Itron 922 Field Service Unit [Transceiver] User Manual

Silver Spring Networks Field Service Unit [Transceiver]

User Manual

FIELD SERVICE UNIT USER’S MANUAL1.0 GENERALThe Field Service Unit (FSU) is a 900MHz, spread spectrum transceiver used to communicate withIndependent Metering Unit (IMU) radios which are mounted on gas, water or electric utility meters.Service personnel use the FSU to communicate configuration settings to an IMU and to read an IMU’sstatus (e.g. meter count, alarms settings and number of transmissions sent). An external computercontrols the FSU via an RS-232 (DB-9) interface and 9Vdc power is supplied from a separate walltransformer.The external computer runs the proprietary Network Communication Test Tool (NCTT) softwarewhich controls the FSU. NCTT has a pull-down menu listing the available commands that can be sentto the FSU. When a command is selected, NCTT displays a window with blank fields prompting theuser to enter the appropriate parameters. Once the parameters are entered, the user selects the Transmitsoft button to command the FSU.2.0 HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONConfigure the FSU as follows:1. Connect the “rubber duck” antenna (provided) to the TNC connector in the rear of the FSU.2. Plug the power supply into 110VAC and insert the small connector into the DC receptacle inthe rear of the FSU.The green Power LED should be illuminated. The yellow Transmit and green Receive LEDsshould be flashing.3. Connect a DB-9 cable from the FSU to the computer’s serial communications port (RS-232).4. Launch NCTT. The Transmit and Receive LEDs should stop flashing.3.0 NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS TEST TOOL –GETTING STARTEDWhen NCTT is launched, the Incoming Data window will display a message indicating the FSU iscommunicating with NCTT. This indicates that the FSU is properly configured.To send commands to a particular IMU or to read the status of an IMU the target IMU’s serial numbermust be entered into NCTT. This can be done two ways. If the serial number is known, enter it intothe SN filed in the Outgoing Data window. If the serial number is not known beforehand –forinstance, if an IMU’s serial number is not visible- an IMU can be queried for its serial number. NCTTautomatically enters the serial number when an IMU responds to the query.
To query an IMU for its serial number:1. In the Device window, select the appropriate IMU type.2. In the Message Type pull-down menu, select Query Serial Numbers. See figure 1.3. In the Transmit window, select Wakeup/IMU and the appropriate channel number.4. In the Transmit window, select Transmit to broadcast a request for a listening IMU’s serialnumber. It may be necessary to select Transmit a second time in the event an interfering radiosignal was present.NOTE: Any IMU of the same device type and on the same channel as the target IMU can reply tothe request. To ensure the serial number of only the target IMU is returned, other IMU’s ofthe same device type as the target should be set to a channel different from the target’s.5. The IMU’s serial number will appear in the Incoming Data window. Now, any commandsfrom NCTT will be directed specifically to the traget IMU even if other IMUs are on the samechannel.Figure 1. NCTT Query Serial Numbers Screen.
To command an IMU:1. In the Message Type window select a command from the pull-down menu. See figure 2.2. Enter the appropriate information in the Outgoing Data window. Notice that the target IMU’sserial number is displayed at the top of the window. If this serial number is not correct, thecommand will go to the wrong IMU. Re-select the desired IMU.3. In the Transmit window, select Transmit.4. In the Incoming Data window, an acknowledgement that the command was executed will bedisplayed. If an acknowledgement is not displayed, the IMU may not have received thecommand. Re-send the command by selecting Transmit again.Figure 2. Example of an NCTT Command Screen.

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