Rhode & Schwarz Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S EK895/R&S EK896 Datasheet Manual

Version
04.00
June
2003
For all shortwave applications from 10 kHz to 30 MHz
◆Compact DSP-based receivers for the 
following applications:
– Radiomonitoring and radio 
detection
– Radiocommunications
– Search operation, DF systems
– Frontend for HF intelligence tasks◆Digital signal processing (DSP) for 
convenient and versatile operation
◆Two models:
– Half-rack receiver R&S EK 895
– Search receiver R&S EK 896
◆Realtime remote control or 
master-slave mode◆Tried and tested system concept
◆Excellent...

2 Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S® EK895/R&S® EK 896
Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S® EK895/R&S® EK 896
VLF-HF Receiver R&S EK 895 
with control panel 
Special features
◆Excellent large-signal behaviour, very 
good intercept points
◆High resolution of tuning frequency 
down to 1 Hz
◆Fast and low-noise synthesizer
◆Demodulators for AM, CW, LSB, USB, 
ISB, FM, FSK, AFSK and FAX included 
in basic configuration
◆13 bandwidths from 150 Hz to 8 kHz 
(quasi-continuous on request) 
◆RF preamplifier, switchable (noise...

Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896 3
Overview
General characteristics of the 
R&S EK 895
With the R&S EK 890 family, Rohde & 
Schwarz is presenting a powerful genera-
tion of VLF-HF receivers which are top-
end products benefiting from many years 
of experience in this field. All members of 
this family are based on the R&S EK 890 
basic model. Due to the advantages of 
digital signal processing, embedded in 
the improved receiver versions R&S 
EK 895/R&S EK 896 a number of addi-
tional...

4 Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S® EK895/R&S® EK 896
Search Receiver R&S EK 896
The R&S EK 896 has especially been 
designed for complex tasks of radio 
detection and search reception, its oper-
ating principle and configuration per-
fectly matching the relevant require-
ments. Basically it is fitted with panel 
controls and LCD displays for local and 
remote-control operation. 
High-speed and reliable radiomonitoring 
is supported by temporary storage of a 
complete receiver setup and its transfer 
to or...

Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896 5
Antenna
41.45 MHz to 71.44 MHz
5.66 MHz
Externalfrequencystandard
40 MHzEMCfilter
HeadphonesOption 1 Option 2 
AC supply Output
RS-232-C/
RS-485
interface
Processor Control unitRS-232-C/RS-485Power
supply
TTY
AF 1
AF 2
I/Q RF unit
SynthesizerIF = 41.44 MHz
TCXO
OCXO (option)
A
DDSP
D
A 1
4A D
OptionIF
converter
455 kHz 
IF/AF processor
IF = 25 kHz
IF = 1.44 MHzIF 0 to 40 kHz
or
IF 455 kHz
Digital IF (data,
clock, frame)
Control functions
Processor and...

6 Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S® EK895/R&S® EK 896
Rear view of the 
R&S EK 895
Various configurations
Receivers with control panel 
In the standard version, the R&S EK 895 
receiver is available with an operator 
front panel, which can also be retrofitted. 
This front panel also permits manual con-
trol and display of all functions while full 
remote-control capability is maintained. 
This version is particularly suitable for use 
as a master receiver in receiving systems 
or as a standalone unit...

Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896 7
Broadband IF Output R&S GM 893 
(option)
The optional broadband output (plug-in 
module) supplies a 1 MHz output signal at 
the first IF of 41.44 MHz (relative to a 
receive frequency of ±500 kHz). To pre-
vent impairment of the  receiver sensitiv-
ity of the main channel (message chan-
nel), the path to the broadband channel is 
decoupled by approx. 10 dB. For broad-
band spectrum analysis, a spectrum 
display can be connected to this broad-
band...

8 Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896
Control concepts of the Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S EK 895/R&S EK 896
RS-485 bus
Remote control
R&S EK 895 with control 
panel as a standalone unit 
or as a master receiver in 
systems 
Local control
Search Receiver R&S EK 896 
Slave receivers, max. 99 addressable
R&S EK 895 with front panel for remote control
… via PC or ASCII
terminal
Master-slave operation
RS-485 bus
… via the Remote Control
Unit R&S GB 899,
model 03 

Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896 9
Specifications
Frequency range10 kHz to 30 MHz
Resolution1 Hz
Frequency drift
Frequency standard
Oven-controlled frequency standard–10 to +45 ° C  aging/year
5 x 10–7  1 x 10–6
1 x 10–7  1 x 10–7
External frequency standard1/5/10 MHz, 0.2 V to  1 V rms
Antenna inputBNC connector, 50  Ω
VSWR250 kHz< 3 typ. w/o preamp for f >5MHz
otherwise   60 dBm (70 dBm typ.)
> 30 dBm (35 dBm typ.)
Crossmodulation (0.1 MHz to  30 MHz, 
interfering signal 5 V EMF (+21...

10 Digital VLF-HF Receivers R&S®  EK 895/R&S®  EK 896
Options
Control Panel R&S GB 890 
(model 03)with controls and indicators for com-
plete receiver setup; connector for 
loudspeaker or headphones 
(max. 1 W into 8Ω )
Remote Control Unit R&S GB 899
(model 03, on request)Control Panel R&S GB 890 plus R&S 
EK 895 reduced to control functions, 
using RS-232-C with a transfer rate of 
50 baud to 19200 baud; modem oper-
ation is recommended for distances 
beyond about 100 m
Input Filter Unit R&S FK 890...