Arris FFE-*-100*/RP-R User manual

Feederline Equalizers
FFE-*-100*/RP-R and
FFE-HSG/86*
Installation Instructions
539924-001 Revision B

2 FFE Feederline Equalizers 539924-001 Rev B
Feederline Equalizers Installation Instructions
Document Number: 539924-001 Revision B
Copyright © 2005, 2008, 2014 ARRIS Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
©ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as
translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from ARRIS
Enterprises, Inc. (“ARRIS”). ARRIS reserves the right to revise this publication and to make
changes in content from time to time without obligation on the part of ARRIS to provide
notification of such revision or change.
ARRIS and the ARRIS logo are all trademarks of ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. Other trademarks and
trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks
and the names of their products. ARRIS disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and
names of others.
ARRIS provides this guide without warranty of any kind, implied or expressed, including, but
not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
ARRIS may make improvements or changes in the product(s) described in this manual at any
time.
Revision History
Revision Date Reason for Change
A 11/1998 Initial release.
B 6/2014 Rebranded. Added Cautionary Note to pg. 6. Updated template styles (fonts,
color scheme, etc.) to conform with new corporate style guidelines.

Installation Instructions
539924-001 Rev B Installation Instructions 3
ARRIS Feederline Equalizers are passive feederline cable equalizers used in Cable Access
television (CATV) distribution systems. Equalizer models FFE-8-86*, FFE-8-75*, and FFE-
HSG/86* compensate for feeder cable slope and thus provide improved “window”
specifications.
The asterisk (*) denotes that the information contained in this document applies to all
models. If the information is applicable to a particular model only, the specific model number
is given.
This Installation Sheet provides information on how to install the models of FFE* equalizers
and their associated plug-in boards, identified in Table 1.
The FFE-8-100*/RP-R and FFE-12-100*/RP-R ships with plug-in SFE-100-8-R and SFE-100-12-R
forward equalizers, respectively, contained within an SSP style cast-aluminum housing. The
factory does not install an SFE-100-* plug in equalizer in the FFE-HSG/*/RP-R.
The housings can be strand, pole, or pedestal mounted. Entry ports accept standard 5/8” x
24 threads per inch cable connectors. Internally, Phillips-head screws provide direct seizure
of the connector center pins. Special gaskets between the lid and the housing protect the
unit from weather and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Figure 1 and Figure 2 illustrate the two Feederline Equalizer models that contain SFE* plug-in
boards.
Table 1 Available FFE* equalizers and plug-in equalizer boards
Feederline Equalizer Plug-In Board
FFE-8-100*/RP-R (1 GHz) SFE-100-8
FFE-12-100*/RP-R (1 GHz) SFE-100-12
FFE-HSG/*/RP-R No SFE

4 FFE Feederline Equalizers 539924-001 Rev B
Figure 1
FFE-8-100S/RP-R
Figure 2
FFE-12-100S/RP-R

539924-001 Rev B Installation Instructions 5
All FFEs include sub-split filters for two-way systems. You can use any value equalizer
necessary to suit system applications. The return-path signals pass with minimal insertion
loss and are not affected by the FFE*. The FFEs also pass up to 12 A(rms) AC power to other
active units in use beyond its location.
Installing the FFE*
The following subsections guide you through proper installation of the FFE*.
Preparing the Housing
To prepare the housing for installation:
1. Determine which entry ports are required for your installation and remove the
appropriate plastic or metal port plugs.
2. Unscrew the four captive bolts that hold the bottom plate to the housing and, by
pulling on any one of them, remove the plate from the housing.
3. Accommodate cable direction by properly orienting the center conductor seizure
mechanism toward the port opening in use. You can rotate the center conductor
seizure mechanism 90º by using small pliers or an equivalent tool.
Figure 3 indicates the location and proper orientation of the seizure mechanism key:
Figure 3
Seizure key
4. Remove the plug from the port located 90° from the one through which the cable will
enter the FFE*.
5. Insert a small Phillips screwdriver into the opening and loosen the screw that is part
of the seizure mechanism. This enables insertion of the center conductor pin.
6. Thread the body of the connector into the housing port, ensuring that the center
conductor pin passes under the seizure screw. Torque to the manufacturer’s
specifications.
Center pin
capture screw
Cable
Key
Center pin
capture screw
Cable
Key

6 FFE Feederline Equalizers 539924-001 Rev B
Connectors with integral center conductor pins possessing a nominal diameter of 0.067
inches are recommended.
Figure 4
Pin connector
7. Tighten the center conductor seizure screw from 15 to 20 in/lbs.
Figure 5
Properly Installed
center-conductor
pin
8. Install port plugs into any open housing connector ports and torque them from 40
to 50 in/lbs.
9. Install the bottom plate assembly and torque the four captive bolts from 30 to 35
in/lbs.
1.65" Max.
1.50" Min.
Pin is
just visible
1.65" Max.
1.50" Min.

539924-001 Rev B Installation Instructions 7
Mounting the FFE*
You can mount the FFE* in one of the following configurations.
Strand Mounting
1. Loosen the strand clamp bolt and suspend the FFE* from the strand.
Figure 6
Strand clamp and
bolt on the rear of
the FFE* base
2. Leave the bolt sufficiently loose to enable repositioning the FFE* to accommodate
cable length.
3. If necessary to avoid mechanical interference, suspend the FFE* from the strand
using auxiliary hanger brackets. Follow the instructions that accompany the
mounting brackets.
Pedestal Mounting
Remove the strand clamp and use the bolt to mount the FFE* within the pedestal.
CAUTION ARRIS equalizers are designed for an operating environment of -40°C to
+60°C. The Mil Spec Hdbk 217 states that a 9°C increase in device operating
environments will reduce the product’s reliability (and projected lifetime) by 50%.
Therefore, you should take proper care to maximize airflow around the EQ-* and to
minimize ambient temperatures, especially if you will be installing the EQ-* in an
enclosed environment (e.g. pedestal, cabinet, etc.).

8 FFE Feederline Equalizers 539924-001 Rev B
Changing the Plug-in Equalizer
Refer to Table 1 for the correct match of FFE* and plug in equalizer board, model SFE*. If you
need to adjust tilt, change the SFE* value. For optimum performance, use the equalizers that
match the system frequency.
To replace the existing equalizer:
1. Remove the bottom plate assembly by loosening the four captive bolts and
separating it from the housing.
2. Carefully push the SFE* retaining clips aside and remove the existing SFE*.
Figure 7
Open FFE*, SFE*
board and adjacent
components
3. Remove the plastic ergonomic handle, or shell, on the replacement SFE*, if it exists,
and insert the new SFE*.
4. Snap the retaining clips in place
5. Replace the bottom plate on the housing and tighten the captive bolts to a maximum
torque of 30 to 35 in/lbs.

539924-001 Rev B Installation Instructions 9
Specifications
Specifications are valid over the given bandpass and operating temperature range of 40º F to
+140º F (40º C to +60º C). Specifications are stated worst case unless otherwise noted, and
are subject to change. Refer to the ARRIS catalog at http://www.arrisi.com/products/index.asp
or contact your account representative for the latest specifications.
Table 2 FFE* Specifications
Parameter FFE-8-100*/RP-R FFE-12-100*/RP-R FFE-HSG/S/RP-R
Passband
Forward Fminfwd – 1003 MHz Fminfwd – 1003 MHz 52 –1003 MHz
Return 5 – Fmaxrtn MHz 5 – Fmaxrtn MHz 5 – 40 MHz
Maximum Insertion Loss (dB)
5 MHz 0.8 0.8 0.7
Fmaxrtn 1.2 1.2 1.2
Fminfwd 8.5 12.5 1.0
550 MHz 4.0 4.5 0.9
750 MHz 2.7 2.7 1.0
870 MHz 2.3 2.4 1.2
1003 MHz 2.0 2.0 1.2
Return Flatness ±0.25 dB ±0.25 dB ±0.25 dB
Forward Flatness ±0.5 dB ±0.5 dB ±0.5 dB
Return Loss (max.)
5 – Fmaxrtn MHz 17 dB 17 dB 17 dB
Fminfwd – 870 MHz 17 dB 17 dB 17 dB
870 – 1003 MHz 16 dB 16 dB 16 dB
Maximum Current 12 A cont. 12 A cont. 12 A cont.
Hum Modulation @ max. current
Forward
Fminfwd – 870 MHz -70 dB -70 dB -70 dB
870 – 1003 MHz -60 dB -60 dB -60 dB
Return –60 dB –60 dB -60 dB
Fminfwd 52 MHz (S-split, model FFE-*-*S/RP*)
54 MHz (K-split, model FFE-*-*K/RP*)
Fmaxrtn 40 MHz (S-split, model FFE-*-*S/RP*)
42 MHz (K-split, model FFE-*-*K/RP*)

To contact Technical Support
North America: 888-221-9797; [phone] (worldwide)
[e-mail]
Europe: [phone]
[email protected]
For additional technical support contact information, visit
http://www.arrisi.com/about_us/contact_us/tech_support/index.asp.
About this document
Feederline Equalizers Installation Instructions
Document Number: 539924-001 Revision B
©ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as
translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from ARRIS
Enterprises, Inc. (“ARRIS”). ARRIS reserves the right to revise this publication and to
make changes in content from time to time without obligation on the part of ARRIS to
provide notification of such revision or change.
ARRIS and the ARRIS logo are all trademarks of ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. Other
trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities
claiming the marks and the names of their products. ARRIS disclaims proprietary
interest in the marks and names of others.
ARRIS provides this guide without warranty of any kind, implied or expressed,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a
particular purpose. ARRIS may make improvements or changes in the product(s)
described in this manual at any time.
If You Need Help
Help with your ARRIS product is available online and by phone:
Customer Care
■Contact us via the ARRIS CUSTOMERCARE 360 website
(www.arrisi.com/customercare360) to report non-critical Severity 4 issues. We will
answer your service request within one business day. You can also use the Customer
Care portal to update and close your support requests and add attachments, if
required, to your open tickets.
■Find technical documentation at
http://www1.arrisi.com/Video-Solutions/US-EN/Documentation-Center
Technical Support
Contact Technical Support when you need assistance with installed products.
The ARRIS TAC Call Center provides Customer support 24/7/365. A TAC agent will create your
case and escalate to the appropriate technical support team. Critical Severity 1 or 2 issues
will be warm transferred for immediate assistance.
Phone: [phone]-HELP (4357); + 1-215-323-2345 (worldwide)
Email: T[email protected]
Contact TAC via email to report non-critical Severity 3 or 4 issues. Contact the TAC by phone
at 1-888-944-4357 for Critical Severity 1 or 2 issues.