TC-1520C EQUIPMENT CASE

USER'S MANUAL
TC-1520C Equipment Case
User’s Manual

Prepared by: Date: Document:

Ascom Network Testing 26 August 2010 1424 - LZT 108 8932 Rev C

© Ascom (2010)
All rights reserved. TEMS is a trademark of Ascom. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
 Contents
1  Introduction ................................................................ 1 

2  Overview of the TC-1520C ........................................ 1 

2.1  Overview of Function ................................................................ 1 
2.2  Devices Compatible with the TC-1520C................................... 2 
2.2.1  Phones ......................................................................................... 2 
2.2.2  Scanners ...................................................................................... 2 
2.2.3  Other Devices .............................................................................. 2 
2.3  TC-1520C Compatibility with TEMS Investigation .................. 2 
2.4  Using the TC-1520C with TEMS Investigation......................... 2 

3  Unpacking the TC-1520C System............................. 3 

3.1  TC-1520C System Contents ...................................................... 3 
3.2  Charging the Internal Battery ................................................... 3 

4  TC-1520C Component Details and

Functionality............................................................... 4 
4.1  Outer Connector Panel .............................................................. 4 
4.1.1  Main Input Power Connector ....................................................... 4 
4.1.2  Auxiliary Power Socket ................................................................ 5 
4.1.3  RF Connector Ports ..................................................................... 5 
4.1.4  LED Hole ..................................................................................... 5 
4.2  Internal USB Hub ....................................................................... 5 
4.3  Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS).......................................... 5 
4.4  UPS Output Protection Fuse..................................................... 6 
4.5  Internal Device Power Panel (12 V DC) .................................... 6 
4.6  Phone Power Panel.................................................................... 7 
4.7  USB to RS-232 Port.................................................................... 7 
4.8  Legacy 12 V DC Outputs ........................................................... 8 
4.9  Power Distribution Board Fuse ................................................ 8 
4.10  System Power Indicator ............................................................ 8 
4.11  Power Connector Pin Assignments ......................................... 9 
4.11.1  Main Input Power Receptacle ...................................................... 9 
4.11.2  Internal Device Power (12 V DC) ................................................. 9 
4.11.3  Phone Power Connectors ............................................................ 9 
4.11.4  Legacy 12 V DC Power Connectors .......................................... 10 
4.11.5  Cigarette Lighter Socket ............................................................ 10 
4.12  Phone Cradle Mounting Patterns ........................................... 10 
4.13  Internal Module Bolt Patterns ................................................. 10 
4.14  Locking the TC-1520C Case.................................................... 11 

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 5  Vehicle Installation .................................................. 12 
5.1  Seat Mounting Kit .................................................................... 12 
5.1.1  Adaptation for Right-Hand Driven Vehicles ............................... 13 
5.2  System Power Cable................................................................ 14 
5.3  TC-1520C USB Interface .......................................................... 14 

6  Shipping the TC-1520C System .............................. 15 

7  TC-1520C Specifications ......................................... 15 

8  Regulatory Qualifications ....................................... 16 

Appendix A. Current Draw Estimates for Internal

Devices ..................................................................... 17 

Appendix B. Procedure for Discharging the UPS

Battery....................................................................... 17 

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 1 Introduction
This manual describes the contents, installation, and functionality of the
TC-1520C equipment case.
Please note that instructions on how to install and operate scanners, audio
quality modules, and phones are not found here. Such instructions are
instead found in the documentation accompanying these optional product
kits, which are purchased separately.

2 Overview of the TC-1520C

2.1 Overview of Function
The TC-1520C equipment case makes drive testing with TEMS
Investigation practical. The case keeps external devices securely in place,
while greatly simplifying the task of connecting them to the PC.
The TC-1520C accommodates up to four mobile phones as well as multiple
combinations of scanners and audio quality measurement (AQM) modules.
The TC-1520C is powered with 12 V DC from the vehicle cigarette lighter
outlet. The TC-1520C input power connector is internally bridged to one
auxiliary power cigarette lighter receptacle on the main panel (next to the
XLR-type power inlet). This auxiliary power receptacle can be used with
any device that accepts an automotive 12 V DC system.
Internally, the uninterrupted power supply unit (UPS) provides power to all
devices installed in the TC-1520C. The UPS has a built-in battery that can
provide temporary power to all devices when the main input power is
removed. However, this time is limited and is dependent on the number of
devices connected to the TC-1520C case. The UPS does not provide
power to the auxiliary power receptacle mentioned above.
The internal power distribution module provides five 3-pin connectors for
distributing power to the internal scanners and AQM devices, four 6-pin
power connections for providing power to the phone devices, and one USB-
to-RS-232 interface.
A 7-port USB hub is used for connecting all internal and external devices to
the PC running TEMS Investigation. Devices requiring an RS-232 interface
are connected to the USB hub through the USB-to-RS-232 converter
integrated into the power distribution board.

Note: No phone or scanner device accessories are delivered with the

TC-1520C. All of these items must be purchased separately.

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 2.2 Devices Compatible with the TC-1520C

2.2.1 Phones
The TC-1520C is primarily intended to be used with phone models
supported by TEMS Investigation 11.0 and later.
For information on what phones are supported by each release of TEMS
Investigation, please contact Ascom support:
www.ascom.com/en/index/support/support-tems.htm

2.2.2 Scanners
 SRU (Scanning Receiver Unit)
 PCTel SeeGull LX single-band or dual-band WCDMA or GSM scanner
 PCTel SeeGull EX WCDMA/GSM scanner
 PCTel SeeGull EX Mini WCDMA scanner
 DRT 4301 scanner

2.2.3 Other Devices

 TTU (Test Transceiver Unit)
 TEMS audio quality measurement (AQM) module

2.3 TC-1520C Compatibility with TEMS Investigation

The TC-1520C case as such is compatible with all versions of TEMS
Investigation. On the other hand, each device installed in the case requires
the TEMS Investigation version in which it was introduced, or a later
version.
Again, for information on what devices are supported by each release of
TEMS Investigation, please contact Ascom support:
www.ascom.com/en/index/support/support-tems.htm

2.4 Using the TC-1520C with TEMS Investigation

Drivers need to be installed on the PC for the USB-to-RS-232 serial
converter. These drivers are always delivered along with the TC-1520C,
and they are also supplied with TEMS Investigation. Regarding driver
installation, see the TEMS Investigation 11.0 Getting Started Manual,
section 4.5.6.
The autodetect function in TEMS Investigation will detect the external
devices regardless of when the equipment case is connected. It is however
still recommendable to connect the case to the PC before starting TEMS
Investigation.

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 3 Unpacking the TC-1520C System
The TC-1520C system has a specially designed shipping container. Do not
discard the shipping materials; these must be used when shipping the TC-
1520C case in order to prevent damage due to shipping and handling.

3.1 TC-1520C System Contents

The TC-1520C system package should contain:
 TC-1520C case
 Accessory pouch
 Car seat installation belts (five belts in total)
 Replacement fuses
 TC-1520C User’s Manual (this document)
 Cigarette lighter input power cable
 Case combination lock
 USB Type A to Type B cable for connecting the TC-1520C to a PC

3.2 Charging the Internal Battery

The TC-1520C case comes with an internal battery. This battery provides
temporary power to the TC-1520C system when the main power is
interrupted. It is recommended that you allow time for this battery to charge,
although this is not required for running the TC-1520C system.
To charge the internal battery, plug the main power cable into the TC-
1520C and an external 12 V DC power source. Allow approximately two
hours of charge time to fully charge the battery. Do not turn on the TC-
1520C case during the initial charging, as this will increase the charging
time. (The system battery will not be damaged if the case is turned on
during charging.)

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 4 TC-1520C Component Details and
Functionality
The following pages describe the functionality of every connector and
component within the TC-1520C case.

4.1 Outer Connector Panel

Outer connector panel

4.1.1 Main Input Power Connector

The input power rating is 12 V DC with a maximum current capacity of
15 A. The system is protected by a 15 A fuse embedded inside the
cigarette lighter cable plug, which is described in section 5.2. The TC-
1520C case is not designed for 24 V DC systems.

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 4.1.2 Auxiliary Power Socket
This cigarette lighter socket can provide a maximum of 10 A at 12 V DC to
any connected device. The outlet is not controlled by the internal UPS.

4.1.3 RF Connector Ports

There are ten SMA-type RF ports (“ANT 1” through “ANT 10”) and two
SMB-type GPS ports (“GPS 1”, “GPS 2”). These ports are ground isolated
and can be connected to any internal device.

4.1.4 LED Hole

The hole marked “LED” is only used with the PCTel SeeGull LX scanner.

4.2 Internal USB Hub

The internal USB hub provides seven USB ports. The hub supports
USB 1.1 and USB 2.0. Each port can provide 5 V DC at 0.5 A.

Front panel of internal USB hub

4.3 Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)

The UPS is used to turn on and off the installed TC-1520C components
and to provide temporary power to the modules and phones if the main
power is lost. Note that the UPS can power the TC-1520C system only for a
short period of time.
The “UPS ON/OFF” momentary rocker switch is located to the left of the
USB hub (see the drawing in section 4.4). It is recommended to turn off the
UPS when the case is not in use. Leaving the UPS powered on will drain
the internal battery.
On top of the power distribution module is a green LED. This LED will be lit
if the UPS is providing power.
The UPS will provide approximately 100 W/10 minutes of backup power
when the main power is lost. See Appendix A for device current draw
estimates.

WARNING: The UPS contains a lithium-ion battery pack (rated 14.8 V,

3800 mAh).

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 Do not store or operate the UPS in temperatures beyond the
specifications of the TC-1520C case (see chapter 7).

Do not ship the TC-1520C case with a charged battery. See Appendix A
for battery draining instructions.

If the battery fails to hold a charge, you need to return the TC-1520C for
service. Do not attempt to replace or remove the UPS battery.

4.4 UPS Output Protection Fuse

Beside the USB hub is a 7.5 A fuse. This fuse protects all internal
components.
Recommended replacement: ATO Blade Fuse 32 V DC 7.5 A, Littelfuse,
025707.5PXPV

UPS on/off switch and system fuse

4.5 Internal Device Power Panel (12 V DC)

All internal devices are powered via the 12 V DC power panel. All five
connectors are provided power via the UPS. All optional scanners and
audio quality modules plug into this panel.

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 Internal device power panel

4.6 Phone Power Panel

Some phones require more charging power than the USB hub can provide.
The 6-pin connectors marked “MOBILE/EU” will be used to provide this
extra power to the phones. These connectors in turn are powered via the
UPS.

4.7 USB to RS-232 Port

The task of the USB-to-RS-232 serial converter is to convert data and
transfer it between the USB hub and a scanner or an external GPS device
equipped with an RS-232 port.
In order for the PC to detect the COM port of the converter, some driver
files (delivered with TEMS Investigation) must be installed on the PC. See
section 2.4.
Once the serial converter is correctly installed, the PC operating system will
detect one additional COM port. The port will be assigned the next
available COM number; what number is used depends on what ports have
already been defined and so cannot be predicted. It is possible to inspect
and to change the COM number using the Windows Device Manager.
The COM port will always be detected by the PC, whether or not any
equipment is connected to it. In other words, disconnecting the device
connected to the converter port does not affect port detection.

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 4.8 Legacy 12 V DC Outputs
These 2-pin connectors, marked “12 Vdc Out (1)” and “12 Vdc Out (2)”, are
used to provide internal power connections for the PCTel SeeGull LX
scanners.

4.9 Power Distribution Board Fuse

The 5 A fuse protects the phone power connectors and the 12 V DC Out
connectors only.
Replacement fuse: Mini-blade 32 V DC 5 A, Littelfuse, 0297005.WXNV

4.10 System Power Indicator

On top of the power distribution module is a green LED. This LED will be lit
whenever the UPS is providing power to the system. If the LED does not
light up, troubleshoot as follows:
1. Push the UPS momentary on/off power switch.
2. Check the main 15 A input power cable fuse.
3. Check the 7.5 A system fuse.
4. Check the power distribution board 5 A fuse.
5. Push the UPS momentary on/off power switch again.
6. If the LED is still not lit, there is a fault in the system. Please contact
Technical Support and have the TC-1520C returned for repair.

Power distribution module

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 4.11 Power Connector Pin Assignments

4.11.1 Main Input Power Receptacle

1. Ground
2. +12 V DC at 15 A
3. No connection

4.11.2 Internal Device Power (12 V DC)

1. +12 V DC
2. No connection
3. Ground

4.11.3 Phone Power Connectors

1. +5 V DC
2. No connection
3. No connection
4. Ground
5. No connection
6. No connection

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 4.11.4 Legacy 12 V DC Power Connectors
1. +12 V DC
2. Ground

4.11.5 Cigarette Lighter Socket

 Center +12 V DC at 10 A
 Shell ground

4.12 Phone Cradle Mounting Patterns

This image shows the bolt patterns for mounting the phone cradles.

4.13 Internal Module Bolt Patterns

This image shows the bolt patterns for mounting the internal device
brackets.

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 4.14 Locking the TC-1520C Case
A padlock (4-digit combination lock) is provided in the accessory kit for
locking the case.

WARNING: The TC-1520C is designed to have the lid open during

operation. Closing the lid will trap the heat generated by the devices and
may cause devices to shut down or be damaged.

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 5 Vehicle Installation
5.1 Seat Mounting Kit
For installation in a vehicle, please use the belts provided in the accessory
kit. The belts will secure the TC-1520C to the seat and hold the lid open.
Failure to use the belts could result in bodily injuries or damage to the TC-
1520C in the event of a sudden stop.
The mounting kit consists of:
 Two (2) short belts with buckle receptacle and clasp
 Two (2) long belts with buckle tongue and clasp
 One (1) lid retainer belt with clasps on each end
All belts must be used in order for the securing system to function properly.
If any belts are missing, please contact customer support.

The recommended installation procedure is as follows:

1. One pair of belts (short + long) is used to strap the case to the seat on
each side. Perform steps 2–5 for each pair of belts.
2. Clasp the short belt with buckle receptacle to the front mounting hole of
the case.
3. Clasp the long belt with buckle tongue to the rear mounting hole of the
case.
4. Pass the long belt between the seat and the back rest, then wrap the
belt around the seat from back to front.
5. Plug the buckle together and pull the belt tail firmly until the case sinks
into the seat and does not move. You may need to apply pressure to
the top of the closed case to assist in this tightening.
6. Next, open the lid and clasp the lid retainer belt to one of the lid’s
locking holes.
7. Wrap the belt around the back rest and clasp the other end to the other
locking hole in the lid.
8. Pull the belt tail firmly until the lid sinks into the back rest.
9. If the case has free movement, continue to tighten the belts until no
free movement exists.

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 TC-1520C case strapped to vehicle seat

Long belt inserted between seat and back rest

5.1.1 Adaptation for Right-Hand Driven Vehicles

The mounting of the interior of the TC-1520C is adapted for left-hand driven
vehicles. It is easy to adapt the case to right-hand driven vehicles:
1. Remove the four screws located on the bottom of the case. This will
release the internal chassis.
2. Rotate the internal chassis 180 degrees and replace it back into the
case.
3. Align the four holes between the outer case and internal chassis and
reinstall the four screws.

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 Detaching the internal chassis of the TC-1520C

5.2 System Power Cable

The power cable provided is specifically designed to handle the 15 A
current required to operate the TC-1520C system. Only the supplied power
cable should be used with the TC-1520C.
The cigarette lighter plug can be plugged into any automotive cigarette
lighter receptacle with a minimum of 15 A capacity.
The 3-pin right angle XLR connector plugs into the power receptacle on the
connector panel.

TC-1520C power cable

The cigarette lighter plug has an integrated LED indicator. If this LED is not
lit, the fuse may be blown.
Recommended fuse: Fast-acting 3AG cartridge fuse, 32 V DC 15 A,
Littelfuse, 0312015.HXP.

5.3 TC-1520C USB Interface

Connect to the TC-1520C hub using the USB cable provided. Plug the
Type B connector into the hub and the Type A connector into your PC.

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 6 Shipping the TC-1520C System
The internal components of the TC-1520C cannot withstand the shock and
vibration forces that typically arise during commercial shipping. Therefore
the TC-1520C may be commercially shipped only in its original shipping
container.
Preparations for shipping:
1. Drain the UPS battery as described in Appendix B.
2. Pack the TC-1520C in its original shipping materials.
3. Do not pack any loose components inside the TC-1520C. This includes
the phones, power cable, and accessory pouch. Pack these items
separately in the shipping container. All fixed modules such as
receivers and AQM modules may remain installed inside the TC-1520C
case.
Failure to follow these instructions may damage the internal components of
the TC-1520C case during shipment.

7 TC-1520C Specifications
 Operating temperature: 0°C ... 40°C
 Storage temperature: –20°C ... 50°C
 Weight or case with no scanners or AQM modules installed: 4.2 kg
(9.3 lbs)
 Input voltage: 9 ... 18 V DC (12 V DC nominal 15 A)
 Auxiliary power receptacle: 12 V DC nominal 10 A
 UPS controlled internal power: 12 V DC at 7.5 A
 Internal USB hub: 7 ports supporting USB 1.1 or 2.0, 5 V DC at 0.5 A
per port.
 Up to 4 phone cradles supported
 Up to 5 internal scanners or audio quality modules supported
 Case dimensions: See the drawing below.

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 Physical dimensions of TC-1520C (all measurements in mm)

8 Regulatory Qualifications
 RoHS compliant

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 Appendix A. Current Draw Estimates for
Internal Devices
The UPS can provide a maximum of 7.5 A of current. 2.0 A is reserved for
the USB hub and any attached devices that require USB power. This
leaves 5.5 A available for optional internal devices. The table below lists the
current draw of each type of internal device; from this data you can
estimate the total required amperage by adding up the current draws of all
devices you plan to install.

Supported Devices Approximate Current Draw at 12 V

PCTel SeeGull LX scanner Max. 2.5 A
PCTel SeeGull EX scanner Max. 1.5 A
PCTel SeeGull EX Mini scanner Max. 1.0 A
DRT 4301 scanner Max. 1.4 A
SRU Max. 0.7 A
TEMS AQM module Max. 0.5 A

Example: If you install two PCTel SeeGull EX scanners they will draw a
total of 1.5 + 1.5 = 3 A, and you then have 2.5 A left for installing further
devices.

Appendix B. Procedure for Discharging

the UPS Battery
1. Do not connect the TC-1520C power cable.
2. Power on the TC-1520C. The UPS unit will consume power over time.
When the battery is completely drained, the green LED on top of the
power distribution module will go out. It will take approximately
14 hours for a fully charged battery to drain.
To speed up the process, leave all internal devices connected. The external
auxiliary cigarette lighter plug will not affect the battery discharge time.

© Ascom (2010) Document:

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06.2010 © Ascom 2010. All rights reserved. TEMS is a trademark of Ascom . All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

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