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Summary of Contents for Arcom QAM Snare Navigator Plus
- Page 1 QAM Snare Navigator Plus User Manual QS-NAVPLUS-v1.8 5/25/17 This document details the functions and operation of the QAM Snare Navigator Plus leakage detector configured with firmware version N3.35.9 and above.
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
Table of Contents Overview ......................5 Screen Navigation ....................5 Settings ......................7 General ......................7 Auto Start/Stop ....................7 LTE scan ......................7 LTE BPF ......................8 Standard ......................8 Auto Reconnect ....................9 Power Down Timer .................... 9 Wi-Fi Profile ....................... - Page 3 Leak level display screen ..................21 Information displayed on leak level screen ............22 Signal view ......................23 Information displayed on signal view screen ............ 23 Map view ......................24 Updating leak ....................24 Close leak ....................... 24 Leak info ......................25 Analog, Pilot/QAM and OFDM leakage detector mode - buffering ......26 Detector Walk Mode ...................26 Walk mode timer .....................
- Page 4 Changes made in Q-browser are not saved in detector........36 Cradle .......................36 Antennas ......................37 GPS antenna ....................37 RF roof antenna ....................37 RF walk mode antenna ..................37 Wi-Fi antenna....................38 Battery charging ....................38 Patents ......................38...
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Page 5: Overview
Overview The QAM Snare Navigator Plus is designed for the line technician as a find and fix tool, and can also perform leakage rideouts while the vehicle is driving around the system . When the unit is placed in the cradle, it utilizes the external whip antennas on the roof of the vehicle. - Page 6 Hot Keys – correspond to the Navigation Keys menu item immediately above each key On/Off –...
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Page 7: Settings
Settings The Settings button is used to select all the various configuration options. Since the Navigator Plus does not have a keyboard, settings related to the QAM Snare server and the Wi-Fi profiles that the device attaches to MUST be configured through the Q- browser software program. -
Page 8: Lte Bpf
information is updated into the QAM Snare database and is used to help in the prioritization of repair. Press enter to select the LTE scan menu item, then press the right or left arrow to change the selection, then press enter to confirm. LTE BPF In certain installations it may be desirable to utilize an LTE pre -selector filter at the antenna combiner input to... -
Page 9: Auto Reconnect
Auto Reconnect Used with Multi-Server operation, with Auto- Reconnect = ON the Navigator Plus will automatically search preset servers for a new hub when a technician leaves an active hub boundary. Power Down Timer The Power Down Timer sets the amount of time the Navigator Plus will power down after the vehicle has been turned off. -
Page 10: Truck Mode
Truck mode The Truck mode (cradled) Wi-Fi profile needs to be selected from the list of entered profiles. It can be either the same or different from the Walk mode profile. If the desired profile is not displayed, use the arrow keys to scroll down the list, and press enter at the desired selection to confirm your choice. -
Page 11: Detector Profile
For clarification, a typical QAM Snare installation will have multiple hubs connected to one server that covers a broad area. One signal processor hardware device is required in each hub, and the signal processors communicate with the QAM Snare server. The server monitors the GPS location of each connected field device and coordinates that each device receives signal samples appropriate for the hub the field device is currently located. - Page 12 The Aero band is fixed to channels between 121MHz and 195MHz. The Mid band is fixed to channels between 201MHz and 645MHz, and the LTE band is fixed to channels between 651MHz and 999MHz. For the Aero band, QAM, Analog and Pilot/QAM detection are selectable options.
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Page 13: Leakage Detector Analog Mode - Frequency Settings
Leakage Detector analog mode – frequency settings The analog signal detector mode utilizes a very fast narrow band spectrum analyzer. For proper operation, the analog carrier frequency must be within 1 kHz bandwidth relative to the nominal channel frequency. If the actual analog carrier has off-set > 1 kHz, then it is necessary to utilize a customized channel wherein any frequency with accuracy of 100Hz within Aero band can be setup. -
Page 14: Leakage Detector Pilot/Qam Mode Detector Settings
When signal tagging is used, it can be activated by turning ON the TAG confirm item on the settings screen. TAG frequency must match the frequency that is actually being used for tagging. TAG doesn’t have to be used. However, using TAG will help minimize false detections. -
Page 15: Leakage Detector Pilot/Qam Mode Channel And Frequency Selection
Press Enter again and you will see the channel you selected, Pilot Level, and Frequency code. There are four possible channel codes for every detection channels used by Arcom, intended to provide flexibility in overbuild situations. Table 1 illustrates the frequencies associate with each code. -
Page 16: Leakage Detector Pilot/Qam Mode Level
Table 1: Code # vs Pilot Carrier Frequencies Code # Pilot 1, MHz Pilot 2, MHz F1* + 0.005 F2* + 0.005 F1* - 0.005 F2* - 0.005 F1* + 0.005 F2* - 0.005 F1* - 0.005 F2* + 0.005 *F1 and F2 = SC-QAM band edge frequencies Leakage Detector Pilot/QAM mode Level As illustrated to the right of the table above, you will... -
Page 17: Leak Alarms
Leak alarms The Navigator Plus can be configured to provide low and high level audio alarms based upon the amplitude of the detected leak, for all three bands of operation. The alarm is based upon the leak level at the detector, until the point in which the server calculates the leak GPS coordinates and scales to the 10 ft. -
Page 18: Display Brightness And Volume Adjustment Hot Key
Display brightness and volume adjustment Hot key This Hot key allows for the display brightness to be adjusted and for the alarm and button click volume to be turned up or down or Off. The left and right arrow keys control the screen brightness, and the up and down arrow keys control the volume. -
Page 19: Status Indications
Status indications On the top banner portion of the screens, information is provided as to status of the device. From the left to right the following indications are provided as described below. Truck or Walk mode indicator When the detector is firmly seated in a powered cradle, the device is in Truck mode. -
Page 20: Wi-Fi Indicator
After the 60 seconds of GPS Sync, the indicator will change to GPS OK. In this condition truck mode is operational and it is also ready to pull from the cradle and enter walk mode. This indicator is displayed when the unit is pulled from the cradle when entering walk mode. -
Page 21: Leak Level Display Screen
as defined in the QAM Snare Manager program. While cradled, the detector displays the leak level as measured at the corresponding RF antenna installed on the roof of the vehicle. Every second, data on detected leaks, delay information on detected leaks, GPS coordinates of the vehicle, and measured LTE signal level is transmitted to the QAM Snare Server. -
Page 22: Information Displayed On Leak Level Screen
these bands, simply press the corresponding hot key immediately below the band description. Underneath the main leak level indicator portion of the screen is information on the time delay of the detected leak, information on detected LTE signal level, as well as an indication of the device noise floor. -
Page 23: Signal View
Signal view The Signal view screen displays the correlation function and shows a graphic representation of a detected QAM signal. To enter the Signal view mode, press the hot key immediately below the Signal box. The red horizontal line is a threshold indicator, and when the correlator response increases above this threshold line, leakage is recorded. -
Page 24: Map View
The signal view screen when the device is in walk mode is slightly different. No time delay indication is provided, and the device noise floor is displayed as a flat line that changes with the expected slight fluctuation in average level every second. Map view Map view is available by pressing the hot key under the Map box on the main leakage detector screen. -
Page 25: Leak Info
Closing a leak when the Updating leak message is displayed is however not possible, because the leak is still being updated. Options are to either drive away from the leak until the leak ID is displayed, and then closing it –... -
Page 26: Analog, Pilot/Qam And Ofdm Leakage Detector Mode - Buffering
Analog, Pilot/QAM and OFDM leakage detector mode - buffering When operating in analog Pilot/QAM, or OFDM mode, continuous communication with the server is not required, and as the vehicle passes through areas with no coverage, the leakage data as well as drivepath coordinates will be buffered. -
Page 27: Walk Mode Timer
to the vehicle, then there is no reason to switch and the truck Wi-Fi can be used. When in Walk mode, the detector will only detect leaks on the one channel that is shown on the display. In the example to the right, the detected leak is measured on the aeronautical band channel 16, centered at 133 MHz. -
Page 28: Walk Mode Signal View
Walk mode signal view When in walk mode, the Signal view correlator response is available for detected QAM channels. It is not available for analog channels. When in walk mode the time delay indicator is not available and noise floor is shown as a flat line. -
Page 29: Auto Shutdown Counter
Auto shutdown counter When Auto Start/Stop is enabled – when power is removed from the device while cradled, the unit will begin a five minute countdown to shut down the device. No action is required of the user, the message is informational. -
Page 30: Quick, Step By Step Setup Guide
Quick, step by step setup guide The following procedure should be followed for initial device setup: 1- Configure device using Q-browser The first step in setup is to place the Navigator plus in its cradle and connect to a PC that has the Q- browser software loaded on it. -
Page 31: 4- Adjust Volume And Brightness
The Navigator Plus has low and high threshold leakage alarms to provide the user with feedback in the fashion they desire. Enter Leak alarm settings and configure as desired. 4- Adjust volume and brightness Alarm volume and display brightness are user configurable settings –... -
Page 32: Error Messages And Troubleshooting
Error Messages and Troubleshooting To assist in troubleshooting any connection or connectivity issues, Navigator Plus will display error messages corresponding to the condition. No GPS lock GPS lock is required for proper operation of the device. When the device is turned on with clear visibility to the sky, it may take a few minutes for the GPS lock indication to go from GPS-NO, to GPS-OK –... -
Page 33: No Data
No Data The Navigator Plus screen contains two elements that move to indicate that the device is operating properly and receiving data from the server. The indicators are the circle with up/down arrow display on the top right side of the display, and the five dash indicator at the location where the leak value is displayed. -
Page 34: Gps Antenna Not Connected To Navigator Plus
The device could be turned off, the communication port could be disabled blocking data from being forwarded to the server, or the device could have a hardware issue. Consult with an Arcom Digital field engineer if the obvious troubleshooting is not effective after power cycling the unit. -
Page 35: Closed Buffer Indication
your requested channels are in excess of the four currently being used. You should change detector settings such that the listed frequencies are used, and then reconnect. If only three channels are currently in use, the 4 frequency will show the word ‘any’ next to F4. -
Page 36: Changes Made In Q-Browser Are Not Saved In Detector
Changes made in Q-browser are not saved in detector If changes made within Q-browser and the changes are not saved at the detector, the likely cause is that the final step of removing the USB cable from the cradle did not take place, and the user attempted to continue in Settings with the USB cable still in place. -
Page 37: Antennas
Antennas QAM Snare Navigator Plus requires a GPS antenna and multiple RF antennas, the quantity of which varies depending upon the number of channels being monitored. When the device is cradled, the all antennas are fed through the BNC connector at the bottom of the cradle, adjacent to the screw-on power jack input. -
Page 38: Wi-Fi Antenna
The rubber duck antennas are frequency specific, tuned to the low frequency detection channel. The bandwidth of these antennas is such that if a different frequency is desired to be used, a corresponding different antenna must be used. The bandwidth of the dipole loop antennas are a few hundred MHz, therefore a 600 MHz antenna can adequately cover from 500 to 700 MHz.
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