Sierra 200 User Manual
Sierra Radio Systems
Series 200 Control System Owners Manual
Version 1.2
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hardware overview
Architecture
Configuring and installing the hardware boards
External connections
Configuring the control system
Introduction
Using DTMF
Using a PC and the CONFIG program
Basic configuration parameters
Radio port configuration
Setting audio levels
Using macros and creating custom commands
Saving the configuration to a file
Downloading configuration to the control system
Terminology and file system
Installing new firmware
Control system operation
Status indication LEDs
Command processor
Unlock codes
Site prefixing
Command reference guide
System-wide Audio Level Setting
Final System Installation Checklist
Appendix
Glossary
Receive qualification, squelch and transmit timing
Telemetry tones and level control
Software architecture and theory of operation
2
Introduction
This manual provides all the basic information you need to know to get your control
system installed, configured and on the air quickly. The control system is designed to
work "out of the box" in a standard configuration.
In most installations, all that is required is making the physical connections to power
and the radio equipment and setting a few basic configuration parameters such as call
sign and unlock code (password) and you are on the air.
The control system can be tailored to your particular needs in many ways. This manual
will give you a good overview of many of the parameters that can be changed to tailor
your system to meet your specific needs. Each port can be customized for a particular
behavior including repeaters, RF links, VOIP links, etc. Telemetry, command names,
and many other behaviors can also be customized.
Additional application notes are available on the SRS support web site that provides
detailed information on a variety of special topics.
Basic Checklist
As you read through this document, from time to time you will see a check box. This is
used to get your attention and indicates that this is something you really need to do to
get your control system working. This is part of your “basic check list”. Make sure you
read these notes.
You will also see open check boxes. These are for your to check them off as you go
to make sure you follow all the important steps.
3
Architecture Overview
The Series 200 control systems are very modular and scalable. The basic architecture
includes a master CPU board, from 1 to 8 Radio Control Boards (RCBs), and a backplane
to provide the interconnection between boards. Each RCB interfaces with an external
device such as a repeater, RF link, VOIP link, or computer and provides a basic signaling
interface that includes receive audio input, transmit audio output, COR (carrier present),
CTCSS/DCS decode logic input, and PTT (transmit control) output, serial radio control
I/O, and transmitter cooling fan output control.
The RCB can interface with many types of radio and computer equipment without
modification. In some cases, additional signal processing is required. The Series 200 is
designed to allow an additional signal interface board to be added to any of the RCB.
Optional signaling boards include special boards for microwave radio equipment, E&M
signaling, squelch detect, CTCSS tone generation, CTCSS detection, low pass filtering,
high pass filtering, TTL to RS-232 conversion, etc. The optional signaling interface
boards bolt on to the RCB to form a board pair or “module”.
A control system may be as simple as a CPU board, a single RCB and a short backplane.
A fully configured system may occupy an entire 19 inch card rack and contain a CPU,
up to 8 RCBs each with its own special signaling interface board, optional system
interface boards, and a large backplane and power supply board. In any configuration,
the system uses exactly the same CPU and RCB boards so a small system can easily
grow into a large system by simply adding more boards. Additionally, the software that
runs on the smallest configuration is exactly the same as the software for the largest
configuration.
The modular nature of the Series 200 control system make it not only easy to upgrade,
but also very easy to maintain. Boards can be quickly replaced from the front of the card
rack.
Very modular. Very scalable. Easy to maintain.
4
System Installation Checklist
Basic Checklist Summary
This is a reminder of the basic steps to get your control system configured and running.
Hardware installation and external connections
Configure all necessary jumpers on each board.
Plug boards into the backplane in the correct slots.
Connect the control system to an external 12 VDC power source.
Connect the CPU’s DB-9 connector to your PC.
Connect each RCB’s DB-9 connector to your external devices: radios (repeater, RF
links, remote base radios), VOIP computers, etc.
Software configuration
Set basic configuration parameters
Call sign
Set radio port configuration
Site prefix
Location ID
Unlock code
Set audio levels
Customize commands
Save the configuration to a file
Download configuration to the control system
5
Configuring the CPU Board
Most of the boards in the control system have one or more jumpers that can be set to
configure the board for various special purposes. The default configuration will be used
in most cases. Refer to the SRS Hardware Reference manuals for more details on each
board and the various jumper options.
Here are the default jumper settings for the CPU and RCB boards.
Basic Checklist
Make sure all CPU board jumpers in properly set.
The CPU board executes the main control system functions including routing the audio,
controlling the transmitter PTT lines, command decoding, and command response
telemetry generation. The CPU board also provides a serial RS-232 connection to a PC
for controller configuration, and 24 user defined I/O connections including digital
inputs, analog inputs and buffered digital outputs.
CPU Jumper Settings
JU1 - DVB Jumper
The DVB jumper enables or disables audio from the DVB_bus signal on the backplane.
This signal is audio generated from the optional Digital Voice Board or DVB.
"DIS”
"EN": When using the optional DVB in the system, JU1 MUST be in the enabled or
JU2 - Digital Pot Bypass Jumper
OU
IN:
JU3 - ICD Power
OU
IN: Install if using Con 5, the modular ICD jack for in-circuit programming.
NOTE: When using the ICD jack, you MUST cut the trace on the bottom of board to
enable the ICD power.
In normal operation when not using the DVB, the jumper MUST be in the
disabled or "DIS" position.
"EN" position.
T: Default. Set telemetry level under CPU control. This is the normal state for this
jumper.
Force telemetry pot to mid scale. This overrides the CPU level set for the master
telemetry generator.
T:
Default. For using Con 3, the 10 pin header connector for in-circuit
progamming.
6
JU4 - PGC Pullup
IN:
OUT: Remove the jumper when using Con 5, the ICD programming jack.
NOTE: When using the ICD jack, you MUST cut the trace on the bottom of
board.Default CPU Jumper Configuration
Default. Install this jumper for using Con 3, the 10 pin header connector for incircuit programming.
JU3 OUT
JU2 OUT
JU4 IN
All jumpers should be installed in the default positions indicated.
JU1 DVB
Default DIS
7
Configuring the Radio Control Board
The radio control board provides the audio interface, level set, audio mixing, local
telemetry (key up and CW ID) generation, serial radio control interface, extra user
programmable open collector outputs. One RCB is required for every radio or VOIP
computer in the system. Each RCB is configured to have one of several "personalities"
including a repeater, RF link, remotely controlled base station, or VOIP computer.
Basic Checklist
Make sure all RCB board jumpers are properly set.
JU1 - RX Port Select
You MUST
to the port you want to assign this board from 0 to 7.
No two boards can have the same rx port select value.
have one (and only one) jumper installed in this block. It must correspond
JU2 - CPU Address
You MUST
should be the same vale as the jumper installed in the Rx Port Select information above.
Jumpers
Port
0 out out out out
1 out out out IN
2 out out IN out
3 out out IN IN
4 out IN out out
5 out IN out IN
6 out IN IN out
7 out IN IN IN
install jumpers in the address header to match the port assignment. This
8 4 2 1
JU 3 - DTMF Filter Bypass
OUT:
IN: Bypass the DTMF filter and dirve the audio directly into the DTMF decoder.
Default. Takes the rx audio through a bandpass filter before it goes to the
DTMF decoder.
JU4 - Local (NO)
OUT: Default
IN: Install the jumper to enable the open collector output of Q2 to drive the "local
COR" input on the local CPU.
8
JU5 - PL_Filter (NC)
OUT:
IN:
Remove jumper is using a companion signaling board like the microwave or PL
encode / decode boards.
Default. Install the jumper when opearting the RCB without any signal
conditioning boards.
JU6 - DAC Pot Mid
OUT:
IN: Sets all four digital pots to mid scale.
Default. Allows digital pots to be set by the local CPU.
JU6 – Last Port Jumper (yes, there are two jumpers marked JU6)
OUT:
IN: Insert a jumper in this position if this is the last RCB in the card rack. The Last
JU7 - ADEN
OU
Not used at this time.
Default. Leave the jumper out for all RCB board except the last one.
Port jumper provides a termination on the high speed serial bus and will reduce
noise on the bus.
T: Default.
JU8 - TA2D
OU
T: Default
Not used at this time.
9
Default RCB Jumper Configuration
Radio
Note: There are two jumpers labeled “JU6”, the “DAC pot mid” jumper and the “last
port” jumper.
The RCB jumpers should all be set to the defaults. Additionally, each RCB must be
jumpered with the proper addresses set. Each RCB must be assigned one unique address
from 0 to 7.
Jumper block ____ must be set with a single jumper to properly route the Rx
audio to the proper backplane bus signal.
10
Hardware Orientation
Power Supply Board
The power supply board provides a power switch and a power LED.
The power switch provides primary power to the CPU, RCB and accessory boards. The
12 VDC from the external power connector is routed to all boards in the card cage and is
not switched.
The power LED indicates that power is being supplied to the rest of the control system.
CPU Board
The CPU board provides a power LED, hardware resest switch, optional I/O connector
(DB25) and the male DB9 RS-232 serial connection to a PC used for computer-based
configuration and control.
To trigger a hardware reset, press the hardware reset button.
Radio Control Board (RCB)
The RCB board provides a power LED, a set of 6 channel status LEDs, a female DB15
auxiliary I/O connector and a female DB9 radio I/O connector.
The channel status LEDs indicate COR (active Rx signal present), PTT (transmitter
active), CTCSS/DCS decode, DTMF decode and two user programmable output bits.
The DB15 auxiliary connector provides many convenient functions including
11
Configuring the Backplane
The system will come configured as ordered. You will need to plug the various boards
into the correct slots in the backplane. If your system is already assembled as desired,
you can skip this section.
The Power Supply, CPU and the first Radio Control Board (RCB) must be placed in
specific slots. After the first RCB, all additional RCBs must be installed next to each
other. There can be no gaps between the CPU and any of the RCBs. When optional
microwave or CTCSS signaling boards are used, these boards are paired with each RCB
and are installed in the slot to the right of the RCB.
The basic control system consists of the card rack with backplane, a power supply board,
CPU board and one Radio Control Board (RCB) for each receiver/transmitter in the
system. All controllers have the first 5 slots assigned as follows…
Slot Assignment
0 Power supply
1 Reserved for future expansion
2 Reserved for future expansion
3 CPU
4 Radio control board - port 0
Radio Control Boards are installed starting in slot 4. Every radio requires a radio control
board. Radio Control Boards must be plugged into the backplane next to each other and
are named port 0 through port 7. There can be NO gaps between boards after port 0.
12
Loading...