Calibration

Booster should be pre-calibrated by the supplier, users should never need to recalibrate. Incorrect calibration can damage Booster and any devices connected to it.

• Calibration is performed using the VCP interface
• To calibrate use a 50 Ohm terminator that can safely dissipate 5 W
• <channel number> is 0...7

Module Power Amplifier Current Calibration

Each RF Channel has a power FET that requires a 50mA bias current. The bias current is controlled by a DAC that biasses FET gate voltage. To calibrate the DAC voltage required to achieve 50mA bias current run the biascal <channel number> 50 (50 mA) command. The calibration can done with the inputs and outputs terminated or open.

Output Forward Power Interlock and Diagnostics Calibration

Connect the amplifier input to a 200MHz source, terminate its output.

1. Adjust the input power until the output power is approximately 23 dBm
2. Run intcal <channel number> 1 <p_out> where <p_out> it the actual output power (e.g. intcal 0 1 23.2 for 23.2 dBm output power when calibrating channel 0)
3. Adjust the input power until the output power reaches approximately 33dB
4. Run intcal <channel number> 2 <p_out>

A successful calibration will give the following output on the VCP:

[ointcal] done, interlock value = 994
[intcal] Calibration step = 1 completed = 994
[intcal] done, got 2-point cal val 994 pwr 36
[intcal] done, got power factors a=8.91 b=-25.49

Output Reverse Power Interlock and Diagnostics Calibration

Connect the amplifier input to a 200MHz source, terminate its output or leave open (unconnected) as instructed.

1. With the output terminated, adjust the input power until the output power is approximately 0dBm
2. Run calpwr <channel number> 1 <p_out>
3. Keeping the input the same, remove the terminator to give an open-circuit load
4. Run calpwr <channel number> 3 <p_out>
5. With the output terminated, adjust the input power until the output power is approximately 33dBm
6. Run calpwr <channel number> 2 <p_out>
7. Keeping the input the same, remove the terminator to give an open-circuit load
8. Run calpwr <channel number> 4 <p_out>

Input power detector calibration

Connect the amplifier input to a 200MHz source at +3dBm, terminate its output.

1. Set output interlock to safe level using the intv <channel number> 30 (remember to set it back to the required value after calibration)
2. Run cal <channel number> 0