GE MDS DS-2710AC Point to Point/Multipoint Wireless Modem User Manual Manual

GE MDS LLC Point to Point/Multipoint Wireless Modem Manual

Manual

Installation & Operation Guide MDS 05-3447A01, REV. F SEPTEMBER 2004 Data TransceiverMicrowave Data Systems Inc. MDS 1710 A/CMDS 2710A/C/D
QUICK START GUIDE Below are the basic steps for installing the transceiver. Detailed instructions are provided in “Installation Steps” on Page 9 of this manual. 1. Install and connect the antenna system to the radio • Use good quality, low loss coaxial cable. Keep the feedline as short as possible.• Preset directional antennas in the direction of desired transmission/reception. 2. Connect the data equipment to the radio’s INTERFACE connector • Connection to the radio must be made with a DB-25 Male connector. Connections for typical sys-tems are shown below. • Connect only the required pins. Do not use a straight-through RS-232 cable with all pins wired.• Verify the data equipment is configured as DTE. (By default, the radio is configured as DCE.) 3. Apply DC power to the radio (10.5–16 Vdc @ 2.5 A minimum) • Observe proper polarity. The red wire is the positive lead; the black is negative. 4. Set the radio’s basic configuration with a Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) • Set the transmit frequency ( TX xxx.xxxxx ).• Set the receive frequency ( RX xxx.xxxxx ).• Set/verify the data rate using the BAUD command. The default setting is BAUD 4800 8N1 . (Refer to “TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMING” on Page 17 for command details.) 5. Verify proper operation by observing the LED display • Refer to Table 5 on Page 16 for a description of the status LEDs.• Refine directional antenna headings for maximum receive signal strength using the RSSI com-mand. DB-25 DB-25232345206DSR DSR6TXDRXDGNDRTSCTSTXDRXDGND4CTS5RTSDB-9 DB-25DB-9 to DB-25 ExampleDB-25 to DB-25 Example114523325207RXDTXDDCDGNDDSRRTSRXDTXDDCDGNDAs required for application51876CTSDSRRTSCTS864577GND GND8 8DCD DCDAs required for applicationRTU(DTE)TRANSCEIVER(DCE)RTU(DTE)TRANSCEIVER(DCE)
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 GENERAL.................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................11.2 Differences Between Models ...........................................................21.3 Applications ......................................................................................2Point-to-Multipoint, Multiple Address Systems (MAS) ....................2Point-to-Point System .....................................................................3Continuously Keyed versus Switched Carrier Operation................4Single Frequency (Simplex) Operation...........................................41.4 Product Configurator Codes .............................................................41.5 Accessories ......................................................................................5 2.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS.............................................................. 5 3.0 INSTALLATION............................................................................ 8 3.1 Installation Steps ..............................................................................93.2 Transceiver Mounting .....................................................................113.3 Antennas and Feedlines ................................................................11Feedlines ......................................................................................123.4 Power Connection ..........................................................................123.5 Data Interface Connections ............................................................133.6 Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode .......................................................13Sleep Mode Example ...................................................................13 4.0 OPERATION.............................................................................. 15 4.1 LED Indicators ................................................................................164.2 RSSI Measurement ........................................................................16 5.0 TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMING ............................................ 17 5.1 Hand-Held Terminal Connection & Startup ....................................175.2 Hand-Held Terminal Setup .............................................................185.3 Keyboard Commands .....................................................................19Entering Commands.....................................................................19Error Messages ............................................................................195.4 Detailed Command Descriptions ...................................................22AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF] ................................................22ASENSE [HI/LO]...........................................................................23BAUD [xxxxx abc] .........................................................................23BUFF [ON, OFF]...........................................................................23CKEY [ON–OFF] ..........................................................................24CTS [0–255] .................................................................................24DATAKEY [ON, OFF] ....................................................................24DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY] ............................................................24DKEY............................................................................................25
ii MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FDLINK [ON/OFF/xxxx] ..................................................................25DMGAP [xx]..................................................................................25DTYPE [NODE/ROOT] .................................................................25DUMP ...........................................................................................26HREV............................................................................................26INIT...............................................................................................26INIT [2710]....................................................................................26INIT [2720]....................................................................................26KEY ..............................................................................................27MODEL.........................................................................................27MODEM [xxxx, NONE] .................................................................27OWM [XXX...] ...............................................................................27OWN [XXX...]................................................................................27PTT [0–255]..................................................................................27PWR [20–37] ................................................................................27RSSI .............................................................................................28RTU [ON/OFF/0-80]......................................................................28RX [xxx.xxxxx] ..............................................................................28RXTOT [NONE, 1-255] .................................................................28SCD [0-255]..................................................................................28SER ..............................................................................................28SHOW [DC, PORT, PWR].............................................................29SNR ..............................................................................................29SREV............................................................................................29STAT .............................................................................................29TEMP............................................................................................29TOT [1-255, ON, OFF]..................................................................30TX [xxx.xxxxx]...............................................................................30UNIT [10000...65000] ...................................................................30 6.0 TROUBLESHOOTING............................................................... 30 6.1 LED Indicators ................................................................................316.2 Event Codes ...................................................................................31Checking for Alarms—STAT command.........................................31Major Alarms vs. Minor Alarms.....................................................31Event Code Definitions .................................................................32 7.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE ....................................................... 33 7.1 Transceiver Specifications ..............................................................337.2 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics .............................347.3 Bench Testing Setup ......................................................................367.4 Helical Filter Adjustment ................................................................377.5 Upgrading the Radio’s Software .....................................................38Using Radio Software Upgrade Diskette ......................................38Using Radio Configuration Software.............................................397.6 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart ................................................40
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D iii Copyright Notice This Installation and Operation Guide and all software described herein are protected by copyright: © 2004 Microwave Data Systems Inc . All rights reserved. MDS reserves its right to correct errors and omissions. To Our Customers We appreciate your patronage. You are our business. We promise to serve and anticipate your needs. We will strive to give you solutions that are cost effective, innovative, reliable and of the highest quality possible. We promise to build a relationship that is forthright and ethi-cal, one that builds confidence and trust. RF Safety Notices MDS 1710, 5 Watts The radio equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency energy. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to come closer than 1.80 meters to the front of the antenna when the trans-mitter is operating with a 7 dBd (9.15 dBi) gain antenna. Use of higher gain antennas means increasing the distance accordingly.This manual is intended to guide a professional installer to install, operate and perform basic system maintenance on the described radio. MDS 2710A/C, 2 Watts The radio equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency energy. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to come closer than .813 meters to the front of the antenna when the transmitter is operating with a 7 dBd (9.2 dBi) gain antenna. Use of higher gain antennas means increasing the distance accordingly.This manual is intended to guide a professional installer to install, operate and perform basic system maintenance on the described radio. MDS 2710D, 5 Watts The radio equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency energy. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to come closer than 1.50 meters to the front of the antenna when the trans-mitter is operating with a 7 dBd (9.15 dBi) gain antenna. Use of higher gain antennas means increasing the distance accordingly.This manual is intended to guide a professional installer to install, operate and perform basic system maintenance on the described radio. RF Exposure
iv MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F ISO 9001 Registration Microwave Data Systems’ adheres to this internationally accepted qual-ity system standard. FCC Approval Notice At the printing date, MDS 1710 models are approved for operation in the USA from150 to 174 MHz. MDS 2710 models are approved for opera-tion in the USA from 216 to 222 MHz. Contact MDS for current approval status. CSA/ US Notice This product is available for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C & D Hazardous Locations. Such locations are defined in Article 500 of the National Fire Protection Association publication NFPA 70, other-wise known as the National Electrical Code. The product has been recognized for use in hazardous locations by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), which also issues the US mark of approval (CSA/ US ). The CSA Certification is in accordance with CSA STD C22.2 No. 213-M1987. The product has been evaluated in accordance with the following standards: • CSA Std C22.2 No. 142-M1987 - Process Control Equipment• CSA Std C22.2 No. 213-M1987 - Non-Incendive Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations• ANSI/UL Std No. 508 - Industrial Control Equipment• UL Std No. 1604 - Electrical Equipment for Use in Class I and II, Division 2; Class III Hazardous (Classified) Locations FCC Part 15 Notice The transceiver complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This device is specifically designed to be used under Section 15.247 of the FCC Rules and Regulations. Any unauthorized modification or changes to this device without the express approval of Microwave Data Systems may void the user’s authority to operate this device. Further-more, this device is intended to be used only when installed in accor-dance with the instructions outlined in this manual. Failure to comply with these instructions may also void the user’s authority to operate this device.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D v Manual Revision and Accuracy While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this manual, product improvements may result in minor differences between the manual and the product shipped to you. If you have addi-tional questions or need an exact specification for a product, please con-tact our Customer Service Team using the information at the back of this guide. In addition, manual updates can often be found on the MDS Web site at www.microwavedata.com. Microwave Data Systems Inc. reserves the right to correct all errors or omissions in this document without obligation to any party.
vi MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 1 1.0 GENERAL 1.1 Introduction This guide presents installation and operating instructions for MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710 A/C/D series digital radio transceivers.These transceivers (Figure 1) are data telemetry radios designed to operate in a point-to-multipoint environment, such as electric utility Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and distribution automation, gas field automation, water and wastewater SCADA, and on-line transaction processing applications. They use microprocessor control and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology to provide highly reliable communications even under adverse conditions.MDS 1710/2710 Series radios use continuous-phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) modulation with root duo-binary filtering (the sum of two Nyquist-shaped, root-raised cosine responses). Demodulation uses a Virterbi decoder and equalization with soft decision decoding.Modulation and demodulation is accomplished using Digital Signal Pro-cessing (DSP). DSP adapts to differences between components from unit to unit, and ensures consistent and repeatable performance in ambient temperatures from –30 to +60 degrees Celsius. The use of Dig-ital Signal Processing eliminates the fluctuations and variations in modem operation that can degrade the operation of analog circuits. Figure 1. Transceiver Connectors and Indicators The transceiver is designed for trouble-free operation with data equip-ment provided by many other manufacturers, including Remote Ter-minal Units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), flow computers, lottery terminals, automatic teller machines, and others.EXTERNAL INTERFACECONNECTOR(DB-25)DIAGNOSTICS CONNECTOR (RJ-11)13.8 VDC POWER CONNECTORANTENNA CONNECTOR(TYPE “N”)SERIAL NUMBERLABELLED INDICATORS (4)
2 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F NOTE: Some features may not be available, based on the optionspurchased and the applicable regulations for the region in which the radio will operate. 1.2 Differences Between Models All models of the MDS 1710/2710 Series are very similar in appearance and functionality. The major differences are in frequency coverage, channel bandwidth and data speed. Table 1 summarizes the available models and identifies the characteristics of each. To determine the specific settings for your radio (as originally shipped from the factory), please refer to the Product Configurator chart shown in Figure 4. NOTE: The operating software for A, C, and D models is not inter- changeable. NOTE: The narrow bandwidth of the MDS 2710D transceiver is notcompatible with standard analog modems, including thewidely used Bell 202T. The MDS 2710D is intended for digital RS-232 data only. 1.3 Applications Point-to-Multipoint, Multiple Address Systems (MAS) This is the most common application of the transceiver. It consists of a central master station and several associated remote units as shown in Figure 2. An MAS network provides communications between a central host computer and remote terminal units (RTUs) or other data collection devices. The operation of the radio system is transparent to the computer equipment. Table 1. MDS 1710/2710 Series Characteristics Radio Model No. Operating Frequency Channel Bandwidth Over-the-Air Data Speed OutputPower (W) MDS 1710A 130–174 MHz 12.5 kHz 9600 bps 5MDS 1710C 130–174 MHz 25 kHz 19200 bps 5MDS 2710A 216–220 MHz 12.5 kHz 9600 bps 2MDS 2710A 220–240 MHz 12.5 kHz 9600 bps 5MDS 2710C 216–220 MHz 25 kHz 19200 bps 2MDS 2710C 220-240 MHz 25 kHz 19200 bps 5MDS 2710D 220–222 MHz 5 kHz 3200 bps 5 Consult factory for current regulatory approvals on these products.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 3 Often, a radio system consists of many widely separated remote radios. A point-to-multipoint or SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acqui-sition) system may be a new installation for automatic, remote moni-toring of gas wells, water tank levels, electric power distribution system control and measurement, etc.The radio system may replace a network of remote monitors currently linked to a central location via leased telephone line. At the central office of such a system, there is usually a large mainframe computer and some means of switching between individual lines coming from each remote monitor. In this type of system, there is a modulator/demodulator (modem) at the main computer, and at each remote site, usually built into the remote monitor itself. Since the cost of leasing a dedicated-pair phone line is quite high, radio is often used as an alternative communi-cation medium. Invisible place holder Figure 2. Typical MAS Point-to-Multipoint Network Point-to-Point System Where permitted, the transceiver may also be used in a point-to-point arrangement. A point-to-point system consists of just two radios—one serving as a master and the other as a remote—as shown in Figure 3. It provides a simplex or half-duplex communications link for the transfer of data between two locations. Figure 3. Typical Point-to-Point LinkRTURTURTURTURTUREMOTE RADIOREMOTE RADIOREMOTE RADIOREMOTE RADIOREMOTE RADIOHOSTSYSTEMMASTER RADIOREMOTEMASTERHOSTCOMPUTERRTU
4 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F Continuously Keyed vs. Switched Carrier Operation The keying behavior of the master station can be used to describe an MAS system. Continuously Keyed operation means the master station transmitter is always transmitting a carrier, even when there is no data to send. The master station is always simultaneously transmitting and continuously listening. Different frequencies must be used for transmit and receive. NOTE: MDS 1710/2710 radios do not support full-duplex operation. Therefore, switched carrier mode must be set to ON ( SWC ON ). Switched Carrier operation is a half-duplex mode of operation where the master station transmitter is keyed to send data and unkeyed to receive. Single Frequency (Simplex) Operation Single frequency operation (also known as simplex) is a special case of switched carrier operation. Single frequency operation is automatically selected whenever the transmit and receive frequencies are set to the same value. Note that data turn-around times are increased when a single frequency configuration is used. 1.4 Product Configurator Codes The full radio model number is printed on the radio enclosure. It pro-vides key information about how the radio was configured when it was originally shipped from the factory. See Figure 4 for an explanation of the configurator codes. Invisible place holder Figure 4. MDS 1710x/2710x Product Configurator CodesTHIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.DO NOT USE FOR PRODUCT ORDERING.1710A/C,OPERATIONX= Base/RemoteMODEN= Non-redundantINPUT VOLTAGE1= 10.5 to 16 VDCMODEMB= 9600 bpsDIAGNOSTICS0= None1= Network-wideBANDWIDTH1= 12.5 kHz3= 25 kHz FEATURES0= FullAGENCYN= N/ASAFETYN= N/AMtg. Brackets.A= Std.B= None5= 5 kHzD= 3200 bps0= NoneC= 19200 bpsRX FRQ. (MHz)A= 220-240**A= 130-140B=140-150D= 150-165E= 165-175TX FRQ. (MHz)1= 220-240**2= 140-1503= 150-165D= DemoC= ChinaF= FCCI= Ind. Canada(6.25 kHz @130-174)2710A/C/D4= 165-1741= 130-140** MDS 2710A/C ModelsA= 220-222** MDS 2710D Models1= 220-222*
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 5 1.5 Accessories The transceiver can be used with one or more of the accessories listed in Table 2. Contact Microwave Data Systems for ordering information. 2.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS If you are new to digital radio systems, some of the terms used in this guide may be unfamiliar. The following glossary explains many of these terms and will prove helpful in understanding the operation of the trans-ceiver. Active Messaging —This is a mode of diagnostic gathering that may interrupt SCADA system polling communications (contrast with pas-sive messaging ). Active (or intrusive) messaging is much faster than passive messaging because it is not dependent upon the RTU polling cycle. Table 2. MDS 1710/2710 Series Optional Accessories Accessory Description MDS P/N Hand-Held TerminalKit (HHT) Terminal that plugs into the radio for programming, diagnostics & control. Includes carrying case, instructions and cable set.02-1501A01RTU Simulator Test module that simulates data from a remote terminal unit. Comes with MDS polling software (02-2093Axx) that runs on a PC. Useful for testing radio operation.03-2512A01Order Wire Module External device that allows temporary voice communication. Useful during setup & testing of the radio system.02-1297A01Power Supply Kit AC adaptor that converts 110/220 Vac to 12 Vdc at 30 watts. 01-3682A01Order Wire Handset Used with Order Wire Module (above). 12-1307A01RJ-11 to DB-9 Adapter Used to connect a PC to the radio’s DIAG. port 03-3246A01EIA-232 to EIA-422 Converter Assembly External adapter plug that converts the radio’s DATA INTERFACE connector to EIA-422 compatible signaling.03-2358A01TTL Converter Assembly External adapter plug that converts the radio’s DATA INTERFACE connector to TTL compatible signaling.03-2223A01Radio Configuration Software Provides diagnostics of the transceiver (Windows-based PC required.) 03-3156A01VOX Assembly External unit used to key the radio when audio input is present. 03-1098A0219-inch Rack Mounting Kit Allows mounting the transceiver in a standard 19 inch rack cabinet. (Power supply and Interface Board not included.)02-1983A02Brown-Out Protection Board PCB that protects against low voltage conditions. 03-2567A01
6 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F Antenna System Gain —A figure, normally expressed in dB, repre-senting the power increase resulting from the use of a gain-type antenna. System losses (from the feedline and coaxial connectors, for example) are subtracted from this figure to calculate the total antenna system gain. Bit —The smallest unit of digital data, often represented by a one or a zero. Eight bits (plus start, stop, and parity bits) usually comprise a byte. Bits-per-second —See BPS.BPS—Bits-per-second. A measure of the information transfer rate of digital data across a communication channel.Byte—A string of digital data usually made up of eight data bits and start, stop and parity bits.Decibel (dB)—A measure computed from the ratio between two signal levels. Frequently used to express the gain (or loss) of a system.Data Circuit-terminating Equipment—See DCE.Data Communications Equipment—See DCE.Data Terminal Equipment—See DTE.dBi—Decibels referenced to an “ideal” isotropic radiator in free space. Frequently used to express antenna gain.dBm—Decibels referenced to one milliwatt. An absolute unit used to measure signal power, as in transmitter power output, or received signal strength.DCE—Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (or Data Communications Equipment). In data communications terminology, this is the “modem” side of a computer-to-modem connection. The transceiver described in this guide is a DCE device.Digital Signal Processing—See DSP.DSP—Digital Signal Processing. In the transceiver, the DSP circuitry is responsible for the most critical real-time tasks; primarily modulation, demodulation, and servicing of the data port.DTE—Data Terminal Equipment. A device that provides data in the form of digital signals at its output. Connects to the DCE device.Equalization—The process of reducing the effects of amplitude, fre-quency or phase distortion with compensating networks.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 7Fade Margin—The greatest tolerable reduction in average received signal strength that will be anticipated under most conditions. Provides an allowance for reduced signal strength due to multipath, slight antenna movement or changing atmospheric losses. A fade margin of 20 to 30 dB is usually sufficient in most systems.Frame—A segment of data that adheres to a specific data protocol and contains definite start and end points. It provides a method of synchro-nizing transmissions.Hardware Flow Control—A transceiver feature used to prevent data buffer overruns when handling high-speed data from the RTU or PLC. When the buffer approaches overflow, the radio drops the clear-to-send (CTS) line, which instructs the RTU or PLC to delay further transmis-sion until CTS again returns to the high state.Host Computer—The computer installed at the master station site, which controls the collection of data from one or more remote sites.Intrusive Diagnostics—A mode of remote diagnostics that queries and commands radios in a network with an impact on the delivery of the system “payload” data. See Active messaging.Latency—The delay (usually expressed in milliseconds) between when data is applied to TXD (Pin 2) at one radio, until it appears at RXD (Pin 3) at the other radio.MAS—Multiple Address System. A radio system where a central master station communicates with several remote stations for the pur-pose of gathering telemetry data.Master (Station)—Radio which is connected to the host computer. It is the point at which polling enters the network.MCU—Microcontroller Unit. This is the processor responsible for con-trolling system start-up, synthesizer loading, and key-up control.Microcontroller Unit—See MCU.Multiple Address System—See MAS.Network-Wide Diagnostics—An advanced method of controlling and interrogating MDS radios in a radio network.Non-intrusive diagnostics—See Passive messaging.Passive messaging—This is a mode of diagnostic gathering that does not interrupt SCADA system polling communications. Diagnostic data is collected non-intrusively over a period of time; polling messages are carried with SCADA system data (contrast with active messaging).
8 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FPayload data—This is the application’s user communication data which is sent over the radio network. It is the transfer of payload data that is the primary purpose of the radio communications network.Point-Multipoint System—A radio communications network or system designed with a central control station that exchanges data with a number of remote locations equipped with terminal equipment.Poll—A request for data issued from the host computer (or master PLC) to a remote radio.PLC—Programmable Logic Controller. A dedicated microprocessor configured for a specific application with discrete inputs and outputs. It can serve as a host or as an RTU.Programmable Logic Controller—See PLC.Remote (Station)—A radio in a network that communicates with an associated master station.Remote Terminal Unit—See RTU.Redundant Operation—A station arrangement where two transceivers and two power supplies are available for operation, with automatic switchover in case of a failure.RTU—Remote Terminal Unit. A data collection device installed at a remote radio site. An internal RTU simulator is provided with the trans-ceiver to isolate faults to either the external RTU or the radio.SCADA—Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. An overall term for the functions commonly provided through an MAS radio system.Standing Wave Ratio—See SWR.Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition—See SCADA.SWR—Standing Wave Ratio. A parameter related to the ratio between forward transmitter power and the reflected power from the antenna system. As a general rule, reflected power should not exceed 10% of the forward power (≈ 2:1 SWR).3.0 INSTALLATIONThere are three main requirements for installing the transceiver—ade-quate and stable primary power, a good antenna system, and the correct data connections between the transceiver and the data device. Figure 5 shows a typical remote station arrangement.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 9Invisible place holderFigure 5. Typical Remote Station Arrangement3.1 Installation StepsBelow are the basic steps for installing the transceiver. In most cases, these steps alone are sufficient to complete the installation. More detailed explanations appear at the end of these steps.1. Mount the transceiver to a stable surface using the brackets supplied with the radio.2. Install the antenna and antenna feedline for the station. Preset direc-tional antennas in the desired direction.3. Connect the data equipment to the transceiver’s DATA INTERFACE connector. Use only the required pins for the application—Do not use a fully pinned (25 conductor) cable. Basic applications may require only the use of Pin 2 (transmit data—TXD), Pin 3 (Received Data—RXD) and Pin 7 (signal ground). The radio can be keyed with the use of the DATAKEY command.Additional connections may be required for some installations. Refer to the complete list of pin functions provided in Table 4 on page 14.4. Measure and install the primary power for the radio. The red wire on the power cable is the positive lead; the black is negative.13.8 VDCPOWER CABLE13.8 VDC2.5 A (Minimum)POWER SUPPLYREMOTE TERMINAL UNIT ANTENNA SYSTEMLOW-LOSS FEEDLINERADIO TRANSCEIVER
10 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FNOTE: Use the radio in negative ground systems only.5. Set the radio configuration. The transceiver is designed for quick installation with a minimum of software configuration required in most cases. The selections that must be made or verified for new installations are:• Transmit frequency• Receive frequencyThe operating frequencies are not set at the factory unless they were specified at the time of order. Determine the transmit and receive frequencies to be used, and follow the steps below to program them.6. Connect a hand-held terminal (HHT) to the DIAG. connector. When the HHT beeps, press to receive the ready “>” prompt.• Set the operating frequencies using the TX xxx.xxxxx (transmit) and RX xxx.xxxxx (receive) commands.• Press after each command. After programming, the HHT reads PROGRAMMED OK to indicate successful entry.• Set other transceiver parameters as required. A complete list of transceiver commands is provided in Section 5.0, TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMING.ENTERENTER
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 113.2 Transceiver MountingFigure 6 shows the mounting dimensions of the transceiver.Invisible place holderFigure 6. Transceiver Mounting Dimensions3.3 Antennas and FeedlinesAntennasThe transceiver can be used with a number of antennas. The exact style depends on the physical size and layout of the radio system. A direc-tional Yagi (Figure 7) or corner reflector antenna is generally recom-mended at remote sites to minimize interference to and from other users. Antennas of this type are available from several manufacturers.8.5"216 mm1.75"4.44 CM6.63"168 mm2.75"70 mm7.25"184 mmALTERNATEPOSITION5.625"143 mm2.25"57 mm2.0"50 mm
12 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FInvisible place holderFigure 7. Typical Yagi Antenna (mounted to mast)FeedlinesThe selection of antenna feedline is very important. Poor quality cables should be avoided as they will result in power losses that may reduce the range and reliability of the radio system.Table 3 shows the losses that will occur when using various lengths and types of cable at 200 MHz. Losses at 130-174 MHz will be slightly lower. Regardless of the type of cable used, it should be kept as short as possible to minimize signal loss† Cable loss slightly lower at 130-174 MHz.3.4 Power ConnectionThe transceiver can be operated from any well-filtered 10.5 to 16 Vdc power source. The power supply should be capable of providing at least 2.5 amperes of continuous current.The red wire on the power cable is the positive lead; the black is nega-tive.NOTE: The radio is designed for use only in negative ground systems.Table 3. Length vs. Loss in Coaxial Cables at 200 MHz†Cable Type 3 Meters(10 Feet) 15 Meters(46 Feet) 30 Meters(91 Feet) 150 Meters(525 Feet)RG-8A/U 0.32 dB 1.6 dB 3.2 dB 16 dB1/2 inch HELIAX 0.10 dB 0.49 dB 0.98 dB 4.9 dB7/8 inch HELIAX 0.05 dB 0.27 dB 0.54 dB 2.7 dB1-1/4 inch HELIAX 0.04 dB 0.20 dB 0.40 dB 2.0 dB1-5/8 inch HELIAX 0.03 dB 0.17 dB 0.33 dB 1.65 dB
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 133.5 Data Interface ConnectionsThe transceiver’s DATA INTERFACE connector is used to connect the transceiver to an external DTE data terminal that supports the EIA-232 (formally RS-232) format. The transceiver supports asynchronous data rates of up to 38400 bps. The data rate at the DATA INTERFACE connector may differ from the data rate used over the air.Table 4 lists each pin on the DATA INTERFACE connector and describes its function.Do not use a 25 wire (fully pinned) cable for connection to the DATA INTERFACE connector. Use only the required pins for the application. Damage may result if improper connections are made. Typical applica-tions require the use of only Pins 1 through 8 for EIA-232 signaling.3.6 Using the Radio’s Sleep ModeIn some installations, such as at solar-powered sites, it may be necessary to keep the transceiver’s power consumption to an absolute minimum. This can be accomplished using the Sleep Mode. In this mode, power consumption is reduced to less than 16 milliamperes (nominal).Sleep mode can be enabled under RTU control by asserting a ground (or EIA-232 low) on Pin 12 of the radio’s DATA INTERFACE connector.When Pin 12 is opened (or an EIA-232 high is asserted), the radio will be ready to receive data within 75 milliseconds.All normal functions are suspended while the radio is in sleep mode. The PWR LED will be off, except for a quick flash every 5 seconds.Sleep Mode ExampleThe following example describes Sleep Mode implementation in a typ-ical system. Using this information, you should be able to configure a system that will meet your own particular needs.Example:Suppose you need communications to each remote site only once per hour. Program the RTU to raise an EIA-232 line once each hour (DTR for example) and wait for a poll and response before lowering it again. Connect this line to Pin 12 of the radio’s DATA INTERFACE connector. This will allow each RTU to be polled once per hour with a significant savings in power con-sumption.CAUTIONUSEONLY REQUIREDPINS
14 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FTable 4. DATA INTERFACE Connector Pinouts PinNumber Input/Output Pin Description1--Protective Ground. Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on the radio’s PC board and chassis.2INTXD—Transmitted Data. Accepts TX data from the connected device.3 OUT RXD—Received Data. Outputs received data to the connected device.4INRTS—Request-to-Send Input. Keys the transmitter when RTS is at logic high.5 OUT CTS—Clear-to-Send Output. Goes “high” after the programmed CTS delay time has elapsed (DCE) or keys an attached radio when RF data arrives (CTS KEY).6 OUT DSR—Data Set Ready. Provides a +6 Vdc DSR signal through a 2.5 kΩ resistor.7--Signal Ground. Connects to ground (negative supply potential) at radio’s PC board.8 OUT DCD—Data Carrier Detect. Goes “high” when the modem detects a data carrier from the master station.9INTransmit Audio Input. Connects to the audio output of an external (AFSK) modem. The input impedance is 600 Ω. Use Pin 7 for the modem’s return lead.10 OUT RUS—Receiver Unsquelched Sensor. Not used in most installations, but is available as a convenience. Provides +8 Vdc through a 1 kΩ resistor whenever the receiver squelch is open, and drops to less than 1 Vdc when the squelch is closed.11 OUT Receive Audio Output. Connects to the audio input of an external (AFSK) modem. The output impedance is 600 Ω, and the level is factory set to suit most installations. Use Pin 7 for the modem’s return lead.12 IN Radio Inhibit (Sleep). A ground on this pin places the radio into the “sleep” mode. It turns off most circuits in the radio, including transmit, receive, modem and diagnostic functions. This allows for greatly reduced power consumption, yet preserves the radio’s ability to be quickly brought online.13 -- Do not connect—Reserved for future use.14 IN PTT—Push to Talk. This line is used to key the radio with an active-high signal of +5 Vdc. 15 OUT Remote RTU Reset. Do not connect—Reserved for future use.16 IN PTT—Push to Talk. This line is used to key the radio with an active-low signal of 0 Vdc. 17 -- Do not connect—Reserved for future use.18 IN/OUT Accessory Power. Unregulated Input/Output. Provides a source of input power for low current accessories. Excessive drain on this connection will trip self-resetting fuse F1 on the transceiver PC board. The voltage at this pin will match the input voltage to the transceiver.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 15Invisible place holder4.0 OPERATIONIn-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic. Once the unit has been properly installed and configured, operator actions are limited to observing the front panel LED status indicators for proper operation.If all parameters are correctly set, operation of the radio can be started by following these steps:1. Apply DC power to the transceiver.2. Observe the LED status panel for the proper indications (Table 5).3. If not done earlier, refine the antenna heading of the station to maxi-mize the received signal strength (RSSI) from the master station.Use the RSSI command from an HHT connected to the radio’s DIAG. connector.—See Section 5.0, TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMING. This can also be done with a DC voltmeter as described in Section 4.2, RSSI Measurement.19 OUT 9.9 Vdc Regulated Output. Provides a source of regulated voltage at 100 mA for low power accessories.20 -- Do not connect—Reserved for future use.21 OUT RSSI—Received Signal Strength Indication. A DC voltmeter may be connected to this pin to read the relative strength of the incoming signal. Figure 8 is a chart showing RSSI vs. DC voltage.22 -- Do not connect—Reserved for future use.23 IN Diagnostic Channel Enable. A ground on this pin causes the radio’s microcontroller to open the DB-25 DATA INTERFACE for diagnostics and control instead of the normal RJ-11 DIAG. connection.24 -- Do not connect—Reserved for future use.25 OUT Alarm. A logic low (less than 0.5 volts) on this pin indicates normal operation. A logic high (greater than 4 volts) indicates that some alarm condition is present. This pin can be used as an alarm output, provided the internal series resistance of 1 kΩ is considered.Table 4. DATA INTERFACE Connector Pinouts (Continued)PinNumber Input/Output Pin Description
16 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F4.1 LED IndicatorsTable 5 describes the function of each status LED.4.2 RSSI MeasurementAs an alternative to using an HHT, the radio’s received signal strength (RSSI) may be read with a DC voltmeter connected to Pin 21 of the DATA INTERFACE connector. Figure 8 shows the relationship between received signal level and the DC voltage on Pin 21 of the DATA INTER-FACE connector. (Note: Readings are not accurate for signals stronger than –50 dBm.)Invisible place holderFigure 8. RSSI vs. Vdc (Typical)PWR DCD TXD RXDTable 5. LED Status Indicators LED Name DescriptionPWR • Continuous—Power is applied to the radio, no problems detected.• Rapid flash (five times-per-second)—Fault indication.• Flashing once every 5 seconds—Radio is in Sleep mode.DCD • Flashing—Indicates the radio is receiving intermittent data frames.• Continuous—Radio is receiving a data signal from a continuously keyed radio.TXD An EIA-232 mark signal is being received at the DATA INTERFACE connector.RXD An EIA-232 mark signal is being sent out from the DATA INTERFACE connector.22.533.54–110–90–70–50+ DC VOLTS (PIN 21)SIGNAL LEVEL (dBm)4.55.0
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 175.0 TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMINGProgramming and control of the transceiver is performed through the radio’s RJ-11 DIAG. (Diagnostics) connector with an MDS Hand-Held Terminal (MDS P/N 02-1501A01). This section contains a reference chart (Table 7) followed by detailed descriptions for each user com-mand.NOTE: In addition to HHT control, Windows-based software is avail-able (MDS P/N 03-3156A01) to allow diagnostics andprogramming using a personal computer. An installationbooklet and on-line instructions are included with the soft-ware. Contact MDS for ordering information.5.1 Hand-Held Terminal Connection & StartupThis section gives basic information for connecting and using the MDS Hand-Held Terminal. For more information about the terminal, refer also to the instructions included with each HHT kit.The steps below assume that the HHT has been configured for use with the transceiver (80 character screen display). If the HHT was previously used with a different model transceiver, or if its default settings have been changed, refer to Section 5.2, Hand-Held Terminal Setup for setup details.Follow these steps to connect the HHT:1. Connect the HHT’s coiled cord to the DIAG. (RJ-11) jack on the radio as shown in Figure 9. This automatically places the radio into the control and programming mode.As an alternative, the DATA INTERFACE (DB-25) connector may be used for programming instead of the DIAG. jack. With this arrange-ment, Pin 23 of the HHT cable must be grounded to enable the diag-nostic channel. (See Table 4.)2. When the HHT is connected, it runs through a brief self-check, ending with a beep. After the beep, press to obtain the ready “>” prompt. ENTER
18 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FInvisible place holderFigure 9. Hand-Held Terminal Connected to the Transceiver5.2 Hand-Held Terminal SetupThe following is a set of instructions for re-initializing an HHT for use with the transceiver. These steps may be required if the HHT was previ-ously used with a different radio, or if the HHT default settings have been inadvertently altered.1. Plug the HHT into the DIAG. connector. Enable the setup mode by pressing the , and keys in sequence. The display shown in Figure 10 appears.Invisible place holderFigure 10. HHT Setup Display2. The first of 15 menu items is displayed. Settings are reviewed by pressing the NEXT function controlled by the key. Parameter set-tings are changed by pressing the ROLL function controlled by the key.ANTENNA13.8 VDC+ –ZCTRLU+–K*F/AF1V,Q#)G(BF2SHIFT ESCW=R7M4H1CF3BKSPX0S8N5I2DF4SPACEYT9O63EF5ENTERJLPSHIFTCTRLSPACEFF1FFFBCDEAEA
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 193. Set up the HHT as listed in Table 6.5.3 Keyboard CommandsTable 7 is a reference chart of software commands for the transceiver. Programmable information is shown in brackets [ ] following the com-mand name. See Section 5.4, Detailed Command Descriptions for detailed command descriptions.Entering CommandsTo enter a command, type the command, followed by an key-stroke. For programming commands, the command is followed by and the appropriate information or values, then .Here are some additional points to remember when using the HHT:• Use the key to access numbers; press again to return to letter mode.• Use the key to edit information or commands entries.• The flashing square cursor ( ) indicates that letter mode is selected.• The flashing superscript rectangular cursor ( ) indicates that number mode is selected.Error MessagesListed below are some possible error messages that may be encountered when using the HHT:UNKNOWN COMMAND—The command was not recognized. Refer to the command description for command usage information.INCORRECT ENTRY—The command format or its associated values were not valid. Refer to the command description for command usage infor-mation.Table 6. HHT Operational Settings Parameter Setting Parameter SettingRe-init HT NO Scroll On 33rdBaud Rate 9600 Cursor ONComm bits 8,1,n CRLF for CR OFFParity Error OFF Self Test FASTKey Repeat OFF Key Beep ONEcho OFF Screen Size 80Shift Keys YES Menu Mode LONGCtl Chars PROCSENTERSPACE ENTERSHIFTESC/BKSP
20 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FCOMMAND FAILED—The command was unable to successfully complete. This may indicate an internal software problem.NOT PROGRAMMED—Software was unable to program the internal radio memory or the requested item was not programmed.This is a serious internal radio error. Contact MDS for assistance.TEXT TOO LONG—Response to OWN or OWM command when too many characters have been entered. Refer to the command description for command usage information.NOT AVAILABLE—The entered command or parameter was valid, but it referred to a currently unavailable choice. Refer to the command description for command usage information.ACCESS DENIED—The command is unavailable to the user. Refer to the command descriptions for command information.EEPROM FAILURE— The INIT command was unable to write to EEPROM. This is a serious internal radio error. Contact MDS for assistance.Table 7. Command summary Command name Function AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]Details page 22Set or display hex code identifying which events trigger an alarm. ASENSE [HI/LO]Details page 23 Set or display the state of the alarm output signal to ACTIVE HI or ACTIVE LO. BAUD [xxxxx abc]Details page 23 Set or display the DATA INTERFACE data rate and control bits. BUFF [ON, OFF]Details page 23 Enables or disables the internal radio data buffer. CTS [0–255]Details page 24 Set or display the Clear-to-Send delay in seconds. CKEY [ON–OFF]Details page 24 Enables or disables the continuously keyed mode. Note: Remotes cannot receive when keyed. DATAKEY [ON, OFF]Details page 24 Toggles between key-on-data and key-on-RTS. DKEYDetails page 25 Dekey the radio (transmitter OFF). This is generally a radio test command. DLINK [ON/OFF/xxxx]Details page 25 Configures local diagnostic link protocol. DMGAP [xx]Details page 25 (Diagnostics) Sets the amount of time to wait after the receipt of a character before interpreting the next received character as the start of a new message.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 21 DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]Details page 25 (Diagnostics) Sets up a radio as a Root or Node radio. Associated commands are GATE and PEER. (See MDS’ Network-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (MDS P/N 05-3467A01) for details.) DUMPDetails page 26 Display all programmable settings. HREVDetails page 26 Display the Hardware Revision level, if programmed. INITDetails page 26 Set radio parameters to factory defaults. INIT [2710]Details page 26 Restores certain transceiver defaults before using the INIT xx20 command. INIT [2720]Details page 26 Configure radio for use with an MDS model P-20 chassis. KEYDetails page 27 Key the radio (transmitter ON). This is generally used for radio testing. MODELDetails page 27 Display the model number of the radio. MODEM [xxxx, NONE]Details page 27 Set the modem characteristics of the radio. OWM [XXX...]Details page 27 Set or display the owner’s message. OWN [XXX...]Details page 27 Set or display the owner’s name. PTT [0–255]Details page 27 Set or display the Push-to-Talk delay in milliseconds. PWR [20–37]Details page 27 Set or display the transmit power setting. RSSIDetails page 28 Display the Received Signal Strength Indication. RTU [ON/OFF/0-80]Details page 28 Enables or disables the radio’s internal RTU simulator and sets the RTU address. RX [xxx.xxxxx]Details page 28 Set or display receiver frequency. RXTOT [NONE, 1-255]Details page 28 Set or display the value of the receive time-out timer. SCD [0-255]Details page 28 Set or display the Soft-carrier Dekey delay in milliseconds. SERDetails page 28 Display the radio serial number. SHOW [DC, PORT, PWR]Details page 29 Display the DC voltages, diagnostics port, and transmit power level. SREVDetails page 29 Display the Software Revision Level. STATDetails page 29 Display radio status and alarms.Table 7. Command summary (Continued)Command name Function
22 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F5.4 Detailed Command DescriptionsThe only critical commands for most applications are transmit and receive frequencies (RX xxx.xxxxx, TX xxx.xxxxx). However, proper use of the additional commands allows you to tailor the transceiver for a spe-cific use, or conduct basic diagnostics on the radio. This section gives more detailed information for the user commands previously listed in Table 7.In many cases, the commands shown here can be used in two ways. First, you can type only the command name to view the currently pro-grammed data. Secondly, you can set or change the existing data by typing the command, followed by a space, and then the desired entry. In the list below, allowable programming variables, if any, are shown in brackets following the command name.AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]The AMASK (alarm mask) command displays or sets which events cause the alarm output signal to be active. Normally, the mask is FFFF FFFF, meaning that any of the 32 possible events will activate the alarm output signal. No special configuration is required for typical applications.Entering the AMASK command alone displays the current setting of alarm events in hexadecimal format.Entering the AMASK command followed by an eight-digit hexadecimal number reprograms the specified events to trigger an alarm.The eight-digit hexadecimal number used as the command parameter is used to classify up to 32 events as alarm triggers for the alarm output status line. (See Table 8 on page 32 for a list of event codes.) The hex value for the mask corresponds to the hex value for the STAT command (see the STAT command description). TEMPDetails page 29 Display the internal temperature of the radio in degrees Celsius. TOT [1-255, ON, OFF]Details page 30 Set or display the Time-out Timer delay in seconds. TX [xxx.xxxxx]Details page 30 Set or display the transmit frequency. UNIT [10000...65000]Details page 30 Set or display the transceiver’s unit address.Table 7. Command summary (Continued)Command name Function
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 23Each bit that is a ‘1’ identifies an associated alarm condition that can trigger the alarm output status line. Each bit that is a ‘0’ treats the asso-ciated alarm as irrelevant when deciding whether or not to assert the alarm output status line. For more information on tailoring the alarm response, contact the MDS Technical Services Department.ASENSE [HI/LO]The ASENSE command sets or displays the sense of the alarm output at Pin 25 of the DATA INTERFACE connector.Entering the ASENSE command alone shows whether the alarm output is active high or low. Entering the ASENSE command followed by HI or LO resets the alarm output to active high or low.BAUD [xxxxx abc]This command sets (or displays) the communication attributes for the DATA INTERFACE port. It has no effect on the RJ-11 DIAG. port.The first parameter (xxxxx) is baud rate. Baud rate is specified in bits-per-second (bps) and must be one of the following speeds: 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, or 38400.The second parameter of the BAUD command (abc) is a three-character block indicating how the data is encoded:a = Data bits (7 or 8)b = Parity (N for None, O for Odd, E for Even)c = Stop bits (1 or 2)The factory default setting is 4800 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (Example: 4800 8N1).NOTE: 7N1, 8O2, and 8E2 are invalid communication settings and arenot supported by the transceiver.BUFF [ON, OFF]This command sets or displays the received data handling mode of the radio. The command parameter is either ON or OFF. The default is ON. The setting of this parameter affects the timing of how received RF data is sent out the INTERFACE connector. Outgoing (transmitted) data is not affected by this setting.If data buffering is OFF, the radio operates with the lowest possible average latency. Data bytes are thus sent out the INTERFACE port as soon as an incoming RF data frame is disassembled. Average and typical latency will both be below 10 ms, but idle character gaps may be intro-duced into the outgoing data flow.
24 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FIf data buffering is ON, the radio operates in seamless mode. Data bytes will be sent over the air as quickly as possible, but the receiver buffers (stores) the data until enough bytes have arrived to cover worst-case gaps in transmission. This mode of operation is required for protocols such as MODBUS™ that do not allow gaps in their data transmission.Note that seamless mode (BUFF ON) is intended only for applications where the transmitter’s baud rate is greater than or equal to the receiver’s baud rate. Adherence to this rule is left up to the user.CKEY [ON–OFF]The CKEY command enables or disables the continuously-keyed func-tion of the radio. When CKEY is set to ON, the radio is continuously keyed.CTS [0–255]The CTS (clear-to-send) command selects or displays the timer value associated with the CTS line response. The command parameter ranges from 0 to 255 milliseconds.For DCE operation, the timer specifies how long to wait after the RTS line goes high, before the radio asserts CTS and the DTE can transmit the data. A CTS value of zero keys the radio and asserts the CTS line immediately after the RTS line goes high.For CTS Key operation (see DEVICE command), the timer specifies how long to wait after asserting the CTS, before sending data out the DATA INTERFACE port. A timer value of zero means that data will be sent out the data port without imposing a key-up delay. (Other delays may be present based on selected radio operating parameters.)DATAKEY [ON, OFF]The DATAKEY command sets or displays the ability of the radio to key the transmitter as data is received at the DATA INTERFACE connector. Asserting RTS keys the radio regardless of this command setting.If DATAKEY is set to ON, the radio will key when a full data-character is received at the transceiver’s DATA INTERFACE connector. If DATAKEY is set to OFF, the radio needs to be keyed by asserting either the RTS or PTT signal or with the CKEY or KEY command.DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY]The DEVICE command sets or displays the device behavior of the radio. The command parameter is either DCE or CTS KEY.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 25The default selection is DCE. In this mode, CTS will go high following RTS, subject to the CTS programmable delay time. If the DATAKEY com-mand is set to ON, keying can be stimulated by the input of characters at the data port. Hardware flow control is implemented by signaling the CTS line if data arrives faster than it can be buffered and transmitted.If CTS KEY is selected, the radio is assumed to be controlling another radio. The RTS line is ignored and the CTS line is used as a keyline con-trol for the other radio. CTS is asserted immediately following the receipt of RF data, but data will not be sent out the DATA INTERFACE port until after the CTS programmable delay time has expired. (This gives the other radio time to key.)DKEYThis command deactivates the transmitter after it has been keyed with the KEY command.DLINK [ON/OFF/xxxx]This command is used to configure the local diagnostic link protocol used in network-wide diagnostics.Entering DLINK ON enables the diagnostic link. Entering DLINK OFF dis-ables the diagnostic link.To change the diagnostic link, enter DLINK followed by one of the fol-lowing baud rates: 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200 (default).DMGAP [xx]The DMGAP command sets the amount of time in milliseconds to wait after the receipt of a character before interpreting the next received char-acter as the start of a new message. When data port baud rates are slow, the gap between characters within a poll may be so long that the radio interprets the next character as the start of a new poll. When diagnostics is being performed using passive messaging (see Performing Net-work-Wide Remote Diagnostics on page 34), this command may be used to change this behavior.DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]This command establishes the local radio as a root radio or node radio for network-wide diagnostics. Entering DTYPE NODE configures the radio as a node radio. Entering DTYPE ROOT configures the radio as a root radio. Entering the DTYPE command alone displays the current setting. See “Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics” on page 34. Two associated commands are GATE and PEER. See MDS’ Network-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (MDS P/N 05-3467A01) for details.
26 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FDUMPThis command displays all the programmed settings of the radio. The HHT display is too small to list all the command settings at one time. Therefore, this command is most useful if the command is issued from a computer or full-screen terminal.HREVThis command displays the transceiver’s hardware revision level if it has been programmed at the factory.INITThe INIT command is used to re-initialize the radio’s operating parame-ters to the factory defaults. This may be helpful when trying to resolve configuration problems that may have resulted from the entry of one or more improper command settings. Entry of this command allows you to get back to a known working state. The following changes to the radio are made when INIT is entered:•CTS is set to 0•DATAKEY is set to ON•DEVICE is set to DCE•PTT is set to 0•SCD is set to 0•TOT is set to 30 seconds and set to ON•PWR is set to +37 dBm (5 watts)All other commands stay at their previously established settings.INIT [2710]This command sets the transceiver for operation outside the MDS model P-20 chassis by setting the following parameters as shown.ASENSE ACTIVE HIAMASK FFFF FFFF (assert alarm output on all alarms)RXTOT NONE (receive time-out timer disabled)This command can be used subsequent to using the INIT 2720 command to restore the standard transceiver defaults.INIT [2720]This command sets the transceiver for operation inside the model P-20 chassis by setting the following parameters as shown.ASENSE ACTIVE LOAMASK FFFF 0000 (trigger on major alarms)RXTOT 20 (20 minute time-out timer)
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 27KEYThis command activates the transmitter. See also the DKEY command.MODELThis command displays the radio’s model number code.MODEM [xxxx, NONE]This command selects the radio’s modem characteristics. Enter 9600 or 3200 for digital operation, or enter NONE to select analog operation. For MDS 1710 digital operation the proper settings are 9600 for the MDS 2710A, 19200 for the MDS 1710C.For MDS 2710 operation, the proper settings are 3200 for the MDS 2710D, 9600 for the MDS 2710A, and 19200 for the MDS 2710C.OWM [XXX...]This is a command to display or program an owner’s message. To pro-gram the owner’s message, type OWM then the message, followed by .To display the owner’s message, type OWM then . The owner’s message appears on the display.OWN [XXX...]This is a command to display or program an owner’s name. To program the owner’s name, type OWN then the name, followed by .To display the owner’s name, type OWN then . The owner’s name appears on the display.PTT [0–255]This command sets or displays the key-up delay in milliseconds.This timer specifies how long to wait after the radio receives a key signal from either the PTT or RTS lines (on the DATA INTERFACE), before actu-ally keying the radio.PWR [20–37]NOTE: This function may not be available, depending on certificationrequirements in a particular country.This command displays or sets the desired RF forward output power set-ting of the radio. The PWR command parameter is specified in dBm and can range from 20 through 37. The default setting is 37 dBm (5 watts). To read the actual (measured) power output of the radio, use the SHOW PWR command. A dBm-to-watts conversion chart is provided in Section 7.6.ENTERENTERENTERENTER
28 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FRSSIThis command continuously displays the radio’s Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) in dBm units, until you press the Enter key. Incoming signal strengths from –50 dBm to –120 dBm can be read.RTU [ON/OFF/0-80]This command re-enables or disables the radio’s internal RTU simu-lator, which runs with MDS’ proprietary polling programs (poll.exe and rsim.exe). The internal RTU simulator is available whenever a radio has diagnostics enabled. This command also sets the RTU address that the radio will respond to.The internal RTU can be used for testing system payload data or pseudo bit error rate testing. It can also be helpful in isolating a problem to either the external RTU or the radio.RX [xxx.xxxxx]This command selects or displays the radio’s receive frequency in MHz. The frequency step size is 6.25 kHz for the MDS 2710A/C and 5.0 kHz for the MDS 2710D.If the customer frequency has not been programmed at the factory, a default frequency will be programmed in the radio near the center of the frequency band.RXTOT [NONE, 1-255]The RXTOT command selects or displays the receive time-out timer value in minutes. This timer triggers an alarm (event 12) if data is not detected within the specified time.Entering the RXTOT command without a parameter displays the timer value in minutes. Entering the RXTOT command with a parameter ranging from 0 to 255 resets the timer in minutes. Entering the RXTOT command with the parameter NONE disables the timer.SCD [0-255]This command displays or changes the soft-carrier dekey delay in milli-seconds.This timer specifies how long to wait after the removal of the keying signal before actually releasing the transmitter. A value of 0 millisec-onds will unkey the transmitter immediately after the removal of the keying signal.SERThis command displays the radio’s serial number as recorded at the fac-tory.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 29SHOW [DC, PORT, PWR]The SHOW command displays different types of information based on the command variables. The different parameters are:•DC—Display DC input/output voltages•PORT—Display the connector port (RJ-11 or DB-25) that is active for diagnostics and control.•PWR—Display RF power outputSNRThis command continuously displays the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal expressed in dB, until you press the Enter key. As used in this guide, the signal-to-noise measurement is based upon the signal level following equalization, for received frames.The SNR is an indication of the received signal quality. The SNR indi-cation ranges from 10 dB to 33 dB. A value of 10 dB represents a very poor signal. A value of 24 dB represents a very good signal.When the SNR command is used, it causes the DIAG. port to enter an update mode, and the signal-to-noise ratio is updated and redisplayed every 2 seconds. The SNR continuously updates until the key is pressed.SREVThis command displays the software revision level of the transceiver firmware.STATThis command displays the current alarm status of the transceiver.If no alarms exist, the message NO ALARMS PRESENT appears at the top of the HHT display.If an alarm does exist, a two-digit code (00–31) is displayed and the alarm is identified as “Major” or “Minor.” A brief description of the alarm code is also given.If more than one alarm exists, the word MORE appears at the bottom of the screen and additional alarms are viewed by pressing the key. Detailed descriptions of event codes are provided in Table 8 on page 32.TEMPThis command displays the internal temperature of the transceiver in degrees Celsius.ENTERENTER
30 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FTOT [1-255, ON, OFF]This command sets or displays the transmitter Time-out Timer value (1–255 seconds), as well as the timer status (ON or OFF). If the timer is on, and the radio remains keyed for a longer duration than the TOT value, the transmitter is automatically unkeyed.When this happens, the radio must be commanded back to an unkeyed state before a new keying command is accepted. The default timer value is 30 seconds.TX [xxx.xxxxx]This command selects or displays the radio’s transmit frequency in MHz. The frequency step size is 6.25 kHz for the MDS 2710A/C and 5.0 kHz for the MDS 2710D.If the customer frequency has not been programmed at the factory, a default frequency will be programmed in the radio near the center of the frequency band.UNIT [10000...65000]This command selects or displays the radio’s unit address. The factory default setting is the last five digits of the transceiver’s serial number. The unit address is used in network diagnostics. See MDS’ Net-work-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (MDS P/N 05-3467A01) for more information.6.0 TROUBLESHOOTINGSuccessful troubleshooting of the radio system is not difficult, but it requires a logical approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting at the master station, as the rest of the system depends on the master for polling commands. If the master station has problems, the operation of the entire network can be compromised.It is good practice to start by checking the simple things. For proper operation, all radios in the network must meet these basic requirements:• Adequate and stable primary power. The radio contains an inter-nal self-resetting fuse (4A). Remove and re-apply primary power to reset.• Secure connections (RF, data and power)• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system with a good received signal strength (at least –90 dBm). It is possible for a system to operate with weaker signals, but reliability will be degraded. • Proper programming of the transceiver’s operating parameters (see Section 5.0, TRANSCEIVER PROGRAMMING).
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 31• The correct interface between the transceiver and the connected data equipment (correct cable wiring, proper data format, timing, etc.)6.1 LED IndicatorsThe LED status indicators are an important troubleshooting tool and should be checked whenever a problem is suspected. Table 5 on page 16 describes the function of each status LED.6.2 Event CodesWhen an alarm condition exists, the transceiver creates a code that can be read on an HHT connected to the DIAG. port. These codes can be very helpful in resolving many system difficulties. Refer to Table 8 for a def-inition of the event codes.Checking for Alarms—STAT commandTo check for alarms, enter STAT on the HHT. If no alarms exist, the mes-sage NO ALARMS PRESENT appears at the top of the display (Figure 11).Invisible place holderFigure 11. HHT Display in Response to STAT CommandIf an alarm does exist, a two-digit alarm code (00–31) is displayed and the event is identified as a Major or Minor Alarm. A brief description of the alarm is also given.If more than one alarm exists, the word MORE appears at the bottom of the screen. To view additional alarms, press .Major Alarms vs. Minor AlarmsMajor Alarms—report serious conditions that generally indicate a hard-ware failure, or other abnormal condition that will prevent (or seriously degrade) further operation of the transceiver. Major alarms generally indicate the need for factory repair. Contact MDS for further assistance.ENTER
32 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FMinor Alarms—report conditions that, under most circumstances will not prevent transceiver operation. This includes out-of-tolerance condi-tions, baud rate mismatches, etc. The cause of these alarms should be investigated and corrected to prevent eventual system failure.Event Code DefinitionsTable 8 contains a listing of all event codes that may be reported by the transceiver.Table 8. Event Codes Event Code Event Class Description01 Major Improper software detected for this radio model.02 Major The model number of the transceiver is unprogrammed.04 Major One or both of the internal programmable synthesizer loops is reporting an out-of-lock condition.06 Major An unrecoverable fault was detected on the A-to-D chip. The radio will not receive data.07 Major One or more of the radio’s internal voltage regulators is reporting a failure. The radio will not operate.08 Major The system is reporting that it has not been calibrated. Factory calibration is required for proper radio operation.09 -- Not used.10 Major The internal microcontroller was unable to properly program the system to the appropriate EEPROM defaults. A hardware problem may exist.11 -- Not used.12 Major Receiver time-out. No data received within the specified receiver time-out time.13 Major Transmitter time-out. The radio was keyed for a duration exceeding the time-out timer setting. (This alarm clears the next time the radio keys.)14–15 -- Not used.16 Minor Not used.17 Minor A data parity fault has been detected on the DATA INTERFACE connector. This usually indicates a parity setting mismatch between the radio and the RTU.18 Minor A data framing error has been detected on the DATA INTERFACE connector. This may indicate a baud rate mismatch between the radio and the RTU.19–24 -- Not used.25 Minor The 5.6 volt power regulator is out-of-tolerance. If the error is excessive, operation may fail.26 Minor The DC input voltage is out-of-tolerance. If the voltage is too far out of tolerance, operation may fail.27, 28 -- Not used31 Minor The transceiver’s internal temperature is approaching an out-of-tolerance condition. If the temperature drifts outside of the recommended operating range, system operation may fail.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 337.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE7.1 Transceiver SpecificationsTRANSMITTER SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONOperating Frequency: See Transmitter SpecificationsFrequency Stability: ±1.5 ppmAdjacent Channel Power: –65 dBc (MDS 1710A/2710A)–60 dBc (MDS 1710C/2710C)–55 dBc (MDS 2710D)Carrier Power Accuracy: ±2 dBRECEIVER SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONOperating Frequency: See Receiver SpecificationsMaximum Usable Sensitivity: –111 dBm for 1 x 10-6 BERCo-Channel Rejection: –12 dBDATA CHARACTERISTICSSignaling Standard: EIA-232Connector: DB-25 FemaleData Interface Rates: 110 bps to 38.4 kbps1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400 bps—asynchronousData Latency: 10 ms maximum, including RTS/CTS delayByte Length: 10 or 11 bitsTRANSMITTERFrequency Range: 130-174 MHz (MDS 1710A/C)216-220 MHz (MDS 2710 A/C) FCC220-240 MHz (MDS 2710A/C)220-222 MHz (MDS 2710D) FCCSee Figure 4 on Page 4 for detailed listingModulation Type: Binary CPFSKCarrier Power: 0.1 Watts to 5 Watts @13.8 VdcDuty Cycle: ContinuousOutput Impedance: 50 ohmsFrequency Stability: MDS 1710 ±1.0 ppmMDS 2710 ±1.5 ppmChannel Spacing: 6.25 kHz steps (MDS 1710A/C and 2710A/C)5.0 kHz steps (MDS 2710D)6.25 kHz (MDS 1710A/C @ 130-174 MHz)Transmitter SpuriousRadiated Emissions: –57 dBm, 30 MHz to 1 GHz–47 dBm, 1 GHz to 12.5 GHzHarmonics:2nd harmonic: 57 dBc3rd harmonic & higher: 57 dBcTime-out Timer: 30 seconds (default). Selectable with TOT commandTransmitter Keying: Data activated or RTS
34 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FRECEIVERFrequency Range: 130-174 MHz (MDS 1710A/C)216-220 MHz (MDS 2710 A/C)220-240 MHz (MDS 2710A/C)220-222 MHz (MDS 2710D)See Figure 4 on Page 4 for detailed listingType: Double conversion superheterodyneFrequency Stability: ±1.5 ppmMaximum Usable Sensitivity: –111 dBm for 1 x 10-6 BERSpurious Response Rejection: 70 dBIntermodulation Response Rejection: 65 dBReceiver SpuriousConducted Emissions: –57 dBm, 9 kHz to 1 GHz–47 dBm, 1 GHz to 12.5 GHzReceiver SpuriousRadiated Emissions: –57 dBm, 30 MHz to 1 GHz–47 dBm, 1 GHz to 12.5 GHzBandwidth: 5 kHz (MDS 2710D)12.5 kHz (MDS 1710A, 2710A)25 kHz (MDS 1710C, 2710C)PRIMARY POWERVoltage: 13.8 Vdc Nominal (10.5 to 16 Vdc)TX Supply Current: 2.5 amps maxRX Supply Current: Operational—150 mA (nominal)Standby (sleep)—Less than 16 mA (nominal)Fuse: 4 Amp Polyfuse, Self-Resetting, Internal (Remove Primary Power to Reset)Reverse Polarity Protection: Diode across primary inputENVIRONMENTALHumidity: 95% at 40 degrees CTemperature Range: –30 to 60 degrees C (full performance)–40 to 70 degrees C (operational)Weight: 1.6 kilogramsCase: Die-cast AluminumDIAGNOSTICS INTERFACESignaling Standard: EIA-232Connector: RJ-11 (may use radio’s DB-25 instead if Pin 23 is grounded to enable diagnostics channel)I/O Devices: MDS Hand Held Terminal or PC with MDS software7.2 Performing Network-Wide Remote DiagnosticsDiagnostics data from a remote radio can be obtained by connecting a laptop or personal computer running MDS InSite diagnostics software to any radio in the network.
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 35Figure 12 shows an example of a setup for performing network-wide remote diagnostics from both a Root (master station) location, and a Node (remote station) location.Invisible place holderFigure 12. Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics SetupIf a PC is connected to any radio in the network, intrusive polling (polling which briefly interrupts payload data transmission) can be per-formed. To perform diagnostics without interrupting payload data trans-mission, connect the PC to a radio defined as the “root” radio. A radio is defined as a root radio using the DTYPE ROOT command locally, at the radio.A complete explanation of remote diagnostics can be found in MDS’ Network-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (MDS P/N 05-3467A01). See the Handbook for more information about the basic diagnostic procedures outlined below.1. Program one radio in the network as the root radio by entering the DTYPE ROOT command at the radio.2. At the root radio, use the DLINK ON and DLINK [baud rate] commands to configure the diagnostic link protocol on the RJ-11 port.RTURTURTUMASTER RADIODIAGNOSTICS COMPUTERRUNNING InSitePAYLOAD DATA(To SCADA Application)DIAGNOSTIC DATA(To InSite)HOSTCOMPUTERNODE(Supports IntrusiveDiagnostics Only)ROOT(Supports Intrusive orNon-Intrusive Diagnostics)
36 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F3. Program all other radios in the network as nodes by entering the DTYPE NODE command at each radio.4. Use the DLINK ON and DLINK [baud rate] commands to configure the diagnostic link protocol on the RJ-11 port of each node radio.5. Connect same-site radios using a null-modem cable at the radios’ diagnostic ports.6. Connect a PC on which MDS InSite software is installed to the root radio, or to one of the nodes, at the radio’s diagnostic port. (This PC may be the PC being used to collect payload data, as shown in Figure 12.)To connect a PC to the radio’s DIAG. port, an RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter (MDS P/N 03-3246A01) is required. If desired, an adapter cable may be constructed from scratch using the information shown in Figure 13.Invisible place holderFigure 13. RJ-11 to DB-9 Adapter Cable7. Launch the MDS InSite application at the PC. (See the MDS InSite User’s Guide for instructions.)7.3 Bench Testing SetupFigure 14 shows a sample test setup that can be used to verify the basic operation of transceivers in a shop setting. The test can be performed with any number of remote radios by using a power divider with the required number of output connections.The RTU simulator shown in the test setup (MDS Part No. 03-2512A01) is a microcontroller that emulates a remote terminal unit operating at 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps. Custom software is supplied with the RTU simulator that allows continuous polling of remote radios using an IBM-compatible personal computer. The software reports the number of polls sent, polls received, and the number of errors detected.As an alternative to using an external RTU simulator, the transceiver’s internal RTU simulator may be used (see RTU command in Table 7 on page 20). (This will not provide as conclusive a test as an external sim-ulator because it does not utilize the transceiver’s data connector.)RXDTXDGND235DB-9 FEMALE(TO COMPUTER)TXDRXDGND456RJ-11 PLUG(TO RADIO)RJ-11 PIN LAYOUT16
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 37NOTE: It is very important to use attenuation between all units in thetest setup. The amount of attenuation required will depend onthe number of units being tested and the desired signal strength(RSSI) at each transceiver during the test. In no case should asignal greater than –50 dBm be applied to any transceiver inthe test setup.Invisible place holderFigure 14. Typical setup for bench testing of radios7.4 Helical Filter AdjustmentIf the operating frequency of the radio is changed significantly, the helical filters should be adjusted for maximum received signal strength (RSSI). To adjust the filters, proceed as follows:1. Remove the top cover from the transceiver by loosening the four screws and lifting straight up.2. Locate the helical filters on the PC board. See Figure 15.3. Apply a steady signal to the radio at the programmed receive fre-quency (–80 dBm level recommended; no stronger than –60 dBm). This can be done with a signal generator or an over-the-air signal.4. Measure the radio’s RSSI using one of the following methods:• With an HHT (See Section 5.0, TRANSCEIVER PROGRAM-MING on page 17).• With MDS Radio Configuration Software (See Section 7.5, Upgrading the Radio’s Software on page 38).• With a voltmeter connected to Pin 21 of the DATA INTERFACE connector (See Section 4.2, RSSI Measurement on page 16).ANTENNA13.8VDC+ –ANTENNA13.8VDC+ –ANTENNA13.8VDC+ –ANTENNA13.8VDC+ –POWER ATTENUATORS• Fixed or adjustable• 5W Minimum RatingPOWER DIVIDERNON-RADIATING ATTENUATOR• Install on any unused divider ports• 5W Minimum RatingCOMPUTER RUNNING MDS"POLL.EXE" PROGRAMRTU SIMULATORSMDS P/N 03-2512A01*MASTER STATIONREMOTEREMOTEREMOTEREMOTE* Transceiver's internal RTU Simulator may be used ifexternal simulator is unavailable. See text.
38 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F5. With a non-metallic adjustment tool, adjust each section of the helical filter for maximum RSSI. Re-install the cover to the trans-ceiver.Invisible place holderFigure 15. Helical Filter Location7.5 Upgrading the Radio’s SoftwareFrom time to time, new product features or software maintenance files may become available from MDS. This section describes the steps nec-essary to install new software into the transceiver using a PC connected to the radio’s DIAG. port.Upgrade software can be obtained in a number of ways. The MDS Web site at www.microwavedata.com contains an FTP area with software files for several radio models. You can browse the listings to see if there are files pertaining to your particular model. There is no charge for this service.In addition, you can also contact MDS to request radio software. Soft-ware files may be sent to you via e-mail, or on a 3.5” diskette. There may be a nominal charge for the software depending on the nature of the upgrade.NOTE: Software upgrades are distributed as ASCII files with a “.S28”extension. These files use the Motorola S-record format. FRONT PANELOF RADIOJ301U104U101U202HELICALADJUSTMENTSU203SHIELDCOVER
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D 39Using Radio Software Upgrade DisketteA software upgrade diskette may be purchased from MDS to add new product features to the radio such as Network-wide Diagnostics. The upgrade kit includes a diskette (MDS P/N 06-3501A01) with the most current radio software, authorization codes, and an instruction booklet. Contact MDS for ordering information. When calling, please have the serial number(s) available for the radio(s) that you wish to upgrade.The upgrade software can be run on an IBM-compatible computer con-nected to the radio’s DIAG. port via an RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter (MDS P/N 03-3246A01). If desired, an adapter cable may be constructed from scratch using the information shown in Figure 13.To initiate the upgrade, insert the upgrade diskette in Drive A:. Set the working directory to A: (example: from a DOS prompt type A:\). Next, type UPGRADE and press the ENTER key. (If you have the radio connected via the Com2 serial port, type UPGRADE-2 instead.) The upgrade soft-ware will normally run automatically without any further prompts.The radio’s PWR LED will flash rapidly to confirm that a download is in process. The download takes about two minutes.NOTE: If a software download fails, the radio is left unprogrammedand inoperative. This is indicated by the PWR LED flashingslowly (1 second on, 1 second off). This condition is onlylikely if a power failure occurred to the computer or radioduring the downloading process. The download can beattempted again when the fault has been corrected.Using Radio Configuration SoftwareIf you already have software that you wish to download into the trans-ceiver, Radio Configuration Software (MDS P/N 03-3156A01) may be used to perform the installation. To use this method, proceed as follows:Connect a PC to the radio’s DIAG. port via an RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter (MDS P/N 03-3246A01). If desired, an adapter cable may be con-structed from scratch using the information shown in Figure 13.Run the Radio Configuration software. Under the SYSTEM menu, select RADIO SOFTWARE UPGRADE. Follow the prompts and online instructions to locate the desired software and complete the upgrade.The radio’s PWR LED will flash rapidly to confirm that a download is in process. The download takes about two minutes.
40 MDS 1710A/C and MDS 2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FNOTE: If a software download fails, the radio is left unprogrammedand inoperative. This is indicated by the PWR LED flashingslowly (1 second on, 1 second off). This condition is onlylikely if a power failure occurred to the computer or radioduring the downloading process. The download can beattempted again when the fault has been corrected.7.6 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion ChartTable 9 is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent wattage or voltage of an RF power expressed in dBm.Table 9. dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion—for 50 Ohm SystemsdBm V Po+53 100.0 200W+50 70.7 100W+49 64.0 80W+48 58.0 64W+47 50.0 50W+46 44.5 40W+45 40.0 32W+44 32.5 25W+43 32.0 20W+42 28.0 16W+41 26.2 12.5W+40 22.5 10W+39 20.0 8W+38 18.0 6.4W+37 16.0 5W+36 14.1 4W+35 12.5 3.2W+34 11.5 2.5W+33 10.0 2W+32 9.0 1.6W+31 8.0 1.25W+30 7.10 1.0W+29 6.40 800mW+28 5.80 640mW+27 5.00 500mW+26 4.45 400mW+25 4.00 320mW+24 3.55 250mW+23 3.20 200mW+22 2.80 160mW+21 2.52 125mW+20 2.25 100mW+19 2.00 80mW+18 1.80 64mW+17 1.60 50mW+16 1.41 40mW+15 1.25 32mW+14 1.15 25mW+13 1.00 20mW+12 .90 16mW+11 .80 12.5mW+10 .71 10mW+9 .64 8mW+8 .58 6.4mW+7 .500 5mW+6 .445 4mW+5 .400 3.2mW+4 .355 2.5mW+3 .320 2.0mW+2 .280 1.6mW+1 .252 1.25mWdBm V Po0 .225 1.0mW-1 .200 .80mW-2 .180 .64mW-3 .160 .50mW-4 .141 .40mW-5 .125 .32mW-6 .115 .25mW-7 .100 .20mW-8 .090 .16mW-9 .080 .125mW-10 .071 .10mW-11 .064-12 .058-13 .050-14 .045-15 .040-16 .0355dBm mV Po-17 31.5-18 28.5-19 25.1-20 22.5 .01mW-21 20.0-22 17.9-23 15.9-24 14.1-25 12.8-26 11.5-27 10.0-28 8.9-29 8.0-30 7.1 .001mW-31 6.25-32 5.8-33 5.0-34 4.5-35 4.0-36 3.5-37 3.2-38 2.85-39 2.5-40 2.25 .1µW-41 2.0-42 1.8-43 1.6-44 1.4-45 1.25-46 1.18-47 1.00-48 0.90dBm mV Po-49 0.80-50 0.71 .01µW-51 0.64-52 0.57-53 0.50-54 0.45-55 0.40-56 0.351-57 0.32-58 0.286-59 0.251-60 0.225 .001µW-61 0.200-62 0.180-63 0.160-64 0.141dBm µV Po-65 128-66 115-67 100-68 90-69 80-70 71 .1nW-71 65-72 58-73 50-74 45-75 40-76 35-77 32-78 29-79 25-80 22.5 .01nW-81 20.0-82 18.0-83 16.0-84 11.1-85 12.9-86 11.5-87 10.0-88 9.0-89 8.0-90 7.1 .001nW-91 6.1-92 5.75-93 5.0-94 4.5-95 4.0-96 3.51-97 3.2dBm µV Po-98 2.9-99 2.51-100 2.25 .1pW-101 2.0-102 1.8-103 1.6-104 1.41-105 1.27-106 1.18dBm nV Po-107 1000-108 900-109 800-110 710 .01pW-111 640-112 580-113 500-114 450-115 400-116 355-117 325-118 285-119 251-120 225 .001pW-121 200-122 180-123 160-124 141-125 128-126 117-127 100-128 90-129 80 .1ƒW-130 71-131 61-132 58-133 50-134 45-135 40-136 35-137 33-138 29-139 25-140 23 .01ƒW
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D I-1INDEXAACCESS DENIED error message 20Accessories 5Accessory Power pinout (Pin 18) 14Active messaging (defined) 5Alarmsalarm code definitions 32major vs. minor 31pinout (Pin 25) 15using STAT command to display 29AMASK command 22Antennainstallation 9RSSI command used to refine heading 15system gain, defined 6Yagi, illustrated 12Antennas 11–12Applications 2Multiple Address Systems (MAS) 2point-to-multipoint system 2point-to-point system 3ASENSE command 23BBAUD command 23Baud ratesetting for RJ-11 DIAG port (DLINK command) 25, 35Bench testing (radio performance), 36–37Bit, defined 6Bits-per-second. See BPSBPS (bits-per-second), defined 6BUFF command 23Byte, defined 6CCable, loss due to length of coaxial 12Cautionsuse attenuation between all units in test setup 35CKEY command 24COMMAND FAILED error message 20Command summary, table 20CommandsAMASK (set/display alarm triggers) 22ASENSE (set alarm output state) 23BAUD (set/display rate, encoding) 23BUFF (set/display data handling mode) 23CKEY (enable/disable continuous keying) 24CTS (set/display CTS line response timer) 24DATAKEY (enable/disable transmitter keying by radio) 24DEVICE (set/display radio behavior) 24DKEY (deactivate transmitter after KEY command) 25DLINK (enable/disable network-wide diagnostics) 25DMGAP (set time to wait between characters) 25DTYPE (set radio to Root or Node for diagnostics) 25DUMP (display all programmed settings) 26entering on Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 19Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 19HREV (display hardware revision level) 26INIT (reinitialize radio to factory defaults) 26INIT xx10 (restore standard transceiver defaults) 26INIT xx20 (configure radio for use with P-20 chassis) 26KEY (activate transmitter) 27MODEL (display radio model number code) 27MODEM (set modem speed) 27OWM (set/display owner’s message) 27OWN (set/display owner’s name) 27PTT (set/display key-up delay) 27PWR (set/display RF forward output power) 27RSSI (display RSSI) 28RTU (enable/disable internal RTU) 28RX (set/display receive frequency) 28RXTOT (set/display receive time-out timer value) 28SCD (set/display soft-carrier dekey delay) 28SER (display radio serial number 28SHOW (display DC voltage, data port, RF power) 29SNR (display signal-to-noise ratio) 29SREV (display software revision level) 29STAT (display current alarm status) 29TEMP (display internal temperature) 29TOT (set/display time-out value and timer status) 30TX (set/display transmit frequency) 30Conversions, dBm-Watts-Volts 40CTS command 24CTS pinout (Pin 5) 14DData interfaceconnector pinouts 14display active connector port 29installing connection 13DATAKEY command 24dB. See Decibel 6dBi, defined 6dBm, defined 6DCDLED 16pinout (Pin 8) 14DCE (Data Cirtuit-terminating Equipment), defined 6Decibel (dB), defined 6
I-2 MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FDescription, product 1Detailed 22DEVICE command 24Diagnostic Channel Enable, pinout (Pin 23) 15Diagnosticsinterface specifications 34network-wide, performing 34PC software used for 38using InSite software for network-wide 34Differences between models 2Displayalarm status (STAT command) 29alarm triggers (AMASK command) 22all programmed settings (DUMP command) 26baud rate and encoding (BAUD command) 23connector port, active (SHOW command) 29CTS line response timer (CTS command) 24data handling mode (BUFF command) 23DC voltage (SHOW command) 29hardware revision leve (HREV command)l 26key-up delay (PTT command) 27model number code (MODEL command) 27owner’s message (OWM command) 27owner’s name (OWN command) 27radio behavior (DEVICE command) 24radio serial number (SER command) 28receive frequency (RX command) 28receive time-out timer value (RXTOT command) 28RF forward output power (PWR command) 27RF output (SHOW command) 29RSSI (RSSI command) 28signal-to-noise ratio (SNR command) 29soft-carrier dekey delay (SCD command) 28software revision level (SREV command) 29temperature, internal (TEMP command) 29time-out value and timer status (TOT command) 30transmit frequency (TX command) 30DKEY command 25DLINK command 25use of 35DMGAP command 25Downloading new software 38DSP (Digital Signal Processing), defined 6DSR pinout (Pin 6) 14DTE (Data Terminal Equipment), defined 6DTYPE command 25use of 35DUMP command 26EEEPROM FAILURE error message 20Enable/disablecontinuous keying (CKEY command) 24diagnostic channel, pinout (Pin 23) 15internal RTU (RTU command) 28network-wide diagnostics (DLINK command) 25network-wide diagnostics, procedures 35Environment specifications 34Equalization, defined 6Error messages 19access denied 20command failed 20EEPROM failure 20incorrect entry 19not available 20not programmed 20text too long 20unknown command 19FFade margin, defined 7Feedlines 12Filter, helical, adjustment 37Frame, defined 7Frequencyadjusting helical filter when changed 37setting. See TX and RX commandsGGlossary 5Groundon Pin 12 to enable Sleep mode 14protective (Pin 1) 14signal (Pin 7) 14HHalf-duplex 3switched carrier operation 4Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 5connected to transceiver, illustrated 18connection and startup 17display in response to STAT command, illustrated 31entering commands 19error messages displayed on 19keyboard commands 19operational settings, table 19reinitialization display, illustrated 18reinitializing 18Hardware flow control, defined 7Helical filteradjusting 37illustration 38Host computer, defined 7HREV command 26IIllustrationsantenna, Yagi 12Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) connected to transceiver 18Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) reinitialization display 18Hand-Held Terminal display in response to STAT command 31helical filter locations 38
MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. F MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D I-3MAS network 3MDS 2710A/D model number codes 4network-wide diagnostics 35point-to-point link 3remote station arrangement 9RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter cable 36RSSI vs. Vdc 13, 16transceiver connectors & indicators 1transceiver mounting dimensions 11INCORRECT ENTRY error message 19INIT command 26INIT xx10 command 26INIT xx20 command 26InSite softwareusing to perform remote diagnostics 34Installation 8–15antenna 9configuring transceiver 10DATA INTERFACE connection 9data interface connections 13power 9power connection 12steps 9Intrusive diagnostics (defined) 7KKEY command 27Keyingcontinuously keyed versus switched carrier operation 4continuously keyed, defined 4on data (DKEY command) 25switched carrier, defined 4LLatency, defined 7LEDsDCD 16indicators, described 16PWR 16RXD 16RXD, Pin 3 14status indicators, illustrated 16TXD 16TXD, Pin 2 14Loss. See SignalMMAS (Multiple Address System) 2defined 7illustration 3Master Stationdefined 7keying behavior 4MCU (Microcontroller Unit), defined 7MODEL command 27Model number codesdisplaying (MODEL command) 27MDS 2710A/D, illustrated 4MODEM command 27Modem, set speed. See MODEM commandNNetwork-wide diagnosticsactive messaging, defined 5defined 7enable/disable (DLINK command) 25enable/disable internal RTU (RTU command) 28illustrated 35intrusive diagnostics, defined 7passive messaging (defined) 7procedures 34set radio to Root or Node (DTYPE command) 25set time to wait between characters (DMGAP command) 25NOT AVAILABLE error message 20NOT PROGRAMMED error message 20OOperation 15–16environment, specifications for 34Output, 9.9 Vdc regulated, pinout (Pin 19) 15OWM command 27OWN command 27Owner’s message, set/display. See OWM commandOwner’s name, set/display. See OWN commandPPassive messaging (defined) 7Payload data (defined) 8Performancetesting, 36–37Pinouts on data interface 14PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), defined 8Point-to-multipointdefined 8system 2Point-to-pointlink, illustrated 3system 3Poll, defined 8Powerconnection 12display DC voltage (SHOW command) 29display RF output (SHOW command) 29installing 9LED status indicator (PWR LED) 16RF, chart for converting dBm-Watts-Volts 40specifications 34Power attenuators, use of in testing 37Procedureschecking for alarms (STAT command) 31connecting Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 17downloading new software 38
I-4 MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. Fentering commands using the Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 19helical filter adjustment 37installation 9measuring RSSI with DC voltmeter 16network-wide diagnostics 34operation 15, 16performance optimization 15reading LED status indicators 16resetting Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) 18troubleshooting 30–32Productaccessories 5description 1display model number code (MODEL command) 27display radio serial number (SER command) 28Programming radio as root or node 35Programming, transceiver 17–20PTTcommand 27pinout (Pins 14, 16) 14PWRcommand 27LED 16RRadioConfiguration Software 5, 38Inhibit pinout (Pin 12) 14serial number, displaying (SER command) 28Receive Audio Output pinout (Pin 11) 14Receiverspecifications 34system specifications 33unsquelched signal (Pin 10) 14Redundant operation, defined 8RemoteRTU reset (Pin 15) 14Station, defined 8Station, illustrated 9ResettingHand-Held Terminal (HHT) (SHIFT,CTRL,SPACE keys) 18remote RTU reset (Pin 15) 14transceiver (INIT command) 26Revision leveldisplay hardware (HREV command) 26display software (SREV command) 29RSSIadjusting helical filter for increased signal strength 37command 28command, used to refine antenna heading 15measuring 16pinout (Pin 21) 15vs. Vdc, illustrated 13, 16RTS pinout (Pin 4) 14RTUcommand 28RTU (Remote Terminal Unit)defined 8remote reset (Pin 15) 14RTU simulator, 36RUS pinout (Pin10) 14RX command 28RXD LEDdescription 16Pin 3 14RXTOT command 28SSCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), defined 8SCD command 28SER command 28Setalarm output state (ASENSE command) 23alarm triggers (AMASK command) 22receive time-out timer value (RXTOT command) 28SHOW command 29Signalground (Pin 7) 14loss due to coaxial cable length, table 12Simplex 3single-frequency operation 4special case of switched carrier operation 4Sleep modeexample implementation 13ground on Radio Inhibit pin activates 14Pin 12 14shown by PWR LED status indicator 16SNR command 29Softwarediagnostics and control used from PC 38display revision level 29upgrades (.S28 files) 38upgrading 38used for diagnostics and programming 17Specificationsdiagnostics interface 34environment 34power 34receiver 34receiver system 33transceiver 33–34transmitter 33transmitter system 33SREV command 29STAT command 29SWR (Standing Wave Radio), defined 8TTablesaccessories 5alarm code definitions 32command summary 20conversions, dBm-Watts-Volts 40data interface connector pinouts 14Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) operational settings 19LED status indicators 16
I-5 MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. Flength vs. loss in coaxial cables 12Technical reference 33–40Technical reference,bench test setup, 36–37TEMP command 29Temperature, displaying internal (TEMP command) 29Testing. See bench testingTEXT TOO LONG error message 20Timer, set/display time-out value and status (TOT command) 30TOT command 30Transceiverapplications 2configuring for operation 10connectors and indicators, illustrated 1diagnostics using PC software 38dimensions, mounting 11mounting 9, 11programming 17–20specifications 33–34upgrading software 38Transmit Audio Input pinout (Pin 9) 14Transmitterspecifications 33system specifications 33Troubleshooting 30–32connecting Hand-Held Terminal (HHT) for displaying alarm codes 17performing network-wide diagnostics 34STAT command (Status) 31using PC software for 38TX command 30TXD LEDdescription 16Pin 2 14UUNKNOWN COMMAND error message 19
I-6 MDS 1710A/C and MDS2710A/C/D MDS 05-3447A01, Rev. FNOTES
IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...MDS products are designed for long life and trouble-free operation. However, this equip-ment, as with all electronic equipment may have an occasional component failure. The following information will assist you in the event that servicing becomes necessary.FACTORY TECHNICALASSISTANCETechnical assistance for MDS products is available from our Customer Support Team during business hours (8:00 A.M.–5:30 P.M. Eastern Time). When calling, please give the complete model number of the radio, along with a description of the trouble symptom(s) that you are experiencing. In many cases, prob-lems can be resolved over the telephone, without the need for returning the unit to the factory.Please use one of the following means for product assistance:Phone: 585-241-5510E-mail: techsupport@microwavedata.comWeb: www.microwavedata.comFAX: 585-242-8369FACTORY REPAIRSComponent-level repair of radio equipment is not recommended in the field. Many compo-nents are installed using surface mount tech-nology, which requires specialized training and equipment for proper servicing. For this reason, the equipment should be returned to the factory for any PC board repairs. The factory is best equipped to diagnose, repair and align your radio to its proper operating specifi-cations.If return of the equipment is necessary, you will be issued a Service Return Order (SRO) number. The SRO number will help expedite the repair so that the equipment can be repaired and returned to you as quickly as possible. Please be sure to include the SRO number on the outside of the shipping box, and on any correspondence relating to the repair. No equipment will be accepted for repair without an SRO number.A statement should accompany the radio describing, in detail, the trouble symptom(s), and a description of any associated equipment normally connected to the radio. It is also important to include the name and telephone number of a person in your organization who can be contacted if additional information is required.The radio must be properly packed for return to the factory. The original shipping container and packaging materials should be used when-ever possible. All factory returns should be addressed to:When repairs have been completed, the equip-ment will be returned to you by the same ship-ping method used to send it to the factory. Please specify if you wish to make different shipping arrangements. To inquire about an in-process repair, you may contact our Product Services Group at: 585-241-5540 (FAX: 585-242-8400) or vie e-mail at: ProductServices@microwavedata.com.Microwave Data Systems Inc.Product Service Department(SRO No. XXXX)175 Science ParkwayRochester, NY 14620 USA
Microwave Data Systems Inc.Rochester, NY 14620General Business: +1 585 242-9600FAX: +1 585 242-9620Web: www.microwavedata.com175 Science ParkwayA product of Microwave Data Systems Inc.

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