BIRD ACMI Series User manual

NETWORK ENABLED
ANTENNA & CABLE MONITOR
ACMI Series
Operation Manual
©Copyright 2019 by Bird Technologies, Inc.
Instruction Book P/N 920-ACMI Rev. D
Thruline® is a registered trademark of
Bird Electronic Corporation
Microsoft® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation
Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Google and Google Chrome™ browser are registered trademarks of Google Inc.

i
Safety Precautions
The following are general safety precautions that are not necessarily related to
any specific part or procedure, and do not necessarily appear elsewhere in this
publication. These precautions must be thoroughly understood and apply to all
phases of operation and maintenance.
WARNING
Keep Away From Live Circuits
Operating Personnel must at all times observe general safety precautions. Do
not replace components or make adjustments to the inside of the test
equipment with the high voltage supply turned on. To avoid casualties,
always remove power.
WARNING
Shock Hazard
Do not attempt to remove the RF transmission line while RF power is present.
WARNING
Do Not Service Or Adjust Alone
Under no circumstances should any person reach into an enclosure for the
purpose of service or adjustment of equipment except in the presence of
someone who is capable of rendering aid.
WARNING
Safety Earth Ground
An uninterruptible earth safety ground must be supplied from the main
power source to test instruments. Grounding one conductor of a two
conductor power cable is not sufficient protection. Serious injury or death
can occur if this grounding is not properly supplied.
WARNING
Resuscitation
Personnel working with or near high voltages should be familiar with modern
methods of resuscitation.
WARNING
Remove Power
Observe general safety precautions. Do not open the instrument with the
power on.

Safety Precautions
ii
Safety Symbols
WARNING
Warning notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly
performed, could result in personal injury.
CAUTION
Caution notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed,
could result in damage to the instrument.
Note: Calls attention to supplemental information.

ACMI Operation Manual
iii
Warning Statements
The following safety warnings appear in the text where there is danger to
operating and maintenance personnel, and are repeated here for emphasis.
WARNING
Leaking RF energy is a potential health hazard. Never attempt to connect or
disconnect equipment from the transmission line while RF power is being
applied. Severe burns, electrical shock, or death can occur.
See page 8.
WARNING
Do not touch the center conductor of the power monitor ports while RF
power is being applied.
See page 9.
WARNING
Dangerous RF voltage. Do not connect or apply an RF signal to the ACMI
during equipment setup. Failure to comply may result in severe burns, loss of
use of limbs, or death.
See page 14.
WARNING
Do not connect RF power to the unit.
See page 14.
WARNING
Disconnect the unit from the RF power source and the AC line before any
disassembly. The potential for electrical shock exists.
See page 31.

Safety Precautions
iv
Caution Statements
The following equipment cautions appear in the text and are repeated here for
emphasis.
CAUTION
The input voltage must be clean and stable. Be sure that the input voltage
does not surge and does not contain spikes. Failure to comply may result in
permanent damage to the instrument.
See page 10.
CAUTION
The maximum input voltage differential is 72 V for High Voltage models, 36 V
for Medium Voltage models, and 18 V for Low Voltage Models. Do not apply
an input voltage differential greater than the voltage limit for the model.
Failure to comply may result in permanent damage to the instrument.
See page 10.
CAUTION
Network connections require specific address and protocol information. Have
a qualified IT or network professional perform the ACMI Ethernet setup.
Failure to comply may result in loss of network communication or the inability
to communicate with the ACMI.
See page 13.
CAUTION
Do not use harsh or abrasive detergents for cleaning.
See page 31.

ACMI Operation Manual
v
Safety Statements
USAGE
ANY USE OF THIS INSTRUMENT IN A MANNER NOT SPECIFIED BY
THE MANUFACTURER MAY IMPAIR THE INSTRUMENT’S SAFETY
PROTECTION.
USO
EL USO DE ESTE INSTRUMENTO DE MANERA NO ESPECIFICADA
POR EL FABRICANTE, PUEDE ANULAR LA PROTECCIÓN DE
SEGURIDAD DEL INSTRUMENTO.
BENUTZUNG
WIRD DAS GERÄT AUF ANDERE WEISE VERWENDET ALS VOM
HERSTELLER BESCHRIEBEN, KANN DIE GERÄTESICHERHEIT
BEEINTRÄCHTIGT WERDEN.
UTILISATION
TOUTE UTILISATION DE CET INSTRUMENT QUI N’EST PAS
EXPLICITEMENT PRÉVUE PAR LE FABRICANT PEUT
ENDOMMAGER LE DISPOSITIF DE PROTECTION DE
L’INSTRUMENT.
IMPIEGO
QUALORA QUESTO STRUMENTO VENISSE UTILIZZATO IN MODO
DIVERSO DA COME SPECIFICATO DAL PRODUTTORE LA
PROZIONE DI SICUREZZA POTREBBE VENIRNE COMPROMESSA.

Safety Precautions
vi
SERVICE
SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR USE BY SERVICE - TRAINED
PERSONNEL ONLY. TO AVOID DANGEROUS ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICING UNLESS QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
SERVICIO
LAS INSTRUCCIONES DE SERVICIO SON PARA USO EXCLUSIVO
DEL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO CAPACITADO. PARA EVITAR EL
PELIGRO DE DESCARGAS ELÉCTRICAS, NO REALICE NINGÚN
SERVICIO A MENOS QUE ESTÉ CAPACITADO PARA HACERIO.
WARTUNG
ANWEISUNGEN FÜR DIE WARTUNG DES GERÄTES GELTEN NUR
FÜR GESCHULTES FACHPERSONAL.
ZUR VERMEIDUNG GEFÄHRLICHE, ELEKTRISCHE SCHOCKS, SIND
WARTUNGSARBEITEN AUSSCHLIEßLICH VON QUALIFIZIERTEM
SERVICEPERSONAL DURCHZUFÜHREN.
ENTRENTIEN
L’EMPLOI DES INSTRUCTIONS D’ENTRETIEN DOIT ÊTRE RÉSERVÉ
AU PERSONNEL FORMÉ AUX OPÉRATIONS D’ENTRETIEN. POUR
PRÉVENIR UN CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE DANGEREUX, NE PAS
EFFECTUER D’ENTRETIEN SI L’ON N’A PAS ÉTÉ QUALIFIÉ POUR CE
FAIRE.
ASSISTENZA TECNICA
LE ISTRUZIONI RELATIVE ALL’ASSISTENZA SONO PREVISTE
ESCLUSIVAMENTE PER IL PERSONALE OPPORTUNAMENTE
ADDESTRATO. PER EVITARE PERICOLOSE SCOSSE ELETTRICHE
NON EFFETTUARRE ALCUNA RIPARAZIONE A MENO CHE
QUALIFICATI A FARLA.

ACMI Operation Manual
vii
About This Manual
Sample Model ACMI–M–DMNFTL
470 – 960 MHz ACMI with male 7/16 input, female N output,
female TNC monitor ports, requiring a low voltage power supply
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Base
Model
Frequency Range
(MHz) RF Connectors Monitor Port Connectors
Power Supply
Voltage
ACMI L0 108 – 144 NM Male N N Female N L +/- (9 to 18) VDC)
ACMI500 L1 136 – 225 NF Female N T Female TNC H ± (36 to 72) VDC
L2 225 – 520 DM Male 7/16
DIN B Female BNC M +/- (18 to 36) VDC
M 470 – 960 DF Female
7/16 DIN
H 960 – 2400
Note: Models in ACMI500 series do not support frequency range
L0 and H and any of its variations.

About This Manual
viii
Changes to this Manual
We have made every effort to ensure this manual is accurate. If you discover
any errors, or if you have suggestions for improving this manual, please send
your comments to our Solon, Ohio factory. This manual may be periodically
updated. When inquiring about updates to this manual refer to the part number
and revision on the title page.
Chapter Layout
Introduction — Identifies the parts and functions of the ACMI.
Theory of Operation — Describes the ACMI’s alarm options.
Installation — Provides instructions for installing the ACMI at a site, as well as
detailed information on the cable connections.
Operating Instructions — Explains computer commands for controlling the
ACMI and describes operation of the Web Tool software.
Maintenance — Lists routine maintenance tasks for the ACMI, as well as
troubleshooting information for common problems. Specifications and parts
lists are also included.

ix
Table of Contents
Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Safety Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Warning Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Caution Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Safety Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Changes to this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Chapter Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Items Supplied . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Component Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2 Theory of Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Alarm Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Alarm Reset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Alarm Latching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
VSWR Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Alarm on Zero Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
High Power Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Low Power Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Push-to-Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chapter 3 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Unpacking and Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Power/Alarm Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Table of Contents
x
Panel Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ethernet Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Web Tool Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Computer Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Chapter 4 Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Web Tool Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Main Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Stats Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Config Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Admin Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Help Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Push-to-Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Analog Output Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Chapter 5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Inspection and Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Frequency Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
RF Power Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Insertion Loss, Max. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
VSWR, Max. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

1
Chapter 1 Introduction
Designed for 50 ohm coaxial transmission lines, the Bird Antenna & Cable
Monitor is the solution for monitoring transmission antenna systems. Service
providers and end users can rely on it to keep their critical sites up and running.
Designed to detect antenna and cable faults that transmitter-internal VSWR
monitors may not detect, it also provides accurate in-line power measurement
functionality.
Features
Measures forward and reflected power as well as VSWR and Return
Loss.
Measures true average power of pulses with high peak-to-average
ratios - works with any modulation.
When monitoring transmitter output power, alarms available for low
or high power.
Accurately monitors antenna and cable system VSWR. Alarm triggered
if antenna or cable fails.
Integral coupler measures small changes in VSWR through high feeder
and interface losses.
Note: High directivity maximizes measurement accuracy.
Sampling ports allow signal measurements without requiring system
downtime.
Excellent passive intermod allows the unit to be inserted into
multichannel systems with a single Tx/Rx antenna with no desensing or
degradation of receiver performance.
Can be rack mounted at the output of transmitter combiner or linear
power amplifier.
Setup and operation via built-in Web Tool (P/O firmware).

Introduction
2
Items Supplied
ACMI Unit
Instruction Manual
Optional Accessories
Note: See “Replacement Parts” on page 35. for part numbers of
accessories.
DB-15 Power/Alarm Cables — Connects the Antenna Monitor to a power
supply and to external controllers. 50 feet long with male/female connectors.
Note: Refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 on page 11 for pin layout.
DB-15 Interface Connector — Allows easy custom data cable connections
to the ACMI.
Rack Mount — The Rack Mount Kit allows one ACMI to be installed in a
standard (2U) panel mount. The ACMI is secured with locator holes and a Velcro
strap. Power is provided by a desk-top power supply, connected to a terminal
strip at the factory. Available voltages are 15, 24, and 48 VDC. Figure 2 lists
dimensions and highlights important components.

ACMI Operation Manual
3
Component Description
Figure 1 Antenna & Cable Monitor Outline
1 RF Input Connects to the amplifier or combiner
2 Forward Monitor Port Samples the forward traveling wave
3 Reflected Monitor Port Samples the reflected wave
4 RF Output Connects to the antenna or feeder
5 Reset Switch Resets the alarm. If an alarm trigger is still present, the
alarm will reactivate
6 Operation/Test LED Green LED indicates when the unit is powered
7 Alarm LED Red LED indicates when an alarm is triggered
8Ethernet Port RJ-45 connector. Interface to a PC using a Cat5
Ethernet cable
9Power/Alarm Parallel
Port
15 pin female connector. Connects to the power supply
using a male 15 pin cable. Also used for remote
operation.

Introduction
4
Figure 2 Rack Mount Outline

5
Chapter 2 Theory of Operation
Alarm Response
When an alarm is triggered, the Bird Antenna & Cable Monitor turns on the
alarm LED and de-asserts a TTL logic line (pulls low). In addition, depending on
configuration settings, one Form C dry contact relay changes state (i.e. activates
or de-activates) as a result of the VSWR alarm activating. A second Form C dry
contact relay changes state as a result of either the low power or high power
alarms activating. Refer to the Power/Alarm Connector pins for proper
connection and Alarm configuration for set-up, see "Power/Alarm Connector"
on page 10 .
The LED activates and TTL logic line de-asserts as a result of any of the three
alarm conditions (VSWR, low or high power).
If power to the unit is lost, both relays default to their de-energized condition.
The Web Tool can configure whether the relays energize or de-energize during
initialization or in response to an alarm when the unit is operating. Refer to the
section on Alarms for instructions on setting alarm response behavior, see
"Alarm Tab" on page 24 .
Alarm Reset
Alarms can be reset locally with the reset switch.
Alarms are reset when the reset pin on the Power/Alarm port is
activated by a TTL compatible logic low signal (0 to 0.8 VDC).
The Web UI can reset the unit through the Ethernet port by sending a
“Reset Alarm” command.
Reset events clear all three alarms (VSWR, High Power, Low Power)
and reset both relays.
Alarm Latching
The alarm defaults to latching operation. In this mode, the alarm will stay active
until reset. In non-latching mode, the VSWR alarm will reset automatically
about forty seconds after the trigger condition is corrected, power alarms will
reset in about one-and-half seconds after the power condition is corrected.

Theory of Operation
6
VSWR Alarm
The ACMI continuously monitors forward and reflected power. From the power
measurements, the VSWR is calculated and compared to the allowed maximum
(default of 1.5 to 1). Based on the results of the comparison, possible actions
include:
No alarm is activated if the VSWR is less than the maximum, or if the
VSWR alarm is disabled.
If the VSWR is equal to or slightly greater than the maximum,
additional measurements are accumulated for up to 30 seconds to
determine a trend before triggering the alarm. If the VSWR trend is
greater than the maximum level, an alarm is triggered, otherwise,
measurements continue until a trend is established. An alarm will be
triggered if the VSWR exceeds the maximum for more than thirty
seconds.
If the VSWR is much greater than the maximum then an alarm
condition is triggered immediately.
Alarm on Zero Power
When the forward power is very small (< 2.5% of full scale), the measured VSWR
becomes large due to the noise floor of the sensor. Under these conditions, the
VSWR level is meaningless. When the zero power alarm is disabled, the VSWR
will not be monitored at these low powers.
High Power Alarm
When the high power alarm is enabled, the forward power is continuously
monitored. The alarm trigger is a percentage of the Monitor’s full scale power,
from 0 – 125%. If the forward power is greater than the trigger level, an alarm is
triggered.
Low Power Alarm
When the low power alarm is enabled, the forward power is continuously
monitored. The alarm trigger is a percentage of the Monitor’s full scale power,
from 0 – 125%. If the forward power is less than the trigger level, an alarm is
triggered.

ACMI Operation Manual
7
Push-to-Talk
The low power alarm and the VSWR alarm can falsely trigger when the
transmitter is not keyed. The Push-to-Talk feature disables alarm checking for a
predetermined period after the Push-to-Talk logic line is asserted. In order to
prevent false alarms while monitoring for low power and high VSWR, the Push-
to-Talk feature must be enabled.

8
Chapter 3 Installation
This chapter provides information for preparing the Bird Antenna & Cable
Monitor for use.
Unpacking and Inspection
1. Carefully inspect the shipping container for signs of damage.
Note: If damage is noticed, do not unpack the unit. Immediately
notify the shipping carrier and Bird Electronic Corporation.
2. If the shipping container is not damaged, unpack the unit.
Note: Save the packing material in case the unit needs to be
shipped again.
3. Inspect all of the components for visible signs of damage.
Note: Immediately notify the shipping carrier and Bird Electronic
Corporation of equipment damage or missing parts.
The Bird ACMI is shipped complete and ready for use upon receipt. After
unpacking and inspecting the unit, it is ready to be installed.
WARNING
Leaking RF energy is a potential health hazard. Never attempt to connect or
disconnect equipment from the transmission line while RF power is being
applied. Severe burns, electrical shock, or death can occur.
Mounting
Mount the ACMI in the feeder line between the combiner and the antenna.
Make sure that the alarm LED and reset button are accessible, and that the
connecting cables have proper clearance.
Cable Connections
Note: Refer to Figure 3 on page 9 for cable connections.
When connecting the Bird ACMI to RF power, use 50 ohm coaxial cable suitable
for the frequency and power level of operation. The cable connector should
mate with the connector on the unit.

ACMI Operation Manual
9
Connect the amplifier or combiner to the Monitor’s input. Connect the antenna
or feeder to the output.
WARNING
Do not touch the center conductor of the power monitor ports while RF
power is being applied.
To monitor the RF waveform, connect the forward and reflected power monitor
ports to an appropriate power sensor or meter.
Note: If a power monitor port is not being used, terminate it with
a 50 load.
Figure 3 Cable Connections