This section is a resource for technicians working on the AT&T Calling Centers in Afghanistan. (2014 Now closed).
I worked as AT&T's project manager/engineer/technician on this system for about a year and took the following photo's and notes on their system, creating this page to help the contracted on call technicians who worked on the system when I was unable to reach their location.
Andrew 1.8 Meter - FDMA Toll Telephone Calling Center. NOTE: This page is set up to display six photo's horizontally before the next line. If you see less scroll to the right or adjust your display.
The photo's are a mix of BAF, Dwyer, Delaram, Kandahar and Shank's Calling Centers. For programming information and other documents scroll to the bottom of the page below the photo's. The photo's showing measurements inside the center were for Kevin Nelson's use to draft plans for a second generation version of these buildings with improvements which will be built in the future.
Please excuse the obvious low quality photo's when viewed at their highest resolution, when clicking on them. All photo's were taken using a cell phone camera.
For the Calling Centers which use AnaCom Satcom equipment here is a link to a manual for the Supervisor 7.7 software used with the SSPA/RF package as well as download links for the software itself:
http://www.anacominc.com/prod_sw.html
Steps provided by AAFES. Note: Some FOB's might require we place the Calling Center on blocks, if so we need steps for those locations, if the blocks are this high.
enlarge 57KB, 640x480 2 12282009137 This antenna needed to be completely assembled new out of the box. The back side steel frame and forward feed mounting assembly needs to be put together and attached to the dish. Assembly of the antenna (not including the roof mount w/pole) requires two to three hours max for the antenna itself if working alone, maybe an hour or more if you have help.
enlarge 59KB, 640x480 3 12282009157 Bagram East - Prior to moving to main exchange and swapping out with the 24 phone calling center building.
enlarge 47KB, 640x480 4 12282009136 Bagram East
enlarge 61KB, 640x480 5 12282009139 Bagram East Calling Center next to Mini-BX.
enlarge 52KB, 640x480 6 12282009153 Bagram East Calling Center, back side photo shows mounting of ECU's and the hole I drilled in upper left side of building to allow the coax from the antenna to enter the building. Future shelters should have this hole pre-drilled using a hole saw to a minimum of a 1 and 3/8 inch diameter opening but is much better if 1.5 inches wide.
enlarge 133KB, 640x520 7 Bagram 12 This Calling Center was initially installed on the east side of Bagram but due to higher call volume demand was later swapped with the 24 phone calling center which prior to this photo had existed in its place.
enlarge 149KB, 640x480 8 Bagram 12 near main exchange The 1.8 meter Ku-Band satellite antenna for this Calling Center was strapped down to the roof using four each cargo straps which were looped through the forklift slots on the bottom of the unit, two for each side.
enlarge 69KB, 640x480 9 12282009159 Bagram 12 Calling Center: 12 Phone booths. The equipment closet is in the back right corner. The two Chigo ECU's can be seen on the back wall.
While these calling centers are greatly appreciated for what they provide, if at all possible I'd like to recommend more privacy, if the funding will allow it. I can say with certainty the desire to use these phones would be much higher if they had fully enclosed booths with doors built into them which were quiet inside. I wonder if the cost of only using 40 footers with closing booths in them would be that much greater than the 20 foot units and if call volume would overall increase, even with less booths in them due to using more space for each of them?
enlarge 98KB, 640x480 10 Bagram East 24 Calling Center The 12 phone Calling Center which had been at this location on the east side of Bagram was replaced with this larger 24 phone unit, as shown after the move.
enlarge 120KB, 480x640 11 Bagram East 24 2.4M Antenna. This 2.4 meter antenna was weighted down by large blocks and then the mounting frame structure lined with sand bags. These bags were left over from when the 12 phone calling center unit was at this location, needed to do something with them and although not needed for extra weight were good for keeping people from walking between the building and catching their feet on the coax cables leading to the antenna.
enlarge 104KB, 640x480 12 Bagram East 24 2.4M Antenna Feed. AnaCom Ku-Band RFT. This photo shows the AnaCom Ku-Band RFT unit mounted on the antenna which includes LNC (70 MHz IF LNB) and the RFT package which consists of a Ku-Band Up Converter and 16 watt SSPA power amplifier.
These antennas can be upgraded with a simple BUC and L-Band LNB. Scroll down to the photo's of the Kandahar Calling Center to see a photo where this has been done.
enlarge 53KB, 640x480 13 02282010377 Front of the Shank Calling Center faces towards the MWR and USO.
enlarge 47KB, 640x480 15 02242010308 FOB Shank Calling Center. I had a small fabric sign made with the words "AT&T Calling Center" on it which you can see in this photo. I asked the vendor to use the blue color AT&T normally uses but they used black, regardless of my instructions! This is temporary until we can get the regular signs which are being made.
Not a good time to take a photo with the sun behind the building at 4 PM.
enlarge 52KB, 480x640 16 FOB Shank 27 Feb 2010 FOB Shank Calling Center. Door windows covered per base policy of no external lighting at night, I also removed the light bulb from the outside fixture.
enlarge 66KB, 640x480 17 FOB Shank Chigo ECU The outside Chigo ECU's were not mounted to the side of the FOB Shank Calling Center and were placed on the ground using the brackets made for them which came with the building.
enlarge 65KB, 480x640 18 02282010347 40 Amp service with copper wire attached to ground rod right where the power cable comes out of the ground. The coax cable on top had not been tie wrapped yet at the taking of this photo. The power disconnect switch box should be where the AC enters the building but is on the other end of this cable at the generator.
enlarge 70KB, 640x480 19 02222010282 Shank Calling Center: The coax entering the building from the antenna can be seen in the far right corner. Notice: No Chigo ECU's on the back wall as the Bagram East unit has.
enlarge 79KB, 480x640 20 12282009162 Phone properly centered in the booth.
The overall size of the wood frame of the booth is six feet tall, 31.5 inches wide (inside) and 20 inches deep with a table in the center between the top and bottom of booth.
There are close to 12 inches of space on the left and right side of the phone, when centered in the middle of the booth.
enlarge 80KB, 480x640 21 02222010275 Shank calling booth with phone removed from mounting chassis.
enlarge 43KB, 640x480 22 booth near front door Shank Calling Center - You can see in this photo that the aluminum diamond patterned sheets mounted left and right on the wooden partitions inside the booth extend 3.5 inches beyond the table which is 12 inches deep.
enlarge 81KB, 640x480 23 27 Feb 2010 FOB Shank. The mayors office asked me to cover the windows in the door with a blanket to reduce the light coming out of the calling center at night due to base policy. I found a beautiful ornamental blanket at a local vendor which I folded on the sides and bottom to fit the door covering the windows. The middle section of the blanket shows much more light coming through because it is not doubled up in the middle, just the sides. This will allow some light to come through during the day if there is a power outage while also allowing some to show through from the inside at night so the door can be easily identified. I am still waiting to see if this is acceptable to Sgt. Acklin.
enlarge 77KB, 640x480 24 02282010362
enlarge 67KB, 640x480 25 Height Some soldiers have complained that the arm is too low and that they have hit their heads on it. Tall soldiers! This piece of metal is about 77 inches or about 6.4 feet above the inside floor. I believe for this shelter this mechanism was mounted to the far side of the door with the arm attached to the door much further to the left than at the Bagram East Calling Center which caused it to be much easier to get in the way.
enlarge 55KB, 640x480 26 Door hieght This photo shows how tall the door entrance is, about 200 cm or close to 6.56 feet.
enlarge 67KB, 480x640 27 02282010369 Door hinges are fairly light weight for a light weight door.
enlarge 55KB, 480x640 28 02282010365 This two piece door handle with just one screw came apart at the BAF East Calling Center, both sides. If this type of handle is used again recommend that it be glued down too.
enlarge 52KB, 640x480 29 02282010370 Just showing the amount of space between the front wall and outer doors.
enlarge 62KB, 640x480 30 Building leveling FOB Shank: Wooden blocks were needed for the two corners on the north side of the building to level it.
enlarge 44KB, 640x480 31 External power cut off box The mayor at FOB Shank told me we should have a power disconnect box similar to this with a lever on it on our calling center where the power comes through into our building but the local electrician decided the disconnect for us on the nearby generator (powering the MWR, USO and the AT&T Calling Center) would satisfy the requirement.
enlarge 56KB, 640x480 32 02282010378 Shank calling Center Antenna. Not finished at the time of this photo being taken.
enlarge 65KB, 640x480 33 12202009070 Andrew antenna mount. This mount, less pipe, was added together with a non-penetrating roof mount made by ApexSat.com in Germany.
enlarge 54KB, 640x480 34 12212009075 The ApexSat.com drawing for their non-penetrating roof mount does not match the iron frames, once put together. In reality, the angle iron runs welded within each frame are laid out perpendicular to the orientation shown in the drawing.
enlarge 80KB, 640x480 35 12212009071 Non-penetrating antenna mount frames. When bolting these frames and struts to the center pole together I had to ream out some of the galvanized coating for many of the bolt holes due to thick galvanizing closing the holes too much.
enlarge 65KB, 640x480 36 12212009074 Center of frame where mounting pole is bolted.
enlarge 95KB, 640x480 37 12282009152 Sand bags used to hold non-penetrating mount to roof until straps can be obtained. Future kits should include straps long enough to reach each from each corner of the frame to each corner of the Conex if the frame is centered in the middle of the roof length.
Note: A tip for finding the bird; If you can accurately set your antennas elevation angle then finding the satellite through azimuth sweeps is much easier. Without an accurate elevation it is very difficult as you must swing through both many times to find it.
Also, once found and peaked: When tightening down the bolts on the azimuth cap on the pole the elevation will shift, you must adjust back and forth with the elevation jack screw as well as the four bolts you are tightening down to keep the antenna properly peaked. If you do not do so you can easily loose more than 1 dB to 2 dB of peak, 3 dB being half the power.
enlarge 66KB, 640x480 38 12282009151 Mount does not have elevation or azimuth markings, must use calibrated level and compass.
To measure the elevation, an inclinometer is placed against the back side of the dish frame in the middle of the mounts channel iron, anywhere in the center near and below where the elevation jack screw is attached to the antenna.
As a note; when the middle of this frame is at 90 degrees to the ground, the antenna is actually looking at +22.6 degrees above the horizon (even though it doesn't look like it). This number must be factored or added into the inclinometer reading for setting the true elevation.
Important: When finished peaking on the satellite mark on the hardware or post the spot for both the elevation and azimuth where you found the bird.
enlarge 60KB, 640x480 39 12282009145 BUC, LNB and Co-Pol Feed.
This feed with BUC and LNB needs to be completely assembled without instructions, there aren't any. It is fairly strait forward but the plate which attaches to the boom is not part of the antenna kit and is found boxed separately. Be sure to orient the forward feed mounting strut (on the right side, near the feed, as seen in this photo) properly, it must face forward correctly or the feed won't fit together. You will find writing on the mount indicating which side faces forward or towards the dish.
enlarge 50KB, 640x480 40 12282009141 When checking with Intelsat this antenna had a cross-Pol or opposite polarization isolation of 35 dB.
For an initial setup and prior to calling the gateway for a cross-polarization check peak the receive level on a spectrum analyzer (for the proper pol, of course) by turning the feed left and right while watching. Once you have maximized the level of the carriers viewed on a spectrum analyzer you can then call Intelsat or the gateway earth station for a cross-pol reading and further adjustment, if necessary. I just happened to be at optimum isolation without further adjustment or needing to rotate the feed again. This usually doesn't happen, you can't see a proper null on the other side, or on the other polarization by how much peak you see on your own pol but I was blind lucky and hit the sweet spot without seeing it.
enlarge 56KB, 640x480 41 12282009146 H/H Co-Pol feed at this location. RG-59 size coax used for the TX carrier into the BUC. There wasn't a problem with the transmit carrier level into the BUC with plenty of headroom left over so using the smaller higher loss coax was fine here. The TX transmit level output of the satellite modem was set to -32 dBm, as directed by the satellite controller who measured the transmit carrier power on the transponder.
Note: The position of the feed into the BUC was such that the coax connector was so close to the brackets that I couldn't use the larger coax without bending it too much. I could not turn the feed 180 degrees to put the connector at a different place because then the LNB would hit the bracket. A 90 degree turn would have put us in the wrong polarization.
enlarge 48KB, 480x640 42 12282009149 Large radius bend for coax to LNB. Due to the size and stiffness of this coax a fairly large radius bend was necessary to keep from pinching the coax and causing a impedance mismatch lump at the bend, if too tight. If I had one I would have preferred to use a 90 degree angle coaxial connector on the coax instead of doing this large loop. If not that, then a 90 degree angle adapter inserted into the line (with its .25 to .50 dB of loss) instead of doing this.
Note: I cut this 100 Ft. length of coax short so we would not have as much attenuation. After shortening the feedline loss was measured at about 7 dB with a receive level of about -57 dBm on the FDMA carrier being transmitted to us from the gateway earth station, as indicated on the ComTech satellite modem RX parameters.
Never use white tie-wrap straps outside, UV from the sun will make them brittle within a few months and break.
enlarge 100KB, 640x480 43 122220090Baf12phone2 (2) 24 inch wide equipment closet: Cat 5 cables to be punched down on R66 Block. Wish they were a couple of feet longer but worked out OK due to moving the block to the right side wall of the closet. Future shelters should have much longer telephone wiring allowing me to choose the best place to mount the block.
The top of this closet is open to where someone can reach over from the phone booth next to it and take items out of it. I recommend we completely enclose this box with some kind of thick perforated aluminum or metal sheet on top to keep this from happening. I had some items stolen from me when temporarily stored in this closet, even though it was locked.
enlarge 63KB, 480x640 44 02242010302 FOB Shank equipment closet. R66 block mounted on the back wall, the cables were long enough to do so here.
enlarge 64KB, 640x480 45 02282010349 Adtran and R66 Block.
enlarge 56KB, 640x480 46 02282010351 R66 Block wire punch downs plus bridge clips. The last two 20 foot calling centers had a couple or more of the pairs misidentified as to which phone they went to, had to check each cable myself as I punched them down.
enlarge 78KB, 640x480 47 02242010300 Shank Equipment closet. You can see that the two shelves are not quite deep enough for the equipment, once the cables are attached.
enlarge 73KB, 480x640 48 Adtran - Netrix and Comtech Bagram East Calling Center Equipment closet/cabinet:
Photo of the Nextrix (top), ComTech modem below it and Adtran T1 interface hanging on the right side with R66 block behind.
Note: The tie wraps have been cut flush and the Cat. V. cable inserted into its plastic channel box after this photo was taken.
The Adtran requires 120 VAC but the UPS system only supplies 240VAC. Because of this a step down transfomer to 110-120VAC powers the Adtran T1 unit.
I was forced to mount the R66 block on the right wall behind the Adtran due to short tel cables.
enlarge 91KB, 640x480 49 Netrix and ComTech Bagram Equip. Netrix (top) and Comtech CDM-600L satellite modem. Wish the top shelf was a couple of inches or more deeper.
enlarge 86KB, 640x480 50 UPS Bagram - 3KVA 220-240 VAC UPS with external add on 2nd battery. The 3KVA ADP UPS has batteries inside it, the 2nd unit is an additional battery pack for longer run time.
The photo was taken after three weeks of operation and already has lots of dust accumulating on the surfaces of the equipment. The equipment should be blown out every three to six months at this rate.
enlarge 88KB, 640x480 51 12242009129 Dust inside a satellite modem from another calling center shipped to BAF for the east side calling center. Since the satellite modem was used from another location and showed signs of dust on the front window, inside the unit, I opened it up and used a air compressor to blow it out.
A thick layer of dust coating the parts on these circuit boards can hold in heat causing the parts to become too hot. So far no failures with these modems I know of from this problem but better to keep the boards clean. Also, if clean this will allow a higher ambient operating temperature before failure if these boards are clean and able to radiate their heater better. If the cooling in the calling center quits this might make the difference between the site going down or not. "As it turned out, this modem..." View Comments...
enlarge 90KB, 640x480 52 12242009132 Satellite modem after being blown out to remove dust.
enlarge 69KB, 640x480 53 12162009053 Drilled new hole in the back of each phone to match where the telephone cable came out of the wall. The hole needed to be about 5 cm lower than it was to match the existing hole in the phone.
enlarge 48KB, 640x480 54 12162009054 New hole to be drilled in center, as shown with line and dot.
enlarge 77KB, 640x480 55 12232009082 Phone mounted to the wall using four wood screws (need to drill pilot holes first) with the telephone cable coming through the new hole drilled in the phones back mounting frame.
enlarge 71KB, 640x480 56 12232009087 Measurement showing the hole I drilled as well as the lower hole I would have used if the wire had come out of the wall in the correct location for the existing hole in the phone.
Phones must each be wired to the Cat. V cable.
enlarge 74KB, 640x480 57 Center hole for telephone lead about 9.5 inches from top of table (When the phone is centered in the booth).
In this photo the wire for the telephone comes through a hole in the chassis I had to drill so I could properly center the phone in the booth. The wire should have come through a place in the wall so I could use the existing large hole in the center of the telephone chassis centered at about 9.5 inches above the table, when the phone is properly centered.
enlarge 64KB, 640x480 58 Back plate about 19.5 inches tall from top of table inside booth
enlarge 61KB, 640x480 59 Less than 3 inches of plate behind top of phone
enlarge 62KB, 640x480 60 less than 3 inch gap between table and bottom of phone
enlarge 75KB, 640x480 61 booth a little less than 32 inches wide The diamond patterned aluminum side panels on the left and right booth walls extend 15.5 inches out from the wall the phone is mounted on.
enlarge 69KB, 640x480 62 Booth table depth 12 inches There are close to 36 inches between the underside of this table and the floor.
enlarge 66KB, 640x480 63 Stool inside booth 12 inch diameter stool about half way into booth.
enlarge 69KB, 480x640 64 Centering of stool in booth The front edge of the stool surface is about 15.5 inches from the front wall of the booth, below the booth table.
enlarge 61KB, 640x480 65 Stool Stool pedestal about 21.25 inches tall and 3/4 inch thick stool top making them about 22 inches high.
enlarge 63KB, 640x480 66 Stool mounting Stool pedestal centers about 21 inches from front of booth
enlarge 59KB, 480x640 67 02222010279 Shank Calling Center: The Chigo ECU's are mount on the side walls in this unit.
For future calling centers I would like to use Samsung ECU's because they will hold their last programmed settings, unfortunately, Fluor does not usually support Samsung units. The Chigo's will not turn back on when power is restored without someone using the remote controller which must be kept locked up in the cabinet to keep them from walking off. Recommend building a holder for the controllers so they can still be used and prevent them from walking off.
(Text updated 28 July 2010)
enlarge 46KB, 640x480 68 02242010303 Shank Calling Center has the Chigo ECU's mounted on the right side wall as looking out towards the front door.
enlarge 51KB, 640x480 69 booth a little less than 3 feet tall above table
enlarge 72KB, 640x480 70 Booth less than 32 inches wide
enlarge 67KB, 640x480 71 02282010359 Booth side panel anchor to the floor, one per panel, the other side does not have one.
enlarge 67KB, 640x480 72 Breaker box 40-50 amp main breaker required. This panel came without it, only individual breakers as done in Europe. Local electricians had to add a main breaker for us.
The front panel is hanging by the two bottom panel screws, good place to keep it while working on the circuits.
enlarge 69KB, 480x640 73 02282010356 Main breaker panel for FOB Shank's Calling Center, inside. The local electrician had to wire in a main breaker, required.
With 220VAC supplied we can get 110VAC for other devices simply by adding the proper circuit breaker. From either of the hot sides to neutral there is 110VAC (If 220 fed to the building), across both hots 220VAC.
enlarge 49KB, 640x480 74 electrical panel space about 26 inches wide The electrical panel is on the right wall as you face outward from inside the calling center. The area between the front wall and the booth is about 26 inches wide.
enlarge 13KB, 640x529 75 Blank Space Holder
enlarge 13KB, 640x529 76 Blank Space Holder 2
enlarge 13KB, 640x529 77 Blank Space Holder 3
enlarge 13KB, 640x529 78 Blank Space Holder 4
enlarge 103KB, 640x480 79 KAF Boardwalk AT&T Calling Center in middle of photo.
enlarge 106KB, 640x480 80 Kandahar ATT Calling Center Front view of AT&T Calling Center in Kandahar on the Boardwalk.
enlarge 127KB, 640x480 81 Kandahar Boardwalk view in front of the AT&T Calling Center. Many of the vendors are being removed from the boardwalk and causing less traffic through the area.
enlarge 82KB, 640x480 82 Kandahar ATT Backside The four T-Walls surrounding the antenna were 3/4 filled with dirt and the antenna mounting placed on top of that to raise it higher. After this antenna was installed the top half of the building to the right of it was added, apparently without regard to whether it blocked the path to the satellite. Fortunately, the satellite shot was still higher than the roof top of their addition.
enlarge 98KB, 640x480 83 Kandahar 2.4 M Ant. BUC and LNB Upgrade The local FSR's did not have confidence in the older AnaCom Ku-Band package and would not work to further troubleshoot problems, due to this I replaced the older equip. with a newer BUC and LNB (as shown in this photo). Prior to, the site was having 200+ demodulator unlocks each day which was being blamed on local RFI from jammers. Changing the equipment out greatly reduced the number of demod unlocks, perhaps the newer equipment was more tolerant of what we have since learned to be data slips (not RFI) due to the way the Netrix had previously been configured.
Due to the higher loss at L-Band of the older RG-58 coax being used with the 70 MHz AnaCom system, this required changing that line out to lower loss Heliax but only the RX side was changed out, didn't have enough low loss coax to do the TX side but there was plenty of extra output capability from the modems modulator driving the BUC to make the higher loss of the older TX coax moot.
enlarge 108KB, 640x480 84 Kandahar CDM600L Modem Readings Photo of the newly installed L-Band IF satellite modem at Kandahar showing the RSL or receive RF level of -51 (used 1/4 inch Heliax coax for the run from the LNB). The BER and Eb/n0 was also excellent with few demodulator hits anymore, not the 200+ a day they were having before which was causing the phones to lock up and customers unable to make a call.
enlarge 100KB, 640x480 85 Delaram II Calling Center The DFAC or dining facility is located behind the walls seen on the left side of the photo, a high traffic area which is also a central location on base.
enlarge 91KB, 480x640 86 Delaram II AT&T Delaram II Calling Center. With the two Chigo's running at 18C this is the coolest place on base.
There is no cell phone coverage at this location during the night which is the perfect time to call the States; daytime there.
enlarge 75KB, 480x640 87 Delaram II Signs I attached the "AT&T Calling Center" sign to the front of the building. At the time of installation we did not have signs from AT&T but have just received some. The customer, soldier run BX attached their own notice that calling cards are for sale at their base exchange.
enlarge 95KB, 480x640 88 Delaram II Straps each side The customer for Delaram II could not supply sand bags while I was on site installing the calling center but did give me two long cargo straps which I was able to tighten to a very tight hold pulling the frame of the antenna down onto the roof top of the Conex.
Not all of these calling center Conex buildings have the slots on the bottom to fasten to, Camp Dwyer did not.
enlarge 101KB, 480x640 89 No Adapter Due to my own slip I was missing the DB15 to RJ45 adapter for the Netrix but was able to find some crimp on pins and get the pin-out from Richard Turner to make the circuits work. Will send a proper adapter later but as this is, the unit can be removed from the shelf without the temporary fix from coming loose from its connection.
enlarge 14KB, 494x640 90 Delaram II RJ45 to DB15 Adapter Work Around.docx While installing the Delaram II Calling Center I was missing the DB15 to RJ45 Adapter for the dataline from the Netrix to the Adtran. This is the pin-out work around I used to get the station on the air without the proper adapter.
enlarge 91KB, 720x315 91 Dwyer Antenna Move I moved the antenna at Dwyer from its location on the ground to the roof top of the calling center. After the calling center had been put in, a road had been made which passed right in front of the antenna, when large vehicles would pass through they would knock down service requiring the antenna to be moved. If at all possible, future antenna installations should always be on the roof top of the calling centers.
This roof mounted antenna is held down by two large cargo straps in series with one another across the top and then 20 sand bags added. Obtaining sand bags at this location was not possible without borrowing from others, as I was directed to do by a high ranking enlisted who has oversight for the calling center (No bunkers were touched).
enlarge 84KB, 480x640 92 Dwyer Calling Center Due to no cellular service in the area there is often a long line of soldiers and civilians waiting to use these phones.
enlarge 98KB, 640x480 93 Dwyer Calling Center prior to antenna being moved. This photo shows the generator being used, these large generators are failing too much because they should be run at 80 percent of full rated load. If run at 10 percent, as some of our calling centers are, the gens wet stack and fail. Leatherneck's generator has failed three times so far due to this problem.
enlarge 86KB, 640x480 94 Dwyer Dwyer Calling Center prior to antenna move, the base exchange is the tent on the right side of the photo, the barber shop is behind that tent to the right of the calling center.
enlarge 135KB, 640x525 95 Dwyer BUC Air-Gap Feed - 10 dB Loss Arrived Dwyer due to erratic problems with the site. Sometimes the carrier level would be several dB low, sometimes high. I found the BUC hanging on the antenna feed mount by only one screw. Apparently, when wet weather the waveguide flange would get water in it, when hot it would dry and the carrier levels increased. Once I fastened the BUC back to the feed the level increased by 10 dB which is a factor of 10 times more power output. It is amazing that the site stayed on the air (when dry, let alone wet) with this air gap at the feed flange. When put back together the output power had to be reduced by that 10 dB to meet contracted transmit power output levels.
Prior to leaving I replaced this LNB with a new unit with a N connector on it and also replaced the feed line with the new low loss LMR 400 coax Kevin Nelson ordered for Afghanistan.
enlarge 99KB, 640x480 96 Dwyer IS 706 TP 61 71 L-Band IF spectral view of Intelsat 706 (Now Intelsat 709 as of July 2010) down-linked transponder using a Avcom "spectrum analyzer".
The Avcom spectrum monitor has a built in 13 - 18 VDC power supply to power the LNB which makes finding the satellite much easier without having to put a in-line power pass splitter between the LNB and satellite modem to power it. The nice thing about the Avcom is it is light weight, it only covers L-Band but is a good instrument for finding the bird. Frequency accuracy isn't great and there are only two filter settings but for this use it's a good unit having a display which can be read in either dark or bright sunlight, although better at night.
enlarge 100KB, 640x480 97 ATT Camp Phoenix Antenna This photo and the next three sent to me by Thomas W.
enlarge 107KB, 640x480 98 ATT Camp Phoenix Calling Center and Antenna
enlarge 112KB, 640x480 99 Camp Phoenix AT&T Calling Center Antenna on top of Conex Containers These Conex containers must be removed and our antenna placed somewhere else or a smaller 1.8 meter diameter antenna used but these containers will be gone. Suggest building a wooden platform on top of the AAFES building for a smaller 1.8 meter antenna or placing the antenna somewhere else nearby, if available.
enlarge 133KB, 640x480 100 Camp Phoenix AAFES Building Rooftop This antenna is not AT&T's, this photo was taken to show the roof top and the requirement to build a platform if we put a 1.8 meter antenna on top of this roof. Question about the building in the middle background with the cement roof top; if it might be a place we can move our large 2.4 meter antenna or place a smaller one.
enlarge 122KB, 640x480 101 Camp Phoenix ATT Old Antenna Location This is a photo of the previous antenna location on top of some AAFES Conex shipping containers as viewed from the top of the new location it was being moved to. In the foreground two of the eight rebar loops in the cement slabs can be seen which I was able to use to tie the antenna down with using ratcheting cargo straps.
enlarge 94KB, 640x480 102 Camp Phoenix New Antenna Location Photo taken a few minutes after the crane placed the AT&T Calling Center antenna on top of the AAFES building at its new location so the Conex containers could be moved. This antenna was moved completely assembled along with its mounting structure without taking the RFT/SSPA, feed or reflector off. Look Ma, no bend! It wasn't easy to attach everything so we would not get a strap against the reflector and bend it, but we found a way (as per Kevin Nelson's report, in the past this antenna was moved completely assembled, so I followed suit this time too).
enlarge 114KB, 640x480 103 Camp Phoenix Calling Center July 2010
enlarge 96KB, 640x480 105 Camp Phoenix Antenna New antenna location at Camp Phoenix - July 2010.
enlarge 84KB, 480x640 106 Camp Phoenix Chigo Controller Due to the inability of Fluor to service the Samsung ECU at this location we replaced the unit with a new Chigo ECU. One problem though, unlike the Samsung's the Chigo's loose their settings each time there is a power interruption causing the room to quickly heat. In the summer this can cause our equipment to become too hot and fail. This is my solution to that problem, mount the controller in a box so it can't walk off and allow anyone to turn the cooling back on after power failures. Prior to, we had to lock the controller up in the equipment cabinet.
enlarge 102KB, 480x640 107 Chigo Controller Holder a AWOD: Anti Walk-Off Device.
enlarge 155KB, 640x480 108 Bagram 24 2.4M Antenna Move This photo shows one way to pick the 2.4 meter antenna frame and mount for transport. We removed the reflector, sub-reflector, feed and SSPA + LNC assembly from the antenna prior to moving. However, later learned this antenna can be moved completely assembled.
To see this display go to: Monitor, then "RX-Parameters". Here you can see that the far end is transmitting +7.2 KHz high in frequency (or the LNB is off freq.) but the receiver in the modem has followed it to correctly tune to the center of the carrier. The EbNo is 12.0 which is very good for TPC QPSK 128 KB 1/2 FEC. The buffer is 43 percent which is fine, 50 percent is more typical. The RX-Level is the level of the carrier you are receiving and very important and should not be below -55 dBm which is the lowest level ComTech will guarantee their performance specs. If your coax is too long or there is either a pointing error or some other antenna or connector related issue this can be too low. Although levels as low as -60 have been found to work it is better to have no lower than -55 dBm. If the far end is not transmitting you might see a RX-Level of something like -72 dBm. Also, if just setting up and not on the bird, the wrong receive freq. or s...
enlarge 60KB, 640x480 111 02282010383 Troubleshooting Hint: If the RX-Level is -80 or lower on the modem check to make sure power is being drawn by the LNB. This can be found under "Monitor" and then LNB. This photo shows 152 milliamps being drawn at 18.0 VDC. If no power is being drawn likely either power for it is not turned on (program it on) or there is a feed or connector problem with the coax. To check if the LNB is being powered by the modem you can always disconnect the coax feed line at the antenna and use a multimeter to see if the 18 VDC is present there.
enlarge 59KB, 640x480 112 02282010384 Troubleshooting Hint: If you have a good receive lock but the far end does not see your carrier and you are on the correct TX frequency and providing enough TX-IF power level but still have problems: Go to the "Monitor" menu and then navigate to "BUC" to check if it is drawing current, if not either the BUC power is not turned on (you need to do this through front panel programming) or the problem is likely a coax feedline or a connector problem. If the current draw is far below 1000 ma then it could be a bad BUC or if no current draw a broken BUC coaxial feed line.
For more ComTech modem manuals go to: http://www.comtechefdata.com/modemDocs.asp
enlarge 34KB, 494x640 114 CDM 600L VSAT Modem Configs.xls BAF East CDM-600L Satellite Modem Programming Settings. Frequencies scrubbed from doc. Settings provided by Richard Turner in GA.
If you have a new modem which needs programming be sure to go into the BUC and LNB section and set the mix frequencies used within those two units, i.e. 13050 for the BUC and 10000 for the LNB (if that is your LO) and then after doing so you can directly enter the TX and RX frequencies without needing to convert to L-Band. If you don't do this the TX and RX frequencies will only show for L-Band on the front panel and you will be unable to input the full Ku band frequencies. Note: This modem only puts out L-Band for the BUC and receives L-Band from the LNB, not Ku-Band but by entering this data the proper Ku-band frequencies will be displayed.
(scroll the page down for more manuals).
enlarge 809KB, 495x640 115 ComTech 600L Modem Front Panel Operation and Programming.pdf
enlarge 137KB, 495x640 116 ComTech 600L Modem Menu Tree.pdf
enlarge 551KB, 494x640 118 ComTech and Netrix Pinouts - Photographs and Pin Measurements.pdf I created this document to send to the manufacturer of the Netrix 2210 asking questions why there appears to be wiring between their equipment and the ComTech CDM-600L which should not exist.
Update: Later confirmed the redundancy control pins on the CDM600L P3B connector did pass through to the Netrix which was putting voltages on the pins which should not be there. Need to isolate these pins from passing through to the Netrix 2210. (Note, isolation adapter later inserted inline).
enlarge 345KB, 494x640 119 DOCMENU.PDF Netrix Network Management System Guide
enlarge 589KB, 494x640 121 2.4mDish.pdf Thanks for this manual Kevin!
enlarge 861KB, 494x640 122 1.8 channel master.pdf Paula found this digital version of the antenna manual for me, thanks!
enlarge 86KB, 640x566 123 Shank AT&T 128 KB FDMA Downlink If you have a spectrum analyzer I find having this information extremely helpful when trying to sight the dish on the proper bird during initial turn up of the calling centers. By emailing Intelsat and giving them the satellite circuit identification info such as the satellite and the transponder information along with spot beam (if applicable) and polarity as well as the actual circuit designator from Intelsat they can take a plot of the spectrum your carrier is at and email it back to you.
The spectrum analyzer settings used with this plot must be closely matched on your analyzer or you won't see the same picture.
If you cannot power the LNB through a splitter with a built in power pass to put in line with the receive coax cable coming from the LNB going to the satellite modem, or the LNB is powered through 18 VDC from the spectrum analyzer you won't see anything.
enlarge 296KB, 494x640 124 IS 906 42 72 Shank.pdf Intelsat provided plot of the spectrum on Intelsat 906 42/72 with a marker centered on the Shank down link or received carrier from FUS.
With this plot and a spectrum analyzer at the antenna along with the satellite modem there too you can quickly find the satellite and peak the dish for maximum signal level. Of course, the far end needs to have their carrier turned on towards us to see the green lock for receive on the modem, once on the correct satellite.
Nice L-Band Spectrum "Analyzer" which can power the LNB and make it easy to find the bird. Although I recommend having the satellite modem next to you too so you can view it locking green, once on the correct satellite.
The company which manufactures this unit calls it a analyzer, I don't, it does not have nearly enough functions or filters to be sold as a real spectrum analyzer but is a good spectrum monitor for the lower portion of L-Band we use.
enlarge 4.78MB, 494x640 126 Adtran 600 Series Manual.pdf Page 30 of this document shows the pin-out of the 50 pin Amp connector on the rear of the unit.
enlarge 32KB, 494x640 127 ADTRAN Programming.doc Settings for Calling Centers. From Kevin Nelson in Germany.
enlarge 15KB, 494x640 129 Adtran 624 PC Cable Pinout.pdf When using the craft port on the back of the Adtran to program the unit via a serial port you must use either a proprietary pinned RJ45 to DB9 adapter or make a cable with this pin-out to communicate with the unit via hyperterminal. A normal strait through DB9 serial adapter to RJ45 or blue Cisco DB9 serial to RJ45 cable will NOT work.
enlarge 28KB, 494x640 130 AT&T Site Check List Blank.doc Weekly calling center checks. Form sent to me from Ben in Iraq.
enlarge 31KB, 494x640 131 ATT Calling Center Setup.doc Email letter to Jason King at Camp Leatherneck explaining how to setup and program the equipment for the 2nd Calling Center at his location.
enlarge 100KB, 640x480 132 HRI Kabul Compound viewing towards the back Photo's of HRI's business compound where the AT&T Calling Centers for Afghanistan have been built.
enlarge 121KB, 640x480 133 HRI Kabul Compound As viewed from the back looking out towards their gate on the street.
enlarge 108KB, 640x480 134 HRI Kabul Comound 2
enlarge 122KB, 640x480 135 HRI Kabul Warehouse Outside
enlarge 99KB, 640x480 136 HRI Kabul Warehouse 3 Warning, do not befriend this dog if you don't want to be constantly followed while having your shoes chewed or jumped on by this extremely playful and friendly young dog the whole time.
Great Pics Chris. It's interesting to see the environment the 2210's are used in...and some of the challenges you have to overcome. Rgds Dirk - Dirk Snider, Fri, 18 Jun 2010 5:25AM
