This manual contains proprietary information of Cellvine Ltd. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written approval of Cellvine Ltd. Cellvine and/or
its agents make no claims or warranties for fitness for any purpose other than what is specifically
mentioned in this manual is made either by Cellvine or its agents.
For further information contact Cellvine at the address below or contact your local distributor.
CELLVINE CONTACT INFORMATION
Cellvine Ltd.
6 Yoni Netanyahu St.
Or-Yehuda, Israel 60376
Phone: +972-3-6348881
Fax: +972-3-6348882
Cellvine USA
63 Lake Ave Fair Haven,
NJ 07704
USA
Tel: +1 908 902 5890
5.3.1Maximum Gain Limit ....................................................................................................................... 35
5.3.2AGC Power ...................................................................................................................................... 36
5.3.4Repeater Gain ................................................................................................................................. 37
5.4PARAMETER VALUE READOUTS.................................................................................................... 38
5.4.1Filter center frequency location adjustment .................................................................................. 39
This document provides information about the installation and setup of the Cellvine repeaters.
The information consists of procedures for unpacking, inspection and preparation for the
installation, and the actual installation and setup. It is important to install the repeater correctly at
its working location. It is recommended that installation be performed by a certified radio
technician.
The repeater installation consists of four basic steps:
1. Antenna installation
2. Repeater installation
3. Cable installation
4. Repeater parameters setup and tuning using the supplied dedicated application
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
The terms, acronyms and abbreviations used in this manual are detailed in the following list:
Always observe standard safety precautions during installation, operation and maintenance of
this product. Only qualified and authorized personnel should carry out adjustment, maintenance
or repairs to the components of this system.
Danger: Electrical Shock
The power supply unit contains dangerous voltage that can cause electric shock.
Disconnect the mains prior to any work in the repeater. Any local regulations are to be
followed when servicing repeaters.
This equipment is usually installed indoors. Wet conditions increase the potential for
receiving an electric shock when installing or using electrically powered equipment. To
prevent electrical shock when installing or modifying the system power wiring,
disconnect the wiring at the power source before working with insinuated wires or
terminals.
Repeaters supplied from the mains must be connected to grounded outlets and in
conformity with any local regulations.
Caution: High Ground
When working on a repeater on high ground, e.g. on a mast or pole, be careful not to
drop parts or the entire repeater. Falling parts can cause serious personal injury.
Caution: Coax Cable Bending
Allow sufficient coax cable length to permit routing of patch cords or pigtails without
severe bends.
Caution: Static Electricity
Static electricity poses no risk of personal injury, but it can severely damage essential
parts of the repeater, if not handled carefully.
Parts of the printed circuit board as well as other parts of the repeater are sensitive to
electrostatic discharge.
Never touch the printed circuit board or annulated conductor surfaces unless absolutely
necessary.
If you must handle the printed circuit board or uninsulated conductor surfaces, use ESD
protective equipment, or first touch the repeater chassis with your hand and then do not
move your feet on the floor.
Never let your clothes touch printed circuit boards or uninsulated conductor surfaces.
Always store printed circuit boards in ESD-safe bags.
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 expense. Changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.
RF exposure warning! In order to comply with FCC RF exposure regulations, you must
ensure that the donor antenna is installed at a minimum distance of 0.2 m (7.8 inches) from
persons who may be present in the area. For more information please see
Installation, page 15
The TDD Mini repeater system is designed to improve coverage for customers
using TDD broadband 2500-2700 Mhz in medium size indoor areas.
The system implements BDA technology to enhance coverage in urban areas.
Repeaters are used to fill out uncovered areas in cellular mobile systems, such
as base station fringe areas, road tunnels, business and industrial buildings, etc.
A repeater receives signals from a base station, amplifies the signals and
retransmits them to mobile stations. It also receives, amplifies and retransmits
signals in the opposite direction. Both directions are served simultaneously.
To be able to receive and transmit signals in both directions, the repeater is
connected to a donor antenna directed towards the base station, and to a
service antenna directed towards the area to be covered.
The repeaters are controlled through the Cellvine Operation Software Terminal,
installed on desktop or laptop computers, which enables communication with the
repeaters either locally using a communication cable, or remotely via a modem
(optional)*.
Local communication can be also performed via a Bluetooth device (optional),
which allows the user to control and monitor the repeater through the operation
software over a distance of up to ~200 feet between the repeater and the
monitor PC/laptop, eliminating the need for using a communication cable.
*In the future (depending on IP-Wireless network evolution and equipment
testing), Cellvine will offer a Network Management System - NMS, which will
allow multiple repeaters in a single network to be controlled from a central
console, offering improved efficiency and responsiveness from enhanced
cellular network coverage. The Cellvine NMS can be installed as a full
application on a specific workstation at the client’s network operations center
(NOC) as SNMP packets, or implemented as a fully IP-based Web Interface
over the Internet. Cellvine’s NMS GUI enables technicians to tune repeater
parameters during installation and during further optimization stages. Alerts can
also be sent out via email, over the Internet or as SNMP packets, which can be
picked up by the NMS and displayed on the NOC PC or any other browserenabled device.
Description: TDD Repeater and Antenna Kit
Part number: BDA-TDD/ANT-KIT-AA
Vendor material no.: 43220000_EA
TDD Mini Repeater, 16 dBm, 80 db Gain : BDA-TDD-25-16-19-AA
Donor antenna: ANT-2527-10-19-AA
Donor antenna front window mounting bracket
Donor antenna Rear wall mounting bracket with 4X4m hardware
Bracket for BDA-TDD-25-16-19-AA repeater with 4XUNC 6X32:1/2 inch
hardware : BRK-TDD-19-AA
Service In-Building multipurpose antenna :MPA-2300 (Customer
furnished)
Two flexible coaxial cables (10m): for donor and service antenna:
CON0343
Power supply 110VAC 7.5V 5A: PSL0025
Local Communication cable USB to Mini USB: COMC-19-AA
Software installation CD
User manual/Installation guide
Cellvine's indoor repeaters are intended for installation in indoor locations only.
Do not install in places where the repeater might be exposed to direct sunlight
and rain/snow conditions, as this could result in the damage to the unit and other
hazards. For normal operation, the environmental conditions should be as
follows: Ambient temperature range: 23
0
F to 122 0F, Maximum humidity: 90%.
1.5 PREPARATION FOR INSTALLATION
Determine the following before beginning the repeater installation:
Base s tati on location and receiving power (TX power in dBm)
Locati on where the Base/Mobile antenna is to be installed
Locati on where the repeater is to be installed
Length and type of coaxial cable needed to connect from the outdoor
antenna to the repeater unit
Length and type of coaxial cable needed to connect from the repeater
unit to the indoor antenna
Estimation of the isolation between the donor and the coverage
Donor panel antenna: Installed facing out the area to be covered
Coverage antenna(s): One or more antennas installed at the area to be
covered.
The donor antenna receives cellular signals (assuming sufficient coverage exists
outside the building or near a window). The BDA amplifies the signals
transmitted by the coverage antennas in the coverage areas. The mobile
handset signals are received by the coverage antennas, amplified by the BDA,
and transmitted through the donor antenna back to the cellular base station site.
This enables cellular signals to be re-transmitted in some locations, in order to
extend cellular coverage.
Cellvine provides a unique, slim and well-designed donor antenna in the
repeater kit, instead of a regular Yagi antenna. This antenna is designed to
provide attractive appearance and smaller dimension when installed in private
homes or public places. The solution is based on a panel antenna with a narrow
beam pattern of 24º.
The advantages of this antenna are being aesthetically more appealing,
lightweight, relatively small dimensions, and simple installation. Although this is a
panel antenna, it performs much better than other panel antennas with similar
dimensions, especially in the pattern beam width (see Figure 5). The antenna
gain is 9 dBi.
The antenna is designed to be mounted on a glass window, using a window
bracket that is attached to the window with two-sided adhesive tape. For the
adhesive tape specifications, please see Adhesive tape specifications, page 13.
System Description Donor Signal Strength Measurement Tool
1.11 DONOR SIGNAL STRENGTH MEASUREMENT TOOL
The donor panel antenna includes a signal level meter indicator (Figure 6) for
measuring the RSSI signal level from the donor BTS in the neighboring area.
The measurement tool receives a signal from the repeater controller through the
coax cable connected to the donor antenna. It measures the signal output level
of the repeater output according to the signal received at the donor antenna from
the BTS. This will help installing the donor antenna in the optimal direction and
at the optimal angle, in order to achieve the highest RSSI level signal from the
BTS.
For operation instructions, please refer to Tuning Donor Antenna via Signal Level Indicator, page 24.
System Description Donor Signal Strength Measurement Tool
Electrical Specifications
VSWR
≤2.0
Input Impedance
50Ω
Gain
3dBi
Polarization
Vertical
Lightning Protection
DC ground
Mechanical Specifications
Height
105mm
Weight
62g
Antenna Color
Black
Working Temperature
-40~140 0F
1.11.1 Indoor Omni Coverage Antenna Specifications
Frequency Range 2300-2700MHz
Maximum Input
Power
50W
Connector Type SMA -Male
Cable Length 3m
Table 4 : Indoor Omni coverage antenna speci fi cation
1.11.2 Adhesive tape specifications and installation recommendation for the antenna
mounting bracket
After application, the bond strength will increase as the adhesive flows onto the
surface. At room temperature approximately 50% of ultimate bond strength will
be achieved after 20 minutes, 90% after 24 hours and 100% after 72 hours. This
flow is faster at higher temperatures and slower at lower temperatures. Ultimate
bond strength can be achieved more quickly (and in some cases bond strength
can be increased) by exposure of the bond to elevated temperatures (e.g. 150°F
[66°C] for 1 hour). This can provide better adhesive without on to the substrates.
Abrasion of the surfaces or the use of primers/ adhesion promoters can also
have the effect of increasing bond strength and achieving ultimate bond strength
more quickly.
This section provides information about the installation and setup of the Cellvine
repeaters. The information consists of procedures for unpacking, inspection and
preparation for the installation, as well as the actual installation and setup. It is
important to install the repeater correctly at its working location.
It is recommended that installation be performed by a certified radio technician.
The repeater installation consists of four basic steps:
5. Antenna installation
6. repeater installation
7. Cable installation
8. Repeater parameters setup and tuning with the control application.
2.1 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
1. Examine the shipping package for damage before unpacking the unit. If the
shipping package is damaged, try to unpack the equipment in the presence of
the carrier’s agent. If visual inspection reveals physical damage to the
equipment, you should send it back for replacement.
2. Verify that the equipment includes all components, as listed in the packing slip. If
components are missing, contact Cellvine Ltd.
2.2 ANTENNA INSTALLATION
Coverage (mobile) antenna – facing to the "no coverage" area. The most
commonly used antennas for indoor applications are Omni or panel antennas.
When multiple indoor areas should be covered, more than one antenna can be
used. Indoor antennas are usually placed near the ceiling with decorative
covers. Decisions as to where to locate the antenna take into account isolation
issues, and the need to overcome interfering signals. For outdoor coverage,
panel antennas are commonly used. The location of the antenna is determined
by coverage and isolation matter.
Base (donor) antenna – installed behind a window glass, facing the donor BTS.
The choice of donor cell site should take into consideration capacity, range and
signal level in the outdoor antenna location. The location should be chosen so,
that donor cell site reception will be at a higher level than all other adjacent cell
sites. For this purpose, the outdoor antenna should have high directivity and
high Gain. If possible, this antenna should directly face the nearest cellular site
with a line-of-sight view. For further installation instructions, please refer to
paragraph Donor Antenna Installation, page 15.
Isolation issue – to assure proper repeater operation, the isolation between the
indoor (Mobile) and outdoor (Base) antennas should be at least 15 dB higher
than the repeater's maximal gain.
This isolation parameter can be measured simply by transmitting a continuous,
CW unmodulated pilot signal of 0 dBm at the repeater Base port (donor
antenna), and measuring the received signal at the repeater Mobile port (service
antenna port).
Note: the isolation parameter should be measured between the coax cables
that are connected to the Base and Mobile ports, without the repeater.
For example, if the measured isolation parameter between the Base and Mobile
ports is 90 dB, the maximal repeater gain should not exceed 75 dB.
2.3 PRE-INSTALLATION INSPECTION
Before beginning the repeater installation, determine the following:
Base s tati on location and receiving power (TX power in dBm)
Locati on where the Base/Mobile antenna is to be installed
Locati on where the repeater is to be installed
Length of coaxial cable needed to connect from the Donor antenna to
the repeater unit
Length of coaxial cable needed to connect from the repeater unit to the
indoor antenna/s.
Isol ati on estimation between the donor and the coverage antenna/s.
2.4 DONOR ANTENNA INSTALLATION
The panel donor antenna can be installed either attached to a window glass,
using the front window mounting bracket, or on a wall or flat surface using the
rear wall mounting bracket.
2.5 ANTENNA WINDOW INSTALLATION
To install the antenna attached to a window glass, perform the following steps:
1. Locate all the antenna’s front bracket parts, as shown in Figure 7.
2. Attach the antenna holder to the antenna adaptor installed on the front of the
antenna, as shown in Figure 8.
3. Glue the antenna holder to the most suitable spot on the window. Before gluing,
clean and remove fat and dust from the gluing area. Note that the adapter
should be glued onto the window vertically. The adapter must be glued pointing
up, see Figure 8 and Figure 9.
4. Press the antenna and front bracket gently onto the window, and wait a few
seconds to ensure that it is properly attached, as shown in Figure 9.
RF exposure warning! In order to comply with FCC RF exposure
regulations, you must ensure that the donor antenna is installed at a
minimum distance of 0.2 m (7.8 inches) from persons who may be present in
the area.
To install the donor antenna attached to a wall or flat surface, connect the donor
antenna to the wall bracket using the supplied bracket kit, as shown in Figure
10.
Figure 12: Donor Antenna Wall Bracket Assembly
For aesthetic reasons, a sticker is placed on the back panel, covering the screw
holes. In order to locate the screw holes on the back of the panel and insert the
screws:
1. Place the paper stencil, provided in the antenna kit, over the back of the
antenna, and use a pencil or a pen to mark the position of the four holes on the
back panel of the antenna.
2. Use a Stanley knife to make holes in the sticker on the back of the antenna at
Installation Repeater Unit Mechanical Installation
2.7 REPEATER UNIT MECHANICAL INSTALLATION
1. In order to install the repeater on a wall or a similar surface, use the mounting
holes on the side of the repeater as shown in Figure 14: Repeater wall
installation. Use four fixing 4 screws, socket pan screws, plain washer, and a
spring washer (not supplied).
2. Make sure that the antenna cable connectors and the repeater connectors are
clean and dry.
3. Connect the donor antenna cable to the "base" RF connector.
4. The connection should be snug and tight.
5. Connect the "mobile" (coverage) antenna cable to the mobile RF connector. The
connection should be snug and tight.
6. Ensure that the antenna cables have are not crimped, kinked, or otherwise
damaged in the process.
7.
Connect AC adaptor to the AC socket.
Note: Always connect RF connectors to repeater before applying AC supply!
Installation Cable and Mounting Installation Precautions
2.8 CABLE AND MOUNTING INSTALLATION PRECAUTIONS
Danger of electrical shock. This equipment is usually installed outdoors.
Wet conditions increase the potential for receiving an electric shock when
installing or using electrically powered equipment. To prevent electrical
shock when installing or modifying the system power wiring, disconnect
the wiring at the power source before working with insulated wires or
terminals.
Make sure that the antenna connectors and the antenna cable connectors
are clean and dry.
The RF cables must not be kinked, cut or damaged in any way.
Connect the RF cables to the antennas. Be carfull not to strip the
connectors. The connection should be snug and tight.
Seal the connectors with either a waterproof sealant, or the appropriate
weather tight boot.
Make sure that the AC power is suitable for the repeater in use.
Make sure that all indoor repeaters are installed without direct sun
radiation and rain protection.
Whenever loose cables are left on the ground, a clear sign must be added
to warn passing pedestrians of the danger of entanglement.
Installation Tuning Donor Antenna via Signal Level Indicator
2.10 TUNING DONOR ANTENNA VIA SIGNAL LEVEL INDICATOR
Locate a potential site for installing the donor antenna with an accessible and
comfortable working space. If possible, select one of the surrounding BTS's
highest donor level signals. Deploy and connect a coax cable between the donor
antenna and the repeater location (into the Base connector) and make sure the
repeater is powered ON and the coverage antenna (Mobile) is connected.
To achieve the best signal reception quality at the donor antenna, rotate the
antenna gently sideways, as shown in Figure 16
While rotating the antenna, observe the signal level indicator LEDs on the back
panel of the antenna, as follows:
Red LED – lowest level
Red and Yellow LED – medium level
Red, Yellow and Green LED – highest level
Note: make sure the repeater is turned on and connected to the donor and
Repeater Communication, Monitoring a nd Control Local Cable Control Mode
3 REPEATER COMMUNICATION, MONITORING AND CONTROL
Cellvine TDD Mini repeaters are equipped with a controller microprocessor and
can be fully controlled and monitored through a local connection, or remotely
using an optional modem, and a software utility.
3.1 LOCAL CABLE CONTROL MODE
To operate and control the repeater with a PC or laptop computer in local mode,
connect the USB control cable between the computer and the Mini USB port
located on the side panel of the repeater.
3.2 REPEATER MANUAL ADJUSTMENTS
The AGC ON/OFF switch and the Status LED are located on the side panel of
the repeater. The Manuel GAIN ADJ variable rotation knobs (for AGC OFF
mode) are located on the front panel.
Repeater Communication, Monitoring and Control Repeater AGC ON - Operation Mode
3.3 REPEATER AGC ON - OPERATION MODE
By default, when setting the AGC switch to ON, the repeater should work in fully
automatic mode. In this mode, the Gain of the repeater will be set automatically
to ensure that the output power is equal to the maximal linear power of the
repeater.
In instances where the signals exceed the linear level, an automatic attenuator
will reduce the Gain.
If the signal in the input of the repeater increases, the repeater will reduce the
Gain in order to achieve the AGC parameter value that was set. If the input
signals from the BTS decrease after a while, the Gain of the repeater will
increase again, by 1 dB.
Note: the AGC ON mode can be set either manually from the side panel, or
by using the control Software
3.4 AGC OFF-OPERATION MODE
In AGC OFF mode, the AGC mechanism is no longer in control of the increase
or decrease of the repeater Gain. The Gain level in AGC OFF operation mode is
fixed, and will not be changed automatically by the repeater. In light of this, it is
important to measure and control the input level of the signal coming from the
BTS.
Example: in AGC OFF mode, the Gain is fixed at 80 dB. The maximum output
level allowed from the unit is 16 dBm, and the maximum input signal level from
the BTS is therefore 16-80 = - 64 dBm. This means that if the input signal from
the BTS is higher, e.g., -55 dBm, and the fixed Gain is 80 dB, the output level
will be -55+80= +25 dBm.
This repeater model is designed for a maximum of + 16 dBm output power, and
+25 dBm output power levels will damage the unit.
You can configure the output power in AGC OFF mode and set the repeater
Gain manually, by using the two rotation knobs on the front panel. In AGC OFF
mode, the knobs on the front panel are used as attenuators in order to reduce
the maximum Gain of the repeater (80 dB), by up to 23 dB (in the range of 80-57
dB).
After configuring/modifying values, click on the Write button to apply the new
values.
To display the current repeater parameter values, click on the Read button. The
parameters are continually updating, but the new values are only displayed after
you click the Read button.
The following parameter’s values can are configurable:
Maximum Gain limit
AGC power
AGC ON/ O FF
Frequency
Figure 22: Technician Setup Screen –New Value fields
5.3.1 Maximum Gain Limit
Can be set only in AGC ON mode
You can determine the maximum Gain level that the repeater will reach in the
automatic Gain control. Usually, the default value is the maximum repeater Gain,
taking into consideration the isolation between antennas.
Figure 23: Technician Setup Screen – Gain Limit setup
Software Operation Technicien setup - Variable Parameter Descript ion
5.3.2 AGC Power
Can be set only in AGC ON mode
The AGC level is the power level that the automatic Gain control will try to
achieve by changing the Gain of the repeater. This level is usually set to the
repeater's maximal linear power. You can determine the level in dBm of the AGC
automatic mechanism in the output power range of 10 dBm to 16 dBm.
Example: If 16 dBm is set in AGC ON mode, the repeater will increase or
decrease the Gain in order to achieve a permanent output power of 16 dBm.
Software Operation Technicien setup - Variable Parameter Descript ion
5.3.3 AGC ON/OFF
Set the AGC ON/OFF mode. You can also control the AGC manually from the
panel using the AGC ON/OFF switch. (Please refer to AGC OFF-Operation Mode, page 26).
5.3.4 Repeater Gain
Can be set only in AGC OFF mode.
You can set a fixed level of the desired Gain in the Forward path link (downlink).
Cellvine TDD Mini repeater is equipped with several alarms and smart protection
mechanisms that provide alerts, and protect the repeater and the cellular
network.
This section describes the default alarms and protection mechanisms.
The alarms are indicated in two ways:
1. LED indication on the side panel of the repeater. For detailed description of
LEDs alarm indications please see Alarm LEDs indications, page 45.
2. On the Cellvine application screen, in the Alarms Current Value column of the
Technician Setup screen.
6.1 LOW SIGNAL ALARM
The Low Signal Alarm indicates that the incoming signal on the Forward path
(from the BTS) is low, and the repeater is not performing at maximum efficiency.
The alarm is triggered when the value of the forward power is 3 dBm lower than
the AGC power parameter setup.
Example: The AGC power is set to 16 dBm and the Forward Power readout in
the "Measured Power" parameter screens, is less the 13 dBm. A "Low Signal"
alarm notification appears in the application window.
Alarms and Protection Mechanisms Over-power alarm - High Signal Protection
6.2 OVER-POWER ALARM - HIGH SIGNAL PROTECTION
The Overpower mechanism and alarm protects the repeater from unexpected
burst of high RF signal, avoiding damage to the repeater and the cellular
network.
The alarm is triggered when a high signal is detected at the input of the repeater.
An automatic Gain attenuation will reduce the Gain with up to 30 dB.
If after the maximum Gain reduction is applied, the output power of the repeater
is at least 1 dB higher than the "AGC Power" parameter, an "Over Power"
alarm notification appears in the application window.
Alarms and Protection Mechanisms Power Amplifier Shutdown Protection
6.3 POWER AMPLIFIER SHUTDOWN PROTECTION
The repeater PA shuts down when the repeater automatic Gain control reduces
the repeater Gain by 30 dB (maximum reduction), but the incoming signal is still
very high and the output power is above the AGC Power parameter in 4 dB.
After a few seconds, the repeater controller shuts down the power amplifier.
The default setting for shutdown duration is 12 seconds, after which the PA will
restart.
Note: When Shutdown occurs, the continuous alarm reading is not displayed
on the GUI screen, due to power loss.
6.4 SYNCHRONIZATION PCMCIA MODEM
To enhance the TDD Cellular network, the repeater modem must receive a
synchronization signal from the Donor BTS at all times.
When the synchronization signal is lost, the repeater will stop enhancing the
network until the synchronization signal is received again by the modem.
In this case, a "Lost Sync" alarm notification appears in the application window.