In a previous AES Insights Blog post, 6 Steps for Performing a Quality Installation, we provided guidance to help you perform an installation that meets AES guidelines and best practices.  In today’s Blog, we’ll share some real world installation pitfalls that you must avoid. 

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Pete has been in the industry for 20 years and really knows how to get the job done. Well, at least in his opinion!  

AES recognizes that we all work in a fast paced, highly-competitive industry where even the slightest improvement in operations can have a significant impact on business.   In the pursuit of operational excellence, our customers are always looking for ways to enhance their skills, improve efficiency, and reduce overall costs.  Alarm monitoring businesses with installing organizations and Central Stations seek a competitive advantage to set them apart from the rest of the pack.  Designed to help our dealers sharpen their skills and gain that competitive edge, AES developed the AES Training Academy.

So, how can AES Academy help you?

The Purpose and Proper Use of the J4 Output

Today’s blog is not intended to be overly technical.  The intent is to raise awareness of the J4 output on subscriber units; it purpose and proper use.  J4 is the output connector for the Form C Fail Secure Antenna Cut / Acknowledge Delay Relay / Low Battery / Charger Fail located on the subscriber circuit board. The subscriber will engage this relay for normal operation. It will be disengaged for one or more of the following reasons:

• antenna cut
• communication troubles or Acknowledge Delays (Ack Delay)
• low battery
• charger fault
• Loss of power
  • Loss of AC, Beginning with Rev 2.64ZI of 7788F and 7744F, disabled by default
    • Note: AC failure does not report from J4, except on 7788F/7744F Rev 2.64Zi + if enabled
• A pushbutton, remote or watchdog reset which causes the routing table to be deleted, resulting in the Subscriber not being on the network

Testing Your Cable Installation, Antenna & Transceivers Performance

In our last AES Insights Blog post, we reviewed the importance of selecting proper coaxial cable and its installation.  In today’s Blog, we’ll briefly review just a few ways you can test your cable installation along with your antenna and transceivers performance.

There are several points of failure associated with Radio Frequency (RF) power performance.  During the course of terminating coaxial cable, it’s possible to damage one or more of the cable components (such as the conductor, dielectric, shielding, etc.).  This type of damage will degrade performance of the network.  Other performance impacting areas include tight cable bends, cables damaged by weather conditions, damage to antennas, and underpowered transceivers to name a few.

Selecting the Right Coaxial Cable

Performing a quality installation will ensure optimal performance of your AES-IntelliNet^® mesh radio network.  Selecting the right coaxial cable and properly installing it is the foundation to a quality installation.  Selection, however, can be challenging for those not familiar with the many types of coaxial cable and connectors currently on the market.  In this Blog post, we’ll help take some of the ‘guess-work’ out of the equation.

Coaxial cable is used as a transmission line for radio frequency signals. Its application includes connecting transceivers to their antennas.  One advantage of coaxial over other types of radio transmission line is the protection of the signal from external electromagnetic interference.  This allows coaxial cable runs (not the antennas!) to be installed next to metal objects such as gutters without the power losses that occur in other types of transmission lines.

There are a variety of coaxial cable types available today, each with a specific application.  Typically, coaxial cable has an identifier of RG (Radio Guide) followed by a number and, in some cases, the letter U (Universal).  Another coaxial cable identifier is LMR.  Cables with this identifier are low loss cables intended for longer distances.  Cable impedance (resistance of the cable) used in an AES network must be 50 Ohms, use of cable that does not have a 50 Ohm impedance will lead to adverse performance issues on the network.  AES requires the use of RG-58, RG-8 (Belden equivalent of 9913), or LMR-400 cable.

Cable distance is an important consideration when selecting coaxial cable.  The cable length will determine the type of cable that should be used.  The maximum distance for RG-58 cable is 25’ from the subscriber to the antenna, including the lightning protector. The maximum distance on RG-8 is 75’.  LMR-400 can be used up to 125’, you will need the specific terminations for that cable.

Proper cable terminations are vitally important to the performance of the network.  A bad crimp, loose connection, or damaged shielding will lead to signal loss, ground loops, signal degradation and much more.  To make installations easier, pre-terminated spools are available for purchase through AES in the following lengths: 10’, 15’, 20’ and 25’ (RG-58 is not in spools).  Spools of RG-8 with pre-terminated ends in lengths of 6’, 25’ and 50’ are available.  100’ spools of RG-8 with one end pre-terminated end are also available.

When terminating cable yourself, please keep the following items in mind: