Axell Wireless 60 1667SERIES User Manual

Baltimore Transit

Radio Repeater System

User/Maintenance Handbook (3)

for

Intelect Corp.

AFL Works Order: Q113737
AFL product part No.: 60-166701

Handbook Number 60-166701HBKM Issue No. A Date 15/02/2006 Page 1 of 24

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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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 2

1.

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 800MHz 20W/1W Bi-Directional Amplifier (60-166701)............................................................ 7

3.1.P 800MHz 20W/1W Bi-Directional Amplifier Photographs .................................................... 7

3.1.1 800MHz Remote Site BDA Description.............................................................................. 8

3.1.2 800MHz Remote Site BDA Technical Specifications ......................................................... 9

3.1.4 800MHz Remote Site BDA Alarm Wiring, Drg. Nō. 60-166751........................................10

3.1.5 800MHz Remote Site BDA O/P Connections for NFM, Drg. Nō. 60-166752 ................... 11

3.1.6 800MHz Remote Site BDA System Diagram, Drg. Nō. 60-166781.................................. 12

3.1.7 800MHz Remote Site BDA Outline Drawing, Drg. Nō. 60-166791...................................13

3.1.8 800MHz 20/1W REMOTE SITE BDA (60-166701) Parts List ..........................................14

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

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

4.2 Optical Connections................................................................................................................ 15

4.3 Wall Mounted Equipment........................................................................................................ 16

4.4 RF Connections ...................................................................................................................... 16

4.5 RF Commissioning.................................................................................................................. 16

5. FAULT FINDING / MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................... 17

5.1 Tools & Test Equipment..........................................................................................................17

5.2 Basic Fault Finding ................................................................................................................. 17

5.3 Quick Fault Checklist .............................................................................................................. 18

5.4 Downlink ................................................................................................................................. 18

5.5 Uplink...................................................................................................................................... 18

5.6 Fault repair.............................................................................................................................. 18

5.7 Service Support ...................................................................................................................... 18

5.8 Care of Modules...................................................................................................................... 19

5.9 Module Removal (LNAs, general procedure):......................................................................... 19

5.10 Module Replacement (general): ..........................................................................................19

5.11 Power Amplifiers.................................................................................................................. 19

5.12 Low Power Amplifier Replacement...................................................................................... 20

5.13 Module Transportation:........................................................................................................ 20

6 APPENDIXES ............................................................................................................................ 21

6.1 Glossary of Terms used in this document............................................................................... 21

6.2 AFL RF Module Drawing Key .................................................................................................22

6.3 EC Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................................23

6.4 Amendment List Record Sheet ............................................................................................... 24

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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 all

removed. This would always be a wise precaution, despite the severe mismatch between the
impedance of an N type connector at 50Ω, and that of free space at 377Ω, 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.

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.

RF power sources have been

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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 NOT

weather proof.

2.6 Emergency Contact Numbers

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

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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)

Remote Site 800MHz Bi-Directional Amplifier (60-166701, 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, (up to 16 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 antennas or radiating cables.

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.

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 (LED’s).

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 800MHz 20W/1W Bi-Directional Amplifier (60-166701)

3.1.P 800MHz 20W/1W Bi-Directional Amplifier Photographs

Front View – Door Closed

Front View – Door Open

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Photographs continued………

Inside Case Floor showing Alarm Krone Blocks & Relay PCB’s

3.1.1 800MHz Remote Site BDA Description

The 800MHz BDA is a wall mount unit, 24” x 24” x 12” in size. It provides the required amplification at
a Remote Site for the wanted 800MHz signals.
The 800MHz BDA operates primarily from an 110V AC supply but it also has a 24V DC supply port
for connection to a Battery Backup Unit if required.
In more detail, the 800MHz BDA Downlink (Base Transmit) input the 800MHz Downlink port. From
this port a 20dB coupler provides a Downlink Input Monitor port for test purposes and this is followed
by a bandpass filter and then an electronically switchable attenuator which allows for up to 15dB of
gain adjustment in 1dB steps. The attenuation control is made via the NFM unit located in the UHF
BDA. A 15dB gain LPA then provides a first stage of amplification and this is followed by an AGC
Attenuator and then a 36dB gain 20Watt Power Amplifier. After the 20W PA there is a 30dB coupler
which is used to drive an AGC Detector which then controls the previously mentioned AGC
Attenuator. A second bandpass filter, this time a duplexed filter, then connects the Downlink path to
the Mobile Antenna port after passing through a 20dB coupler which provides a Downlink Output
Monitor Port for test purposes. The Mobile Antenna port is then connected to the UHF BDA 800MHz
Antenna Interconnect port.
In the Uplink (Base Receive) path, the Mobile Antenna port is the Uplink input and the Uplink signals
are first passed back through the Downlink Output coupler and are then connected to a duplexed
bandpass filter. The filter is followed by a 30dB gain LNA and then an electronically switchable
attenuator which allows up to 15dB of gain adjustment in 1dB steps. As with the Downlink attenuator,
the Uplink attenuator is controlled remotely via the NFM unit in the UHF BDA. An AGC Attenuator is
then fitted before a second bandpass filter which leads to a second LNA, this time a 20dB unit. The
LNA is followed by an AGC Detector which controls the previously mentioned AGC Attenuator.
Finally a 20dB coupler provides an Uplink Output Monitor port for test purposes before the 800MHz
Uplink port which connects to the UHF BDA 800MHz Uplink port.
Alarm outputs are taken to the UHF BDA for connection to the NFM unit there which is fitted to the
inside of the UHF BDA cabinet door.

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