HM Electronics BASE6000 Users Guide

EC20

Extended Coverage Antenna Kit

The EC20 is a directional antenna, primarily designed for extended outdoor coverage during speed-team
operations. It enables team members wearing HME COMMUNICATOR
distance from the building, with uninterrupted transmission and reception. It can also be used indoors, in
stores where coverage is exceptionally difficult with standard, base station antennas.
These instructions are for typical outdoor installation of the EC20, which requires walk testing the antenna
coverage area to determine the best location for the antenna, mounting the antenna on the building, running
the coaxial cable from the base station to the antenna, connecting the cable to the antenna, lightning
arrestor, antenna adaptor cable and base station. Installation of the EC20 should only be done by an
HME-authorized installer. The installation should take approximately 2 hours.

Equipment Provided

• EC20 Antenna

• Antenna mounting bracket with hardware

• Lightning arrestor with mounting bracket

• Coaxial Cable, 100 foot (30.48 meters)

• Antenna adaptor cable, 3 foot ( .91 meter)

EC20 Antenna

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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Tools/Equipment Needed

• Phillips (cross-point) screwdriver, size #2

• Standard (slotted) screwdriver, ⅛ inch (3.2 mm)

• Power drill and drill-bit set

• Fish tape, 100 foot (30 meters)

• Wire, 18 gauge, for grounding lightning arrestor

• Ladder to reach outside antenna-mounting location

Antenna mounting

bracket

Lightning arrestor

Coaxial cable, 100 ft (30.48 meters) Antenna adaptor cable, 3 ft (.91 meter)

Figure 1. Equipment provided in EC20 Extended Coverage Antenna Kit

HM ELECTRONICS, INC. 14110 Stowe Drive, Poway, CA 92064 USA • Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

HME# 400G633

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1. INSTALLATION

1.1 Determine Location

Determine the best location for mounting the EC20 Antenna, with the following considerations.

• Coverage area —

The optimum coverage area spans
out at 65 degrees in a cone shape,
extending outward in front of the
antenna approximately 130 feet
(39.62 meters). The mounting
bracket provided with the antenna
will allow it to be pivoted and locked
into the best position for the
required coverage area.

• Cable routing —

The 100 foot (30.48 meter) coaxial cable must be able to be routed from the base station,
through walls and ceiling as needed, to reach the antenna. Note that the coaxial cable is
thick and relatively stiff, making it difficult to route around corners and through tight openings.

100 ft.

Figure 2. Typical EC20 Antenna coverage area

Coaxial cable

30.48 meters

EC20

Antenna

Lightning

arrestor

Antenna

adapter cable

3 ft. (.91 meter)

HME

base station

Ground wire

(not provided)

Figure 3. Diagram of EC20 cable routing and connections

• Esthetics —

Some stores restrict the location of equipment mounted on the outside of stores, with
regard to distance from signage or visibility to customers, for esthetic reasons.

• Walk test —

To determine the best location for mounting it, you must do a walk test before
permanently mounting the EC20 Antenna. Remove power from the HME base station

and remove one of the base station antennas. Temporarily connect the enclosed antenna
adapter cable where you removed the base station antenna, and then connect the coaxial
cable to the adapter cable as shown in Figure 3. Route the coaxial cable to the area where
you would like to mount the EC20 Antenna, and connect the lightning arrestor and antenna
to the cable connector. Place the antenna temporarily in a position with its front surface
pointing to the area where its extended coverage is needed. Return power to the base
station. With two people using COMMUNICATOR
pressing button B to communicate with each other, check transmission and reception
around the menu board and throughout the area where speed-team operators will walk.
If necessary, move the antenna and repeat the walk test until you find the location where
the best transmission and reception occur. You can now permanently mount the EC20
Antenna in accordance with the following instructions.

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