Axell Wireless 60 1665SERIES User Manual

Baltimore Transit

Radio Repeater System

User/Maintenance Handbook (2)

for

Intelect Corp.

AFL Works Order: Q113737

AFL product part No.: 60-166501

Aerial Facilities Limited
Technical Literature

Handbook Number 60-166501HBKM Issue No. A Date 15/02/2006 Page 1 of 26

Baltimore Radio Repeater System
Maintenance Handbook

1. INTRODUCTION

Scope and Purpose of this Document

This handbook is for use solely with the equipment identified by the AFL Part Number shown on the
front cover. It is not to be used with any other equipment unless specifically authorised by Aerial
Facilities Limited. This is a controlled release document and, as such, becomes a part of Aerial
Facilities’ Total Quality Management System. Alterations and modification may therefore only be
performed by Aerial Facilities Ltd.

AFL recommends that the installer of this equipment familiarise his/herself with the safety and
installation procedures contained within this document before installation commences.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide the user/maintainer with sufficient information to service
and repair the equipment to the level agreed. Maintenance and adjustments to any deeper level must
be performed by AFL, normally at the company’s repair facility in Chesham, England.

This handbook has been prepared in accordance with BS 4884, and AFL’s Quality procedures, which
maintain the company’s registration to BS EN ISO 9001:2000 and to the R&TTE Directive of the
European Parliament. Copies of the relevant certificates and the company Quality Manual can be
supplied on application to the Quality Manager.
This document fulfils the relevant requirements of Article 6 of the R&TTE Directive.

Limitation of Liability Notice

This manual is written for the use of technically competent operators/service persons. No liability is
accepted by AFL for use or misuse of this manual, the information contained therein, or the
consequences of any actions resulting from the use of the said information, including, but not limited
to, descriptive, procedural, typographical, arithmetical, or listing errors.

Furthermore, AFL does not warrant the absolute accuracy of the information contained within this
manual, or its completeness, fitness for purpose, or scope.

AFL has a policy of continuous product development and enhancement, and as such, reserves the
right to amend, alter, update and generally change the contents, appearance and pertinence of this
document without notice.

All AFL products carry a twelve month warranty from date of shipment. The warranty is expressly on a
return to base repair or exchange basis and the warranty cover does not extend to on-site repair or
complete unit exchange.

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Handbook No. 60-166501HBKM Page 2 of 26

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 2

Scope and Purpose of this Document................................................................................................. 2

Limitation of Liability Notice................................................................................................................. 2

2. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS...................................................................................................... 4

2.1 Earthing of Equipment ..............................................................................................................4

2.2 Electric Shock Hazard............................................................................................................... 4

2.3 RF Radiation Hazard ................................................................................................................4

2.4 Chemical Hazard ......................................................................................................................5

2.5 Laser safety ..............................................................................................................................5

2.6 Emergency Contact Numbers................................................................................................... 5

3. EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW/SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................. 6

3.1 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA (60-166501) .................................................................... 7

3.2 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Description...................................................................7

3.3 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Technical Specifications .............................................. 7

3.4 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Mechanical Specifications ...........................................7

3.5 Fibre-Fed High Power Remote Site System Diagram, Drg. No. 60-166581.......................... 8

3.6 Fibre-Fed High Power Remote Site Alarm Diagram, Drg. Nǀ 60-166551 ............................. 9

3.7 Remote Site UHF BDA Alarm Wiring Diagram, Drg. No. 60-166551 .................................. 10

3.8 Remote Site UHF BDA Outline Drawing, Drg. No. 60-166591 ............................................ 11

3.9 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Parts List (60-166501) ............................................... 13

4. INSTALLATION & COMMISIONING..........................................................................................15

4.1 Initial Installation Record......................................................................................................... 15

4.2 Antenna Installation & Gain Calculations................................................................................ 15

4.3 Antenna Isolation .................................................................................................................... 16

4.4 Rack Mounted Equipment.......................................................................................................17

4.5 Optical Connections................................................................................................................17

4.6 Wall Mounted Equipment........................................................................................................18

4.7 RF Connections ......................................................................................................................18

4.8 RF Commissioning.................................................................................................................. 18

5. FAULT FINDING / MAINTENANCE........................................................................................... 19

5.1 Tools & Test Equipment.......................................................................................................... 19

5.2 Basic Fault Finding ................................................................................................................. 19

5.3 Quick Fault Checklist .............................................................................................................. 20

5.4 Downlink ................................................................................................................................. 20

5.5 Uplink...................................................................................................................................... 20

5.6 Fault repair.............................................................................................................................. 20

5.7 Service Support ......................................................................................................................20

5.8 Care of Modules...................................................................................................................... 21

5.9 Module Removal (LNAs, general procedure):......................................................................... 21

5.10 Module Replacement (general): ..........................................................................................21

5.11 Power Amplifiers.................................................................................................................. 21

5.12 Low Power Amplifier Replacement......................................................................................22

5.13 Module Transportation:........................................................................................................ 22

6 APPENDIXES ............................................................................................................................ 23

6.1 Glossary of Terms used in this document............................................................................... 23

6.2 AFL RF Module Drawing Key .................................................................................................24

6.3 EC Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................................25

6.4 Amendment List Record Sheet ............................................................................................... 26

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2. SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

2.1 Earthing of Equipment

Equipment supplied from the mains must be connected to grounded outlets and earthed
in conformity with appropriate local, national and international electricity supply and
safety regulations.

2.2 Electric Shock Hazard

The risk of electrical shocks due to faulty mains driven power supplies whilst
potentially ever present in any electrical equipment, would be minimised by adherence
to good installation practice and thorough testing at the following stages:

a) Original assembly.

b) Commissioning.

c) Regular intervals, thereafter.

All test equipment must be in good working order prior to its use. High current power supplies can be
dangerous because of the possibility of substantial arcing. Always switch off during disconnection and
reconnection.

2.3 RF Radiation Hazard

RF radiation, (especially at UHF frequencies) arising from transmitter outputs
connected to AFL’s equipment, must be considered a safety hazard.

This condition might only occur in the event of cable disconnection, or because a

‘spare’ output has been left unterminated. Either of these conditions would impair the
system’s efficiency. No investigation should be carried out until
removed. This would always be a wise precaution, despite the severe mismatch between the
impedance of an N type connector at 50, and that of free space at 377, which would severely
mitigate against the efficient radiation of RF power. Radio frequency burns could also be a hazard, if
any RF power carrying components were to be carelessly touched!

Antenna positions should be chosen to comply with requirements (both local & statutory) regarding
exposure of personnel to RF radiation. When connected to an antenna, the unit is capable of
producing RF field strengths, which may exceed guideline safe values especially if used with
antennas having appreciable gain. In this regard the use of directional antennas with backscreens
and a strict site rule that personnel must remain behind the screen while the RF power is on, is
strongly recommended.

all

RF power sources have been

Where the equipment is used near power lines, or in association with temporary masts not having
lightning protection, the use of a safety earth connected to the case-earthing bolt is strongly advised.

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2.4 Chemical Hazard

Beryllium Oxide, also known as Beryllium Monoxide, or Thermalox™, is sometimes

used in devices within equipment produced by Aerial Facilities Ltd. Beryllium oxide
dust can be toxic if inhaled, leading to chronic respiratory problems. It is harmless if
ingested or by contact.

Products that contain beryllium are load terminations (dummy loads) and some power amplifiers.
These products can be identified by a yellow and black “skull and crossbones” danger symbol (shown
above). They are marked as hazardous in line with international regulations, but pose no threat under
normal circumstances. Only if a component containing beryllium oxide has suffered catastrophic
failure, or exploded, will there be any danger of the formation of dust. Any dust that has been created
will be contained within the equipment module as long as the module remains sealed. For this reason,
any module carrying the yellow and black danger sign should not be opened. If the equipment is
suspected of failure, or is at the end of its life-cycle, it must be returned to Aerial Facilities Ltd for
disposal.

To return such equipment, please contact the Quality Department, who will give you a Returned
Materials Authorisation (RMA) number. Please quote this number on the packing documents, and on
all correspondence relating to the shipment.

PolyTetraFluoroEthylene, (P.T.F.E.) and P.T.F.E. Composite Materials
Many modules/components in AFL equipment contain P.T.F.E. as part of the RF insulation barrier.
This material should never be heated to the point where smoke or fumes are evolved. Any person
feeling drowsy after coming into contact with P.T.F.E. especially dust or fumes should seek medical
attention.

2.5 Laser safety

General good working practices adapted from
EN60825-2: 2004/ EC 60825-2:2004

Do not stare with unprotected eyes or with any unapproved optical device at the fibre
ends or connector faces or point them at other people, Use only approved filtered or

attenuating viewing aids.

Any single or multiple fibre end or ends found not to be terminated (for example, matched, spliced)
shall be individually or collectively covered when not being worked on. They shall not be readily
visible and sharp ends shall not be exposed.
When using test cords, the optical power source shall be the last connected and the first
disconnected.

Use only approved methods for cleaning and preparing optical fibres and optical connectors, do not
allow any dirt/foreign material ingress on the optical connector bulkheads and always keep optical
connectors covered to avoid physical damage.
The optical fibre jumper cable maximum bend radius is 3 cm (1 ¼" ), any smaller radii may result in
optical cable breakage or excessive transmission losses.

Caution: Do not get the Fibre Optic units wet, they are

weather proof.

NOT

2.6 Emergency Contact Numbers

The AFL Quality Department can be contacted on:
Telephone [phone]
Fax. [phone]
e-mail

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mail to:[e-mail]

3. EQUIPMENT OVERVIEW/SPECIFICATIONS

The Baltimore repeater system consists of several items of hardware:-

Master Site Preston UHF Air Interface Channelised Amplifier (60-166101, rack mounting)
Master Site OCC UHF Air Interface Channelised Amplifier (60-166201, rack mounting)
Preston Six-Way Fibre Optic Master Site (60-166301, rack mounting)
OCC Six-Way Fibre Optic Master Site (60-166401, rack mounting)
Remote Site High Power UHF Bi-Directional Amplifier (60-166501, wall mounting)
MOCE Site Air Interface Repeater (60-166801, wall mounting)
6 x 114Ah Battery Backups (80-333201, wall mounting)

There are two master sites, one at PRESTON and one at OCC, each has a 19” rack cabinet
containing the four off-air receiving shelves, which also contain the power supplies and the DC/DC
converters (12V) for the FO shelf.

The master site equipment receives off-air transmissions which it channelises, (15 channels) and
sends this downlink signal data to six fibre optic RX modules. Remotely sited cell enhancers receive
this FO data, demodulate and amplify it and feed it to local LCX antennas.

At the remote sites, the same leaky feeder antennas receive mobile signals, band selectively amplify
them and send this uplink data back by FO to the master site where it is demodulated, channelised
and broadcast on the same air interface antenna that received the downlink signal.

Existing in the current system are bi-directional amplifiers in the 800MHz bands. These signals are
catered for using specialist cross-band couplers so that the 800MHz signals bypass the 490MHz
system path with negligible loss.

20dB couplers fitted at various points in the system ‘tap-off’ a signal suitable for monitoring the RF
power in any path.

Each active device is alarm monitored and these alarms are available either as separate volt-free
relay contact pairs, in groups (e.g. all downlink power amplifiers), or as an alarm summary of the
whole system with locally visible indications (LEDs).

Six 114Ah battery backup systems ensure no loss of coverage should mains power fail. At the time of
writing this document no information was available on which items of the system were to be fitted to
the battery backups.

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3.1 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA (60-166501)

3.2 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Description

The remote equipment is of two different types, an off-air repeater and a fibre fed repeater.

The optical repeater is directly linked to the master site by fibre optic cable and has a high power
downlink (40Watts) output to the LCX antennas. Both remote repeaters have an automatic gain
control loop in each path to lessen the overloading effects of a mobile operated close to the leaky
feeder antennas. This unit also has its own mains-to-DC power supply or ‘DC in’ (24V).

3.3 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Technical Specifications

PARAMETER SPECIFICATION

Frequency range:

Bandwidth: 1.0MHz
Manual Gain Adjustment: 0-15dB (in 1dB steps)
Remote gain adjustment: 0-15dB (in 1dB steps)
Downlink1dB Compression Point: > +47dBm
Downlink 3rd Order Intercept Point: > +63dBm
Uplink 1dB Compression Point: > +30.5dBm
Uplink 3rd Order Intercept Point: > +44dBm
Noise Figure: <6.0dB at any gain setting
Impedance: 50 ohms
RF Connectors: N type, female
Power Supply: 110V AC (nominal)
Power consumption: <8A ( @ 12V)

Temperature range:

operational:
storage:

494.3-495.3MHz (Downlink)

497.3-498.3MHz (Uplink)

-10qC to +60qC

-40qC to +70qC

3.4 Fibre Fed High Power Remote BDA Mechanical Specifications

PARAMETER SPECIFICATION

Height: 820mm

Case size

(excluding heatsinks, connectors, handles and feet)
Fixings: 4 holes on 670(w) x 775(h)mm

Temperature range:

Weight: 60kg (approximately)
RF Connectors: N type female
Environmental protection: IP65 (with door closed and all ports terminated)

Finish:

Supply Cable:

Width: 620mm
Depth: 250mm

operational: -10°C to +60°C
storage: -40°C to +70°C

Case: Semi-gloss grey (RAL 7035)
Heatsinks: Black anodised
Handles: Black high impact technopolymer

Unit supplied with suitable supply input leads with
connector and appropriate length of cable

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3.5 Fibre-Fed High Power Remote Site System Diagram, Drg. No. 60-166581

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