Chapter 6 DR AF T Connecting antennas About this chapter This chapter explains how to install the Rox System cabinet seal and how to connect RF and GPS antennas internally and externally.
Understanding the antenna installation process This process explains all steps and procedures to follow when connecting RF and GPS antenna cables. 1. Understanding cautions and warnings Understand and follow all warnings and cautions or injury, death, or damage to equipment can occur. See Understanding warnings and cautions on page 99. 2. Understanding the Rox System This section explains the pre-assembled configuration in which the Rox System ships.
Understanding warnings and cautions This section contains warnings and cautions that apply to all procedures in this chapter. Be sure you have read and understood Understanding the antenna installation process on page 98 before continuing. WARNING Do not perform any of these procedures when there is a possibility of lightning strikes. Death or injury could occur if lightning strikes during installation.
Understanding the pre-assembled Rox System The Rox System cabinet seal typically ships pre-assembled and is ready to install. The pre-assembled Rox System cabinet seal supports: • Three radio sectors • Each radio sector has two RF antenna cables. One cable carries two signals, a transmit signal and a receive signal. The second contains a single receive antenna cable.
Table 18 The standard Rox System cabinet seal assembly Type Sector Use label Connector (both ends) RF alpha Receive antenna cable α RX1 male N-type Transmit and receive antenna cable α TX/RX0 male N-type Receive antenna cable β RX1 male N-type Transmit and receive antenna cable β TX/RX0 male N-type Receive antenna cable χ RX1 male N-type Transmit and receive antenna cable χ TX/RX0 male N-type primary GPS antenna cable GPS_P male N-type secondary GPS antenna cable GPS_R male N
Optionally assembling your own Rox You can optionally assemble your own Rox System cabinet seal. If you are not assembling your Rox System cabinet seal, you can skip this section. With this option, Airvana provides the Rox System cabinet seal and related components, but you must provide the antenna cables and cable connectors. ! CAUTION If you assemble the Rox System cabinet seals, you are responsible for any damage resulting from improper assembly.
RF and GPS cable locations Airvana recommends installing the RF and GPS cables into the positions in the Rox System cabinet seal that are shown in Figure 20. This enables determination of which cable serves which function after the Rox System cabinet seal has been installed even if cable labels are missing. This recommendation is for a three sector node, with two RF antennas per sector, and in a redundant configuration requiring two GPS cables.
Removing access panels This procedure explains how to remove the two required access panels in order to install the Rox System Cabinet seal and connect all antennas. Be sure you have read and understood Understanding the antenna installation process on page 98 before continuing. Requirements • • 5/32 tamper-resistant screw driver Thread tapping kit with 1/4-20 thread bit at 3/4 inch depth Procedure 1. 104 Ensure that power is not being delivered to the IP-RN 8000. a.
2. Locate the antenna access panel on the cabinet where you will install the Rox System. There are four antenna access panels. The Rox System can be installed into any one of the cabinet openings created when the access panels are removed. The standard configuration requires installing the Rox System into the access panel on the top of the back of the cabinet.
4. Set aside the 10 antenna access panel screws and washers. The screws and washers will be required for installing the Rox System cabinet seal. The antenna access panel cover that you just removed will not be required for this installation. Save it for later use as appropriate. 5. Locate the surge protection access panel. Cabinet back view Surge protection access panel Take care. The access panel is heavy and requires support 6.
Installing the Rox System cabinet seal This procedure explains how to install the Rox System cabinet seal. This procedure assumes that the power supply has been turned off and that power is not flowing to the cabinet. Be sure you have read and understood Understanding the antenna installation process on page 98 before continuing.
Cabinet back view RF and GPS antenna cables threaded into cabinet Rox System cabinet seal positioned for installation 6. Gently push the Rox System cabinet seal against the cabinet and position it for final attachment. 7. Screw in the one of the top middle screws by hand. Be sure to thread the rubber sealing washer on the screw shank before inserting it in the Rox System screw hole. Check to ensure each screw shank has a spacing washer as well. WARNING Screws should be started by hand.
Connecting GPS and RF antennas This procedure explains how to: • Connect the GPS and the RF antenna cables to the surge protection bar on the inside of the cabinet and to a required surge protection system/antenna cables system on the outside of the cabinet • Re-install the surge protection access panel. This procedure assumes that the power supply has been turned off and that power is not flowing to the cabinet.
WARNING Power to the IP-RN 8000 must be turned off WARNING The IP-RN 8000 must be properly grounded before antennas are installed. Failure to properly ground the IP-RN 8000 can result in danger to nearby persons and damage to equipment. See Understanding surge protection and grounding on page 39. ! CAUTION The IP-RN 8000 has a secondary surge suppression system.
1. Look at the surge suppression bar in the cabinet and compare it with that shown in the following figure. Use the label on each cable to plan which cables dangling from the inside of the Rox System cabinet seal will connect to which connectors on the surge protection bar. It is essential that the proper cables are connected to the proper surge suppressors.
2. First finger tighten the RF and GPS antenna cables to the correct surge suppressor connectors on the top side of the surge protection bar inside the cabinet. ! CAUTION All antenna cables dangling inside the cabinet must be connected to the surge suppressor connectors, even if they are not connected to antennas externally. Failure to connect all cables could result in equipment damage and loss of EMI protection. 3.
4. After all internal antenna cables are connected to the correct surge suppressors, the cabinet appears as shown in the following figure. RF and GPS antennas leading to external surge suppression equipment Rear view - 6 RF/2 GPS cable configuration Secondary GPS Gamma sector RX1 Gamma sector TX/RX0 Beta sector RX1 Beta sector TX/RX0 Primary GPS Alpha sector TX/RX0 Alpha sector RX1 5. Retrieve the 16 tamper-proof screws and rubber washers that you set aside when removing the panel. 6.
9. Use a torque wrench with a 5/32 inch tamper-resistant hex drive bit set to 18 inch-pounds to tighten all screws evenly. WARNING If access panels screws are not tightened with the correct torque, electronic interface may occur causing equipment malfunction. 10. Connect all antenna cables to the proper external antennas/surge protection equipment. The connections are typically N-type and require a 13/16 inch open ended wrench. Tighten connections snugly. Do not overtighten.
