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MDS 05-2873A01, REV. FCC

AUGUST 2001

Wireless IP/Ethernet Transceiver

MDS iNet 900™

DRAFT 6—8/30/01

Below are the basic steps for installing the MDS iNet 900 transceiver. Detailed instructions are given in

the Section 3.0,

INSTALLATION PLANNING

, on page 5 of this manual.

1. Install and connect the antenna system to the radio

• Use good quality, low-loss coaxial cable. Keep the feedline as short as possible.

• Preset directional antennas in the direction of desired transmission/reception.

2. Apply DC power to the radio (13.8 Vdc @ 500 mA)

• Connect a DC power source to the

Net’s power connector.(Negative ground only.)

• Observe proper polarity when connecting the DC cable. See Figure 10 on page 16.

3. Review the initial configuration profile

• Connect a computer with HTTP browser to the LAN port, or a terminal to the COM1 port, to identify,

and revise if necessary the MDS

Net 900’s primary operating parameters. (See “Step 5—Review

the Radio’s Configuration” on page 16 for details.)

✓

Operating Mode: Access Point (Master) or Station Adaptor (Remote)

✓

Internet Protocol (IP) Address

✓

Network Name

✓

Time and Date—If event logging is enabled

4. Verify proper operation of the MDS

Net radio-modem

• See Table 2 on page 7 for an explanation of the LED status indicators.

• Refine the antenna heading for maximum received signal strength using the radio signal strength

indicator (

RSSI

) function found on the browser’s home page. The RSSI display will be in dBm.

5. Connect the user’s equipment to the MDS

Net’s LAN, COM1or COM2 ports

• LAN—Use a RJ-45 Ethernet connector/cable.

• COM2—Recommended for serial-based data equipment.

Use a DB-9 female connector. Interface is RS-232/EIA-232 compatible.

• COM1—Reserve, if practical, for use to connect terminal for unit configuration.

Use a DB-9 male connector. Interface is RS-232/EIA-232 compatible.

(See Table 9 on page 34 for pin descriptions and Figure 9 on page 16 for port defaults.)

6. Verify proper operation of the user’s equipment

• A properly configured system will work exactly as it would if the data equipment were communicating

through a conventional wired system. (See Table 4.6 on page 18)

• The LINK LED will blink intermittently under normal operation if it connects with another

MDS iNet 900 transceiver.

• Use the IP “PING” command to verify the Access Point can be contacted by the Station Adapter.

1. While this may be of value, the time and date setting does not seem like a primary parameter and is

beyond the scope of this draft.

QUICK START GUIDE

DRAFT 6—8/30/01

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide i

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL................................................................1

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION .........................................................1

2.1 Transceiver Features ........................................................................2

2.2 Spread Spectrum Radios—

How Are They Different? ..........................................................................3

2.3 Typical Applications ..........................................................................3

Wireless IP/Ethernet LAN Connectivity ..........................................3

Point-to-Point System .....................................................................3

Dealing with difﬁcult terrain.............................................................4

2.4 Accessories ......................................................................................4

3.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING.........................................................5

3.1 General Requirements .....................................................................5

3.2 Site Selection ...................................................................................6

Terrain and Signal Strength ............................................................6

Conducting a Site Survey ...............................................................7

3.3 A Word About Radio Interference ....................................................8

3.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection ..........................................................9

Antennas ........................................................................................9

Feedlines ......................................................................................11

3.5 How Much Output Power Can be Used? .......................................11

Calculating System Gain ..............................................................12

4.0 INSTALLATION ..........................................................................13

4.1 Step 1— Mounting the Transceiver ................................................13

4.2 Step 2—Install the Antenna and Feedline ......................................15

4.3 Step 3—Connect the Data Equipment ...........................................15

4.4 Step 4—Measure & Install Primary Power .....................................16

4.5 Step 5—Review the Radio’s Conﬁguration ....................................16

Procedure .....................................................................................17

4.6 Step 6—Connect the User Data Equipment ..................................18

4.7 Step 7—Check for Normal Operation ............................................18

Procedure .....................................................................................18

4.8 Performance Optimization ..............................................................19

Antenna Aiming ............................................................................19

Antenna SWR Check (Z? Major revision needed?)......................20

5.0 TRADITIONAL REPEATER CONFIGURATION WITH TWO RADIOS

5.1 Overview ........................................................................................20

ii MDS

Net 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

5.2 Antennas ........................................................................................21

5.3 Network Name ...............................................................................21

5.4 Interface Wiring ..............................................................................21

6.0 PROGRAMMING.......................................................................21

6.1 Programming Via an HTTP/Web Browser ......................................22

Making the Connection.................................................................22

Start-up Screen ............................................................................22

System Conﬁguration Screen.......................................................23

Radio/Modem Screen Z?..............................................................23

6.2 Programming Via COM1 Port & a Terminal Program .....................24

Making the Connection.................................................................24

Communicating with the iNet transceiver .....................................24

Using the Menu-Based Management Toolbox..............................24

Review and Changing Essential Parameters................................26

7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING ...............................................................26

7.1 LED Indicators ................................................................................27

7.2 Troubleshooting Chart ....................................................................27

8.0 REPEATER ASSITED LANS .....................................................28

Repeater Systems ........................................................................28

Option 1—Traditional with two-radio repeater ..............................28

Option 2—With Store-and-Forward Station..................................29

9.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE .......................................................30

9.1 Technical Speciﬁcations .................................................................30

9.2 Data Interface Connectors—

LAN, COM1 & DATA Ports .....................................................................32

LAN (Local Area Network) Port—RJ-45 Ethernet Interface..........32

COM1 Port ...................................................................................33

COM2 Port....................................................................................34

9.3 Table-Top Test Setup ......................................................................34

9.4 Using a Personal Computer to Conﬁgure the iNet Radio ...............35

Connecting a PC to iNet’s LAN (Ethernet) Port............................35

Connecting a PC to iNet’s COM1 Port..........................................35

10.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS..........................................................36

10.1 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart ..............................................39

This Installation and Operation Guide and all software described herein

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide iii

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Serviceability of this Manual

While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of

this manual, product improvements may result in minor differences

between the manual and the product shipped to you. If you have addi-

tional questions or need an exact specification for a product, please con-

tact our Customer Service Team using the information at the back of this

guide. Microwave Data Systems Incorporated reserves its right to cor-

rect any errors and omissions. Updated information may also be avail-

able on our Web site at www.microwavedata.com.

Operational Safety Notices

The radio equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency

energy. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from

a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to

come within two meters (6 feet) of the antenna when the transmitter is

operating.

This manual is intended to guide a professional installer in installing,

operating and performing basic system maintenance on the described

equipment.

FM/UL/CSA Notice

MDS

Net 900 When Approved

This product is available for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B,

C & D Hazardous Locations. Such locations are defined in Article 500

of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publication NFPA

70, otherwise known as the National Electrical Code.

The transceiver has been recognized for use in these hazardous locations

by three independent agencies —Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Fac-

tory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) and the Canadian Standards

Association (CSA). The UL certification for the transceiver is as a Rec-

ognized Component for use in these hazardous locations, in accordance

with UL Standard 1604. The FMRC Approval is in accordance with

FMRC Standard 3611. The CSA Certification is in accordance with

CSA STD C22.2 No. 213-M1987.

FM/UL/CSA Conditions of Approval

MDS

Net 900 When Approved

The transceiver is not acceptable as a stand-alone unit for use in the haz-

ardous locations described above. It must either be mounted within

another piece of equipment which is certified for hazardous locations, or

installed within guidelines, or conditions of approval, as set forth by the

approving agencies. These conditions of approval are as follows:

1. The transceiver must be mounted within a separate enclosure which

is suitable for the intended application.

RF Exposure

iv MDS

Net 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

2. The antenna feedline, DC power cable and interface cable must be

routed through conduit in accordance with the National Electrical

Code.

3. Installation, operation and maintenance of the transceiver should be

in accordance with the transceiver's installation manual, and the

National Electrical Code.

4. Tampering or replacement with non-factory components may

adversely affect the safe use of the transceiver in hazardous loca-

tions, and may void the approval.

5. When installed in a Class I, Div. 2, Groups A, B, C or D hazardous

location, observe the following:

Do not disconnect equipment unless power has been

switched off or the area is know to be non-hazardous.

Refer to Articles 500 through 502 of the National Electrical

Code (NFPA 70) for further information on hazardous loca-

tions and approved Division 2 wiring methods.

FCC Notice, U.S.A.

MDS

Net 900 When Approved

The MDS iNet 900 transceivers comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may

not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any

interference received, including interference that may cause undesired

operation.

This device is specifically designed to be used under Section 15.247 of

the FCC Rules and Regulations. Any unauthorized modification or

changes to this device without the express approval of Microwave Data

Systems may void the user’s authority to operate this device.

Furthermore, this device is indented to be used only when installed in

accordance with the instructions outlined in this manual. Failure to

comply with these instructions may also void the user’s authority to

operate this device.

FCC Information

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 protection against harmful

interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environ-

1. This seem like this note should be a DANGER classification if there is a

potential for an explosion. Please verify.

EXPLOSION

HAZARD

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide v

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

ment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency

energy and, if not installed 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

harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct

the interference at his own expense.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide 1

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This guide presents installation and basic operating instructions for the

MDS

Net 900™ transceiver. Following installation, we suggest

keeping this guide near the equipment for future reference.

The terms Access Point and Station Adapter are abbreviated as “

A.P.”

and “

S.A.”

in various technical illustrations and tables used in this

manual wherever space is at a premium.

This manual does not cover all possible MDS iNet 900 user-controllable

parameters and/or diagnostic tools. For an in-depth description of all of

the features and controls of the MDS iNet 900, please read the

MDS iNet Network Manager’s Manual

, P/N 05-xxxxA01.

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The MDS

Net 900 transceiver, shown in Figure 1, is designed to pro-

vide network managers with a easy-to-install wireless local area net-

work (LAN) services with plug-and-play hardware. For basic services,

just hook up an antenna, connect your Ethernet LAN to the radio’s LAN

port, apply primary power, and you are done. And, no license is

required.

The transceiver is a spread-spectrum radio designed for operation in the

license-free 900 MHz frequency band. The MDS

Net 900 provides reli-

able communications up to distances of 30 miles (50 km), even in the

presence of weak signals or interference.

Only two user-controllable parameters need to be checked at the time of

installation—the radio’s Access Point/Station Adapter operating mode,

and “network name” of the unit.

The MDS

Net 900 transceiver is based on the IEEE 802.11 wireless

LAN specification. From this perspective,

Net transceivers serve as

“Access Points” and “Station Adapters”. An Access Point is a wireless

hub that provides connectivity into a wired Ethernet LAN. This connec-

tivity is achieved through remote Station Adapters. From a radio per-

spective, an Access Point also works as a “master station” providing

synchronization signaling for the remote radios (Access Point units).

A Station Adapter provides wireless connectivity to and Access Point to

one or more Ethernet devices connected to its local interface. From a

radio perspective, the Station Adapter also works as a remote radio that

communicates to a master radio (Access Point).

2 MDS

Net 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Users with a mixture of equipment with Ethernet and serial data inter-

faces can choose to use one of the two user-configurable serial ports.

This flexibility allows the iNet transceiver to provide services in data

networks that are on a path from legacy serial/EIA/RS-232-based hard-

ware to the faster and more easily interfaced Ethernet world. The radio

and data interfaces are easily arranged via the

COM1

port or via the

LAN

(Ethernet) port using HTTP.

Figure 1. The MDS iNet 900 Transceiver

The transceiver is housed in a compact and rugged cast-aluminum case

that needs only be protected from direct exposure to the weather. It con-

tains a single printed circuit board with all necessary components for

radio operation and data communications.

2.1 Transceiver Features

Listed below are several key features of the MDS

Net 900 transceivers.

These are designed to ease the installation and configuration of the

radio, while retaining the ability to make changes in the future.

• Plug-and-Play Connectivity—Ethernet bridge configuration

option requires virtually no setup

• High Speed—512 kbps is 50-times faster than 9.6 kbps radios

• Long Range—30 miles (50 km) in wireless LAN configuration

• Robust Radio Communications—Designed to operate in

high-interference environments

• Industrial-Grade Product—Extended temperature range for

trouble-free operation in extreme environments

• Serial Ports—IP gateway to legacy serial interface based equip-

ment

• Same hardware for Access Point and Station Adaptor configu-

rations

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide 3

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

2.2 Spread Spectrum Radios—

How Are They Different?

The main difference between a traditional (licensed) radio system and

the

Net transceivers is that these units “hop” from channel to channel

many times per second using a specific hop pattern applied to all radios

in the network. A distinct hopping pattern is provided for each of the

network name, thereby minimizing the chance of interference with other

spread spectrum systems. In the USA, and certain other countries, no

license is required to install and operate this type of radio system.

2.3 Typical Applications

Wireless IP/Ethernet LAN Connectivity

This is the most common application of the MDS

Net 900 transceiver.

It consists of a central control station (Access Point) and one or more

associated Station Adapter units, as shown in Figure 2. A LAN provides

communications between a central host computer and remote terminal

units (RTUs) or other data collection devices. The operation of the radio

system is transparent to the computer equipment with the Access Point

station serving as the gateway to the WAN or host computer.

Invisible place holder

Figure 2. Typical wireless LAN

Point-to-Point System

A point-to-point configuration (Figure 3) is a simple arrangement con-

sisting of just two radios—a Access Point and a Station Adapter. This

provides communications link for the transfer of data between two loca-

tions.

iNet S.A.

iNet A.P.

iNet S.A.

HOST

COMPUTER

RTU

4 MDS

Net 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Invisible place holder

Figure 3. Typical point-to-point link

(A LAN connection may be used in place of a Host Computer)

Dealing with difficult terrain

In some geographical areas there may be obstacles that make communi-

cation between iNet transceivers difficult. These obstacles commonly

are large buildings, natural geological formations or dense foliage.

These obstacles can often be overcome with a repeater station. See

“REPEATER ASSITED LANS” on page 28 for descriptions of basic

repeater configurations.

2.4 Accessories

The MDS iNet 900 transceiver can be used with one or more of the

accessories listed in Table 1. Contact the factory for ordering details.

RTU

HOST

COMPUTER iNet A.P. iNet S.A.

Table 1. Accessories

Accessory Description MDS P/N

A/C Power

Adapter A small switching power supply module

designed for continuous service. UL approved.

Output 13.8 Vdc @ 500 mA.s

03-xxxxA01

LAN Antenna Small and flexible 1/4 wavelength antenna

plugged directly into the radio’s ANTENNA

port. Suitable for short-range local area

networks.

03-xxxxA01

TNC to N

Adapter Short length of coaxial cable (6”/15 cm) used to

connect the radio’s TNC antenna connector to

a Type N commonly used on large diameter

coaxial cables.

03-xxxxA01

Ethernet RJ-45

Cross-over

Cable

Cable assembly used to cross-connect the

Ethernet ports of two iNet radios used in a

repeater configuration. (Cable length = 3’/1M)

03-xxxxA01

Flat-Surface

Mounting

Brackets

Brackets: 2” x 3” plates designed to be screwed

onto the bottom of the transceiver for

surface-mounting the radio.

82-1753-A01

Screws: 6-32/1/4˝ with locking adhesive.

(Industry Standard MS 51957-26) 70-2620-A01

19˝ Rail

Mounting

Brackets

Adaptor for mounting one MDS iNet 900 radio

in a standard 19-inch equipment rack. 03-xxxxA01

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide 5

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

3.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING

The installation of the radio is not difficult, but it does require some

planning to ensure station reliability and efficiency. This section pro-

vides tips for selecting an appropriate site, choosing an antenna system,

and reducing the chance of harmful interference.

3.1 General Requirements

There are three main requirements for installing the radio—adequate

and stable primary power, a good antenna system, and the correct inter-

face between the transceiver and the data device.

Figure 4 shows a typical Station Adapter installation. An external direc-

tional antenna is normally used and an RTU/PLC is connected to one of

the serial ports (COM1/COM2). 13.8 Vdc is supplied to the Station

Adapter by an external source.

Invisible place holder

Figure 4. Typical Station Adapter arrangement

(RTU can be connected to any compatible LAN or COM Port)

DIN Rail

Mounting

Brackets

Adaptor for mounting one MDS iNet 900 radio

in a DIN standard equipment rack. 03-xxxxA01

Short-Range

Antenna Short 1/2-wave antenna. Mounts directly onto

the radio’s coaxial connector. Suitable only for

short-range LANs, such as within a building or

small campus.

03-xxxxA01

Table 1. Accessories

(Continued)

LAN PORT

POWER SUPPLY

13.6 VDC @

500 mA (MIN.)

REMOTE

TERMINAL

UNIT

ANTENNA

SYSTEM

LOW-LOSS FEEDLINE

iNet RADIO

TRANSCEIVER

6 MDS

Net 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

3.2 Site Selection

For a successful installation, careful thought must be given to selecting

proper sites for the Access Points and Station Adapters. Suitable sites

should provide:

• Protection from direct weather exposure

• A source of adequate and stable primary power

• Suitable entrances for antenna, interface or other required

cabling

• Antenna location that provides an unobstructed transmission

path in the direction of the associated station

(

)

These requirements can be quickly determined in most cases. A possible

exception is the last item—verifying that an unobstructed transmission

path exists. Radio signals travel primarily by line-of-sight, and obstruc-

tions between the sending and receiving stations will affect system per-

formance. If you are not familiar with the effects of terrain and other

obstructions on radio transmission, the discussion below will provide

helpful background.

Terrain and Signal Strength

While the 900 MHz band offers many advantages over VHF and lower

UHF frequencies for data transmission, the band is more prone to signal

attenuation from obstructions such as terrain, foliage or buildings in the

transmission path.

A line-of-sight transmission path between the central Access Point sta-

tion and its associated remote access station site

(

)

is highly desirable

and provides the most reliable communications link. A line-of-sight

path can often be achieved by mounting the station antenna on a tower

or other elevated structure that raises it to a level sufficient to clear sur-

rounding terrain and other obstructions.

The importance of a clear transmission path relates closely to the dis-

tance to be covered by the system. If the system is to cover only a limited

geographic area, say up to 3 miles (4.8 km), then some obstructions in

the transmission path can usually be tolerated with minimal impact. For

longer range systems, any substantial obstruction in the transmission

path could compromise the performance of the system, or block trans-

mission entirely.

Much depends on the minimum signal strength that can be tolerated in

a given system. Although the exact figure will differ from one system to

another, a Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of –80 dBm or

stronger will provide acceptable performance in many systems. While

the equipment will work at lower signal strengths, this provides a “fade

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS

Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide 7

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

margin” to account for variations in signal strength which may occur

from time-to-time. RSSI can be measured with a terminal connected to

the

COM1

Port or with a HTTP browser to the LAN (Ethernet) connector.

(See Section 4.6 on page 18 for details.)

Conducting a Site Survey

If you are in doubt about the suitability of the radio sites in your system,

it is best to evaluate them before a permanent installation is begun. This

can be done with an on-the-air test (preferred method); or indirectly,

using path-study software.

An on-the-air test is preferred because it allows you to see firsthand the

factors involved at an installation site and to directly observe the quality

of system operation. Even if a computer path study was conducted ear-

lier, this test should be done to verify the predicted results.

The test can be performed by first installing a radio and antenna at the

proposed Access Point station site and then visiting each Station

Adapter site with a transceiver and a hand-held antenna. (A PC with a

network adapter can be connected to each radio in the network to simu-

late data during this test using the PING command.)

With the hand-held antenna positioned near the proposed mounting

spot, a technician can check for synchronization with the Access Point

station (shown by a lit LINK LED on the front panel) and measure the

reported RSSI value. (See Section 4.6 on page 18 for details.) If ade-

quate signal strength cannot be obtained, it may be necessary to mount

the station antennas higher, use higher gain antennas, select a different

site or consider installing a repeater station. To prepare the equipment

for an on-the-air test, follow the general installation procedures given in

this guide and become familiar with the operating instructions found in

Section 4.0 on page 13.

If time is short, and a site survey is impractical, a computer path study

is a good alternative. Factors such as terrain, distance, transmitter

power, receiver sensitivity, and other conditions are taken into account

to predict the performance of a proposed system. Contact MDS for more

information on path study services.

Table 2.iNet Front Panel LED Functions

LED Label Activity Indication

LAN ON Link integrity OK

Blinking Data TX/RX

OFF LAN not detected

COM1

(Console) ON Not Defined

Blinking Data TX/RX

OFF No data detected

8 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

3.3 A Word About Radio Interference

The iNet 900 transceivers share frequency spectrums with other ser-

vices and other Part 15 (unlicensed) devices in the USA. As such, near

100% error-free communications may not be achieved in a given loca-

tion, and some level of interference should be expected. However, the

radio’s flexible design and hopping techniques should allow adequate

performance as long as care is taken in choosing station location, con-

figuration of radio parameters and software/protocol techniques.

In general, keep the following points in mind when setting up your com-

munications network:

1. Systems installed in rural areas are least likely to encounter

interference; those in suburban and urban environments are more

likely to be affected by other devices operating in the license-free

frequency band and by adjacent licensed services.

2. If possible, use a directional antenna at remote sites. Although these

antennas may be more costly than omnidirectional types, they con-

ﬁne the transmission and reception pattern to a comparatively nar-

row lobe, which minimizes interference to (and from) stations

located outside the pattern.

3. If interference is suspected from a nearby licensed system (such as a

paging transmitter), it may be helpful to use horizontal polarization

of all antennas in the network. Because most other services use ver-

tical polarization in this band, an additional 20 dB of attenuation to

interference can be achieved by using horizontal polarization.

COM2 ON Not Defined

Blinking Data TX/RX

OFF No data detected

PWR ON Primary power (DC)

present

Blinking Slow = Sleep mode

Quick = Alarm present

OFF Primary power (DC)

absent

LINK

(Access Point)

ON Default state

Blinking Data Tx/Rx

OFF Not Defined

LINK

(Station

Adapter)

ON Associated to AP

Blinking Data Tx/Rx

OFF Data Tx/Rx

Table 2.iNet Front Panel LED Functions

LED Label Activity Indication

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 9

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

4. Multiple iNet 900 Access Point transceivers can co-exist in proxim-

ity to each other with only very minor interference as long as they

are each assigned a unique network name. Each network name has a

different hop pattern. Additional isolation can be achieved by using

separate directional antennas with as much vertical or horizontal

separation as is practical.

5. If constant interference is present in a particular frequency zone, it

may be necessary to “lock out” that zone from the radio’s hopping

pattern. The radio includes built-in software to help users identify

and remove blocked frequency zones from its hopping pattern.

6. If interference problems persist even after removing blocked zones,

try reducing the length of data streams. Groups of short data streams

have a better chance of getting through in the presence of interfer-

ence than do long streams.

7. The power output of all radios in a system should be set for the low-

est level necessary for reliable communications. This lessens the

chance of causing unnecessary interference to nearby systems.

3.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection

Antennas

The equipment can be used with a number of antennas. The exact style

used depends on the physical size and layout of a system. Contact your

MDS representative for specific recommendations on antenna types and

hardware sources.

In general, an omnidirectional antenna (Figure 5) is used at the Access

Point station site. This provides equal coverage to all of the Station

Adapter sites.

NOTE: Antenna polarization is important. If the wrong polarization is

used, a signal reduction of 20 dB or more will result. Most

systems using a gain-type omnidirectional antenna at the

Access Point station employ vertical polarization of the signal;

therefore, the remote antenna(s) must also be vertically polar-

ized (elements oriented perpendicular to the horizon).

When required, horizontally polarized omnidirectional

antennas are also available. Contact your MDS representative

for details.

10 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Invisible place holder

Figure 5. Omnidirectional antenna for iNet 900 transceiver

Invisible place holder

Figure 6. Omnidirectional antenna for

iNet 900 transceiver (mounted to mast)

At Station Adapter sites and units in point-to-point LANs, a directional

Yagi (Figure 7) antenna is generally recommended to minimize interfer-

ence to and from other users. Antennas are available from a number of

manufacturers.

Invisible place holder

Figure 7. Typical Yagi antenna (mounted to mast)

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 11

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Feedlines

The choice of feedline used with the antenna should be carefully consid-

ered. Poor-quality coaxial cables should be avoided, as they will

degrade system performance for both transmission and reception. The

cable should be kept as short as possible to minimize signal loss.

For cable runs of less than 20 feet (6 meters), or for short range trans-

mission, an inexpensive type such as Type RG8A/U may be acceptable.

Otherwise, we recommend using a low-loss cable type suited for 900

MHz, such as Heliax®.

Table 3 lists several types of popular feedlines and indicates the signal

losses (in dB) that result when using various lengths of cable at

900 MHz. The choice of cable will depend on the required length, cost

considerations, and the amount of signal loss that can be tolerated.

3.5 How Much Output Power Can be Used?

The transceiver is normally supplied from the factory set for a nominal

+30 dBm (1 Watt) RF power output setting; this is the maximum trans-

mitter output power allowed under FCC rules. The power must be

decreased from this level if the antenna system gain exceeds 6 dBi. The

allowable level is dependent on the antenna gain, feedline loss, and the

transmitter output power setting. Power considerations for point-to-mul-

tipoint and point-to-point systems using the iNet 900 transceivers are

discussed in the next sections.

NOTE: In some countries, the maximum allowable RF output may be

limited to less than 1 watt (For example, 100 mW /+20 dBm).

Be sure to check for and comply with the requirements for

your area.

Table 3. Length vs. loss in coaxial cables at 900 MHz

Cable Type 10 Feet

(3.05

Meters)

50 Feet

(15.24

Meters)

100 Feet

(30.48

Meters)

500 Feet

(152.4

Meters)

RG-8A/U 0.85 dB 4.27 dB 8.54 dB 42.70 dB

1/2 inch HELIAX 0.23 dB 1.15 dB 2.29 dB 11.45 dB

7/8 inch HELIAX 0.13 dB 0.64 dB 1.28 dB 6.40 dB

1-1/4 inch HELIAX 0.10 dB 0.48 dB 0.95 dB 4.75 dB

1-5/8 inch HELIAX 0.08 dB 0.40 dB 0.80 dB 4.00 dB

12 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

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Calculating System Gain

To determine the maximum allowable power setting of the radio, per-

form the following steps:

1. Determine the antenna system gain by subtracting the feedline loss

(in dB) from the antenna gain (in dBi). For example, if the antenna

gain is 9.5 dBi, and the feedline loss is 1.5 dB, the antenna system

gain would be 8 dB. (If the antenna system gain is 6 dB or less, no

power adjustment is required.)

2. Subtract the antenna system gain from 36 dBm (the maximum

allowable EIRP). The result indicates the maximum transmitter

power (in dBm) allowed under the rules. In the example above, this

is 28 dBm.

3. If the maximum transmitter power allowed is less than 30 dBm, use

one of the transceiver’s control tools as described in PROGRAM-

MING on page 21 to set the power accordingly.

For convenience, Table 4 lists several antenna system gains and shows

the maximum allowable power setting of the radio. Note that a gain of 6

dB or less entitles you to operate the radio at full power output—30 dBm

(1 watt).

* Most antenna manufacturers rate antenna gain in dBd in their

literature. To convert to dBi, add 2.15 dB.

† Feedline loss varies by cable type and length. To determine the

loss for common lengths of feedline, see Table 3 on page 11.

For details on how to set the power level via the Ethernet/HTTP inter-

face, See “Programming Via an HTTP/Web Browser” on page 22 for

details.

Table 4. Antenna system gain vs. power output setting (USA)

Antenna System Gain

(Antenna Gain in dBi*

minus Feedline Loss in dB†)

Maximum Power

Setting

(in dBm) EIRP

(in dBm)

6 (or less) 30 36

82836

10 26 36

12 24 36

14 22 36

16 20 36

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4.0 INSTALLATION

A typical transceiver product shipment consists of an iNet 900 trans-

ceiver and a manual. 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 and

save all packing materials for possible re-shipment.

Below are the basic steps for installing a iNet 900 transceiver. In most

cases, these steps alone will be sufficient to complete the installation.

Should further information be required, contact the factory at the

number given on the inside back cover of this manual.

If you are installing a traditional repeater system, you should also see

“TRADITIONAL REPEATER CONFIGURATION WITH TWO

RADIOS” on page 20 for important details on antennas and cabling.

NOTE: It is recommended that the Access Point station be installed

first. In this way, it will be possible to quickly check the oper-

ation of each associated Station Adapter unit as it is placed on

the air.

MDS iNet 900 transceivers are shipped from the factory set

to the “Station Adapter” mode unless they are marked

differently.

4.1 Step 1— Mounting the Transceiver

Mount the transceiver to a stable surface. (Fasteners/anchors are not

supplied unless specified when the order.) Figure 8 shows the dimen-

sions of the transceiver case and its mounting bracket. If possible,

choose a mounting location that provides easy access to the connectors

on the end of the radio and an unobstructed view of the LED status indi-

cators. Four threaded holes are located on the bottom of the radio which

are suitable for connecting mounting hardware. Use 6-32 x 1/4 inch

screws to attach mounting hardware to the bottom of the radio. (See

Figure 8 on page 14 for dimensions.)

14 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Invisible place holder

Figure 8. Transceiver dimensions

The screws holding the brackets to the radio are 5⁄16 inch (8 mm) long

or shorter to prevent damage to the radio’s PC board when they are

tightened. If these screws are replaced for any reason, the new screws

must not exceed this length. The radio’s case is made of a durable

cast-aluminum, however, the use of the wrong sized screws can dam-

age the screw sockets on the cover.

4.25˝ (10.8 cm)

4.75˝ (12 cm)

1.25˝ (3.17 cm)

6.75˝ (17.15 cm)

4.5˝ (11.4 cm)

TOP

FRONT

SIDE

BOTTOM

2.5˝ (6.35 cm)

4.85˝ (12/3 cm)

THREADED HOLES

FOR MOUNTING

SCREWS (4)

#6-32 X 1/4˝

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

EQUIPMENT

DAMAGE

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 15

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4.2 Step 2—Install the Antenna and Feedline

Antennas should be mounted in the clear and in accordance with the

manufacturer’s instructions. Additional information on antennas and

feedlines is contained in Section 3.4 (page 9).

NOTE: Strong fields near the antenna can interfere with the operation

of the low-level RTU circuits and change the reported values

of the data being monitored. For this reason, the antenna

should be mounted at least 10 feet (>3 meters) from the radio,

RTU, sensors and other components of the system.

4.3 Step 3—Connect the Data Equipment

Connect the data equipment to one of the transceiver’s three ports: LAN,

COM1 or COM2. Use only the required pins for the application—do not

connect anything to unused pins. See Figure 19 on page 33 details on

COM1 Port and Figure 20 on page 34 for the COM2 Port. Figure 9 on

page 16 identifies the port’s factory defaults.

NOTE: The data cabling between the transceiver and the connected

device should be kept as short as possible. Cable runs over 50

feet (15 meters) may require the use of a EIA-422 signaling

adapter. Consult the factory for further information.

Configuration

Toolbox Access Figure 9 on page 16 shows the default functions and services for the

front panel interface connectors. The three data ports—LAN, COM1 and

COM2—are user configurable through the use of a terminal connected to

the COM1 port or a HTTP browser through the Ethernet port.

NOTE: The data communications parameters and functions described

in the installation procedures and shown in Figure 9 on

page 16 are based on factory defaults. If the COM1 Port is

configured to transport data, connect to it with a terminal

program and use the ESC + K sequence to reset the radio’s data

interface ports to the default settings.

Connect a terminal to COM1 to access the menu driven configuration

and control tool. The menu will automatically display on the terminal’s

screen. To use a HTTP browser, connect to the Ethernet port and type in

HTTP:// + unit IP address. The unit’s IP address can be found through the

use of a terminal connected to the COM1 port.

16 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

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Invisible place holder

Figure 9. MDS iNet Interface Default Configuration & Functions

4.4 Step 4—Measure & Install Primary Power

The primary power at the transceiver’s power connector must be within

10.5–30 Vdc and be capable of furnishing up to 500 mA. The optimum

voltage is 12 Vdc. Be sure to observe proper polarity as shown in

Figure 10.

Invisible place holder

Figure 10. Primary Power (DC) Polarity

NOTE: The radio is designed for use only in negative ground systems.

The power supply used with the transceiver should be equipped with

overload protection (NEC Class 2 rating), to protect against a short cir-

cuit between its output terminals and the transceiver power connector.

4.5 Step 5—Review the Radio’s Configuration

There are two essential settings for iNet 900 transceivers that should be

known before placing the radio into service. They are:

Radio Operating Mode—Access Point or Station Adaptor

Network Name—Unique name of the radio network used to

generate the hopping pattern.

NOTE: Transceivers are normally shipped from the factory

pre-configured as remotes.

COM2

◆ DTE Serial Data Equip.

◆ 9600 bps/8N1

◆ Full Handshaking

◆ Connect Legacy Equip.

LAN

◆ 10BaseT

◆ IP/Ethernet Port

◆Connect IP Data Equip.

COM1

◆DCE Console/Terminal

◆ 115,200 bps/8N1

◆No Handshaking

PRIMARY POWER

◆ 13.8 Vdc @ 500 ma

(10.5–30 Vdc)

◆ Negative Ground

◆ +/Left –/Right

ANTENNA

◆ 50Ω TNC

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 17

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There are additional settings for iNet 900 transceivers that may need

changing before placing the radio into service. They are:

Unit IP Address—Must be a unique number to allow for IP

access through the Ethernet Port.

Transmitter Power Output Level—Default is 1 Watt. Adjust

as necessary for compliance with FCC guidelines.

NOTE: The IP address is important if the radio’s LAN (Ethernet) port

will be used for IP-based data communications or for unit

conﬁguration.

The following procedures are summaries only. For more detailed

instructions on using the menu-based COM1 and the HTTP/Bowser

interfaces, see See “PROGRAMMING” on page 21.

Procedure

With Terminal

Program a. Connect a personal computer’s serial communications port

(COM1 or COM2) to the COM1 Port connector on the radio

transceiver. (See Figure 9 on page 16 for location. Data defaults:

115,200 kpbs/8N1.)

b. Launch a terminal emulator program, such as Hyperterminal, on

the computer.

c. Depress the ENTER key. The radio will respond with the start-up

screen of a text-based Management Toolbox.

d. Select the desired options to review existing settings and to ini-

tiate necessary changes such as the IP address and other network

parameters.

A login with password will be required to make any changes to

the radio. (Default password= admin)

e. Record the unit Mode, IP Address and Network Name settings

on a label and place it on the transceiver’s cover

f. Exit the set-up tool.

g. Repeat the above steps for each transceiver in the network.

With HTTP Browser a. Connect a personal computer’s Ethernet port to the EHTERNET

Port connector on the radio transceiver. (See Figure 9 on page 16

for location.)

18 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

NOTE: It may be necessary to change your IP access to the local area

network on which the MDS iNet 900 radio is attached. The

radio’s IP address should be listed on the unit’s packaging slip.

If it is not, you can find it out using the preceding procedure to

communicate with the radio through the COM1 Port.

a. Launch a Web-browser (HTTP) program, such as Internet

Explorer™, on the computer.

b. Type in “HTTP://” followed by the radio’s IP address. For exam-

ple “http://192.168.1.1/”. 1Z? (Default = 192.168.1.1)

c. The Management Toolbox startup screen will appear.

d. Select the desired options to review existing settings and to ini-

tiate necessary changes such as the IP address and other network

parameters.

A login with password will be required to make any changes to

the radio. (Default password= admin)

e. Record the unit Mode, IP Address and Network Name settings

on a label and place it on the transceiver’s cover.

f. Exit the Management Toolbox.

g. Repeat the above steps for each transceiver in the network.

4.6 Step 6—Connect the User Data Equipment

If the radio network seems to be operating properly based on observa-

tion of the unit’s LEDs, connect the user equipment to one of the data

ports. Use the IP PING command to verify the link integrity with the

Access Point unit.

4.7 Step 7—Check for Normal Operation

Procedure

a. Apply primary power to the radio.

1. The address 127.0.0.1 has also been suggested as the default. Which is cor-

rect?

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 19

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b. Observe the transceiver LED status panel (Table 2 on page 7) for

the proper indications. In a normally operating system, the fol-

lowing LED indications will be seen within a few seconds of

start-up:

•PWR lamp lit continuously

•LINK lamp blink intermittently

If the LINK LED is not on, check the received signal strength indi-

cator for an adequate signal level from the radio network’s Access

Point station. It may be necessary to reposition the radio’s antenna

for better reception/signal strength, or if a directional antenna is

used, rotate it until the signal is optimized.

In-service operation of the MDS iNet 900 transceiver is completely

automatic. Once the unit has been properly installed and conﬁg-

ured, operator actions are limited to observing the LED status indi-

cators for proper operation. See Table 2 on page 7 for details on the

LED functions.

4.8 Performance Optimization

After the basic operation of the radio has been checked, you may wish

to optimize its performance using some of the suggestions given here.

The effectiveness of these techniques will vary with the design of your

system and the format of the data being sent.

Complete instructions on using the unit’s configuration options refer-

enced within this section are can be found in Section 6.0, PROGRAM-

MING (beginning on page 21).

Antenna Aiming

For optimum performance of directional antennas, they must be accu-

rately aimed in the direction of desired transmission. The easiest way to

do this is to point the antenna in the approximate direction, then use the

remote radio’s built-in Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) fea-

ture to further refine the heading for maximum received signal strength.

RSSI can be read by connecting a terminal (COM1 Port) or Internet

browser (LAN Port) to the iNet 900 radio and requesting the RSSI reports.

In an iNet 900 system, RSSI readings are only meaningful when initi-

ated from a Station Adaptor. This is because the Access Point station

typically receives signals from several remote sites, and the RSSI would

be continually changing as the Access Point receives from each remote

in turn.

20 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Antenna SWR Check (Z? Major revision needed?)

It is necessary to briefly key the transmitter1Z? for this check by placing

the radio in the SETUP mode (page 42) and using the KEY command on

the HHT. (To unkey the radio, enter DKEY; to disable the setup mode and

return the radio to normal operation, enter Q or QUIT.)

The SWR of the antenna system should be checked before the radio is

put into regular service. For accurate readings, a wattmeter suited for

1000 MHz is required. One unit meeting this criteria is the Bird Model

43™ directional wattmeter with an 5J element installed.

The reflected power should be less than 10% of the forward power (≈2:1

SWR). Higher readings usually indicate problems with the antenna,

feedline or coaxial connectors.

If the reflected power is more than 10%, check the feedline, antenna and

its connectors for damage.

5.0 TRADITIONAL REPEATER

CONFIGURATION WITH TWO

RADIOS

5.1 Overview

Two MDS iNet 900 radios may be connected “back-to-back” through

the LAN Ports to form a repeater station. (The cable must be a

“cross-over” Ethernet cable for this to work). This configuration is

sometimes required in a network that includes a distant Station Adaptor

that would otherwise be unable to communicate directly with the Access

Point station due to distance or terrain.

A repeater works by re-transmitting data from the outlying remote site

to the Access Point station and vice versa. It introduces a small amount

of end-to-end transmission delay, but this is not a problem in most sys-

tems.

The geographic location of a repeater station is especially important. A

site must be chosen that allows good communication with both the

Access Point and the outlying remote site. This is often on top of a hill,

or other elevated terrain from which both sites can be “seen” by the

repeater station antennas. A detailed discussion on the effects of terrain

is given in Section 3.2, Site Selection (beginning on page 6).

The following paragraphs contain specific requirements for repeater

systems.

1. Is it true that we still need to key the transmitter to use the RSSI function to

aim the antenna?

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 21

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5.2 Antennas

Two antennas are required at repeater stations—one for each radio.

Measures must be taken to minimize the chance of interference between

these antennas. One effective technique for limiting interference is to

employ vertical separation. In this arrangement, one antenna is

mounted directly over the other, separated by at least 10 feet (3 Meters).

This takes advantage of the minimal radiation exhibited by most

antennas directly above and below their driven elements.

Another interference reduction technique is to cross-polarize the

repeater antennas. If one antenna is mounted in the vertical plane, and

the other in the horizontal plane, an additional 20 dB of attenuation can

be achieved. (Remember that the corresponding stations must use the

same antenna orientation when cross-polarization is used.)

5.3 Network Name

The two radios that are wired together at the repeater site must have dif-

ferent network names. To set or view the network names, see “PRO-

GRAMMING” on page 21 and Table 5 on page 26 for details.

5.4 Interface Wiring

A null-modem cable (Figure 11) is required between the COM1 port con-

nectors of the two radios forming a repeater station. This allows them to

freely exchange data even though they are both configured as DCE

devices.

Invisible place holder

Figure 11. Data interface cable wiring for null-modem cable

(used for traditional repeater)

6.0 PROGRAMMING

There are no manual adjustments on the transceiver. Programming and

control is performed remotely, using one of these methods:

• HTTP (Browser) via the iNet 900’s ETHERNET Port

DB-25 DB-25

Spread Spectrum

Master

(DCE)

Spread Spectrum

Remote

(DCE)

TXD

RXD

GND

RXD

TXD

GND

Z? REVISON NEED TO DB-9 CONNECTORS

22 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

• Telenet via the iNet 900’s ETHERNET Port (To Be Developed)

• ASCII Terminal or emulator via the COM1 Port

This section needs further development. The only items that com-

monly need changes are the unit’s network name, IP address, power

level and system mode—Access Point or Station Adapter.

6.1 Programming Via an HTTP/Web Browser

A wide range of configuration, control and diagnostic tools are available

through a Web browser communicating with the radio via the Internet

Protocol (IP). The following is a brief overview of the HTTP interface

and several key configuration parameters since detailed help is available

on-line.

Making the Connection

Connect a personal computer’s Ethernet port to the EHTERNET Port con-

nector on the radio transceiver. (See Figure 9 on page 16 for location.)

NOTE: It may be necessary to change your IP access to the local area

network on which the MDS iNet 900 radio is attached. The

radio’s IP address should be listed on the unit’s packaging slip.

If it is not, you can find it out using the preceding procedure to

communicate with the radio through the COM1 Port.

Start-up Screen

Invisible place holder

Figure 12. MDS iNet Web Management System Start-up Screen

The startup screen is the gateway to many radio performance monitoring

and configuration functions. Interact with it as you would any Web site.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 23

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System Configuration Screen Invisible place holder

Figure 13. System Configuration Screen

(Items discussed are outlined with red and blue.)

System Mode This screen is the location where you will check and set, if necessary,

the “System Mode”. If the unit will serve as the Access Point station and

Access Point (gateway) into the IP network, click on Access Point. There

should only be one radio in each iNet network set to Access Point. All

other radios in the system should be set to Station.

Data Interface Here too is the location for choosing the primary data port for the radio.

By default, it is the ETHERNET Port. If you are connecting lower speed,

RS/EIA-232 devices, click on the Serial Port button, and then the Submit

button to implement the change.

Radio/Modem Screen 1Z? Invisible place holder

Figure 14. Radio/Modem Menu Items

(Item discussed are outlined with red.)

1. This direction is a guess as the setting controls are not active on my prototype.

24 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

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RF Power Output This screen is the location where you will check and set, if necessary,

the radio’s RF power output. The default is one Watt. If you need to

lower the power, click on the RF Output Setpoint menu item, type in the

desired power level in dBm on the right-hand portion of the screen and

then click the Submit button to implement the change.

See Table 5, “. Common Transceiver Parameters,” on page 26 for a list

of common configuration parameters and their defaults.

6.2 Programming Via COM1 Port & a Terminal

Program

A serial-interface based Management Toolbox is available for local con-

figuration of the MDS iNet 900 transceiver.

Making the Connection

Connect a personal computer’s communication port to the transceiver’s

COM1 Port connector on the radio transceiver. (See Figure 9 on page 16

for location.) The default interface is EIA-232 at 115,200 bps with 8N1.

Initializing the Connection

On you Windows’ PC, launch a terminal program, such as MS Win-

dows’ Hyperterminal™, and select the serial port connected to the

COM1 Port of the transceiver. The default interface is EIA-232 at

115,200 bps with 8N1.

Communicating with the iNet transceiver

The transceiver’s port will automatically display the text-based Man-

agement Toolbox start-up screen as seen in Figure 15 on page 25 one the

ENTER key is pressed.

NOTE: If the terminal program is running and your computer

connected to the transceiver, you may see a series of pages of

text information relating to the booting of the unit’s microcom-

puter. Disregard this information and wait a few seconds for

the display to stabilize before proceeding.

Using the Menu-Based Management Toolbox

The menu-based Management Toolbox provides access to view and

configure many unit parameters and provides you with basic diagnostic

tools.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 25

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Invisible place holder

Figure 15. Management Toolbox Start-up Screen

Navigation From the Main Menu you navigate by pressing the key to the left of the

offering. You will then be taken to a screen associated with that func-

tion. If you select a menu item that is not user-configurable, the message

“Note: This is not a configurable item.” Pressing the ESCAPE

key will navigate you to the previous menu or level.

Help Pressing F1 from any menu will place the Management Toolbox in the

Help mode; pressing the key corresponding to the menu item will pro-

vide you with useful information or instructions. Pressing the ESCAPE

key will exit the Help Mode and return you to the previous screen.

Logging In and

Password All screens are accessible to any user. To change a user-controllable

parameter, you must log into the system and enter a password. The

default user password is “admin” in lowercase letters. The main menu

item will change from Login to Logout. The user will automatically be

logged out after 10 minutes of inactivity.1Z?

If you know that you want in advance to change one or more parameter,

you should log in from the Main Menu.

Logging Out Once you are logged in, you can go to the System Conﬁguration Menu and

change the password (case-sensitive). Follow any changes to the pass-

word or other parameters with an ENTER key to save the change.

1. This is a guess. Please verify value and function

26 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

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Review and Changing Essential Parameters

Through the Main Menu you can access other screen to review and change

several commonly altered parameters. The table below will provide you

with a summary of the location and parameter’s range of values.

7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING

Successful troubleshooting of an MDS transceiver system is not diffi-

cult, but requires a logical approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting

at the Access Point station, as the rest of the system depends on the

Access Point for polling instructions and synchronization data. If the

Access Point station has problems, the operation of the entire network

will be affected.

When communication problems are found, it is good practice to begin

by checking the simple things. All radios in the network must meet these

basic requirements:

• Adequate and stable primary power

• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system

• Secure connections (RF, data & power)

• Proper programming of the radio’s operating parameters, espe-

cially Mode selection (Access Point/Remote) and IP Network

Address

• The correct interface between the radio and the connected data

equipment (proper cable wiring, data format and timing).

Table 5. Common Transceiver Parameters1

Item Screen Values Default

System Mode System

Configuration Station Adapter

Access Point

Station Adapter

System Password System

Configuration 1–8 alphanumeric

characters. May be mixed

case.

CAUTION: Login is case

sensitive.

admin

(lower case)

Data Interface System

Configuration • Ethernet

• EIA/RS-232

Ethernet

Network Name Wireless

Network

Configuration

1–16 alphanumeric

characters. May be mixed

case.

mds-wlan

(lower case)

IP Address Network

Configuration

Contact your network

administrator 192.168.1.12Z?

Power Output Radio/Mode

m20–30 dBm

(0.1–1.0 Watts) 30 dBm

(1.0 Watt)

1. All parameters are protected by password. You must be logged in to make

any changes.

2. I was told 127.0.0.1 by Aaron Wright. Which is correct?

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 27

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7.1 LED Indicators

The LED status indicators are an important troubleshooting tool and

should be checked whenever a problem is suspected. Table 2 on page 7

describes the function of each status LED.

7.2 Troubleshooting Chart

Table 6 provides suggestions for resolving system difficulties that may

be experienced in the radio system. If problems persist, contact the fac-

tory for further assistance. Refer to the inside back cover of this guide

for contact information.

Table 6. Troubleshooting Techniques

Difficulty Recommended System Checks

Unit is

inoperative. a. Check for the proper supply voltage at the power

connector.

b. The transceiver’s internal resettable fuse may have tripped.

To reset it, momentarily remove and re-apply power to the

radio.

Interference is

suspected. a. Verify that the system has a unique network name. Nearby

systems with the same network name will cause

interference.

b. If omnidirectional antennas are used on Station Adaptors,

consider changing to directional antennas. This will often

limit interference to and from other stations.

No synchronization

with Access Point,

or poor overall

performance.

a. Check for secure interface connections at the radio and the

connected device.

b. Check the antenna, feedline and connectors. Reflected

power should be less than 10% of the forward power

reading (SWR ≈2:1 or lower).

28 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

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8.0 REPEATER ASSITED LANS

Repeater Systems

A repeater works by re-transmitting data from the outlying remote site

to the Access Point station and vice-versa. It introduces a small amount

of end-to-end transmission delay, but this is not a problem in most sys-

tems.

The geographic location of a repeater station is especially important. A

site must be chosen that allows good communication with both the

Access Point and the outlying remote site. This is often on top of a hill,

or other elevated terrain from which both sites can be “seen” by the

repeater station antennas. A detailed discussion on the effects of terrain

is given in Section 3.2, Site Selection (beginning on page 6).

The following paragraphs contain specific requirements for repeater

systems.

Option 1—Traditional with two-radio repeater 1Z?

Although the range between iNet LANS is up to 50 miles over average

terrain, it is possible to extend the range considerably by connecting two

units together at one site in a “back-to-back” fashion to form a repeater,

as shown in Figure 16.

Invisible place holder

Figure 16. Typical LAN with dual-transceiver repeater

For more detailed information on this configuration, see “TRADI-

TIONAL REPEATER CONFIGURATION WITH TWO RADIOS” on

page 20

1. What are the advantages and/or limitations of each of these two repeater con-

figurations?

iNet S.A.

iNet A.P. iNet S.A.

iNet S.A.

RTU

HOST

COMPUTER

RTU

REPEATER

LINK

Cross-Over

Cable

POINT-TO-POINT LINK

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 29

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Option 2—With Store-and-Forward Station

A LAN can be extended through the use of an alternate arrangement (see

Figure 17). This second arrangement overcomes the limitations of ter-

rain by using a single-unit repeater to re-transmit the signals of all sta-

tions in the network. The repeater is a standard MDS iNet 900 radio

configured as an Access Point with data store-and-foreword.

Invisible place holder

Figure 17. Typical network with store-and-forward repeater

iNet A.P.

iNet S.A.

RTU

HOST

COMPUTER

RTU

STORE-AND-FORWARD

30 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

9.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE

The following section contains material that is not essential to using the

radio, but may prove helpful in diagnosing performance problems or in

gaining a better understanding of the unit’s operation.

9.1 Technical Specifications

GENERAL

Temperature Range: –30°C to +70°C (–22° F to 158° F)

Humidity: 95% at +40°C (104° F); non-condensing

Primary Power: 10.5–30 Vdc(13.8 Vdc Nominal)

External Power Supply Options: 48 Vdc; 110–120/210–220 Vac

Supply Current (typical): (@ 1 Watt RF Output)

Transmit: 500 mA @ 13.8 Vdc

Receive: < 125 mA @ 13.8 Vdc

Doze Mode: < 30 mA @ 13.8 Vdc

Size (Excluding mtg. hardware): 1.5" x 6" x 4" (H x W x D)

3.8 x 15.2 x 10.2 cm

Mounting w/Optional Hardware: • Flat surface mounting brackets

• DIN rail

• 19” rack (1U high)

Weight: 0.9 kg / 2 lb

Case: Cast Aluminum

Shock and Vibration: MIL STD 202F, 810E, 202D

APPROVALS/HOMOLOGATION (PLANNED)

• FCC Part 15.247

• Industry Canada RSS-210 and RSS-139

• UL/FM Class 1, Div. 2; Groups A, B, C and D

hazardous locations

• UL Listed

• CE Mark

• Contact MDS for information on availability and

governmental approvals in other countries

UNIT & NETWORK MANAGEMENT

• HTTP (Embedded Web server)

• SNMPv1, MIB II, Enterprise MIB

• Text-based menu on COM1 serial port

• Telnet

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 31

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

DATA CHARACTERISTICS

PORTS:

Ethernet:

Interface Connectors: RJ-45 Standard

Data Rate: 10-BaseT

Serial (2):

Signaling Standard: EIA-232/V.24

Interface Connectors: DB-9 female

Interface: COM1: DCE / COM2: DTE/DCE

Data Rate: 1200–115,200 bps

asynchronous

Data Latency: <10 ms typical

Byte Length: 10 or 11 bits

OPERATING MODES: • Configurable as Access Point or Station LAN

Adapter

• CSMA/CA Wireless Protocol with Collision Avoid-

ance (802.11)

PROTOCOLS: • IEEE 802.11 CSMA/CD

• IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet)

• IP/Ethernet (ICMP, UDP, TCP, ARP)

• Mobile IP

• Clear-channel mode for serial async multidrop

protocols including: Modbus, DNP.3, ISO Asyn-

ch1Z?, Bisync, BASP, Poll Select.

PHYSICAL INTERFACE:

Ethernet: 10BaseT, RJ-45

Serial: • EIA/RS-232/V.24, DB-9F, DCE

• EIA/RS-232/V.24/DB-9M, DTE/DCE

RADIO CHARACTERISTICS

GENERAL:

Frequency Range: 902–928 MHz ISM Band

Frequency Hopping Range: Up to 1019 frequencies within

user-configurable 3.2 MHz zones

Hop Pattern: Based on network name

Frequency Stability: 40 ppm

Simplex Operation: User selectable

TRANSMITTER:

Power Output

(at antenna connector): 0.1 to 1.0 watt (+20 dBm to +30 dBm) ±1.0 dB,

set by user

Duty Cycle: Continuous

1. Is this spelling correct or should it be Async?

32 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Modulation Type: Binary CPFSK

Output Impedance: 50 Ohms

Spurious: –60 dBc

Harmonics: –80 dBc

Occupied Bandwidth: 312.5 kHz

RECEIVER:

Type: Double conversion superheterodyne

Sensitivity: –90 dBm @ 512 kbps < 1x10-6 BER

–100 dBm @ 256 kbps < 1x10-6 BER

Intermodulation: 59 dB minimum (EIA)

Desensitization: 75 dB

Spurious: 70 dB minimum

Interference Ratio

(BER degraded by 10-1): Co-channel:–10 dB

Adjacent channel:+30 dB

Two channels away:+50 dB

Three channels away:+60 dB

Time Required to Synchronize

with Access Point Radio: Less than 13 seconds (typical)

9.2 Data Interface Connectors—

LAN, COM1 & DATA Ports

Three data interface connectors are provided on the face of the trans-

ceiver. The first, the LAN Port, is an RJ-45 connector. The balance are

two DB-9 interface connectors which use the RS-232 (EIA-232) sig-

naling standard. Note that the connector for COM1 Port is DCE (Female

DB-9) and the COM2 Port is DTE (male DB-9).

The iNet 900 transceiver meets U.S.A.’s FCC Part 15, Class A limits

when used with shielded data cables.

LAN (Local Area Network) Port—RJ-45 Ethernet Interface

The LAN Port is used to connect the radio to an Ethernet network. The

iNet transceiver will provide a data link to an Internet Protocol-based

(IP) data network through the radio network’s Access Point station.

Each radio transceiver in the network must have a unique IP address for

the network to function properly. The LAN port only supports the

Internet Protocol (IP).

CAUTION

RADIO FREQUENCY

INTERFERENCE

POTENTIAL

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 33

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

The connector uses the standard Ethernet RJ-45 cables and wiring.

Figure 18. LAN Port (RJ-11) Pinout

(Viewed from the outside of the radio.)

COM1 Port

Figure 19. COM1 Port

(Viewed from the outside of the radio.

Table 9-7. LAN Port (IP/Ethernet)

Pin Functions Ref.

1 Transmit Data (TX) High

2 Transmit Data (TX) Low

3 Receive Data (RX) High

4 Unused

5 Unused

6 Receive Data (RX) Low

7 Unused

8 Unused

Table 8. COM1 Port Pinout

Pin Functions DCE

1 Unused

2 Receive Data (RXD) <—[ Out

3 Transmit Data (TXD) —>[ In

4 Unused

5 Signal Ground (GND)

6 Unused

7 Unused

8 Unused

9 Unused

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

34 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

COM2 Port

Figure 20. COM2 Port

Viewed from the outside of the radio

9.3 Table-Top Test Setup

It may be convenient to set up table-top network that can be used to

verify the basic operation of the MDS iNet 900 transceivers and give

you a chance to experiment with network designs, configurations or net-

work equipment in a convenient location. This test can be performed

with any number of MDS iNet 900 radios.

To simulate data traffic over the radio network, connect a PC or LAN to

the Ethernet port of each radio. One of the MDS iNet 900 transceivers

in this mini-network must be set to the Access Point Mode for proper

operation.

NOTE: It is very important to use a “Network Name” that is different

from ones currently in use in your area during the testing

period. This will eliminate unnecessary traffic on the existing

network while you become familiar with the MDS iNet 900

transceivers or evaluate variations of unit operating parame-

ters.

Use any convenient antenna that can be connected to the transceiver’s

TNC connector. You may purchase a flexible one-quarter wavelength

antennas from Microwave Data Systems. (P/N xx-xxxxAxx)

Table 9. COM2 Port (DTE/DCE1)

(DB-9/RS-232 Interface, Output: Out ]–>, Input: In [<– )

Pin Functions DTE

1 Data Carrier Detect (DCD) In ]<—

2 Receive Data (RXD) In ]<—

3 Transmit Data (TXD) Out ]—>

4 Data Terminal Ready (DTR) Out ]—>

5 Signal Ground (GND)

6 Data Set Ready (DSR) In ]<—

7 Request-to-Send (RTS) Out ]—>

8 Clear-to-Send (CTS) In ]<—

9Unused

1. Default = DTE; User conﬁgurable to DCE

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 35

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

9.4 Using a Personal Computer to Configure the

iNet Radio

Any personal computer with either a serial port and terminal emulator

program if an Ethernet port can be used to access the iNet’s test and con-

figuration tool set. Once connected, the user will be provided with

on-line user instructions for each resource.

Connecting a PC to iNet’s LAN (Ethernet) Port

To connect a PC to the radio’s LAN port, an RJ-45 to RJ-45 cross-over

cable (MDS P/N 05-______A___) is required. If desired, this cable may

be purchased from a computer retail store or mail-order company.

Connecting a PC to iNet’s COM1 Port

To connect a PC to the radio’s COM1 port use a DB-9M to DB-9F

cross-over cable (MDS P/N 05-______A___). This cable may also be

purchased from a computer retail store or mail-order company.

36 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

10.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

If you are new to spread spectrum radio, some of the terms used in this

guide may be unfamiliar. The following glossary explains many of these

terms and will prove helpful in understanding the operation of the trans-

ceiver.

Antenna System Gain—A figure, normally expressed in dB, repre-

senting the power increase resulting from the use of a gain-type antenna.

System losses (from the feedline and coaxial connectors, for example)

are subtracted from this figure to calculate the total antenna system gain.

Bit—The smallest unit of digital data, often represented by a one or a

zero. Eight bits (plus start, stop, and parity bits) usually comprise a byte.

Bits-per-second—See BPS.

BPS—Bits-per-second. A measure of the information transfer rate of

digital data across a communication channel.

Byte—A string of digital data usually made up of eight data bits and

start, stop and parity bits.

Decibel (dB)—A measure of the ratio between two signal levels. Fre-

quently 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.

DTE—Data Terminal Equipment. A device that provides data in the

form of digital signals at its output. Connects to the DCE device.

Equalization—The process of reducing the effects of amplitude, fre-

quency or phase distortion with compensating networks.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 37

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Fade Margin—The greatest tolerable reduction in average received

signal strength that will be anticipated under most conditions. Provides

an allowance for reduced signal strength due to multipath, slight antenna

movement or changing atmospheric losses. A fade margin of 20 to 30

dB is usually sufficient in most systems.

Frame—A segment of data that adheres to a specific data protocol and

contains definite start and end points. It provides a method of synchro-

nizing transmissions.

Frequency Hopping—The spread spectrum technique used by the

MDS iNet 900 transceivers, where two or more associated radios

change their operating frequencies several times per second using a set

pattern. Since the pattern appears to jump around, it is said to “hop”

from one frequency to another.

Frequency Zone—The transceivers use up to 1,019 discrete channels

in the 902 to 928 MHz spectrum. A group of 128 channels is referred to

as a zone. The transceivers use eight frequency zones. (Five channels are

reserved for network control purposes.)

Hardware Flow Control—A transceiver feature used to prevent data

buffer overruns when handling high-speed data from the RTU or PLC.

When the buffer approaches overflow, the radio drops the clear-to-send

(CTS) line, which instructs the RTU or PLC to delay further transmis-

sion until CTS again returns to the high state.

Host Computer—The computer installed at the Access Point station

site, which controls the collection of data from one or more remote sites.

Latency—The delay (usually expressed in milliseconds) between when

data is applied to TXD (Pin 2) at one radio, until it appears at RXD

(Pin 3) at the other radio.

MAS—Multiple Address System. A radio system where a central

Access Point station communicates with several Station Adaptors for

the purpose of gathering telemetry data.

Access Point (Station)—The one radio transceiver in a spread spectrum

network that automatically provides synchronization information to one

or more associated remote transceivers. A radio may be programmed for

either Access Point or remote mode using software commands. See Sec-

tion 6.0, PROGRAMMING (beginning on page 21).

MCU—Microcontroller Unit. This is the processor responsible for con-

trolling system start-up, synthesizer loading, hop timing, and key-up

control.

Microcontroller Unit—See MCU.

38 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

Mode—This refers to the programmed function of an MDS spread spec-

trum radio—Access Point or remote. (See also Station Adaptor and

Access Point Station.)

Multiple Address System (MAS)—See Point-Multipoint System.

Network Address—User-selectable number between 1 and 65000 that

is used to identify a group of transceivers that form a communications

network. The Access Point and all remotes within a given system must

have the same network address.1Z?

Network-Wide Diagnostics—An advanced method of controlling and

interrogating MDS radios in a radio network.

Point-Multipoint System—A radio communications network or

system designed with a central control station that exchanges data with

a number of remote locations equipped with terminal equipment.

Poll—A request for data issued from the host computer (or master PLC)

to a remote radio.

PLC—Programmable Logic Controller. A dedicated microprocessor

configured for a specific application with discrete inputs and outputs. It

can serve as a host or as an RTU.

Remote Radio—A radio in a spread spectrum network that communi-

cates with an associated Access Point station. A radio may be pro-

grammed for either Access Point or remote mode using software

commands. See Section 6.0, PROGRAMMING (beginning on page 21).

Remote Terminal Unit—See RTU.

RTU—Remote Terminal Unit. A data collection device installed at a

remote radio site.

SCADA—Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. An overall term

for the functions commonly provided through an MAS radio system.

Standing Wave Ratio—See SWR.

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).

Zone—See Frequency Zone.

1. Is this relevant to this product?

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS iNet 900 Installation and Operation Guide 39

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

10.1 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart

Table 10 is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent

voltage or wattage of an RF power expressed in dBm.

Table 10. dBm-Watts-Volts conversion—for 50 ohm systems

dBm V Po

+53 100.0 200W

+50 70.7 100W

+49 64.0 80W

+48 58.0 64W

+47 50.0 50W

+46 44.5 40W

+45 40.0 32W

+44 32.5 25W

+43 32.0 20W

+42 28.0 16W

+41 26.2 12.5W

+40 22.5 10W

+39 20.0 8W

+38 18.0 6.4W

+37 16.0 5W

+36 14.1 4W

+35 12.5 3.2W

+34 11.5 2.5W

+33 10.0 2W

+32 9.0 1.6W

+31 8.0 1.25W

+30 7.10 1.0W

+29 6.40 800mW

+28 5.80 640mW

+27 5.00 500mW

+26 4.45 400mW

+25 4.00 320mW

+24 3.55 250mW

+23 3.20 200mW

+22 2.80 160mW

+21 2.52 125mW

+20 2.25 100mW

+19 2.00 80mW

+18 1.80 64mW

+17 1.60 50mW

+16 1.41 40mW

+15 1.25 32mW

+14 1.15 25mW

+13 1.00 20mW

+12 .90 16mW

+11 .80 12.5mW

+10 .71 10mW

+9 .64 8mW

+8 .58 6.4mW

+7 .500 5mW

+6 .445 4mW

+5 .400 3.2mW

+4 .355 2.5mW

+3 .320 2.0mW

+2 .280 1.6mW

+1 .252 1.25mW

dBm V Po

0 .225 1.0mW

-1 .200 .80mW

-2 .180 .64mW

-3 .160 .50mW

-4 .141 .40mW

-5 .125 .32mW

-6 .115 .25mW

-7 .100 .20mW

-8 .090 .16mW

-9 .080 .125mW

-10 .071 .10mW

-11 .064

-12 .058

-13 .050

-14 .045

-15 .040

-16 .0355

dBm mV Po

-17 31.5

-18 28.5

-19 25.1

-20 22.5 .01mW

-21 20.0

-22 17.9

-23 15.9

-24 14.1

-25 12.8

-26 11.5

-27 10.0

-28 8.9

-29 8.0

-30 7.1 .001mW

-31 6.25

-32 5.8

-33 5.0

-34 4.5

-35 4.0

-36 3.5

-37 3.2

-38 2.85

-39 2.5

-40 2.25 .1µW

-41 2.0

-42 1.8

-43 1.6

-44 1.4

-45 1.25

-46 1.18

-47 1.00

-48 0.90

dBm mV Po

-49 0.80

-50 0.71 .01µW

-51 0.64

-52 0.57

-53 0.50

-54 0.45

-55 0.40

-56 0.351

-57 0.32

-58 0.286

-59 0.251

-60 0.225 .001µW

-61 0.200

-62 0.180

-63 0.160

-64 0.141

dBm µV Po

-65 128

-66 115

-67 100

-68 90

-69 80

-70 71 .1nW

-71 65

-72 58

-73 50

-74 45

-75 40

-76 35

-77 32

-78 29

-79 25

-80 22.5 .01nW

-81 20.0

-82 18.0

-83 16.0

-84 11.1

-85 12.9

-86 11.5

-87 10.0

-88 9.0

-89 8.0

-90 7.1 .001nW

-91 6.1

-92 5.75

-93 5.0

-94 4.5

-95 4.0

-96 3.51

-97 3.2

dBm µV Po

-98 2.9

-99 2.51

-100 2.25 .1pW

-101 2.0

-102 1.8

-103 1.6

-104 1.41

-105 1.27

-106 1.18

dBm nV Po

-107 1000

-108 900

-109 800

-110 710 .01pW

-111 640

-112 580

-113 500

-114 450

-115 400

-116 355

-117 325

-118 285

-119 251

-120 225 .001pW

-121 200

-122 180

-123 160

-124 141

-125 128

-126 117

-127 100

-128 90

-129 80 .1ƒW

-130 71

-131 61

-132 58

-133 50

-134 45

-135 40

-136 35

-137 33

-138 29

-139 25

-140 23 .01ƒW

40 MDS iNet 900 Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

NOTES

IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...

MDS 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 informa-

tion will assist you in the event that servicing becomes necessary.

FACTORY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Technical assistance for MDS products is available from our Customer Support Team during busi-

ness hours (8:00 A.M.–5:30 P.M. Eastern Time). When calling, please give the complete model

number of the radio, along with a description of the trouble symptom(s) that you are experiencing.

In many cases, problems can be resolved over the telephone, without the need for returning the unit

to the factory.

Please use the following telephone numbers for product assistance:

716-241-5510 (Phone)

716-242-8369 (FAX)

FACTORY REPAIRS

Component-level repair of radio 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 radio to its proper operating

specifications.

If return of the equipment is necessary, you will be issued a Returned Material Authorization

(RMA) number. The RMA number will help expedite the repair so that the equipment can be

repaired and returned to you as quickly as possible. Please be sure to include the RMA 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 RMA number.

A statement should accompany the radio describing, in detail, the trouble symptom(s), and a

description of any associated equipment normally connected to the radio. It is also important to

include the name and telephone number of a person in your organization who can be contacted if

additional information is required.

The radio must be properly packed for return to the factory. The original shipping container and

packaging materials should be used whenever possible. All factory returns should be addressed to:

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 arrange-

ments.

Microwave Data Systems Inc.

Customer Service Department

(RMA No. XXXX)

175 Science Parkway

Rochester, NY 14620 USA

175 Science Parkway, Rochester, New York 14620

General Business: +1 (716) 242-9600

FAX: +1 (716) 242-9620

Web: www.microwavedata.com

GE MDS INET900 MDS iNet 900 User Manual 2873F iNet Body

GE MDS LLC MDS iNet 900 2873F iNet Body

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