Antenna Short Circuit

The Antenna Short Circuit error may be displayed on any Meinberg device with an integrated GPS/GNSS or long-wave receiver (DCF77 PZF, MSF, WWVB).

This article examines the possible causes and provides help in isolating the root cause and solving the problem.

• The antenna is defective.
• The clock module is defective.
• The coaxial cable or connector is defective.
• There is equipment installed between the device and the antenna (e.g., signal splitter, surge protector, converter or coaxial patch panel) which is defective or not properly connected.

1. Disconnect the antenna cable from your Meinberg device.
2. Disconnect the Meinberg device from the power supply for at least 20 seconds.
3. Reconnect the Meinberg device to your power supply and wait for the unit to boot. Ensure that the antenna remains disconnected during this entire procedure.
4. Once the device has finished booting, check if the error is still present
5. If the Antenna Short Circuit error is still present despite no cable being connected, the error is most likely caused by a defective clock/receiver module. In this case, please contact Meinberg Technical Support for further assistance:
   https://www.meinbergglobal.com/english/support/tech-support.htm
6. If the Antenna Short Circuit does not reappear, reconnect the antenna cable to the Meinberg device while keeping the other end of the antenna cable disconnected. If the error appears at this point, it is likely that the cable is causing the short circuit.
7. If the error still has not reappeared at this point, reconnect the other end of the antenna cable to the corresponding device and check again to see if the error is displayed.
8. If the error reappears and your cable is connected directly to the antenna (optionally via a surge protector or passive signal splitter), the antenna itself is likely causing the short circuit.
9. If the error reappears and your cable is connected via an active signal distribution solution, the distribution solution may be causing the short circuit; if possible, connect the Meinberg device directly to the antenna (thus circumventing the distribution solution) in order to test this.

Contact Meinberg Technical Support: https://www.meinbergglobal.com/english/support/tech-support.htm

— Manuel Schäfer manuel.schaefer@meinberg.de, last updated 2023-05-16