Andrew Wireless Innovations Group MN024-08 User Manual

PLUS

User Manual

MN024-08

Andrew Wireless Systems Srl

Via Pier De Crescenzi 40 48018 Faenza, Italy Tel: +39 0546 697111 Fax: +39 0546 682768 www.andrew.com

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 certified ISO 9001 and ISO14000.

MN024-08

INDEX

0. Index 2

1. Introducing Britecell Plus 4

1.1 The Features 5

1.2 Brief Description of Britecell Plus 5

1.3 Britecell Plus features 6

1.4 Britecell Plus typical applications 7

2. Equipment Overview 9

2.1 The Britecell Plus Remote Unit and its relevant accessories 10

2.2 the Britecell Plus Master Unit 12

2.2.1 The Fast Master Unit 12

2.2.2 The Rack-based Master Unit 12

2.3 Block diagrams 16

3. TFAx Remote Unit 22

3.1 Introduction 23

3.2 Case A remote unit 25

3.3 Case B remote unit 45

3.4 Case L remote unit 63

3.5 Case F remote unit 79

3.6 Wi-Fi Booster TFBW 90

4. Fast Master Unit 100

5. Rack based master unit 113

5.1 19” Subrack TPRNx4 114

5.2 Master Optical TRX, TFLN 126

5.3 Two-way splitter/combiner TLCN2 138

5.4 Four-way splitter/combiner TLCN4 142

5.5 RF dual band coupler TLDN 146

5.6 RF tri-band coupler TLTN 150

5.7 RF Duplexer TDPX 154

5.8 Base Station Interface TBSI 158

5.9 Power Limiter TMPx-10 162

5.10 Wi-Fi Local Interface 168

5.11 The interconnect link (i-link) 172

5.11.1 Introduction 173

5.11.2 TILx-HL Interconnect link 177

5.11.3 TILx-HLW Interconnect link 195

5.12 Remote Supply Unit TRS/TRSN 216

6. Warning and Safety Requirements 222

6.1 Environmental conditions 223

6.2 Installation site Features 223

6.3 Safety and Precautions during Installation or maintenance 224

6.4 Power Supply Connection 225

User Manual

6.5 Safety and Precautions for Lasers 226

6.6 Health and Safety Warnings 226

6.7 Electromagnetic Fields and RF Power 227

6.7 Warning Labels 230

7. Technical support 231

7.1 Returning Equipment 231 Appendix A: System Commissioning 233 Appendix B: EU Guidelines for WEEE disposal 237

MN024-08

1. Introducing Britecell Plus

User Manual

1.1 The Features

Britecell Plus is an innovative platform designed in order to provide an effective and flexible coverage to a large variety of indoor scenarios.

Thanks to its high modularity, its low power consumption, and its fulltransparency to protocols and modulation formats, Britecell Plus is the perfect plug&play solution to distribute any wireless standard (including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, WCDMA, and WLAN IEEE 802.11b) to the in-building environments requiring reliable and interference-free communications, a s well as high traffic capacity and maximum flexibility about future expansions.

These unique features make the Britecell Plus platform suitable also for applications to critical areas experiencing difficulties in establishing and keeping phone calls, while its compact design alwa ys guarantees a minimum aesthetic impact.

1.2 Brief Description of Britecell Plus

Britecell Plus is a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) based on the Radio-overFibre (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 Ma ster 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 fibres (one for UL and one for DL) to the Master Unit. These optica l fibre s work on 1310 nm wavelenght and provide low losses and almost unlimited bandwidth, available for future system developments.

Britecell Plus 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 Britecell Plus options), in order to meet the planned design requirements;

• 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. Britecell Plus is fully compatible with any type of indoor antennas;

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

MN024-08

BTS

RF interface

TFLN

Two F.O. per RU

REMOTE

UNIT

Fig. 1.1: Britecell Plus system block diagram.

1.3 Britecell Plus Features

The following lines report a brief summary of Britecell Plus main features:

• multiband 2G, 2.5G and 3G – 802.11b WLAN compatible: Britecell Plus 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 configuration for flexible design: by properly setting some parameters like the amount of RUs and the antenna locations, the Britecell Plus architecture can follow the environment specific features in order to obtain the most effective radio-coverage of the indoor area. The modularity of the system allows easy modifications for future growth and increasing traffic;

• easy to install: the intelligent plug & play Britecell Plus system includes an Automatic Gain Control (AGC), that eli minates system gain variations regardless of optical loss. This avoids the need for field 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, Britecell Plus 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 Britecell Plus system are stored in an internal flash 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 bo th the MU and the RUs;

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

User Manual

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

• wide variety of RF passive devices: the connections between the DAS and the local BTSs can be arranged so as to get the best fit for customers needs. Britecell Plus equipment provides RF splitters/combiners, cross band couplers, attenuators, duplexers for UL/DL paths, thus allowing the maximum design flexibility;

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

1.4 Britecell Plus typical Applications

Thanks to its unique features Britecell Plus is the ideal solution to set up radio coverage in may situations:

• Multi operator shared infrastructure: each mobile operator has its own carriers, which must be transported without affecting the others. Britecell Plus is capable of transmitting multipl e carriers simultaneously, while providing an independent level adjustment 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 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 an indoor to an outdoor coverage.

• Exhibition, conventions, and shopping centres: the critical point of these environments is due to the high traffic loads, which are furthermore highly variable. Thus, the main goal to achieve is setting up a radio coverage which could effectively manage these variable traffic loads, with neither undervalued nor overvalued infrastructure expenses. A unique feature of Britecell Plus is that RF frequencies can be allocated quickly when and where they are needed, thus reducing the implementation cost. This makes Britecell Plus the proper solution also for temporary or last minute requests (such as conferences).

• Airports: they require modular and flexible radio coverage, in order to meet present needs while foreseeing future expansions. Britecell Plus can manage high traffic loads providing high quality with minimum environmental impact, while its modularity allows future extensibility.

• Corporate Building: inside a corporate building, difficult mobile communications may limit business transactions. These environments are often complex and densely populated with specific requirements to be fulfilled: high traffic capacity, maximum expectations on Quality of service, full compatibility with wireless standards and future expandability. Britecell Plus guarantees high quality radio coverage

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under all conditions, while maintaining maximum flexibilit y in managing any traffic condition.

• Subways and Highly Dense Metropolitan Areas: These areas are distinguished by large distances, and may require that RUs are placed far away from the BTSs. Britecell Plus guarantees the signal integrity at distances up to 3 km, and through the wideband interconnect link option distances of 20 km can be reached. Moreover, these environments need gradual investments, because initially operators provide radio coverage only in the busiest areas, and then extend it in order to reach complete coverage. The modularity of Britecell Plus helps operators to gradually expand the system. Some large cities often need to set up seamless and reliable radio systems for emergency services. The required RF infrastructure needs to be unobstrusive and environmental friendly; this can be achieved using a Britecell Plus DAS. When redundancy is required, two interleaved Britecell Plus 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.

User Manual

2. Equipment Overview

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2.1. Introduction

Basically, a Britecell system is composed of:

• a Master Unit, able to bring mobile radio signals from the BTS to different remote units and vice-versa, so as to remotise the distribution a nd colle ction of any mobile and wireless signal;

• a variable number of Remote Units, conveying and receiving mobile signa ls by low-power antennas.

We hereby will provide a brief introduction to the main components of the Master and Remote Units which make up the Britecell system, while further details about each component will be given in the next section s of the present manual.

2.2. The Britecell Plus Remote Unit

and its relevant accessories

The Remote Unit (TFAx) is a device p roviding optical-to-electrical downlink conversion and electrical-to-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 configurations (Low/Medium/High), housed by 4 different architectures (Case A, Case B, Case F and Case L), so as to fulfil different coverage and band requirements.

Case-A

Case-L

Case-B

Case-F

Fig.2.1: Different Remote Unit cases

In downlink, each TFAx receives an optical signal from the Master Unit, performs an optical-to-RF conversion, and transmits the resul ting signal to the 2 antenna ports. In uplink, it receives a RF signal from remote antennas, provides a RF-tooptical conversion, and conveys the converted signal to the Master Unit through optical fibres.

User Manual

Power supply (available either in 90÷264 Vac or in -72÷-36 Vdc version) is internal in Case L, in Case F and in most Case A remote units: vice-versa, all Case B and some Case A remote units are provided with an external power supply (TPSN), whose dimensions are shown in table 2.1(a).

The TFBW unit is a booster which can be cascaded with a TFAx in order to distribute Wi-Fi signals (802.11b and g) through dedicated Wi-Fi antennas (see scheme 2.2b).

(a)

Fig. 2.2 (a) TFBW booster ; (b) block diagram of a Britecell Plus system with Wi-Fi Interface

Access

Point

BTS

Master Unit

with

Wi-Fi interface

Remote

Unit

Wi-Fi

booster

(b)

The case-A and Case-B Remote Units and the TFBW boosters can be provided with the TKA installation kit (optional), which contains a fiber optics splice holder and a compact case, in order to allow an easy installation on walls or poles. TKA compact cases allow different IP protection levels, depending on the specific environmental requirements.

Fig. 2.3: TKA mounting kit for Case A and Case B remote units

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2.3. The Britecell Plus Master Unit

The Britecell Plus Master Unit is a widely-flexible system. It i s a vaila ble b oth as a stand-alone version (the Fast Master Unit) and as a rack-based version. In the followings we will give a brief overview of the components of these units.

2.3.1 The Fast Master Unit

The Master Fast (TFLF): designed into a stand-alone mechanical case, it includes all required ancillary and support functions. It is avai lable in various frequency ranges, from 800MHz up to 2200MHz and allows feeding up to 4 Remote Units. Module dimensions: 240 x 200 x 38mm

2.3.2 The rack-based Master Unit

The Sub-rack (TPRN) is a 19” subrack hosting the Britecell Plus modules; it accommodates 12 slots, whose sizes are 7TE x 4HE. As each Britecell Plus module takes up one or two slots, each Master Unit can sustain up to 12 modules, depending on design configuration and requirements.

Fig. 2.5: The 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 RUs, and it combines them into a single RF output, while providing automatic gain control in order to balance the fibre losses. Module dimensions: Width = 7TE, Height = 4HE (one slot in the master unit subrack).

Fig. 2.6: The TFLN Master Optical TRX

Fig. 2.4: The Fast Master Unit

User Manual

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

Fig. 2.7: The TDPX duplexer

The variable RF attenuators (TBSI): it 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. 2.8:

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. 2.9: The TLDN tri- band coupler

The tri band coupler (TLTN): in downlink it combines the low band signals (800 or 900MHz), the 1800MHz band signal and 2000MHz signal into a common one; in uplink it splits the triple band signal between three different RF single band paths. Module dimensions are: Width = 7 TE, Height = 4 HE.

Fig. 2.10: The TLTN tri-band coupler

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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 (4) RF signals coming from different master optical TRXs onto a common RF signal, entering the BTS. In downlink the TLCN2 (or TLCN4) splits the downlink composite RF signal coming from the BTS onto 2 (4) RF ports, entering different master optical TRXs;

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

Fig. 2.11: The TLCN2 and TLCN4 splitters/combiners

The WLAN interface board (TWLI):.it connects 3 WLAN Access Points to each TFLN, and it is necessary when

802.11b/g WLAN distribution through the DAS is required. Dimensions: Width = 14 TE, Height = 4HE (2 slots in the master unit sub-rack).

Fig. 2.12: The TWLI Wi-Fi interface board

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

Fig. 2.13: The TMPx-10 power limiter

User Manual

The interconnect-link (TILx) is a multi-module kit which allows to expand our system by connecting an additional Britecell Plus subrack station to the main one, at a distance of up to 20 km. In details:

• The TDTX and TMRX cards make up the “master side” of the i-link; thus, they have to be housed inside the main Britecell Plus subrack, and

take 1 slot each;

• The TDTX and TSRX cards

Fig. 2.14: The TILx interconnect link (i-link)

make up the “slave side” of the i-link; thus, they have to be housed inside the remotised Britecell Plus subrack, and take 1 slot and 3 slots respectively.

The TILx kit is available either in simple (TILx-HL) or in WDM (TILx-HLW) version.

The remote supervision unit (TSUN): it is able to control up to 14 master units fully populated. It is available both as a plug-in module (Width = 14 TE, Height = 4HE, 2 slots in the master unit sub-rack) and as stand alone device (Width= 19”, Height=1HE). It consists in a CPU, a flash memory and an Interface Board

Fig. 2.15: The TSUN remote supervision unit

The Remote Power Unit (TRS/TRSN): it is a sub-rack unit (whose sizes are 7TE x 4HE) providing remote power supply to up to 24 remote units through standard AWG14/16 copper lines. It is available in 2 versions:

• The TRSN version is able to supply 1 A per port and it can feed all remote units.

Fig. 2.16: The TRSN subrack

• The TRS version is able to

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supply 0.5A per port: it can feed only single and dual band TFAN remote units, as well as the TFAM20 one.

2.4. Block diagrams

In order to better understand the functionalities of the different units and modules, some block diagrams of the Britecell Plus system are reported hereafter.

Systems based on Fast Master Unit must be directly connected to the BTS station. The scheme of a typical Fast Britecell system is reported here in fig.

2.17.

BTS

Fixed

Attenuator

TFLF

Mixed fibre-copper cable

Fig. 2.17: Block diagram for a Fast system

A more complex distribution system requires a rack-based Master Unit. It allows the employment of a splitting/combining section (built by some passive modules TLTN, TLDN, TLCN, and TBSI described above) in order to interface one or more BTSs with several TFLN optical TRXs and with an higher number of TFAx remote units. Firstly, let’s assume that our BTSs are not duplexed. In this case, no TDPX module (see fig. 2.7) is required. Moreover, let’s assume that the Ma ster Unit is made up of one or more subracks located in a single site, so that we do not need an interconnect link in order to remotise a second subrack. The scheme of this network configuration is reported hereafter in figure 2.18.

Mixed fibre-copper cable

TFAx

Mixed fibre-copper cable

TFAx

User Manual

Triple - band system – not duplexed BTSs – 8 TFLN local units

Fixed Atten.

TBSI

TLTN

GSM

GSM 1800

UMTS

900

BTS

TFLN

TLCN4

TFLN

TLCN2

TFLN

TLCN4

TFLN

TFAx

Level

adjustment

Services

combining /

splitting

Signal splitting /

combining

Electrical / optical

conversion

Optical / electrical

conversion

Britecell Plus MASTER UNIT

Britecell Plus

REMOTE UNITS

Fig. 2.18: Block diagram for a triple-band system with not-duple xed ba se stations .

This scheme involves a rack-based Master Unit, with 8-TFLN optical TRXs and 32 TFAx

remote units.

Now let’s consider the same network configuration, but with duplexed BTSs. In this case, some TDPX modules (see fig. 2.7) are required in order to combine UL and DL ports on single RF channels.

TFAx

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The scheme of this network configuration is reported hereafter in figure 2.19.

Triple-band system – duplexed BTSs – 8 TFLN

GSM

900

BTS

Fixed

Atten.

TDPX

TBSI

TLCN4

TFLN

TFAx

TFLN

GSM 1800

BTS

Fixed

Atten.

UMTS

BTS

Fixed

Atten.

Fig. 2.19: Block diagram for a triple-band system with duplexed base stations. This

scheme involves a rack-based Master Unit, with 8-TFLN optical TRXs and 32 TFAx

TDPX

DL - UL

splitting /

combining

Level

adjustment

TLCN2

Services

combining /

splitting

Signal splitting /

combining

Britecell Plus MASTER UNIT

remote units.

TLCN4

TFLN

Electrical / optical

conversion

TFAx

3 km max

optical link

TFAx

Optical/electrical

conversion

Britecell Plus REMOTE UNITS

TFAx

Let’s assume we need to expand our network in a wider area, by using a second subrack station at a distance of up to 20 km from the site where the main subrack station is located. This new network configuration requires to use an interconnect link, whose master side will be at the main subrack station, and whose slave side will be at the new remotised station. The scheme of this new network topology is shown hereafter, in figure2.20.

User Manual

Triple-band system – duplexed BTSs – i-link

GSM

900

TDPX

GSM 1800

TDPX

TBSI

UMTS

BTS

TDPX

TLTN

TLCN2

TLCN4

TFLN

TFAx

Fig. 2.20: Block diagram for a

Britecell system with

remotised station connected

through i-link. This scheme

refers to a triple-band system

with duplexed base stations.

It involves 7 TFLN optical

TRXs and 28 TFAx remote

units on the master side, 2

TFLN optical TRXs and 8 TFAx

on the slave side .

Services

combining /

splitting

DL - UL

splitting /

combining

Level

adjustment

TSRX

Signal splitting /

combining

TFLN

Electrical / optical

conversion

TFLN

3 km max

optical link

TFAx

Optical/electrical

conversion

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Britecell Plus MASTER UNIT

Britecell Plus REMOTE UNITS

Lastly, the next tables show a brief overview of the available Britecell equipment:

REMOTE UNITS and accessories

Unit name/

Module name

TFAx case A TFAx case B TFAx case L TFAx case F

TFBWx

TKA01 TKA04

TPSN 1-40 TPSN 3-30

Table 2.1(a): Overview of the Britecell Plus remote units and accessories

Unit name/

Module name

TFAF

Description Dimensions (L x W x H)

Remote unit Remote unit Remote unit Remote unit

WLAN booster Remote Unit installation kit

Remote Unit installation kit External power supply

External power supply

FAST MASTER UNIT

Description Dimensions (L x W x H)

Fast Master Unit

240 x 200 x 38 (mm) 240 x 240 x 38 (mm) 455 x 255 x 167 (mm) 546 x 253 x 207 (mm)

240 x 200 x 38 (mm) 280 x 240 x 55 (mm)

340 x 240 x 55 (mm) 175 x 80 x 54 (mm)

175 x 80 x 51 (mm)

240 x 200 x 38 (cm)

Table 2.1(b): Britecell Plus fast master unit

User Manual

RACK-BASED MASTER UNIT

Unit name/

Module name

TPRN04 TPRNx4

TFLNx

TLCN 2 TLCN 4

TBSI 2-30

TDPXx

TLDNx TLTNx

TMPx-10

TWLI

TILx-HL

TILx-HLW

TSUN6

TSUN1 or TSUN3 TRS/TRSN

Table 2.1(c): Overview of the Britecell Plus components and accessories

Description Dimensions (L x W x H)

Passive subrack Active subrack

Master Optical TRX 2-way splitter

4-way splitter Adjustable attenuator UL/DL duplexer Dual band coupler

Tri band coupler 10 dB power limiter WLAN interface i-link kit WDM i-link kit Remote supervision unit standalone Remote supervision unit plug in Remote supply unit

for the rack-based master unit

19” x 4HE 19” x 4HE

7TE x 4HE 7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE 7TE x 4HE 7TE x 4HE 7TE x 4HE

7TE x 4HE 7TE x 4HE 14TE x 4HE 14TE x 4HE (master side) +

28TE x 4HE (slave side) 14TE x 4HE (master side) + 28TE x 4HE (slave side) 19” x 4HE

14TE x 4HE 19” x 1HE

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TFAx

(intro)

3. TFAx Remote Unit

User Manual

3.1. Introduction

Remote Unit

Main tasks of the TFAx unit:

Downlink (DL):

¾ Optical-to-RF conversion of the input optical

signal

¾ Automatic Gain Control (AGC) of each converted signal, in order to

compensate optical losses;

¾ RF amplification: the converted RF signal is boosted in order to main tain a

good signal-to-noise ratio

¾ RF filter ing: a proper filter rejects th e spurious emissions ¾ RF duplexing and splitting: the boosted RF signal is conveyed to 2 antenna

ports

Uplink (UL):

¾ RF amplification: a low noise amplifier boosts the signal received from

antennas so as to maintain a good signal-to-noise ratio

¾ RF filtering: the boosted signal is cleaned from the spurious emissions ¾ Automatic Level Control (ALC): the RF signal level is adjusted according to

blocking requirements

(TFAN,TFAM,TFAH)

Module name:

TFAx

¾ RF-to-optical conversion of the signal, which is finally conveyed to the

output optical port

Different types of Case-A remote units

In order to allow radio cove rages with different power and band requ irements, Britecell architecture provides a wide variety of remote units. This allows the customer to choose the solution which best fits its coverage and environmental demands.

Case A remote unit

Case L remote unit

Case B remote unit

Case F remote unit

Figure 3.1: The four different case of the Britecell Plus remote unit

TFAx

(intro)

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TFAx (Intro)

Depending on the bands where the radio coverage has to be provided and on the required signal power to cover the environment, your remote unit can have one of the topologies shown in figure 3.1.

The following 4 sections of the manual refers to these 4 different topologies of remote units. Please follow the instructions described in the section which exactly corresponds to the case (A,B,L,F) of your remote unit.

The output powers and coverage bands of each remote unit are uniquely associated to model codes which you can easily read on both on the remote unit and on its package box (see picture 3.2 below).

Figure 3.2

The case of your remote unit can be easily identified from the pictures 3.1: as an alternative, you can refer to the Britecell Plus Bulletin PA-100595EN or to the dedicated Bulletin of your remote unit. For example, let’s refer to the Model Number “TFAM20” we read on our remote unit’s label, like in the Ficture 3.2. On the Britecell Plus bulletin PA-100595EN, we read:

Band Configurations

UMTS2100 Medium A TFAM20 PA-100592EN

Power Class

Case

Figure 3.3

Model Code

Details in Bulletin

This line states that the remote unit whose model is TFAM20 has a case A architecture (see picture 3.1), manages UMTS (2100 MHz) signals, and works

with Medium output powers. Once we identified the case of our re mote unit (case A, in this example), let’s refer to this manual’s section which exactly corresponds to our remote unit case, so as to perform proper installation an d maintenance procedures.

Each Britecell Plus remote unit belongs to one of the following 3 power classes: Low, Medium and High Power. Once we know the Power Class of our remote unit (Medium, in our example), and its working bands (e.g. 2100 MHz UMTS), we can look through the remote unit dedicated bulletin (described under the column “Details in bulletin”: PA-100592EN, in our example) in order to get all the technical specifications concerning the remote unit itself.

User Manual

(

)

Remote Unit

3.2. Case A remote unit

Module name:

Dimensions and Weight:

Dimensions: 38 x 240 x 200 mm

(1.5 x 9.4 x 7.9 inches)

Weight : please refer to the Britecell Plus bulletin

remote unit dedicated bulletin in order to know the updated data

about the weight of your case A remote unit

An external power supply is provided only for Case A remote unit TFAM20.

PA-100595EN or to the

Green LED = power on

Red LED = major

alarm

Warm side

External

alarm

connectors

Power

Supply

connector

antenna

port (N-f)

UL optical

port

(SC-APC)

antenna

port (N-f)

Fig. 3.4: 3D-drawing of a Case A remote unit

RF auxiliary

channel output

SMA-f)

DL optical

port

(SC-APC)

RF auxiliary

channel input

SMA-f

RF ports:

• 2 RF antenna ports, transmitting/receiving signals to/from

distributed antennas. RF antenna ports are duplexed N-female connectors. These RF ports can be connected to the antennas either directly (ie. through RF jumper cables) or through splitters, thus allowing more antennas to be fed. Unused RF

ports have to be terminated with a 50 Ω load.

• 1 RF auxiliary input and 1 auxiliary output (designed to

receive and transmit additional signals). Auxiliary input and output ports are SMA-female connectors.

TFAx

Case A

TFAx

CaseA

MN024-08

TFAx

CaseA

Optical ports:

• 1 optical output port, transmitting UL signals to

TFLN master optical TRX

• 1 optical input port, receiving DL signals from TFLN

master optical TRX

Visual alarms:

Two control LEDs are provided on the TFAx front side (see fog. 3.19). The green LED describes the power supply status, while the red LED describes the major Remote Unit failures (please refer to the table 3.1).

Fig. 3.5 : LED panel on

the Case-A warm side

Led colour

Meaning

Low optical power at DL

Red

input and/or RF amplifier failure

Green Power supply OK

Table 3.1: summary of TFAx LEDs meaning

External alarms:

TFAx is provided with two dry contacts inputs, which can be connected (through .062” MOLEX plugs) to any

dry contacts

external device. In such a way, the alarm information about this external device can be signalled through the red LED of TFAx LED panel and displayed into the supervision system.

Fig. 3.6 : Dry-contacts on Case A back side

Power supply

Case A remote units can be powered by universal mains (90 to 264 Vac) or by negative supply (-72 to -36 Vdc). Power supply is internal for all Case A remote units, except for TFAM20 which has an external adapter. Fig. 3.9a,b shows the different power supply connectors which are provided on 90/264 Vac and on -72/-36 Vdc versions (except TFAM20). TFAM20 remote unit is provided with the TPSN external power supply (fig. 3.8 a,b), available either for universal mains (90 to 264) or for negative supply. (-72 to -36 Vdc). They both provide the remote units with a +5Vdc power, by means of a 3-pole connector (fig. 3.10c).

User Manual

Fig. 3.7 : (a) IEC connector on the rear side of a 220V 4-pole connector on the rear side of a -48 V connectors are not available on TFAM20, which is provided with an external adapter (see below).

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

-powered case A remote unit. (b)

-powered case A remote unit. These

Positive +5 Vdc

Fig. 3.8 : TPSN external adapters for 220 Vac (a) and -48 Vdc (b) TFAM20 versions. Power supply connector on the rear side of TFAM20 remote unit (c).

Ground

(c)

Warnings (to be read before the remote units are

TFAx

CaseA

installed)

Dealing with optical output ports

The TFAx remote unit contains semiconductor lasers. Invisible laser beams may be emitted from the optical output ports. Do not look towards the optical ports while equipment is switched on.

Choosing a proper installation site for the remote units

• TFAx remote units have to be installed as close as possible to the radiating

antennas, in order to minimize coaxial cable length, thus reducing downlink power loss and uplink noise figure.

MN024-08

(b)

(a)

TFAx

CaseA

• When positioning the TFAx remote unit, pay

attention that the placing of related antennas should be decided in order to minimize the Minimum Coupling Loss (MLC), so as to avoid blocking.

• The TFAx remote unit is intended to be fixed on

walls, false ceilings or other flat vertical surfaces (TKA installation kits are available, in order to provide a protective cover for TFAx remote unit,

WRONG

while making the TFAx installation easier and faster).

Handling optical connections

• When inserting an optical connector, take care to

handle it so smoothly that the optical fibre is not damaged. Optical fibres are to be single-mode (SM) 9.5/125µm.

• Typically, Britecell Plus equipment is provided with

SC-APC optical connectors (other connectors may be provided on request). Inserting any other connectors will result in severe damages.

• Do not force or stretch the fibre pigtail with radius

of curvature less than 5cm. See rightward figure for optimal fibre cabling.

• Remove the adapter caps only just before making connections. Do not

leave any SC-APC adapter open, as they attract dirt. Unused optical connectors must always be covered with their caps.

• Do not touch the connector tip. Clean it with a proper tissue before

inserting each connector into the sleeve. In case connector tips need to be cleaned, use pure ethyl alcohol.

OPTIMAL

Fig. 3.9: Improper (a) and optimal (b) radius bending for a fiber optics cable.

TFAx Case A installation

Versions with internal power supply

(all Case A remote units, except TFAM20)

Case A remote units can be fixed on walls, false ceilings or other flat vertical surfaces, either directly or through a TKA01 installation kit (optional).

Installing a Case A remote unit (except TFAM20) WITHOUT the TKA kit

The TFAx kit includes:

A. 1 remote unit TFAx B. a 50 Ω load C. a VDE connector or a -48 Vdc plug (according to

the chosen model)

User Manual

+ 84 hidden pages

Andrew Wireless Innovations Group MN024-08 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual