Adtran TRC6420 Users Manual

TRACER 6420

System Manual

12806420L1A TRACER 6420 5.8 GHz System (Plan A)

12806420L1B TRACER 6420 5.8 GHz System (Plan B)

612806420L1-1A January 2005

Trademarks TRACER 6420 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 the 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 6420 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 6420. This manual is arranged so that needed information can be quickly and easily found.

901 Explorer Boulevard

P.O. Box 140000

Huntsville, AL 35814-4000

Phone: (256) 963-8000

Printed in U.S.A.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Revision History

Revision History

Document

Revision

A December 2004

Notes provide additional useful information.

Cautions signify information that could prevent service interruption.

Warnings provide information that could prevent damage to the equipment or endangerment to human life.

Date Description of Changes

Initial release of manual to include the TRACER 6420 (5.8 GHz integrated system) and the Quad T1 and Ethernet Switch modules.

Safety Instructions TRACER 6420 System Manual

Safety Instructions

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.

Save These Important Safety Instructions

TRACER 6420 System Manual FCC-Required Information

FCC-Required Information

Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference 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 approved 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 Information TRACER 6420 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 ensure compliance with any pertinent FCC Rules and Regulations. This device must be professionally installed.

Exposure to Radio Frequency Fields

The TRACER 6420 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 meters) 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 meters) 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 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 6420 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

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.

Applications Engineering (800) 615-1176

Customer Service, Product Support Information, and Training TRACER 6420 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

Maintenance Support

The ADTRAN Custom Extended Services (ACES) program offers multiple types and levels of 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) Technical Training Department offers training on our most popular 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 Email training@adtran.com

Section 1 System Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 6420 System Manual is designed for use by network engineers, planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER 6420 systems.

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Explains the basics of analyzing a wireless microwave link or path. Defines significant parameters and makes several installation recommendations.

Section 3 Engineering Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Provides information to assist network designers with incorporating the TRACER 6420 system into their networks.

Section 4 Network Turnup Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Provides shipment contents list, grounding instructions, mounting options, and specifics of supplying power to the unit.

Section 5 User Interface Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Provides detailed descriptions of all menu options and configuration parameters available for the TRACER 6420.

Section 6 Detail Level Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

DLP-1 Connecting a VT100 Terminal or PC to the CRAFT Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

DLP-2 Logging in to the TRACER 6420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

DLP-3 Setting IP Parameters for the TRACER 6420. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

DLP-4 Verifying Communications Over an IP LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

DLP-5 Updating the Firmware Using TFTP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

DLP-6 Updating the Firmware Using XMODEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Section 7 MIBs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Provides a listing of SNMP Management Information Bases (MIBs) supported by the| TRACER 6420. Traps supported for each MIB are also listed.

Section 8 Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Provides helpful information for troubleshooting common configuration problems for the TRACER 6420.

Table of Contents TRACER 6420 System Manual

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 6420 System Manual is designed for use by network engineers, planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER 6420 systems.

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 this manual.

CONTENTS

System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configuration and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Operational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Available Interface Modules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Section 1 System Description TRACER 6420 System Manual

1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The TRACER 6420 provides license-free scalable connectivity for service providers and corporate networks. These radios feature two modular network interface ports that can accommodate various combinations of T1 and Ethernet option cards up to 8xT1 (16.384 Mbps). This flexibility provides customized TDM and packet solutions for voice and data applications in a single platform. The TRACER 6420 radios provide carrier class point-to-point connectivity up to thirty miles in the 5.8 GHz license-free Industrial, Science, and Medical (ISM) band.

Complete network management is supported via SNMP, Telnet access, and a VT100 craft port. SNMP traps are implemented for all RF link and T1/Ethernet alarm conditions, enabling remote installations to report outages without requiring a truck roll to diagnose problems. Version 2 standard MIBs are supported for all interface cards, while an enterprise-specific MIB is provided for radio functionality. Triple-DES security provides additional protection from unauthorized access without requiring any additional external security appliances. Encryption can also be disabled altogether. Future upgrades and enhancements can be added through FLASH firmware downloads via TFTP (on the Ethernet interface) or XMODEM on the craft port.

Receive sensitivity is optimized through the use of extensive forward error correction and high-performance receiver design techniques. Dynamic receive sensitivity allows the user to increase receiver performance by decreasing the delivered bandwidth. This feature maximizes link performance by customizing the delivered bandwidth to the specific needs of the installation. Three software selectable channel plans are supported to simplify frequency coordination at co-located sites. Channel plans are easily changed via any of the software management interfaces without the added expense of hardware upgrades or spare filter assemblies.

TRACER wireless solutions maximize equipment density through the combination of compact size (only 1U rack space required), low power consumption, and high thermal transfer. TRACER systems can be deployed at twice the density of other available wireless products.

2. FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The following is a brief list of the TRACER 6420 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

• No license required per FCC Rules Part 15.247

• Frequency: 5.725 to 5.850 GHz

• Point-to-point, up to 30 miles

• 1-U high unit for easy rack-mounting

Available Interface Modules

• Quad T1 Module (P/N 1280040L1)

• Quad Ethernet Switch Module (P/N 1280050L1)

MICROWAVE PATH ENGINEERING BASICS

Explains the basics of analyzing a wireless microwave link or path. Defines significant parameters and makes several installation recommendations.

CONTENTS

Line-of-Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Calculating the Fade Margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Receiver Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Antenna Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Transmitted Power (PT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Carrier Wavelength (l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Path Distance (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

System Losses (L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Path Loss (LP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Receiver Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Antenna Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Antenna Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

TRACER RSSI Test Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Antenna Beam Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Fresnel Zones, Earth Curvature, and Antenna Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Other Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Path Availability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

FIGURES

Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Figure 2. Typical Antenna Beam Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

TABLES

Table 1. Antenna Gain for Given Dish Diameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Table 2. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Table 3. Path Loss for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Table 4. Receiver Sensitivity for the TRACER 6420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Table 5. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

1. LINE-OF-SIGHT

The TRACER 6420 system is designed for operation in the license-free 5.725 GHz to 5.850 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. Radio wave propagation in this band exhibits 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. 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 21.

Terminology

Point-to-Point Wireless communication from a single site to another individual

site. Contrast with point-to-multipoint.

Line-of-Sight 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

10 log10x()

⋅

(dB)

If the quantity x is referenced to a milliwatt (mW), then the decibel-milliwatt (dBm) is used instead of a generic decibel.

dBm

10 log

⋅

⎛⎞

-------------

⎝⎠

1mW

(dBm)

Using the decibel format simplifies power calculations by reducing multiplication and division operations into addition and subtraction operations.

3. CALCULATING THE FADE MARGIN

It is imperative to determine whether 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

) and the receiver sensitivity (P

sens

FPRP

–=

= PT + GT + GR - L - LP - P

sens

(dB)

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics

where the variables in the equations are defined as

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)

L other losses (RF coaxial cable, etc. – dB) L

path loss (dB)

Higher levels of fade margin indicate stronger protection against signal fading and a more reliable link. For 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

PTGTG

------------------------- -----=

()2d2L

(Watts, W)

or (in decibel notation)

= PT + GT + GR - L - L

where the variables in the equations are defined as

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)

λ carrier wavelength (meters)

d path distance (meters) L other losses (RF coaxial cable, etc. – dB) L

path loss (dB)

When using decibel notation, all quantities must be individually converted to decibels prior to performing addition and subtraction.

(decibels referenced to a milliwatt, dBm)

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

Figure 1 illustrates a wireless link configuration containing all the parameters necessary for the power budget analysis.

d, L

Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters

The following sections further discuss the power budget analysis and its components.

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)

228.5

434.2

637.5

840.7

10 42.5

12 44.2

Gain at 5.8 GHz

(in dBi)

Transmitted Power (PT)

The FCC specifies the maximum transmitter power used for antennae of a given gain. FCC Rules (Part 15, Subpart 247) allow for a maximum transmit power of 1 Watt (30 dBm). Since the TRACER 6420 maximum transmit power is 100 milliwatts, there is no reduction in transmitter output power required.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics

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 5787.5 MHz for the TRACER 6420). 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:

λ = 3.00 x 10

/ 5787.5 x 10

= 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 6420, 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 6420 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 6420 to the antenna. Various grades of coaxial cable will work sufficiently well for connecting the TRACER 6420 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 6420 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 where lightning strikes are frequent, a lightning arrestor should be installed directly on the antenna coaxial cable. Installing lightning arrestors helps protect the RF electronics (including the TRACER 6420 unit) in the downstream path from damaging voltages and currents.

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

Table 2 gives typical loss figures for some of the more common coaxial cable types (per 100 feet).

Table 2. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types

Cable Type 5.8 GHz Loss/100 ft (in dB)

RG58 N/A

RG8 (air) N/A

RG8 (foam) N/A

1/4” Coax 11.36

3/8” Coax 9.65

1/2” Coax 6.49

5/8” Coax 4.90

7/8” Coax N/A

1 1/4” Coax N/A

1 5/8” Coax N/A

5.8 GHz Elliptical Waveguide 1.23

Path Loss (LP)

Path loss is the estimated attenuation between the transmit and receive antennas caused by signal separation and scattering. The path loss is considered basic transmission loss over the microwave link. The following expression calculates path loss:

⎛⎞

----------

⎝⎠

⎛⎞ ⎝⎠

-----------c

(dB)

where

f carrier frequency (Hz) λ carrier wavelength (c / f) (meters)

d path distance (meters) c speed of light, free-space (meters)

⋅

96.6 20 log10d() 20·log+ 10

f()

(dB)

where d is expressed in miles and f in GHz

Path loss, as shown here, increases rapidly as either the path length increases or the carrier wavelength decreases (which happens as the carrier frequency increases). Therefore, longer microwave paths naturally experience more path loss than shorter paths. Likewise, higher frequency microwave communication experiences more path loss than lower frequency microwave communication.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics

Table 3 lists path loss values for various path lengths for the TRACER 6420 5.8 GHz system. Values not listed in the table can be interpolated from those listed.

Table 3. Path Loss for Given Path Lengths

Path Length

(miles)

1112

2118

3121

4124

5126

10 132

15 135

20 138

25 140

30 141

35 143

Path Loss

(dB)

5. RECEIVER SENSITIVITY

Receiver sensitivity is a value expressed in decibels referenced to one milliwatt (dBm) that corresponds to the minimum amount of signal power needed at the receiver to achieve a given bit error rate (BER). Receiver sensitivity is usually a negative number of decibels, and smaller receiver sensitivity (higher quantity negative number) is better for a given BER. Several factors affect receiver sensitivity, including the data bandwidth of the wireless link and the amount of additional signal degradation introduced in the receiver electronics.

Receiver sensitivity of the TRACER 6420 is dynamic as a function of the desired bandwidth; receiver sensitivity improves as delivered bandwidth decreases. TRACER bandwidth is provided in the form of 8 channels available for mapping to the support modules. For T1 Modules, each channel mapped represents a single T1 interface. For Quad Ethernet Switch Modules, each channel mapped represents 2 Mb of switch data delivered to the module. In situations where 8-channel connectivity is not required, the delivered bandwidth can be decreased to 4 or 2 channels, and the receiver sensitivity will be improved as follows:

Table 4. Receiver Sensitivity for the TRACER 6420

Delivered

Bandwidth

8 Channels -87 dBm

4 Channels -90 dBm

2 Channels -93 dBm

Receiver

Sensitivity

Should an interferer be present nearby, three software selectable band plans are provided for frequency agility. Changing the TRACER 6420 band plan does not require additional components, or opening of the radio. See > RF Link Configuration > RF Band Plan on page 53 for additional details.

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

6. ANTENNA INFORMATION

The overall wireless system is directly affected by the antenna selection and installation, discussed in the following sections.

Verify the antenna installation meets all regulations specified in the National Electric Code (NEC) Article 810.

Antenna Alignment

With line-of-sight microwave communications, optimum system performance requires that the transmitting and receiving antennas are properly aligned. This ensures maximum received signal power at each receiver. Antenna alignment must be achieved in both azimuth (along a horizontal plane) and elevation (along a vertical plane). By ensuring maximum received signal strength, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) helps the equipment installer to determine when alignment is maximized.

TRACER RSSI Test Points

RSSI for the TRACER 6420 system is provided through the VT100 terminal menus accessed through the RS-232 interface, and it is presented as a series of bars indicating signal strength. More bars means more RSSI, which ensures greater received signal strength and better link performance.

If both the local and remote end of the system are operational, the remote TRACER 6420 receive power can be viewed from the local TRACER 6420 VT100 terminal menu interface.

An RSSI test point, located on the front panel, provides a DC voltage level (relative to the

GND test point)

that corresponds to the amount of signal being received from the far end's transmitter. The voltage at this test point can vary from approximately 0 to 5 VDC. An RSSI calibration sheet is shipped with the system to provide the installer a cross-reference between actual received signal level (in dBm) and RSSI voltage. This sheet is useful for verifying link budget calculations and ensuring proper equipment installation.

Antenna Beam Patterns

Directly related to the subject of antenna alignment is the topic of antenna beam patterns. Antennas used with the TRACER 6420 system have a particular beam shape, determined in part by the physical construction and geometry of the antenna. The antenna beam patterns are characterized by a dominant main lobe, which is the preferred lobe to use for point-to-point communications, and several side lobes, as shown in Figure 2. When setting up a microwave link, antenna alignment is nothing more than steering the main lobes of both antennas until the main lobe of one transmitter is centered on the receiving element of the receiving antenna.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics

main lobe

side lobes

Figure 2. Typical Antenna Beam Pattern

Antennas are also designed to radiate RF energy efficiently for a specific range of frequencies. Please consult the data sheet for your particular antenna make and model to ensure that it is specified to operate in the 5725 MHz to 5850 MHz frequency band for the TRACER 6420 system.

Fresnel Zones, Earth Curvature, and Antenna Heights

Fresnel zones correspond to regions in the microwave path where reflections of the intended signal occur and combine in both constructive and destructive manners with the main signal, thereby either enhancing or reducing the net power at the receiver.

In general, the odd numbered Fresnel zones (1, 3, 5, ...) add constructively at the receiver, while the even numbered Fresnel zones (2, 4, 6, ...) add destructively at the receiver.

The first Fresnel zone corresponds to the main lobe, 60% of which must be free of physical obstructions for the path calculations to be valid. Since the main lobe contains the vast majority of the microwave energy, this zone is typically used to determine proper antenna heights when placing antennas on towers or buildings.

The curvature of the Earth becomes a legitimate obstruction for path lengths of 7 miles or greater, and must also be accounted for when determining minimum antenna heights.

The aggregate expression for minimum antenna height that incorporates both the 60% first Fresnel zone and the Earth’s curvature is given by

h72.1

----4f

0.125d

(feet)

where f is in GHz and d is in miles.

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

Table 5 tabulates minimum antenna heights for given path lengths.

Table 5. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths

Path Length

(miles)

Min. Antenna Height

(ft)

222 432 641

850 10 60 14 81 16 92 18 104 20 117 22 131 24 145 26 161 28 177 30 194 32 213 34 232 36 252

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics

7. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Path Availability

The path availability of a wireless link is a metric that expresses the fractional amount of time a link is available over some fixed amount of time, and depends on several factors. Path availability is expressed as

A12.510

()abfd310

6–

F10

⁄

–

()–[]100%

(%)

where the parameters are

a terrain factor b climate factor f carrier frequency (GHz) d path length (miles) F fade margin (dB)

Terrain Factor (a)

The terrain factor is a quantity that compensates the link availability for different types of terrain. Generally speaking, the smoother an area's terrain is, the less availability a wireless link running over that terrain will have, primarily due to multipath reflections. In contrast, secondary microwave signals will be randomly dispersed over rough terrain and will not interfere with the main signal lobe as badly as in the smooth terrain case. The terrain factor values normally used are listed below:

Terrain Terrain Factor Description

Smooth 4 water, flat desert

Average 1 moderate roughness

Mountainous 1/4 very rough, mountainous

Climate Factor (b)

The climate factor is a quantity that compensates the link availability for different types of climates (weather). In general, microwave links operating in areas with high humidity will have less availability than those in arid areas, primarily because water is a dispersive mechanism to microwave energy and causes the main signal lobe to refract and disperse away from the receiver location. The climate factor values normally used are listed below

Climate Climate Factor Description

Very Dry 1/8 desert regions

Temperate 1/4 mainland, interior region

Humid 1/2 humid and coastal regions

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 6420 System Manual

ENGINEERING GUIDELINES

Provides information to assist network designers with incorporating the TRACER 6420 system into their networks.

CONTENTS

Equipment Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Reviewing the Front Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

RSSI Monitoring Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Front Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

AUX RS232 Interface (RJ-45). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

CRAFT Port (DB-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Reviewing the TRACER 6420 Rear Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

MGMT 10/100BaseT/TX Connection (RJ-48C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

DC Power Connection (Plug-In Terminal Block) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Alarm Contacts (Plug-In Terminal Block) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Antenna Interface (N-Type connector) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Network Module Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

4xT1 Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Quad Ethernet Switch Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

At-A-Glance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. TRACER 6420 Front Panel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Figure 2. TRACER 6420 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. TRACER 6420 Front Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Table 2. TRACER 6420 LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Table 3. AUX RS232 Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Table 4. CRAFT Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 5. Null-Modem Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 6. Rear Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table 7. MGMT 10/100BaseT/TX Interface Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table 8. DC Power Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Table 9. Alarm Contact Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Table 10. 4xT1 Module RJ-45 Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Table 11. Quad Ethernet Switch RJ-48C Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Table 12. At-A-Glance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Section 3 Engineering Guidelines TRACER 6420 System Manual

1. EQUIPMENT DIMENSIONS

The TRACER 6420 integrated radio is 17.2” W, 11.4” D, and 1.7” H, weighs 7 lbs, and can be used in rackmount configurations.

2. POWER REQUIREMENTS

The TRACER 6420 radio has a maximum power consumption of 25 W and a maximum current draw of

1.2 A (at 21 VDC).

3. REVIEWING THE FRONT PANEL DESIGN

The front panel contains an RSSI monitoring interface, a GND interface for reference with RSSI, a TEST interface for viewing the QPSK constellation, a DB-9

AUX RS232 interface (RJ-45) that provides an end-to-end serial port interface (at 9600 bps), and status LEDs

to provide visual information about the TRACER 6420 system. Figure 1 identifies the various interfaces and the LEDs, and Table 1 provides a brief description of each interface.

CRAFT port for management and configuration, an

TRACER 6200

Figure 1. TRACER 6420 Front Panel Layout

Table 1. TRACER 6420 Front Panel Description1

Name Connector Description

RSSI bantam DC voltage indicating strength of the received signal at

the antenna

Status LEDs N/A Visual status information about the system

GND bantam Ground reference for the RSSI interface

TEST 3 conductor stereo jack QPSK constellation (when connected to oscilloscope)

AUX RS232 RJ-45 Serial interface for a 9600 bps connection between the

local and remote systems over the RF link

CRAFT PORT DB-9 RS-232 interface for connection to a VT100 terminal or

PC with terminal emulation software

1 Detailed discussions (including pinouts) of front panel components (where applicable) follow the table.

RSSI Monitoring Interface

The RSSI voltage is a function of the signal strength at the receiver and is used to measure the received signal strength. RSSI varies from approximately 0 to 5 VDC. An RSSI calibration sheet is shipped with the system to provide the installer a cross-reference between actual received signal level (in dBm) and RSSI voltage. This sheet is useful for verifying link budget calculations and ensuring proper equipment installation.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 3 Engineering Guidelines

Front Panel LEDs

With the TRACER powered-on, the front panel LEDs provide visual information about the status of the system. Table 2 provides detailed information about the LEDs.

Table 2. TRACER 6420 LEDs

For these LEDs... This color light... Indicates that...

PWR

TST Amber (flashes once)

STATUS MOD1 and MOD2

PLAN A

PLAN B

RF LO Red (solid)

RF DWN Red (solid)

Green (solid) the TRACER is connected to a power source.

Off the TRACER is not currently powered up.

Green the module is installed and functioning properly.

Red (solid) a port on the installed module is currently in alarm.

Off no module occupies the slot.

Green (solid) the TRACER is transmitting on Frequency Plan A.

Off the TRACER is not transmitting on Frequency Plan A.

Green (solid) the TRACER is transmitting on Frequency Plan B.

Off the TRACER is not transmitting on Frequency Plan B.

power-up self-test is in progress. If the LED continuously flashes or remains on (solid) after 10 seconds, the unit has failed self-test.

the RSSI level is below suggested minimum threshold (approximately 10 dBm above the minimum receive sensitivity).

there is a communication problem between the local and remote TRACERs.

AUX RS232 Interface (RJ-45)

The AUX RS232 interface provides a female RJ-45 terminal connection (wired as a DCE interface), which is used for a 9600 bps point-to-point connection between the local and remote systems (over the RF link). Table 3 shows the pinout.

Table 3. AUX RS232 Pinout

Pin Name Source Description

1 GND Common Signal ground

2 RTS Attached Equipment Request to send (unused)

3 TXDATA Attached Equipment Transmit data (from attached equipment)

4 DSR TRACER Data set ready

5 RXDATA TRACER Received data (to attached equipment)

6 CTS TRACER Clear to send

7 DTR Attached Equipment Data terminal ready (unused)

8 CD TRACER Carrier detect

Section 3 Engineering Guidelines TRACER 6420 System Manual

CRAFT Port (DB-9)

The CRAFT connector provides a female DB-9 terminal connection (wired as a DCE interface), which is used for terminal access to the TRACER system. Table 4 shows the pinout. A null modem cable is necessary for connecting the for a null modem cable.

CRAFT port to a modem for remote dial-up access. Table 5 shows the pinout

Table 4. CRAFT Pinout

1CD

2RXDATA

3 TXDATA Attached Equipment Transmit data (from attached equipment)

4 DTR Attached Equipment Data terminal ready (unused)

5 GND Common Signal ground

6DSR

7 RTS Attached Equipment Request to send (unused)

8CTS

9RI

Name

Source Description

TRACER Carrier detect

TRACER Received data (to attached equipment)

TRACER Data set ready

TRACER Clear to send

TRACER Ring indicator (unused)

Table 5. Null-Modem Pinout

Modem

1 (CD) unconnected

2 (RXD) 3 (TXD)

3 (TXD) 2 (RXD)

4 (DTR) 6 (DSR)

TRACER 6420

5 (GND) 5 (GND)

6 (DSR) 4 (DTR)

7 (RTS) 8 (CTS)

8 (CTS) 7 (RTS)

9 (RI) unconnected

4. REVIEWING THE TRACER 6420 REAR PANEL DESIGN

Figure 2 on page 29 identifies the features of the TRACER rear panel, and Table 6 on page 29 provides a brief description of each interface.

TRACER 6420 System Manual Section 3 Engineering Guidelines

Network

Module Slots

Ethernet

Interface

Figure 2. TRACER 6420 Rear Panel

Table 6. Rear Panel Description

Name Connector Description

A Network Module

Slots

B MGMT RJ-48C 10/100BaseT/TX Ethernet interface for Telnet access

C DC Power Terminal Block 21-60 VDC power source connection (either polarity

D Fuse N/A 2A, 250 V, 2” slo-blo fuse

E Alarm Terminal block External alarm monitoring system connection

F Antenna N-Type (female) Antenna feedline cable connection

G Ground Lug N/A Earth ground connection

N/A Dual network module slots for system flexibility (shown

with a single 4xT1 Module and a Quad Ethernet Switch Module installed)

referenced to ground)

DC Power

Connection

Fuse

Alarm

Contacts

Antenna

Connector

Ground

Lug

1 Detailed discussions (including pinouts) of rear panel components (where applicable) follow the table.

MGMT 10/100BaseT/TX Connection (RJ-48C)

The physical Ethernet interface is provided by a single RJ-48C jack (labeled MGMT) that delivers 10/100BaseT/TX for LAN connectivity. The is not a router interface. The

MGMT port has a green LINK LED to indicate a valid link and an amber ACT

LED that flashes with data activity on the interface. Table 7 shows the pinout.

Table 7. MGMT 10/100BaseT/TX Interface Pinout

Pin Name Description

2 TX2 Transmit negative

3 RX1 Receive positive

4,5 — Unused

6 RX2 Receive negative

7, 8 — Unused

TX1 Transmit positive

MGMT port is used for Telnet, SNMP, and TFTP access and

Section 3 Engineering Guidelines TRACER 6420 System Manual

DC Power Connection (Plug-In Terminal Block)

The TRACER 6420 can operate from a supply between 21 and 60 VDC, with either polarity referenced to ground, and consumes less than 25 W. Power supplies should be able to provide up to 25 W at the selected voltage. Current required (in Amps) is determined by dividing the power consumed (in Watts) by the applied voltage (in Volts). For example, at 48 V, TRACER 6420 would draw approximately 0.52A (25 W/48 V).

Table 8. DC Power Connector Pinout

Pin Name Description

1 +/– Voltage

2 GND Ground

Fuse

The fuse holder, accessible from the rear panel of the TRACER 6420, accepts a generic 2 A, 250 V, 2-inch slow-blo fuse.

Alarm Contacts (Plug-In Terminal Block)

An RF link down condition is indicated with both normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) alarm contacts on the rear panel of the TRACER 6420 system. In normal operation, the NC contact is electrically connected to the common contact (COM) and the NO contact is isolated. When the RF link drops, the NC contact becomes isolated and the NO is electrically connected to COM. This allows RF down conditions to be reported to external alarm monitoring systems. Table 9 provides the Alarm Contact pinout.

Table 9. Alarm Contact Connector Pinout

Pin Name Description

1 COM Common Contact

2 NO Normally-Open Contact

3 NC Normally-Closed Contact

Antenna Interface (N-Type connector)

The ANTENNA interface (N-Type connector) connects to the customer-supplied antenna using standard antenna feedline cable. When determining the cable specifications for your application, refer to Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics (System Losses (L) on page 17) for a discussion on cable length and loss factors.

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