TriCom TCR-U/L-25 Operator's Manual
  1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. TriCom Manuals
  4. Amplifier
  5. TCR-U/L-25
  6. Operator's manual

TriCom TCR-U/L-25 Operator's Manual

Uhf/l-band rf amplifier
Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
TCR-U/L-25 - UHF/L-BAND
RF AMPLIFIER
DOCUMENT # 90400-01178
Tricom Research, Inc. 
http://www.tricomresearch.com
17791 Sky Park Circle, Suite J, Irvine, CA 92614
Ph: (949) 250-6024 fax: (949) 250-6023

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the TCR-U/L-25 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Related Manuals for TriCom TCR-U/L-25

Summary of Contents for TriCom TCR-U/L-25

  • Page 1 OPERATOR'S MANUAL TCR-U/L-25 - UHF/L-BAND RF AMPLIFIER DOCUMENT # 90400-01178 Tricom Research, Inc.  http://www.tricomresearch.com 17791 Sky Park Circle, Suite J, Irvine, CA 92614 Ph: (949) 250-6024 fax: (949) 250-6023...
  • Page 2 TCR-U/L-25 OPERATOR’S MANUAL Revision History - Document 90400-01178 Revision Description Date Preliminary Release 18 Oct 2013 Updated size and power output specifications, updated 18 Jun 2014 outline figures and drawings Updating for automatic mode detection 10 Nov 2014 Reformatted Figures 3-1 and 3-6...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TCR-U/L-25 OPERATOR’S MANUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION General Information ..................1 Abbreviations and Glossary ................2 Equipment Description ..................3-6 Features ......................6 TCR-U/L-25 System ..................6 1.5.1 Amplifier Components...................6 1.5.2 Power Cable ....................7 Specifications ....................7-8 OPERATION General Information ..................9 Controls, Indicators, and Connectors .............9-10 Operation......................11...
  • Page 4 TCR-U/L-25 .....................1 Figure 2-1 Amplifier Controls & Indicators ..............9 Figure 2-2 Amplifier Connections ................9 Figure 3-1 TCR-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (1 of 2) ............15 Figure 3-2 TCR-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (2 of 2) ............16 Figure 3-3 Amplifier DC Input Connector ..............17 Figure 3-4 Military Vehicle DC Power Cable ............18...

  • Page 5: Introduction

    GENERAL INFORMATION This manual provides operating instructions for the TCR-U/L-25 Multiband Amplifiers shown in Figure 1-1. The TCR-U/L-25 amplifier is designed to provide transmit and receive gain for the following modes of operation:  SRW and ANW2 Wideband Networking Waveforms in the 225-450 MHz band (UHF band) ...

  • Page 6: Abbreviations And Glossary

    ABBREVIATIONS AND GLOSSARY Automatic gain control Automatic level control Amplitude modulation Antenna ANW2 Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform Bits per second Cipher text Continuous wave COMSEC Communications security Decibel Decibel referenced to 1 milliwatt (0 dBm = 1 mW) Frequency modulation Hertz Integrated Waveform JITC...

  • Page 7: Equipment Description

    EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION The TCR-U/L-25 is a bi-directional half duplex RF Power Amplifier that uses the same form factor as the TCR-MBA-50 WB. It provides transmit amplification for 225-450 MHz, 1250- 1390 MHz and 1750-1850 MHz for ANW2 and SRW Wideband Networking operation. A low noise amplifier provides receive gain for all three bands.
  • Page 8 1.3.3 POWER ON, INITITALIZATION AND MODE CHANGES. A single pushbutton switch provides power ON/OFF control and LED intensity control. Holding the button down longer than 2 seconds will dim the LEDs in 4 steps at 1 second intervals before the PA shuts down; releasing the PWR button before the PA shuts down will set the LED intensity at one of 4 levels (high, medium, medium low, low).
  • Page 9 (refer to sections 3.5 and 3.6 for remote control operation) the PA will start communications with the terminal and will illuminate the RMT LED on the front panel. At this point the TCR-U/L-25 front panel buttons will become inactive, except to power the amplifier...

  • Page 10: Features

     Amplifier front panel indication of system status  Automatic frequency/mode detection and selection of proper mode (UHF, L1, L2) TCR-U/L-25 SYSTEM The TCR-U/L-25 is pictured in Figure 1-1. 1.5.1 Amplifier Components The Amplifier consists of several printed circuit board assemblies, a filtering and switching network, and RF connectors housed in a water resistant aluminum housing.

  • Page 11: Power Cable

    TCR-MBA-25 and TCR-MBA-50 WB power amplifiers may be used to power the TCR- U/L-25 even if they are wired for battery or commercial vehicle operation (the TCR-U/L-25 ignores the DC input power mode pins C and D and operates the PA only in military vehicle mode);...

  • Page 12: Table 1-2 Interconnect Characteristics

    L-BAND OPERATION Frequency Range 1250-1390 MHz, 1750-1850 MHz Insertion Loss <3.5 dB Noise Figure 3.75 dB UHF 4 dB L1 5 dB L2 Receive Gain 6 dB typical ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS Radio Connector BNC female UHF Antenna Connector BNC female L-BND Antenna Connector BNC female DC Connector MS3112E10-6P...

  • Page 13: General Information

    DO NOT stand directly in front of the antenna or in close proximity to the sides or back of the antenna when transmitting. Controls, Indicators, and Connectors The TCR-U/L-25 has three push button switches to control:  Power ON/OFF and LED intensity (PWR button)  UHF Modes of Operation (UHF button) ...

  • Page 14: Table 2-1 Mode Indicators

    Table 2-1. Mode Indicators MODE OF OPERATION UHF MODES UHF LNA ON L-BAND MODES L1 LNA ON L2 LNA ON The modes of operation will cycle in the order indicated in Table 2-1 from top to bottom. The settings will cycle through in a loop, to select a different mode; the mode switch must be pressed repeatedly until the next desired mode of operation is selected.

  • Page 15: Operation

    Operation 2.3.1 General Information The TCR-U/L-25 can be used for operation once it has been installed as described in Section 3. 2.3.2 Equipment Set-up Refer to Paragraph 2.2 for the locations and functional description of the controls and indicators. Make sure that the TCR-U/L-25 has been installed according to the instructions provided in Section 3.

  • Page 16: Lna Operation Precautions

    Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). Using the LNA with certain radios may cause intermittent squelch break on the radio. 2.3.3.3 Remote Control Operation The TCR-U/L-25 can be controlled remotely via a USB or asynchronous RS-232 interface (refer to section 3 for a functional description of these interfaces). 2.3.3.4 Out of band operation Operating outside the frequency band for the selected mode of operation (225 –...

  • Page 17: Table 2-4 Troubleshooting Guide

    Table 2-4. Troubleshooting Guide SYMPTOM PROBABLE CAUSE SUGGESTED FIX XMT light ON in Incorrect operating frequency for Change mode or frequency for conjunction with selected mode. proper operation. FLT light flashing when transmitting RF source is sweeping (not fixed Do not use a swept source frequency) FLT light flashes PA has exceeded its normal...

  • Page 18: Installation

    3.3 Mounting Provisions. The TCR-U/L-25 can be mounted using existing mounting holes for the TCR-MBA-25 and TCR-MBA-50 WB power amplifiers (refer to Figure 3-1). These holes accommodate #10-32 screws, which screw into tapped 10-32 X 0.220 deep holes on the amplifier. Ensure the proper length screw is used to prevent damage to the threaded holes on the amplifier.

  • Page 19: Figure 3-1 Tcr-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (1 Of 2)

    Mounting Tab Tricom Part # 31002-01677 Use 100º #8 flat head screw Figure 3-1 TCR-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (1 of 2)

  • Page 20: Figure 3-2 Tcr-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (2 Of 2)

    Figure 3-2 TCR-U/L-25 Outline Drawing (2 of 2)

  • Page 21: Dc Input Power

    DC Input Power. The DC input power connector is compatible with the TCR-MBA-25 and TCR-MBA-50 WB power cables. Attach the DC power source to the DC IN connector located on the rear of the amplifier (See Fig 3-1 and Table 3-1 for connector pinout and location). RF Interconnections.

  • Page 22: Figure 3-4 Military Vehicle Dc Power Cable

    MS3116F10-6S +28V Electrical GND Optional connection for Auto Power On (green wire) Figure 3-4 Military Vehicle DC Power Cable (part number 77500-00412 included)

  • Page 23: Remote Control Interface

    3.6 Remote Control Interface. The power amplifier can be controlled via a USB or RS-232 interface using a terminal emulator such as HyperTerminal. To connect the remote control interface cable, remove the dust cover labeled AUX CONN on the connector side of the power amplifier. The operating data parameters for RS-232 are 9600 bps, 8 bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit.

  • Page 24: Figure 3-6 Usb Remote Control Cable

    60” +5 VDC Ground Figure 3-6 USB Remote Control Cable (part number 77500-00391 optional) 60” Ground Figure 3-7 RS-232 Remote Control Cable (part number 77500-00390 optional)

  • Page 25: Remote Control Command Set

    3.7 Remote Control Command Set Table 3-4 describes the command set for controlling the TCR-U/L-25 (both versions) remotely. Each valid command is responded with an “ack” message; invalid commands due to incompatible operational parameters will be responded with a “nack” message and invalid commands due to syntax errors will be responded with an “unknown command”...
  • Page 26 This may create a problem if a remote control Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the TCR-U/L-25 (both versions) only allows the use of specific comm ports. As an example, if the GUI only allows the use of COM1, COM2 or COM3 to interface to the PA via the USB interface and MS Windows automatically assigns COM12 to the USB serial port adapter embedded in the PA then the PC and the PA will not be able to communicate.
  • Page 27 7. Click on the Port Settings tab and select Advanced… 8. Click on the Comm Port Number: drop down list and select the desired comm port. Currently assigned comm port Desired comm port COM2 COM12 9. Click OK on the advanced settings window and verify that the reassigned comm port settings are 9600 bps, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit and no flow control.
  • Page 28 Reassigned comm port COM2 12. Exit Device Manager. 13. Run the remote control utility being used to communicate with the TCR-U/L-25 and verify that the PC is communicating with the PA. NOTE: Any communications terminal software such as HyperTerminal can be used to communicate with the PA.

Table of Contents