Tracer 6420: How to convert Plan B to Plan A?

[Anonymous]

There is a doc entitled, "TRACER 6420 Frequency Conversion Instructions.pdf," which purports to tell you how to do this. But there must be more to it! How do you reprogram the main board so that the LEDs reflect the unit's new status as Plan A, and the synthesizers behave accordingly?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting your question to the ADTRAN Support Forums.

The document TRACER 6420 Frequency Conversion Instructions is the correct method to change the frequency plan on the Tracer 6420. I will verify whether the front LEDs reflect the change, but I believe they do. I'll post my findings after I'm able to test this on a Tracer 6420 in our lab.

Thank you,

Patrick

[Anonymous]

Hi Patrick, Thank you for your kind reply.

I was concerned because the document only tells you to interchange the connections to the diplexer. Unless the main board can auto-sense this (high VSWR?), which seems doubtful, there is a very good chance that you would burn out the 6420's PA output devices. Something has to tell the mainboard that it is now Plan A.

I hope I'm explaining myself.

Thank you, Robin

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Robin,

The Tracer should definitely be powered off before changing the diplexer connections, but there should be no issues with the main board. As a matter of fact, when the board is built the only difference between an A and B is how the channels 1 & 2 are connected to the J1 & J2 connectors. The Technical Document exists because changing the Band Plan is supported, and is as simple as changing the connectors.

By the way, I did verify that the PLAN LED does change when you change the connectors.

Thank you,

Patrick

[Anonymous]

Thank you. Now I feel safe doing this.

Sincerely, Robin