Telos Zephyr User manual

Digital Network Audio Transceiver
The Best Way to Hear from There™
User’s Manual
Manual Version: 3.0,
November, 1997

2
Customer Service
We support you...
•By phone/Fax in the USA.
Customer service is available from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM USA Eastern Time, Monday
through Friday at +1 216.241.7225. We’re often here at times outside of these, as well –
please feel free to try at any time!
Fax: [phone].
•By phone/Fax in Europe.
Service is available from Telos Europe in Germany at [phone].
Fax: [phone].
•By E- Mail.
The address is: [email protected].
•Via World Wide Web.
The Telos Web site has a variety of information which may be useful for product
selection and locating other compatible users. The URL is: http://www.zephyr.com.
Feedback
We welcome feedback on any aspect of the Zephyr or this manual. In the past, many
good ideas from users have made their way into software revisions or new products.
Please contact us with your comments.
Telos Systems
2101 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
USA
+1 216.241.7225
Fax: [phone]
Telos Europe
JohannisstraBe 6
85354 Freising
Germany
[phone]
Fax: [phone]

Test Lines
To aid you in testing and demonstrating your Zephyr Telos Systems has the following
test numbers available:
•USA: +216 781.9310, +216 781.9311 (Layer III Dual transmit @ 32 KHz sample rate)
•Germany: (49) 81 61 42 061 Dial this number twice (Layer III Dual transmit @ 32
KHz sample rate)
•Germany: (49) 81 61 42 062 (Layer II Mono @ 32 KHz)
Updates
The operation of the Zephyr is nearly entirely determined by software. A continuous
program of improvement is underway. Please be sure to send in the registration form to
be notified of new software releases.
Trademarks
Telos Systems, the Telos logo, Zephyr, ZephyrExpress, and “The Best Way to Hear from
There” are trademarks of TLS Corporation. All other trademarks are property of their
respective holders.
Copyright
Copyright © 1994- 97 by TLS Corporation. Published by Telos Systems, who reserves the
right to make improvements or changes in the products described in this manual,
which may affect the product specifications, or to revise the manual without notice. All
rights reserved.
Notice
All versions, claims of compatibility, trademarks, etc. of hardware and software
products not made by Telos mentioned in this manual or accompanying material are
informational only. Telos Systems makes no endorsement of any particular product for
any purpose, nor claims any responsibility for operation or accuracy.
Warranty
This product is covered by a one year limited warranty, the full text of which is in the
Appendix section.
Repairs
You must contact Telos before returning any equipment for repair. Telos Systems will
issue a Return Authorization number which must be written on the exterior of your
package. Be sure to adequately insure your shipment. Packages without proper
authorization may be refused. US customers should contact Telos customer support at
+1 216.241.7225. All other customers should contact their local Telos Dealer who will
verify the problem and will contact Telos and arrange for repair.

Table of Contents4
CAUTION: The installation and servicing instructions in this manual
are for use by qualified personnel only. To avoid electric shock, do
not perform any servicing other than that contained in the operating
instructions unless you are qualified to do so. Refer all servicing
to qualified personnel.
IMPORTANT NOTE! The Zephyr memory backup is powered by Lithium
battery BT-1. The following precautions must be followed when working
on the Zephyr motherboard or when this battery is replaced:
1) Do not short the battery terminals (or traces connected to these
terminals) together.
2) Lithium batteries contain lithium and may be considered hazardous.
Local procedures must be followed when disposing of used batteries.
Do not dispose this battery by burning.
3) Do not attempt to open the sealed battery container.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not expose this
product to rain or moisture. Do not shower with the unit.
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to the presence
of uninsulated, dangerous voltage inside the enclosure –
voltage which may be sufficient to constitute a risk of shock.
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important
operating and maintenance instructions. Read the manual.
USA CLASS A COMPUTING DEVICE INFORMATION TO USER. WARNING:
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-
frequency energy. If it is not installed and used as directed
by this manual, it may cause interference to radio
communication. This equipment complies with the limits for a
Class A computing device, as specified by FCC Rules, Part 15,
Subpart J, which are designed to provide reasonable
protection against such interference when this type of
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation
of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause

Table of Contents 5
interference. If it does, the user will be required to
eliminate the interference at the user’s expense. NOTE:
Objectionable interference to TV or radio reception can occur
if other devices are connected to this device without the use
of shielded interconnect cables. FCC rules require the use of
only shielded cables.
CANADA WARNING: “ This digital apparatus does not exceed the
Class A limits for radio noise emissions set out in the Radio
Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department of
Communications.” “ Le present appareil numerique n’emet pas
de bruits radioelectriques depassant les limites applicables
aux appareils numeriques (de les Class A) prescrites dans le
Reglement sur le brouillage radioelectrique edicte par le
ministere des Communications du Canada.”

Table of Contents6
User’s Manual
Telos Zephyr
TELOS ZEPHYR 1
User’s Manual 6
Conventions Used in this Manual 12
QUICK RESULTS! (SECTION 1) 13
WHO CAN USE THIS SECTION? 14
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START... 15
Hardware 15
Information on your ISDN line 16
SUCCESS, STEP-BY-STEP: 18
Connecting The Input/Output Audio 18
Connecting to The ISDN Line 18
Powering Up 19
Basic Configuration 19
Placing Your First Call (to Yourself) 22
Your Next Call, to Telos 23
What’s Next? 24
Where to find answers to frequently asked questions 25
INTRODUCTION (SECTION 2) 27
THE BEST WAY TO HEAR FROM THERE™ 28
Introducing Zephyr 28
Features and Benefits 29
Overview: Zephyr, the Box 31
Ordering Guide 32
Zephyr Transmission Modes 32
Introducing ISDN 33
Questions and Answers About Audio Coding 35
About Telos Systems 37

Table of Contents 7
ZEPHYR AT A GLANCE (SECTION 3) 39
FRONT PANEL 40
Display 40
Status LEDs 40
LCD and Pushbuttons 41
REAR PANEL 41
Slot Positions 41
ISDN 41
V.35/X.21 43
Send (Input) Audio 44
Receive (Output) Audio 46
Phones 47
RS-232 47
Parallel Port 48
AES/EBU 50
Remote Panel 51
AC Power 51
INSTALLATION & BASIC OPERATION (SECTION 4) 53
INTRODUCTION 54
CONNECTING TO ISDN 54
The U and S/T Interface (USA) 55
The S/T Only Interface (Europe and Elsewhere) 57
CONNECTING AUDIO 58
LCD AND PUSHBUTTONS 58
Status Screen 58
Getting Help 59
Using The Menu System 60
Setup to the ISDN Line 63
Making A Call 68
Using Auto Dial 73
Storing Setups 75
Calls To A Regular Phone 76
SETTING AUDIO CODING MODES 78
Transmit (Xmt) and Receive (Rcv) Modes 78
Bitrate and Sampling Rate 78
Dual Site Operation 79
Zephyr Xmt-To-Rcv Mode Compatibility Table 79

Table of Contents8
DEALING WITH DELAY 80
Mix-Minus 80
Phones and Remotes 81
AES/EBU 82
ISDN (SECTION 5) 85
ISDN BASICS 86
Background 86
The Basic Rate Interface (BRI) 87
HOW TO ORDER ISDN 90
Zephyr ISDN Compatibility 93
Ordering: CO Switches and Protocols 94
NON-ISDN NETWORKS (SECTION 6) 97
SWITCHED 56 98
MORE NETWORK OPTIONS 99
Primary Rate ISDN 99
Digital Data Service (DDS) 99
Other Possibilities 99
USING THE ZEPHYR WITH NON-ISDN NETWORKS 99
V.35/X.21 Network Connection 99
AUDIO CODING (SECTION 7) 105
OVERVIEW 106
Introduction to Audio Coding 106
Basic Principles of Perceptual Coding 106
ISO/MPEG LAYER III 108
Layer III Features 109
ISO/MPEG LAYER II 110
G.722 111
CASCADING 112
CHOOSING THE CODING METHOD 114
MOST APPROPRIATE TO YOUR APPLICATION 114
Audio Coding Comparison Chart 114

Table of Contents 9
DETAILED MENU REFERENCE (SECTION 8) 119
MENU OVERVIEW 120
Menu Summary 120
Using the Menus 121
DETAILED MENU REFERENCE 121
Utility Menu 122
Dial Menu 149
Auto-Dial Menu 151
Drop Menu 152
Volume Menu 153
Help Menu 154
Special Start-up Functions 156
Utility Menu - The Complete Works 146
REMOTE CONTROL (SECTION 9) 157
CONNECTING TO A COMPUTER 158
SYNTAX USED IN THIS MANUAL 160
COMMANDS AND FUNCTIONS 160
Ancillary Data 171
Startup Commands 172
MS WINDOWS ZephyrControl SOFTWARE 173
PARALLEL PORT AND CLOSURES 174
ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING (SECTION 10) 177
GENERAL 178
Thinking About Problem Solving 178
ISDN-RELATED 185
DETAILED TECHNICAL INFORMATION (SECTION 11) 197
PHILOSOPHY 198
DSP CARDS, CONFIGURATION, MODES 198
Transmit Modes 199
Receive Modes 202
GAINING ACCESS 203
COMPONENT-LEVEL CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION and TROUBLESHOOTING 205
General 205

Table of Contents10
Circuit Description: Rev. F and Below 205
FIRMWARE EPROMS 218
SCHEMATICS (SECTION 12) 219
SCHEMATICS 220
MANUFACTURER’S DATA SHEETS (SECTION 13) 221
MANUFACTURER’S DATA SHEETS 222
SPECIFICATIONS AND WARRANTY (SECTION 14) 223
SPECIFICATIONS 224
ZEPHYR LIMITED WARRANTY 227
APPENDICES (SECTION 15) 229
ABOUT AUDIO LEVELS 230
CODEC COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION 232
FINDING PUBLIC ZEPHYR SITES 240
ISDN BRI, ZEPHYR, AND YOU 248
Ordering ISDN 248
List of Known Working SPIDs by Telephone Company 242
MENU’S AT-A-GLANCE; Utility Menu Summary 245
FAXABLE ISDN BRI LINE ORDER FORM 261

Table of Contents 11
A Note From the President...
Waaay back in 1984, Telos’ first product was being designed on a Radio Shack TRS- 80
and the attached modem was considered to be respectably state- of- the- art, operating
at the impressive speed of 300 bits per second. This was nearly three times the speed of
the 110 bps, twenty- five pound, phone company- issue boxes I had been using over at
the local college campus to talk to the hulking IBM in the bomb- shelter basement.
The PC revolution had begun a few years back, so there were quite a few of them
around, but they were, except for by grace of these modems and mainframes, islands.
No one as yet had figured a way to link them up in any practical way.
How the world has changed! Politicians talking up the “Information Super Highway”
have made the phrase a parody, and 10 Million bits per second LANs are starting to be
thought of as kind of slow.
We radio broadcasters have until recently been only just a bit ahead of computer users a
decade ago. Our stations mostly exist as islands, with what audio we get from elsewhere
coming from the mainframe- like satellites and networks.
But now come the liberating technologies that do for us what networking is doing for
computing: digital telephony and high- power audio data coding. These make possible
the instant dial- up transportation of audio from and to anywhere in the modern world.
Digital telephone interconnection is being delivered to us via ISDN, and ISO/MPEG
Layer III is the perfect coding method to exploit it for high- fidelity audio.
With the Zephyr, we’ve tried to bring together gracefully these technological pieces to
permit you to easily do that which was previously difficult or impossible. It is my hope
that it becomes, in your hands, an empowering tool for the creation of a more
interesting audio future.
The Zephyr is a result of what were once my personal passions, and what have now
become what MBA types call our “core corporate competencies,” Digital Signal
Processing and telephones for broadcast. It feels as if everything we’ve done until now
have lead to this. Plug it in, dial it, listen, and see if you, too, don’t share the excitement
we felt in the lab when we got the first prototype going, listening to a Zappa CD being
played from our partner lab in Europe. It was absolutely mind- boggling – we were
hearing CD- quality audio from the other side of the planet
on a phone line.
God, I love the 90s!
Steve Church

Table of Contents12
Conventions Used in this Manual
We use the following symbols to draw your attention to particularly important points.
IMPORTANT!
This information is essential to getting the Zephyr to work, or
to prevent damage to it. To avoid headaches please read
these.
HOT TIP!
This information will probably come in handy at some point.
You will probably wish to read these.
ISDN TIP!
Important information for those using ISDN, particularly the
Zephyr’s built-in ISDN terminal Adapter. Recommended
reading for all ISDN users.
COMPATIBILITY TIP!
Important information about modes between Zephyrs, and
particularly for between Zephyrs and other codecs. You should
read these.
DEEP TECH NOTE!
Amaze your technical friends with your voluminous knowledge
of the detailed technical intricacies of the Zephyr and ISDN
and Coding technologies! Not necessary for the ability to
operate the Zephyr, but this information might come in handy if
you ever need to troubleshoot.
CURIOSITY NOTE!
Amaze your friends with your grasp of ISDN and Coding trivia!
Not necessary for the ability to operate the Zephyr.

Table of Contents 13
SECTION 1
QUICK RESULTS!

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS!14
WHO CAN USE THIS SECTION?
You have just opened the carton of one of the world’s most sophisticated pieces of
audio transmission equipment. We know how you feel. You don’t want to sit around
and read a manual. You want to plug- in your new Zephyr and hear what it can do. You
want to connect to a distant location and be amazed at how good audio can sound over
the telephone. We know because we feel the same way when we get a new, expensive,
piece of gear.
As much as we understand your excitement, we ask you to please peruse the following
to get the most out of your Zephyr.
This manual is designed to fully instruct you on the capabilities of your Zephyr and to
provide you with interesting and useful information on audio coding and digital
telephony. (Unlike most other manuals, large sections don’t even require that you be
sitting in front of the product.) We hope you will take the time to read the manual. We
trust you will enjoy it and that it will provide you with new and useful information that
you can use to impress others.
If you need to put the unit in service today or have experience with other, similar
equipment, this section will allow you to get started quickly with your Zephyr.
“ Quick Results” Are for You If You...
•Know how to dial a telephone call.
•Are not intimidated by looking at the front panel of the Zephyr.
•Are willing to erase all of the settings in your Zephyr that may have been
programmed before you got it.
•Have an ISDN line. (Before starting this process, US users should contact their
telephone company to verify that the line was installed exactly as specified in the
ISDN order instructions found in the appendix of this manual.) Sorry, but there are
too many variables when connecting via Switched 56 or a dedicated digital service
for us to include such a set- up in these “Quick Results.” If you are using a non-
ISDN setup see the instructions for your CSU/DSU and Section 6 Non ISDN
Networks.
•Understand and have before you all of the items listed in the section that follows
called “What you need before you start.”
•Understand that these “Quick Results” only get you started and will not answer all
of your questions or demonstrate all of the features of Zephyr.
•Promise to read the full manual later.
Now, let’s get started.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS! 15
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START...
There are two categories of items you need: First, the equipment to connect your
Zephyr to audio equipment and to the ISDN circuit with two B channels; second, some
information that should have been provided to you by the person who installed your
ISDN.
Hardware
•A Zephyr with a built- in terminal adapter. Sorry, but there are too many variables
when working with an external terminal adapter for us to include such a set- up in
these “Quick Results.”
•An NT1 (also called a Network Termination Unit) with connection cables. All of the
connection cables have telephone- type modular connectors and come packaged
with your Zephyr. There are three ways your NT1 can be present:
1. There is an NT1 built- in to your Zephyr’s terminal adapter. Looking at the back
of the unit, if there are two telephone- type modular jacks in the back, you have
a built- in NT1. Generally, you will find this only in the US and Canada. If there
is only one telephone- type connector, you need an external NT1. Cable
required: A standard telephone- type modular cable that fits into the lower jack
on the Zephyr.
2. OR- You have an older Zephyr with an external NT1 (or the European model).
The NT1 is about the size of a small book, has some telephone- type connectors,
and usually has some little indicator lights. Two cables required: The first is a
large, telephone- type modular cable with eight wires that fits into the upper (or
only) jack on the Zephyr and a jack on the NT1 that is labeled “Terminal.” The
second is a telephone- type modular cable that fits into the jack on the NT1 that is
labeled “Line” and the jack provided by the telephone company.
3. OR- Your telephone company (Telecom) has provided one. Generally, this is the
case in Europe and Asia. Cable required: A large, telephone- type modular cable
with eight wires that fits into the upper (or only) jack on the Zephyr and a jack
on the NT1 that is labeled “Terminal.” Your NT1 should have been wired to the
ISDN line by your Telco.
•Audio connections. You want to hear something, don’t you? Connections are
needed for sending audio to the remote location and receiving audio from it. You
IMPORTANT!
An RJ-11 style 6-position plug can be inserted into the center
of an RJ-45 style 8-position jack, if the Telco charged you
extra and installed a RJ-45 jack for your ISDN line.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS!16
will need to provide the appropriate cables. For connection to the Zephyr, the two
send cables must have male XLR connectors and the two receive cables must have
female XLR connectors. The termination on the other side of the cables depends on
your equipment. You may choose to use headphones to listen to the receive audio;
in this case you will not need receive cables.
Information on your ISDN line
Zephyr needs to know some things about your ISDN line to work properly. Your ISDN
circuit consists of two, digital “B channels”. Just like a regular telephone line, these
channels have telephone numbers so that you can send and receive calls. The Zephyr,
as with most ISDN equipment, refers to these channels are “lines” Unlike regular
telephone lines, both lines may have the same telephone number assigned to them.
There are several different types of ISDN service. You must know what type you have. In
addition, ISDN circuits in the US and some other countries may also have Service
Profile IDentification (SPID) numbers. SPIDs, when used, must be programmed into the
Zephyr. In rare circumstances, US users may also need Directory Numbers (DNs) if the
telephone numbers are not incorporated into the SPIDs.
Here is a summary of what you need to know and a place to write it down. You may
want to make a copy of this page and keep it next to your Zephyr.
✔
✔✔
✔ISDN type, check one:
❐National ISDN- 1 (The most frequent choice in the US. Will always
have SPIDs. Use this choice if your ISDN protocol is DMS Custom)
❐AT&T Point- to- Point (PTP. Will not have SPIDs.)
❐European ISDN (Euro- ISDN or ETS300. Will not have SPIDs.)
❐Other (May not be supported by Zephyr. Contact Telos Customer Support.)
✔
✔✔
✔Your ISDN telephone numbers:
Line 1
Line 2
✔
✔✔
✔SPID numbers, if applicable:
Line 1
Line 2
ISDN TIP!
If you have European ISDN or AT&T Point-to-Point, it is
acceptable if you only have one number that applies to both
lines. If you have another ISDN type and only one number,
contact Telos Customer Support.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS! 17
✔
✔✔
✔DN numbers (7 digits), if applicable:
Line 1
Line 2
If your ISDN line is connected to an internal phone system that requires you dial a
prefix for an outside line, write it here:
ISDN TIP!
European users should disregard all references to SPIDs.
Euro ISDN does not have SPIDs! If your ISDN configuration
requires MSNs they may be entered in the MSN/SPID 1 & 2
screen.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS!18
SUCCESS, STEP-BY-STEP:
Connecting The Input/Output Audio
Got your audio cables ready? Here is where to connect them:
Send audio is connected on the back panel. Use the two XLR connectors labeled
“INPUT, SEND TO NETWORK.” Select MICrophone or LINE level using the push-
button between the two connectors. If you are not certain about how to make this
connection, refer to Zephyr at a Glance ( section 3).
Receive audio can be connected from the headphone jack on the front panel.
Alternately, it can be connected on the back panel. Use the two XLR connectors labeled
“OUTPUT, RECEIVE FROM NETWORK.” Select - 10 or +4 level using the push- button
between the two connectors. If you are not certain about how to make this connection,
refer to Zephyr at a Glance ( section 3).
Connecting to The ISDN Line
Making the physical connection to the ISDN line varies with your NT1.
1. Zephyr’s built- in NT1.
•Using a standard RJ- 11 style telephone- type modular cable, interconnect the
lower modular jack on the Zephyr and the jack installed by the telephone
company. Be careful to insert the cable in the center of each jack, as it is the
middle two wires that have the ISDN circuit.
2. User purchased external NT1
•Using a large RJ- 45 style, telephone- type modular cable with eight wires,
interconnect the upper (or only) jack on the Zephyr and a jack on the NT1 that
is labeled “Terminal.” This cable must have eight wires and is provided with the
Zephyr.
•Using a telephone- type modular cable, interconnect the jack on the NT1 that is
labeled “Line” and the jack provided by the telephone company.
•You do not need to provide power to the NT1. The NT1 is powered from the
Zephyr. Note: If the NT1 has an external power supply DO NOT connect it! If
this arrangement does not work contact Telos customer support.
3. Telephone company (Telecom) provided NT1
•Using a large RJ 45 style, telephone- type modular cable with eight wires,
interconnect the upper (or only) jack on the Zephyr and a jack on the NT1 that
is labeled “Terminal.” This cable must have eight wires and is provided with the
Zephyr.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS! 19
•Your NT1 should have been wired to the ISDN line by your Telecom.
You do not need to provide power to the NT1. The NT1 is powered from the ISDN line
or from the Zephyr.
Powering Up
Time to turn on the Zephyr!
•Connect the provided IEC power cable to the Zephyr. As you face the back, the
connection is on the lower right.
•Connect the other end of the IEC cable to your AC mains. The Zephyr’s power input
is universal, accepting anything from 100 to 240 Vac 50/60Hz.
•Turn the power switch, located just above the power cable connector, to the on
position. (I- bar showing.)
•Your Zephyr will start up. After a few moments the front panel LCD display screen
will display the status of your Zephyr. On the lower left, the SYNC indicator should
be illuminated. If you have a proper audio connection and are feeding an audio
signal to the Zephyr, you will see activity on the two SEND meters on the left- side
of the front panel. (With some mono transmit modes, there will be no indication on
the Channel B send meter.)
Basic Configuration
Your Zephyr should display a screen that looks like this:
init |Xmt:L3 Dual
|Rcv:L3 Stereo
init |56kbps 32kHz
|ISDN
or, in the case of a 3 DSP Zephyr, like this:
IMPORTANT!
In the case of (3), above, the NT1 will be powered by the
Telco. If your Zephyr’s terminal adapter does not show the
Euro telecom approval symbol (looks like 2 hockey sticks in a
circle) you should contact Telos Systems customer support
before proceeding. This is because the Zephyr’s built in supply
and the power supply from the NT1 can conflict and cause
damage to the Zephyr, NT1, or both.

Section 1 QUICK RESULTS!20
init |Xmt:L3 Mono
|Rcv:L3 Stereo
init |56kbps 32kHz
|ISDN
If it does not, your unit has been previously configured. If it was, and you want to
proceed with the Quick Start, you must erase all of the previous settings. Before you go to
the next step, check with the last person who used this Zephyr to be certain that he or she
no longer needs these settings.
To reset the Zephyr to the factory defaults:
1. Press the <HELP> button, followed by a press of the star <*> button. If prompted to
do so press the <#> to confirm this action.
2. It may take a few moments for the cold boot to start. Once started, the LCD display
will show the initialization screen and then the screen above will appear. (Pre- Layer
II versions, without on- line help, require two presses of the <HELP> button before
the <*> .) Note: some versions may require you to push the <#> key to confirm that
you wish to erase all settings.
We are now ready to configure your Zephyr. Follow these instructions exactly
for the most reliable path to success!
We will be using the <UTIL> button. This will take you through the Utility menus where
most of your configurations are stored.
1. You now have two options:
•If you have EuroISDN or another service that does not have SPIDs, press the <
UTIL > button seven (7) times and skip to step 7.
•If you have SPIDs, press the < UTIL > button five (5) times and continue.
You should see a screen that looks like this:
SPID 1 & 2:
[ ]
> <
<YES> store
2. Using the dial pad on the front right panel, enter the SPID of your first line. (Note
that there are no hyphens, punctuation, or blank spaces in SPIDs; they are one
continuous number.) The <NO - > button can be used to back up (move the cursor
to the left) to delete characters for editing. Then press the <YES +> button to store it.
3. Press the <SEL #> button. Using the dial pad, enter the SPID of your second line.
Then press the <YES +> button to store it.