CENTRACOM Card Type Primer

[d119]

Model numbers to follow as I get them, but here's the list of abbreviations and descriptions that I have for CENTRACOM cards. Disclaimer at the end of the article so please read the WHOLE THING. Here ya go!!!

OMI = Operator Multiplex Interface.
Older 6805 based card that is EPROM programmed (UV Erasable) and requires the Motorola CentraCom II Field PROM programmer to change the operator console configuration. The CCII FPP installs on an unused OMI card and interfaces via the RS232 card to a TTY to facilitate PROM programming. Note: Good luck on this one. Finding the CCII FPP is near impossible, and after speaking with experienced Motorola technicians, it's a real pain in the neck to work with.

TOMI = Trunked Operator Multiplex Interface.
This is the one to have for CentraCom II+ systems. This interface supports BOTH trunking and conventional operation. When equipped with EEPROMS instead of UV erasable EPROMS in the personality module PROM sockets, the card becomes user-programmable via "Motorola Centracom Series2 RSS". Using an RS-232 card installed above the TOMI card in the CEB and the Series2 RSS, you can manipulate the programming of the TOMI card and set up an operator position using DOS based RSS (The Series2 RSS). This is STILL a major pain in the neck, because the operator position CCP's (Channel Control Panels) and CCM's (Channel Control Modules, the individual modules that install in an operator position) are all defined in the software by MODEL NUMBER (B1403 is a speaker, B1405 is a T1R1 CCM, etc). I'll post a conversion chart for these model numbers as I figure them out. This is really the only way to go for Buttons & LED's OP's, unless you can get ahold of COIM's.

TTOMI = Turbo Trunked Operator Multiplex Interface.
This card is kind of the "mid point" between the TOMI and COIM cards. It's capabilities are unknown to me.

BIM = Base Interface Module
BIM's are what connects CentraCom to the actual base stations. Signalling is performed via standard Tone Remote Control (TRC) or Direct Current (DC). BIM's in their default state are TRC BIM's, and use tone signalling. To accomplish DC signalling, a DC daughterboard that contains interface circuitry and a transformer is installed on the BIM. It is my theory that this daughter card does nothing but convert tone signalling to DC signalling, but I could be wrong, this is just a theory. BIM's can usually be identified as a card with a single adjustment pot on the front (the BIM output to the base station), and the standard red/green LED's below that.

TBIM = Trunked Base Interface Module
The TBIM interfaces to base stations in a trunking environment. Each trunked channel will have a corresponding TBIM in the CEB. It is my understanding that console audio does not route through the trunking central controller, but to each base station individually via a TBIM. I don't have much experience with TBIM's, so thats about all I know so far.

WWV BIM = WWV Base Interface Module
The WWV BIM attaches to a WWVB receiver in order to bring accurate system time to the CEB. Uses an RS-232 AUX card above it to derive the time from an external reference such as a Spectracom Netclock. Not really experienced in it's use, so I can't comment much yet. I have one, but have yet to play with it.

iBIM = iDEN Base Interface Module
The IBIM allows interface of an iDEN base station (NexTel). This allows the OP to control a Motorola LM3000AFU (Advanced Features Unit) base station to operate on an iDEN network. The IBIM, LM3000AFU and some interface pieces ALL require VERY special MATCHING firmware, and this is not a simple feature to install. I've got limited experience on the IBIM's, and they can be quite a pain. Once it's working though, it works fairly well, and you can send alert tones, etc. via the console out over to the iDEN units, and in theory you could do channel patches between iDEN and conventional channels. An iBIM is the same thing as a normal BIM, only it is associated with an iDEN resource. Hardware wise, it's just a standard BIM.

DR or DRIM = Dual Receive Interface Module
DRIMS allow you to interface two receivers to Centracom for receive-only applications. The inputs are standard 600 ohm connections, and are VOX activated. What comes out of your receiver controls activity on the card. You can interface TWO receivers to the card, hence the "Dual Receive". Dispatch centers that employ these cards generally use them for talkaround receivers to hear units on car-to-car channels, but I've personally seen them used for other things, such as scanners on a fixed frequency, other agency "Receive Only" radios, and even cable television audio so that the TV audio can be muted when a call comes in and goes out, and so the dispatcher has easy access to the TV volume.

COIM = Console Operator Interface Module
A COIM is the Operator Interface Module that is used in Centracom Gold Elite/Gold Classic systems. The COIM is by far the most desirable card to have, as it allows interfacing to Centracom Gold Elite/Gold Classic CIE's (PC based dispatch), or Buttons & LED's consoles. They are very easy to program. I've never programmed one for B&L operation, just CIE based operation, but I understand that B&L programming is pretty straightforward on this card. The COIM is the standard Operator Interface Module as of this writing.

SYSTEM TIMER = The system timer is the heart of the system. Most CEB's operate on two system timers: A & B. There are two system timers in the CEB for redundancy, and they hand off control at midnight every night and switch back and forth amongst each other. The CEB can be configured to operate with only one system timer, but this is not adivsable, because a failure of the system timer card in a CEB that only runs one system timer WILL BRING DOWN THE ENTIRE CEB, and I've seen it happen. Best to have two for redundancy ALWAYS.

LOMI/LORI = Logging Operator Multiplex Interface
These cards are used in trunking systems for voice recording/logging. This card de-trunks the audio off the system and records specific talkgroups to the logging recorder. I don't have any experience with these, although I do have a few.

ROCI = Remote Operator CEB Interface
The ROCI card allows interfacing of an off-premises console, in other words, a console that is not physically located within the immediate premises of the CEB.

TIMI = Definitiion Needed (Trunking Interface Multiplex Interface?)
The TIMI card is the link between the CEB and a trunking system Central Controller. The TIMI card is essentially a TOMI card with different firmware in it to perform a different function. The TIMI carries all talkgroup information, radio ID's, etc. back to the CEB from the Central Controller.

SPI/DPI = Smart/Direct Phone Interface
The SPI/DPI gives access to the PSTN via the CEB. It essentially allows one or two phone lines to run into the CEB for handling telephone calls via OP's, or running radiotelephone interconnects (Phone Patch).

AEI = Audio Expansion Interface
This board is necessary when using TOMI cards, as apparently the TOMI card does not have enough physical space on the board to handle processing & audio (per xmo in another post). The AEI sits adjacent to the TOMI card, and a "Y" cable is used to interface the AEI and TOMI outputs (AEI & Backplane 7 pair) into one 7 pair cable for connection to the console.

3/6 AUX I/O (Aux I / Aux II) = 3 Input, 6 Output Auxiliary Input/Output
Allows 3 inputs or 6 outputs of relay contact closure (momentary or push-on/push-off). Door controls, voter controls, etc. This is a small card that sits in one of the little slots above all the other cards.

16 AUX I/O = 16 Auxiliary Input/Output
Similar to 3/6 Aux I/O but has 16 relays on it. This is a full-size card.

COMP = Comparator Interface
The COMP module interfaces to a Voting Comparator (analog SpectraTAC or analog/securenet DIGITAC) to allow display of the voted site, unsquelched sites, failed sites and disabled sites. It also allows manual disable of voting receiver sites and manual voting of voting receiver sites. This is one cool card once you've done all the wiring. It emulates the voting display on the front of the comparator on the actual console. This card is just a standard 16 Aux I/O, however defining it as a COMP card pre-configures the CEB to handle voting comparator functions.

AIMI = Ambassador Interface Multiplex Interface
Allows interface of the CEB to an Ambassador (Embassy) electronics band for wide-area / multiple CEB systems such as a wide-area SmartZone network. The AIMI takes the place of the System Timer card, and contains two T-1 trunks onboard to handle the backhaul to the AEB (Ambassador Electronics Bank).

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If anyone finds inaccuracies or whatnot in the above information *PLEASE* PM me or post and let me know what's wrong... I'd like to keep this as accurate as possible. I'm a Centracom n00b, but I'm learning, and I have a full CCII+ CEB that I built myself all the way down to the TDM addressing and CCM programming. Corrections, Contributions and Questions are MOST GREATLY APPRECIATED. Let's make this "difficult, mystery centracom thing" less of a mystery for those who want to delve into it and play. Yes, I think the time for a CentraCom forum has come... Perhaps two? Newbie Development Centracom Forum, and a support forum for those who are already running it but need assistance?

I digress, but I hope this information was at least helpful to someone out there:)

[Bruce1807]

COIM = Console Operator Interface Module

CORI =Console Operator Remote Interface.
This the other end of the ROCI

AIMI = Ambassador Interface Multiplex Interface
AIMI modules replace the standard CEB System Timer modules in CEBs connected to AEBs

AEB= Ambassador Eletronics Bank
The CENTRACOM Embassy Switch is intended for console systems which require access to more than 96 audio resources or would otherwise be suited for the use of multiple, potentially geographically separated, Central Electronics Banks (CEBs). In addition, the Embassy switch functions as the core audio switching equipment in Motorola SmartZone and Dimetra trunked radio systems.

Will add some more in the morning