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Summary of Contents for Optoelectronics Xplorer
- Page 1 ® 160 West Camino Real #233 Boca Raton, FL 33432 Telephone: (954) 642-8997 Fax: (954) 636-3533 Email: sales@optoelectronics.com www.optoelectronics.com Copyright © 2009, Optoelectronics, Inc. Printed in U.S.A...
- Page 2 X X P P L L O O R R E E R R U U S S E E R R M M A A N N U U A A L L...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS CAUTION INTRODUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FRONT PANEL MENUS IMPORTANT INFORMATION MODES (SWEEP) MODES (VFO) MODES (CONFIG) MODES (LOCKOUTS) MODES (BLOCKS) 12,13 MODES (MEMORY) 14,15 MODES (TIME/DATE) REACTION TUNE REACTION TUNE & PCR1000 PC DOWNLOAD CAPABILITIES ACCESSORIES TROUBLESHOOTING FACTORY SERVICE FCC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE... - Page 4 All features, specifications, and the information included in this manual are subject to change without notice or obligation. Optoelectronics, Inc. reserves the right to change or modify the Xplorer without notice or obligation to notify any person or organization of such changes.
- Page 5 The Xplorer contains Nickel Cadmium rechargeable batteries that must be recycled or disposed of properly. Use of the improper power adapter may cause damage to the Xplorer battery pack or charging circuitry. *In compliance with US FCC Regulations, an Xplorer shipped in the U.S. is disabled in the following frequency bands: 824.010 - 848.970MHz and 869.010 - 893.970MHz.
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Page 6: Caution
WARNING - Maximum antenna input signal is +15dBm (50mW). Under no circumstances should the Xplorer be directly connected to an RF transmitter or be used in close proximity to a radio transmitter of more than 5 watts. Damage to the input amplifier circuitry is readily apparent and will not be covered under warranty. -
Page 7: Introduction
The Xplorer will pick up signals in the nearfield of a transmitter. Because of its high rate of sweeping, the Xplorer is essentially a self tuning receiver. The primary reason for a nearfield receiver is to trade distance for speed. A conventional scanning receiver will receive signals from greater distances than the Xplorer but suffers from being able to scan only 25 to 100 frequencies per second. - Page 8 FACTORY SERVICE WARRANTY Products under warranty must be returned, transportation prepaid, to Optoelectronics’ Boca Raton Service Center. All parts replaced and labor performed under warranty are at no charge to the customer. NON-WARRANTY Products not under warranty must be returned, transportation prepaid, to Optoelectronics’ Boca Raton Service Center. Factory service will be performed on a time and materials basis at the service rate in effect at the time of repair.
- Page 9 Is there a way to reset my Xplorer? Yes. Turn the Xplorer off. When you go to turn it on again press the FNCTN / SHIFT and MODE/POWER button all at the same time. This will reset all parameters back to factory defaults. All data in memory, lockouts etc.. will be lost.
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Page 10: Specifications
SPECIFICATIONS Frequency Range: 30MHz - 2GHz (Cellular Frequencies Blocked except for FCC Approved Users) Modulation: FM, Deviation < 100KHz Frequency Response: 50-3000Hz Auto Sweep Time: <1 Second (with Lockouts and Blocks turned off) Input Impedance: 50 Ohm Connector: Female BNC Sensitivity: 350uV @ 450MHz (typical) Display:... -
Page 11: Front Panel
This diagram is only meant to give the user the basic functions of the various buttons. This is not a complete list of Press to turn on the Xplorer. Press and functions for each button. Please hold four seconds to turn off. - Page 12 FM stations. Reducing the background RF from FM transmitters by 30dB allows the Xplorer to lock onto signals from a much greater distance. Even if the Xplorer is not locking onto FM stations, the RF from those transmitters is still present and can prevent the Xplorer from locking onto signals in the nearfield.
- Page 13 5 mile radius. In particular there is a UHF paging system in a Hospital 1/4 mile away and an FM radio transmitter two miles away. The RF floor is at approximately -50 dB. This should be a typical RF environment for testing the Xplorer. Remember though, results can differ widely depending on the particular environment.
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Page 14: Menus
MENUS POWER UP Press the red MODE/POWER button once firmly to turn the Xplorer on. The initialization screen will be displayed for two seconds. Press and hold the MODE/POWER button down for four seconds to turn the unit off. OPTOELECTRONICS XPLORER One of the seven operating modes will be displayed for two seconds. -
Page 15: Important Information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION / PLEASE READ Sweep mode is where all the action takes place with the Xplorer. It is important to understand how the various settings will affect the way the Xplorer operates. There are three functions of the Xplorer that will greatly influence how effective the Xplorer is for you. Those are Squelch, Blocks, and Lockouts. - Page 16 PC DOWNLOAD To connect the Xplorer to your computer for data downloading use the optional CBDS serial cable and Opto Suite Pro software. The Opto Suite Pro software is useful for programming all of your settings and managing stored data. The software is compatible for use under Microsoft Windows 95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/Vista.
- Page 17 Xplorer. PCR1000 VOLUME/SQUELCH As mentioned, the Xplorer can not only Reaction tune the ICOM PCR1000, it will control the volume and squelch of the receiver once it has been tuned. To adjust the volume and squelch of the PCR1000 press the MODE/POWER button until *CONFIG* is displayed. Press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until PCR1000 SQUELCH is displayed.
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Page 18: Important Information
OTHER ENHANCEMENTS TO CONSIDER Antennas and front end filters play a big part in the performance of the Xplorer. Not all antennas are alike and it is recommended you use different antennas to achieve different results. Using dual and tri band antennas such as our DB32 and BB85 are great for picking up many different types of signals. -
Page 19: Modes (Sweep)
Press the red MODE/POWER button until *SWEEP* is displayed. The sweep indicator bar in the top right hand corner of the display will move back and forth when in sweep mode. When the Xplorer locks onto a signal the sweep indicator will stop and the frequency of the signal that was captured will be displayed on the top line of the LCD. - Page 20 Xplorer. For instance, if you locked onto a signal with the Xplorer and were in a mobile situation, it is possible that the transmitter will move out of range very quickly.
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Page 21: Modes (Vfo)
MODES * TIME/DATE * The Xplorer has a real time clock with a lithium battery back up. To view the current time and date press the MODE/POWER button until *TIME/DATE* is displayed. To change the time and date press the MODE/POWER button until *CONFIG* is displayed. -
Page 22: Modes (Config)
* VFO * Press the MODE/POWER button until *VFO* is displayed. This mode allows you to tune the Xplorer to one specific frequency. Press and hold the SHIFT button and press either the UP/DOWN arrow buttons to change the MHz portion of the frequency. -
Page 23: Modes (Lockouts)
MODES * CONFIG * Press the MODE/POWER button until *CONFIG* is displayed. Configuration mode is where all parameters are set. To switch between the parameters shown below press either the UP/DOWN arrow buttons. To change the attribute of a given parameter press and hold the FNCTN button and press either the UP/DOWN arrow buttons. PARAMETERS ATTRIBUTE SELECTIONS BACKLIGHT... -
Page 24: Modes (Blocks)
RECORDING EVERY / UNIQUE FREQUENCIES The Xplorer has the ability to store EVERY frequency captured into a separate memory location with a separate time and date stamp, even if it is a duplicate frequency. This can be useful when surveying sites over a period of time to determine exactly when an active frequency is transmitting. -
Page 25: Modes (Memory)
MODES * MEMORY * The Xplorer has 1000 memory locations with up to 65,000 hits per memory. Shown below are the 12 fields of data that can be stored in the memory of the Xplorer. Frequency in MHz Hits Time... - Page 26 MODES * LOCKOUTS * You may lockout up to 1000 individual frequencies as they are received in sweep mode. Frequencies may also be locked out in VFO mode. Press the MODE/POWER button until *CONFIG* is displayed. Press the UP/DOWN arrow buttons until LOCKOUTS is displayed. Press and hold the FNCTN button and press the UP/DOWN arrow button to turn lockouts ON/OFF.
- Page 27 * BLOCKS * The Xplorer has 10 frequency blocks numbered 0-9, located in the BLOCKS menu. This function is very convenient for locking out a band of frequencies like FM stations, TV stations, etc... It is also convenient for locking in a band of frequencies that you may wish to test exclu- sively.
- Page 28 INCLUDE AND EXCLUDE If a band of frequencies are excluded and included in separate blocks then the block order (0-9) takes precedence in the Xplorer’s reception of those frequencies. For example: If 145.000 MHz - 155.000 MHz is in BLOCK 0 that is set for EXCLUDE, and is also in BLOCK 1 set for INCLUDE then BLOCK 0 takes precedence over BLOCK 1 and 145.000 MHz - 155.000 MHz is excluded from reception.
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