Tait TB8100 User manual

TB8100 base station
Service Kit User’s Manual
MBA-00010-08
Issue 8
December 2007

© Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Contact Information
Tait Radio Communications
Corporate Head Office
Tait Electronics Limited
P.O. Box 1645
Christchurch
New Zealand
For the address and telephone number of regional
offices, refer to the TaitWorld website:
We b s i t e : www.taitworld.com
Technical Support
For assistance with specific technical issues, contact
Technical Support:
E-mail: [email protected]
We b s i t e : www.taitworld.com/technical
Copyright and Trademarks
All information contained in this document is the
property of Tait Electronics Limited. All rights reserved.
This document may not, in whole or in part, be copied,
photocopied, reproduced, translated, stored, or reduced
to any electronic medium or machine-readable form,
without prior written permission from Tait Electronics
Limited.
The word TAIT and the TAIT logo are trademarks of
Tait Electronics Limited.
All trade names referenced are the service mark,
trademark or registered trademark of the respective
manufacturers.
Disclaimer
There are no warranties extended or granted by this
document. Tait Electronics Limited accepts no
responsibility for damage arising from use of the
information contained in the document or of the
equipment and software it describes. It is the
responsibility of the user to ensure that use of such
information, equipment and software complies with the
laws, rules and regulations of the applicable
jurisdictions.
Enquiries and Comments
If you have any enquiries regarding this document, or
any comments, suggestions and notifications of errors,
please contact Technical Support.
Updates of Manual and Equipment
In the interests of improving the performance, reliability
or servicing of the equipment, Tait Electronics Limited
reserves the right to update the equipment or this
document or both without prior notice.
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This product may be protected by one or more patents
of Tait Electronics Limited together with their
international equivalents, pending patent applications
and registered trade marks: NZ338097, NZ508054,
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CA2439018, CA2554213, EU03784706.8,
EU02701829.0, EU04714053.8, EU05704655.9,
GB23865476, GB2386010, GB2413249,
GB0516092.4, US11,232716, US10/597339, US10/
520827, US10/468740, US5,745,840, US10/547653,
US10/546696, US10/547964, US10/523952, US11/
572700.
Environmental Responsibilities
Tait Electronics Limited is an
environmentally responsible company
which supports waste minimization,
material recovery and restrictions in the
use of hazardous materials.
The European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) Directive requires that this product
be disposed of separately from the general waste stream
when its service life is over. For more information
about how to dispose of your unwanted Tait product,
visit the Tait Electronics WEEE website at
www.taitworld.com/weee. Please be environmentally
responsible and dispose through the original supplier, or
contact Tait Electronics Limited.
Tait Electronics Limited also complies with the
Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances
in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)
Directive in both the European Union and China.
In China, we comply with the Measures for
Administration of the Pollution Control of Electronic
Information Products. We will comply with
environmental requirements in other markets as they are
introduced.

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Contents i
Contents
Preface .......................................................................................................vii
Typographical Conventions .............................................................vii
Associated Documentation ..............................................................vii
Publication Record ........................................................................viii
Introduction .......................................................................................................1
From T800 to TB8100 ................................................................................3
Operation Modes .........................................................................................4
Channels ......................................................................................................5
Profiles ........................................................................................................6
Subaudible Signalling ...................................................................................7
Power Saving ...............................................................................................8
Task Manager ..............................................................................................9
Modifying Task Manager ........................................................................9
Tasks and Comments ............................................................................10
Inputs ...................................................................................................10
Actions .................................................................................................10
Custom Inputs and Actions ...................................................................11
Remote Connections .................................................................................12
Alarms .......................................................................................................13
Alarm Notification Options ..................................................................13
Enabling Alarm Notification .................................................................13
System Interface .........................................................................................14
Software Feature Enabler ...........................................................................15
Getting Started ................................................................................................17
Connecting and Logging On .....................................................................19
Monitoring Alarms ....................................................................................20
Monitoring the Base Station ......................................................................21
Viewing Configuration Settings .................................................................22
Diagnosing Problems .................................................................................23
Configuration Tutorial ...............................................................................24
Step 1: Install the Service Kit and Calibration Kit on your PC ..............24
Step 2: Connect and Log On ................................................................24
Step 3: Read the Base Station’s Configuration ...................................... 25
Step 4: Configure the Base Station as a Talk-Through Repeater ...........25
Step 5: Configure a Channel .................................................................27
Step 6: Set the Default Channel. ...........................................................27
Step 7: Program the Changes into the Base Station ...............................27
Basic Tasks .......................................................................................................29
Using the Service Kit .................................................................................31
Toolbar ................................................................................................31
Status Bar ............................................................................................. 32
Setting Service Kit Options ........................................................................33
Setting Up and Configuring Connections ..................................................34
Physical Connection Options ................................................................34
Adding a Connection ...........................................................................37
Adding a Direct Connection ...........................................................37
Adding a Modem Dialup Connection ..............................................38

ii Contents © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Adding a Connection That Uses a Port Switch ............................... 39
Adding a Network Connection ...................................................... 40
Copying a connection .......................................................................... 41
Editing a Connection ........................................................................... 41
Working with the Connections Tree ................................................... 41
Export and Import of Service Kit Connections ..................................... 42
Importing Connections ................................................................... 42
Exporting Connections ................................................................... 43
Setting Up Automatic Connection at Startup ....................................... 43
Connecting to a Base Station ..................................................................... 44
Connecting via RS-232 ....................................................................... 44
Connecting via Ethernet ...................................................................... 45
Logging On .............................................................................................. 46
Base Station Table ................................................................................ 46
Logon Details ....................................................................................... 47
Changing Base Station Mode .................................................................... 48
Resetting the Base Station .................................................................... 48
Working With Base Station Configurations ............................................... 49
Creating a New Configuration ............................................................. 50
Reading a Configuration ...................................................................... 50
Saving a Configuration ......................................................................... 51
Programming a Base Station ................................................................. 51
Creating a Configuration Template ...................................................... 52
Changing Base Station Passwords .............................................................. 53
Access Profiles ........................................................................................... 54
Viewing an Access Profile .................................................................... 54
Modifying Access Profiles ..................................................................... 55
Logging Off and Disconnecting ................................................................. 55
Working with Dual-Channel & Multi-Reciter Subracks ........................... 56
Working with Different Versions .............................................................. 57
Service Kit Handling of Older Versions ................................................ 58
Upgrading Base Station Firmware ............................................................. 59
Working with the Software Feature Enabler .............................................. 61
Enabling Additional Features ................................................................ 61
Disabling a Feature Set ......................................................................... 62
Disabling the Alarm Reporting Feature Set ..................................... 62
Disabling the Advance Profiles and Task Manager Feature Set ......... 62
Disabling the Power Saving Modes Feature Set ............................... 63
Disabling the Default Radio System Feature Set .............................. 63
Monitoring ...................................................................................................... 65
Module Details .......................................................................................... 67
Viewing Reciter Information ............................................................... 67
Versions .......................................................................................... 68
Viewing Power Amplifier Information ................................................. 68
Versions .......................................................................................... 69
Viewing Power Management Unit Information ................................... 69
Inputs ............................................................................................. 70
Outputs .......................................................................................... 70
Versions .......................................................................................... 70
Operational Information ............................................................................ 71
Monitoring the Current Channel ......................................................... 71
Current Channel ............................................................................. 71
Profile Information ......................................................................... 71

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Contents iii
Current Source ................................................................................72
Monitoring the Reciter ........................................................................73
Monitoring the Power Amplifier .......................................................... 74
Monitoring the Power Management Unit .............................................75
Configuring the Base Station .........................................................................79
Choosing a Configuration ..........................................................................81
Configuring General Options .....................................................................82
Configuring the System Interface ...............................................................84
Viewing System Interface Details ..........................................................84
Configuring External Channel Selection ...............................................85
Mapping Digital Inputs to Channel Selection Bits ............................85
Configuring RSSI Output ....................................................................86
Converting Between Microvolts and dBm .......................................88
Configuring Fan Control ...........................................................................89
PA Fan Control ....................................................................................89
Emulating T800 Fan Operation ............................................................89
Select fan type ......................................................................................90
Configuring Miscellaneous Items ...............................................................91
Tx relay operation ................................................................................91
Minimum battery voltage .....................................................................92
Auxiliary power control ........................................................................92
CTCSS characteristics ...........................................................................93
Reverting to Run mode .......................................................................93
External clock reference frequency .......................................................94
Enabling Automatic Entry Into CCI Mode ...........................................94
Printing a Base Station Configuration ........................................................ 95
Configuring Channels .....................................................................................97
Getting Started with Channels ...................................................................99
Customizing the Default Channel Profile .................................................100
Customizing the Default Signalling Profile ...............................................102
Using Advanced Profile Features .............................................................. 103
Working with Channel Profiles ...............................................................104
Adding a Channel Profile .................................................................... 104
Configuring Receiver Gating ........................................................ 106
Configuring Power Saving ............................................................ 107
Editing a Channel Profile .................................................................... 108
General ........................................................................................ 108
Receiver Gating ............................................................................ 111
Signal Path .................................................................................... 114
Power Saving ................................................................................ 121
CWID System ............................................................................... 122
Task Manager ................................................................................ 124
Tone On Idle ................................................................................ 125
Working with Signalling Profiles .............................................................. 126
Adding a Signalling Profile .................................................................. 126
Setting Up a Reminder Tone ........................................................ 128
Editing a Signalling Profile .................................................................. 129
Subaudible Signalling .....................................................................129
Tx Timers ..................................................................................... 132
Advanced ...................................................................................... 134
Task Manager ................................................................................ 135
Working With the Channel Table ...........................................................136

iv Contents © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Channel Table Details .........................................................................136
Columns ........................................................................................136
Buttons ..........................................................................................138
Editing a Channel (Default Profiles) ....................................................139
Editing a Channel (Custom Profiles) ...................................................139
Adding and Copying Channels ............................................................140
Block Copying Channels ....................................................................140
Importing Channels ............................................................................141
Exporting Channels ............................................................................141
Selecting a Channel ..................................................................................142
Printing Channel Data ..............................................................................143
Alarms ........................................................................................................... 145
Monitoring Alarms ...................................................................................147
Reciter ...............................................................................................148
Power Amplifier .................................................................................149
System ................................................................................................151
Power Management Unit ....................................................................153
Viewing Recent Alarms ...........................................................................155
Disabling Unwanted Alarms .....................................................................156
Altering Alarm Thresholds .......................................................................157
Notifying Alarms ......................................................................................159
Notifying Over the Air .......................................................................159
Notifying Over the Line .....................................................................160
Configuring Alarm Center Communications ............................................162
Configuring Port Switch Commands and Responses ...........................163
Configuring Email Messaging ...................................................................164
Configuring Syslog Communications .......................................................165
Diagnosing .................................................................................................... 167
Carrying Out Diagnostic Tests .................................................................169
System Tests .............................................................................................170
Control Panel Tests .............................................................................170
Reciter Tests ............................................................................................172
Receiver Tests ....................................................................................172
Testing Receiver Operation ...........................................................172
Testing Receiver Sensitivity ...........................................................173
Measuring Received Signal Levels .......................................................173
Determining Synthesiser Lock Ranges ................................................174
Audio I/O Tests .................................................................................175
Measuring the Audio Input Level ...................................................175
Generating an Audio Output .........................................................176
Digital I/O Tests .................................................................................176
Testing Hardware Channel Selection .............................................177
Testing Digital Outputs .................................................................177
Testing the Rx Gate Output ..........................................................178
Testing the Coaxial Relay Driver ...................................................178
Testing Digital Inputs ....................................................................179
Detecting Subaudible Signalling ..........................................................179
Power Amplifier Tests .............................................................................181
Control Tests ......................................................................................181
Testing the PA Fault LED ..............................................................181
Testing the Fan ..............................................................................182
Testing the Transmitter .......................................................................182

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Contents v
Power Management Unit Tests ................................................................ 185
Control Tests ...................................................................................... 185
Simulating AC Mains Failure .........................................................185
Testing the Fan ............................................................................. 185
Testing the PMU fault LED .......................................................... 186
Testing the Auxiliary Power Output .............................................. 186
Viewing Additional Details .................................................................187
Task Manager ................................................................................................189
Accessing Task Manager .......................................................................... 191
Working With Task Manager .................................................................. 192
Maintaining the Task List ................................................................... 192
Adding a Task .................................................................................... 193
Adding a Comment ............................................................................ 194
Disabling a Task ................................................................................. 194
Importing Tasks .................................................................................. 195
Exporting Tasks .................................................................................. 195
Task Manager Inputs and Actions ............................................................ 196
Inputs ................................................................................................. 196
General Inputs ............................................................................... 196
Channel Profile Inputs ...................................................................198
Signalling Profile Inputs .................................................................200
System I/O ................................................................................... 201
Alarm Inputs ................................................................................. 202
Custom Inputs ............................................................................... 205
Actions ............................................................................................... 205
General Actions ............................................................................. 205
Channel Profile Actions .................................................................211
Signalling Profile Actions ...............................................................213
System I/O ................................................................................... 214
Alarm ............................................................................................ 215
Custom Actions ............................................................................. 216
Customizing Task Manager ...................................................................... 217
Working With Custom Inputs ............................................................ 217
Viewing a Custom Input ............................................................... 217
Defining a Custom Input ...............................................................218
Working With Custom Actions .......................................................... 218
Viewing a Custom Action ............................................................. 219
Defining a Custom Action .............................................................219
Working with Custom Alarms ............................................................ 219
Defining Counters, Timers, and Flags ................................................. 220
Monitoring Task Manager .......................................................................221
Viewing System Flag States .................................................................221
Monitoring Recent Actions ................................................................ 224
Viewing Timers .................................................................................. 224
Viewing Counters .............................................................................. 224
Viewing Flag States ............................................................................. 224
Glossary ............................................................................225
Index .................................................................................235
Tait General Software Licence Agreement ...............................................243

vi Contents © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Preface vii
Preface
Welcome to the TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual. This manual provides you
with information about the Tait TB8100 Service Kit in PDF format. You can
view it online or print it if you want a paper copy. It describes how to use
Version 03.07 of the Service Kit.
■New Service Kit users should begin at Part B: Getting Started.
■For explanations of essential concepts, look in Part A: Introduction.
■The rest of the manual assumes that you are familiar with Part C: Basic
Tasks.
Typographical Conventions
‘File > Open’ means ‘click File on the menu bar, then click Open on the list of
commands that pops up’. ‘Monitor > Module Details > Reciter’ means ‘click
the Monitor icon on the toolbar, then in the navigation pane find the Module
Details group, and select Reciter from it’.
Associated Documentation
All available TB8100 product documentation is provided on the CD supplied
with the base station. Updates may be published on the Tait support web.
Online Help. The Service Kit also has online Help. It contains more or less the
same information as this manual. To view it, start the Service Kit, then press F1
or click the Help icon on the toolbar. If you are in a dialog box, click the Help
button. The Alarm Center and the Calibration Kit also have online Help.
TB8100 Installation Guide.
TB8100 Operation Manual.
CTU Operation Manual (MBA-00013-xx). Instructions on using the calibration
and test unit.
TB8100 Service Manual. (service centers only)
TB8100 Product Catalog provides information about base station parts and
modules.
Technical notes are published from time to time to describe applications for
Tait products, to provide technical details not included in manuals, and to offer
solutions for any problems that arise. Look for them on Tait’s technical support
website. The following have been published:
TN-742 Remotely Monitoring and Configuring the Tait TB8100.
TN-743 Using the TB8100 Base Station as a Talk-Through, Community, or Linked
Repeater .
TN-745-AN Using the Tait TB8100 in TaitNet Trunked Networks.
TN-906-AN Connecting to TB8100 Base Stations Via an Asynchronous Port Switch.
TN-947-AN TB8100 Base Station Computer Controlled Interface Protocol.
TN-1047-AN Using a TB8100 in Paging Applications.
TN-1114-AN Using a TB8100 with an External Modem.
TN-1142-AN Connecting to a TB8100 via Ethernet.
TN-1154-AN Task Manager Programming Guide.

viii Preface © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Publication Record
Issue Date Description
1 June 2003 First release of the manual. Describes version
1.00 of the Tait TB8100 Service Kit software.
2 March 2004 Second release of the manual. Describes
version 02.00 of the Service Kit.
3
MBA-00010-03
September
2004
Describes version 02.01 of the Service Kit.
This includes support for connection via an
Asynchronous Port Switch.
MBA-00010-04 March 2005 Describes version 02.05 of the Service Kit.
This includes Tone on Idle.
MBA-00010-05 April 2006 Describes version 03.00 of the Service Kit.
This includes remote connection via Ethernet.
MBA-00010-06 August
2006
Describes version 03.04 of the Service Kit.
This includes a tree view of connections, Task
Manager selection of profiles, new transmit
options for automatic CWID, and
modifications to the mapping of digital
inputs to channel selection bits.
MBA-00010-07 April 2007 Describes version 3.05 of the Service Kit. Two
PMU low voltage alarm thresholds. Custom
alarms. Gating logic changes. Subaudible
filter. Task Manager action to key transmitter.
Service Kit startup options.
MBA-00010-08 December
2007
Describes version 3.07 of the Service Kit. Tail
pip tones. Lead-in time for over-the-air alarm
notification. Diagnostic test for coaxial relay
driver. Minor documentation improvements.

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Introduction 1
Part A Introduction
The Service Kit is a Windows-based software program that
makes it easy to monitor and configure a Tait TB8100 base
station. You can also use it to carry out diagnostic tests and to
update the base station’s firmware.
The introduction explains concepts that are fundamental to the
base station. You need to understand them before you can use
the Service Kit effectively.
Topics
QFrom T800 to TB8100
QOperation Modes
QChannels
QProfiles
QSubaudible Signalling
QPower Saving
QTask Manager
QRemote Connections
QAlarms
QSystem Interface
QSoftware Feature Enabler

2 Introduction © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual From T800 to TB8100 3
From T800 to TB8100
The TB8100 is a software-based radio. This means that its programming
software has far more scope. For those who are familiar with the Tait
PGM800Win programming software, here are some key differences.
QThe Service Kit does more than configure channels. It can monitor
operational details, receive alarms, and carry out diagnostic tests. It can
switch the base station’s operating mode from Run to Standby and back
again and even reset the base station or upgrade its firmware. It also lets you
edit Task Manager tasks, which enables you to customize the TB8100 for
individual applications. See “Task Manager” on page 9.
QThe Service Kit can connect remotely to the base station via dial-up
modems. You can make routine monitoring checks and carry out diagnostic
tests without needing to travel to the site.
QThe channel table does more than define the transmit and receive
frequencies and the frequency of the tone used for CTCSS. It specifies a
whole range of operational parameters. Because there are so many
configurable parameters, most are grouped into profiles. There are two
kinds of profiles: channel profiles and signalling profiles. See “Profiles” on
page 6.
QThe Service Kit provides both a simple and a complex method for
configuring the channel table. The simple way uses default profiles and lets
you edit items directly in the table. The complex way is available if the base
station has an Advanced Profiles and Task Manager license. You define a set
of custom profiles then select the right ones for each channel.
QCustom profiles make it possible for you to assign up to 16 subtones to any
channel, meaning that a tone panel is not needed for most applications.
QThe Service Kit can configure signal paths. In effect this means that you can
customize ‘virtual backplanes’. These are profile-based so that the base
station can change its virtual backplane in the middle of operations. For
example, a Task Manager action can change the base station from a line-
connected base station to a talk through repeater, simply by changing to a
channel with a different custom profile.

4 Part A: Introduction © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Operation Modes
A base station can operate in three different modes. Some functions are disabled
until you shift the base station into the required mode.
QRun mode is used for normal operation.
QStandby mode is required if you want to program the base station or carry
out diagnostic tests on it. Standby mode puts the base station out of service.
However it will still transmit if you push the Carrier button on the control
panel, use a microphone, or carry out a transmission test.
QDownload mode is required if you want to update the base station’s
firmware. (The base station automatically enters Download mode if it has a
fundamental problem.)
Appropriate messages alert you to the need to change mode so that you do not
inadvertently leave the base station out of service when you end a Service Kit
session. Alternatively, you can configure the base station to automatically revert
from Standby to Run mode after the Service Kit logs off.
The Mode icon on the toolbar displays the current mode of the base station you
are logged in to.
It is in the form of a traffic light:
QGreen indicates Run mode
QOrange indicates Standby mode
QRed indicates Download mode
Click on it to change mode.
The status bar also displays the current mode.

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Channels 5
Channels
A TB8100 base station consists of the equipment needed to operate on just one
channel. However, using the Service Kit you can program up to 255 channels
into a single base station. This is confusing, until you realize that ‘channel’ has
different meanings. The one channel is the transmit and receive frequency pair
and the 255 channels are different channel configurations, each with its own
number and name. You select one of these channel configurations and the base
station operates according to all the settings defined by it. These include a
transmit and receive frequency pair, a transmitter power output, a channel
spacing, and many other configurable items.
Channel Table Each base station has a channel table. This is the database that stores the channel
configurations. It is a good idea to maintain a single channel table for your
system. This means that you can use almost the same configuration file for all
base stations. To configure a new or replacement base station, all you need to
do is copy the standard configuration file and select a different default channel.
This simplifies maintenance. Alternatively, you can use the Export and Import
functions to copy channels from one base station to another.
Default Channel You need to tell the base station which channel to use. The usual way to do
this is to use the Service Kit to select one channel in the channel table as the
default channel. When the base station starts up for the first time, it selects the
default channel unless it is connected to external equipment that selects the
channel.
Current Channel The current channel is the channel that the base station is actually using.
Usually, this is the default channel. However, external equipment can use
digital input lines to choose another channel. Moreover, Task Manager can
instruct the base station to change channel. It can even select another channel
to be the default. Monitor > Monitoring > Channel displays the current
channel.
Note: If the base station is reset, it starts up on the default channel,
unless external equipment defines another channel.

6 Part A: Introduction © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Profiles
Profiles are groups of configuration settings. They simplify the task of
configuring channels. The base station has a large number of configuration
settings, but most of these will be the same for all channels. Instead of
configuring all options many times over for each channel, you configure them
once in a profile. You then assign the profile to the appropriate channels (if you
are working with the default profile, this is already done for you).
Two profiles group almost all configuration settings: the channel profile (which
defines the signal path for example) and the signalling profile (which defines the
subaudible signalling and tail timers).
The way you work with profiles varies, depending on whether the base station
has an Advanced Profiles and Task Manager license.
Using Default
Profiles The standard base station can only use the default profiles. You define most
configuration settings globally in the two default profiles, and then you define
the rest individually for each channel in the channel table.
Using Custom
Profiles If the base station has the Advanced Profiles and Task Manager license,
additional options are available and you can create a set of custom profiles. To
configure an individual channel, you assign custom profiles to it. The only items
you configure in the channel table are the transmit and receive frequencies.

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Subaudible Signalling 7
Subaudible Signalling
The TB8100 base station can transmit and receive using subaudible signalling.
Both CTCSS tones and DCS codes are supported. CTCSS attaches a
subaudible tone to the carrier signal. DCS attaches a digital code. A receiver
programmed with a particular tone or code will not unmute unless that tone or
code is presented with the RF signal.
CTCSS tones and DCS codes are referred to collectively as subtones. Subtones
make it possible for different groups of users to operate on the same channel
without hearing or disturbing each other. The base station and the radios that
use it need to be programmed with the same subtone(s). In some parts of the
world, the use of subtones is regulated.
Assigning
subtones You assign a receive and a transmit subtone to a channel by editing the channel
table. When the base station is operating on that channel, it opens the receiver
gate to signals with the receive subtone and transmits using the transmit
subtone.
If the base station has a license for the Advanced Profiles and Task Manager
feature set, you can use a custom signalling profile to assign up to 16 subtones
to a single channel. The receiver recognizes any of the assigned tones and
responds according to its configuration for the particular tone. It can transmit
the signal (encoding it with the same subtone), transmit the signal (with a
different subtone), or carry out a Task Manager action. You can also add an
audible reminder tone to the transmissions (for example, for customers who are
behind with their payments). The 16 subtones can contain CTCSS tones and
DCS codes.
Reverse tone
burst/end tone The base station always transmits a DCS end tone for muting the receive audio,
but transmitting a CTCSS reverse tone burst is optional and configurable.

8 Part A: Introduction © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
Power Saving
The TB8100 base station can save power by switching off parts of its circuitry.
The standard base station has a limited ability to reduce the current that the base
station uses, but the Power Saving Modes license lets you configure three
different power saving modes. This gives greatly increased flexibility and makes
it possible to get the power savings needed with a minimum sacrifice in quality
of service.
Note: Power saving only occurs when the base station is battery-
powered. It is not available if the PMU supplies more than one base
station.
Power saving
modes A base station with a Power Saving Modes license can operate in Normal,
Sleep, and Deep Sleep modes. These modes are enabled and configured in the
Service Kit.
The base station begins in Normal mode. If the base station is idle (receives no
valid signal) for a defined length of time, it switches to Sleep mode, which saves
more power. If the base station is idle for a further defined length of time, it
switches to Deep Sleep mode, saving even more power. When it receives a
valid signal, it reverts to Normal mode.
Both receiver and transmitter contribute to the power saving.
The receiver is switched off, and then periodically switched back on. If it
detects a valid signal, it stays on, otherwise it is switched off again. The power
amplifier is always off when the base station is not transmitting. In power saving,
other parts of the transmitter circuitry are switched off as well. The longer the
Tx keyup time you select, the more circuitry is switched off.
Response times The more power saved, the longer the response time. Initially, the radio user
needs to press PTT and wait before speaking, to give enough time for the
receiver to come back on and for the transmitter to key up.
Configuring
power saving You configure power saving when you define the channel profile that the base
station will use. For each mode, you specify Rx cycling (how long the receiver
stays switched off before it wakes up to check if there is a valid signal) and Tx
keyup (how long it takes for the transmitter to key up). In addition, you specify
how long the base station must be idle before it enters Sleep and Deep Sleep
modes. The exact amount of power saved varies, depending on the model of
base station and the pattern of traffic.

TB8100 Service Kit User’s Manual Task Manager 9
Task Manager
Task Manager is the ‘brains’ of the base station. When something changes, Task
Manager carries out actions based on the intelligence contained in its list of
tasks. Each task defines what you want the base station to do in response to a
particular event.
For example, when the battery voltage low alarm is triggered, Task Manager
can tell the transmitter to reduce its power output. If an alarm you want to
know about is triggered, Task Manager can tell the base station to start the over-
the-air alarm or email you a status message via the Alarm Center. If a line-
controlled base station’s line fails, Task Manager can tell the base station to
function as a talk through repeater.
Task Manager is essential for sending alarms to the Alarm Center, for emailing
alarms and status messages, and for turning over-the-air and over-the-line
alarms on and off. It can also carry out override actions that enable or disable
many configured base station functions.
If the base station has an Advanced Profiles and Task Manager license, you can
initiate any action simply by sending the base station a CTCSS tone or DCS
code. Task Manager can also change the whole operating configuration simply
by changing to another channel that uses different profiles.
Task Manager only operates when the base station is in Run mode.
Modifying Task Manager
To change the way Task Manager works, you add and modify tasks using the
Service Kit, and then you program the changes into the base station. In effect,
you are creating scripts that make the base station perform simple actions. This
customizes the way the base station operates without modifying its firmware.
Task Manager can perform many functions that previously required expensive
external equipment.

10 Part A: Introduction © Tait Electronics Limited December 2007
In a standard base station, Task Manager can process up to 20 tasks. In a base
station with an Advanced Profiles and Task Manager license, Task Manager can
process up to 200 tasks.
Tasks and Comments
Task Manager acts only on the basis of the tasks in its task list. A task is rather
like computer code and takes the form:
IF < input> THEN <action>
When the IF part of the task becomes true, the THEN part is executed. There
are also IF NOT tasks: when the input of such a task becomes false, the THEN
part is executed. You can add comments describing the purpose of a task or
group of tasks. Comments have no effect on Task Manager processing.
Inputs
Task Manager inputs are of two main types, ‘basic’ and ‘override.’ Tasks are
processed differently, depending on the kind of input they have. You need to
understand these differences if you are creating complex sets of tasks.
Basic inputs Basic inputs come from various parts of the base station. They include all alarms.
While basic inputs can become true at any time, Task Manager will only process
them in the course of the regular 10 ms processing cycle. For example, if an
input becomes true in the middle of a processing cycle, Task Manager won’t
process tasks with that input until the next processing cycle. This is because it
only learns of the change after the completion of the first cycle.
Override inputs Override inputs can only become true through a Task Manager override action.
They are internal to Task Manager. Most become true automatically each time
the base station enters Run mode.
There are some other inputs that don’t quite behave like basic or override
inputs. Look under the input for more information.
Actions
Task Manager actions are of two main types, ‘override’ and ‘do now’. These
actions have different effects.
Override actions Override actions enable, disable, or toggle a configured base station function.
As most of these functions are enabled by default, the main use of override
actions is to let you turn off a function such as talk through repeater, power
saving, or even the receiver as a whole. The action changes the state of a flag,
which can only be changed by another override action. The status of each flag
that is controlled by an override action is displayed in Monitor > Base Station
> System Flags.
This flag can also be an override input. When an override action is carried out
(for example Enable power saving), the equivalent override input (for
example Power saving enabled) becomes true and any tasks with that input
will be processed.