APMxxxx Series User’s Manual
Asia Pacific | EMEA | Americas 10
1. General Description
The Advanced Power Monitor (APM) is used to measure and monitor channel-specific Tx Forward and Reflected power and
Combiner Insertion losses between transmitter combiners their associated antenna(s) for up to 80 channels. Rx Channel and or
other frequency monitoring is also available for up to 80 channels. The capability to perform a series of Tx-to-Rx system
isolation (loop back), Rx sub-system passband gain response, and Transmitter isolation (Tx carrier rejection) tests is also
provided.
Four pairs of Tx Forward (FWD) and Tx Reverse (RFL) coaxial connector inputs fed from non-intrusive in-line directional
couplers give the APM the capability of monitoring the output of up to four (or more) separate transmitter combiner/antenna
systems.
A Receive coaxial connector input port fed from either the receiver multicoupler system and/or an external “off-air” antenna
gives the APM the capability of monitoring receiver system signal levels, or the propagation of transmitter channels located on
other sites.
In addition to measuring and monitoring transmitter forward and reflected power in analogue and digital radio communication
systems, the APM can also be configured to monitor and measure insertion loss in the network transmitter combiner(s).
For each combiner/antenna system being monitored, a 4-port Antenna Line Coupler (ALC) is inserted after the transmitter
combiner on the antenna feeder cable. These couplers have a low insertion loss (<0.2dB) and each is capable of handling up to
750Watts of RF power. The excellent PIM (<-150dBc) and PIP ratings of the coupler are maintained using 7/16 DIN (F)
connectors on the input “From Combiner” and output “To Antenna” ports, with N (F) termination connectors used on the “FWD”
and “RFL” coupling ports.
The APM and the ALC unit(s) are intended for mounting into 19” rack mount equipment cabinets or open frames, but they can
be mounted in alternate configurations if required. As standard, the APM is supplied with one ALC for connection to the first
combiner/antenna system - with additional ALCs available separately for applications requiring more than one combiner/antenna
system to be monitored.
RFI can also supply PIM-rated 7/16 DIN right-angle adapters if required to assist in rack cabinet layout and installation of the
coupler(s) if required.
The APM communicates via an Ethernet port mounted on the rear of the unit. This facilitates configuration and monitoring using
a Graphical User Interface (GUI) via an integral web server. Access to the GUI is protected by a User Name and Password that
is progressively checked for security strength.
The (up to) 80 individual Tx and Rx frequencies configured in the APM are divided across four GUI pages, each able to display
up to 20 channels each. This allows the user to view a large number of channels on a standard monitor screen size without the
excessive use of scrolling. It should be noted that each group of 20 Tx channels is not ‘physically’ assigned to a specific pair of
FWD and RFL ports, despite the GUI presenting them as four sets of 20 channels each (although it may be considered this way
if this assists in conveniently thinking of the channels and how they may be affiliated to the combiner/antenna that they are
connected to). As Tx channels are not physically assigned to a specific pair of FWD and RFL ports, one frequency cannot be
measured separately on multiple couplers (i.e. as may be desired if the multiple legs of a Distributed Antenna System were to
be monitored using multiple couplers connected to one APM), and therefore each individual frequency can only be measured
“once” across all ports of the APM.
All transmitter frequencies, channel bandwidths (12.5KHz and 25KHz), alarm level thresholds, and other relevant parameters
are user-programmable via the GUI.
A DB15 rear-mounted connector provides four (4) separate dry relay contact alarm reporting outputs which may be individually
user-assigned on an ad-hoc basis, to specific monitored channels, alarm groups (Network IDs), or to the system alarms in the
APM, CAM(s), SAM(s) or RSM. This capability allows specific channels’ alarm conditions to be accessible via discrete alarm
outputs –allowing faulty equipment to be individually identified, reported, and action to be initiated as required, or used to
control basic alarm event actions such as antenna change-over (ACO) or main/standby base station switching, etc. SNMP
Traps, SNMP GET requests, SMTP (Email) and Manager Message UDP/TCPIP data packets are also available for alarm and
status reporting. LED’s on the front panel of the APM provide visual indication of system alarms.
APM status and alarm monitoring is also supported by the Motorola UEM, Genesis Software GenWatch™ APM Applet, or by the
C² Systems SitePortal® monitoring software.
The APM is available in models that cover two DC input voltage ranges, 9-36V and 36-60V, and AC mains voltage models are
available using either a 90-264VAC plugpack-style 12VDC, or a 90-264VAC plugpack-style 48VDC PSU.
