TB9400 Base Station Installation and Operation Manual MBC-00001-05 · Issue 5 · December 2013 (Draft)
Contact Information Tait Communications Corporate Head Office Tait Limited P.O. Box 1645 Christchurch New Zealand For the address and telephone number of regional offices, refer to our website: www.taitradio.com Copyright and Trademarks All information contained in this document is the property of Tait Limited. All rights reserved.
Contents Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Scope of Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Document Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Associated Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.4.2 Compliance Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 2.4.3 FCC Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 2.4.4 Unauthorized Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 3 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 3.1 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.4.3 5.4.4 5.4.5 5.4.6 Recommended Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Restricted Port Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Changing the Root Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuning the Reciter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 76 76 77 5.5 Installing the Base Station on Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix C – Identifying Front Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Tait Software License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preface Scope of Manual This manual provides information on installing and operating the TB9400 base station. It is intended for use by experienced technicians familiar with installing and operating base station equipment. It also includes configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting information. Except where stated otherwise, the information in this manual generally applies to both standard and receive-only base stations and reciters.
Associated Documentation The current set of TB9400 product documentation is provided in PDF format on the product CD. Updates are made available on the Tait support website. Printed copies of the documentation are available on request. ■ TB9400 Specifications Manual (MBC-00002-xx). ■ TaitNet P25 Trunked (TB9400) System Manual (MBA-00064-xx). The characters xx represent the issue number of the documentation.
1 Description The Tait TB9400 base station is a robust state-of-the-art digital fixed station that combines Tait’s proven strengths in reliability, high performance and modular design with software-based configurability and operation, digital signal processing and voice-over-IP technology. The base station is designed for operation in a Project 25 trunked or trunked simulcast radio network.
1.1 Features The following are some of the features of the base station: 10 Description ■ Fully compliant with the Project 25 Common Air Interface. Can therefore interoperate with any similarly compliant radios. ■ Linear power amplifier allows operation with Linear Simulcast Modulation (LSM). Future software upgrades will also allow P25 Phase 2 operation (H-DQPSK modulation). ■ Integrated built-in voting facility. No external voter is needed.
1.2 Modules The base station consists of a subrack with up to two transmit/receive channels, or up to two receive-only channels. Receive-only base stations are currently available for operation only on B3 band (148MHz to 174MHz1). The single PMU (power management unit) supplies and manages power to the whole subrack (refer to “Theory of Operation” on page 19). One reciter and one PA (power amplifier) are needed for each transmit/receive channel. The PA is not required for a receive-only base station.
Power Amplifier The PA amplifies the RF output from the reciter and is available in 50W and 100W models. The 50W model mounts vertically in the subrack, while the 100W model mounts horizontally as it has a wider heatsink. The 100W PA is also fitted with an airflow duct. 50W PA 100W PA Both models are designed to operate on the 28VDC output provided by the PMU. PAs are not required in a receive-only base station.
Front Panel The front panel is mounted onto the subrack with two quick-release fasteners. It incorporates the indicator LEDs, four-line LCD display, user controls, ambient temperature sensor and cooling fans. The indicator LEDS allow some monitoring of the operational status of the base station. The user controls and display allow the technician to configure the IP address of each module. Refer to “Front Panel” on page 36 for more information.
1.3 Mechanical Assembly This section illustrates the main mechanical components of the base station. Figure 1.1 below shows the configuration for a typical dual 50W base station. The subrack has six slots, numbered from right to left as viewed from the front of the subrack. The PMU occupies slots 5 and 6, with the reciter and PA pairs to the right of it in slots 1 to 4. Each PA is mounted vertically with its heatsink facing its associated reciter.
Figure 1.2 below shows the configuration for a typical single 50W base station. The PMU again occupies slots 5 and 6, with the reciter in slot 1 and PA in slot 2. The PA is mounted vertically with its heatsink facing the reciter. The PMU and the reciter/PA pair have their own cooling fans. Figure 1.
Figure 1.3 below shows the configuration for a typical 100 W base station. The PMU occupies slots 5 and 6, with the PA directly beside it in slots 3 and 4. The reciter occupies slot 1. Unlike the 50W PAs, the 100W PA is mounted horizontally with the heatsink facing upwards. It is also fitted with an airflow duct to channel the airflow from the cooling fan through the heatsink fins. Figure 1.
1.4 Frequency Bands and Sub-bands Much of the circuitry in the base station is common to all frequency bands, and is therefore covered by a single description in this manual. In some cases the descriptions refer to specific bands or sub-bands, and these are identified with the letters listed in the following table. Frequency Identification Frequency Band and Sub-band B band B3 = 148MHz to 174MHz H band H1 = 400MHz to 440MHz H2 = 440MHz to 480MHz K band K4 = 762MHz to 870MHza a.
1.6 Licenses Some operational functions of the base station are controlled by licenses. These functions will not work unless you purchase the appropriate feature license and enable the feature set controlled by that license. The feature sets currently available are listed below. P25 Common Air Interface Allows the base station to go into Online mode. Base stations are always provided with this license. P25 Trunking Operation Allows the base station to participate in a trunking system.
1.7 Theory of Operation The reciter receives RF signals from its RF input and sends RF from its RF output to the PA, along with a PA key signal. The PA sends an RF feedback signal to the reciter for linearization and power control purposes. The reciter also receives signals from, and sends signals to, the system interface, the Ethernet interface, and the front panel (see Figure 1.4).
The reciter carries out signal processing and has overall control of the base station. Its circuit boards are shown in Figure 1.5. Figure 1.5 Reciter boards RF Input RF Output RF Input (feedback from PA) Receiver Board Transmit Forward Board Transmit Reverse Board System Input and Output Reciter Control Board Ethernet Interface to Network Front Panel Maintainer Access The receiver board contains all the receiver circuitry, while the exciter circuitry is located on the transmit forward board.
1.7.1 Signal Paths Figure 1.6 gives an overview of signal paths within the reciter. Figure 1.6 Reciter signal paths Receive RF Interface ADC DDC Demodulator P25 Modem Transmit RF Interface DAC Cartesian Loop Control Modulator RTP Protocol Stack UDP Ethernet Interface IP Transmit RF Interface ADC (feedback from PA) Reciter Control Board Digital P25 signals from the receive RF interface pass through the digital receiver and P25 modem to the control software in the RISC processor.
1.7.3 Intermodule Communications A system control bus and a subrack interconnect board link the modules in the subrack and carry alarm and control signaling between the reciter and the other modules, as shown in Figure 1.7. Specific configuration settings for dual base stations are described in “Recommended Configuration Settings” on page 75. Intermodule communication paths PMU Fan mP mP 2 IC I2C 2 I C Current Source PA 1 Reciter 1 RS-485 Figure 1.
1.7.4 Power Management and Distribution The PMU manages the supply of power to ensure uninterrupted operation of the base station. A range of parameters is monitored and these can trigger alarms that are sent to the reciter. Alarms can be monitored via the web interface and reported via SNMP traps; they are also recorded in the reciter’s internal log file. AC to DC Changeover When the PMU has an AC and a DC module, the base station can be powered by either the AC (mains) or the DC (battery) supply.
Figure 1.8 Subrack power distribution Single DC Aux. DC AC PMU 28V Subrack Board 28V PA DC Dual Aux.
1.7.5 PMU Operation on DC Input The operation of the PMU on DC input is controlled by three sets of parameters: ■ user-programmable alarms ■ user-programmable startup and shutdown limits ■ battery protection limits The voltage range for each of these parameters is provided in Table 1.1 on page 26. Figure 1.9 on page 27 illustrates how these parameters interact, and how they control the operation of the PMU over a range of DC input voltages.
Table 1.1 PMU DC voltage limitsa Voltage Range Parameter User-programmable Alarmsb Low Battery Voltage High Battery Voltage 12V PMU 10V to 14V 14V to 17.5V 24V PMU 48V PMU 20V to 28V 28V to 35V 40V to 56V 56V to 70V User-programmable Limitsb Startup Voltage (after shutdown) 10.9V to 15V ±0.3V 21.8V to 30V ±0.5V 43.6V to 60V ±1V Shutdown Voltage 10V to 13.5V ±0.3V 20V to 27V ±0.
TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft) Stop Run Stop Run Description Off Software Alarm (High Battery Voltage) Active Off Software Alarm (Low Battery Voltage) Active Software Control & Hardware Combined Hardware Behaviour 0V Undervoltage Shutdown (HW) Shutdown Voltage (SW) Low Battery Voltage Alarm (SW Alarm) Startup Voltage (HW) Startup Voltage (SW) High Battery Voltage Alarm (SW Alarm) Overvoltage Shutdown Reset (HW) Overvoltage Shutdown (HW) DC
1.7.6 Front Panel Fans The front panel is equipped with three fans. One fan is for the PMU and the other two are for the reciter/PA pairs in a 50W base station, or for the PA and reciter in a 100W base station. Front panel fans do not operate continuously, but are switched on and off as needed. The PMU and PA control their own fan. Reciters request the front panel to turn on their fan. The reciter in slot 1can also carry out a fan test on all three fans.
2 General Safety and Regulatory Information This chapter provides general information on safety precautions for operating the base station.
2.1 Personal Safety 2.1.1 Unpacking and Moving the Equipment To prevent personal injury and equipment damage, we recommend that two people unpack and move the equipment. Caution A subrack complete with modules can weigh up to 55lb (25kg), or up to 62lb (28kg) complete with packaging. We recommend that you have another person help you unpack and move the equipment. The TBAA03-16 carrying handles will make it easier to move the equipment once it has been unpacked.
2.1.3 2.1.4 AC Power Connection English (en) The PMU must be connected to a grounded mains socket-outlet. Norsk (no) Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt. Suomi (fi) Laite on liitettävä suojamaadoitus-koskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan. Svenska (sv) Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag. Explosive Environments Warning Do not operate the equipment near electrical blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere. Operating the equipment in these environments is a definite safety hazard.
2.2 Equipment Safety 2.2.1 Installation and Servicing Personnel The equipment should be installed and serviced only by qualified personnel. 2.2.2 Preventing Damage to the PA The base station has been designed to operate safely under a wide range of antenna loading conditions. Transmitting into a low VSWR will maximize the power delivered to the antenna. Notice Do not remove the load from the PA while it is transmitting. Load transients (switching or removing the load) can damage the PA output stage.
2.2.4 Anti-tampering Devices All network elements should be physically secured, where possible. This includes the use of locked cabinets and the use of seals on connectors. All network connectors should be sealed with the stick-on type of seal. The purpose of the seals is to detect unauthorized tampering. The seal should reveal if any of the connectors have been unplugged or if any unauthorized equipment has been plugged in.
2.4 Regulatory Information 2.4.1 Distress Frequencies The 406 to 406.1MHz frequency range is reserved worldwide for use by Distress Beacons. Do not program transmitters to operate in this frequency range. 2.4.2 Compliance Standards This equipment has been tested and approved to various national and international standards. Refer to the latest issue of the Specifications Manual for a complete list of these standards. 2.4.
3 Operation This section describes the user controls and indicator LEDs on the front panel and on the base station modules.
3.1 Front Panel The user controls and indicator LEDs on the front panel are shown in Figure 3.1. They allow some manual control over the base station and monitoring of its operational status. Notice If there is more that one reciter in a subrack, inputs from all reciters are summed to drive the front panel LEDs. Figure 3.
f The amber receive LED indicates whether the base station is receiving a valid RF signal. Receive LED LED Description On (steady) A base station is receiving a valid RF signal. Off A base station is not receiving a valid RF signal. g Transmit LED The amber transmit LED is lit while the transmitter is transmitting. h Keypad The keypad is used to navigate the base station’s menus, enter text, and to adjust the contrast of the display.
i Display The display is used in conjunction with the keypad to access the base station’s menus. It allows the technician to configure the IP address of each reciter (refer to “Setting the IP Address” on page 48), and to set the contrast of the display (see below). After the base station is powered up, the display shows “Please wait...” while the base station is starting up, followed by the home screen when the start-up process is complete.
Menu Map The menu map below shows the menu items available in this release of the base station. Notice The menu map shown is for a single base station. The menu items available in your base station will depend on which modules are present in the subrack, and whether the keypad has been disabled (refer to “Disabling the Front Panel Keypad” on page 60). Home Screen Base Station Modules Modules Reciter 1 Front Panel Reciter 1 View Reciter 1 Address Edit Reciter 1 Address View Reciter 1 Address IP: 172.
3.2 Module Indicator LEDs and Switches Additional status information is displayed by LEDs in individual modules. The PMU also has switches that let you turn the AC and DC modules off. 3.2.1 Reciter The indicator LEDs on the front of the reciter are visible through a slot in its front panel. Front View Figure 3.
The indicator LEDs on the rear of the reciter are on the Ethernet connector. Rear View Figure 3.3 Indicator LEDs on the rear of the reciter b b indicator LEDs These LEDs provide the following information about the state of the reciter: ■ steady amber - the Ethernet interface is connected ■ flashing green - data is being transmitted across the Ethernet interface.
3.2.2 PA The indicator LEDs on the PA are visible through a slot in its front panel. Figure 3.
3.2.3 PMU The only controls on the PMU are the on/off switches on the rear panel for the AC and DC modules, and the indicator LEDs visible through a slot in its front panel. Figure 3.5 Operating controls on the PMU rear view front view b b c AC module on/off switch c d d indicator LEDs DC module on/off switch Warning The AC and DC module on/off switches do not totally isolate the internal circuitry of the PMU from the AC or DC power supplies.
Indicator LEDs These LEDs provide the following information about the state of the PMU: ■ steady green - the PMU is powered up ■ flashing green - the PMU has no application firmware loaded or activated; you can use the web interface to download or activate the firmware; also see “Preparing to Download Firmware” on page 61 ■ flashing red - one or more alarms have been generated; you can use the web interface to find out more details about the alarms ■ flashing red and green - the PMU is in battery pr
4 Working with Base Stations from Your PC The normal web browser on your PC provides a window into the TB9400 base station. Use it to connect to the base station so that you can monitor, configure, diagnose, and calibrate it (if required). This section describes the following: ■ Connecting to the base station, including initially setting things up. ■ Working with base station web pages. ■ Carrying out basic tasks. This section provides an overview of some aspects of the web interface.
4.1 PC Recommendations We recommend the following PC hardware and software for connecting to a TB9400 base station: ■ SVGA Monitor (1024 x 768 minimum). ■ Network connection. ■ Mozilla Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR), currently version 17.0.7; Microsoft Internet Explorer version 8 or version 9. The base station has been tested with these browsers, however other modern browsers should also be compatible. 4.
4.2.1 Logging In 1. Enter the base station’s URL into your browser using a secure-socket connection ( https://) . To find out the base station’s IP address, on the front panel select Modules > Reciter 1 (or 2) > View Reciter 1 (or 2) Address. To set the IP address, refer to “Setting the IP Address” on page 48. Notice If access to this menu has been disabled, you cannot use the front panel to find out the IP address. Make sure that you store the IP address securely and do not lose it. 2.
4.2.2 Setting the IP Address Before the base station is installed on site, you need to provide it with its proper IP address. Make sure that you do not lose this address. A quick way to set the base station’s IP address is to use the front panel, as described below. Notice If access to this menu on the front panel has been disabled, log in to the base station and set the IP address using the web interface (Identity > Identity > Network Identity). 1.
4.2.3 Responding to Security Warnings When your browser connects to a TB9400 for the first time, it raises a security warning. Normally, secure websites have a security certificate issued by a trusted Certification Authority. This is to foil attempts by rogue websites to pretend to be something they are not. The TB9400 creates a self-signed certificate when the reciter’s firmware is installed.
4.2.4 Connecting a Networked PC to a Base Station You may want to temporarily disconnect a networked PC from its LAN in order to be able to establish a direct connection with the base station. A physical connection is needed as well as an alternate (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP) or temporary (Windows 2000) IP address and subnet mask. Windows 7 or Windows Vista 1. Remove the local area Ethernet connection and connect an Ethernet patch cable between the PC and the base station.
8. Select the User configured option, and then enter a number that is on the same subnet as the base station. For example, if the TB9400 has IP 192.168.1.2, enter 192.168.1.1 for the PC. 9. Enter a suitable subnet mask, for example 255.255.255.0. The web browser should now be able to connect to any physically connected base station that is on the same subnet. Windows 2000 10. Once the web browser session is finished, re-connect the local area network cable to the PC.
4.2.5 Troubleshooting Connection Problems If the attempt to connect to a base station failed, consider these possible causes. 1. Your PC is part of your organization’s LAN and does not belong to the same subnet as the base station. Give the PC a suitable IP address and subnet mask as described in “Connecting a Networked PC to a Base Station” on page 50. 2. You are attempting to connect to the wrong IP address. Check that the IP address is correct.
4.3 Working with the Web Interface This section provides an overview of the web interface. Refer to the Help for detailed instructions. When you connect to a base station, the browser displays a page like the following. Accordion menu Status bar Alarm status. Click System Status to go to the Alarms screen. Model and name of base station Mode (online or offline). Click Mode to go to the screen where you can change mode.
4.3.1 Monitoring Operation Using the monitoring pages, you can see how the base station is currently operating. For example, you can see the status of its trunking interface (Monitor > Interfaces > Trunking).
4.3.2 Viewing Configuration Settings The base station has many configuration settings that personalize it for its particular role in the network. Some settings, such as those for the trunking interface (Configure > Network Interfaces > Trunking), always apply. Others are channel-based so that they can be dynamically changed. To view these, you first need to know the channel that the base station is operating on. Select Identity > Identity > Base Station to see its default channel number.
Channel and signaling settings are grouped together in profiles. The channel configuration indicates the number of the currently active profile. To view the channel profile settings, select Configure > RF Interface > Channel Profiles and then click the relevant profile number. Proceed in a similar way to view signaling profile and channel group settings.
4.3.3 Viewing the Base Station and Network Identity Each base station in a network has a unique base station and network identity. Select Identity > Identity and then Base Station or Network to view details such as name, receiver number, default channel and network addresses. Note that the Host name field has a maximum of 63 characters, and may use the characters a–z, 0–9, dot and hyphen.
4.4 Basic Tasks 4.4.1 User Settings Click on your user name in the top right corner of the page to choose whether the temperature is displayed in Fahrenheit or Celsius1, and to change your password. Note that this information is stored in the reciter, not in your browser. 4.4.2 Taking the Base Station Offline You may need to take the base station offline in order to carry out diagnostic tests or to take it out of service if a fault develops. 4.4.3 1.
4.4.4 Working with Configuration Files At any time, you can save the current configuration settings as a file (Tools > Files > Configuration). This is stored in the base station, but we recommend that you download it and store it on your computer as an offsite backup. The base station identity and network identity are not saved as part of the configuration file. You may want to develop a master configuration and upload it to all base stations in the network.
Configure the channel group settings to specify fixed marshalling and allow a duration of 40ms. This gives the control channel’s transmitter an appropriate buffer (control channels do not use the preamble to regulate the transmit buffer). Trunking Interface 4.4.6 Single base stations need a control connection to their site controller. A single base station interfaces to the site controller in the same way as the master base station in a trunked channel group.
4.4.9 Preparing to Download Firmware New versions of base station firmware are remotely downloaded to base stations from a package server (a web server application). You can set up a single computer to be the central package server for all the base stations on your network, using a web server of your choice. Tait also provides the Mongoose1 web server as part of the base station firmware package for use with a temporary package server, such as a laptop.
Setting Up a Central Package Server It is beyond the scope of this manual to describe the exact procedure for setting up a central package server for any particular network. Tait expects that each customer will configure their own package server according to the requirements for their network. However, you do need to configure each base station with the IP address and port of the package server computer. 1. Log in to the base station and select Configure > Base Station > Miscellaneous. 2.
■ TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft) The base station has enough space for two firmware packages. If the base station already has two packages, delete the unwanted package before downloading another.
Working with Base Stations from Your PC TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
5 Installation This chapter provides information on the site requirements for your TB9400 equipment and also describes how to install the base station in a standard 19 inch rack or cabinet. If this is your first time installing a TB9400 base station, we recommend that you read the entire chapter before beginning the actual installation.
5.1 Before You Begin 5.1.1 Equipment Security The security of your base station equipment is a high priority. If the site is not fully secure, the base station should at least be locked in a secure cabinet to prevent unauthorized access. 5.1.2 Grounding and Lightning Protection Electrical Ground The base station modules are grounded by physical contact between the module case and the subrack.
5.1.5 Cabinet and Rack Ventilation The cooling airflow for the base station enters through the front panel and exits at the rear of the subrack. For optimum thermal performance, the heated air that has passed through a base station must not be allowed to reenter the air intakes on the front panel. Any space at the front of the cabinet not occupied by equipment should be covered by a blanking panel. Refer to Figure 5.1 on page 68.
Figure 5.1 Typical cabinet ventilation requirements top view b 8in (20cm) side view front view 2U c e d ≥7in (≥17.
5.2 Unpacking and Moving the Subrack The subrack is packed in a strong corrugated cardboard carton with top and bottom foam cushions. To prevent personal injury and damage to the equipment, we recommend that two people unpack and move the subrack. To remove the subrack from the carton, follow the procedure illustrated in Figure 5.2. Caution A subrack complete with modules can weigh up to 46lb (21kg), or up to 53lb (24kg) complete with packaging.
3. 4. Slide the carton upwards over the foam cushions and lift it away e. Remove the cushion from the bottom of the subrack f. Rotate the subrack and cushion carefully over the rear of the subrack g so that it is the right way up with the cushion on top h. Remove the cushion from the top of the subrack i. Disposal of Packaging 70 Installation If you do not need to keep the packaging, we recommend that you recycle it according to your local recycling methods.
5.3 Identifying the Equipment You can identify the model and hardware configuration of the TB9400 modules by referring to the product code printed on labels at the rear of each module. The meaning of each character in the product code is explained in the tables below. This explanation of product codes is not intended to suggest that any combination of features is necessarily available in any one product.
PMU Product Codes 72 Installation Product Code Description TBAXXXX-XXXX 3 = PMU TBA3XXX-XXXX 0 = default TBA3XXX-XXXX 0 = AC module not fitted A = AC module fitted TBA3XXX-XXXX 0 = DC module not fitted 1 = 12V DC module fitted 2 = 24V DC module fitted 4 = 48V DC module fitted TBA3XXX-XXXX 0 = standby power supply card not fitted 1 = 12VDC standby power supply card fitted 2 = 24VDC standby power supply card fitted 4 = 48VDC standby power supply card fitted TBA3XXX-XXXX 0 = auxiliary power sup
5.4 Initial Setting Up Before putting the base station into service, you may want to carry out some basic functional testing, configuration, and tuning (if required). This section provides an overview of these procedures: 5.4.
Functional Tests Test The following table provides an overview of the tests available using the web interface. Refer to the Help for full details of these tests.
5.4.2 Customizing the Configuration The following steps provide an overview of the process used to configure the base station with the settings it needs. Refer to the Help for detailed information. 1. Log in to the base station (refer to “Connecting Your PC to the Base Station” on page 46 for more details). 2. Select Configure. The base station has many different settings that can be configured before it is put into operation, such as: 3.
5.4.4 Restricted Port Numbers Certain configuration settings in the base station’s web interface require you to enter a port number (for example, the trunking interface and channel groups). Two ranges of port numbers are unavailable for use with the base station. The web interface will prevent you from entering a number from these ranges, as explained below. Restricted Port Numbers 5.4.5 Details 0 – 1023 The “well-known ports”, commonly used by other devices in a network.
5.4.6 Tuning the Reciter B3-Band Reciter Before the base station is installed on site, you may need to tune the receiver front end. The receiver front end requires tuning if the receive frequency is shifted more than 2MHz away from the previously set frequency, or the RSSI level of the new frequency is more than 1dB lower than the RSSI level of the previously set frequency. The receiver in the B3-band reciter covers the 148 to 174MHz frequency band.
5. Change the RF input signal to the new receive frequency at –80dBm. Check that the RSSI reading is –80dBm ±1dB. If it is, the receiver front end does not require tuning. If it is not, go to the next step. 6. Using the Johanson tuning tool1, adjust the correct helical filter for the new frequency (as shown in Figure 5.3) to obtain a peak RSSI reading. This reading should be within 1dB of the reading at the previous frequency.
H-Band Reciter Before the base station is installed on site, you may need to tune the receiver front end. The receiver front end requires tuning if the receive frequency is shifted more than 5MHz away from the previously set frequency, or the RSSI level of the new frequency is more than 1dB lower than the RSSI level of the previously set frequency. The receiver in the H-band reciter covers one of the following frequency sub-bands, depending on the model: ■ H1 - 400 to 440MHz ■ H2 - 440 to 480MHz.
5. Change the RF input signal to the new receive frequency at –80dBm. Check that the RSSI reading is –80dBm ±1dB. If it is, the receiver front end does not require tuning. If it is not, go to the next step. 6. Using the Johanson tuning tool1, adjust the helical filter for the new frequency (as shown in Figure 5.4) to obtain a peak RSSI reading. This reading should be within 1dB of the reading at the previous frequency.
5.5 Installing the Base Station on Site 5.5.1 Base Stations for Trunked Systems When installing base stations that are part of a trunked system, it is very important to observe good site engineering rules. This is especially true when the channels are combined into a single antenna. If at all possible, the RF planner should avoid frequency plans in which the Rx to Tx spacing is an exact multiple of the trunked channel spacing, thus forcing Tx intermodulation products to fall outside the Rx channels.
5.5.3 Mounting the Subrack Caution A subrack complete with modules can weigh up to 55lb (25kg), or up to 62lb (28kg) complete with packaging. We recommend that you have another person help you unpack and move the equipment. The TBAA03-16 carrying handles will make it easier to move the equipment once it has been unpacked. If necessary, remove the modules from the subrack before moving it (refer to “Replacing Modules” on page 99). In all cases follow safe lifting practices. Figure 5.
Figure 5.6 below gives the dimensions of the subrack and its mounting holes. Figure 5.6 Subrack dimensions 17 in (432 mm) 14.8 in (375.5 mm) 19 in (482.6 mm) 14.7 in (373.5 mm) 18.3 in (465.1 mm) 14.37 in (365 mm) 4 in 6.96 in (176.8 mm) (101.6 mm) 5.25 in (133.4 mm) 0.42 in (10.6 mm) 0.26 in (6.
Auxiliary Support Bracket TBAA03-13 auxiliary support brackets can be fitted to the rear of the subrack to provide additional mounting security. Figure 5.7 shows a standard TBAA03-13 bracket b fitted in a typical Tait cabinet c. If you are not using the Tait cabinet, you may have to make your own brackets to suit your installation. Figure 5.7 Auxiliary support bracket b c Notice You must fit the auxiliary support brackets if you intend to transport a cabinet fitted with a fully built-up base station.
DC Power Cabling DC power cables should be well supported so that the terminals on the PMU and on the ends of the cables do not have to support the full weight of the cables. Figure 5.8 shows two recommended methods of securing these cables to prevent straining either set of terminals. We recommend that you fit the supplied covers to the DC terminals to protect against accidental shorts. Figure 5.
5.6 Connecting Up the Base Station This section provides information relevant to the task of connecting up the various inputs and outputs of the base station. 5.6.1 Connection Overview The connections at the rear of a 100W base station are identified in Figure 5.9. External connections are all located at the rear of the subrack. Figure 5.
5.6.2 Connecting AC Power The PMU is designed to accept a mains input of 88 to 264VAC at 45 to 65Hz. A standard 3-wire grounded socket outlet must be used to supply the AC power. The socket outlet must be installed near the equipment and must be easily accessible. This outlet should be connected to an AC power supply capable of providing at least 600W. The requirements of two typical AC supplies are given in the following table.
5.6.3 Connecting DC Power The PMU is designed to accept a nominal 12VDC, 24VDC or 48VDC input (depending on the model) with negative or positive ground. There is a minimum DC startup threshold to prevent damaging a battery which has little capacity left. You must connect the DC supply from the battery to the PMU via a fuse or DC-rated circuit breaker with a contact separation of 3mm, and with the appropriate rating, as shown in the table below.
5.6.4 Connecting the Auxiliary DC Power Output The PMU can provide an auxiliary DC output from the auxiliary power supply board. This board is available with an output of 13.65VDC, 27.3VDC, or 54.6VDC (depending on the model), and is current limited to 3A, 1.5A or 750mA respectively. This power supply is permanently on as soon as the base station has finished powering up, and is available on the auxiliary output connector on the rear panel.
5.6.5 Connecting RF Notice Do not remove the load from the PA while it is transmitting as this may damage the PA output stage. Before disconnecting any RF cables, put the base station into Offline mode to prevent any transmissions. The RF input to the base station is via the marked BNC connector on the rear panel of the reciter. The RF output is via the N-type connector on the rear panel of the PA (refer to Figure 5.9 on page 86). Cables and antennas should be of high quality construction.
5.6.6 Connecting an External Frequency Reference For K4 Band, the internal frequency reference accuracy is inadequate, and an external reference must be used. An external reference is also required for simulcast. The external reference frequency can be 10MHz or 12.8MHz, with an input level of 300mVpp to 5V pp. The stability of this reference should be better than 50 parts per billion (for non-simulcast) or ≤1 part per billion (for simulcast).
5.6.7 Connecting a 1PPS Source A 1PPS signal is required for simulcast base stations. Use a 50Ω coaxial cable (RG58 or RG223) to connect the source to the base station’s 1PPS input. You can daisy-chain up to eight base stations using F-junctions. We recommend that the cable length between the first and last load is kept to a minimum. This will reduce any propagation variation between base stations. The maximum overall cable length is 30m.
5.6.9 Connecting General Purpose Inputs and Outputs The base station has a number of general purpose inputs and outputs. These are connected via the 25-way D-range on the rear panel. The pin allocations for the D-range connector are given in the following table. Not all pins are used in this release of the base station.
Installation TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
6 Maintenance The base station is designed to be very reliable and should require little maintenance. However, performing regular checks will prolong the life of the equipment and prevent problems from happening. It is beyond the scope of this manual to list every check that you should perform on your base station. The type and frequency of maintenance checks will depend on the location and type of your system.
Cooling Fans 96 Maintenance The cooling fans have a long service life and have no special maintenance requirements. You can use the web interface to configure the base station to generate an alarm if any of the front panel cooling fans fails. Refer to the Help for more details.
7 Troubleshooting Check that all front and rear connectors and cables are in place, and that power switches are on. If problems persist, contact your regional Tait office. Symptom Possible Cause Action Alarm LED red and steady The base station is in (not flashing) Offline mode Use the web interface to put the base station in Online mode Alarm LED flashing One or more faults are present Use the web interface to identify the faulty module Alarm LED flashing, display shows “Please wait...
Troubleshooting TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
8 Replacing Modules Caution The 100W PA and PMU weigh between 9.3lb (4.2kg) and 15.4lb (7kg) each. Take care when handling these modules to avoid personal injury. Notice The cooling fans are mounted on the front panel and will only operate when the panel is fitted correctly to the front of the subrack. To ensure adequate airflow through the base station, do not operate it for more than a few minutes with the front panel removed (e.g. for servicing purposes).
8.1 Saving the Base Station’s Configuration Before replacing a module in the base station, you should decide whether you need to save its configuration data. If you are unsure whether you have a record of the configuration, backup and save the configuration file before removing any modules. Once you have replaced the module, you will be able to restore the original configuration to the base station. If one or more of the modules is faulty, you may be unable to save the configuration.
8.2 Preliminary Disassembly Hot-pluggable Modules The reciter, PA and front panel are hot-pluggable and can be removed without powering down the whole base station. These modules can also be removed without disrupting the system control bus communications with the other modules in the subrack. Notice Before removing a PA, first disconnect the DC input, transmit forward input and transmit reverse output, followed by the RF output.
Remove the Front Panel 1. Using a Pozidriv PZ2 screwdriver, undo the fastener at each end of the front panel b with a quarter turn counterclockwise. c unlocked locked b 2. Cable Retaining Clips Place a finger in the recess c provided at each end of the front panel and pull the front panel away from the subrack.
8.3 Removal Replacing a Reciter 1. If you have not already done so, carry out the instructions in “Preliminary Disassembly” on page 101. 2. At the rear of the reciter, unplug the RF input cable b, any system cables c, and the external reference d and 1PPS e cables (if fitted). 3. At the front of the reciter, unplug the transmit reverse f and transmit forward g cables (if fitted), and move both cables to one side. Unplug both ends of the system control bus cable h and remove it. 4.
Refitting 104 1. Slide the replacement reciter into the subrack and secure it with the retaining clamp. 2. Reconnect all the front and rear panel cables previously disconnected. Ensure the front panel cables are positioned correctly, and retained where required by the cable retaining clips in the top of the subrack (refer to “Appendix B – Inter-Module Connections” on page 117). 3. Tighten the nut on the SMA connector to a torque of 5lbf·in (0.6N·m). 4.
8.4 Replacing a Power Amplifier Notice Before removing a PA, first disconnect the DC input, transmit forward input and transmit reverse output, followed by the RF output. After refitting the PA, reconnect the RF output first, followed by the transmit forward input, transmit reverse output, and then the DC input. Removal 1. If you have not already done so, carry out the instructions in “Preliminary Disassembly” on page 101. 2.
5. Tighten the nut on the SMA connector to a torque of 5lbf·in (0.6N·m). 6. Carry out the instructions in “Final Reassembly” on page 110.
8.5 Replacing a Power Management Unit Notice You must disconnect the AC and DC power cables before removing the PMU from the subrack. Removal 1. If you have not already done so, carry out the instructions in “Preliminary Disassembly” on page 101. 2. At the front of the PMU, unplug and remove the output power cable b to the subrack interconnect board. Also unplug and remove the system control bus cable c. 3. Unplug the output power cable to the PA d and move it to one side. 4.
8.6 Replacing the Module Guide Rails The module guide rails are held in place by four hooks that fit through the slots in the top and bottom of the subrack. There is also a locking tab which prevents the guide rails from working loose. Notice Subracks produced from late 2008 onwards have wider slots than earlier subracks. Guide rails designed for these wider slots will not fit older subracks with narrow slots. Removal 1. Bottom Guide Rails a.
8.7 Replacing the Subrack Interconnect Board Removal Refitting Figure 8.1 1. If you have not already done so, carry out the instructions in “Preliminary Disassembly” on page 101. 2. Disconnect any system control bus cables and DC power cables from the subrack board. 3. Remove the three M3 nuts and spring washers b securing the right end of the board to the subrack. 4. Remove the D-range cover c. 5. Remove the two retaining clamps d securing the left end and centre of the board. 6.
8.8 Final Reassembly Notice You must fit the correct type of front panel to your base station. The different types of front panel and fan ducts are explained in “Appendix C – Identifying Front Panels” on page 117. 1. Before fitting the front panel, ensure that all cables are secured and positioned correctly so they are clear of the fan ducts (refer to “Appendix B – Inter-Module Connections” on page 117). Otherwise the panel may not fit properly, or you may damage the cables. 2. Refit the Front Panel a.
Appendix A – Interface Pin Allocations System Interface Connector For the pin allocations for the system interface D-range connector, see “Connecting General Purpose Inputs and Outputs” on page 93.
Appendix A – Interface Pin Allocations TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
Appendix B – Inter-Module Connections Dual 50W Base Station The connections between modules at the front of a dual 50W base station are shown below.
Single 50W Base Station The connections between modules at the front of a single 50W base station are shown below.
100W Base Station The connections between modules at the front of a 100W base station are shown below.
Appendix B – Inter-Module Connections TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
Appendix C – Identifying Front Panels You must fit the correct type of front panel to your base station. Each type of base station has a different combination of modules, and must use a front panel fitted with fan ducts that match those modules. Each module, or pair of modules, requires a specific type of fan duct to ensure the cooling air flow passes directly through the modules’ heatsinks.
TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
Glossary This glossary contains an alphabetical list of terms and abbreviations related to the Tait P25 network and the TB9400 base station. ADC Analog-to-Digital Converter. A device for converting an analog signal to a digital signal that represents the same information. AMBE+2™ Advanced Multiband Excitation. A voice compression technology patented by Digital Voice Systems, Inc and used in the vocoders of P25 radios. ANI Automatic Number Identification.
call A complete exchange of information between two or more parties. A call requires a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. In conventional systems, a call is an over, but in trunked systems, a call may be a conversation, made up of a number of overs. Cartesian Loop The reciter’s RF output is fed to the PA through the transmit forward path. A coupled signal from the PA’s RF output is fed back to the reciter through the transmit reverse path.
CWID Continuous Wave Identification is a method of automatically identifying the base station using a Morse code. Continuous wave means transmission of a signal with a single frequency that is either on or off, as opposed to a modulated carrier. DAC Digital-to-Analog Converter. A device for converting a digital signal to an analog signal that represents the same information. DDC Digital Down Converter.
feature code The alphanumeric code used to identify a feature set. feature set A function or mode of operation of the base station which can be enabled or disabled using the web interface. Each feature set requires a license to be purchased from Tait before it can be enabled. feature license key The unique set of digits belonging to a license which is programmed into the base station to enable a feature set.
hysteresis The difference between the upper and lower trigger points. For example, the receiver unmutes when the upper trigger point is reached, but will mute again until the level falls to the lower trigger point. An adequate hysteresis prevents the receiver gate from repeatedly muting and unmuting when the level varies around the trigger point. I2C A bi-directional two-wire serial bus which is used to connect integrated circuits (ICs).
marshalling duration The length of time that the voice stream needs to travel from the central voter to the furthest channel group member. The fixed marshalling duration parameter includes the time needed to fill the transmit buffer to the required level. master The channel group master is the member with the control connection to the trunking site controller. multicast group The group of hosts associated with a specific IP multicast address.
outbound Describes the direction of a signal: from a fixed station over the air interface to an SU. over A single transmission, which begins when a user presses PTT and ends when the user stops pressing. P25 Project 25. A suite of standards and requirements endorsed by the TIA and intended for digital public safety radio communications systems. PA The Power Amplifier is a base station module that boosts the exciter output to the required transmit level. PCB Printed Circuit Board.
transmissions are made on the receive frequency programmed for the channel. RISC Reduced Instruction Set Computer. A type of microprocessor that recognizes a relatively limited number of instructions. The reciter’s control board has a RISC microprocessor. router A router is an internetwork packet switch that switches data packets from an input interface to an output interface. The interfaces can be of different types.
simulcast The simultaneous broadcast by more than one transmitter of the same signal on the same frequency. SINAD Signal plus Noise and Distortion is a measure of signal quality. It is the ratio of (signal + noise + distortion) to (noise + distortion). A SINAD of 12dB corresponds to a signal-to-noise ratio of 4:1. site 1. The base station equipment at a particular location. This includes power supplies, transmitters, receivers, network interfaces and controllers. 2. The location of that equipment.
system control bus Provides the following physical paths in a TB9400 base station: ■ I2C and RS-485 communications between the modules in the subrack ■ fan power from the PMU ■ power connections for the reciter and front panel. TaitNet Brand name for a PMR network designed and manufactured by Tait Limited. Tait P25 network A set of Tait base stations interconnected by an IP network that can carry voice and data traffic.
uplink The transmission path from SUs to fixed equipment. UTC Coordinated Universal Time (word order from French). An international time standard that has replaced Greenwich Mean Time. valid signal A signal that the receiver unmutes to. A signal is valid, for example, when it is strong enough to be decoded and when it has the specified NAC. voice stream A digitized voice signal that passes through the main switch. VoIP Voice over IP.
TB9400 Installation and Operation Manual © Tait Limited December 2013 (Draft)
Tait Software License Agreement This Software License Agreement ("Agreement") is between you (“Licensee”) and Tait Limited (“Tait"). By using any of the Software items embedded and pre-loaded in the related Tait Designated Product, included on CD, downloaded from the Tait website, or provided in any other form, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, do not install or use any of the Software.
solely in connection with Licensee's use of the Designated Products for the useful life of the Designated Products. This Agreement does not grant any rights to source code. 3.2. If the Software licensed under this Agreement contains or is derived from Open Source Software, the terms and conditions governing the use of such Open Source Software are in the Open Source Software Licenses of the copyright owner and not in this Agreement.
no representations or warranties with respect to any third-party software included in the Software. 6.2 Tait sole obligation to Licensee, and Licensee’s exclusive remedy under this warranty, is to use reasonable efforts to remedy any material Software defect covered by this warranty. These efforts will involve either replacing the media or attempting to correct significant, demonstrable program or documentation errors or Security Vulnerabilities.
indirect, or consequential arising out of or in connection with any use or inability of using the Software. 10.2. Licensee’s sole remedy against Tait will be limited to breach of contract and Tait sole and total liability for any such claim shall be limited at the option of Tait to the repair or replacement of the Software or the refund of the purchase price of the Software. Section 11 GENERAL 11.1. COPYRIGHT NOTICES.
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