Motorola BLE87 User Manual

BLE87 870 MHz Line Extender

STARLINE Series

Motorola’s STARLINE

®

series line extender, model BLE87*/*, leads the
industry in features and performance and is designed to meet the needs of
today's expanding broadband communication networks. This two-way
capable single output amplifier offers high gain, high output levels,
ergonomics, superior distortion performance, four diplex filter options, 16
dB return loss, and Bode equalization. The BLE87*/* also allows optional
advanced features such as ingress control switching and status monitoring.

The BLE87 two-way line
extender offers 870 MHz
bandwidth capability,
high gain, high output
level, ergonomics, and
superior distortion
performance.

ENHANCED GALLIUM ARSENIDE

Enhanced Gallium Arsenide (E-GaAs) hybrids are standard in the STARLINE BLE87. This second generation
technology provides superior distortion performance in CTB and CSO over the standard GaAs technology. Compared to
silicon and competing GaAs technology, E-GaAs distortion performance remains linear at significantly higher output
levels. This higher output level allows the customer to maximize system performance and reduce system costs. We
encourage our customers to contact their Motorola Account Representative to determine the optimal levels for their
systems.

HIGH GAIN

The BLE87 also offers high gain. This allows the operator to hold existing amplifier locations during system upgrades
thereby reducing system costs.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• 870 MHz Enhanced Gallium Arsenide (E-GaAs) power

doubling technology

• High gain

• High output level

• Four diplex filter options

• Ease-of-use ergonomics

• 16 dB return loss

• 60/90 V powering

• Meets Telcordia GR-1098-Core voltage surge

requirements using surge waveforms as described in
IEEE C62.41

• FCC, CENELEC and CCC approved

• Bode equalization (thermal or auto controlled)

• 15 ampere AC capability

• Optional return path ingress control and status

monitor

• Directional coupler –20 dB test points

Motorola, Inc.
Connected Home Solutions
101 Tournament Drive
Horsham, PA 19044

1.800.523.6678

www.motorola.com/broadband

Rev. 1.0

09.01.05

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

©

Motorola, Inc. 2003

BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY

The reversible BLE87 electronics package can be made backward compatible with the STARLINE JLX and 10-Amp BLE
housing by installing the BLE-15A Kit. This kit contains 50 mil gold plated platform assemblies. This makes it possible for
the amplifier to carry 15 Amperes continuous through the input or output ports.

If an “electronics only”

package is ordered, it will include the deeper housing cover to accommodate ergonomic

accessories. Note: this is not the deeper housing cover associated with the status monitor. When ordering the status
monitor option, a deep housing cover is also required.

FORWARD PATH

The operational gain of the BLE87 is 28 dB or 32 dB depending on model, with 16 dB return loss. Output level control is
achieved through the use of an interstage Bode equalizer, which compensates for coaxial cable attenuation changes due
to temperature. Equalization may be controlled manually, with a thermal drive unit (model TDU) or with a single pilot
closed loop automatic drive unit (model ADU-* or QADU). Both the TDU and the ADU boards are common to the
STARLINE family of amplifiers (with the exception of the SLE). ADUs utilize Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters for
determining pilot frequency. This improves amplifier stability over temperature.

To further ensure system flexibility, installation ease and maintenance, the amplifier is engineered for compatibility with
standard accessories, such as attenuators, equalizers, ADUs or TDUs, return amplifiers, automotive fuses and FTEC­BTA crowbar circuits.

The BLE87 uses modular diplex filters which can be changed for a different frequency split as required. The amplifier can
be configured with S-split filters for a 5-40 MHz return and a 52-870 MHz forward band. K-splits (5-42 MHz/54-870
MHz), J-splits (5-55 MHz/70-870 MHz), and A-splits (5-65 MHz/85-870 MHz) are also available. These same filters can
be used for all current US-style Motorola RF distribution amplifiers (models BLE, MB/MBE, BT).

RETURN PATH

Return amplifier kits can be ordered with either high gain or low gain hybrids providing 24 dB and 19 dB minimum station
gain, respectively. Return path equalizers from 0 to 12 dB can be customer selected. Optional features include thermal
compensation and ingress control switching. Thermal compensation comes in the form of a plug-in JXP-TH*C, which
stabilizes gain and match over temperature extremes.

Also available is Ingress Control Switching (ICS) in 3 states. This pin diode attenuator circuit can lower levels by 6 dB or
by 38 dB with a controlled slew rate for minimum bit errors. The LIFELINE

®

Broadband Line Extender transponder,
model LL-BLE-HMS-*/*, and accompanying deeper housing lid are required to operate the Ingress Control Switch from a
remote location.

MODEL AVAILABILITY

To reduce customer costs and to accommodate customer specific needs, the STARLINE BLE87 can be ordered in a
variety of different models. Please refer to the BLE87 ordering information below for options.

Motorola, Inc.
Connected Home Solutions
101 Tournament Drive
Horsham, PA 19044

1.800.523.6678

www.motorola.com/broadband

Rev. 1.0

09.01.05

2

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

©

Motorola, Inc. 2003

BLE87 Specifications

STARLINE® Single Output Line Extender

Enhanced Gallium Arsenide
Broadband Line Extender

PARAMETER UNITS NOTE FORWARD

Passband MHz 1 5 - 40

Flatness dB 2 ± 0.50

Minimum Full Gain dB 3 NA

Operational Gain dB 4 19

Manual Bode Slope Control Range dB 5 NA

Interstage Equalizer Slope dB 6 NA

Noise Figure 40 / 52 / 870 MHz dB 7 6 / NA / NA

Reference Frequency MHz 8 40

Output Level dBmV 41 Flat

Channel Loading NTSC 4

Compressed data loading MHz 22 NA

Distortion CTB dBc 9,21,23 NA

Test Point (all) dB 13 20 ± 0.5

Return Loss dB 14

Hum Modulation dBc 15,20 60

DC Voltage VDC 16

Current DC mA 17 925

DC Ripple mV

Power Consumption W 26.6

AC Input Voltage Range VAC

AC Current Draw @90 VAC A 18 0.56

AC Bypass Current A 18

Group Delay 19

Housing Dimensions 10.6" L x 8.0" W x 4.7" D 26.9cm x 20.3cm x 11.9 cm

Weight 7.2 Pounds 3.2 kg

Motorola, Inc.
Connected Home Solutions
101 Tournament Drive
Horsham, PA 19044

1.800.523.6678

www.motorola.com/broadband

Rev. 1.0

09.01.05

Ambient Operating Temperature -40° to +140° F -40° to +60° C

BLE87S/H* SPECIFICATIONS

RETURN

RA-KIT/L

52-870

± 0.70

36

32

± 4.0

8 ± 1

NA / 9 / 9

870 / 550 / 52

43 / 44 / 37

79

320

74

XM dBc 10,21 74

CSO dBc 9,11,21 NA

CCN (-6) dBc 12 NA

STB dBc 9 82

SSO dBc 9 77

@75 VAC A 0.59

@60 VAC A 0.65

@53 VAC A 0.70

@45 VAC A 0.78

@38 VAC A 0.88

55.25 to 58.83 MHz nSec NA

5.0 to 6.5 MHz nSec 45

10.0 to 11.5 MHz nSec 10

33.5 to 35.0 MHz nSec 12

38.5 to 40.0 MHz nSec 35

58 (50 dBmV at 550 MHz)

3

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office.

All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

63

74

NA

NA

20 ± 0.7

65

800

22.6

0.48

0.50

0.56

0.60

0.67

0.75

28

NA

NA

NA

NA

16

+ 24.0 ± 0.25

15 P-P

38 - 90

15

©

Motorola, Inc. 2003

Specifications are subject to change without notice.