Auto-Tuning MOTOTRBO Mobiles with the Aeroflex 8800SX MOTOTRBO Place your image on top of this gray box. Tech Notes If no graphic is applicable, MTN-13 delete gray box and notch-out behind gray box, from the Title Master Technical Enablement Team JW & DG, MTN-13 Auto-Tuning MOTOTRBO Mobiles with the Aeroflex 8800SX, Version 1.2, 2016 MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. Motorola Solutions, Inc. 2016. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 1
Introduction to the Aeroflex 8800SX Figure 1: Aeroflex 8800SX The Aeroflex 8800SX combines the performance and features of a bench-level test set with the portability and ruggedness of a field-level instrument. It weighs 17 lbs (7.71 kg), has an internal battery with 2.5+ hours of operation, and a 30 G shock rating. The 8800SX includes many features ranging from automated test & alignment to an internal 500 W (4% accuracy) in-line power meter. It also has the industry s largest color touch screen display with moveable, stackable windows and store & recall Presets for faster, easier operation. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 2
MOTOTRBO Mobile Radio Auto-Tuning SET-UP Using the Aeroflex 8800SX to automatically test and align a MOTOTRBO mobile radio saves a tremendous amount of time when tuning multiple radios. For this process, the following equipment is required: MOTOTRBO Mobile Radio MOTOTRBO Mobile Programming Cable (note that this may be different from the CPS Programming Cable)* Aeroflex 8800SX Service Monitor RF Test Cable RF Antenna Adapter to interface RF Test Cable to the radio s antenna port* Variable DC Power Supply* Audio Test Box* External 10 MHz reference signal (recommended for best accuracy) * Refer to the table at the end of this Tech Note for all required part numbers per radio. If all of this equipment is not available, then it is still possible to perform some radio tuning. The user has the option to skip any test & tune step on the Aeroflex 8800SX: Tx Voltage Calibration requirement: Variable DC power supply, adjustable from 10-17 VDC. Tx PA Bias tuning requirement: Aeroflex current shunt (part number AC24011). Rated Volume tuning requirement: Audio Test Box. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 3
The setup for auto-testing & tuning of the mobile radio is shown below: Figure 2: Setup for Mobile Radio Auto-Test & Align MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 4
MOTOTRBO Mobile Radio Auto-Tuning PROCESS 1. Set-up the equipment as shown in the previous section. 2. Turn on the Aeroflex 8800SX and radio. 3. Wait until the startup screen appears as in Figure 3. 4. Use the touch screen to select Utilities Auto Test. Figure 3: Startup Screen on Aeroflex 8800SX MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 5
Figure 4: Auto Test Home Screen 5. If the Radio OEM selection at the top left is NOT Motorola MOTOTRBO Series, then select it to change it to MOTOTRBO. 6. Ignore the Model-Band selection at the top middle. It will be blank or have a selection representing the last radio read. The selection will change automatically to match the latest radio read. 7. The Menu selection at the top right will be Test or Align & Test. Test will only test the radio. Align & Test will align the radio then test it. For this Tech Note, select Align & Test. Note that the specific tests listed in the center window will change slightly depending on the Menu selection as some parameters can only be tested and not aligned. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 6
Figure 5: Auto Test Home Screen Cable Loss 8. Press the Cable Loss option to enter the insertion loss of the RF Test Cable. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 7
Figure 6: Cable Loss Screen 9. Enter the Cable Loss for each frequency band. 10. If separate external attenuation is used, tap on the Ext Atten State button at the top right to toggle from Off to On. Then enter the appropriate values in the Ext Atten fields per frequency band. 11. When done, tap on the Home button to return. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 8
Figure 7: Home Screen Read Radio 12. Select the Read Radio button in the top right corner MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 9
Figure 8: Reading Radio 13. A Status field appears at the top whenever the 8800SX is reading, aligning, or testing a radio. NOTE: If there are any issues reading the radio, such as the programming cable not being connected, then an error message will appear in this window. Correct the issue and try again.. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 10
Figure 9: Radio Verification 14. After the radio is successfully read, the Status field goes away and the appropriate Model-Band for the radio will appear at the top middle. 15. Verify the radio by comparing the information in the Model-Band field to the radio s model number. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 11
Figure 10: Tests Tab 16. Select the Tests tab. 17. Use the vertical slider bar to scroll down and view all tests available. 18. Use the radio button to the left to select which test to run. Additionally, use the Select All button or Deselect All button on the right of the screen. NOTE: In order to view/change the default test specifications, change the Menu option from Align & Test to Test. Additional Configure buttons will appear next to many of the tests. Be sure to change the Menu option back to Align & Test before starting the auto-tuning process. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 12
Figure 11: Options Tab 19. Select the Options tab. 20. Ignore High Band and Low Band as these only apply to APX dual-band radios.. 21. Toggle Message Beep to On to hear a beep whenever a message box is displayed (e.g., connect to RLN4460 audio breakout box or cannot read radio ). 22. Toggle EOT Beep to On to hear a beep at the end of the test. 23. Toggle Extended Logging to On to log a more detailed testing file. This is generally only used for debugging failed tests. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 13
Figure 12: Home Screen - Run 24. Press the Run button in the top right of the screen to start the auto-tuning process. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 14
Figure 13: RF Pad 25. If the test unit is an 8800, then the message above will be displayed. If the test unit is an 8800SX, which has higher power capabilities, then the above message will not be shown. 26. If an 8800 is being used, then connect either a 6 db or 10 db pad at the T/R port. 27. Select which size pad is used to continue. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 15
Figure 14: Rx Rated Volume Test 28. For Rx Rated Volume tuning, the Motorola Audio Test Box (part number RLN4460) is required. To use the RLN4460, configure it as described on this screen using the radio s tuning cable, then press the Continue button. Otherwise, if the RLN4460 is not available, then press the Skip button. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 16
Figure 16: Tx PA Bias Test 29. Connect the current shunt as described on the screen and in Figure 2. 30. Press OK to continue. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 17
Figure 17: Tx Voltage Calibration 31. In order to align the Tx Voltage Calibration, use a variable DC power supply. If one is used, then press the Continue button; else press the Skip button. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 18
Figure 18: Edit Specs Screen Change/Verify Thresholds 32. If the current shunt is not available, then the Tx PA Bias Test will be skipped. Press OK to continue. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 19
Figure 19: Auto-Alignment in Process 33. As the auto-alignment progresses, the Status bar at the top will display test messages. Each test will run sequentially from the top down. The status of each test is displayed using the displayed key and also described here: ( P )ass Test has passed successfully ( F )ail Test has failed. Browse results or check log file for details. ( S )kip Test was skipped or not selected. ( A )bort Test was aborted. ( R )unning Test is currently running. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 20
Figure 20: Auto-Alignment Completed 34. The Aeroflex 8800SX will beep when the auto-alignment is completed if the default option of EOT Beep was selected at the beginning of this process. Quickly review the status of each test. 35. To view the test log file, press either the Last Results button or the Browse Results button on the right. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 21
Figure 21: Browse Results Screen 36. If the Browse Results button was selected, then all of the log files will be displayed. These log files are automatically arranged by radio model number, serial number, and a time-date stamp. If the Last Results button was selected, then the latest log file will be displayed. 37. Touch the latest file to highlight it, then the Select button to view it. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 22
Figure 22: Test Log File - Beginning 38. Use the slider control on the right to view the entire log file. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 23
Figure 23: Test Log File - End 39. Note that the total time for the process is shown at the very bottom of the log file. The time for each individual test is shown after each test. 40. Press the Home button at the top left to return to the Home Screen. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 24
Figure 24: Individual Test Status 41. Go to the Tests tab. The column of green circles on the right shows which individual test passed. For the example above, the RX Rated Audio test was skipped during the autoalignment process, so the corresponding circle is white. 42. The Results button next to each test will display only the part of the log file that corresponds to that test. Press the Results button next to Rx Front End Filter. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 25
Figure 25: Individual Test Results 43. View the results from the log file only for the particular test selected. 44. Press the Home button at the top left to return to the Home Screen. 45. This concludes the automatic test and alignment process. If testing another radio, then disconnect the current radio, connect the new one now, and follow the same process. Else power off and disconnect the equipment. MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 26
For additional information, on this topic or other Tech Notes please contact: Jim Whitehead Global Strategic Partners & Alliance Team Sr. Staff Systems Engineer, Technical Enablement Motorola Solutions, Inc. motorolasolutions.com M: 601-622-8835 E: jim.whitehead@motorolasolutions.com MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 27
Radio Audio Test Box Tuning Cable RF Antenna Adapter (mini-uhf-m to BNC-F) Variable DC Power Supply (0-32V, 0-20A) CM200d RLN4460_ PMKN4150_ & PMKN4147_** or PMKN4149_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ CM300d XPR 2500 RLN4460_ PMKN4150_ & PMKN4147_** or PMKN4149_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ XPR 4300 XPR 4350 RLN4460_ PMKN4016_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ XPR 4500 XPR 4550 XPR 4380 RLN4460_ PMKN4016_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ XPR 4580 XPR 5350 RLN4460_ PMKN4016_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ XPR 5550 XPR 5380 RLN4460_ PMKN4016_ HLN8027_ HPN4007_ XPR 5580 ** If PMKN4150_ (rear 20-pin MAP Test Cable) is used, then PMKN4147_ (front Telco Programming Cable) must also be used during this process. Table 1: Table of Part Numbers for Testing & Tuning Equipment Per Mobile Radio MTN-13 v1.2 (April 2016) Page 28