Andrew Wireless Innovations Group MN024-010 USERS MANUAL

TM

ION

rel. 24-10

-B Series

User Manual

© Copyright Andrew Wireless Systems Srl

Andrew Wireless Systems Srl

Via Pier De Crescenzi 40

48018 Faenza, Italy

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

This publication is issued to provide outline information and
is not aimed to be part of any offer and contract.
The Company has a policy of continuous product
development and improvement and we therefore reserve
the right to vary information quoted without prior notice.

System and Customer care is available world-wide through
our network of Experts.

The company is certifi ed ISO 9001 and ISO14000.

3MN024-010

Index

1. Introducing ION-B 10

1. Introducing ION-B 11

1.1 The Features 11

1.2 Brief Description of ION-B 11

1.3 ION-B Features 12

1.4 ION-B Typical Applications 13

2. Equipment Overview 16

2. Equipment Overview 17

2.1 Introduction 17

2.2. The ION-B Remote Unit and its relevant accessories 17

2.3. The ION-B Master Unit 19

2.4. ION-B additional options 22

2.5. Block Diagrams 24

3. TFAx Remote Unit 29

3.1. Introduction 30

The Main Tasks of the TFAx Unit: 30
Different Types of Remote Units 31

3.2. Case A Remote Unit 33

Dimensions and Weight: 33
RF ports: 33
Optical ports: 33
Visual Alarms: 34
Dry Contact Alarms: 34
Power Supply 34
Warnings (to be read before Remote Units are installed) 35

Dealing with optical output ports 35
Handling optical connections 35

TFAx Case A installation 36

Installing a Case A Remote Unit WITHOUT the TKA kit 36
Installation of the Case A Remote Unit WITH the TKA04 installation kit 38

TFAx Case A Start-Up 44
TFAx Case A Troubleshooting 44

3.3. Case B Remote Unit 45

Dimensions and Weight: 45
RF ports: 46
Optical ports: 46
Visual Alarms: 46
Dry Contact Alarms: 46
Power Supply 47

Dealing with optical output ports 48
Handling optical connections 48

TFAx Case B installation 49

Installing a Case B Remote Unit WITHOUT the TKA kit 49
Installation of the Case B Remote Unit WITH the TKA04 installation kit 51

TFAx Case B Start-Up 52
TFAx Case B Troubleshooting 57

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ION-B User Manual

Quick troubleshooting procedure 62
Dry-contact troubleshooting 62
Fibre optic DL troubleshooting 63

3.4. Case R Remote Unit 65

Dimensions and Weight 65
RF ports: 66
Optical ports: 66
Visual alarms: 66
External alarms 66
Power supply: 67
Warnings (to be read before Remote Units are installed) 67

Dealing with optical output ports 67
Choosing a proper installation site for the Remote Units 67
Handling optical connections 67

TFAx Case-R installation 68
TFAx Case R Troubleshooting 72

3.5. Case-R2 Remote Unit 73

Dimensions and Weight 73
RF ports: 74
Optical ports: 74
Visual alarms: 74
External alarms 74
Power supply: 75
Warnings (to be read before Remote Units are installed) 75

Dealing with optical output ports 75
Choosing a proper installation site for the Remote Units 75
Handling optical connections 75

TFAx Case-R2 installation 76
TFAx Case R2 start-up 80
TFAx Case-R or Case-R2 troubleshooting 81

Quick troubleshooting procedure 85
Dry-contact troubleshooting 85
Fibre optic DL troubleshooting 85

3.7. Case F Remote Unit 87

Dimensions and Weight 87
RF ports: 88
Optical ports: 88
Visual alarms: 88
External alarms 88
Power supply: 88
Warnings (to be read before Remote Units are installed) 89
TFAx Case-F installation 90
TFAx Case F start-up 93
TFAx Case F troubleshooting 93

Quick troubleshooting procedure 95
Fibre optic DL troubleshooting 95

4. Rack-based Master Unit 99

4.1. TPRNx4 Subrack 101

Major TPRN features 101
TPRN models 101

220 Vac powered sub-racks (TPRN14 / TPRN24) 102

-48Vdc powered sub-rack (TPRN34) 102

TPRN power supply 103

Universal mains 103

5MN024-010

-48 Vdc 103

TPRN ports 104

RS232 serial port 104
RS485 port 105
Sub-D 15 poles male connector 105

PIN 106
Name 106
Meaning 106
TPRN alarms 108
Warning (recommended for system designing and installing) 108

Providing correct heat dissipation 108
Minimizing equipment costs 108

TPRN Installation 109
TPRN Troubleshooting 111

4.2. Fast MiniRack, TPRF31 113

Major TPRN Features 113
Dimensions and Weight 114
On/Off Switch and Power Supply 114
Reset and Store/Clear buttons 114

Reset 114
Store/Clear 114

Visual Alarms 115
TPRF31 Ports 115

RS232 Serial Port 115
RS485 Port 116
Auxiliary Inputs 118
External Alarms 119

Warning (recommended when designing or installing) 120

Providing correct heat dissipation 120

TPRF31 Installation 120

Mounting the TPRF31 on a wall 122

TPRF31 Start-Up 122
TPRF31 Troubleshooting 124

4.3. Master Optical TRX, TFLN 127

Main tasks carried out by the TFLN module 127

Downlink (DL): 127
Uplink (UL): 127

RF ports 127
Optical ports 127
TFLN Visual Alarms 128
TFLN power supply 128
Warnings (to be read before TFLN installation) 128

Dealing with optical output ports 128
Handling optical connections 129
Inserting or removing TFLN modules 129
TFLN Positioning 130

TFLN Installation 130
TFLN Start-Up 131
Removing a TFLN Module 133
TFLN Troubleshooting 133

Quick Troubleshooting Procedure 134
Fibre Optic UL Troubleshooting 134

4.4. Two-way Splitter/Combiner, TLCN2 137

Description: 137
RF Ports 137
TLCN2 Main Applications 137
TLCN2 Insertion Loss 138

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ION-B User Manual

Warnings 138
TLCN2 Installation 138

4.5. Four-way Splitter/Combiner,TLCN4 139

Description: 139
RF Ports: 139
TLCN4 Main Applications 139
TLCN4 Insertion Loss 140
Warnings 140
TLCN4 Installation 140

4.6. RF Dual Band Coupler TLDN 141

Description: 141
RF Ports 141
TLDN Main Applications 141
TLDN Insertion Loss 142
Warnings 142
TLDN Installation 142

4.7. RF Tri Band Coupler TLTN 143

Description: 143
TLTN Models 143
RF orts 143
TLTN Main Applications 144
TLTN Insertion Loss 144
Warnings 144
TLTN Installation 144

4.8. RF Duplexer, TDPN 145

Description: 145
RF Ports 145
TDPN Main Applications 145
TDPN Insertion Loss 145
Warnings 145
TDPN Installation 146

4.9. Base Station Interface TBSI 147

Description 147
RF Ports 147
TBSI Main Applications 147
TBSI Insertion Loss 148
Warnings 148
TBSI Installation 148

4.10. Power Limiter TMPx-10 149

Description 149
RF Ports 149
TMP Main Applications 149
TMP Visual Alarms 149
TMP Power Supply 150
TMP Insertion Loss 150
Warnings 150
Inserting or Removing TMP Modules 150

Before to install the TMP Module 150
Setting the GSM 900 MHz / DCS 1800 MHz jumper (only for TMP2-10) 150
TMP Installation 151
Removing a TMP Module 152

TMP Troubleshooting 152

Quick Troubleshooting Procedure 152

7MN024-010

5. Confi guration Examples 155

5. Confi guration Examples 156

5.1 Introduction 156

5.2. Multi-operator applications 156

5.3. Multi-sector applications 159

5.4. Fast MiniRack applications 162

6. Warning and Safety Requirements 163

6. Warning and Safety Requirements 164

Environmental Conditions 164
Installation Site Features 164
Safety and Precautions During Installation or Maintenance 165
Power Supply Connection 166
Safety and Precautions for Lasers 166
Health and Safety Warnings 167

RSS Canadian standards 167

Electromagnetic Fields and RF Power 167
Warning Labels 171

7. TECHNICAL SUPPORT 172

7. TECHNICAL SUPPORT 173

Returning Equipment 174

Appendixes 175

Appendix A: System Commissioning 176
Appendix B: EU Guidelines for WEEE Disposal 180

Disposal Guidelines 180

8

ION-B User Manual

9MN024-010

1. Introducing ION-B

10

ION-B User Manual

1. Introducing ION-B

1.1 The Features

ION-B is an innovative platform designed in order to provide an effective and fl exible
coverage to a large variety of indoor scenarios.
Thanks to its high modularity, its low power consumption, and its full-transparency to protocols
and modulation formats, ION-B is the perfect plug&play solution to distribute any wireless
standard (including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, W-CDMA, and WLAN IEEE 802.11b/g) to the in­building environments requiring reliable and interference-free communications, as well as high
traffi c capacity and maximum fl exibility about future expansions.
These unique features make the ION-B platform suitable also for applications to critical areas
experiencing diffi culties in establishing and keeping phone calls, while its compact design
always guarantees a minimum aesthetic impact.

1.2 Brief Description of ION-B

ION-B is a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) based on the Radio-over-Fibre (RoF) technology,
and capable of carrying wireless mobile signals through the 800MHz - 2500MHz frequency
range regardless of their protocol and their modulation format.
The system has two basic components, a Master Unit and a Remote Unit. The Master Unit
is made of one or more subracks typically connected to the BTS (Base Tranceiver Station)
through either a repeater (RF interface) or a coaxial cable.
Each Remote Unit is connected with a dedicated pair of single-mode optical fi bres (one for
UL and one for DL) to the Master Unit. These optical fi bres work on 1310 nm wavelenght and
provide low losses and almost unlimited bandwidth, available for future system developments.
ION-B is a modular system whose basic components are:

• one Master Unit made of one or more subracks, each providing 12 module slots. Each
slot can host either an active or a RF passive device (chosen among the wide range of ION-B
options), in order to meet the planned design requirements;

BTS

RF Interface

TFLN

Figure 1: ION-B system block diagram

Unit

Remote

11MN024-010

• a variable number of Remote Units (TFAx), whose function is feeding the antenna passive
network;

• a proper number of indoor antennas, suitable to provide radio coverage to the area.
ION-B is fully compatible with any type of indoor antennas;

• the optical cables required to connect the 19” subracks to the TFAx.

1.3 ION-B Features

The following lines report a brief summary of ION-B main features:

• multiband 2G, 2.5G and 3G – 802.11b WLAN compatible: ION-B is completely transparent
to any transmission protocol and modulation format, and it can distribute any 2G, 2.5G,
3G wireless standard. In addition, it allows to carry also the WLAN (802.11b/g) service
over the same infrastructure;

• modular confi guration for fl exible design: by properly setting some parameters like
the amount of RUs and the antenna locations, the ION-B architecture can follow the
environment specifi c features in order to obtain the most effective radio-coverage of the
indoor area. The modularity of the system allows easy modifi cations for future growth and
increasing traffi c;

• easy to install: the intelligent plug & play ION-B system includes an Automatic Gain
Control (AGC), that eliminates system gain variations regardless of optical loss. This avoids
the need for fi eld adjustments, thus reducing design, installation and optimization time.

• low-power consumption: establishing a “quasi line-of-sight propagation” towards all
mobile phones inside the area, ION-B works with low power levels. Low power levels
have two great advantages: 1) allow mobile phones to work at lower power levels, thus
limiting the radiated emissions and increasing their battery life; 2) allow a better control of
interference effects between adiacent cells.

• central supervision functions: all individual alarms of ION-B system are stored in an internal
fl ash memory, and available to both local and remote connections. Detailed alarm
information is provided by special software (i.e. by Supervision or Maintenance software
tools) running on a locally connected host, as well as any information about alarm status
and alarm history is available to remote connections via TCP/IP protocols, SNMP agent,
or HTTP servers. This alarm information is visible also by means of LEDs present on the front
panels of both the MU and the RUs;

• multiple-carriers system: there are no restrictions on the number of carriers that the ION-B
can convey. Obviously, the more carriers per service, the less power per carrier;

• remote power supply: in case mains cannot be used for the Remote Units, ION-B offers a
centralised power supply option, which distributes both a DC low-voltage (-48V) power
and the optical signals through a composite fi bre optic/copper cable;

• wide variety of RF passive devices: the connections between the DAS and the local
BTSs are able to be arranged so as to get the best fi t for the customers needs. ION-

12

ION-B User Manual

B equipment provides RF splitters/combiners, cross band couplers, attenuators, and
duplexers for UL/DL paths, thus allowing maximum in design fl exibility;

• high reliability: high MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure).

1.4 ION-B Typical Applications

Due to its unique features, the ION-B is an ideal solution for radio coverage in a variety of
situations:

• Multi-operator shared infrastructures: each mobile operator has its own carrier
which needs to be transported without interfering the others. The ION-B is capable
of transmitting multiple carriers simultaneously while providing independent level
adjustments for each of them, ensuring maximum performance and reducing
infrastructure costs.

• High rise buildings: RF signals from surrounding macrocells or external BTSs are usually quite
strong inside high rise buildings and can cause so much interference that indoor mobile
communications often become impossible. By strategically placing antennas along the
exterior walls of the building, the signal to noise ratio can be optimised. This interference
control solves many problems, such as the “ping pong” effect that sometimes is
experienced when a mobile frequently changes from indoor to outdoor coverage.

• Exhibitions, conventions, and shopping centres: the critical aspect of these environments
is their high traffi c loads, which are furthermore also highly variable. Thus, the main goal
in these cases is to set up radio coverage enabling the effective management of these
variable traffi c loads, with neither undervalued nor overvalued infrastructure expenses.
A unique feature of the ION-B is that RF frequencies can be allocated quickly when and
where they are needed, thus reducing implementation costs. This makes the ION-B an
ideal solution for temporary or last minute requests (such as conferences).

• Airports: require both modular and fl exible radio coverage in order to meet their current
needs while also foreseeing future expansions. The ION-B is able to manage heavy
traffi c loads, providing a high level of quality with minimum environmental impacts, its
modularity also allows for future expansions.

• Corporate buildings: inside a corporate building, frequent disruptions during mobile
communications may limit business transactions. These environments are often complex
and densely populated while having specifi c requirements: heavy traffi c capacity, high
expectations regarding quality of service, full compatibility with wireless standards and
future expandability. The ION-B guarantees high quality radio coverage in all of the
above conditions and maintains maximum fl exibility while managing any possible traffi c
conditions.

• Subways and densely populated metropolitan areas: These areas are distinguished
by large surface areas, and may require RUs to be placed far away from the BTSs.
The ION-B guarantees signal integrity for distances up to 3km, while through the

13MN024-010

wideband interconnect link option, distances of 20km can be reached. Moreover, these
environments require gradual investments, because initially operators tend to provide
radio coverage only in the busiest areas, and then extend it in order to reach complete
coverage later. The modularity of the ION-B helps operators to gradually expand the
system. Often, large cities set up seamless and reliable radio systems for emergency
services. In these cases, the required RF infrastructure needs to be unobstrusive and
environmental friendly; this can be achieved using an ION-B DAS. When redundancy
is required, two interleaved ION-B systems can be used, management and supervision
for these systems can be remotely established by means of an external modem and an
open protocol such as SNMP.

14

ION-B User Manual

15MN024-010

2. Equipment Overview

16

ION-B User Manual

2. Equipment Overview

2.1 Introduction

The basic components of an ION-B system (please refer to fi g. 2.1.) are the following:

• a Master Unit, able to bring the mobile signals from the BTS to different Remote Units and
vice-versa, thus remotising the distribution and collection of any mobile signals via fi beroptic
cables;

• a variable number of Remote Units, conveying and receiving mobile signals through low­power antennas.

BTS

A brief introduction to the main components of the ION-B system’s Master and Remote
Units is presented in the following text. The details of each component can be found in the
subsequent sections of this manual.

ION-B Master Unit

Fig. 2.1: Basic scheme of an ION-B system

Remote Unit

TFAx

2.2. The ION-B Remote Unit and its relevant accessories

(b)

(a)

(c)

(e)

(d)

Fig. 2.2:
Different versions of the
ION-B Remote Units:
(a) Case-A Remote Unit
(b) Case-B Remote Unit;
(c) Case -R Remote Unit;
(d) Case-R2 Remote Unit;
(e) Case-F Remote Unit

17MN024-010

The Remote Unit (TFAx) is a device which provides optical-to-electrical downlink conversion
and electrical-o-optical uplink conversion, thus allowing a bidirectional transmission of
signals between the Master Unit and the remote antennas. It is available in 3 different power
confi gurations (Low/Medium/High), housed by 4 different architectures (Case B, Case R, Case
R2 and Case F), so as to fulfi l different coverage and band requirements.

In downlink, each TFAx receives an optical signal from the Master Unit, performs an optical-to­RF conversion, and transmits the resulting signal to the 2 antenna ports.
In uplink, it receives an RF signal from the remote antennas, provides an RF-to-optical
conversion, and conveys the converted signal to the Master Unit through optical fi bres.
The ION_B Remote Units are available both with power supply 90÷264 Vac and with power
supply -72÷-36 Vdc. Each ION-B Remote Unit is provided with a suitable external power
adapter (TPSNx: please refer to table 2.1).
Last, each ION-B Remote Unit has a wideband auxiliary channel, which can be exploited for
dedicated RF distribution.

Remote UnitS and accessories

Unit name/

Module name

TFAx-case A

TFAx Case B

TFAx Case R

TFAx Case R2

TFAx Case F

TFBWx

TKA04

TPSN 1-40

TPSN 1-80

Description Dimensions (L x W x H)

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

WLAN booster

Remote Unit installation kit

External power supply

External power supply

200 x 240 x 38 (mm)

240 x 240 x 38 (mm)

330 x 200 x 122.5 (mm)

330 x 250 x 122.5 (mm)

546 x 253 x 207 (mm)

240 x 200 x 38 (mm)

340 x 240 x 55 (mm)

175 x 80 x 54 (mm)

18

TPSN 3-30

TPSN 3-80

External power supply

External power supply

Table 2.1: Different cases of ION-B Remote Units,

with dedicated ION-B accessories.

175 x 80 x 51 (mm)

ION-B User Manual

2.3. The ION-B Master Unit

The ION-B Master Unit is a widely-fl exible system. Its modular feature allows it to be developed
both for simple installation-friendly, unobstrusive applications to complex installations, involving
a virtually unlimited number of subracks, and distributed through several fl oors of a building or
through a 20km distance.
The following text presents a brief overview of the components of these units.

The TPRF31 Fast MiniRack is a 19” x 1HE fast­MiniRack housing 2 slots: it can therefore
accommodate 2 of the single-slots (7TE x 4HE)
ION-B cards presented in the following. Thanks to

Fig. 2.3 TPRF31 subrack

its turnable brackets, the TPRF31 is suitable both
for wall and rack-mounting, and can therefore be used both as a stand-alone unit (for simple
ION-B installations) and as an integration of a bigger and more complex ION-B system .

The TPRN sub-rack is a 19”x 4HE subrack with 12
slots, each one sized 7TE x 4HE. As each ION-B
module takes up one or two slots, each Master
Unit can host up to 12 modules, depending on
the design confi guration and requirements.

Fig. 2.4 TPRN subrack

The Master Optical TRX (TFLN): in downlink, it provides an RF-to-optical
conversion of the signal coming from the BTS, and transmits it to 4 optical
outputs, so as to feed 4 TFAx. In uplink, it provides optical-to-RF conversion for
4 optical signals coming from the RUs, and it combines them into a single RF
output, while providing automatic gain control in order to balance the fi bre
losses. Module dimensions:
Width = 7TE, Height = 4HE (one slot in the master unit sub-rack).

The Duplexer (TDPN): it combines the downlink (DL) and the uplink (UL)
paths into a single one, while maintaining the required isolation. The module
dimensions are: Width = 7TE, Height = 4HE

Fig. 2.6 TDPN card

Fig. 2.5 TFLN card

19MN024-010

The variable RF attenuators (TBSI): they provide independent
attenuations (adjustable from 0 to 30dB, with 1dB steps) on uplink and
downlink RF paths, and allow the designer to optimize the signal level
close to the BTSs. TBSI is an override attenuator, its dimensions are: Width =
7TE, Height = 4HE.

Fig. 2.7 TBSI card

The Dual Band Coupler (TLDN): in downlink, it combines a low band RF
signal (800 to 1000 MHz) and a high band RF signal (1700 to 2500 MHz) into
a common RF port; in uplink, it splits a composite signal between a low
band RF port and a high band RF port. Module dimensions are: Width = 7
TE, Height = 4 HE.

Fig. 2.8 TLDN card

The Tri Band Coupler (TLTN): in downlink, it combines a Low Band signal, a
Middle Band signal, and a High Band signal into a communal one; in uplink,
it splits the triple band signal among the three RF single band paths.
Please refer to table 4.7.1 or to the bulletin PA-100596-EN for further
information about the different band confi gurations.
Module dimensions are: Width = 7 TE, Height = 4 HE.

Fig. 2.9 TLTN card

The RF splitters/combiners (TLCN2 and TLCN4): TLCN2
is a 2-way splitter/combiner. TLCN4 is a 4-way splitter/
combiner. They can be used in a variety of different
situations, such as:

• To connect a BTS with several master optical TRXs.
In uplink, the TLCN2 (or TLCN4) combines 2 (or 4) RF
signals which come from different master optical
TRXs into a common RF signal entering the BTS. In
downlink, the TLCN2 (or TLCN4) splits the downlink
composite RF signal which comes from the BTS into 2
(or 4) RF ports, entering different master optical TRXs.

20

(a) (b)

Fig. 2.10 TLCN2 (a) and TLCN4 (b) cards

ION-B User Manual

• To connect several BTSs to a master optical TRX. In downlink, the TLCN2 (or TLCN4)
combines the RF signals coming from different BTSs into a common RF signal, entering the
master optical TRX. In uplink, the TLCN2 (or TLCN4) splits the composite RF signal coming from a
master optical TRX into 2 (or 4) RF signals entering different BTSs.

The Power Limiter (TMPx-10): it monitors the DL power coming from the
BTS and attenuates it by 10 dB in case it surpasses a programmable
threshold level.
The TMP2-10 Power Limiter is for 2G and 2.5G signals, working at 900
MHz and 1800 MHz.
The TMP3-10 Power Limiter is for 3G signals.
Both modules are 7TE wide and 4HE high.

Fig. 2.11 TMPx-10 card

Table 2.2 shows an overview of the basic
components of the ION-B Master Unit.

Basic components of ION-B Master Units

Unit name/

Module name

TPRF31

TPRN04

TPRNx4

TFLNx

TLCN 2

TLCN 4

TBSI 2-30

TDPNx

Description Dimensions, H x W ( x D)

Fast MiniRack

Passive subrack

Active subrack

Master Optical TRX

2-way splitter

4-way splitter

Adjustable attenuator

UL/DL duplexer

19” x 1HE x 286mm

19” x 4HE x 350mm

19” x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

TLDNx

TLTNx

TMPx-10

Table 2.2: Overview of the components and accessories for the ION-B master unit

Dual band coupler

Tri band coupler

10 dB power limiter

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE

21MN024-010

2.4. ION-B additional options

The basic ION-B structure described above can be furtherly expanded or supported by a
range of ION-B options, including:

• A supervision unit (TSUN), enabling to supervise and manage the ION-B system through
any PC or Laptop, thanks to a web-interface supporting the TCP/IP, FTP, HTTP, protocols,
and fully compatible with general purpose SNMP managers.

• RF boosters, which can be connected to the auxiliary channels of the ION-B Remote
Units, thus providing RF coverage in some particular frequency bands (e.g. AWS 1700 MHz
in US, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Max);

• A wide range of Interconnect Link options (TIL), i.e. a set of master-slave modules which
enable to expand the ION-B system through additional subrack stations, up to 20 km
away from the main one.

• A Remote Powering Unit (TRSN), providing -48Vdc power supplying through composite
fi beroptic/copper cables

Table 2.3 shows an overview of these ION-B accessories and of the corresponding Andrew
bulletins you should refer to for further information.

(a)

(e)

(f)

(b)

(d)

(c)

  

(g)

22

Fig. 2.12: TSUN supervision unit, available both as a plug-in card (a) and as a stand-alone module (b) ;
Wi-Fi (c) and (AWS 1700 MHz) boosters; Interconnect-link master modules (e) and slave modules (f);
TRSN Remote Powering units (g)

ION-B User Manual

Although the following table tables show a brief overview of the main ION-B additional
options, we strongly recommend you to contact your reference Andrew Salesperson or
Product Line Manager in order to have For a full overview of the ION-B options,

Main ION-B additional options

Unit name/

Module name

ION-B Supervision Unit

(TSUN 1, 3, 6)

ION-B Wi-Fi options

TIL Interconnect link

RF dedicated booster

TRSN Remote Power Units

Table 2.3: Overview of the components and accessories for the ION-B rack-based master unit

Reference Bulletin Reference Manual

PA-100596-EN

PA-100928-EN

BR-102130-EN

PA-102073-EN

PA-102072-EN

MN023

MN031

MN032

MN033

Mechanical

Decription

Available both as a plug-in card

and as a stand-alone unit

Different solutions available

multi-module master side
+ multi-module slave side

(each one made of a variable

number of plug-in cards)

stand alone unit,

240 x 200 x 38 mm

19” x 3HE (low power version)

19” x 1HE (medium power

version)

23MN024-010

2.5. Block Diagrams

In order to better understand the functionalities of the different units and modules, some block
diagrams of the ION-B system are presented here.

The core of an ION-B system is the ION-B master unit, which generally develops through a
passive section (providing Level adjustments, Signal splitting/combining, and Band coupling),
followed by an Electrical/Optical conversion (allowing the signal to be distributed through
fi beroptic cables to the TFAx Remote Units).

Simple and unobstrusive ION-B installations can be developed through the TPRF31 fast
MiniRacks, which allows a great deal of installation solutions, such as:

- hosting two electrical/optical transceivers, while developing external passive combining

- hosting one electrical/optical transceiver, plus one ION-B interface card (providing splitting/
combining , band coupling or level adjusting).
Please note that more TPRF31 modules can be combined to achieve a more complex, space­saving system confi guration.
Tipical ION-B confi gurations based on a single TPRF31 Fast MiniRack are shown in fi g. 2-13.

BTS

BTS

External

splitting/combining

section

Splitting/combining section

ION-B Fast Minirack

TFLN

Master Optical Trx

+

TFLN

Master Optical Trx

(a)

ION-B Fast Minirack

TFLN

Master Optical Trx

ION-B passive card

(either splitting/combining

or level adjusting

Remote Unit

TFAx

Remote Unit

TFAx

Remote Unit

TFAx

24

(b)

Fig. 2.13: ION-B confi gurations based on a TPRF31 Fast MiniRack: (a) Confi guration hosting 2 TFLN optical

transceivers; (b) Confi guration hosting 1 TFLN optical transceiver and 1 splitting/combining card

ION-B User Manual

Although TPRF31 proves to be very fl exible, complex distribution systems usually can be better
served by rack-based ION-B Master Units: such ION-B installations are based on one or more
TPRN-subracks, thus exploiting the wide range of ION-B passive cards (TDPN, TMP, TBSI, TLCN2,
TLCN4, TLTN, TLDN), in order to build the passive network which best matches the costumer’s
needs.
Let’s see some examples of such rack-based confi gurations.
Firstly, assume that the BTSs are not duplexed. In this case, no TDPN module (see fi g. 2.14)
is required. Moreover, assuming that the Master Unit is made up of one or more subracks
located in a single site, we do not need an interconnect link in order to remotise a second
subrack. The scheme of this network confi guration is reported hereafter in fi gure 2.14.

Now let’s consider the same network confi guration, but with duplexed BTSs. In this case, some
TDPN modules (see fi g. 2.7) are required in order to combine UL and DL ports on single RF
channels. The scheme of this network confi guration is reported hereafter in fi gure 2.15.

If we need to expand our ION-B network to a wider area, please note that the Interconnect­link option allows you to use a second subrack station at a distance of up to 20km from the
site where the main subrack station is located.
Please refer to the dedicated Interconnect link brochure (Table 2.3) for further details.

25MN024-010

Frequency

Band 3

BTS

Frequency

Band 2

BTS

Frequency

Band 1

BTS

Fig. 2.14: Block diagram of an

ION-B confi guration supporting

a triple-band system with

DUPLEXED base stations.

,EVELADJUSTMENT

COMBINING

SPLITTING

3ERVICE

Master Unit

Attenuator

Fixed

Duplexer

TDPN

Attenuator

TBSI

Attenuator

Fixed

Duplexer

TDPN

Attenuator

TBSI

Multi-band

Combiner

TLTN

Attenuator

Fixed

Duplexer

TDPN

Attenuator

TBSI

COMBINING

SPLITTING

3IGNAL

%LECTRICAL/PTICAL

CONVERSION

/PTICAL%LECTRICAL

CONVERSION

Optical Trx

Master

TFLN

Remote Units

REMOTE

TFAx

UNIT

Optical Trx

REMOTE

UNIT

Combiner

Master

TFLN

TFAx

Splitter/

TLCN4

Optical Trx

Master

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

TFLN

Optical Trx

REMOTE

UNIT

Combiner

Splitter/

Master

TFLN

TFAx

TLCN2

Optical Trx

Master

REMOTE

UNIT

TFLN

TFAx

Optical Trx

Master

REMOTE

UNIT

Combiner

Splitter/

TLCN4

Optical Trx

TFLN

TFAx

UNIT

Master

TFLN

REMOTE

TFAx

Optical Trx

Master

REMOTE

UNIT

TFLN

TFAx

26

ION-B User Manual

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

TFAx

REMOTE

UNIT

Remote Units

CONVERSION

/PTICAL%LECTRICAL

TFLN

Master

Master

Optical Trx

TFLN

Master

TFLN

Optical Trx

Master

TFLN

Optical Trx

Master

TFLN

Master

Optical Trx

Optical Trx

CONVERSION

TFLN

Optical Trx

Master

TFLN

Optical Trx

Master

TFLN

Optical Trx

%LECTRICAL/PTICAL

TLCN4

Splitter/

Combiner

TLCN2

Splitter/

Combiner

TLCN4

Splitter/

Combiner

3IGNAL

COMBINING

SPLITTING

Master Unit

TBSI

Attenuator

Fixed

Attenuator

BTS

Band 1

Frequency

TLTN

Combiner

Multi-band

TBSI

Attenuator

Fixed

Attenuator

BTS

Band 2

Frequency

TBSI

Attenuator

Fixed

Attenuator

BTS

Band 3

Frequency

3ERVICE

COMBINING

,EVELADJUSTMENT

Fig. 2.15: Block diagram of an

ION-B confi guration supporting

a triple-band system with NOT

DUPLEXED base stations.

SPLITTING

27MN024-010

28

ION-B User Manual

3. TFAx Remote Unit

29MN024-010

3.1. Introduction

The Main Tasks of the TFAx Unit:

Downlink (DL):

• Optical-to-RF conversion of the input optical signal

• Automatic Gain Control (AGC) of each converted signal, in order to compensate optical
losses;

• RF amplifi cation: the converted RF signal is boosted in order to maintain a good signal-to­noise ratio

• RF fi ltering: a proper fi lter rejects the spurious emissions

• RF duplexing and splitting: the boosted RF signal is conveyed to 2 antenna ports

Uplink (UL):

(b)

(a)

(d) (e)

Fig. 3.1.1: ION-B Remote Units: different cases for different solutions

(c)

• RF amplifi cation: a low noise amplifi er boosts the signal received from antennas in order
to maintain a good signal-to-noise ratio

• RF fi ltering: the boosted signal is cleaned of the spurious emissions

30

ION-B User Manual