FUTURECOM DVRS700 Vehicular Repeater User Manual

FUTURECOM DVRS700 Vehicular Repeater

Notes, Attentions, Important

Throughout this manual, you will see Notes, and Attentions, Important Their meaning is as follows:

NOTE

A clarifying statement that expands on the text that follows.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

IMPORTANT
An important statement that should be considered and / or implemented in order to achieve adequate equipment operation.

ATTENTION!
An instruction that must be followed in insure compliance with the appropriate standards or proper equipment operations.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Futurecom Systems Group, ULC could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

RF EXPOSURE

ATTENTION!

To satisfy FCC/ISED RF exposure requirements for mobile transmitting devices, refer to Futurecom 8F083X03 (FCC) or 8F083X05 (ISED) RF Safety Booklet for TX – RX duty cycle and a separation distance between the antenna of this device and persons during operation. To ensure compliance, operations at closer than this distance is not allowed.

RADIO OPERATOR

Futurecom requires the DVRS Repeater operator to ensure FCC Requirements for Radio Frequency Exposure are met. The minimum distance between all possible personnel and an omnidirectional antenna must be as specified in Futurecom 8F083X03 or 8F083X05 RF Safety Booklet.

FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE MPE DISTANCE EXCLUSION AREA AROUND THE ANTENNA MAY EXPOSE PERSONS WITHIN THIS AREA TO RF ENERGY ABOVE THE FCC/ISED EXPOSURE LIMIT FOR BYSTANDERS (GENERAL POPULATION). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REPEATER OPERATOR TO ENSURE THAT MPE LIMITS ARE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES DURING REPEATER TRANSMISSIONS. THE REPEATER OPERATOR MUST ENSURE AT ALL TIMES THAT NO PERSON COMES WITHIN MPE DISTANCE FROM THE ANTENNA.

ATTENTION! ****

The DVRS Repeater is intended for use in occupational/controlled conditions, where users have full knowledge of the operator exposure and can exercise control over the operator exposure to meet FCC/ISED limits. This radio is NOT authorized for general population, consumer, or any other use.

ANTENNA INSTALLATION

ATTENTION!

To satisfy FCC/ISED RF exposure requirements for mobile transmitting devices, refer to Futurecom 8F083X03 (FCC) or 8F083X05 (ISED) RF Safety Booklet for the approved frequency bands, antenna types and antenna installation restrictions and requirements.

IMPORTANT

Refer to Futurecom 8F083X03 or 8F083X05 RF Safety Booklet for antenna installation instructions and proper installation locations diagram.

FCC Label

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1.  This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

RF Exposure Label

RF EXPOSURE LABEL INSTALLATION LOCATION

IMPORTANT

The RF Exposure Label should be affixed in the vehicle beside the mobile radio control head. The label should be in the direct view of the Repeater operator. The label is supplied with the DVRS Repeater.

ATTENTION! ****
Do not use the DVRS in the frequency band 406.0MHz – 406.1MHz. This frequency band is reserved for distress beacons.

 INTRODUCTION

The Futurecom DVRS® Vehicular Repeater is designed to interface to a range of mobile radios and control heads. It permits expanded operation of portable radios. The Vehicular Repeater system consists of. a mobile radio, DVRS® Vehicular Repeater unit, a mobile radio Control Head and a RF multiplexer. The Control Head communicates with the Vehicular Repeater and the mobile using a serial data protocol.

REPEATER MODES

The Vehicular Repeater operates in one of three modes. The mode of operation is selectable from the Mobile Control Head by the mobile radio operator.
The three modes are known as the MOBILE, LOCAL and SYSTEM modes. The function and purpose of each mode is described as follows.

Mobile Mode

In the MOBILE mode, the vehicular repeater is completely disabled. The mobile radio is operational and will permit the mobile radio user to communicate conventionally, using the mobile radio. The mobile user may select the desired mobile operating channel, adjust the receiver volume level and transmit using the microphone Push-to-Talk (PTT).
This mode is used when Repeater operation is not desired. The Vehicular Repeater System operates similarly to a standard mobile radio system, as if the Repeater were not present. The RF multiplexer is disabled and the antenna is connected directly to the mobile radio.
The MOBILE mode should be selected if several Repeater equipped vehicles are in the same area and another Vehicular Repeater already has LOCAL or SYSTEM mode enabled.

Local Repeat Mode

In the LOCAL repeat mode, the Vehicular Repeater is enabled to permit communications among nearby portable radio users and the mobile radio user. Repeater signals are not retransmitted by the Mobile Radio, so that communications on the mobile channel will not be disturbed. However, all functions of the mobile radio operate normally, except for scan, microphone mobile Push-to-Talk, scan activation, mode selection, zone selection, home channel operation and mobile channel selection. When the LOCAL repeat mode is selected, the mobile radio scan is deactivated and the mobile radio reverts to the selected mobile channel. Signals received by the Vehicular Repeater receiver are heard in the mobile speaker and will also be retransmitted by the Vehicular Repeater transmitter. Signals received by the Mobile receiver are heard in the Mobile speaker and will be transmitted by the Vehicular Repeater. When signals are present in both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile receivers simultaneously, the signal from the Vehicular Repeater will have priority in the mobile speaker. (Note that the receiver/PTT and speaker priorities are programmable.)
The mobile user will key only the Vehicular Repeater transmitter when using the microphone Push-to-Talk. The Vehicular Repeater receiver has full priority over the mobile radio operator microphone Push-to-Talk. To respond to a mobile signal, the mobile operator must enter either the MOBILE or SYSTEM mode to be able to transmit from the mobile radio.
The mobile user may adjust the receiver volume level and transmit over the Vehicular Repeater using the microphone Push-to-Talk. The LOCAL mode, as the name implies, permits communications among portable radio users and the mobile radio operator, without interfering with the mobile radio dispatch channels.

System Repeat Mode

In the SYSTEM repeat mode, both the Mobile Radio and the Vehicular Repeater are enabled at the same time to permit the full exchange of communications among nearby portable radio users, the mobile radio user and the dispatcher and other users on the Mobile Radio channel. Signals received by the Vehicular Repeater receiver are heard in the mobile speaker and may also be retransmitted by both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile transmitters at the same time. Signals received by the Mobile receiver are heard in the mobile radio speaker and are also retransmitted out of the Vehicular Repeater transmitter. When the SYSTEM repeat mode is selected, the mobile radio scan may be deactivated and the mobile radio reverts to the selected mobile channel. When signals are present in both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile receivers simultaneously, the signal from the Mobile Radio will have priority in the mobile speaker.
The mobile user may simultaneously key both the Mobile radio and Vehicular Repeater transmitters when using the microphone Push-to-Talk. The mobile radio operator microphone Push-to-Talk has priority over the Mobile receiver.
When signals are present in both the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile receivers simultaneously, the signal from the Vehicular Repeater has priority in the mobile speaker.
The mobile user may adjust the receiver volume level and transmit over the Vehicular Repeater and Mobile Radio, using the microphone Push-to-Talk.
The SYSTEM repeat mode is used when full communications among all radio parties is desired.

CONTROL HEAD

The control unit is a standard mobile radio control head. The Vehicular Repeater is designed to operate with a variety of control heads. It is a ruggedly constructed weatherized control unit, incorporating an array of pushbuttons, a Liquid Crystal display, 2 knobs and 2 LED indicators. The display and pushbuttons are backlit for night time visibility.
The control unit is housed in a two-piece plastic, weather-resistant housing. The external radio/repeater connections are made to connector on the rear of the unit. A microphone is provided and is secured to the control unit connector on the front of the control unit.
A serial-control data interface is used to provide a communications connection between the control unit, the Vehicular Repeater and the mobile radio.

The following features are provided:

Knobs for:

‘Volume’ with integral Power On/Off pushbutton switch ‘Channel’ selection

Pushbuttons for:

• ‘Zone’
• ‘Page’
• ‘Monitor’ ON/OFF
• ‘Alarm’
• ‘Private’
• ‘Repeater mode’ selection (H/L) ‘Phon’
• ‘Scan’
• ‘Call’
• ‘Opt’
• ‘Home Menu’
• ‘Sel’

LED Indicators for:

• ‘Mobile Transmit’ (Red LED)
• ‘Mobile Receiver Busy’ (Orange LED)

Display:

Alphanumeric LCD (with backlighting)
Indicators are provided to display the receiver and transmitter status of the mobile. The ‘Mobile Transmit’ red indicator lights whenever the mobile transmitter is keyed. The ‘Mobile Receiver Busy’ orange indicator lights whenever the receiver is busy, regardless of presence or absence of any CTCSS (Channel-Guard) tone coding.

REPEATER RADIO UNIT

The Repeater is designed to implement a Vehicular Repeater System, to provide portable radio users greater communication range by repeating signals through the vehicle’s mobile radio to the dispatch centre. Various modes of repeater operation are available, to suit different operational requirements. The Vehicular Repeater Radio is the central connection point for the vehicular system. It connects to an external Control Head and Mobile Radio.
It includes all the necessary hardware for repeater operations. The Repeater is housed in a weather resistant metal enclosure with 2 removable covers. The covers provide protection for the connectors. The Repeater is mounted on a RF multiplexer.
The Repeater communicates with the control head and the mobile radio via serial communication bus.

MOBILE RADIO UNIT

The Mobile Radio used in the Vehicular Repeater System is a standard mobile radio. Refer to the mobile radio’s user manual for details of operation of this radio. The Vehicular Repeater is designed to operate with a variety of mobile radio units.

OPERATION

CONTROL HEAD

The Repeater Control Head selects mode of operation for both the Repeater and the Mobile Radio.

To Turn the Repeater ON or OFF

Press the button in the Volume knob located on the left side of the control unit. The display should become active when the system turns ON. A test message appears briefly on the display. When the system is turned ON, the Mobile Channel and Repeater Mode will automatically return to the same settings that were in effect when the power was last turned OFF. Press the button in the Volume knob second time to turn the Repeater OFF.

To Change the Speaker Volume

Turn the Volume knob until the desired volume level is reached.

To Change the Repeater Mode

Press the ‘H/L’ button once. The Repeater mode is changed in the following sequence: MOBILE-SYSTEM-LOCAL-… In the Mobile mode the alphanumeric display shows ‘ZONE CHANNEL’. In the System mode both the Repeater and the Mobile Radio may transmit at the same time. In the Local mode the display shows ‘RLOC CHANNEL’. (‘ZONE’ is the selected Mobile zone name while ‘CHANNEL’ is the selected Mobile channel name.) When the LOCAL or SYSTEM repeat modes are selected, the mobile radio scan is deactivated and the mobile radio reverts to the selected mobile channel.

NOTE
The Mobile zone and channel cannot be changed while in LOCAL and SYSTEM repeat modes. Refer to the earlier description of repeat modes.

MOBILE XMIT Status Indicator

The ‘MOBILE XMIT’ red LED indicator is one of two status indicators that is provided on the Control Head, located in the upper left corner. This indicator will light whenever the Mobile Transmitter is keyed. This will occur in ‘MOBILE’ or ‘SYSTEM’ mode when the microphone Push-to-Talk is being pressed or when a signal from the Vehicular Repeater is being retransmitted by the Mobile Radio (In ‘SYSTEM’ mode).

MOBILE BUSY Status Indicator

The ‘MOBILE BUSY’ orange LED indicator is one of two status indicators that are provided on the Control Head, located in the upper left corner. This indicator will light whenever the Mobile Radio is receiving any signal on the selected Mobile Channel. If CTCSS (Channel Guard) tone coding is used, the signal may not be audible if the coding does not match.
Note that if the microphone is “off-hook”, the Mobile/Repeater audio will be heard on the speaker even if CTCSS is not present or is incorrect. This is the same as the Monitor function.

ALPHANUMERIC Status Indication

The ‘ZONE’ is not displayed in the LOCAL and SYSTEM repeat modes. Instead, this portion of the alphanumeric display shows the status of the Repeater in these two modes together with ‘MOBILE XMIT’ and ‘MOBILE BUSY’ status indicators.

The following tables summarize indicators for different Repeater states:

CONTROL HEAD INDICATORS AND ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY – MOBILE MODE

REPEATER RECEIVE

WITHOUT CTCSS

| | | ‘ZONE CHANNEL’

CONTROL HEAD INDICATORS AND ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY – LOCAL MODE

REPEATER RECEIVE

WITHOUT CTCSS

| | | ‘RL RX CHANNEL’

CONTROL HEAD INDICATORS AND ALPHANUMERIC DISPLAY – SYSTEM MODE

REPEATER RECEIVE

WITHOUT CTCSS

| | | ‘RS RX CHANNEL’

Note that ‘ZONE’ and ‘CHANNEL’ are the selected Mobile zone and channel names, respectively.

Functions Disabled in LOCAL and SYSTEM Repeat Modes

There are several control unit button and knob functions, which are disabled in the LOCAL and SYSTEM repeat modes. These are Scan activation, Mode selection, Zone selection, Home channel operation and Mobile channel selection.

NOTE

A standard audible error signal “bop” as well as an error message is displayed ‘RLOC VR ACTIVE’ or ‘RSYS VR ACTIVE’ if any of the above functions are attempted in the LOCAL or SYSTEM repeat modes.

Other Button and Knob Functions

The available Repeater functions are:

• Monitor’  – unmutes speaker audio when Mobile or Repeater RF carrier is present.
•  ‘H/C’  – changes Repeat mode of operation.
•  ‘Call’ – sends call signal via Mobile transmission (SYSTEM and MOBILE mode only).
•  ‘Opt’ – dims the alphanumeric display.

All other buttons and knobs function as programmed in the standard mobile radio. Please refer to the mobile radio’s documentation for details of operation.

APPENDIX 1

General Specifications| |
---|---|---
Dimensions Height / Width / Depth| 92mm (3.63”) / 186mm (7.32”) / 315mm ( 12.41”)
Weight| 5.2 kg (11.5 lbs) approx.
Channel Spacing| 12.5 kHz or 25 kHz
| Analog Voice or P25 Modulation
Power Supply| 13.8 VDC ± 20%, negative ground only
DC Current Drain| Repeater OFF| Max. 0.01 A
| RPTR Standby| Max. 0.8 A
| Receive| Max 1.7 A @ 7.5 W Audio @ 13.8 VDC
| Transmit| Max. 6.0 A @ 20 W RF output at TX Connector
Operating Temperature| -30°C to +60°C
Protection Against Liquids| IP6 (water jet proof)
RF Connector Impedance| 50 Ohm
Duty Cycle|
VHF, UHF| 50% TX – 50% RX
700MHz, 800MHz| 100% TX
External Connectors| ****

TNC female

USB, 9 pin male circular (programming only) 20 pin male circular:

RS232: 115 kbps max., +/-3V min. input, 5 kOhm input impedance, 300 Ohm output impedance

Analogue audio ports: 200 kOhm input impedance, 15 Ohm output impedance

6 pin male circular

RF Connectors
Computer Interface
Mobile Radio

DC Power

Power Output at TX Connector|
Standalone Mode:| 20 W Max. (programmable per channel from 1 W Min.)
FCC Simultaneous DVRS Repeated

and Mobile Operation:

| 5W, 6W, 10W or 20W Max. (programmable per channel from 1 W Min.)
| Refer to RF Safety Booklet for maximum allowed power

output for specific approved DVRS, Mobile Radio and antenna combinations

| Maximum DVRS power output is programmed by authorized service personnel at time of DVRS installation in accordance with approved DVRS, Mobile Radio and antenna combinations.

Power output cannot be changed by the operator

---|---
CCT Option| 15 sec to 15 min. or disabled
Carrier Frequency Stability| ± 1.5 ppm, from –30° to +60°C, ambient +25°C

reference

Audio Distortion| <2%
Frequency Band (RX and TX)|
VHF FCC| 136 – 174 MHz
VHF IC| 138 – 174 MHz
UHF FCC| 380 – 406 MHz, 406.1 – 512 MHz
UHF IC| 406.1 – 430 MHz, 450 – 470 MHz
700MHz FCC| 764 – 776 MHz, 794 – 806 MHz
700MHz IC| 768 – 776 MHz, 798 – 806 MHz
800MHz FCC| 806 – 824 MHz, 851 – 869 MHz
800MHz IC| 806 – 824 MHz, 851 – 869 MHz
Equipment Type Acceptance|
VHF FCC| LO6-DVRSVHF
UHF FCC| LO6-DVRSUHF
700MHz FCC| LO6-DVRS700
800MHz FCC| LO6-DVRS800
VHF IC| 2098B-DVRSVHF
UHF IC| 2098B-DVRSUHF
700MHz IC| 2098B-DVRS700
800MHz IC| 2098B-DVRS800
Applicable Standards| Test
---|---
MIL-STD 810C,D,E,F| For rain, dust and salt atmospheres
MIL-STD 810C,D,E,F| For shock and vibration

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