DIVERSITY UHF RECEIVER · example, the Main Window alone shows the pilot tone indicator, antenna diversity phase, RF level, audio level, receiver battery status and transmitter battery

DIVERSITY UHF RECEIVERUCR30UCR30UCR30UCR30UCR3011111

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Rio Rancho, NMwww.lectrosonics.com

0885

Professional Audio Products Since 1971

2

UCR301


3

UHF Wireless Diversity Receiver

Rio Rancho, NM – USA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................. 4INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 4SMART DIVERSITY™ ........................................................................................ 4RF MODULE....................................................................................................... 4

DOUBLE BALANCED DIODE MIXERS .......................................................... 4SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE (SAW) FILTER ................................................. 5DIGITAL PULSE COUNTING DETECTOR ..................................................... 5

TRI MODE DYNAMIC FILTER .................................................................................. 5PILOT TONE MUTE........................................................................................... 5SMART SQUELCH™ ......................................................................................... 5OUTPUT LEVEL ADJUST .................................................................................. 5POWER SUPPLY................................................................................................ 5LCD..................................................................................................................... 6POWER UP SEQUENCE ................................................................................... 6POWER OFF SEQUENCE ................................................................................. 6

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS .................................................... 7LCD SCREEN..................................................................................................... 7MENU BUTTON.................................................................................................. 7

REAR PANEL FEATURES ....................................................................................... 7XLR AUDIO OUTPUT JACK ............................................................................... 7POWER INPUT JACK ........................................................................................ 7SELECT UP/DOWN BUTTONS.......................................................................... 7POWER ON/OFF SWITCH................................................................................. 7

MAIN WINDOW (LCD) .............................................................................................. 8MENU SELECTIONS FROM MAIN WINDOW.......................................................... 9

FREQUENCY WINDOW ..................................................................................... 9BATTERY LEVEL WINDOW ............................................................................... 9SETUP WINDOW ............................................................................................... 9

LEVEL ............................................................................................................. 9TONE .............................................................................................................. 9TXBAT ............................................................................................................. 9

FREQUENCY SCAN MODE ................................................................................... 10ANTENNA USE AND PLACEMENT ...................................................................... 11INSTALLATION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS ............................................ 12

FINDING CLEAR FREQUENCIES ................................................................... 12LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE UCR201 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS ..... 13

REPLACING THE BATTERY .................................................................................. 14UCR201 REPLACEMENT PARTS and ACCESSORIES ....................................... 15TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................................ 16SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES ..................................................................... 17SERVICE AND REPAIR.......................................................................................... 18RETURNING UNITS FOR REPAIR ........................................................................ 18

This product meets the CE Compliance Standards - ETS 300 445; January 1996.A copy of the Declaration of Conformity may be requested from your dealer or bycontacting the factory directly:

Lectrosonics, Inc.Marketing Department581 Laser Rd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124 USAtel: 505-892-4501 fax: 505-892-6243 e-mail: [email protected]

4

UCR301


INTRODUCTIONThe UCR301 is a portable, high performance, triple-conversion, frequency synthesized, UHF receiver fullycompatible with all Lectrosonics 300 series transmitters.The RF performance is extremely stable over a verywide temperature range, making the UCR301 perfectlysuited to the rough environmental conditions found in thefield. The proprietary audio processing includes a dual-band compandor for very low distortion and a superiorsignal to noise ratio. The Smart Squelch™ system isoperated by a separate pilot tone and mutes the audiooutput directly at the output connector.

The UCR301 features a menu-driven LCD and a threebutton control panel (MENU, SELECT Up and SELECTdown). The combination of icons and text in the displayprovides convenient and efficient access to systemfunctions and status using the menu button. Forexample, the Main Window alone shows the pilot toneindicator, antenna diversity phase, RF level, audio level,receiver battery status and transmitter battery status. Itis also possible to bypass the pilot tone from the MainWindow. Other windows show operating frequency,audio output level, battery status in tenths of volts, testtone, and provide for selection of levels or functionsusing the SELECT buttons. The frequency scan modeprovides a graphic means to observe all signals “on theair” within the unit’s frequency range in order to finduseable operating frequencies free of interference.

SMART DIVERSITY™The Smart Diversity™ antenna phase switchingtechnique keeps the receiver compact enough forcamera mounted or shoulder bag applications. Smart

Attenuation

IFFILTER

2 (HI)

1 (COMMON)

3 (LO)

50

50

2K

2K

� �

� � ��

PILOT TONEDETECTOR

FILTERAMP

2ndVCO

2:1EXPANDER

TREBLE

2:1EXPANDER

BASS

23 KHZLP

FILTER

XLROUT

HI-LEVELMIXER

RF MODULE

3RD MIXERAND

IF AMP

50KHzLP FILTER

XTALCONTROLLED

3rdOSCILLATOR

SAWFILTER

244 MHzIF AMP

COUNTINGDETECTOR

AUDIOAMP

UCR201BLOCK DIAGRAM

VARIABLECUT-OFFLP FILTER

ANTENNASWITCHING

FILTER

E PROM2

1stVCO

Smart Diversity Smart Squelch

2ND MIXER

10.7 MHZ

FILTER

SYNTHESIZER

LCFilter

DigitalSquelch

OutputLevelAdjust Squelch

DigitalAttenuator

GENERAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONDiversity™ effectively minimizes dropouts in situationswhere multi-path reflections can cause seriousproblems.

RF MODULEThe UCR301 RF Module retains the stability of fixedfrequency designs with the added flexibility of afrequency agile designs. This is done with a robustwideband RF section (30 MHz at -3 dB) with good thirdorder intermodulation performance.

The problem of frequency agility is further compoundedbecause “on the fly” frequency changes cannot be madeon any type of wireless system. For example, if there issuddenly an interference problem with a system in use(on stage for instance) a frequency change cannot bemade without interrupting the program. In multichannelapplications, changing the frequency of one system willusually produce all kinds of new intermodulationproblems with the other systems operating in the samelocation. The UCR301 offers a new approach tofrequency agile receiver design.

DOUBLE BALANCED DIODE MIXERSIn all wireless receivers, a mixer is used to convert thecarrier frequency to an intermediate frequency, or IF,where most of the filtering and signal amplification (gain)takes place. The UCR301 uses a low noise GaAs mixerhaving a robust 3rd order of +25 dBm to overcomeintermodulation problems common with lesssophisticated designs. The unusually high IF frequencyoutput from the first mixer (244 MHz) offers increasedimage rejection and is followed by low noise amplifiers,SAW filters and two more levels of IF mixing to preservethe superior RF performance

UCR301Block Diagram

5



SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE (SAW) FILTERA state-of-the-art SAW filter on the 244 MHz IF amplifieroffers sharp skirts, constant group delay, and widebandwidth in one filter. Though expensive, this specialtype of filter allows primary filtering as early as possible,at as high a frequency as possible and before high gainis applied to the signal. Since these filters are made ofquartz, they are very temperature stable. (ConventionalLC filters at these frequencies don’t begin to perform aswell and in addition would drift unacceptably in theelevated temperatures of an equipment rack or in thefield where temperatures are in constant flux.) After theSAW filter, the 244MHz IF signal is converted to 10.7Mhz IF and then to the low frequency of 300 kHz. Onlythen is the majority of the gain applied, just before thesignal is converted to audio. Although 300 kHz is veryunconventional for an IF in a wide deviation (±75 kHz)system, it offers outstanding AM rejection figure over avery wide range of signal strengths and to produces anexcellent noise improvement at low signal strengths(capture ratio).

DIGITAL PULSE COUNTING DETECTORThe UCR301 receiver uses an advanced digital pulsedetector to demodulate the FM signal, rather than aconventional quadrature detector. The common problemwith quadrature detectors is thermal drift, particularlythose that operate at higher frequencies like 10.7 MHz.

The UCR301 design presents an elegantly simple, yethighly effective solution to this age old problem. Astream of precision pulses is generated at 300kHz andlocked to the FM signal coming from the 300 kHz IFsection. The pulse width is constant, but the timingbetween pulses varies with the frequency shift of the FMsignal. The integrated voltage of the pulses within anygiven time interval varies in direct proportion to thefrequency modulation of the radio signal. Another way ofdescribing it is that as the FM modulation increases thefrequency, the circuit produces more pulses and as themodulation decreases the frequency, the circuitproduces fewer pulses. More pulses produce a highervoltage and fewer pulses a lower voltage. The resultantvarying voltage is the audio signal.

This type of detector eliminates the traditional problemswith quadrature detectors and provides very low audiodistortion, high temperature stability and stable audiolevel. The counting detector also adds additional AMrejection. Since the detector pulse amplitudes areconstant, level differences in the IF signal do not affectthem.

TRI MODE DYNAMIC FILTERThe detected audio signal is passed through a “dynamicnoise reduction circuit,” which automatically adjusts thefilter’s cutoff frequency by measuring the amplitude andfrequency of the audio signal and the quality of the RFsignal. The audio bandwidth is held only to that point

necessary to pass the highest frequency audio signalpresent at the time. If the RF level is weak, then the filterbecomes more aggressive. This results in a dramaticreduction of “hiss” at all times. During passages with ahigh frequency content, this filter gets completely “out ofthe way” and passes the signal with no decrease in high-frequency response.

PILOT TONE MUTEThe UCR301 uses a pilot tone muting technique in orderto protect against the reception of stray signals. TheLectrosonics transmitter adds an inaudible signal, knownas the pilot tone, to the transmitted signal. The receiverdetects (and removes) the pilot tone, and is thus able toidentify the desired signal and mute all others.

When the receiver is powered up, receive audio is mutedunless a proper pilot tone is detected. The pilot tonemust be present for approximately one second beforethe signal is accepted.

A PILOT TONE BYPASS mode is available. In thismode, the received audio remains unmuted regardless ofthe presence or absence of a pilot tone. This mode isuseful for locating a clear frequency, since any potentialinterference may be heard. Because this mode disablesthe squelch, it may also be used in situations wheresquelching behavior is undesirable.

SMART SQUELCH™The UCR301 employs a sophisticated squelching systemto deliver the cleanest possible audio during marginalconditions of reception. Any squelching system facesinevitable trade-offs: squelch too much and valuableaudio information may be lost, squelch too little andexcessive noise may be heard; respond too rapidly andthe audio sounds “choppy”, respond too sluggishly andsyllables or entire words are cut off.

SmartSquelchTM achieves an optimal balance of thesetrade-offs by combining several techniques that removedistracting noise without the squelching action itselfbecoming a distraction. Thse include: waiting for acomplete word or syllable before squelching, assessingrecent squelching history and RF signal strength andassessing audio content to determine available masking.

By adjusting squelching behavior dynamically for theoptimal result under varying conditions, the receiver candeliver acceptable audio quality from otherwise unusablesignals.

OUTPUT LEVEL ADJUSTConvenient front panel controls allow adjusting the audiooutput in 1dB steps from -50 to +9 dBu.

POWER SUPPLYThe UCR301 may powered by a 9 VDC battery, or froman external DC source (see Specifications and Featuressection for allowed voltages.) A built in Poly-Fuse

6

UCR301


protects the unit when an external power source is used.This fuse resets if the power supply is disconnected for15 seconds or longer.

LCDThe front panel LCD offers four primary windows.Pressing the MENU button rotates through each of thesewindows.

If the battery gets low on either the UCR301 or theassociated transmitter, a message will interrupt thedisplay every few seconds stating “LOW RX BATTERY”or “LOW TX BATTERY.”

Regardless of which window or setup screen is activeduring operations, after power is removed, the unitdefaults to the Main Window and to the most recentfrequency and audio settings. These settings areretained even if the battery is removed.

The display backlight is always on when the unit isplugged into an external power source. It will turn offafter five minutes if no keypress activity is detected whenoperating on the internal battery.

POWER UP SEQUENCEIt takes about two seconds after the UCR301 is initiallyturned on for it to become fully operational; however,audio will pass through during the start up phase if thereis an active transmitter on the same frequency as theUCR301.

At power-up, the LCD will automatically scroll through aseries of messages to confirm proper operation andinform you of its state. First it will show if the unit isLOCKED or UNLOCKED. (See LOCKING ANDUNLOCKING THE UCR301) Following messages willstate Lectrosonics (we like our name), UCR301, thefirmware revision of the internal programming and thefrequency block assigned to the receiver. The MainWindow displays after these introductory messages.

NoteUCR301s with Firmware Verson 4.1 or later have a

quick tune shortcut. See Menu Selections From MainWindow, Frequency Window for details.

POWER OFF SEQUENCEWhen the unit is turned off, the audio output is instantlymuted (squelched) and a window displays “POWERINGOFF” just before actually switching off the power.

7



OFF ON

MENU

ANT 1 ANT 2

SELECT

Pilot

Div RF Aud Rx Tx

BAT

-40 -20 0 dB

1000100

101

uV

UCR301

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND INDICATORS

LCD SCREENThe LCD Screen is a graphics-type Liquid CrystalDisplay that is used to monitor system operation andconfigure the UCR301.

MENU BUTTONThe MENU button steps through the four primarywindows and setup screens.

SELECT UP/DOWN BUTTONSThe SELECT Up/Down buttons are used to selectvarious options within each display selection and forsetting the operating frequency of the receiver.

POWER ON/OFF SWITCHThe Power ON/OFF switch is used to applied battery orexternal power to the unit.

SELECT Down

SELECT Up MENU

Power OFF/ON

Main Window(LCD)

AUDIO OUT

10-18VDC

BATTERY DOOR

To open liftthis edge andturn door

1 2

3

REAR PANEL FEATURES

XLR AUDIO OUTPUT JACKThe audio output is balanced but not floating. Pin 2 is inphase with the input pins on 300 series transmitters.However, phasing can vary from brand to brand oflavaliere microphone.

POWER INPUT JACKThe power input jack can accept 10-18 VDC - the centerpin is positive and sleeve is ground. The input is diodeprotected to prevent damage if the power is applied withreversed polarity, but the unit will not work until thereversed polarity condition is fixed. Strain relief to avoidaccidental disconnection can be provided with theincluded small hook and loop strip. (See illustration tothe right.) Attach the adhesive strip side to the side ofthe receiver or mount with the opening end of the stripup - place the cable in the strip and secure.

AUDIO OUT Jack

Power Input Jack

Velcro Strip

8

UCR301


OFF ON

MENU

ANT 1 ANT 2

SELECT

Pilot

Div RF Aud Rx Tx

BAT

-40 -20 0 dB

1000100

101

uV

UCR301

Pilot tone indicator - A steady “P” icon is displayed when a pilot tone from theassociated transmitter is present. The icon flashs if no pilot tone is detected and willchange to a small “b” if the pilot tone has been bypassed. To bypass the pilot tone,press and hold MENU, then press the SELECT Up button. PRess and hold MENU andpress SELECT UP again to restore normal pilot tone squelch.

Antenna Phase indicator - Shows antenna phase switching activity. As the antennaphase is switched, the symbol will flip vertically.

RF level - Changes in size vertically to indicate the strength of the incoming RF signal.RF levels are engraved from 1 uV to 1000 uV on the bezel to the left of the LCD.

Audio Levels - Changes in size horizontally to indicate the audio level (modulation) ofthe signal received from the transmitter. The icon changes to a solid rectangular blockwhen the audio signal is being limited in the transmitter. Levels in dB are engraved intothe bezel above the LCD.

Battery Levels - Rx indicates the receiver battery condition and will flash whenapproximately one hour of operational time is remaining. The Tx symbol works in thesame manner to indicate the transmitter battery condition. The Tx icon usually appears5 to 10 seconds after the transmitter signal is acquired. When external power is beingused, the Rx battery icon changes to look like a power plug.

Icon Description

The Main Window displays information concerning thecondition of the Pilot Tone, antenna phase, RF and audiosignal levels and battery conditions for both the receiverand the associated transmitter. It is also the access

RF levels

Audio LevelsMain Window(LCD)

MAIN WINDOW (LCD)

portal to menu selections for setting up the receiver andsearching for clear frequency channels. (See MenuSelections from Main Window and Frequency ScanMode.)

9



From the Main Window, users can navigate to theFrequency, Battery Level and Setup windows. They canalso access Frequency Scan Mode, Lock or Unlock thereciever and turn on/off the Pilot Tone. These functionsare accessed via the MENU and SELECT buttons.

FREQUENCY WINDOWThe Frequency Window displays thecurrent TV channel, the transmitterswitch settings and the receiver’soperating frequency.

TVxx - the television broadcast channel the receiver iscurrently turned.

Transmitter switch settings - the correct settings for thefrequency switches on the corresponding transmitter.(Refer to the transmitter instruction manual.)

Frequency - the current frequency the receiver is tuned.Pressing the SELECT Up or Down buttons will changethe receiver’s frequency. As it changes, the displayedtransmitter switch settings will also change. Ensure thetransmitter’s frequency is changed to match thereceiver’s operating frequency.

For units with firmware version 4.1 or later, holding theMENU button down while pressing either the SELECTUP or DOWN arrow, moves the frequency 16 channelsat a time.

BATTERY LEVEL WINDOWDisplays the transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) batteryvoltage in tenth volt increments. The icons flash whenthe voltages drops below suggested optimum workinglevels. Typically, there will be aboutone hour operating time remainingafter the indicators begin to flash. RXchanges to EX when operating onexternal power and displays theexternal power source voltage. (Disclaimer: We don’tguarantee 0.1 Volt accuracy.)

SETUP WINDOWIn the SETUP window, the SELECTUp and Down buttons scroll through alist of four possible destinations:EXIT, LEVEL, TONE and TXBAT.

Each destination allows the user to customize thereceiver’s operating parameters.

LEVELThe LEVEL setup screen displays theaudio output level of the receiver indBu. Use SELECT Up or Down tochange this level. (Range is from -50to +9 dBu in 1dB steps.) Press MENUto exit this screen.

TONEThe TONE setup screen enables anaudio test tone at the receiver outputfor precise level matching with otherequipment. The first screen promptsyou to press SELECT Up to enablethe tone at the receiver output. PressSELECT Up again to access the LVLscreen that allows the tone level to beadjusted in 1 dB steps using the SELECT Up and Downbuttons. When the audio test tone is enabled, thereceived audio is muted and an internally generated 1kHz test tone is routed to the XLR connector. Sincethere is only one audio output level setting for bothreceived audio and tone, the level set here willsupersede the setting made via the LEVEL setup screen.(It may be necessary to reset the receiver’s audio outputlevel through the LEVEL setup screen.) The test tonehas 5% distortion and is intended for confirmation ofoutput levels only. Press MENU to stop the tone andleave this screen.

TXBATThe TXBAT setup screen allows usersto select the exact battery being usedin the transmitter for accurate batterylevel monitoring. Four different types ofbatteries are commonly used inLectrosonics transmitters: 9 volt alkaline, 9 volt lithium,AA alkaline, and AA lithium. Correctly set, this willensure that the information in the MAIN and BATTERYLEVEL windows will be accurate and adequate warningwill be provided in advance of battery failure. PressMENU to exit this screen.

TV40 AE631.800

LEVEL-50 dBu

LVL 1K00 dBu

TX 7.2VRX 8.2V

SETUPEXIT

TXBAT9V ALK

TONE?00 dBu

MENU SELECTIONS FROM MAIN WINDOWFrequencyScan Mode

SELECTLock/Unlock

TV40 AE631.800

TX 7.2VRX 8.2V

Pilot Off/On

Battery LevelWindow

FrequencyWindow

Main Window

Press MENU

Pre

ss

MENU

Press M

EN

U

Press ME

NU

Hold MENU & press UP

Press All Buttons

Press & Hold MENU

SETUPEXIT

LEVEL00 dBu

SETUPLEVEL

SETUPTONE

TONE?00 dBuLVL 1K

SETUPTX BAT

00 dBu

Pre

ss U P Press UP

PressUP

Press MENU

Press MENU

Press UP

Press UP

Setup Window

(Press UP / DOWN to adjust)

Level

Audio Test Tone

Press MENU TXBAT

9V ALKPress MENU

(Press UP / DOWN to adjust)

Press MENU

Press MENU

Audio Test Tone

(Press UP / DOWN to select)

Tx Battery Type

10

UCR301


B8

USE OLDUSE NEW

FreqWindow

Scan

ViewFine View

Press All 3 ButtonsTo Exit Scan

Mode, Press All 3 Buttons From Any

Window.

B8

Press Any Button

Press Menu

Press Men

u

B8

B8

Switch Settings - shows thetransmitter switch settings -will change rapidly while theunit is scanning.

Cursor - shows relative position ofthe scanner within the 25Mhzband of the receiver

RF Level indicators

B8

TransmitterSwitch SettingsCursor (center bar)

SCROLL reminders

Scan levelindications -showingrelative level ofRF activityacross the 25MHz bandwidthof the receiver.

Remaining unscannedpart of band.

SCAN & VIEW WINDOW ELEMENTS FINE VIEW WINDOW ELEMENTS

To use the integrated spectrum scanning function, pressboth SELECT Up and Down buttons and the MENUbutton simultaneously. The Main Window switches tothe Scan Window and immediately begins scanningacross the frequency block. Data gathered during ascan is stored until it is purposely erased or the receiveris powered down. Subsequent scans can be made tosearch for additional signals or to accumulate higherpeaks without erasing information discovered duringprevious scans.

To stop scanning, press any button once. The scanningwill stop immediately, and the display will switch to theVIEW window. In VIEW, the entire spectrum for onefrequency block is displayed with each vertical bandrepresenting eight frequency bands (800 kHz). PressingSELECT Up or Down scrolls the cursor coarsely acrossthe tuning range. The transmitter switch settingsmatching the frequency indicated by the cursor areshown in the upper right corner of the screen.

Spectrum data is collected only when the receiver isscanning. Successive scanning with repeated passesthrough the tuning range will accumulate the highestpeaks encountered to aid in finding clear frequencies.(To clear the scan memory without leaving scan mode,quickly turn the receiver power off and on.)

Pressing the MENU button once opens the FINE VIEWwindow which displays an expanded portion of thespectrum around the cursor. In FINE VIEW, eachvertical band represents one frequency band (100 KHz).The upper right corner shows the transmitter switchsettings for the frequency at the cursor location.

Underneath the transmitter switch settings are twoarrows to remind users that this is a partial picture of thespectrum. Use the SELECT Up or Down buttons toscroll left or right for view other portions of the frequencyblock (SELECT Up for higher frequencies and SELECTDown for lower frequencies.) The cursor remains inplace while the display scrolls left or right.

In addition to assessing the congestion within the RFtuning range of the receiver, the scanning mode is alsoused to find a clear operating frequency. Scroll throughthe screen and find a frequency where no RF signals arepresent (or in the worst case, only very weak RFsignals). With the cursor on this frequency, press the UP,DOWN and MENU buttons at the same time to leave thescan mode.

When leaving the scan mode, you are given the option ofusing the frequency the unit was set to before enteringthe scan mode, or replacing it with the open frequencydiscovered in the scan mode. The display shows USEOLD and USE NEW to prompt you to make a frequencyselection. To accept the new frequency from the scanmode, press SELECT Down to select USE NEW. Toreturn to the frequency you were using before enteringthe scan mode, press SELECT Up button for USE OLD.(The MENU button defaults to USE OLD).

The Frequency Window is displayed upon leavingFrequency Scan Mode. Set the associated transmitterFrequency Select Switches to the same settings asshown on the display and your system will be ready foroperation.

FREQUENCY SCAN MODE

11



DIRECT SIGNAL

INDIRECT SIGNAL

DIRECT SIGNAL

INDIRECT SIGNAL

MULTI-PATH DROPOUT

TRANSMITTER

RECEIVER

PHASECANCELLATION

REFLECTIVE SURFACE

ANTENNA USE AND PLACEMENTThe receiver is supplied with two fixed antennas. It isgood to position the receiver so that there is a direct “lineof sight” between the transmitter and the receiverantenna. In situations where the operating range is lessthan about 100 feet, the antenna positioning is muchless critical.

A wireless transmitter sends a radio signal out in alldirections. This signal will often bounce off nearby walls,ceilings, etc. and a strong reflection can arrive at thereceiver antenna along with the direct signal. If thedirect and reflected signals are out of phase with eachother a cancellation may occur. The result would be a“drop-out.” A drop-out sounds like audible noise (hiss orswishing), or in severe cases when the transmitter ispositioned in certain locations in the room, it may resultin complete loss of the carrier and the sound. Movingthe receiver even a few inches will change the drop-outsound, or eliminate it completely. A drop-out situation

may also improve or deteriorate as the crowd fills orempties the room, or when the transmitter or receiver ismoved to a different location.

The UCR201 receiver offers a sophisticated diversitydesign which overcomes drop-out problems in almostany situation. However, in the event that you doencounter a drop-out problem, first try moving thereceiver at least 3-to-4 feet from where it originallocation. This may alleviate the drop-out problem at thatlocation. If drop-outs still exist, try moving the receiver toan entirely different location in the room or closer to thetransmitter location.

Lectrosonics transmitters radiate power very efficiently,and the receivers are very sensitive. This reduces drop-outs to an insignificant level. If, however, you doencounter drop-outs frequently, call the factory or consultyour dealer. There is probably a simple solution.

12

UCR301


INSTALLATION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS1. Install a fresh battery or connect an external

power source to the UCR301.

2. Unless frequency settings have been previouslyassigned, scan for an open frequency and setboth the receiver and transmitter to thatfrequency. (See Finding Clear Frequencies.)

3. Connect the audio cable to the Receiver AudioOut XLR jack.

4. Set the Power ON/OFF switch to ON and verifythat the LCD panel activates.

5. Adjust the transmitter gain. THIS IS PERHAPSTHE MOST IMPORTANT STEP IN THE SET UPPROCEDURE. Refer to your transmittermanual’s Operating Instructions section fordetails on how to adjust the transmitter gain. Ingeneral, adjust the transmitter gain so that thevoice peaks will cause the audio modulationindicators on the receiver and transmitter to showfull modulation on the loudest peak audio levels.Normal levels should cause the UCR301’s audiolevel icon to fluctuate fully. This will result in thebest possible signal to noise ratio for the system.

NoteA common mistake at this point is to use the transmitteraudio gain control to set the overall audio level of the

entire audio system. The transmitter gain control is nota volume control and must be set independently of the

overall system audio level. The transmitter gaincontrol is only used to set the proper modulation of the

transmitter. To explain it another way, it is used tomatch the transmitter to the type of microphone and

the sound levels that will be present at thatmicrophone. We encourage users to either disconnectthe rest of the sound system or turn the sound systemgain to minimum to prevent feedback or overload as

the transmitter gain is set. That way, feedback from thesound system or overload of other equipment does notget in the way of setting the transmitter gain properly.Only after the transmitter gain control is set should the

gain of the rest of the audio system be adjusted toachieve the desired sound or signal levels.

6. Adjust the Audio Output according to the type ofinput on your equipment. Use the LEVEL menuand adjust the level with the SELECT Up andDown buttons.

The input levels of different cameras, VCRs, andPA equipment vary, which may require that youadjust the AUDIO OUT to an intermediateposition. Try different settings and listen to theresults. If the output of the receiver is too high,you may hear distortion or a loss of the naturaldynamics of the audio signal. If the output is toolow, you may hear steady noise (hiss) along withthe audio. The UCR301 audio output is designedto drive any audio input device from microphonelevel to +9 dBu line level.

Pilot

BAT

-40 -20 0 dB

1000100

101

uV

Pilot Tone Indicator

Scan

B81000100

101

uV

Vertical marker moves left to right

RF activityStrength of RF activity is

indicated in microvolts withmarkings on the front panel

FINDING CLEAR FREQUENCIESThe folllowing procedure will help you identify RF signalsin the area and find clear channels for operating thewireless system.

1. Ensure transmitter is turned off. Turn on thereceiver and wait a few seconds until the MainWindow appears on the LCD

2. Ensure the receiver isnot in PILOT TONEBYPASS mode. (A“P” will be blinking inthe upper left cornerof the Main Window.)

3. Simultaneously press the MENU and SELECTUp and Down buttons to enter Scan Mode.

4. View the LCD while the receiver is scanning. Thevertical marker will move across the display fromleft to right. RF activity will be indicated by darkareas in the display.

5. RF signal strength is indicated by markings inmicrovolts on the front panel to the left of the

OFF ON

MENU

ANT 1 ANT 2

SELECT

Pilot

Div RF Aud Rx Tx

BAT

-40 -20 0 dB

1000100

101

uV

Press all three buttons at the same timeand the receiver will start scanning.

UCR201 Simplified Audio Output Circuit

50

50

2K

2K

XLROUT

AUDIOAMP

OutputLevelAdjust Squelch

2 (HI)

1 (COMMON)

3 (LO)

25VNon-Polar

Caps

13



.

Scan

B81000100

101

uV

No RF activity (clear channel)

LCD. Look for clear channels in the spectrumwhere there is no RF activity. Scanning willrepeat and continue until a button is pressed.

6. If necessary, press the MENU button to zoom infor greater detail for fine adjustment.

8. Then press the SEL Up and Down arrows tomove the marker to the middle of a clear areawhere there is no RF activity. If an area with noRF activity cannot be found anywhere in thespectrum, locate one with the least amount of RFactivity.

9. Press all three buttons (SEL Up and Down andMENU) to move to the next screen. Two optionswill be shown.

Press the SEL Down arrow button toselect the USE NEW option and set thereceiver to the new frequency just foundin scanning.

Press the SEL Up arrow button to selectUSE OLD and return to the frequencythat was set before scanning.

LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE UCR301FRONT PANEL CONTROLSThe front panel panel controls can be “LOCKED” toprevent accidental changes being made during operationand handling.

To LOCK - Press and hold the MENU button until a bartracks horizontally across the LCD screen and the word“LOCKED” appears. If the MENU button is releasedbefore the word “LOCKED” appears, the unit will remainUNLOCKED. When in a LOCKED state, the pilot tonebypass toggle is also defeated.

In LOCKED state, the use of the MENU and SELECTUp/Down buttons are limited to “view only” and attemptsto change selections will result in a screen displaying theword “LOCKED.” The unit cannot be used for RFscanning when it is set in the LOCKED state.

To UNLOCK - Press and hold the MENU button until abar tracks horizontally across the screen and the word“UNLOCKED” appears. When the unit is UNLOCKED, allsettings can be altered.

The receiver can be LOCKED or UNLOCKED from anyof the four primary windows. It cannot be LOCKED fromthe scanning mode or from other subordinate screens.

Move marker to area with noRF activity

B81000100

101

uV

USE OLDUSE NEW

OFF ON

MENU

ANT 1 ANT 2

SELECT

Div RF Aud Rx Tx

BAT

1000100

101

uV

UCR 301

Use the SEL Up and Down arrow buttons toselect the old or new frequency.

B8

Fine adjustment can be madewhen zoomed closer

14

UCR301


To open the battery compartment door, push the door up and away from the case with your thumb, then swing open.

1

2

Lift and open the bottom battery door cover with yourthumb, rotate the door clockwise until it is perpendicularwith the case and allow the battery to fall out of thecompartment into your hand. Retaining pins will preventyou from opening too far. It is difficult to install thebattery backwards. Observe the large and small holes inthe battery contact pad before inserting a new battery.Insert the contact end of the battery first, making surethe contacts are aligned with the holes in the contactpad, and then swing the door closed. You will feel it snapinto place when it is fully closed.

CAUTIONLithium batteries will expand and swell if allowed to go into a deep

discharge. Be sure to remove lithium batteries as soon as thedisplay starts flashing. If lithium batteries are allowed to fully

discharge while still inside the battery compartment, they may bevery difficult to remove. Stuck lithium batteries can be avoided by

removing the battery label wrapping before use. This will allow thebattery to swell but will still leave enough room in the compartment

for the battery to fall out normally.

REPLACING THE BATTERY

15



UCR201 REPLACEMENT PARTS and ACCESSORIES

Part No. Description

32251

CCMIN

CH12E

VSR1

Velcro mounting strips

Zippered, padded vinyl system pouch

AC power supply

Thin velcro loop for power cable strain relief.

16

UCR301


TROUBLESHOOTING

POWER SUPPLY AND FUSELCD display not active • External power supply disconnected or inadequate.

• Main power supply fuse tripped. Turn the receiver off, remove thecause of the overload and turn the receiver back on.

• Wrong polarity power source. The external DC in requiresPOSITIVE to be on the center pin.

• Battery may be low. Try a fresh battery

PILOT TONE SQUELCHPILOT indicator is solid “P”, but no sound • Audio output cable bad or disconnected.

• Audio Output level set too low. Use the built-in test tone to verifylevels.

PILOT “P” keeps flashing when transmitteraudio switch is turned on • It takes several seconds for the relay to actuate the PILOT. Turn

on the transmitter power (and the audio switch on some models)and wait 3 to 5 seconds for the “P” to indicate steadily.

• Transmitter and receiver not on same frequency.

Noise on audio and Pilot indicator is “b” • The pilot tone bypass has been activated. Hold MENU and pressUP to reset (works only from the Main Window).

NoteThe PILOT indicator on the front panel shows as a solid “P” to indicate that the

audio has been turned on at the transmitter, and that the audio output on thereceiver is enabled. When the “P” is on, the audio is enabled. If the “P” is

flashing the pilot tone is not detected and the audio will be muted (squelched).When the pilot tone is bypassed, the “P” icon changes to a “b” shape.

ANTENNAS AND RF SIGNAL STRENGTHRF Level is weak • Receiver may need to be moved or reoriented.

• Transmitter antenna may be defective or poorly connected• Improper length of antenna, or wrong antenna on transmitter.

(UHF whip antennas are generally about 3 to 5 inches long. UHFhelical antennas may be shorter, but are often less efficient.

No RF Signal • Make certain frequency switches on transmitter match the receiverfrequency setting.

• Check battery in transmitter

AUDIO SIGNAL QUALITYPoor signal to noise ratio • Transmitter gain set too low

• The noise may not be in the wireless system. Turn the transmitteraudio gain all the way down and see if the noise remains. If thenoise remains, then turn the power off at the transmitter and see ifit remains. If the noise is still present, then the problem is not inthe transmitter.

• If noise is still present when the transmitter is turned off, trylowering the audio output level on the UCR301 and see if thenoise lowers correspondingly. If the noise remains, the problem isnot in the receiver.

• Receiver output is too low for the input of the device it is feeding.Try increasing the output level of the UCR301 and lowering theinput gain on the device the UCR301 is feeding.

Distortion • Transmitter input gain too high. Check and/or readjust input gainon transmitter according to the LEDs on the transmitter and thenverify the setting with the audio meter in the main window.

• Audio output level too high for the device the UCR301 is feeding.Lower the output level of the UCR301.

17



Frequency Adjustment Range: 25.5 MHz max.

Receiver Type: Triple conversion, superheterodyne, 244 MHz , 10.7 MHz and 300 kHz

Frequency Stability: ±0.001 %

Front end bandwidth: 30 MHz @ -3 dB

Sensitivity20 dB Sinad: 0.9 uV (-108 dBm), A weighted60 dB Quieting: 1.12 uV (-106 dBm), A weighted

Squelch quieting: Greater than 125 dB

AM rejection: Greater than 60 dB, 2 uV to 1 volt (Undetectable after processing)

Modulation acceptance: 85 kHz

Image and spurious rejection: 70 dB

Third order intercept: 0 dBm

Diversity method: Phased antenna diversity

FM Detector: Digital Pulse Counting Detector operating at 300 kHz

Antenna inputs: Dual fixed - made of marine phosphor bronze

Audio outputsRear Panel XLR: Adjustable from -50 dBu to +9 dBu in 1 dB steps.

Calibrated into a typical 10 K Ohm balanced load.Actual output impedance maximum 500 Ohms, minimum 200 Ohms.

Front Panel Controls and Indicators

LCD control panel menus:

Main window: Pilot tone; antenna phase, receiver battery level;transmitter battery level; audio level, RF level

Frequency window: Frequency, TV channel; Transmitter Frequency Select Switch settings

Audio output level adjustment: -50 dBu to +9 dBu

Battery level tracking: Both transmitter and receiver in 1/10th volt steps, accuracy +/- 10%.

Scanning mode: Coarse and fine modes for spectrum check

Audio test tone: 1 kHz, -50 dBu to +9 dBu output, < 5% THD

Transmitter battery type selection: 9 V alkaline, 9 V lithium, AA alkaline, AA lithium

Rear Panel Controls and features: XLR audio output jack; External DC input; Battery compartment access

Power Options:

Ext DC: Minimum +10 VDC to maximum +18 VDC; 1.6 W, 100 mA at +12 VDC

Int Batt: 9 V alkaline or lithium (90 mA @ 9 V, 120 mA @ 6 V)

Battery Life:

9V alkaline 3.5 hours continuous, 4 hours intermittent

9V lithium Up to 7 hours (continuous and intermittent usage are the same)

Weight: 11.3 oz with battery

Dimensions: 2.83" wide x 1.25" high x 4.64" deep

System Audio Specifications(UCR301 Receiver / UM300B Transmitter)

Signal to Noise Ratio: 108 dB; A-weighted at full quietingDistortion: Less than 0.5% at 50% modulation, 1 kHzFrequency Response: +/- 3 dB from 40 Hz to 18 kHz

Specifications subject to change without notice.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURESOperating Frequencies (MHz):Block 525 525.000 - 550.500Block 21 537.600 - 563.100Block 22 563.200 - 588.700Block 23 588.800 - 614.300Block 24 614.400 - 639.900

Block 25 640.000 - 665.500Block 26 665.600 - 691.100Block 27 691.200 - 716.700Block 28 716.800 - 742.300Block 29 742.400 - 767.900

Block 30 768.000 - 793.500Block 31 793.600 - 819.100Block 32 819.200 - 844.700Block 33 844.800 - 862.000

18

UCR301


SERVICE AND REPAIRIf your system malfunctions, you should attempt to correct or isolate the trouble before concluding that the equipmentneeds repair. Make sure you have followed the setup procedure and operating instructions. Check out theinterconnecting cords and then go through the TROUBLESHOOTING section in the manual

We strongly recommend that you do not try to repair the equipment yourself and do not have the local repair shopattempt anything other than the simplest repair. If the repair is more complicated than a broken wire or looseconnection, send the unit to the factory for repair and service. Don’t attempt to adjust any controls inside the units.Once set at the factory, the various controls and trimmers do not drift with age or vibration and never requirereadjustment. There are no adjustments inside that will make a malfunctioning unit start working.

19



581 LASER ROADRIO RANCHO, NM 87124 USAwww.lectrosonics.com Jan. 18, 2005

Limited One Year Warranty


LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTYThe equipment is warranted for one year from date of purchase against defects in materials or workmanship provided it was purchased from an authorized dealer. This warranty does not cover equipment which has been abused or damaged by careless handling or shipping. This warranty does not apply to used or demonstrator equipment.

Should any defect develop, Lectrosonics, Inc. will, at our option, repair or replace any defective parts without charge for either parts or labor. If Lectrosonics, Inc. cannot correct the defect in your equipment, it will be replaced at no charge with a similar new item. Lectrosonics, Inc. will pay for the cost of returning your equipment to you.

This warranty applies only to items returned to Lectrosonics, Inc. or an authorized dealer, shipping costs prepaid, within one year from the date of purchase.

This Limited Warranty is governed by the laws of the State of New Mexico. It states the entire liablility of Lectrosonics Inc. and the entire remedy of the purchaser for any breach of warranty as outlined above. NEITHER LECTROSONICS, INC. NOR ANYONE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THE EQUIPMENT SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS EQUIPMENT EVEN IF LECTROSONICS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LIABILITY OF LECTROSONICS, INC. EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF ANY DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have additional legal rights which vary from state to state.

Documents

DIVERSITY UHF RECEIVER · example, the Main Window alone shows the pilot tone indicator, antenna diversity phase, RF level, audio level, receiver battery status and transmitter battery