Lectrosonics UCR110 User Manual

UCR110
UHF MULTI-FREQUENCY
COMPACT RECEIVER - EURO MODEL
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
and trouble-shooting guide
LECTROSONICS, INC.
Rio Rancho, NM
0885
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for selecting the Lectrosonics multi-frequency, UCR110 Receiver. The UCR110 is the result of extensive engineering experience with the very latest micro­processor advancements and technology.
The Lectrosonics 110 System Receiver and companion transmitter are designed expressly for the most discriminating videographer and for other wireless applications needing superior audio quality, flexible operation, and outstanding durability. The compact size of the receiver provides ease of integration with most any compact video camera. The multi-frequency UCR110 Receiver and companion UM110 Trans­mitter feature simple and fast frequency selection from any one of 256 frequencies. In the event of band interference the units can be reset to a clear channel fast and easy.
The UCR110 Receiver is housed in an attractive, rugged, machined aluminum package for lasting performance in abusive environments
Only the UCR110 Receiver is covered in this manual. The companion UM110 trans­mitter is covered in a separate manual. The UCR110 Receiver will operate with any Lectrosonics UM110 Transmitter in the same frequency block.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 2
GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION .............................................................. 3
SAFETY NOTES................................................................................................... 4
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS & FUNCTIONS ....................................................... 4
SIDE PANEL CONTROLS & FUNCTIONS ........................................................... 5
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS .............................................................................. 6
INDICATOR QUICK REFERENCE ....................................................................... 6
BATTERY INSTRUCTIONS .................................................................................. 7
TROUBLESHOOTING........................................................................................... 8
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES ................................................................... 9
SERVICE AND REPAIR........................................................................ Back cover
WARRANTY ..........................................................................................Back cover
2
Compact Receiver
GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The UCR110 Receiver is comprised of a number of functional subsystems as shown in Fig 1, Block Diagram, Fig 2, Control Panel and Fig 3, Side Panel
GENERAL FEATURES
The multi-frequency UCR110 FM Receiver is designed to operate with the Lectrosonics UM110 Transmitter and features microprocessor control of 256 frequencies of operation within each frequency block. Each block covers 25.5 MHz with 0.1 MHz frequency spacing. Up to 256 special frequencies and 0.025MHz spacing can be programmed into a unit by the factory or by authorized service centers. Any one of thirteen different frequency blocks numbered 21 through 33 are factory available from 537.6 MHz to 865.0 MHz.
The receiver’s unique microcontroller design provides simple operation for audio level/limit LED monitoring, RF level LED monitoring, squelch, easy on-the-fly frequency programming and low battery warning. The UCR110 Receiver uses 20 kHz FM deviation for efficient use of the bandwidth and dual band companding for clean quiet audio. The receiver operates on one 9 Volt alkaline battery for up to 8 hours and features a blinking LED low battery indicator. The voltages are internally regulated for stability. The receiver is housed in a compact, rugged, lightweight aluminum enclosure. The unit features a durable integral swing-aside battery compartment door.
DUAL BAND COMPANDOR
Traditionally, compandors have been a source of distortion in wireless microphone systems. The basic problem with conventional systems is that the attack and decay times are always a compromise. If the time constants are fast, high frequency transients will not be distorted, but this will cause low frequency distortion. If the time constants are slower, low frequency audio distortion will be low, but high frequency transients will then be distorted.
The 110 system introduces the proven Lectrosonics approach to solving this basic problem, called “dual-band companding.”
There are actually two separate compandors in the 110 system, one for high frequencies and one for low frequencies. A crossover network separates the frequency bands at 1kHz with a 6dB per octave slope, followed by separate high and low frequency compandors. The attack and release times in the high frequency compandor are fast enough to keep high frequency transient distortion at a low level, and the low frequency compandor uses slower time constants, reducing low frequency distortion to well below that of a conventional compandor.
PRE-EMPHASIS/DE-EMPHASIS
The signal to noise ratio of the 110 system is extended by utilizing pre-emphasis (HF boost) in the transmitter and de­emphasis (HF roll off) in the receiver. Pre-emphasis and de-emphasis in an FM radio system usually provides about a 10dB improvement in the signal to noise ratio of the system, but the high frequency boost in the transmitter must be removed in a purely complementary manner or else the frequency response of the original audio signal will be altered.
The dual-band compandor in the 110 Series system essentially provides a dynamic pre-emphasis/de-emphasis function with low distortion.
5V
Audio Level
Control
R
T S
Output
Jack
RF
Filter
Memory
RF
Amplifier
Frequency Synthesizer
Mixer
Controller
Disc RSSI
IF Amp/FM
Detector
Control
Panel LED's
Audio
Filter
Hi Freq
Compandor
Low Freq
Compandor
On/Off
9V
Battery
Regulator
Figure 1 - UCR110 Block Diagram
Rio Rancho, NM – USA
3
SAFETY NOTES
Excessive sound levels can cause permanent hearing damage.
1. Always adjust the volume to the lowest level before listening to unknown transmissions.
2. Use the lowest reasonable level consistent with hearing safety.
3. Dont use high sound levels in the earphone to overcome high ambient sound levels. That is abso­lutely foolish! Demand and use high isolation earphones.
4. Dont expose your ears to sound levels that cause them to ring. If your ears do ring after exposure, think of it as a
OSHA (Occupational Safety Health Administration) guidelines on the maximum allowable time expo-
sure to sound pressure levels that will cause hearing damage are as follows:
warning bell telling you not to do that again.
8 Hours at 90 dB SPL 4 Hours at 95 dB SPL 2 Hours at 100 dB SPL 1 Hour at 105 dB SPL 30 Mins at 110 dB SPL 15 Mins at 115 dB SPL
NEVER expose your ears to 120 dB SPL or higher! Damage will occur.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS & FUNCTIONS
MODULATION LEDs
The two modulation LEDs Indicate the modulation (audio level) of the incoming signal, and can be used for proper adjustment of the transmitter’s “MIC LEVEL or AUDIO LEVEL. The -20 LED glows when the transmitter modulation is at a high enough level to produce a good audio signal-to-noise ratio. It will normally flicker, or stay lit as you speak into the microphone. The 0dB lamp indicates a “peak,” showing that the transmitter modulation is at maximum. Constant lighting of the 0dB LED indicates that the audio gain in the transmitter may be set too high. It is normal and desirable that you see an occasional flicker of the 0 dB lamp in typical use.
Figure 2 UCR110
ON/OFF POWER SWITCH
Control Panel
Turns the receiver power as supplied by the internal 9 volt battery.
POWER LED
The Power LED glows when the power switch is in the ON position and the battery is good. The power LED starts blinking when the battery is becoming exhausted and needs replacement. If the LED does not light up when the switch is turned on or during operation, replace the battery. In normal operation a new alkaline battery will operate the receiver approximately 5 hours before the LED starts blinking and will continue operating for approximately another 3 hours before the LED goes off. At that point the unit and the other LEDs will continue operating for another hour or so but with some degra­dation in performance. During the low battery blinking period the LED on time decreases as the battery becomes depleated. See the chart on page 7.
LECTROSONICS
UCR 110
ON
OFF
0
RF
–20
LEVEL
OUT
4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
B C D
E
F01
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
A
B C D
E
F
Compact Receiver
9
The battery level is precision monitored by the internal microprocessor which also drives the POWER LED for accurate battery condition.
IMPORTANT!
When the battery voltage drops below 6 Volts, the power LED will remain off, but the other
3 LEDs will light up and a rush of audio noise and distortion will be heard as the squelch
opens. This condition is normal, and is easily remedied by replacing the battery.
RF LED
Lights when the transmitter is turned on and the receiver has a strong RF signal. The RF LED will start blinking when the RF carrier signal from the transmitter becomes too weak to produce a clean audio signal. The lamp will go out completely when the RF signal is absent or extremely weak.
3.5mm MINI PHONE JACK
Provides audio output controlled by the AUDIO LEVEL control on the FRONT panel. Generally, the AUDIO LEVEL control would be set to provide the proper output level to match the required level for your video camera or other equipment.
The 3.5mm mini jack will accommodate a mono plug (tip & sleeve) or a stereo type jack (tip/ring & sleeve) without harm to the unit. When using a pair of stereo headphones the audio will be mono but will drive both earphones in the correct (binaural) phase.
The output at this mini connector jack is designed to also drive a standard impedance earphone, typically 30 Ohms (most common) and usually provides adequate volume for setup and testing. The sound from a low impedance ear phone (ie. 8 Ohms) will not be very loud and may be distorted at higher listening levels.
OUTPUT CONTROL
Attenuates the audio output level of the receiver to match the input requirements of the equipment with which it is used. The 3.5mm Mini output jack on the front panel provides an audio output at adjustable levels for low or high impedance, unbalanced inputs. At the extreme counter-clockwise position of the control knob, the output level of the Mini jack will be -50dBV at full modulation. In the fully clockwise position, the output level will be 0dBV (1 Vrms) at full modulation. intermediate settings are sometimes necessary due to the variations in different input compressors and ALC (automatic level control) circuits on various VCRs and audio inputs. The markings around the control knob are provided simply as memory markers; they are not calibrated with reference to a specific output level.
ANTENNA
The antenna is a 1/4 wavelength 50 ohm flexible non-removable antenna made of durable sheathed bronze wire.
SIDE PANEL CONTROLS & FUNCTIONS
FREQUENCY ADJUST
These two rotary switches adjust the center fre­quency of the carrier. The left switch (COARSE) changes the operating frequency by larger increments and the right switch (FINE) changes it in small increments per step. These steps are determined by the programming in the unit. Refer to the chart of settings provided with the unit. The receiver and transmiter switches must be set to the same number/ letter combination for proper operation.
To gain access to these switches, slide the access door sideways with a fingernail.
BLK 20 (BK)
512.0 - 537.5
F
E
D
C
B
A
9
0
1
7
8
COARSE
FREQUENCY
2
3
4
5
6
FINE
0
1
F
E
D
C
B
A
2
3
4
5
6
9
7
8
Figure 3 - UCR110 Side Panel
Rio Rancho, NM – USA
5
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Install the battery.
2. Set the FREQUENCY switches on the side panel to match the switches on the Transmitter.
3. Connect the audio cable.
4. Set the front panel switch to ON. Check to see that the red POWER LED lights up.
5.
THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE SET UP PROCEDURE. Adjust the
transmitter “gain”. See your transmitter manual (Operating Instructions section) for specific directions on the proper gain adjustment of your particular transmitter.
6. Adjust the output control according to the type of input on your equipment. The input levels on different VCR’s and PA equipment vary, which may require that you set the output LEVEL control in an intermediate position. Try different settings and listen to the results. If the output of the receiver is too high, you may hear distortion or a loss of the natural dynamics of the audio signal. If the output is too low, you may hear steady noise (hiss) along with the audio. The UCR110 output was designed to drive camera line level inputs but can operate into camera MIC inputs if the receiver output is reduced to prevent Automatic Limiting Control “pumping” in the camera. The output signal level ranges from -50 dBV with the output control fully counter clockwise to 0 dBV with the output control fully clockwise when the transmitter signal is at full modulation.
INDICATOR QUICK REFERENCE
(Refer to Controls and Functions section for more detailed descriptions)
RF - This LED lights up when the transmitter is turned on. This indicates that the receiver is getting an adequate RF signal (carrier) from the transmitter.
POWER - This LED lights up when the receiver is switched on. It indicates proper battery voltage when the receiver is using a battery. See chart on page 7.
MODULATION - The “-20 LED lights up when an audio signal is present at an adequate level to produce a good signal to noise ratio. The “0dB” LED lights up when the audio level is high and the signal is being compressed in the transmit­ter. An extremely high audio level may cause distortion.
Review the transmitter instruction manual for proper adjustment and setup of the transmitter mic level or gain.
6
Compact Receiver
BATTERY INSTRUCTIONS
The battery you use in the receiver should be a 9 Volt alkaline or lithium, available almost everywhere. An alkaline battery will provide up to 8 hours of operation and a lithium battery will provide up to 20 hours of operation. Carbon zinc batteries, even if marked heavy duty will only provide about 2 hours of operation. Rechargeable batteries will only operate the receiver for an hour or less. Make sure your batteries are marked life is almost always caused by weak batteries or batteries of the wrong type.
“alkaline” or “lithium.” Short battery
A steady need for a fresh battery. Continued use will further deplete the battery eventually causing the LED to automatically turn itself off and remain off until a fresh battery is installed.
To replace the battery, open the bottom battery door cover with your thumb, rotate the door until it is perpendicular with the case and allow the battery to fall out of the compartment into your hand. Observe the large and small holes in the battery contact pad before inserting a new battery. Insert the contact end of the battery first, making sure the contacts are aligned with the holes in the contact pad, and then swing the door closed. You will feel it snap into place when it is fully closed.
“ON” LED corresponds to a fresh battery. The LED will blink to indicate a low battery condition and the
1
2
To open the battery compartment door, push the door up and away from the case with your thumb, then swing open.
Figure 4 - Battery Replacement
Hours Power LED
1 Solid On 2 Solid On 3 Solid On 4 Solid On 5 Solid On 6 Blinks 90% on, 10% off 7 Blinks 50% on, 50% off 8 Blinls 10% on, 90% off 9 Off (Replace battery)
Figure 5 - UCR110 Approximate Battery Life with Alkaline Battery
Rio Rancho, NM – USA
7
TROUBLESHOOTING
Before going through the following chart, be sure that you have a good battery in the receiver. The POWER LED should glow brightly.
SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE
NO POWER LED 1) Receiver switch in OFF position
2) Dead or weak battery
3) Battery not installed
4) Battery installed backwards
NO RF LED 1) Transmitter not turned on
2) Transmitter battery dead
3) No microphone on the transmitter
4) Receiver antenna positioned incorrectly
5) Transmitter and Receiver on different frequencies (FREQUENCY
switches do not match transmitter switches)
RF LED ON BUT NO SOUND 1) Transmitter audio level set to low AND NO MODULATION LEDS 2) Transmitter microphone not connected
MODULATION LEDs ON 1) Receiver LEVEL control turned down BUT NO SOUND 2) Audio cable disconnected
DISTORTED SOUND 1) Transmitter Audio Level set too high (check mod lamps on
SHORT RANGE 1) Transmitter or receiver antenna not clear of obstructions
HISS AND NOISE -- AUDIBLE DROPOUTS 1) Transmitter gain (audio level) far too low.
HISS AND NOISE – PUMPING 1) Camera or recorder has automatic level control. Use line
3) Microphone switch in OFF position
4) Check transmitter modulation LEDs for possible
transmitter problem
3) Recorder or sound system off or not properly adjusted
Transmitter)
2) Weak battery
2) Receiver antenna obstructed or damaged.
3) Transmitter antenna obstructed or damaged.
4) Operating range too great.
level input on camera or recorder. If there is only a mic input, reduce the receiver output to near minimum.
8
Compact Receiver
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
Operating frequencies: 537.600 MHz to 865.000 MHz
Number of frequencies: 256 per block
Channel spacing: 100 kHz, 25 kHz programmable for Europe
Frequency control: Crystal Controlled Phase Locked Loop
Sensitivity: 1 uv (20 dB SINAD)
Signal/Noise ratio: 105 dB (system)
Squelch quieting: 90 dB
AM rejection: 50 dB, 10 uv to 100 mv
Modulation acceptance: +/-20 kHz
Spurious rejection: Greater than 70 dB
Third order intercept: 0 dBm
Frequency response: 50 Hz to 18 kHz, (±2db)
Distortion: 1% max at 50% modulation (system)
Audio output: 0 dBv (1 Vrms) UNBALANCED into 600 ohms
Antenna: 1/4 wave vertical (fixed)
Front panel controls: Single knob controls Audio Output Level
LED Indicators: Power (red), RF (green), Level (green), Limit (red)
Power requirement: Single 9V Alkaline Battery for approximately 8 hours operation.
Power consumption: 60 ma.
Weight: 7.3 oz with battery
Size: 3.6 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches (housing only, belt clip and
knob extend beyond the housing.)
Specifications subject to change without notice.
This product meets the CE Compliance Standards - ETS 300 445; January
1996. A copy of the Declaration of Conformity may be requested from your dealer or by contacting the factory directly:
Lectrosonics, Inc. Marketing Department 581 Laser Rd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 USA tel: 505-892-4501 fax: 505-892-6243 e-mail: marketing@lectrosonics.com
Rio Rancho, NM – USA
9
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY
LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY
The equipment is warranted for one year from date of purchase against defects in materials or workmanship provided it was purchased from an authorized dealer. This warranty does not cover equipment which has been abused or damaged by careless handling or shipping. This warranty does not apply to used or demonstrator equipment.
Should any defect develop, Lectrosonics, Inc. will, at our option, repair or replace any defective parts without charge for either parts or labor. If Lectrosonics, Inc. cannot correct the defect in your equipment, it will be replaced at no charge with a similar new item. Lectrosonics, Inc. will pay for the cost of returning your equipment to you.
This warranty applies only to items returned to Lectrosonics, Inc. or an authorized dealer, shipping costs prepaid, within one year from the date of purchase.
This Limited Warranty is governed by the laws of the State of New Mexico. It states the entire liablility of Lectrosonics Inc. and the entire remedy of the purchaser for any breach of warranty as outlined above. NEITHER LECTROSONICS, INC. NOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THE EQUIPMENT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS EQUIPMENT EVEN IF LECTROSONICS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LIABILITY OF LECTROSONICS, INC. EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF ANY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have additional legal rights which vary from state to state.
SERVICE AND REPAIR
If your system malfunctions, you should attempt to correct or isolate the trouble before concluding that the equipment needs repair. Make sure you have followed the setup procedure and operating instructions. Check out the intercon­necting cords and then go through the TROUBLESHOOTING section in the manual
We strongly recommend that you do not try to repair the equipment yourself and do not have the local repair shop attempt anything other than the simplest repair. If the repair is more complicated than a broken wire or loose connec­tion, send the unit to the factory for repair and service. Dont attempt to adjust any controls inside the units. Once set at the factory, the various controls and trimmers do not drift with age or vibration and never require readjustment. There are no adjustments inside that will make a malfunctioning unit start working.
LECTROSONICS, INC.
581 LASER ROAD RIO RANCHO, NM 87124 USA
July 12, 2001
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