DragonWave Horizon Quantum Training
Revision 1
Quantum – Course Overview
• Horizon Quantum Overview Product introduction and feature list Product comparison (product history & evolution) Hardware configurations, connections and interface description
• Product Configuration Connection and configuration methods CLI and Web GUI introduction
• Installation and Alignment Training Installation requirements and techniques Identifying installation issues and false failures Alignment processes and techniques
• Product Troubleshooting Configuration, installation and alignment troubleshooting tips Post installation troubleshooting techniques Common issues and resolutions
• Advanced Feature Group Discussion Feature functionality and description
Quantum - Course Overview
Product Introduction
• Link Overview• Product Highlights• HW Functionality• HW Options• PN/SN Identification
Equipment Connections
• Power• Management• Data• Antenna
Configuration
• Web GUI• CLI• SNMP• Basic Link
Configuration
Installation & Alignment
• Power & Cabling• Antenna Mount• Grounding• Path Design• Alignment Process
Troubleshooting
• Common Issues• Merlin• Diagnostics• SW upgrades• Maintenance
Advanced Topics
• QoS• HAAM• XPIC• BAC
Horizon QuantumIntroduction & Overview
Horizon Quantum - System Description• The Horizon Quantum (HQ) system is a point to point, Ethernet bridge platform
It can be thought of as an Ethernet cable extender Provided that there is an operational link, any Ethernet frames that enter on one side will be
delivered (undisturbed) on the far side Built-in (8-port) L2 switch supports MSTP/RSTP
Data Video VOIP Encrypted Data
ET
HE
RN
ET
ET
HE
RN
ET
Quantum System Architecture
• The Quantum system employs an indoor/outdoor split architecture whereby the radio (or RF) unit is outdoors and the modem unit is indoors
The two units are connected via 50Ω coax cabling with N-type connectors The IF frequencies approach 2000MHz so the cable must be rated for that frequency Longer runs will require N-type cabling with less loss/foot (ie, LMR-900)
IDUModem
ODURadio50Ω Coax Cable
Horizon Quantum - Link Overview
NOTE: Link distance can exceed 50 milesDepending on frequency and antenna size
Quantum – Highlights & Enhancements
• 6 – 38GHz Frequency Support• 800+ Mbps over-air throughput• Built-in 8-Port, Layer 2 switch
2 optical & 6 copper ports• Single or Dual Modem/Channel Options
Throughput doubling without additional hardware
• Advanced Feature Enhancements ATPC, HAAM, BAC, MSTP, RLS, XPIC, QoS BAC supports rates approaching 2Gbps XPIC allows for co-channel cross-pol installs
• Enhanced ODU Features Reduced size and weight Built in alignment port Built in polarization sensor
• Built-In crowbar feature for IF port “over-voltage” protection
Product History and Evolution
All Outdoor Split-Mount
Horizon Compact
Horizon Compact+
Horizon Duo Horizon Quantum
Max Throughput/Link (Mbps) 400 400+ (up to 1G) 800 800+ (up to 4G)
Bandwidth Acceleration No Yes No Yes
Dual Channel Option No No Yes Yes
HAAM Yes Yes No Yes
Enhanced GUI No Yes No In Progress
XPIC Support No Yes No Yes
Integrated Switching No No No Yes
Component Descriptions & Functionality
Quantum – Modem Functionality
• Provides the digital Ethernet to modulated signal conversion
• Controls the selection of the Intermediate Frequency (IF) that will encapsulate the modulated signal
• Provides -48VDC to the radio via the IF port
• Initiates communication with the radio over a 10MHz In-Band Signal (IBS)
• Performs cable loss & channelized RSL calculations
• Hosts system software, frequency files & system configurations
DIGITAL
MODEM
ETHERNET
Inband Comms
IF MIXER
PSU
IF
-48VDC
10MHz
MODEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
Quantum Modem – Chassis Features
- 48VDC
Quantum – Radio Functionality• ODU or radio unit essentially provides two
main functions Frequency up/down conversion RF amplification
• Link consists of a TxH and TxL radio• Licensed links must be co-polarized
RF MIXER RF AMP
Inband Comms
PSU
IF
-48VDC
10MHz
RF
Quantum Radio – Chassis Features
BNC Alignment Port
N-Type IF Cable connector
Grounding Point
Polarization Marker Antenna Clips
System Operation – Traffic Flow
Modem Blocks are essentially the RF traffic. Are assembled in the modem and passed to the radio
Blocks contain Ethernet data and modem-modem overhead information used to determine link status
Blocks will flow regardless of whether there is cargo (frames/data) available
Bit stuffing will be used to fill unused space in Modem Blocks
IF Modem Blocks
RF ModemBlocksDigital Ethernet
Incoming Ethernet frames can be larger than a modem block
Empty Modem BlockPrior to Loading
Modem Blocks will flow at a constant rate – will not wait for data
Partially FilledBlock
Full Modem BlockLoadingModem Block
220 Byte Payload RF ModemBlocks
IF Modem BlocksDigital Ethernet
Ethernet IF RF
Hardware Requirements & Options
Frequency Requirements – TxH/TxL
• A licensed link consists of a transmit high (TxH) & transmit low (TxL) radio License will determine which end is TxL and which is TxH Transmit frequency at one end will be the receive frequency at the opposite end
TxL TxH
High-Low Frequency Pair = 1 Licensed Channel
TX - 17.925GHz RX - 17.925GHz
RX - 18.675GHz TX - 18.675GHz
Modem Hardware Options
• Single Radio Feed – Single Modem Option
IF ports available: 1Max throughput: 400Mbps
• Hardware includes a single internal modem card that will allow a single channel frequency configuration
• Single Radio Feed – Dual Modem Option
IF ports available: 1Max throughput: 800Mbps
• Includes two internal modem cards that allow for dual channel frequency configuration
• Internal IF combiner merges both channel frequencies over a single IF port
• ODU radio can simultaneously transmit and receive two separate channels
• Dual Radio Feed – Dual Modem Option
IF ports available: 2Max throughput: 800Mbps
• Includes two internal modem cards that allow for dual channel frequency configuration over independent/separate IF ports
• Supports dual throughput mode using different channels or redundancy mode using same channel configuration
Single Radio Feed - Modem Options
Dual Modem – Single Radio800Mbps (2 x 400)
Supports dual channel transmission over a single radio
Single Modem – Single Radio1 x 400Mbps
Supports single channel transmission over a single radio
Channel 1
Channel 1
Channel 2
• There are 2 “Single IF Port” modem options available One has a single internal modem card that will allow single channel transmission One has two internal modem cards and a combiner to allow for dual channel transmission
• Radio can simultaneously transmit and receive multiple channels Radio simply up-converts whatever the modem sends it
Dual Radio Feed - Modem Options
Dual Modem Redundancy400Mbps (2 x 400)
Supports single channel transmission with hot standby redundancy1 active radio - 1 standby radio
Dual Modem – Dual Radio800Mbps (2 x 400)
Supports dual channel transmission over two independent radios
Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 1
Channel 1
• There are 2 “Dual IF Port” modem options available One provides dual throughput by using two separate channels over separate radios One provides redundancy by using identical channels over separate radios
Hardware Connections
IF Connections & Limitations
-48VDC
COMMS - 10MHz
TX IF: 400 - 700MHz
RX IF: 1600 - 1900MHz
IF cable carries multiple signals including; transmit & receive IF (data), DC power to the radio and a 10MHz In-Band Signal (IBS) for modem and radio communications
• Errors due to connector/cable faults will typically occur at the higher receive IF frequencies (1600 – 1900MHz)
Maximum allowable cable distance will depend on cable type• Quantum system can compensate for a certain amount of cable loss • Max 18dB loss on the transmit IF signal & 24dB on the receive IF signal
Quantum - IF Cable Loss Limitations
Hardware Type Allowable TX loss
Allowable RX loss
18dB 24dB
14dB 20dB
18dB 24dBChannel 1
Channel 1
Channel 1
Channel 1
Channel 2
Quantum - Cable Types and Limitations
Transmit IF Frequency (Tx IF) = 400-700 MHz Receive IF Frequency (Rx IF) = 1600-2000 MHz
• DragonWave has determined that the DWI supplied patch cables (one 6’ and one 15’) plus two surge arrestors add approximately 1.1 dB of extra loss @ 700 MHz, and 2.0 dB of extra loss @ 2000 MHz
Cable TypeLoss
dB/100ft at 2000MHz
Outer Diameter
Single Modem, Single IF
(23dB)
Dual Modem,Single IF (20dB)(w ith combiner)
Dual Modem,Dual IF (24dB)(no combiner)
Times Microwave LMR-400 5.989 3/8” 351’ 301’ 367’
Times Microwave LMR-600 3.898 9/16” 539’ 462’ 564’
Times Microwave LMR-900 2.635 7/8” 797’ 683’ 835’
Andrew LDF2-50A 5.174 7/16" 405' 348' 425'
Andrew LDF4-50A 2.635 5/8" 796' 683' 835'
Andrew LDF4.5-50A 2.44 7/8" 861' 738' 902'
Andrew LDF5-50A 1.857 1 1/16" 1131' 969' 1185'
Eupen EC1-50 6.556 3/8" 320' 275' 336'
Eupen EC4-50 3.331 1/2" 630' 540' 660'
Eupen EC5-50 1.756 7/8" 1196' 1025' 1253'
Belden 9913 6.709 3/8" 313' 268' 328'
Antenna Connections – Radio Orientation
• Radio polarization is determined by radio orientation Antenna is dual-pol and will accept either polarization Simple dual-clip system to attach/detach radio Radio polarization determined by polarization marker (shown below) Circular waveguide port mates with antenna WG port
2 x antennamounting clips
H V
Horizon QuantumProduct Identification
Quantum – Radio Identification
• The Quantum radio part number will determine the following:
“R” stands for Compact “Radio” “L” stands for Transmit “Low” (TxL) “HP” stands for “High Power” “18” defines the broadband frequency
of the radio – 18GHz “B1” defines the sub-band of the radio
ie) 18GHz, Band 1
• The far end radio should be: RHHP18B1
Quantum – Modem Identification
• The quantum modem part number will identify the modem type
• 3 modem hardware types are available
60-000471-01 = single IF feed / single modem
60-000471-02 = single IF feed / dual modem
60-000471-03 = dual IF feed / dual modem
Horizon QuantumCommon Accessories
Dual Polarity Radio Mount - DPRM
H V
• DPRM Description Cross-pole mount on a single antenna Accepts standard Quantum radios Provides bandwidth doubling by allowing both radios
to transmit and receive on separate channels and polarizations over the same antenna
• Benefits Reuses antenna and tower space, effectively
reducing the total cost
Redundant Dual Radio Mount - RDRM
• RDRM connects 2 HC Plus radios to a single antenna to provide redundancy
As per redundancy feature specifications, both radios will transmit and receive on the same polarization
Configuration settings are the same on both radios Initial configuration has primary radio “Active” , and
secondary radio in “Standby”
Polarization Indicator
Horizon QuantumPre - Configuration
Default IP SettingsAll quantum units come with the following default IP settings
IP Address 192.168.10.100Subnet Mask
Default Gateway255.255.0.0192.168.10.1
IP:MASK:
192.168.10.100255.255.0.0IP:
MASK:192.168.X.X255.255.0.0
NOTE: Although some radio settings can be modified, all configuration changes are initiated from the modem unit. Radio configuration changes are forwarded from the modem unit to the radio.
Connection Interface Options• The management interface is accessible via any one of the following ports
6 copper RJ45 Ethernet ports 2 fiber ports 1 RS-232 serial port (RJ45)
NOTE: By default, the management interface is accessible via the “P3” copper Ethernet port - local access only
Isolated Port Groups (IPG)
There are 5 isolated port groups available that allow the user to connect the physical Ethernet ports to the virtual “data paths”. The IPG’s essentially allow the user to interconnect multiple networks AND/OR isolate management traffic from data traffic
If all 4 data paths are used they will share the RF bandwidth over the link (first in, first out) Unused data paths relinquish the bandwidth to those being used (data paths are not allocated a % of bandwidth)
NOTE: By default, the management port (P3) is not connected to a data path therefore management access is restricted to the local unit only
Out of Band Management Option
• By default, the system is configured for local management access only • Management port (P3) is not connected to any data paths• Network management settings should match on by units
MGMT MGMT
Inband Management Option
• Local and remote management access is available using an Inband management mode• Management port (P3) must be attached to one of the data paths• The same settings must be applied to the far end unit
MGMT MGMT
System Connection Methods
Enhanced Web GUI (LinkView) Telnet (CLI) SNMP (v1,v2c,v3)
CLI Configuration
Command Line Interface (CLI)
• To access via CLI, user will need to open a command prompt and telnet to the IP address of the unit you want to configure
Default IP:Username:Password:
192.168.10.100energeticwireless
CLI Conventions & Context Help
• “get” commands return information about the system
>get alarms• “set” commands enter parameters into
the system or change the state of a system feature
>set programmed frequency C1 >set atpc on/off
• Some commands do not follow the standard convention
>save mib >reset system
• Unrecognized commands will return NAK
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“?” displays a list of all commands Press ctrl-c to quit the listing
“get ?” lists commands beginning with “get”
Press ctrl-c to quit the listing
“? Frequency” displays a list of all commands that include the word “frequency”
get frequency bank get programmed frequency set frequency bank
IMPORTANT KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
“Tab” key Completes a partially entered command (must be unique)Up-arrow (↑) Displays previously entered commandsDown-arrow (↓) Moves back down the list of previously entered commands
Quantum - Basic Configuration Commands
set radio band • Defines the broadband and sub-band frequency of the radio as
well as the channel band width• Example: >set radio band fcc18_1_50_R5• Associated help command: >get radio band
set system mode• Defines the system modulation and subsequent over-the-air
speed of the link• Example: >set system mode hy50_351_256qam• Associated help command: >get system mode
set programmed frequency• Defines the transmit and receive channel frequencies• Example: >set programmed frequency C1• Associated help command: get frequency bank
set system capacity• Determines whether single or dual channels will be used• Example: >set system capacity 1• Associated help command: >get system capacity
set frequency bank• Determines the channel bank to match the radio that the
modem will be connected to (TxL / TxH)• Example: >set frequency bank txhigh• Associated help command: get frequency bank
set programmed frequency wireless_port2• Defines the TX & RX channel frequencies for the 2nd channel• Example: >set programmed frequency C3 wireless_port2• Associated help command: get frequency bank
Basic Configuration - Example
FCC18
140
R5
- Licensing body- 18GHz- Sub-band 1 or A- 40MHz channel bandwidth- Release 5 hardware
>set radio band fcc18_1_40_R5
hy40
351256qam
- Horizon Compact Plus - 40MHz channels- 351Mbps average throughput- 256qam modulation
>set system mode hy50_351_256qam
C1 - Channel 1>set programmed frequency C1
No Index - Management Interface Base- Saves changes to flash
>save mib
No Index - Required to invoke most RF configuration changes unless dynamic configuration option enabled
>reset system
C3 - Channel 3>set programmed frequency C1 wireless_port2
2 - Dual Modem Single Radio>set system capacity 2
txhigh - Transmit high channel bank>set frequency bank txhigh
Web InterfaceConfiguration
Quantum - Web GUI Configuration
• To access via the Web Interface the user will need to open a web browser and enter the IP address of the unit you want to configure in the
• A pop-up window will prompt the user for a username and password
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Web GUI – Home Page
Navigation Bar
System Information
Pane
System StatusPane
Quantum - Configuration
Quick Config section will bring up the basic configuration tabs
• Management Configuration• Wireless Configuration
Prog. Freq.Frequency BankRadio BandSystem Mode Radio Band
Basic RF configuration• Web basic RF configuration follows the same process as the CLI
• Each configuration step must be followed by hitting the “submit” button
• Configuration process must be done in the order outlined on the configuration page beginning with the system capacity.
• Once each step has been submitted, the subsequent/following step should have options available in the drop-down menu
System Capacity
Basic RF configuration
Configuration – Save Mib & Reset System• Once the configuration has been completed a save mib & reset system must be performed
Hit the “Go to Save Settings and Reset System” button at the bottom of the page
Configuration Verification
• Once a system reset has been performed, monitoring the link via the System Status Pane allows the user to confirm when an RF link has been established with the far end
Link is established when…
Installation
DragonWave Proprietary Information
Quantum – Installation Fundamentals
Antenna & RadioInstallation
• Hardware preparation
• Radio attachments and polarization
• Antenna specifications
Power & Cabling
• Coax assembly, connections, a cable loss limitations
• Power provisioning
Hardware Preparation& Installation
Antenna Mount Preparation• Prep the antenna mounts by centering the vertical and horizontal
adjustment apparatus Ensure adjustment bolts are centered to ensure equal adjustment range in both
directions - prevents mount re-adjustments on the tower
Installation – Radio Hardware Configuration
High-Low Frequency Pair = 1 Licensed Channel
• A licensed link must consist of a Transmit High (TxH) radio and a Transmit Low (TxL) radio
License will determine which end is TxL and which is TxH TxL/TxH orientation cannot be reversed from end to end
TxL TxHTX - 17.925GHz RX - 17.925GHz
RX - 18.675GHz TX - 18.675GHz
Installation - Radio Polarization
• Licensed links operate on “co-polarization” meaning both radios must have the same polarization (both vertical or both horizontal)
License will dictate vertical or horizontal polarization
Polarization Marker
Installation - Radio Attachment
• Radio is attached to antenna using the two mounting clips Circular waveguide interface between radio and antenna
• Dual-Pol antennas will accept vertical or horizontally polarized radios Polarization of the link changed by simply rotating radio by 90 degrees
V H
Installation – Waveguide Interface
Antenna Mast - Twist and Sway
• Maximum twist or sway = ½ of beamwidth of the antenna Antenna with a beamwidth of 2° can tolerate 1° twist or sway Ensure proper mounting above and below antenna mast
Max 1°
24GHz UL – Clearance Requirements• 24 GHz unlicensed systems require a cross-polarization configuration
that is more susceptible to near-field reflections THIS ONLY APPLIES TO 24GHz UNLICENSED LINKS
24GHz UL – Clearance Requirements
• General rule is 1 to 1 antenna mounting height must be equal to (or greater than) the distance to the
closest obstruction An antenna mast 4ft away from a roof edge must be mounted at least 4ft high on
the mast
Power and Cabling
Cabling & Power
• Cabling Default Management & Data
Connections IF connections Cable Types, Limitations &
Assembly
• Power Power supply types Power consumption Fuse recommendations PonE limitations
Quantum – Default Connections
Port 3 – Local Management
Port 8 – Data Connection
ODU1 – Radio IF Connection
RTN - 48V
POWER
IF Cable Types and Limitations
Transmit IF Frequency (Tx IF) = 400-700 MHz Receive IF Frequency (Rx IF) = 1600-2000 MHz
• DragonWave has determined that the DWI supplied patch cables (one 6’ and one 15’) plus two surge arrestors add approximately 1.1 dB of extra loss @ 700 MHz, and 2.0 dB of extra loss @ 2000 MHz
Cable TypeLoss
dB/100ft at 2000MHz
Outer Diameter
Single Modem, Single IF
(23dB)
Dual Modem,Single IF (20dB)(w ith combiner)
Dual Modem,Dual IF (24dB)(no combiner)
Times Microwave LMR-400 5.989 3/8” 351’ 301’ 367’
Times Microwave LMR-600 3.898 9/16” 539’ 462’ 564’
Times Microwave LMR-900 2.635 7/8” 797’ 683’ 835’
Andrew LDF2-50A 5.174 7/16" 405' 348' 425'
Andrew LDF4-50A 2.635 5/8" 796' 683' 835'
Andrew LDF4.5-50A 2.44 7/8" 861' 738' 902'
Andrew LDF5-50A 1.857 1 1/16" 1131' 969' 1185'
Eupen EC1-50 6.556 3/8" 320' 275' 336'
Eupen EC4-50 3.331 1/2" 630' 540' 660'
Eupen EC5-50 1.756 7/8" 1196' 1025' 1253'
Belden 9913 6.709 3/8" 313' 268' 328'
Ethernet Cable Pinout
1000BaseTx – RJ45 pinout
Pin Signal Color
1 TP0+ White/Green
2 TP0- Green
3 TP1+ White/Orange
4 TP2+ Blue
5 TP2- White/ Blue
6 TP1-
7 TP3+ White/Brown
8 TP3- Brown
• Shielded CAT5e, CAT6 Conductors should alternate between striped
and solid Note: Blue pair is reversed
Grounding
Quantum – Installation Fundamentals
• 4 critical grounding points required to provide proper lightning and surge protection Radio chassis ground Modem ground Upper and lower inline
surge protection ground
Surge Protection & Grounding
Alignment
DragonWave Proprietary Information
Compact Plus – Alignment
Alignment Preparation
• Path preparation• Fresnel Zone
clearance• Side lobes• Target discovery
methods
Pre-Alignment System Check
• Configuration confirmation
• Expected alarms• RSL monitoring –
CLI & web GUI
Alignment Preparation
Path Preparation – Fresnel Zone Clearance• The “Fresnel Zone” is the main elliptical region surrounding the line-of-
sight path between transmitting and receive antennas. Must be obstruction free for a microwave radio link to work properly. Obstructions include trees, buildings, other structures or even large vehicles in some
cases• Fresnel zone blockages can result in any or all of these symptoms
Low RSL readings Poor SNR and EbNo ratio High Equalizer Stress levels
Additional Side Lobes
Main LobeFresnel Zone
Solutions For Finding a Target
• Shorter links - remote site antenna not visible Reflective signaling devices - mirror GPS/Compass
• Longer Links - remote site not visible Reflective signaling – mirror GPS/Compass Google Maps imaging – Identify nearby landmarks or intersections
• Low light conditions High candle power flash or strobe light Camera flash Flare
Locating End-Points – Maps
• When the far end of the link is not visible Enter the address or coordinated of both ends of the link in Google Maps or Google Earth Plot a link line between the two sites Identify a nearby landmark or intersection and align to that
Pre-AlignmentSystem Check
Pre-Alignment – Expected Alarms
• Log into the web interface and select the highlighted “Alarms” tab from status window or from the top menu – navigate to the Wireless Alarms section
CLI
GUI
Pre-Alignment – Expected Alarms
• Refers to the systems inability to link with the far end unit. In the case of pre-alignment, this will be accompanied by the RSL below threshold & modem receiver loss of signal alarms
Wireless Link Down
Pre-Alignment – Expected Alarms
• Refers to the systems inability to lock on a signal from the far end. This alarm will be active when RSL below threshold alarm is active. Can also be present when RSL within threshold but SNR alarms active – assists in detecting interference and signal quality issues
• If the system is configured for a dual wireless channel, this alarm will also be present on wireless port 2
Modem Receiver Loss of Signal
• Alarm is active until a signal is detected within the threshold for that given modulation mode. RSL thresholds will vary significantly between modulation modes. NOTE: A link may still require alignment even though the RSL threshold alarm is inactive
RSL Below Threshold
Programmed Frequency (WP1 & WP2)Transmit frequency on one end should match the receive frequency from the far end of the link, and vice versa. A channel mismatch must be resolved prior to alignment. Also verify that both ends are configured to use the same number of channels
CLI: >get programmed frequency / get system capacity
Transmit PowerUnless a license indicates otherwise, the transmit power levels should be the same on both ends of the link. Uneven transmit power levels can cause unnecessary confusion during alignment
CLI: >get transmit power
System ModeThe system mode setting determines the modulation and over-the-air speed of the link. A system mode mismatch will affect signal quality but may not affect signal power. May be able to achieve near-target RSL levels but RF link not attainable. Ensure system modes are the same.
CLI: >get system mode
Pre-Alignment System Check - CLI• Confirm the following configuration settings (on both ends) prior to alignment:
Frequency bank & programmed frequency (WP1 & WP2) System mode Transmit power Radio transmitter state
Radio Transmitter StateA disabled transmitter, whether it has been manually turned off by the user or automatically disabled by the system, will prevent the user from aligning the link. Ensure that the radio transmitter state in “on” prior to alignment.
CLI: >get radio transmitter state
Antenna Alignment
Alignment Monitoring Parameters
• During the initial alignment process, the Receive Signal Level (RSL) is the primary parameter used to determine a viable link
RSL – signal strength or signal power Does not account for signal quality
• Once the target RSL has been established, there are several parameters that need to be monitored to declare a clean RF link:
Signal Power Indicators
• Receive Signal Level (RSL)
Signal Quality Indicators
• Energy per bit (vs) Noise - EbNo
• Signal to Noise Ratio – SNR• Equalizer Stress - EQS
RF Traffic Indicators
• Modem RX Blocks• Modem RX Block Errors
Alignment Monitoring Methods
• There are three main ways to monitor the RSL during alignment
Command Line Interface (CLI) Web Interface BNC port – signal strength indicator
Alignment Monitoring Methods - CLI
Command Line Interface – CLI
Receive Signal Levels (RSL) can be monitored via CLI by repeatedly issuing the “get modem statistics” command. For alignment purposes, the RSL is used as the primary indicator, but the target RSL has been established, the signal quality can be confirmed using this command as well (ie, EbNo, SNR, EQS)
CLI command: >get modem statistics
Alignment Monitoring Methods - BNC
BNC Port – Field Strength Indicator
The Quantum comes equipped with a built in BNC port which can be used to monitor the RSL. The port provides a milliVolt (mV) output that corresponds directly to the dBm level being received by the system. BNC = -45mV RSL = -45dBm
CLI command: >set alignment on
- 45mV- 45dBm
Alignment Monitoring Methods - Web
Web Interface – Link Alignment
Receive Signal Levels (RSL) can be monitored under the “tools tab in the Web GUI. The RSL will refresh every second for alignment and monitoring purposes. Additionally, once an operational RSL has been established, the “wireless link” should switch to “UP”
Related CLI command: >set web server on
Antenna Mount - Adjustments and Locking
Vertical Adjustment
Horizontal Adjustment
HorizontalLock Nuts
VerticalLock Nuts
• Once the antenna mount has been attached and secured to the mast Loosen the horizontal and vertical lock nuts slightly prior to performing the alignment Lock nuts should still be tight enough to provide a little resistance during alignment adjustments Less chance of misalignment when alignment complete and lock nuts tightened
Alignment Process
A B
A B
A B
A B
1. Alignment Preparation
• Ensure that the path is free of obstructions• Ensure one crew at each endpoint• Ensure both transmitters enabled and BNC
alignment port is enabled (if being used)
2. Site A - Alignment
• Perform a full horizontal alignment on site A (entire 35° range) and tighten lock nuts once max RSL has been attained
• Perform a full vertical alignment and lock down once the max RSL has been attained
3. Site B - Alignment
• Perform a full horizontal alignment on site B (entire 35° range) and tighten lock nuts once max RSL has been attained
• Perform a full vertical alignment and lock down once the max RSL has been attained
4. Link Confirmation
• Repeat horizontal and vertical alignment on both ends as necessary until target RSL is achieved
• Ensure H & V lock nuts have been tightened
Important Alignment Tips
• Main and Side lobes Depending on the target RSL, RSL threshold and distance of the link, there may be
multiple side lobes present during alignment Side lobes are typically 15-20dB below the main lobe Lower vertical lobes not always present – ground absorption
A • -35dBm
• -50dBm
• -65dBm
• -50dBm
• -65dBm
Important Alignment Tips
• Adjustment rotation A full (360°) rotation of the adjustment bolt can cause the user to skip over the entire
main lobe For standard antennas, a ¼ turn, with a 1 second settle time is recommendations With larger antennas (smaller beamwidth) smaller adjustments may be required (1/8 th
turn) to find the main signal
DragonWave Antenna
Sometimes additional Side Lobe(s) are seen
Side Lobe(s)Main Lobe
Link Verification – Link Parameters
• How can I tell that the link parameters are fine? No link affecting alarms
available via GUI or CLI “>get alarms” Wireless link established – wireless link is up
Ensure that link not aligned to side lobe – typically 15-20dB down from target RSL RSL within expected range
±3dB of target RSL level Appropriate fade margins established – fade can be as high as 6 dB per mile
Eb/No within acceptable range should be 19 dB or greater (21 for 256QAM)
SNR within acceptable range should be 24 dB or greater (29 for 256QAM)
Modem Block Errors not increasing
Link Verification - Web
Web Verification – The same RF parameters used to declare a operational link in the CLI can be viewed in the GUI
• RSL ±3dB of target• EbNo > 21dB• SNR >29• EQS <150
Link Verification – Web GUI
RF parameters within spec as outlined on previous page
0 Rx Block Errors
SITE B
SITE A
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TroubleshootingCommon Issues & Tips
• Troubleshooting Techniques Radio Loopback Network Loopback Alarms Monitoring Diagnostics File Verification
Common Issues & Troubleshooting Tips
• Configuration Issues System mode mismatch Transmit power mismatch Programmed frequency mismatch
• Installation and Alignment Issues Radio and antenna mount issues Radio cross polarization Side lobe alignment Advanced feature Issues
• Post Installation Issues Link deterioration Traffic Loss Hardware replacement issues Software upgrades
04/07/2023 Pg. 100
Configuration Issues
Radio Mismatch
The IDU modem must be programmed with an appropriate radio band and frequency bank such that it matches that of the connecting radio. Incorrect configuration will result in a “radio mismatch” alarm (see below)
Frequency Bank Mismatch
TxH
TxL
• A modem that is configured for transmit low frequency bank but connected to a transmit high radio will result in a “Radio Mismatch” alarm
Radio Band Mismatch
18B1
23B2
• A modem that is configured for an 23B2 radio band but connected to an 18B1 radio will result in a “Radio Mismatch” alarm
System Mode (Modulation) Mismatch
• A mismatch in the system mode configuration will result in a “modem receiver loss of signal” alarm
Can be difficult to diagnose because the RSL levels will appear close to target levels Link quality indicators (SNR, EbNo) will be below threshold levels
A B256QAM 128QAMTX: 17dBm
TX: 15dBm -47dBm
-45dBm
• Modulation Mismatch Analogy - A comparable analogy would be two people talking to each other in different languages. They can hear each other (good signal power – RSL) but don’t understand each other (bad signal quality – SNR)
• NOTE: The system mode will determine the maximum allowable transmit power for any given modulation. Although RSL levels may appear to be near target levels, a modulation mismatch will typically result in a slight RSL mismatch (seen above)
Transmitter State Mismatch
• User must also ensure that both radio transmitters are enabled prior to alignment• User has manual control of the transmitter state (on/off). A disabled transmitter will result in a “link down” state and one
side of the link reporting and RSL level near or below the noise floor
CLI: >get radio transmitter state
Transmit Power Mismatch
• A mismatch in the transmit power configurations will typically result in an equally mismatched RSL level from end to end • Depending on the target RSL and sensitivity thresholds of a given link, this can result in a “link down” condition• In most cases the link will remain up with an obvious RSL mismatch
CLI: >get transmit power
Transmitter & Transmit Power Mismatch
A BTX: 0dBm
TX: 15dBm -40dBm
-55dBm
A BTX: OFF
TX: 15dBm -40dBm
-90dBm
Programmed Frequency Mismatch
Channel Mismatch - A Programmed Frequency configuration mismatch will result in a “wireless link down” condition accompanied by the “modem receiver loss of signal” and “RSL below threshold” alarms.
To avoid a channel mismatch always verify the TX and RX frequencies on the home page system information pane. The transmit frequency on one side of the link should be the receive on the other end, and vice versa
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Installation & Alignment Issues
Cabling Issues
• Incorrectly made cables or cables that exceed the recommended distance limitations will result in an “excessive cable loss” alarm
• When a cable disconnect has occurred (due to faulty assembly or manual disconnection) the system will report a “radio lost communications” alarm
LMR400 - 500ftExceeds recommended
distance of 300ft for LMR400 cable
Asynchronous Modem Block Errors
Each wireless port (channel) in a dual modem system uses a different IF frequency to transport data to and from the radio. Depending on the quality of the cable it is possible to have “notch filtering” on one of the frequencies, but not on the other
• Notch filtering can normally be identified by the presence of modem block errors on one wireless port (WP1) or channel but not on the other (WP2) – see example below
WP1 IF: 1625MHz
To confirm notch filtering on a cable the channels can be swapped
• If the issue follows the channel frequency after they have been swapped, the cable (or a cable connection) is faulty and must be replaced• If the problem stays on the same wireless port, the internal modem card is at fault and the IDU mist be replaced.
WP2 IF: 1725MHz
No Block Errors
Increasing Block Errors
Radio & Antenna Mount Issues
• Antenna Mounted out of plumb• Pole mount incorrect size for dish -
no room for adjustment• No bottom mount / stabilizer Bar
• Maximum twist/sway = ½ of beamwidth • Max twist/sway = 1 degree for 1ft antenna• Max twist = 0.5 degrees for 4ft antenna
• Maximum of 4 ft of mast above last rigid mounting point• Mast diameter, wall thickness, construction material will
also affect stability• 1’ – 2’ antennas require 2 3/8ths ” diameter pole• Larger antennas require 3 ½” or larger diameter
• HCP links that operate on licensed radio bands use a diplexer system to simultaneously handle transmitted and received signals to/from the dish/reflector. For this reason, both radios must have the same signal polarization
• CAUTION: Cross-Polarized radios will result in a signal strength approximately 30dB below the expected RSL level. Ensure that both radios have the same orientation/polarization
Radio Cross-Polarization
Horizontal
Vertical
Note: The polarization can be confirmed remotely via the command line interface CLI: >get antenna tilt
V V
Symptoms - Side Lobe Alignment
• Side lobe alignment typically a result of not performing a full alignment or aligning too quickly• Side lobes are normally 15-20dB down from a neighboring main lobe. Similarly, the secondary side lobes will be an
additional 15-20dB below the first side lobe
CLI : >set alignment on >get modem statistics
Side Lobe Alignment
RSL: -55dBmRSL: -37dBm
NOTE: The misaligned radio can be identified by reviewing the RSL levels on both radios
• The radio reporting “near target” RSL levels is typically the misaligned radio (far side is aligned properly). Similarly, a radio reporting a lower RSL reading (15-20dB down) indicates that the far end radio is misaligned
A B
Advanced Features - ATPC Mismatch
• ATPC must be disabled prior to the alignment• If ATPC required after alignment user must ensure that the feature is
enabled on both sides ATPC mismatch will result in an “ATPC config mismatch” alarm on the unit with ATPC
enabled – non link affecting
Advnaced Features - HAAM Mismatch
• HAAM must be disabled prior to the alignment
• If required after alignment ensure that the feature enabled on both sides HAAM mismatch will result in a modulation mismatch and multiple subsequent alarms HAAM uses slightly different modulation scheme to allow for hitless shifting. These
different system modes will not link up with non-HAAM modes therefore a HAAM config mismatch will always result in a “link down” state.
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Post InstallationIssues
Link Deterioration – Alignment
• Antenna mount adjustment bolts not tightened Wind can knock system out of alignment Larger antennas more susceptible to wind loading Tower crews accidentally move antenna
• Antenna misalignment will often result in uneven RSL levels The end that experienced the misalignment generally continues to receive a signal close to
target. The far end is still accurately aligned. Far end will experience a significant RSL drop May hit the edge of the main lobe or even a neighboring sidelobe The misalignment example below uses a target RSL of -45dBm
- 47dBm
A B
- 62dBm
Saturation & Sensitivity Specs
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Troubleshooting Techniques and Utilities
RF loopback – Fault Isolation
• The Quantum comes equipped with a radio loopback feature that allows the user to quickly diagnose link issues by isolating and identifying the faulty component
Helps isolate between transmitter and receiver issues and identifies faulty hardware Transmit signal is “looped back” on receiver
• The remote transmitter should be disabled prior to enabling local loopback This is to ensure that there aren’t interfering signals entering the receiver You only want to hear the local (looped back) transmit signal
Enabling RF loopback - Web
• Radio loopback feature configuration controls are found under the “diagnostics” tab
• Ensure that the “radio” loopback type is selected and the loopback timeout duration is set appropriately – loopback will automatically disable
Enabling RF loopback - CLI
To activate the radio loopback feature via the CLI, issue the following telnet command:
• >set radio loopback on -t<seconds>
Confirm radio loopback by comparing the RF performance before and after loopback is enabled
• RSL• EbNo• SNR
Radio loopback can be visually confirmed by monitoring the link status window of the local unit – successful loopback will result in a “wireless link up” status on Wireless Port 1
Loopback Monitoring - RF Parameters
CLI commands:
• >set traffic statistics 0• >get traffic statistics
Ensure “0” Rx Block Error
RF Loopback - Monitoring Parameters• A successful radio loopback can usually be identified by reviewing the RF parameters (RSL, SNR, EbNo) ,
however, intermittent transmit and receive issues are sometimes undetectable using this method• The most accurate way to confirm radio loopback is to monitor the modem blocks (RF traffic)
There should be 0 modem block errors during the loopback RF traffic statistics should be cleared after loopback has been enabled
Web Interface:
• RF(wireless) traffic statistics available under web GUI “performance” tab
• Ensure counters are cleared after loopback feature enabled
Ensure “0” Rx Block Error
IF Loopback – Fault Isolation
• The Quantum is also equipped with an IF loopback feature that allows the user to further isolate local faults by performing a loopback within the IDU modem.
Typically, the IF loopback is performed after a radio loopback failure This allows the user to isolate the fault further by eliminating the radio and IF cable from the test If the radio loopback test failed but the IF loopback passes, the fault is in the radio/IF cable If the IF loopback fails the modem is at fault
• The remote transmitter should be disabled prior to enabling local IF loopback This is to ensure that there aren’t interfering signals entering the receiver You only want to hear the local (looped back) transmit signal
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Merlin UtilityDemonstration
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SW UpgradeProcedure
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Configuration Backup & Restore
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Advanced Features