M3 Plus Manual

M3 PLUS
Signal Level Meter

Operation Manual
Trilithic Company Profile
Trilithic is a privately held manufacturer founded in 1986 as an engineering and assembly
company that built and designed customer-directed products for telecommunications, military and
industrial customers. From its modest beginnings as a two-man engineering team, Trilithic grew
over the years and broadened its offerings of RF and microwave components by adding
broadband solutions to its product line. This was accomplished with the acquisition of
components manufacturer Cir-Q-Tel and instruments manufacturer Texscan.
Today, Trilithic is an industry leader providing telecommunications solutions for major broadband,
RF and microwave markets around the world. As an ISO 9000:2001 certified company with over
40 years of collective expertise in engineering and custom assembly, Trilithic is dedicated to
providing quality products, services, and communications solutions that exceed customer
expectations.
Trilithic is comprised of three major divisions:
Broadband Instruments and Systems
Offers test, analysis, and quality management solutions for the major cable television
systems worldwide.
RF Microwave Components
Provides components and custom subsystems for companies specializing in cellular,
military, and other wireless applications.
Emergency Alert Systems
Leading supplier of government-mandated emergency alert systems used by broadcast
TV, cable TV, IPTV, DBS, and radio stations.
XFTP
Offers a specialty line of field technical products for cable operators and technicians, as
well as a line of products for installing electronics in the home of the future.
M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

1
Table of Contents
1. General Information .............................................................................................................. 5
Helpful Website ..................................................................................................................... 5
Where to Get Technical Support ............................................................................................. 5
Conventions Used in this Manual ........................................................................................... 6
How this Manual is Organized ................................................................................................ 6
Precautions ........................................................................................................................... 7
2. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 9
What is the M3 PLUS? .......................................................................................................... 9
Features .............................................................................................................................. 10
Level Measurement Function .......................................................................................... 10
QAM Measurement Function .......................................................................................... 10
BER Measurement Function ........................................................................................... 10
Favorite/Tilt Measurement Function ................................................................................ 10
Channel Scan Measurement Function ............................................................................ 10
Spectrum Measurement Function ................................................................................... 11
Hum Measurement Function ........................................................................................... 11
Limit Measurement Function ........................................................................................... 11
C/N Measurement Function ............................................................................................ 11
Return Path Measurement Function ................................................................................ 11
Auto Test Programs ........................................................................................................ 11
Battery Voltage Measurement Function .......................................................................... 12
Internal Temperature Measurement Function ................................................................... 12
Measurement Record Saving and Viewing ..................................................................... 12
Equipment Supplied with Your M3 PLUS .............................................................................. 12
Accessories and Replacement Parts for Your M3 PLUS ...................................................... 13
3. Walkthrough ........................................................................................................................ 15
Identify Components ............................................................................................................ 15
Key Pad ......................................................................................................................... 16
Navigating Functions ...................................................................................................... 17
Display Screen Description ............................................................................................ 19
Home Screen ................................................................................................................. 20
Battery Charging .................................................................................................................. 22

2
4. Setup ................................................................................................................................... 23
Overview ............................................................................................................................. 23
Information ........................................................................................................................... 24
General................................................................................................................................ 24
Shutdown Time ............................................................................................................... 25
Language ....................................................................................................................... 25
Date and Time ................................................................................................................ 26
Files Status .................................................................................................................... 26
System Upgrade ............................................................................................................ 26
Measurement ....................................................................................................................... 27
Level Units ..................................................................................................................... 27
Level Calibrate ............................................................................................................... 28
Limit Setup ..................................................................................................................... 29
Auto Diagnosis .............................................................................................................. 31
Voltage & Temperature ................................................................................................... 31
Channel Plan ....................................................................................................................... 32
Select User Plan ............................................................................................................ 32
Channel Numbers ........................................................................................................... 33
Learn User Plan ............................................................................................................. 33
Edit User Plan ................................................................................................................ 34
Load Defaults ...................................................................................................................... 35
5. Basic Operation .................................................................................................................. 37
Level Measurement Function ............................................................................................... 38
Adjusting by Channel Number ......................................................................................... 39
Adjusting by Carrier Frequency ....................................................................................... 39
Viewing Channel Information .......................................................................................... 40
Limit Testing ................................................................................................................... 40
Viewing Adjacent Channels ............................................................................................ 41
QAM Measurement Function ............................................................................................... 42
BER Measurement Function ................................................................................................ 44
Tilt Measurement Function ................................................................................................... 46
Tilt Channel Setup .......................................................................................................... 47
Limit Testing ................................................................................................................... 47

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Channel Scan Measurement Function .................................................................................. 48
Adjusting Reference Level .............................................................................................. 49
Adjusting Vertical Scale .................................................................................................. 49
Adjusting Marker Location .............................................................................................. 49
Adjusting Zoom Level ..................................................................................................... 49
Spectrum Measurement Function ......................................................................................... 50
Adjusting Sampling Mode ............................................................................................... 51
Adjusting Center Frequency ........................................................................................... 52
Adjusting Span ............................................................................................................... 52
Enabling Max Hold ......................................................................................................... 52
Adjusting Markers .......................................................................................................... 52
HUM Measurement Function ................................................................................................ 53
Limit Measurement Function ................................................................................................ 54
List View ........................................................................................................................ 55
Graph View .................................................................................................................... 56
C/N Measurement Function.................................................................................................. 57
Return Path Measurement Function ..................................................................................... 58
Adjusting Sampling Mode ............................................................................................... 59
Adjusting Frequency Range ............................................................................................ 60
Enabling Max Hold ......................................................................................................... 60
Adjusting Markers .......................................................................................................... 60
6. Advanced Operation ........................................................................................................... 61
Auto Test Programs ............................................................................................................. 61
Running an Existing Auto Test ......................................................................................... 61
Level Measurement Settings .......................................................................................... 64
Tilt Measurement Settings .............................................................................................. 64
Spectrum Measurement Settings .................................................................................... 65
Hum Measurement Settings ........................................................................................... 65
Limit Measurement Settings ........................................................................................... 66
File Saving and Viewing ...................................................................................................... 67
Saving Measurement Results to a File ............................................................................ 67
Viewing Files ................................................................................................................. 69
Auto Test Files ................................................................................................................ 75
7. Specifications ..................................................................................................................... 77
Warranty Information ............................................................................................................ 80

4
Chapter 1
1. General Information
Helpful Website
The following website contains general information which may be of interest to you:
http://www.fieldtechproducts.com
XFTPs website contains product specifications and information, tips, release information,
marketing information, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), bulletins, and other technical
information. You can also check this website for product updates.
Where to Get Technical Support

XFTP technical support is available Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM EST. Callers
in North America can dial 1-317-895-3600 or 1-800-344-2412 (toll free). International callers
should dial 1-317-895-3600 or fax questions to 1-317-895-3613. You can also e-mail technical
support at xftp@trilithic.com.
For quicker support response when calling or sending e-mail, please provide the following
information:
Your name and your company name
The technical point of contact (name, phone number, e-mail)
The M3 PLUS serial number, firmware and hardware version numbers
A detailed description of the problem you are having, including any error or information
messages

5
How this Manual is Organized
This manual is divided into the following chapters:
Chapter 1, General Information provides XFTP contact information and describes how
this Operation Manual is structured.
Chapter 2, Introduction introduces the equipment and features of the M3 PLUS.
Chapter 3, Walkthrough describes the components of the M3 PLUS.
Chapter 4, Setup describes the steps needed to perform the setup of the M3 PLUS.
Chapter 5, Basic Operation describes how to use the basic features of M3 PLUS.
Chapter 6, Advanced Operation describes how to use the advanced features of M3
PLUS.
Chapter 7, Specifications shows the technical specifications of the M3 PLUS.
Conventions Used in this Manual

This manual has several standard conventions for presenting information.
Connections, menus, menu options, and user-entered text and commands appear in bold.
Section names, Web, and e-mail addresses appear in italics.
A NOTE is information that will be of assistance to you related

to the current step or procedure.
A CAUTION alerts you to any condition that could cause a

mechanical failure or potential loss of data.
A WARNING alerts you to any condition that could cause

personal injury.

6
Precautions
The battery MUST be charged with the AC to DC power adapter

and battery charger provided with the M3 PLUS. Using any
other adapter/charger may damage the battery.
The maximum input voltage to the meter is 100 V (AC or DC).

A larger voltage will damage the meter.
The accuracy of the meter may be affected when in a strong

electromagnetic field.
Do not use the M3 PLUS in any manner not recommended by

the manufacturer.

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THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

8
Chapter 2
2. Introduction
What is the M3 PLUS?
XFTPs M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter is designed to provide you with optimal features for
reduced cost.
Amplitude measurements are fast and efficient. Carrier amplitudes are displayed singly, as a
group (up to 12 favorites), or as a full-span display. This product also features a single-channel
Spectrum mode, which displays the presence of interfering beats in addition to the carrier
amplitudes. The device lets you take the direct power measurement of QAM signals with
Constellation diagram display and pre- and post-BER and MER readings, Hum measurements,
and data logging.
Five user-defined channel plans may be stored, and the M3 PLUS can perform a complete test of
all channels in the selected user channel plan to specified limits. It can also be set to automatically
perform Level, Tilt, Spectrum, HUM, and Limit tests.
The M3 PLUS can save files for Level, Tilt, Spectrum, Channel Scan, Limit test, Hum, and Auto
Test measurements. These files can be recalled to display the recorded data. Files can be
viewed graphically or as a list. The M3 PLUS also makes it easy to obtain a hard copy of
installation data or documentation of a problem via the optional M3 PLUS ToolBox software.
The device is the ideal signal level meter for HFC installations. It is durable, has many features,
and is simple to use in a wide range of conditions. Its tough, plastic case and rubber bumper
make the M3 PLUS highly resistant to damage from shock and impact. When not in use, the
instrument and its accessories are contained in a carrying case. The M3 PLUS is rugged and
convenient to use. It weighs only 1.76 pounds and can be carried and operated with one hand.

9
Features
Level Measurement Function

When tuned to a single channel, the M3 PLUS displays bar graphs for the video and audio
carriers or power of a digital channel. It also shows numeric readouts of the carrier amplitudes
and V/A difference or digital power.
QAM Measurement Function

The M3 PLUS is capable of measuring the channel power of QAM, QPSK, and COFDM
signals. This function also enables the measurement of pre- and post-BER and MER for QAM
modulated signals. The QAM measurement mode also features a single channel spectrum
display and an optional Constellation diagram is available to enable users to find errors more
quickly.
BER Measurement Function

The BER Measurement function displays the ratio of corrupted bits to total bits in the QAM
signal. The analyzer dwells on the selected channel, counting good bits and watching for
individual corrupted bits. The BER graph shows errored bits as vertical lines that expand
horizontally across the display with advancing time.
Favorite/Tilt Measurement Function

The Tilt Measurement function displays a graph showing the amplitudes of up to twelve user-
selected video carriers. This display also shows the calculated difference in amplitude (tilt)
between the highest and lowest channels in the user-selected group. The M3 PLUS can also
display a numeric list that shows the amplitudes of the carriers in the group.
Channel Scan Measurement Function

The Channel Scan Measurement function displays the full span of video and audio carriers in
the selected user channel plan. This mode is useful to make a quick check of your systems
overall flatness and amplitude.
Amplitude limits can be imposed on the display and the frequency marker can be used to
isolate any suspect channel that appears in the display.

10
Spectrum Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS can also provide a spectral display of the selected channel including
intermodulation products or other undesired signals that may be present.
For a digital channel, this measurement shows the actual shape of the modulation haystack
to determine if there are any problems with the digital transmission system. This feature
provides you with a powerful tool for checking in-channel flatness or mismatches that might
affect digital transmission quality.
Hum Measurement Function

The HUM Measurement function is used to troubleshoot interference of the CATV transmission
system that may result from a defective power supply or faulty/overloaded power inserters.
Limit Measurement Function

The M3 PLUS can perform a complete test of all analog channels in the selected user channel
plan to specified limits. All channels are listed with Pass or Fail results, and the user may
select any channel to review its individual test results. In addition, results for the entire channel
plan, such as Maximum D Video and Maximum D Adjacent Channel, are seen on the test-result
display.
C/N Measurement Function

The M3 PLUS can perform measurements of the Carrier to Noise Ratio of Analog (NTSC,
PAL) non-scrambled channels.
Return Path Measurement Function

The M3 PLUS Displays the amplitude of all carrier, beats, and other RF sources in the user-
selectable spectrum from 5.0 MHz to 45.0 MHz or 5.0 MHz to 65.0 MHz.
Auto Test Programs

The M3 PLUS can be set to automatically perform Level, Tilt, Spectrum, HUM, and Limit
measurements. The test result files can be viewed or uploaded to a PC later.

11
Battery Voltage Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS is equipped with a built-in voltmeter that can be used to display the battery
voltage. The M3 PLUS displays the voltage with a bar graph and numeric readout.
Internal Temperature Measurement Function

The M3 PLUS is equipped with a built-in thermostat that can be used to display the internal
temperature of the device. The M3 PLUS displays the temperature with a bar graph and
numeric readout.
Measurement Record Saving and Viewing

You can select and save the test data of the Level, Tilt, Spectrum, Channel Scan, Limit Test,
HUM, and Auto Test measurements either to individual files or all to one file. The M3 PLUS
has the capability to store the amplitudes of all video and audio carriers (up to 170 channels).
These data records can be captured in nonvolatile memory and later recalled or uploaded to a
PC with the M3 PLUS ToolBox software for analysis, storage, and printing.
Each record carries the time, date, and other M3 PLUS information at the time the record is
saved.
Equipment Supplied with Your M3 PLUS

The M3 PLUS comes with the following:
M3 PLUS signal level meter
Protective carrying case
Orange rubber protective bumper
12.6 V / 1.5 AH Li-Ion battery
AC to DC power adapter and battery charger
Operation manual on CD

12
Accessories and Replacement Parts for Your M3 PLUS
The following accessories and replacement parts are available for the M3 PLUS:
Part Number Description
2130854000 Holster
0930149000 M3 PLUS ToolBox – includes USB data cable
2072084000 USB data cable
2131521000 Carrying case
2131253001 Replacement blue rubber protective bumper
0090062000 Replacement battery
0610192000 Replacement charger
0200579000 Replacement F-type connector
For more information, please contact XFTP at www.fieldtechproducts.com or 1-800-344-2412.

13

14
Chapter 3
3. Walkthrough
Now that you have your M3 PLUS out of its box, take a few moments to look it over and become
familiar with its controls.
The thin protective film layer used to protect the display during
shipping should be removed.
Your M3 PLUSs battery may need to be charged, see the

Battery Charging Section later in this chapter.
Identify Components
The M3 PLUSs function buttons and backlit LCD display are on the front panel. The devices
charge socket and PC interface socket are on the bottom. The RF F connector is on the top of
the device. The belt clip is located on the back of the device.
RF F connector
Color LCD display

with backlight
Key pad
PC interface
Charge socket
Connectors located under

rubber cover on bottom of
device
15
Key Pad
The key pad consists of the various buttons to access the M3 PLUSs functions. There are ten
alphanumeric buttons, two arrow buttons (up and down), the power on/off button, and three
soft buttons that enable you to perform functions shown on the display.
Soft Buttons
Home Button Arrow Buttons
Alphanumeric Keypad
ON / OFF
Button
Charge Indicator
Power ON / OFF
Use the POWER ON / OFF key to turn the device on and off.
Soft Buttons
The , and keys are used to access various functions within the display
menus. On specific displays, three boxes appear at the bottom of the display. These
boxes correspond to the three soft keys and provide additional commands such as
ENTER, EXIT, SCALE, REF, movement arrows, etc. (see the individual function displays
for more information).
FREQ MAX q

16
Home Button
Use the key to return to the Home screen.
Arrow Buttons
Use the and keys to change values within a function display.
Navigating Functions
Several methods are used to navigate the M3 PLUSs functions. For some procedures, use
the and keys to make changes within a specific screen such as to increase or
decrease values.
Entering Alphanumeric Characters

Similarly, you must enter alphanumeric data on several screens, such as file names,
Channel labels, and Auto Test program names. Press the alphanumeric buttons to enter
the desired value. When you press a button in function mode, the first entry is the number
associated with the button, after which you press the same button repeatedly to scroll
through the letters associated with the button. To enter a second letter or number using a
different button, you can go directly to the second button for entry. If you want to enter a
second letter or number using the same button as the preceding character, you must press
the key to shift the M3 PLUS control to a new number or letter.

17
For example, to enter TEST in the Name field, do the following:
1. Press + + to enter T in the field.
2. Press + + to enter E in the field.
3. Press + to enter S in the field
4. Press to shift to a new entry with the same key.
5. Press + + to enter T in the field.
If you make an error when entering a number or a name, you

can press the key to go back and then re-enter it. Press the
key to escape from the operation.

18
Display Screen Description
Each display contains the following sections or features.
User Display
Plan Indicator
Time Battery
F1 F2 F3
Main Display
Screen
Time - Displays the devices time based on the time set up parameter, see Chapter 4:
Setup, General, Date and Time.
Battery charge - Shows the approximate percentage of remaining battery charge. Flashes
when the charge drops below 10%.
User Plan - Indicates the selected user channel plan.
Display Indicator - Indicates which function is being used.
Main Display Screen - Displays the parameters and graphs of the selected function.
F1, F2, F3 - Indicates the function of the soft buttons in the selected M3 PLUS mode.
The soft buttons vary from function to function on the meter;

see the Soft Buttons section earlier in this chapter.

19
Home Screen
Press the key to show the Home screen. From the Home screen use the , ,
and keys to highlight the icon that corresponds to the desired measurement or setup
functions. Then, use the key to enter corresponding measurement or setup function.
Key Function Purpose
LEVEL Enter the Level Measurement Function
QAM Enter the QAM Measurement Function
BER Enter the BER Measurement Function
FAV/TILT Enter the Favorite/Tilt Measurement Function
SCAN Enter the Channel Scan Measurement Function
SPECT Enter the Spectrum Measurement Function
HUM Enter the HUM Measurement Function

20
Key Function Purpose
LIMIT Enter the Limit Measurement Function
C/N Enter the Carrier-to-Noise Measurement Function
R-PATH Enter the Return Path Measurement Function
AUTO Enter the Auto Test Measurement Function
SETUP Enter the Setup Menu
FILES Enter the File Management Function

21
Battery Charging
The M3 PLUS has a built-in 12.6 V / 1.5 AH Li-Ion battery. When fully charged, it can be used for
up to five hours. When the battery charge drops below 10%, the battery symbol flashes in the
information line at the top of the display screen. If the charge drops below 10.6 V, the M3 PLUS
shuts off automatically to protect the battery. You cannot turn the M3 PLUS on again until you
recharge the battery.
To charge the M3 PLUSs battery, connect the battery charger to the charge socket on the bottom
of the M3 PLUS (see Chapter 3: Walkthrough, Identify Components) and plug the charger into
an AC outlet.
The battery MUST be charged with the Trilithic charge cube

provided with the M3 PLUS. Using any other charge cube may
damage the battery.
While charging, the charge indicator on the front panel of the M3 PLUS will be RED. A full charge
will be achieved in less than three hours, and will be indicated as such by a GREEN charge
indicator.
The charging status may be observed by turning the M3 PLUS ON and then OFF while the
charger is connected. The charging display will be seen with a charging curve and an
approximate percentage of charge, with the elapsed charging time.
The M3 PLUS may be operated while the batteries are charging.

22
Chapter 4
4. Setup
Overview
When you first press the (POWER) key, the M3 PLUS briefly displays the Start-Up screen,
then displays the Home screen.
The M3 PLUS battery may need charging prior to first use, see
Chapter 3: Walkthrough, Battery Charging.
Before using the M3 PLUS, you need to perform some setup procedures from the following areas:
Information - General information about your M3 PLUS and the status of user settings
General - Shutdown time, language, date & time, files status, and system upgrade
Measurement - Level units, level offset, limit values, auto diagnosis, and internal
temperature.
Channel Plan - Select, learn, and edit the user plan, channel number display
M3 PLUS ToolBox Software may also be used to set up the M3

PLUS. See the M3 PLUS ToolBox Operation Manual for more
information.
To enter the Setup Menu, do the following:
1. Press the key to show the Home screen.

From the Home screen use the , ,
and keys to highlight the Setup icon.
Then, use the key to enter the Setup menu.
2. Use the and keys to scroll through the

Setup menu options.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to select the

highlighted Setup menu option.

23
Information
The Information screen shows the devices serial
number, firmware version, hardware version, and the
companys web address. Press the (RETURN)
key to return to the Setup menu.
General
Use the General Setup screen to set the general setup
parameters of your device.
From the General Setup screen, use the and

keys to highlight the desired option.
To return to the Setup menu, highlight the RETURN
option and then press the (ENTER) key.

24
Shutdown Time
When the SHUTDOWN TIME option is highlighted,
press the (SELECT) key to change the
shutdown time. You can select ON (always on until
manually turned off) or 3, 5, 10, or 30 minutes (the
M3 PLUS shuts itself off when there has been no
activity for the selected time interval).
A caution screen appears 20 seconds prior to
automatic shutdown as shown below. This screen
counts down the remaining time until shutdown and
displays the shutdown time setting.
Press any key to reset the shutdown time to its
current setting for continued operation.
Language
When the LANGUAGE option is highlighted, press
the (SELECT) key to change the language.
English is the only language supported at this time.

25
Date and Time
When the DATE & TIME option is highlighted,
press the (TAB) key to move between the date
& time fields. Use the and keys to
decrease or increase the highlighted value.
The desired sequence for the Month, Day, and Year should be
set before any files are saved in the M3 PLUS. If the date
sequence is changed after storing files, the date information for
those files will not be correct.
Files Status
When the FILES STATUS option is highlighted, the
total number of data files and the percentage of
used memory is displayed.
System Upgrade
The SYSTEM UPGRADE option is not available at this time.

26
Measurement
Use the Measurement setup screen to set the
measurement parameters of your device.
From the Measurement setup screen, use the and

Level Units
When the LEVEL UNITS option is highlighted,
press the (SELECT) key to switch between
dBmV, dBmV, or dBm.

27
Level Calibrate
When the LEVEL CALIBRATE option is
highlighted, press the (MODIFY) key to adjust
the LEVEL OFFSET. Use the and keys
to decrease or increase the highlighted value and
the press the (ENTER) key to save the
changes.

28
Limit Setup
When the LIMIT VALUES option is highlighted,
press the (TAB) key to move between the limit
setup values. There are three pages of limit setup
values as shown in the table on the following page.
Use the and keys to decrease or
increase the highlighted value.
To load the default limit values for the selected
page, highlight the LOAD DEFAULT option and
then press the (ENTER) key.

29
Type Limit
Analog Channel Measurements (Page 1 of 3)
Minimum Video Level 60 dBV
Maximum Video Level 90 dBV
Minimum V/A 10 dB
Maximum V/A 17 dB
Digital Channel Measurements (Page 2 of 3)
Minimum Power Level 55 dBV
Maximum Power Level 85 dBV
Minimum MER 10 dB
Maximum PRE-BER 1.0E-9
Maximum POST-BER 1.0E-9
Tilt Measurements (Page 3 of 3)
Minimum Tilt Delta -10 dBV
Maximum Tilt Delta 10 dBV
If digital channels have been included in tilt measurements with

analog channels, the power of digital channels will be added to a
fixed offset so that it can be compared with video of analog
channels.

30
Auto Diagnosis
When the AUTO DIAGNOSIS option is highlighted,
press the (ENTER) key to enable and disable
the PASS / FAIL limit test for Level and Tilt
Measurement functions.
Voltage & Temperature

When the VOL & TEMP option is highlighted, press the , or keys to view the
battery voltage, or internal temperature measurements.
The M3 PLUS is equipped with a built-in voltmeter that can be used to troubleshoot problems
with power supplies or power drops. The M3 PLUS accommodates AC or DC voltages up to
100 Volts.
Battery Voltage
To view the battery voltage, press the (BAT-
V) key. The graph indicates the battery charge of
your M3 PLUS. This approximate charge level
and the battery voltage is also displayed
numerically. As you use the device, you can
access this screen to check the remaining
battery power.
When the battery charge drops below 10%, the
battery symbol flashes in the information line at
the top of the display screen. If the charge drops
below 5%, the M3 PLUS shuts off automatically
to protect the battery (see Chapter 3:
Walkthrough, Battery Charging).

31
Temperature
To view the internal temperature of the device,
press the (TEMP) key. The graph indicates
the internal temperature of your M3 PLUS. This
temperature is also displayed numerically.
Use the and keys to select the

temperature measurement units (°C or °F).
Channel Plan
Use the Channel Plan setup screen to select, learn, and
edit up to five channel plans for the device.
From the Channel Plan setup screen, use the and

Select User Plan

When the SELECT USER PLAN option is
highlighted, press the (SELECT) key to select
one of the five available user plans as the active
user plan.

32
Channel Numbers
When the CHANNEL NUMBERS option is
highlighted, press the (SELECT) key to switch
between DIGITAL or STANDARD channel
numbering.
Learn User Plan

When the LEARN USER PLAN option is
highlighted, press the (ENTER) key to learn a
new user plan.
Use the , , and keys to highlight

the desired user plan settings.
Press the (SELECT) key to edit the

highlighted setting and then press the and
keys to adjust the value.
Once all of the settings are correct, highlight the
START button and then press the (SELECT).
Whenever you learn a new Channel Plan, the previously edited

parameters are overwritten by the new plan, and all files and
Auto Test programs that were saved for the previous plan are
deleted.

33
Edit User Plan
When the EDIT USER PLAN option is highlighted,
press the (SELECT) key to edit the current
user plan.
Use the and keys to move through the

channels one at a time or use the and
keys to move through the channels on page at a
time.
Highlight the desired channel and press the

(ENTER) key to view the channel details.
Analog Channels
When viewing the details of an analog channel,
use the and keys to scroll through the
channel settings. For analog channels, the
STATUS and SIGNAL TYPE can be changed
by pressing the (MODIFY) key.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to the

channel list.
Digital Channels
When viewing the details of an analog channel,
use the and keys to scroll through the
channel settings. For analog channels, the
STATUS, SIGNAL TYPE, STANDARD, and
TYPE can be changed by pressing the
(MODIFY) key.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to the

channel list.

34
Load Defaults
Use the Load Defaults option to load the default device
settings.
With the LOAD DEFAULTS option highlighted, press
the (ENTER) key to load the default device
settings.
Press the (YES) key to confirm loading the default

device settings or press the (NO) key to exit
without loading defaults.

35

36
Chapter 5
5. Basic Operation
Once you have perfomed the general setup of the M3 PLUS, you are ready to operate the device.
There are a number of tests you can perform with the M3 PLUS:
Level Measurement
QAM Measurement
BER Measurement
Tilt Measurement
Channel Scan Measurement
Spectrum Measurement
HUM Measurement
Limit Measurement
C/N Measurement
Return Path Measurement
The M3 PLUS displays readings down to -50 dBmV (+10 dBmV).

All signal levels that are below -40 dBmV (+20 dBmV) are
displayed with lighter shade digits in all measurement modes to
indicate they are low signal levels.
Press the key to show the Home screen. From the

Home screen use the , , and keys to
highlight the icon that corresponds to the desired
measurement function. Then, use the (ENTER)
key to enter corresponding measurement function.

37
Level Measurement Function
To enter the Level measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , ,
and keys to highlight the LEVEL

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Level

Measurement function.
To perform the Level Measurement the device needs to
have a valid channel plan with enabled channels. If
there are not any enabled channels in the channel plan
or there is not a valid channel plan, the top-right screen
will be displayed. Press the (SETUP) key to setup
a channel plan before continuing the measurement, see
Chapter 4: Setup, Channel Plan, Edit User Plan for
more information on how to setup a channel plan.
Depending on the type of channel (Analog or Digital)
that the device was measuring last, the following types
of screens will be displayed:
Analog - The analog measurement screen will
be displayed as shown in the right-middle
image. This screen shows a bar graph of the
video (left) and audio carrier (right) levels as well
as numeric values for the carrier amplitudes and
DV/A.
Digital - The digital measurement screen will be
displayed as shown on the right-bottom
image.This screen shows a bar graph of the
channel power as well as numeric values for the
power, MER, PRE-BER, and POST-BER
values.

38
Adjusting by Channel Number
To change the measurement channel number, use one of the following methods:
Press the and keys to scroll through the channels.
Use the alphanumeric keypad to enter the channel number and then press the
(ENTER) key. When entering the channel number using the keypad, the (BACK)
key is used as a backspace key and the (ESC) key is used to exit without
changing the channel.
Adjusting by Carrier Frequency

To change the measurement carrier frequency, press the (FREQ) key to highlight the
center frequency and then use one of the following methods:
Press the and keys to scroll

through the frequencies.
Use the alphanumeric keypad to enter the
frequency and then press the (ENTER)
key. When entering the frequency using the
keypad, the (BACK) key is used as a
backspace key and the (ESC) key is
used to exit without changing the frequency.
Press the (FREQ) key again to return to

adjusting by channel number.

39
Viewing Channel Information
To view the details of an analog or digital channel, press the (CH INFO) key.
When viewing the details of a channel, use the and keys to scroll through the channel
information.
The following channel information can be modified by pressing the (MODIFY) key:
Analog Channels - STATUS and SIGNAL TYPE
Digital Channels - STATUS, SIGNAL TYPE, STANDARD, and TYPE
Press the (RETURN) key to return to the Level measurement function.
Limit Testing
When the AUTO DIAGNOSIS feature is enabled as
shown in Chapter 4: Setup, Measurement
Settings, Auto Diagnosis) the PASS / FAIL status of
the Level Measurement will be displayed in the
lower right corner of the display.
The MIN/MAX limits are shown as horizontal red
lines on the graph. The column to the left of the bar
graphs shows the PASS area in green and the FAIL
area in red.
The color of the bar graph will change between
green (PASS) or red (FAIL) to indicate the status of
the signal.

40
Viewing Adjacent Channels
To view channels adjacent to the current channel, press the (ADJ CHN) key. The
channels above and below the currently selected channel will be displayed.
Analog Channels - The video and audio carriers of the selected adjacent channel are
shown.
Digital Channels - The channel power of the selected channel as well as the two
adjacent channels are shown.
Press the (ONE CHN) key to return to the single channel view.

41
QAM Measurement Function
To enter the QAM Measurement function, perform the following steps:
and keys to highlight the QAM

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the QAM

To perform the QAM Measurement the device needs to
have a valid channel plan with enabled digital channels.
If there are not any enabled digital channels in the
channel plan or there is not a valid channel plan, the
top-right screen will be displayed. Setup a channel plan
before continuing the measurement, see Chapter 4:
Setup, Channel Plan, Edit User Plan for more
information on how to setup a channel plan.
The QAM measurement screen will be displayed as
shown on the right-middle image.This screen shows a
constellation diagram as well as numeric values for the
power, MER, PRE-BER, and POST-BER values.
Press the (QUADRANT) key to switch the

highlighted quadrant of the constellation diagram.
Press the (ZOOM IN) key to zoom in on the

highlighted quadrant of the constellation diagram as
shown in the bottom-right image.
When zoomed in on the contellation diagram, press the
(ZOOM OUT) button to zoom out.

42

To view the details of a digital channel, press the (CH INFO) key.
information. The following channel information can be modified by pressing the
(MODIFY) key; STATUS, SIGNAL TYPE, STANDARD, and TYPE.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to the QAM Measurement function.

43
BER Measurement Function
To enter the BER Measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , , and keys to highlight the BER
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the BER Measurement function.

To perform the BER Measurement the device needs to
have a valid channel plan with enabled digital channels.
If there are not any enabled digital channels in the
channel plan or there is not a valid channel plan, a
warning screen will be displayed. Setup a channel plan
The BER measurement screen will be displayed as
shown on the right-top image.This screen shows a bit
errors over time graph as well as numeric values for the
Error Seconds (ES), Serious Error Seconds (SES),
Corrected Error Bits (COR), Uncorrected Error Bits
(UNCOR), Total Bits (SUM), Total PRE-BER
((COR+UNCOR)/SUM), Total POST-BER (UNCOR/
SUM) values.
Press the (TIME) key to choose a measurement

time of; 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, 2 hours, 6 hours,
12 hours, 24 hours, or 48 hours.
Press the (START) key to start the measurement,

the right-bottom image will be displayed.
When the measurement is running, press the

(STOP) key to stop the measurement.

44

To view the details of a digital channel, press the (CH INFO) key.
information. The following channel information can be modified by pressing the
(MODIFY) key; STATUS, SIGNAL TYPE, STANDARD, and TYPE.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to the BER Measurement function.

45
Tilt Measurement Function
When installing and maintaining your CATV system, you may want to concentrate on the level of
only a few channels and the gain distribution of the transmission line.
You can use the Tilt Measurement function to display
and adjust the level and balance of your system. You
may have a minimum of 4 and up to 12 tilt channels for
each channel plan.
To enter the Tilt Measurement function, perform the
following steps:

and keys to highlight the FAV/TILT
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Tilt

To perform the Tilt Measurement the device needs to
or there is not a valid channel plan, a warning screen
will be displayed. Setup a channel plan before
continuing the measurement, see Chapter 4: Setup,
Channel Plan, Edit User Plan for more information on
how to setup a channel plan.
The Tilt graph will be displayed by default, press the
and keys to scroll through the tilt channels.
The measurement results of the current channel and the
overall tilt measurement will be displayed below the
graph.
When viewing the Tilt graph, press the (LIST) key

to view a list of the tilt channels and the measurement
results. Press the (GRAPH) key to return to the Tilt
graph.

46
Tilt Channel Setup
Select the (SETUP) key to add or remove tilt
channels. Use the and keys to move
through the channel plan one channel at a time or
use the and to move through the channel
plan one page at a time.
To add a channel, press the (ENTER) key. The

channels that are selected will be displayed in the
table to the left of the screen and a checkmark will
be placed to the right of the channel name in the
TILT column.
Press the key to return to the Tilt graph.
Limit Testing
When the AUTO DIAGNOSIS feature is enabled as shown in Chapter 4: Setup,
Measurement Settings, Auto Diagnosis) the PASS / FAIL status of the Tilt measurement will
be displayed in the lower right corner of the display.
The color of the bar graph and text will change between green (PASS) or red (FAIL) to indicate
the status of the measurement.

47
Channel Scan Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS is designed to display the full scan of all channels including video and audio
carriers, or digital channels in your system. This function provides a quick check of your systems
overall flatness and amplitude.
The M3 PLUS can also be set to display the channels at reduced frequency spans. Amplitude
limits can be imposed on the display, while a convenient Marker enables you to zoom in on any
suspect channels.
To enter the Channel Scan Measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , , and keys to highlight the SCAN
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Channel Scan Measurement function.
To perform the Channel Scan Measurement the device
needs to have a valid channel plan with enabled
channels. If there are not any enabled channels in the
The graph of the current channel plan scan is displayed
as shown in the image to the right. A red slider will
appear directly below the graph to indicate the channel
that is currently being scanned. The channel bar
located below the slider displays the start and stop channels of the current zoom level as well as
the channel number that corresponds to the current marker location.
The measurement results area is located below the channel bar and displays the results of the
channel scan for the channel that corresponds to the current marker location.
The analog video level is shown in green, the analog audio level is shown in yellow, and digital
channel power is shown in blue.
When the scan is running, select the (STOP) key to stop the scan. To start the scan again,
select the (START) key.

48
Adjusting Reference Level
To adjust the reference level, press the (TAB) key to highlight REF and then use the
and keys to change the value. The reference level can be set from -60 to 60 dBmV. Press
the (AUTO) key to automatically adjust the reference level and vertical scale.
Adjusting Vertical Scale

To adjust the vertical scale, press the (TAB) key to highlight SCALE and then use the
and keys to change the value. The reference level can be set to 1, 2, 5, or 10 dB. Press
Adjusting Marker Location

To adjust the marker location, press the (TAB) key to highlight the channel number in the
center of the channel bar and then use the and keys to change the marker location.
The red marker will move as the channel number is adjusted and the measurement results
area will display the corresponding measurement results.
Adjusting Zoom Level

To adjust the marker location, press the (TAB) key to highlight VIEW and then use the
and keys to change the zoom level. Each zoom level will display the following number
of channels:
X1 - Displays a maximum of 30 channels on the screen.

49
Spectrum Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS can be set to display spectrum measurements with spans ranging from 2.5 to 62.5
MHz. It can also be set for a full spectrum scan of the base channel plan with sampling at each
video carrier frequency or center frequency of digital channels.
To enter the Spectrum Measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , , and keys to highlight the SPECT
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Spectrum Measurement function.

To perform the Spectrum Measurement the device
The spectrum trace is displayed as shown in the image
to the right. The reference level, sampling mode,
vertical scale, center frequency, and span can be
adjusted as well as the maximum hold trace.
The measurement results area is located at the bottom of the screen and displays the frequency
and level that correspond to two different marker locations. Marker A and B can be adjusted
individually and the difference in level between the markers is shown in the measurement results
area.
When the spectrum is running, select the (STOP) key to stop the spectrum measurement. To
start the spectrum measurement again, select the (START) key.

50
Adjusting Sampling Mode

To adjust the sampling mode, press the (TAB) key to highlight TRC and then use the
and keys to change the value between PEAK and AVG. Each sampling mode displays the
following information:
AVG - This is the sample average mode, the
display result of each point will be an
average of several sample values. This
measurement is used to measure the noise
of the system and the response time will be
faster in this mode than in the PEAK mode.
PEAK - This is the positive peak mode, the
display result of each point will be the peak
value of serveral sample values. This mode
is necessary to measure the video or audio
level of analog channels.


51
Adjusting Center Frequency
To adjust the center frequency, press the (TAB) key to highlight CENT. Then, use the
alphanumeric keypad to enter the channel number and then press the (ENTER) key.
When entering the channel number using the keypad, the (BACK) key is used as a
backspace key and the (ESC) key is used to exit without adjusting the center frequency.
The center frequency can be set from 5 to 1000 MHz.
Adjusting Span
To adjust the span, press the (TAB) key to highlight SPAN and then use the and
keys to change the span. The span can be set to 2.5, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 62.5 and 1047 MHz.
Enabling Max Hold

To enable the Max Hold feature, press the (TAB) key to highlight MAX and then use the
and keys to enable or disable the Max Hold. The spectrum will display both the Max
value and the real-time value of each point.
Adjusting Markers
To adjust the marker location, press the (TAB) key to highlight A or B and then use the
and keys to change the location of the marker. Marker A appears as a red vertical
line and Marker B appears as a purple vertical line. The frequency, level and difference
between markers is displayed in the measurement results.

52
HUM Measurement Function
The HUM Measurement function is used to troubleshoot interference that may result from a
defective power supply or faulty/overloaded power inserters. This measurement function displays
the Low Pass Filter and 60 Hz and 120 Hz (or 50 Hz and 100 Hz) Band Pass Filter
measurements.
To enter the HUM Measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , , and keys to highlight the HUM
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the HUM

To perform the HUM Measurement the device needs to
The HUM measurement is displayed as shown in the
image to the right. The low power frequency (blue), 50/
60 MHz (green), and 100/120 MHz (yellow) percentages are displayed as a bar graph and
numerically. The Band Pass Filter frequencies can be changed from 60 Hz and 120 Hz to 50 Hz
and 100 Hz by pressing the (60 Hz/50Hz) key.

53
Limit Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS can quickly perform a test of all analog channels in the cable system to specified
test limits with a single key press.
To enter the Limit Measurement function, perform the following steps:
and keys to highlight the LIMIT

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Limit

To perform the Limit Measurement the device needs to
The selected User Channel Plan is tested to all
enabled limit parameters as set in the Edit Limits
display from the Limit Setup menu (see Chapter 4:
Setup, Measurement, Limit Setup).
Channels are displayed momentarily as each channel
is scanned. In addition, a progress bar indicates the
scan status.
When the Limit Measurement is complete, a Test Result summary screen appears to indicate the
Pass or Fail status for each test parameter. Each test that has passed has a check mark next to
that parameter. Each test that has failed has an X next to that parameter.

54
The Minimum Video, Maximum Video, Minimum D V/A, and Maximum D V/A are tested for all
channels in the User Plan. If any channel fails one of these tests, the Test Result summary
indicates a failure X for that test. If all channels pass one of these tests, the Test Result summary
indicates a pass (check mark) for that test.
A digital (DIGI) type channel is measured during the Limit test

but is not used to determine Pass or Fail for any of the tests.
The Maximum D Video and Maximum D Adjacent channel status are determined by the results of
the overall channel plan measurements. Also, if a failure has occurred for the Maximum D Adjacent
channel test, the adjacent channels with the greatest variation are listed.
List View
A list of each channel from the individual channel
tests can be viewed by pressing the (LIST)
key. The total number of failed channels is shown at
the top of the display, and each channel is listed
with the channel type, signal level (Video level if TV
), and a pass or fail indication. Each channel that
has passed all four individual channel tests displays
a check mark. Each channel that has failed any of
the 4 individual channel tests displays an X.
You can use the and keys to scroll one

page at a time.
To return to the measurement results, press the (RETURN) key.

55
Graph View
A graph of each channel from the individual channel
tests can be viewed by pressing the (GRAPH)
key.
The Video level, Audio level, and D V/A for the
selected channel are shown at the top of the
individual channel information screen.
To return to the measurement results, press the
(RETURN) key.

and keys to change the value. The reference level can be set from -60 to 60
dBmV. Press the (AUTO) key to automatically adjust the reference level and vertical
scale.

and keys to change the value. The reference level can be set to 1, 2, 5, or 10 dB.
Press the (AUTO) key to automatically adjust the reference level and vertical scale.

To change the measurement channel number, press the (TAB) key to highlight CH and
then use the and keys to change the channel.

56
C/N Measurement Function
In the C/N Measurement, the instrument displays the ratio of the amplitudes of the visual carrier
and the noise within a single, selected channel. This measurement function displays the selected
channel number, frequency and amplitude of the visual carrier, the C/N ratio and the bandwidth for
the measurement.
To enter the C/N Measurement function, perform the following steps:
and keys to highlight the C/N

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the C/N

To perform the C/N Measurement the device needs to
or there is not a valid channel plan, a warning screen will be displayed. Setup a channel plan
before continuing the measurement, see Chapter 4: Setup, Channel Plan, Edit User Plan for
more information on how to setup a channel plan.
To change the measurement channel number, press the and keys to scroll through the
channels.
To change the bandwidth, use one of the following methods:
Press the (BW) key and then use the alphanumeric keypad to enter the bandwidth
and then press the (ENTER) key. When entering the bandwidth using the keypad, the
(BACK) key is used as a backspace key and the (ESC) key is used to exit
without changing the bandwidth.
Press the (DEFAULT) key to choose from 4.00, 4.75, and 5.75 MHz bandwidths.
Press the (RENEW) key perform the C/N measurement again.

57
Return Path Measurement Function
The M3 PLUS can be set to display Return Path Measurements from 5 MHz to 45 MHz or 5 MHz
to 65 MHz.
To enter the Return Path Measurement function, perform the following steps:
2. From the Home screen press the , , and keys to highlight the R-PATH
icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Return Path Measurement function.
To perform the Return Path Measurement the device
The return path trace is displayed as shown in the
image to the right. The reference level, sampling mode,
vertical scale, and frequency range can be adjusted as
well as the maximum hold trace.
The measurement results area is located at the bottom of the screen and displays the frequency
and level that correspond to two different marker locations. Marker A and B can be adjusted
individually and the PASS / FAIL status is displayed in the lower right corner of the screen.
When the return path measurement is running, select the (STOP) key to stop the return path
measurement. To start the return path measurement again, select the (START) key.

58
Adjusting Sampling Mode

To adjust the sampling mode, press the (TAB) key to highlight TRC and then use the
and keys to change the value between PEAK and AVG. Each sampling mode displays the
following information:
AVG - This is the sample average mode, the
display result of each point will be an
average of several sample values. This
measurement is used to measure the noise
of the system and the response time will be
faster in this mode than in the PEAK mode.
PEAK - This is the positive peak mode, the
display result of each point will be the peak
value of serveral sample values. This mode
is necessary to measure the video or audio
level of analog channels.


59
Adjusting Frequency Range
To adjust the frequency range, press the (TAB) key to highlight START/END and then use
the and keys to change the frequency range. The frequency range can be set to 5
MHz to 45 MHz or 5 MHz to 65 MHz.
Enabling Max Hold

To enable the Max Hold feature, press the (TAB) key to highlight MAX and then use the
and keys to enable or disable the Max Hold. The spectrum will display both the Max
value and the real-time value of each point.
Adjusting Markers
To adjust the marker location, press the (TAB) key to highlight A or B and then use the
and keys to change the location of the marker. Marker A appears as a red vertical
line and Marker B appears as a purple vertical line.

60
Chapter 6
6. Advanced Operation
Once you have a general understanding of the M3 PLUSs basic features, you can try the
advanced features, such as auto-testing and data management.
Auto Test Programs

The M3 PLUS can accept user-defined testing programs to automatically perform tests using the
Level, Tilt, Spectrum, HUM, and Limit Measurement functions. The M3 PLUS can store up to
seven user programs for recall when needed. The test results are stored to a file automatically
after measurement and they can be viewed or uploaded to a PC later.
To enter the Auto Test measurement function, perform the following steps:
and keys to highlight the AUTO

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the Auto

Test Measurement function.
Running an Existing Auto Test

To run an existing Auto Test, press the and keys to highlight the name of the Auto Test
and then press the (AUTO) key. The Auto Test will start the pre-defined measurements.
To exit the Auto Test at any time press the (ESC) key. A warning dialog will appear asking
whether to exit, press the (YES) key exit the Auto Test or press the (NO) key to
continue running the Auto Test.
A file containing all test records is created and automatically saved. The file name is the Auto
Test program name preceeded by an asterisk (*) to indicate that it is a single Auto Test file.
This is displayed in the M3 PLUS file directory along with the date and time (see File Saving
and Viewing later in this chapter).

61
To create a new Auto Test, press the and keys
to highlight the first blank row and then press the
(NEW) key.
The Auto Test screen for STEP 1 appears. Press the

(NAME) key for the alphanumeric entry window to
appear.
Use the alphanumeric keypad to enter a name for the

Auto Test and then press the (ENTER) key. When
entering the name using the keypad, the (BACK)
key is used as a backspace key and the (ESC)
key is used to exit without changing the name.

62
The Auto Test name appears on the screen for STEP
1. Press the (NEXT) key to continue.
The Auto Test screen for STEP 2 appears. Five types

of tests may be performed in an Auto Test using the
Level, Tilt, Spectrum, HUM, and Limit Measurement
functions. Each enabled measurement has a green
box next to it.
Press the and keys to highlight the

measurements to include in the Auto Test and then
press the (ENTER) key to enable/disable the
measurements.
When only the desired measurements are enabled with
a green box, press the (NEXT) key to continue.
The Auto Test screen for STEP 3 appears.The
measurement settings for each of the selected
measurement functions can be modified from this
screen.
Press the and keys to highlight the desired

measurement settings to edit and then press the
(ENTER) key to edit the measurement settings.
The Auto Test measurement settings displays for each
measurement function are described in the following
sections.
When the measurement settings for the selected measurements have been verified/changed,
press the (NEXT) key to continue. The Auto Test will automatically start.

63
Level Measurement Settings
Use the and keys to highlight any channel
in the selected user channel plan, then press the
(ENTER) key to enable or disable the channel
for the Level Measurement. An enabled channel
displays a check mark next to it. To select all of the
channels for testing, press the (ALL) key.
When all desired channels are enabled, press the
(RETURN) key to return to the Auto Test
screen for STEP 3.
There are no default channels enabled for the Level test

parameter. If Level test is selected for the Auto Test program,
you must enable one or more channels.
Tilt Measurement Settings

The Tilt Channels screen for the Auto Test function is
the same as the standard Tilt Setup screen. All Tilt
Channels already selected for the selected user
channel plan are enabled here.
You can use the and keys to highlight any

channel in the selected user channel plan, then
press the (ENTER) key to enable or disable
the channel for the Tilt Measurement. An enabled
channel displays a check mark next to it and will be
listed in the Tilt Channel boxes at the bottom of the
display. At least four of the 12 maximum number of
Tilt Channels must be selected for the Tilt Measurement to operate.
When the desired TILT Channels have been selected, press the (RETURN) key to return
to the Auto Test screen for STEP 3.

64
Spectrum Measurement Settings
Press the (ENTER) key to change the
highlighted Spectrum Measurement bandwidth to
2.50 MHz, 6.25 MHz, 12.50 MHz, 25.00 MHz, 62.50
MHz, or a full-spectrum scan of the channel plan.
Use the and keys to highlight the center

frequency selection for the Spectrum Measurement.
Use the alphanumeric keypad to enter the center
frequency numerically in MHz, and press the
(ENTER) key. This parameter is not used if the full-
span bandwidth is selected. When entering the
center frequency using the keypad, the
(BACK) key is used as a backspace key and the (ESC) key is used to exit without
changing the center frequency.
When the desired frequency and bandwidth have been set, press the (RETURN) key to
return to the Auto Test screen for STEP 3.
Hum Measurement Settings

Use the and keys to highlight any of the
analog channels listed in the selected user channel
plan. Press the (ENTER) key to enable or
disable any channels for the HUM Measurement. To
select all of the channels for testing, press the
(ALL) key.
When the desired Hum channels have been
selected, press the (RETURN) key to return to
the Auto Test screen for STEP 3.

65
Limit Measurement Settings
The status of all Limit Measurement settings are
displayed. The enabled limits for testing are also
indicated by a check mark.
Use the and keys to highlight the desired

limit setting. Use the and keys to
decrease or increase the highlighted value.
To load the default limit values, highlight the LOAD

DEFAULT option and then press the
(ENTER) key.
To save the limits, highlight the SAVE option and

then press the (ENTER) key.

66
File Saving and Viewing
The M3 PLUS can save measurement results from QAM, Level, Tilt, Spectrum, HUM, Scan, or
Limit Measurement functions either to individual files or all to one file. Auto Test files are
automatically saved. These files can be recalled to display the recorded data: Scan, Spectrum,
and Limit graphics can be viewed. All files may also be uploaded to a PC.
To enter the file management function, perform the following steps:
and keys to highlight the FILES

icon.
3. Press the (ENTER) key to enter the File

Management function. The M3 PLUS file
directory appears with the file name, date, and
time of all existing files. This function can also
be used for the creation of new files and to view
or delete existing files.
Saving Measurement Results to a File

Before saving measurement results, be sure the
time, date, and date sequence (M/D/Y) has been
set (see Chapter 4: Setup, General, Date and
Time). If the date sequence is changed after
storing the measurement files, the date information
for those files will not be correct.
A measurement must be performed by the M3
PLUS before it can be saved from the file list. If a
test has not been performed by the M3 PLUS, it is
not displayed on the SAVE THE FILE screen.
Press the (NEW) key to create a new file. The

SAVE THE FILE screen appears with a list of measurement results that are available to be
saved.

67
Use the alphanumeric keypad to enter the name of
the file and then press the (ENTER) key to
save the file name. When entering the file name
using the keypad, the (BACK) key is used as
a backspace key and the (ESC) key is used to
exit without changing the file name.
Use the and keys to highlight the desired

measurement results and then press the
(SELECT) key to select/deselect the type of
measurement result that will be saved to the file.
Any or all of the listed measurement results may be
saved to one file.
When only the desired measurement results are
selected, press the (SAVE) key to save the file
with the included measurement results.
The file directory is displayed with the new file name
at the end of the file list.

68
Viewing Files
Use the and keys to scroll to the file name
and then press the (LOAD) key to view the
available measurement results.
The LOAD THE FILE screen appears with the file

name and a list of all measurement results in the
file. Use the and keys to highlight the
desired measurement results and then press the
(LIST) key to view the measurement results in
list format or press the (GRAPH) key to view
the measurement results in a graphical format.

69
Limit Measurement File Views
The following types of views are saved for the Limit Measurement function, press the
(RETURN) key to return to the LOAD THE FILE screen at any time:
List View - This is a list with individual
measurement results for each channel. Use
the and keys to scroll to any
channel to see the Video level and Pass
(check mark) or Fail (X) indication.
Graph View - This displays a graph of the

Limit Measurement results. Use the and
keys to move the channel marker and
display the measurement results. Press the
(LIMIT) key to perform a live Limit
Measurement.
The Pass or Fail indication for the Limit Measurement is based

on the Limit test settings at the time the Limit Measurement was
performed. A digital (DIGI) channel measurement is shown
during the Limit test but is not used to determine the Pass or
Fail results for any of the measurements.

70
Tilt Measurement File Views
The following types of views are saved for the Tilt measurement function, press the
List View - This data record is listed with
the Tilt Level displayed for each Tilt channel.
Use the and keys to scroll through
the Tilt channels.
Level Measurement File Views

The following types of views are saved for the Level measurement function, press the
List View - This data record lists all Video
and Audio levels for each channel in the
Level test. Use the and keys to
scroll through the Level test channels.

71
Spectrum Measurement File Views
The following types of views are saved for the Spectrum Measurement function, press the
List View - This view lists the frequency and
signal level for each data point in the
Spectrum Measurement. Use the and
keys to scroll to any lfrequency in the
Spectrum Measurement.
Graph View - A view of the Spectrum

Measurement is displayed. The display may
be controlled like a Live Spectrum
Measurement. Press the (TAB) key to
highlight and adjust the Reference Level,
Trigger Type, Vertical Scale, Center
Frequency, Span, Max Hold, or Marker A/B
locations.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to

the LOAD THE FILE screen.
Press the (SPECT) key to perform a

live Spectrum Measurement.

72
Channel Scan Measurement File Views
The following types of views are saved for the Channel Scan Measurement function, press
the (RETURN) key to return to the LOAD THE FILE screen at any time:
List View - This view lists all Video and
Audio levels for each channel in the Scan
Measurement. Use the and keys
to scroll to any listed channel in the Channel
Scan Measurement.
Graph View - A view of the Channel Scan

Measurement is displayed. The display may
be controlled like a Live Channel Scan
Measurement. Press the (TAB) key to
highlight and adjust the Reference Level,
Zoom Level, Vertical Scale, and Marker
location.
Press the (RETURN) key to return to

the LOAD THE FILE screen.
Press the (SCAN) key to perform a live

Channel Scan Measurement.

73
HUM Measurement File Views
The following types of views are saved for the HUM Measurement function, press the
List View - This view lists the Low Pass
Filter and 60 Hz and 120 Hz (or 50 Hz and
100 Hz) Band Pass Filter measurements for
each channel in the HUM Measurement. Use
the and keys to scroll through the
HUM channels.

74
Auto Test Files
Auto Test files are stored automatically (see
Chapter 6: Advanced Operation, Auto Test).
These files also appear in the File directory. A file
containing all measurement results for an Auto Test
is created and automatically saved. The file name
is the Auto Test program name preceeded by an
asterisk (*) to indicate that it is an Auto Test file.
This is shown in the image to the right for an Auto
Test program named NEWTEST. The prefix (*) for
this file was added automatically.
Auto Test files may contain Level, Tilt, Spectrum,
HUM, and Limit measurement results. These files
may be listed or viewed.
Use the and keys to scroll to the file name

and then press the (LOAD) key to view the
available measurement results.
The LOAD THE FILE screen appears with the file
name and a list of all measurement results in the
file. Use the and keys to highlight the
desired measurement results and then press the
(LIST) key to view the test results in list format
or press the (GRAPH) key to view the
measurement results in a graphical format.

75

76
Chapter 7
7. Specifications
Frequency:
Range: 5 MHz to 1 GHz
Accuracy: ±50 ppm @ 20° C ± 5° (68° F ± 9°)
Resolution: 10 kHz
Channel Type:
Analog TV: TV
Digital TV: 16/32/64/128/256 QAM, QPSK, COFDM
FM channel: Single frequency
Analog Level Measurement:
Range: 5 MHz to 65 MHz
(-42 dBmV to +60 dBmV)
65 MHz to 1 GHz
(-35 dBmV to +60 dBmV)
Accuracy: > -25 dBmV:
± 1.5 dB @ 10° to 30° C (50° to 86° F)
± 3.0 dB @ -10° to +40° C (14° to 104° F)
Resolution: 0.1 dB
Input impedance: 75 W (unbalanced, BNC or F-type connector)
Hum:
Range: 2 to 5% LPF, BPF
Accuracy: ±0.5% (BPF)
Channel Scan:
Number of channels: 170 (max)
Scanning speed: 3 channels per second
Scale: 1, 2, 5, 10 dB/div
Zoom: 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x; five levels of magnification or full channel plan scan
Frequency Spectrum:
Bandwidth: 2.5 MHz, 6.25 MHz, 12.5 MHz, 25 MHz, 62.5 MHz, and full span
Scale: 1, 2, 5, 10 dB/div
Digital Channel:
Demodulation type: ITU-T J.83 Annex A/B/C standard
Support: 16/32/64/128/256 QAM, QPSK, COFDM
Symbol rate: 4 to 7 MS/sec
Bandwidth: 0.28 to 9.99 MHz
MER: To 36 dB or greater (QAM)
Accuracy: ±2.0 dB
BER: 1E-3 to 1E-9 before and after R-S decoding (QAM)
Power measure type: QAM, QPSK, COFDM

77
Digital Channel Power (Average):
Level range: -25 to +55 dBmV
Accuracy: ±2.0 dB @ 10° to 30° C (50° to 86° F)
±3.0 dB @ -10° to +40° C (14° to 104° F)
Resolution: 0.1 dB
Constellation (Optional):
Display Size: 64 and 256 QAM
Constellation with zoom capability
Tilt Measurement:
Number of channels: 4 to 12
Resolution: 0.1 dB
Limit Test Parameters:
Any of the following may be enabled:
Min video: 40 to 119 dBmV (-20 to +59 dBmV)
Max video: 41 to 120 dBmV (-19 to +60 dBmV)
Max D video: 2 to 30 dB
Min D V/A: 0 to 15 dB
Max D V/A: 5 to 30 dB
Max D ADJ: 0 to 20 dB
24-hour video dev.: 0 to 20 dB
Auto Test:
Number of programs: 7 (max)
Tests: Level, Tilt, Spectrum, QAM, Hum, and Limit (any or all tests may be
used in an auto-test program)
Power:
12.6 V / 1.5 AH Li-Ion battery
Provides up to 5 hours of continuous operation
Charger: 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 15 VDC , 2 A (max)
Charge time: Less than three hours

78
Display: 128 x 128 backlit color LCD
Communication Port: RS-232C (Converts to USB with data cable)
Storage: 32 Kb of memory
Up to 30 complete scan files (170 channels, max) or 22 complete limit
test files (170 channels, max); less if other files (level, tilt, QAM, Hum,
spectrum) are saved
Weight: 1.76 lbs (800 g)
Dimensions (H x W x D): 8.52 x 3.74 x 1.93
(218mm x 95mm x 49mm)
(dimensions do not include belt clip)

79
Warranty Information
Trilithic, Inc. warrants that each part of this product will be free from defects in materials and
workmanship, under normal use, operating conditions and service for a period of one (1) year
from date of delivery. Trilithic, Inc.s obligation under this Warranty shall be limited, at Trilithic,
Inc.s sole option, to replacing the product, or to replacing or repairing any defective part, F.O.B.
Indianapolis, Indiana; provided that the Buyer shall give Trilithic, Inc. written notice.
Batteries are not included or covered by this Warranty.
The remedy set forth herein shall be the only remedy available to the Buyer under this Warranty
and in no event shall Trilithic, Inc. be liable for incidental or consequential damages for any alleged
breach of this Warranty. This Warranty shall not apply to any part of the product which, without fault
of Trilithic, Inc., has been subject to alteration, failure caused by a part not supplied by Trilithic, Inc.,
accident, fire or other casualty, negligence or misuse, or to any cause whatsoever other than as a
result of a defect.
Except for the warranty and exclusions set forth above, and the warranties, if any, available to the
Buyer from those who supply Trilithic, Inc., there are no warranties, expressed or implied (including
without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability of fitness), with respect to the
condition of the product or its suitability for any use intended for it by the Buyer or by the purchaser
from the Buyer.

80
9710 Park Davis Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46235
(317) 895-3600
www.fieldtechproducts.com
P/N 0010337000 3/12 Made in U.S.A.

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M3 PLUS

Signal Level Meter

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Where to Get Technical Support

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Conventions Used in this Manual

A NOTE is information that will be of assistance to you related

A CAUTION alerts you to any condition that could cause a

A WARNING alerts you to any condition that could cause

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

The battery MUST be charged with the AC to DC power adapter

The maximum input voltage to the meter is 100 V (AC or DC).

The accuracy of the meter may be affected when in a strong

Do not use the M3 PLUS in any manner not recommended by

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Level Measurement Function

QAM Measurement Function

BER Measurement Function

Favorite/Tilt Measurement Function

Channel Scan Measurement Function

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Hum Measurement Function

Limit Measurement Function

C/N Measurement Function

Return Path Measurement Function

Auto Test Programs

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Internal Temperature Measurement Function

Measurement Record Saving and Viewing

Equipment Supplied with Your M3 PLUS

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Part Number Description

0930149000 M3 PLUS ToolBox – includes USB data cable

2072084000 USB data cable

2131521000 Carrying case

2131253001 Replacement blue rubber protective bumper

0090062000 Replacement battery

0610192000 Replacement charger

0200579000 Replacement F-type connector

For more information, please contact XFTP at www.fieldtechproducts.com or 1-800-344-2412.

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Your M3 PLUSs battery may need to be charged, see the

Color LCD display

Connectors located under

Home Button Arrow Buttons

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Entering Alphanumeric Characters

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

1. Press + + to enter T in the field.

2. Press + + to enter E in the field.

3. Press + to enter S in the field

4. Press to shift to a new entry with the same key.

5. Press + + to enter T in the field.

If you make an error when entering a number or a name, you

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

The soft buttons vary from function to function on the meter;

M3 PLUS Signal Level Meter - Operation Manual

Key Function Purpose

Your M3 PLUSs battery may need to be charged, see the

1. Press + + to enter T in the field.

2. Press + + to enter E in the field.

3. Press + to enter S in the field

5. Press + + to enter T in the field.