Nautel Vector VR500 Quick start guide

Upgrading Vector
VR500 to VR1000
IS06012
Issue 1.0 05 September 2006
Nautel Limited
10089 Peggy's Cove Road,
Hackett's Cove, NS, Canada B3Z 3J4
T.877 6 nautel (628835) or +1.902.823.2233
F.+1.902.823.3183 [e-mail]
U.S. customers please contact:
Nautel Inc.
201 Target Industrial Circle, Bangor ME 04401
T.877 6 nautel (628835) or +1.207.947.8200
F.+1.207.947.3693 [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
www.nautel.com
©Copyright 2006 NAUTEL. All rights reserved.

IS06012 Upgrading Vector VR500 to VR1000
INFORMATION SHEET
1 INTRODUCTION
This document describes how to upgrade a
Vector VR500 transmitter to a VR1000.
1.1 Equipment Affected
This procedure affects Vector VR500
transmitters that have been specially
configured (by Nautel deviation/waiver
authorization DWA06-197) to allow for an
easy upgrade to VR1000.
1.2 Responsibility for
Implementation of Procedure
This procedure should be carried out by
suitably qualified station maintenance
personnel.
1.3 Scheduling
This procedure may be performed at the
convenience of station maintenance
personnel.
1.4 Manpower Requirements
This procedure requires approximately two
hours for a technician to complete. The
transmitter will be off-air during this
procedure.
1.5 Materials Required
Ensure you have the following items
before performing the upgrade:
- VR500 Transmitter, ready for upgrade
- Additional NAX234A RF Power Block (A4)
- Additional NAP33A RF Power Module(s)
(A4A1, part of additional RF power block,
and optional spare A4A2)
- 50 Ωdummy load, minimum 2,000 W
- Calibrated power meter or RF current probe
- Digital multimeter
- 50 Ωload for RF MONITOR checks
- Cable ties (quantity 15 each of Nautel Part
# HT29, HT30 and HT31 provided)
- Vector NDB Technical Instruction Manual
NOTE
This procedure makes frequent references
to parts of the Vector NDB Technical
Instruction Manual. Make sure you are
familiar with the manual’s contents.
2 UPGRADING THE VR500
TRANSMITTER
This section contains instructions to add
and change assemblies in the VR500
transmitter.
(a) Set the transmitter’s RF output to 0 W.
Switch off the transmitter and the ac
breaker.
(b) Remove the transmitter’s side panels.
2.1 Configuring the Combiner/
Probe Connections
(a) Remove all connections to the
combiner/probe (A1).
(b) Support the combiner/probe and
remove its securing hardware (four
front panel screws and two securing
screws on each side). Remove the
combiner/probe fro the transmitter.
(c) Remove the combiner/probe’s top
cover (six sets of hardware).
NOTE
Nautel has specially modified the
combiner/probe to allow for ease of
upgrade. As a result the combiner/probe
may not appear exactly as shown in the
Vector NDB Technical Instruction Manual.
(d) Inside the combiner/probe:
•Disconnect the wire from A1TB1-1,
noting it originates from the centre of
connector J3.
Upgrading Vector VR500 to VR1000 Page 1 of 4
IS06012 Issue 1.0
•Disconnect wire T1 #1 from A1TB1-3.
Reconnect it to A1TB1-1.

•Connect the wire that originates from
the centre of connector J3 to
A1TB1-3.
•Ensure terminal block hardware is
tight.
(e) Install the combiner/probe assembly’s
top cover (six sets of hardware).
(f) Remove the “WARNING, DO NOT
USE CONNECTOR” labels above
connectors J1 and J2. Add a similar
warning label, using indelible ink,
above connector J3.
(g) Install combiner/probe A1 in the
transmitter. Reinstall all connections
that were removed in step (a), except
leave A3W2P2 disconnected (was
connected to J3).
(h) Remove protective caps from
connectors J1 and J2. Install a
protective cap on connector J3.
Page 2 of 4 Upgrading Vector VR500 to VR1000
Issue 1.0 IS06012
Figure 1: Installing Additional RF Power Block (A4)
MOUNTING
HARDWARE
(8 places,
including 2 on
opposite side)

Upgrading Vector VR500 to VR1000 Page 3 of 4
IS06012 Issue 1.0
2.2 Installing RF Power Block A4
(a) Remove the RF power module(s)
(A4A1 and optional spare A4A2) from
the additional RF power block.
(b) Remove the blank panel from the A4
cabinet position. If necessary remove
the blank panel directly below as well.
(c) Install the additional RF power block
(A4) in the position shown in Figure 1.
Install mounting hardware in the
locations shown.
2.3 Installing Interconnect Cables
(a) Locate the cables provided with the
additional RF power block.
(b) Neatly route the ‘Connectors’ listed in
Table 1 down the transmitter’s left-
hand channel to their ‘Mate’, noting
that the A# prefix corresponds to the
destination assembly (see Figure 1).
Use the tie wraps provided to secure
to the existing cabling.
A1 Combiner/Probe
A3 Original RF Power Block
A4 Additional RF Power Block
A7 Dc Distribution Assembly
A8 Ac Distribution Assembly
Table 1: Mating Connector Information
Connector Mate
A4P1 (optional) A7J3
A4P7 A8J5
A4P8 A8J6
A4W1P1 A3A4J6
A4W1P2 A3A4J7
A4W1P3 A4A4J4
A4W1P4 A4A4J5
A4W2P1 A4A5J1
A4W2P2 A1J2
A3W2P1 A3A5J1
A3W2P2 A1J1
(c) Connect the cables as per Table 1.
(d) Connect A3W2P2 to A1J1. (A1J3 is
not used after the upgrade.)
2.4 Completing Assembly
(a) Reinstall the RF power module(s)
(A4A1 and optional spare A4A2) in RF
power block A4.
(b) Reinstall any blank panels that were
removed.
(c) Reinstall the transmitter’s side panels.

Page 4 of 4 Upgrading Vector VR500 to VR1000
Issue 1.0 IS06012
3 CALIBRATION AND TESTING
This section contains setup, calibration,
and testing to perform on the VR1000
transmitter.
(a) Tune the new RF power block for the
desired frequency by performing steps
(a) through (c) of paragraph 2.4.2,
‘Turn-On Prerequisites’, of the Vector
NDB Technical Instruction Manual.
(b) Connect the transmitter’s RF output to
a 50 Ωdummy load rated for at least
2,000 W.
(c) Switch on the ac breaker.
(d) Using the front panel GUI set the
‘Number of Power blocks expected’
value to 2 (see 4.3.6.1 of the Vector
NDB Technical Instruction Manual).
(e) Turn off (disable) modulation and set
the transmitter to operate in BYPASS
mode (see 3.6.4 of the Vector NDB
Technical Instruction Manual).
(f) Calibrate the transmitter’s output
power (see 4.3.6.4 of the Vector NDB
Technical Instruction Manual).
(g) Calibrate the reflected power
thresholds and output network alarms
(see 4.3.6.7 of the Vector NDB
Technical Instruction Manual).
(h) Set the RF monitor level (see 4.3.6.8
of the Vector NDB Technical
Instruction Manual).
(i) Turn off the transmitter and reconnect
its RF output into the ATU.
(j) Operate the transmitter at the desired
power level. When the system is tuned
normally, set the changeover mode
and RF monitor thresholds (see 4.3.5.5
of the Vector NDB Technical
Instruction Manual) and setup/enable
antenna current feedback (see
4.3.5.10 of the Vector NDB Technical
Instruction Manual).
(k) Return the transmitter to on-air
service.