GE MDS DS-SDM4 MDS SDM4 Licensed Spectrum Module User Manual

GE MDS LLC MDS SDM4 Licensed Spectrum Module Users Manual

Users Manual

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Modular Communications Platform
Technical Manual
MDS Master Station
MDS 05‐6399A01, Rev. D
August 2015
Firmware Version 2.2.6 and higher.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
2
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Quick-Start instructions for this product are contained in publication 05-6398A01.
Visit our website for downloadable copies of all documentation at www.gemds.com.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
12
1.1 ORGANIZATION OF MANUAL
1.1.1 RELATED PUBLICATIONS
12
13
14
KEY PRODUCT FEATURES
2.1 ACCESSORIES AND SPARE ITEMS
2.2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
2.2.1 FCC EMISSION DESIGNATORS: HOW TO FIND THEM
2.3 FRONT PANEL
2.4 REAR ANTENNA CONNECTIONS
14
16
17
18
19
20
INSTALLATION PLANNING
3.1 APPLICATIONS
3.2 NETWORK MANAGEMENT
3.3 REDUNDANT VERSUS NON‐REDUNDANT OPERATION
3.4 ANTENNAS AND FEEDLINES
3.4.1 ANTENNAS
3.4.2 FEEDLINES
3.5 GROUNDING CONSIDERATIONS
3.6 DATA INTERFACE CONNECTIONS
3.6.1 ETHERNET DATA INTERFACE (RJ‐45)
3.6.2 SERIAL DATA INTERFACES
3.6.3 MINI USB
3.6.4 ALARM OUTPUT AND 4‐WIRE AUDIO
21
21
22
22
22
22
23
24
24
24
25
25
26
INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
4.1 UNPACKING AND INSPECTION
4.2 INSTALLATION STEPS
4.2.1 INITIAL STARTUP & OPERATION
26
26
30
32
5.1
DEVICE MANAGEMENT
PRE‐CONFIGURED SETTINGS
32
5.2 ONE‐TIME “RECOVERY” PASSWORDS
5.3 CONFIGURATION VIA COMMAND LINE (CLI)
5.3.1 CLI QUICK REFERENCE TABLE
5.4 INTERFACE NAMING
5.5 CONFIGURATION VIA THE DEVICE MANAGER
5.5.1 GENERAL CONFIGURATION
5.6 INTERFACE CONFIGURATION
5.6.1 SERIAL INTERFACES
5.6.2 LAN
5.6.3 VLAN OPERATION
MDS Master Station
32
34
34
35
36
36
37
37
41
44
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
5.6.4
5.6.5
BRIDGING
SDMS INTERFACE
47
49
MASTER STATION MODULES
65
6.1 AC POWER SUPPLY MODULE
6.2 DC POWER SUPPLY MODULE
6.3 PLATFORM MANAGER MODULE
6.3.1 PLATFORM MANAGER LED INDICATORS
6.3.2 ETHERNET INTERFACES
6.3.3 COM1 INTERFACE
6.3.4 COM2 INTERFACE
6.3.5 MINI USB INTERFACE
6.3.6 WIFI ANTENNA INTERFACE (OPTIONAL)
6.3.7 GPS ANTENNA INTERFACE (OPTIONAL)
6.4 SD MASTER RADIO MODULES
6.4.1 SD MASTER RADIO MODULE LED INDICATORS
6.4.2 SD MASTER RADIO MODULE RF INTERFACE
6.4.3 SDM9 RADIO MODULE – 900MHZ
6.4.4 SDM4 RADIO MODULE ‐ 400 MHZ
6.5 ALARM AND ALARM/RELAY MODULES
6.5.1 ALARM MODULE LEDS
6.5.2 ALARM/AUDIO INTERFACE
6.5.3 ALARM/RELAY TOGGLE SWITCH (6847 ONLY)
6.5.4 ALARM/RELAY RF CONNECTIONS (6847 ONLY)
6.6 DUPLEXER TRAY
65
66
67
68
68
69
69
71
71
72
72
72
72
73
73
74
74
75
76
76
76
78
TROUBLESHOOTING
7.1 INTERPRETING MODULE LEDS
7.1.1 NORMAL OPERATION
7.1.2 EXCEPTION AND ALARM STATES
7.2 REDUNDANT UNITS
7.3 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
7.4 REPLACING MODULES
7.4.1 POWER SUPPLY MODULES
7.4.2 PERIPHERAL MODULES – INCLUDING PLATFORM MANAGER, RADIO, ALARM, AND ALARM RELAY MODULES.
7.4.3 HOT SWAP REDUNDANT MODULES
7.4.4 INTERNAL DUPLEXER TRAY
7.5 TESTING AND REMOVING AN INTERNAL DUPLEXER
78
78
79
80
80
80
80
81
81
81
83
87
TECHNICAL REFERENCE DATA
8.1 RF PROPAGATION PLANNING
8.1.1 FRESNEL ZONE CLEARANCE
8.1.2 FORMULAS FOR SYSTEM PLANNING
8.2 DBM‐VOLTS‐WATTS CONVERSION CHART
87
87
88
90
91
GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
Figures
FIGURE 1‐1. MDS MASTER STATION ...................................................................................................................................12
FIGURE 2‐1 COMPATIBLE REMOTES .....................................................................................................................................14
FIGURE 2‐2. MDS MASTER STATION, FRONT PANEL CONNECTIONS & INDICATORS ...................................................................... 18
FIGURE 2‐3. MDS MASTER STATION, REAR PANEL................................................................................................................. 19
FIGURE 3‐1 APPLICATION EXAMPLE .....................................................................................................................................20
FIGURE 3‐2. REAR PANEL GROUNDING SCREW ...................................................................................................................... 24
FIGURE 4‐1. INTERNAL DUPLEXER, TRIPLE N CONNECTORS ....................................................................................................... 27
FIGURE 4‐2. INTERNAL DUPLEXER (OR INTERNAL T/R SWITCH), SINGLE N CONNECTORS ................................................................ 27
FIGURE 4‐3 EXTERNAL DUPLEXER OR DUAL ANTENNAS ............................................................................................................. 28
FIGURE 4‐4 DC POWER CONNECTOR ...................................................................................................................................29
FIGURE 4‐5 LED INDICATORS .............................................................................................................................................30
FIGURE 6‐1 AC POWER SUPPLY MODULE ............................................................................................................................. 65
FIGURE 6‐2. DC POWER SUPPLY MODULE ............................................................................................................................ 66
FIGURE 6‐3 PLATFORM MANAGER MODULE (PART NUMBERS 03‐6834AXX) ............................................................................. 67
FIGURE 6‐4 ETHERNET PORT (RJ‐45) PINOUT (AS VIEWED FROM THE OUTSIDE) ........................................................................ 68
FIGURE 6‐5 COM1 CONNECTOR (RJ‐45) AS VIEWED FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIT ........................................................................... 69
FIGURE 6‐6. COM2 CONNECTOR (RJ‐45) AS VIEWED FROM OUTSIDE THE RADIO ........................................................................ 70
FIGURE 6‐7. SD RADIO MODULE (PART NO. 03‐6846AXX—SDM9) ....................................................................................... 72
FIGURE 6‐8 ALARM/RELAY MODULE (PART NO. 03‐6847AXX; 03‐6848AXX) .......................................................................... 74
FIGURE 6‐9: ALARM/AUDIO CONNECTIONS .......................................................................................................................... 75
FIGURE 7‐1. 400 MHZ NOTCH DUPLEXER (ADJUSTMENT GENERALLY NOT REQUIRED FOR TRANSMIT CHANGES UP TO 100 KHZ) ...........82
FIGURE 7‐2. 900 MHZ BANDPASS DUPLEXER (ADJUSTMENT GENERALLY NOT REQUIRED FOR TRANSMIT CHANGES UP TO 500 KHZ) .......82
FIGURE 7‐3. INTERNAL DUPLEXER REMOVAL ......................................................................................................................... 86
FIGURE 8‐1 FRESNEL ZONE OBSTRUCTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 87
FIGURE 8‐2. ANTENNA HEIGHT VS. THEORETICAL RADIO HORIZON ............................................................................................ 88
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Tables
TABLE 1‐1 ANTENNA GAIN VS. MINIMUM RF SAFETY DISTANCE ................................................................................................. 8
TABLE 2‐1 ACCESSORIES AND SPARES ...................................................................................................................................15
TABLE 2‐2 MASTER STATION TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................ 16
TABLE 2‐3 MODULE DESCRIPTIONS......................................................................................................................................19
TABLE 3‐1 SIGNAL LOSS IN COAXIAL CABLES (AT 900 MHZ) .................................................................................................... 23
TABLE 3‐2 SIGNAL LOSS IN COAXIAL CABLES (AT 400 MHZ)..................................................................................................... 23
TABLE 3‐3 RF‐45 TO DB‐9F PIN OUT .................................................................................................................................25
TABLE 4‐1 AC POWER SUPPLY MODULE ............................................................................................................................... 28
TABLE 4‐2 DC POWER SUPPLY MODULES ............................................................................................................................. 29
TABLE 5‐1. CLI QUICK REFERENCE TABLE ............................................................................................................................. 34
TABLE 5‐2. APPROXIMATE REPROGRAMMING TIMES ‐ PASSIVE MODE ....................................................................................... 61
TABLE 5‐3. APPROXIMATE REPROGRAMMING TIMES ‐ INTRUSIVE MODE .................................................................................... 61
TABLE 6‐1. AVAILABLE MODULES ........................................................................................................................................65
TABLE 6‐2 6755 AC POWER SUPPLY MODULE SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................................ 66
TABLE 6‐3 DC POWER SUPPLY MODULE (6843, 6844, 6845) SPECIFICATIONS: ......................................................................... 67
TABLE 6‐4. PLATFORM MANAGER LEDS ............................................................................................................................... 68
TABLE 6‐5 ETHERNET INTERFACE PIN DESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................................................... 68
TABLE 6‐6. COM1 PIN DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................................................................................69
TABLE 6‐7. COM2 PIN DESCRIPTIONS—RADIO IN RS‐232 MODE............................................................................................ 70
TABLE 6‐8 COM2 PIN DESCRIPTIONS—RADIO IN RS‐485 MODE............................................................................................. 71
TABLE 6‐9 EIA‐422 4‐WIRE CONNECTIONS.......................................................................................................................... 71
TABLE 6‐10 EIA‐485 2‐WIRE CONNECTIONS........................................................................................................................ 71
TABLE 6‐11. SD RADIO MODULE LEDS ................................................................................................................................72
TABLE 6‐12 6846 SDM9 RADIO MODULE SPECIFICATIONS ..................................................................................................... 73
TABLE 6‐13 SDM4 RADIO MODULE SPECIFICATIONS.............................................................................................................. 73
TABLE 6‐14 ALARM MODULES ...........................................................................................................................................74
TABLE 6‐15. ALARM MODULE LEDS ....................................................................................................................................75
TABLE 6‐16. CABLING TO THE DUPLEXER TRAY FACEPLATE ....................................................................................................... 76
TABLE 7‐1. STATUS LEDS – NORMAL OPERATION .................................................................................................................. 79
TABLE 7‐2. STATUS LEDS – EXCEPTION AND ALARM STATES .................................................................................................... 79
TABLE 8‐1 DBM–VOLTS–WATTS CONVERSION CHART ............................................................................................................ 90
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
Copyright Notice
This Technical Manual and all software described herein are protected by copyright: 2014 GE
MDS. All rights reserved.
GE MDS reserves its right to correct any errors and omissions in this publication.
Operational Safety Notices
RF Exposure
The radio equipment described in this guide uses radio frequency transmitters.
Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a
health hazard. Do not allow people to come in close proximity to the front of the antenna when
the transmitter is operating. More information on RF exposure can be found online at the following
website:
www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins
This manual is intended to guide a professional installer to install, operate, and perform basic
system maintenance on the described radio. The RF safety distance is calculated based on the 5
watt RF output (+37dBm) at the antenna connector on the back of the SDM chassis. This includes internal Duplexer and cable loss of ~3dB.
Table 1-1 Antenna Gain vs. Minimum RF Safety Distance
Antenna Gain
0–5 dBi
5–10 dBi
10–16.5 dBi
Safety Distance
SDM4 variant - FCC
1.09 meters
1.95 meters
4.11 meters
Safety Distance
SDM4 variant – IC
1.43 meters
2.54 meters
5.37 meters
Safety Distance
SDM9 variant
0.46 meter
.82 meters
1.74 meters
Safety Distance
(other models):
Consult factory prior to operation.
Not all frequency models available. Consult factory for available models.
Antennas with gain greater than 16dBi have not been authorized for use with the EUT; and (b) installation
of the EUT into portable applications with respect to RF compliance will require SAR testing and Regulatory approval.
Installation & Servicing Precautions
The unit is provided for professional installation only, and utilizes a specialized antenna connector to restrict the types of antenna connections that may be made. The integrator of this de8
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
vice is responsible for compliance with all applicable limits on radiated RF power, and the RF
power output may need to be adjusted to maintain compliance, depending on the gain of the antenna system.
All power supply main connections and disconnections must be made by a qualified electrical
installer.
When servicing energized equipment, be sure to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE). During internal service, situations could arise where objects accidentally contact or short
circuit components and the appropriate PPE would alleviate or decrease the severity of potential
injury. When servicing radios, all workplace regulations and other applicable standards for live
electrical work should be followed to ensure personal safety.
ISO 9001 Registration
GE MDS adheres to this internationally-accepted quality system standard.
Quality Policy Statement
We, the employees of GE MDS, are committed to achieving total customer satisfaction in everything we do.
Total Customer Satisfaction in:
• Conception, design, manufacture, and marketing of our products.
• Services and support we provide to our internal and external customers.
Total Customer Satisfaction Achieved Through:
• Processes that are well documented and minimize variations.
• Partnering with suppliers who are committed to providing quality and service.
• Measuring our performance against customer expectations and industry leaders.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and employee involvement.
Revision Notice
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 additional questions or need an exact specification for a product, please contact our
Customer Service Team using the information at the back of this guide. In addition, manual updates can often be found on our Web site at www.GEmds.com.
ESD Notice
To prevent malfunction or damage to this radio, which may be caused by Electrostatic Discharge
(ESD), the radio should be properly grounded by connection to the ground stud on the rear panel.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
In addition, the installer or operator should follow proper ESD precautions, such as touching a
grounded bare metal object to dissipate body charge, prior to connecting and disconnecting cables on the front or rear panels.
Environmental Information
The equipment that you purchased has required the extraction and use of natural resources for its production. Improper disposal may contaminate the environment and present a
health risk due to hazardous substances contained within. To avoid dissemination of these substances into our environment, and to diminish the demand on natural resources, we encourage
you to use the appropriate recycling systems for disposal. These systems will reuse or recycle
most of the materials found in this equipment in a sound way. Please contact GE MDS or your
supplier for more information on the proper disposal of this equipment.
CSA Notice
Units (Both AC and DC supply versions) are permanently connected to Protective Earth, via ground
stud on the unit enclosure back, where the final installation is subject to acceptance of CSA Interna‐
tional or the local inspection authority having jurisdiction.
Conditions of Acceptability:
1. The equipment shall be installed indoors in a restricted access location.
2. Installation of the equipment and its modules shall be conducted by trained personnel in ac‐
cordance with the electrical code.
3. This equipment is movable, Class I (earthed), pluggable Type A, using detachable power cords,
intended for use on TN or TT power system for the AC power option.
4. The DC power option shall be connected to an approved power source with adequate protec‐
tion, isolated from the mains by reinforced insulation.
5. This product was certified for use on a 20A branch circuit for the AC power option.
6. The AC socket outlet shall be installed near the equipment and shall be easily accessible.
7. The power supply cord must be disconnected from the appliance inlet before removing any
power supply from the chassis.
8. CAUTION: THIS UNIT HAS MORE THAN ONE POWER SUPPLY CORD. DISCONNECT THE TWO
POWER SUPPLY CORDS BEFORE SERVICING TO AVOID ELECTRIC SHOCK
9. The equipment chassis shall be permanently grounded though a size six screw and a star
toothed washer.
10. The interior of the equipment is not for operator access.
FCC Part 15 Notice
This Equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protec‐
tion against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environ‐
ment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not in‐
stalled and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
10
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
harmful interference in which case users will be required to correct the interference at their
own expense.
This device 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.
Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the
user’s authority to operate the equipment
Canada, IC ERP Limits
IC SRSP-501, 6.3.2. Limits the ERP to 125W for fixed point-to-point operation. For IC use, the antenna
gain and Transmit power must be set to meet the ERP limit of 125W. This can be accomplished by
using the appropriate at antenna gain in combination with the RF power settings
Open Source License Declaration
Orbit MCR products include Open Source Software. Usage is governed by the corresponding licenses
which are listed on the GE MDS Industrial Wireless website, under Orbit MCR Software/Firmware
Downloads, Support Items and download license-declaration.txt.
Upon request, in accordance with certain software license terms, GE will make available a copy of Open
Source code contained in this product. This code is provided to you on an “as is” basis, and GE makes no
representations or warranties for the use of this code by you independent of any GE provided software or
services. For more information, contact gemds.techsupport@ge.com
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
11
1 INTRODUCTION
The MDS Master Station is an advanced, flexible platform designed for the demanding requirements of
today’s industrial wireless networks. It represents the latest development in a line of MDS products that
set the standards for wireless performance today. The Master Station builds on this legacy with several
innovative features, including a single compact chassis (2 RU), 100% duty cycle operation (no cooling
fans required), front panel access to all modules, and drop-in compatibility with earlier MDS x790/x710
radio systems.
As the central station in a wireless network, the Master Station provides uncompromised performance and
reliability in mission-critical applications. It offers redundant protection of key modules, automatic
switchover in the event of a fault, and an external battery backup option for continued operation through
temporary power losses. The Master Station mounts conveniently in a 19-inch rack cabinet, or may be
used in shelf/tabletop configurations.
Figure 1-1. MDS Master Station
The Master Station can be configured for a variety of service applications, including Point-to-Multipoint
SCADA, Point-to-Point links, broadband1, and Cellular connectivity1, depending on the modules installed
and active in the chassis.
In FCC part 90 SCADA service, the radio can function as a Master, Repeater, or Remote and is capable of
full duplex operation. Internal duplexer options are available, configured for use with or without an external notch filter. Provisions for connection to an external duplexer are also provided. The Master Station
is fully compatible with MDS PulseNET management software, which provides local or remote diagnosis
and health reporting.
1.1 Organization of Manual
This manual is intended for use by systems engineers, network administrators, and others responsible for
the planning, installation, commissioning, use, and troubleshooting of the wireless system. The manual
begins with an overall description of product features, and is followed by the steps required to install the
unit and place it into normal operation.
Future availability
12
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Following the installation procedures, sections are devoted to particular modules that may be installed in
the chassis, including configuration settings for each of these units. Additionally, troubleshooting tips for
resolving system difficulties are offered, as well as a technical reference section with data on wiring,
specifications, and spare parts that may be ordered for the unit.
When installation and setup of the radio is complete, it is recommended that this guide be kept available
for future reference at the installation site. Updated manuals, firmware, and other support documents may
be obtained at any time from our website: www.gemds.com.
1.1.1 Related Publications
In addition to this manual, a companion Setup Guide is available for the MDS Master Station, Part No.
05-6398A01. The Setup Guide is focused on the essential steps for installation and startup of the unit, and
is designed to be used with this Technical Manual.
MDS Master Station is built on the Orbit platform. For reference information on advanced networking
features available on the local LAN Interface, refer to the MDS Orbit MCR Technical Manual (Rev.
C). Note that not all features are supported by the Master Station or the SD Radio Module. Wireless networking capabilities are limited by the narrowband channel and the capabilities of the remote radio.
05-6632A01, Rev. C November 2014 MDS Orbit MCR Technical Manual
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
13
2 KEY PRODUCT FEATURES
As a licensed, long range IP/Ethernet and serial communications device, the Master Station exceeds industry standards for reliability and performance in wireless networks. Listed below are several key features and benefits of the product, and these are available with the appropriate modules installed and configured in the chassis.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Drop-in replacement for earlier MDS x790 Master Stations, including support for all modem types
Backward compatibility with all legacy MDS x710 Series remote transceivers (A and B modems)
May be operated as a Master Station, repeater, or remote radio
Supports use of MDS PulseNET Network Management Software
Software-configurable via a built-in web-based device manager—no manual adjustments required
Firmware-upgradeable for future improvements and functionality enhancements
Available encryption of payload data (AES 128-bit), for networks using all-SD radios
Dual serial functionality (RS-232 and RS-485)
Licensed 10-watt radio design ensures minimum 5-watts at the duplexer output, and maximizes
communications range with low interference risk from other users
RF power adjustable; 1-10 watts at output of radio card (before duplexer)
Unit is configurable via software, locally or remote
Media Access Control (MAC) to prevent data collisions when two or more radios attempt to use
the radio channel at the same time2
Store and Forward capability2
Supports a wide variety of modem speeds and bandwidths for regulatory compliance in virtually
all regions of the world2
NOTE: Some features may not be available on all units, depending on the options purchased and regulatory constraints for the region in which the radio will operate.
Figure 2-1 Compatible Remotes
The Master Station works with legacy MDS x710 (left),
and newer MDS SD Transceivers.
2.1 Accessories and Spare Items
The following table lists common accessories and spare items for use with the Master Station. GE MDS
also offers an Accessories Selection Guide listing an array of additional items available for use with the
product. Contact your factory representative or visit www.gemds.com to obtain a copy of the guide.
Future availability
14
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 2-1 Accessories and Spares
Item
Description
Part Number
Three-conductor DC power plug
Mates with power connector on the front of the unit’s DC power supply
module. Screw terminals are provided for wires, and threaded locking
screws to prevent accidental disconnect.
73-1194A22
Setup Guide
(for installation & basic startup)
Brief document describing the installation and setup of the unit. One copy
normally supplied with each unit. Additional PDF copies available (no
charge) from www.gemds.com.
05-6398A01
COM Port Adapter
Converts the unit’s RJ-45 serial jack to a DB-9F type.
73-2434A25
Mini USB 2.0 Cable, 3 ft./0.91 meter
length
USB Type A (M) to mini-USB Type B (M) cable to provide console access
through the radio’s mini USB connector.
97-6694A05
Lightning Protectors
Polyphaser Surge Protector, IS-50NX-C2, DC blocked, 125 MHz to 1000
MHz, N-female connectors, surface (flange) mount
Polyphaser Surge Protector, IS-B50LN-C2, DC blocked, 125 MHz to 1000
MHz, N-female connectors, bulkhead mount
97-1680A01
Cavity Filter Kit
Removes or attenuates interfering 900 MHz signals from the receiver
input. Might be necessary in areas with high powered stations nearby,
such as paging transmitters. Requires tuning to a particular frequency.
Available for use with an internal or external duplexer.
03-3621Axx
Alarm & Audio Cable
Cable connects to 6847/6848 Alarm/Relay Modules to provide access to
four wire audio, push to talk, analog RSSI, and Major/Minor alarm dry
contacts
03-6940A01
External Battery Kit
MDS provides an external battery kit that consumes one of the power
supply slots.
Contact Factory
100-220 AC Power Supply Module
100-220 Vac, 50/60 Hz. 120W Max AC Power Supply Module. Spare
power supply can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS
Master Station.
03-6755A02
+/- 12-36 V DC Power Supply Module
+/- 12-36 Vdc. 10 A Max. DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master
Station.
03-6843A01
+/- 36-75 V DC Power Supply Module
+/- 36-75 Vdc. 3.5 A Max DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master
Station.
03-6844A01
+/- 75-140 V DC Power Supply
Module
+/- 75-140 Vdc. 2 A Max DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master
Station.
03-6845A01
Platform Manager Module
Provides management and data interface functions.
03-6834A01A
SDM9 C-Band Module
Full duplex radio module. 928-960MHz FCC Part 24, 101
03-6846A01
Redundant Alarm/Relay Module
Active radio relay and alarm/audio interface.
03-6847A01
Non-Redundant Alarm Module
Non-redundant—Alarm and audio interface.
03-6848A01
Duplexers
Spare duplexer in tray wired for MDS Master Station.
9 MHz (932.0-932.5) / (941.0-941.5), COMBINED OUT
24 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (952.0-953.0), COMBINED OUT
31 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (959.0-960.0), COMBINED OUT
9 MHz (932.0-932.5) / (941.0-941.5), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
24 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (952.0-953.0), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
31 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (959.0-960.0), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
03-6837D9B1
03-6837D9C1
03-6837D9D1
03-6837D9B3
03-6837D9C3
03-6837D9D3
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
97-1680A05
15
2.2 Technical Specifications
The following are operating specifications for the SD Master Station 900MHz and 400MHz variants.
Items are separated into Transmit (TX) and Receive (RX) categories. Ongoing product improvements
may result in specification changes, and GE MDS reserves the right to make such changes without obligation to any party. Should you require an exact specification for the build of your unit, please contact the
factory for additional assistance.
Table 2-2-1 900MHz Master Station Technical Specifications
Transmit (TX) Parameter
Specification
Frequency Range
928-960 MHz (SDM9C)3
Frequency Stability
<0.5 ppm, -30C to +60C
TX Power Out
+40.25 dBm +/-0.85dB at radio card for -30 to +60C4
TX Frequency Response
+/- 1.0 dB from 100 Hz to 2.5 kHz
FCC Part 24D
Agency Approvals
FCC Part 101C
IC RSS 119
Load VSWR
10:1 Max, All angles, No damage
Power Consumption
<80W for all DC and AC versions, 100% TX Duty Cycle
Receive (RX) Parameter
Specification
Frequency Range
928-960 MHz
RX Intermodulation
>60 dB
RX Adjacent Channel
>60 dB
RX Spurious and Image
>60 dB when operating with integrated bandpass duplexer
RX Baseband Amplitude
225 < Audio Level <275 mV RMS, -50 dBm @ 1 kHz
RSSI Accuracy
+/-3 dB for RSSI -110 to -70 dBm
RX High RF Input Level
10 dBm, no damage
RX Baseband Frequency Response
+/- 1.0 dB from 100 Hz to 2.5 kHz
Power Consumption
<30W for all DC and AC versions, transmitter disabled
Noise Figure
<6 dB
Blocking
>60 dB
Operating Range
-30C to +60C
Additional frequency bands under development
-30 to +50C when operating continuously keyed (CKEY)
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MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 2-3-2 400MHz Master Station Technical Specifications
Transmit (TX) Parameter
Specification
Frequency Range
400-450 MHz (SDM4B) 450-512MHz (SDM4C)5
Frequency Stability
<0.5 ppm, -30C to +60C
TX Power Out
+41.1 dBm maximum at radio card for-30 to +60C
TX Frequency Response
+/- 1.0 dB from 100 Hz to 2.5 kHz
FCC Part 22
Agency Approvals
FCC Part 90
IC RSS-119
Load VSWR
10:1 Max, All angles, No damage
Power Consumption
<80W for all DC and AC versions, 100% TX Duty Cycle
Receive (RX) Parameter
Specification
Frequency Range
400-450 MHz (SDM4B) 450-512MHz (SDM4C)
RX Intermodulation
>60 dB
RX Adjacent Channel
>60 dB
RX Spurious and Image
>60 dB
RX Baseband Amplitude
225 < Audio Level <275 mV RMS, -50 dBm @ 1 kHz
RSSI Accuracy
+/-3 dB for RSSI -110 to -70 dBm
RX High RF Input Level
10 dBm, no damage
RX Baseband Frequency Response
+/- 1.0 dB from 100 Hz to 2.5 kHz
Power Consumption
<30W for all DC and AC versions, transmitter disabled
Noise Figure
<6 dB
Blocking
>60 dB
Operating Range
-30C to +60C
Additional frequency bands under development
-30 to +50C when operating continuously keyed (CKEY)
2.2.1 FCC Emission Designators: How to Find Them
An FCC emission designator is a seven-character string that represents the bandwidth, modulation, and
other characteristics of a transmitted radio signal. This information is required when applying for an FCC
license. The designator assigned to your equipment depends on the particular sub-model of the product
line you are licensing. In some cases, multiple designators are used to cover product variants such as base
Additional frequency bands under development
-30 to +50C when operating continuously keyed (CKEY)
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
17
stations, remotes, indoor/outdoor units, frequency band, etc. An updated and official list of emission designators is maintained on the FCC’s website at the following link:
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm
Once the site has been reached, proceed as follows to determine your designator:
1. At the top of form in the box labeled Grantee Code: enter E5M. This is the code for GE MDS
products.
2. At the bottom of the form in the box labeled Show x Records at a Time, enter a sufficiently large number
(i.e., 300) to display all GE MDS records on file. Press Enter.
3. Once the list appears, it can be searched to locate the particular model you are seeking information on.
To the left of each entry, there is a document icon. Click the icon to display the equipment authorization report.
4. Scroll down to the section labeled Equipment Specifications to locate the appropriate emission designator.
If additional assistance is required, contact GE MDS using the information given at the end of this
manual.
2.3 Front Panel
All access to Master Station modules is made from the front of the unit after removing the protective cover. To remove the cover, simply grasp the sides and pull out with a slight rocking motion. Tether strips on
the ends of the cover are available to keep it linked to the chassis when it has been removed from its installed position. The tethers allow the cover to rest just below the front panel during service work.
Figure 2-2. MDS Master Station, Front Panel Connections & Indicators
(Representative arrangement; Module types vary based on product configuration)
Master Station modules are factory installed and cabled. All modules are installed on slide-in assemblies
and secured to the chassis with knurled fasteners. The illustration below shows the modules installed in a
redundant configuration. For a non-redundant configuration, blank plates are used in place of the redundant power supply and radio modules, and a non-redundant version of the Alarm/Relay module will be
installed. The table that follows lists the module types available as of the date of publication.
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 2-4 Module Descriptions
Module Name
ID
Function
Power Supply 1,
Power Supply 2
6843: (12-36 Vdc)
Provides operating power based on a variety of AC and
DC input options. Up to two power supply modules may be
installed in the chassis (AC or DC; any combination. In a
redundant configuration, both power supplies work in
tandem and are independent of which radio is currently
active.
6844: (+/- 36-75 Vdc)
6845: (125 Vdc)
6755: (110/220 Vac)
Platform Manager
6834
Provides management and data interface functions.
Radio A,
6846 (SDM9)
Single or redundant full duplex SD Master radios.
6847
Redundant—Active radio RF relay and alarm/audio
interface.
Radio B
Alarm/Relay Module
6848
Non-redundant—Alarm and audio interface.
Duplexer
6837
Internal RF duplexer (if equipped). Allows simultaneous
transmission and reception of signals on separate TX/RX
frequencies, using a single antenna.
2.4 Rear Antenna Connections
Figure 2-3. MDS Master Station, Rear Panel
Showing Antenna Connection & Heatsink
(Other configurations possible for external items such as duplexer or cavity filter)
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
19
3 INSTALLATION PLANNING
This section covers pre-installation factors that should be considered when installing the Master Station.
Careful planning will help achieve optimal performance from the radio. After reviewing this section, refer
to the step-by-step installation procedures beginning on INSTALLATION PROCEDURES.
The specific details at an installation site may vary, but there are three main requirements for installing
the unit in all cases:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• An efficient and properly installed antenna system
• Correct interface connections between the Master Station and any connected equipment.
Figure 3-1shows a common arrangement of the Master Station as used in a multiple address radio network. The system shows both SD and legacy x710 remote transceivers in use. Depending on order options, the Master Station can communicate with remotes employing Ethernet signaling, serial signaling, or
a mix of both.
Figure 3-1 Application Example
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MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
3.1 Applications
The Master Station is designed for point-to-multipoint data transmission in utility SCADA communications, transactional systems, and telecommunications systems. The wireless network provides communications between a central host computer and remote terminal units (RTUs) or other data collection devices. In such an arrangement, the operation of the radio system is transparent to the computer equipment.
Repeater and Polling Remote Operation
In a system using FCC Part 90 repeater and polling remote, the polling remote radio operates in
half-duplex mode and the repeater operates in full-duplex mode. The SD Master Station can be used as a
polling remote, or as a repeater. Refer to Section 5.6.5.1.1 Basic Settings for details on configuring the
radio for repeater operation.
Simplex and Switched Carrier Operation
System-wide simplex operation is achieved by switching the Master Station carrier on to transmit, and
then off to receive. The same frequency is used for both transmit and receive.
Switched carrier, half-duplex mode works in the same way, except different frequencies are used for
transmit and receive.
Refer to Section 5.6.5.1.1 Basic Settings for details on configuring the radio for simplex or switched carrier operation.
3.2 Network Management
Network-Wide Diagnostics
The Master Station offers network-wide diagnostics capability, sometimes referred to as DLINK Diagnostics. Network-wide diagnostics communications is a packetized diagnostic capability that provides the
following advantages:
• You can gather diagnostic data over a large radio network without disrupting the system communications flow.
• When required, you can increase diagnostics communications speed by actively collecting diagnostic data.
• You can access diagnostic data for each radio in the network from any radio diagnostics port in the
network.
• You can broadcast certain messages to all radios in the system simultaneously.
You can use the Master Station to poll remote radios in its radio system for diagnostic data. For more information on the implementation of network-wide diagnostics, refer to the GE MDS Network-wide Diagnostics Handbook (P/N 05-3467A01).
Network Management Using PulseNET
PulseNET uses the DLINK protocol to monitor the Master Station and downstream devices. The Master
Station can be connected locally using either COM1 or COM2 serial or through Ethernet using TCP. Refer to Section 5.6.5.1.2 Dlink for more information about configuring DLINK on the Master Station.
PulseNET remotely discovers and monitors Master Stations and other SD or x710 radios on the network
using DLINK. The locally connected radio may be a Master, Repeater, Polling Remote, or Remote. This
locally connected radio must be configured as the DLINK “root” radio. Downstream radios should be
configured as “node”. PulseNET uses passive polling to discover the “root” radio and all of the “node”
radios downstream. Passive polling allows monitoring without interrupting payload data transmission.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
21
In order for pulseNET to discover Master Stations in the network, DLINK must be enabled and properly
configured. Refer to section 5.6.5.1.2 Dlink for information on how to configure DLINK.
3.3 Redundant versus Non-redundant Operation
A redundant configuration means that the Master Station has two complete transceiver boards and power
supplies installed in the enclosure. In the event of a failure in the primary equipment, the controlling logic
switches to the stand-by unit. The stand-by transceiver board is constantly operating and its operational
readiness is monitored. However, the power amplifier in the stand-by board is not operating when it is in
stand-by mode.
In a non-redundant configuration, there is only one transceiver board installed in the enclosure, and
back-up transceiver board operation is not possible.
Transceiver boards may be moved from one Master Station to another; however an additional transceiver
board cannot be added to a non-redundant Master Station. Redundant or non-redundant operation is automatically detected by the platform manager, and the active transceiver is automatically selected. Installing or replacing a transceiver board causes the board to communicate briefly with the Platform Manager to establish which transceiver board will operate as the active board and which operates as the
stand-by. For more information, refer to 7.4 Replacing Modules.
3.4 Antennas and Feedlines
3.4.1 Antennas
The Master Station may be used with a number of different antennas. The exact style and gain factor depend on the physical size and layout of your system. Antennas of this type are available from several
manufacturers, including GE MDS. Contact your factory representative for details. Connection is made to
the station via N coaxial connectors at the rear panel.
3.4.2 Feedlines
The selection of an antenna feedline is very important. Poor quality cable should be avoided as it will result in power losses that may reduce the range and reliability of the radio system.
The tables that follow show the approximate losses that will occur when using various lengths and types
of coaxial cable in the 200, 400 and 900 MHz bands, respectively. Regardless of the type used, the cable
should be kept as short as possible to minimize signal loss.
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MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 3-1
Signal Loss in Coaxial Cables (at 900 MHz)
Cable Type
10 Feet
50 Feet
100 Feet
200 Feet
(3 Meters)
(15 Meters)
(30.5 Meters)
(61 Meters)
RG-8A/U
0.85 dB
4.27 dB
8.54 dB
17.08 dB
1/2 inch HELIAX
0.23 dB
1.15 dB
2.29 dB
4.58 dB
7/8 inch HELIAX
0.13 dB
0.64 dB
1.28 dB
2.56 dB
1-1/4 inch
HELIAX
0.10 dB
0.48 dB
0.95 dB
1.90 dB
1-5/8 inch
HELIAX
0.08 dB
0.40 dB
0.80 dB
1.60 dB
Table 3-2 Signal Loss in Coaxial Cables (at 400 MHz)
Cable Type
RG-8A/U
1/2 inch HELIAX
7/8 inch HELIAX
1-1/4 inch HELIAX
1-5/8 inch HELIAX
10 Feet
50 Feet
100 Feet
200 Feet
(3 Meters)
(15 Meters)
(30.5 Meters)
(61 Meters)
0.51 dB
2.53 dB
5.07 dB
10.14 dB
0.12 dB
0.76 dB
1.51 dB
3.02 dB
0.08 dB
0.42 dB
0.83 dB
1.66 dB
0.06 dB
0.31 dB
0.62 dB
1.24 dB
0.05 dB
0.26 dB
0.52 dB
1.04 dB
3.5 Grounding Considerations
To minimize the chance of damage to the radio and connected equipment, a safety ground (NEC Class 2
compliant) is recommended which bonds the Master Station, antenna system, and connected data equipment to a single-point ground, keeping all ground leads as short as possible.
The Master Station should be grounded using the #6-32 screw and star washer provided for this purpose
on the rear panel.
The use of a lightning protector is also recommended where the antenna cable enters the equipment
building; bond the protector to the tower/mast ground, if applicable. All grounds and cabling must comply
with applicable codes and regulations.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
23
Figure 3-2. Rear Panel Grounding Screw
3.6 Data Interface Connections
3.6.1 Ethernet Data Interface (RJ-45)
The Ethernet interface supports both radio management and payload data transport functions.
For radio management, connecting via a web browser provides enhanced functionality and ease-of-use
over serial/USB methods. Web-based management is the preferred and primary means of accessing the
transceiver through the built-in Device Manager.
SSH may also be used on this connector, and provides the same CLI based user interface available via the
serial interfaces.
Refer to 6.3.2 Ethernet Interfaces for electrical information and connector pinout.
3.6.2 Serial Data Interfaces
COM1 and COM2 provided on the front of the Platform Manager module serve as the serial interface
ports for payload data, radio management, or diagnostics. Management is also available through the mini
USB port. The default factory settings for the radio’s COM1 port is as a serial data port to connect to an
external DTE serial device. The default factory settings for the radio’s COM2 port assigns it for management of the radio via a serial connection to a PC. These ports are user-configurable for specific applications. The procedures for changing their default operation are provided later in this guide.
NOTE: Not all PCs have a serial port. If one is not available, a USB-to-Serial adapter and appropriate
driver software may be used to provide serial connectivity. These adapters are available from several
manufacturers, including GE MDS.
24
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Serial Data Connection
When used as a data port for an SD Radio Module in Transparent or x710 modes, some pins on COM1
and COM2 have special behavior determined by configuration. DCD (Data Carrier Detect) is asserted
when the radio received an on-frequency signal. RTS (Request-to-Send) can be configured to key the
transmitter when asserted. CTS (Clear-to-Send) can be configured to go “high” after the programmed
CTS delay time has elapsed (DCE), or can be configured to key another connected radio when RF data
arrives (CTS KEY
The included Com Port Adapter Cable 73-2434A25 can be used to convert the unit’s RJ-45 serial jack to
a DB-9F type connector.
Signal
DSR
DCD
DTR
Ground
RXD
TXD
CTS
RTS
No connection
Table 3-3 RF-45 to DB-9F Pin Out
RJ-45
DB-9F
Standard RS-232
DSR
DCD
DTR
Ground
RXD
TXD
CTS
RTS
N.C.
RI
3.6.3 Mini USB
The Mini USB port can be used to management the radio through a scriptable command line interface
(CLI) using the proper USB drivers available at www.gemds.com. Connect to the management PC using
the included Mini USB Cable. Once the PC registers the device driver, the port will auto baud. The USB
port provides CLI management only and cannot be used for network diagnostics or for payload data.
3.6.4 Alarm Output and 4-Wire Audio
Alarm and audio signals are provided on the Alarm or Alarm/Relay module. Refer to 6.5.1 Alarm Module
LEDs for details on pinout and signal descriptions. Audio signaling and alarm outputs are software
configurable. Refer to Section 5 Device Management for more information.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
25
4 INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
This section presents the steps necessary for installing the radio and connecting it to associated equipment. After completing these steps, the radio is ready for in-service operation.
4.1 Unpacking and Inspection
Check the contents against the packing list secured to the outside of the shipping box. Accessories and
spare parts kits, if any, are wrapped separately. Inspect all items for signs of damage. Save all packing
materials in case you need to ship the radio in the future.
4.2 Installation Steps
The radio should be installed in a relatively clean, dust-free environment that allows easy access to the
connectors and indicators. Air must pass freely over the rear heat sink and around the unit for proper
cooling. Follow the steps below to install the unit and prepare it for initial startup.
26
Mount the Unit. The unit may be rack-mounted (2U high) in a 19-inch rack cabinet, or may be placed
on any sturdy tabletop or other flat surface. The installation site should be free of excessive dust, and
should have adequate ventilation. The chassis should be positioned so that all interface cabling will
reach the required connectors.
When rack mounting, the rack ears can be installed in one of three positions to allow flexibility in the
mounted depth of the chassis. The unit should be mounted so as to maximize airflow around the rear
heat sink.
Ground the Chassis. Use the ground screw provided at the rear panel to connect the radio to a safety
ground (NEC Class 2 compliant), which bonds the Master Station, antenna system, and connected data
equipment to a single-point ground. Keep all ground leads as short as possible.
Connect Antenna Feedlines. All coaxial antenna connections are made to the Type-N connectors on
the rear of the unit. The number of connections depends on options ordered, including duplexer options,
as follows: Separate TX and RX; Combined TX/RX; wired for an external notch filter with RX Out,
RX In and combined TX/RX.
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Figure 4-1. Internal Duplexer, Triple N connectors
Figure 4-2. Internal Duplexer (or internal T/R switch), Single N connectors
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
27
Figure 4-3 External duplexer or dual antennas
(TX and RX ports pass directly through)
Install the Data Interface Cabling. Interface connections are made to the front of the Platform
Manager module. Typical connections for most sites include:
• Serial Data—Attach data equipment to the front panel COM1 and/or COM2 ports. The unit is
hardwired as a DCE device (DB9-F to RJ-45 connector, GE MDS part no. 73-2434A12).
• Ethernet LAN—Attach data equipment to the ETH1 and/or ETH2 port. The auto-sensing MDIX
feature allows either a straight-through or crossover cable to be used.
Where applicable in the steps that follow, secure all cable connections with the locking screws provided.
Connect Primary Power—The Master Station is powered using one or two power supply modules
that work in tandem. The modules may be AC, DC, or a combination of both. The following tables list
each type and key operating parameters.
Table 4-1 AC Power Supply Module
Module
Input Power
Current Rating
6755
100-220 Vac, 50/60 Hz
120W Max.
All DC power supply modules have chassis isolated inputs and a diode bridge for floating ground,
positive ground, or negative ground installations. These modules include a keyed power connector
with screw-terminals. Strip the wire leads to 6mm (1/4 inch) and insert them into the wire ports provided. Be sure to observe the polarity shown below. Tighten the binding screws securely and insert the
connector into the module. For compliance with CSA, torque thumbscrews to 10in-lbs.
28
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 4-2 DC Power Supply Modules
Module
Input Power
Current Rating
6843
+/- 12-36 Vdc
10 A Max.
6844
+/- 36-75 Vdc
3.5 A Max.
6845
+/- 75-140 Vdc
2 A Max.
•
Figure 4-4 DC Power Connector
Connect a PC for Configuration (LAN or USB port). This prepares the Master Station for programming
of desired operating parameters. Configuration is further described in Section 5 Device Management
NOTE: If serial-based cabling is used for configuration, an adapter may be required at the PC, as
many PCs do not offer a serial port. In such cases, a USB-to-Serial adapter (with appropriate driver
software) may be used. These adapters are available from a number of manufacturers.
Radio, Alarm/Relay, and Duplexer Connections—The Alarm/Relay module provides two alarm
outputs, one for major and one for minor alarms. This module also provides TX/RX audio, PTT (TX
keying), and analog RSSI connections. See 6.5.2 Alarm/Audio Interface for pinout connections.
All other required connections on the front of the unit are cabled at the factory per ordered options.
Add connection of battery backup, as applicable.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
29
4.2.1 Initial Startup & Operation
The radio is designed for continuous, unattended operation, but does require some minimal provisioning
before operation. This section explains the use of the radio’s indicators and provides steps for initial
startup of the equipment. Once a unit is provisioned, operator intervention is not required, except to power the unit up or down, or to change an operating parameter.
Operation of the radio can be started by simply connecting primary power to the unit.
Module LED Indicators
All LED indicators are on the front of the unit. Platform Manager, Radio, and Alarm Modules include
LED. A redundant unit will be populated as shown above. A non-redundant unit will have only one Radio
Module and a different Alarm Module without RF connections.
Figure 4-5 LED Indicators
Normal Indications
When power is first applied, the following events occur in a normally working unit:
• All front panel indicators light briefly
• The ACTIVE LED for the selected transceiver board lights.
• The Power LED on the transceiver modules will begin to flash indicating they have not yet
communicated with the platform manager.
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
• The Power LED and Alarm LED will light on the Platform Manager card. At this point the platform
manager is performing a pre-boot validation of the firmware to ensure that all required security
signatures are in place and valid.
• The Alarm LED will turn off and the power LED will begin to flash. At this point the platform
manager is booting and initializing the system.
• Once the platform manager initializes the transceiver module, the power LED will stop flashing and
turn solid.
Maximizing RSSI
Since the Master Station almost always uses an omni-directional antenna, maximizing signal strength is
done at the remote sites where directional antennas are typically used. An RSSI stronger than -90 dBm is
desirable. Refer to Section 5 Device Management for information on monitoring the RSSI for the Radio
Module.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
31
5 DEVICE MANAGEMENT
This section describes the steps for connecting a PC, logging in, and setting unit parameters. The focus
here is on the local serial/USB console interface, but other methods of connection are available and offer
similar capabilities. The key differences are with initial access and appearance of data.
The MDS Master Station offers several interfaces to allow device configuration and monitoring of status
and performance. These include local serial console, USB, NETCONF, HTTP/HTTPS, and Secure Shell
(SSH) for local and remote access via the WAN and LAN networks. The serial console, USB, and SSH
services offer a command line interface (CLI). There are three user accounts/roles for management
access: admin, tech, and oper. User accounts can be centrally managed with a RADIUS server, with
RADIUS accounts being mapped to one of the three user accounts/roles. Refer to 05-6632A01 MDS
Orbit MCR Technical Manual (Rev. C) for details on configuring RADIUS authentication.
MDS Orbit MCR Technical Manual (Rev. C). Note that not all features are supported by the Master
Station or the SD Radio Module. Wireless networking capabilities are limited by the narrowband channel
and the capabilities of the remote radio.
NOTE: The MDS Master Station is designed for high security environments. As such, management of
the device does not support Telnet, but instead implements the more secure SSH protocol.
5.1 Pre-Configured Settings
The unit is highly configurable to meet field requirements, but comes pre-configured as follows:
• COM1 is configured for transparent serial payload at a baud rate of 115200,8N1
• COM2 is configured to operate at a baud rate of 115200,8N1 and is enabled for local console operation.
• USB is enabled for local console operation (proper system drivers must be installed on the PC connected to the MDS Master Station to use the USB port as a virtual serial device; these drivers are available
from the GE MDS website).
• The Ethernet ports are bridged together, with spanning-tree protocol enabled, with a default IP address
of 192.168.1.1/24.
5.2 One-Time “Recovery” Passwords
The MDS Orbit platform employs extensive security measures to prevent unauthorized access. As such,
there are no hidden manufacturer passwords or other “backdoors” found in less secure products.
If a password is lost, there is no way to access the unit, except by using a one-time password (OTP) for
recovery. The user must create this OTP manually. Without a one-time password, the unit will not be accessible, and the hardware will need to be replaced. The factory will not be able to assist you if a password is lost, so creating a one-time password is strongly encouraged.
One-Time Passwords: How They Work
One-time recovery passwords put control directly and exclusively in the user’s hands. They are similar to
spare keys for a lock. If you make a spare key, and put it away safely, you can take it out to quickly gain
entry when your primary key is lost. If you don’t make a spare, you are always at risk of locking yourself
out.
A one-time recovery password is different from the one used to log into the unit on a routine basis. It is
only for use when the primary password is lost or forgotten. When a one-time password is used to log in,
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
that password is automatically revoked from the list of passwords created. (You may create up to five
one-time passwords at one time, and more can be created if some get used). Once used, a password cannot be used again for log-in to the unit (hence the name “one-time” password)
Creating a One-Time Password
To create a one-time recovery password via the console, enter the following command, where  is either “factory-reset” or “login”
request system recovery one-time-passwords create function selected function
NOTE: A one-time password is automatically generated and displayed on the screen. Copy this password and save it in the desired location on your PC. There is no way to ever view it again from
the command line console, so be sure it is properly saved.
To create additional one-time passwords (up to a total of five), repeat the step above.
Logging in With a One-Time Password
Logging in with a one-time password can only be performed from the local serial or USB console. Note
the local serial cannot be used if configured as a payload or diagnostic interfaces. You also cannot use a
one-time password when connecting to the unit remotely. Therefore, in some configurations, the USB
console is the only option.
To use the one-time password for log-in, proceed as follows:
At the username prompt, enter the word recovery.
At the password prompt, paste in the one-time-password saved earlier on your PC. Using a
one-time-password forces the unit to perform the “function” which was previously defined when
the password was created:
• factory-reset—The unit resets its entire configuration to factory defaults
• login—The unit allows logging in with “admin” privileges
Special case: If someone has disabled console access on the USB port, the login prompt will still be present on that console, but only one-time-passwords will be accepted. This is done to provide a way to recover the unit in the case where the USB port has been disabled and the unit cannot be accessed via TCP
(for example; SSH).
Deleting a One-Time Password
As noted earlier, a one-time password is automatically revoked when it is used for log-in. A revoked
password may be replaced, but it must first be removed from the list so a new one can be generated. Any
of the five stored passwords may be removed on demand. As long as there is a free slot, an additional
password can be created, up to the maximum number of five. Logs are generated when the user creates,
deletes or logs in with a one-time-password. To remove an existing password from the list, proceed as
follows:
Enter the command request system recovery one-time-passwords delete identifier , where  is a
number from the currently available one-time passwords. This identifier is not reused. If all five passwords have been created, then ID 1 can be deleted, and the next created password will be at ID 6.
The current list of passwords may be viewed by issuing the command show system recovery
one-time-passwords. The following is an example output from that command. On the unit shown, only two
passwords have been stored.
Password 1 or 2 can be deleted from this list.
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33
IDENTIFIER
FUNCTION
STATUS
DATE CREATED
DATE REVOKED
USER
---------------------------------------------------------------------1
login
usable
2012-06-19T00:27:24+00:00
login
usable
2012-06-19T00:27:25+00:00
5.3 Configuration via Command Line (CLI)
A scriptable command-line interface is accessible through the radio’s Ethernet port using Secure Shell
(SSH) terminal, or through the unit’s USB interface. For enhanced security, the unit does not support
Telnet configuration. The steps below describe a cabled USB connection and assume the proper drivers
have been installed.
Install the USB virtual serial port driver, which is available on the GE MDS web site.
Connect a PC to the unit's USB port and establish a console terminal session using a serial communications program.
Press the ENTER key to receive the login prompt.
Enter the username (admin is the default username) and press ENTER.
At the Password prompt, enter the password (admin is the default password). Press ENTER. Upon
successful login, the connection message appears.
Enter the configuration mode by typing configure followed by The ENTER key.
Review and configure all key settings for the required application. Built-in help is available by pressing
the Tab key. A summary of all unit settings may be viewed by entering the
% show | details command.
Tab Completion Feature
Tab-completion is a powerful feature that provides assistance when typing commands in CLI. Depending on the text that was already entered, tab-completion displays different possible completions. When the
Tab key is pressed and no text has been entered, the CLI shows all possible commands that can be typed.
5.3.1 CLI Quick Reference Table
Table 5-1. CLI Quick Reference Table provides a summary listing of commonly needed tasks and the
appropriate commands to enter. The table can be used as a quick reference before consulting the more
detailed information, which follows in this section. Each CLI command is preceded by the symbol > for
operational command, or % for a configuration command.
Table 5-1. CLI Quick Reference Table
34
If you wish to...
Enter this CLI command:
Create a one-time password
> request system recovery one-time-password create function 
View all network interface
status and statistics
> show interfaces-state interface
Create a bridge
% set interfaces interface bridge type bridge
Add the ETH1 interface to a
bridge
% set interfaces interface bridge bridge-settings members port eth-0/0/0
Remove the ETH1 interface
from a bridge
% delete interfaces interface bridge bridge-settings members port
eth-0/0/0
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
View SD Master Station
Settings
> show configuration interfaces interface sdms sd-config
Monitor SDMS Status
> show interfaces-state interface sdms sd-status | repeat 5
View the routing table
> show routing
View the event log
> show table logging event-log
Set the admin user’s
password
> request system authentication change-password user admin
password admin1234
Set the device name
% set system name “Mydevice”
Set the baud rate on COM1
% set services serial ports COM1 baud-rate b19200
Download a firmware
package from TFTP server at
192.168.1.10
> request system firmware reprogram-inactive-image filename
sdms-bkrc-1_0_0.mpk manual-file-server { tftp { address 192.168.1.10 } }
Monitor firmware download
status
> show system firmware reprogramming-status
Export configuration file to a
TFTP server at 192.168.1.10
> request system configuration-files export filename myConfig.txt
manual-file-server {tftp {address 192.168.1.10} }
Reboot device to firmware
inactive image
> request system power restart inactive
5.4 Interface naming
Interface naming of physical devices on the MDS Master Station uses the following format:
-/0/
Where type is one of the following values:
Interface Type Abbreviations
Type
Description
eth
Ethernet Interface
sd
SD Radio Module
wifi
WiFi Interface
Slot-0 is the slot identifier for the platform manager, while slots 1-3 map to the available interface slots in
the chassis.
Ports are zero-based and map to the port number of the given interface type in the specified slot. Note that
not all interface types have port values that are non-zero (e.g. An SD radio module only has one “port”, so
it will always be ‘0’)
The center 0 value in the interface name is always 0, and is reserved for future use.
Examples of valid interface names are
 eth‐0/0/0 – The first Ethernet port on the platform manger card in slot‐0
 eth‐0/0/1 – The second Ethernet port on the platform manager card in slot‐0
 sd‐2/0/0 – The SD Radio module in slot‐2.
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Logical (non-physical) interfaces such as bridges and VLANs use free-form names and can be renamed
by the user.
5.5 Configuration via the Device Manager
The Device Manager is a built-in software tool that works with your PC’s browser to provide an intuitive,
web-style presentation of all unit information, settings, and diagnostics. Device manager is accessible
through ETH1 or ETH2 using a web browser.
Minimum browser requirements: IE10 or later, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
NOTE: For security, web access can be enabled/disabled via the CLI using the command % set services
web http(s) enabled true/false
5.5.1 General Configuration
For initial configuration of the Master Station, perform the following steps:
1 Connect the unit to a PC via an Ethernet connection.
2 Configure your PC network settings to an IP address on the same subnet as the unit. The default subnet
mask is 255.255.255.0.
NOTE
For IP addressing the Master Station uses a routing prefix expressed in CIDR notation instead
of the specifying a subnet mask. The CIDR notation is the first address of a network, followed
by a slash character (/), and ending with the bit-length (max 32) of the prefix. A subnet mask is
expressed in dot-decimal notation. For example, 192.168.1.0/24 is equivalent to specifying
192.168.1.0 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
Open a web browser and navigate to the IP address of the unit (default Ethernet IP address is
192.168.1.1). The initial sign-in prompt appears.
Enter the username and password (admin is the default entry for both fields), then click ‘Sign In’.
On first-time login, the Initial Setup Wizard will appear and provide guidance for general device setup.
This is disabled after the initial setup has been complete but may be re-run at any time by accessing the
Wizards link on the left side of the screen, and clicking Initial Setup.
Key items that should be reviewed and/or set for the radio include:
 Create one-time programmable passwords for unit recovery
 Change login passwords (to maintain security)
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
 Evaluate default factory configuration and lock the unit down to the required security level
When the Initial Setup wizard completes, select WizardsSD Configuration Setup, which steps you
through initial SD Radio Module configuration. Key items that should be reviewed and/or set include:
 Frequency plan
 Modem selection
 Keying mode
 Serial data interface configuration
 Encryption settings
5.6 Interface Configuration
5.6.1 Serial Interfaces
A serial cable (RJ45 cable with proper ETH to DB9 converter) may be used to connect to a COM port on
the unit to access the CLI. The default serial console settings are 115200 bps with 8N1 format. A
mini-USB-to-USB cable may also be used to connect to a Computer in case no serial port exists. If a
mini-USB connection is used, the computer must contain the appropriate device driver. A driver for serial
operation can be found on GE MDS website.
Configuring
The screen below shows console access to the COM1 serial and USB port:
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37
Navigate to: Home / Services / Serial
Click on the name of the port (COM1, COM2, USB) to get:
• Line Mode - Selection of the operation line mode of the serial port. Choices are:
• RS232 (DEFAULT)
• RS485 - 2 Wire
• RS485 - 4 Wire
• Baud Rate - The serial port baud rate in bps. Choices are 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400,
57600, 115200 (DEFAULT)
• Byte Format - The data byte format in bits, parity and stop bits: Choices are:
• 7N1 - 7 char bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
• 7E1 - 7 char bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
• 7O1 - 7 char bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
• 7N2 - 7 char bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
• 7E2 - 7 char bits, even parity, 2 stop bits
• 7O2 - 7 char bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
• 8N1 - 8 char bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (DEFAULT)
• 8E1 - 8 char bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
• 8O1 - 8 char bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
• 8N2 - 8 char bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
• 8E2 - 8 char bits, even parity, 2 stop bits
• 8O2 - 8 char bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
• Hw Flow Control - Hardware flow control enable/disable (DEFAULT) using RTS/CTS lines
38
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• Vmin - Receive Buffer Size - The minimum number of data bytes that will be buffered by the serial port before handling of the data to be processed by the terminal server. (255 = DEFAULT).
• Vtime - Receive Inter-Byte Timeout - The amount of time between bytes of data on the serial port
(in multiples of 1 millisecond), that indicate the end of a serial message ready to be processed by
the terminal server. (100 = DEFAULT)
Note
Vmin and Vtime setting only have an effect when the serial port is not being used an SD
payload or diagnostics (DLINK) port,
Terminal Server Settings
When configuring a serial port that will be used as a terminal server the VMIN and VTIME settings need
additional explanation. As described above VMIN is a number describing bytes that are received from the
interface, while VTIME is in 100ths of a second (100 milliseconds) intervals. They act together to control
serial data collection and transmission as described below:
• VMIN == 0; VTIME == 0: The terminal server will continuously read to see if a byte if data is
available and process each byte.
NOTE
While this is a valid mode in most cases this causes a high processing load on the device that may impact
performance of other operations of the device.
• VMIN > 0; VTIME == 0: The terminal server waits to process data until at least VMIN bytes of
serial data are received.
• VMIN == 0; VTIME > 0: If serial data is received, the terminal server will continuously read the
number of bytes available until
• VTIME has elapsed then process the data
• VMIN > 0; VTIME > 0: Once an initial byte of input becomes available the terminal server waits
until the MIN bytes have been read, or when the inter-byte timeout expires. The timer is restarted
after each further byte is received and because the timer is started only after the initial byte is received, at least one byte will be read
Serial Hardware Flow Control - When port is not being used as a SD payload or SD
diagnostics (DLINK) port:
Hardware Flow Control: When operating in CTSKEY mode, all serial ports in the data path are required
to be set to the same baud rate, and that VMIN and VTIME remain at the defaults for serial data packets
less than or equal to 255 bytes. For serial packets over 255 bytes it is recommended that a cts-delay time
of at least 90ms be used to account for the VTIME delay of the over-the-air sending unit.
Hardware Flow Control Modes - When port is not being used as a SD payload or
SD diagnostics (DLINK) port:
1. DCE
• CTS follows RTS after a programmable CTS delay.
• If the unit’s input buffer approaches a full condition it can deassert CTS regardless of state of RTS.
2. CTSKEY
• Based on legacy MDS devices including TransNET, the device will act similar to a DTE but will
provide signaling on the CTS line instead of the RTS line.
• When the first character of a transmission is ready to be sent to the serial port, the unit shall assert
CTS and delay for CTS delay time expiration before outputting the first character.
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39
• After the last character of a transmission is output from the serial port, the unit shall keep CTS asserted until the expiration of CTS hold time.
3. CTSKEYPLUS
• The unit shall support flow control (Throttling) on the RTS pin. The device is expected to be wired
via null modem to an external DCE device. The CTS line of the external DCE device drives the
RTS line of the unit.
Monitoring
From the Web UI. the Serial Ports screen shows the settings:
Navigate to: Home / Services / Serial
From the CLI in operational mode, follow the example below to view the state and statistics:
show configuration services serial |
details
ports COM1 {
line-mode
rs232;
baud-rate
b115200;
byte-format
bf8n1;
hw-flow-control false;
vmin
255;
vtime
1;
capability
rs485-2-wire,rs485-4-wire;
ports COM2 {
line-mode
rs232;
baud-rate
b19200;
byte-format
bf8n1;
hw-flow-control false;
vmin
255;
vtime
1;
capability
"";
console {
serial-ports [ COM1 COM2 ];
40
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5.6.2 LAN
Understanding
The Master Station has external Local Area Network (LAN) ports (ETH1/2 ports) that can be used to
connect to a local (wired) LAN. It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and may be assigned multiple
IP addresses. The LAN port can be assigned static IP addresses or a dynamically allocated address can be
assigned using DHCP.
NOTE
The LAN port should be assigned IP addresses only if it is a routed interface (that is, not in a
bridge).
Configuring
From the Interfaces screen the status may be displayed by clicking on the interface and scrolling down to
the statistics information:
Navigate to: Home / Interfaces
To configure the LAN interface, select the eth-0/0/0 or eth-0/0/1. As shown in the screens below, there
are five groups of configuration settings that can be configured: eth-0/0/x, Filter, NAT, eth-0/0/x specifics
• Description - User defined identifier for this connection - 0-34 characters
• Type - Identifier of the type of interface - Do Not Change
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41
• Enabled - Checked indicates Enabled (DEFAULT). Disable will prevent usage.
• IPv4 Create - Use for creating static IPv4 IP address and removing this interface from the built-in
Network Bridge.
• IPv6 Create - Use for creating static IPv6 IP address and removing this interface from the built-in
Network Bridge.
• Filter Input - Use for selecting and applying a firewall filter (from available filters) to incoming
traffic on this interface.
• Filter Output - Use for selecting and applying a firewall filter (from available filters) to outgoing
traffic on this interface.
• Input - Default Selections (others may have been added) :
• IN_TRUSTED
• IN_UNTRUSTED
• OUT_TRUSTED
• OUT_UNTRUSTED
• Output - Default Selections (others may have been added) :
• IN_TRUSTED
• IN_UNTRUSTED
• OUT_TRUSTED
• OUT_UNTRUSTED
• Source - Source NAT performs translation of source IP address of the traffic going out of the interface. Use for selecting and applying a source NAT rule-set (from available source nat rule-sets)
to outgoing traffic on this interface. Choices:
• MASQ - MASQuerading - This rule-set translates the source address of the outgoing
traffic to use the interface's IP address. In general, IP masquerading allows the user to
use a private (reserved) IP network addresses on the LAN and still allow these devices
to communicate with devices on the other side of the masqueraded interface that are
not aware of the internal private addresses.
• Destination- Destination NAT performs translation of destination IP address (and, optionally, destination port) of the traffic coming into the interface. Use for selecting and applying a destination
NAT rule-set (from available destination nat rule-sets) to incoming traffic on this interface
• Static - Static NAT performs translation of a network address to another network address for incoming and outgoing traffic. Refer to 3.8.10-Static NAT (One to One NAT) page 160. Use for se42
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
lecting and applying a static NAT rule-set (from available static nat rule-sets) to incoming and
outgoing traffic on this interface.
• Eth Phy Rate - Choose the Ethernet speed support setting (DEFAULT ALL)
• Eth 10Mb Half
• Eth 10Mb Full
• Eth 100Mb Half
• Eth 100Mb Full
• Vlan Mode - Virtual LAN Setting. (VLAN Operation): Valid Choices
• None (DEFAULT)
• Access - Use this if this interface is intended to be a member of only a single VLAN.
• Trunk - Use this if this interface is intended to be a member of multiple VLANs.
Using the CLI, the following sequence shows how to configure the ETH1 port to obtain a dynamic IPv4
address using DHCP:
> configure
Entering configuration mode private
% set interfaces interface eth-0/0/0 ipv4 dhcp
% commit
NOTE
Before configuring a new IP address, be sure to remove the previous address by issuing the command
% delete interfaces interface eth-0/0/0 ipv4
The following sequence shows how to configure the ETH1 port with a static IPv4 address:
> configure
Entering configuration mode private
% set interfaces interface eth-0/0/0 ipv4 address 192.168.1.11 prefix-length 24
% commit
Monitoring
Ensure the CLI is in Operational mode. Follow the example below to view the state and statistics of the
ETH1 port:
> show interfaces-state interface eth-0/0/0
interfaces-state interface eth-0/0/0
type
ethernet
admin-status
up
oper-status
up
if-index
phys-address
00:06:3d:07:96:82
statistics discontinuity-time 2014-02-12T14:29:35-05:00
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43
statistics in-octets 497076597
statistics in-unicast-pkts 6457046
statistics in-multicast-pkts 0
statistics in-discards 17
statistics in-errors 0
statistics out-octets 1002105
statistics out-unicast-pkts 6480
statistics out-discards 0
statistics out-errors 0
eth-phy-status "10 Mb, Half Duplex"
ipv4 forwarding true
ipv4 mtu
1500
PREFIX
IP
LENGTH ORIGIN
-----------------------------10.10.10.147 23
static
LINK LAYER
IP
ADDRESS
ORIGIN
STATE
---------------------------------------------------10.10.10.98 80:c1:6e:f0:3b:7a dynamic reachable
5.6.3 VLAN Operation
Understanding
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is a logically segmented LAN network that exists across multiple
physical LAN devices. The VLANs are virtual interface types in the Master Station and can be assigned
unique IP addresses. They are treated the same as any other interface type, but they offer a way to link
traffic between member interfaces. As such, a VLAN device can be thought of as a bridging device
Configure
To utilize VLANs, at least one or more VLAN interfaces must be created. Click on Add on the Configuration screen. Below are them minimal steps to set up a VLAN virtual device:
Create the VLAN as an interface with a name.
• Name - The name of the interface. Up to 48 characters.
Configure the newly created VLAN
44
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
• Description - User defined identifier for the this connection up to 34 characters
• Type - Identifier of the type of interface - Do Not Change
• Enabled - Checked indicates enabled (DEFAULT). Disable will prevent usage.
• Link Up Down Trap Enable - Controls whether linkUp/linkDown SNMP notifications should be
generated for this interface.
• IPv4 Create - Use for creating static IPv4 IP address and removing this interface from the built-in
Network Bridge.
• IPv6 Create - Use for creating static IPv6 IP address and removing this interface from the built-in
Network Bridge.
Scroll down and set the VLAN ID
• Vlan ID - The ID of this VLAN Valid values: 1—4094
• Native Vlan - If true, this is the native VLAN of this device. Native VLAN packets will not egress
as tagged packets.
The example that follows illustrates the result of setting up 2 VLANs; one with an ID of 99 and another
with an ID of 300:
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45
Using the CLI to set up a VLAN, four sample commands are shown below for doing this; one with an ID
of 99 and another with an ID of 300:
set
set
set
set
interfaces
interfaces
interfaces
interfaces
interface
interface
interface
interface
mgmt_vlan type vlan
mgmt_vlan vlan-config vlan-id 99
video_vlan type vlan
video_vlan vlan-config vlan-id 300
Operational Modes
As previously shown in previous sections, interfaces can have three separate VLAN modes: none (default), trunk, or access. These modes are used to set interface behavior, and examples of their use are provided below.
Trunk: To add ETH1 as a trunk (tagged) port in both defined VLANs above, the command is:
% set interfaces interface eth-0/0/0 vlan-mode trunk vlans [ video_vlan mgmt_vlan
Access: To set ETH2 as an access port for video_vlan the command is:
% set interfaces interface eth-0/0/1 vlan-mode access vlan video_vlan
Native VLANs
A VLAN device may also be specified as a “native” VLAN by checking the Native Vlan box.
Or, using the CLI with this set command:
% set interfaces interface my_native_vlan type vlan vlan-config vlan-id 99 native-vlan true
A native VLAN is conceptually the same as a standard VLAN except that the packets will never be
tagged. The purpose of a native VLAN is to segregate untagged packets on a VLAN trunk port that nor46
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
mally only contains tagged traffic. If a VLAN trunk port receives an untagged packet, and the trunk is a
member of the native VLAN, that packet will be treated as if it came from the native VLAN. If the trunk
port is not a member of the native VLAN and an untagged packet arrives on that port, the packet will be
dropped.
As VLANs are implemented as bridges, and it is not valid for a bridge to be a member of another bridge,
it follows that a VLAN interface cannot be configured as a member of a bridge. VLANs can be configured with IP addresses just as any other interface in the system.
Monitoring
As shown previously once VLANs are created they may be monitored on the Interface status screen the
same way physical interfaces appear:
5.6.4 Bridging
Understanding
The unit supports transparent bridging of LAN, and in firmware versions of 3.0.0 and higher, WiFi and
SD networks. The bridge forwards traffic between LAN interfaces and wireless interfaces at the layer-2 of
OSI model. This allows LAN and wireless clients to be in the same IP sub-network.
The bridge learns the clients’ locations by analyzing the source address of incoming frames from all attached networks. For example, if a bridge sees a frame arrive on LAN port from Host A, the bridge concludes that Host A can be reached through the segment connected to LAN port. Through this process, the
bridge builds a forwarding table (the learning process). When a frame is received on one of the bridge's
interfaces, the bridge looks up the frame's destination address in its forwarding table. If the table contains
an association between the destination address and any of the bridge's ports aside from the one on which
the frame was received, the frame is forwarded out the indicated port. If no association is found, the frame
is flooded to all ports except the inbound port. Broadcasts and multicast also are flooded in this way.
The bridged network is addressable via the ‘bridge’ interface (a virtual interface). The interfaces that are
in the bridge are called bridged interfaces. The interfaces that are not in the bridge are called routed interfaces. Bridging is performed between bridged interfaces. Routing is performed between routed interfaces.
The bridge interface itself is a routed interface.
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47
NOTE
In firmware versions less than 3.0.0, the SD interface is not a bridgeable interface as there is no
packet or packet-with-MAC mode support in these versions of firmware.
Configuring
Creating a bridge interface and assigning it an IP address:
% set interfaces interface bridge type bridge
% set interfaces interface bridge bridge-settings ageing-time 500
% set interfaces interface bridge ipv4 address 192.168.1.10 prefix-length 24
Adding LAN (ETH1) interface to the bridge:
% set interfaces interface bridge bridge-settings members port eth-0/0/0
Removing LAN (ETH1) interface from the bridge:
% delete interfaces interface bridge bridge-settings members port eth-0/0/0
Removing the bridge interface:
% delete interfaces interface bridge
Monitoring
Ensure the CLI is in operational mode. Follow the example below to view the state and statistics of a
bridge. In this example, bridge (bridge) is bridging the LAN (eth-0/0/0).
> show interfaces-state interface bridge
interfaces-state interface bridge
type
bridge
admin-status up
oper-status up
if-index
phys-address 00:06:3d:07:96:82
statistics discontinuity-time 2014-02-12T14:29:35-05:00
statistics in-octets 263244716
statistics in-unicast-pkts 3231995
statistics in-multicast-pkts 0
statistics in-discards 4126
statistics in-errors 0
statistics out-octets 785224
statistics out-unicast-pkts 1362
statistics out-discards 0
statistics out-errors 0
ipv4 forwarding true
ipv4 mtu
1500
PREFIX
IP
LENGTH ORIGIN
-----------------------------10.10.10.141 23
static
LINK LAYER
IP
ADDRESS
ORIGIN
STATE
-----------------------------------------------10.10.10.98 80:c1:6e:f0:3b:7a dynamic delay
bridge stp port eth-0/0/0
number
48
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priority
state
forwarding
path-cost
100
designated-root
7035.04fe7fe36980
designated-cost
100
designated-bridge 8000.0002fd5dd280
designated-port
32783
5.6.5 SDMS Interface
Understanding
The configuring of SD interfaces on the Master Station is performed through a virtual interface called
‘sdms’ (SD Master Station). This virtual interface, much like a bridge interface, is comprised of one or
more sd-nic member physical interfaces. All configurations applied to the virtual SDMS interface will be
propagated to all member sd-nic interfaces. This insures that all SD radio interfaces in the system are
using identical configurations so that interface fail-over is seamless.
Configuring
To access to full suite of SD configuration options, perform the following steps:
Click on the “Interfaces” link on the left-hand navigation menu:
In the Interfaces Configuration table, click on the “sdms” entry in the “Name” column.
In the sdms interface dialog that appears, click on “SD Config”
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From the SD Config menu, all SD related configuration options can be specified. Primary SD network
configuration can be found under the ‘Radio Config’ menu. IP Payload service configuration can be
found under the ‘IP Payload’ menu. Local and remote device maintenance can be found under the
‘Maintenance’ menu.
Members – The Master Station (sdms) interface is a logical interface that is composed of one or more
physical SD interface cards (sd-nic). The ‘members’ configuration item is the mapping between the
logical sdms interface, and the physical sd-nic cards.
This is factory configured to contain SD radio cards in slot 1 and slot 2 of the Master Station. If the
Master Station is a non-redundant system with only 1 radio card, this will contain only ‘sd-1/0/0’.
5.6.5.1.1 Basic Settings
The Basic Settings contains important RF and modem selections for radio operation.
Radio Mode – The radio can operate in one of several modes. The available selections are:
Packet – With and without AES Encryption
Packet w/MAC – With and without AES Encryption
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x710 – When using the Master Station in a legacy x710 network.
Transparent – With and without AES Encryption. (Transparent w/AES Encryption requires an all
SD radio network.)
RF Output Power (dBm) – The RF output power may be set between 30 and 40 dBm (1 to 10 watts) in
1 dB increments. The default setting is 40dBm. This setting represents the output power at the Radio
Card. Output power at the antenna port on the back of the unit will be less due to cable, switching, and
duplexer losses. Full power is not required in many cases, and lower settings will place less demand on
the power supply and reduce the chance of interference with other stations. Only the power necessary to
carry out reliable communications should be used.
Modem Type – This setting determines the over-the-air data speed and bandwidth of the radio’s
transmitted signal. All radios in the network must use the same modem setting to communicate with each
other. The default setting is Modem 9600, but it may be set to any of the selections shown in Error!
Reference source not found.. The table also lists modem sensitivity ratings for the various modems. Note
that some modem choices are limited based on the model purchased.
Transmit/Receive Frequency – The receive and transmit frequencies may be viewed or set here.
Frequencies must be entered for the radio to operate. Consult your station license to determine the
authorized frequencies for your system, and enter them exactly as listed.
Keying Mode – Keying mode must be set to one of the following values:
Data – Radio will key upon receipt of payload data.
RTS – Radio will key upon receipt of an RTS (request to send) signal on the serial port.
RTS keying mode is only supported when the radio is in x710 mode.
Note:
Data or RTS – Radio will key upon receipt of either payload data or an RTS (request to send)
signal on the serial port.
Continuous – Radio will be continuously keyed. This is primarily used in a transparent streaming
repeater configuration. Note: Continuous keying mode is only supported in x710 mode, or in
transparent mode when operating as a repeater.
System ID – Provides the possibility for Frequency Re-use. System ID offers nine unique choices
including the default value of NONE. The setting NONE is required for mixed networks comprised of
MDS legacy and SDx products. SDx-only networks can utilize the Frequency Re-use feature by setting
the System ID to a common value [1-8] for all radios in a specific network. System ID offers
approximately 20 dB of additional co-channel isolation when operating networks on the same frequency.
Note that proper system design is required.
Operational Example: SDx System “Alpha” has eight units and SDx System “Beta” has eight units. A
user wishes to occupy frequency 952.1235 MHz on both of these systems. Proper system installation has
been adhered to in both networks. System Alpha’s units would all be set to System ID = 1, System Beta's
units would be set to System ID = 5. Both systems will now operate on the same desired frequency.
FCC Part 90 Repeater Mode – Repeater mode must be set to one of the following values:
None – This is the default value, and is used when the Master Station being configured is not to be
used as a repeater in the network.
Repeater – This value should be selected when the Master Station being configured is to be
installed as a repeater in the network, and will not have devices connected to it that will be polled,
such as attached RTUs.
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Repeater With Local Data – This is the same as “Repeater” but should be used when
data-collection devices such as serial RTUs will be attached directly to the repeating Master
Station.
Serial Payload Port – The front-panel serial port that will be used for serial payload communications.
This can be set to either COM1 or COM2, the default value for this is COM1.
NOTE: Serial port settings such as baud rate and byte format are located under services  serial 
ports.
Encryption – When the Master Station is being using in a network of only SD radios, over-the-air (OTA)
encryption may be enabled. The Master Station uses AES-128, passphrase-based encryption to secure
both payload, and Dlink traffic. If the radio is operating in transparent mode, there is a separate
passphrase for payload and Dlink traffic. If the radio is operating in packet or packet-with-MAC mode,
there is a singular passphrase for all traffic.
5.6.5.1.2 Dlink
Dlink is a GE MDS-proprietary protocol used for diagnostics communications.
Unit – This parameter identifies the radio in the wireless network with a specific ID during diagnostic
sessions. For compatibility with legacy devices, the value must be 10000 or greater (2710 in
hexadecimal).
Dlink Type – This setting identifies the radio as a Node, Root, Repeater, Peer, or Gate. Each of these are
operating modes of the transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities.
Mode – Configure if Dlink will operate on a serial port, or via a TCP socket.
Serial Mode Settings:
Serial Port — This setting determines which serial port to use COM1 or COM2. This
must be different than the serial payload port.
TCP Mode Settings:
TCP Port – The TCP port that the Dlink service will listen on.
IPv4 Addr – Optionally configure the service to only attach to the specified IPv4
Address. This is useful when traffic is being separated into data and management
VLANs. If no value is specified, the service will accept connections on all configured IP
addresses.
IPv6 Addr – Optionally configure the service to only attach to the specified IPv6
Address. This is useful when traffic is being separated into data and management
VLANs. If no value is specified, the service will accept connections on all configured IP
addresses.
Enabled – Enable or disable diagnostics functionality. Setting it to ON configures the radio to pass the
diagnostic link protocol (DLINK) over the radio’s COM2 management port.
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5.6.5.1.3 Audio Settings
NOTE: Audio settings are only available for configuration when the radio is configured to operate in
x710 compatibility mode.
Audio Enabled – If enabled, the radio’s transmit functionality will switch to analog whenever PTT is
asserted.
Rx Level – Receive Audio Output Level to Modem (dBm). Received signal at the peak deviation will be
scaled to the specified value. Valid range is (-20  0).
Tx Level – Transmit audio input level from Modem (dBm). A transmit input signal of the specified value
will translate into the specified peak deviation for transmit. Valid range is (-20  0).
Tx Level Auto – Automatically adjust transmit audio input level from Modem.
Emphasis – When enabled, pre-emphasis is applied on the transmitter and de-emphasis is applied on the
receiver. This setting is typically used in operation with voice radios.
Vox Enabled – Enables or disables the integrated VOX threshold.
Vox Threshold – The audio interface on the Master Station incorporates an integrated VOX circuit to
sample the voltage produced by a connected audio device. When the voltage exceeds a user-defined
threshold, Push to Talk (PTT) is activated, resulting in the transmitter being enabled. The VOX circuit
detects a voltage in the range of 0-2 Volts. A single number in the range of 0-15 is used to describe the
desired threshold level. For example a value of 7 is approximately 1 volt.
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5.6.5.1.4 Advanced Settings
Soft-Carrier Dekey – Specifies how long (in ms) to wait after the removal of the keying signal before
actually dropping the transmitter’s carrier. The default setting is 0, but it may be set to any value up to
255 ms. In most cases, no change is required from the default setting. A possible exception is when the
transceiver is inter-working with certain early-generation MDS radio equipment.
Push to Talk Signal – Specifies the sensing polarity of the PTT line. This must be configured to one of
the following values:
Off – PTT line is not used.
Hi – The PTT line is active-high.
Lo – The PTT line is active-low.
Push To Talk Delay – Specifies a brief time delay after a keying event, which must expire before the
radio is allowed to transmit. The allowable range is 0 to 255 ms, with the default being 0.
Clear To Send Delay – Specifies a brief time delay between when an RTS (ready-to-send) signal is
received and when the CTS (clear-to-send) signal is returned. The allowable range is 0 to 255 ms, and the
default is 0.
Automatic Freq. Correction – Automatic Frequency Correction, is used to counteract the slight RF
frequency drift that may occur over time or through wide swings of ambient temperature. AFC should
only be enabled when operating this device as a remote, as all remotes in the system use AFC to track the
master station frequency. Under normal operation, the modem is capable of compensating for small
frequency errors even with this mode disabled. Enabling AFC further extends the frequency capture range
when operating with legacy hardware that may have significant frequency error.
Switched Carrier B Modems – In some networks, the Master unit is not keyed continuously (Ckeyed),
and transmits only when it has data to send to Remotes. This is known as Switched Carrier operation.
The Switched Carrier setting is only for use on radio modems with “B” suffixes (for compatibility with
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MDS x710 radios). In such networks, the Remote radios should have the Switched Carrier setting turned
ON. The default setting is OFF which assumes B-modem operation with a continuously keyed Master.
Ckey Operation only applies to Master units operating in full-duplex mode only. When operating
continuously keyed, latency is decreased and AFC operation on legacy remotes may be improved.
Switched carrier operation, when low latency is not required, is recommended when operating in high
ambient conditions to reduce power consumption and heating.
Force DCD to Asserted – Some systems require a constant Data Carrier Detect (DCD) signal. This
setting allows the radio to be configured to provide a DCD signal without the need for special cabling.
NOTE: Enabling Force DCD to Asserted will cause the RX LED on the radio interface to turn on,
regardless of whether the radio is receiving data or not.
Data Key Hold Time-out – When operating in data key mode, this parameter specifies the number of
character-times the transmitter will remain keyed for after the last character it receives. For networks with
the demand for a higher modem speed then the baud rate, this parameter can be adjusted from 1 to 10
characters. This parameter gives the overall network better performance by preventing frequent key-up
and key-down sequences between characters. This only applies to networks with all SDx radios.
Simplex Mode – This controls whether or not the Master Station will be running in simplex (switched
carrier) or full duplex mode. If the Master Station is transmitting and receiving on the same frequency,
this must be set to true.
Dlink Mode (B Modems) – Legacy products that only support B-Modems do not have support for Dlink.
Newer products such as the MDS SD have the ability to support Dlink even when using B-Modems.
Depending on site-specific requirements, this value may need to be changed to ‘bypassed’ in order to
work with legacy products. It is recommended to leave this value set to ‘auto’ unless there is an explicit
need to change it.
Rx Mute – The number of milliseconds to mute the receiver after transmitting data. Receive muting
might be required when you configure the radio as a full-duplex polling remote communicating through a
repeater. It prevents the radio from hearing its own transmissions ('echoes') from the repeater, which
might cause software application errors.
5.6.5.1.5 Set Encryption Phrases
Clicking on the Set Encryption Phrases action will allow you to enter the following values:
Payload – The payload encryption passphrase. Both the sending and receiving stations must have the
same phrase for communication to occur. The phrase must have at least 8 characters (maximum of 38).
Any printable characters may be used.
Dlink – The Dlink encryption phrase when operating in transparent mode w/ AES encryption enabled.
Dlink encryption in transparent mode requires a device supporting this feature at both ends of the link. In
addition, both the sending and receiving station must have the same phrase for communication to occur.
The phrase must have at least 8 characters (maximum of 38), and any printable character may be used.
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5.6.5.1.6 IP Payload
Under the IP Payload menu, up to three instances of the IP Payload service may be configured. The IP
Payload service can operate in 4 different modes:
 TCP Server
 TCP Client
 TCP Server/Client
 UDP
Each of these modes have different use cases and configuration options, as described below:
TCP Server:
The TCP server mode allows IP connections to be established with the Master Station. Data received on
this TCP socket will be transmitted over the air to remote SD radios as if the data was received on the
payload serial port of the Master Station. Over-the-air serial data originating from a remote SD radio will
be transmitted out of this TCP socket. This mode of operation can be thought of as a ‘remote terminal
server’, not to be confused with the SD remote radio’s Terminal Server functionality.
TCP Server specific configuration options include:
Local IP Port – The TCP port number that the server will listen for connections on.
IPv4 Bind IP – If the Master Station is configured with multiple IP interfaces; you can specify
that the IP Payload service only will listen for connections on one of the IP
addresses of the system. This is useful in VLAN configurations where you wish
to only make the IP Payload server available on a specific VLAN in the system.
TCP Client
The TCP client mode allows the Master Station to connect to a TCP server when there is traffic to send.
This mode of operation is not often used in Master Station configurations, but may be useful in certain
applications.
TCP Client specific configuration options include:
Server IP Address – The IP address of the server the Master Station is to connect to.
Remote IP Port – The TCP port that the server is listening on.
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TCP Server/Client
As the name implies, TCP Server/Client is a combination of the TCP Server mode, and TCP Client mode.
In this mode, the Master Station will listen for incoming TCP connections and pass data exactly as in TCP
Server mode. However if there is no active server connection, and over-the-air payload traffic arrives at
the Master Station, the Master Station will establish an outgoing TCP connection to a remote server and
transmit that data to the remote server. A use-case for this mode of operation is if you wish to have the
protocol reliability of TCP, but do not wish to maintain active TCP sessions across your network.
TCP Server/Client specific configuration options include:
Local IP Port – The TCP port number that the server will listen for connections on.
IPv4 Bind IP – If the Master Station is configured with multiple IP interfaces; you can specify
that the IP Payload service only will listen for connections on one of the IP
addresses of the system. This is useful in VLAN configurations where you wish
to only make the IP Payload server available on a specific VLAN in the system.
Server IP Address – The IP address of the server the Master Station is to connect to.
Remote IP Port – The TCP port that the server is listening on.
UDP
When operating in UDP mode, the IP Payload service uses the connectionless UDP protocol. Since UDP
is connectionless, there must be receiving sockets at each end of the connection to allow for bi-directional
communications. In this mode, when an application has traffic to send out over the SD network, it will
establish a UDP connection to the Master Station and transmit the payload data. When the Master Station
receives over-the-air payload data from remote SD radios, the Master Station will establish a UDP
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connection to the application and transmit the payload data. These connections are not persistent, and as
such must be established for each transmission. Unlike TCP, transmissions are not guaranteed when using
the UDP protocol; however UDP has a far smaller network overhead than TCP, and as such will result in
lower latency.
UDP specific configuration options include:
Local IP Port – The UDP port number that the server will listen for connections on.
IPv4 Bind IP – If the Master Station is configured with multiple IP interfaces; you can specify
that the IP Payload service only will listen for connections on one of the IP
addresses of the system. This is useful in VLAN configurations where you wish
to only make the IP Payload server available on a specific VLAN in the system.
Server IP Address – The IP address of the server the Master Station is to connect to.
Remote IP Port – The UDP port that the server is listening on.
5.6.5.1.7 Maintenance
The maintenance sub-menu allows the operator to perform maintenance tasks on both the Master Station
itself as well as the connected SD radios.
5.6.5.1.8 Alarm Configuration
From this menu, you can control which of the various alarms that can be generated on the SD NIC will be
propagated up to the platform manager for system logging. All alarms default to being enabled, and
should remain enabled unless there is an explicit need to disable one.
5.6.5.1.9 RF Key Test
Using the RF Key Test action, the active radio can be manually keyed (transmitter enabled) or de-keyed
(transmitter disabled). This may be useful when diagnosing signal-strength on a remote receiver.
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5.6.5.1.10 Spectrum Analyzer
A unique feature of the transceiver is the ability to view the RF spectrum above and below the operating
frequency using its built-in Spectrum Graph. Often, this can assist in diagnosing the cause of interference,
or to view other signals near your operating frequency. To use the Spectrum Graph, you must first
specify a center frequency and a scan width. The center frequency is the frequency that you wish the
spectrum display to be centered on. The span frequency defines the width of the overall spectrum to be
examined.
Once the correct values have been entered, switch it on using the on/off switch. The graph will
automatically refresh itself every 5 seconds. To stop scanning, turn the on/off switch off.
5.6.5.1.11 Force Alarm
From the Force Alarm menu, you can force the SD radio interface cards to enter a test alarm state. To
activate an alarm, select which radio slot to alarm, and click the Perform action button. An “Alarm Test”
entry will be created in the Event Log, and the external alarm output status is changed. This can be useful
when testing event logging and propagation across a network, or when testing equipment connected to the
alarm output contacts on the Master Station. When enabled, the alarm will assert for 30 seconds, and then
deactivate. If active, it can be manually deactivated prior to timeout by deselecting the slot number of the
radio and clicking the Perform action button again.
5.6.5.1.12 Remote SD Firmware
OTA Reprogramming Overview
NOTE: This feature is for reprogramming SDx remote radios only. This will not reprogram other Master
Stations on the network.
The “Root” is the central location from which polling originates. Other locations in the network should be
designated as “Nodes” which are the receiving stations. Over-the-air firmware upgrades should always be
initiated from the Root. This ensures that all radios in the network will be properly updated
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The Master Station broadcasts a series of messages to one or more remote nodes to accomplish the
reprogramming process. The “broadcast” method is used to program the greatest number of radios in the
shortest amount of time; however, the Master Station remains unaware of the number or success of
downstream radios participating in reprogramming.
During reprogramming, the status of the reprogramming will be available on all the radios participating in
the process. Because the initiator is “broadcast-only” this status can only indicate progress toward sending
out of all of the messages. On the nodes, the progress toward completion of reception of reprogramming
information is indicated.
Receiving stations can automatically reboot to the new image after successful reprogramming.
Alternatively, there is an OTA reboot command that can be broadcast from the Master Station to all
receiving stations. This last option instructs the receivers to reboot to a specific firmware revision if
available, and not already running at that revision.
Reprogramming Parameters:
Channel Usage – Set to either Intrusive or Passive as desired.
Passive (Non-intrusive) operation “piggy-backs” reprogramming data onto normal payload data
streams, thus allowing payload data to continue uninterrupted, but will be slower than intrusive
operation. This mode requires payload data to be sent so that the reprogramming data can be
carried. See Table 5-2 for reprogramming times.
Intrusive operation means that the payload application data will be interrupted while
programming data is sent over the air. This is the fastest method of programming radios over the
air, but it comes at the cost of interruptions in the primary use of the radio network. For best
results, data polling should be stopped during Intrusive Reprogramming. See Table 5-3 for
reprogramming times.
Block Size – Sets the overall block size (in bytes) of each data packet. Default setting is 512.
Auto-Reboot – When enabled, the remote radios will automatically reboot after a firmware image
upgrade. If disabled, the newly loaded image will not become valid until the remote radio is rebooted
manually.
Packet Size – Specifies the size of the reprogramming data packets. Default size is 40.
Retry Count – Specifies the number of times each transmission is repeated. Default setting is 3.
Decreasing this value will decrease reprogramming times, but increase the chance of a remote radio not
properly receiving a packet.
Download Delay – Introduce a time delay before reprogramming begins. Typically, it is set to Short, but
may be increased incrementally by selecting one of the extended delay times from the drop-down box
(Short, Medium, Long, None)
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Table 5-2. Approximate Reprogramming Times - Passive Mode
Modem Speed (bps)
4800
9600
19200
Approximate Time Required
6 hours
1 hour, 30 minutes
1 hour, 30 minutes
Radio assumptions: Signal strength -85 dBm or stronger, Packet Size: 40, Block Size: 512, Retry: 3,
Download Delay: Short
Polling assumptions: Serial polling with 1-second poll time, sending random data at 50-100 bytes.
Slower polling times will significantly increase completion time.
Table 5-3. Approximate Reprogramming Times - Intrusive Mode
Modem Speed (bps)
4800
9600
19200
Approximate Time Required
1 hour, 30 minutes
30-45 minutes
20-25 minutes
Radio assumptions: Signal strength -85 dBm or stronger, Packet Size: 40, Block Size: 512, Retry: 3,
Download Delay: Short
Polling assumptions: Polling should be temporarily suspended while OTA reprogramming is active.
Start Reprogramming
When ready to reprogram the SD firmware, click the Start Reprogramming action.
Protocol – There are many file transfer protocols supported, select TFTP, SFTP, FTP or HTTP.
Address (All) – Use this field to enter a valid IP address for the host computer (where file to be
transferred resides). For HTTP, this should be a valid URL (e.g. http://192.168.1.1/file.mpk)
File Path (TFTP/SFTP/FTP) – This field is used to enter the exact name of the file and path to be
imported.
Block Size (TFTP) – The TFTP block size to use when transferring the file. Default is 1024.
Port (TFTP) – The TCP port that the TFTP server is operating on.
User Name (SFTP/FTP) – The user to connect to the SFTP/FTP server as.
Password (SFTP/FTP) – The password for the SFTP/FTP server.
Control Port (SFTP/FTP) – The TCP port that the SFTP/FTP server is operating on. Default is 22 for
SFTP and 21 for FTP.
Data Port (FTP) – The TCP port that the FTP server uses for data connections. Default is 20.
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Timeout (All) – Determines the amount of time (in seconds) that the radio should wait for server to
respond. The default setting is 30 seconds and will not normally require any change.
When the above fields have been set and you are ready to load a new file, click the Begin Reprogramming
button to begin reprogramming. To view the current status of the remote reprogramming operation,
navigate to the sdms interface status page.
Cancel Reprogramming
During the reprogramming operation the user has the ability to cancel reprogramming at any time either
on the Master Station, which will affect all radios, or on individual receiving stations. Note that cancelling
reprogramming at the Master Station results in all radios in the network having only one (instead of two)
applications programmed in their image banks. That is, the “inactive” image (which was only partially
upgraded) will be corrupt and unusable until reprogrammed at a later time.
5.6.5.1.13 Perform Failover
If the Master Station is equipped with redundant SD radios, the active radio can be manually toggled by
selecting the “Perform” action.
NOTE: The manual toggle-switch on the alarm/relay board must be in the ‘Automatic’ position for this
operation to succeed. The toggle-switch will override all software-based control of which radio is active.
5.6.5.1.14 Remote Management Command
The Master Station has the ability to broadcast management commands to remote radios in the network.
These commands are sent to all connected remote radios, and hence should only be used for making
network-wide changes.
The following action can be specified:
Reboot – All remote radios will reboot to the currently active firmware image.
Set Radio Mode – Change the radio mode of remote radios (x710/transparent/packet/packet-with-MAC)
Set Frequencies – Set the receive and transmit frequencies of remote radios.
Set Modem Type – Change the configured modem of remote radios.
Set System ID – Change the configured system ID of the remote radios.
Enable Encryption – Enable or disable OTA encryption on remote radios.
Set Payload Encryption Phrase – Change the payload encryption phrase on remote radios.
Set Dlink Encryption Phrase – Change the Dlink encryption phrase on remote radios. (Only used in
transparent mode)
Repeater Network Change – Change remote parameters that may need to be configured when running
in a network which uses a MDS Master Station as a repeater.
NOTE: It is important to note that with the exception of the reboot command, these actions will cause
permanent loss in connectivity to the Master Station until the corresponding configuration changes are
made to the Master Station itself.
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Monitoring
Monitoring of the current status of the SD interfaces in the Master Station is performed in a separate
location in the web interface than configuration. To view the current status of the SD interfaces, perform
the following steps:
1 Click on the “Interfaces” link on the left-hand navigation menu:
In the Interfaces Status table, click on the “sdms” entry in the “Name” column.
5.6.5.1.15 SD Status
The SD Status page is split into two sections. The upper section shows the RF performance values of the
currently active SD NIC. The bottom section shows general information about all detected SD NICs in
the chassis.
Active NIC – Shows which SD NIC in the system is currently designated as active.
Measured RF Power – The measured power currently being generated by the active SD NIC.
Signal to Noise – The measured SNR on the active SD NIC.
RSSI – The measured receive signal strength on the active SD NIC.
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The NIC Status table is composed of the following columns:
 Chassis Slot – The slot in which the SD NIC was discovered.

Board Temperature – The current temperature in degrees C as measured on the surface of the SD
NIC.

PA Temperature – The current temperature in degrees C of the power amplifier on the SD NIC.

Power Draw – The current power draw of the power amplifier in Amperes.
Reprogramming State
Once a remote reprogramming operation has begun, you can view the current status in the
Reprogramming State section of the web page. This information will update upon a page refresh.
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6 MASTER STATION MODULES
The available modules are listed below and described in the following sections. To aid identification,
most modules have their 4-digit base part number printed on the faceplate. These are the 4 numeric digits
following 03- prefix.
Table 6-1. Available Modules
100-220V AC Power Supply Module
100-220 Vac, 50/60 Hz. 120W Max AC Power Supply Module. Spare
power supply can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS
Master Station.
03-6755A02
+/- 12-36 V DC Power Supply Module
+/- 12-36 Vdc. 10 A Max. DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master Station.
03-6843A01
+/- 36-75 V DC Power Supply Module
+/- 36-75 Vdc. 3.5 A Max DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master Station.
03-6844A01
+/- 75-140 V DC Power Supply Module
+/- 75-140 Vdc. 2 A Max DC Power Supply Module. Spare power supply
can be used in either of two power supply slots of the MDS Master Station.
03-6845A01
Platform Manager Module
Provides management and data interface functions.
03-6834A01A
SDM9 C-Band Module
Full duplex radio module. 928-960MHz FCC Part 24, 101
03-6846A01
Redundant Alarm/Relay Module
Active radio relay and alarm/audio interface.
03-6847A01
None-Redundant Alarm Module
Non-redundant—Alarm and audio interface.
03-6848A01
Duplexers
Spare duplexer in tray wired for MDS Master Station.
9 MHz (932.0-932.5) / (941.0-941.5), COMBINED OUT
24 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (952.0-953.0), COMBINED OUT
31 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (959.0-960.0), COMBINED OUT
9 MHz (932.0-932.5) / (941.0-941.5), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
24 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (952.0-953.0), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
31 MHz (928.0-929.0) / (959.0-960.0), RX OUT, RX IN, COMBINED OUT
03-6837D9B1
03-6837D9C1
03-6837D9D1
03-6837D9B3
03-6837D9C3
03-6837D9D3
6.1 AC Power Supply Module
Figure 6-1 AC Power Supply Module
(Part No. 03-6755A02: 110/220 VAC)
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Table 6-2 6755 AC Power Supply Module Specifications
Supply Type
SMPS AC to DC
Input Voltage Range
100-264VAC
Output
24VDC, 4.0A
Line Frequency
50-60Hz
Power Consumption
120W, Maximum
Protection
Integrated thermal protection, short circuit protection, internal non-serviceable fuse
Ambient Temperature range
Full capacity from -30C to +60C.
CSA certified operating range -30C to +39C.
NOTE: Master station power supply modules are field replaceable units that can be removed from an operating system so long as the input power source to the module being replaced has been disconnected.
Refer to 7.4 Replacing Modules for information on removal and installation.
NOTE: When installing AC Power Supply modules, torque thumbscrews to 10 in-lbs to insure optimum
heat transfer through thermal contact connector on the rear of the unit.
6.2 DC Power Supply Module
Figure 6-2. DC Power Supply Module
Including:
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03-6843A01: +/- 12-36 Vdc
03-6844A01: +/- 36-75 Vdc
03-6845A01: +/- 125 Vdc
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Table 6-3 DC Power Supply Module (6843, 6844, 6845) Specifications:
Supply Type
SMPS DC to DC
Input Voltage Range
+/-36-75VDC, input is isolated from ground
+/-12-36VDC, input is isolated from ground
+/-75-140VDC, input is isolated from ground
Output
24VDC, 4.0A
Line Frequency
DC Input only
Power Consumption
120W, Maximum
Protection
Integrated thermal protection, short circuit protection, internal
fuse
Ambient Temperature range
Full capacity from -30C to +60C
CSA Certified operating range -30 to +50C
NOTE: Master station power supply modules are field replaceable units that can be removed from an operating system so long as the input power source to the module being replaced has been disconnected.
Refer to 7.4 Replacing Modules for information on removal and installation.
NOTE: When installing DC Power Supply modules, torque thumbscrews to 10 in-lbs to insure optimum
heat transfer through thermal contact connector on the rear of the unit.
NOTE: DC power supply modules are available for several different input ranges. These modules have
interchangeable connectors. Make sure the supply is within the rating for the module installed.
6.3 Platform Manager Module
Figure 6-3 Platform Manager Module
(Part Numbers 03-6834Axx)
The Platform Manager module is an orbit based management processor that provides Ethernet and serial
connectivity to radio cards connected on the Master Station backplane. This module features a 10-port
Ethernet switch and USB hub for backplane connectivity to a number of radio modules.
NOTE: The Platform Manager module does not support hot swappable field replacement; power must be
removed from the system before removal or installation of this device. Refer to 7.4 Replacing Modules
for information on removal and installation.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
67
The Platform manager is available with and without GPS for time of day and synchronization purposes
for future radio module offerings. When ordered with WiFi, the Platform Manager module may be configured using a tablet, smartphone, or other WiFi enabled web device.
The Interfaces on the front panel of the Platform Manager are described below. Note that the small connector on the bottom right, just above the part number, is currently unused.
6.3.1 Platform Manager LED Indicators
The Platform Manager has BLUE LEDs to indicate Platform Manager power on, system initialization,
and Master Station alarm status. The behavior of these LEDs is described below.
Table 6-4. Platform Manager LEDs
LED Name
Behavior
Meaning
PWR
BLUE
FLASHING
Power Applied
System Initialization
ALARM
BLUE
FLASHING BLUE
OFF
Pre-boot Validation or System Initialization
Master Station Alarm
No Alarm
6.3.2 Ethernet Interfaces
The Ethernet interfaces have built-in MDIX (auto-sensing) capability, allowing either a straight-through
or crossover cable to be used.
87654321
Figure 6-4 Ethernet Port (RJ-45) Pinout
(As viewed from the outside)
Table 6-5 Ethernet Interface Pin Descriptions
68
Pin
Functions
Ref.
Transmit Data (TX)
High
Transmit Data (TX)
Low
Receive Data (RX)
High
Unused
Unused
Receive Data (RX)
Unused
Unused
MDS Master Station
Low
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
6.3.3 COM1 Interface
COM1 supports the RS-232 serial data format at serial data rates of 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200,
38400, 57600, and 115200 bps (asynchronous only).
Figure 6-5 COM1 Connector (RJ-45)
As viewed from outside the unit
NOTE: COM1 is hard-wired as a DCE device.
Table 6-6. COM1 Pin Descriptions
Pin
Number
Radio Input/
Output
OUT
DSR (Data Set Ready)
OUT
DCD (Data Carrier Detect/Link)—A high indicates signal
received.
IN
DTR (Data Terminal Ready)
--
Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential)
on chassis.
OUT
Pin Description
RXD (Received Data)—Supplies received data to the
connected device.
Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential)
on chassis.
IN
OUT
IN
TXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX data from the
connected device.
CTS (Clear-to-Send)—Can be used for flow control or as
an output to key another connected radio.
RTS (Request-to-Send)—Can be used for flow control or to
key the transmitter.
6.3.4 COM2 Interface
The COM2 port supports the RS-232 or RS-485 serial data format at serial data rates of 300, 1200, 2400,
4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps (asynchronous only).
Pin Descriptions—RS-232 and RS-485
Pin descriptions for the COM2 data port in RS-232 mode and RS-485 modes are provided below.
NOTE: In addition to RS-485 mode, the radio is capable of operating in RS-422 mode. Configure the port for RS-485 but follow the RS-422 wiring arrangements shown in below
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
69
under COM2 RS-485 and RS-422 Wiring Arrangement.
Figure 6-6. COM2 Connector (RJ-45)
As viewed from outside the radio
NOTE: COM2 is hard-wired as a DCE device.
Table 6-7. COM2 Pin Descriptions—Radio in RS-232 Mode
Pin
Number
70
Radio
Input/
Output
Pin Description
--
Reserved—Do not connect
--
Reserved—Do not connect
--
Reserved—Do not connect
Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on the
radio’s PC board.
OUT
RXD (Received Data)—Supplies received data to the
connected device.
IN
TXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX data from the
connected device.
OUT
IN
CTS (Clear-to-Send)
RTS (Request-to-Send)
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 6-8 COM2 Pin Descriptions—Radio in RS-485 Mode
Pin
Input/
Number Output
Pin Description
--
Reserved—Do not connect
--
Reserved—Do not connect
--
Reserved—Do not connect
Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on
the radio’s PC board.
IN
OUT
IN
OUT
TXD+/TXB (Transmitted Data +)— Non-inverting receiver
input
RXD+/RXB (Received Data +)—Non-inverting driver output.
TXD-/TXA (Transmitted Data -)— Inverting receiver input
RXD-/RXA (Received Data -)— Inverting driver output.
COM2 RS-485 and RS-422 Wiring Arrangement
• RXD+ / RXB and RXD– / RXA are data received by the radio and transmitted
• RXD+ / RXB is positive with respect to RXD– / RXA when the line input is a “0”
• TXD+ / TXB and TXD– / TXA are data sent to the radio to be transmitted
• TXD+ / TXB is positive with respect to the TXD– / TXA when the line output is a “0”
Table 6-9 EIA-422 4-Wire Connections
External DB-9
TXDRXDRXD+
TXD+
COM2
TXDRXDRXD+
TRD+
Table 6-10 EIA-485 2-Wire Connections
External DB-9
TXDRXDRXD+
TXD+
COM2
RXD-/TXDRXD+/TXD+
6.3.5 Mini USB Interface
The USB Interface follows standard Mini-USB wiring and protocol. This interface can be used to access a
command line user interface when connected to a computer USB port and the GE provided driver is
installed. Refer to 3.6.3 Mini USB for more information.
6.3.6 Wifi Antenna Interface (Optional)
Integrated Wifi is a future option.
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MDS Master Station
71
6.3.7 GPS Antenna Interface (Optional)
Integrated GPS is a future option.
6.4 SD Master Radio Modules
Figure 6-7. SD Radio Module
(Part No. 03-6846Axx—SDM9)
The SD Master Radio Modules are field replaceable, hot swappable, full duplex radios offering narrowband communications. Current offerings include variants that span 800-960MHz.
NOTE: Master station Radio modules are field replaceable and hot swappable. Refer to 7.4 Replacing
Modules for information on removal and installation.
NOTE: When installing Radio Modules, torque thumbscrews to 10 in-lbs to insure optimum heat transfer
through thermal contact connector on the rear of the unit.
6.4.1 SD Master Radio Module LED Indicators
The SD Radio Modules have bi-color green/red LEDs to indicate power, alarm, and active/standby status
as shown in the table below. Blue LEDs to indicate receiver transmit and receive are also provided.
Table 6-11. SD Radio Module LEDs
LED Name
Behavior
Meaning
PWR/ALARM
GREEN
FLASHING RED
FLASHING GREEN
Alternating with ACTIVE
Power applied
Alarmed radio
Radio power-up
Firmware is updating
ACTIVE
GREEN
OFF
Alternating with PWR
Active
Standby
Firmware is updating
TX
BLUE
Transmitting
RX
BLUE
Receiving
6.4.2 SD Master Radio Module RF Interface
SD Radio Modules include keyed RF Connectors for front connection to either an Alarm/Relay Module,
if used in a redundant system, or to the front of the duplexer tray if used in a non-redundant system.
Different cables are used in each case. Systems assembled by the factory come pre-wired using the
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
appropriate cabling. If replacing a module, use the cables provided with the original system. For more
information refer to the appropriate section below for the specific Radio Module
6.4.3 SDM9 Radio Module – 900MHz
The SDM9 is an SD Master Radio Module with several variants to accommodate different frequency
bands. Current offering is the SDM9C which supports 928-960MHz. Refer to the table below for
detailed information about this transceiver.
Table 6-12 6846 SDM9 Radio Module Specifications
820-870MHz (Pending)
Frequency Band
880-915MHz (Pending)
928-960MHz (SDM9C)
Duplex Modes
Full
Half Duplex, Switched Carrier
Half Duplex, Single Carrier (Simplex)
Half Duplex modes may operate using software
enabled integrated T/R switch for installations that
do not require a duplexer.
Transmit Power
+40dBm, Maximum. Software programmable
from _+30 to +40dBm in 1dB steps.
Receive Noise Figure
<6dB
Adjacent Channel Rejection
60dB typical (EN300-113)
Power Consumption
60W, Max, at full duplex with continuous transmit,
+40dBm
Antenna Connector
Dual FAKRA-SMB
6.4.4 SDM4 Radio Module - 400 MHz
(Part No. 03-68xx—SDM4, Future Availability)
The SDM4 is an SD Radio Module with variants that span 300-512MHz.
Table 6-13 SDM4 Radio Module Specifications
300-350MHz (Pending)
350-400MHz (Pending)
400-450MHz (SDM4B)
450-512MHz (SDM4C)
Duplex Modes
Full
Half Duplex, Switched Carrier
Half Duplex, Single Carrier (Simplex)
Half Duplex modes may operate using software
enabled integrated T/R switch for installations that
do not require a duplexer.
Transmit Power
+41.1dBm, Maximum. Software programmable
from _+30 to +41dBm in 1dB steps.
Receive Noise Figure
<6dB with AGC at maximum gain
Adjacent Channel Rejection
60dB, minimum (EN300-113)
Power Consumption
60W, Max, at full duplex with continuous transmit,
+40dBm
Antenna Connector
Dual FAKRA-SMB
Frequency Band
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
73
6.5 Alarm and Alarm/Relay Modules
Figure 6-8 Alarm/Relay Module
(Part No. 03-6847Axx; 03-6848Axx)
There are 2 versions of the Alarm Module depending on whether the system is redundant or
non-redundant. The module pictured above is for redundant systems.
Table 6-14 Alarm Modules
Part
Description System
Interfaces and Indicators
Number
03-6847Axx Alarm/Relay Redundant
 RX/TX RF Connection for Radio A, Radio B,
Module
and OUT.
 Relay to switch RF OUT based on active A or B.
 Toggle Switch to select active A/B or Auto
 Alarm and Active LEDs
 Alarm/Audio Connector
03-6848Axx Alarm
Non-Redundant  Does not include RF Connections
Module
 Does not include Relay
 Does not include Toggle Switch
 Alarm and Active LEDs
Both versions of this module provide user connections for external alarm dry contacts and four wire audio.
NOTE: The Alarm or Alarm/Relay module does not support hot swappable field replacement; power
must be removed from the system before removal or installation of this device. Refer to 7.4 Replacing
Modules for information on removal and installation.
6.5.1 Alarm Module LEDs
The Alarm Module includes LEDs to indicate the active Radio Module (A or B) as well as the presence of
a Major or Minor Alarm.
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MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Table 6-15. Alarm Module LEDs
LED Name
Behavior
Meaning
ALARM MAJ.
RED
On—Major Alarm (Master Station)
ALARM MIN.
RED
On—Minor Alarm (Master Station)
ACT A
BLUE
On—Radio A Active
Off—Radio A Standby
ACT B
BLUE
On—Radio B Active
Off—Radio B Standby
6.5.2 Alarm/Audio Interface
The ALARM/AUDIO Interface on the Alarm/Relay module provides audio signaling and alarm outputs as
shown below.
AUDIO:
 4-wire audio circuits are connected to pins 1 through 4 as shown in Figure 9.
 Terminals 1 and 2 are for transmit audio input with a nominal 600 impedance.
 Terminals 3 and 4 provide a receive audio output with a nominal 600  impedance.
 Pins 5 connects to an external keying source. Shorting pins 5 to pin 7 can key the radio when PTT
LOW is configured in software. When PTT is configured high in software, pulling PTT to 3.3V
keys the radio.
The interface is compatible with an external VOX adapter even though this product features an integrated
VOX circuit with digital threshold control. For applications using the external VOX adapter, 12VDC on
pin 6 can be used to power the external module.
ALARMS:
 Terminals 8 and 9 provide solid state relay contacts that close when a minor alarm is detected.
 Terminals 10 and 11 provide relay contacts that close when a major alarm is detected. You can
redefine these relay contacts using the radio’s software (switched from minor to major alarm
outputs, or vice versa). The contacts are rated for non-inductive loads up to a maximum 60 Volts
(AC or DC) at 1 A.
Analog RSSI:
When enabled in software, an RSSI voltage of 0 to 3V corresponding to -120 to -70dBm is present on this
line.
+12v
PTT
Rx Audio Rx Audio +
Tx Audio Tx Audio +






 12
 11
 10
9
8
7
Analog RSSI
Major Alarm Major Alarm +
Minor Alarm Minor Alarm +
Ground
Figure 6-9: Alarm/Audio Connections
(As viewed from outside the radio)
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
75
6.5.3 Alarm/Relay Toggle Switch (6847 Only)
For redundant units, the Alarm/Relay module includes a manual override toggle switch, which can be
set into one of three positions to associate it with a particular radio. The toggle switch is locking, and
must be pulled out to change positions. Switch functions are as follows:

Up—Radio A

Down— Radio B

Center—Automatic.
When the switch is set to Automatic, the active radio is determined by radio module presence and alarm
status.
NOTE: If only one radio module is installed (A or B) it is recommended that the switch be set to A or B,
as appropriate.
The non-redundant version of the Alarm Module does not include the Toggle Switch.
6.5.4 Alarm/Relay RF Connections (6847 Only)
For redundant systems, the Alarm/Relay module includes a RF Connections for both the A and B Radio
Module, and RF OUT. These are all Dual FAKRA-SMB connectors. RF OUT is switched between Radio
A and Radio B depending on the currently active radio. RF OUT is normally cabled to the Duplexer tray
faceplate, even on systems that do not include a duplexer. Redundant systems come from the factory already properly cabled between the Radio Modules, Alarm/Relay Module and Duplexer tray faceplate.
Connectors are keyed to ensure proper orientation.
Non-redundant systems using the 6848 Alarm Module do not include RF Connections.
6.6 Duplexer Tray
Current Master Station offerings always include a Duplexer tray whether or not an internal duplexer is
included. This allows consistent cabling from either the Radio Module (non-redundant systems) or the
Alarm/Relay Module (redundant systems) to the faceplate of the Duplexer tray. Wiring internal to the
Duplexer Tray routes RF Signals to the antenna connections on the back of the Master Station as
appropriate to the order configuration.
RF Connection to the front of the duplexer tray depends upon order configuration and frequency plan.
Table 6-16. Cabling to the Duplexer Tray Faceplate
Duplexer
Option
Internal
Frequency
Plan
TX > RX
Internal
TX < RX
Simplex
TX > RX
TX = RX
TX < RX
TX > RX
TX < RX
External
76
Cable
From - To
TX - HIGH
RX - LOW
TX - LOW
RX - HIGH
TX - HIGH
RX - LOW
Antenna Connection
on Back
COMBINED OUT
Cable by Frequency Plan to High/Low
COMBINED OUT
Cable by Frequency Plan to High/Low
TX
RX
Software configurable single or dual
antenna port.
TX - HIGH
RX - LOW
TX
RX
Wire TX to High always, independent
of Frequencies
MDS Master Station
Comment
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
NOTE: Older versions of the Duplexer Tray faceplate read TX instead of High and RX instead of Low.
In this case, for configurations with internal duplexer in which the TX frequency is lower than the RX
frequency, swap the cables on the Duplexer Tray such that TX is cabled to the port labelled RX and RX is
cabled to the port labelled TX.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
77
7 TROUBLESHOOTING
If trouble occurs with the unit, verify that it meets the basic requirements listed below. These items should
be checked prior to starting any detailed troubleshooting or calling for assistance. All units must have:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• Secure cable and wiring connections
• Proper configuration for the application
Most radio system problems are due to the failure of components outside of the transceiver—such as a
poor or broken feed line or antenna connection. This section will help you determine whether the problem
is outside or inside the radio and, if in the radio, how to restore operation as quickly as possible.
GE MDS does not recommend component-level repairs in the field. However, you can replace the radio’s
major assemblies without using tools or test equipment. Section 7.4 Replacing Modules covers this in
detail.
NOTE: Before starting any detailed troubleshooting, check the basic requirements at both ends of the
link: primary power, secure cable connections, and proper antenna heading. In many cases, one of these
causes poor operation or a complete loss of link service.
7.1 Interpreting Module LEDs
The LEDs on the front of installed modules provide useful information when troubleshooting. Refer to
Section 6 Master Station Modules for detailed descriptions for module LEDs. Power and alarm indicators are provided on Platform Manager (6.3.1), Radio (6.4.1), and Alarm/Relay modules (6.5.1). Radio
Modules also have TX/RX LEDs to show wireless activity.
7.1.1 Normal Operation
During normal, operation, there should not be any Red LEDs illuminated. All illuminated LEDs should
be BLUE or GREEN.
78
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
Platform Manager
Active Radio Module
Standby Radio Module
(if present)
Alarm Module
Table 7-1. Status LEDs – Normal Operation
PWR
BLUE
ALARM
OFF
ETH1/ETH2
Flashing with Ethernet traffic
PWR/ALARM
GREEN
ACTIVE
GREEN
TX
Flashing BLUE when transmitting
RX
Flashing BLUE when receiving
GREEN
PWR/ALARM
OFF
ACTIVE
OFF
TX
OFF
RX
ALARM MAJ.
OFF
ALARM MIN.
OFF
ACT A & ACT B One BLUE, one OFF
7.1.2 Exception and Alarm States
The first indication of a problem is usually an illuminated ALARM LED on one or more of the modules.
The first place to look is the Alarm or Alarm/Relay module. If the PWR/Alarm LED is RED
Module
Table 7-2. Status LEDs – Exception and Alarm States
LED
Behavior
Meaning
Troubleshooting Action
Platform Manager
PWR
Flashing
(BLUE)
Booting / System
Initialization
Wait several minutes for
system to boot.
Platform Manager
ALARM
Flashing
(BLUE)
Master Station
Alarm
Use Device Manager to
determine Alarm
Radio Module
PWR/ALARM
Flashing
GREEN
Radio power up
Wait several seconds for
radio to boot.
Radio Module
PWR/ALARM
& ACTIVE
Alternating
Radio Firmware
update
Wait several minutes for
firmware upgrade to complete.
Radio Module
PWR/ALARM
Flashing
RED
Radio Alarmed
Use Device Manager to
determine Alarm
Radio Module(s)
ACTIVE
Both/Only
Modules
OFF
No active radio in
the system
(Alarm/Relay Module may still indicates Active A or B)
Select Radio with A/B
Toggle Switch. Return to
Auto (Redundant System)
System ERROR both radios active
(Alarm/Relay Module may still show
only one active)
Select Radio with A/B
Toggle Switch. Return to
Auto
Master Station Major or Minor Alarm.
Use Device Manager to
determine Alarm
Both Radio
Modules
ACTIVE
Both Modules GREEN
(Redundant
Only)
Alarm Module
ALARM MAJ.
ALARM MIN.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
RED
MDS Master Station
Remove and re-seat radio
module.
Remove and re-seat one or
both radio modules.
79
7.2 Redundant Units
The active radio can be identified by the corresponding LED on the alarm/relay module as well as the
active LED on the radio module. The active unit is normally selected automatically. For troubleshooting,
the toggle switch can be used to manually set the active radio. Alternatively, the switch can remain in the
automatic position, and the active radio can be selected via the SD Manager UI.
7.3 Technical Assistance
Factory technical assistance is available by contacting GE MDS during business hours (8:30 AM to 6:00
PM Eastern Time). For telephone assistance, call (585) 241-5510, or visit our website at www.gemds.com
for additional contact options.
7.4 Replacing Modules
Component-level repair of a transceiver board in the field is not recommended due to the complex nature
of the circuitry and the use of surface-mount technology throughout the radio. You should return malfunctioning assemblies to the factory (or authorized service center) for repair or replacement.
One approach to field-level servicing is to have spare modules available. Slide in modules are easily field
replaceable, including Power Supply, Radio, Platform Manger, and Alarm/Relay Modules. Internal Duplexers can also be replaced in the field. In this way, you can quickly remove and replace a defective assembly with a working assembly. The following instructions describe the removal and installation of
these assemblies.
NOTE: When installing Power Supply or Radio Modules, torque thumbscrews to 10 in-lbs to insure optimum heat transfer through thermal contact connector on the rear of the unit.
7.4.1 Power Supply Modules
The two left-most card-slots on the MDS Master Station are dedicated to Power Supply Modules. To remove either of these assemblies, first disconnect the power supply cable. Loosen the two thumbscrews on
the front of the module, then slide the module straight out.
A Power Supply Module can be installed in either of the left-most slots on the Master Station. It will not
engage if an attempt is made to install into any other slot in the chassis. To install, align the Module with
the card guides and slide into the chassis until it engages with the backplane connectors. Push firmly on
the faceplate of the module to ensure a good connection and hand-tighten the thumb screws. The thumb
screws should be further tightened to 10 in-lbs to ensure optimum heat transfer through thermal contact
connector on the rear of the unit.
Connect the power cable first making certain that the supply is within the rating for the power supply
module you have installed.
80
6755
100-220 AC Power Supply Module
100-220 Vac, 50/60 Hz. 120W Max AC Power Supply Module.
6843
+/- 12-36 VDC Power Supply Module
+/- 12-36 Vdc. 10 A Max. DC Power Supply Module.
6844
+/- 36-75 VDC Power Supply Module
+/- 36-75 Vdc. 3.5 A Max DC Power Supply Module.
6845
+/- 75-140 VDC Power Supply Module
+/- 75-140 Vdc. 2 A Max DC Power Supply Module.
MDS Master Station
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
NOTE: DC power supply modules are available for several different input ranges. These modules have
interchangeable connectors. Make sure the supply is within the rating for the module installed.
On a redundant unit equipped with two power supplies, a supply can be removed, and a new supply can
be installed, while the unit is powered and operational. Do not remove power supplies whose power
source is still connected and active.
7.4.2 Peripheral Modules – including Platform Manager, Radio, Alarm,
and Alarm Relay Modules.
Peripheral slots on the Master Station include all slots between the power supply modules (on the left)
and the duplexer tray (on the right). On an MDS Master Station, the peripheral slots are populated with
the following modules, from left to right: Platform Manager, Radio Module, a second Radio Module if
redundant, and an Alarm Module or Alarm/Relay Module if redundant.
To remove peripheral modules, first disconnect cables attached to the faceplate of the module you are
removing. Label connections if necessary to remember how connections are made. Loosen the two
thumbscrews on the front of the module, then slide the module straight out, moving other cables out of
the way as necessary.
To install a peripheral module, align the module with the card guides and slide into the chassis until it
engages with the backplane. Push firmly on the faceplate of the module to ensure a good connection and
hand-tighten the thumb screws. The thumb screws can be further tightened with a screwdriver. Radio
Modules should be tightened to 10 in-lbs to ensure optimum heat transfer through thermal contact connector on the rear of the unit.
Reconnect faceplate cabling connections to other modules as necessary.
7.4.3 Hot Swap Redundant Modules
On a redundant unit equipped with two Power Supplies and two Radio Modules, these modules can be
removed and/or installed while the unit is powered and operational. Replacing a Power Supply does require first removing the supply input for the module, but the alternate Power Supply can remain powered.
The unit will continue to operate using a single power supply.
When removing a Radio Module on a redundant unit, we recommend changing the selector switch on the
Alarm/Relay Module to lock the active radio to A or B as appropriate before removing the other Radio
Module. This should be done even if the desired radio is already active. The manual override toggle
switch is locking, and must be pulled out to change positions. Switch functions are as follows:
Up—Radio A; Down— Radio B; Center—Automatic.
Once a new Radio Module is installed, the Select Switch should be returned to the Center (Automatic)
position for redundant operation.
7.4.4 Internal Duplexer Tray
The duplexer tray can be removed by first removing two screws on the top of the chassis holding the tray
in place. Save these screws. Disconnect all cabling to both the faceplate of the duplexer and on the back
of the unit. Once cabling and screws have been removed, push on the connectors on the back of the unit to
free the tray from the chassis and then slide out the front. To install a new tray, slide the tray in allowing
the connectors to push through the back of the chassis. Use the same screws to secure the front of the tray
to the chassis and then reconnect cabling being careful to connect TX and RX cables from the Alarm
Module to the correct faceplate connections on the Duplexer Tray.
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MDS Master Station
81
MDS SDM4—400 MHz Notch-Type Duplexers
You can generally change the radio’s transmit frequency up to 100 kHz without re-tuning the duplexer.
The duplexers shown in Figure 7-1. 400 MHz Notch Duplexer
can be aligned in the field by experienced technicians using high-quality test equipment. For assistance,
contact GE MDS Technical Support for additional details about tuning.
Figure 7-1. 400 MHz Notch Duplexer
(Adjustment generally not required for transmit changes up to 100 kHz)
POSSIBLE
EQUIPMENT
DAMAGE
Duplexer alignment is a sophisticated procedure and a duplexer can
be easily damaged if not handled carefully. It is highly recommended
that you return duplexers needing realignment to GE MDS, or the
original duplexer manufacturer, for alignment. In some cases, it may
be more economical to replace the unit than to have it realigned.
MDS SDM9—Bandpass-Type Duplexers
These duplexers (Figure 7-2. 900 MHz Bandpass Duplexer
) typically allow the transmitter frequency to change up to 500 kHz without undesired results. Since this
type of duplexer cannot be re-aligned in the field, we recommend contacting the GE MDS Technical
Support Department if you suspect a duplexer problem or need one for a different frequency.
Figure 7-2. 900 MHz Bandpass Duplexer
(Adjustment generally not required for transmit changes up to 500 kHz)
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7.5 Testing and Removing an Internal Duplexer
Testing
If you suspect that the internal duplexer is not functioning properly, perform the following steps to determine if requires replacement:
127.
Measure the RF power out of the antenna jack.
 If the power registers approximately +37 dBm (5 watts), the internal duplexer is probably functioning correctly (see Table 8-1 dBm–Volts–Watts Conversion Chart for dBm-volts-watts
conversion chart).
 If the power registers significantly less than +37 dBm, proceed with Step 2.
2. Locate the TX SMA connection on the front of the duplexer tray.
3. Using an adapter, connect the RF power meter to the SMA Cable on the front of the unit
• If the power registers +39 dBm, the radio board is functioning correctly.
• If the power registers less than +39 dBm, proceed with Step 4.
4. Use the front panel to switch to the alternate transmitter and again measure the RF power output.
• If the alternate transmitter registers +39 dBm, the internal duplexer probably needs replacing.
5. Before replacing the duplexer, verify that the highest or lowest frequencies marked on the duplexer are
the same as radio’s transmit and receive frequencies or within the nominal operating range: 100 kHz
for 400 MHz radios, and 500 kHz for 900 MHz radios.
Removing the Internal Duplexer
To remove the internal duplexer, follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the antenna cables from the back of the chassis.
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83
Internal Duplexer Cabling: A number of different duplexers can be installed in the radio. While the
physical appearance of the duplexer may vary slightly, its operation and removal remain the same.
2. Disconnect the SMA cables from the front of the duplexer tray
2. Remove the two screws on the top of the unit that secure the duplexer tray into the front of the chassis.
3. Carefully slide the duplexer tray out the front of the chassis by applying pressure to the antenna
N-connectors on the rear of the unit.
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MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
4. Remove four screws to remove the duplexer assembly from the tray
Use care when removing the duplexer. Physical damage may cause detuning.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
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85
POSSIBLE
EQUIPMENT
DAMAGE
Figure 7-3. Internal Duplexer Removal
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8 TECHNICAL REFERENCE DATA
8.1 RF Propagation Planning
Establishing a reliable point-to-point radio link requires system planning and design. You should have an
understanding of the physical parameters affecting propagation. The following material discusses these
factors and will assist you in designing a dependable transmission path for your radio link.
NOTE: This section is intended for use as a guideline when planning transmission paths. It does not
consider all of the local conditions that may be present, nor does it guarantee that adequate signal strength
will be obtained in a given system. There is no substitute for an on-the-air test to verify the predicted path
results, and to check the overall operation of the radio system.
To ensure a highly reliable path, a line of sight between both ends of the link is desirable. For short paths
(up to 5 kilometers/3.1 miles), some obstructions might be acceptable, but the performance of a blocked
path is always less predictable than a clear path.
8.1.1 Fresnel Zone Clearance
As the distance spanned by a link gets longer, it is necessary to have more than just a grazing path between the two ends; the path must clear the ground or other obstacles by some percentage of a Fresnel
zone.
The Fresnel zone corresponds to the width or girth of the radio signal. There are first, second, and third
Fresnel zones, but the first zone is the only one that has substantial effects on signal strength.
The first Fresnel zone can be visualized as an oval-shaped volume between two station antennas (Figure
8-1 ). As the width of the radio wave front gets blocked by obstructions, less of the signal can get to the
receiver antenna.
In addition to blocking the signal, obstructions in the first Fresnel zone may also cause multipath interference due to reflective and refractive signal paths. The reflected or refracted signal might arrive at the
receiver out of phase with the desired signal and cause a canceling effect.
Figure 8-1 Fresnel Zone Obstructions
As a matter of practice, 60 percent of the first Fresnel zone must be clear of obstructions (0.6 x F) to allow a clear, unobstructed RF path.
Remember, the first Fresnel zone calculation is only one parameter determining path quality.
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Earth Curvature
As the distance of a communication link increases, the clearance problem is compounded by the earth’s
curvature. Radio waves traveling through typical atmospheric conditions bend slightly, which is represented by treating the earth as though it were slightly flatter than it actually is. Experience has shown that
if we consider the earth’s radius 4/3rds of its actual size, we get good agreement between theory and
measured propagation results.
The figure below shows a representation of the 4/3 earth “radio horizon.” This figure shows that under
normal radio propagation conditions, a station with its antenna 15 meters above flat terrain will have a
radio horizon approximately 15 kilometers away, well beyond the visual horizon.
Figure 8-2. Antenna Height vs. Theoretical Radio Horizon
Fade Margins
Variations in the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere with elevation cause the signals to bend
more or less, resulting in fading at the receiver. The longer the path, the more likely that deep fades will
occur, hence the greater the fade margin required.
Different parts of the world have differing propagation conditions, which can be categorized as favorable,
average, or adverse. In general, mountainous areas have favorable propagation conditions, while tropical
areas and those near large bodies of water have adverse conditions.
Calculating Path Loss
Assuming that we have satisfied the line-of-sight and first Fresnel zone clearance requirements, we can
calculate the path loss. At 450 MHz, the loss between two isotropic radiators (0 dBi antennas) that are 1
km apart is 86 dB. For every doubling of distance, the loss increases by an additional 6 dB. Knowing this,
the output power (+37 dBm), and the receiver sensitivity, we can calculate antenna size and tower height
requirements to cover any desired distance.
8.1.2 Formulas for System Planning
The following standard formulas are provided for assistance in determining system installation parameters.
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Free Space Path Loss
 fs = 92.4 + 20 log 10 f + 20 log 10 d
where:
fs = free space loss in dB
d = path distance in kilometers
ƒ = frequency in GHz
Fresnel Zone Boundary
nd 1  d 2
Fn = 17.3 ------------------fD
where:
Fn= Fresnel zone boundary in meters
d1 = distance from one end of the path to the Fresnel zone boundary (in kilometers)
d2 = distance from the other end of the path to the Fresnel zone
boundary (in kilometers)
D = total path distance (d1+d2) in kilometers
ƒ = frequency in GHz
n = Fresnel zone, 1 (for 1st) is used here
Theoretical Signal Strength
RSSI = EIR P –  fs + G ra – L rfl

RSSI=
EIRP =
fs =
Gra =
Lrfl =
Ltfl =
Gta =
where:
signal strength at the receiver in dBm
RF power output in dBm + Gta –Ltfl
free-space path loss in dB
receive antenna gain in dBi
receive feedline loss in dB
transmit feedline loss in dB
transmit antenna gain in dBi
Probability of System Fading
FP rob = a  b  6.0  10
–7
 f  d  10
 –F   10
where:
FProb = probability of fading more than F
a = terrain factor
• 4 is used for very smooth terrain, such as over water
• 1 is used for average terrain, with moderate roughness
• 0.25 is used for mountainous or very rough terrain
b = climate factor
• 0.5 is used for a hot, humid climate
• 0.25 is used for temperate or northern areas
• 0.125 is used for a very dry climate
ƒ = frequency in GHz
d = path length in km
F = fade margin in dB
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8.2 dBm-Volts-Watts Conversion Chart
The dBm-Volts-Watts Conversion Chart below is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent voltage or wattage of an RF power expressed in dBm.
Table 8-1 dBm–Volts–Watts Conversion Chart
90
dBm V
Po
dBm V
Po
dBm mV
+53
+50
+49
+48
+47
+46
+45
+44
+43
+42
+41
+40
+39
+38
+37
+36
+35
+34
+33
+32
+31
+30
+29
+28
+27
+26
+25
+24
+23
+22
+21
+20
+19
+18
+17
+16
+15
+14
+13
+12
+11
+10
+9
+8
+7
+6
+5
+4
+3
+2
+1
200W
100W
80W
64W
50W
40W
32W
25W
20W
16W
12.5W
10W
8W
6.4W
5W
4W
3.2W
2.5W
2W
1.6W
1.25W
1.0W
800mW
640mW
500mW
400mW
320mW
250mW
200mW
160mW
125mW
100mW
80mW
64mW
50mW
40mW
32mW
25mW
20mW
16mW
12.5mW
10mW
8mW
6.4mW
5mW
4mW
3.2mW
2.5mW
2.0mW
1.6mW
1.25mW
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-11
-12
-13
-14
-15
-16
1.0mW
.80mW
.64mW
.50mW
.40mW
.32mW
.25mW
.20mW
.16mW
.125mW
.10mW
-49
-50
-51
-52
-53
-54
-55
-56
-57
-58
-59
-60
-61
-62
-63
-64
100.0
70.7
64.0
58.0
50.0
44.5
40.0
32.5
32.0
28.0
26.2
22.5
20.0
18.0
16.0
14.1
12.5
11.5
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.10
6.40
5.80
5.00
4.45
4.00
3.55
3.20
2.80
2.52
2.25
2.00
1.80
1.60
1.41
1.25
1.15
1.00
.90
.80
.71
.64
.58
.500
.445
.400
.355
.320
.280
.252
.225
.200
.180
.160
.141
.125
.115
.100
.090
.080
.071
.064
.058
.050
.045
.040
.0355
dBm µV
dBm mV
-17
-18
-19
-20
-21
-22
-23
-24
-25
-26
-27
-28
-29
-30
-31
-32
-33
-34
-35
-36
-37
-38
-39
-40
-41
-42
-43
-44
-45
-46
-47
-48
31.5
28.5
25.1
22.5
20.0
17.9
15.9
14.1
12.8
11.5
10.0
8.9
8.0
7.1
6.25
5.8
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.2
2.85
2.5
2.25
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.25
1.18
1.00
0.90
Po
.01mW
.001mW
.1µW
-65
-66
-67
-68
-69
-70
-71
-72
-73
-74
-75
-76
-77
-78
-79
-80
-81
-82
-83
-84
-85
-86
-87
-88
-89
-90
-91
-92
-93
-94
-95
-96
-97
MDS Master Station
Po
0.80
0.71 .01µW
0.64
0.57
0.50
0.45
0.40
0.351
0.32
0.286
0.251
0.225 .001µW
0.200
0.180
0.160
0.141
128
115
100
90
80
71
65
58
50
45
40
35
32
29
25
22.5
20.0
18.0
16.0
11.1
12.9
11.5
10.0
9.0
8.0
7.1
6.1
5.75
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.51
3.2
Po
.1nW
.01nW
.001nW
dBm µV
-98
-99
-100
-101
-102
-103
-104
-105
-106
2.9
2.51
2.25
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.41
1.27
1.18
dBm nV
-107
-108
-109
-110
-111
-112
-113
-114
-115
-116
-117
-118
-119
-120
-121
-122
-123
-124
-125
-126
-127
-128
-129
-130
-131
-132
-133
-134
-135
-136
-137
-138
-139
-140
1000
900
800
710
640
580
500
450
400
355
325
285
251
225
200
180
160
141
128
117
100
90
80
71
61
58
50
45
40
35
33
29
25
23
Po
.1pW
Po
.01pW
.001pW
.1ƒW
.01ƒW
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
9 GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS
If you are new to wireless data systems, some of the terms in this guide may be unfamiliar. The following
glossary explains many of these terms and can prove helpful in understanding the operation of the Master
Station. While some entries may not appear specifically in the text of this manual, they are included to
promote a more complete understanding of wireless data networks, both of current and legacy design.
Active Messaging—This is a mode of diagnostic gathering that may interrupt payload system polling
communications (contrast with passive messaging). Active (or intrusive) messaging is faster than passive
messaging because it is not dependent upon the RTU polling cycle.
Antenna System Gain—A figure, normally expressed in dB, representing 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.
BER—Bit Error Rate.
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.
Bridging—(see Ethernet Bridging).
Byte—A string of digital data usually made up of eight data bits and start, stop and parity bits.
Ckeyed—Pertains to continuously keyed Master stations (full-duplex).
CLI—Command Line Interface. A method of user control where commands are entered as character
strings to set configuration and operating parameters.
CTS—Clear to Send.
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 manual is hardwired as a DCE device.
Digital Signal Processing—See DSP.
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91
DLINK—Data Link Mode. This is a GE MDS-proprietary protocol used when the transceiver is in diagnostics mode.
DSP—Digital Signal Processing. The transceiver’s DSP is the core operating unit of the transceiver
through which nearly all functions depend.
DTE—Data Terminal Equipment. A device that provides data in the form of digital signals at its output.
Connects to the DCE device.
ETH—Abbreviation for Ethernet.
Ethernet Bridging—A mode of operation for the transceiver where the radio decides whether messages
are handled locally or sent intact over-the-air.
Fade Margin—The greatest tolerable reduction in average received signal strength expected under most
conditions. Provides an allowance for reduced signal strength due to multipath fading, slight antenna
movement or changing atmospheric losses. A fade margin of 20 to 30 dB is usually sufficient in most
systems.
FPGA—Field Programmable Gate Array.
Frame—A segment of data that adheres to a specific data protocol and contains definite start and end
points. It provides a method of synchronizing transmissions.
Gate—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities. See also
NODE, PEER, and ROOT.
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 transmission until CTS again
returns to the high state.
Host Computer—The computer installed at the master unit, which controls the collection of data from
one or more remote sites.
I/O—Input/Output.
IP—Internet Protocol.
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.
LAN—Local Area Network.
LED—Light Emitting Diode.
Latency—The delay (usually expressed in milliseconds) between when data is applied to the TXD pin at
one radio, until it appears at the RXD pin of another radio.
Listen Before Transmit—A collision avoidance mechanism that attempts to allow transmission only
when the channel is clear.
mA—Milliamperes (current flow). 1000 mA = 1 Ampere.
MAC—Media Access Control.
NIC: Network Interface Card. This is another name for the modules that are selectively included in the
product based on order entry.
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NX915: A GE MDS NIC module supporting unlicensed operation at 900 MHz
MAS—Multiple Address System. A radio system where a central master unit communicates with several
remote stations for the purpose of gathering telemetry data.
Master (Station)—Radio which is connected to the host computer. It is the point at which polling enters
the network.
Multiple Address System—See MAS.
Network-Wide Diagnostics—An advanced method of controlling and interrogating GE MDS radios in a
radio network.
Node—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities. See also
GATE, PEER, and ROOT.
Non-intrusive diagnostics—See Passive messaging.
OTA—Over-the-Air.
PA—Power Amplifier.
Packet Radio—A transmission scheme in which data elements are assembled into units, that are consecutively numbered and error-checked at the time of transmittal. Errored packets result in retry requests
from the receiving station.
Passive messaging—This is a mode of diagnostic gathering or reprogramming that does not interrupt
payload system polling communications. Diagnostic/reprogramming data is sent/collected non-intrusively
over a period of time; polling messages are carried with payload system data (contrast with active messaging).
Payload data—This is the application’s communication data which is sent over the radio network.
Peer—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities. See also
GATE, NODE, and ROOT.
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.
PPM—Parts per Million. Typically used to specify a tolerance rating for an operational parameter.
Programmable Logic Controller—See PLC.
Remote (Station)—A radio in a network that communicates with an associated master unit.
Remote Terminal Unit—See RTU.
Redundant Operation—A station arrangement where two transceivers and two power supplies are
available for operation, with automatic switch-over in case of a failure.
Root—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities. See also
GATE, NODE, and PEER.
RTS—Request-to-send.
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93
RTU—Remote Terminal Unit. A data collection device installed at a remote radio site. An internal RTU
simulator is provided with the transceiver to isolate faults to either the external RTU or the radio.
RX—Abbreviation for “Receive.” See also TX.
SAF—Store and Forward. An available feature of the radio where data is stored by a designated Remote,
and then retransmitted to a station beyond the communication range of the AP.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio—See SNR.
SCADA—Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. An overall term for the functions commonly provided through an MAS radio system.
SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol): A scalable protocol for networks based on digital certificates, which can be requested by users without the need for assistance or manual intervention from a
system administrator.
SNR—Signal-to-Noise ratio. A measure of how well a signal is being received relative to noise on the
radio channel.
SSH: Secure Shell protocol for a network that allows users to open a window on a local PC and connect
to a remote PC as if they were present at the remote.
SSID (Service Set Identifier): A name that identifies a particular 802.11wireless LAN.
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 guideline, reflected power should not exceed 10%
of the forward power ( 2:1 SWR maximum).
Telnet—A terminal emulation protocol that enables an Internet user to communicate with a remote device for management activities as if it were locally connected to a PC.
Terminal Server—An available feature on the radio which encapsulates serial data from the
COM1/COM2 ports, and sends it over the air as IP packets. The data is decapsulated at the receiving end
and routed to the appropriate COM ports.
Transparent Mode—A mode in which payload data remains unchanged from its original format when it
is sent over the air. A radio in this mode is said to be “transparent” to connected equipment at each end of
a link.
TX—Abbreviation for “Transmit.” See also RX.
VLAN—Virtual Local Area Network
WAN—Wide Area Network
x710—The generic name for GE MDS legacy transceiver-family products, including the MDS 9710 (900
MHz), MDS 4710 (400 MHz), 2710 (200 MHz) and MDS 1710 (100 MHz).
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IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...
Our products are designed for long life and trouble-free operation. However, this equipment, as with all
electronic equipment, may have an occasional component failure. The following information will assist
you in the event that servicing becomes necessary.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Technical assistance for GE MDS products is available from our Technical Support Department during
normal business hours (8:30 A.M.–6:00 P.M. Eastern Time). When calling, please give the complete
model number of the product, along with a description of the trouble/symptom(s) that you are experiencing. In many cases, problems 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: 585 241-5510
E-Mail: gemds.techsupport@ge.com
FAX: 585 242-8369
Web: www.gemds.com
REPAIR SERVICE
Component level repair of this equipment is not recommended in the field. Many components are installed using surface mount technology, 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 unit to its proper operating specifications.
If return of the equipment is necessary, you must obtain a return authorization number before shipment.
This number helps expedite the repair so that the equipment can be returned to you as quickly as possible.
Please be sure to include the 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 authorization number.
Return authorization numbers are issued online at www.gedigitalenergy.com/Communications.htm. On
the left side of the page, click “Login to my MDS” and once logged in, click “Service Request Order”.
Your number will be issued immediately after the required information is entered. Please be sure to have
the model number(s), serial number(s), detailed reason for return, “ship to” address, “bill to” address, and
contact name, phone number, and fax number available when requesting a number. A purchase order
number or pre-payment will be required for any units that are out of warranty, or for product conversion.
If you prefer, you may contact our Product Services department to obtain an authorization number:
Telephone Number: 585-241-5540
Fax Number: 585-242-8400
E-mail Address: gemds.productservices@ge.com
The radio must be properly packed for return to the factory. The original shipping container and packaging materials should be used whenever possible. All factory returns should be addressed to:
GE MDS, LLC
Product Services Department
175 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620 USA
When repairs have been completed, the equipment will be returned to you by the same shipping 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 department using the telephone,
Fax, or E-mail information given above.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
MDS Master Station
95
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Many spare and replacement items are available for purchase by contacting your factory sales representative, or by visiting our online store at http://store.gedigitalenergy.com/front.asp.
96
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