RDAC
RDAC (Remote Diagnostics and Control also Repeater Diagnostics and Control) is a Windows application from Motorola Solutions, that allows service personell to remotely (or locally) monitor the status of a MOTOTRBO repeater and perform some control. If a repeater fails for any reason, it will either generate an alarm condition or will go offline (dead). If an alarm condition is produced, the information about the alarm can be sent to RDAC (and other applications). Additionally, if the alarm condition is classified as Major, the repeater can go into a locked state thereby potentially preventing further damage to the repeater hardware.
Apart from alarms, RDAC is also able to show the repeater's IP address and port; whether a repeater is enabled or disabled; whether a repeater is in Wide or Local Area operation; whether the repeater is using high or low TX power; display which channels are available and which one is selected.
Additionally, RDAC can read the inbound RSSI. This proves to be particularly useful when diagnosing RF/coverage related problems. It can also show the status of certain modules, for example the AC Voltage, DC Current and Modem Board Temperature (only on the SLR 5000 and SLR 8000 series).
RDAC can also control repeaters, this includes enabling; disabling; changing channels; resetting and knocking down.
The ability to change the repeater channel can be utilized to toggle channel parameters between predetermined settings. For example, if the repeater contains one channel that is in analogue mode and another channel that is in digital mode, changing the channel between these channels essentially changes the mode from analogue to digital. The same strategy can be used to toggle the wide area and local setting of a timeslot. One personality could be provisioned for two wide area channels, while the next has one wide and one local channel. Other channel parameters can be changed using the same strategy.
Note that when a repeater changes from Capacity Plus to standalone analogue operation via RDAC, the repeater can no longer be accessed remotely. Also, many control operations require the repeater to perform a reset before processing the control operation. During the reset the repeater is not able to service inbound transmission from fielded radios without consideration for all ongoing calls.
Connecting to Repeaters
Two options are available to connect to a repeater:
- Locally via the USB programming cable.
- Remotely via the ethernet interface and an IP network.
RDAC supports all MOTOTRBO network topologies, except Capacity Max. Repeaters, which are only used in analogue mode or are not part of a system still need to be configred as if they were part of an IP Site Connect System but in such cases, the repeater would be set up as a (standalone) Master.
When using the 2nd option (ethernet interface and IP network), RDAC communicates with all repeaters in an IP Site Connect or Capacity Plus system using the repeater's link establishment protocol.
When working locally, the RDAC application connects to a single repeater through USB using the RNDIS stack. When connecting with this method, RDAC support all features except control function (e.g. changing channels; resetting etc.)
If multiple Master repeaters are to be connected to a single RDAC instance, the mult-system licence is needed.
Alarms
There are two categories of alarms in RDAC. A minor alarm will allow the repeater to continue operating albeit with some notiable difference or impedement. A major alarm will prevent the repeater from operating. The red bell LED will also light upon a major alarm. The remedy is to correct the problem and perform a hard reset locally (i.e. power down and power up). A local reset is needed since is compels the service technician to visit the site.
| Alarm | Category | Reccomended Actions |
|---|---|---|
| RX Alarm | Major | Receiver faulty. Replace RX brick or modem board. |
| Forced Rest Failure | Minor | In a Capacity Plus system, the channel has rotated due to the forced rotation condition while other channels in the
system are rotating due to call activity. Check for on-site RF interference as well as the antenna system. |
| TX Alarm | Major | Replace PA and/or modem; the TX brick in the case of aDR3000 or controller/PA in a MTR3000. |
| PA Fam Alarm | Minor | Clean and/or replace the fan on the PA. |
| Fan Alarm | Minor | Clean and/or replace the fan. |
| TX Power Alarm | Minor | The current TX power is down by 50%. Check power supply and antenna VSWR.
If problem persists check PA alignment and potentially replace the PA. |
| TX Power Major Alarm | Minor | The current TX power is down by more than 50% (>3dB). Check power supply and antenna VSWR.
If problem persists check PA alignment and potentially replace the PA. |
| AC Power Alarm | Minor | Mains failure. Check mains supply at site (tripped RCD etc.). |
| Temp Alarm | Minor | If there is a fan alarm, check and replace the fans. If there is AC on site, check the HVAC system. |
| VSWR Alarm | Major | the SWR has gone above 2:1. Check antenna system; cables and connectors. |
| RX EEPROM Corruption Type 1 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace RX brick; receiver or modem, depending on the model. |
| RX EEPROM Corruption Type 2 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace RX brick; receiver or modem, depending on the model. |
| RX EEPROM Corruption Type 3 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace RX brick; receiver or modem, depending on the model. |
| RX Revision | Major | The receiver hardware is not compatible with the repeater hardware. Perform a devoice recovery and if this does not resolve the problem, contact technical support. |
| TX Power Minor Alarm | Minor. | The current TX power is down by 50%. Check power supply and antenna VSWR.
If problem persists check PA alignment and potentially replace the PA. |
| TX Gain Alarm | Major | The transmitter gain is low, which is indicative of a failed or failing amplifier stage.
When this alarm is detected, check the Diagnostic Repeater Log to determine whether a PA Gain Alarm; Exciter Final Amp Alarm; Exciter Driver Amp Alarm has occured. |
| PA Gain Alarm | Major | The PA gain is low, which is indicative of a failed or failing amplifier stage.
When this alarm is detected, check the Diagnostic Repeater Log to determine whether a PA Gain Alarm; Exciter Final Amp Alarm; Exciter Driver Amp Alarm has occured. |
| PA Gain Alarm | Major | The PA gain is low, which is indicative of a failed or failing amplifier stage.
When this alarm is detected, check the Diagnostic Repeater Log to determine whether a PA Gain Alarm; Exciter Final Amp Alarm; Exciter Driver Amp Alarm has occured. |
| Exciter Final Amp Alarm | Major | The exciter gain is low, which is indicative of a failed or failing amplifier stage or failed station controller.
When this alarm is detected, check the Diagnostic Repeater Log to determine whether a PA Gain Alarm; Exciter Final Amp Alarm; Exciter Driver Amp Alarm have also occured. |
| Exciter Driver Amp Alarm | Major | The exciter gain is low, which is indicative of a failed or failing amplifier stage or failed station controller.
When this alarm is detected, check the Diagnostic Repeater Log to determine whether a PA Gain Alarm; Exciter Final Amp Alarm; Exciter Driver Amp Alarm have also occured. |
| RF Power Control Alarm | Minor | The TX power is out of toerance.
Replace the PA FRU. |
| OXCO failure | Major | A standard stability reference (1,5ppm) System Clock Module (SCM) is installed into a 800/900MHz repeater.
Replace the SCM with a version (DLN6718) that provides a high stability reference (0,1 ppm). |
| PA EEPROM Corruption Type 1 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace PA FRU. |
| PA EEPROM Corruption Type 2 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace PA FRU. |
| PA EEPROM Corruption Type 3 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace PA FRU. |
| PA Revision | Major. | The PA hardware is not compatible with the repeater hardware. Perform a devoice recovery and if this does not resolve the problem, contact technical support. |
| Exciter EEPROM Corruption Type 1 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace modem or station controller. |
| Exciter EEPROM Corruption Type 2 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace modem or station controller. |
| Exciter EEPROM Corruption Type 3 | Major | EEPROM corrupted. Replace modem or station controller. |
Sale and distribution
RDAC cannot be downloaded from the Myview portal like CPS2 and firmware. Rather, it must be purchased on DVD. Motorola Solutions Resellers should contact the Sales Engineer responsible for their account/territory for help with this.
Further reading
- 68012000012 - Repeater Diagnostics and Control (RDAC) Application Installation Guide