SignalReach CR100 Instruction Manual

Installation & User Manual
CR100 Bi-Directional Repeater
Document Number: 102-2001-001
Product release:
Document version:Prelim 2.02
Date:Jan 2004
Copyright1 Printing2Legal statements3 Trademarks4
1Copyright 2000- 2004 SignalReach Inc., All Rights Reserved
2Printed in Canada
3Information is subject to change without notice. Arrista Technologies Inc. reserves the right to make changes in design or components as progress in
engineering and manufacturing may warrant.
4Trademarks are property of their respective owners

Introduction
In-building repeaters provide enhanced coverage of cellular telephone signals
for areas that are confined or enclosed such as tunnels, underground parking
garages, and within buildings. Many buildings are constructed of materials
like metal, brick and concrete that attenuate cellular telephone signals.
Symptoms such as dropped calls, broken audio and static indicate the need
for an in-building repeater.
The SignalReachTM CR100 Small Office Home Office (SOHO) Cellular
Repeater extends cellular services into buildings, parking garages, tunnels
and other poor coverage areas. The CR100 is designed for use with 800MHz
cellular telephones and offers a cost-effective solution for small business and
residential applications. The repeater is useful in areas where cellular service
is available outside of the building but marginal indoors.
The SignalReachTM CR100 is a stationary device that automatically reradiates
signals from the base transmitters without channel translation, for the purpose
of improving coverage of existing service by increasing the signal strength in
dead spots. The repeater is a network-compatible device that amplifies
cellular signals in both the uplink and downlink directions. The repeater is
simple to install, and contains circuitry to ensure proper operating power
levels, and as well, includes an automatic feedback and detection circuitry
that detects, as a result of poor isolation between the subscriber and donor
antennae. In this condition the repeater will adjust it’s gain to compensate for
the abnormality, and warn the user through a visual indicator LED. The
CR100 will enhance the cellular telephone user’s experience while complying
with cellular network specifications. Linear operation is guaranteed under all
conditions.
The CR100 allows up to two indoor antennas to be used without the need of
external components. Its auxiliary indoor antenna port allows a second indoor
zone to be easily connected. The repeater can be powered by its AC adapter
or through the in-building primary subscriber antenna port using an optional
power inserter.

Threshold of
handset
recei ver:
-104dBm
Base
Station
Signal strength
outside building
-90dBm
Actual received
power: as low as
-130dBm (too
low for handset)
Building material
attenuates signal
by 10 to 40dB
Threshold of
handset
recei ver:
-104dBm
Base
Station
Signal strength
outside building
-90dBm
Actual received
power: as low as
-130dBm (too
low for handset)
Building material
attenuates signal
by 10 to 40dB
This product is designed for installations where cellular coverage is available
outside the building, and indoor coverage is inadequate.
CR100 Features:
• Easy Installation – No calibration required
• Automatic feedback detection and warning circuitry
• Auxiliary in-building antenna port provides enhanced coverage
• Up to 20000sq.ft of free space coverage with only one interior
antenna
• Network-compatible operation
• Auto levelling circuitry ensures linear operation
• FCC approved
• Optional power inserter available
• External fault output signal
Functional
Description &
Operation
The repeater works on the principle of receiving the handset signal through a
subscriber (indoor) antenna, amplifying or ‘boosting’ its signal level, and then
passing it on to the donor antenna located outside the building. Signals from
the cellular tower (downlink) are also amplified and passed to the subscriber
antenna.

Threshold of
handset receiver:
-104dBm
Base Station
Signal strength
outside building at
antenna:
-90dBm
In-building repeater
provides 40 dB gain
Actual recei ved power
(with losses inside building): -95dBm
(10 dB margin)
Threshold of
handset receiver:
-104dBm
Base Station
Signal strength
outside building at
antenna:
-90dBm
In-building repeater
provides 40 dB gain
Actual recei ved power
(with losses inside building): -95dBm
(10 dB margin)
Arrista’s CR-100 in-building repeater is a Class B Broadband device, it will
process the entire cellular 800MHz spectrum. Input and output duplexers and
band pass filters in the downlink and uplink path provide the repeater’s
filtering and isolation. The maximum gain in each of the downlink and uplink
path is 60dB. Both the downlink and uplink paths incorporate automatic
gain/level control, to ensure that downlink and uplink power amplifiers are not
overdriven and operate free of distortion. As well, the automatic gain/level
control ensures that in normal operation the downlink and uplink gain mirror
each other. The CR100 also has primary and secondary subscriber ports,
allowing the repeater to double the in-building coverage area.

Installation
Procedure
The repeater unit should be installed in a sheltered area, it’s operating
temperature range is extensive, but is not sealed to prevent water (rain)
ingress. The repeater unit should not be installed in an area where the
ambient temperature is expected to exceed +60°C.
The indoor and outdoor antenna locations must be chosen carefully to avoid
re-generative feedback. Re-generative feedback occurs when the subscriber
antenna picks up the donor antenna transmit signal. A general rule of thumb
is to locate the antennae where the isolation is at least 10 dB greater than the
operating repeater gain. The Arrista repeater has a maximum gain of 60dB in
uplink path, as a result, the isolation required between the subscriber and the
donor antenna is in a range of 70dB. The line of sight separation between the
subscriber and donor antenna represented by a free space loss of 70dB
within a building is 17 meters (55 feet). The separation distance can be
reduced if the donor antenna is mounted on the building exterior (i.e. on a
roof), or using a directional donor antenna (narrow beam width).
The following table indicates separation distances for different installation
configurations:
Line of Sight
in-building
Exterior Donor Antenna,
with 20dB Attenuation1
Exterior mounted
Directional Antenna2
Separation Distance
meters (ft)
17 (55) 8 (26) 4 (13)
1The attenuation is indicative of the construction material that a signal has to penetrate through
2As in 1, but using a directional antenna with a typical front to back ratio of 20dB
It is not recommended that the donor and subscriber antennae be installed
within sight of each other. Do not install the unit where a skylight or other low
loss RF path exists between the donor or subscriber antenna.
Arrista recommends that the donor antenna be installed on the roof or on an
CRxxx
Primary
Indoor
Antenna
Optional
Secondary
Antenna

outside wall of a building. A cell phone can be used to determine if an
adequate signal is present at the chosen location. Run a length of 50-ohm
cable (LMR-240 is recommended for cable runs less than 15meters (50ft))
between chosen location and the repeater unit.
Warning Equipment Installation:
• Follow the local building codes for installation of antennae on buildings.
Ensure that the exterior mounted donor antenna is properly mounted
and grounded for lightening protection.
• To ensure compliance to FCC rules and regulations, Arrista
recommends that trained technicians install this product.
• The SignalReach CR100 does not come packaged with cabling or any
antennae. In order to satisfy FCC regulations pertaining to Maximum
Permissible Exposure, specified antenna gain (dBi) for the outdoor
donor antenna should be limited to 18 dBi or less, while the gain of the
indoor subscriber antenna should be limited to 9dBi or less.
• When servicing or installing transmitting elements (i.e. antennae), all
transmitting signal sources should be turned off to minimize exposure
to non-ionizing radiation as mandated by FCC MPE requirements.
• During normal operation general public shall maintain a distance of 50
cm from any outdoor radiating donor antenna as well general public
shall maintain a distance of 20 cm from any indoor radiating subscriber
antenna.
Select a suitable location for the in-building subscriber antenna, and connect
it to the primary port of the repeater (using a second length of 50-ohm cable if
necessary).
If a second subscriber antenna is to be used, select a location that is at least
16 meters (55ft) away. Obviously, to maximize coverage area, it would be
better to locate the two subscriber antennae in opposite directions. Once the
antenna is connected, adjust the sliding switch to enable the secondary
subscriber port,
If only one in-building subscriber antenna is to be used, flip the switch to
disable the second subscriber port.
Verify all cables are connected properly and connect the provided AC to DC
adapter to the unit. The power LED will illuminate, and the FAULT LED
should briefly flash and then extinguish. If the FAULT LED remains on, it
indicates an isolation (i.e. re-generative feedback) problem with the unit.
If the FAULT LED remains off, the repeater is now ready for use. The unit

has an open collector output than can relay the fault condition to an external
device. This uses the third pin in the power connector. This pin is rated at
12V, 200mA and is at ground potential when a fault condition exists.
Product
Maintenance
The CR100 does not require maintenance, as long as the it is properly
installed following the guidelines stated in this manual. Arrista recommends
that all RF connectors be periodically checked for corrosion, strain relief, and
the integrity of power connections
Operation
The in-building repeater operates automatically and does not require user
intervention. There are no user controls, except for a sliding switch to allow a
user to connect additional subscriber antenna on the repeaters secondary
port for increased coverage area.
The front panel has two system status lamps. A green ‘Active’ lamp indicates
that the repeater is operating. An amber ‘Warning’ lamp indicates reduced
performance.
Troubleshooting
Once installed, the repeater unit should give you years of service without
requiring any maintenance. Indicator lights on the unit will tell you if it is
functioning properly.
Symptom Cause Action
Fault LED is on
steady, power LED
is on.
The repeater is operating with
reduced gain, usually a result
of poor isolation between the
subscriber and donor
antennae; or between the two
subscriber antennae.
Check both subscriber and
donor antenna and cable.
Relocate the indoor and/or
outdoor antenna so they are
further apart.
Fault LED is
flashing, power
LED is ON.
The repeater’s temperature is
abnormally high and is
operating in a reduced
performance mode
Determine the cause of the
overheating. Is the unit
installed in a hot environment
with inadequate airflow?
Relocate the unit

Specifications
RF Specifications
Uplink Downlink
Frequency Range 824-849 MHz 869-894 MHz
Maximum Output Power 1+ 20dBm +15dBm
Maximum Gain 60 dB 60 dB
Poor Isolation Detection &
Warning Indicator
If re-generative feedback between indoor and outdoor
antennae is detected, condition will be indicated with an
amber LED indicator
Maximum Possible
Exposure (MPE)
Human exposure to non-ionizing radiation meets or exceeds
the permissible FCC mandated MPE specification
1The RF output power specification is for a multi-carrier environment of up to 3 simultaneous TDMA carriers or 1 CDMA
Carrier
General Specifications
Power Requirements 120V AC adapter included
Remote Alarm Output An open collector output, third pin in the power connector. Contact
rating: 12V, 200mA. Sense: ground potential on fault condition.
Operating
Temperature Range
-40 to +60°C (-40 to 128°F), indoor use only
Dimensions 161mm L x 152mm W x 33mm H (6.38” L x 5.98” W x 1.30” H)
without RF connectors
Net Weight 1.5 kg (3.2 lbs)
RF Connectors TNC Female
Subscriber Antenna Customer Supplied
Donor Antenna1 Customer Supplied
Included Accessories
2
120V AC adapter, the adapter complies to UL and CSA safety
standards
Optional Accessories Power Inserter