CTI Products MCN RCD System Planner - Manual (Page 28)

Designing an MCN system
Page 24 MCN Comparator Display System Planner
5.1 Designing an MCN system
Before designing an MCN system, follow steps 1-6 on page 23.
5.1.1 Network Planning / Equipment Location
Typically, comparator interfaces (CIBs and AIBs) will be mounted near the comparators, either in rack
mounts or in DIGITAC Bracket and Cable Rear Mount.
For DIGITAC comparators, the DIGITAC Rear Mount is the preferred method to mount the CIB
because it includes a ribbon cable for quick and easy connection. It also conserves rack space. For
other comparators, the Quad Rack Mount is preferred. It can mount (4) modules.
For Console Logic I/O, the IIBs will mount near the console electronics (CEB). This may be local to
the comparator and AIBs, in which case they can mount to the same rack mounts as the AIBs. They
may also be located at an extended distance from the comparators. In which case, they can be rack
mounted near the CEB and connected to the comparator interfaces via an extended length network
cable. These are called Extended IIBs in the ordering worksheet.
HIBs connected to modems will normally be mounted locally to the CIBs.
HIBs connected directly to PCs will mount close to their PCs and will connect to the comparator
interfaces through an extended length network cable. Extended HIBs can be mounted with their own
rack mount, a wall mount, or placed in the bottom of a console enclosure without a mount.
5.1.2 AIB Considerations
AIB modules are ordered per ASTRO-TAC RF channel. Only one AIB module is used per ASTRO-
TAC comparator, up to 13 receivers. Each channel will need its own AIB module. Remember that PC
display systems can only display and control the first 8 ports on an ASTRO-TAC comparator. AIB
modules are available exclusively through Motorola.
5.1.3 IIB Considerations
IIBs monitor and control ASTRO-TAC receiver ports in banks of 8. You will need 1 or 2 IIBs per
AIB. Note that consoles and transmit-only base stations each take up a port. If you use the Link Fail
indicator option on the IIB, it will take up the highest receiver in the system (#8 or #16).
If you have any receivers on ports 9-13, you will need (2) IIBs per AIB.. Also, if you have a receiver
active on Port 8 and you need the Link Fail Indication option, you will need (2) IIBs per AIB.
Otherwise, you will need (1) IIB per AIB.
If you will be using both logic I/O (IIBs) and PC display (HIBs), please note that the console display
can get out of sync since it has a bi-directional Disable line. See the Appendix E System Limitations
when using HIB and IIB Modules Together section of this system planner for more details.
5.1.4 CIB Considerations
Normally, you will order one CIB for each comparator card cage. This corresponds to 8 receivers on
Motorola comparators. Even if not all the receivers are used, configuring the system for the maximum
number of receiver slots allows for easy system expansion when receivers are added. This is especially
true in the case of DIGITAC comparators. When you use the DIGITAC Bracket and Cable, you must
dedicate a CIB to each DIGITAC cage.
Typically, divide the number of receivers per channel by 8 and round up to the next whole number. For
example, a 20 channel DIGITAC system will have 3 card cages and would require 3 CIBs.