4RF Aprisa XE User manual

Aprisa XE User Manual
Version 7
October 2005

Copyright
Copyright © 2001-2005 4RF Communications Ltd
This document is protected by copyright belonging to 4RF Communications Ltd and may not be
reproduced or republished in whole or part in any form without the prior written permission of
4RF Communications Ltd.
Trademarks
The 4RF, Aprisa, Aprisa XE, SuperVisor and Surveyor names and logotypes are trademarks or
registered trademarks of 4RF Communications Ltd.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other
countries. Java and all Java-related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of
their respective owners.
GoAhead WebServer. Copyright © 2000 GoAhead Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this literature, 4RF
Communications Ltd assumes no liability for errors and omissions, or from any damages
resulting from use of this information. The contents and any product specifications within it are
subject to revision due to ongoing product improvements and may change without notice.
ETSI performance standards
The radio is designed to comply with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI) specifications as follows:
Radio performance — EN 302 217 Parts 1, 2.1, and 2.2
EMI/EMC — EN 301 489 Parts 1 & 4
Environmental — EN 300 019, Class 3.2
Safety — EN 60950
The terminal operating in the 1.4GHz band has been tested and is compliant to the ETSI radio
specifications and suitably displays the CE logo. Other bands are compliant to the same radio
performance specifications as adapted by 4RF and therefore may be used in regions where
compliance requirements demand CE performance at other frequencies.

Contents
1Getting started ..................................................................................................1
2Introduction.......................................................................................................5
About this manual............................................................................................................5
What it covers ........................................................................................................5
Who should read it .................................................................................................5
Contact us..............................................................................................................5
What's in the box.............................................................................................................6
CD contents ...........................................................................................................6
Accessory kit..........................................................................................................7
3Preparation........................................................................................................9
Path planning ..................................................................................................................9
Antenna selection and siting ..................................................................................9
Coaxial feeder cables...........................................................................................12
Link budget...........................................................................................................13
Site requirements ..........................................................................................................13
Power supply........................................................................................................13
Equipment cooling................................................................................................13
Earthing and lightning protection..........................................................................14
4About the terminal ..........................................................................................15
Introduction....................................................................................................................15
Modules.........................................................................................................................15
Front panel connections and indicators.........................................................................17
Interface cards...............................................................................................................18
5Mounting and installing the hardware ..........................................................19
Required tools ...............................................................................................................19
Installing the terminal ....................................................................................................19
Installing the antenna and feeder cable ........................................................................20
Alarm termination ..........................................................................................................20
Power connection..........................................................................................................21
DC power .............................................................................................................22
AC power .............................................................................................................23
Bench setup ..................................................................................................................24
6Connecting to the terminal.............................................................................25
About SuperVisor ..........................................................................................................25
System requirements ...........................................................................................25
iii

iv | Aprisa XE User Manual
Management Ethernet connection and capacity ...........................................................26
IP addressing of terminals.............................................................................................26
Logging in......................................................................................................................28
Understanding the SuperVisor window ................................................................29
Changing the terminals' default IP address...................................................................29
Setting up users ............................................................................................................31
Changing passwords............................................................................................31
Adding a user.......................................................................................................32
Disabling a user ...................................................................................................32
Deleting a user.....................................................................................................33
Saving user information .......................................................................................33
Viewing user session information.........................................................................34
7Configuring the radio .....................................................................................35
Configuring the RF settings...........................................................................................35
Configuring the IP settings ............................................................................................36
Setting the clock sources ..............................................................................................37
Using the Setup menu...................................................................................................39
Saving the terminal's configuration................................................................................40
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) ...........................................................41
Adding a SNMP trap destination ..........................................................................42
Adding a SNMP community .................................................................................43
Viewing the SNMP MIB details ............................................................................44
Viewing the SNMP traps ......................................................................................44
Deleting a SNMP trap destination ........................................................................45
Deleting a SNMP community ...............................................................................45
8Configuring the traffic interface ....................................................................46
Viewing a summary of the interfaces ............................................................................46
Configuring the traffic interfaces....................................................................................47
Ethernet.........................................................................................................................47
VLAN tagging.......................................................................................................48
Quality of Service (QoS) ......................................................................................50
Viewing the status of the ports.............................................................................55
Resetting the Ethernet settings............................................................................55
Quad JET (E1/T1)—specifying the port settings ...........................................................56
Quad 4-wire E&M—specifying the port settings............................................................57
Quad V.24—specifying the port settings .......................................................................59
FXS—specifying the port settings .................................................................................60
FXO—specifying the port settings.................................................................................64
HSS—specifying the port settings.................................................................................69
9Configuring the traffic cross-connections....................................................71
Compatible interfaces....................................................................................................71
About Cross Connections..............................................................................................72
Cross connections system configuration..............................................................72
Installing Cross Connections................................................................................72

Contents | v
Getting started...............................................................................................................72
Understanding the Cross Connections window ...................................................72
Setting the terminal's address..............................................................................75
Setting card types ................................................................................................75
Saving cross-connection configurations...............................................................76
Using existing traffic configurations......................................................................76
Printing the cross-connection configuration .........................................................76
Deleting cross-connections ..................................................................................78
Configuring the traffic cross-connections ......................................................................78
Quad JET (E1/T1)—configuring the traffic cross-connections ......................................80
PCM30C mode.....................................................................................................82
PCM31C mode.....................................................................................................82
Selecting bits and timeslots..................................................................................83
Quad 4-wire E&M—configuring the traffic cross-connections .......................................86
Quad V.24—configuring the traffic cross-connections ..................................................87
FXS and FXO—configuring the traffic cross-connections .............................................87
HSS—configuring the traffic cross-connections ............................................................89
Example configuration...................................................................................................90
10 Protected terminals ........................................................................................91
Monitored Hot Standby (MHSB)....................................................................................91
Tributary switch front panel..................................................................................92
RF switch front panel ...........................................................................................94
MHSB cabling ......................................................................................................96
Configuring the radios for protected mode...........................................................96
11 In-service commissioning............................................................................101
Before you start ...........................................................................................................101
What you will need.............................................................................................101
Applying power to the terminals ..................................................................................101
Review the link configurations using SuperVisor.........................................................102
Antenna alignment ......................................................................................................102
Checking the antenna polarisation.....................................................................103
Visually aligning antennas..................................................................................103
Accurately aligning the antennas .......................................................................104
Synchronising the terminals ........................................................................................107
Checking performance ................................................................................................107
Checking the receive input level ........................................................................107
Checking the fade margin ..................................................................................108
Checking long-term BER....................................................................................110
Bit Error Rate (BER) tests ..................................................................................110
Additional tests...................................................................................................110
Checking the link performance...........................................................................111
Viewing a summary of the link performance ......................................................112
Connect the traffic interfaces.......................................................................................113
Configuring alarms ......................................................................................................113
Configuring external alarms ...............................................................................114
Remote alarms...................................................................................................115

vi | Aprisa XE User Manual
12 Maintenance ..................................................................................................116
Routine maintenance ..................................................................................................116
Terminal upgrades ......................................................................................................117
Upgrading the terminal using TFTP ...................................................................117
Upgrading the terminal (advanced users) ..........................................................120
Installing and removing interface cards.......................................................................127
Configuring a slot ...............................................................................................128
Preparing the terminal for new cards .................................................................129
Installing a HSS interface card...........................................................................131
Installing all other interface cards.......................................................................133
Removing interface cards ..................................................................................136
13 Troubleshooting............................................................................................137
Loopbacks ...................................................................................................................137
Setting interface loopbacks................................................................................137
Setting radio-facing loopbacks...........................................................................138
Enabling and disabling the RF loopback............................................................138
Creating timeslot loopbacks...............................................................................139
Alarms .........................................................................................................................140
Diagnosing alarms .............................................................................................140
Viewing the alarm history...................................................................................142
Viewing interface alarms....................................................................................143
Identifying causes ..............................................................................................143
Changing the default IP address using HyperTerminal...............................................145
Connecting the PC to the terminal .....................................................................145
Configuring the COM port settings.....................................................................146
Starting a HyperTerminal session ......................................................................147
Determining the terminal IP address..................................................................150
Setting the IP address of the terminal................................................................150
Setting the IP address of the local PC ...............................................................151
System log...................................................................................................................156
Checking the syslog...........................................................................................157
Resetting the terminal .................................................................................................158
Setting up for remote logging ......................................................................................159
Support summary ........................................................................................................161
14 Interface connections...................................................................................163
RJ-45 connector pin assignments ...............................................................................163
Interface traffic direction ..............................................................................................163
Quad JET (E1) G.703 connections .............................................................................164
E1 alarm conditions............................................................................................164
Ethernet bridge (10Base-T—100Base-TX) connections .............................................165
4-Wire E&M connections.............................................................................................165
4-Wire E&M signalling connection .....................................................................166
2-Wire FXS connections..............................................................................................168
2-Wire FXO connections .............................................................................................170
HSS connections.........................................................................................................171
Synchronous cable assemblies..........................................................................172

Contents | vii
Async V.24/RS-232 connections.................................................................................180
15 HSS handshaking and clocking...................................................................181
Handshaking and control line function ........................................................................181
X.21 compatibility ...............................................................................................181
RTS CTS mode..................................................................................................181
DSR DTR mode .................................................................................................183
DCD mode .........................................................................................................184
Clocking.......................................................................................................................185
Internal clocking .................................................................................................185
Pass-through clocking........................................................................................185
Primary/secondary master clocking ...................................................................186
About the clocking modes ..................................................................................186
HSS cable WAN connectors .......................................................................................191
16 Alarm types and sources .............................................................................192
Alarm types .................................................................................................................192
Transmitter alarms .............................................................................................192
Receiver alarms .................................................................................................194
MUX alarms .......................................................................................................195
Modem alarms ...................................................................................................195
Motherboard alarms ...........................................................................................195
Quad JET alarms ...............................................................................................196
Dual FXO alarms................................................................................................196
Dual FXS alarms ................................................................................................196
HSS alarms ........................................................................................................197
Quad V.24 alarms ..............................................................................................197
External alarms ..................................................................................................197
Remote alarms...................................................................................................197
Cross connect alarms ........................................................................................197
MHSB alarms .....................................................................................................198
17 Country-specific impedances......................................................................199
18 Specifications................................................................................................205
19 Abbreviations................................................................................................216
20 Acknowledgments and licensing ................................................................218
Index.......................................................................................................................223

1 Getting started
This section is an overview of the steps required to commission a link in the field.
Phase 1: Pre-installation
1. Confirm path planning. Page 9
2. Ensure that the site preparation is complete:
Power requirements
Tower requirements
Environmental considerations, for example, temperature
control
Rack space
Page 13
3. Confirm the interface card configuration.
Phase 2: Installing the terminals
1. Before installing the radio into the rack, check that all the required
interface cards are fitted.
Position and mount the radio in the rack. Page 19
2. Connect earthing to the radio. Page 14
3. Confirm that the:
antenna is mounted and visually aligned.
feeder cable is connected to the antenna.
feeder connections are tightened to recommended level.
tower earthing is complete.
4. Install lightning protection. Page 14
5. Connect coaxial jumper cable between lightning protection and
radio duplexer.
6. Connect the power supply to the radio and apply power. Page 21
1

2 | Aprisa XE User Manual
Phase 3: Establishing the link
1. (Optional.) If you don't know the radio's IP address:
a. Connect the setup cable between the radio's Setup port
and the PC using accessory kit adaptor.
b. Use HyperTerminal to confirm the IP settings for the radio:
Local IP address
Local subnet mask
Remote terminal IP address
c. Reset the radio
Page 145
2. Connect the Ethernet cable between the radio's 4-port Ethernet
switch and the PC.
3. Confirm that the PC IP settings are correct for the 4-port Ethernet
switch:
IP address
subnet mask
Page 151
4. Confirm that Java is installed on the PC. Page 25
5. Start the web browser, and log into the terminal. Page 28
6. Set or confirm the RF characteristics:
TX and RX frequencies
Modulation
Output power
Page 36
7. Compare the actual RSSI to the expected RSSI value (from your
path planning).
8. Fine-align the antennas. Page 104
9. Confirm that the radio clock sources are set correctly. Page 37
10. Confirm that the TX and RX LEDs are green. Disregard the OK
LED status for now.

Getting started | 3
Phase 4: Configuring the traffic
1. Confirm that the interface hardware and software slot
configurations match.
2. Confirm the interface card settings. Page 47
3. Start the Cross Connections application, and configure the cross-
connections:
Download the configuration.
Confirm or modify the traffic cross-connections.
Save the configuration to the terminal.
Activate the configuration.
Page 78
4. Save the configuration to disk and close the Cross Connections
application.
Page 76
5. Connect the traffic interface cables.
6. Confirm or adjust the radio clocking for network synchronization, if
required.
7. Test that the traffic is passing over the link as configured.
8. Confirm or configure the alarm settings in SuperVisor. Page 113
9. Configure the alarm output cable, if required.
10. Reset any alarms and error counters. Page 140
11. (Optional: Perform traffic pre-commissioning tests.) Page 107
12. Complete the commissioning form (at the back of the manual) and
file.

2 Introduction
About this manual
What it covers
This user manual describes how to install and configure Aprisa XE™ point-to-point links. It is
recommended that you read the relevant sections of this manual before installing or operating
the terminal.
Who should read it
This manual has been written for professional field technicians and engineers who have an
appropriate level of education and experience.
Contact us
If you experience any difficulty installing or using Aprisa XE after reading this manual, please
contact Customer Support or your local 4RF representative. 4RF area representative contact
details are available from the 4RF website, www.4rf.com.
4RF Communications Ltd
26 Glover Street, Ngauranga
PO Box 13-506
Wellington 6032
New Zealand
E-mail [email protected]
Web site www.4rf.com
Telephone [phone]
Facsimile [phone]
Attention Customer Services
5

6 | Aprisa XE User Manual
What's in the box
Inside the box you will find:
Aprisa XE terminal
CD
This manual
Configuration form
Accessory kit
CD contents
The CD contains the latest version of the terminal software (see "Terminal upgrades" on page
117).
It also contains:
Documentation
User manual — an electronic (PDF) version for you to view online or print.
Product collateral — application overviews, product description, case studies, and white
papers.
Also included is Adobe™ Acrobat® Reader®, which you need (if it is not already installed on
your computer) to view the PDF files on the CD.
Tools
Surveyor — a path propagation calculator (see "Path planning" on page 9) developed by
4RF.
Software
Web browsers — Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are included for your
convenience.
Cross Connect — required if you want to use the Cross Connection application offline
(see "Installing Cross Connections" on page 72).
JavaVM — Java plug-in needed to run the Supervisor software.

Introduction | 7
Accessory kit
The accessory kit contains the following items:
Setup cable (RJ-45) and adaptor
Mounting brackets and screws
Hardware kit
(includes Allen key for fascia
screws)
Alarm cable (RJ-45)

8 | Aprisa XE User Manual
Ground cable
DC cable (DC only)
AC cable (AC only)

9
3 Preparation
Path planning
Proper path planning is essential. When considering the components of your radio system, think
about:
antenna selection and siting
coaxial cable selection
link budget
You can also use Surveyor to help you with path feasibility planning. Surveyor is a path
propagation calculator developed by 4RF to assist path planners quickly and efficiently verify
the viability of point-to-point transmission links deploying the Aprisa™ microwave radio systems.
The software program calculates the anticipated link performance for the transmission system
elements you have selected. However, it is not a substitute for in-depth path planning.
You will find Surveyor a valuable addition to your planning toolbox. A copy of Surveyor is
provided on the CD supplied with this manual. You can download updates from www.4rf.com.
Antenna selection and siting
Selecting and siting antennas are important considerations in your system design.
There are three main types of directional antenna that are commonly used with the radios:
parabolic grid, Yagi, and corner reflector antennas. The antenna that should be used for a
particular situation is determined primarily by the frequency of operation, and the gain required
to establish a reliable link.
Parabolic grid antennas
Factor Explanation
Frequency Often used in 1350-2700 MHz bands
Gain Varies with size (17 dBi to 30 dBi
typical)
Wind loading Can be significant
Tower aperture required Can be significant
Size Range from 0.6 m to 3 m diameter
Front to back ratio Good
Cost High

Preparation | 10
Yagi antennas
Factor Explanation
Frequency Often used in 330-960 MHz bands
Gain Varies with size (typically 11 dBi to 16
dBi)
Stackable gain increase 2 Yagi antennas (+ 2.8 dB)
4 Yagi antennas (+ 5.6 dB)
Wind loading Less than a parabolic grid antenna
Tower aperture required Unstacked: Less than a parabolic grid
antenna
Stacked: about the same as a
parabolic grid antenna
Size Range from 0.6 m to 3 m in length
Front to back ratio Low
Cost Low
It is possible to increase the gain of a Yagi antenna installation by placing two or more of them
in a stack. The relative position of the antennas is critical.
Example of stacked antennas

11 | Aprisa XE User Manual
Corner reflector antennas
Factor Explanation
Frequency Often used in 330-960 MHz bands
Gain Typically 10 dBd
Wind loading Less than a parabolic grid antenna
Tower aperture required About the same as a parabolic grid
antenna
Size Range from 0.36 m to 0.75 m in
length
Front to back ratio High (typically 30 dB)
Beamwidth Broad (up to 60°)
Cost Medium
Antenna siting
When siting antennas, consider the following points:
A site with a clear line of sight to the remote terminal is needed. Pay particular attention to
trees, buildings, and other obstructions close to the antenna site.
Example of a clear line-of-sight path

Preparation | 12
Any large flat areas that reflect RF energy along the link path, for instance, water, could
cause multi-path fading. If the link path crosses a feature that is likely to cause RF
reflections, shield the antenna from the reflected signals by positioning it on the far side of
the roof of the equipment shelter or other structure.
Example of a mid-path reflection path
The antenna site should be as far as possible from other potential sources of RF
interference such as electrical equipment, power lines and roads.
The antenna site should be as close as possible to the equipment shelter.
Note: Wide angle and zoom photographs taken at the proposed antenna location (looking down
the proposed path) can be useful when considering the best mounting positions.
Coaxial feeder cables
To ensure maximum performance it is recommended that you use good quality low-loss coaxial
cable for all feeder runs. For installations requiring long antenna cable runs, use Andrew
Heliax™ or equivalent. When using large diameter feeders, use a short flexible jumper cable
between the feeder and the terminal to reduce stress on the antenna port connector.
All coaxial cable has loss, that is, the RF energy traveling through it is attenuated. Generally
speaking, the larger the diameter of the cable, the less the loss. When selecting a coaxial cable
consider the following:
Factor Effect
Attenuation Occurs less in short cables and wide cables
Cost Small cables are cheaper
Ease of installation Easier with small or short cables