ITCR Base Radio User's Manual and Installation Instructions Applicable Models: 63030-24, 63030-48
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide Revision History Revision Date Summary of Changes 0.1 Initial draft. 0.2 Changes by Neil Ross. 0.3 8/29/2011 Add notices to user and expanded RF exposure Information. General editing. 0.4 9/8/2011 Fix errors and omissions 0.5 10/11/2011 Revise Section 1.2, 1.6, 2.2, 2.3, insert new Section 3, revise Section 4. Minor edits to 4.1 and 5.3.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide Table of Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Applicable Radio Models and Identifiers ................................................................ 1 1.2 General Description ................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Chassis ....................................................
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide 6.1 Restore Factory Settings ....................................................................................... 13 6.2 Display Software and Firmware Revision Numbers.............................................. 13 6.3 Display Radio Identification Information .............................................................. 13 Tables Table 1. Base Radio Input Power Parameters………………………………………………………………..8 iv © 2013 Meteorcomm LLC. All Rights Reserved.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide 1. Overview This document provides important radio frequency safety information and instructions for the basic operation and adjustment of the Base station radio. This document pertains to Meteorcomm Interoperable Train Control Radio Network (ITCR) Base radio models, numbers 63030-24 and 63030-48. Operation of these two models is identical except for input power requirements of 24 Vdc and 48 Vdc, respectively. 1.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide transmissions into three second superframes by using slotted TDMA in the majority of the frame followed by collision sense multiple access (CSMA) in the remainder of the frame. Packet radio messages are passed between Base and mobiles (primarily locomotives but may also include maintenance equipment on the rails) and from Wayside (rail monitoring and control points) stations.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide The Base also has a TNC connector for the GPS receiver antenna. The GPS antenna can be active (3.3Vdc, 50mA max) or passive. 2. Important Information for the User 2.1 Transmitter Warm-up Period The Base transmitter uses a precision oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO). The OCXO warm-up period is one minute minimum after application of input power before any transmission should commence. 2.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide The table in the RF Energy Exposure Guide lists the calculated lateral distances to be maintained between the general public and an operational Base transmitter antenna for two antenna types suitable for fixed Base applications. Note: RF exposure compliance at multiple transmitter sites must be addressed on a site-by-site basis. It is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure compliance with maximum exposure limits. 2.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide included corresponds to all 5-kHz wide FCC channels numbered from 1 at 220.0025 MHz to 400 at 221.9975 MHz. Each Base radio transmission occupies five of the FCCdefined 5-kHz channels. The lowest Base radio channel center frequency is in the center of FCC channel 3 and the next is FCC channel 8, then 13, 18, and so on, up to the highest in the center of channel 398.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide PEP referenced to the 2.15 dBi gain of a dipole. The EIRP for this case is 49.15 dBm. Also note that the maximum ERP on FCC/IC channels 196-200 at 220.975 to 221.000 MHz is 2 watts. Common single element fixed station antennas typically exhibit 2.1 to 5 dBi (0 to 2.9 dBd) gain and being vertically polarized, are usually omnidirectional.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide 4.1 Input Power A label on the radio chassis indicates the rated voltage of the Base radio: 24 or 48V. The table below describes the power supply requirements for each type. Caution: Applying an incorrect voltage outside the rated voltage range of a Base radio can damage it. Confirm the voltage ratings of the radio and the power supply before applying power. Table 1.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide • • • Master reference crystal oscillator frequency RF output power RF output channel Factory technicians tune the master reference crystal oscillator and set the RF gain for maximum rated output power. You may have to adjust the three parameters before or during RF testing by entering commands using XtermW or any other terminal emulation program. 5.1 Equipment Required 1. 10A DC power supply at rated voltage of Base radio. 2.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide 4. Attach a 100W 30 dB RF attenuator to the TX/RX N-type antenna connector. Attach an (e.g., Agilent MXA or PXA) vector spectrum analyzer or similar to the transmitter port for power and frequency measurements. The VSA should contain either a precision stability reference oscillator or attach an external rubidium reference to the VSA external reference input. 5.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide 7. Set the VSA to the center frequency of the channel and set it to demodulate the 16 ksym/second π/4-DQPSK emission and measure the error frequency which is referenced to the VSA center frequency. To adjust the master crystal reference oscillator parameters: 1. First, check the factory default setting for the crystal reference parameter by typing cal 2. Note the value for “xo” in the cal factors table that is displayed. 3.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide To measure and adjust output power: 1. At the XtermW command line, begin transmitting a π/4-DQPSK signal by typing: dsp,watchdog,off dsp_mode,test l1_test,stop l1_test,set,txmod,dqpsk l1_test,start,tx 2. View the calibration settings by typing: cal 3. Note the values for igain and qgain. They are normally matched. 4. Increase the output level by entering larger matched values or reduce output level using smaller matched values.
ITCR Base Radio User's Guide l1_test,stop l1_test,set,txfreq,221987500 l1_test,start,tx 4. Note that in the USA the bottom and middle frequencies are 217.6125 MHz and 219.8125 MHz. 6. Operations This section provides commands used during normal operation of the Base radio. 6.1 Restore Factory Settings To restore factory settings without cycling the radio: • At the XtermW command prompt, type: factory 6.
