I discovered the small package already opened upon arriving home for the evening. "What's this?," I asked, inquiring as to the condition of the open box addressed to me. My oldest son confessed that he thought it would be something good to eat as indicated by the labeling on package -- Gourmet... ENTERTAINING. His disappointment was quickly replaced by my enthusiasm as I got a first look at the production model of the "CANARY," a new dish-peaking tool from Jim Roberts. Jim is the man behind Gourmet... ENTERTAINING, developer of the successful ARC-SET, the SAT-SET and SITE-SET line of alignment and site survey tools.
The Canary creation technically goes by the name SPECTRUM ANALY'ZZZ'ER and is manufactured for Gourmet... ENTERTAINING by Resource Technology, located in Scotland. I must confess the arrival of the instrument was not a complete surprise as I had the good fortune to evaluate two different pre-production designs.
The production Canary is housed in a pocket-sized, die-cast aluminum housing, finished in a bright "canary yellow" paint. The color choice is reminiscent of the shade used on the old Civil Defense Geiger counters. All the better to find in the tall grass, as it will inevitably be dropped from some lofty perch. Anticipating this, the unit is designed to withstand drops onto hard suffaces from heights of over 10 feet. The application of the tool is simple enough not to require instructions, however, Gourmet...ENTERTAlNING provides detailed text describing the various uses of the Canary. The initial response is to view the Canary as just another audio signal level meter, i.e., Squawker(tm)-like device, but it is unique in several ways. Most obvious is the small size of the unit. Weighing in at just over four ounces and measuring three and one-quarter inches by two and one-quarter inches by one and one-quarter inches deep, there is no excuse to leave the unit behind due to its size. Lacking switches, adjustmems, or controls, it has only two female "F" connectors on one side and a pair of jacks for multimeter probes on the opposite side. Typical of Jim Roberts' design ethic, the Canary reeks of simplicity. The only other opening on the housing is a small hole on the top for the sound to escape. It wouldn't be a Canary if it couldn't sing, and sing it does. The audio output ranges in frequency from 1,000 Hz upwards to 4.2 thousand Hz, with sound pressure output around 85 decibels one meter from the device. The piezo transducer-generated tone is easy to hear, and the audio range is well chosen to allow for discriminating between slight signal level changes. If the sound is not to your liking and you desire to work quietly, an option to utilize an analog or digital meter is as easy as plugging the test leads into the side jacks. With the meter set to measure DC milliamps current, the sound is muted by design. Set the meter for DC volts and the sound continues to function. It is also possible to attenuate the sound by covering the speaker hole with a small piece of tape.
POWER SOLUTIONS
The Canary is normally powered by
the DC voltage present on the coaxial
cable. It will function reliably on
any direct current voltage between nine
and 35 volts. Be aware that for most
conventional LNBs to operate they
require a minimum of 18 volts.
Gourmet...ENTERTAINING suggests
that a pair of nine-volt snap top cells can
be used in lieu of a receiver's power supply,
but the high current drain of the LNB
will deplete the batteries quickly. A better
solution would be to use a couple of six or
eight-cell AA battery holders taped
together. This allows peaking a dish with-
out any other power source for the LNB.
The Canary's published specifications list the IF range as 500MHz to 2.5 GHz. IF sensitivity above 700MHz is -58 dBm to 0 dBm. With an insertion loss in the line less than three decibels and a measured VSWR of typically 1.5, the Canary can be left in the line with the receiver connected for video confirmation.
GOOD FOR DSS
Peaking DSS satellite systems is simplified
with the Canary. The antenna can
be aimed and signal optimized before
connecting the receiver. A big plus for
one man installs.
The jacks for multimeter probes were a perfect fit for my Fluke meter and the ability to use it as a signal meter adds greatly to its versatility. An increase in current or voltage equates to stronger signals. Enhancing the utility of the tool right out of the box is an included coaxial jumper long enough to reach up the feed support arm of RCA's DSS(tm) antenna. Farther enhancing use is a push-on "F" connector for the LNB connection.
Under the Canary's metal cover is a professionally designed printed circuit board populated with surface mount technology. United States, United Kingdom and foreign patents are pending as Roberts has plans for global marketing. His other tools are in use worldwide and the Canary's flight is sure to follow.
With its compact size, rugged design and ease of use. the Canary is a wel- come addition to your tool kit. Repre- senting the culmination of months of design and field-testing the Canary is sure to find its way into technician's hands worldwide. When used with Gourmet...ENTERTAINING's ARC-SET and SAT-SET, the Canary can't help but increase your productivity.
Further information regarding the Canary is available directly from the supplier. Gourmet...ENTERTAINING. Contact Jim Roberts directly at 2545 Loring Street, San Diego, CA 92109. Phone (858) 273-3666. He stands behind his products and is available after the sale to insure you get the maximum value from your investment.