OPTOELECTRONICS ® 5821 NE 14th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 Telephone: 954-771-2050 Fax: 954-771-2052 Email: sales@optoelectronics.com Internet: www.optoelectronics.
Scout USER MANUAL
Table of Contents Introduction Quick Start Guide External Connections Front Panel Controls 1 2 -4 5 6-8 Front Panel Display and Indicators 9 - 10 Specifications 12 Communications Language Operation 11 13 - 20 Reaction Tuning 16 - 17 Factory Service 22 - 23 Antenna and Accessory Recommendations 21
The Optoelectronics logo is a registered trademark of Optoelectronics, Inc. © Copyright 1998 Optoelectronics, Inc. 5821 NE 14th Avenue Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334 U.S. Patent No.
Factory Service RETURN POLICY The Optoelectronics Service Department will provide rapid turnaround of your repair. No return authorization is required. Enclose complete information as follows: 1. Copy of sales receipt if under warranty. 2. Detailed description of problem(s). 3. Complete return address and phone number (UPS street address for USA). 4. Proper packaging (insurance recommended). Note: Carriers will not pay for damage if items are improperly packaged. 5.
! CC CAUTION WARNING - Maximum input voltage is 12VDC. Automotive voltages may exceed 12V causing damage to internal circuitry. Damage resulting from excessive input voltage is readily apparent and will not be covered under warranty. Units returned for warranty service that have damage resulting from excessive supply voltages will incur service charges. WARNING - Maximum antenna input signal is +15dBm (50mW).
Introduction The Scout is the latest advancement in hand-held frequency test instruments. It excels at finding and recording frequencies for security, law enforcement, commercial and recreational applications. Patented technology developed by Optoelectronics employs statistical analysis to filter out actual radio transmission frequencies from the background RF.
Factory Service PRODUCT WARRANTY Optoelectronics, Inc. warrants all products and accessories for one (1) year against defects in materials and workmanship to the original purchaser. Products returned for warranty service will be repaired or replaced at Optoelectronics’ option.
Antenna and Accessory Recommendations ANTENNAS The small dual band, VHF/UHF, DB32 antenna is a very good multi-purpose antenna capable of picking up a very wide range of frequencies from 100MHz to 1GHz. There are other antennas available that are useful for specific frequency ranges. RD27 RD150 RD440 RD800 TA100S 26-150MHz 144-165MHz 440-480MHz 500MHz-1GHz 100-600MHz. FILTERS The N100 FM broadcast notch filter will remove the influence from local FM stations.
Quick Start Guide Step 1 TURN THE SCOUT ON Set the POWER switch to the on position. On power-up, an LCD self-test will be displayed for two seconds, followed by the COMMUNICATIONS LANGUAGE for two seconds. If the FILTER switch is ON when the Scout is turned on, the LCD backlight is enabled. If the CAPTURE switch is ON when the Scout is turned on, the beeper is enabled. Step 2 SELECT COMMUNICATIONS LANGUAGE There are two different communications settings for the Scout; CI-5 and AR8000.
Quick Start Guide Step 4 SELECT FILTER MODE FILTER mode is selected when the FILTER switch is ON and the CAPTURE switch if OFF. Frequencies are locked on the display but not logged to memory. The gate setting can be changed by pressing the GATE/RECALL/CLEAR push-button switch on the front panel. Step 5 SELECT CAPTURE MODE CAPTURE mode is selected when the FILTER and CAPTURE switches are both ON.
Operation Charging the Scout will take approximately 8-10 hours using the AC-90 adapter. It is normal for the Scout to become warm when charging is taking place. Make sure the ambient temperature is not excessive and that there is sufficient air flow to help cool the unit.
Operation MEMORY TUNING When RECALL mode is selected, the Scout automatically tunes a connected receiver to the frequency stored in the currently displayed memory location. Each time the displayed memory location is changed by pressing the GATE switch, a corresponding tuning command is transmitted to the receiver. This feature allows the user to instantly tune to transmissions on frequencies which have been previously captured by the Scout.
BACKLIGHT BEEPER Communication Mode Hold button down while powering on Just after switching the power on, slide the CAPTURE switch to the OFF position to change the communications mode.
External Connections The Scout has four external connections located on the top panel. The functions of each are briefly described below. POWER DC power is supplied to the Scout through the POWER connector, a standard 5.5 mm o/d., 2.1 mm i/d. coaxial DC power jack located on the top panel (9-12 VDC, 500-1200mA max, center positive). The POWER input is used for operation of the Scout from an external power source (AC-90 supplied), as well as for charging the internal NiCad battery.
Operation RECALL MODE Recall mode is selected by placing the FILTER switch in the OFF position and the CAPTURE switch in the ON position. RECALL mode is indicated by the “RECALL” annunciator on the front panel display. In this mode the operator can view all 400 frequencies and counts stored in memory. No frequency measurements can be made when RECALL mode is selected. However, the RF signal strength bargraph continues to function as before.
Operation (Reaction Tune) 4. Make sure the receiver is powered on before the Scout. Then turn the Scout on so that the initialization command may be sent to the receiver. 5. Key up any radio and the Scout will automatically tune the receiver to the frequency of the radio. AR8000 1. Upon powering the Scout on the LCD will display the words Scout followed by the current communications language. Confirm that the Scout displays AR8000.
Front Panel Controls The Scout has four front panel controls. The functions of each are briefly described below. A more detailed discussion of the functions of the front panel controls is given in the OPERATION section. POWER The POWER switch activates the Scout. When the POWER switch is in the ON position, the Scout is powered from the internal NiCad battery pack. If external power is present then a trickle charge cycle can occur.
Front Panel Controls CAPTURE The CAPTURE switch, in conjunction with the FILTER switch, is used to select the operating mode of the Scout as described above. When the FILTER and CAPTURE switches are both in the ON position then CAPTURE mode is selected. The CAPTURE switch also has two alternative functions. When the Scout is turned on with the CAPTURE switch in the ON position the beeper is enabled. Turning the Scout on with the CAPTURE switch in the OFF position disables the beeper.
Operation (Reaction Tune) REACTION TUNE When the Scout is in FILTER mode or CAPTURE mode it can Reaction Tune a receiver connected to the serial interface of the Scout. Following are the procedures for Reaction Tuning the various receivers that are compatible with the Scout. CI-5 1. Upon powering the Scout on, the LCD will display the words Scout followed by the current communications language. Confirm that the Scout displays CI-5.
Operation If the newly received frequency is within 10KHz of one of the frequencies already stored in memory, it is declared to be a duplicate, and the frequency count of the corresponding memory location is incremented. If the newly received frequency is not a duplicate then it is stored in the next available memory location and logged as the first hit. In either case, the LED indicator flashes and the appropriate memory location is displayed on the LCD, along with the frequency stored in that location.
Front Panel Controls The Scout frequency memory is protected and will not lose data unless there is an abrupt battery failure or disconnection. To CLEAR the memory in the Scout, hold down the GATE/RECALL/ CLEAR push-button while switching the power off. Table 1 Scout Gate Settings GATE SETTING GATE TIME 1 800uS 3 80mS 2 4 8mS 800mS MEASUREMENT TIME 8mS 14mS 90mS 810mS MEASUREMENT RESOLUTION 10KHz 1KHz 100Hz 10Hz EXAMPLE (MHz) 162.55 162.550 162.5500 162.
Front Panel Display and Indicators LED The light-emitting diode (LED) front panel indicator flashes each time a measurement is successfully completed. The rate at which the LED indicator flashes is dependent upon the gate setting and the operating mode. BEEPER The beeper, when enabled, provides an audible indication that a measurement has been successfully completed in either the FILTER mode or the CAPTURE mode. It provides essentially the same information as the LED indicator.
Operation FILTER MODE FILTER mode is selected by placing the FILTER switch in the ON position and the CAPTURE switch in the OFF position. FILTER mode is indicated by the FILTER annunciator on the LCD display. In this mode, random counting, noise, and false signals are reduced or eliminated. A unique digital filtering algorithm permits only meaningful measurements to be displayed.
Operation POWER-UP When the Scout is turned on a display self-test is performed. The self-test consists of illuminating all front panel display segments and annunciators for approximately two seconds, followed by displaying Scout for another two seconds, and then the communications language enabled for two seconds. The Scout begins operation in the operating mode selected by the FILTER and CAPTURE switches.
Front Panel Display and Indicators RF SIGNAL STRENGTH BARGRAPH The 16-segment bargraph display is a part of the Scout LCD front panel display which provides a relative indication of RF signal strength. The bargraph indication at a given time does not necessarily reflect the signal strength of the frequency shown on the display, rather an aggregate signal level indication of all RF energy detected by the Scout at that instant.
Communications Language There are two different communications settings for the Scout. After power up the words Scout are displayed followed by the current communications language. Following is a list of the communications language and a brief description of when to use each particular setting: CI-5 AOR For use when Reaction Tuning the following ICOM receivers: R10, R7000, R7100, R8500, and R9000.
Specifications Input Amplifier : Range: Sensitivity: Maximum Input: Time Between Measurements: Display: Timebase: RF Signal Strength Bargraph: Size: Weight: Battery: Operating Time: Power: Power Connector: 50 Ohm vswr <2:1 10MHz - 1.4GHz <3mV 30MHz - 900MHz +15dBM, 50 milliwatts 10 milliseconds, all range & gate times 10 digit LCD with backlight. Decimal at MHz point 10MHz setable to + 1ppm 16 segments, approximately 3dB segments, Relative indication only 3.7” x H x 2.75”W x 1.2” D 8.
