LX

User Manual, Rev. R

 SeeGull® LX
High-Speed Scanning Receiver
User Manual

Single Receiver Dual Receiver

Protocols and Bands Protocols and Bands
Supported: Supported:

GSM 850MHz cdma2000 850 MHz Tri-Band GSM/WCDMA

GSM 900 MHz cdma2000 1900 MHz 900/1800/2100 MHz
GSM 1800 MHz cdma2000 450 MHz Dual-Band GSM/WCDMA
850/1900 MHz
GSM 1900 MHz cdma2000 Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz
Dual-Band WCDMA
GSM Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz cdma2000 Japan 850/2100 MHz 2100/1900 MHz
GSM Dual-Band 900/1800 MHz EV-DO 850 MHz WCDMA 2100 MHz PLUS
UMTS WCDMA 2100 MHz EV-DO 1900 MHz Dual-Mode cdma2000
UMTS WCDMA 1900 MHz EV-DO Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz EV-DO 850/1900 MHz
UMTS WCDMA 850 MHz EV-DO 450 MHz Dual-Mode cdma2000
UMTS WCDMA 1800 MHz EV-DO 450 MHz
UMTS WCDMA Dual-Band
850/1900 MHz

Document Number: 100004-00

Rev. R
RoHS Compliance for European Models

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

ii
 Table of Contents

Preface..................................................................................................................................................... iv
Purpose ............................................................................................................................................... iv
Applicability.......................................................................................................................................... iv
References ........................................................................................................................................... v
Trademarks .......................................................................................................................................... v
Notices and Warranty Information........................................................................................................ v
Restrictions.......................................................................................................................................... vi
1. Overview and System Requirements .................................................................................................. 7
General Description.............................................................................................................................. 7
Initial Inspection.................................................................................................................................... 8
Options ................................................................................................................................................. 8
System Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 11
Software Requirements...................................................................................................................... 12
2. Installation.......................................................................................................................................... 13
Integration........................................................................................................................................... 13
DBS Option Installation ...................................................................................................................... 14
3. Operation ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Calibration .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Software Upgrades............................................................................................................................. 15
Operation: Controlling the Scanner and Acquiring Data ................................................................... 15
cdma2000/EV-DO use of GPS........................................................................................................... 15
HoldOver Option Operation................................................................................................................ 15
4. DBS Operation.................................................................................................................................... 16
5. Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................. 19
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)................................................................................................... 22
7. Support .............................................................................................................................................. 29
Contact Information ............................................................................................................................ 29
Calibration Notice ............................................................................................................................... 29
Procedure for Returning a SeeGull® LX for Repair: ........................................................................... 30
8. PCTEL, RF Solutions Group’s Product Offering................................................................................ 31

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Preface

Preface ƒ cdma2000 Japan 850/2100

ƒ Tri-Band GSM/WCDMA 900/1800/2100
Purpose ƒ Dual Mode GSM/WCDMA 850/1900
This document is a user’s manual for the ƒ EV-DO 1900, 850 and 450
SeeGull® LX high-speed, demodulating ƒ EV-DO Dual-Band 850/1900
scanning receiver. It is available along with
ƒ Dual Mode cdma2000/EV-DO 850/1900
other documentation that describes
PCTEL’s other products and related ƒ Dual Mode cdma2000/EV-DO 450
applications.
The SeeGull® LX receivers have these
features:
Applicability
This manual covers PCTEL’s SeeGull® LX GSM
receivers. The SeeGull® and SeeGull® DX ƒ Fast Scanning Speed
receivers are described in other manuals. ƒ BCCH Decoding Option
For more information please contact your ƒ BSIC Decoding Option
sales or marketing representative (contact ƒ C/I (Co-Channel Interference)
information provided in section 7). Measurements
The SeeGull® LX receivers are used ƒ Spectrum Analyzer Scan
globally to optimize wireless network ƒ Distance Based Sampling Option
performance via drive test and ƒ RSSI Channel Scan
measurement, perform tower site surveys, ƒ RSSI Frequency Scan
provide base station monitoring, ƒ Concurrent Measurements
demodulate RF signals and analyze ƒ Built-in GPS Option
wireless market data.
WCDMA
The SeeGull® LX receiver is capable of
supporting multiple protocols and frequency ƒ Fast Scanning Speed
ranges as listed below. The differences ƒ Distance Based Sampling Option
between the various LX models concern the ƒ Time Slot Scan
operating frequency range, bandwidth, ƒ Pilot Scan
modulation type, and measurement ƒ PSCH & SSCH Scans
features. The SeeGull® LX receiver is a ƒ Top N Scan
software-defined receiver, providing our ƒ RSSI Channel Scan
customers with numerous advantages from ƒ RSSI Frequency Scan
the receivers’ flexibility and upgradeability. ƒ Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR)
Measurements
SeeGull® LX scanning receivers will ƒ Multiple Concurrent Frequency Scans
support the following Second and Third ƒ Spectrum Analyzer Scan
Generation (3G) protocols: ƒ Rake Finger
ƒ GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900
cdma2000
ƒ GSM Dual-Band, 850/1900
ƒ GSM Dual-Band, 900/1800 ƒ Fast Scanning Speed
ƒ Spectrum Analyzer Scan
ƒ UMTS WCDMA 2100, 1800 and 1900
ƒ Pilot Zoom Scan
ƒ UMTS WCDMA Dual-Band 850/1900 MHz ƒ Pilot Scan
ƒ UMTS WCDMA Dual-Band 2100/1900 ƒ PCH w/Pilot List Scan
MHz ƒ PCH w/Top N Scan
ƒ cdma2000 450, 1900 and 850 ƒ Pilot Detail Scan
ƒ cdma2000 Dual-Band 850/1900 ƒ Distance Based Sampling Option
ƒ RSSI Channel Scan

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Preface

®
ƒ RSSI Frequency Scan CLARIFY logo and the PCTEL logo are
ƒ Top N Pilot Scan trademarks of PCTEL, Inc. All other
ƒ Multi-Frequency PN Scans trademarks are property of their respective
ƒ HoldOver Option owners. Specifications are subject to
ƒ Synch Ch Timing Option change without notice.
ƒ Code Domain Option
ƒ Built-in GPS Notices and Warranty Information

EV-DO The information in this document is subject

ƒ Fast Scanning Speed to change without notice and should not be
ƒ Spectrum Analyzer Scan construed as commitment by PCTEL.
ƒ Pilot Zoom Scan PCTEL assumes no responsibility or makes
ƒ Pilot Scan no warranties for any errors that may
ƒ RSSI Channel Scan appear in this document and disclaims any
ƒ RSSI Frequency Scan implied warranty of merchantability or
ƒ Top N Pilot Scan fitness for a particular purpose.
ƒ Multi-Frequency PN Scans WARNING: These devices have no
ƒ HoldOver Option protection against lightning. Please turn off
ƒ Built-in GPS the receiver during a thunderstorm and, if
applicable, take the antenna inside the car
cdma2000 Japan before a thunderstorm approaches.
ƒ Fast Scanning Speed
ƒ Pilot Zoom Scan NOTICE: There are no user serviceable
ƒ Pilot Scan parts inside the receivers.
ƒ RSSI Channel Scan RoHS Compliance: Effective July 2006,
ƒ Top N Pilot Scan PCTEL SeeGull LX Scanners being
ƒ Multi-Frequency PN Scans delivered to participating European nations
ƒ HoldOver Option will be compliant to EU Directive
ƒ Synch Ch Timing Option 2002/95/EC (RoHS). This program applies
ƒ Built-in GPS to our SeeGull LX WCDMA 2100 and GSM
900/1800 units, including our multimode
configurations (Tri-Band) along with
References accessories (cables and antennas). Other
1. The SeeGull® LX Applications Programming SeeGull LX scanners will not be affected at
Interface (API) Specification; document number this time, including CDMA, EV-DO, WCDMA
120008-00M.
1800, and GSM 850/1900.
2. SeeGull® LX Enhanced Interface Control
Document (eICD); document number 121000- The RoHS scanners are designed to
01M.
preserve the functionality of the existing LX
3. SeeGull® LX Scanner DBS Application Note; scanners and to provide seamless
document number 121028-01M.
continuity for you in order to integrate them
4. PCTEL, RF Solutions Group’s Terms & Conditions into your drive test systems. The pertinent
of Sale
details are listed below:
For more information please visit
www.pctel.com, and click on the RF ƒ The product is essentially unchanged,
Solutions Group link. using the same product names and part
numbers and providing the same features
Trademarks and performance using the same interface
© 2005 PCTEL, Inc. All rights reserved. (eICD and API).
® ® ®
PCTEL, SeeGull , InSite , CLARIFY , the

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Preface

ƒ The product uses the same mechanical All Rights Reserved

package (dimensions, weight and
configuration) and connector location; only
the LEDs are moved.
ƒ The parts that are used are all RoHS
compliant, including the accessories, and
are essentially equivalent replacements.
ƒ There is a new version of software
(WCDMA/GSM Release 6.0) that supports
the new parts, and will only be used on
RoHS compliant products. All products
manufactured before this change will
continue to use 5.x software.
ƒ Applications that check the software
version numbers reported by the scanner
will need to accept the new version
numbers. No other application
development work is needed.
The RoHS product can be identified in 3
ways:
ƒ A RoHS indicator on the chassis
ƒ A query to the scanner will indicate a
RoHS version of hardware
ƒ The scanner will be using WCDMA/GSM
Release 6.0 or later.
Copyright 1997-2006 by
PCTEL, Inc.
RF Solutions Group
20410 Observation Drive
Germantown, MD 20876 USA
Phone: +1 (301) 515-0036
Fax: +1 (301) 515-0037
Restrictions
This document contains proprietary
information that is protected by copyright; it
is intended for internal use only, it is not to
be disclosed to a third party. All rights
reserved. No part of this document may be
photocopied or reproduced in any way
without the prior written permission of
PCTEL, Inc. The information contained in
this document is subject to change without
notice. PCTEL, Inc. makes no warranty of
any kind with regards to this document.
PCTEL, Inc. shall not be liable for errors or
omissions contained herein or for incidental
or consequential damages in connection
with the use of this document.

Single scanners that are upgraded to dual

mode or tri-band configurations will have
special treatment:
ƒ If the scanner is RoHS compliant, it will be
upgraded using all RoHS material,
resulting in a RoHS compliant product.
ƒ In accordance with the RoHS directive, if
the scanner is not RoHS compliant, it may
be upgraded using all RoHS material or all
non-RoHS material.

Copyright Information

No part of this document may be used or

copied in any form or any means without
prior written consent of PCTEL.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

vi
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

1. Overview and System The DSP processor controls the RF front

Requirements
This section describes the SeeGull® LX
receiver, including the applicable system
configuration and software requirements.
General Description
The SeeGull® LX (Figure 1-1) is a dual-
conversion super-heterodyne receiver that
includes a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)
for signal detection, demodulation, and data
acquisition. It uses a control processor for
control functions messaging. It was
designed for the planning, installation, and
maintenance of wireless networks. It is a
test tool for signal strength and modulation
measurement, engineered for the rigors of
the mobile test equipment
market.
Figure 1-1: SeeGull® LX Receiver with GPS
end, including tuning to the desired
channels, and acquires two channels of
baseband data. Depending on the protocol
and the type of measurement, the SeeGull®
LX receiver can provide the user with critical
measurements for managing the quality of
the network. See Figure 1-2 for details.
The raw data is further processed in the
DSP processor to yield the averaged RSSI
(Received Signal Strength) data and the
base station identifier, statistics of the
signal, and other RF measurements. The
unit can also be customized to do various
levels of protocol analysis.
The serial communication link allows the
host (IBM PC or a proprietary computer with
a USB or an RS-232 interface) to control the
operation of the scanner and to receive the
measurement results. The RS-232
interface comes standard with 115.2k Baud
speed, but can also be factory configured
for 38.4k Baud. (Refer to section 3 for more
details). If the host is an IBM PC or another
Windows computer, the Applications
Programming Interface (API), available from
PCTEL, makes writing the host software
easy. An optional description known as the
Interface Control Document (ICD) of the
low-level serial protocol development is also
available for non-PC applications. For
copies of the API and/or the ICD, please
contact your PCTEL sales or marketing
representative.

RF GPS
Control Antenna Antenna
+12 VDC

RS-485 Internal
GPS
RS-232
Control Digital RF
Processor DSP Downconverter Front End
Data & Data &
Address Address
Busses Busses
DB9

DC/DC
Converter
Figure 1-2: Top-Level Block Diagram

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

7

Note that the Tri-Band and Dual-Band units
provide a USB interface that is supported by
Windows PC platforms.
Initial Inspection
Inspect the shipping container and verify
that the contents are complete and match
the packing list. The single receiver should
look similar to the picture in Figure 1-3. If
the contents are incomplete or the SeeGull®
LX appears damaged, please call the
Technical Support line at 866-384-7877.
GPS Antenna
Input
RF Antenna
Input
Power On
LED
Figure 1-3. Front View of SeeGull® LX
Receiver Showing Connections
Options
There are a number of options available for
the LX scanners. These are described here.
Refer to Section 6 for a complete list of
options available for the SeeGull® LX
product line with their part number. Please
contact your PCTEL sales or marketing
representative for pricing and delivery
information
HoldOver option for cdma2000/EV-DO
The HoldOver for cdma2000 and EV-DO
scanners enables users to collect
measurements even when a GPS signal is
not present. Examples include indoor
applications, driving through tunnels or in
urban areas where maintaining GPS (which
is used by the scanner for both location
and CDMA timing) is difficult.
Distance Based Sampling Option
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation
The Distance Based Sampling (DBS) option
(part number OP029) is available for the
SeeGull® LX scanning receiver. This
enables a scanner to support a DBS
application, and is available for all models of
the LX scanner. The scanner will then be
able to receive pulses over an RS-422
interface to control when measurements are
taken. For information required to interface
a DBS sensor to an LX scanner, refer to the
SeeGull® LX Enhanced Interface Control
Document (eICD). This describes the
required hardware interface and the
software techniques to control the scanner
for DBS applications.
Distance Based Sampling Kit
The Distance Based Sampling (DBS) Kit
(part number OP028) is available for the
SeeGull® LX scanning receiver. See Figure
RS-232 1-4 for details. It provides both model tuning
Data/Powe and optimization capability in one tool.
r
Connector
Information on the DBS applications is
provided in Section 4.
Traditionally, two separate tools were
needed for these functionalities. The DBS
option is a cost-effective and user-friendly
approach to distance based sampling. For
more information, please contact your sales
or marketing representative.
Mount Magnetically or
Mechanically to Vehicle...
Figure 1-4. Distance Based Sampling Option
The Distance Based Sampling option
includes a kit containing the following:
Rev. R
8
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation
ƒ Sensor
ƒ DBS Interface Cable
ƒ Magnetic Mount
GSM BCCH Decoding Option
This option, available on the GSM LX
scanners, provides decoding of the BCCH
(Broadcast Control Channel) type 3
messages. These messages contain the
Cell Identity and Local Area Identification
information broadcast by the network
infrastructure. This information includes
the:
• MCC (Mobile Country Code),
• MNC (Mobile Network Code), and
• LAC (Location Area Code).
These messages also contain significant
information on the configuration, activity and
performance of the network. This includes
information concerning:
• Neighbor list
• Mobility management (handovers,
etc.)
• Group and broadcast call control
• GPRS mobility management,
transparent transport and session
management
• Radio resource management
• SMS messages
• Location services
The SeeGull® LX receiver supports
numerous BCCH frequency channels.
GSM BSIC Decoding
This feature is included with the GSM LX
scanners. The BSIC (Base Station
Identification Code) is decoded in the
receiver and can be used for identifying the
transmitting base station. The SeeGull® LX
platform has the best performance yet
regarding the detection sensitivity of the
transmitting base stations.
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
9
GSM C/I Option
This option is available with the GSM LX
scanners and it provides co-channel
interference (C/I) measurements as well as
decoding of BSIC (Base Station
Identification Code).
CDMA2000 Code Domain Option
This option is available on the CDMA2000
LX scanners. For each RF channel, Code
Domain Scan allows the determination of
where the signal energy is into the code-
separated channels. The Ec/Io is reported
for each Code Channel in a list user, using
integer values from 0 to 127.
CDMA2000 Sync Channel Timing Option
This option is available on the CDMA2000
LX scanners, including CDMA Japan.
Timing can be acquired using Chip Timing
Synchronization. The timing can be
acquired in 3 ways as selected by the user:
GPS only, Sync Channel or GPS Priority.
This is available for Pilot, Pilot Detail, Pilot
Zoom, Top N, Code Domain, PCH w/Pilot
list and PCH w/Top N measurements.
CDMA2000 Layer 3 Message Decoding
Option
This option is available on the CDMA2000
LX scanners. It provides Layer 3 Message
Decoding of Sync Channel Message and
Primary Paging Channel, including:
• System Parameters Message
• Extended System Parameters
Message
• Neighbor List Message
• Extended Neighbor List Message
• CDMA Channel List Message
• Extended CDMA Channel List
Message
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

Built-In Spectrum Analyzer

The built-in spectrum analysis feature

provides an effective means to detect and
troubleshoot frequency related problems.
The scanner measures and reports power
spectral density using frequency domain
techniques. Frequency span in the RF
Band, resolution bandwidth (5, 10, 20, 40,
and 80 kHz), and sweep averaging (1, 2, 4,
8, and 16) are adjustable.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

warranty. See Figure 1-6 for the location of

System Requirements the power and ground pins on the RS-232
Typical System power/connector for the single LX scanner.
Depending on a user’s requirements,
various hardware and software components Pin 2 Pin 3
Pin 5
may be used in the scanning system along Pin 6
Pin 2: XMIT
Pin 3: RCV
with the SeeGull® LX scanner. However, in Pin 5: GND
Pin 6: +12 VDC
most cases, a typical configuration will
include a host IBM or compatible PC
connected to the scanner via a serial cable
and running the user’s application software.
This configuration is illustrated in Figure 1-5.

Figure 1-6. RS-232 Power/Connector Cable

PC

Com Port

12 VDC

Figure 1-5. Typical SeeGull LX System RF GPS

Antenna Antenna

OP 021 or OP 022
Antenna Requirements Power/Data Cable
Use a 50 Ohm impedance antenna with an
SMA male connector at the end of the
cable. Refer to PCTEL’s product offering DB9 SMA SMB
matrix in section 6 for part number
information. SeeGull® LX
Receiver
Power Source Requirements
Use one of the following voltage levels:
• +12 VDC @ 2.4 A (Tri-Band & Dual Figure 1-7. Typical System Configuration Block Diagram
Receiver)
• +12 VDC @ 1.0 A all others

Use a car battery, a 12-volt battery, or an

AC/DC adapter. It is imperative that the
power source be capable of supplying the
receiver with the voltage and current levels
as above. It is HIGHLY recommended that
the power supply not exceed the working
range of the receivers. Applying excessive
voltage to the receiver will void the unit’s

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

PC Requirements Documents, eICDs) can be furnished with

the scanner. This allows the user to write
Software Requirements the communication drivers necessary to
operate their system.
Option 1:
Windows Based Control

If the user is planning to develop proprietary

software to control the SeeGull® LX receiver
using the Windows OS, PCTEL can provide
your software developers with the LX
Applications Programmers Interface (API) or
Enhanced Interface Control Document
(eICD) to communicate with the scanner.

Option 2:

If the user does not want to develop

software, PCTEL’s InSite® LX, a data
collection software package, can be
purchased. InSite® LX (Figure 1-8) allows
for control of PCTEL’s receivers and data
acquisition. Contact your PCTEL sales
representative for more information.

Figure 1-8. Display from InSite™ LX Software Package

(Option)

Other System Configurations

In some cases, users connect the SeeGull®
LX scanner to computers other than IBM-
compatible PCs. In these cases, optional
low-level serial communication protocol
information (Enhanced Interface Control

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

2. Installation
The following steps explain how to connect
This section describes how to set up the the unit to the host PC and power source
SeeGull® LX receiver. and to begin collecting data.

1. Connect the antenna to the antenna SMA

Integration connector on the unit (if purchased from
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group, the RF
There are eight (8) mounting holes (6-32 Connector color will match the antenna’s
screw) on the chassis of the unit that are colored sleeve, if present; newer
used for mounting in the user’s antennas do not have sleeves.)
enclosure/rack. See Figure 2-1 for details. See Figure 2-2.

When installing the unit in a system

enclosure, rack, or case, there should be
good dissipation of heat in order to prevent
the unit from overheating. Unobstructed
convection airflow is recommended. The
use of carefully designed, thin-walled
pouches for carrying the unit is allowed, but
thorough testing of the temperature regime
is highly recommended.
(Note: Make Sure that Antenna
SMA Connector
Color Code, If Present, Matches
from Antenna
Receiver Color Code

Figure 2-2. Attaching the Antenna to Receiver

Rear of Receiver

2. Connect the GPS antenna (or input) to

the SMB connector. See Figure 2-3.
Side of Receiver
(Typical Both Sides)
SMB Connector from
GPS Antenna

RF Input Power Data

Mounting Holes Mounting Holes

(8 Total) (8 Total)
Front of Receiver

Figure 2-1. Mounting Holes for Rack Mounting

Note:

Maximum Depth of Screw

Insertion from Chassis Exterior Figure 2-3. Attaching the GPS Antenna to Receiver
0.110 inches (0.28 cm)

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

Note the colored band around the

RF connector. This denotes the RF
frequency range and PCTEL, RF
Solutions Group’s antennas have Scanner Power Connector
matching colored bands. PURPLE (RS-232)

denotes the 2100 MHz band and

YELLOW denotes the Dual-Bands
from 806-1990 MHz.

Not pictured is the Tri-Band

GSM/WCDMA unit or the Dual-Mode
cdma2000/EV-DO unit. These units
PC Serial Port
have two RF connectors. RF1 is for
WCDMA or EV-DO, coded PURPLE
and RF2 is for GSM of cdma2000,
coded YELLOW. Lighter Adapter, Connects
to Car Cigarette Lighter

3. Connect the scanner to a PC serial

port and to the car cigarette lighter Start Up (Orange)

adapter using the optional Normal Operation (Green)

power/data cable (OP021), as
illustrated in Figure 2-4. After the System Failed (Red)

power is applied, the LED on the

receiver illuminates in orange. After
a short delay, the light turns green. Figure 2-4. Connection of Scanner to PC, Power Supply
and Startup
If the light turns dark red, the unit
has failed the power-up test. Please
contact Customer Support.

4. Note the Tri-Band GSM/WCDMA
and the Dual-Mode cdma2000/EV-
DO units interface to a PC using a
USB interface. Two virtual COM
ports will be available to the
application software and functionality
is the same as that with RS232.
See USB Driver Installation
Instructions for more information.
(document #100029-00)
5. Install and start the PC program. If you
are using InSite® LX, refer to the InSite®
LX manual for specific instructions.
6. The system is ready for use.
DBS Option Installation
To install the Distance Based Sampling
option, plug the cable provided into the
sensor. For mounting and placement of
the sensor, refer to the installation
instructions (Document 130019-00M)
provided in the DBS kit.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation
3. Operation
This section discusses calibration, software
upgrades, and integrating the SeeGull® LX
receiver into the user’s test system.
Calibration
SeeGull® LX receivers are calibrated at the
factory. The calibration data is stored in the
internal non-volatile memory for each 1 dB
step for the whole input signal dynamic
range. Recalibration is recommended every
year in order to maintain the specified
accuracy levels. Please refer to the
Calibration Notice in section 5 for more
information. Re-calibration is available as
an optional service from PCTEL, RF
Solutions Group.
Note:
Recalibration is Recommended
Every Year
Software Upgrades
SeeGull® LX scanner stores the application
program in internal non-volatile memory,
and accordingly, is capable of being
upgraded via software. Upgrades may be
needed to incorporate new features or bug
fixes. Please note that some upgrades can
only be performed at PCTEL’s factory.
Operation: Controlling the Scanner and
Acquiring Data
A unit is controlled, and the measurement
data is received via the RS-232
communication link running at 115.2k Baud
(factory standard) or 38.4k Baud (please
request at time of order). For instructions
on how to change the baud rate, please
refer to the eICD, or the API. Depending on
the PC software used to work with the unit,
the following is applicable:
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
15
If the user incorporates the scanner into
their test system running Windows 2000,
use the Application Programming Interface
(API) described in References, Item 1
(Preface Section).
In case the user has a system that runs an
operating system other than Windows, use
the description of the serial interface and
messages. See References, Item 2
(Preface Section).
cdma2000/EV-DO use of GPS
During collection, the cdma2000 and EV-
DO scanners utilize a GPS signal to provide
accurate timing for measurements of Pilot
Delay, Delay Spread, Pilot Number,
Aggregate and Peak Ec/Io. If the GPS
signal is lost, inaccuracies in these
measurements may occur within minutes,
unless the HoldOver option is used.
HoldOver Option Operation
When a GPS signal is present, the
CDMA 2000 and EV-DO scanners use the
GPS data for timing information to decode
the CDMA Signals. With the HoldOver
option, the CDMA2000 and EV-DO
scanners will continue accurate decoding of
pilots for a period of 2 -4 hours in the
absence of any GPS signal. To get the best
performance of the HoldOver option during
indoor measurements, we recommend that
the GPS be locked for at least 45 minutes
before using the scanner in an unlocked /
holdover mode (with power maintained).
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

4. DBS Operation the distance to take another measurement,

using guidelines like those listed above. (Of
If you are developing proprietary software to course, other application can be used to
control the SeeGull® LX receiver, please interface with the scanners and provide
refer to the LX Applications Programmers these capabilities.)
Interface (API) or Enhanced Interface
Control Document (eICD) for how to control Scanner measurement speed: Each
and use the Distance Based Sampling technology in the LX scanner has a
option. maximum scanning speed (the ability to
reliably perform a maximum number of
measurements per second) for making
Background RSSI CW (continuous wave)
Typical application requirements: DBS is measurements:
used primarily for enforcing rules about the WCDMA: 600 per second
distance spacing between measurements. GSM: 150 per second
One primary motivator of this type of
measuring is the “Lee criteria”. This states These speeds are achieved regardless of
that the appropriate distance for measuring the number of channels selected for
a signal is taking 50 measurements within a measurement. When the scanner is
distance that is 40 times the frequencies configured to exceed these speeds, error
wave length. messages are reported and the resulting
measurement speed is degraded.
Within the cellular technologies, the
common bands are listed here, with the This indicates the limits on which selections
corresponding parameters. The number of should be made for scanning. Final
required measurements per second for one, scanning speed is based on 4 parameters:
two and four channels is given if driving is 1. Technology of the scanner
assumed to occur at 100km/h (app. 62 2. The band to be measured
mph); other sampling rates can be 3. The distance selected for making
determined for slower speeds. measurements
4. The speed that the scanner is
40λ/50
Meas./sec Meas./sec Meas./sec moving when taking measurements
Band @100km/h @100km/h @100km/h
(cm)
1 channel 2 chans. 4 chans.
2100 11 252 504 1008 The maximum channels that can be
1900 12 231 462 924 configured using the Lee Criteria above are
1800 13 213 426 852 at 100km/h and 50km/h are given in this
900 26 107 214 428
850 27 103 206 412 table:
450 52 54 108 216
40λ/50
Band Meas./sec WCDMA GSM
(cm)
DBS in LX Scanners: The scanners are 2100 11 252 / 126 2/4 0/1
designed to provide the means to take RSSI 1900 12 231 / 115 2/5 0/1
measurements based on distance. Using 1800 13 213 / 106 2/5 0/1
900 26 107 / 53 5 / 11 1/2
external sensors that provide pulses based 850 27 103 / 51 5 / 11 1/2
on distance (via an RS-485 interface), the 450 52 54 / 27 11 / 23 2/5
scanners can be configured to make *100km/h / 50km/h
measurements for the channels on the scan
list once for time a certain number of pulses LX reporting of measurements: One
occur. The InSite application provides the characteristic of PCTEL’s LX scanners is
means to “calibrate” the sensor, which using stacked mode to achieve these
determines the correct numbers of pulses scanning speeds, and works as follows:
per meter. It then allows the user to define

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

16
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Operation

• The scans are performed requested,

but results are grouped in a large
group (up to 255)
• These results are reported from the
scanner on 1 second boundaries
• If less than 255 results are produced
in a second, one message is
reported with the measurements
done; if more are produces a set of
messages are reported
• The messages with contain a count
of results that are a multiple of the
number of channels (ex. If 10
channels are requested, there will be
up to 250 results in each message)
The result is that the scanners ability to
report messages does not limit the
measurement speed.

When compared to the table above, when

the scanner is configured for one channel,
in most cases, each 1 second report will
contain less that 255 measurements. But,
for 2100MHz and 4 channels, each
message in a report 150 per second will old
252, so it would provide 4 messages in
each report per second with 252
measurements in each message.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

17
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting

5. Troubleshooting
Positive Connection
Pressure Clips
This section describes a few suggestions for
several common problems that might occur.
These suggestions are user serviceable.

No Power: Receiver LED’s Not

Illuminated
Should there be no power displayed on the
Power LED located on the face of the
receiver, please check the connection first,
then the fuse, which is located in the
cigarette lighter end of the power cord.
Note:
Check The Fuse in the Cigarette
Lighter Plug First!
The fuse can be “blown” by a surge in the
portable or mobile battery system. A
temporarily shorted wire can also cause
other problems.
Fuse Holding Nut
(Turn Counter-Clockwise to Open)
®
Figure 5-1: SeeGull LX Power Plug
Replace the fuse with an identical 3-amp
fuse. ONLY USE a 3-amp! Any other fuse
value may cause severe problems with the
unit and void the warranty. Insert the new
fuse in the housing and re-assemble the
plug by turning the knurled finger nut in a
clockwise direction. Tighten this nut as tight
as you can with your fingers.
Note:
Do Not Use Tools to Tighten

If the fuse is not operating normally, it will

Received Signal Strength Appears Low
open up, thereby disconnecting the input
power from the SeeGull® LX Receiver. The
If the received signal strength appears to be
fuse is the first line of defense should any
lower than expected, it is likely that (1) an
short, large spike, or other problems occur
incorrect antenna is being used, (2) an
within the power wiring circuitry. When the antenna is not properly connected or (3) the
fuse “blows”, there will be no power to the antenna or antenna cable is damaged.
receiver.
Check the antenna to be used with each
receiver to be sure that the correct
Changing the Fuse in the Power Plug frequency antenna is being used or that one
is even connected.
If it is necessary to change the fuse in the
power plug, remove the cigarette lighter
Note:
plug end from the power source. See
Figure 5-1 for an illustration of the power
Antennas Sold by PCTEL, RF Solutions
plug.
Group Look Very Similar and Can only be
Identified by the Supplied Color Antenna
Loosen the fuse-holding finger nut by
Sleeve
turning it counter-clockwise until the plug
comes apart. The fuse is inside the power
plug housing and can be removed.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

19
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting

PCTEL recently released (August 2006) two
new antennas that have new bases with a
better cable (extended temperature range)
and a frequency range wide enough to
cover all of our scanners (except the 450
MHz scanners).
The first, OP078, replaced the OP042 and
OP039; this supports all of the 800, 900,
1800, 1900 and 2100 band scanners.
antennas will continue to have a colored
sleeve). Figure 5-4 shows a chart for
PCTEL’s color-coding.
Verify that all the necessary antennas are
included in the shipment and that each is
marked. Each antenna comes in a bag that
is labeled with a sleeve that identifies the
frequency band with which it is to be used
(see Figure 5-2 and 5-3). This information
must not be lost or mixed up. Antennas
cannot be identified by length, shape, or
other physical characteristics except the
presence or absences of the colored cable
sleeve.

Note:

Some Receivers Require Multiple Antennas.

cdma2000 and EV-DO Receivers Require
Two Antennas (RF & GPS) for Proper
Operation.
Figure 5-2: OP78

The second, OP079, will replace OP065;

has a built in GPS base and supports all of
the 800, 900, 1800, and 1900 band
scanners

Figure 5-3: OP79

Until these antennas were released, all

PCTEL antennas had a colored cable
sleeve to identify the band that is supported.
The new antennas will not have a colored
cable sleeve to indicate that they work for all
bands but the 450 MHz band (those

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

20
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting

SeeGull™ LX Receiver RX Band Part Color Code

Model (Frequencies in MHz) Number System

GSM 850 869 – 894 OP042 YELLOW

GSM 900 925 – 959 OP042 YELLOW

GSM 1800 1805 – 1880 OP042 YELLOW

GSM 1900 1930 – 1990 OP042 YELLOW

GSM Dual-Band 850/1900 869-894/1930-1990 OP042 YELLOW

GSM Dual-Band 900/1800 925-959/1805-1880 OP042 YELLOW

cdma2000 - 800 869– 894 OP042 YELLOW

cdma2000 - 1900 1930 - 1990 OP042 YELLOW

cdma2000 Dual-Band 800/1900 869-894/1930-1990 OP042 YELLOW

UMTS WCDMA - 1900 1930 – 1990 OP042 YELLOW

UMTS WCDMA - 2100 2110 – 2170 OP039 PURPLE

UMTS WCDMA Dual-Band 850/1900 869-894/1930-1990 OP042 YELLOW
Tri-Band GSM/WCDMA 900/1800/2100 OP042/OP039 YELLOW
Dual-Mode GSM/WCDMA 850/1900 OP042 YELLOW
EV-DO - 800 869– 894 OP042 YELLOW
EV-DO - 1900 1930 - 1990 OP042 YELLOW
EV-DO Dual-Band 800/1900 869-894/1930-1990 OP042 YELLOW
Dual-Mode cdma2000/EV-DO 850/1900 OP042 YELLOW
cdma2000 450 450 OP123 RED
EV-DO 450 450 OP123 RED
cdma2000 Japan 860-875/2110- 2170 OP078 none

®
Figure 5-4: SeeGull LX Antenna Color Coding Matrix

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

21
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting
6. Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
PCTEL’s website provides an up-to-date list
of Frequency Asked Questions (FAQ). To
see this list go to www.pctel.com, click on
the RG Solutions Group link, then Support,
then FAQ. At the time of release of this
manual the following FAQ questions were
available:
® before one pilot is detected and
SeeGull LX FAQ
What scans can work for WCDMA in
Q DBS mode?
WCDMA with DBS only works in the RSSI
CW and RSSI Wide mode (there is no
supported 30KHz mode like GSM) and no
A inside immediately after
other types of scans (data modes) can be
active
Is there any recommendation on using
Q CDMA indoors without GPS and without
the Network Timing option?
The difference between any two
consecutive (or not consecutive) pilots is
time respective to the system reference.
Time is defined in chips. Due to
propagation delays, far away from a cell
(>10 miles) it is possible that the delay is
long enough (chips) for any pilot to be
detected as the next one. This is the way
CDMA networks are.
• When using the holdover option,
the scanner will deviate by one chip
every so often due to timing errors.
This is in addition to the chips of delay
A A
that are due to natural delays and
change over time can contribute to the
same result. A given pilot is detected
as the next one after some time. This
does not represent a problem on its
own if the customer is aware and
simply interprets the results
accordingly. Additionally, the customer
can go outside at any point during the
test and allow the scanner to obtain a
new timing reference.
• 87 minutes is the worst case for
pilot to move to the next pilot if the
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
22
base station for this pilot is in proximity
to the indoor measurement area. If the
pilot is coming from further away it can
be less than 87 minutes based on the
propagation delay from the measured
based station to the indoor area that is
surveyed. This problem is typically
worked around in the field by selecting
all the pilots (TopN) or every n and n+1
pilot at the expense of the slower
measurement rate.
• The time that will elapse
the next one will depend on
room temperature and how
much time the scanner is
allowed to obtain GPS
reference prior to going indoors.
In the worst of cases -one goes
acquiring GPS- the pilot will be
detected as the next one after
about 80 minutes. Typically, it
will be better especially if the
scanner is allowed to acquire
GPS for a longer time before
going inside a building.
What are the differences between
Q CDMA 850 and CDMA2000 850?
CDMA 850:
* is based on the DX platform
* can perform one function at a time (e.g.
RSSI CW or Pilot Scan)
* can handle one frequency
CDMA 2000 850:
* is based on the LX platform
* can perform multiple functions
simultaneously (e.g. RSSI CW and Pilot
Scan and Spectrum Analyzer etc.)
* can handle multiple frequencies
simultaneously
* has spectrum analyzer capability
(release 2.0 in April '03, other release 2.0
features are Pilot zoom (Temporal
Analyzer), DBS (Distance Based
Sampling) with RSSI Frequency Scan)
* has code domain (option)
For CDMA 850 (869~894MH), do you
measure chip offset of specified pilot in
Q good resolution (eq, 1/16 chip or 1/8
chip resolution)?
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting
The CDMA 2000 scanner provides a Pilot
zoom (Temporal Analyzer) scan which
measures the power per chip in a specific
A
pilot. Pilot Scan and Top N Pilot Scan Pilot
Delay data mode reports PN offset in
chips.
For CDMA 850 (869~894MH) do you
Q measure Ec/Io of specified pilot ?
A This is a standard feature of the Pilot scan.
For CDMA 850 (869~894MH), do you
Q measure RSSI?
CDMA 850 measures RSSI CW (30kHz
bandwidth) only. The CDMA 2000 scanner
can measure channel power using RSSI
scan CW or Wide channel with 30 kHz and
A 1.25 MHz BW respectively. In addition to
this Io-total 1.25MHz channel power is
measured and reported in Top N Pilot,
Pilot, Code Domain, Pilot Zoom and Pilot
Detail scans.
For CDMA, is it possible to measure
burst pilot [ for case of 0.5sec ON,
Q
1.5sec OFF ]?
The current product measures according to
the CDMA 2000 (IS-2000) standard. If the
A pilot is punctured, it is not known how
measurement accuracy or ability will be
affected.
What happens to timing when GPS
Q becomes unlocked for CDMA 2000?
The drift at room temperature:
typical .033 chip/sec = 2 chips/minute ~ 32
minutes per PN
worst case .11 chip/sec = 6.6 chips/minute
A ~10 minutes per PN
NOTE: The aging spec for the oscillator on
the LX clock card is 500 ppb/year. This
only determines system accuracy if no
GPS frequency reference is available.
What are the new values for CDMA 2000
Q Ec/Io thresholds for release 2.0?
512 taps = -16dBm, 1024 taps = -19dBm,
A The RSSI measurement in this case will
2048 taps = -22dBm
For CDMA, is it possible to lock without
GPS module using external even
Q appropriate resolution bandwidth, will show
second
signal?
There is not a way to feed an external
A
signal for timing into the radio. If
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
23
measurement without GPS is necessary,
the normal scanner will “hold over” for a
period of time until GPS can be
established. PCTEL also has a holdover
product which can provide accurate results
for hours of operation once GPS is lost
(assuming GPS lock is first acquired).
Release 3.0 of the CDMA 2000 scanner
will provide a GPS priority mode which will
use GPS for timing when possible and if
not it will use the strongest pilot’s sync
channel to determine timing.
What would be the effects of Aggregate
Q when using the scanner indoors?
Using the Scanner Aggregate Ec/Io
measurement indoors has same effect as
using this measurement outdoors.
A
Aggregate Ec/Io value reflects a specific
multi path environment experienced
indoors or outdoors.
How is the Aggregate Ec/Io parameter
Q reported by the pilot scan calculated?
Aggregate Ec/Io is calculated in +/- 25
chips window from the Peak Ec/Io by
A
aggregating all the Ec/Io components that
cross user supplied PN Threshold.
What is the difference between the
"RSSI scan" and "Spectrum Analyzer"
Q
mode in the SeeGull® LX WCDMA
Scanner?
The differences lie in the corresponding
objectives and ways of implementation of
the two modes. "RSSI scan" modus, on
one hand, is used for obtaining average
power in one of the two signal bandwidths
of the scanner. Accordingly, measures are
taken to ensure high accuracy and stability
of the results.
The Spectrum Analysis is intended to
provide a tool that shows a wealth of
information about the signal spectrum that
A
is not obtainable from the channel power
measurement. Using Spectrum Analysis,
one can analyze a fast-changing spectrum
of an unstable transmitter, as an example.
most often show a normal smooth picture,
but the spectrum display, if used with an
an erratic behavior due to the fast update
rate and lack of averaging.
In terms of implementation, the RSSI
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting
measurement uses analog and digital
filters to select the right frequency band
and subsequently measure total power.
The SA measurement uses a segmented
FFT approach that ensures various
resolution bandwidths and fast update
rates.
Is the built-in GPS receiver needed for
Q The notion of a "discernable" signal, on the
WCDMA?
No. As is indicated in the product
documentation, the scanner will work in
areas without GPS coverage, continuously.
However, with the coverage, the scanner
provides an absolute time-offset
measurement as well as navigation data
for mapping.
A a signal "discernable" in the case when we
In order to avoid any possible confusion,
let us emphasize that the GPS receiver is
always included in the scanner, whether or
not it is being used by the customer. The
only exception are the GSM models that
can be purchased without navigation,
which have no GPS device included.
Are the sec. sync for WCDMA also
Q
detected and measured in top N mode?
A Yes
Are the WCDMA PSCH measurements
averaged over certain timeslots? How
Q dBm our radio will introduce attenuation to
many ? Can that be defined by the
user?
The PSCH measurement is always
performed over 16 time slots. This is not
A able to measure WCDMA signals up to -20
configurable by the user.
Are the secondary sync channels also
Q detected and measured in top N mode
for WCDMA?
A Yes.
For the PSCH detection you are
distinguishing between "detectable"
Q to post-process data, averaging in
and "discernable". What is the
difference?
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
24
The difference is as follows. The
"detectable" signal is a signal that is
positively found virtually every scan. The
definition also implies the intrinsic step of
(nonlinear) detection (decision, as in Top-
N). In practice, the criterion we use is 95%
probability of detection.
other hand, is more "analogue" in nature. It
hails from the era of CRT-based radars,
where the phosphorescence of the screen
served as the video integrator. The
A decision was made by the eye of the
operator. So, averaging is inherent in this
definition, as well as a relatively subjective
nature of the decision. In our case, we call
can "see" the presence of the signal over
noise after averaging a few scans. No
threshold is being applied to the
measurement before averaging, which
makes this parameter suitable in the case
of "Pilot Scan" (as opposed to Top-N). In
practice, the number of traces is 10, and
the necessary SNR after averaging is set
to 0.5 dB (that
Why does the noise pedestal increase
Q
around strong carriers for WCDMA?
For WCDMA signals above around -35
protect itself from overflow (overload). This
attenuation causes increase in the radio
noise floor. Without this we would not be
A
dBm. Same will happen with the CW
signals (that have lower crest factor than
WCDMA signals). This noise floor behavior
is typical for all spectrum analysis tools
Why is peak psch and ssch skewed
Q
toward lower values?
PSCH is more susceptible to fading than
CPICH. This opens a whole issue of how
presence of fading, Lee criterion, etc.
The nature of the beast is such that it
A
skews the variation towards favoring lower
values whenever degrading factors are
present. As a minimum, do not attempt to
average results expressed in decibels but
in a linear domain instead.
How can the measured WCDMA wide
Q band RSSI be lower than -110dBm since
the thermal noise floor is at -108dBm?
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting
PCTEL can account for the thermal noise
and eliminate it to some extent in the RSSI
A
measurement. This enables us to measure
RSSI at lower levels
What is the description of DBS
Q Windowing Issue (Useful for GPS
Windowing)?
The SeeGull LX radio running controller
versions 1.13.2.2 and preceding exhibit a
pooling behavior with respect to Distance
Based Sampling operation.
The diagram below will be used to illustrate
the problem (see picture enclosed).
The first thing of interest is the Message
Output waveform at the top of the diagram.
When the SeeGull Lx is operating in
'triggered mode' (a.k.a. DBS Mode), the
scanning receiver takes a measurement
based on a user-defined distance. The
measurements are buffered in the radio,
and output on 1.0-second intervals from
the product (TE above). During a TE
period, the number of measurements that
occurred is based upon the desired
sampling distance and the distance
traveled during that time. For the purpose
of this discussion, we will assume that the
GPS information is aligned EXACTLY with
the output messages.
A
We will assume that the vehicle using the
system is traveling at a constant velocity
(zero acceleration) for the sake of this
explanation. In reality, it is nearly
impossible for a standard automobile to
maintain exactly the same velocity at all
times. The conclusions drawn herein are
the same for non-zero accelerations, but
we'd have to use integration, which would
needlessly complicate understanding of
the issue.
Using these assumptions, there is one
speed for every desired distance interval
(referred to here as the 'perfect velocity' or
Vp) at which there will be exactly the same
number of measurements taken and
outputted in each message from the radio.
Since the distance between measurements
is also constant at a user-selected interval
(DS), due to the DBS sensor, we can
define the 'perfect time' (Tp) at which there
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
25
will be exactly the same number of
measurements taken and outputted in
each message from the radio. The
relationship between Vp and Tp would be
Tp = Ds/Vp.
This same relationship exists for all
velocities and corresponding measurement
periods. Now that we have detailed the
'perfect' cases, we can investigate the
behavior that results when the information
is directly plotted in a mapping package.
The second waveform in the picture above
shows the case where the velocity (V1) is
greater than Vp. In this situation, the time
between measurements will be less than
the perfect time. This results in there
occasionally being an Extra measurement
in the output message, from time to time.
In the diagram above, if we were traveling
at Vp we'd expect one measurement per
output message. DBS 1 shows the case
when on the third output message, we got
two measurements returned in the output
message. The number of output
messages between the output messages
with the extra measurement (NEM ) is
given by:
NEM = (V / Vp - 1)-1
The third waveform in the picture above
shows the case where the velocity (V2) is
less than Vp. In this situation, the time
between measurements will be greater
then the perfect time. This results in there
occasionally being a missing measurement
in the output message, from time to time.
In the diagram above, if we were traveling
at Vp we'd expect one measurement per
output message. DBS 2 shows the case
when on the third output message, we got
zero measurements returned in the output
message. The number of output
messages between the output messages
with the missing measurement (NEM ) is
given by:
NMM = (Vp / V - 1)-1
Note that in both the cases above, if the
speed being traveled is an integer multiple
or divisor of the perfect velocity, then there
will be no extra or missing measurements.
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting
The issue with the extra/missing samples
is most obvious when data points are
plotted on a map in a product like
MapInfo® without using any interpolation.
Since we can new GPS Data on every
output message (due to our assumption
above), we would label each point with the
location in memory at the time the
message is received in the host from the
scanning receiver. The would result in the
case of the missing output scenario (DBS
2) in a map that looks like its missing a
point every once in a while.
The way to address this when using
distance-based sampling is to apply an
algorithm to the returned measurements
that using interpolation to place the
measurement point at the appropriate point
between the two GPS readings. The
actual algorithm used is a matter of some
discussion, and there are many choices
depending upon the goal of the data
collection. One simple example would be
to assume a straight line between two GPS
points, and space the number of
measurements that occurred during that
second equally along that line. For most
cases, this is sufficient. If more accuracy
of data location is necessary, than sources
on interpolation can be consulted for more
robust algorithms. Remember that due to
the sensor, you can rely on the distance
traveled between two measurements to be
very nearly the specified distance.
As a note, this same scenario can exist
absent of DBS, due to GPS information
being available only once a second. If
there were multiple output messages
between the GPS messages, then the
simple algorithm would lump the
measurements to the GPS location of the
nearest preceding second. As with the
DBS case above, interpolation can be
used to spread the measurements out
more realistically over the interval.
Another common technique is 'binning',
which takes ALL of the measurement and
averages them to single point based upon
overlaying a grid with the desired
resolution.
PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
26
As can be seen above, this is a fairly
complex issue, and will change from
configuration to configuration.
This issue has not been addressed to date,
and exists in all versions of the product
produced so far.
Does WCDMA scanner report 'delay'
Q
measurement?
If you mean, can the customer measure
the delay of the signal, the answer is Yes.
Absolute time offset of a selected WCDMA
pilot in chips is measured. Ranges of the
A time offset are from 0 to 38399. It is also
possible to estimate the clock frequency
offset of a Pilot by continuously observing
Time Offset parameter change for a given
Pilot.
What is the difference in measurement
Q speed between With PSCH and Without
PSCH?
With PSCH present: 525ms for one pilot.
A Without PSCH present: 60ms (minimum)
for one pilot.
Any usage of WCDMA scanner to
Q
correct a pilot pollution?
Pilot pollution means there are more active
pilot than a handset can measure (#pilot
present > #rake receivers in the phone), so
by looking at the pilot measurement of the
carrier or the Top N measurement, if there
A
are more pilots present than a UMTS
handset can handle, then it indicates pilot
pollution present. Thus the WCDMA
scanner can help to identify the presence
of pilot pollution.
My question about the LX scanner is:
does it present average RSSI values of
Q the samples that it measures? If yes,
how is this averaging done and over
how many samples?
The RSSI value an LX scanner returns is a
combination of direct sample average and
A other non-linear methods. It is more
flavored towards instantaneous “stable”
power than the average power.
I would like to know more details how
Q the scanner is calculating the C/I
values.
In the case of GSM, the Scanner is
A
calculating C/I based on the FCCH burst. It
Rev. R
 SeeGull® LX Manual: Troubleshooting

measures correlated power of the FCCH
burst C and total power Io for the same
time window. C/I is than calculated as:
C/I = C/(Io-C)
Q GPS takes longer to lock than normal.
is not the same RSSI value measured
for the same channel in RSSI window at
a given time. Could you please clarify?
The question here is why RF
attenuation is automatically tuned on ?

If you have had your LX scanner for about

2 years, then it may need to be returned to RF attenuator is automatically turned on to
A prevent overflow in the unit, avoid non-
PCTEL for recalibration. The user will need
to pay a calibration fee. linear effects and extend the dynamic
range of unit at the expense of the noise
How do you decode the GPS data to the
figure degradation. This happens each
Q proper format (degree, minute,
time instantaneous (peak) power of the
second)?
signals in the 5 MHz IF bandwidth crosses
Our scanner reports GPS Lat/Long in A around -35 dBm. This is a normal behavior
Radians... Please see legend below then same as in any Spectrum Analyzer
the conversion to degrees / minutes / instrument, and should not be treated as a
seconds: system error. There could be some
measurement difference with or without RF
Legend: attenuator been turned on, but the
-------------- measurement error should be with in
D = Degrees PCTEL specification of RSSI accuracy.
M = Minutes
S = Seconds
.m = Decimal Minutes
.s = Decimal Seconds
If the FAQ list does not answer your
DM.m = Degrees, Minutes, Decimal question or resolve the problem, please
Minutes (eg. 45 ο 22.6333) contact our customer support, at +1 (240)
D.d = Degrees, Decimal Degrees (eg. 460-8833.
45.3772ο)
DMS = Degrees, Minutes, Seconds (eg.
A
45 ο 22'38")
------------------------------------------------

Radians (taken from scanner) *

57.2957795 = Degrees, Decimal Degrees
(D.d)

then

D.d --> DM.m (45.3772 --> 45 ο 22.6333)

- Multiply .d by 60 to get M.m
(.3772*60=22.6333)
DM.m --> DMS (45 ο 22.6333 --> 45
22'38")
- Multiply .m by 60 to get
S(.6333*60=38)

We are doing scan for spectral

clearance ( RF Ch RSSI Scan.), and on
usage some of the times the spectrum
Q window show error message "RF
attenuation is automatically tuned on",
As well the RSSI measured for a
particular channel in spectrum window

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Support

7. Support Warranty Information

This section provides support information, Terms of Warranty

including PCTEL RF Solutions Group’s
contacts, warranty information, calibration
notice, and technical specifications.
Contact Information
Refer to PCTEL RF Solutions Group’s
Terms & Conditions of Sale for warranty
terms.

Calibration Notice
Phone Numbers
Departments Contact Information
PCTEL recommends a yearly re-calibration
Marketing/Product of its scanning receivers. This
301-444-2006
Feedback recommendation is based on our
Customer Support 240-460-8833 understanding of various factors that may
Quality Manager 301-444-2045 affect accuracy of the measurement results.
The following factors have been identified
North American Sales 301-467-4549 as potential sources of accuracy
Government Sales 301-444-2015 degradation: crystal oscillators’ aging;
amplifier stages’ gain drift; LC and ceramic
filters’ part value change (due to aging, as
an example).
Email Addresses
Departments Contact Information Although our experience has been that in
Product most cases the units coming back for re-
productfeedback@pctel.com calibration are still well in the specified
Feedback
Customer accuracy margin, in some cases re-
support.rfsg@pctel.com calibration is necessary.
Support
RMA
rma@pctel.com The SeeGull® scanning receivers are
Coordinator
calibrated for several sources of variations
Quality including amplitude levels, ambient
quality.rfsg@pctel.com
Manager temperature, input frequency, and internal
North noise levels for narrow and wide channel
American nasales@pctel.com bandwidths. The calibration parameters are
Sales stored as single values or arrays in the
scanners’ non-volatile memory. Automated
Global Sales globalsales@pctel.com test and calibration stations use proprietary
software which performs the process with
no or minimum human intervention. The
calibration process is followed by a fully
automated production test. The test results
are stored in a central quality database and
they are extracted and used for periodic
quality audits.

Every unit that passes the calibration and

test process successfully receives a
Certificate of Calibration. This Certificate is
shipped back with the unit.

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Support

The complexity of the calibration process

precludes field calibration. It is highly
recommended that PCTEL’s scanning
receivers be returned to the factory annually
to maintain the units’ exceptional
measurement capability.

Procedure for Returning a SeeGull® LX

for Repair:

1. Complete the RMA form on the website

at www.pctel.com Click on RF Solutions
Group, then Support, then RMA Support
from the table. Alternatively, you can
provide the information (your name and
contact information, the company’s
name and address, the serial number
and protocol of the unit, and a
description of the problem) via fax at +1
(301) 515-0037.

2. A response including an RMA number

and in-warranty or out-of-warranty
information will be provided within 24
hours, or the next working day.

3. Please ship the unit to:

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group
Attn: RMA Coordinator
20410 Observation Drive, Suite 200
Germantown, MD 20876
(301.444.2050)

4. Reference PCTEL’s RMA number on all

shipping documentation. Units
shipped without an RMA number can
be returned to the customer without
the unit being repaired.

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Product Offering

8. PCTEL, RF Solutions Group’s Dual-Mode

Product Offering CDMA/EV-DO -
06033 LX
CDMA 850/1900
EV-DO 1900
This section describes all of the different
receivers that PCTEL offers in its product Dual-Mode
CDMA/EV-DO -
line along with Software options, Hardware 06034 LX
CDMA 850/1900
options, Accessories, and Support. For EV-DO 850/1900
further information please contact your
Dual-Mode
PCTEL sales or marketing representative. 06035 CDMA/EV-DO – LX
CDMA/EV-DO 850
Scanning Receivers Dual-Mode
CDMA/EV-DO –
06036 LX
DUAL-BAND SeeGull® Receivers CDMA/EV-DO
1900
Ordering
Product Name Platform Dual-Band
Code
06037 WCDMA LX
CDMA 2000 1900/2100
06012 850/1900 Dual- LX
Band Dual-Mode
06038 LX
CDMA/EV-DO 450
GSM 850/1900
06020 LX Dual Mode
Dual-Band
06039 GSM/WCDMA LX
GSM 850/1900 850/1900
06020N Dual-Band w/ LX
06042 WCDMA Plus 2100 LX
Navigation
GSM 900/1800
06023N Dual-Band w/ LX SeeGull® LX Receivers
Navigation Ordering
Product Name Platform
UMTS WCDMA Code
06004 850/1900 Dual- LX UMTS WCDMA
Band 06001 LX
2100
EV-DO 850/1900 UMTS WCDMA
06052 LX 06002 LX
Dual-Band 1900
CDMA 2000 UMTS WCDMA
06056 LX 06003 LX
JAPAN 2100/850 850
UMTS WCDMA
06007 LX
Tri-Band SeeGull® Receivers 1800
Ordering 06010 CDMA 2000 850 LX
Product Name Platform
Code 06011 CDMA 2000 1900 LX
Tri-Band
06030 GSM/WCDMA LX 06013 CDMA 2000 450 LX
900/1800/2100 06021 GSM 850 LX
Dual Mode GSM
GSM 850 w/
06031 850/1900 WCDMA LX 06021N LX
Navigation
1900
Dual-Mode 06022 GSM 1900 LX
CDMA/EV-DO - GSM 1900 w/
06032 LX 06022N LX
CDMA 850/1900 Navigation
EV-DO 850
GSM 900 w/
06024N LX
Navigation

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Product Offering

GSM 1800 w/ CDMA2000

06025N LX OP056 LX
Navigation HoldOver Option
06050 EV-DO 850 LX Distance Based
OP028 LX
Sampling Kit
06051 EV-DO 1900 LX
06054 EV-DO 450 LX Accessories
Ordering
Options & Accessories Product Name Platform
Code
Power/232 Cable;
Software Options OP021 Car-Lighter LX
Termination
Ordering
Product Name Platform Power/232 Cable;
Code
OP022 Battery Pack LX
BSIC Decoding Termination
OP001 LX
(Single Band)
Power/232 Cable;
BSIC Decoding OP060 car-lighter LX
OP005 LX
(Dual Band) termination – 6”
GSM BCCH Replacement
OP010 Decoding (Single- LX OP146 LX
Cable; metal, MM2
Band) Universal Input
GSM BCCH OP024 LX
AC/12VDC Adapter
OP011 Decoding (Dual- LX Indoor Kit - Serial -
Band) Includes bag, full
OP012 C/I (Single-Band) LX OP119 battery kit and PC
to single LX
OP013 C/I (Dual-Band) LX scanner cable
CDMA2K Code Indoor Kit - USB -
OP043 Domain LX Includes bag, full
(Single-Band) OP129 battery kit and PC
CDMA2K Code to dual LX scanner
OP044 Domain LX cable
(Dual-Band) New SeeGull®
Layer 3 Decoding - battery pack and
OP066 LX OP124
CDMA Single Band charger, with serial
Layer 3 Decoding - cable
OP067 LX
CDMA Dual Band New SeeGull®
Sync Channel battery pack and
OP125
OP070 Timing - CDMA LX charger, with USB
Single Band cable
Sync Channel New SeeGull®
OP071 Timing - CDMA LX Replacement
OP126
Dual Band Battery bag with
Sync Channel Serial cable
OP071J Timing - CDMA LX New SeeGull®
Japan Dual Band Replacement
OP127
Battery bag with
USB cable
Hardware Options
New SeeGull®
Ordering OP128 Replacement
Product Name Platform
Code Battery

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 SeeGull® LX Manual: Product Offering

New SeeGull® Annual Calibration

Replacement OPS06 SeeGull® LX Dual- LX
OP137
Battery Charger Band
power cord, US Annual Calibration:
New SeeGull® OPS48 SeeGull® LX Tri- LX
Replacement Band / Dual-Mode
OP138
Battery Charger Extended
power cord, EU Calibration Report,
OPS52 LX
New SeeGull® SeeGull® LX
Replacement Single-Band
OP139 Extended
Battery Charger
power cord, UK Calibration Report,
OPS53 LX
SeeGull® LX Dual-
Band
Antennas Extended
Antenna, Calibration Report,
OPS54 LX
OP034 GPS, LX SeeGull® LX Tri-
Magnetic Mount Band / Dual-Mode
Antenna, 1 Additional Yr
806-960 MHz/ Extended
OPS14 LX
OP078 1700-2500 MHz LX Warranty:
Dual-Band SeeGull® LX
Magnetic Mount 1 Additional Yr
Antenna,806-960 Extended
OPS15 LX
MHz/1710-2500 Warranty: SeeGull®
OP079 MHz Dual-Band LX LX Dual-Band
MAG MOUNT w/ 1 Additional Yr
GPS Extended
Antenna, 450MHz OPS47 Warranty: SeeGull® LX
OP123 LX
Single-Band LX Tri-Band / Dual-
Indoor Antenna, Mode
OP133 900 MHz/ 1800
MHz Dual-Band Notes:
Indoor Antenna, 1. Standard Lead-time is 30 Days
OP134 850 MHz/ 1900 2. *** Please Check with Your PCTEL
MHz Dual-Band Sales Representative for Lead-time
Indoor Antenna, Information.
OP135 2100 MHz Single-
Band
Indoor Antenna,
OP136 450 MHz Single-
Band

Support Options
Ordering
Product Name Platform
Code
Annual Calibration:
OPS05 SeeGull® LX LX
Single-Band

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group Rev. R

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 PCTEL’s RF Solutions Group (formerly
DTI) is a leading supplier of high-speed,
multi-standard receivers as well as test
and measurement solutions to the
Wireless Industry Worldwide.

PCTEL’s RF Solutions Group maintains

its world headquarters in the technology
corridor located in Germantown,
Maryland, on the USA’s East Coast.

Our products are recognized for World-

class speed and quality that help our
customers thrive in a competitive
environment.

Wireless Solutions
• Interference & Propagation
Measurements
• Data Collection Systems
• Scanning Receivers
• Transmitters
• Market Analysis
• Base Station Monitoring
• Custom & OEM Solutions

Wireless Applications
• Network Optimization
• Co-channel Interference
• Indoor Test & Measurement
• Coverage Testing

PCTEL, RF Solutions Group

20410 Observation Drive, Suite 200 Germantown, MD 20876 USA

Voice: +1 301.515.0036 Fax: +1 301.515.0037
www.pctel.com
Specification Subject to Change Without Notice.