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The user interface is based on screens and buttons. A typical customer screen set consists of a main
screen with several auxiliary screens. The main screen contains the buttons used for day to day operations. This includes radio channels, volume controls, alert, mute, select, and
simu-select buttons. The auxiliary screens contain less often used functions.
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This may include, recorder control, door control, paging encoder, position intercom, channel patch, public
address, timer, and preset volume memory buttons.
Auxiliary screens may be full size or partial pop-up screens which may be stationary or movable by the
dispatcher. All aspects of the screen design are definable by the customer administrative staff. The Screenmaker software provided allows for screen and button design.
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The Screenmaker's graphical user interface makes it easy to create and modify screens and buttons. Once
created, buttons can be dragged or resized anywhere on a screen or copied to another screen.
The following parameters are programmable for each button:
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Placement on the screen, size, text, background color, text color, border color, border flashing or steady ,
border width, bevel width (3D effect), and operation.
Below is a partial list of the button operations:
Alert Tone, All Mute, Assignable Channels, EIP Alert, Audio Distribution,
Auxiliary Alarm Inputs, Auxiliary Outputs, Base Intercom, Burst Tone Key, Change Screen, Channel/Position Takeover, Channel Frequency, Channel Mute, Channel Patch, Channel Volume, Date Time Set, DTMF Burst Tone, Encoder Entry Keypad, Encoder Single Buttons, Button Press Macros, Monitor, On Key Help, Phone Hold, Phone Patch, Position Intercom, Public Address, R2 Mute, On-Screen Recorder Controls, Repeater Disable, Select, Select Group, Self Repeat, Serial CAD Interface, Serial Port Output, Simul Select, Speaker Volume, Statistics Clear, Statistics Print, Transmit, Volume Macro, Voter Indications and Control, Multiple Timers, Phone Book directory.
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The Customizer software provided allows for system level setting and feature options. There is extensive
on-line help for all parameters. The help system also includes a tutorial on screen design. Features programmable by the Customizer software include the following:
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System Parameters:
Total system card cages, Card cage slot assignments, Diagnostic printer port selection, Statistics print
interval, and Alert/paging side tone level. Any system card may be assigned to any slot.
Operator Position Parameters:
Headset Mic sensitivity, Dynamic Mic sensitivity, Telephone talk-in level, Telephone talk-out level, Phone
Patch VOX level, Local recorder output levels, Speaker min and max levels, Speaker control method (pot or on-screen), 12 or 24 Hour clock display.
Channel Card Parameters:
Number of frequencies (up to 16), 2-wire or 4-wire operation, Duplex, Tone or DC Current Line Operated Transmit
Light, Mute level, Receive level, Transmit level, Tone keying levels, Auto-mute level, Call light sensitivity, Patch VOX sensitivity, Logging recorder level, Call light delay, Alert/encoder pre-tone
delay, Inter-page delay, Redundant card selection, Burst tone level and duration, Guard Tone frequency, Tone keying duration, Automatic Morse ID, Terminate or bridging, Assigned speaker, External mute or
busy inputs, Min and max user volume levels, Keying method (any combination of tone, DC, or Mux keying), Mute and Busy matrix.
Diagnostics
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The Medic Diagnostic System included monitors all system cards and runs periodic diagnostics. If a
problem is detected, the Medic system issues an audible and visual diagnostic message and attempts to correct or work around the problem. Extensive on-line help text describe in detail what each
diagnostic message means and a recommended course of action. The Medic system contains extensive manual diagnostic testing features.
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This allows the technician to quickly diagnose and faults.
These tests are so comprehensive that factory personnel use them to locate problems down to the component level.
Statistics
The included statistics system reports channel and position usage. For each position it reports total
transmissions and total on-the-air time. For each channel it reports number of calls, call light duration, total transmissions, total-on-the air time. A statistics report can be printed at
predefined intervals (hour, shift, day, week, month) or on request. Statistic reports are sent to a serial printer or a computer system.
System Architecture
The UltraCom's architecture is designed using the concept of multiple Operator Positions sharing common control
electronics. The architectural design of the UltraCom consists of one Main Electronics Package II (MEP II) and a number of individual Operator Positions (OP). These are described below.
Main Electronics Package II (MEP II)
The basic MEP II can be housed in a standard open rack or enclosed equipment rack. If space is a problem, the
electronics can also be mounted in the console furniture.
The MEP II consists of one or more MEP II card cage assemblies and one or more MEP II power supply assemblies. Each MEP II card cage assembly contains 16 card slots. Each slot can contain a Transmit Receive Card (TRC), Position Interface Card (PIC), or a TRI-Receive Card (TRI). Each MEP II power supply assembly can supply power to five card cages. A MEP II power supply and five card cages fit within a standard six foot rack. A fully loaded MEP II with five cages and eighty cards consumes less than 500 watts. All cards and power supplies in the MEP II are connectorized plug-in units and can be replaced without disconnecting any cables. All cards and power supplies in the MEP II are designed to be inserted or removed with power applied (hot insertion). All power and bus cables are shielded. Military type connectors are used for reliability. The major components of the MEP II are the MEP II card cage assembly, power supply assembly, Transmit Receive Card or Tri-Receive card (TRC), Position Interface Card (PIC), and DC Keying card (DCC). The MEP II card cage assembly contains slots for the TRC, PIC, and DCC cards. The MEP II power supply assembly provides basic power for the cards in the MEP II. Each card has its own DC-DC switching power supply to provide the various voltages required by the card. The Transmit/Receive card (TRC) serves as an audio interface between a radio base station (transmitter/receiver) and the MEP II it also may serve as an interface between up to three audio sources (typically radio receivers) and the MEP II. The Position Interface card (PIC) provides a digital interface between a dispatcher Operator Position (OP) and the MEP II. The DC Keying Card (DCC) generates DC Keying current or a MUX relay closure to activate a base station transmitter.
Operator Position (OP)
The Operator Position is the interface between the dispatcher and the console system. In its most basic
form it provides status information to the dispatcher. Additionally, it allows the dispatcher to control and route audio in order to communicate with field radio units. The Operator Position
is also used to configure the system. Each Operator Position is connected to the MEP II with a digital T1 link. This 4-wire digital link passes all audio and control data for up to twelve speakers
(Select, Unselect, Monitor1 - Monitor 10). Each position can be remoted approximately 6000 feet from the MEP II without the need of modems or repeaters. The T1 link is transformer isolated at each
end to eliminate ground loop noise problems.. The major components of the Operator Position are the Operator Position Computer, and the Computer Audio Module (CAM). The Operator Position Computer provide
a graphical user interface to the console operator.
It is a 100 MHz Intel Pentium (or better) PC platform running the Microsoft Windows® operating system.. It includes a color monitor (touch screen optional), and a mouse. The USB Port serves as the interface between the PC, Position Interface Card (PIC), and the Computer Audio Modules (CAM). The Computer Audio Module Box has the connectors used for all console peripherals connected to the Operator Position. It contains 12 audio modules. The Computer Audio Modules convert analog audio to digital TDM audio and vice versa. They also contain up to 12 speaker amplifiers, digital level controls for the analog audio, twelve analog to digital converters for reading volume control pots, and digital I/O (relay) ports.
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