HANDBOOK ON MICROWAVES

BY

MOBISERVE O & M DEPARTMENT LAHORE

CONTENTS
1. Microwave History 2. Common Terms Used In Microwaves 3. How To Deal With RSL 4. Most Common Alarms Of Microwaves 5. Startex 6. NEC 7. Spectrum 8. PCOM 9. Alcatel 10.DART 4 11 13 15 15 18 25 44 49 64

SPECIAL THANKS

THIS MANUAL WOULD NEVER BEEN COMPILED WITHOUT SPECIAL INTEREST AND EFFORTS OF OUR TECHNICAL SUPPORT MANAGER

M. EL ZEINY FOR PROVIDING US ALL THE GUIDANCE,

NECESSARY HELPING MATERIAL AND MOST OFALL IN TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR 24/7.

MICROWAVE THEORY

Microwaves are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths longer than those of Terahertz (THz) wavelengths, but relatively short for radio waves. Microwaves have wavelengths approximately in the range of 30 cm (frequency = 1 GHz) to 1 mm (300 GHz). However, the boundaries between far infrared light, terahertz radiation, microwaves, and ultra-high-frequency radio waves are fairly arbitrary and are used variously between different fields of study. The term microwave generally refers to "alternating current signals with frequencies between 300 MHz (3 x 108 Hz) and 300 GHz (3 x 1011 Hz).This range of wavelengths has led many to question the naming convention used for microwaves. The microwave range includes ultra-high frequency (UHF) (0.3-3 GHz), super high frequency (SHF) (3-30 GHz), and extremely high frequency (EHF) (30300 GHz) signals. Above 300 GHz, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by Earth's atmosphere is so great that it is effectively opaque, until the atmosphere becomes transparent again in the so-called infrared and optical window frequency ranges. Generation Microwaves can be generated by a variety of means, generally divided into two categories: 1. Solid state devices 2. vacuum-tube based devices. Solid state microwave devices are based on semiconductors such as silicon or gallium arsenide, and include field-effect transistors (FETs), bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), Gunn diodes, and IMPATT diodes. Specialized versions of

standard transistors have been developed for higher speed, which are commonly used in microwave applications. Microwave variantions of BJTs include the heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT), and microwave variants of FETs include the MESFET, the HEMT (also known as HFET), and LDMOS transistor. Microwaves can be generated and processed using integrated circuits, which are often called MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits). They are usually manufactured using gallium arsenide (GaAs) wafers, though silicon germanium (SiGe) and heavy-dope silicon are increasingly used. Vacuum tube based devices operate on the ballistic motion of electrons in a vacuum under the influence of controlling electric or magnetic fields, and include the magnetron, klystron, traveling wave tube (TWT), and gyrotron. These devices work in the density modulated mode, rather than the current modulated mode. This means that they work on the basis of clumps of electrons flying ballistically through them, rather than using a continuous stream.

Uses

Microwaves are used in broadcasting transmissions because microwaves pass easily through the earth's atmosphere with less interference than longer wavelengths. There is also much more bandwidth in the microwave spectrum than in the rest of the radio spectrum. Typically, microwaves are used in television news to transmit a signal from a remote location to a television station from a specially equipped van. Radar also uses microwave radiation to detect the range, speed, and other characteristics of remote objects. Wireless LAN protocols, such as Bluetooth and the IEEE 802.11g and b specifications, also use microwaves in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, although 802.11a uses an ISM band in the 5 GHz range. Licensed long-range (up to about 25 km) Wireless Internet Access services can be found in many countries (but not the USA) in the 3.54.0 GHz range. Metropolitan Area Networks - MAN protocols, such as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) based in the IEEE 802.16 specification.

The IEEE 802.16 specification was designed to operate between 2 to 11 GHz. The commercial implementations are in the 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz ranges.

Wide Area Mobile Broadband Wireless Access - MBWA protocols based on standards specifications such as ATIS/ANSI HC-SDMA (e.g. iBurst) are designed to operate between 1.6 and 2.3 GHz to give mobility and in-building penetration characteristics similar to mobile phones but with vastly greater spectral efficiency. Cable TV and Internet access on coax cable as well as broadcast television use some of the lower microwave frequencies. Some mobile phone networks, like GSM, also use the lower microwave frequencies. Many semiconductor processing techniques use microwaves to generate plasma for such purposes as reactive ion etching and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Microwaves can be used to transmit power over long distances, and post-World War II research was done to examine possibilities. NASA worked in the 1970s and early 1980s to research the possibilities of using Solar power satellite (SPS) systems with large solar arrays that would beam power down to the Earth's surface via microwaves. A maser is a device similar to a laser, except that it works at microwave frequencies.

Microwave frequency bands

The microwave spectrum is usually defined as electromagnetic energy ranging from approximately 1 GHz to 1000 GHz in frequency, but older usage includes lower frequencies. Most common applications are within the 1 to 40 GHz range. Microwave Frequency Bands as defined by the Radio Society of Great Britain in the table below:

Radio frequency spectrum

Band name Abbr ITU band Frequency Wavelength < 3 Hz > 100,000 km 330 Hz 100,000 km 10,000 km 30300 Hz 10,000 km 1000 km 3003000 Hz 1000 km 100 km 330 kHz 100 km 10 km 30300 kHz 10 km 1 km 3003000 kHz 1 km 100 m 330 MHz 100 m 10 m 30300 MHz 10 m 1 m Example uses

Extremely low frequency Super low frequency Ultra low frequency Very low frequency Low frequency Medium frequency High frequency Very high frequency

ELF SLF ULF VLF LF MF HF VHF

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Communication with submarines Communication with submarines Communication within mines Submarine communication, avalanche beacons, wireless heart rate monitors Navigation, time signals, AM Longwave broadcasting AM (Medium-wave) broadcasts Shortwave broadcasts and amateur radio FM and television broadcasts Television broadcasts, mobile phones, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, ground-to-air and air-to-air communications, and Two-Way Radios such as FRS and GMRS Radios Microwave devices, wireless LAN, most modern Radars Radio astronomy, high-speed microwave radio relay Night vision

Ultra high frequency

UHF

3003000 MHz 1 m 100 mm

Super high SHF 10 frequency Extremely high EHF 11 frequency Super duper high SDHF 12 frequency

330 GHz 100 mm 10 mm 30300 GHz 10 mm 1 mm Above 300 GHz < 1 mm

Notes

The ELF, SLF, ULF, and VLF bands overlap the AF (audio frequency) spectrum, which is approximately 2020,000 Hz. However, sounds are transmitted by atmospheric compression and expansion, and not by electromagnetic energy. The SHF and EHF bands are often considered to be not part of the radio spectrum and form their own microwave spectrum. Another note of merit is that all objects have their own radio frequency, no matter how minute.

Named frequency bands

Broadcast Frequencies:

AM Radio = 535kHz - 1605kHz (MF) TV Band I (Channels 2 - 6) = 54MHz - 88MHz (VHF) FM Radio Band II = 88MHz - 108MHz (VHF) TV Band III (Channels 7 - 13) = 174MHz - 216MHz (VHF) TV Bands IV & V (Channels 14 - 69) = 470MHz - 806MHz (UHF)

Amateur radio frequencies The range of allowed frequencies vary between countries. These are just some of the more common bands. In the article about amateur radio is another list. Band Frequency range 160 m 1.8 to 2.0 MHz 80 m 3.5 to 4.0 MHz 60 m 5.3 to 5.4 MHz 40 m 7 to 7.3 MHz 30 m 10.1 to 10.15 MHz 20 m 14 to 14.35 MHz 15 m 21 to 21.45 MHz 12 m 24.89 to 24.99 MHz 10 m 28.0 to 29.7 MHz 6 m 50 to 54 MHz 2 m 144 to 148 MHz 70 cm 430 to 440 MHz 23 cm 1240 to 1300 MHz

IEEE US
Band HF band Frequency range 3 to 30 MHz High Frequency Very High Frequency Ultra High Frequency Frequencies from 216 to 450 MHz were sometimes UHF band 300 to 1000 MHz called P-band: Previous, since early British Radar used this band but later switched to higher frequencies. L band S band C band X band Ku band K band Ka band V band W band F band D band 1 to 2 GHz 2 to 4 GHz 4 to 8 GHz 8 to 12 GHz 12 to 18 GHz 18 to 26 GHz 26 to 40 GHz 40 to 75 GHz 75 to 111 GHz 90 to 140 GHz 110 to 170 GHz W follows V in the alphabet Long wave Short wave Compromise between S and X Used in WW II for fire control, X for cross (as in crosshair) Kurz-under German Kurz (short) Kurz-above Origin of name

VHF band 30 to 300 MHz

The above table reflects Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) usage. The term P band is sometimes used for Ku Band.

Radio spectrum

ELF SLF 3 Hz 30 Hz 30 Hz

ULF

VLF

LF 30 kHz 300 kHz

MF 300 kHz 3 MHz

HF 3 MHz 30 MHz

VHF 30 MHz 300 MHz

UHF

SHF

EHF

300 3 kHz Hz

300 30 3 GHz MHz GHz 3 GHz 30 GHz 300 GHz

300 30 3 kHz Hz kHz

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

(Sorted by wavelength, short to long)

Gamma ray | X-ray | Ultraviolet | Visible spectrum | Infrared | Terahertz radiation | Microwave | Radio waves Visible (optical) spectrum: Microwave spectrum: Radio spectrum: Wavelength designations: Violet | Blue | Green | Yellow | Orange | Red W band | V band | K band: Ka band, Ku band | X band | C band | S band | L band EHF | SHF | UHF | VHF | HF | MF | LF | VLF | ULF | SLF | ELF Microwave | Shortwave | Mediumwave | Longwave

COMMON TERMS USED IN MICROWAVE

BER: Short for bit error rate. In a digital transmission, BER is the percentage of bits with errors divided by the total number of bits that have been transmitted, received or processed over a given time period. The rate is typically expressed as 10 to the negative power. For example, four erroneous bits out of 100,000 bits transmitted would be expressed as 4 x 10-5, or the expression 3 x 10-6 would indicate that three bits were in error out of 1,000,000 transmitted. BER is the digital equivalent to signal-to-noise ratio in an analog system.
RSL: Short for receive signal level. In case of microwave transmission power received from far end in dbm. Receive power will always be in negative (-40 dbm) value while transmitted power will always be in positive value (+23 dbm). When the RSL of a microwave dropped to 60 dbm, the link is so weak that BER came into the link through which link began to fluctuate. When RSL dropped from 85dbm there will be no communication between the two ends. TX Power: It is the power, which is transmitted from one end of microwave to the other. E1: Microwave data is transmitted in the forms of E1. E1 is equal to 2.048MB. IO Board: IO board is the hardware device on which E1s are terminated. IDU: Indoor unit of the microwave link. ODU: Outdoor unit of the microwave link.

Attenuation: Attenuation is the reduction in amplitude and intensity of a signal with respect to distance traveled through a medium. Attenuation can also be understood to be the opposite of amplification. Attenuation is an important property in fibre optics and ultrasound applications because of its importance in determining signal strength as a function of distance. Attenuation is usually measured in units of decibels per centimetre of medium (dB/cm) Channel: Channel in communications (sometimes called communications channel), refers to the medium used to convey information from a sender (or transmitter) to a receiver. Polarity: Normally this term is used for the dish we used for microwave transmission. This indicates the direction of the propagation of waves. There are two types of polarities 1. Horizontal 2. Vertical Difference between the two polarities is just the shape of the propagating wave. Bandwidth: The "bandwidth" of an antenna is the range of frequencies over which it is effective, usually centered around the resonant frequency. The bandwidth of an antenna may be increased by several techniques, including using thicker wires, replacing wires with cages to simulate a thicker wire, tapering antenna components (like in a feed horn), and combining multiple antennas into a single assembly and allowing the natural impedance to select the correct antenna. Small antennas are usually preferred for convenience, but there is a fundamental limit relating bandwidth, size and efficiency.

Redundancy: It means whether your microwave link has a hot standby support or standalone. PDH: Plasocronus Digital hierarchy. It supports upto 16E1. SDH: Synchronous digital hierarchy. It is a technique used in microwave transmission to transmit data. STM 1: Synchronous transport module: The STM-1 (Synchronous Transmission Module) is the basic rate of transmission of the SDH ITU-T fiber optic network transmission standard. It has a bit rate of 155.52 Mbit/s

HOW TO DEAL WITH RSL ISSUES

First of all I would like to tell you that there is no hard and fast rule for solving the RSL issues. Only rule is experience and hard work. Only these two things will lead you to solve the problems. Secondly there is no short cut of hard work and success; only the road of hard work will take you to success. Following are the few steps, which will help you in solving RSL problems. When you reached on site always check loop from BSC. Check the microwave link and its alarms. Check the RSL of the link. Always keep the connectivity plan with you when you move to solve RSL problems. Check the T43 card by LED that whether its trans is OK or not if on trans your LED glows it means its transmission is OK otherwise there may be a fault in T43. Remove the cables from the T 43 and gave loop towards the BSC. If you didnt get the loop gave loop from the IDU. From this point if you got the loop then there may be a problem in the cable. If you didnt get the loop move to the far end but before moving to the far end be sure that there is no problem in the IDU, ODU, RSL of the link, CONNECTORS and history. Check on which E1 of the IDU this site is running. When you reached on the far end, loop towards the BSC from the same channel on which the site is running. (From here you have to give loop from the pair not from the IDU). If you get the loop, there may be a possibility that E1 of the IDU is faulty so change the E1 from both ends. If you didnt get the loop then loop from the IDU from which the pair is coming to the same E1 from which that site is running. This scenario will repeat till you reached to the BSC. Also you have to check the links in between your site and BSC by using your laptop, whether there is problem in the link or not. If you got loop some where in between your site and BSC, change the channel to solve the problem. But before changing the channel, do confirm that there is no problem in the equipment or in the link. While changing IDUs do check the configuration before changing because you have to configure the new IDU same as the old one was configured. While changing ODUs ALWAYS check the polarity. Always take proper cables, laptop, tool kit, spares and most of all LED with you while going for RSL. If the problem persists give hard reboot to the MSI card of the site. If you are not getting trans on the T 43 of the BTS then there may be a problem in the NIU incase of HM1 cabinet and Controller incase of HM 2 cabinet. Most of the time by giving hard reset to the BTS it can go into the busy state.

Always perform loop break test on the site. If there is huge difference of RSL value between two ends then they can be an issue of interference. To check interference switch off the IDU from far end and check the RSL from near end. Then switch off the IDU from near end, go to the far end and check the RSL value. If the value is greater than 85 dbm then it is confirmed that there is interference. Normally when you switch off the IDU, on the far end you will get RSL lower than 94 dbm. If there is interference you have to change the frequency plan confirming from Mobilink. After changing the frequency if the problem persist then you have to change the band of the ODU. If your RSL is lower than 60 dbm then convert the transmitting power from ATPC to MTPC and remove all the attenuation. This can help in improving the RSL. If by removing the attenuation your RSL didnt improve and there is no interference then your dishes are realigned. You need to made alignment of the dishes. Loose connectors may cause ber alarm. So check your connectors incase of ber.

MOST COMMON ALARMS OF MICROWAVES

STRATEX (XP4)
Pictures of IDU and ODU of Startex is as under: Indoor unit

Outdoor Unit

Software:-Link View Card Used:-MMI/ELTEC Password:- 1234 Software Preview

1. It is user friendly software. 2. When we logon to Link View, the local main page shows the RSL level and BER (Bit Error Rate) of local and remote ends. 3. It also shows the Tx and Rx frequencies of local and remote ends and the Tx power of both ends. 4. We can change the Tx and Rx frequencies and also the Tx power after logging into the software by entering the password. 5. In the alarm menu, it is showing different alarms 6. In the tributary section, we can enable or disable any channel of the link. 7. In the protection menu, we can set Auto Mode or Manual Mode for the link. 8. RSL = -40 .. (It is the ideal one) 9. If RSL is not good then there might be receive problem in the ODU so we should change ODU or there may be problem in the transmitter of the far-end then we should increase the power. If, If, RSL = -70 dbm (RSL link failure) RSL = -80 dbm or more less (Site Down)

Difference between Startex and dart is just the cable and capacity. In dart RJ 45 connector is used and it has capacity of only one E1. BER (Bit Error Rate) BER is related to IDU of Microwave link. It shows that how much data, we are receiving. If BER = 1*10-5 = 1*10-3 Hi BER = 10E-3 (BER Alarm) (Site Down)

Low BER = 10 E-6 Range of BER BER = 10E-7 10E-6 < BER (Ideal value)

If BER is high there may be two possibilities, 1. There may be problem in the Multiplier of IDU, so by changing the IDU, we can solve the problem. 2. If there is some interference, then BER can be high. In this case change the tributaries. It is recommended that the tributaries that are not in use should be made invented; otherwise IDU alarm will be there. TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE LINK
Condition No DC power to IDU Normal Operation Cable Short or open circuit Minor link fade: RSL is below RSL alarm threshold Major link fade: RSL is below RSL alarm threshold BER early warning threshold has been exceeded Total link loss: RSL is below RSL alarm threshold. Received BER exceeds BER alarm threshold. Frame synchronization not OK Tributary input LOS Local radio transmitter muted Link ID code mismatch ODU output failure IDU transmit failure Capacity mismatch Loop back On-Line IDU ODU CBL Off G R Off G R Off G R Off G R REM Off G R Corrective Action Restore power to IDU Check cable connection IDU- ODU

G/R

Check LOS, alignment, remote transmitter output power, G/R or G interference from any other link. Check LOS, alignment, remote transmitter output power, interference from any other link. Check the radio frequency of both R ends. Configure new tributary. Check existing tributary connections. G R Unmute transmitter G/R or G Make the link ID same R Replace ODU R Replace IDU Set both end radio capacity the R same G Release loop back

R G G G G G R G/R

G G G G G G G G

G/R G G G/R G/R G G R R G R G G/R G

NEC:
Pictures of IDU and ODU of NEC is as under: Indoor Unit

Outdoor Unit

Software : PNMT Cable Used: NEC Login: admin When we logon to PNMT software, first of all we see the following parameters,

Options available in PNMT

Equipment Configuration

Setting the frequency plan

For the E1 setting:

Setting the frame ID

Setting the threshold BER

Common Alarms On NEC Link

1. Tx Rx frequencies of near & far ends. 2. Redundancy (i-e standby facility is there or not) 3. Tx power control, which is APTC in NEC. APTC means Automated Transfer Power Control. 4. Bit Rate (i-e capacity of the link). 5. Frame ID of near & Far ends and names of sites also (Frame ID should be same for both ends) 6. In the ODU menu, it is showing the RSL level and the power of near and far end. 7. In the IDU menu, it is showing that which tributaries (channels) are Normal or Alarmed (i-e enabled or disabled).

8. Version menu shows the Serial No. of IDU and ODU, date of manufacturing and software version. 9. Link performance monitor is showing the BER value. 10. Equipment setup is showing the IP address against the site menu. 11. Equipment setup is also showing the RF band, Sub band of ODU, BER threshold, RSL threshold value and ATPC max & min powers. 12. Network Element list is showing Site name, Alarm or Normal status, IP addresses etc. 13. From Equipment setup menu, there is Freq plan button, when we click on it, we can select Tx Rx channel, change the Tx Rx freq and execute them. 14. In order to change the IDU you must have the Channel number, Frame ID, Bit rate and for how many E1 you have to configure the IDU. All these changes can be done by turning ON the maintenance after entering the password.

SPECTRUM
Pictures of IDU and ODU of Spectrum is as under: Indoor Unit

Outdoor unit

Software : LMT Cable Used: SP

When we logon to LMT, the main page of Link Status is showing the following parameters. 1. Tx & Rx frequencies of near and far ends. 2. Link ID 3. Master A, B is showing that it is in Auto mode or it can be set to select A or B. 4. Capacity of the link. Protection Settings:It is used to rename the link and also to make Master or Slave out of the two links (in which one is in stand by). Configure Radios:-

It has the following settings. 1. Link ID. 2. Tx, Rx frequencies of near and far ends and also the site name. 3. Different freq channels can be selected and it can be applied by sending it to radios. 4. It is also showing the near and far end relay status. 5. In the tributaries section, we can enable or disable the tributaries. The disable ones cant carry frequencies. 6. In Protection Settings we can set the Auto Mode or we can make any one Master or Slave. 7. In others Section, BER threshold value can be checked. Above the Hi BER value, the site will go down. 8. We can set the attenuation level to any desired value or we can get maximum power by setting the attenuation level to ODB. Get a New Configuration:We can configure a new link, we can set the desired channel frequency. Faults & Reports:After clicking on Faults and Performance Management, click on RSSI, this is showing RSL (Radio Signaling Link) level. It is also showing the active faults with date and things (showing the history of faults). Loop Back Test:It is used to check the IF cable and transmission and reception of IDU & ODU. In custom frequencies, different freq channels are available.

LMT Software Guide Line:

Completing the Link Tab Dialog Box

Use the Link tab dialog box shown below to set or change some link-related parameters including Link ID, channel plan, and reference low band channel, and some radio-specific parameters including the site and radio names for each end of the link.

More About Link Parameters You Can Set or Change Here is more about the parameters you can set or change in the Link tab dialog box. Use this field To select or enter this data Link ID A code used to ensure that a radio transmitter only locks onto the corresponding receiver at the far end of the link. The Link ID must be the same for both ends of the link. Valid link IDs range from 1 through 255. Channel Plan The channel plan or sub-band the radios operate within. Field contents consist of channel plan name, frequency band, T/R spacing, and bit rate. Radios are licensed to operate within a certain frequency band. Each frequency band is organized into specific sub-bands (called channel plans). Each channel plan encompasses a specific frequency range. The Transceiver ID and Personality Card of a radio determine which channel plans are available to that radio. Low Band Channel Within the selected channel plan, the specific low band channel you want the LMT to use to configure the link. Once you select the low band channel, the LMT sets the high band channel for you automatically. Site Name An optional descriptor used to specify the physical location of a radio terminal. Radio Name An optional descriptor used to identify a specific radio terminal.

To Set or Change Link Parameters From the Link tab dialog box: 1. Type an integer from 1 to 255 in the Link ID field. 2. Click the down arrow next to the Channel Plan selection field to list the channel plans available for the frequency band in which these specific radios operate. Then click the desired channel plan. Your selection is inserted automatically in the Channel Plan field. 3. Click the down arrow next to the Low Band Channel selection field to list available low band channels for the channel plan you selected in step 2. Then click the desired channel. Once again, your selection is inserted automatically in the Low Band Channel selection field. High Band and Low Band TX and RX fields are recalculated and updated automatically by the LMT. Perform steps 1 through 3 for the other radio terminal in the link. About Available Fault Condition and Event Settings BER Fault The set BER alarm threshold has been exceeded. A bit error condition exists. The problem can be on either the near end or far end radio. Bit error rate measures the amount of bits in error per a fixed amount of bits transmitted/received. An excessive bit error rate can be caused by factors such as heavy rain fading, obstacles in the transmission path, problems with the antenna feed or wave guide, or problems in the IDU or ODU electronics on both sides.

Cable Fault The cables between the IDU and ODU are disconnected, damaged, shorted, or improperly terminated. Deframe Fault A problem in the ODU makes it unable to decode the data being transmitted over the link. IDU Fault The IDU detects a failure in either the transmit or receive circuits. The IDU Fault is a summed fault that monitors several hardware points. An IDU Fault may also result from the absence or distortion of ODU input to the IDU electronics. In this case, the IDU Fault is accompanied by a BER Fault, indicating a problem with the receive signal.

Input Fault Expected traffic is not detected. Major Fault A catastrophic fault condition occurs in a radio terminal that results in a loss of traffic across the link. (On a protected radio terminal, the backup circuitry would be placed in service automatically at this point. If the backup circuits can correct the problem, the fault condition is reported as a Minor Fault.)

Minor Fault A guarded fault condition has occurred in a radio terminal. A Minor Fault condition may or may not be associated with loss of traffic or downtime (loss of tributary input is reported as a minor fault although loss of traffic does occur). Some other examples of minor faults are the IDU Fan Fault and the ODU Temperature Fault. ODU Fault A failure occurs in the Local Oscillator (Synthesizer) or other component of the ODU, indicating something is wrong with the transmittal or receipt of data. Any fault condition is detected at the far end of the link.

Far End Fault Rx Fault

Any general receiver fault condition is encountered. For example, when a cable fault or a loss of frame alignment has been detected.

Setting and Changing Radio Configurations Tx Fault Any general transmitter fault condition is encountered. For example, the Link ID does not match on each end of the link, or a loss of DC power has occurred, or the ODU oscillator current is out of range. This setting signifies that the relay is not in use.

Unused

Radio Faults An Aid to Understanding Radio Fault Alerts For informational purposes, fault alerts are assigned one of four type codes: Code Type Faults Alerts E An external fault point becomes active. F A malfunction occurs in the equipment at either the near end or far end radio terminal, or in the transmission path between the two radios. R A radio relay becomes active. S An informational message is generated concerning current radio or link status.

Fault Descriptions Faults are described in alphabetical sequence in the table below. Where applicable, suggested solutions for fault resolution are also provided. S/N Fault Diagnostic 1 Active External 2 Fault Type S E Causes No No Impact YES No Symptom Or Causes A loopback test is in progress. The fault clears when you stop the test. The corresponding external fault status/condition is active. Conditional Designates that faults are active at the far end of the link. May be caused by telemetry problems between the near end and far end radios. To help pinpoint the source of the problem: Press the DISPLAY FAR END button to display the faults and status at the far end radio. Also check the LMT Faults report for any associated fault alerts (configuration mismatch, high BER condition, etc.). If necessary, go to the far end radio, connect the LMT, and check the Faults report for indicated faults. As necessary, make hardware replacements (near end or far end IDU, ODU, or RF Assembly Complete). A violation has occurred in the bipolar framing of incoming traffic (the presence of two consecutive one bits of the same polarity is detected on the T carrier line). Either: 1. The coax cable between the IDU and ODU is shorted or open: Check cable connections. Repair Faulty connection; or Check cable connectors. Remove and replace faulty connector; or Check connectors on the IDU and ODU for foreign objects or other debris. Clean as necessary.2. The 300 baud link between the ODU and the IDU is malfunctioning (a corollary ODU 'A'/'B' Link Fault also occurs): If the radio is configured for non- Protected operation, replace the ODU. If the radio is configured for protected operation, replace the faulty RF Assembly Complete. Otherwise, on a 1U system replace the IDU. On a 4U system replace the IDU PIU. Configuration parameters do not match on both IDUs in a protected pair. Use the LMT to review and adjust corresponding radio configuration parameters. The fan or fan circuit has failed: On a 1U system, replace the IDU. On a 4U system, replace the fan unit PIU. The protection cable between the A side and B side IDUs is disconnected: Check the protection cable. Check for power to both radios in the protected pair.

Far End 3 Fault IDU Bipolar Violation 4 fault

No

Conditional

No

No

5 6 7 8

IDU Cable Fault IDU Configurati on Fault IDU Fan Fault IDU Protected Serial Link

F F F F

YES No No No

YES No No No

Fault IDU 'A'/'B' Receiver Deframe 9 Fault IDU 'A'/'B' 10 Reset Fault IDU 'A'/'B' Silent Transmitter Failure 11 Fault

F F

YES YES

YES YES

YES

YES

IDU 'A'/'B' Temperatur 12 e Fault Major 13 Fault

No

No

No

No

Minor 14 Fault

No

No

ODU 'A'/'B' Configurati 15 on Fault F ODU 'A'/'B' Deviation 16 Fault F

No

No

YES

YES

The near end receiver loses frame synchronization with the transmitter at the far end of the link. The microprocessor in the IDU has restarted. This occurs when: Power has been switched on; or The microprocessor has rebooted. The near end transmitter switches after both receivers at the far end fail to receive signal transmission from the near end. This fault condition is generally the result of a faulty near end transmitter, a bad antenna, or the presence of path obstructions in the link. The temperature inside the IDU exceeds 94 degrees Celsius. Possible causes are: High environmental (external) temperatures Electronic burn occurring inside the radio near the sensor Analog-to-digital converter failure Power fluctuations If the condition does not clear itself, replace the IDU. A traffic-affecting fault has occurred (one of over 30 fault conditions are sensed by the microprocessor in the IDU). Check the IDU front panel and the LMT Faults report for associated fault conditions. A non-traffic affecting fault has occurred, such as an IDU 'A'/'B' Fan Fault, an ODU 'A'/'B' Temperature Fault, or a Receiver A/B Low BER Fault. Check the IDU front panel and the LMT Faults report for associated fault conditions. Either: 1. The bit rate of the Personality Module on the RF Assembly Complete does not match the bit rate of the IDU (flashing red ODU LED): Verify that the bit rate of the Personality Module matches the bit rate of the IDU or IDU PIU; or Replace the Personality Module with the correct bit rate Personality Module; or Replace the IDU with the correct bit rate IDU. 2. A mismatch exists between the near end and far end configurations. Modify the IDU configuration to match the far end radio. 3. A mismatch exists between the IDU and ODU hardware or software configurations. Correct the situation. 4. Possible loose ribbon cable in ODU. The transmitted RF is operating outside of specifications. Return the ODU to DMC for needed adjustments. This fault condition can occur when the bit rate of the ODU has been changed.

17

18

19

20

21

ODU 'A'/'B' Link Fault ODU 'A'/'B' Power Amplifier Fault ODU 'A'/'B' Power Supply Fault ODU 'A'/'B' Receiver Synthesizer Fault ODU 'A'/'B' Reference Synthesizer Fault

YES

YES

A communication problem has occurred between the IDU and ODU: Check the cable connection between the IDU and ODU. Recycle power on the IDU. A malfunction has occurred in the ODU power amplifier. Depending on radio architecture, different components will need to be replaced. The ODU has a faulty CPU/Power Supply module: If radio is configured for non-protected operation, replace the ODU. If radio is configured for protected operation, replace faulty RF Assembly Complete. The Gunn diode oscillator in the receiver is out of lock. Replace the ODU. The reference synthesizer is operating outside of specification. The ODU will attempt to re-initialize the synthesizer. If the fault condition does not clear, replace the reference synthesizer. The temperature inside the ODU exceeds 86 degrees Celsius. Possible causes include: High environmental (external) temperatures Electronic burn occurring inside the radio near the sensor Loose ribbon cable inside the ODU Analogto-digital converter failure Power fluctuations If the condition does not clear itself, replace the ODU. The Gunn diode oscillator in the transmitter is out of lock. Replace the ODU. The high bit error rate (BER) threshold set during radio configuration has been exceeded. The low bit error rate (BER) threshold set during radio configuration has been exceeded. In a protected configuration, either the A side or B side receiver is currently online. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window.

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

22

23 24 25 26

27

ODU 'A'/'B' Temperatur e Fault ODU 'A'/'B' Transmitter Synthesizer Fault Receiver 'A'/'B' High BER Fault Receiver 'A'/'B' Low BER Fault Receiver 'A'/'B' Online Receiver 'A'/'B' Summary Fault

No

No

F F F S

YES YES No No

YES YES YES No

S S

No No

No No

Receiver 28 Automatic

A summary fault created by any receiver fault. In a protected configuration, the receiver is operating in automatic mode. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window.

Receiver Locked 29 Online 30 Relay n Telemetry 31 Failure Transmitter 'A'/'B' 32 Online Transmitter 'A'/'B' Summary 33 Fault Transmitter 34 Automatic Transmitter Locked 35 Online

S R

No No

No No

F S

YES No

YES No

In a protected configuration, this receiver has been locked online. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window. The corresponding relay is active. Telemetry is not being received from the far end. The actual problem can be within the transmit or receive portions at either end of the microwave path. Check for any additional fault alerts active at the near end. In a protected configuration, either the A side or B side transmitter is currently online. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window.

S S S

No No No

No No No

Tributary n 36 Input Fault

No

YES

Tributary n Unexpecte 37 d Input F

No

No

A summary fault created by any transmitter fault. In a protected configuration, the transmitter is operating in automatic mode. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window. In a protected configuration, the transmitter has been locked online. This is an informational message displayed in the LMT Link Status window. User traffic is absent or other traffic input faults are detected on a tributary that has been enabled for fault alerts (red INPUT LED): Check cable connections between the IDU and premise equipment. Repair or replace as necessary; or Check user G.703 termination equipment. Repair or replace as necessary. Unexpected traffic is detected on a tributary with a disabled fault alert status (amber INPUT LED): Check the Tributary Fault Setting in the LMT Tributaries tab dialog box. Where applicable, change setting to enabled; or Check tributary connections.

P.COM
Pictures of IDU and ODU of PCOM is as under:

Indoor Unit

Out Door Unit

Software: Link Manager Cable: Pcom Common alarm list of PCOM is as under: RED: R GREEN: G FLASHING RED: F/R YELLOW: Y FLASHING YELLOW: F/Y

CONDITION IDU Normal Operation Local IDU Failure Ber Greater than 10-6 Local IDU Loopback G R F/R F/R

ALARM INDICATION ODU G G G G CBL G G G G RMT G F/Y Y F/Y

CORRECTIVE ACTION

Summed External Input Alarm Local ODU Failure

F/R G

G R

G G

G F/Y

Transmitter Output Muted Telemetry Failure

G G

F/R F/R

G G,R

Y F/Y

Configuration Mismatch

F/R

F/Y

Remote Alarm

Y, F/Y

Loss of channel

F/R

F/Y

None Replace IDU Check AGC key # 4 and BER key # 7 Check loop back, key # 6 turn IDU loop back OFF Check alarm key # 5. For external input alarm> Check link manager to see which input is causing alarm replace ODU check mute key # 9 to verify that transmitter is ON. Verify TX power key # 2 is set properly. Check cable b/w IDU & ODU Check Alarms, ALRM key (#5,) for a configuration alarm. Check configuration of both local and remote radios to verify the two are configured the same. Check the remote radio remote radio can be accessed by key # 0 to verify which alarm is active. Check configuration of the remote radio to verify that all loop backs are off. Check AGC key # 4. Check if cable alarm are present key # 5 for additional alarms.

Cable Short or Open

F/R

OFF

F/Y

Power Loss Of IDU

OFF

OFF

OFF

OFF

Cannot Access IDU via Keypad

NA

NA

NA

NA

Receiver will not lockup with the remote transmitter

F/R

F/Y

Orderwire levels are low Data will not pass through service channel port

Check alarm at key # 5 and verify that cable is connected to IDU and ODU Verify IDU power toggle is switch in position.Ispect IDU power plug is properly seated and connected. Check all fuses Check LCD contrast setting. Check Configuration/Radio window of Link Manager and click on Keypad icon. Verify if the password is disabled. If enabled, then the password must be used to access the IDU keypad. Check Mute,(#9), to verify TX is ON. Check Channel, (#1), to verify local and remote radios are set to the same channel. Check ID, (#3), to verify local and remote radios are set to the same ID number. Check AGC, (#4), to verify RSL level is within calculated tolerance. Check Loopback, (#6), to verify all loopbacks are OFF. Verify ODU bands are compatible. Check volume, (#8), for level. Check orderwire bridge East/West, In/Out, MENU key (#0), for level adjustments.

Low receive signal level Cannot pass data through the tributary

F/R OR G

F/R

Check wiring of connectors. Verify remote end TX Power, (#2), set to link Budget Calculations. Verify antenna properly aligned. Verify normal weather conditions. Check BER (#7) for error free performance. Check if the proper bit rate has been selected. Check if Line (1,2,3,4) is in loopback.

Alarm list of PCOM for the 1+1 Systems:

IDU "A" PSS IDU "B"

LED Status LED Status LED Status PWR IDU ODU CBL RMT IDU A IDU B PWR IDU ODU CBL RMT G Y G G G G G G G G G G Y G G G G G G G

Condition

Corrective Action

Normal operation A G terminal None Normal operation B G terminal None After switch occurs the IDU Normal operation A LED will flash red, perform terminal after switch a clear inhibit command to clear the flashing LED G A-B After switch occurs the IDU Normal operation B LED will flash red, perform terminal after switch a clear inhibit command to clear the flashing LED G B-A A number of reasons can cause high bit error rate. 1. Signal attenuation due to heavy rain. 2. Interference from other RF sources such as radio transmitters. 3. Improper antenna alignment. 4. Obstructions in the Signal path. 5. Fault A terminal exceeds in the local or remote IDU or ODU. G ber threshold B terminal exceeds Y ber threshold As shown for A terminal

F/R

F/R

Y G

F/R G

G G

G G

Y G

G -

G Y

G G

F/R G

Y G Y G Y G

F/R F/R R F/R X G

G X G R F/R

R G X G G G

F/Y G F/Y G F/Y G

G G G

G G G G -

F/R F/R G Y G G Y F/R -

G R G X G G

G F/Y G F/Y G

F/R G R X

F/R G X R

Determine if the IDU/ODU cable is open or shorted by means of a Volt Ohm Meter. Turn off the IDU power. Disconnect the Cable at the IDU and ODU. Use the Volt Ohm Meter and measure for a short by connecting the probe to the center conductor and the connector body. If a short is indicated, check the connectors on each end of the cable for proper assembly. To check for an open cable, place a jumper between the center conductor and the connector body at the opposite end of the cable. Using the Volt Ohm Meter check that the center conductor and the connector body are shorted. If not, check for Open / Short cable A proper assembly of the connectors. terminal Open / Short cable B As shown for open / short terminal cable A terminal A solid red LED IDU alarm indicates and internal alarm IDU A alarm local A solid red LED IDU alarm IDU B alarm local indicates and internal alarm A solid red LED ODU alarm ODU A alarm local indicates and internal alarm A solid red LED ODU alarm indicates and internal alarm

F/Y IDU B alarm local

ALCATEL
Pictures of IDU and ODU of Alcatel is as under: Indoor Unit

Outdoor Unit

Software: Nectas Cable: back to back User name: USER Password: USER Installing the software procedure: 1- NECTAS 2- RTP 3- LUX

Above picture is the preview of the software for alcatel. Common alarms on alcatel IDU are:

List of application that can be accessed from the software nectas is as under:

When you click the blue rectangle the main screen is displayed:

Accessing Secondary NE Screens:

Alarm synthesis line:

Faults:

Replacing IDU

Replacing ODU

All Types OF Alarms In Alcatel

DART
Pictures of IDU and ODU of Dart is as under: Indoor Unit

Outdoor unit

Software: Cable: Password:

Link View Eltec / MMI 1234

Common alarms on this radio is as under: