TX RX Systems 434B-83H-01-T User manual

8625 Industrial Parkway, Angola, NY 14006 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] sales@W[U[.com www.W[U[.com
Installation and Operation Manual for the
Tower Top Amplifier System
Models 434B-83H-01-T, 434B-83H-01-M-110/48
Manual Part Number
7-9547-1

Warranty
This warranty applies for one year from shipping date.
TX RX Systems Inc. warrants its products to be free from defect in material and workmanship at the time of shipment.
Our obligation under warranty is limited to replacement or repair, at our option, of any such products that shall have
been defective at the time of manufacture. TX RX Systems Inc. reserves the right to replace with merchandise of
equal performance although not identical in every way to that originally sold. TX RX Systems Inc. is not liable for dam-
age caused by lightning or other natural disasters. No product will be accepted for repair or replacement without our
prior written approval. The purchaser must prepay all shipping charges on returned products. TX RX Systems Inc.
shall in no event be liable for consequential damages, installation costs or expense of any nature resulting from the
purchase or use of products, whether or not they are used in accordance with instructions. This warranty is in lieu of all
other warranties, either expressed or implied, including any implied warranty or merchantability of fitness. No repre-
sentative is authorized to assume for TX RX Systems Inc. any other liability or warranty than set forth above in con-
nection with our products or services.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
PRICES AND TERMS:
Prices are FOB seller’s plant in Angola, NY domestic packaging only, and are subject to change without notice. Fed-
eral, State and local sales or excise taxes are not included in prices. When Net 30 terms are applicable, payment is
due within 30 days of invoice date. All orders are subject to a $100.00 net minimum.
QUOTATIONS:
Only written quotations are valid.
ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS:
Acceptance of orders is valid only when so acknowledged in writing by the seller.
SHIPPING:
Unless otherwise agreed at the time the order is placed, seller reserves the right to make partial shipments for which
payment shall be made in accordance with seller’s stated terms. Shipments are made with transportation charges col-
lect unless otherwise specified by the buyer. Seller’s best judgement will be used in routing, except that buyer’s routing
is used where practicable. The seller is not responsible for selection of most economical or timeliest routing.
CLAIMS:
All claims for damage or loss in transit must be made promptly by the buyer against the carrier. All claims for shortages
must be made within 30 days after date of shipment of material from the seller’s plant.
SPECIFICATION CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS:
All designs and specifications of seller’s products are subject to change without notice provided the changes or modifi-
cations do not affect performance.
RETURN MATERIAL:
Product or material may be returned for credit only after written authorization from the seller, as to which seller shall
have sole discretion. In the event of such authorization, credit given shall not exceed 80 percent of the original pur-
chase. In no case will Seller authorize return of material more than 90 days after shipment from Seller’s plant. Credit
for returned material is issued by the Seller only to the original purchaser.
ORDER CANCELLATION OR ALTERATION:
Cancellation or alteration of acknowledged orders by the buyer will be accepted only on terms that protect the seller
against loss.
NON WARRANTY REPAIRS AND RETURN WORK:
Consult seller’s plant for pricing. Buyer must prepay all transportation charges to seller’s plant. Standard shipping pol-
icy set forth above shall apply with respect to return shipment from TX RX Systems Inc. to buyer.
DISCLAIMER
Product part numbering in photographs and drawings is accurate at time of printing. Part number labels on TX RX
products supersede part numbers given within this manual. Information is subject to change without notice.
7;5;6\VWHPV,QF

Symbols Commonly Used
NOTE
VIDEO
WARNING !!!
CAUTION or ATTENTION
Important Information
Training Video Available
Heavy Lifting
High Voltage
Hot Surface
ESD Electrostatic Discharge
Electrial Shock Hazard
Safety Glasses Required
Manual Part Number 7-9547
Copyright © 2014 Bird Technologies
First Printing: December 2014
Version Number Version Date
1 12/09/14

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 4
Contact Information
Changes to this Manual
Sales Support at 716-217-3113
Customer Service at 716-217-3144
Technical Publications at 716-549-4700 extension 5019
We have made every effort to ensure this manual is accurate. If you discover any
errors, or if you have suggestions for improving this manual, please send your
comments to our Angola, New York facility to the attention of the Technical Publications
Department. This manual may be periodically updated. When inquiring about updates to
this manual refer to the manual part number and revision number on the revision page
following the front cover.
Table of Contents
General Description.............................................................................................7
Tower Top Box.....................................................................................................8
Base Control Unit (MCU).....................................................................................9
Functional Block Diagram...................................................................................9
Unpacking...........................................................................................................10
Pre-Installation Checkout..................................................................................10
Mechanical Inspection ......................................................................................10
Initial Power-up Test..........................................................................................13
Bench Testing ...................................................................................................14
Amplifier Bypass..............................................................................................14
Amplifier Termination ......................................................................................16
Installation ..........................................................................................................16
Installing the System ........................................................................................17
Installing the Tower-Top Unit ...........................................................................17
In-building Lightning Arresters...........................................................................17
Installing the Base Control Unit (MCU) .............................................................17
Interference and IM Considerations..................................................................20
Feedline Data......................................................................................................21
Optimizing the System ......................................................................................21
Attenuation Settings.............................................................................................22
TTA NET Gain ...................................................................................................22
Setting the Attenuators ......................................................................................22

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 5
Spectrum Analysis ........................................................................................... 23
Procedure for Spectral Analysis ........................................................................25
Operational Tests (Sensitivity and Degradation) ........................................... 25
Front Panel Test Port ........................................................................................25
Tower Top Amplifier Inputs................................................................................25
Static System Sensitivity ...................................................................................25
Measuring Static Sensitivity (Load Connected)..................................................25
Effective System Sensitivity...............................................................................27
Measuring Effective Sensitivity (Antenna Connected).......................................27
Degradation.......................................................................................................27
Routine Operation ............................................................................................. 28
Amplifier Monitoring...........................................................................................28
LCD Display.......................................................................................................28
Current Draw ...................................................................................................28
TTA Temperature ............................................................................................28
Software Version .............................................................................................28
Front Panel LED’s .............................................................................................28
Form-C Contacts ...............................................................................................28
Alarms ................................................................................................................ 29
System Troubleshooting .................................................................................. 29
Performance Degradation .................................................................................29
Hardware Problems...........................................................................................30
Lightning and Lightning Arresters....................................................................30
Vandalism........................................................................................................30
AC line Fuse (110 VAC Model) .........................................................................30
Periodic Maintenance........................................................................................ 31
Recommended Spare Parts.............................................................................. 31
Optional Equipment .......................................................................................... 31
Multicoupler Expansion Deck ............................................................................31
Narrowband Filter..............................................................................................32
Installation Kit Contents...................................................................................32
Installation Procedure......................................................................................32
SNMP Notifications ........................................................................................... 33
User Administration ...........................................................................................34
Network Configuration.......................................................................................34
SNMP Configuration..........................................................................................35
Initial Setup........................................................................................................36
Trap Receiver GUI.............................................................................................37
Figures and Tables
Figure 1: Front view of the tower-top box ............................................................7
Figure 2: Front view of the Base Control Unit ......................................................9
Figure 3: Top view of the Base Control Unit.......................................................11
Figure 4: Rear view of the MCU .........................................................................11
Figure 5: Functional block diagram of the system..............................................12
Figure 6: Initial power-up test .............................................................................13
Figure 7: Display Menu Selections.....................................................................15

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 6
Figure 8: Test equipment interconnection for “bench testing” ...........................16
Figure 9: System installation guidelines ............................................................18
Figure 10: System installation guideline notes...................................................19
Figure 11: Tower-top box mechanical details ....................................................20
Figure 12: Application of rubber splicing tape ...................................................21
Figure 13: Alarm terminals ................................................................................22
Figure 14: Testing the output spectrum..............................................................24
Figure 15: Maximum signal level mask .............................................................24
Figure 16: Using the test port to measure sensitivity .........................................26
Figure 17: Schematic of Form-C contacts..........................................................29
Figure 18: Expansion deck 75-83K-01 ...............................................................31
Figure 19: Connecting the optional filter.............................................................32
Figure 20: SNMP Home Page............................................................................33
Figure 21: User Administration...........................................................................34
Figure 22: Create a New User............................................................................34
Figure 23: Network Configuration.......................................................................35
Figure 24: Network Configuration with Password...............................................35
Figure 25: SNMP Configuration..........................................................................36
Figure 26: SNMP Configuration with Password..................................................36
Figure 27: Trap Receiver GUI Interface .............................................................37
Figure 28: Trap Details .......................................................................................37
Table 1: System Specifications.............................................................................7
Table 2: Tower Box Specifications.........................................................................8
Table 3: Tower Top Unit Wind Load Specs ...........................................................8
Table 4: Base Control Unit Specifications...........................................................10
Table 5: Attenuator Settings................................................................................23
Table 6: Typical Current Readings......................................................................28
Table 7: Troubleshooting Guide ..........................................................................30
Table 8: Optional Narrowband Filters..................................................................32
Table 9: Trap Integer Definitions .........................................................................38
Appendixes
Appendix A: Ethernet Connectivity....................................................................39
Procedure..........................................................................................................39
Appendix B: Changing service computers IP Address.....................................40

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 7
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Your Bird Technologies brand Tower Top Amplifier
System provides the highest degree of reliability
available in a Tower Top Amplifier (TTA). The sys-
tem uses quadrature-coupled amplifiers to create a
redundant amplifier configuration. Each quad-
amplifier provides two simultaneously used, essen-
tially parallel paths of amplification. Failure of one
of these paths of amplification results in an overall
gain reduction of only 6 dB.
The system is composed of two components
including a tower top box (TTA) which incorporates
filtering and a pair of low noise amplifiers. These
amplifiers establish superior noise figure prior to
feedline losses. The tower top box is mounted on
the tower close to the antenna. The second com-
ponent of the system is the base control unit which
is located in the control room. Specifications for the
system are listed in Table 1.
The system also supplies automatic backup-ampli-
fier switching in the tower top box. Fault detection
circuitry continuously monitors the DC power oper-
ation of the primary quad-amplifier and automati-
cally switches to the identical secondary quad-
amplifier if conditions indicate a primary malfunc-
tion. Fault detection circuitry also provides at-a-
glance status reporting, with front-panel LED’s and
an LCD display.
Test
Line Main
Line Ground
Lug
Antenna
Figure 1: The tower top box.
Parameter Specification
Frequency Band 700 - 800 MHz
NET Gain 15.0 dB typical
Rejection 110 dB min @
776 and 851 MHz
Noise Figure 2.9 dB typical
Total Power Dissipation 17 W
Table 1: System specifications.
15 dB TTA Net Gain and maximum 6 dB transmission line
loss assumed.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 8
Tower Top Box
The quad-amplifier in the tower top box amplifies
the weak received signal before the signal enters a
long and lossy transmission line, thus preventing
the line loss from degrading the signal-to-noise
ratio. The quadrature amplifiers have a separate
power circuit for each half of the amplifier which
provides component redundancy as well as unsur-
passed IM performance. Microprocessor controlled
fault detection circuitry in the tower top box pro-
vides continuous monitoring and switching of each
quad amplifier while sending operational data to
the base unit front panel for at-a-glance status
Parameter Specification
Frequency Band 792 - 824 MHz
Preselector Included Yes
Preselector Frequency Range 792 - 824 MHz
Type of Amplifier Quadrature Coupled (Redundant)
Amplifier Switching Automatic
Type of Amplifier Switching Solid State RF Switch
TTA Gain (Input to Output of TTA) 23.0 dB (min)
LNA OIP3 > 42 dBm typical
Return Loss of all RF Ports > 14 dB
Power Requirements Power derived from RX Cable
Operating Temperature Range -30 °C to +60 °C
Amplifier Redundancy Automatic change-over
Lightning Protection Impulse Suppressor on all external ports
Test Port Included Yes
Coupling Test Port (Test In / Amp In) 30 dB
50 Ohm Termination Test Controlled by base unit
Type of RF Test Switching Solid State RF Switch
Bypass Test Mode Controlled by base unit
Enclosure Weather resistant housing
Designed to NEMA standards
Dimensions 8.84” x 5.77” x 6.04”
Net Weight 8 lbs.
Table 2: Tower Top Box Specifications.
Parameter Specification
EFP Area (no ice) 0.314 sq. ft.
EFP Area (w 1/2” ice) 0.418 sq. ft.
Wind Speed, Survival
(no ice) 125 m.p.h.
Wind Speed, Survival
(w 1/2” ice) 100 m.p.h.
Note: EFP stands for “effective flat plate” area.
Table 3: Tower Top Unit wind loading specs.

TX RX Systems Inc. Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 9
reporting and form-C contact switching for alarm
integration. Included in the tower top box is a pre-
selector filter, amplifier “A” and amplifier “B,” switch-
ing circuitry, control board and lightning arresters
(see Figure 1). The specifications for the tower box
are listed in Table 2. The specifications for tower
box wind loading are listed in Table 3.
Base Control Unit (MCU)
The ground-mounted Base Control Unit (also
called an MCU) is intended for 19-inch rack mount-
ing. It houses alarm indicators, a power supply or
DC to DC converter, and a display panel to provide
visual feedback on the system’s operating status.
There is also a test port input for providing an RF
signal path for loopback tests. The front panel dis-
play shows status information such as amplifier
current draw and temperature. In addition the dis-
play is used to provide a user interface for adjust-
ments such as setting TTA Net Gain attenuation.
The current draw values of each amplifier in the
system is displayed by the base control unit. The
front panel of the base control unit is shown in Fig-
ure 2.
The base control unit design includes a receiver
multicoupler function in addition to the system con-
trol and monitoring functions. The deck has the
built-in capability to split the received RF signal
from the tower top box to 16 individual receivers. In
addition, there is an expansion port available which
allows expansion of the system up to 32 ports. The
specifications for the base control unit are listed in
Table 4. The top and rear views of the base control
unit are shown in Figures 3 and 4 respectively.
FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM
Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of the entire
TTA system which includes the tower top box and
the control deck. RF signals enter the tower top
box through the antenna port and are applied to
either the A or B tower top LNA. When the system
is in the bypass mode signal flow is around the
amplifiers. Signals are output from the tower top
box at the main port and travel down the main
transmission line to the main port of the base con-
trol unit. As noted on the block diagram, the main
transmission cable also carries DC operating volt-
age up to the tower box and provides a conduit for
serial communications between the processors in
the tower box and the base deck.
RF signals enter the main port of the base control
unit deck and are routed to the optional preselector
port on the rear of the unit. This connection pro-
vides an easy way for the customer to add a nar-
rowing filter to the signal path of the system. If an
optional narrowing filter is not used then a loop
back cable must be installed to insure RF continuity
through the system. Upon re-entering the deck the
RF signals are input to the base amplifier assem-
bly. The amplifier assembly provides bandpass fil-
tering, attenuation, amplification, and signal
splitting. The signal splitter feeds a 16-way splitter
Figure 2: Base Control (MCU) Unit front panel.
Status LED’s Contrast
Adjust Up
Button Cancel
Button
Amplifier
Select
Buttons
Display Down
Button Enter
Button Test
Port
LAN
Connector
Note: The SNMP feature is
accessed through this port.
Refer to the section of this
manual titled SNMP Notifi-
cations for details on the
use of this feature.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 10
for distribution to station receivers and an expan-
sion port connector. The expansion port allows an
optional 16-way to be added to the system.
UNPACKING
Each major component of the TTA system is indi-
vidually packaged and shipped via motor freight or
UPS. It is important to report any visible damage to
the carrier immediately. It is the customer's respon-
sibility to file damage claims with the carrier within
a short period of time after delivery (1 to 5 days).
PRE-INSTALLATION CHECKOUT
The following pre-installation tests should be per-
formed after unpacking the system to verify nothing
has loosened during transit. Additionally, the sys-
tem should be made operational on the bench with
all components at ground level to verify proper
electrical performance.
The tower top box should NOT be
installed on the tower until all of the
pre-installation inspections and tests
have been successfully completed.
Mechanical Inspection
It is advisable to check the tightness of the hold-
down screws for the base unit assemblies to insure
nothing loosened during shipment. Likewise, check
all of the cable connections on the base control unit
NOTE
Parameter Specification
Frequency Band 792 - 824 MHz
Net Gain or Loss (RMC In to RX out) +1 dB typical
Amplifier Type Quadrature Coupled
Amplifier Output IP3 > +45 dBm
Number of Output Ports 16 expandable to 48
RF Port Return Loss (min) > 14 dB
TTA Connector N - Female
Receive Connector BNC - Female
Rx - Rx Port Isolation (min) > 20 dB
Test Port Input (front of RMC) BNC - Female
Test Port Output (rear of RMC) N - Female
TTA Net Gain Electronic Attenuator 15.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps
Distribution Gain Electronic Attenuator 4 dB in 0.5 dB steps
Alarm Contacts Form-C contacts
Ethernet Port RJ45 (front panel access)
Power Requirements 90 - 240 VAC @ 50/60 Hz, or -48 VDC
Operating Temperature Range 0°C to +50°C
Enclosure Standard EIA 19” Rack Mounting
Dimensions (HWD) 1 RU x 19” x 14” (45 x 483 x 356 mm)
Net Weight 11.5 lbs.
Table 4: Base Control Unit (MCU) Specifications.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 11
Power
Supply
Amp
Module 16-Way
Divider
Ground
Lug
Front Panel
Assembly
Figure 3: Top view of the Base Control Unit (MCU).
LAN
Board
Test
Cable
here
Main
Cable
here
Preselector
Filter
here
Alarm
Contacts
Expansion
Port
To Station Receivers
Figure 4: Back view of the Base Control Unit (MCU).

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 12
Figure 5: Functional block diagram of the system.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 13
to insure that they are all properly mated to their
associated plugs.
CAUTION:The wide band filter in
the tower top box is factory tuned
and must not be field adjusted. Field
tuning of this filter is not required. Do
not adjust the tuning slugs of the
amplifier/filter assembly.
Initial Power-Up Test
To perform the initial power-up test the system
should be temporarily interconnected at ground
level using short temporary cables. To temporarily
interconnect the equipment connect a cable
between the main port on the tower box and the
main port on the base unit. Also connect a cable
from test port connector on the tower box to the
test port connector on the base unit. Figure 6
shows the temporary equipment hookup for initial
power-up testing. Once the equipment is tempo-
Tower Top Box
MCU
Test
Main
Figure 6: Initial power up test of the system.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 14
rarily interconnected then power is applied to the
system by plugging the control unit’s AC cord into a
suitable AC outlet or by connecting the DC power
cable to a suitable -48 VDC supply. The following
start-up sequence occurs.
1) At turn-on, the three front panel status LED’s
will all flash then dim. This will last for a few sec-
onds while the systems micro-controllers boot-
up.
2) During the next few seconds the base control
unit will establish communications with the
tower box. The display panel will present the
message “Connecting to Tower Controller”.
3) After the power-up sequencing is complete the
screen should show the default display. See
below. The status LED for each active amplifier
will glow a steady green and the status LED for
the inactive (stand-by) LNA will be dark.
The tower top amplifier system is software directed
so control of the system is accomplished via user
interface with the front panel using the display
screen and the four menu selection buttons. A flow
chart showing all of the possible user menu selec-
tions is shown in Figure 7.
Bench Testing
The purpose of the bench test is to verify that all of
the system components are working correctly and
to measure the systems sensitivity before climbing
the tower to mount the tower top box. One station
receiver is selected and the test is performed at
this frequency. Short temporary cables are used to
interconnect all components. A SINAD meter (or a
bit error rate meter if required) is used for the test
along with a signal generator.
1) The stand-alone receiver sensitivity is mea-
sured and recorded first.
2) To interconnect the equipment connect a cable
between the main port on the tower box and the
main port on the base unit. Also connect a
cable from test port connector to the test port
connector. Figure 8 shows all of the equipment
interconnections for bench testing. Inject the
test signal into the tower box antenna port. Be
sure that the signal generator is setup for a 3
KHz deviation with a 1000 Hz tone (analog) or
proper pattern for BER testing. Connect the
SINAD/Bit Error Rate meter to a receiver and
connect the receiver to one of the RF output
ports on the back of the base unit.
3) Measure and record the systems bench test
static sensitivity. The sensitivity value will vary
depending on the amount of internal program-
mable attenuation selected via software inter-
face. The bench test measurement should be
taken with the default attenuation values. As
shipped from the factory the default TTA NET
Gain attenuation for the system is 6.0 dB and
the default Distribution attenuation is 4.0 dB.
4) Select the other tower top amplifier and check
that the bench test static sensitivity value
remains nearly the same. This will insure that
both amplifiers in the tower top box are function-
ing properly. To select an alternate tower-top
amplifier press the associated amplifier select
button on the front panel, the status LED will
begin to flash, then press the ENTER button to
finalize the selection.
AMPLIFIER BYPASS
The system is designed with a bypass function
which allows the antenna to be connected directly
to the test port. In this mode of operation the front
panel test port is electronically re-routed to the
main transmission line and the amplifier circuit in
the TTA is bypassed. This will allow for sweeping
the antenna from the front panel test port. As part
of bench testing the system this function needs to
be tested. To temporarily interconnect the equip-
ment connect a cable between the main port on the
tower box and the main port on the base unit. Also
connect a cable from test port connector to the test
port connector. Using the front panel display inter-
face place the unit in the bypass mode. When the
system enters the bypass mode there should be an
RF signal path between the front panel test port on
the base unit and the antenna port on the tower top
box. Note that after 1 minute of being in the bypass
Display Panel default display

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 15
TTA NET GAIN
DISTRIBUTION
MAIN LINE LOSS
TEST LINE LOSS
STATIC W/LOAD
REFERENCE W/ANT
AS AN EASY REFERENCE
RECORD VALUES HERE
YELLOW
INDICATES
RECORDABLE
VALUE
After pressing the ENTER Button
the Base Control Unit will re-boot,
then return to the Default Display.
CANCEL
ENTER
UP-ARROW
DOWN-ARROW
KEY TO BUTTONSKEY TO BUTTONS
C
E
Changes
Value
Changes
Value
Changes
Value
Changes
Value
Changes
Value
Changes
Value
434B-83H-01-X
TX RX SYSTEMS INC
A CURRENT XXXmA
B CURRENT XXXmA
BASE CURRENT
XXXX mA
TTA TEMPERATURE
+/- XX DEGREES C
BASE V X.XX
TOWER V X.XX
INITIALIZE
ENTER TO RESTART
TEST
ENTER TO SELECT
ATTENUATORS
ENTER TO SELECT
FEEDLINE DATA
ENTER TO SELECT
SENSITIVITY
ENTER TO SELECT
TTA NET GAIN
ENTER TO ADJUST
MAIN LINE LOSS
ENTER TO ADJUST
STATIC W/LOAD
ENTER TO ADJUST
TTA NET GAIN
XX.X dB
MAIN LINE LOSS
X.X dB
STATIC W/LOAD
-XX.X dB
DISTRIBUTION
ENTER TO ADJUST
TEST LINE LOSS
ENTER TO ADJUST
REFERENCE W/ANT
ENTER TO ADJUST
DISTRIBUTION
XX.X dB
TEST LINE LOSS
XX.X dB
REFERENCE W/ANT
-XX.X dB
SET LNA A ACTIVE
ENTER TO CONFIRM
SET LNA B ACTIVE
ENTER TO CONFIRM
TERMINATE LNA A
ENTER TO CONFIRM
TERMINATE LNA B
ENTER TO CONFIRM
Return to
Default Display
434B-83H-01-X Menu System
DEFAULT
DISPLAY
LNA X ACTIVE
XCURRENT XXXmA
E
EE
E E
E E
E
E
C
E
C
E
C
TURN BYPASS ON
ENTER TO CONFIRM C
C
C
C
C
E
C
E
C
EE
E
E
C
Figure 7: Front panel display menu selections.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 16
mode the system will automatically switch back to
normal operation.
AMPLIFIER TERMINATION
The input of the tower top amplifier can be
switched to an internal 50 Ohm load for diagnostic
purposes. As part of bench testing the system this
function needs to be tested. To temporarily inter-
connect the equipment, connect a cable between
the main port on the tower box and the main port
on the base unit. Also connect a cable from test
port connector to the test port connector. Using the
front panel display interface place the unit in the
terminate mode.The system will switch the input of
the tower top amplifier to the internal load. Note
that after 1 minute of being in the terminate mode
the system will automatically switch back to normal
operation. Signals applied to the antenna port of
the TTA will be greatly attenuated in this mode.
INSTALLATION
The following sub-sections of the manual discuss
general considerations for installing the system. All
work should be performed by qualified personal.
Bird Technologies provides the base control unit
and tower top amplifier box. All additional parts
Figure 8: Test equipment interconnection for “bench testing” of system components.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 17
required for installation must be supplied by the
customer. Before mounting the tower top box we
recommend that you record the model number and
serial number of the tower top box and control unit
for future reference in the event you need to call the
factory for customer service support.
Proper installation of this system
requires the installation of a test trans-
mission line in addition to the main
transmission line for system testing
and diagnostics.
Installing the System
Installation of the TTA system should follow the
installation standards listed in Figure 9, and 10.
Installation and grounding of the system should fol-
low the R56 standards. Lightning surge suppres-
sors are incorporated throughout the system. In
addition, surge suppression is also provided for all
cable connections within the tower top box. Proper
grounding techniques MUST BE observed for
these devices to perform properly.
Installing the Tower Top Unit
The tower top box has mounting tabs on the back
of the unit to allow for fastening to the tower, refer
to Figure 11. Because of the varied tower types,
the customer must fabricate the interface brackets
between the tower frame and the unit. Bird Tech-
nologies offers an optional TTA mounting bracket
kit (part # 91-00-123). The kit allows for easy instal-
lation of tower top units to poles about 3 inches in
diameter. To install the tower top unit perform the
following steps.
1) Mount a receiving antenna on the tower.
2) Run the main transmission cable and test cable
up the tower.
3) Mount the tower top unit on the tower at a loca-
tion near the antenna and connect the antenna
feedline, main transmission line, and test line to
the unit.
4) Connect the tower top box ground lug to a good
solid ground on the tower.
To insure stability, it is important to
fasten the box to the tower using all
mounting tabs. The box must be
mounted with the connectors and
moisture openings facing downward
to prevent water entry. After connect-
ing the main transmission line, test
line, and the antenna feedline, we rec-
ommend that the connections be
tightly wrapped with rubber splicing
tape (see Figure 12). This will help
prevent water entry into the cables.
Start the wraps on the cable several
inches away from the connector and
wrap towards the connector, this will
prevent water from seeping in
between the wraps of tape. Cover the
connectors completely with tape.
In-building Lightning Arresters
Lightning arresters must be installed in the equip-
ment room one each for the main and test trans-
mission lines. The following steps are required for
proper installation.
1) For the test line install a lightning arrester.
PolyPhaser part# 1090501WA (male/female) or
1090501WD (female/female). The chassis of
the arrester should be connected to the master
ground buss with a pigtail.
2) For the main transmission line install a lightning
arrester. PolyPhaser part# 1090501WA (male/
female) or 1090501WD (female/female). The
chassis of the arrester should be connected to
the master ground buss with a pigtail.
Installing the Base Control Unit (MCU)
The base control unit is designed for indoor mount-
ing in a common 19-inch relay rack or cabinet. The
following steps are required for proper installation.
1) Install the base control unit into the rack or cab-
inet with four mounting screws included with the
hardware kit (part # 3-16509) which is included
with your shipment. Make sure you use a nylon
washer under the head of the screws in order to
protect the front panel. Torque the mounting
screws to no more than 15 in/lbs. Overtighten-
ing the mounting screws may damage the front
panel.
NOTE
NOTE

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 18
Figure 9: Base Control Unit (MCU) system installation guidelines.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 19
Figure 10: System installation guideline notes.

7;5;6\VWHPV,QF Manual 7-9547-1 12/09/14 Page 20
2) Connect the base control unit ground lug to the
Equipment Rack Master Ground Bar with a pig-
tail.
3) Connect the main and test transmission cables
to the appropriate connectors at the back of the
deck.
4) If you have a supervisory alarm system, con-
nect its wiring harness to the alarm terminals at
the back of the control unit. Refer to Figure 13.
5) Connect the station receivers and optional 16-
port receiver multicoupler expansion deck to the
output ports on the back of the base control unit
with high-quality 50-ohm coaxial cable such as
1/4-inch super flexible transmission line. Some
flexibility in the jumper cables will prevent strain
and possible damage to the connections. We
also recommend the use of quality BNC con-
nectors. Unused receiver outputs need not be
terminated. However an unused expansion port
should be terminated with 50 ohms until con-
nected to an expansion deck.
Interference and IM Considerations
Although Bird Technologies TTA systems are
designed for maximum interference immunity, there
are many factors that can lead to harmful interfer-
ence when using a tower-mounted amplifier. It is
highly recommended that the receiving and trans-
mitting antennas be vertically separated to maxi-
mize antenna isolation.
Although most transmitters are connected to their
antenna through a combiner, it is quite likely that
the combiner does not have enough transmitter
noise filtering to prevent desensitization of the
receivers unless there is significant antenna space
isolation. Large values of antenna isolation are
most easily realized when the antennas are sepa-
rated vertically. This antenna isolation also helps
reduce the possibility of intermodulation interfer-
ence in the receiving system.
One other important factor that can strongly con-
tribute to interference problems is excessive gain,
ahead of the receiver. Excessive gain can cause
overdrive to the station receivers when strong sig-
-
9.000
8.000
.500
1.000
9.063
7.000
6.005
4X O .515
Figure 11: Tower top box mechanical details.