Davis Instruments Long-Range Repeater User manual

Long Range Repeater
Installation Addendum
For AC-Powered and Solar-Powered Long Range Repeaters
Models 7653 and 7654

Vantage Pro2™Long Range Wireless Repeater Addendum
Rev. A, August 9, 2005
Document Part Number: 07395.258
For Vantage Pro2 Long Range Wireless Repeaters: 7653, 7654
Compatible with Vantage Pro2 Antennas: 7656, 7660
Vantage Pro®and Vantage Pro2™are trademarks of Davis Instruments Corp., Hayward, CA.
© Davis Instruments Corp. 2005. All rights reserved.
Information in this document subject to change without notice.
3465 Diablo Avenue, Hayward, CA 94545-2778
510-732-9229 • Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] • www.davisnet.com
FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning
Thisequipment hasbeentestedand found tocomplywith thelimits for aClassBdigital device,pursuanttoPart 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a res-
idential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on
and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Changes or modification not expressly approved in writing by Davis Instruments may void the warranty and void
the user's authority to operate this equipment.
FCC ID: IRDWW765Y
IC: 3788A-765Y
EC EMC Compliance
This product complies with the essential protection requirements of the EC EMC Directive 89/336/EC, as tested to
the following directives:
• ETSI EN 300 220
• ETSI EN 301 489
This device has been designed to operate with an antenna having a maximum gain of 11 dBi. Antennas
having a higher gain are strictly prohibited per regulations of Industry Canada. The required antenna
impedance is 50 ohms. To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its
gain should be chosen that the equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) is not more than that
required for successful communication.

1
Welcome!
The Vantage Pro2™Long Range Repeater can be used with any Vantage Pro2 wireless
transmitter station and re-transmits the information to a Vantage Pro2 compatible receiver
(Vantage Pro2 console or Envoy® or another Vantage Pro2 Wireless Repeater). The Long
Range Repeater works in much the same way as the Vantage Pro2 wireless repeater, but
extends the distance between a repeater and a receiver by up to 10 times that of the Van-
tage Pro2 wireless repeater (#7626 and 7627).
Long Repeater Addendum Overview
This addendum provides additions information specific to the installation and use of the
Long Range Repeaters and is intended to be used in conjunction with the Wireless
Repeater Installation Manual. The table below shows the location of the information
required to install and maintain your Long Range Repeaters:
Section/Procedure In This
Addendum In the Wireless Repeater Manual
Components and Hardware X
Repeater Board Contents XX
Additional Antenna Components and Hardware X
Tools for Setup X
Additional Tools for Setup X
Wireless Repeater Introduction X
Repeater Configurations/Architecture X
Long Range Repeater Antenna Configuration X
Applying Power X
Single Repeater Installation X
Advanced Repeater Installation X
Mounting Long Range Wireless Repeater and Antennas X
Connecting External Antennas to the Repeater X
Console and WeatherLink Configuration X
Repeater Communication Troubleshooting X
Long Range Repeater Specification X

2
Repeater Board Contents
The board contained within the repeater enclosure has the following contents:
Transmitter
DIP Switches
Repeater
DIP Switches
Repeater
Test Switch
TX
LED
Status
LED
Battery
Compartment
Solar Power Tab
Receiving
Antenna
Cable
AC Adapter
Transmitting
Antenna
Cable
External
Antenna
Connectors
First In Chain
Jumper
12345678

3
The components unique to the Long Range Repeater board are:
•Transmitting Antenna Cable — Connects the repeater to the external transmitting
antenna.
•Receiving Antenna Cable — Connects the repeater to the external antenna receiving
a station or repeater signal.
Additional Tools for Setup
In addition to the tools required for standard wireless repeater installation, the following
additional tool is required to set up and install the long range repeater:
• 1/2'' socket
Long Range Repeater Hardware
Each long range repeater requires two antennas, one for receiving a station or wireless
repeater, and one for transmitting the data to another repeater or receiver.The two exter-
nal antenna choices are:
• Omni-direction
• Yagi (directional) antenna
You must purchase external antennas appropriate to your network architecture require-
ments
Note: Davis Instruments sells FCC Type approved antennas for the long range repeater. These antennas
are available for US customers only. US customer must use these antennas. Overseas customers
are responsible for procuring their own long range antennas for use with the long range wireless
repeater that comply with local regulations. See “Specifications” on page 13 for more information.
Omni-direction Antenna (#7655)
The omni-direction antenna includes the omni-directional antenna and mounting hard-
ware:
Omni Antenna
5/16"
U-Bolts
48"
Antenna
Cable
Flat Washer
Lock Washer
Nut

4
Yagi (Directional) Antenna (#7660)
The Yagi antenna includes the directional antenna and mounting hardware:
Antenna Uses
The Omni and Yagi antennas transmit and receive with two different radiation patterns.
The long range omni antenna transmits and receives data using the same radiation pattern
as a standard Vantage Pro2 dipole antenna. The Yagi antenna transmits and receives data
packets in a 50°beam of the front of the Yagi antenna. The antenna is limited in the angle
and direction it can transmit and receive packets, but it increases the distance between
station, repeater, and receiver proportionally.
All wireless Davis Instruments stations and standard wireless repeaters come equipped
with standard dipole antennas that have an omni-directional radiation pattern.
To determine which antenna or antenna combination is needed for your network:
• Use an omni antenna if receiving or transmitting in multiple directions.
• Use a Yagi antenna if receiving from or transmitting to stations within a 50° angle of
the antenna.
Note: The best Yagi antenna performance is always achieved by pointing the antenna directly at the
antenna at the other end of the link
Yagi Antenna
5/16"
U-Bolts
48"
Antenna
Cable
Flat Washer
Lock Washer
Nut
External Antenna Radiation Patterns
(radiation pattern 360 )
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Omni-Direction Antenna
(radiation pattern +/- 25 )
Yagi Antenna
)
)
))
(Top View)

5
Antenna Ranges
Each antenna type in a repeater network varies in the distances it can receive and transmit
data. For instance, the dipole antenna on an ISS station transmitting to a dipole antenna
on a console is limited to 1000'. A dipole transmitting to an external omni antenna length-
ens the distance to 1580', because the distance can now be 1.58 times greater between an
omni antenna and a standard dipole than it could with two standard dipole antennas. The
range multiplier table below displays the exact multiplier distance you should use to
determine the antenna distances and which antennas would best suit the needs and dis-
tances in your network:
Use the following multiplier matrix to determine the antenna relationship(s) that will best
suit the needs of your weather station network:
Antenna Configurations
Given the various antenna types and their various distance and range reputations, it
important to explore the types of antenna configurations and how they could impact a
weather network.
Antenna Type Multiplier
Dipole 1
Omni 1.58
Yagi 3.16
Dipole Omni Yagi Total
Multiplier Total Distance
Dipole X1 1000’ (300 m)
Dipole X1.58 1580’ (480 m)
Dipole X3.16 3160' (960 m)
Omni X2.5 2500' (762 m)
Omni X5 5000' (1542 m)
Yagi X10 10000´ (3048 m)

6
The legend below describes the antenna types and how they will be represented in a sam-
ple antenna configuration:
Antenna Topology Legend
Antenna Symbol Antenna Type
Vantage Pro2
Console
Weather
Envoy
Vantage Pro2
Wireless
Repeater
Any
Vantage Pro2
Station
Omni-directional
Long Range
Repeater Antenna
Yagi (Directional)
Long Range
Repeater Antenna

7
The first symbol represents any station/receiver/repeater with a normal dipole or long
range omni antenna. The second symbol represents the long range Yagi antenna.
The diagram on the next page contains all the long range external antenna configurations
available for a network. In this example, there are four repeaters, each with a unique sta-
tion-to-repeater or repeater-to-repeater antenna relationship.
Repeater A has two Yagi antennas, the first antenna receiving data packets from an ISS
station with the standard dipole omni antenna. The transmitting Yagi antenna is sending
the data packets to Repeater B.
The receiving antenna on Repeater B is an omni antenna, that is collecting data from not
only repeater A, but also from two other stations in different directions. The transmitting
Yagi antenna is in direct line to the Yagi antenna on Repeater C.
The transmitting antenna on Repeater C is also a Yagi antenna. Repeater C is also sharing
a line of sight to Repeater D’s receiving Yagi antenna with another station. The omni
transmitting antenna on Repeater D is in range of the console.
Decide which configuration or multiple antenna configurations works best for your net-
work before mounting and installing your long range wireless repeaters.

8
A
C
ISS Station
Temperature
Station
Leaf\Soil
Station
B
D
Soil\
Temperature
Station
ConsoleTransmitting Receiving
Representitive Antenna Configurations

9
Mounting the Repeater and External Antennas
The antenna configuration and wireless repeater can be mounted on a pole at a designated
location. Use the provided U-bolts for the wireless repeater and the U-bolts provided for
each antenna type to install them all to a pole.
Note: To accommodate your antenna configuration (omni and Yagi or Yagi and Yagi), mount the antennas
first before mounting the wireless repeater enclosure.
Omni and Yagi Antenna Combination Assembly
The omni and Yagi combination assembly should be performed from the bottom antenna
(Yagi) up to the top antenna (Omni) so that the omni antenna can be installed flush to the
top of the pole.
1. Place the Yagi on the pole in the general vicinity of the desired station/repeater/
receiver.
2. Place a U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the top and of the antenna
plate.
3. Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends.
Omni Antenna
Yagi Antenna
5/16"
U-Bolts
Flat Washer
Lock Washer
Nut
48"
Antenna
Cables
2" Diam.
Pole

10
4. Using an adjustable wrench or 1/2" wrench, tighten the nuts.
5. Place the second U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the bottom of the
shelter.
6. Put a flat washer, a lock washer, and a hex nut on each bolt end, and tighten the hex
nuts so that the Yagi remains in place, but can still be adjusted.
7. Rotate the Yagi so that is points to the desired station/repeater/receiver.
8. Tighten the hex nuts so that the Yagi is firmly attached.
9. Place the omni antenna a distance above the Yagi antenna, providing space between
the mounted antennas.
Ideally, omni antenna should be mounted flush with the very top of the pole, so that
the pole does not interfere with the antenna’s communication.
10.While holding the omni antenna against the pole, place a U-bolt around the pole and
through the two holes at the top and of the antenna plate.
11.Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends.
12.Using an adjustable wrench or 1/2" wrench, tighten the nuts.
13.Place the second U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the bottom of the
shelter.
Two Yagi Antenna Combination Assembly
The Yagi and Yagi assembly should be performed from the bottom antenna (Yagi) up to
the top antenna (Yagi) so that the Yagi antenna can be installed flush to the top of the
pole.
1. Place the Yagi on the pole in the general vicinity of the desired station/repeater/
receiver.
2. Place a U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the top and of the antenna
plate.
3. Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends.

11
4. Using an adjustable wrench or 1/2" wrench, tighten the nuts.
5. Place the second U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the bottom of the
shelter.
6. Put a flat washer, a lock washer, and a hex nut on each bolt end, and tighten the hex
nuts so that the Yagi remains in place, but can still be adjusted.
7. Rotate the Yagi so that is points to the desired station/repeater/receiver.
8. Tighten the hex nuts so that the Yagi is firmly attached.
9. Rotate the second Yagi so that is points to the desired station/repeater/receiver.
10.While holding the Yagi antenna in the correct alignment against the pole, place a U-
bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the top and of the antenna plate.
11.Place a flat washer, a lock washer and a hex nut on each of the bolt ends.
12.Using an adjustable wrench or 1/2" wrench, tighten the nuts.
13.Place the second U-bolt around the pole and through the two holes at the bottom of the
shelter.
Installing a Repeater on a Pole
Refer to the following illustrations to install the repeater and antennas on a pole:
1. Place the repeater enclosure
on the pole somewhere
below the antennas that
makes it easy for the antenna
cables to be routed around. It
should below the second
antenna.
2. Mount a repeater enclosure
so that the solar panel
receives the maximum
amount of sunshine avail-
able at that location.
3. While holding the shelter
against the pole close to the
bottom, place a U-bolt
around the pole and through
the two holes on at the top of
the shelter.
4. Place a flat washer, a lock
washer and a hex nut on
each of the bolt ends.
5. Using an adjustable wrench
or 7/16" wrench, tighten the
nuts.
6. Place the second U-bolt
around the pole and through the two holes at the bottom of the shelter.
7. Put a flat washer, a lock washer, and a hex nut on each bolt end, and tighten the hex
nuts.
Flat
Washer
Lock
Washer
Hex
Nut
U-Bolt

12
Connecting External Antennas to the Repeater
Once the repeater, and both external antennas have been attached to a pole and posi-
tioned, the antennas should be attached to the respective antenna cables in the wireless
repeater enclosure. To do this:
1. Thread each antenna cable into the individual black cable grommets at the bottom of
the shelter to provide weather-resistant entrances for cables. Make sure that there is
one antenna cable per grommet.
For identification purposes, the transmitting antenna cable should be threaded through
the grommet on the left side and the receiving cable on the right side to align with the
antenna cable connectors on the repeater board.
2. Unscrew the cable clamps and thread each antenna cable through.
3. Connect the transmitting antenna cable to the transmitting repeater connector.
4. Connect the receiving antenna cable to the receiving repeater connector.
5. Once all the antennas are mounted and connected to the repeater, test communication.
Antenna Cables
Cable
Clamps
Receiving
Antenna
Cable
Transmitting
Antenna
Cable
External
Antenna
Connectors

13
Specifications
Complete specifications for all of the Vantage Pro2 weather products as well as the wire-
less repeater are available in the Weather Support section of our website:
http://www.davisnet.com/support/weather/
General
Operating Temperature. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-40 to 150° Fahrenheit (-40 to 65° Celsius)
Non-Operating Temperature. . . . . . . . . .-40 to 150° Fahrenheit (-40 to 65° Celsius)
Current Draw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.5 mA at 4-6 VDC (average draw when not in
Test Mode)
Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .CR 123A 3-volt lithium battery
Battery Life Estimates (with no solar or AC power input):
*Both received directly by the repeater and those IDs repeated from the previous repeater in a chain.
Note: Battery life in excess of two years is expected with normal solar input.
Solar Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.5 Watts
Alternate Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AC power adapter
Housing Material. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .UV-resistant PVC plastic
Dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.25'' x 2.25” x 7.88'' (159 mm x 57 mm x 200 mm)
Weight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.188 lb. (.539 kg)
# of IDs* Estimated Life Expectancy (Months)
14
41.5
8<1

14
Transmit Interval
Repeater Transmit Interval . . . . . . . . . . .2.5625 - 3.0000 per ID.
Wireless Communication (US models)
Transmit/Receive Frequency. . . . . . . .902-928 MHz FHSS.
ID Codes Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Output Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .902-928 MHz FHSS: FCC-certified low power,
less than 8 mW, no license required.
Range
Line of Sight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .up to 2 miles (3 km)
Wireless Communication (OV, EU, UK models)
Transmit/Receive Frequency. . . . . . . .868.0 - 868.6 MHz FHSS (Frequency Hopping
Spread Spectrum)
ID Codes Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Output Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .868.0 - 868.6 MHz FHSS. CE-certified, less than
8 mW, no license required.Antenna gain can not
exceed 8 dBi maximum and no more than four
transmitter IDs to comply with the EN 300 220
regulation.
Range
Line of Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .up to 1.5 km (5000')
Type Gain
Omnidirectional Antenna (#7655) 5 dBi
Yagi Antenna (#7660) 11 dBi