ETC OBE tester ME8800E

- It is an instrument for testing if OBE installed on car executes wireless communication correctly.

What is ETC OBE tester?
Features
Explanation of each part
Display and function of operation panel
Library

What is ETC OBE tester?

ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system commenced its operation in full scale in Japan in March 2001. This means that final inspection on the wireless level is necessary at a car dealer or car goods shop after an ETC OBE has been installed or after user information was setup. This allows the customer to confirm that the ETC OBE is operating without fail. Otherwise, argument with the customer may arise at a later date.

An ETC OBE executes communication with a roadside unit (wireless equipment installed at inlet / outlet or along the main line of a toll road) installed at a tollgate at 5.8GHz, which is an extremely high frequency. It exchanges information such as the car type, through which tollgate the car entered the toll road and which route the car took. Therefore, unlike a TV set or radio, it is not possible to judge visually or audibly if the installing work was normally done.

For this reason, testing equipment of some kind is needed. It is ideal if testing is conduced with equipment identical to roadside unit installed at a tollgate, but roadside unit is extremely expensive. It is not realistic to use it as a tester. ETC OBE tester ME8800E is equipment that meets such a requirement. It can be said to be a simple version of roadside unit.

ME8800E is not an equipment to measure the receiving sensitivity or the like of ETC OBE or ETC antenna. Therefore, it does not guarantee the communication between ETC OBE and ETC antenna at a tollgate.

Features

ME8800E is a new model having improved ME8800D.

ETC OBE tester ME8800E is an instrument for testing if OBE (On Board Equipment) installed on car executes wireless communication correctly.

It is a complete one piece and handy type.

In other words, since it is battery-operated, it is free of a power cable and does not require any other cable for connection, there is no troublesomeness at all in its use.

This tester is always necessary when OBE is installed at OBE setup shop.

Complete one piece

This equipment is composed of a main body only, and no cables are used at all, not even a power cable. It is a complete one-piece type. Two AA size dry batteries are used as the power source.

Compact and lightweight

The dimensions are as small as 138 (W) x 101 (H) x 30 (D) mm and it is as light as 250g. Handling and carriage are easy.

Power-saving design

As the power is off automatically on termination of a test, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

Easy operation

The only thing to do is to press the START button and to check the LED (PASS or FAIL) or buzzer sound (no sound in case of PASS, continuous sound in case of FAIL).

Sufficient test

This equipment checks the operations of transmission system, receiving system and control circuit of the ETC OBE by conducting a basic operation test specified in ARIB TR-T16.

In addition, this equipment is capable of conducting a stable test with the carrier sense function (suppresses mutual interference between this equipment and road side unit) and self-check function (checks the internal memory of this equipment).

Available for the two deferent modes

A test may be conducted in either A mode (D1 : 5.795 GHz, U1 : 5.835GHz) or B mode (D2 : 5.805 GHz, U2 : 5.845GHz).

Explanation of each part

Antenna side : This is the face to be directed to the ETC OBE at the time of testing.
Operation side : This is the face for test start operation and for check of the test result.
START button : This is the button for starting a test.
PASS lamp : This is the LED lamp that indicates "PASS" and other status.
FAIL lamp : This is the LED lamp that indicates "FAIL" and other status.
Buzzer : This is the buzzer that indicates "PASS / FAIL" and other status.
Battery cover : This is the cover for fixing batteries. Remove it for installing and replacing batteries.
Wrist strap installing hole : Hole for fitting a wrist strap

Display and function of operation panel

Auto power on / off
When the START button is pressed, the power is on automatically and a test is conducted (for about 2 seconds). The test result is indicated for about 5 seconds after termination of a test, and the power is then off automatically.
Correspondence to A / B mode
This equipment deals with two frequency modes, and A mode (5.795GHz) and B mode (5.805GHz) are available.
A mode is executed when the START button is pressed once, while B mode is executed when the START button is pressed twice (the interval between the first pressing attempt and the second pressing attempt should be 0.2 second and up, to 1 second). The mode being used is indicated by two LED lamps.
Abnormality detection function
This equipment provides three errors detect functions indicated below. Each one of these errors can be identified by two LED lamps and a buzzer tone.
- Abnormality of battery shortage
  When batteries shortage, "battery shortage" sign is issued immediately after the START button is pressed. Please exchange for new dry batteries.
- Carrier sense
  This is the function for suppressing mutual wave interference between this equipment and roadside unit. When a carrier from the roadside unit was detected, "with carrier" sign is issued and the test is discontinued. Move to a place where "with carrier" sign is not issued, and conduct a test again.
- Abnormality in equipment
  Self-check of this equipment is implemented when the START button is pressed, before testing the ETC OBE. If "abnormality in equipment" sign is issued, contact your dealer.

Tester operation, display

LED, buzzer operation table

Scroll

Tester state		LED			Buzzer sound
Tester state		Display	PASS (green)	FAIL (red)	Buzzer sound
Under test	A mode		Short blink	Continuous turning off	Short intermittence sound
Under test	B mode		Continuous turning off	Short blink	Short intermittence sound
PASS			Continuous turning on	Continuous turning off	No buzzer sound
FAIL			Continuous turning off	Continuous turning on	Continuous sound
Abnormality	Battery shortage		Continuous turning off	Long blink	Long intermittence sound
	Existence of carrier		Continuous turning on	Long and short blink	Long and short intermittence sound
	Abnormality of equipment		Continuous turning off	3 times short blink and long turning off	3 times short intermittence sound and long silence