Bird Technologies 61-89A-50 Installation Instructions

Part No

.

YOU'RE HEARD, LOUD AND CLEAR.

Installation and Operation Manual

for the Two-Way Signal Booster System

Model Number 61-89A-50-XXX-XX

Copyright © 2005 TX RX Systems Inc.

First Printing: March 2004

7-9362-2

Version Number Version Date

1 03/30/04

1.2 04/15/04

2 10/19/05

8625 Industrial Parkway, Angola, NY 14006 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] [e-mail] www.bird-technologies.com

Warranty

This warranty applies for one year from shipping date.

TX RX Systems Inc. warrants its products to be free from defect in material and workman-

ship at the time of shipment. Our obligation under warranty is limited to replacement or
repair, at our option, of any such products that shall have been defective at the time of
manufacture.
TX RX Systems Inc. reserves the right to replace with merchandise of equal performance
although not identical in every way to that originally sold.
TX RX Systems Inc. is not liable for damage caused by lightning or other natural disasters.
No product will be accepted for repair or replacement without our prior written approval.
The purchaser must prepay all shipping charges on returned products. TX RX Systems
Inc. shall in no event be liable for consequential damages, installation costs or expense of
any nature resulting from the purchase or use of products, whether or not they are used in
accordance with instructions. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, either ex­pressed or implied, including any implied warranty or merchantability of fitness. No repre­sentative is authorized to assume for TX RX Systems Inc. any other liability or warranty
than set forth above in connection with our products or services.

Terms and Conditions of Sale

Symbols

Commonly Used

WARNING

CAUTION or
ATTENTION

High Voltage

PRICES AND TERMS: Prices are FOB seller’s plant in Angola, NY domestic packaging
only, and are subject to change without notice. Federal, State and local sales or excise
taxes are not included in prices. When Net 30 terms are applicable, payment is due
within 30 days of invoice date. All orders are subject to a $100.00 net minimum.
QUOTATIONS: Only written quotations are valid.
ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS: Acceptance of orders is valid only when so acknowledged
in writing by the seller.
SHIPPING: Unless otherwise agreed at the time the order is placed, seller reserves the
right to make partial shipments for which payment shall be made in accordance with
seller’s stated terms. Shipments are made with transportation charges collect unless
otherwise specified by the buyer. Seller’s best judgement will be used in routing, except
that buyer’s routing is used where practicable. The seller is not responsible for selection
of most economical or timeliest routing.
CLAIMS: All claims for damage or loss in transit must be made promptly by the buyer
against the carrier. All claims for shortages must be made within 30 days after date of
shipment of material from the seller’s plant.
SPECIFICATION CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS: All designs and specifications of
seller’s products are subject to change without notice provided the changes or modifi­cations do not affect performance.
RETURN MATERIAL: Product or material may be returned for credit only after written
authorization from the seller, as to which seller shall have sole discretion. In the event
of such authorization, credit given shall not exceed 80 percent of the original purchase.
In no case will Seller authorize return of material more than 90 days after shipment from
Seller’s plant. Credit for returned material is issued by the Seller only to the original
purchaser.
ORDER CANCELLATION OR ALTERATION: Cancellation or alteration of acknowledged
orders by the buyer will be accepted only on terms that protect the seller against loss.
NON WARRANTY REPAIRS AND RETURN WORK: Consult seller’s plant for pricing.
Buyer must prepay all transportation charges to seller’s plant. Standard shipping policy
set forth above shall apply with respect to return shipment from TX RX Systems Inc. to
buyer.

NOTE

Use Safety
Glasses

ESD
Electrostatic
Discharge

Hot Surface

Electrical Shock
Hazard

Important
Information

Disclaimer

Product part numbering in photographs and drawings is accurate at time of printing.
Part number labels on TX RX products supercede part numbers given within this manual.
Information is subject to change without notice.

WARNING

For Class A Unintentional Radiators

WARNING

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful inter­ference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction
manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a resi­dential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by TX
RX System Inc. could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.

To satisfy FCC RF exposure requirements for mobile trans­mitting devices, a separation distance of 1.0 Meters or more
should be maintained between the UPLINK antenna of this
device and persons during device operation. To satisfy FCC
RF exposure requirements for mobile transmitting devices, a
separation distance of 0.2 Meters or more should be main­tained between the DOWNLINK antenna of this device and
persons during device operation. To ensure compliance,
operations at closer than these distances is not recom­mended.

The antenna used for this transmitter must not be co-located
in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.

Antenna System Installation

The antenna or signal distribution system consists of two branches. An uplink
branch typically uses an outdoor mounted, unidirectional gain antenna such
as a yagi and a downlink signal radiating system consisting of a network of
zero-gain whip antennas or lengths of radiating cable usually mounted inside
of the structure.

Even though the antenna system may not be supplied or installed by TX RX
Systems. The following points need to be observed because both the safety
of the user and proper system performance depend on them.

1) Antenna system installation should only be performed by qualified techni­cal personnel.

2) The following instructions for your safety describe antenna installation
guidelines based on FCC Maximum RF Exposure Compliance require­ments.

3) The uplink antenna is usually mounted outside and exchanges signals
with the repeater base station or donor site. It is typically mounted perma­nently-attached to the building wall or roof. The gain of this antenna should
NOT exceed 10 dB. Only qualified personnel should have access to the
antenna and under normal operating conditions, no one should be able to
touch or approach it within 1 meter (40 inches).

4) The downlink or in-building signal distribution system is connected to the
downlink booster port using coaxial cable. The distribution system may
use radiating coaxial cable or a network 1/4 wave whip antennas whose
gain does not exceed 0 dB for any radiator. These antennas should be
installed so that the user cannot approach any closer than 0.2 meters (8
inches) from the antenna.

Table of Contents

General Description .............................................................................................. 1

Unpacking .......................................................................................................1

Installation .......................................................................................................1

Location .......................................................................................................1

Mounting .......................................................................................................2

Connections .......................................................................................................4

AC Line .......................................................................................................4

Backup DC Power.................................................................................................. 4

Alarm Terminals (Form-C Contacts) ...................................................................... 4

RF Connections ..................................................................................................... 5

Pre-RF Connection Tests......................................................................................5

Test Equipment ...................................................................................................... 5

Antenna Isolation ................................................................................................... 5

Procedure for Measuring Antenna Isolation .......................................................... 5

Increase isolation or decrease gain?..................................................................... 6

Normal Operation .................................................................................................. 6

LED Status Indicators ............................................................................................ 7

Front Panel LED’s ................................................................................................ 7

Module LED’s ...................................................................................................... 7

OLC Light Bars .................................................................................................... 7

Front Panel Controls & the LCD Display................................................................7

LCD Screen ....................................................................................................... 7

Configuration Settings ........................................................................................... 9

Restore Original Configuration ........................................................................... 9

Calibrate Currents .............................................................................................. 9

Set Gain .......................................................................................................9

Set Output Level ................................................................................................. 9

Change Gain Configuration ................................................................................9

Detailed Status Screens ........................................................................................ 10

Amplifiers .......................................................................................................10

Power Supply...................................................................................................... 10

OLC .......................................................................................................10

OLC Datalog ....................................................................................................... 10

Alarms .......................................................................................................10

LED Indicators ....................................................................................................... 10

Form-C contacts .................................................................................................... 11

Performance Survey..............................................................................................11

Maintenance and Repair ....................................................................................... 12

Power Amplifier Replacement................................................................................ 14

Module Replacement.............................................................................................14

Display/User Interface Replacement .....................................................................15

Power Supply Replacement................................................................................... 16

Duplexer / Filter Replacement ...............................................................................16

Card Cage Replacement ....................................................................................... 16

Recommended Spares .......................................................................................... 16

Table of Contents

Manual 7-9362-2 10/19/05

Figures and Tables

Figure 1 Cabinet mounting hole layout 2
Figure 2 Front internal cabinet view 3
Figure 3 AC power entry 4
Figure 4 Measuring antenna isolation 6
Figure 5 Boot-up display 6
Figure 6 Operational status display 7
Figure 7 Menu System 8
Figure 8 Measuring Booster Gain 11
Figure 9 Performance Survey 12
Figure 10 Removing the Power Amplifier (1 of 3) 13
Figure 11 Removing the Power Amplifier (2 of 3) 13
Figure 12 Removing the Power Amplifier (3 of 3) 14
Figure 13 Disconnecting Display/User Interface 15

Table 1 Model Number Designations 1

Specifications 17
Block Diagram High Gain (1 of 4) 18
Block Diagram Med Gain (2 of 4) 19
Block Diagram Low Gain (3 of 4) 20
Block Diagram (4 of 4) 21
Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversions 22

Table of Contents

Manual 7-9362-2 10/19/05

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

61 - 89A - 50 - A18 - G1

(Example)

FAMILY FREQUENCY

BAND

MODEL COARSE

GAIN

BANDWIDTH ENCLOSURE

TYPE

60 =
61 =

612 =

1 Way
2 Way
2 Way
w/Fiber
Interface

89A = 806 - 824

851 - 869

50 = Signal

Booster II

A =
B =
C =

80 dB
60 dB
45 dB

18 = 18 MHz
15 = 15 MHz
10 = 10 MHz
05 = 5 MHz
03 = 3 MHz (NPSPAC)

G1 =
G2 =

RM =

Painted, Nema4
Stainless, Nema4X
Rack Mount

Table 1: Model number designations. Model 61-89A-50-A18-G1 shown as example.

*

*

Note: Gain of 80 dB model set to 50 dB at factory. Please measure antenna isolation before resetting.

GAI

GAIN

Signal boosters extend radio coverage into areas
where abrupt propagation losses prevent reliable
communication. No frequency translation (conver­sion) occurs with this device. Signal Booster II (SB
II) is a broadband, bi-directional signal booster
available in a variety of configurations as shown in
Table 1. The product model number is used to
describe each configuration available. This manual
details the installation and operation of the 61-89A­50-XXX-XX series of boosters.

The system can be ordered in one of three maxi­mum gain configurations including Full Gain (+80
dB gain max), Medium Gain (+60 dB gain max),
and Low Gain (+45 dB max gain). The maximum
gain of the system is determined by the exact type
of cards plugged into the low and mid level slots as
shown in the block diagrams at the back of this
manual. The maximum gain of the uplink or down­link branch is adjustable and can be setup inde­pendently. In addition, the gain of each branch can
be reduced up to 30 dB in 0.5 dB increments via
software interface.

The bandwidth of the system is determined by the
passband of the input/output filtering. The filters
passband is determined by its physical construc­tion so must be determined at the time of order. As
shown in table 1 the system may be ordered in any
of five different bandwidths including 18, 15, 10, 5,
and 3 MHz.

Three cabinet styles are available. The G1 suffix
denotes a NEMA-4 style cabinet which is suitable
for indoor or outdoor use. The G2 suffix denotes a
stainless steel NEMA-4X style cabinet suitable for
corrosive environments such as salt air and the RM
suffix a rack mount version which is intended for
indoor mounting only.

UNPACKING

It is important to report any visible damage to the
carrier immediately. It is the customer's responsi­bility to file damage claims with the carrier within a
short period of time after delivery (1 to 5 days).
Care should be taken when removing the unit from
the packing box to avoid damage to external heat­sink fins. Use caution because the heatsink fins
can have somewhat sharp corners. Signal Booster
II (SB II) weighs about 85 lbs. so use enough peo­ple when lifting the unit.

INSTALLATION

The following sections discuss general consider­ations for installing the booster. All work should be
performed by qualified personal in accordance with
local codes.

Location

The layout of the signal distribution system will be
the prime factor in determining the mounting loca­tion of Signal Booster II. However, safety and ser­viceability are also key considerations. The unit
should be located where it cannot be tampered
with by the general public, yet is easily accessible
to service personnel. Also consider the weight of

Manual 7-9362-2 Page 1TX RX Systems Inc. 10/19/05

the unit and the possibility for injur y if the unit

MOUNTING TA BS

DOOR

CLAMPS

0.438" DIA.
(12mm)

0.438" DIA.

(12mm)

SIDE VIEW

18"

(457mm)

25.25"

(641mm)

Figure 1: SB II cabinet mounting hole layout.

should become detached from its mounting sur­faces for any reason.

Although signal boosters can operate for years
without being attended to, the unit will need to be
accessed by service personnel with troubleshoot­ing equipment, such as digital multimeters and
spectrum analyzer or a laptop computer from time
to time. The location of the power source will also
have a bearing on the mounting location. SB II
uses external heat sinks and needs to be mounted
where there can be an unobstructed air flow over
the heat sinks fins. The SB II cabinet will stay warm
during normal operation so in the interest of equip­me nt lon gevity, avoid locatio ns tha t carr y ho t
exhaust air or are continually hot.

Mounting
Figure 1 shows mounting hole dimensions and

layout for the cabinet. Mount the cabinet using 3/8”
(10 mm) diameter steel bolts (not supplied). We
recommend flat washers on both ends and a lock
washer under the nut. Nut and bolt mounting is
preferred to the use of lag bolts. Use backer blocks
where necessary to spread the force over a larger
surface area. In areas of known seismic activity,
additional devices such as tether lines may be nec­essary.

Because TX RX Systems, Inc. cannot anticipate all
the possible mounting locations and struc ture
types where these devices will be located, we rec­ommend consulting local building inspectors, engi­neering consultants or architects for advice on how
to properly mount objects of this type, size and
weight in your particular situation.

Manual 7-9362-2 Page 2TX RX Systems Inc. 10/19/05

Power Supply

AC Power

Switch

Battery
Backup

Switch

Form-C

Contacts

Connect Backup

Battery here

Uplink
Power

Duplexer

Downlink Power

Amplifier

Duplexer

Menu

Select

Buttons

Uplink M/L Card

(for Full Gain Model)

Uplink M/L Card

(for Mid Gain Model)

Uplink Low Gain Card

(for Low Gain Model)

Uplink L/L Card

(for Full Gain Model)

Attenuator Card

(for Mid Gain Model)

Attenuator Card

(for Low Gain Model)

Uplink
Power

Distribution

Downlink M/L Card

(for Full Gain Model)

Downlink M/L Card

(for Mid Gain Model)

Downlink Low Gain Card

(for Low Gain System)

Downlink L/L Card

(for Full Gain Model)

Attenuator Card

(for Mid Gain Model)

Attenuator Card

(for Low Gain Model)

Downlink

Power

Distribution

Controller

Downlink In

Uplink Out

to Donor
Antenna

Uplink Out

Downlink In

to In-building

Distribution

AC Power

Entry

Comm-Card

(Optional)

Spare

(unused slot)

OLC Light

Bars

Status LEDs

Isolator

Test Port

Isolator

Test Port

Figure 2: Front view of SB II. Model 61-89A-50-A18-G1 two-way signal booster shown as an example.

Manual 7-9362-2 Page 3TX RX Systems Inc. 10/19/05

It is the customer’s responsibility to make sure

Figure 3: Wiring of AC line entry.

Connect

incoming AC

here

AC Power

Switch

Battery

Backup

Switch

these devices are mounted safely and in compli­ance with local building codes.

CONNECTIONS

All cabling connections to the booster should be
made and checked for correctness prior to power­ing up the system.

AC Line

Signal Booster II is designed to be hard-wired to
110 single phase AC lines at 50 - 60 Hz (see Fig-
ures 2 and 3). An AC line filter is provided for this
purpose. There is a hole provided in the cabinet
bottom-wall for bringing in the AC line. Fasten
quick connect plugs to the incoming AC line, then
connect the ground wire, neutral wire, and hot wire
to the respective pins on the top of the AC line fil­ter. Refer to the photo shown in Figure 3 below.
The output of the AC line filter is wired into the
switch box which also contains a dual convenience
outlet for running test equipment. Use conduit for
running the wiring into SB II and #14 gauge or
larger conductors.

Backup DC Power

SB II may be run on a DC power source that can
supply 24 to 27 volts DC at 2.5 amps. Screw termi­nals are provided for this purpose (see figure 2).
This line should be equipped with a fast-acting 3
Amp fuse. Use #16 or #18 gauge wire for this con­nection.

The power system in SB II automatically switches
to this backup DC input when the AC supply fails
for any reason including a power outage or inten­tional disconnection.

It is not necessary that this connection be made for
normal operation on the AC line.

Alarm Terminals (Form-C contacts)

Two sets of contacts are provided to monitor the
gen e ral operat i n g c ondition of SB II and are
intended for connection to a supervisory system.
See figure 2.

One set changes state when the AC power supply
shuts down for any reason and the unit switches to
operation on the backup DC power system.

The other set of contacts changes state when any
of a number of fault conditions arises within the
electronics such as current drain outside of the
expected operating range in some module.

A six-terminal strip is provided for the interface and
uses screw terminals for ease of connection. Route
the alarm wires through one of the access holes in
the bottom of the box, strip about 3/16” of insula­tion from each end, loosen the screw terminal,
insert and retighten. Use #20 or #22 gauge insu­lated wire.

Manual 7-9362-2 Page 4TX RX Systems Inc. 10/19/05