ComSonics QAM Compass User manual

QAM Compass
User’s Guide

Limited Warranty
Hardware: ComSonics, Inc. (ComSonics) warrants to the original end user (Customer) that the new ComSonics branded
products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials, under normal use, for one (1) year from the date of original
shipment. ComSonics warrants repaired and refurbished ComSonics products for ninety (90) days from date of shipment.
Software: ComSonics warrants to the Customer that any Application software associated with this product will perform in
conformance to specifications for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of original shipment.
ComSonics makes no warranty or representation that the operation of software products will be uninterrupted, be error-free, or
have defects. ComSonics will make every effort to improve and fix any known software bugs and will provide software updates
when available.
Software License (brief)
ComSonics grants you, the Customer, a limited nonexclusive license to use the accompanying software program(s) (the Software)
subject to the terms and restrictions set forth in this License Agreement. You are not permitted to use the Software in any
manner not expressly authorized by this License. You acknowledge and agree that ownership of the Software and all subsequent
copies thereof regardless of the form or media are held by ComSonics.
Technical Support
ComSonics maintains a Technical Support Service for customer convenience. Representatives may be contacted Monday - Friday:
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time by phone at 1-800-336-9681 or 540-435-4352; or by E-Mail at [email protected].
Product information and software updates are available for download at www.ComSonics.com
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Introduction
The ComSonics QAM CompassTM is a versatile multi-function cable signal leakage detector designed for medium
distance to near-field use. Working in conjunction with ComSonics’QAM MarkersTM installed at the local cable
system head-end / hub or the portable ComSonics’ Mini Mobile Marker (M3TM), the QAM CompassTM provides
technicians with both visual and audible indications of signal leakage in the VHF and two UHF bands allowing
them to find and repair leaks that would otherwise go
unrepaired.
General Operation
The QAM CompassTM has five primary functions on the front
panel used to control the device (Figure 1).
Turning the Unit On and Off:
The QAM CompassTM is turned ON by a single push of the
power button at the bottom left of the panel. To power off
the device, push the power button again and the unit will
power down.
Modes of Operation
The QAM CompassTM has three modes of operation: (1)
Measure Mode (2) Monitor Mode and (3) M3 Mode. The
mode button and LED indicators are located on the left
hand side of the panel. Each press of the mode button will
cycle through each of the modes allowing the user to select
their desired mode of operation.
Distance Setting
The mode button is also used to select the distance setting. This allows the user to more accurately measure
leakage field strength at a given distance from the leak. The selectable distances are: 1’, 10’ (default), 30’, 75’,
and 150’. The units can be changed to meters using the configuration utility. In order to change the distance
setting, press and hold the Mode button for two seconds. The display will start to flash with the current
distance setting displayed. Use the up and down arrows to change the distance to the desired setting. The
display will automatically return to its normal state a few seconds after the last arrow push. In addition, the
current distance setting is displayed directly after the firmware version when initially powering on the QAM
CompassTM.
Frequency Band
The QAM CompassTM has three frequency bands for leakage detection: (B1) VHF frequency: 136.5 MHz to 140.5
MHz; (B2) UHF frequency 1: 606.5 MHz to 614.5 MHz; (B3) UHF frequency 2: 720 MHz to 1,200 MHz. Each
programmed frequency must coincide with a generated signal from a QAM MarkerTM or M3TM device in order
to detection to occur. The Band button and LED indicators are located on the right hand side of the panel.
Each press of the Band button will cycle through each of the frequency bands allowing the user to select their
Figure 1: Front Panel Controls

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desired mode of operation. The exact frequency for each band is programmable using the configuration
software application. In addition, each of the three frequency bands can be programmed to be active or
inactive to match the users Marker configuration.
MPL Start and Store
The QAM CompassTM has the ability to interface with the ComSonics Mobile Problem Locator (MPLTM) smart
phone application. The MPLTM control buttons are located at the top of the display panel. There are two
primary MPLTM controls: Start and Store. The device must be paired by the MPLTM application in order to
communicate with the application. There are three ways in which the measurement data is transmitted from
the QAM CompassTM to the ComSonics MPLTM application:
User presses Start button –The QAM CompassTM will continuously transmit measurement information
based on the current mode and frequency band settings. Subsequently, pressing Store will cease the
transmission.
User presses Store button –The QAM CompassTM will transmit one set measurement(s) based on the
current mode and frequency band settings.
Utilize the Compass MPLTM Application to request and send measurement data from the QAM
CompassTM based on the current mode and frequency settings
Volume, Mute, and Back Light
The QAM CompassTM allows the user to control the volume level of the device as well as a mute function using
the control buttons located in the center of the display panel. To raise or lower the volume level of the QAM
CompassTM simply press the up and down arrows. There are 5 different volume levels to choose from. Pressing
the center Mute button cycles the mute function to on or off. The mute will remain active for the
preconfigured amount of time (default = 5 mins) and then return to a normal state. Pressing any button on the
front panel control activates the display backlight for approximately 10 seconds when extra light is needed to
see the display.
Battery Charge Level
The QAM CompassTM has one LED light used to indicate the battery charge status located at the bottom right
of the front panel. The light will illuminate amber/orange when the unit is charging and will turn green once
the battery is fully charged. If the ambient temperature is out of range (too hot or too cold), the LED will turn
red and the battery will not receive a charge. This feature prevents premature failure of the battery due to
charging at temperature extremes.

Display Indications
Leakage level measurements are displayed in large, easy to read
numbers as shown in Figure 2. The leakage level bar indicator on the
left of the display shows an alternate leakage level format. The bar
level shown is relative to a preprogrammed scale in the configuration
utility that changes the high level range from 100 uV/m to 1,999
uV/m (default). The top portion of the display indicates if the QAM
CompassTM is detecting “Leakage” or “Noise”.A four segment battery
charge indicator is shown in the lower right corner of the display. The
unit of measure for the leakage measurements is shown at the
bottom of the screen.
Modes of Operation
The QAM CompassTM has three modes of operation: (1) Monitor Mode (2) Measure Mode and (3) M3 Mode
which is selected using the mode button on the left side of the front panel.
Monitor Mode
The monitor mode automatically cycles between the pre-programmed band frequencies. The QAM CompassTM
can be programmed to activate one, two, or all three of the available band frequencies. The monitor mode
will automatically cycle between the active frequency bands every 3 seconds. This mode is typically used when
the QAM CompassTM is not being actively used to make measurements or find leaks. The mode allows a
technician to detect leakage in all active frequency bands while they perform their normal workday tasks.
Measure Mode
The measure mode operates at the selected frequency band on the QAM CompassTM front panel. The QAM
Compass will not automatically cycle between frequency bands in this mode but rather allows the user to
select one of three available frequency bands. This mode is typically used when the QAM CompassTM is being
used to measure and locate a detected leak.
M3 Mode
The M3TM mode allows the QAM CompassTM to detect the unique marker signal generated from the M3TM. This
mode must be used in conjunction with the M3TM for special troubleshooting and plant qualification. When
operating in the M3TM mode, please ensure the frequency band on the QAM CompassTM is set to match the
M3TM frequency band. The frequency band for the M3 is selected using the same control panel button used to
select the frequency in the measure mode. The M3TM User’s Guide provides a detailed description of the
operation and configuration of the M3TM device. It can be downloaded at www.ComSonics.com.
Docking/Charging Station
The QAM CompassTM has an optional docking/charging station that mounts in a vehicle. The station serves two
primary functions: 1) A safe and convenient method of storing the QAM CompassTM while in a vehicle and 2)
Charge the QAM CompassTM battery. The docking station should be mounted in the vehicle using the supplied
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Figure 2: Display

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hardware and connected to the +12V supply and ground of the vehicle using the supplied wiring harness,
typically at the vehicles fuse box.
Warble Tone
When cable leakage is detected, either in measure, monitor, or M3TM modes, the internal speaker emits the
classic ComSonics Sniffer® Warble tone. Leaks detected at the VHF frequency band creates a warble tone that
is repeated more slowly than leaks at UHF1 or UHF2 which repeats the tones at a higher frequency allowing
the technician to differentiate between the detected frequencies without needing to look at the display.
Battery Charging and Auto Shutdown
An internal Lithium Ion rechargeable battery powers the QAM CompassTM. Charge the battery for three hours
before using the unit for the first time. The charging LED light on the front panel will illuminate amber/orange
when the unit is charging and will turn green once the battery is fully charged. If the ambient temperature is
out of range (too hot or too cold), the light flashes red and the battery will not receive a charge. Only use the
included AC Charger, the optional DC Car Charger, or the optional QAM CompassTM docking station to charge
the battery. Use of other chargers may cause equipment failure, create a safety hazard, and void the warranty.
The QAM CompassTM will not charge through the Mini-USB port.
In the Measure mode, the unit will automatically switch to Monitor mode to protect the battery from
excessive discharge after 10 minutes of non-use or if a leak has not been detected during this period of time
(time is programmable via the configuration utility). In the Monitor mode, the device default is set to power
down after 8 hours of nonuse: no button pushes or leakage detected. The amount of time before power down
in the Monitor mode can be preprogrammed in the configuration utility between 1 minute and 27.5 hours.
QAM Compass Configuration Utility
The QAM CompassTM operates in conjunction with QAM MarkersTM installed at the local head-end/hub or with
the portable ComSonics’ M3TM. The QAM Marker and M3TM generate a unique signal at a specified frequency
for detection by the QAM CompassTM, therefore the QAM CompassTM must be configured to exactly match the
generated signals. Each of the frequency bands are programmed by using the QAM CompassTM Configuration
Utility.
The standard defaults for programmable functions in the QAM CompassTM are as follows:
Mode: Monitor
Band: B2
Units of Measure: uV/m
Distance Units: feet
Measure Squelch: 20 uV/m
Monitor Squelch: 20 uV/m
M3 Squelch: 20 uV/m
Backlight Timeout: 10 seconds

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Monitor Mode Timeout: 8 hours (480 mins)
Measure Mode Timeout: 10 minutes
Mute Timeout: 5 minutes
B1 Frequency: 138 MHz
B2 Frequency: 612 MHz
B3 Frequency: 776.5 MHz
Download and Install
The utility is available for download at www.ComSonics.com. New users must create a user ID and password
to gain access to the site. On the Downloads tab under the “Software and Drivers” section, select the QAM
Compass link. In the center of the page, locate and download the QAM Compass Configuration Utility
Installation file to your PC. When the download is complete, right click on the file icon and select “Extract to
Here” to extract the required installation files. After the file extraction is completed, double-click on the
Setup.exe icon to begin. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation process. When the
installation is complete double-click the QAM Compass Configuration Utility icon.
Copyright
All material in this manual is the property of ComSonics, Inc. and protected under the United States copyright law. No material
shall be reproduced or used in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
taping, or information storage and retrieval systems) without the written permission of:
ComSonics, Inc.
1350 Port Republic Road
Post Office Box 1106
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801 USA
Phone: [phone] USA Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.comsonics.com
Sniffer is a registered trademark of ComSonics, Inc.
QAM Shadow, QAM Sniffer, QAM Compass, QAM Marker, and M3 are trademarks of ComSonics, Inc.
Patent information www.comsonics.com/pat
© 2012 ComSonics, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Return Information
Safely package products returned for repair, calibration, etc. Please enclose contact information as well as a
brief description of the reason for return. Ship product prepaid to:
ComSonics, Inc.
1350 Port Republic Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 USA