit's Shutoff Timeout is NOT programmed for "always on". Program the Shutoff Timeout for 1, 3 or 5 minutes. NOTE: You can manually turn off your MS1400 at any time by pressing the Power On/Off button. Backlight Time-Out Sets the amount of inactive time allowed before the backlight turns off automatically. The backlight consumes significant power.
Date Format You can specify the format in which the date is to be displayed and printed. Select from among the following formats: MM/DD/YY DD.MM.YY YY.MM.DD Date Sets the date for the internal real-time clock. You can specify the format in which the date is to be set, displayed and printed (see Date Format page 1-17). Printer Select the manufacturer of the printer that you will be using. A printer with a serial interface is required.
Baud Rate This is the baud rate that is used when your MS1400 communicates with another device through the serial port. Generally, you will want to use the highest rate supported. Be sure that the baud rate setting of your MS1400 matches that of the device that it is connected to. Clone You can easily transfer the entire configuration from one MS1400 unit to another. This saves you time when configuring multiple units. First, connect the optional cloning cable between the two MS1400 units.
MEASUREMENT CONFIGURATION SCREEN Temperature Units Selects the units in which temperature measurements are displayed and printed. You can select °C or °F. Signal Level Units Selects the units that will be used for all signal level measurements. You can select from: dBmV, dBmV and dBm. Probe Compensation This can be used to compensate for losses associated with probe points found on certain amplifiers. You can enter a value between -99.9 and +99.9 dB.
Scan Audio Carriers Select YES if you want to see the audio carriers in the full scan screen. You can achieve a faster scan by omitting the audio carriers. Scan Scrambled Channels Select YES if you want to see scrambled channels in the full scan screen. How To Edit Test Points Your MS1400 is capable of performing tests at various locations including; SUBSCRIBER DROP, GROUND BLOCK, TAP, and CUSTOM (user-defined). Each test point has its own set of limits that you can edit.
Note that the enabled test points carry a check mark. To disable a limit, select the Limit and press Select soft key. A check mark appears in the left-hand column to indicate when a test point is enabled. If the test point is already enabled, pressing the Select soft key disables it. You can edit the limits for the highlighted test point by pressing the Edit Limits soft key. The limits appear on the screen. You may have to scroll down the list to see the all the limits.
To edit the value of the highlighted limit, press Enter key. When the edit box becomes active, enter the Desired Value. Be sure to press Enter key when finished to terminate your entry. Press Factory Defaults soft key to return all limits in the test point to their factory-preset values. Setting Digital Limits The digital limits in the instrument have been disabled. These need to be enabled for the digital limits feature to work.
CHANNEL PLAN CONFIGURATION What is a Channel Plan? A channel plan is a framework of cable network parameters chosen by the user for his network. The basic entities are: · Channel format (analog, digital, scrambled, etc.) · System Bandwidth · Test Limits (digital and analog) · Carriers (audio and video) Why do we need a Channel Plan? A well thought-out channel plan is necessary for the proper operation of the unit.
By pressing the Up/Down Arrow keys, highlight Channel Plan and then press Enter key to bring up the Configure - Channel Plan screen. This screen lists the various ingredients/processes for building (configuring) a channel plan. Select a Channel Plan Press Up/Down Arrow keys to highlight SELECT CHANNEL PLAN and then press Enter key. This will bring up the Select Channel Plan screen showing the Default and other available channel plans stored in the unit.
You may implement a plan from this list or let your instrument “learn” the cable plant’s existing channel plan. You may then edit it as desired. To return to the Channel Plan screen, press Right soft key. Select Video Signal Type Highlight VIDEO SIGNAL TYPE from the Channel Plan screen (page 1-23). Choose from NTSC, PAL and SECAM types. Press Enter key. Select Channel Sequence Highlight CHANNEL SEQUENCE from the Channel Plan screen and press Enter to make the Edit box active.
In the Edit box, type the name (up to 15 characters) of your channel plan and press Enter. Press OK soft key to proceed to the Build Channel Plan- STEP 2 screen. The screen contains a list of standard channel plans to serve as a basis for your own plan. NOTE: If your system is a PAL M type, select NTSC for your channel plan. Press Up/Down Arrow key, highlight a base channel plan from the list and then press Enter.
Using the numeric keypad, type in a Stop Frequency Value in the Edit box and press Enter. Then press OK soft key. The unit will start searching for active channels and display the Build Channel Plan STEP 4 screen.
The unit will complete the build and display the Build Channel PlanSTEP 5 screen (shown right above). Press Right soft key to return to the main Channel Plan menu (page 1-23). How to Edit the Channel Plan Why edit the Channel Plan? An accurate channel plan is essential for testing the cable system, including limits for analog and digital carriers. Editing is required to verify that the channel plan is built correctly (has the right parameters).
IMPORTANT: You may find an enabled channel that is not in your channel plan. This should be disabled. A channel may be missed if the frequency is special or level too low (<10dBmV). IMPORTANT: You must enable a channel to perform measurements on it.
· AUD OFFSET (MHz) Enabled As mentioned earlier, a channel must be enabled in order to be measured. This is another place where you can enable or disable the channel.
Label You can enter a label up to four characters in length for each channel. This label appears next to the channel number on most screens to help you remember what programming is on that channel. Package You can organize channels into packages. In the edit box, you can select any package that is enabled (see Select Channel Packages page 1-32).
4. Highlight Carrier and press Enter key. Select a digital carrier (QAM, QPSK, QPR, CAP-16) and press Enter key. 5. Highlight Frequency, press Enter key. Type in a value for Center Frequency and press Enter key. 6. Highlight Measurement BW (MHz), press Enter key. Type in a value for the bandwidth and press Enter key. 7. Highlight channel number, press Enter key. Type in a value for the channel number and press Enter key. 8. Press Return soft key.
packages that will be available when you edit a channel. You can select from one of these packages for each channel plan. To enable a package, press Left soft key. A check mark will appear to the left. To disable, press Left soft key again. The check mark will disappear. To edit the name, highlight the package and press Enter. Use the Edit box to change the name. To complete, press Enter again.
INGRESS CONFIGURATION Sets the measurement and limit parameters for the reverse ingress scan feature. In the Configure screen (page 1-23), highlight Ingress and press Enter key to access the ingress options. Start Frequency Enter the Frequency where you want to start the Ingress measurement. This will be the frequency at the left-hand edge of the graph on the Ingress screen. Stop Frequency Enter the Frequency where you want to stop the Ingress measurement.
response time. You can optimize this as necessary for your application. Check Limit Select YES if you want the visual PASS/FAIL indicator to be displayed on the Ingress screen. This will allow you to easily verify whether ingress is within tolerance. Limit Value When the CHECK LIMIT feature is enabled, the FAIL indicator will appear whenever the Ingress measurement exceeds this value.
MODEL MS1400 Using the MS1400 INTRODUCTION Section 2 discusses the individual measurements available with the MS1400. Each measurement mode discussion includes detailed descriptions on how to perform the measurement and use the operating controls and indicators.
INSTALLATION The INSTALLATION mode allows you to easily check the channels that you have just installed and verify that they are within limits. If you have configured channel packages, you can tell your MS1400 which packages the subscriber has ordered and it will display only those channels. Press Installation key to select the INSTALLATION mode or choose the Installation icon from the NAVIGATOR. Your MS1400 will begin measuring all the enabled channels in the plan.
available test points. The test point that you have selected is represented in the upper portion of the screen by one of the following icons: Subscriber Drop Ground Block Tap User Defined NOTE: Be sure that you have enabled all of the test points that you are interested in using. The Sequence Through Test Points soft key is only available if there is more than one enabled test point. (see Checking Limits, page 2-13).
each limit, the worst case actual value is displayed along with a pass/fail status. NOTE: Only the limits that are enabled in the selected test point appear on this screen. If there are no enabled test points, this screen will not be available. You can however, view the CHANNEL LIST and CHANNEL MEASUREMENT screens described below. The Channel List Press Sequence soft key or Enter to sequence to the channel list screen.
the limits check. If the channel failed, you can identify the reason(s) for the failure by looking at the symbols that appear in this indicator. Adjacent Channel Failures lower adjacent channel level upper adjacent channel level both upper and lower adjacent channel levels Video Level Failures video level too high video level too low DVA Failures DVA too high DVA too low Channel Measurement Press Sequence soft key or Enter to sequence to the channel measurement screen.
printout. The report lists level measurements for all the channels that you installed and indicates out-of-limit conditions with an overall PASS/FAIL conclusion. Space is provided for you to fill in subscriber information. You can attach the report to your work order or file it for future reference. Storing Installation Results Press Shift +Store File keys to store the results of the installation check into a file. A screen will appear asking you to enter a name for the file.
LEVEL Press Level Mode key to select LEVEL mode or choose Level Mode icon from the NAVIGATOR. Here you can measure the signal level of a specific channel or frequency. The level is indicated both numerically and on an analog meter. Adjusting The Reference Level You can adjust the reference level setting of the analog bar meter pressing the Up/Down Arrows. When you press Shift + Autoscale keys, your MS1400 automatically sets the optimum reference level for you.
Tuning By Frequency The Toggle Between Frequency/Channel Tuning soft key toggles between frequency and channel tuning. When you choose frequency tuning, your MS1400 tunes to the video carrier frequency of the selected channel. Use the Left/Right Arrows to tune your MS1400. The frequency increments or decrements by the step size that you have specified in the Measurements configuration (see Frequency Tuning Step Size page 1-19).
You can change the Measurement Bandwidth setting for the channel that you are currently measuring by pressing Enter Bandwidth SubMenu soft key. Enter the desired value in the edit box that appears. NOTE: The unit must be in the digital mode. Your MS1400 is equipped with digiCheck™ technology for the optimum in digital measurement precision. Press Maximum digiCheck Accuracy soft key for maximum accuracy.
The normal measurement estimates the power over the entire channel. It multiplies the level at the center frequency of the carrier by a scaling factor (determined from the bandwidth that you have entered). The advantage of the normal measurement is that it updates quickly. The digiCheck™ measurement provides greater precision, particularly when there is an irregular distribution of power over the channel bandwidth.
Over-range The signal level is above the measurement range of the instrument. Under-range The signal level is below the measurement range of the instrument. Error A hardware problem exists.
FULL SCAN Press Full Scan mode key to select the FULL SCAN mode or choose Full Scan mode icon from the NAVIGATOR. A spectral graph of all the carriers in the channel plan appears. Moving The Marker A vertical marker appears over the currently selected channel. The channel number, type and label appear in the upper right-hand portion of the screen. The frequency and level of the video and audio carriers for the selected channel can be seen directly beneath the graph.
scale value. Press Exit Scale Submenu soft key when you have finished. Zooming In And Out To zoom in on or out from the channel selected by the marker, press Enter Zoom Mode soft key. A new set of soft keys will appear. Use Zoom In soft key to zoom in and Zoom Out soft key to zoom out. The magnification factor is displayed above the graph. Press Exit Zoom Mode soft key when you have finished. Checking Limits You can verify that the carrier levels are within limits.
Subscriber Drop Ground Block Tap User Defined NOTE: Be sure that you have enabled all of the test points that you are interested in using. The Cycle Through Test Points soft key is only available if there is more than one enabled test point. (see How To Edit Test Points page 1-20) When you have selected the limits submenu, the marker information below the graph is replaced by the overall limit check summary for channels currently being displayed on the graph.
NOTE: The limit check results are updated with each scan. They are also updated immediately when you press Cycle Through Test Points or Toggle Display of Hash Lines soft keys. When you are finished viewing the overall limit results, press Exit Limits Submenu soft key to return to the main menu. Checking Limits On An Individual Channel Indicators appear in the marker information area when a channel is outside the limits of the currently selected test point.
Storing A Scan File Press Shift + Store keys to store the current scan measurement into a file. A screen will appear asking you to enter a name for the file. Once stored, you will be able to recall the file at a later time and view it on the Scan screen. You will be able to adjust the screen settings the same as when you are viewing a “live” measurement. See VIEW page 2-27 to find out how to access files that you have stored.
TILT TILT mode simplifies the process of balancing an amplifier. TILT mode can only be accessed by choosing Tilt Mode icon from the NAVIGATOR. A spectral graph of the TILT carriers appears. IMPORTANT: You can choose which carriers appear on this screen when you configure your channel plan (see Select Tilt Channels page 132). Moving The Marker You can view up to six carriers. A vertical marker appears over the currently selected carrier.
Adjusting The Reference Level The reference level setting is displayed above the graph. This is the level at the very top line. You can adjust the reference level by pressing the Up/Down Arrows. When you press Shift + Auto Reference Level keys, your MS1400 automatically sets the optimum reference level for you. Adjusting The Scale The scale setting is displayed above the graph. You can adjust the scale to provide the best view of the carrier levels by pressing the Enter Scale Submenu key.
SCAN The MS1400 includes an additional SCAN mode that can display up to six video carriers. You can access this mode by choosing Full Scan Mode icon from the NAVIGATOR. NOTE: The channels that appear on this screen are the same ones that you selected when you configured your tilt channels. (see Select Tilt Channels page 1-32). Moving The Marker A vertical marker appears over the currently selected carrier. The channel number, type and label appear in the upper right-hand portion of the screen.
Adjusting The Scale The scale setting is displayed above the graph. You can adjust the scale to provide the best view of the carrier levels by pressing the Enter Scale Submenu soft key. A new set of soft keys appears. Use the Increment/Decrement soft keys to increment and decrement the scale value. Press Exit Scale Submenu soft key when you have finished. Checking Limits You can verify that the carrier levels are within limits. First, you need to tell your MS1400 which test point you are at.
You can quickly check to see if all SCAN carriers are within limits by looking at the PASS/FAIL indicator above the graph. Measurement Hold You can freeze the scan measurement at any time by pressing the Shift + Snapshot keys. The measurement is retained even if the cable is disconnected from the input port. Notice that the mode icon in the upper left-hand portion of the screen flashes when the measurement is on hold. Press Shift + Snapshot keys again to release the hold.
AUTO TEST Your MS1400 is capable of performing unattended, automated level measurement sequences. The sequences can be programmed to repeat over a period of time. Measurement data is stored into a file that can be viewed, printed or uploaded to StealthWare. See VIEW page 2-27 for accessing files from Auto Tests that you have performed. IMPORTANT: When performing an Auto Test, only the channels enabled in the currently selected channel plan are measured.
New/Edit Location This screen is where you enter the information for a new or existing location. Press the Up/Down Arrows to select the item to be edited. The items that appear in the list depend on the type of location you have selected. If you regularly perform tests at this location, you can save it for future use so that you only need to enter the information once. To do this, press Save soft key and enter a name for the location.
Compensation is added directly to the signal level measurements. You can use this to compensate for losses associated with probe points found on certain amplifiers. The default is the Probe Compensation value specified in Configure. Enter a different value if necessary. Press OK soft key to continue. Results File Name Enter the name you want to use for the results file that is created. Your MS1400 will let you know if there is already a results file with the name that you enter.
The ambient temperature at which the test is performed is recorded. Your MS1400 uses an internal temperature sensor for this purpose. If you prefer to use your own thermometer, you can manually enter the temperature here. IMPORTANT: For scheduled tests, the manual temperature entry is used for the first interval only. Subsequent intervals will record the temperature as measured by the internal sensor. For accurate measurements, your MS1400 reads the internal temperature sensor immediately upon power-up.
IMPORTANT: To conserve battery life, your MS1400 will automatically shut itself off between scheduled intervals. IMPORTANT: Before performing Scheduled Auto Tests, make sure that the Unit's Shutoff Timeout is NOT programmed for "always on". Program the Shutoff Timeout for 1, 3 or 5 minutes. When the auto test is complete, your MS1400 will display a list of Auto Test files that are available for viewing and printing.
VIEW To access measurement files that you have stored in your MS1400, choose Store icon from the NAVIGATOR. Files are categorized into Installations, Scans (including Tilt measurements), and Auto Tests and Ingress. Press the Up/Down Arrows to select the type of file that you want to view from the main menu and then press Enter key. The File Directory Upon selecting the file category from the VIEW main menu, you are presented with a directory of existing files.
To view a file, press the Up/Down Arrows to highlight the name of the file that you want to view. Press the Retrieve soft key or Enter key. To delete the highlighted file, press Delete soft key. You can delete multiple files by selecting the file, pressing the Select Multiple Files soft key and then pressing the Delete soft key. Each press of this soft key alternately selects and deselects the file that you have highlighted.
TIP: You can resave an Installation file by pressing the Shift + Store keys. This allows you to change the name of the file. Viewing Scan Files There are three types of scans that you can store and view — full scans, six-channel scans and tilt measurements. The type of scan depends on which screen you are in when you store the file. Once the scan is stored, you cannot change its type. TIP: You can tell what type of scan you have selected in the directory without having to view it.
NOTE: You can print the entire screen at any time by pressing the Shift + Print keys. A bar graph appears indicating the status of the printout. NOTE: When viewing a Scan file, the date and time that the file was stored appears in the status bar and the file name appears at the top of the screen above the title bar. TIP: You can resave a Scan file by pressing the Shift + Store keys. This allows you to change the name of the file and/or save any changes you have made to the screen settings.
NOTE: To print a 24-hour format report, press the Up/Down Arrows to highlight the first interval that you want included in the report and then press Shift + Print. The report will include the highlighted interval plus the following three for a total of (up to) four intervals. To view the measurement data from an interval, press the Up/Down Arrows to highlight the desired interval then press either the Retrieve soft key or the Enter key.
The first screen that will appear is a tabular list that includes the video and audio carrier levels along with the delta V/A for each channel. Press the Up/Down Arrows to scroll through the list. Indicators appear within the list to flag out-of-limit conditions.
represented in the upper portion of the screen by one of the following icons: Subscriber Drop Ground Block Tap User Defined NOTE: Be sure that you have enabled all of the test points that you are interested in using. The Cycle Through Test Points soft key is only available if there is more than one enabled test point. (see How To Edit Test Points page 1-20). Only the limits that are enabled in the selected test point will be checked.
INGRESS You can use your MS1400 to search for the presence of noise or ingress that can hamper data communication. Choose Ingress icon from the NAVIGATOR. The INGRESS screen will appear: The graph displays frequency on the X-axis and amplitude on the Y-axis. Moving The Marker You can press the Left/Right Arrows to move the marker. Frequency and amplitude information for the marker is displayed beneath the graph. Adjusting The Reference Level The reference level setting is displayed above the graph.
Use the Increment and Decrement soft keys to increment and decrement the scale value. Press the Exit Scale Submenu soft key when you have finished. Zooming In And Out To zoom in on or out from the channel selected by the marker, press the Enter Zoom Mode soft key. A new set of soft keys will appear. Use the Zoom In soft key to zoom in and the Zoom Out soft key to zoom out. The magnification factor is displayed above the graph. Press the Exit Zoom Mode soft key when you have finished.
Measurement Hold You can freeze the ingress measurement at any time by pressing the Shift + Snapshot keys. The measurement is retained even if the cable is disconnected from the RF port. Notice that the mode icon in the upper left-hand portion of the screen flashes when the measurement is on hold. Press Shift + Snapshot keys again to release the hold. The measurement is not retained when another mode is selected or the MS1400 is shut off.
MODEL MS1400 Reference USING THE REFERENCE SECTION Appendix A provides additional information concerning the use of the MS1400. Items include; Help, Information, and Technical Support.
HELP The HELP mode provides on-line user assistance by means of contextsensitive help screens. During normal operations, soft key icons appear at the bottom of the display. Each help screen describes the condition of the soft key icons at the time HELP was pressed. Press Shift + Help key to select the HELP mode. Next to the icon is a brief description of the function that the soft key performs.
INFORMATION Choose the Information icon from the NAVIGATOR. Here you can view information concerning your MS1400. The type of information includes; model, frequency range, serial #, firmware version, calibration date, channel plan, memory used, and current temperature.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT We've worked hard to make the MS1400 as easy-to-use as possible. However, if you need assistance or have questions related to the use of this product, call or email Acterna’s Technical Assistance Center (TAC) for customer support. Region Americas Worldwide Europe, Africa, and Mid-East Phone Number 1-866-ACTERNA 1-866-228-3762 1-317-614-8350 Hours of Operation M-F, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST 00800 882 85822 (European Free phone) M-F, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
MODEL MS1400 Appendix A: Specifications SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Range: Accuracy: Tuning Resolution: 5 to 890 MHz 10 ppm at 25°C (77°F); 20 ppm over temp. 25 kHz Level Measurement Range: Resolution: Accuracy: Digital Average Power: -20 to +50 dBmV 0.1 dB +0.75 dB Flatness; +0.75 dB Linearity at 25°C (77°F) +2 .
General Dimensions: Weight: Operating Temp. Range: Water Resistance: 4.25" (W) x 10.5" (H) x 3" (D) 1.36 kg (3 lb.) -10 to +50°C (14 to 122°F) + 3dBdrift, 10 to + 50°C Meets or exceeds MIL-STD-810D (Method 506.2) Powering Battery Life: Charge Time: 2.25 hours continuous (backlight off), replaceable battery cartridge 16 hours max.
Part Number 1019-00-0553 1019-00-1267 1019-00-1372 1019-00-1373 1019-00-1376 Description type, Female/Female P-MSCLI Printer/Portable Serial Thermal Fusion printer kit (includes cables and adapters required for printing) Multiple 4-bay battery cartridge charger Extended life battery cartridge XBC-1 charger 120V CLI charger Precision F-Connector This instrument is designed to perform accurate level measurements at frequencies greater than 550 MHz.
MODEL MS1400 Appendix B: Power and Battery Management BATTERY PACK LOCATION AND INSTALLATION The MS1400 battery cartridge (1019-00-0479) is located on the back of the unit. To remove or replace the battery pack, pull the notched tab downward, and lift the battery pack. To install the battery pack, insert the bottom of the pack into the groove and press down on the battery pack until it clicks into place. WARNING: Use only the battery pack specified for use with the MS1400.
Battery Tips The MS1400 is shipped from the factory only with a light charge. You should recharge the battery upon receipt of your unit to ensure a full charge. To maximize battery life, set Auto Shutoff to 1 minute and Backlight Shutoff to "always off". These items are described in the Global Configuration section.
MODEL MS1400 Appendix C: Interface Port CONNECTOR The MS1400 has a serial interface with RS232 drive, using a 3-pin stereo connector. The serial interface has a driver built in for RS232 serial binary data interchange. The connector is located on the bottom of the unit behind a water-resistant cover.
CABLE SPECIFICATIONS MS1400 TO PC (1019-00-0469) MS1400 TO PRINTER (STANDARD) (1019-00-0468) C-2
MS1400 TO MS1400 (1019-00-0470) MS1400 TO PRINTER (CITIZEN) (1019-00-0467) C-3
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