12804102L1ATRACER 4102 System (Plan A)
12804102L1BTRACER 4102 System (Plan B)
12804202L1ATRACER 4202 System (Plan A)
12804202L1BTRACER 4202 System (Plan B)
612804202L1-1A
January 2004
TrademarksTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
Trademarks
Any brand names and product names included in this manual are trademarks, registered trademarks, or
trade names of their respective holders.
To the Holder of the Manual
The contents of this manual are current as of th e date of publication. ADTRAN reserves the right to change
the contents without prior notice.
In no event will ADTRAN be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages or for
commercial losses even if ADTRAN has been advised thereof as a result of issue of this publication.
About this Manual
This manual provides a complete description of the TRACER 4102/4202 system and system software.
The purpose of this manual is to provide the technician, system administrator, and manager with
general and specific information related to the planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of the
TRACER 4102/4202. This manual is arranged so that needed information can be quickly and easily found.
When using your telephone equipment, please follow these basic safety precautions to reduce the risk of
fire, electrical shock, or personal injury:
1. Do not use this product near water, such as a bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a
wet basement, or near a swimming pool.
2. Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless-type) during an electrical storm. There is a remote
risk of shock from lightning.
3. Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.
4. Use only the power cord, power supply, and/or batteries indicated in the manual. Do not dispose of
batteries in a fire. They may explode. Check with local codes for special disposal instructions.
TRACER 4102/4202 System Manual FCC-Required Information
FCC-Required Information
Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interferen ce Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant
to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio frequencies. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.
Shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with Class A FCC limits.
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly appr oved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Radio Frequency Interface Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for an intentional radiator, pursuant to
Part 15, Subpart C of the FCC Rules. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy. If not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, it may cause interference to radio
communications.
The limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential situation.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna of the affected radio or television.
•Increase the separation between the equipment and the affected receiver.
•Connect the equipment and the affected receiver to power outlets on separate circuits.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ADTRAN could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
FCC-Required InformationTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
FCC Output Power Restrictions
The FCC does not require licensing to implement this device. License-free operation in the industrial,
scientific, and medical band is documented in FCC Rules Part 15.247. It is the responsibility of the
individuals designing and implementing the radio system to assure compliance with any pertinent FCC
Rules and Regulations. This device must be professionally installed.
Exposure to Radio Frequency Fields
The TRACER 4102 is designed to operate at 2.4 GHz with 100 mW maximum transmit power. The
TRACER 4202 is designed to operate at 5.8 GHz with 100 mW maximum transmit power.
This level of RF energy is below the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) levels specified in FCC OET
65:97-01. The installation of high gain antenna equipment in the system configuration may create the
opportunity for exposure to levels higher than recommended for the general population at a distance less
than 15 feet (4.6 meter) from the center of the antenna. The following precautions must be taken during installation of this equipment:
Verify the antenna installation meets all regulations specified in the National Electric
Code (NEC) Article 810.
•The installed antenna must not be located in a manner that allows exposure of the general population to
the direct beam path of the antenna at a distance less than 15 feet (4.6 meters). Installation on towers,
masts, or rooftops not accessible to the general population is recommended; or
•Mount the antenna in a manner that prevents any personnel from entering the area within 15 feet (4.6
meter) from the front of the antenna.
•It is recommended that the installer place radio frequency hazard warnings signs on the barrier that
prevents access to the antenna.
•Prior to installing the antenna to the TRACER 4102/4202 output, make sure the power is adjusted to the
settings specified in section 2 of this manual.
•During antenna installation, be sure that power to the TRACER equipment is turned off in order to
prevent any energy presence on the coaxial connector.
•During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not stand in front of the antenna assembly.
•During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not handle or touch the front of the antenna.
These simple precautions must be taken to prevent general population and installation personnel from
exposure to RF energy in excess of specified MPE levels.
TRACER 4102/4202 System Manual Warranty and Customer Service
Warranty and Customer Service
ADTRAN will repair and return this product within the warranty period if it does not meet its published
specifications or fails while in service. Warranty information can be found at www.adtran.com/warranty.
Customer Service, Product Support Information, and Training
ADTRAN will repair and return this product within the warranty period if it does not meet its published
specifications or fails while in service. Warranty information can be found at www.adtran.com/warranty.
A return material authorization (RMA) is required prior to returning equipment to ADTRAN. For service,
RMA requests, training, or more information, use the contact information given below.
Repair and Return
If you determine that a repair is needed, please contact our Customer and Product Service (CaPS)
department to have an RMA number issued. CaPS should also be contacted to obtain information
regarding equipment currently in house or possible fees associated with repair.
CaPS Department(256) 963-8722
Identify the RMA number clearly on the package (below address), and return to the following address:
ADTRAN Customer and Product Service
901 Explorer Blvd. (East Tower)
Huntsville, Alabama 35806
RMA # _____________
Pre-Sales Inquiries and Applications Support
Your reseller should serve as the first point of contact for support. If additional pre-sales support is needed,
the ADTRAN Support web site provides a variety of support services such as a searchable knowledge
base, latest product documentation, application briefs, case studies, and a link to submit a question to an
Applications Engineer. All of this, and more, is available at:
http://support.adtran.com
When needed, further pre-sales assistance is available by calling our Applications Engineering
Department.
Customer Service, Product Support Information, and TrainingTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
Post-Sale Support
Your reseller should serve as the first point of contact for support. If additional support is needed, the
ADTRAN Support web site provides a variety of support services such as a searchable knowledge base,
updated firmware releases, latest product documentation, service request ticket generation and
trouble-shooting tools. All of this, and more, is available at:
http://support.adtran.com
When needed, further post-sales assistance is available by calling our Technical Support Center. Please
have your unit serial number available when you call.
Technical Support(888) 4ADTRAN
Installation and Maintenance Support
The ADTRAN Custom Extended Services (ACES) program offers multiple types and levels of installation
and maintenance services which allow you to choose the kind of assistance you need. This support is
available at:
http://www.adtran.com/aces
For questions, call the ACES Help Desk.
ACES Help Desk(888) 874-ACES (2237)
Training
The Enterprise Network (EN) T echnical T raining Department offers training on our most po pular products.
These courses include overviews on product features and functions while covering applications of
ADTRAN's product lines. ADTRAN provides a variety of training options, including customized training
and courses taught at our facilities or at your site. For more information about training, please contact your
Territory Manager or the Enterprise Training Coordinator.
Training Phone(800) 615-1176, ext. 7500
Training Fax(256) 963-6700
Training Emailtraining@adtran.com
This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 4102/4202 System Manual is designed for use by network engineers, planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER
4102/4202.
This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 4102/4202 System Manual is designed for use by network engineers,
planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER 4102/4202.
It contains general information and describes physical and operational concepts, network relationships,
provisioning, testing, alarm status, and system monitoring. This section should be used in conjunction with
Section 3, Engineering Guidelines, of the system manual.
Section 1 System DescriptionTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
1.SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The ADTRAN TRACER® 4102 and 4202 wireless systems provide two independent T1 circuits over a
wireless link for up to 30 miles (line-of-sight path required). As authorized under Part 15.247 of the FCC
Rules, the TRACER 4102 and 4202 operate license-free in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Industrial, Scientific,
and Medical (ISM) bands, respectively. These bands require no frequency coordination or licensing of end
users.
For configuration and testing, the TRACER 4102/4202 provides the capability to control the remote system through a separate maintenance channel. The TRACER 4102/4202 has several built-in test capabilities
including remote loopback. Complete configuration and performance data is available through menus
accessed using a standard RS-232 terminal interface.
2.FEATURES AND BENEFITS
The following is a brief list of the TRACER 4102/4202 features and benefits:
Configuration and Management
•Easy to use VT100 control port (RS-232 interface) for configuration and monitoring
•Remote configuration of both ends of the wireless link, from each end of the link
Operational
•Two independent transparent T1 transmission paths, over digital microwave link
•No license required per FCC Rules Part 15.247
•Frequency: 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz (TRACER 4102) and 5.725 to 5.850 GHz (TRACER 4202)
Explains the basics of analyzing a wir eless micr owave link or path. The significa nt parameters ar e defined,
and several recommendations are offered.
TRACER 4102/4202 System ManualSection 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics
1.LINE-OF-SIGHT
The TRACER 4102 and 4202 systems are designed for operation in the license-free 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz
and 5.725 GHz to 5.850 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands, respectively. Radio wave
propagation in these bands exhibit microwave characteristics which are ideally suited for point-to-point,
line-of-sight communications. Line-of-Sight requires that the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna
are able to “see” each other, and that the straight-line path between the two antennas is free of obstructions,
such as buildings, trees, mountains, and, in longer paths, even the curvature of the earth. In addition, for
maximum signal strength the area around the visual line-of-sight where microwave signals reflect (Fresnel
zone) must also be free of obstructions. Fresnel zones are discussed in more detail on page 22.
Terminology
Point-to-Point
Line-of-Sight
Wireless communication from a single site to another individual
site. Contrast with point-to-multipoint.
An unobstructed, direct path exists between the transmitting and
the receiving antennas.
2.DECIBELS
Understanding the decibel (dB) format is key when discussing microwave path engineering because the
received signal power is often expressed in decibel format. In general, any quantity can be expressed in
decibels. If the quantity x is a power level (in Watts), the decibel equivalent is defined as
x
dB
10 log10x()
⋅
=
If the quantity x is referenced to a milliwatt (mW), then the decibel-milliwatt (dBm) is used instead of a
generic decibel.
x
x
dBm
=
10 log
⋅
------------ -
10
1mW
Using the decibel format simplifies power calculations by reducing multiplication and division operations
into addition and subtraction operations.
(dB)
(dBm)
3.CALCULATING THE FADE MARGIN
It is imperative to determine if the proposed microwave path is suitable (at a minimum) for
ideal, nondistorted signals before attempting installation.
The fade margin (F ) is a value in decibels (dB) that represents the amount of signal reduction that can be
tolerated before the link exceeds the specified bit error rate (BER). Fade margin is simply the difference
between the available signal power at the receiver (P
FPRP
–=
= PT + GT + GR - L - LP - P
sens
Higher levels of fade margin indicate stronger protection against signal fading and a more reliable link . For
Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering BasicsTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
most applications, 20 to 30 dB of fade margin should ensure a reliable link.
The following sections further discuss the necessary power calculations and their components.
4.RECEIVER POWER
The viability of a particular microwave path is determined by the power of the transmitted microwave
signal, the transmit and receive antenna gain, distance, and accumulated system losses (such as RF coaxial
cable losses and path loss).
The equation relating received signal power to the other microwave parameters is
2
λ
R
(Watts, W)
π
or (in decibel notation)
PTGTG
P
------------------------------=
R
()2d2L
4
= PT + GT + GR - L - L
P
R
(decibels referenced to a milliwatt, dBm)
P
where the variables in the equations are defined as
P
R
P
T
G
T
G
R
received power (dBm)
transmitted power (adjustable up to 20 dBm maximum)
transmit antenna gain (decibels referenced to an isotropic source – dBi)
receive antenna gain (dBi)
λcarrier wavelength (meters)
dpath distance (meters)
Lother losses (RF coaxial cable, etc. – dB)
L
P
path loss (dB)
When using decibel notation, all quantities must be individually converted to decibels
prior to performing addition and subtraction.
Figure 1 on page 17 illustrates a wireless link configuration containing all the parameters necessary for the
power budget analysis.
TRACER 4102/4202 System ManualSection 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics
P
L
L
λ
G
T
d, L
P
G
R
T
Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters
The following sections further discuss the power budget analysis and its components.
P
R
Antenna Gain
Actual transmit and receive antenna gain values depend strictly upon the physical characteristics of the
antennas installed for each link. In other words, the size of the dish determines the antenna gain. Using a
parabolic dish antenna results in the best performance. Antenna gains are specified in terms of decibels of
gain referenced to an isotropic source (dBi). An isotropic source is a hypothetical antenna having equal
radiation in all directions. Typical antenna gains are listed in Table 1; however, dish manufacturers can
provide gains for specific types of antennas.
Table 1. Antenna Gain for Given Dish Diameters
Dish Diameter
(in feet)
22128.5
42734.2
63137.5
83340.7
103542.5
123744.2
Gain at 2.4 GHz
(in dBi)
Gain at 5.8 GHz
(in dBi)
Transmitted Power (PT)
The FCC specifies the maximum transmitter power that may be used for antennae of a given gain. FCC
Rules Part 15, Subpart 247 allow for a maximum power of 1 Watt (30 dBm) into antennae of a gain less
than or equal to 6 dBi. At 2.4 GHz (TRACER 4102), the 1-watt maximum transmitter power must be
reduced by 1 dB for every 3 dB of antenna gain over 6 dBi. Since the TRACER 4102 maximum transmit
power is 100 milliwatts, only antennas with gains above 36 dBi (12-foot diameter parabolic dishes) require
any reduction in transmit power. For the 5.8 GHz band (TRACER 4202), there is no reduction in
transmitter output power required for antenna gains greater than 6 dBi.
Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering BasicsTRACER 4102/4202 System Manual
Carrier Wavelength (λ)
The carrier wavelength is the physical wavelength of the main RF carrier being used for communication,
and is usually approximated at the center frequency of the band (which is 2441.75 MHz for the
TRACER 4102 and 5787.5 MHz for the TRACER 4202). The carrier wavelength calculations follow:
λ = c / f (meters)
where
c = speed of light (in meters)
f = frequency (in Hz)
resulting in the following carrier wavelength (at 5787.5 MHz):
λ = 3.00 x 10¯
8
/ 5787.5 x 10
5
= 0.0518 m or 5.18 cm
Path Distance (d)
The path distance is simply the physical distance between the transmit and receive antennas. For the
TRACER 4102/4202, these distances can range up to 30 miles.
System Losses (L)
System losses are defined by RF coaxial cable loss, connector losses, and losses added from any additional
lightning protection devices for the power budget analysis. Coaxial cable is required to attach the
TRACER 4102/4202 to the antenna. The length of the cable varies from a few feet to hundreds of feet,
depending upon your application and the proximity of the TRACER 4102/4202 to the antenna. Various
grades of coaxial cable will work sufficiently well for connecting the TRACER 4102/4202 unit to the
antenna. A low-loss coaxial cable will minimize cable losses.
One end of the coaxial cable requires an N-type male connector (plug) to mate with the
TRACER 4102/4202 unit. The other end of the coaxial cable requires a connector compatible with
the antenna chosen for the installation (usually an N-type male connector). Additionally, ADTRAN
recommends that the outdoor connector on the coaxial cable be weatherproofed to prevent corrosion
and electrical shorting.
In areas wher e lightning strikes are frequent, a lightning arrestor should be installed
directly on the antenna coaxial cable. Installing lightning arrestors helps protect the
RF electronics in the downstream path from damaging voltages and currents
(including the TRACER 4102/4202 unit).