Technalogix TAUD-250 User manual

UHF Digital Transmitter
TAUD-250
OPERATION MANUAL

Contents
1.INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1
2.GENERAL SAFEGUARDS ................................................................................................................ 2
2.1. SAFETY AND FIRST AID................................................................................................................................2
2.2. OPERATING SAFEGUARDS............................................................................................................................3
3.TERMS OF SALE............................................................................................................................... 4
4.WARRANTY....................................................................................................................................... 7
5.PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION............................................................................................................. 8
6.INSTALLATION ................................................................................................................................. 9
6.1. UNPACKING AND INSPECTION .......................................................................................................................9
6.2. PANEL CONNECTIONS............................................................................................................................... 10
6.3. INITIAL HOOK UP...................................................................................................................................... 10
7.OPERATING PROCEDURE............................................................................................................. 12
8.CONTROL INTERFACE................................................................................................................... 15
8.1. TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL........................................................................................................................ 15
8.2. MAIN SCREEN .......................................................................................................................................... 15
8.3. MENU SCREEN......................................................................................................................................... 17
8.3.1. RF LEVELS SCREEN.............................................................................................................................. 18
8.3.2. POWER SUPPLIES SCREEN .................................................................................................................... 19
8.3.3. REMOTE INTERFACING SCREEN ............................................................................................................. 19
8.3.4. HISTORY SCREEN.................................................................................................................................. 20
8.3.5. DATE AND TIME SCREEN........................................................................................................................ 21
8.3.6. VERSION SCREEN.................................................................................................................................. 22
8.3.7. CONTACT SCREEN................................................................................................................................. 22
8.3.8. SETTINGS SCREEN................................................................................................................................ 23
9.WEB INTERFACE............................................................................................................................ 24
9.1. REMOTE CONTROL (VIA DB25) ................................................................................................................. 34
9.2. COMBINER CONTROL................................................................................................................................ 35
9.3. BACK PANEL MONITORING ........................................................................................................................ 36
10.MONITOR AND CONTROL SYSTEM............................................................................................ 37
10.1. CONTROL SYSTEM OVERVIEW................................................................................................................... 37
10.1.1. SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM –1AMPLIFIER................................................................................................ 38
10.1.2. ADRENALINE BLOCK DIAGRAM ............................................................................................................... 39
10.2. RF MODULE............................................................................................................................................. 40
10.3. DISPLAY INTERFACE MODULE.................................................................................................................... 40
10.4. TEMPERATURE SENSOR MODULE.............................................................................................................. 41
11.HARDWARE COMPONENTS........................................................................................................ 42
11.1. RF AMPLIFIER PALLET.............................................................................................................................. 42
11.2. COUPLER................................................................................................................................................. 42
11.3. POWER SUPPLY ....................................................................................................................................... 43
12.FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................. 45
12.1. BUILDING RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................. 45
12.2. ELECTRICAL SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................ 45
12.3. ANTENNA AND TOWER RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................... 45

12.4. SHELTER SECURITY.................................................................................................................................. 46
12.5. HEATING AND COOLING REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................... 47
13.MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................................................. 48
14.TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................................................................... 49
15.SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................... 53
No part of this manual may be re-produced in any form without prior written permission from
Technalogix Ltd. The information and specifications contained in this document is subject to change at
any time without notice.

1. Introduction
Please take a few minutes to read the manual and familiarize yourself with your new Technalogix
power amplifier.
This user manual, the Final Inspection Report, and of course our equipment, should be everything you
need to get on the air with a superb broadcast signal. We understand that a capable and confident user
will get the most out of our product and we have made every attempt to educate readers of all technical
levels. If there is something that is not clear, or you require further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us and we’ll be glad to help out.
Technalogix Ltd.
8156 Edgar Industrial Close
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
T4P 3R4
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
URL: www.technalogix.ca
Email: [e-mail]
[e-mail]
All information that is specific to your unit is contained within the Final Inspection Report included in the
shipped equipment container. This report summarizes performance specifications and this manual
provides wiring hookup details and outlines specific components found in the system.
We truly appreciate that you have chosen us as your RF equipment supplier. Happy transmission!

2. General Safeguards
This section is written as a general guide for safe operation of the equipment and is intended for those
having previous knowledge and experience with these kinds of equipment. It is not intended to contain
a complete statement of all safety precautions, which should be observed by personnel using this or
other electronic equipment.
Documentation
Read, retain and follow these instructions before operating the equipment.
Environment
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this equipment to rain or moisture. Refer all
servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing
Do not attempt to service this equipment yourself as opening or removing covers can result in personal
injury and will void the warranty. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
2.1.Safety and First Aid
Personnel engaged in the installation, operation, maintenance, or servicing of this equipment are
exposed to the hazard of high voltage. It is imperative that all safety regulations and precautions are
consistently observed. Knowledge of first aid procedures is recommended. The following information
is presented as a reference only. The user should ensure that they are properly trained in first aid and
the necessary precautions, which may not be contained in this manual, are followed.
•At all times, avoid placing any part of the body in series between ground and circuit points,
whether power is on or off.
•Dangerous voltage may be present in equipment even though power is off. Do not open the
cabinet. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
•It is the duty of all personnel to be prepared to give adequate emergency first aid treatment and
thereby prevent avoidable loss of life.
•Respiratory paralysis can cause death by suffocation within seconds. It is imperative that the
approved methods of artificial respiration are initiated immediately until medical help arrives.
•A muscular spasm of unconsciousness may render the victim unable to break free of the electric
power. If this is the case, turn the power off immediately. Do not touch the victim or you may
share the same predicament!
•If the power cannot be turned off immediately, very carefully loop a dry rope, article of clothing,
length of strong cloth or a rolled-up newspaper around the victim and pull the victim free of the
power source. Carefully avoid touching the victim or clothing. Call for medical help immediately.

2.2.Operating Safeguards
Load Impedance
Technalogix transmitter equipment functions with a 50-ohm load impedance. It is imperative you
maintain 50-ohm impedances throughout your system for your equipment to provide maximum power
transfer to the antenna and decreased reflected power heading back towards the amplifier pallets.
Failure to provide a 50-ohm path throughout the system may result in damage to your equipment.
Before anything is turned on, ensure that there is a 50-ohm path from the output of each stage to the
input of the next, all the way to the antenna.
Power Supply Voltages
In addition to maintaining proper 50-ohm impedances throughout the signal chain, it is also important,
whenever possible, to make sure the RF drive going to the input of the power amplifier is removed
before turning on or turning off the DC power supply. This is because the majority of the RF transistors
used in the individual amplifier pallets are fabricated with LDMOS (Laterally Diffused Metal Oxide
Semiconductor) technology. Typically, they do not like to make any RF power when their supply
voltages are not within a specific range. When you first turn your power amplifier on or off, the DC
power supply’s output voltage may take a while to stable out to a safe operating voltage. Wait ten (10)
seconds before applying the RF drive to ensure no issues arise.
Operating Warnings
Our transmitter equipment is designed to reliably generate a specific RF output power level. Failing to
adhere to overdriven amplifier, high reflected power, and high temperature, and other warnings can
decrease the reliability of your system and may result in damage to the unit. If you need to transmit to a
little larger coverage, you are better off increasing antenna gain, and more importantly, antenna height
above average terrain. On TV broadcast frequencies, insufficient antenna height puts an upper limit on
your range, regardless of power levels, as the distance from your antenna to the radio horizon is
limited.
The radiated power from the cabinet of this device is below the Industry Canada radio
frequency exposure limits. The device should be used in such a manner that the potential
for human contact with the antenna during normal operation is minimized.

3. Terms of Sale
Sales by Technalogix Ltd. (“Seller”) are made only on terms which are contained in this policy. Seller
hereby gives notice of its objection to any different/additional terms and conditions. All sales are
expressly conditional upon Buyers’ assent to the terms and conditions set forth below. These terms and
conditions may be modified/ supplemented only by written document signed by authorized
representative of the Seller. These terms and conditions supersede any prior and/or contemporaneous
agreements/correspondence between Buyer and Seller. Any order received and accepted by Seller
shall be construed as acceptance of Seller’s offer to sell its products to the Buyer in accordance with
terms and conditions of sale set forth herein. No waiver, whether express or implied, by Seller of any of
the terms or conditions hereof shall be deemed a continuing waiver or trade custom between parties,
but shall apply solely to the instance to which the waiver is directed.
Ordering Information
All orders must be in writing and/or accompanied by a Purchase Order. A minimum down payment is
required with all orders. No orders are considered an order until the payment has been made.
Pricing Policy
All prices are FOB shipping point and prices do not include freight, handling, and insurance. All prices
published/quoted by Seller may be changed at any time without notice. Unless otherwise specified,
written quotations expire 30 days from date issued and subject to change/termination by notice during
this period.
Taxes
Prices for all products do not include any sales, use, excise or other taxes. Buyer agrees to pay all
applicable taxes, duties and other fees on product and services ordered. If Buyer claims an exemption
from any tax, Buyer shall submit to Seller the appropriate exemption certificates.
Shipping
Shipping is the responsibility of the Buyer. This includes all freight, customs and brokerage charges,
duties, and insurance.
Terms of Payment
Seller will provide credit terms to Buyer at its discretion. Such terms are subject to change at all times.
If credit is provided, Seller will invoice Buyer on the date the product is ordered. Such invoices will be
due and payable net thirty (30) days from the date of invoice, subject to credit is not established or
maintained, terms shall be net cash on or prior to the Delivery Date. Seller reserves the right, at its sole
discretion at any time to revoke any credit previously extended. Past due accounts shall be charged
two percent (2%) per month, or the highest rate permitted by Alberta law, whichever is less, and will be
added to the outstanding balance. In the event Buyer defaults on the payment, Buyer shall be liable for
all collection costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Non-payment of past due accounts
will result in a lien against parts and all subsequent assemblies or products that our components are in.
Goods remain the property of Seller until invoice is paid in full.

Changes and Cancellation
Purchase orders that have been accepted by Seller may not be changed/ cancelled, in whole or part,
without written Seller consent. All changes must be included in a change order reflecting purchase
order and submitted to the Seller. All other changes will not be accepted/acknowledged. Changes may
affect delivery dates. Expenses incurred because of changes shall be charged to Buyer. Buyer will be
liable for Seller’s costs incurred, plus a reasonable profit, for the portion of work terminated, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, together with cancellation charges. Orders
for standard product may be changed by Buyer, with no penalty to Buyer, provided that Buyer provides
Seller notification at least 30 days prior to scheduled ship date. Order changes received within 30 days
of scheduled ship date may be subject to an order change charge; a schedule detailing these charges
will be forwarded to Buyer when Buyer’s change order is acknowledged. In no event can any aspect of
the order be changed after the product shipment has occurred. Custom orders may be cancelled by
Buyer, provided that Buyer pays Seller for completed work allocated to Buyer’s order at time of
termination of the work at selling price and all costs for work-in-progress and costs resulting from
cancellation and reasonable profit therein. Specific cancellation charges dependent on the type of
custom product ordered. A schedule detailing these charges will be forwarded to Buyer when Buyer’s
cancellation fee of up to 100% of the order, depending on the stage of completion of the order at the
date the cancellation or revision is accepted.
Custom Products Policy
Custom items are not returnable. Items other than “off the shelf” products are considered custom and
are products/materials which have been altered, amended and customized to your order, and not
resalable.
Returns
Product return without written authorization by Seller will not be accepted. Returns accepted only with a
valid Return Material Authorization (RMA). To receive authorization for product return, call Seller. There
is a standard 25% restocking cost assessed on most returns. All returned products (non-repair) must be
unused, and in original condition. No refund/credit given for damaged products. We do not accept
postage-due/ C.O.D. packages at any time.
Excusable Delay
Seller shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting from any delay in delivery or failure to deliver
which is due to any cause beyond Seller’s control, including, without limitation, acts of nature,
unavailability of supplies or sources of energy, riots, wars, fires, floods, epidemics, lockouts, strikes and
slowdowns, delays in delivery by supplies, or acts or omissions of the Buyer. The Buyer shall be liable
for stage charges, including but not limited to all third party costs and expenses incurred by Seller, in
holding or storing products for the Buyer or at the Buyer’s request.
Assignment
Buyer shall not assign any duties nor assign any order or any interest therein without written consent of
the Seller. Any such actual or attempted assignment shall entitle Seller to cancel the order upon written
notice to the Buyer.

Installation
Seller assumes no obligation to install any product sold to place any products in working order at
Buyer’s premises and not responsible for freight damage.
Validity of Separate Clauses
If any provisions of this agreement shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality or
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

4. Warranty
Technalogix products have been completely tested and found to meet specifications and be in proper
operating condition. Technalogix-manufactured products are warranted to be free from defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the date of shipment. Products sold
through, but not directly manufactured by Technalogix, carry the original manufacturer’s warranty.
Seller will not be liable for damages of whatever nature arising out of or in connection with the
equipment or its use thereof. Technalogix does not assume responsibility for injury or damage resulting
from the practices of untrained or unqualified personnel in the handling of this equipment and does not
include misuse, neglect or accident, incorrect wiring and/or improper installation, unauthorized repairs,
modifications or use in violation of instructions issued by Seller, incidental or consequential damages as
a result of any defect, reshipment cost or insurance of the unit or replacement units or parts, acts of
nature, damages due to AC or DC power supplied by customer to power the equipment (see installation
recommendation for surge protection), or acts of terrorism. Seller agrees, at our option, to remedy
warranted defects or furnish a new part in exchange for any part of unit which, under normal
installation, use and service, becomes defective. The user pays for transportation costs to and from
repair facility. If you require on-site service, please contact our sales department for pricing and
conditions.

5. Principle of Operation
The RF power amplifier is designed to take a modulated RF carrier at a low level (typically less than 10
dBm, but custom levels available), and amplifies the carrier to a level that is suitable for transmission
through an antenna, or alternative load. The power amplifier feeds this load through an inline wattmeter
and transmission line. For broadcast and over-the-air amplifier systems, the pattern of the antenna then
dictates the range and coverage area.
The amplification is accomplished by one or many amplifier pallets internal to the power amplifier
system. If there is more than one amplifier pallet stage, then the first pallet acts as a driver feeding
Intermediate Power Amplifiers (IPAs) and/or final stage pallets. If multiple final pallets are required, then
a splitter and combiner are also required before and after the final stages.
We manufacture amplifiers and transmission systems for a wide range of frequencies. Due to the fact
that some of the internal components are frequency specific, not all RF amplifier systems are agile
across all frequencies. For example, typically pallets for the North American broadcast markets are
broken down into operation over VHF Band I (channel 2-6), VHF Band III (channels 7-13), and UHF
(channels 14-69). Custom frequencies are available upon request, but please note that frequency
selection must be made at time of order, as most RF amplifier systems are calibrated and tested to the
frequency requested and are typically not field tuneable.
The RF amplifiers utilize readily available RF components wherever possible, thus enhancing the
serviceability of the equipment. The amplifier modules are stable for high reliability and long service life
and feature ultra linear amplification and individual channel RF output filtering, unless ordered
otherwise.
The Block Diagram is included in this manual to illustrate the specific component flow of the RF
amplifier system and to provide specific configuration and model information.

6. Installation
This section contains unpacking, inspection, and installation instructions for the power amplifier or
transmitter. Please read the following sections carefully prior to setting up the equipment.
6.1.Unpacking and Inspection
Check the outside of the container. Carefully open the container and remove the power amplifier or
transmitter and any accessories. Retain all packing material in the event that the equipment must be
returned to the factory.
Exercise care in handling equipment during inspection to prevent damage to the
equipment. Some pieces of the equipment may be heavy.
Visually inspect the enclosure of the power amplifier or transmitter for damage that may have occurred
during shipment. Check for evidence of water damage, bent or warped chassis, loose screws or nuts,
or extraneous packing material in connectors or fan failures. Inspect all connectors for bent connector
pins. If the equipment is damaged, a claim should be filed against the freight carrier once the extent of
the damage is assessed. Technalogix cannot stress too strongly the importance of immediate careful
inspection of the equipment and subsequent immediate filing of the necessary claims against the
carrier if necessary. If possible, inspect the equipment in the presence of the delivery person. If the
equipment is damaged, the carrier is your first area of recourse. If the equipment is damaged and must
be returned to the factory, phone for a return authorization number. Claims for loss or damage may not
be withheld from any payment to Technalogix, nor may any payment due be withheld pending the
outcome thereof. Technalogix cannot guarantee the carrier’s performance.

6.2.Panel Connections
AC IN:
Single phase AC input to feed internal AC/DC switching power supplies. Check
with factory as not all power supplies are universal 110/220V.
RF OUT:
Modulated RF carrier output (N female or 7-16 DIN female standard)
REMOTE PORT:
Parallel parameter interface (DB25 female)
ETHERNET/SNMP:
Ethernet or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) connection for
remote control and monitoring (RJ45 jack)
CAN:
Control Area Network (CAN) expansion bus (RJ45)
RF IN:
Modulated RF carrier output (BNC female or SMA female standard)
6.3.Initial Hook Up
1. If applicable, ensure that the antenna or alternative load has been swept and, ideally, has a
return loss of greater than 20dB (VSWR = 1.2:1). This should be done before connecting the
antenna/load cable to the system’s output. The power amplifier’s control system allows the user
to change the VSWR trip point up to a maximum level of 1.8:1, unless a custom VSWR
protection system has been requested. Strive for the lowest possible return loss to maximize
transmission distance and improve operating performance. Unless requested otherwise at the
time of purchase, VSWR levels between the trip point set by the user and 1.8:1 (or custom
VSWR trip point) will cause a fold back in power. VSWR levels past 1.8:1 (or custom VSWR trip
point) will cause the system to shut down or fold back with attenuation to avoid damage.
2. Place the amplifier in its permanent location near a receptacle supplying the required AC or DC
mains voltage.
3. Place an appropriate AC or DC power line protector, conditioner, and/or surge suppressor
across the supply line. This small investment is highly recommended to protect the equipment
from power surges and spikes (not covered by warranty).
4. Install a lightning surge arrestor or Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) on the coax near the antenna or
alternative load to protect the amplifier. This small investment is highly recommended to protect
the equipment from lightning (not covered by warranty).
5. Connect the transmitting antenna, or alternative load’s cable to the RF OUT female connector
on the PA enclosure’s RF output. On units that have a separate filter or filter/power supply
enclosure after the power amplifier enclosure, connect the transmitting antenna, or alternative
load cable on the last enclosure in the chain to the RF Out and connect the RF coaxial between
the power amplifier and the second enclosure in the chain. The system must be loaded into a
50-ohm load before any power is turned on for over-the-air systems.

6. Check that your baseband source is present, whether it is from an RF generator, encoder, mux,
or otherwise, to feed the modulator if the system is a transmitter, for broadcast applications. If
the system is a translator, ensure that the modulated RF signal is present at the input to the
processor/translator that will feed the power amplifier. In the case of alternative modulation
schemes, ensure that the source feeding the front end of the power amplifier is present and
stable.
Note that some of our (and other manufacturers’) products contain input signal detection and will
turn off the carrier in the event of a missing input signal. Checking for a valid input signal can
potentially save a lot of time.
7. Hook up the modulator, processor, or source as shown in their respective manuals. Power level
adjustment should be made through the power amplifier. If the front end modulator, processor,
or source was not provided by Technalogix, ensure that its RF output level is turned down as far
as possible. This will help ensure that the different product does not initially overdrive the power
amplifier due to mismatched RF levels. You will have to adjust the RF level to achieve the
specified output power on the amplifier. For front end equipment supplied by Technalogix, we
have already factory set the source RF output level to properly drive the power amplifier. Please
check the specifications sheet supplied with your amplifier to know what input level to the
amplifier(s) is required to meet output power.
Do not connect the modulated signal from the RF OUT on the modulator, processor, or
source to RF IN on the power amplifier at this time. Because of the characteristics of
LDMOS devices, the RF drive should not be connected to the power amplifier until after
the power supply and bias voltages are present and stable.
8. If the power amplifier system includes a power supply that is external to the power amplifier
enclosure, install the DC power supply leads between the power supply enclosure and power
amplifier enclosure. If the power supply is internal to the amplifier, then all DC wiring is already
hooked up.
At this stage, the system is set up and ready to do a preliminary start up, as outlined in the “Operating
Procedure” section.

7. Operating Procedure
Assuming the previous installation instructions have been completed and cautions noted, and the
power amplifier is ready to receive a properly modulated RF signal, proceed with the following steps to
place the system in operation. The power amplifier has been factory aligned for a specific frequency
(per system specification), signal levels and optimum performance.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU RUN YOUR SYSTEM INTO A DUMMY
LOAD BEFORE INSTALLING TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DAMAGE SUSTAINED
IN SHIPPING AND THE UNIT IS RUNNING PROPERLY
1. Verify that all control and RF cables are tight and properly seated in or on the mating connector.
2. Plug the modulator, processor, or RF source into AC mains (specified by the
modulator/processor manufacturer), while the RF input to the power amplifier is still
disconnected.
3. With the power amplifier loaded into the filter (if installed), and the filter loaded into the antenna,
alternative load, or dummy load if there is an external filter in the system, power up the amplifier
by turning on power supply either via the ON/OFF switch on the back of the power amplifier, or
if the system has an external power supply, via the ON/OFF switch on the back of the power
supply enclosure. In the case of three-phase mains, the power switch will be located on the
power distribution enclosure and likely activates a contactor to supply AC to all of the systems’
power supplies.
4. Verify that the power amplifier fans are all on. The power amplifier fans are powered via DC
voltage so this is an indication that the power supply is started and running. There may be fans
installed in the filter or power supply enclosures, if applicable.
5. If enabled, the internal soft start circuitry will turn the bias voltages off until the power supply to
the amplifier pallets is fully stable. The front display indicates when the soft start is running via
maximum attenuation on the touch screen display. Once complete, the Forward and Reflected
Power, Power Supply, and Temperature readings will appear on the display.
6. Some units may display a low input level warning and attenuation may be added. This ensures
that the power amplifier has placed maximum attenuation on its input and is ready to receive the
RF drive signal. On systems with the touchscreen option installed, this attenuation is displayed
in the lower right corner of the screen (39 dB is maximum attenuation).
7. With the RF drive signal still removed, view the idle (quiescent) currents. Compare these
currents for the amplifier pallets against those listed in the Final Inspection Report and ensure
they match within 10%. If the unit contains more than one final amplifier pallet (illustrated in the
Block Diagram), ensure that the final pallet currents on the multiple finals all match within 10%
of each other. With multiple finals, the final pallet currents should always match within this range
under all operating conditions.

8. After the warm up and soft start (if enabled) is complete, apply the RF drive signal (and adjust
the level for non Technalogix supplied front end equipment) between the modulator, processor,
or RF source and the power amplifier RF In (BNC female, 50 ohm). This ensures that the RF
drive signal is applied only after the power supply is stable and the bias voltages are applied to
the amplifier. Remember that some front end equipment has input signal detection, and if the
input is not present, then they may turn off the RF carrier at the output of the modulator or front
end equipment.
9. Adjust RF output power on the power amplifier to about 10% of rated forward power. The output
power level is adjusted from the power amplifier’s RF Levels screen. If the unit contains more
than one final amplifier pallet, ensure that the final pallet currents on the multiple finals all match
within 10% of each other. With multiple finals, the final pallet currents should always match
within this range under all operating conditions.
Front panel readings will vary slightly upon turn on. Steady state parameters can be
taken after approximately one hour.
10. Ideally, the RFL Power should read zero. However, should a high VSWR be detected, the
system will automatically fold back, shut down and cycle, or do nothing more than indicate
VSWR level, as described in the control system section (optional VSWR configurations
available). Under normal conditions, a well installed and setup system should indicate RFL
power less than 3% of FWD power.
11. Adjust RF output power on the power amplifier to desired level. Verify that the FWD Power
reads 80 to 100% of the system’s rated power on the PA enclosure - depending on the
modulation of the signal content. The system is set up for 100% of the modulation that was
ordered, for example, 100% peak sync NTSC power, 100% rms 8VSB, or 100% CW unless
otherwise specified. The output power level can be adjusted from the power amplifier’s RF
Levels screen. Keep in mind that the system will fold back or shut down (depending on severity)
should the forward RF output power level exceed the trip overdrive point.
Pease note that 100% should be the maximum FWD power. Typically, customers run
the systems at 90% to avoid occasional AC power line spikes or transients from
tripping the shutdowns. The difference of 10% will provide a marginal difference in
range (tower height will have a much more significant effect on range in the case of
over-the-air).
12. Verify that the power supply reads correctly (see supplied final inspection sheet for factory
settings of power supply levels) on the display of the power amplifier. You should see no more
than 3% fluctuations in DC supply voltage, and even less with a properly conditioned AC source
to the power supply.
13. Look at the transmitted output using suitable test equipment. If the modulation scheme is for
video, the picture and sound quality should be clean and sharp. If the output picture and sound
quality is unsatisfactory, check the input signals, connections to the antenna system, antenna
and transmission line VSWR, and the physical condition of the antenna.

14. After warm up, compare the temperature of the equipment from the front display to the
temperature recorded in the final inspection sheet, included in shipping. Assuming ambient
temperatures are close (our factory is typically around 18 to 25˚C), your temperature reading
should be very close to the factory reading. Use your temperature measurement as a method to
monitor fan performance (though on higher power units, fan current is also monitored). A fan
failure or air blockage will show an increase in temperature, assuming ambient temperature is
not varying.
For broadcast applications, if the quality of transmission is unsatisfactory, the difficulty is often with the
receiving antenna or with obstructions in the path between the amplifier/antenna and receiver. There is
also a troubleshooting section located later in this manual.
At this time, Technalogix recommends that you document your measurements to use as a reference
over time. The measurements can be made either from the front display, or remotely via the Remote
Port (DB25), Ethernet (lower RJ45), or SNMP (lower RJ45), whose operation is explained in section 10.
Monitor and Control System.

8. Control Interface
8.1.Touch Screen Control
All switch/settings and user interface is handled through the resistive touchscreen on the front panel.
The interface provides the user with the ability to monitor the following power amplifier parameters from
the front panel:
•Forward (incident) power at the power amplifier output.
•Reflected (reverse) power at the power amplifier output.
•DC voltage of the power amplifier’s power supply.
•DC current in the power amplifier.
•Temperature of the heat sink of the power amplifier.
•The time since the amplifier was last shut down.
•History of faults and events
•Mode of the power amplifier (selectable between Manual and AGC).
•Indication if there is attenuation added to the front end of the power amplifier indicating fold back
in RF power (indicates amount of attenuation)
•Settings to change the VSWR trip point shutdown between 1.1:1 and 1.8:1.
•Settings to change the RF power units between % power (maximum of 110%) or watts.
•Summary of PCB modules and assembly numbers specific to the power amplifier
This manual outlines the standard factory control system. Custom firmware requests may cause the
control system and amplifier to deviate from the described operation. Please consult factory for any
client-ordered custom settings.
8.2.Main Screen
From the main screen, as seen in the figure below, all of the system’s main parameters can be viewed
at a quick glance. The three (3) main sections of this screen are the four (4) level bars, the summary
bar at the bottom of the screen, and the carrier ON/OFF button. The level bars show real time system
performance and help illustrate any transient changes that occur. The FORWARD POWER and
REFLECTED POWER level bars can also be shown in watts (a full description of how to do this is
found in the SETTINGS section. The summary bar at the bottom of the screen will stay in place no
matter what screen is being viewed to allow for an operating summary at any time. Also from any
screen, the RF amplifier’s carrier can be turned on or off to facilitate adjustments, settings, and
testing/troubleshooting.

Toggles between Main Screen and Menu Screen. The menu screen has additional settings and
monitoring over the Main Screen, and is illustrated in the next section.
Forward RF power level in % out of 100 or in watts. Mimics data from level bar. Overdrive
protection starts at 110% where the power amplifier folds back power by adding attenuation to the
power amplifier input until a safe level obtained. System continually checks power level and tries
to bring RF power level back to where it was when the fault occurred. If overdrive occurs, a
warning is also displayed in red text near the top of the touchscreen and the event recorder logs
the event.
Reflected RF power level in % out of 100 or in watts. Mimics data from level bar. The high VSWR
fault occurs when the measured VSWR of the system exceeds the user-defined VSWR trip point
found in the RF Power Menu (described later in section). If the VSWR exceeds the user defined
shutdown level, but is below 1.8:1 (or a custom VSWR protection point), then attenuation is
added to the power amplifier input until a safe level is reached. If the measured VSWR exceeds
1.8:1 (or a custom VSWR protection point, then the RF carrier is turned off to protect the amplifier
chain. At this point, the system will continually check to see if it is safe to come back on. This
protection scheme helps ensure that the system stays on the air as long as possible before doing
a complete shutdown. If high reflected occurs, a warning is also displayed in red text near the top
of the touchscreen and the event recorder logs the event.
Temperature from sensor mounted on heat sink surface. Shutdown trip point is factory set at a
predetermined level to keep the amplifier pallets safe. Should a fan fail inside the power amplifier
enclosure, or air conditioning fails inside the broadcast facility causing the temperature to exceed
the trip point, the control system will lower forward RF power until a safe level of measured
temperature is achieved. The system will continually try and bring the RF power back to the same
level when the fault occurred if it is safe to do so, a warning is displayed in red text near the top of
the touchscreen, and the event recorder logs the event.
RF output power is determined largely in part by the amount of attenuation that the control
system places on the input of the power amplifier. Whether a fault occurs and attenuation gets
added or the user requests a change in RF power level via the web/SNMP/Remote Port interface,
the attenuation section of the summary bar conveys important operating information. If the user
requests a change in forward power level via the web interface, SNMP monitoring and control, or
via the Remote Port connector on the back of the enclosure an asterisk (*) is placed next to the
attenuation value in the summary bar. This informs the user whether or not the attenuation was
added due to a fault or simply because it was requested.

Automatic Gain Control (AGC) or Manual mode. In AGC mode, the control system maintains a
user-settable forward RF power level by monitoring output power and making slight adjustments
as necessary. The system tries to maintain the maximum of the AGC target level. There is no
level control beyond error handling protection. The user can toggle back and forth from AGC and
Manual modes by going to the RF Levels Screen and changing the mode.
Date and Time.Displays current date and time. Power amplifiers ship from factory with default
Mountain Standard Time (MST). Users can adjust this info from the Date and Time Screen. The
event recorder pulls this info when it logs an event so the user can correlate events in the field.
Events stored prior to a date and/or time change will maintain their original event stamp and will
not be modified to reflect the change. A Real Time Clock holds time for about one week without
AC power
Carrier ON/OFF switch. By pressing the power switch on the touchscreen, the user can turn on or
off the RF carrier. The same result occurs by turning on or off the system via the web or SNMP
interface, or through controlling of the Remote Port. A quick beep from the on-board buzzer
signifies that the response has been taken. The power supplies and fan will remain active while
the carrier is turned off via this switch
8.3.Menu Screen
The menu screen allows the user to dive into further details of the power amplifier’s operations.
Pressing the BACK TO MAIN button will toggle between the Main Screen and the Menu Screen. The
Menu Screen is shown below:
Each of the menu icons on the Menu Screen allow the user to take additional readings or make settings
that are not provided from the Main Screen. Any changes to settings will be stored in non-volatile
memory with the exception of the date and time which are stored as long as the backup battery remains
charged (approximately one week of loss of AC power or power down).
While the user is in the sub menu screens (anything besides the Main Screen), full monitoring and
protection is taking place. This means that as a user makes a change to a setting or parameter that
jeopardizes the power amplifier, the control system will provide protection, display the fault in red text
near the top of the touchscreen, and stay in the current menu.