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Microwave Radio Communications Strata Operation Manual

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Strata Transmitter
Operations Guide
Revision 3.0
May 2003
Microwave Radio Communications
101 Billerica Avenue, Bldg 6
(978) 671-5700
N. Billerica, MA 01862-1256
www.mrcbroadcast.com
Strata Operations Guide
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Summary of Contents for Microwave Radio Communications Strata

  • Page 1 Strata Transmitter Operations Guide Revision 3.0 May 2003 Microwave Radio Communications 101 Billerica Avenue, Bldg 6 (978) 671-5700 N. Billerica, MA 01862-1256 www.mrcbroadcast.com Strata Operations Guide...
  • Page 2 Microwave Radio Communications Inc. in compliance with RF exposure limits set forth in OET Bulletin 65, Edition 97-01 utilizes this page for the intent of expressing our concerns to the user of this equipment STRATA 2 GHz Transmitter Unit (TXU) that there exists a radiation hazard with improper use of this equipment.
  • Page 3 Radiation Limit for Portable Transmitter at 2WATT (+33dBm) MPE Based on 5dBi Omni Antenna mW/cm^2 5dBi Omni 5.02099 -2.007 (Max Allowable Antenna Gain dBi) 2.231555 1.513 1.25525 4.012 0.80336 5.95 0.557889 7.534 0.409877 8.87 0.313812 10.033 0.247951 11.056 0.20084 11.9 0.089262 15.49 Distance cm...
  • Page 4 This operations guide provides basic system operations information and details for hands-on operation of this equipment. System Description Figure 1 below shows the overall Strata system architecture for a fully equipped system. 1.84 MHz OOK Tone Telemetry...
  • Page 5 FMT CV 70 MHZ 70 MHz IF Bypass Figure 2 - Strata TCU Functional Diagram Note: The TCU may be supplied with or without the MPEG/COFDM or FMT options. TXU Description Like the TCU component, the TXU can accept a wide variety of signal formats but includes an RF up- converter for use in transporting signals over a microwave radio link.
  • Page 6 • HPU (High Power Unit) Note that some or all of these components may be included in a fully functional Strata TX system depending on specific customer applications, e.g., switchable analog and digital transmitting system, etc. Where switchable analog and digital video transmission is required, the Strata TX system installs the digital and analog video modulator modules and the IF/RF module in separate housings.
  • Page 7 MPEG/COFDM Encoder/Modulator This is the heart of the Strata TX digital mode circuitry. This versatile circuit may be configured to accept a wide range of digital or analog video and audio signal inputs and provide COFDM (70 MHz), IF (70 MHz) or ASI video signal outputs.
  • Page 8 Overall Operational Details The following details apply when operating the Strata system using either the TCU or TXU front panel controls: 1. When companion TXU or TCU devices are inter-connected via coaxial cables, an inter-unit telemetry link is established.
  • Page 9 ON or OFF by compressing and holding the front panel control switch for one second from any menu page. The Strata TX system is transmitting when the front panel blue “XMIT” LED is illuminated. When the menu display is inactive for more than 7 seconds, the display will revert back to the main menu.
  • Page 10 Select Preset Setting Used to select a pre-configured configuration. Up to 9 different configurations may be stored and configured in conjunction with the Strata TX Configurator utility. Set Attenuation Value (Transmitter Back Off Level) Used to set the transmitter output power (and linear operating point) of the radio system. Adjustable from 0 to 31 dB in 1 dB increments.
  • Page 11 Modulation Audio Input Conditions A & B VBI - On/Off Audio Mode Conditions Color Bars/Pilot Condition - Service Name/Network Name IF Mode of Operation Analog Audio Subcarrier On/Off Analog Audio Subcarrier Frequency Strata Front Panel Guide Diagram Strata Operations Guide...
  • Page 12 Supported Strata TX System Configuration Options The following information may be used to identify which Strata TX system options may be used for specific customer applications. TCU Supported Signal Options Hardware Option Signal Input Signal Output Monitor Out Notes * MPEG/COFDM Only...
  • Page 13 Configuring the Radio System using the TCU/TXU Serial Port and the “Strata TX Configurator” Software Utility Basic Strata TX Configuration Details The following basic system configuration settings may be administered using the Strata TX Configurator software utility. • COFDM IF Mode – 70 MHz COFDM IF output from the internal COFDM/MPEG board supplied to output and monitor ports (to TXU if present).
  • Page 14 (so long as they are in the specified band and a multiple of the frequency synthesizer step frequency). Note that the user may modify the channel versus frequency table using the Strata TX Configurator software utility. Hence in this mode of operation, selection of any one of 9 presets may, and normally would, have an associated frequency (channel) locked to the selected preset.
  • Page 15 Preparations The following preparations should be completed prior to attempting to configure the Strata TX radio system using a serial data connection: Establish serial data connections to and from the radio system. See the sketch below for details on how to connect a PC to the Strata TX radio system.
  • Page 16 Typical Strata System Configuration Setup Strata TX Powering Options and Cautions Note the following recommended Strata system powering options and rules. 1. TCU stand-alone powering: +12 volts to + 48 volts DC. 2. TXU stand-alone powering: +12 volts to + 48 volts DC.

  • Page 17: Use Caution

    Center Conductors Use Caution For those Strata TX configurations that employ 2 or 3 modules, e.g., TCU + TXU + HPU, etc., the TCU and/or TXU may be used to power adjacent modules by superimposing DC voltage on the interconnecting coaxial cable center conductor.
  • Page 18 BNC connector has been changed to a TNC type connector. Users are cautioned not to use a TNC-to- BNC adapter on the TCU “Signal Out” jack to circumvent this protection feature. Each Strata TX system that includes TXU and TCU modules is shipped with a short BNC-to-TNC coaxial cable assembly for interconnecting TXU and TCU modules.
  • Page 19 Strata TX Configurator software over a local or remote serial data link. 1. Install the Strata Configurator software per instructions supplied with the software. This software is designed to operate properly on Windows 32 bit operating systems, e.g., Windows 98/NT/2000/ or XP operating systems.
  • Page 20 If you are unable to open a serial port or establish a valid serial port connection to a Strata TX radio system, exit the application and attempt to determine the difficulty and try again.
  • Page 21 Basic System Operation The following basic operational notes are supplied in an effort to ensure the Strata TX system is operating properly. 1. Always ensure you apply the proper DC input power, including a verification of the current handling capacity of the power source.
  • Page 22 3. When initially powering a Strata TX system, the power/error front panel LED will indicate an error condition (amber) for a few seconds prior to turning green. This is an indication that the Strata TX components have not completed software initialization. You will also note this condition when switching between digital and analog modes.
  • Page 23 (live) Right chan 2 #3 – pin 2 J12- 4 (return) Left chan 2 White #4 – pin 3 J12- 5 Black #4 – pin 1 J12- 6 (live) Left chan 2 #4 – pin 2 Strata Operations Guide 21 -...
  • Page 24 Strata TX Digital and Analog Audio Options Introduction Due to the unique design of the Strata TX digital encoder circuit, a number of digital and analog audio input options may be accommodated. This brief memorandum describes the provisioning and use of these audio circuits.
  • Page 25 Up to 4 individual analog audio input signals may be transported over the COFDM transport signal. This accommodates the industry standard Channel 1 and Channel 2, Left and Right side audio circuits. Two on-board 6 pin audio connectors are wired to the Strata TX circular panel audio connectors for connection to customer supplied audio sources.
  • Page 26 “bridge” one or both audio channels to accommodate bridged connections to a co-located MPEG encoder module. 3. Analog audio input signals may be split between FMT and MPEG encoder modules by directly connecting one channel to each module. Strata Operations Guide 24 -...
  • Page 27 (leads). Please refer to the MPEG encoder wiring pinout connections shown below for the differences between analog and digital wiring connections. MRC 907386-1 COFDM/MPEG Encoder PWB Analog Channel 1 Analog Digital Audio (J11) Channel 2 (J13) (J12) Strata Operations Guide 25 -...
  • Page 28 The various audio connection options are summarized in the table below: Analog Audio Digital Audio Number of Channels Option FMT and/or MPEG FMT and/or MPEG MPEG only 2 analog + 4 digital FMT and MPEG Strata Operations Guide 26 -...
  • Page 29 +12 to +48 volts DC Common (-) return Strata TCU/TXU Power Cable Connector Pin-out (End View) The HPU device is powered via the center conductor of the coaxial cable connection to the companion TXU (early version). The current drain for this unit at 28 volts DC is approximately 3 amperes when the transmitter is activated.
  • Page 30 TCU Board Inter-connection Diagram Strata Operations Guide 28 -...
  • Page 31 TXU Board Inter-connection Diagram Strata Operations Guide 29 -...
  • Page 32 Audio 3, 4 Digital Audio 907386 COFDM/MPEG Audio 1, 2 Encoder ASI x 2 Audio 1, 2 D_VID Audio 3, 4 IF_ON Video In C_VID Audio 4 Audio 2 TCU Video and IF Coaxial Cable Interconnection Details Strata Operations Guide 30 -...

  • Page 33: Strata Tx Front Panel Error Code List

    Strata TX Front Panel Error Code List Rotating the front panel TCU or TXU control knob allows access to displayed error codes whenever the unit PWR LED color changes from green to amber. The list below references trouble conditions with displayed error codes.
  • Page 34 E0E4 SYSTEM_ERROR_SUMMARY E400 Note: While the above front panel error codes indicate that portion of the system most likely affected, please contact MRC Technical Support for assistance should troubleshooting your Strata TX system become necessary. Strata Operations Guide 32 -...
  • Page 35 Strata Transmitter Wayside Data Channel Access MRC 907386-1 COFDM/MPEG Encoder PWB Layout Note: For Wayside data channel access, use analog audio channel 2 cable assembly (J12). Audio pins F, G and H in the audio circular panel connector (corresponding to J12 pins 1, 2 and 3) are connected to J7 pins 1, .
  • Page 36 Strata Operations Guide 34 -...
  • Page 37 Indicates IF Output is ON LED – Green C_VID Indicates locked to input composite video LED – Green D_VID Indicates locked to input SDI video LED - Amber HLTH Heartbeat – flashing indicates software running Strata Operations Guide 35 -...
  • Page 38 J7 * Null Modem Cable DB-9 Wayside Data Traffic Circular Panel Audio Encoder PWB Connector * Note: J7 pin 1 is nearest to long edge of COFDM/MPEG PWB End of Strata TX Operations Guide Document Strata Operations Guide 36 -...