2.4 GHz Smart Spectrum® Extension Antenna Kit SWASS-EXT SWASS-EXT-2 Operating Guide for use with models: SWA6SS, SW71-R, SW72-R, & SW72-NDR SWASS-EXT benefits · Wall mount or mic-stand mount · · · · · · Straight and right angle TNC connectors 130 degree reception pattern +18 dB gain (SWASS-EXT) +22/+44 dB switchable gain (SWASS-EXT-2) Wood-tone finish Phantom-powered from either the receiver or the distribution amp; Power LED indicator (SWA-EXT-2) Included with the SWASS-EXT · One pair of antennas (left & right), each with mic stand mounts attached · · · · Two European mic stand adaptor inserts Four straight TNC male crimp connectors Two right angle TNC male to female connectors Operating Guide OVERVIEW The SWASS-EXT Antenna Extension Kit is designed for use with Sabine SWM7000 2.4 GHz wireless microphone receivers and antenna distribution amplifiers. The SWASSEXT allows for optimal placement of external antennas for maximum wireless performance. One SWASS-EXT kit can accommodate up to 70 receiver channels. (See block diagram detail on page 10). ANTENNA PLACEMENT Extension antennas should be placed in an open area within visual range of the intended transmitter locations. Note that the range of a True Mobility transmitter is about 100 meters, but that structural objects can reduce that range. CAUTIONS · Since the installation of the antennas influences the operating efficiency of the receiver, the most important rule is to minimize the distance between receiving antenna and transmitter for better reception and performance. Make sure the antennas can "see" the transmitter. Keep the system away from electrical-noise sources (electric motors, refrigerators, arc welders, etc.). Place the SWM7000 receiver or SWA6SS Antenna Distribution Amplifier at least 1.5 meters above floor level. Keep all transmitters at least 3 meters away from a receiver antenna. · ANTENNA CABLING & CABLE LOSS While an extension antenna affords the opportunity to increase the distance from transmitter to receiver, there is a loss of signal in the interconnecting cable that limits that distance. The maximum connection length is determined by the type of cable used, and the degree of signal attenuation acceptable. Let's presume that an acceptable degree of loss over the total cable run is 6 dB. Without external signal boosts, the different cables shown in the table would then allow maximum lengths ranging from less than 4 M (RG-58) to 24 M (RG8/U). Thus, for a passive extension antenna, your choices are to limit the cable run, or increase your budget and buy the more expensive, thicker cable. Coaxial Cable Attenuation Table Cable Type RG58 RG58/AU RG212/U RG8/U RG142 Belden # 9203 9311 9861 9913 83242 Insulation Polyethylene Foam Polyethylene Polyethylene Semi-solid Polyethylene Teflon Center Conductor #20 Stranded #20 Stranded #15.5 solid, silver plated #10 solid #18 solid, silver plated Maximum Practical 10 Meter Distance Attenuation (using SWASS-EXT-2 Connector (in dB) at +22dB, in meters) Type -16.29 -11.10 -6.11 -2.50 -6.54 14 20 36 88 34 TNC TNC N N TNC 2 Fortunately, Sabine's SWASS-EXT Active Extension Antenna offers a far better, more cost-effective solution, due to its built-in active 18 dB signal boost. In the case of low-cost RG-58 cable, adding an SWASS-EXT to your setup increases the acceptable maximum cable run by more than 4 times, to 14 meters. With RG-8 cable, the maximum length is extended to 88 meters! Power for the Extension Antenna is delivered from any Sabine SWM7000 series receiver or SWA6SS Antenna Distribution Amplifier. An additional advantage of using Sabine's SWASS-EXT Extension Antenna stems from its more focused, directional nature. Sabine receiver's coaxial dipole antennas (standard equipment that mount directly on the front or rear panels of the receiver or SWA6SS) are more omni directional in nature. In contrast, the Sabine's Extension Antenna is sensitive to RF reception in a 180-degree arc in front of its mounted position. It extends sensitivity to the front and offaxis side locations as it increases rear RF rejection. The multiple functions (relocation of antenna, boost of signal, directional sensitivity) of Sabine's Extension Antenna mean there are many applications in which its addition to your system can greatly enhance performance. Here's a partial list of such applications: 1. Antenna repositioning. Provides solutions when receiver placement options are limited or challenging. Sabine's Extension Antenna's multiple mounting options allow higher placement (wall mount or microphone stand mount). 2. Barriers interrupting transmission. Any time a barrier interferes with transmission and reception, Sabine's SWA-SSEXT can be mounted on the transmitter side of the barrier with cable connections made on the receiver side. The most common situation of this nature would arise when receiver and transmitter are located in separate rooms. 3. Expanded or directional sensitivity required. Sabine's Extension Antenna picks up in a 180-degree arc, focused towards the front. Reception in this arc is enhanced. 4. Rear RF rejection required. Because Sabine's Extension Antenna is less sensitive to signals received from the rear, it can be positioned to reject any such directional RF interference. 5. Extended operational range. Given a potential maximum cable length of almost 90 meters from Extension Antenna to receiver, Sabine's SWASS-EXT allows more options for extending the distance between transmitter and receiver. Consider that RF signal strength through air is diminished by the square of the distance (twice as far away = ¼ the signal strength), while signal loss through cable is (roughly) inversely proportional (twice as far away = ½ the signal). That means you can use an extension antenna to replace transmission-throughair with transmission-through-cable, to help minimize signal loss. 6. Switching Gain (SWASS-EXT-2). This model allows for two different gain settings. "LO" is +22 dB, and "HI" is +44 dB. There should be a minimum of 12dB of cable loss before the antenna is switched into high gain mode. If high gain is activated with less than 12dB of cable loss the receiver front end may get overloaded. The switch should be thought of as high = long cable, low = short cable. Refer to the chart at left and use high gain only for extending the maximum practical distance of the cable you are using. LIT-SWASS-EXT-OP-051123.pmd 3 © 2005 Sabine, Inc SWASS-EXT 2.4 GHZ EXTERNAL ANTENNA Exterior case (wood-grained) Antenna component Spacer Mic stand mounting bracket White plastic nut TNC connector Wall mount metal bracket Mic stand connector GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 1 Locate and install the Left and Right antennas so that they are within line-of-sight of intended wireless microphone locations. Line-of-sight path 2 Connect the SWASS-EXT "Left" and "Right" Antennas to either antenna input on your SWM7000 receiver or SWA6SS Antenna Distribution Amplifier. NOTE: SWASSEXT antennas are sold in Left / Right pairs and must be installed as such. Do not install a "Right" antenna with another "Right" antenna; or conversely, a "Left" antenna with other another "Left" antenna. 4 MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS SWASS-EXT Antennas can be permanently mounted on wall surfaces, or affixed to the top of microphone stands for convenient re-positioning. MICROPHONE STAND MOUNTING 1 2 Attach SWASS-EXT Antenna Kits to microphone stands and position stands in desired locations. Gently pry the wood-grained exterior case from the rest of the antenna assembly. to TNC connec3 Attach antenna cableassembly. Hand tor on the antenna tighten only. Reattach the wood-grain exterior case 4 Placing Extension Antennas Position the one marked LEFT at stage left (on the left hand side of a performer facing the audience) and so on. When you mount the extension antennas on a stand or on a wall, make sure the short end of the triangle is up. In order for the system to be effective, both extension antennas should be in a good pickup position at all times but separated by about ten or fifteen feet if the antennas are within 100 or so feet. Separate them about 20 to 25 feet in very large rooms or fields. If you put the antennas too far apart, i.e., at opposite ends of the room, or in separate rooms, to improve coverage, diversity is defeated and you will get dropouts. In other words, diversity is more important that coverage. If you mount the extension antennas in the ceiling, the antennas metallic backplane must be orientated parallel to the floor and the antennas must not be blocked by pillars, lights or similar obstructions. Aim the hole in the plastic cover toward the podium. Do not daisy-chain extension antennas together in series. Receivers and the antenna distribution amp are only designed to use one left and one right antenna. Extension Antenna Cables: Use coax cable to connect the extension antennas to the receiver or to the ADA. See the chart on the previous page for cable specifications. Use the SWATNC-N step-down cable to connect thicker RG8 cables to the extension antenna. The SWASS-EXT extension antennas add between 10 and 18dB signal strength to overcome cable loss. Bad crimp connections are a common cause of dropouts. Check them carefully! LIT-SWASS-EXT-OP-051123.pmd 5 © 2005 Sabine, Inc WALL MOUNTING CAUTION: Be careful not to scratch or damage the interior components of the SWASSEXT Antenna Kit. Interior components can be disassembled and reassembled using fingers. Do not use metal pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers or knives to unscrew or tighten interior antenna components to the metal antenna bracket frame. 1 Gently pry the wood-grained exterior case from the rest of the antenna assembly. 2 Unscrew the black microphone mount from the antenna assembly. 3 Using fingers only, unscrew the white plastic nut and remove the antenna component from the metal bracket. 4 Attach the TNC elbow to your antenna cable and thread the elbow through the rectangular metal cutaway in the wall-mount bracket. Screw the TNC elbow onto the separated antenna component so that the cable end will go through the cutaway. Tighten finger tight only. NOTE: Make sure the rectangular silver shield case (SHIELD-W2ANTL) will face away from the bracket when the component has been remounted. 6 5 Reconnect the antenna component to the metal bracket with the TNC elbow positioned through the cutaway. Tighten the white plastic nut finger tight only. 6 Mount the metal wall-mount bracket to the predetermined location on the wall. NOTE: wall-mounting screws not supplied 7 Replace the wood-grain antenna exterior case. SWASS-EXT-2 INSTRUCTIONS The SWASS-EXT-2 has two features not found on the standard SWASS-EXT: switchable gain and a phantom power LED indicator. 1. To switch gain settings, start by removing the cover. The HI/LO switch is easy to see at the lower right of the antenna assembly. CAUTION: HI gain is only for extremely long cable runs. Refer to page 3 of this guide for instructions on using the HI gain setting. 2. The Power LED indicates the presence of phantom power from either the SWA6SS distribution amp or an SW70 series receiver. Use this LED to verify a good connection from either of these. If the LED does not light after you power up the receiver or distribution amp, then you have a bad connection in your RF cabling. LIT-SWASS-EXT-OP-051123.pmd 7 © 2005 Sabine, Inc INSTALLATION CAUTIONS Extension Antenna cables -- For best results, use high quality coaxial cable with a 50 Ohm impedance. Specifications will vary by cable manufacturer. For best results, use cable with minimal attenuation. The longer your cable, the more you will reduce the 100meter range between transmitter and receiver antenna. A well-placed pair of extension antennas will eliminate trouble spots and generally improve overall performance of the wireless. COMMON SOURCES OF RF INTERFERENCE The typical sources of interference for conventional wireless mics can be high-powered broadcasters such as radio stations and TV transmitters, or other short-range wireless devices, including multiple radio microphones operating at the same location (either by design, or by coincidence), that operate in proximate (or harmonically related) bands. Less commonly, interference may arise from spurious outputs emitted by electronic equipment (notably computers, printers, or similar devices with digital clocks), faulty electrical equipment, neon signs, dimmers and lighting controllers, and so forth. Many UHF and VHF mics are especially vulnerable because they share the RF spectrum with the very high-powered transmitters for television. The coming conversion to digital and high-definition broadcast will increase the problems for UHF and VHF. The 2.4 to 2.4835 GHz frequency band is not only well above the fundamental (nominal) transmission frequencies of such strong analog and digital broadcasts, but also high enough ...