Technical Notification

Document number: 95-131998

Date: July - 2010

SAILOR System 5000 MF/HF radios

Subject:

New software release 1.35.27 providing expanded tuning capability required in

some installations with limited space for aerial installations.

Priority:
MEDIUM: Equipment in stock should be updated at installation/commissioning.
Equipment already commissioned and in operation should be
updated as part of a normal service or maintenance call.
Service calls on symptoms comprising difficulties to tune at low
frequencies accompanied by the appearance of e.g. error code 4610
may be successfully concluded by implementing this revised
software version in the equipment, on the condition that the
installation and grounding of the equipment has been verified to be
in good order.

Identification:

This revised software version 1.35.27 is released as a set comprising both the
CU and TU software for the MF/HF 5000 150W (incl. FCC and class E), 250W &
500W equipment.
This software release supersedes the previously released version 1.35.24 and
introduces expanded tuning capability required in some installations, especially
where limited space for the aerial installations is available, which in turn may
cause difficulties for the equipment to tune in certain frequency bands.

The background for the introduction of this change is an observed increase over
the past 3-6 months in reporting from the field of difficulties in new installations
for the equipment to tune properly, especially in the lower frequency bands. In
some cases it has been found that changing the length of the coaxial cable
between TU and ATU would shift the affected frequency band to e.g. a higher
band.

…continued…
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 Document number: 95-131998

…continued…

The increase in these observations is believed to be a combination of the effect

of physical environment around the transmitter aerial and ATU, the tuning
process and improved performance over time of the power amplifiers (resulting
in increased RF output) mainly related to improved parameters of certain
components used in the PA stages.

To overcome the reported tuning difficulties in situations as described above the

revised software incorporates alterations in the tuning process as well as various
steps to reduce the sensitivity to the increased RF “noise” originating from the
less than ideal aerial environments.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The changes introduced with this software does not take
the place of observing and applying the general rules relating to the aerial length
and its installation/connection to the ATU, proper grounding of the relevant parts
of the installation and the thorough and correct treatment of cabling/connectors.

Furthermore, for a transmitter aerial to radiate RF reasonably undisturbed a

good position for this is, being placed at a min. distance from other erect
conductive (e.g. steel) objects affecting the RF radiation (poles, masts, funnel
etc.), equal to the length of the aerial plus feed wire, i.e. 10-12mtrs.
This is a requirement which may be difficult to meet especially on smaller
vessels where often times the area in which the aerials are installed is rather
congested. However, to better the requirement is met the better the chances for
well performing radio installation.

Action:

As stated under “Priority” above

The new software ver. 1.35.27 is available for download from eSupport
download site:
http://esupport.thrane.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view&parentcategoryi
d=293&pcid=292&nav=0,202,205,292&group=default

Upload of software files to the equipment is described in the applicable

Technical Manual section 4.3 – Software update. The Technical Manual may be
downloaded also from the eSupport download site:
http://esupport.thrane.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=view&parentcategoryi
d=247&pcid=252&nav=0,202,205,252&group=default

To maintain concordant revision identification and avoid any functional conflicts

both the CU and the TU must be updated.

…continued…

Thrane & Thrane A/S · Lundtoftegaardsvej 93 D · DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby · Denmark

T +45 39 55 88 00 · F +45 39 55 88 88 · info@thrane.com · www.thrane.com
Bank: Danske Bank · Comp.reg.: 65 72 46 18 · VAT: DK-20 64 64 46 Page 2 of 3
 Document number: 95-131998

…continued…

Following the software upload the equipment should be checked as per the
Technical Manual section 2.17 – Final Installation Check – comprising all 11 ITU
defined TX frequency bands, part of the procedure being:

Select CH number XX and press >Enter<.

Press numeric key >0< = „Tune antenna‟.
Press >Menu< - >6< - >2< - >1< to check for protection codes.
Press >Menu< - >6< - >3< - >1< - >TX 2-tone> to read power out.

This software version will be introduced in production gradually over the coming
period.

Thrane & Thrane

Customer Service

Author: Date: Checked: Date: Approved: Date:

TOP 30-06-2010 FS 01-07-2010 DAV 01-07-2010

Thrane & Thrane A/S · Lundtoftegaardsvej 93 D · DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby · Denmark

T +45 39 55 88 00 · F +45 39 55 88 88 · info@thrane.com · www.thrane.com
Bank: Danske Bank · Comp.reg.: 65 72 46 18 · VAT: DK-20 64 64 46 Page 3 of 3