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Version 1.1 by UT2UK on 2026/03/02 10:54
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UT2UK 1.1 1 The **patune** utility is an interactive console program for calibrating and configuring the parameters of the Power Amplifier (PA) in the Ermak TT transceiver. The program provides bias control of the amplifier, stage current calibration, monitoring, and cooling system configuration.
2
3 ## Purpose of the Utility
4
5 The program is designed for engineers and technicians for:
6
7 * Automatic calibration of driver and output stage bias
8 * Setting target idle currents for each stage
9 * Monitoring the current status of the power amplifier
10 * Managing thermal compensation
11 * Configuring alarm parameters (temperature and current alarms)
12 * Setting up the fan control table (cooling)
13 * Saving configuration to non-volatile memory (NVMEM)
14
15 ### Operating Modes
16
17 The utility is organized as a hierarchical menu system:
18
19 ## Command Line Parameters
20
21 The utility does not accept command line parameters. All control is performed through the interactive console menu.
22
23 ### Starting the Program
24
25 At startup the program:
26
27 1. Connects to PA Manager
28 1. Requests the current PA configuration
29 1. Requests the current bias table
30 1. Displays the main menu
31 1. Waits for user input
32
33 ## Input Format
34
35 ### User Input
36
37 #### Numeric Input
38
39 When a numeric value is requested, the program expects:
40
41 * A positive integer within the specified range
42 * Or the q character to cancel the operation
43 * Or q and Enter to exit
44
45 Example of entering a current value:
46
47 **Validation:**
48
49 * The value must be within the range [min, max]
50 * If a value outside the range is entered, the program will display an error and repeat the prompt
51 * Maximum 1 attempt per second (1 sec delay)
52
53 #### Signed Numeric Values
54
55 Signed values are used for thermal compensation:
56
57 **Valid value ranges:**
58
59 * Thermal compensation: -100 to +100 DAC/°C
60 * Temperature: -40 to 126 °C
61 * Fan speed: 0 to 100 %
62
63 #### Cancelling an Operation
64
65 Press q at any input prompt to cancel the current operation without saving.
66
67 ### Menu Navigation
68
69 * Digits 0-9 to select a menu item
70 * Enter to confirm
71 * q to return to the previous menu
72
73 ## Output Format
74
75 ### PA Status
76
77 | Field | Description | Unit |
78 | -------------------- | --------------------------------- | ---- |
79 | Heat temp | Heatsink temperature | °C |
80 | Int temp | Internal temperature | °C |
81 | VSWR alarm | VSWR alarm flag | 0/1 |
82 | Extra current alarm | Overcurrent alarm flag | 0/1 |
83 | Temperature alarm | Temperature alarm flag | 0/1 |
84 | Bias enable | Bias enable status | 0/1 |
85 | Bus voltage | Supply voltage | mV |
86 | Output stage current | Output stage current | mA |
87 | Driver stage current | Driver current | mA |
88 | Output bias | Output bias voltage (channel 0/1) | mV |
89 | Driver bias | Driver bias voltage (channel 0/1) | mV |
90 | Fan speed | Fan speed | % |
91
92 ### PA Configuration
93
94 | Field | Description | Default value |
95 | ------------------ | ------------------------------------ | ------------- |
96 | High limit temp | Maximum temperature (alarm) | 80°C |
97 | Low limit temp | Minimum temperature (restore) | 75°C |
98 | Max driver current | Max driver current (alarm threshold) | 1200mA |
99 | Max output current | Max output current (alarm threshold) | 2000mA |
100
101 ### Bias Table
102
103 | Field | Description | Range |
104 | -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
105 | Bias DAC output [0/1] | DAC bias value for output channels 0 and 1 | 0-4095 |
106 | Bias DAC driver [0/1] | DAC bias value for driver channels 0 and 1 | 0-4096 |
107 | Target driver current | Target idle current for driver stage | 1-1000 mA |
108 | Target output current | Target idle current for output stage | 1-2000 mA |
109 | Driver thermo compensation | Driver thermal compensation | -100 to +100 DAC/°C |
110 | Output thermo compensation | Output thermal compensation | -100 to +100 DAC/°C |
111 | Temperature of calibration | Temperature at which calibration was performed | °C |
112
113 ### Fan Control Table
114
115 The table contains 8 interpolation points. Each row contains:
116
117 * **Index**: sequence number (0-7)
118 * **Temperature**: threshold temperature in °C
119 * **Fan Speed**: fan speed in %
120
121 Speed is calculated by interpolating between points based on the current temperature.
122
123 ### Calibration Progress
124
125 During automatic calibration a progress bar is displayed:
126
127 Components:
128
129 * **DAC**: current DAC value and maximum
130 * First progress bar: DAC progress (yellow)
131 * **Current**: current measured current and target current
132 * Second progress bar: progress toward target current (green)
133
134 ### Error Messages
135
136 An error message in red indicates a communication failure with PA Manager or an unexpected state.
137
138 ### Success Messages
139
140 Successful operations are displayed in yellow.
141
142 ## Usage Examples
143
144 ### Example 1: Checking Amplifier Status
145
146 ### Example 2: Setting Target Driver Current
147
148 ### Example 3: Automatic Driver Calibration
149
150 ### Example 4: Editing a Fan Table Entry
151
152 ### Example 5: Saving Configuration
153
154 ## Error Diagnostics
155
156 ### Calibration Error
157
158 **Message:**
159
160 **Causes:**
161
162 * Amplifier is not functioning
163 * No power supply to the stage
164 * Current sensor is faulty
165 * Bias circuit is incorrectly configured
166
167 **Solution:**
168
169 1. Check PA power supply
170 1. Check load connectors
171 1. Make sure bias can be adjusted
172 1. Check the DAC coefficient value
173
174 ### Configuration Write Error
175
176 **Message:**
177
178 **Causes:**
179
180 * NVMEM is full
181 * Hardware write error
182 * Loss of connection with PA Manager
183
184 **Solution:**
185
186 1. Repeat the write operation
187 1. Try resetting the configuration: "Reset all bias to default value"
188 1. Reboot and try again
189
190 ## Practical Application Scenarios
191
192 ### Scenario 1: Initial Setup of a New Amplifier
193
194 ### Scenario 2: Fan Control Setup
195
196 ### Scenario 3: Maintenance and Diagnostics
197
198 ## Limitations and Implementation Notes
199
200 ### Parameter Limits
201
202 | Parameter | Minimum | Maximum | Note |
203 | -------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------- | ----------------------- |
204 | Driver current | 1 mA | 1000 mA | Target value |
205 | Output current | 1 mA | 2000 mA | Target value |
206 | Max alarm current (driver) | - | 6000 mA | Threshold value |
207 | Max alarm current (output) | - | 26000 mA | Threshold value |
208 | Heatsink temperature | -40°C | 126°C | Sensor range |
209 | Maximum alarm temperature | - | 80°C | Limited |
210 | Bias DAC | 0 | 4095 (output) / 4096 (driver) | 12-bit resolution |
211 | Thermal compensation | -100 | +100 | DAC/°C |
212 | Fan speed | 0% | 100% | Corresponds to DAC 0-63 |
213
214 **Utility version:** 1.2