Tracer 4108-4208 User Manual
Tracer 4108-4208 User Manual
Tracer 4108-4208 User Manual
System Manual
12804108L1A TRACER 4108 System (Plan A)
12804108L1B TRACER 4108 System (Plan B)
12804208L1A TRACER 4208 System (Plan A)
12804208L1B TRACER 4208 System (Plan B)
612804208L1-1B
August 2003
Trademarks TRACER 4108/4208 System Manual
Trademarks
Any brand names and product names included in this manual are trademarks, registered trademarks, or
trade names of their respective holders.
In no event will ADTRAN be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages or for
commercial losses even if ADTRAN has been advised thereof as a result of issue of this publication.
Revision History
Safety Instructions
When using your telephone equipment, please follow these basic safety precautions to reduce the risk of
fire, electrical shock, or personal injury:
1. Do not use this product near water, such as a bathtub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a
wet basement, or near a swimming pool.
2. Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless-type) during an electrical storm. There is a remote
risk of shock from lightning.
3. Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of the leak.
4. Use only the power cord, power supply, and/or batteries indicated in the manual. Do not dispose of
batteries in a fire. They may explode. Check with local codes for special disposal instructions.
FCC-Required Information
Shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with Class A FCC limits.
Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
The limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential situation.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment
does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment
on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ADTRAN could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
This level of RF energy is below the Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) levels specified in FCC OET
65:97-01. The installation of high gain antenna equipment in the system configuration may create the
opportunity for exposure to levels higher than recommended for the general population at a distance less
than 15 feet (4.6 meter) from the center of the antenna. The following precautions must be taken during
installation of this equipment:
• The installed antenna must not be located in a manner that allows exposure of the general population to
the direct beam path of the antenna at a distance less than 15 feet (4.6 meters). Installation on towers,
masts, or rooftops not accessible to the general population is recommended; or
• Mount the antenna in a manner that prevents any personnel from entering the area within 15 feet (4.6
meter) from the front of the antenna.
• It is recommended that the installer place radio frequency hazard warnings signs on the barrier that
prevents access to the antenna.
• Prior to installing the antenna to the TRACER 4108/4208 output, make sure the power is adjusted to the
settings specified in section 2 of this manual.
• During antenna installation, be sure that power to the TRACER equipment is turned off in order to
prevent any energy presence on the coaxial connector.
• During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not stand in front of the antenna assembly.
• During installation and alignment of the antenna, do not handle or touch the front of the antenna.
These simple precautions must be taken to prevent general population and installation personnel from
exposure to RF energy in excess of specified MPE levels.
A return material authorization (RMA) is required prior to returning equipment to ADTRAN. For service,
RMA requests, training, or more information, use the contact information given below.
Identify the RMA number clearly on the package (below address), and return to the following address:
RMA # _____________
http://support.adtran.com
When needed, further pre-sales assistance is available by calling our Applications Engineering
Department.
Post-Sale Support
Your reseller should serve as the first point of contact for support. If additional support is needed, the
ADTRAN Support web site provides a variety of support services such as a searchable knowledge base,
updated firmware releases, latest product documentation, service request ticket generation and
trouble-shooting tools. All of this, and more, is available at:
http://support.adtran.com
When needed, further post-sales assistance is available by calling our Technical Support Center. Please
have your unit serial number available when you call.
Training
The Enterprise Network (EN) Technical Training Department offers training on our most popular products.
These courses include overviews on product features and functions while covering applications of
ADTRAN's product lines. ADTRAN provides a variety of training options, including customized training
and courses taught at our facilities or at your site. For more information about training, please contact your
Territory Manager or the Enterprise Training Coordinator.
This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 4108/4208 System Manual is designed for use by network engineers,
planners, and designers for overview information about the TRACER 4108/4208.
It contains general information and describes physical and operational concepts, network relationships,
provisioning, testing, alarm status, and system monitoring. This section should be used in conjunction with
Section 3, Engineering Guidelines, of the system manual.
CONTENTS
System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Configuration and Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Operational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1. SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The ADTRAN TRACER® 4108 and 4208 wireless systems provide eight independent T1 circuits over a
wireless link for up to 30 miles (line-of-sight path required). As authorized under Part 15.247 of the FCC
Rules, the TRACER 4108 and 4208 operate license-free in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Industrial, Scientific,
and Medical (ISM) bands, respectively. These bands require no frequency coordination or licensing of end
users.
For configuration and testing, the TRACER 4108/4208 provides the capability to control the remote sys-
tem through a separate maintenance channel. The TRACER 4108/4208 has several built-in test capabilities
including remote loopback. Complete configuration and performance data is available through menus
accessed using a standard RS-232 terminal interface.
Operational
• Eight independent transparent T1 transmission paths, over digital microwave link
• No license required per FCC Rules Part 15.247
• Frequency: 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz (TRACER 4108) and 5.725 to 5.850 GHz (TRACER 4208)
• Point-to-point, up to 30 miles
• 1-U high unit for easy rack-mounting
Explains the basics of analyzing a wireless microwave link or path. The significant parameters are defined,
and several recommendations are offered.
CONTENTS
Line-of-Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Decibels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Calculating the Fade Margin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Receiver Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Antenna Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Transmitted Power (PT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Carrier Wavelength (l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Path Distance (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
System Losses (L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Path Loss (LP). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Receiver Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Antenna Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Antenna Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
TRACER RSSI Test Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Antenna Beam Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Fresnel Zones, Earth Curvature, & Antenna Heights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Other Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Path Availability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
FIGURES
Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Figure 2. Typical Antenna Beam Pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
TABLES
Table 1. Antenna Gain for Given Dish Diameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Table 2. Typical Coaxial Loss for Common Cable Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Table 3. Path Loss for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Table 4. Receiver Sensitivity for the TRACER 4108/4208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Table 5. Minimum Antenna Height for Given Path Lengths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
1. LINE-OF-SITE
The TRACER 4108 and 4208 systems are designed for operation in the license-free 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz
and 5.725 GHz to 5.850 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands, respectively. Radio wave
propagation in these bands exhibit microwave characteristics which are ideally suited for point-to-point,
line-of-sight communications. Line-of-Sight requires that the transmitting antenna and receiving antenna
are able to “see” each other, and that the straight-line path between the two antennas is free of obstructions,
such as buildings, trees, mountains, and, in longer paths, even the curvature of the earth. In addition, for
maximum signal strength the area around the visual line-of-sight where microwave signals reflect (Fresnel
zone) must also be free of obstructions. Fresnel zones are discussed in more detail on page 22.
Terminology
2. DECIBELS
Understanding the decibel (dB) format is key when discussing microwave path engineering because the
received signal power is often expressed in decibel format. In general, any quantity can be expressed in
decibels. If the quantity x is a power level (in Watts), the decibel equivalent is defined as
x dB = 10 ⋅ log 10 ( x ) (dB)
If the quantity x is referenced to a milliwatt (mW), then the decibel-milliwatt (dBm) is used instead of a
generic decibel.
x
x dBm = 10 ⋅ log 10 ------------- (dBm)
1mW
Using the decibel format simplifies power calculations by reducing multiplication and division operations
into addition and subtraction operations.
It is imperative to determine if the proposed microwave path is suitable (at a minimum) for
ideal, nondistorted signals before attempting installation.
The fade margin (F ) is a value indicating the amount of extra signal power available to the receiver to
operate at a maximum bit error rate (BER). Fade margin is simply the difference between the available
signal power at the receiver (PR ) and the receiver sensitivity (Psens ).
F = P R – P sens (dB)
Higher levels of fade margin indicate stronger protection against signal fading and a more reliable link. For
most applications, 20 to 30 dB of fade margin should ensure a reliable link.
The following sections further discuss the necessary power calculations and their components.
4. RECEIVER POWER
The viability of a particular microwave path is determined by the power of the transmitted microwave
signal, the transmit and receive antenna gain, distance, and accumulated system losses (such as RF coaxial
cable losses and path loss).
The equation relating received signal power to the other microwave parameters is
2
PT GT GR λ
P R = ------------------------------ (Watts, W)
( 4π )2d2L
When using decibel notation, all quantities must be individually converted to decibels
prior to performing addition and subtraction.
Figure 1 on page 17 illustrates a wireless link configuration containing all the parameters necessary for the
power budget analysis.
GT λ GR
d, LP
L L
PT PR
The following sections further discuss the power budget analysis and its components.
Antenna Gain
Actual transmit and receive antenna gain values depend strictly upon the physical characteristics of the
antennas installed for each link. In other words, the size of the dish determines the antenna gain. Using a
parabolic dish antenna results in the best performance. Antenna gains are specified in terms of decibels of
gain referenced to an isotropic source (dBi). An isotropic source is a hypothetical antenna having equal
radiation in all directions. Typical antenna gains are listed in Table 1; however, dish manufacturers can
provide gains for specific types of antennas.
λ = c / f (meters)
where
One end of the coaxial cable requires an N-type male connector (plug) to mate with the
TRACER 4108/4208 unit. The other end of the coaxial cable requires a connector compatible with
the antenna chosen for the installation (usually an N-type male connector). Additionally, ADTRAN
recommends that the outdoor connector on the coaxial cable be weatherproofed to prevent corrosion
and electrical shorting.
In areas where lightning strikes are frequent, a lightning arrestor should be installed
directly on the antenna coaxial cable. Installing lightning arrestors helps protect the
RF electronics in the downstream path from damaging voltages and currents
(including the TRACER 4108/4208 unit).
Table 2 gives typical loss figures for some of the more common coaxial cable types (per 100 feet).
4πd 2 4 π df 2
L P = ---------- = ------------ (dB)
λ c
where
or
Path loss, as shown here, increases rapidly as either the path length increases or the carrier wavelength
decreases (which happens as the carrier frequency increases). Therefore, longer microwave paths naturally
experience more path loss than shorter paths. Likewise, higher frequency microwave communication
experiences more path loss than lower frequency microwave communication.
Table 3 lists path loss values for various path lengths for both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz systems. Values not
listed in the table can be interpolated from those listed.
5. RECEIVER SENSITIVITY
Receiver sensitivity is a value expressed in decibels referenced to one milliwatt (dBm) that corresponds to
the minimum amount of signal power needed at the receiver to achieve a given bit error rate (BER).
Receiver sensitivity is usually a negative number of decibels and smaller receiver sensitivity (higher
quantity negative number) is better for a given BER. Several factors affect receiver sensitivity including
the data bandwidth of the wireless link, and the amount of additional signal degradation introduced in the
receiver electronics.
Receiver sensitivity of the TRACER 4108/4208 is dynamic as a function of desired bandwidth; receiver
sensitivity improves as delivered bandwidth decreases. In situations where 8xT1 connectivity is not
required, the delivered bandwidth can be decreased to either 4xT1 or 2xT1, and the receiver sensitivity will
be improved as follows:
Should an interferer be present nearby, three software selectable bandplans are provided
for frequency agility. Changing the TRACER 4108/4208 bandplan does not require
additional components, or opening of the radio. See TRACER System Option > RF
Bandplan on page 47 for additional details.
6. ANTENNA INFORMATION
The overall wireless system is directly affected by the antenna selection and installation. The following
sections discuss several factors concerning antenna selection and installation.
Antenna Alignment
With line-of-sight microwave communications, optimum system performance requires that the
transmitting and receiving antennas are properly aligned. This ensures maximum received signal power at
each receiver. Antenna alignment must be achieved in both azimuth (along a horizontal plane) and
elevation (along a vertical plane). A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) aids the equipment installer
in determining when alignment is maximized by simply ensuring maximum RSSI.
If the local system has acquired a useful signal from the remote system, then the remote TRACER
4108/4208 RSSI can be viewed from the local TRACER 4108/4208 VT100 terminal menu interface.
An RSSI test point, located on the front panel, represents the voltage (relative to the GND test point) of a
relative signal level of receive strength from the far end. The voltage at this test point can vary from
approximatly 0 to 5 Volts DC. An RSSI Calibration sheet is shipped with the system to provide the installer
a cross-reference between actual received signal level (in dBm) and RSSI voltage. This sheet is useful for
verifying link budget calculations and ensuring proper equipment installation.
Antennas are also designed to radiate RF energy efficiently for a specific range of frequencies. Please
consult the data sheet for your particular antenna make and model to ensure that it is specified to operate in
the 2400 MHz to 2483.5 MHz frequency band for TRACER 4108 models, and the 5725 MHz to 5850
MHz frequency band for the TRACER 4208 system.
In general, the odd numbered Fresnel zones (1, 3, 5, ...) add constructively at the receiver, while the even
numbered Fresnel zones (2, 4, 6, ...) add destructively at the receiver.
The first Fresnel zone corresponds to the main lobe, 60% of which must be free of physical obstructions
for the path calculations to be valid. Since the main lobe contains the vast majority of the microwave
energy, this zone is typically used to determine proper antenna heights when placing antennas on towers or
buildings.
The curvature of the Earth becomes a legitimate obstruction for path lengths of 7 miles or greater, and must
also be accounted for when determining minimum antenna heights.
The aggregate expression for minimum antenna height that incorporates both the 60% first Fresnel zone
and the Earth’s curvature is given by
d- + 0.125d 2
h = 72.1 ---- (feet)
4f
7. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Path Availability
The path availability of a wireless link is a metric that expresses the fractional amount of time a link is
available over some fixed amount of time, and depends on several factors. Path availability is expressed as
–6 3 – F ⁄ 10 (%)
A = [ 1 – ( 2.5 × 10 )abfd ( 10 ) ] × 100%
a terrain factor
b climate factor
f carrier frequency (GHz)
d path length (miles)
F fade margin (dB)
Provides information to assist network designers with incorporating the TRACER 4108/4208 system into
their networks.
CONTENTS
Equipment Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Reviewing the Front Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
RSSI Monitoring Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
TX PWR Monitoring Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Front Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Reviewing the TRACER 4108/4208 Rear Panel Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
RS-232 Connection (DB-25) — Terminal Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
RS-232 Connection (Modem Use) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
T1 Connections (RJ-48C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Alarm Contacts (Plug-In Terminal Block) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
DC Power Connection (Plug-In Terminal Block) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Antenna Interface (N-Type connector) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
At-A-Glance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
FIGURES
Figure 1. TRACER 4208 Front Panel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Figure 2. TRACER 4108/4208 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
TABLES
Table 1. TRACER 4108/4208 Front Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Table 2. TRACER 4108/4208 LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Table 1. Rear Panel Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Table 2. RS-232 Connection Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 3. TRACER 4108/4208 (DCE) to Terminal (DTE) Diagram (DB-25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 4. TRACER 4108/4208 (DCE) to Personal Computer (DB-9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Table 5. TRACER 4108/4208 (DCE) to Modem (DCE - DB-25) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Table 6. T1 Interface Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Table 7. Alarm Contact Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Table 8. DC Power Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Table 9. At-A-Glance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
1. EQUIPMENT DIMENSIONS
The TRACER 4108/4208 unit is 17.12” W, 10.80” D, and 1.72” H and can be used in 19 or 23-inch rack-mount
configurations.
2. POWER REQUIREMENTS
The TRACER 4108/4208 system has a maximum power consumption of 21 Watts (TRACER 4108) and 18 Watts
(TRACER 4208) and a maximum current draw of 0.86 Amps (at 21 VDC).
Status LEDs
ALARM
T1A T1B T1C T1D T1E T1F T1G T1H
TRACER 4208
Feature Description
TST Amber (solid) there is an active test being performed by the system.
A E G
RS232 Interface DC Power Antenna
(VT100 Terminal) Connection Connector
B D F H
C Ground
Test Alarm Fuse
Contacts Lug
T1 Interfaces
1 Detailed discussions (including pinouts) of rear panel components (where applicable) follow the table.
2 TX 2 TX
3 RX 3 RX
4 RTS 4 RTS
5 CTS 5 CTS
6 DSR 6 DSR
7 GND 7 GND
2 TX 2 TX
3 RX 3 RX
4 RTS 7 RTS
5 CTS 8 CTS
6 DSR 6 DSR
7 GND 5 GND
The TRACER 4108/4208 must be interfaced to a modem via an RS-232 null modem adapter or cable. The
null modem converts Clear To Send (CTS) and Data Set Ready (DSR) into Ready To Send (RTS) and Data
Terminal Ready (DTR), respectively. These signals indicate (to most modems) that a valid DTE terminal
device is present. The null modem interface must route Carrier Detect (CD) on pin 8 directly from the
modem. When using the RS-232 interface for modem control, the modem must source CD only when
actually connected to a carrier.
When MODEM CONNECTION is selected in the menu system, the TRACER 4108/4208 will de-assert DTR
and DSR for a time greater than 20 msec. The null modem consequently drops DTR and RTS at the
modem interface, signaling the modem to hang up the line. If password functionality is enabled in the
TRACER 4108/4208, selecting MODEM CONNECTION resets the TRACER 4108/4208 to the password entry
screen.
Table 5 contains the wiring diagram needed for connecting the TRACER 4108/4208 RS-232 interface to a
modem using the null modem adapter.
The null modem interface must route Carrier Detect (CD) on pin 8 directly from the
modem. When using the RS-232 interface for modem control, the modem must source CD
only when actually connected to a carrier.
2 TX 3 RX
3 RX 2 TX
4 RTS 5 CTS
5 CTS 4 RTS
6 DSR 20 DTR
7 GND 7 GND
8 CD 8 CD
T1 Connections (RJ-48C)
The physical T1 interfaces are provided by eight RJ-48C jacks that comply with the applicable ANSI and
AT&T® standards.
Table 6. T1 Interface Connector Pinout
If the power supply voltages are incorrectly connected to the TRACER 4108/4208
system, the fuse will blow.
Fuse
The fuse holder, accessible from the rear panel of the TRACER 4108/4208, accepts a generic 1 A, 250 V,
2-inch slow-blo fuse.
5. AT-A-GLANCE SPECIFICATIONS
The following is a list of specifications for the TRACER 4108/4208 system.
Transmitter
Receiver
Frequency Plan
Channel
Plan
Channel
Plan
T1 Interface
Framing ESF, D4
User Interface
Data Bits 8
Parity None
Stop Bits 1
Power
Power Consumption < 21 Watts (TRACER 4108), < 18 Watts (TRACER 4208)
Provides shipment contents list, grounding instructions, mounting options, and specifics of supplying
power to the unit.
CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tools Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Unpack and Inspect the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Contents of ADTRAN Shipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Customer Provides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Channel Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Grounding Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Supplying Power to the Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Mounting Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Connecting the T1 Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
FIGURES
Figure 1. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4108) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Figure 2. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4208) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
1. INTRODUCTION
This section discusses the installation process of the TRACER 4108/4208 system.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by ADTRAN could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
2. TOOLS REQUIRED
The tools required for the installation of the TRACER 4108/4208 are:
To prevent electrical shock, do not install equipment in a wet location or during a lightning
storm.
After unpacking the unit, inspect it for possible shipping damage. If the equipment has been damaged in
transit, immediately file a claim with the carrier, then contact ADTRAN Customer Service (see Customer
Service, Product Support Information, and Training information in the front of this manual).
Customer Provides
The following items are necessary for the installation of the TRACER 4108/4208 system and are not
provided by ADTRAN:
• 21 to 60 VDC power source (or AC adapter available from ADTRAN P/N 1280650L1), either polarity
referenced to ground
• Antenna and mounting hardware
• Antenna feedline cable
• Lightning arrestors
• Weatherproofing kits for antenna installation
4. CHANNEL SELECTION
The FCC has allocated 83.5 MHz of spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band where the TRACER 4108 operates, and
125 MHz of spectrum in the 5.8 GHz band where the TRACER 4208 operates. Figure 1 and Figure 2
illustrate the bandwidth division.
Channel A Channel B
2400 MHz 2416 2422 2428 2441.75 2456 2462 2468 2483.5 MHz
Bandplan 1 Bandplan 3 Bandplan 1 Bandplan 3
Bandplan 2 Bandplan 2
Channel A Channel B
5725 MHz 5742 5747 5753 5787 5815 5827 5833 5850 MHz
To designate the utilization of the ISM bandwidth, there are two different channel plans, labeled A and B.
The letter of each channel plan setting is preset by the factory and refers to the physical configuration of
the diplexer filter inside the chassis. Each channel is then divided into three bandplans (1, 2 or 3). The
bandplans must be the same for the local and remote TRACER 4108/4208. For example, the transmitter at
one end of the link will transmit in bandplan 1 of channel A (the lower portion of the spectrum) and receive
in bandplan 1 of channel B (the upper portion). Consequently, the receiver at the other end should receive
in bandplan 1 of channel A (the lower portion) and transmit in bandplan 1 of channel B (the upper portion).
The letter of the channel plan (A or B) must be different on both ends and the number of the bandplan (1, 2,
or 3) must be the same on both ends. The default bandplan configuration for the TRACER 4108/4208 is
bandplan 1.
The channel plan (A or B) of the unit may be changed in the field, if necessary, by rewiring the internal
diplexer. Contact ADTRAN Technical Support for more information on this procedure.
5. GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
The following provides grounding instruction information from the Underwriters’ Laboratory UL 60950
Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment Including Electrical Business Equipment, of
December 2000.
An equipment grounding conductor that is not smaller in size than the ungrounded branch-circuit supply
conductors is to be installed as part of the circuit that supplies the product or system. Bare, covered, or
insulated grounding conductors are acceptable. Individually covered or insulated equipment grounding
conductors shall have a continuous outer finish that is either green, or green with one or more yellow
stripes. The equipment grounding conductor is to be connected to ground at the service equipment.
The attachment-plug receptacles in the vicinity of the product or system are all to be of a grounding type,
and the equipment grounding conductors serving these receptacles are to be connected to earth ground at
the service equipment.
A supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be installed between the product or system and
ground that is in addition to the equipment grounding conductor in the power supply cord.
The supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall not be smaller in size than the ungrounded
branch-circuit supply conductors. The supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be connected
to the product at the terminal provided, and shall be connected to ground in a manner that will retain the
ground connection when the product is unplugged from the receptacle. The connection to ground of the
supplementary equipment grounding conductor shall be in compliance with the rules for terminating
bonding jumpers at Part K or Article 250 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70. Termination of
the supplementary equipment grounding conductor is permitted to be made to building steel, to a metal
electrical raceway system, or to any grounded item that is permanently and reliably connected to the
electrical service equipment ground.
The supplemental grounding conductor shall be connected to the equipment using a number 8 ring terminal
and should be fastened to the grounding lug provided on the rear panel of the equipment. The ring terminal
should be installed using the appropriate crimping tool (AMP P/N 59250 T-EAD Crimping Tool or
equivalent.)
The supplemental equipment grounding terminal is located on the rear panel of the
TRACER 4108/4208.
• This unit shall be installed in accordance with Article 400 and 364.8 of the NEC NFPA
70 when installed outside of a Restricted Access Location (i.e., central office, behind a
locked door, service personnel only area).
• Power to the TRACER 4108/4208 DC system must be from a reliably grounded
21-60 VDC source which is electrically isolated from the AC source.
• The branch circuit overcurrent protection shall be a fuse or circuit breaker rated
minimum 60 VDC, maximum 10A.
• A readily accessible disconnect device that is suitably approved and rated shall be
incorporated in the field wiring.
7. MOUNTING OPTIONS
Install the TRACER 4108/4208 in a location that requires minimal antenna feedline length (the loss in this
cable directly affects overall system performance). The TRACER 4108/4208 is designed to be mounted in
a rack. If multiple units are installed in one location, one half inch of spacing is recommended above and
below the unit.
Provides detailed descriptions of all menu options and configuration parameters available for the
TRACER 4108/4208.
This section of ADTRAN’s TRACER 4108/4208 System Manual is designed for use by network
administrators and others who will configure and provision the system. It contains information about
navigating the VT100 user interface, configuration information, and menu descriptions.
CONTENTS
Navigating the Terminal Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Terminal Menu Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Navigating using the Keyboard Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Terminal Menu and System Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Password Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Menu Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
>TRACER System Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
>Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
>TRACER System Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
>TRACER Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
> T1x Status/Configuration/Loopback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
>T1x Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
FIGURES
Figure 1. Main Menu Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Figure 2. TRACER 4108/4208 System Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Figure 3. TRACER 4108/4208 Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Figure 4. TRACER 4108/4208 System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Figure 5. 2.4 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4108) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Figure 6. 5.8 GHz Bandwidth Division (TRACER 4208) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Figure 7. TRACER Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Figure 8. T1x Status/Configuration/Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Figure 9. T1 Link Loopback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Figure 10. T1 Remote Link Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Figure 11. T1 Line Loopback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Figure 12. T1 Remote Line Loopback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Figure 13. T1x Link Performance History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
TABLES
Table 1. Receiver Sensitivity for the TRACER 4108/4208 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Table 2. T1 Interface Alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
All TRACER 4108/4208 systems are shipped factory default with password protection
disabled.
After connecting a VT100 terminal to the TRACER 4108/4208, press <Ctrl + L> to redraw
the current screen.
All TRACER 4108/4208 systems are shipped factory default with password protection
disabled.
3. MENU DESCRIPTIONS
The remainder of this section describes the TRACER 4108/4208 menus and submenus.
The menu structure of the TRACER 4108/4208 system is depicted below as follows:
> MENU PAGE
> MENU PAGE > MENU SELECTION
> MENU PAGE > MENU SELECTION > SUB-MENU
B A
D Contact Elapsed D
Information Time
T1 Status T1 Status
(Error/Alarm (Error/Alarm
Only) Only)
F E
Local TRACER
TRACER Remote
Status Status
C H
H Frequency
RF Status
Frequency Plan
Plan
G I
I Site Name Rx Quality
Rx Quality
J J
J Rx Power
Rx Power
Rx Power
K K
Tx Power
L Navigation Reminder
Tx Power
A. Elapsed Time
The top of the TRACER 4108/4208 System Status menu page displays the elapsed time the TRACER
4108/4208 system has been operational since the last power reset.
B. Contact Information
The ADTRAN technical Support toll-free contact number is located directly beneath the elapsed time
display at the top of the TRACER 4108/4208 System Status menu page.
C. RF Status
A graphical indicator of the TRACER RF link is located beneath the Technical Support contact
number. The status of the received radio link is indicated as RF UP or RF DOWN for each direction.
This RF status display corresponds to the RF DOWN LED on the front of the unit.
G. Site Name
The SITE NAME field provides a user-defined alphanumeric description (up to 25 characters) for the
TRACER 4108/4208 system. This field is defined from the TRACER 4108/4208 System Options
menu page.
H. Frequency Plan
Displays the frequency plan (A or B) for the TRACER 4108/4208 unit. For an operational
TRACER 4108/4208 system you should have a frequency plan A radio at one end of the link and a
frequency plan B radio at the other end of the link.
I. Rx Quality
Displays an indicator of receive signal quality that is not necessarily related to receive signal level (for
both the local and remote units) using a series of symbols (#). The more symbols displayed, the better
the signal quality. This indicator is related to signal-to-noise ratio and features a colon (:) marker to
indicate 10-6 bit error rate. This indicator is useful as a diagnostic tool to help identify interference, as
the system may have high receive signal level and poor signal quality in situations where interference
is an issue.
J. Rx Power
Displays the approximate receiver levels (for both the local and remote units) using a series of symbols
(#). The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If the link is down and remote end data is
unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the symbols (#).
K. Tx Power
Displays the approximate transmitter levels (for both the local and remote units) using a series of
symbols (#). The more symbols (#) displayed, the stronger the signal. If the link is down and remote
end data is unavailable, DATA NOT AVAILABLE is displayed in place of the symbols (#).
L. Navigation Reminders
Displays system navigation reminders. For more details on system navigation, refer to Navigating the
Terminal Menu on page 42.
>MAIN MENU
The TRACER 4108/4208 Main Menu page provides access to all other configuration/status pages.
Figure 3 shows the TRACER 4108/4208 Main Menu page.
From the keyboard, use the up and down arrow keys to scroll through the available pages, or enter the
number or letter of the selected page (to highlight the menu page) and press <Enter>.
Press <m> from any menu in the TRACER 4108/4208 VT100 menu structure to access the
TRACER 4108/4208 Main Menu page.
Press <O> from any menu in the TRACER 4108/4208 VT100 menu structure to access the
TRACER System Options menu page.
Reducing the transmitter power of the remote TRACER 4108/4208 could negatively impact
the TRACER RF link.
Channel A Channel B
2400 MHz 2416 2422 2428 2441.75 2456 2462 2468 2483.5 MHz
Bandplan 1 Bandplan 3 Bandplan 1 Bandplan 3
Bandplan 2 Bandplan 2
Channel A Channel B
5725 MHz 5742 5747 5753 5787 5815 5827 5833 5850 MHz
Both ends of the TRACER link must be set to the same number of active T1 ports. The TRACER 4108/4208
comes factory programmed with ACTIVE T1 PORTS set to 8XT1.
Press <Ctrl+Z> three times from the terminal interface to disable MODEM CONTROL when
the modem control leads are active.
7
Days
24
Hours
The minimum received signal level (MIN RSL) is represented as a numerical value from 0 to 255 with 0
corresponding to no receive power and 255 corresponding to an extremely strong signal. The minimum
received signal level is directly related to RSSI.
Link errors (LNK ERR) represent errored seconds across the wireless link, and are generally an indication of
path or interference problems.
The error count and received signal level for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the
right side of the page. The left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.
Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15-minute totals and <P> to view the
previous 8 hours.
Press <L> from any menu in the TRACER 4108/4208 VT100 menu structure to access the
TRACER Link Performance History menu page.
The following menus for the T1x Status/Configuration/Loopback apply to all eight
available T1 interfaces (A through H).
Figure 8 shows the T1x Status/Configuration/Loopback menu page, which displays a real-time graphical
representation for the T1x link using data from both the local and remote TRACER 4108/4208 units. T1x
operational configuration parameters and testing functions are configured from this menu.
The following menus for the T1x Performance History apply to all eight available T1
interfaces (A through H).
Figure 13 shows the T1x Performance History menu page, which displays detailed error statistics for the
T1 link (from both the local and remote TRACER 4108/4208 units) in 15-minute increments.
7
Days
24
Hours
T1 performance data is presented as Errored Seconds (ES) and Severely Errored Seconds (SES) on the T1
link. The following events qualify as an ES–AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm Second, a single bipolar violation
(BPV), excessive zero event, or a single parity bit. An SES is caused by an AIS, LOS or LOF Alarm
Second, excessive BPVs, or framed parity bit errors causing a line bit error rate (BER) of 10-6.
The error count for the most recent 24 hours are recorded and displayed on the right side of the page. The
left side of the page displays the 24 hour totals for the most recent 7 days.
Press <N> to view the next 8 hours worth of 15-minute totals and <P> to view the
previous 8 hours.
Provides helpful information for troubleshooting common configuration problems for the
TRACER 4108/4208.
CONTENTS
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
PWR LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
TST LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
RF DOWN LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
RF LOW LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
T1 Interface Alarm LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
RF Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Installing/Troubleshooting the TRACER Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Installing/Configuring T1 Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
1. OVERVIEW
This troubleshooting guide provides recommended actions for various conditions of the TRACER 4108/4208
system. The status LEDs (located on the front panel of the unit) provide information to help determine the
necessary troubleshooting action. Recommended actions for resolving possible status LED indicators are
contained in this guide.
2. LED INDICATORS
PWR LED
If the PWR LED is not ON and solid green, it is an indicator that the TRACER 4108/4208 is not receiving
adequate DC power.
Recommended Actions:
1. Verify that the power source is delivering between 21 and 60 VDC.
2. Check the polarity of the power connection (referenced to ground) of both the TRACER 4108/4208 unit
and the power source. See DC Power Connection (Plug-In Terminal Block) on page 31for details on
power supply connections.
3. Check the internal fuse. The fuse is accessed from the rear panel of the unit. If this fuse is open,
replace with a 1 A, 250 V (2-inch) slow-blo fuse.
TST LED
The TST LED will remain ON (solid amber) during power-up to indicate a self-test is in progress. If the TST
LED is blinking or remains ON after 10 seconds, this indicates that the TRACER 4108/4208 unit has failed
the self-test. This is an internal failure, and ADTRAN technical support should be contacted.
RF DOWN LED
If the RF DOWN LED is ON (solid red), it is an indicator that there is a problem with the RF link to the
TRACER 4108/4208.
Recommended Actions:
1. Check the RF coaxial cable connection.
2. Measure the RSSI voltage. If the signal is acceptable (> 2.0 VDC at RSSI test point), go to Step 7.
3. Verify that one end of the link is configured as Plan A and the other end as Plan B, and that both ends
have the same bandplan Number (ex. A1 and B1).
4. Verify that the antenna polarization is the same at both ends of the RF signal transmit and receive path.
5. Verify the RF signal path is clear.
6. Check the integrity of the lightning arrestors.
7. Check for possible interference at both ends of the link. If necessary, change polarization and/or
bandplans at both ends.
RF LOW LED
If the RF LOW LED is ON (solid red), it is an indicator that the received signal is within 10 dB
(approximately) of the minimum operable signal. This condition is typically indicative of a path problem.
Recommended Actions:
1. Verify the far-end transmitter power setting is the value that the link planning budget requires.
2. Check all coaxial cable connectors for solid connections. Check for water and corrosion around any of
the connectors. If water is apparent in the coaxial connectors, replace the coaxial cable and the
connectors, making sure to properly weatherproof the replacements.
3. Verify the RF signal path by verifying the antenna alignment.
4. Check the integrity of the cable plant.
5. Check the integrity of lightning arrestors.
Recommended Actions:
1. Display the T1(X) STATUS screen and check the T1(X) INTERFACE ALARM field to identify the active alarm.
2. Follow the steps below for the appropriate alarm.
Recommended Actions:
1. Verify that the T1 cable is connected to the T1 interface on the TRACER 4108/4208.
2. Verify the connections at the opposite end of the T1 cable.
3. Verify that the framing mode (D4 or ESF) is the same for both the TRACER 4108/4208 and the T1
equipment.
Yellow Alarm
A Yellow Alarm is generated by the attached equipment. When the attached equipment’s T1 interface is
in Red Alarm, the TRACER 4108/4208 generates a Yellow Alarm.
Recommended Actions:
1.Follow the troubleshooting steps for Red Alarm, but do so at the attached equipment.
Blue Alarm
A remote alarm (alarm indication signal or AIS) is generated by the attached equipment. The root cause
must be determined at the attached equipment. A typical cause of a blue alarm is a lack of input to a
CSU.
Recommended Actions:
1.Verify the input to any attached data equipment.
BPV
Bipolar violations (BPVs) indicate an improper configuration or faulty wiring.
Recommended Actions:
1.Verify the TRACER 4108/4208 unit and the attached equipment are configured for the same line
coding (B8ZS or AMI).
2.Verify the cable connections for the T1 interface are solid.
3. RF ERRORS
RF errors can range anywhere from a nonviable microwave path to loose RF connectors.
Nonviable path conditions could be caused by physical obstructions such as buildings, moutainous terrain,
trees, etc., as well as other physical limitations such as excessive path distances and in-band RF
interference. These types of errors are remedied by performing a detailed line-of-site microwave path
study to determine whether a microwave link is feasible for the terrain and environment under
consideration.
If after performing a microwave path study the system is still not operational, ensure that the antennas are
properly aligned. Note that alignment must be achieved in both elevation and azimuth for optimal link
performance. The TRACER 4108/4208 can be used to aid in antenna alignment by looking at the RX
POWER “fuel gauge” on the System Status or System Option menu pages. Optimal antenna alignment will
correspond to the maximum number of RSSI bars on the TRACER 4108/4208 terminal display.
4. STEP-BY-STEP TROUBLESHOOTING
The logical troubleshooting flow presented in this section can be used to set up your TRACER 4108/4208
system, and also to diagnose a previously installed system. Please contact ADTRAN Technical support at
any stage during installation and/or troubleshooting if you require assistance.
ADTRAN provides a wireless link planning tool on our website. This link budget tool is
constructed as an easy to use spreadsheet with dropdown menus so that the user can
quickly change any of the link parameters (antenna size, coaxial cable type and length,
frequency band, link distance, etc) and instantly see how the microwave path availability is
affected. This tool is available at www.adtran.com/wireless and can be used online or
downloaded for standalone use.
2. Setup all of the TRACER hardware on a workbench. ADTRAN recommends that the actual cables
used in the permanent installation be used in the workbench setup. A rigorous workbench
“simulation” of the link will help alleviate and avoid time-consuming errors.
3. Examine the PLAN A and PLAN B LEDs on the front panel of each unit. These LEDs indicate the
frequency plan for each TRACER 4108/4208 unit. The frequency plan (Plan A, Plan B) LED
should be the opposite on the TRACER 4108/4208 units.
4. Attach the RF coaxial cables to be used in the permanent installation to the N-type connectors on
the back of the TRACER 4108/4208 unit. Attach the other end of the coaxial cable(s) to an RF
power meter or spectrum analyzer, if either is available. The power measured by the
meter/analyzer will be the RF power available at the input of the antenna. The TRACER
4108/4208 unit is programmed at the factory to output approximately 100 mW (20 dBm) of RF
power. The actual power level measured by the meter/analyzer will be less than 100 mW due to RF
losses through the coaxial cable, and is a function of the cable type and length being used. In any
event, the power level at the output of the coaxial cable should be a significant fraction of 100 mW.
A power meter/analyzer reading that is not on the order of at least tens-of-milliwatts could be an
indication of any combination of either unsuitable RF, faulty, or unreasonably long coaxial cable.
5. Resolve all RF coaxial cabling errors before proceeding.
6. Attach the RF coaxial cables to a high-quality attenuator, if possible. If you do not have an
attenuator, attach the coaxial cables to the antennas to be used in the permanent installation. If the
installation antennas are not available, small, inexpensive dipole or patch antennas can be used for
verification purposes. If an adjustable attenuator is being used, dial in the amount of attenuation
that corresponds to the path loss value expected for the microwave link in which the TRACER
hardware will be installed. The path loss value can be calculated from a knowledge of the path
length, or provided by a path study. Remember to subtract both antenna gain values from the
attenuator level if these values have not already be accounted for.
7. After setting up the RF pieces, examine the RF DOWN LED on the front panel of each TRACER
4108/4208 unit. If the RF DOWN LED is illuminated (red), the corresponding TRACER
4108/4208 is not receiving a suitable RF signal from the other TRACER 4108/4208 unit. In this
case, the receiving TRACER 4108/4208 is either receiving a very weak signal, or no signal at all.
If the RF DOWN LED is not illuminated, then the TRACER 4108/4208 units are receiving a
suitable RF signal. Suitable RF power levels for low error rate communication will range from -30
dBm to -86 dBm measured at the N-type connector input on the TRACER 4108/4208 unit.
8. Resolve any signal level issues before proceeding.
9. Examine the RF LOW LED on the front panel of each TRACER 4108/4208. If this LED is
illuminated, then the TRACER 4108/4208 is receiving a relatively weak signal; however, if the RF
DOWN LED is not illuminated, then the received signal is being suitably processed by the
TRACER 4108/4208 system. If you are receiving a weak signal (RF LOW is ON), please verify
that the weak signal is not being caused by a faulty cable, an insufficiently tightened cable, or
some other installation-related problem. Also, make sure an unreasonably large attenuation value
has not been selected if you are using an attenuator on a workbench setup.
Use the tables in Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics, of this manual to select the
proper free-space attenuation value (in dB) based on the estimated length of the microwave path.
Remember to subtract both antenna gains (local and remote) from the attenuator setting.
10. Command a link loopback in one TRACER 4108/4208 unit and run a test pattern from the
connected T1 equipment. This will verify the data path between the T1 equipment and the
TRACER 4108/4208 unit.
External pattern generators are required to test data path integrity. A T1 BERT tester is
suggested.
Installing/Configuring T1 Hardware
1. If possible, attach any or all of the intended T1 hardware to the TRACER 4108/4208 units using
the same workbench setup. This step offers the perfect opportunity to configure your T1 hardware
for proper functioning with the TRACER hardware.
2. To significantly reduce the probability of an unsuccessful field installation, resolve any remaining
T1 equipment-to-TRACER 4108/4208 configuration issues before field installation.