PCTEL SeeGull EXflex User manual

Hardware Reference Manual
Document Number: 100092-00
Revision F
March 2016
SeeGull®EX
flex
®

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc. Page ii Revision F
Table of Contents
1. Preface ..........................................................................................................................................4
1.1. Purpose..........................................................................................................................................4
1.2. Applicability ..................................................................................................................................4
1.3. Notices...........................................................................................................................................6
1.4. Compliance....................................................................................................................................6
2. Overview and System Requirements..............................................................................................7
2.1. General Description......................................................................................................................7
2.2. Initial Inspection............................................................................................................................7
2.3. Options..........................................................................................................................................8
2.4. System Requirements...................................................................................................................10
3. Installation...................................................................................................................................11
3.1. Integration...................................................................................................................................11
3.2. Setup............................................................................................................................................12
4. Operation ....................................................................................................................................13
4.1. Calibration ..................................................................................................................................13
4.2. Software Upgrades......................................................................................................................13
4.3. Controlling the Scanner and Acquiring Data..............................................................................13
4.4. Holdover Option Operation ........................................................................................................13
5. RF Antenna Information..............................................................................................................14
5.1. Antenna Verification....................................................................................................................14
5.2. Cellular Antennas........................................................................................................................14
5.3. GPS Antenna Information ...........................................................................................................15
6. Walk Test Kit Information ...........................................................................................................16
6.1. Walk Test Kits..............................................................................................................................16
6.2. Indoor RF Antenna Information..................................................................................................16
7. Troubleshooting...........................................................................................................................17
7.1. No Power: Receiver LEDs not Illuminated .................................................................................17
7.2. Changing the Fuse in the Power Plug.........................................................................................17
7.3. Received Signal Strength Appears Low.......................................................................................17
8. Support ........................................................................................................................................18
8.1. Contact Information ....................................................................................................................18
8.2. Warranty Information..................................................................................................................18
8.3. Calibration Notice.......................................................................................................................19
8.4. Return Material Authorization Procedure for the SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver ...............19
9. Accessories and Service Options.................................................................................................20
9.1. Accessories..................................................................................................................................20
9.2. Service Options............................................................................................................................20

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc. Page iii Revision F
List of Figures
Figure 1 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver...............................................................................................................7
Figure 2 - Front View of SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver Showing Connections.....................................................7
Figure 3 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver top view...............................................................................................11
Figure 4 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver side view .............................................................................................11
Figure 5 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver rear view.............................................................................................11
Figure 6 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver front display........................................................................................12
Figure 7 - OP123.........................................................................................................................................................14
Figure 8 - OP278H......................................................................................................................................................14
Figure 9 - OP27H8 and OP379H Gain.......................................................................................................................14
Figure 10 - OP379H....................................................................................................................................................15
Figure 11 - OP034H....................................................................................................................................................15
Figure 12 - OP207 Walk Test Kit................................................................................................................................16
Figure 13 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver Power Plug .......................................................................................17
List of Tables
Table 1: Phone Numbers.............................................................................................................................................18
Table 2: Email Addresses............................................................................................................................................18
Table 3: SeeGull EXflex Cables ..................................................................................................................................20
Table 4: SeeGull EXflex Antennas...............................................................................................................................20
Table 5: SeeGull EXflex Walk Test Kit Accessories....................................................................................................20
Table 6: SeeGull EXflex Calibration Service ..............................................................................................................21
Table 7: SeeGull EXflex Repair Service......................................................................................................................21
Table 8: SeeGull EXflex Warranty Options.................................................................................................................21

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc., RF Solutions Page 4 Revision F
1. Preface
1.1. Purpose
This document is a reference manual for the
SeeGull EXflex. It describes the main
features and options available for SeeGull
EXflex scanner and provides instructions
related to setup, operation, and
maintenance of the scanners. This
document may be supplemented by other
documentation for SeeGull EXflex scanner
or related PCTEL products and applications.
1.2. Applicability
The SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver
conducts drive test and site-specific
measurements of mobile networks around
the world to optimize wireless network
performance, survey tower sites, monitor
base stations, demodulate RF signals and
analyze wireless market data.
The SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver is a
software-defined receiver, capable of
supporting multiple protocols and any
supported cellular band. Two configurations
are available: the 6900 model which
supports frequencies between 300 MHz and
3.8 GHz and the 6901 model with supports
frequencies between 150 MHz and 6 GHz.
It can be configured for TD-LTE, LTE FDD,
UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)], CDMA, EV-DO,
GSM and TD-SCDMA technologies which
can all be measured simultaneously. The
following bands are supported for LTE FDD
with a subset of these bands supported for
UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)], CDMA, EV-DO
and GSM:
R-GSM-900
E-UTRA 1 (2100 MHz UMTS)
E-UTRA 2 (1900 MHz)
E-UTRA 3 (1800 MHz)
E-UTRA 4 (2100 MHz AWS)
E-UTRA 5 (850 MHz)
E-UTRA 6 (850 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 7 (2600 MHz IMT)
E-UTRA 8 (900 MHz UMTS)
E-UTRA 9 (1700 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 10 (Ext. 2100 MHz AWS)
E-UTRA 11 (1500 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 12 (Lower 700 MHz A/B/C)
E-UTRA 12/17 Lower 700 MHz
A/B/C and Lower 700 MHz B/C)
E-UTRA 13 (Upper 700 MHz C)
E-UTRA 13/14L (Upper 700 MHz C
and lower half Upper 700 MHz D)
E-UTRA 14 (Upper 700 MHz D)
E-UTRA 17 (Lower 700 MHz B/C)
E-UTRA 18 (Lower 800 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 19 (Upper 800 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 20 (800 MHz EU)
E-UTRA 21 (1510 MHz Japan)
E-UTRA 22 (3500 MHz )
E-UTRA 23 (2000 MHz)
E-UTRA 25 (1990 MHz [Ext. 1900])
E-UTRA 26 (Upper Ext 850 MHz)
E-UTRA 27 (Lower Ext 850 MHz)
E-UTRA 28 (700 MHz APAC)
E-UTRA 29 (US 700 MHz)
E-UTRA 30 (2300 MHz WCS)
E-UTRA 31 (450 MHz)
E-UTRA 66 (AWS-3)
The following bands are supported for TD-
LTE:
E-UTRA 33 (1900 MHz)
E-UTRA 34 (2000 MHz)
E-UTRA 35 (1900 MHz Lower)
E-UTRA 36 (1900 Upper)
E-UTRA 37 (1900 MHz Center Gap)
E-UTRA 38 (2.6 GHz)
E-UTRA 39 (1.9 GHz)
E-UTRA 40 (2.3 GHz)
E-UTRA 41 (2.5 GHz)
E-UTRA 42 (3.4 GHz)
E-UTRA 43 (3.6 GHz)
E-UTRA 44 (700 MHz )
TDD Proprietary (1.4 MHz)

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
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For more information about the SeeGull
EXflex, please contact your sales or
marketing representative (contact
information provided in Section 8).
Features
Fast scanning speeds
High dynamic range
Low false detection rate
Built-in GPS
LTE FDD Measurement Averaging
Blind Scan for all technologies
LTE (FDD), TD-LTE, UMTS
(WCDMA/HSPA(+), GSM Layer 3
USB Interface
Plug-and-play capabilities
Compatibility with industry-leading
drive test, data analysis, and RF
planning tools
Modular architecture for easy
upgrades
Sleek, durable design
Supported Measurements
LTE (FDD and TDD)
Maximum # of Channels: 24
eTop N Reference Signal Scan
P-SCH/S-SCH
RSRP, RSRQ
CINR
Cyclic Prefix
Time Offset
Multi-Path Delay Spread
TD-LTE Specific
Uplink/Downlink Configuration #
DwPTS Symbol
GSM
BSIC Decoding Scan
RSSI Channel Scan
C/I (Co-Channel Interference)
UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)]
Maximum # of Channels: 24
Top N Scan
P-SCH/S-SCH Scan
Io
Ec/Io and Aggregate Ec/Io
Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR)
Rake Finger Count
Time Offset
Delay Spread
CDMA
Maximum # of Channels: 24
Top N Scan
Ec
Ec/Io and Aggregate Ec/Io
Pilot Delay and Delay
EV-DO
Maximum # of Channels: 24
Top N Scan
Ec
Ec/Io and Aggregate Ec/Io
Pilot Delay and Delay
TD-SCDMA
Maximum # of Channels: 34
Top N Beacon Scan
Ec
Io
P-CCPCH Midamble Ec/Io
Sync DL Ec/Io
Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR)
Time Offset
MULTI-TECHNOLOGY
Aggregate Power measurement
(RSSI, EPS or Spectrum Analysis)
Delay and Signal Strength of
neighboring cells
RSSI Channel Scans
Spectrum Analyzer measurements
High Performance GPS Receiver
Blind Scan
Blind Scan is available for LTE FDD,
TD-LTE, UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA], GSM,
CDMA, EV-DO and TD-SCDMA

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc., RF Solutions Page 6 Revision F
technologies. This feature scans the
selected band and provides the active
channel numbers. Blind Scan is useful
for conducting a full band network
search where prior knowledge about
active channels is incomplete or
unknown. It is also beneficial for network
benchmarking to obtain a first-glance
view of the RF infrastructure density and
configuration.
For more information please visit
www.pctel.com.
1.3. Notices
WARNING: These devices have no
protection against lightning. Please turn off
the scanning receiver during a thunderstorm
and, if applicable, take the antenna inside
the car before a thunderstorm approaches.
The scanning receiver itself is not intended
for “in weather” outdoor use.
NOTICE: There are no user serviceable
parts inside the SeeGull EXflex Scanning
Receiver.
1.4. Compliance
RoHS Compliance
The PCTEL SeeGull EXflex Scanning
Receiver being delivered to participating
European nations is compliant to EU
Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS).
The PCTEL SeeGull EXflex Scanning
Receiver is compliant to "Administrative
Measure on the Control of Pollution Caused
by Electronic Information Products" ("China
RoHS").
ISO Compliance
RF Solutions Quality Management System
has been certified to be compliant with ISO
9001:2008.
.

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
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2. Overview and System
Requirements
This section describes the SeeGull EXflex
Scanning Receiver, including the applicable
system configuration and software
requirements.
2.1. General Description
The SeeGull EXflex is a tool for signal
strength and modulation measurement,
engineered for the rigors of mobile network
testing during planning, installation and
maintenance of wireless networks. The
SeeGull EXflex is shown in Figure 1.
The USB communication link allows the
host to control the operation of the scanner
and to receive measurement results. (Refer
to Section 4 for more details.)
Figure 1 - SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver
2.2. Initial Inspection
Upon receipt of the scanning receiver,
inspect the shipping container and verify
that the contents are complete and match
the packing list. The EXflex receiver should
look similar to the picture in Figure 2.If the
contents are incomplete or the SeeGull
EXflex Scanning Receiver appears
damaged, please call the Technical Support
line at [phone].
Figure 2 - Front View of SeeGull EXflex Scanning
Receiver Showing Connections
GPS Antenna Port
Power
Input
USB Interface
GPS Status LED
System Status LED
RF
Antenna
Port

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc., RF Solutions Page 8 Revision F
2.3. Options
Optional multi-technology measurements
available for the SeeGull EXflex are
described below. These options can be
installed at the time of purchase or later on
as a field upgradeable option with the
exception of OP640, CDMA/EV-DO
Holdover Option. Refer to section 9 for a
complete list of options available for the
SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver and their
part numbers. Please contact your PCTEL
sales or marketing representative for pricing
and delivery information.
Enhanced Power Scan (EPSTM) Option
(OP602)
EPS Mode provides customizable power
measurements, improving flexibility and
precision over RSSI and Spectrum Analyzer
measurements for highly-tuned analysis of
individual parts of the RF signal. EPS
features include:
Absolute Time Stamp
Auto and Immediate Measurement
Modes
Ability to set both Time and Frequency
parameters
Measure Frequency Spans from 7.5 kHz
to 20 MHz user selectable in multiples of
2.5 kHz
Measures Time Periods from 1 chip (50
µs) to 20,000 chips (1sec)
Spectrum Analyzer Option (OP601)
The built-in Spectrum Analyzer feature
provides an effective means to detect and
troubleshoot frequency-related problems.
The Spectrum Analyzer shows a wealth of
information about the signal spectrum that is
not obtainable from the standard channel
power measurement. The Spectrum
Analyzer measures and reports power
spectral density using frequency domain
techniques (a segmented FFT approach
that ensures various resolution bandwidths
and fast update rates), whereas RSSI
measurements use analog and digital filters
to select the right frequency band and
subsequently measure total power.
One advantage of this approach is that the
Spectrum Analyzer can analyze the fast-
changing spectrum of an unstable
transmitter. The RSSI measurement in this
case will most often show a normal smooth
picture, as it averages a limited set of data
over time. The Spectrum Analyzer,
however, if used with an appropriate
resolution bandwidth, will reveal erratic
signal behavior due to its fast update rate
and unaveraged data.
The user may set the resolution bandwidth
to 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 or 160 kHz or 2, 4 or 8
MHz. Output data may be set to an average
of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 sweeps.
LTE Power Analysis (OP632)
LTE Power Analysis is available for TD-LTE
and provides power of the resource block
and slot of the TD-LTE frame. This enables
users to identify interference that is time
(slots) or frequency (RBs)-selective, to
obtain a snapshot of overall traffic levels,
and to determine whether base station is
properly using the available resources.
Layer 3 Options
(OP620 All Layer 3 Options)
(OP620-GSM)
(OP620-WCDMA)
(OP620-FD-LTE)
(OP620-TD-LTE)
(OP620-TD-SCDMA)

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Layer 3 decoding is available for LTE FDD,
TD-LTE, GSM, UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)]
and TD-SCDMA technologies. This option,
provides decoding for:
GSM BCCH (Broadcast Control
Channel) messages
UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)] BCH
(Broadcast Control Channel) Type 3
messages
In the GSM BCCH, types 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and
type 13 messages are supported. For
WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and LTE, transport
block from the scanner enable support of
the Master Information Block (MIB) and
System Information Blocks (SIBs).
In the UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)] BCH, the
MIB and SIBs 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 19 are
available.. In the TD-SCDMA the MIB and
SIBs 1, 3, 5, 5bis, 7, 11 and 19 are
available.
In the GSM BCCH,UMTS
[WCDMA/HSPA(+)] and the TD-SCDMA
BCH, these messages contain the Cell
Identity and Local Area Identification
information broadcast by the network
infrastructure. This information includes
the:
MCC (Mobile Country Code),
MNC (Mobile Network Code),
LAC (Location Area Code)
RAC (Routing Area Code)
These messages also contain significant
information on the configuration, activity and
performance of the network. This includes
information concerning:
Neighbor list
Mobility management (handovers,
etc.)
Group and broadcast call control
GPRS mobility management,
transparent transport and session
management
Radio resource management
SMS messages
Location services
Uplink Interference parameters
(UMTS [WCDMA/HSPA(+)] only).
The LTE BCCH layer 3 option conveys
system information about the cell. These
transport blocks contain the cell identity,
channel bandwidth, mobility management
(handovers), neighbor lists, barred cells,
intra-frequency selection, public safety
messages, etc. It supports decoding of the
MIB and SIBs 1-13.
The SeeGull EXflex supports scanning of
numerous GSM and LTE BCCH,andUMTS
[WCDMA/HSPA(+)] and TD-SCDMA BCH
channels during the same test.
GSM C/I Option (OP631)
A C/I option is available for the GSM
SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver. This
option provides co-channel interference
(C/I) measurements as well as decoding of
BSIC (Base Station Identification Code).
CDMA/ EV-DO Holdover Option (OP640)
The Holdover Option enables users to
collect measurements even when a GPS
signal is not present for CDMA/EV-DO
technologies. This option maintains the
stability of the internal clock for a greater
period in the absence of the GPS signal
(normally the GPS signal is used for this).
Examples include indoor applications,
driving through tunnels or in urban areas,
where maintaining GPS (which is used by
the EXflex scanning receiver for both
location and timing) is difficult. (See Section
3 Operations for more details.)

SeeGull®EXflex®Reference Manual
PCTEL, Inc., RF Solutions Page 10 Revision F
2.4. System Requirements
This section describes the system
requirements for the SeeGull EXflex
Scanning Receiver.
Typical System
Depending on a user’s requirements,
various hardware and software components
may be used in the scanning system along
with the SeeGull EXflex Scanning Receiver.
However, in most cases, a typical
configuration will include a host PC
connected to the scanning receiver via a
USB cable and running the user’s
application software.
Antenna Requirements
Use a 50 Ohm impedance antenna with an
SMA male connector at the end of the
cable. Refer to PCTEL’s product offering
matrix in the back of this document for part
number information.
Power Source Requirements
Maximum power the SeeGull EXflex
Scanning Receiver draws:
21 watts (max)
17 watts (typical)
Voltage range for the EXflex Scanning
Receiver:
8 to 16 VDC
Use a car battery, a 12-volt battery, or an
AC/DC adapter. It is imperative that the
power source be capable of supplying the
receiver with the voltage and current levels
as described above. It is HIGHLY
recommended that the power supply not
exceed the working DC voltage range of the
scanning receiver. Applying excessive
voltage to the receiver will void the unit’s
warranty.
The scanning receiver should be powered
through the power cord provided by PCTEL.
If another power cord is used, the power
cord must be one that incorporates a fuse
for protection and safety purposes or this
will void any warranties.
Note: Outdoor antennas, including those
used by other devices, should be placed a
minimum of 6 in. (15 cm) apart, with a
recommended distance of 34 in. (86 cm).
Refer to the Instructional Guide: SeeGull
Antennas for MIMO and MISO Antenna
Schemes for further details.