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Optoelectronics Digital Scout User Manual

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OPTOELECTRONICS
®
160 West Camino Real #233
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Telephone: 954-642-8997
Fax: 954-636-3533
sales@optoelectronics.com
www.optoelectronics.com

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Summary of Contents for Optoelectronics Digital Scout

  • Page 1 OPTOELECTRONICS ® 160 West Camino Real #233 Boca Raton, FL 33432 Telephone: 954-642-8997 Fax: 954-636-3533 sales@optoelectronics.com www.optoelectronics.com...
  • Page 2 Digital Scout USER MANUAL...
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Introduction Front Panel Top Panel Function Button Squelch Setting Operation 9-10 Reaction Tune Memory Download and Datalogging Specifications What to Expect Antenna and Accessory Recommendations 15-16 Factory Service/Warranty Optoelectronics, ICOM, AOR, and APCO are registered trademarks.
  • Page 4 Warranty PRODUCT WARRANTY Optoelectronics, Inc. warrants all products and accessories for one (1) year against defects in materi- als and workmanship to the original purchaser. Products returned for warranty service will be repaired or replaced at Optoelectronics’ option. Specifically excluded are any products returned under this warranty that upon examination, have...
  • Page 5 Factory Service RETURN POLICY The Optoelectronics Service Department will provide rapid turnaround of your repair. No return authorization is required. Enclose complete information as follows: 1. Copy of sales receipt if under warranty. 2. Detailed description of problem(s). 3. Complete return address and phone number (UPS street address for USA).
  • Page 6 WARNING - Maximum antenna input signal is +15dBm (50mW). Under no circumstances should the Digital Scout 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

    It may also be helpful in the field in determining problems with hand held or mobile radios. The Digital Scout is more than a test instrument in the traditional sense because it is useful for finding frequencies being used for two way radio communications. Up to 1000 unique frequencies can be stored in memory, along with up to 65,000 hits on each frequency.
  • Page 8 Digital Scout download program. The Digital Scout may also log frequencies to the PC in real time using the Digital Scout datalogging program. The CBDS is required and includes the cable and DOS download/datalogging software.
  • Page 9 What to Expect The Digital Scout is similar to other nearfield devices in the way it locks onto RF signals. It is looking for a dominant nearfield signal that is 15dB above the background RF level. As it detects a dominant signal a frequency is displayed.
  • Page 10: Front Panel

    Front Panel POWER TEST FUNCTION RECALL POWER: Press to turn on and off. Press and hold two seconds to activate backlight. TEST: Press to switch between frequency display and signal strength display. FUNCTION: Press to access set-up menus. Use with UP/DOWN arrow buttons to change modes.
  • Page 11: Top Panel

    CI-5 INPUT: This port is used for Reaction Tune. See Reaction Tune on pages 9&10 for more information regarding this feature and a list of receivers that are compatible with the Digital Scout. 9-12VDC: Power input. AC90 9-12VDC wall adapter. RS232: This port is used for direct connection to a PC for downloading memory and real time datalogging.
  • Page 12 Specifications Input Impedance: 50 Ohm Frequency Range: 10MHz - 2.6GHz Sensitivity: <3mV typical Maximum Input: +15dBM, 50 milliwatts Resolution: 1kHz / 250.000 or 100Hz / 250.0000 Display: 2x16 alphanumeric LCD with EL Backlight Timebase: 10MHz RF Signal Strength: -45 to -5dBm (+/- 5dBm accuracy) Size: 3.5”H x 3”W x 1.5”D Weight:...
  • Page 13 Memory Download and Datalogging Memory saved to the Digital Scout may be downloaded to a computer through the RS232 interface jack located on top of the Digital Scout. Real time datalogging is also possible through the RS232 interface. The connection to the PC is direct using the download cable CBDS (sold separately). All 1000 mem- ories and 65,000 hits may be downloaded and saved for later use, such as uploading to an FCC data- base.
  • Page 14: Function Button

    Function Button Pressing the FUNCTION button will access the 12 different settings in the set-up menu. Memory There are 1000 memories with a possible 65,000 hits per frequency. The first frequency in memory is labeled Memory 000. To look at the number of times that frequency has been hit press the UP arrow button.
  • Page 15 PC for memory download and datalogging. Reaction Tune is used when interfacing to compati- ble receivers. Receiver Type CI5 for ICOM, OptoScan and Optoelectronics receivers. AR8000 for AOR receivers. PCR1000 for the ICOM PCR1000. PCR1000 Volume When interfaced to an ICOM PCR1000 in Reaction Tune mode you may control the volume of the receiver by pressing the UP/DOWN arrow button.
  • Page 16 C. PCR1000: The Digital Scout can Reaction Tune the ICOM PCR1000 through the RS232 port of the Digital Scout. You may also control the volume and squelch of the PCR1000 by accessing those two separate functions through the function button.
  • Page 17 Reaction Tune When the Digital Scout is in FILTER mode it can Reaction Tune a receiver connected through the CI5 or RS232 port on the top panel. Following are the procedures for Reaction Tuning the various receivers that are compatible with the Digital Scout.
  • Page 18: Squelch Setting

    Squelch Setting The Digital Scout has a signal bar indicator located in the top right hand corner of the display. This indicator serves two purposes. When pressing the UP/DOWN arrow buttons to adjust the squelch level from low to high (no bars to ten bars), the indicator changes from a solid bar...
  • Page 19 Squelch Setting SQUELCH ADJUSTMENT FOR DIGITAL SIGNALS With FILTER ENABLED or DISABLED the optimum squelch setting for counting digital signals is with four lines displayed on the signal indicator. This is usually accomplished with 3 bars showing when making the squelch adjustment. It is also recommended that the minimum pulse width be set to 300uS when counting digital signals.
  • Page 20 Press the TEST button to switch to the signal strength mode. The Digital Scout will react to the background RF level, showing fluctuating signal levels when it is not readily apparent that there is any nearby RF. This should always be taken into account when try- ing to determine actual nearfield RF levels.