User's Manual

Vehicular Repeater System
Futurecom Systems Group Inc. 8A073X022_02 Rev. Preliminary Page 4
2. INTRODUCTION
The Futurecom MOBEXCOM® Vehicular Repeater is designed to interface to a range of mobile radios and control heads. It
permits expanded operation of portable radios. The Vehicular Repeater system consists of e.g. a MCS2000 VHF mobile radio,
MOBEXCOM® Vehicular Repeater unit, a mobile radio Control Head and a RF multiplexer. The Control Head communicates
with the Vehicular Repeater and the mobile using a serial data protocol.
REPEATER MODES
The Vehicular Repeater operates in one of three modes. The mode of operation is selectable from the Mobile Control Head by
the mobile radio operator.
The three modes are known as the MOBILE, LOCAL and SYSTEM modes. The function and purpose of each mode is
described as follows.
Mobile Mode
In the MOBILE mode, the vehicular repeater is completely disabled. The mobile radio is operational and will permit the mobile
radio user to communicate conventionally, using the mobile radio. The mobile user may select the desired mobile operating
channel, adjust the receiver volume level and transmit using the microphone Push-to-Talk (PTT).
This mode is used when Repeater operation is not desired. The Vehicular Repeater System operates similarly to a standard
mobile radio system, as if the Repeater were not present. The RF multiplexer is disabled and the antenna is connected directly
to the mobile radio.
The MOBILE mode should be selected if several Repeater equipped vehicles are in the same area and another Vehicular
Repeater already has LOCAL or SYSTEM mode enabled.
Local Repeat Mode
In the LOCAL repeat mode, the Vehicular Repeater is enabled to permit communications among nearby portable radio users
and the mobile radio user. Repeater signals are not retransmitted by the Mobile Radio, so that communications on the mobile
channel will not be disturbed. However, all functions of the mobile radio operate normally, except for scan, microphone mobile
Push-to-Talk, scan activation, mode selection, zone selection, home channel operation and mobile channel selection. When
the LOCAL repeat mode is selected, the mobile radio scan is deactivated and the mobile radio reverts to the selected mobile
channel. Signals received by the Vehicular Repeater receiver are heard in the mobile speaker and will also be retransmitted by
the Vehicular Repeater transmitter. Signals received by the Mobile receiver are heard in the Mobile speaker and will be
transmitted by the Vehicular Repeater. When signals are present in both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile receivers
simultaneously, the signal from the Vehicular Repeater will have priority in the mobile speaker. (Note that the receiver/PTT
and speaker priorities are programmable.)
The mobile user will key only the Vehicular Repeater transmitter when using the microphone Push-to-Talk. The Vehicular
Repeater receiver has full priority over the mobile radio operator microphone Push-to-Talk. To respond to a mobile signal, the
mobile operator must enter either the MOBILE or SYSTEM mode to be able to transmit from the mobile radio.
The mobile user may adjust the receiver volume level and transmit over the Vehicular Repeater using the microphone Push-to-
Talk.
The LOCAL mode, as the name implies, permits communications among portable radio users and the mobile radio operator,
without interfering with the mobile radio dispatch channels.
System Repeat Mode
In the SYSTEM repeat mode, both the Mobile Radio and the Vehicular Repeater are enabled to permit the full exchange of
communications among nearby portable radio users, the mobile radio user and the dispatcher and other users on the Mobile
Radio channel. Signals received by the Vehicular Repeater receiver are heard in the mobile speaker and will also be
retransmitted by both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile transmitters. Signals received by the Mobile receiver are heard in the
mobile radio speaker and are also retransmitted out of the Vehicular Repeater transmitter. However, all functions of the mobile
radio operate normally, except for scan, scan activation, mode selection, zone selection, home channel operation and mobile
channel selection. When the SYSTEM repeat mode is selected, the mobile radio scan is deactivated and the mobile radio
reverts to the selected mobile channel. When signals are present in both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile receivers
simultaneously, the signal from the Vehicular Repeater will have priority in the mobile speaker. (Note that the receiver/PTT and
speaker priorities are programmable.)