ADTRAN TRC4106 TRACER 4106 User Manual 612804206L1 1B

Adtran TRACER 4106 612804206L1 1B

UserManual.wiki >

ADTRAN >

TRC4106 User Manual HTML Version

Manual

TRACER 4106/4206

System Manual

12804106L1A TRACER 4106 System (Plan A)

12804106L1B TRACER 4106 System (Plan B)

12804206L1A TRACER 4206 System (Plan A)

12804206L1B TRACER 4206 System (Plan B)

612804206L1-1B

January 2003

Trademarks

Any brand names and product names included in this manual are trademarks, registered trademarks, or

trade names of their respective holders.

To the Holder of the Manual

The contents of this manual are current as of the date of publication. ADTRAN reserves the right to change

the contents without prior notice.

In no event will ADTRAN be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages or for

commercial losses even if ADTRAN has been advised thereof as a result of issue of this publication.

901 Explorer Boulevard

P.O. Box 140000

Huntsville, AL 35814-4000

Phone: (256) 963-8000

Printed in U.S.A.

About this Manual

This manual provides a complete description of the TRACER 4106/4206 system and system software.

The purpose of this manual is to provide the technician, system administrator, and manager with

general and specific information related to the planning, installation, operation, and maintenance of the

TRACER 4106/4206. This manual is arranged so that needed information can be quickly and easily found.

The following is an overview of the contents.

Section 1 System Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Provides managers with an overview of the TRACER 4106/4206 system.

Section 2 Microwave Path Engineering Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Explains the basics of analyzing a wireless microwave link, or path. The significant

parameters are defined, and several recommendations are offered.

Section 3 Engineering Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Provides information to assist network designers with incorporating the

TRACER 4106/4206 system into their networks.

Section 4 Network Turnup Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Provides step-by-step instructions on how to install the TRACER 4106/4206 unit,

determine the parameters for the system, install the network and option modules, and

power up the system.

Section 5 User Interface Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Explains the terminal interface and provides a description for each of the menus available

for the TRACER 4106/4206 system.

Section 6 Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Provides helpful information for troubleshooting common configuration problems for the

TRACER 4106/4206 system.

Revision History

This is the second issue of this manual.

Safety Instructions

When using your telephone equipment, please follow these basic safety precautions to reduce the risk of

fire, electrical shock, or personal injury:

1. Do not use this product near water, such as a bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a

wet basement, or near a swimming pool.

2. Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless-type) during an electrical storm. There is a remote

risk of shock from lightning.

3. Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.

4. Use only the power cord, power supply, and/or batteries indicated in the manual. Do not dispose of

batteries in a fire. They may explode. Check with local codes for special disposal instructions.

Save These Important Safety Instructions

Notes provide additional useful information.

Cautions signify information that could prevent service interruption.

Warnings provide information that could prevent damage to the equipment or

endangerment to human life.

Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant

to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful

interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,

uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the

instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio frequencies. Operation of this equipment in a

residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the

interference at his own expense.

Shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with Class A FCC limits.

Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible

for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

Radio Frequency Interface Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for an intentional radiator, pursuant to

Part 15, Subpart C of the FCC Rules. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency

energy. If not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, it may cause interference to radio

communications.

The limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential situation.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment

does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment

on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following

measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna of the affected radio or television.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and the affected receiver.

• Connect the equipment and the affected receiver to power outlets on separate circuits.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ADTRAN could void the user’s

authority to operate the equipment.

FCC Output Power Restrictions

The FCC does not require licensing to implement this device. License-free operation in the industrial,

scientific, and medical band is documented in FCC Rules Part 15.247. It is the responsibility of the

individuals designing and implementing the radio system to assure compliance with any pertinent FCC

Rules and Regulations. This device must be professionally installed.

Exposure to Radio Frequency Fields

The TRACER 4106 is designed to operate at 2.4 GHz with 100 mW maximum transmit power. The

TRACER 4206 is designed to operate at 5.8 GHz with 100 mW maximum transmit power.

This level of RF energy is below the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) levels specified in FCC OET

65:97-01. The installation of high gain antenna equipment in the system configuration may create the

opportunity for exposure to levels higher than recommended for the general population at a distance less

than 15 feet (4.6 meter) from the center of the antenna. The following precautions must be taken during

installation of this equipment:

• The installed antenna must not be located in a manner that allows exposure of the general population to

the direct beam path of the antenna at a distance less than 15 feet (4.6 meters). Installation on towers,

masts, or rooftops not accessible to the general population is recommended; or

• Mount the antenna in a manner that prevents any personnel from entering the area within 15 feet (4.6

meter) from the front of the antenna.

• It is recommended that the installer place radio frequency hazard warnings signs on the barrier that

prevents access to the antenna.

• Prior to installing the antenna to the TRACER 4106/4206 output, make sure the power is adjusted to the

settings specified in section 2 of this manual.

• During antenna installation, be sure that power to the TRACER equipment is turned off in order to

prevent any energy presence on the coaxial connector.

• During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not stand in front of the antenna assembly.

• During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not handle or touch the front of the antenna.

These simple precautions must be taken to prevent general population and installation personnel from

exposure to RF energy in excess of specified MPE levels.

Customer Service, Product Support Information, and Training

ADTRAN will repair and return this product if within five years from the date of shipment the product

does not meet its published specification or the product fails while in service.

A return material authorization (RMA) is required prior to returning equipment to ADTRAN. For service,

RMA requests, training, or more information, use the contact information given below.

Repair and Return

If you determine that a repair is needed, please contact our Customer and Product Service (CAPS)

department to have an RMA number issued. CAPS should also be contacted to obtain information

regarding equipment currently in house or possible fees associated with repair.

Identify the RMA number clearly on the package (below address), and return to the following address:

Pre-Sales Inquiries and Applications Support

Your reseller should serve as the first point of contact for support. If additional pre-sales support is needed,

the ADTRAN Support web site provides a variety of support services such as a searchable knowledge

base, latest product documentation, application briefs, case studies, and a link to submit a question to an

Applications Engineer. All of this, and more, is available at:

When needed, further pre-sales assistance is available by calling our Applications Engineering

Department.

CAPS Department (256) 963-8722

ADTRAN Customer and Product Service

901 Explorer Blvd. (East Tower)

Huntsville, Alabama 35806

RMA # _____________

http://support.adtran.com

Applications Engineering (800) 615-1176

Post-Sale Support

Your reseller should serve as the first point of contact for support. If additional support is needed, the

ADTRAN Support web site provides a variety of support services such as a searchable knowledge base,

updated firmware releases, latest product documentation, service request ticket generation and

trouble-shooting tools. All of this, and more, is available at:

When needed, further post-sales assistance is available by calling our Technical Support Center. Please

have your unit serial number available when you call.

Installation and Maintenance Support

The ADTRAN Custom Extended Services (ACES) program offers multiple types and levels of installation

and maintenance services which allow you to choose the kind of assistance you need. This support is

available at:

For questions, call the ACES Help Desk.

Training

The Enterprise Network (EN) Technical Training Department offers training on our most popular products.

These courses include overviews on product features and functions while covering applications of

ADTRAN's product lines. ADTRAN provides a variety of training options, including customized training

and courses taught at our facilities or at your site. For more information about training, please contact your

Territory Manager or the Enterprise Training Coordinator.

http://support.adtran.com

Technical Support (888) 4ADTRAN

http://www.adtran.com/aces

ACES Help Desk (888) 874-ACES (2237)

Training Phone (800) 615-1176, ext. 7500

Training Fax (256) 963-6700

Training Email training@adtran.com

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION

This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 4106/4206 System manual is designed for use by network engi-

neers, planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER 4106/4206.

It contains general information and describes physical and operational concepts, network relationships,

provisioning, testing, alarm status, and system monitoring. This section should be used in conjunction with

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines, of the system manual.

CONTENTS

System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Configuration and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Operational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Section 1, System Description TRACER 4206 System Manual

1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The ADTRAN TRACER® 4106 and 4206 wireless systems provide four independent T1 circuits over a

wireless link for up to 30 miles (line-of-sight path required). As authorized under Part 15.247 of the FCC

Rules, the TRACER 4106 and 4206 operate license-free in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Industrial, Scientific,

and Medical (ISM) bands, respectively. These bands require no frequency coordination or licensing of end

users.

For configuration and testing, the TRACER 4106/4206 provide the capability to control the remote system

through a separate maintenance channel. The TRACER 4106/4206 has several built-in test capabilities

including remote loopback. Complete configuration and performance data is available through menus

accessed using a standard RS-232 terminal interface.

2. FEATURES AND BENEFITS

The following is a brief list of TRACER 4106/4206 features and benefits:

Configuration and Management

• Easy to use VT100 control port (RS-232 interface) for configuration and monitoring

• Remote configuration

Operational

• Four independent transparent T1 transmission paths, over digital microwave link

• No license required per FCC Rules Part 15.247

• Frequency: 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz (TRACER 4106) 5.725 to 5.850 GHz (TRACER 4206)

• Point-to-point, up to 30 miles

• 1-U high unit for easy rack-mounting

MICROWAVE PATH ENGINEERING BASICS

CONTENTS

Line-of-site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Receiver Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Antenna Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Path Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Antenna Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Antenna Beam Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Fresnel Zones, Earth Curvature, & Antenna Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Coaxial Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Receiver Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Fade Margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Path Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

FIGURES

Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Figure 2. Typical Antenna Beam Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TABLES

Table 1. Antenna Gain for Given Dish Diameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Table 2. Path Loss for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Table 3. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Table 4. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types, per 100 ft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4206 System Manual

1. LINE-OF-SITE

The TRACER 4106 and 4206 systems are designed for operation in the license free 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz

and 5.725 to 5.850 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands. Radio wave propagation in these

bands exhibit microwave characteristics, which are ideally suited for point-to-point, line-of-sight

communications. Line-of-sight essentially requires that the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna are

able to “see” each other, and that the straight-line path between the two antennas is free of any

obstructions, such as buildings, trees, mountains, and, in longer paths, even the curvature of the earth.

2. DECIBELS

The received signal power equation is often expressed in a decibel (dB) format, which turns the power

multiplication and division operations into addition and subtraction operations. In general, any quantity

can be expressed in decibels. If the quantity (x) is a power level, the decibel equivalent is defined as

If the quantity x is referenced to a milliwatt (mW), then the decibel-milliwatt (dBm) is used instead of a

generic decibel.

3. RECEIVER POWER

The radio frequency (RF) signal power that is available at the input to the receiving TRACER 4106/4206

system is the next parameter of interest in analyzing a wireless path. The TRACER 4106/4206 has a

maximum output power level of 100 mW, which is equivalent to 20 dBm. This output signal will be

attenuated and distorted by various factors, all of which will degrade the original signal and affect the

signal strength and quality as sensed by the receiving unit. A simplified power budget analysis is beneficial

to perform after verifying a suitable line-of-sight path to determine if the microwave path is suitable, even

for ideal, non-distorted signals.

The equation relating received signal power to the other microwave parameters is

Point-to-Point Wireless communication from a single site to another

individual site. Contrast with point-to-multipoint

Line-of-Sight An unobstructed, direct path exists between the

transmitting and the receiving antennas.

xdB 10 log10 x()⋅ (dB)

xdBm 10 log10

1mW

-------------





⋅ (dBm)

PTGTGRλ2

4π()

2d2L

---------------------------

(watts, W)

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics

where the variables in the equation are defined as

PRreceived power (Watts)

PTtransmitted power (100 mW maximum for TRACER 4106/4206 - adjustable)

GTtransmit antenna gain

GRreceive antenna gain

λcarrier wavelength (c / ƒ) (meters)

dpath distance (meters)

Lother losses (RF coaxial cable, etc.)

The actual transmit and receive antenna gain values are strictly dependent upon the physical characteristics

of the antennas installed for each link. Typical gains are between 20 and 40 dB. For example, a 4 foot

diameter Parabolic dish has 34.2 dB of gain at 5.8 GHz. The carrier wavelength is the physical wavelength

of the main RF carrier being used for communication, and is usually approximated at the center frequency

of the band, which is 2441.75 or 5787.5 MHz. This gives a wavelength of 12.29 cm at 2441.75 MHz and

5.18 cm at 5787.5 MHz.

The FCC specifies the maximum transmitter power that may be used for antennae of a given gain. FCC

rules Part 15, Subpart 247 allow for a maximum power of 1 watt (30 dBm) into antennae of a gain less than

or equal to 6 dBi. At 2.4 GHz (TRACER 4106), the 1 watt maximum transmitter power must be reduced

by 1 dB for every 3 dB of antenna gain over 6 dBi. Since the TRACER 4106 maximum transmit power is

100 milliwatts, only antennas with gains above 36 dBi (12 foot diameter parabolic dishes) require any

reduction in transmit power. For the 5.8 GHz band (TRACER 4206), there is no reduction in transmitter

output power required for antennae gains greater than 6 dBi.

The path distance is simply the physical distance between the transmit and receive antennas. For the

TRACER 4106/4206 these distances can range up to 30 miles. The final parameter L incorporates all other

signal power losses in the microwave link, most of which are caused by antenna feed.

4. ANTENNA GAIN

Best performance will result from the use of a parabolic dish antenna. Antenna gain is determined by the

size of the dish, with typical features detailed below. Dish manufacturers will be able to supply gains for

other types of antennas.

Table 1. Antenna Gain for Given Dish Diameters

Dish Diameter

(in feet)

Gain at 2.4 GHz (in dBi)

(TRACER 4106)

Gain at 5.8 GHz (in dBi)

(TRACER 4206)

221 28.5

427 34.2

631 37.5

833 40.7

10 35 42.5

12 37 44.2

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4206 System Manual

5. PATH LOSS

The expression

where

fcarrier frequency (Hz)

λcarrier wavelength (c / f) (meters)

dpath distance (meters)

cspeed of light, free-space (meters)

is called the path loss, and increases rapidly as either path length increases or carrier wavelength decreases

(which happens as the carrier frequency increases). So, longer microwave paths will naturally experience

more path loss than shorter paths. Likewise, higher frequency microwave communication will experience

more path loss than lower frequency microwave communication.

Table 2, tabulates path loss values for various path lengths for both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz systems. Values

not listed in the table can be interpolated from those listed.

When using decibel notation, the received power equation becomes

Table 2. Path Loss for Given Path Lengths

Path Length

(miles)

Path Loss 2.4 GHz

(dB)

Path Loss 5.8 GHz

(dB)

1104 112

2110 118

3114 121

4116 124

5118 126

10 124 132

15 128 135

20 130 138

25 132 140

30 134 141

35 135 143

4πd

----------





24πdf

------------





(dB)

PRPTGTGRL±20 · log10

± 4πdf

------------





(dBm)

PRPTGTGRL±LP

± (dBm)

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics

Where, in the second equation the path loss has been lumped into a single quantity, LP

, as discussed

previously. When using decibel notation, it is necessary that all quantities are individually converted to

decibels prior to performing addition and subtraction.

When d is expressed in miles and f in GHz, the path loss expression in decibels becomes

Figure 1 illustrates a wireless link containing all of the parameters previously discussed.

Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters

6. ANTENNA ALIGNMENT

With line-of-sight microwave communications, optimum system performance requires that the

transmitting and receiving antennas are properly aligned. This will ensure maximum received signal power

at each receiver. Antenna alignment must be achieved in both azimuth (along a horizontal plane) and

elevation (along a vertical plane). A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is used to aid the equipment

installer in determining when alignment is maximized, by simply ensuring maximum RSSI. The RSSI

indicator for the TRACER 4106/4206 system is provided through the VT100 terminal menus accessed

through the RS-232 interface, and is presented as a series of bars indicating signal strength. More bars

means more RSSI, which ensures more received signal strength and better link performance.

If the local system has acquired a useful signal from the remote system, then the remote TRACER

4106/4206 RSSI can also be viewed from the local TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 terminal menu interface.

An RSSI Test point is also provided on the front panel. The voltage (relative to the gnd test point) present

on this test point represents a relative signal level of receive strength from the far end. The voltage at this

test point can vary from approximatly 0 to greater than 4 Volts DC, with 0 Volts corresponding to no signal

and 4 Volts or better to full signal strength.

Antenna Beam Patterns

Directly related to the subject of antenna alignment is the topic of antenna beam patterns. Antennas being

used with the TRACER 4106/4206 system will have a particular beam shape determined in part by the

physical construction and geometry of the antenna. The antenna beam patterns are characterized by a

dominant main lobe, which is the preferred lobe to use for point-to-point communications, and several side

LP96.6 20 log10 d() 20·log10 f()⋅ (dB)

d, L

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4206 System Manual

lobes, as shown in Figure 2 on page 18. The antenna alignment step to setting up a microwave link is in

fact steering the main lobes of both antennas until the main lobe of one transmitter is centered on the

receiving element of the receiving antenna.

Figure 2. Typical Antenna Beam Pattern

Antennas are also designed to radiate RF energy efficiently for a specific range of frequencies. Please

consult the data sheet for your particular antenna make and model to ensure that it is specified to operate in

the 2400 MHz to 2483.5 MHz frequency band for TRACER 4106 models, and the 5725 MHz to 5850

MHz frequency band for TRACER 4206 models.

Fresnel Zones, Earth Curvature, & Antenna Heights

The Fresnel zones correspond to regions in the microwave path where reflections of the intended signal

occur and combine in both constructive and destructive manners with the main signal, thereby either

enhancing or reducing the net power at the receiver.

In general, the odd numbered Fresnel zones (1, 3, 5, ...) add constructively at the receiver, while the even

numbered Fresnel zones (2, 4, 6, ...) add destructively at the receiver.

The first Fresnel zone corresponds to the main lobe, and must be at least 60% free of physical obstructions for

the path calculations to be valid. Since the main lobe contains the vast majority of the microwave energy, this

zone is typically used to determine proper antenna heights when placing antennas on towers or buildings.

The curvature of the Earth becomes a legitimate obstruction for path lengths of 7 miles or greater, and must

also be accounted for when determining minimum antenna heights.

The aggregate expression for minimum antenna height that incorporates both the 60% first Fresnel zone

and the Earth curvature is given by

where f is in GHz and d is in miles.

Table 3 tabulates minimum antenna heights for given path lengths.

main lobe

side lobes

h72.1 d

----- 0.125d2

 (feet)

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics

Table 3. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths

7. COAXIAL CABLE

Coaxial cable will be required to attach the TRACER 4106/4206 to the antenna. The length of the cable

will vary from a few feet to several feet, depending upon your application and the proximity of the

TRACER 4106/4206 to the antenna.

Various grades of coaxial cable will work sufficiently well for connecting the TRACER 4106/4206 unit to

the antenna. A low-loss coaxial cable is suggested to minimize cable losses. One end of the cable will

require an N-type male connector (plug) to mate with the TRACER 4106/4206 unit. The other end of the

coax will require a connector compatible with the antenna chosen for the installation, which is usually also

an N-type male connector (plug). Additionally, it is recommended that both connectors on the coaxial

cable be weatherproofed from the elements to prevent corrosion and electrical shorting.

Table 3 gives typical loss figures for some of the more common coaxial cable types, per 100 feet.

Path Length

(miles)

Min. Antenna Height

(ft)

222

432

641

850

10 60

14 81

16 92

18 104

20 117

22 131

24 145

26 161

28 177

30 194

32 213

34 232

36 252

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4206 System Manual

Table 4. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types, per 100 ft.

In certain areas where lightning strikes are frequent, a lightning arrestor should be installed directly on the

antenna coax. This will help protect the RF electronics in the downstream path from damaging voltages

and currents, including the TRACER 4106/4206 unit.

8. RECEIVER SENSITIVITY

Receiver sensitivity is a value expressed in decibels referenced to one milliwatt (dBm) that corresponds to

the minimum amount of signal power needed at the receiver to achieve a given bit error rate (BER).

Receiver sensitivity is usually a negative number of decibels, and as such smaller receiver sensitivity

(higher quantity negative numbers) is better for a given BER. Several factors affect receiver sensitivity,

including the data bandwidth of the wireless link, and the amount of additional signal degradation

introduced in the receiver electronics. The receiver sensitivity of the TRACER 4106 is -93 dBm at 10-6 bit

error rate, while the receiver sensitivity of the TRACER 4206 is -90 dBm at 10-6 bit error rate.

Three software selectable band plans are provided for frequency agility, should an interferer be present

nearby. Changing the 4106/4206 bandplan does not require additional components, or opening of the

radio. See >TRACER System Configuration > RF Bandplan on page 47 for additional details.

Cable Type

2.4 GHz Loss/100 ft. (in dB)

(TRACER 4106)

5.8 GHz Loss/100 ft. (in dB)

(TRACER 4206)

RG58 80 N/A

RG8 (air) 20 N/A

RG8 (foam) 9 N/A

1/4” Coax 5.91 11.36

3/8” Coax 5.76 9.65

1/2” Coax 3.83 6.49

5/8” Coax 2.98 4.90

7/8” Coax 2.2 N/A

1 1/4” Coax 1.62 N/A

1 5/8” Coax 1.41 N/A

5.8 GHz Elliptical Waveguide N/A 1.23

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics

9. FADE MARGIN

Fade margin is a value indicating the amount of extra signal power available to the receiver to operate at a

maximum bit error rate (BER). Higher levels of fade margin are better, and will protect the viability of the

microwave link against signal fading. For most applications, 20 to 30 dB of fade margin should ensure a

reliable link. Fade margin is simply the difference between the available signal power at the receiver and

the receiver sensitivity, discussed previously:

10. PATH AVAILABILITY

The path availability of a wireless link is a metric that expresses the fractional amount of time a link is

available over some fixed amount of time, and depends on several factors. Path availability is expressed as

where the parameters are

aterrain factor

bclimate factor

fcarrier frequency (GHz)

dpath length (miles)

Ffade margin (dB)

The terrain factor is a quantity that compensates the link availability for different types of terrain.

Generally speaking, the more smooth an area's terrain is, the less availability a wireless link running

over that terrain will have, primarily due to multipath reflections. In contrast, secondary microwave

signals will be randomly dispersed over rough terrain, and will not interfere with the main signal lobe

as badly as in the smooth terrain case. The terrain factor values normally used are listed below:

Terrain Terrain Factor Description

Smooth 4water, flat desert

Average 1moderate roughness

Mountainous 1/4 very rough, mountainous

RPsens

±PRGTGRL±LP

±Psens

± (dB)

A1 2.5 10 6±

×()abfd310 F10⁄±

()±[]100%× (dB)

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4206 System Manual

The climate factor is a quantity that compensates the link availability for different types of climates

(weather). In general, microwave links operating in areas with high humidity will have less availability

than those in arid areas, primarily because water is a dispersive mechanism to microwave energy, and

causes the main signal lobe to refract and disperse away from the receiver location. The climate factor

values normally used are listed below.

Climate Climate Factor Description

Very Dry 1/8 desert regions

Temperate 1/4 mainland, interior region

Humid 1/2 humid and coastal regions

ENGINEERING GUIDELINES

CONTENTS

Equipment Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Reviewing the Front Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

RSSI Monitoring Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

TX PWR Monitoring Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Front Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Reviewing the TRACER 4106/4206 Rear Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Antenna Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

DC Power Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Alarm Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

T1 Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

RS-232 Connection (Terminal Use) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

RS-232 Connection (Modem Use) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

At-A-Glance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

FIGURES

Figure 1. TRACER 4206 Front Panel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Figure 2. TRACER 4106/4206 Rear Panel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

TABLES

Table 1. TRACER 4106/4206 Front Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Table 2. TRACER 4106/4206 LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Table 3. DC Power Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Table 4. Alarm Contact Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Table 5. T1 Interface Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Table 6. RS-232 Connection Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 7. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Terminal (DTE) Diagram (DB-25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Table 8. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Personal Computer (DB-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Table 9. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Modem (DCE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines TRACER 4206 System Manual

1. EQUIPMENT DIMENSIONS

The TRACER 4106/4206 unit is 17.12” W, 9.34” D, and 1.72” H, weighs 7 lbs, and can be used in

rack-mount configurations.

2. POWER REQUIREMENTS

The TRACER 4106/4206 system has a maximum power consumption of 20W and a maximum current

draw of 0.95A (at 21 VDC).

3. REVIEWING THE FRONT PANEL DESIGN

The front panel contains RSSI and TX PWR monitoring interfaces, a GND interface for reference with the

monitoring interfaces, and status LEDs to provide visual information about the TRACER 4106/4206

system. Figure 1 identifies the various bantam interfaces and the LEDs.

Figure 1. TRACER 4206 Front Panel Layout

RSSI Monitoring Interface

The RSSI voltage is a function of the signal strength at the receiver and is used to measure the received

signal strength. RSSI varies approximately from 0 to greater than 4 Volts (V), with 0V corresponding to a

weaker received signal and 4V or better corresponding to a stronger received signal.

The voltage level present at the RSSI test point represents only a relative signal level of

receive strength from the far end. No direct correlation can be made between RSSI voltage

levels and actual receive levels in dBm. This test point is provided to assess relative signal

level for alignment of antennas.

ALARM

T1A T1B T1C T1D

TRACER 4206

Status LEDs

TX PWR

RSSI GND

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 3, Engineering Guidelines

TX PWR Monitoring Interface

The TX PWR voltage is a function of the selected transmit power level. This voltage ranges approximately

from 0 to 5V, with 0V corresponding to +5 dBm (3 milliwatts) and 5V corresponding to +20 dBm (100

milliwatts).

Front Panel LEDs

With the TRACER 4106/4206 powered-on, the front panel LEDs provide visual information about the

status of the TRACER 4106/4206 system. Table 1 provides a brief description of the front panel features,

and Table 2 (continued on page 27) provides detailed information about the LEDs.

Table 1. TRACER 4106/4206 Front Panel Description

Feature Description

RSSI Interface DC voltage indicating strength of the received signal at the antenna

TX PWR Interface DC voltage indicating strength of transmitted signal

GND Interface Ground reference for RSSI and TX PWR interfaces

Status LEDs Provides status information about the system

Table 2. TRACER 4106/4206 LEDs

For these LEDs... This color light... Indicates that...

PWR Green (solid) the TRACER 4106/4206 is connected to a power source.

Off the TRACER 4106/4206 is not currently powered up.

PLAN A Green (solid) the TRACER 4106/4206 is transmitting on Frequency Plan A.

Off the TRACER 4106/4206 is not transmitting on Frequency

Plan A.

PLAN B Green (solid) the TRACER 4106/4206 is transmitting on Frequency Plan B.

Off the TRACER 4106/4206 is not transmitting on Frequency

Plan B.

RF DOWN Red (solid) there is a communication problem between the local and remote

TRACER 4106/4206 systems.

T1 Alarms

T1A

T1B

T1C

T1D

Red (solid) an Alarm Condition on a T1 Interface. Check the respective T1

status page to identify the active alarm.

Red (blinking) the respective T1 is in a loopback mode.

RF LOW Red (solid) the RSSI level is below suggested minimum threshold.

TST Amber (solid) there is an active test being performed by the system or there is

an active loopback.

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines TRACER 4206 System Manual

4. REVIEWING THE TRACER 4106/4206 REAR PANEL DESIGN

The TRACER 4106/4206 rear panel contains the following interfaces:

•ALARM interface (terminal block) for connecting to an external alarm monitoring system

•DC POWER (terminal block) for connecting to a proper 21-60 VDC power source

•T1A, T1B, T1C and T1D (RJ-48C jacks) for connecting to a T1 device

•ANTENNA (N-Type connector) for the antenna feedline cable

•TEST (1/4” stereo jack) for QPSK constellation test point

• Ground lug for connecting to earth ground

•RS-232 (DB-25 female) for connecting to a VT100 terminal or PC with terminal emulation

software

Figure 2 on page 26 identifies the various features of the TRACER 4106/4206 rear panel. A detailed

discussion of all interfaces (including pinouts, where applicable) follows the figure.

Figure 2. TRACER 4106/4206 Rear Panel Layout

Antenna Interface

The ANTENNA interface (N-Type connector) connects to the antenna (customer supplied) using standard

antenna feedline cable. When determining the cable specifications for your application, refer to Section 2,

Microwave Path Engineering Basics (Coaxial Cable on page 19) for a discussion on cable length and loss

factors.

Fuse

The fuse holder, accessible from the rear panel of the TRACER 4106/4206, accepts a generic 1 Amp, 250

Volt, 2-inch slow-blo fuse.

T1A T1B T1C T1D

Antenna

DC Power

Connection Connector

T1 Interfaces

RS232 Interface

(VT100 Terminal)

Ground

Lug

Fuse

Alarm

Contacts

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 3, Engineering Guidelines

DC Power Connection

The TRACER 4106/4206 can operate from a supply between 21 and 60 VDC, with either polarity

referenced to ground, and consumes less than 20 Watts (W). Power supplies should be able to provide up to

30 W at the selected voltage. Current required (in amps) is determined by dividing the power consumed (in

watts) by the applied voltage (in volts). For example, at 48 V, TRACER 4106/4206 would draw

approximately 0.42 A (25 W/48 V).

Alarm Contacts

Normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) alarm contacts are provided on the rear panel of the

TRACER 4106/4206 system. In normal operation, the NC contact is electrically connected to the common

contact (COM) and the NO contact is isolated. During an alarm condition, the NC contact becomes

isolated and the NO is electrically connected to COM. This allows alarm conditions to be reported to

external alarm monitoring systems.

T1 Connections

The physical T1 interfaces are provided by 4 RJ-48C jacks that comply with the applicable ANSI and

AT&T ® standards.

Connector type Plug-in Terminal Block

Table 3. DC Power Connector Pinout

PIN NAME DESCRIPTION

1+ POSITIVE LEAD (referenced to ground)

2- NEGATIVE LEAD (referenced to ground)

Connector type Plug-in Terminal Block

Table 4. Alarm Contact Connector Pinout

PIN NAME DESCRIPTION

1COM COMMON CONTACT

2NO NORMALLY-OPEN CONTACT

3NC NORMALLY-CLOSED CONTACT

Connector type RJ-48C

Table 5. T1 Interface Connector Pinout

PIN NAME DESCRIPTION

1 R Transmit data (ring) towards the network

2 T Transmit data (tip) towards the network

3, 6-8 UNUSED ——

4R1 Receive data (ring) toward the network

5T1 Transmit data (tip) from the network

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines TRACER 4206 System Manual

RS-232 Connection (Terminal Use)

The RS-232 connector provides a female DB-25 terminal connection (wired as a DCE interface), which is

used for terminal access to the TRACER 4106/4206 system. The RS-232 port provides the following

functions:

• Accepts EIA-232 input from a PC or terminal for controlling the TRACER 4106/4206 system

• Operates at 9600 bps

Tab le 6 on page 28 shows the pinout. Wiring diagrams for connecting to the RS-232 connector (for

various applications) are provided following the pinout.

Connector type DB-25

Table 6. RS-232 Connection Pinout

PIN NAME DESCRIPTION

1, 7 GND GROUND

2 TX TRANSMIT

3 RX RECEIVE

4 RTS REQUEST TO SEND

5 CTS CLEAR TO SEND

6 DSR DATA SET READY (MODEM CONTROL ONLY)

8 CD CARRIER DETECT

9-19 — UNUSED

20 DTR DATA TERMINAL READY (MODEM CONTROL ONLY)

21 — UNUSED

22 RI RING INDICATOR

23-25 — UNUSED

Table 7. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Terminal (DTE) Diagram (DB-25)

PIN NAME PIN NAME

2TX 2TX

3RX 3RX

4RTS 4RTS

5CTS 5CTS

6DSR 6DSR

7GND 7GND

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 3, Engineering Guidelines

RS-232 Connection (Modem Use)

Modem controls, discussed in Section 5, User Interface Guide, of this manual, will enable or disable

modem control through the RS-232 interface. When this option is enabled from a standard terminal

connection, all RS-232 communications will cease until a modem is attached with a null modem adapter

between the TRACER 4106/4206 and the data modem. The data modem should be configured for AUTO

ANSWER and 9600 bps. When the user connects via modem to the TRACER 4106/4206 unit,

communications via the RS-232 port will resume. If a user accidentally enables modem control from a

terminal and disrupts the RS-232 communication, pressing <Ctrl + Z> three times will temporarily disable

the modem control option (until the system is reset) and access the system configuration to disable modem

control.

The TRACER 4106/4206 must be interfaced to a modem via an RS-232 null modem adapter or cable. The

null modem will convert Clear To Send (CTS) and Data Set Ready (DSR) into Ready To Send (RTS) and

Data Terminal Ready (DTR), respectively. These signals will indicate (to most modems) that a valid DTE

terminal device is present. The null modem interface must route Carrier Detect (CD) on pin 8 directly from

the modem, and the modem must source CD only when actually connected to a carrier when using the

RS-232 interface for modem control.

When MODEM CONNECTION (logout) is selected in the menu system, the TRACER 4106/4206 will de-assert

DTR and DSR for a time greater than 20 ms. The null modem will consequently drop DTR and RTS at the

modem interface, signaling the modem to hang up the line. If password functionality is enabled in the

TRACER 4106/4206, selecting MODEM CONNECTION (logout) will reset the TRACER 4106/4206 to the

password entry screen.

Tab le 9 on page 30 contains the wiring diagram needed for connecting the TRACER 4106/4206 RS-232

interface to a modem using the null modem adapter.

Table 8. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Personal Computer (DB-9)

PIN NAME PIN NAME

2TX 2TX

3RX 3RX

4RTS 7RTS

5CTS 8CTS

6DSR 6DSR

7GND 5GND

Hangup-on-DTR-drop may need to be explicitly enabled on some modems.

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines TRACER 4206 System Manual

5. AT-A-GLANCE SPECIFICATIONS

The following is a list of specifications for the TRACER 4106/4206 system.

Table 9. TRACER 4106/4206 (DCE) to Modem (DCE)

PIN NAME PIN NAME

2TX 3RX

3RX 2TX

4RTS 5CTS

5CTS 4RTS

6DSR 20 DTR

7GND 7GND

8CD 8CD

Hardware Description Specification

Transmitter

Output Power +20 dBm, max

Frequency Range 2400 to 2483.5 MHz (4106)

5725 to 5850 MHz (4206)

Receiver

Receive Level, Minimum -93 dBm (TRACER 4106)

-90 dBm (TRACER 4206)

Receive Level, Maximum -30 dBm

Receive Level, Nominal -55 dBm

Frequency Plan

Plan A

Band Plan

1Tx 2.416 GHz, Rx 2.456 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.734 GHz, Rx 5.814 GHz (4206)

2Tx 2.422 GHz, Rx 2.462 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.744 GHz, Rx 5.824 GHz (4206)

3Tx 2.428 GHz, Rx 2.468 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.753 GHz, Rx 5.833 GHz (4206)

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 3, Engineering Guidelines

Frequency Plan (continued

Plan B

Band Plan

1Tx 2.456 GHz, Rx 2.416 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.814 GHz, Rx 5.734 GHz (4206)

2Tx 2.462 GHz, Rx 2.422 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.824 GHz, Rx 5.744 GHz (4206)

3Tx 2.468 GHz, Rx 2.428 GHz (4106)

Tx 5.833 GHz, Rx 5.753 GHz (4206)

T1 Interface

Capacity 1.544 Mbps (each)

Connection RJ-48C jacks

Line Code B8ZS, AMI

Framing ESF, D4

Alarms AIS, Red, Yellow, BPVs, LOS

Loopbacks Local and remote (line and link)

User Interface

Panel Alarm LEDs

Diagnostics Line and Link Loopbacks

Test Points QPSK Constellation, RSSI, Tx PWR

Alarms Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC)

VT100 Terminal Menu Driven User Interface, Control of the

Remote End, Loopback Test, Optional

Password Protection, Event History

VT100 Terminal Interface

Data Rate 9600 bps

Data Bits 8

Parity None

Stop Bits 1

Terminal Emulation VT100

Mechanical and Environmental

Operating Temperature -25° C to 65° C

Size 17.12” W x 9.34” D x 1.72” H

Humidity 95%, Non-condensing

Hardware Description Specification

Section 3, Engineering Guidelines TRACER 4206 System Manual

Mechanical and Environmental (continued)

Weight 7 lbs

Power

Input Voltage 21 to 60 VDC, either polarity referenced to

ground

Power Consumption < 20 Watts

Connector 2 pin terminal block (DC)

Fuse 1 amp, 250 Volt slow-blo fuse (2-inch)

Hardware Description Specification

NETWORK TURNUP PROCEDURE

CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Tools Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Unpack and Inspect the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Contents of ADTRAN Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Customer Provides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Channel Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Grounding Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Supplying Power to the Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Mounting Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Connecting the T1 Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

FIGURES

Figure 1. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4106) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Figure 2. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4206) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Section 4, Network Turnup Procedure TRACER 4206 System Manual

1. INTRODUCTION

This section discusses the installation process of the TRACER 4106/4206 system.

2. TOOLS REQUIRED

The tools required for the installation of the TRACER 4106/4206 are:

• VT100 terminal or PC with terminal emulation software

• RS-232 (DB-25 male for TRACER 4106/4206 end) cable for connecting to terminal

3. UNPACK AND INSPECT THE SYSTEM

Each TRACER 4106/4206 is shipped in its own cardboard shipping carton. Open each carton carefully and

avoid deep penetration into the carton with sharp objects.

After unpacking the unit, inspect it for possible shipping damage. If the equipment has been damaged in

transit, immediately file a claim with the carrier, then contact ADTRAN Customer Service (see Customer

Service, Product Support Information, and Training information in the front of this manual).

Contents of ADTRAN Shipment

Your ADTRAN shipment includes the following items:

• TRACER 4102 or TRACER 4206 unit

• TRACER 4106/4206 Documentation CD

• 4 T1 Interconnect Cables (RJ-48C Straight-Through)

Customer Provides

The following items are necessary for the installation of the TRACER 4106/4206 system and are not

provided by ADTRAN:

• 21 to 60 VDC power source (or AC adapter available from ADTRAN P/N 1280650L1), either polarity

referenced to ground

• Antenna and mounting hardware

• Antenna feedline cable

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ADTRAN could void the user’s

authority to operate the equipment.

To prevent electrical shock, do not install equipment in a wet location or during a lightning

storm.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 4, Network Turnup Procedure

4. CHANNEL SELECTION

The FCC has allocated 83.5 MHz of spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band where the TRACER 4106 operates, and

125 MHz of spectrum in the 5.8 GHz band where the TRACER 4206 operates. Figure 1 and Figure 2

illustrate the bandwidth division.

Figure 1. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4106)

Figure 2. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4206)

To designate the utilization of the ISM bandwidth, there are two different channel plans, labeled A and B.

The letter of each channel plan setting is preset by the factory and refers to the physical configuration of

the diplexer filter inside the environmental housing. Each channel is then divided into three bandplans (1, 2

or 3). The bandplans must be the same for the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206. For example, the

transmitter at one end of the link will transmit in bandplan 1 of channel A (the lower portion of the

spectrum) and receive in bandplan 1 of channel B (the upper portion). Consequently, the receiver at the

other end should receive in bandplan 1 of channel A (the lower portion) and transmit in bandplan 1 of

channel B (the upper portion).

Channel A

2416 2441.752422 24282400 MHz 2483.5 MHz

Bandplan 3

Bandplan 2

Bandplan 1

Channel B

2456 2462 2468

Bandplan 3

Bandplan 2

Bandplan 1

Channel A

57345725 5787 58505744 5753MHz MHz

Bandplan 3Bandplan 2Bandplan 1

Channel B

5814 5824 5833

Bandplan 3Bandplan 2Bandplan 1

Section 4, Network Turnup Procedure TRACER 4206 System Manual

The letter of the channel plan (A or B) must be different on both ends and the number of the bandplan (1, 2,

or 3) must be the same on both ends. The default bandplan configuration for the TRACER 4106/4206 is

bandplan 1.

The channel plan (A or B) of the unit may be changed in the field if necessary by rewiring the internal

diplexer. Contact ADTRAN Technical Support for more information on this procedure.

5. GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS

The following provides grounding instruction information from the Underwriters’ Laboratory UL 60950

Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment Including Electrical Business Equipment, of

December, 2000.

An equipment grounding conductor that is not smaller in size than the ungrounded branch-circuit supply

conductors is to be installed as part of the circuit that supplies the product or system. Bare, covered, or

insulated grounding conductors are acceptable. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding

conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green, or green with one or more yellow

stripes. The equipment grounding conductor is to be connected to ground at the service equipment.

The attachment-plug receptacles in the vicinity of the product or system are all to be of a grounding type,

and the equipment grounding conductors serving these receptacles are to be connected to earth ground at

the service equipment.

A supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be installed between the product or system and

ground that is in addition to the equipment grounding conductor in the power supply cord.

The supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall not be smaller in size than the ungrounded

branch-circuit supply conductors. The supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be connected

to the product at the terminal provided, and shall be connected to ground in a manner that will retain the

ground connection when the product is unplugged from the receptacle. The connection to ground of the

supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be in compliance with the rules for terminating

bonding jumpers at Part K or Article 250 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70. Termination of

the supplementary equipment grounding conductor is permitted to be made to building steel, to a metal

electrical raceway system, or to any grounded item that is permanently and reliably connected to the

electrical service equipment ground.

The supplemental grounding conductor shall be connected to the equipment using a number 8 ring terminal

and should be fastened to the grounding lug provided on the rear panel of the equipment. The ring terminal

should be installed using the appropriate crimping tool (AMP P/N 59250 T-EAD Crimping Tool or

equivalent.)

The supplemental equipment grounding terminal is located on the rear panel of the

TRACER 4106/4206.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 4, Network Turnup Procedure

6. SUPPLYING POWER TO THE UNIT

The TRACER 4106/4206 can operate from a supply between 21 and 60 VDC, with either polarity

referenced to ground. Power supplies should be able to provide up to 30 watts at the selected voltage. A

dual pin terminal plug accepts power at the rear panel of the unit, providing a + and - polarity reference

point. Adapters for this plug are available (P/N 1175043L2) and are furnished with the unit and optional

power supply (P/N 1280650L1).

7. MOUNTING OPTIONS

Install the TRACER 4106/4206 in a location that requires minimal antenna feedline length (the loss in this

cable directly affects overall system performance). The TRACER 4106/4206 is designed to be mounted in

a rack. If multiple units are installed in one location, one half inch of spacing is recommended above and

below the unit.

8. CONNECTING THE T1 INTERFACE

The physical T1 interface is provided using 4 RJ-48C jacks for transmit and receive. The provided straight

through T1 interface cables can be used to interface to any standard T1 DTE device.

• This unit shall be installed in accordance with Article 400 and 364.8 of the NEC NFPA

70 when installed outside of a Restricted Access Location (i.e., central office, behind a

locked door, service personnel only area).

• Power to the TRACER 4106/4206 DC system must be from a reliably grounded

21-60 VDC source which is electrically isolated from the AC source.

• The branch circuit overcurrent protection shall be a fuse or circuit breaker rated min-

imum 60 VDC, maximum 10A.

• A readily accessible disconnect device that is suitably approved and rated shall be in-

corporated in the field wiring.

Section 4, Network Turnup Procedure TRACER 4206 System Manual

USER INTERFACE GUIDE

CONTENTS

Navigating the Terminal Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Terminal Menu Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Navigating using the Keyboard Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Terminal Menu and System Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Password Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Menu Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

>TRACER System Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

>Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

>TRACER System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

>TRACER Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

>T1A Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

>T1A Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

>T1B Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

>T1B Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

>T1C Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

>T1C Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

>T1D Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

>T1D Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

FIGURES

Figure 1. Main Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Figure 2. TRACER System Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Figure 3. Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Figure 4. TRACER System Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Figure 5. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4106) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Figure 6. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4206) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Figure 7. TRACER Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Figure 8. T1A Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Figure 9. T1A Link Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Figure 10. T1A Line Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Figure 11. T1A Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Figure 12. T1B Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Figure 13. T1B Link Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Figure 14. T1B Line Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Figure 15. T1B Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Figure 16. T1C Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Figure 17. T1C Link Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Figure 18. T1C Line Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Figure 19. T1C Performance History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Figure 20. T1D Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Figure 21. T1D Link Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Figure 22. T1D Line Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Figure 23. T1D Performance History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

TABLES

Table 1. T1 Interface Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

1. NAVIGATING THE TERMINAL MENU

The TRACER 4106/4206 menu system can be accessed with a VT100 compatible terminal set to 9600 bits

per second, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity, connected to the RS-232 port located on the back of the

unit. Flow control on the serial interface should be configured to None for proper operation. Once a

terminal is connected, pressing <Ctrl + L> will refresh the current screen. If password access has been

enabled, the ENTER PASSWORD message will be displayed at the bottom of the TRACER 4106/4206 system

status menu.

Terminal Menu Window

The TRACER 4106/4206 uses 11 (eleven) menu pages and a single main menu page to access its many

features. The main menu page (see Figure 1) provides a link to all available configuration/status pages.

Figure 1. Main Menu Screen

TRACER 4106 and 4206 menu screens are functionally identical, and vary only by

displaying either “TRACER 4106” or “TRACER 4206” on various screens. Only the

TRACER 4206 menus are illustrated in this manual for ease of explanation.

All TRACER 4106/4206 systems are shipped factory default with password protection

disabled.

After connecting a VT100 terminal to the TRACER 4106/4206, press <Ctrl + L> to redraw

the current screen.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

Navigating using the Keyboard Keys

You can use various keystrokes to move through the terminal menu, to manage a terminal menu session,

and to configure the system.

Moving through the Menus

Session Management Keystrokes

2. TERMINAL MENU AND SYSTEM CONTROL

Password Protection

The TRACER 4106/4206 provides optional password protection of the terminal interface. If enabled, a

password prompt is presented at power-up, reboot, modem logout, or after ten minutes of inactivity on the

terminal. Password protection is enabled and a password is defined via the system configuration menu.

To do this... Press this key...

Move up to select items Up Arrow

Move down to select items Down Arrow

Edit a selected menu item Enter

Scroll through configuration parameters for a menu item Spacebar

Left/Right Arrows

P or N (Prev/Next)

Cancel an edit Escape

Return to Main Menu page M

To do this... Press this key...

Log into a session Spacebar

Refresh the screen

To save time, only the portion of the screen that has changed is refreshed.

All TRACER 4106/4206 systems are shipped factory default with password protection

disabled.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

3. MENU DESCRIPTIONS

The remainder of this section describes the TRACER 4106/4206 menus and submenus.

>TRACER SYSTEM STATUS

Figure 2 shows the TRACER System Status menu page. Status of major system components for both sides

of the TRACER link are displayed, but no configuration can be performed from this view.

Figure 2. TRACER System Status

The top of the TRACER System Status menu page displays the elapsed time the TRACER 4106/4206

system has been operational since the last power reset. Located directly beneath the ADTRAN Technical

Support phone number is a graphical indicator of the status of the TRACER 4106/4206 T1 and RF links

(as reported by both the local and remote units). The T1 labels will be reverse highlighted if any error

conditions exist on that T1 interface.

The status of the received radio link is indicated as RF UP or RF DOWN for each direction. The left portion

of the menu page reports the status of the local TRACER 4106/4206 (the system where the active terminal

is attached). The right portion of the screen reports the status of the remote system. If the RF link is down,

DATA NOT AVAILABLE will be displayed in place of the remote system status.

The menu structure of the TRACER 4106/4206 system is depicted below as follows:

> MENU PAGE

> MENU PAGE > MENU SELECTION

> MENU PAGE > MENU SELECTION > SUB-MENU

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

To enter the TRACER main menu, press <M>.

>TRACER SYSTEM STATUS > FREQUENCY PLAN

Displays the frequency plan (A or B) for the TRACER 4106/4206 unit. For an operational TRACER

4106/4206 system, the local and remote units should display opposite frequency plans.

>TRACER SYSTEM STATUS > SITE

Displays the site name configured from the TRACER System Configuration page.

>TRACER SYSTEM STATUS > RX POWER

Displays the approximate receiver levels (for both the local and remote units) using a series of symbols (#).

The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If the link is down and remote end data is

unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the symbols (#).

>TRACER SYSTEM STATUS > TX POWER

Displays the approximate transmitter levels (for both the local and remote units) using a series of symbols

(#). The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If the link is down and remote end data is

unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the symbols (#).

Press <0> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

TRACER System Status page.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>MAIN MENU

The TRACER 4106/4206 Main Menu page provides access to all other configuration/status pages.

Figure 3 shows the TRACER Main Menu page.

Figure 3. Main Menu

Use the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the available pages, or enter the number or letter of the

selected page (to highlight the menu page) and press <Enter>.

Press <M> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

TRACER Main Menu page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

Figure 4 shows the TRACER System Configuration menu page. System configuration parameters for both

the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units are available through this menu page.

Figure 4. TRACER System Configuration

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > RX POWER

Displays the approximate receiver levels (for both the local and remote units) using a series of symbols (#).

The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If the link is down and remote end data is

unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the symbols (#). This parameter is display only.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > TX POWER

Allows the transmitter levels (for both the local and remote units) to be adjusted. The current transmitter

level is displayed using a series of symbols (#). The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If

the link is down and remote end data is unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the

symbols (#).

Press <C> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

TRACER System Configuration menu page.

Reducing the transmitter power of the remote TRACER 4106/4206 could negatively impact

the TRACER RF link.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > SITE NAME

Enter up to 25 alphanumeric characters to be displayed for identification of the TRACER 4106/4206

system.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > RF BANDPLAN

Sets the bandplan for the TRACER 4106/4206. Each channel is divided into three bandplans (1, 2, or 3).

Both local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 must be configured with the same bandplan (1, 2, or 3) but

different channel plans (Plan A or Plan B). For example, the transmitter at one end of the link will transmit

in bandplan 1 of channel A (the lower portion of the spectrum) and receive in bandplan 1 of channel B (the

upper portion). Consequently, the receiver at the other end should receive in bandplan 1 of channel A (the

lower portion) and transmit in bandplan 1 of channel B (the upper portion). (Refer to Figure 5 and Figure

6.). The TRACER 4106/4206 comes factory programmed with RF bandplan set to Band 1.

Figure 5. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4106)

Figure 6. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4206)

Channel A

2416 2441.752422 24282400 MHz 2483.5 MHz

Bandplan 3

Bandplan 2

Bandplan 1

Channel B

2456 2462 2468

Bandplan 3

Bandplan 2

Bandplan 1

Channel A

57345725 5787 58505744 5753MHz MHz

Bandplan 3Bandplan 2Bandplan 1

Channel B

5814 5824 5833

Bandplan 3Bandplan 2Bandplan 1

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > MODEM CONTROL

Configures the modem control leads on the RS-232 port (terminal interface located on the rear panel of the

unit). Set MODEM CONTROL to ENABLED when connecting the unit to a modem (using a null modem

adapter). Setting MODEM CONTROL to DISABLED prevents the TRACER 4106/4206 from monitoring DCD

and enables data to be sent to the VT 100 continuously. MODEM CONTROL must be set to DISABLED when the

VT100 terminal is in use. The TRACER 4106/4206 comes factory programmed with MODEM CONTROL set

to DISABLED.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > MODEM CONNECTION (LOGOUT)

Activator to cause the TRACER 4106/4206 to de-assert Clear To Send (CTS) and DSR for a time greater

than 20 milliseconds. This signals the modem to disconnect the analog connection. Hangup-On-DTR-Drop

may need to be explicitly enabled on some modems. If PASSWORD PROTECTION is ENABLED, this menu also

causes the unit to close the current session and return to the TRACER System Status menu page and wait

for password input.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > PASSWORD ENABLE

Configures password protection for the VT100 terminal interface. Password protection for the TRACER

4106/4206 requires password input from the TRACER System Status menu page when connecting to the

unit. When configured for Password protection, the TRACER 4106/4206 closes any terminal session that

remains inactive for more than 10 minutes. The TRACER 4106/4206 comes factory programmed with

PASSWORD ENABLE set to DISABLED.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > PASSWORD

Sets the password for password protection of the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 terminal interface. Enter up

to 8 alphanumeric characters. The system password is case sensitive.

>TRACER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION > PERFORMANCE STATS (CLEAR)

Activator to reset all system error counters for the TRACER 4106/4206.

Press <Ctrl+Z> three times from the terminal interface to temporarily disable MODEM

CONTROL when the modem control leads are active.

The default password for the TRACER 4106/4206 is tracer.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>TRACER LINK PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Figure 7 shows the TRACER Link Performance History menu page. The TRACER Link Performance

History menu page displays detailed error statistics and received signal level for the RF link (from both the

local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units) in 15-minute increments.

Figure 7. TRACER Link Performance History

The minimum received signal level (MIN RSL) is represented as a numerical value from 0 to 255 with 0

corresponding to no receive power and 255 corresponding to an extremely strong signal. The minimum

received signal level is directly related to RSSI.

The error count and received signal level for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the

right side of the page. The left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.

Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15-minute totals and to view the

previous 8 hours.

Press <L> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

TRACER Link Performance History menu page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK

Figure 8 shows the T1A Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page. Real-time graphical representation

for the T1A link (using data from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units) is displayed on this

page. T1A operational configuration parameters and testing functions are configured from this menu.

Figure 8. T1A Status/Configuration/Loopback

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1A INTERFACE ALARMS

Displays any active alarms on the T1A link (reported from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units). These alarms include Red, Blue, Yellow, AIS, and bipolar violations (BPV). See Section 6,

Troubleshooting Guide, for more information on these alarms.

Press <1> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1A Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page.

Table 1. T1 Interface Alarms

RED Activates when a local facility failure occurs.

BPV Activates when the incoming T1 stream presents bipolar violations (BPVs).

AIS Activates when an incoming remote alarm is received from a connected T1 device. An AIS

signal is an unframed All One signal that replaces the normal traffic signal

YEL Activates when an incoming remote alarm is received from the T1 device indicating that a

failure has occurred in the received direction.

LOS Activates when no T1 signal is present from the connected T1 equipment. LOS is

activated after receiving 192 consecutive zeros.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1A LINE BUILD OUT

Configures the T1A for the appropriate line buildout, based on the distance to the T1A equipment.

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > ALARM REPORTING

Determines whether the TRACER 4106/4206 unit will report active alarms. If DISABLED, no alarms will be

displayed on this menu page. The ALARM REPORTING parameter is independently configured for the local

and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units. When DISABLED, the front panel LED alarms will also be disabled

(OFF).

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > SIGNALING

Configures the framing format for the T1A link for both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units.

The TRACER 4106/4206 transports T1A data across the link (as long as the T1A signal is properly timed).

Configure the framing format (using the SIGNALING menu) to enable the TRACER 4106/4206 to monitor

incoming framing error events and indicate problems with the attached metallic service. The TRACER

4106/4206 supports both ESF and D4 framing formats.

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LINE CODE

Sets the line coding for the T1A link. The TRACER 4106/4206 supports B8ZS and AMI line coding.

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE

Controls the loop status of the T1A link. Activates/deactivates loopback conditions for testing purposes.

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > NORMAL

The T1A link is in normal data transport mode - there are no active loopbacks.

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINK

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1A framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 9). Use

the LINK loopback to test data path integrity from one unit across the wireless link.

Figure 9. T1A Link Loopback

>T1A STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINE

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1A framer towards the locally connected T1A

equipment (see Figure 10). Use the LINE loopback to test data path integrity from the TRACER 4106/4206

unit to the T1A equipment.

Figure 10. T1A Line Loopback

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>T1A PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Figure 11 shows the T1A Performance History menu page. The T1A Performance History menu page

displays detailed error statistics for the T1A link (from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units) in 15-minute increments.

Figure 11. T1A Link Performance History

T1A performance data is presented as Errored Seconds (ES) and Severely Errored Seconds (SES) on the

T1A link. The following events qualify as an ES–AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, a single BPV or

excessive zero event, or a single parity bit. An SES is caused by an AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, or

excessive Bipolar Violations (BPVs) or framed Parity Bit errors causing a line Bit Error Rate (BER) of

10-6.

The error count for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the right side of the page. The

left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.

Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15-minute totals and to view the

previous 8 hours.

Press <2> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1A Link Performance History menu page.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK

Figure 12 shows the T1B Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page. Real-time graphical representation

for the T1B link (using data from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units) is displayed on this

page. T1B operational configuration parameters and testing functions are configured from this menu.

Figure 12. T1B Status/Configuration/Loopback

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1B INTERFACE ALARMS

Displays active alarms on the T1B link reported from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units.

These alarms include Red, Blue, Yellow, AIS, and bipolar violations (BPV). See Tabl e 1 on page 50 for

more information on these alarms.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1B LINE BUILD OUT

Configures the T1B for the appropriate line buildout, based on the distance to the T1B equipment.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > ALARM REPORTING

Determines whether the TRACER 4106/4206 unit will report active alarms. If DISABLED, no alarms will

be displayed on this menu page. The Alarm Reporting parameter is independently configured for local and

remote TRACER 4106/4206 units. When DISABLED, the front panel LED alarms will also be disabled (off).

Press <3> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1B Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > SIGNALING

Configure the framing format for the T1B link for both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units.

The TRACER 4106/4206 transports T1B data across the link (as long as the T1B signal is properly timed).

Configure the framing format (using the SIGNALING menu) to enable the TRACER 4106/4206 to monitor

the incoming framing error events and indicate problems with the attached metallic service. The TRACER

4106/4206 supports both ESF and D4 framing formats.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LINE CODE

Sets the line coding for the T1B link. The TRACER 4106/4206 supports B8ZS and AMI line coding.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE

Controls the loop status of the T1B link. Activates/deactivates loopback conditions for testing purposes.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK >LOOP/NORMAL STATE > NORMAL

The T1B link is in normal data transport mode - there are no active loopbacks.

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK >LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINK

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1B framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 13).

Use the LINK loopback to test data path integrity from one unit across the wireless link.

Figure 13. T1B Link Loopback

>T1B STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK >LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINE

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1B framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 14).

Use the LINE loopback to test data path integrity from the TRACER 4106/4206 unit to the T1 equipment.

Figure 14. T1B Line Loopback

>T1B PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Figure 15 shows the T1B Performance History menu page. The T1B Performance History menu page

displays detailed error statistics for the T1B link (from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units) in 15 minute increments.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

Figure 15. T1B Link Performance History

T1B performance data is presented as Errored Seconds (ES) and Severely Errored Seconds (SES) on the

T1B link. The following events qualify as an ES–AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, a single BPV or

excessive zero event, or a single parity bit. An SES is caused by an AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, or

excessive Bipolar Violations (BPVs) or framed Parity Bit errors causing a line Bit Error Rate (BER) of

10-6.

The error count for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the right side of the page. The

left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK

Figure 16 shows the T1C Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page. Real-time graphical representation

for the T1C link using data from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units) is displayed on this

page. T1C operational configuration parameters and testing functions are configured from this menu.

Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15 minute totals and to view the

previous 8 hours.

Press <4> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1B Link Performance History page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

Figure 16. T1C Status/Configuration/Loopback

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1C INTERFACE ALARMS

Displays and active alarms on the T1C link reported from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units. These alarms include Red, Blue, Yellow, AIS, and bipolar violations (BPV). See Table 1 on page

50, for more information on these alarms.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1C LINE BUILD OUT

Configures the T1C for the appropriate line buildout, based on the distance to the T1C equipment.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > ALARM REPORTING

Determines whether the TRACER 4106/4206 unit will report active alarms. If DISABLED, no alarms will

be displayed on this menu page. The Alarm Reporting parameter is independently configured for local and

remote TRACER 4106/4206 units. When DISABLED, the front panel LED alarms will also be disabled (off).

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > SIGNALING

Configure the framing format for the T1C link for both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units.

The TRACER 4106/4206 transports T1C data across the link (as long as the T1C signal is properly timed).

Configure the framing format (using the SIGNALING menu) to enable the TRACER 4106/4206 to monitor

the incoming framing error events and indicate problems with the attached metallic service. The TRACER

4106/4206 supports both ESF and D4 framing formats.

Press <5> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1C Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LINE CODE

Sets the line coding for the T1C link. The TRACER 4106/4206 supports B8ZS and AMI line coding.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE

Controls the loop status of the T1C link. Activates/deactivates loopback conditions for testing purposes.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > NORMAL

The T1C link is in normal data transport mode - there are no active loopbacks.

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINK

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1C framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 17).

Use the LINK loopback to test data path integrity from one unit across the wireless link.

Figure 17. T1C Link Loopback

>T1C STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINE

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1C framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 18).

Use the LINE loopback to test data path integrity from the TRACER 4106/4206 unit to the T1 equipment.

Figure 18. T1C Line Loopback

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>T1C PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Figure 19 shows the T1C Performance History menu page. The T1C Performance History menu page

displays detailed error statistics for the T1C link (from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units) in 15 minute increments.

Figure 19. T1C Performance History

T1C performance data is presented as Errored Seconds (ES) and Severely Errored Seconds (SES) on the

T1C link. The following events qualify as an ES–AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, a single BPV or

excessive zero event, or a single parity bit. An SES is caused by an AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, or

excessive Bipolar Violations (BPVs) or framed Parity Bit errors causing a line Bit Error Rate (BER) of

10-6.

The error count for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the right side of the page. The

left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.

Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15 minute totals and to view the

previous 8 hours.

Press <6> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1C Link Performance History page.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK

Figure 20 shows the T1D Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page. Real-time graphical representation

for the T1D link (using data from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units) is displayed on this

page. T1D operational configuration parameters and testing functions are configured from this menu.

Figure 20. T1D Status/Configuration/Loopback

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1D INTERFACE ALARMS

Displays and active alarms on the T1D link reported from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units. These alarms include Red, Blue, Yellow, AIS, and bipolar violations (BPV). See Table 1 on page

50, for more information on these alarms.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > T1D LINE BUILD OUT

Configures the T1D for the appropriate line buildout, based on the distance to the T1D equipment.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > ALARM REPORTING

Determines whether the TRACER 4106/4206 unit will report active alarms. If DISABLED, no alarms will

be displayed on this menu page. The Alarm Reporting parameter is independently configured for local and

remote TRACER 4106/4206 units. When DISABLED, the front panel LED alarms will also be disabled (off).

Press <7> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1D Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > SIGNALING

Configure the framing format for the T1D link for both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206 units.

The TRACER 4106/4206 transports T1D data across the link (as long as the T1D signal is properly timed).

Configure the framing format (using the SIGNALING menu) to enable the TRACER 4106/4206 to monitor

the incoming framing error events and indicate problems with the attached metallic service. The TRACER

4106/4206 supports both ESF and D4 framing formats.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LINE CODE

Sets the line coding for the T1D link. The TRACER 4106/4206 supports B8ZS and AMI line coding.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE

Controls the loop status of the T1D link. Activates/deactivates loopback conditions for testing purposes.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > NORMAL

The T1D link is in normal data transport mode - there are no active loopbacks.

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINK

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1D framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 21).

Use the LINK loopback to test data path integrity from one unit across the wireless link.

Figure 21. T1D Link Loopback

>T1D STATUS/CONFIGURATION/LOOPBACK > LOOP/NORMAL STATE > LINE

Activates a loopback at the TRACER 4106/4206 T1D framer towards the wireless link (see Figure 22).

Use the LINE loopback to test data path integrity from the TRACER 4106/4206 unit to the T1 equipment.

Figure 22. T1D Line Loopback

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 5, User Interface Guide

>T1D PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Figure 23 shows the T1D Performance History menu page. The T1D Performance History menu page

displays detailed error statistics for the T1D link (from both the local and remote TRACER 4106/4206

units) in 15 minute increments.

Figure 23. T1D Performance History

T1D performance data is presented as Errored Seconds (ES) and Severely Errored Seconds (SES) on the

T1D link. The following events qualify as an ES–AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, a single BPV or

excessive zero event, or a single parity bit. An SES is caused by an AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, or

excessive Bipolar Violations (BPVs) or framed Parity Bit errors causing a line Bit Error Rate (BER) of

10-6.

The error count for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the right side of the page. The

left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.

Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15 minute totals and to view the

previous 8 hours.

Press <8> from any menu in the TRACER 4106/4206 VT100 menu structure to access the

T1D Link Performance History page.

Section 5, User Interface Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

CONTENTS

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

PWR LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

TST LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

RF DOWN LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

RF LOW LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

T1 Alarm LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

RF Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Installing/Troubleshooting the TRACER Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Installing/Configuring T1 Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Section 6, Troubleshooting Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

1. OVERVIEW

This troubleshooting guide provides recommended actions for various conditions of the TRACER

4106/4206 system. The status LEDs (located on the front panel of the unit) provide information to help

determine the necessary troubleshooting action. Recommended actions for resolving possible status LED

indicators are contained in this guide.

2. LED INDICATORS

PWR LED

If the PWR LED is not ON and solid green, it is an indicator that the TRACER 4106/4206 is not receiving

adequate DC power.

Recommended Actions:

1. Verify that the power source is delivering between 21 and 60 VDC.

2. Check the polarity of the power connection (referenced to ground) of both the TRACER 4106/4206 unit

and the power source.

3. Check the internal fuse. The fuse is accessed from the rear panel of the unit. If this fuse is open,

replace with a 1Amp, 250 Volt (2-inch) slow-blo fuse.

TST LED

The TST will remain ON (solid Amber) during power-up to indicate a self-test is in progress. If the TST

LED is blinking or remains ON after 10 seconds, this indicates that the TRACER 4106/4206 unit has failed

self-test. This is an internal failure, and ADTRAN technical support should be contacted.

RF DOWN LED

If the RF DOWN LED is ON (solid Red), it is an indicator that there is a problem with the RF link to the

TRACER 4106/4206.

Recommended Actions:

1. Check the RF coaxial cable connection.

2. Measure the RSSI voltage. If the signal is acceptable (> 2.0 VDC at RSSI test point), go to Step 6.

3. Verify that one end of the link is configured as Plan A and the other end is Plan B and that both ends

have the same Band Plan Number (ex. A1 and B1).

4. Verify that the antenna polarization is the same at both ends of the RF signal transmit and receive

path.

5. Verify the RF signal path is clear.

6. Check for possible interference at both ends of the link. If necessary, change polarization and/or Band

Plans at both ends.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 6, Troubleshooting Guide

RF LOW LED

If the RF LOW LED is ON (solid Red), it is an indicator that the received signal is within 10 dB

(approximately) of the minimum operable signal. This condition is typically indicative of a path problem.

Recommended Actions:

1. Verify the far-end transmitter power setting is the value that the link planning budget allows.

2. Check all coaxial cable connectors for solid connections. Check for water and corrosion around any of

the connectors. If water is apparent in the coax connectors, replace the coax.

3. Verify the RF signal path by verifying the antenna alignment.

4. Check the integrity of the cable plant.

5. Check the integrity of lightning arrestors.

T1 Alarm LEDs

If the ALARM LED is ON (solid red), it is an indication that the TRACER 4106/4206 is detecting an active

T1 alarm. To identify the T1 interface in alarm and the specific alarm present, display the T1(x) Status

Screens and check the T1(X) INTERFACE ALARMS field.

Recommended Actions:

1. Display the T1(X) Status Screen and Check the T1(X) Interface Alarm field to identify the active alarm.

2. Follow the steps below for the appropriate alarm.

LOS Alarm (Red Alarm)

LOS ALARM is an indication that the TRACER 4106/4206 may be unable to detect a viable T1 received

signal from the connected T1 equipment. This error may be due to a degraded signal or no signal, or is

may be caused by improper framing.

Recommended Actions:

1. Verify that the T1 cable is connected to the T1 interface on the TRACER 4106/4206.

2. Verify the connections at the opposite end of the T1 cable.

3. Verify that the framing mode (D4 or ESF) is the same for both the TRACER 4106/4206 and the T1

equipment.

Yellow Alarm

A Yellow Alarm is generated by the attached equipment. When the attached equipment’s T1 interface

is in Red Alarm, a Yellow Alarm will be generated at the TRACER 4106/4206 unit.

Recommended Actions:

1. Follow the troubleshooting steps for Red Alarm, but do so at the attached equipment.

Section 6, Troubleshooting Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

Blue Alarm

A remote alarm (alarm indication signal or AIS) is generated by the attached equipment. The root

cause must be determined at the attached equipment. A typical cause of a blue alarm is a lack of input

to a CSU.

Recommended Actions:

1. Verify the input to any attached data equipment.

BPV

Bipolar violations (BPVs) indicate an improper configuration or faulty wiring.

Recommended Actions:

1. Verify the TRACER 4106/4206 unit and the attached equipment are configured for the same line

coding (B8ZS or AMI).

2. Verify the cable connections for the T1 interface are solid.

3. RF ERRORS

RF errors can range anywhere from a non-viable microwave path to loose RF connectors.

Non-viable path conditions could be caused by physical obstructions such as buildings, moutainous terrain,

trees, etc., as well as other physical limitations such as excessive path distances and in-band RF

interference. These types of errors are remedied by performing a detailed line-of-sight microwave path

study to determine whether or not a microwave link is feasible for the terrain and environment under

consideration.

If after performing a microwave path study the system is still not operational, ensure that the antennas are

properly aligned. Note that alignment must be achieved in both elevation and azimuth for optimal link

performance. The TRACER 4106/4206 can be used to aid in antenna alignment by looking at the RSSI

submenu. Optimal antenna alignment will correspond to the maximum number of RSSI bars on the

TRACER 4106/4206 terminal display.

4. STEP-BY-STEP TROUBLESHOOTING

The logical troubleshooting flow presented in this section can be used to set up your TRACER 4106/4206

system, and also to diagnose a previously installed system. Please contact ADTRAN Technical support at

any stage during installation and/or troubleshooting if you require assistance.

5. INSTALLING/TROUBLESHOOTING THE TRACER HARDWARE

1. Perform a detailed path profile for each TRACER 4106/4206 microwave link. A thorough path

study can be used to estimate signal power budgets, fade margins at each receiver, identity

potential line-of-site obstacles, properly size antenna dishes, and determine minimum antenna

dish heights above the earth.

2. Setup all of the TRACER hardware on a work bench. It is also recommended that the actual

cables to be used in the permanent installation be used in the work bench setup. A rigorous work

bench “simulation” of the link will help you alleviate and avoid time-consuming errors.

TRACER 4206 System Manual Section 6, Troubleshooting Guide

3. Examine the PLAN A and PLAN B lights on the front panel of each unit. These LEDs indicate the

frequency plan for each TRACER 4106/4206 unit. The frequency plan (PLAN A, PLAN B) LED

should be the opposite on both TRACER 4106/4206 units.

4. Attach the RF coaxial cables to be used in the permanent installation to the N-type connectors on

the base of the TRACER 4106/4206 unit. Attach the other end of the coaxial cable(s) to an RF

power meter or spectrum analyzer if either is available. The power measured by the

meter/analyzer will be the RF power available at the input of the antenna. The TRACER

4106/4206 unit is programmed at the factory to output approximately 100 mW (20 dBm) of RF

power. The actual power level measured by the meter/analyzer will be less than 100 mW due to

RF losses through the coaxial cable, and is a function of cable type and length of cable being

used. In any event, the power level at the output of the coaxial cable should be a significant

fraction of 100 mW. A power meter/analyzer reading that is not on the order of at least

tens-of-milliwatts could be an indication of any combination of either unsuitable RF, faulty, or

unreasonably long coaxial cable.

5. Resolve all RF coaxial cabling errors before proceeding.

6. Attach the RF coaxial cables to a high-quality attenuator, if possible. If you do not have an

attenuator, attach the coaxial cables to the antennas to be used in the permanent installation. If the

installation antennas are not available, small, inexpensive dipole or patch antennas can be used

for verification purposes. If an adjustable attenuator is being used, dial in the amount of

attenuation that corresponds to the path loss value expected for the microwave link in which the

TRACER hardware will be installed. The path loss value can be calculated from a knowledge of

the path length, or provided by a path study. Remember to subtract both antenna gain values from

the attenuator level if these values have not already be accounted for.

7. After setting up the RF pieces, examine the RF DOWN LED on the front panel of each TRACER

4106/4206 unit. If the RF DOWN LED is illuminated (red), the corresponding TRACER 4106/4206

is not receiving a suitable RF signal from the other TRACER 4106/4206 unit. In this case, the

receiving TRACER 4106/4206 is either receiving a very weak signal, or no signal at all. If the RF

DOWN LED is not illuminated, then the TRACER 4106/4206 units are receiving a suitable RF

signal. Suitable RF power levels for low error rate communication will range from -30 dBm to -100

dBm for the 4106 and -30 dBm to -96 dBm for the 4206 measured at the N-type connector input on

the TRACER unit.

8. Resolve any signal level issues before proceeding.

9. Examine the RF LOW LED on the front panel of each TRACER 4106/4206. If this LED is

illuminated, then the TRACER 4106/4206 is receiving a relatively weak signal, however if the RF

DOWN LED is not illuminated, the received signal is being suitably processed by the TRACER

system. If you are receiving a weak signal (RF LOW is ON), please verify that the weak signal is

not being caused by a faulty cable, an insufficiently tightened cable, or some other

installation-related problem. Also, make sure an unreasonably large attenuation value has not

been selected if you are using an attenuator on a work bench setup.

Use the tables in Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics, of this manual to select the

proper free-space attenuation value (in dB) based on the estimated length of the microwave path.

Remember to subtract out both antenna gains (local and remote) from the attenuator setting.

10. Command a link loopback in one TRACER 4106/4206 unit and run pattern from the connected T1

equipment. This will verify data path between the T1 equipment and the TRACER 4106/4206 unit.

Section 6, Troubleshooting Guide TRACER 4206 System Manual

Installing/Configuring T1 Hardware

1. If possible, attach any or all of the intended T1 hardware to the TRACER 4106/4206 units using

the same work bench setup. This step offers the perfect opportunity to configure your T1 hardware

for proper functioning with the TRACER hardware.

2. Resolve any remaining T1 equipment-to-TRACER 4106/4206 configuration issues before field

installation, if possible. This will significantly reduce the probability of unsuccessful field

installation.

External pattern generators are required to test data path integrity. A T1 BERT tester is

suggested.

ADTRAN TRC4106 TRACER 4106 User Manual 612804206L1 1B

Adtran TRACER 4106 612804206L1 1B

Manual

Navigation menu

Namespaces

Views

Navigation