ITRON BCR900 User manual

900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio
User’s Guide
900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio

Identification
900MHz Belt Clip Radio User’s Guide
23 July 2013 TDC-0889-WIP
900 MHz Belt Clip Radio
Copyright
© 2009-2013 Itron, Inc. All rights reserved.
Confidentiality Notice
The information contained herein is proprietary and confidential and is being provided subject to the condition that (i) it be
held in confidence except to the extent required otherwise by law and (ii) it will be used only for the purposes described
herein. Any third party that is given access to this information shall be similarly bound in writing.
Trademark Notice
Itron is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc.
All other product names and logos in this documentation are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Suggestions
If you have comments or suggestions on how we may improve this documentation, send them to
[e-mail]
If you have questions or comments about the software or hardware product, contact Itron Technical Support Services:
Contact
•Internet: www.itron.com
•E-mail: [e-mail]
•Phone: [phone]
Compliance Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cuse undesired operation.
To comply with FCC requirements, maintain a 20 cm separation between the optional magnetic or glass mount antennas, if
used, and all persons.
Class B Part 15 Compliance Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
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 off and on, 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 or TV technician for help.

Note Modifications to the device or its antenna not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void
the user’s authority to operate the device.
Transportation Classification
The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits operating transmitters and receivers on all commercial aircraft. When
powered, 900 MHz Belt Clip Radios are considered operating transmitters and receivers and cannot be shipped by air. All
product returns must be shipped by ground transportation.
Compliance Statement Canada Déclaration de Conformité
Under Industry Canada regulations, this radio
transmitter may only operate using an antenna of
a type and maximum (or lesser) gain approved
for the transmitter by Industry Canada. To reduce
potential radio interference to other users, the
antenna type and its gain should be so chosen
that the equivalent isotropically radiated power
(e.i.r.p.) is not more than that necessary for
successful communication.
Conformément à la réglementation d'Industrie
Canada, le présent émetteur radio peut fonctionner
avec une antenne d'un type et d'un gain maximal
(ou inférieur) approuvé pour l'émetteur par Industrie
Canada. Dans le but de réduire les risques de
brouillage radioélectrique à l'intention des autres
utilisateurs, il faut choisir le type d'antenne et son
gain de sorte que la puissance isotrope rayonnée
équivalente (p.i.r.e.) ne dépasse pas l'intensité
nécessaire à l'établissement d'une communication
satisfaisante.
This device complies with Industry Canada
license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired operation
of the device.
Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR
d'Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio
exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux
deux conditions suivantes : (1) l'appareil ne doit pas
produire de brouillage, et (2) l'utilisateur de
l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage
radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est
susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.
Caution ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
Use only approved accessories with this equipment. In general all cables
must be high quality, shielded, and correctly terminated. Unapproved
modifications or operation beyond or in conflict with these instructions for
use, may void authorization by the authorities to operate the equipment.

Specific Absorption Rate Data
The FCC ID:E09BCR900/IC:864A-BCR900 model of 900MHz Belt-Clip Radio meets the government’s requirements for
exposure to radio waves.
Your 900 MHz BCR has a radio transmitter and receiver. It is designed and manufactured not to exceed limits for exposure
to radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the U.S. government and by the
Canadian regulatory authorities. These limits are part of comprehensive guidelines and establish permitted levels of RF
energy for the general population. The guidelines are based on standards that were developed by independent scientific
organizations through periodic and thorough evaluation of scientific studies. The standards include a substantial safety
margin designed to assure the safety of all persons, regardless of age or health.
The exposure standard for wireless mobile and/or portable devices employs a unit of measurement known as the specific
absorption rate, or SAR. The SAR limit set by the FCC and by the Canadian regulatory authorities is 1.6 W/kg1. Tests for
SAR are conducted using standard operating positions accepted by the FCC and by Industry Canada with the 900 MHz
BCR transmitting at its highest certified power level in all test frequency bands. Although the SAR is determined at the
highest certified power level, the actual SAR level of the 900 MHz BCR while operating can be well below the maximum
level. This is because the 900 MHz BCR is designed to operate at multiple power levels, depending on the needs of the
customer.
Before a BCR model is available for sale to the public in the U.S. and Canada, it must be tested and certified to the FCC and
Industry Canada that it does not exceed the limit established by each government for safe exposure. The tests are
performed in positions and locations (for example, worn on the body) and reported to the FCC and made available for
review by Industry Canada. The highest SAR value for this model BCR when tested for use when worn on the body as
described in the user’s guide is 0.87 W/kg. While there may be differences between the SAR levels of various BCR models
and at various positions, they all meet the government requirements for safe exposure. Please note that improvements to
this product model could cause differences in the SAR value for later products; and in all cases, products are designed to be
within the guidelines.
----------------------
1 In the United States and Canada, the SAR limit for wireless mobile and/or portable devices used by the public is 1.6 W per
kilogram averaged over 1 g of tissue. The standard incorporates a substantial margin of safety to get additional protection
for the public and to account for any variations in measurements.
Warning
Use this device only in a manner consistent with this user’s
guide.

900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio User’s Guide v
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Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1
Related Documents.................................................................................................. 1
Documentation Conventions .................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics............................................................... 3
Unpacking Your 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio................................................................ 3
Turning the 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio On and Off..................................................... 7
Chapter 3 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features ........................................................... 9
LED Status Indicators............................................................................................. 10
POWER LED..................................................................................................... 10
COMM............................................................................................................... 11
LINK .................................................................................................................. 11
USB Communication Port....................................................................................... 12
Antenna Types ....................................................................................................... 13
Chapter 4 Mounting the 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio.................................................. 15
Chapter 5 Maintaining Your 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio ........................................... 17
Battery Basics......................................................................................................... 18
Replacing the Charging Cradle’s Contact Pins ...................................................... 22
Storing Your 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio ................................................................... 22
Daily Operation....................................................................................................... 23
Chapter 6 Safety ....................................................................................................... 25
AC Power Adapter.................................................................................................. 25
Usage in Hazardous Locations............................................................................... 26
Chapter 7 Troubleshooting...................................................................................... 29
Optimizing Bluetooth Performance......................................................................... 30
Appendix A 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Capabilities and Limitations..................... 33

900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio User’s Guide 1
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Introduction
This document details the features and functions of the 900 MHz Belt
Clip Radio (BCR) and provides information relating to its use and
maintenance.
Related Documents
The 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio is designed for use with handheld and
laptop computers running Itron mobile data collection software
applications. For detailed information about these applications, see
the following documents:
•Endpoint-Link Pro Field Service Representative's Guide
(TDC-0735-xxx)
•Endpoint-Link Endpoint Programming Guide (TDC-0744-xxx)
•Endpoint-Link Installation Guide (TDC-0758-xxx)
•Service-Link Field Service Representative’s Guide
(TDC-0433-xxx)
Documentation Conventions
This guide uses the following documentation conventions:
Convention
Example
Key presses appear in
boldface. Press Enter when complete.
Menu paths appear in
boldface.
From the Start menu, choose
File > Save As.
(This example instructs the user
to choose File from the Start
menu; then choose Save As from
the File menu.)
Hypertext links appear in blue
text.
See Copyright for identification
information.
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Introduction
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Warning This type of note is used to warn of
potential physical harm to the user or hardware. It is
critical that you pay strict attention to Warning notes,
read the information carefully, and heed the advice
and/or instructions.
Tip This type of note provides the user with extra
hints/tips to make a task easier to perform or a
concept easier to understand.
Caution This type of note advises users that failure
to take or avoid a specified action could result in a
loss of data.

900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio User’s Guide 3
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900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics
The 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio is a lightweight, compact device
designed for use with Itron mobile data collection software running
on FC200 and FC300 series handhelds and laptop computers. It is
used for reading, programming, and maintenance of Itron endpoints.
Because of its size and mounting options, the 900 MHz BCR is easy
and comfortable to use.
Unpacking Your 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio
The 900 MHz BCR comes with the following items:
900 MHz Belt Clip Radio
Charging cradle
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900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics
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AC power adapter
Belt clip
Communication cable
When you unpack your BCR, make sure you have all of the
components listed here. If any are missing, contact Itron Support
Services immediately.
Charge the BCR’s battery to 100 percent capacity (this takes about
three and a half hours) before using it. This helps insure the accuracy
of the BCR’s power gauge calculations. Frequent incomplete charges
lead to progressively larger errors that only a full charge can rectify.

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics
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Caution Use only Itron-approved and -supplied
antennas with the 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio. This device
has been designed to operate with an antenna having a
maximum gain of 5.0 dBi. Antennas having a gain
greater than 5.0 dBi are strictly prohibited for use with
this device. The required antenna impedance is 50
ohms.
Use only Itron-approved accessories with this device.
To install the battery
1. Unscrew the four screws that secure the battery compartment
cover to the back of the 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio.
Remove the cover.
2. Four wires protrude from the top of the battery and end in a
small connector.

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics
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Plug the connector into the socket in the top of the battery
compartment.
3. Insert the battery into the compartment, carefully tucking the
wires into the space above the battery.
4. Replace the compartment cover and fasten it in place with the
four screws you removed in step 1.
Caution Be careful not to pinch the battery wires when
replacing the cover

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Basics
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Turning the 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio On and Off
Turn on your 900 MHz BCR as soon as you have unpacked and
charged it.
To conserve battery power, turn the radio off whenever you are not
using it.
To turn the radio on
•Press the ON/OFF button (see 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio
Features on page 9).
The POWER LED shines green for two seconds to indicate the
power is on, and then it flashes to indicate the battery’s power
level (see Conserving the BCR’s Battery). After that, all three
LEDs (POWER, COMM, and LINK) flash in sequence,
indicating the system is ready for use.
To turn the radio off
•Press and hold down the ON/OFF button (see 900 MHz Belt
Clip Radio Features on page 9) for three seconds.
The POWER LED shines red for five seconds to indicate the
radio is turning off.

900 MHz Belt-Clip Radio User’s Guide 9
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900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features
The 900 MHz BCR unit comes equipped with:
•An ON/OFF button (1) (see Turning the 900 MHz Belt Clip
Radio On and Off on page 7)
•Three LED status indicators (2) on top of the unit
•A dual-function USB communication port (3) on the bottom
Also shown here are the two contacts (4) on the bottom of the BCR
through which the radio’s battery is charged when the BCR is in its
cradle.
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900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features
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LED Status Indicators
Three LED status indicators are located on the top of the radio,
labeled POWER, COMM, and LINK.
POWER LED
The POWER LED indicates the power status of the BCR’s battery
pack.
Power status
LED indicator
On/charging Double-flashes green every two seconds
On/fully charged Shines steady green
Off/charging Flashes red and green alternately
Off/fully charged No light
Low battery Flashes red every two seconds
Tip A charging status label is affixed to the bottom of
the BCR’s charging cradle to help you remember the
POWER LED indicators and the corresponding power
statuses.

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features
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COMM
The COMM LED indicates the radio’s Bluetooth connectivity status.
Bluetooth status
LED indicator
On and waiting to
connect
Double-flashes blue every two seconds
On and connected Single-flashes blue every two seconds
USB Connection Flashes red every two seconds
LINK
The LINK LED indicates radio activity.
Radio activity
LED status indicator
Radio off Unlit
Radio enabled, no
actvity
Unlit
Radio activity indicated Flashing yellow light

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USB Communication Port
The 900 MHz Belt Clip Radio has one dual-function communication
port on the bottom of the device.
The port provides the radio with a USB cable connection that enables
it to receive both USB communications and power from a host PC.
In addition, the radio is equipped with an internal port for wireless
Bluetooth communications.
Note When you connect the BCR to a PC, the computer’s
Windows operating system may prompt you to install an
updated driver for the device. If so, download the latest
FTDI driver from the web site of Future Technology
Devices International Ltd. ( http://ftdichip.com). From the
site’s available D2XX direct (not virtual) drivers, select
the one appropriate for your operating system (version
2.06.00 or later). Download the installation .zip file to
your computer and, if needed, the corresponding
installation guide.

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features
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Antenna Types
The 900MHz Belt-Clip Radio is approved for use with the following
antenna types:
Antenna
length
Part number
Description
Gain Type Impedance
8¼-inch
antenna
FC3277ANTENNA (ships with BCR
Accessory Kit)
Use this antenna when reading
endpoints at long range, more than six
feet (1.8 meters) away. This antenna
can also be used for endpoint
programming and reading endpoints at
short range, less than six feet (1.8
meters) away.
2.1 dBi Vertical
Omni
50 ohms
2½-inch
antenna
FC3280ANTENNA (optional)
Use this antenna when working with
endpoints at short range, less than six
feet (1.8 meters) away.
Unity Vertical
Omni
50 ohms
2¾-inch
antenna
OEM-0718-001 (optional)
Car window (glass) mount antenna.
Use with Reverse gender SMA male
to female adapter part number OEM-
0719-001
3.0 dBi Vertical
Omni
50 ohms
26½-inch
antenna
MSE-0122-002 (antenna)
CBA-0196-003 (base and cable)
(optional)
Vehicle roof mount (magnetic)
antenna.
5.0 dBi Vertical
Omni
50 ohms
This device has been designed to operate with the antennas listed
above, and having a maximum gain of 5.0 dBi. Antennas not
included in this list or having a gain greater than 5.0 dBi are strictly
prohibited for use with this device. The required antenna impedance
is 50 ohms. To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the
antenna type and its gain should be so chosen that the equivalent
isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is not more than that permitted
for successful communication.

900 MHz Belt Clip Radio Features
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Industry Canada Conformity
This radio transmitter (IC: 864A-BCR900) has been approved by
Industry Canada to operate with the antenna types listed
previously with the maximum permissible gain and required
antenna impedance for each antenna type indicated. Antenna
types not included in this list, having a gain greater than the
maximum gain indicated for that type, are strictly prohibited for
use with this device.
Le présent émetteur radio (IC: 864A-BCR900) a été approuvé
par Industrie Canada pour fonctionner avec les types d'antenne
énumérés ci-dessus et ayant un gain admissible maximal et
l'impédance requise pour chaque type d'antenne. Les types
d'antenne non inclus dans cette liste, ou dont le gain est supérieur
au gain maximal indiqué, sont strictement interdits pour
l'exploitation de l'émetteur.
Caution Use OEM-0718-001 and MSE-0122-002 antennas in
a mobile configuration only.