JPS ARA-1 User manual

INTEROPERABILITY NOW 1
INTEROPERABILITY NOW
Installation and Operation Manual
ARA-1
Radio to SIP Interface
Designed and Manufactured by:
JPS Interoperability Solutions
5800 Departure Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616
919-790-1011
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
www.jpsinterop.com
P/N 5060-800200 Revision 4.4 February 2019

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2INTEROPERABILITY NOW
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
(FCC) COMPLIANCE NOTICE:
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE NOTICE
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference in which case users will be required to correct the interference at
their own expense.
CAUTION
Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by JPS
Interoperability Solutions could void the user’s authority to operate this
equipment.
NOTICE
JPS Interoperability Solutions reserves the right to make changes to the
equipment and specifications without prior notice.
PROPRIETARY STATEMENT
The information contained in this manual is the property of JPS Interoperability
Solutions and is intended for the purchaser’s use only. It may not be reproduced
without the expressed written consent of JPS Interoperability Solutions. © 2019
JPS Interoperability Solutions, Inc.
JPS Interoperability Solutions, Inc.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
5800 Departure Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616

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INTEROPERABILITY NOW 3
Table of Contents
1GENERAL INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 SCOPE...................................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2.1 General............................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2.2 SIP Interface....................................................................................................................................1-1
1.2.3 Why SIP?.........................................................................................................................................1-2
1.3 NETWORK DETAILS ..............................................................................................................................1-2
1.4 APPLICATIONS ......................................................................................................................................1-3
1.4.1 Operation within a SIP PBX ...........................................................................................................1-3
1.4.2 Operation Outside of a SIP PBX.....................................................................................................1-4
1.4.3 Use of the ARA-1 with a Repeater System.......................................................................................1-5
1.5 CONNECTION TO DEVICES OTHER THAN A RADIO................................................................................1-6
1.6 INITIATING CONNECTIONS VIA THE ARA-1 AND ASSOCIATED RADIO..................................................1-6
1.6.1 Using a Web Browser......................................................................................................................1-6
1.6.2 Using DTMF ...................................................................................................................................1-6
1.6.3 Using Squelch Breaks......................................................................................................................1-6
1.7 SIP INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................................................................1-6
1.8 COR &PTT SIGNALING IN THE SIP ENVIRONMENT.............................................................................1-7
1.8.1 COR Handling in the SIP Environment...........................................................................................1-7
1.8.2 Deriving COR from the Local Radio...............................................................................................1-8
1.8.3 Pushing the COR Indication across the IP Network .......................................................................1-8
1.8.4 Deriving COR at the Distant Side...................................................................................................1-9
1.9 SPECIFICATIONS..................................................................................................................................1-10
1.10 EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES SUPPLIED ..........................................................................................1-11
1.11 OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:NOT SUPPLIED ..............................................................................................1-12
2INSTALLATION..........................................................................................................................................2-1
2.1 GENERAL..............................................................................................................................................2-1
2.2 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION...............................................................................................................2-1
2.3 RESHIPMENT OF EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................2-1
2.4 INSTALLATION OVERVIEW....................................................................................................................2-2
2.5 INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS .........................................................................................................2-3
2.5.1 Internal Configuration ....................................................................................................................2-6
2.6 POWER REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................2-6
2.7 INSTALLATION CHECKLIST ...................................................................................................................2-6
2.8 REAR PANEL ADJUSTMENTS AND CONNECTORS...................................................................................2-6
2.8.1 DC Input Connector (J6).................................................................................................................2-6
2.8.2 Connection to Radio or Another Four-Wire Device (J7)................................................................2-6
2.8.3 Audio Level Adjustment Potentiometers and Input Test Point........................................................2-7
2.8.4 Network Connection (J3) ................................................................................................................2-8
2.8.5 Serial Port Connection (J4) ............................................................................................................2-8
3CONFIGURATION......................................................................................................................................3-1
3.1 GENERAL..............................................................................................................................................3-1
3.2 CONFIGURATION DETAILS:NETWORK INTERFACE ...............................................................................3-1
3.2.1 Basic Unit Status and Information ..................................................................................................3-2
3.2.2 Network Settings..............................................................................................................................3-3
3.2.3 SIP Settings .....................................................................................................................................3-3
3.2.4 SIP Actions......................................................................................................................................3-7
3.3 CONFIGURATION DETAILS:RADIO INTERFACE .....................................................................................3-8
3.3.1 Radio COR Settings Options...........................................................................................................3-8
3.3.2 Radio PTT Timeout .......................................................................................................................3-10
3.3.3 COR Priority.................................................................................................................................3-10

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4INTEROPERABILITY NOW
3.3.4 Always Pass Audio ........................................................................................................................3-10
3.3.5 Network COR Settings Options .....................................................................................................3-11
3.3.6 Audio Adjustments.........................................................................................................................3-13
3.4 OUTGOING CALL CONFIGURATION .....................................................................................................3-14
3.4.1 Configuring Outgoing Call Initiation via DTMF ..........................................................................3-15
3.4.2 Configuring Outgoing Call Initiation Via COR Cadence..............................................................3-15
3.4.3 Automated Dialing Methods..........................................................................................................3-17
3.4.4 Automatic Redialing......................................................................................................................3-18
3.5 CALL MANAGEMENT ..........................................................................................................................3-19
3.6 ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.............................................................................................................3-20
3.6.1 Password Protection .....................................................................................................................3-20
3.6.2 Firmware Upgrade........................................................................................................................3-21
3.6.3 Remote Reboot of the ARA-1 .........................................................................................................3-21
3.7 RESETTING THE ARA-1 TO FACTORY DEFAULTS................................................................................3-21
4OPERATION.................................................................................................................................................4-1
4.1 GENERAL ..............................................................................................................................................4-1
4.2 FRONT PANEL INDICATORS...................................................................................................................4-1
4.2.1 Power LED......................................................................................................................................4-1
4.2.2 Link Active LED ..............................................................................................................................4-1
4.2.3 Channel Active LED........................................................................................................................4-1
4.2.4 Audio Input LED..............................................................................................................................4-1
4.3 ARA-1 OPERATION...............................................................................................................................4-1
4.3.1 Operation at Power-Up...................................................................................................................4-1
4.3.2 Basic Operation...............................................................................................................................4-2
4.3.3 Outgoing Call Initiation ..................................................................................................................4-2
4.3.4 Call Progress Monitoring................................................................................................................4-3
4.3.5 System Information Prompts ...........................................................................................................4-4
5SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING ..............................................................................................................5-1
5.1 SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING.................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 MISSED FIRST SYLLABLES:RADIO SIDE ...............................................................................................5-1
5.3 MISSED SYLLABLES MID-CONVERSATION:RADIO SIDE .......................................................................5-2
5.4 MISSED FIRST SYLLABLES:NETWORK SIDE..........................................................................................5-2
5.5 MISSED SYLLABLES MID-CONVERSATION:NETWORK SIDE ................................................................5-2
5.6 EXPLANATION:TRUNKED CHANNEL ACQUISITION DELAY...................................................................5-3
5.7 PING PONG............................................................................................................................................5-6
5.8 FALSE KEYING......................................................................................................................................5-6
6ARA-1 FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS) .............................................................................6-1
6.1 GENERAL ..............................................................................................................................................6-1
7INDEX............................................................................................................................................................7-5

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INTEROPERABILITY NOW 5
List of Figures
FIGURE 1-1 ARA-1 BASIC BLOCK DIAGRAM......................................................................................................1-2
FIGURE 1-2 EXAMPLE OF THE ARA-1 IN SIP PBX NETWORK............................................................................1-3
FIGURE 1-3 EXAMPLES OF ARA-1 USE OVER INTERNET....................................................................................1-4
FIGURE 1-4 ARA-1 WITH A REPEATER SYSTEM..................................................................................................1-5
FIGURE 1-5 RADIO TO ARA-1 TO IP NETWORK TO ARA-1 TO RADIO................................................................1-8
FIGURE 2-1 OUTLINE DIMENSIONS .....................................................................................................................2-4
FIGURE 2-2 FRONT AND REAR PANEL VIEWS .....................................................................................................2-5
FIGURE 3-1 STATUS/INFORMATION PAGE...........................................................................................................3-2
FIGURE 3-2 NETWORK SETTINGS PAGE ..............................................................................................................3-3
FIGURE 3-3 SIP SETTINGS PAGE .........................................................................................................................3-4
FIGURE 3-4 SIP ACTIONS PAGE ..........................................................................................................................3-7
FIGURE 3-5 RADIO SETTINGS PAGE ....................................................................................................................3-8
FIGURE 3-6 DIALING PAGE—OUTGOING CALL CONFIGURATION ....................................................................3-14
FIGURE 3-7 CALL MANAGEMENT PAGE............................................................................................................3-19
FIGURE 3-8 ADMINISTRATION PAGE.................................................................................................................3-20
FIGURE 4-1 CALL MANAGEMENT PAGE..............................................................................................................4-3
FIGURE 5-1 “SHOOT”VERSUS “DON’T SHOOT”..................................................................................................5-4
FIGURE 5-2 WHY AUDIO DELAY IS CRUCIAL .....................................................................................................5-5
List of Tables
FIGURE 1-1 ARA-1 BASIC BLOCK DIAGRAM......................................................................................................1-2
FIGURE 1-2 EXAMPLE OF THE ARA-1 IN SIP PBX NETWORK............................................................................1-3
FIGURE 1-3 EXAMPLES OF ARA-1 USE OVER INTERNET....................................................................................1-4
FIGURE 1-4 ARA-1 WITH A REPEATER SYSTEM..................................................................................................1-5
FIGURE 1-5 RADIO TO ARA-1 TO IP NETWORK TO ARA-1 TO RADIO................................................................1-8
FIGURE 2-1 OUTLINE DIMENSIONS .....................................................................................................................2-4
FIGURE 2-2 FRONT AND REAR PANEL VIEWS .....................................................................................................2-5
FIGURE 3-1 STATUS/INFORMATION PAGE...........................................................................................................3-2
FIGURE 3-2 NETWORK SETTINGS PAGE ..............................................................................................................3-3
FIGURE 3-3 SIP SETTINGS PAGE .........................................................................................................................3-4
FIGURE 3-4 SIP ACTIONS PAGE ..........................................................................................................................3-7
FIGURE 3-5 RADIO SETTINGS PAGE ....................................................................................................................3-8
FIGURE 3-6 DIALING PAGE—OUTGOING CALL CONFIGURATION ....................................................................3-14
FIGURE 3-7 CALL MANAGEMENT PAGE............................................................................................................3-19
FIGURE 3-8 ADMINISTRATION PAGE.................................................................................................................3-20
FIGURE 4-1 CALL MANAGEMENT PAGE..............................................................................................................4-3
FIGURE 5-1 “SHOOT”VERSUS “DON’T SHOOT”..................................................................................................5-4
FIGURE 5-2 WHY AUDIO DELAY IS CRUCIAL .....................................................................................................5-5

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6INTEROPERABILITY NOW
Glossary
ATA
Analog Telephone
Adapter
A device that interfaces an analog telephone to a SIP
network.
COR
Carrier Operated Relay
A signal from a receiver that indicates when a carrier or
signal is being received and the receiver is unsquelched.
Sometimes called COS (Carrier Operated Squelch).
COS
Carrier Operated
Squelch
See COR.
DHCP
Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol
A method of automatically assigning a dynamic IP
address to an Ethernet device at startup time. DHCP
conserves IP addresses in networks among devices that
do not stay permanently connected.
DSP
Digital Signal Processor
A type of microprocessor, optimized for signal
processing functions.
IP
Internet Protocol
A protocol designed to allow communications between
computers on different networks.
LAN
Local Area Network
A group of computers and associated devices that share a
common communications line, typically within a small
geographic area. Compare with WAN.
PBX
Private Branch
Exchange
A private telephone system serving an office, campus, or
similar setting.
PTT
Push-to-talk
A signal to a radio that activates the transmit function
and controls the actual transmission of radio frequency
energy over the air. Also called a keyline.
SIP
Session Initiation
Protocol
A protocol for initiating, modifying, and terminating
multimedia sessions.
SIP Phone
A telephone that uses SIP as its signaling protocol.
Soft Phone
A computer program that provides SIP Phone capability.
TCP
Transmission Control
Protocol
An additional layer to the Internet Protocol, which
ensures delivery of packets sent across the network. It
can resolve situations such as lost packets or packets
arriving out of order. Compare with UDP.
UDP
User Datagram Protocol
An additional layer to the Internet Protocol, which does
not ensure delivery of packets, but which offers more
speed and lower transmission overhead than TCP.
URI
Universal Resource
Identifier
A string of characters that identify (name) a resource to
facilitate interactions over a network.
VoIP
Voice over Internet
Protocol
A method of sending voice communications across a
digital network.
WAN
Wide Area Network
A network that is spread out over a wide geographic
area, such as around a city or state. It may include other
public or shared networks. Compare with LAN.

INTEROPERABILITY NOW 1-1
1General Information
1.1 Scope
This instruction manual provides the information necessary to install and operate the ARA-1 TM
Radio-to-SIP Interface.
1.2 Description
The JPS Interoperability Solutions ARA-1 Radio-to-SIP Interface is a network device used for
interfacing radio equipment to SIP networks, therebyextending the coverage and capability of
these networks. It is comparable to an ATA (analog telephone adapter), which allows a standard
telephone to operate on a SIP network; the ARA-1 provides the same capability to a radio. The
ARA-1 makes special provision for the differences between radios and telephones. In particular,
the half-duplex nature of radios and the control signals they require are accommodated by the
ARA-1.
Designed for years of continuous operation in mission-critical applications and remote locations,
the ARA-1 has no moving parts and requires no periodic shutdown or maintenance. Startup upon
power on is typically less than 10 seconds.
1.2.1 General
The ARA-1 provides a seamless interface between a radio and an IP-based network using SIP.
This brings to existing SIP networks all the features inherent in a radio system, including the
ability to wirelessly reach otherwise inaccessible areas. For example, an ARA-1 can be used with
an LMR system to extend the SIP Network into areas of rugged terrain, across bodies of water,
or into tunnels.
The ARA-1 also provides to radio networks all the features available with SIP. These include
interoperable communication among disparate radio systems that is as easy as creating a typical
PBX conference call and also other PBX features such as Call Logging, Call Forwarding, and
Call Recording.
1.2.2 SIP Interface
The SIP side of the ARA-1 assigns its associated radio a unique extension that can easily be
dialed using any IP phone, softphone, or other voice communications device associated with the
SIP PBX. Any number of radios, SIP Phones, or other audio devices in the network can be
conferenced together by the SIP PBX.

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Alternatively, the ARA-1 can assign an IP address to its associated radio for communications
over any IP-based network or the Internet with another SIP-enabled device (such as a SIP Phone,
a softphone, or another radio/ARA-1 pair). The radio side of the interface makes full use of the
extensive suite of digital signal processor algorithms, hundreds of interface cables, and numerous
problem-solving techniques that JPS has evolved during more than a decade as the market leader
in radio interoperability.
Figure 1-1 ARA-1 Basic Block Diagram
1.2.3 Why SIP?
The main goals of modern communications system design include: convergence of voice, data,
and video; standards-based, open protocols; and individual IP addresses for all end devices.
Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, is widely seen as the preferred pathway to achieving these goals.
SIP is a signaling protocol used to create, manage, and terminate sessions in an IP-based network.
A session could be a simple two-party call or a multimedia conference session. SIP focuses on
the setup, modification, and termination of sessions allowing versatility of the format and content
of the data being shared. Since SIP is a standards-based, open protocol, SIP system operators can
pick and choose among third-party vendors when selecting existing or future applications to add
to their systems. This avoids the single-vendor “lock-in” that can occur with closed proprietary
protocols. JPS also sells a similar device, the NXU-2A, which uses a proprietary protocol that
JPS created for best operation with radio networks.
1.3 Network Details
The ARA-1 is a 10/100BASE-T Ethernet device, and each unit has a unique Ethernet address
and an RJ-45 physical interface jack. A 10/100BASE-T device operates at either 10 or 100 Mbps
and interconnects to an Ethernet hub or switch using standard CAT 5 twisted pair cable. The
maximum cable length between an ARA-1 and its hub port is 100 meters. With the right
connective equipment (recommended or supplied by JPS), the ARA-1’s Ethernet port can be
linked with virtually any LAN, WAN, or the Internet, no matter which topology orcabling system
is in use.

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1.4 Applications
The ARA-1 can be used either as part of a SIP PBX or without one. Often the radio associated
with the ARA-1 will be part of a repeater system. The features of each of these configurations
are explained in the following sections. It is important to read all three of the following sections
to fully understand the application of radios to SIP networks.
1.4.1 Operation within a SIP PBX
Figure 1-2 illustrates a basic ARA-1 application within a SIP PBX network. The PBX (typically
a software application running on a server) assigns extensions (associated to the IP addresses) to
each of the communications devices within the system. There can be any number of the end-user
devices (Sip Phones, softphones, analog phone/ATA pairs, or radio/ARA-1 pairs) in the PBX.
When a SIP Phone user wants to place a call to another SIP Phone, he or she can simply dial that
phone’s extension. The same process is followed to place a call to the radio: simply dial the ARA-
1’s extension. The SIP Phone user does not need to understand the esoterica of basic radio
operation; this is handled by the ARA-1.
Figure 1-2 Example of The ARA-1 in SIP PBX Network
Similarly, calls to the radio can be placed by the softphone or the analog telephone, interfaced by
the ATA, simply by entering the extension assigned to the ARA-1.
The SIP PBX can provide a multitude of functions and features that expand and enhance the
communications process. These include conferencing, voice mail, call logging, call forwarding,
and essentially any other feature available with a commercial telephone service. Because the
ARA-1 is based on the open-source SIP protocol, a wide range of PBX features are available
from a wide range of sources.

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NOTE: The PBX conferencing function, with multiple radio/ARA-1 pairs, provides
network-based interoperability between disparate radio systems. For example,
an 800 MHz trunked radio can be conferenced together with a P25 digital radio
and a VHF conventional radio.
1.4.2 Operation Outside of a SIP PBX
The ARA-1 can also be used without a SIP PBX, but without the features provided by the PBX,
so that only one-to-one connections are possible. Three variations are illustrated in Figure 1-3.
The network employed can be any type of IP-based network, including the Internet.
Figure 1-3 Examples of ARA-1 Use Over Internet
The first setup in Figure 1-3 shows a connection between a SIP Phone and a radio. Without the
extensions provided by the PBX, the SIP Phone “dials” the IP address of the ARA-1. See Section
1.6 for an overview of how to initiate connections via the ARA-1 rather than by the SIP Phone.
NOTE: The radio shown in the first illustration in Figure 1-3 may be set as
“receive-only” and used to monitor information and pass it over the network. For
example, it may be receiving local weather or traffic reports or scanning
frequencies set aside for public safety use.