Meteorcomm 54506001-01 Meteor Burst Packet Data Radio For Fixed and Mobil User Manual Instruction User and Operations Manual Exhibit 8

Meteorcomm LLC Meteor Burst Packet Data Radio For Fixed and Mobil Instruction User and Operations Manual Exhibit 8

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Instruction User and Operations Manual Exhibit 8

EXHIBIT VIIIOPERATION AND MAINTENANCEOF THEMCC-545BPACKET DATA RADIO

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCEOF THEMCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIOMAN-OM-545BDecember 2000Meteor Communications Corporation8631 So.212th St..Kent, WA 98031Tel: (253) 872-2521Fax: (253) 872-7662E-mail: mcc@meteorcomm.com2000 by Meteor Communications Corporationall rights reserved

This page MUST be inserted for any copy of this manual going to the United Kingdom.WARNING WARNING WARNINGCertain power transistors used in this equipment and their associated heatsink components aremanufactured partly or wholly from a beryllium compound. Normally these can be handledwithout risk of toxicity, but there is a toxic hazard if dust or finely-divided particles of thematerial are inhaled or enter the body through a cut. Consequently, great care must be taken, andhands must be washed after handling.Any cuts or abrasions on the hands must be covered by dressings while such components arebeing handled. If beryllium dust does enter the skin through a cut or abrasion, the affected partmust be washed thoroughly and treated by a doctor.Components containing beryllium may only be machined, cut, abraded, or heated above 400 Cunder strictly controlled conditions approved by the appropriate Safety Authority.Disposal of BerylliumDisposal of faulty components must be carried out according to special arrangements. Should acomponent containing Beryllium be broken, its parts and particles must be gathered carefullyusing a moistened tissue (preferably while wearing plastic or rubber gloves), placed in a plasticbag together with any contaminated materials, sealed, labeled, and disposed of in a mannerapproved of by the Safety Authority.Beryllium Components in MCC-545B RF Power ComponentsRF power components in the modules listed below incorporate some Beryllium within thetransistor package and must be handled as specified in the above warning notice.TRANSISTOR CIRCUIT MODULE MANUFACTURER REFERENCE545B 100W Transmitter (54505302-01) Advanced Semi CorpMotorola Q1,Q4Q2

GENERAL WARRANTYMeteor Communications Corporation (MCC) warrants that its products conform to thepublished specifications and are free from manufacturing and material defects for one year aftershipment. Warranty-covered equipment that fails during the warranty period will be promptlyrepaired at MCC’s facility in Kent, Washington.International customers shall pay shipping costs to the MCC facility, with Seattle as the point ofU.S. entry. MCC shall pay incoming U.S. duty fees. MCC shall pay for shipping costs to returnthe equipment to the customer, with the customer paying any and all return duty fees.This warranty is contingent upon proper use of the equipment and does not cover equipment thathas been modified in any way without MCC’s approval or has been subjected to unusualphysical or electrical stress, or on which the original identification marks have been removed oraltered.

REVISION PAGEDocument Title MCC-545B INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS ManualDocument Number:Revision # Date RevisionRedline 11/10/2000 Redline Release12/11/2000 Initial ReleaseABCDEFGHI

TABLE OF CONTENTSTitle Page1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1-11.1 Presentation...................................................................................................... 1-11.2 Support Documents.......................................................................................... 1-21.3 Conventions...................................................................................................... 1-22.0 DESCRIPTION....................................................................................................... 2-12.1 General Description............................................................................................. 2-12.2 Send and Receive Messages................................................................................ 2-12.3 Data Logging....................................................................................................... 2-12.4 Position Location................................................................................................. 2-22.5 Maintenance Features.......................................................................................... 2-32.6 Hardware Organization and Layout.................................................................... 2-32.6.1 MCC-545B Transceiver Assembly......................................................... 2-42.6.2 MCC-545B Power Amplifier.................................................................. 2-72.6.3 MCC-545B Microprocessor.................................................................... 2-73.0 INSTALLATION .................................................................................................... 3-13.1 Site Selection...................................................................................................... 3-13.1.1 External Noise/Interference .................................................................... 3-13.1.2 Horizon Angle ......................................................................................... 3-33.1.3 Power Source........................................................................................... 3-33.1.4 Site Dimensions....................................................................................... 3-33.1.5 Antenna Considerations .......................................................................... 3-33.2 Equipment Installation........................................................................................ 3-53.2.1 Antenna Installation ................................................................................ 3-53.2.2 Cable Connections................................................................................... 3-53.2.2.1 DC Power................................................................................... 3-83.2.2.2 Antenna ...................................................................................... 3-83.2.2.3 Ground Wire............................................................................... 3-83.2.2.4 Operator Port.............................................................................. 3-83.2.2.5 Data Port .................................................................................... 3-83.2.2.6 Auxiliary (AUX) Port ................................................................ 3-83.3 Power-Up Sequence............................................................................................ 3-93.3.1 Internal Battery........................................................................................ 3-93.3.2 Power On................................................................................................. 3-93.3.3 Set Unit ID............................................................................................... 3-113.3.4 Set and VerifyTx/Rx Frequencies........................................................... 3-113.3.5 Perform RF Test ...................................................................................... 3-124.0 OPERATIONS ...................................................................................................... 4-14.1 Getting Started..................................................................................................... 4-14.1.1 Command Entry and Editing................................................................... 4-14.1.2 Unit Name and Station ID....................................................................... 4-2

Title Page4.1.3 HELP Command .................................................................................... 4-24.1.4 System Time and Date ............................................................................ 4-24.2 Station Operational Parameters........................................................................... 4-34.2.1 Configuring the 545B.............................................................................. 4-34.2.2 Selecting 545B Remote/Master Operation.............................................. 4-54.2.3 Selecting Network Parameters................................................................ 4-54.2.4 Selecting the Burst Monitor .................................................................... 4-74.2.5 Controlling the Hourly Statistics Report................................................. 4-84.2.6 Scheduling 545B Events ......................................................................... 4-84.2.7 Setting Timeout Durations ...................................................................... 4-94.2.8 Setting Frequencies ................................................................................. 4-94.2.9 Defining Data Relays.............................................................................. 4-104.2.10 Scaling A/D Readings............................................................................. 4-114.3 Sending and Receiving Messages ....................................................................... 4-124.3.1 Entering and Deleting Messages ............................................................. 4-124.3.2 Sending Commands to Remote Stations................................................. 4-144.3.3 Editing Messages..................................................................................... 4-144.3.4 Transmitting Messages............................................................................ 4-154.3.5 Receiving Messages............................................................................... 4-164.3.6 Examining/Revising Messages Queues................................................... 4-164.3.7 Examining Message Statistics................................................................. 4-184.3.8 Entering Canned Messages...................................................................... 4-184.3.9 Printing Canned Messages ...................................................................... 4-194.4 Data Loggers ....................................................................................................... 4-194.5 Reporting Position Location................................................................................ 4-194.6 Master Simulator Mode....................................................................................... 4-204.7 Examining Station Statistics................................................................................ 4-224.8 Configuring an RF Network................................................................................ 4-234.8.1 Types of Networks .................................................................................. 4-234.8.1.1 Meteor Burst Networks............................................................ 4-244.8.1.1.1 Full Duplex Network.............................................. 4-254.8.1.1.2 Half Duplex Network............................................. 4-264.8.1.1.3 Master Probe/Transpond Role................................ 4-264.8.1.1.4 Master Active/Passive Role.................................... 4-264.8.1.2 Line-of-Sight Networks............................................................ 4-274.8.1.2.1 Multi-Master Mode ................................................ 4-274.8.1.2.2 Base/Repeater Mode .............................................. 4-284.8.2 Remote to Master Assignment ................................................................ 4-304.8.2.1 Fixed Master Selection............................................................. 4-304.8.2.2 Preferred Master Selection....................................................... 4-304.8.2.3 Automatic Master Selection..................................................... 4-324.8.3 Destination Considerations...................................................................... 4-324.8.4 Source and Group Routing...................................................................... 4-334.8.5 Network Parameters................................................................................ 4-34

Title Page4.9 Command Reference List.................................................................................... 4-37APPENDIX ACommand PrintoutsUnsolicited PrintoutsAPPENDIX BData Logger InterfaceAPPENDIX CGPS InterfaceAPPENDIX DApplication Note: MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO Warning SoftwareAPPENDIX EApplication Note: CR10X Data LoggerAPPENDIX FEvent ProgrammingLIST OF FIGURESFigure Page 2.1 MCC-545B Photograph............................................................................................. 2-2 2.2 MCC-545B Block Diagram....................................................................................... 2-5 2.3 MCC-545B Outline Drawing.................................................................................... 2-6 3.1 Remote Station antenna Height for Meteor Burst..................................................... 3-4LIST OF TABLESTable Page 2.1 MCC-545B General Specifications........................................................................... 2-8 2.2 MCC-545B Receiver Specifications......................................................................... 2-8 2.3 MCC-545B Transmitter Specifications..................................................................... 2-9 2.4 MCC-545B Multiprocessor Specifications ............................................................... 2-9 3.1 MCC-545B Interface Connections............................................................................ 3-6 4.1 MCC-545B Scaling Factors ...................................................................................... 4-11 4.2 MCC-545B Commands............................................................................................. 4-40

INTRODUCTION 1-1O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20001.0 INTRODUCTIONThe MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO is part of a Meteor Burst Communications System(MBCS) that allows short and long range communications between any two Stations in thesystem. The system offers continuous radio signal propagation via ground wave and meteorburst. Ground wave covers short distances, up to 100 km (60 miles). Meteor burst covers longerdistances, up to 1,600 km (1,000 miles), reflecting signals off ionized electron trails created bymeteors entering the atmosphere at a height of about 100 km (60 miles) above the earth's surface.These trails, called bursts, are random but predictable in number and last from a fewmilliseconds to several seconds. During this time, information can be exchanged between twoStations. The height of the trails (60 miles) gives the system its 1,000 mile range.1.1 PresentationThis manual is divided into five major sections:Section 2. DESCRIPTIONDiscusses specifications of each module included in the 545B.Section 3: INSTALLATIONPresents a brief outline of installation procedures for the 545B. Includesconsiderations for set-up and cabling, as well as power-up procedures.Section 4: OPERATIONOutlines operating procedures for hardware and software.Appendix A contains printouts of 545B commands and command responses.Appendix B contains for interfacing the Pharos Marine Data Acquisition Unit.Appendix C contains a list of GPS units supported and instructions for interfacing each unit tothe 545B.Appendix D contains information on configuring the 545B for use in a Flood Warning System.Appendix E contains information on interfacing to the Campbell Scientific CR10X Data Logger.Appendix F contains information on the event and I/O programming capability of the 545B.

INTRODUCTION 1-2O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20001.2 Support DocumentsCustomer Specific System ManualMCC-520B/MCC-520C Operations Manual1.3 ConventionsThe following conventions are used in this manual:Any system-dependent options are indicated with an "*".When presented in the text, user commands and computer printout are boldfaced; e.g., EnterDELETE. Command parameters are presented in lower case; e.g., DEFINE,id. Optionalparameters are enclosed in brackets; e.g., TIME{,hh:mm:ss}Names of terminal keys are capitalized and enclosed in square brackets when mentioned in thetext; e.g., Press [ESC].Names of hardware switches, meters, etc. are capitalized; e.g., PWR ON switch.NOTEUsed for special emphasis of materialIMPORTANTUsed for added emphasis of material.CAUTIONSignals the operator to proceed carefully.WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!Used in cases where failure to heed the message may result in personal injury or equipmentdamage.

DESCRIPTION 2-1O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20002.0 DESCRIPTION2.1 General DescriptionThe MCC-545B Packet Data Radio provides versatile communications from fixed or mobilesites. The 545B can be used for sending and receiving messages, position reporting, data logging,or other specific applications. Designed to operate over a fading groundwave and an intermittentmeteor burst communications channel, the unit's low standby-power consumption (<1 watt)makes it ideal for remote locations or mobile operation.The 545B features rugged construction in a weather-resistant enclosure that measures 10.6 " x4.0" x 2.42" and weighs less than 3.5 pounds.A photograph of the 545B is given in Figure 2.1.The unit operates in a half-duplex mode and contains a solid state Tx/Rx switch that allows acommon antenna to be shared for both transmit and receive. It can be operated with a singlefrequency or on two separate frequencies.The unit utilizes three phase locked frequency synthesizers to set the Tx and Rx frequencies.The operator can set the frequency to any authorized frequency (10KHz steps) within a 2 MHzband. A factory-trained technician is required to retune the transmitter and synthesizer ifoperation outside a 2 MHz band is desired. The unit can be factory tuned across the full 37 to 50MHz band2.2 Send and Receive MessagesThe 545B provides full text message capability. With a portable operating terminal, or a PCrunning terminal emulation software, you can exchange messages with any other Remote Stationin the network.Messages may be plain text or binary data. They can be routed to single or multiple destinationsor, to a Host Computer or Data Center.2.3 Data LoggingThe 545B can be programmed to acquire, store, and transmit data from the various I/O signalsnoted below. Any analog or digital input can be used to trigger a transmission or to set a discreteoutput level. Output levels can also be set hi or low via a command received from a distant unit.

DESCRIPTION 2-2O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000I/O CAPABILITY OF MCC 545BNAME RANGE QUANTITYAnalog Inputs 0 to +5V 6Digital Inputs Optical isolated 4Digital Outputs RS232 (+/- 10V) 2Digital Outputs 0 to +5V ( 10 ma) 3Digital Inputs 0 to + 5V or +/-10V 2Relay Outputs Form C 2 amp rating 2MCC-545B PHOTOGRAPHFIGURE 2.1Refer to Appendix E for detailed operation and control of the I/O capability of the MCC 545B.The MCC can also be connected via an RS 232 port to a variety of Data Loggers such as theCampbell Scientific CR10X or CR23. Data from these loggers can be collected, stored, andtransmitted to a distant unit. Refer to Appendix B and E for a description of data loggerinterface.2.4 Position LocationThe 545B delivers location data from either a built 12 channel GPS (optional) or from anexternal GPS with NEMA 0183 format, positioning equipment used in mobile units on land, inthe air, and at sea. The 545B sends the position location to a Master or Base Station, whichforwards the information to a Data Center or Host Computer for processing. This data can be

DESCRIPTION 2-3O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000used in dispatch centers, corporate/district offices, and other monitoring Stations for updatingmap displays or additional functions. Refer to Appendix B for a description of the GPScommands.2.5 Maintenance FeaturesAn operator terminal or a remote command from a distant unit can also be used to read anddisplay the 545B's status such as radio propagation channel statistics, battery voltage duringtransmission (loaded), battery voltage when not transmitting (unloaded), RF forward andreflected power (checks antenna), and receiver noise levels. It can also be used to display andconfigure the 545B's operating characteristics, as detailed in Chapter 4.An internal Li ion battery is used to maintain the internal real time clock and battery backedRAM. This battery is capable of operating the clock in a power down state for a period ofapproximately 6 months. This battery should be removed if the unit is stored without power forextended periods of time.2.6 Hardware Organization and LayoutThe unit contains five printed circuit assemblies:A 100 watt all solid-state 2 stage power amplifier.A 2 watt 2 stage preamplifier and power switch.A BPSK 4 KB/sec transceiver containing a BPSK receiver, vector phase modulator (+13Dbmoutput) and three frequency synthesizers.A low-power microprocessor controller used to perform radio control and link and networkprotocol functions. This assembly also contains a digital signal processor (DSP)anddigital to analog converter (DAC)for generating the in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase(Q) base band signals required to generate the BPSK RF signal.An 8 channel GPS receiver (optional)The following paragraphs contain a brief description of each of the five main hardware elementsin the 545B. Figure 2.2 presents a block diagram for the 545B. Figure 2.3 presents an outlinedrawing showing mounting holes, connectors, and dimensions.

DESCRIPTION 2-4O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20002.6.1 MCC-545B Transceiver AssemblyThe receiver assembly contains a complete 4K baud Bi Phase Shift Key (BPSK) receiver, atransmit and receive frequency synthesizer module, and a 4K baud BPSK modulator.BPSK Receiver! Input band pass filter (37-50 MHz)! RF amplifier (17 dB)! Low pass image filter (Fc=50 MHz)! Mixer! IF amplifiers and filters (10.7 MHz)! Noise blanker! Mixer, 2nd IF filter and amplifier (100 KHz), and RSSI circuit! Coherent Costas Carrier Tracking Loop! BPSK bit detector and clock generatorSynthesizer (1st and 2nd local oscillator and transmit oscillator)! Reference Oscillator (12.8 MHz +/- 2.5 PPM)! Tx phase lock loop ( 74-100 MHz output, 20 KHz steps)! A divide by 2 circuit (37-50 MHz output, 10 KHz steps)! Rx 1st local oscillator phase lock loop (47.7-60.7 MHz output, 10 KHz steps)! Rx 2nd local oscillator phase lock loop (10.6 MHz)! PIC MicrocontrollerBPSK Modulator1. I/Q Vector Phase Modulator (BPSK)2. Pre amplifier (+13 DBM output)All components are located on a 8.5”by 3.5” two sided printed circuit board. All components aresoldered in (surface mounted). As an option the board can be conformal-coated with an acrylicencapsulate that contains a tropicalizing, anti-fungal agent to increase durability and provideprotection against moisture and contamination.

DESCRIPTION 2-5O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000MCC 545B BLOCK DIAGRAMFIGURE 2.2OPTION GPS4.192 PROCESSORNB ENABLE ANT54505304-01MHZBPSK TRANSCEIVER OSCGPSPIC54506303-01 NOISE BLANKER PCI BUSMICROCONTROL CONTROLTO SYNTH2ND IF 14.2 MHZ RS 232CERAMIC LOG ONECOMP PROCESSORVCXO2 ND IF TPFILTER AMP SHOT 4 OPERCTL 0LPFLBPFDATAQUADGATE 4.2 MHZFC=50 MHZ 10.7 MHZ 139-50 MHZ USARTAUXA1 LIMITED COSTAS 2RX DATAA1BPF1 BPF2 CERAMIC FIRST IF 10.7 MHZ USARTFILTER RX CLKCERAMICLO1 I&D DATA RXLOCKFILTER FILTER FILTERSWITCH CRYSTAL COSTASCRYSTAL BPSK BASEBAND16 DB 16 DB A2 A2 A2 PLL FLASHBRATEDET RFVCOFr+10.7 MHZ 16 DBMAINRSSIAD607 LOCK MEMORYDUALDC CTRLPHASE LOCKED 1MEG X 16PROCESSORDET RFDC CTRL IF AMP/DETECTORLOOP I/O68332VCO TCXOPHASE DC CTRL VCOLOCKEDREF OSCFt LO2 114.9 MHZ SPLOOPFREQ DEV = +/- 2400 HZ COMPARE CONNRAM12.8/10.0 MHZGMSK MODULATION 0 DBM512K X 16RX ENABLE PIC CONTROLDATA RATE = 9600 BAUD /2 44 PINSYNTH LOCKSYNTH LOCKBT = .5 IMEG (OPTIONAL)IIICOMPLEX(3)DISCRETEQQD/APHASE QOUTPUTSDUALMODULATOR TXKEY MODULATOR OUT (2)RELAY A1OUTPUTS+13 DBMERA-5SMRX INPUT(4)OPTOINPUTSDATA+12BATT 5.7VRXCO-AX SYNCCO-AX ANALOG INPUTS (6)TX DATATX KEYV_R TXLIMITEMI DET RFI/O7 A/DV_F TEMPEMI 10 BITVFPOWER11 CHVRVCC3 CONTROL & SWITCHEMI +12VBATTTX CLKVCC2EMII DATAVCC1 BRATE 9600 BAUD5.7VVR VF 5.7VPRSWITCH DSPLPF .020W REGULATOR2W100WDIR 20WT/R .1WG=7DB G=13DB G=10DBG=10DBFC = 60 MHZCOUPLER SWITCH PROCESSORVHB121-12T 54505305-01 19.6608 MHZQ DATAVLB1-12FINAL POWER AMP 54505306-01 FRONT END PA & POWER CONTROLVLB100-12 MRF 455 CLKCOUNTERF1/16F1CO-AX+12 VOLT POWER 12 V BATTPROCESSOR RUN (ON) LED (FLASH) LEDTX POWER OK = AMBER LED VSWR = RED LED LEDANTENNA BNC

DESCRIPTION 2-6O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000MCC 545B OUTLINE DRAWINGFIGURE 2.3

DESCRIPTION 2-7O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20002.6.2 MCC-545B Power AmplifierThe power amplifier assembly contains two printed circuit boards. One board, the 100 wattpower amplifier, is mounted inside an aluminum enclosure to provide RF shielding between thelow level phase lock loop synthesizers and the high power output. This board contains a T/Rswitch for half-duplex operation, a harmonic low pass filter, and a dual directional coupler forpower level control.The second board contains two low level amplifiers which amplify the 20 milliwatt input signalfrom the modulator to a two watt level required by the final power amplifier stage.All transmitter components are located on a two 4.0" x 3.5’’ printed circuit boards. Allcomponents are soldered in place. As an option the boards can be conformal-coated with anacrylic encapsulate that contains a tropicalizing, anti-fungal agent to increase durability andprovide protection against moisture and contamination.Both printed circuit boards are mounted to an aluminum heat sink assembly.2.6.3 MCC-545B MicroprocessorThe microprocessor is a Motorola-based, embedded computer housed on a single PCB thatcontains:! 512K x 16 of non-volatile flash memory for program storage! Additional 512K x 16 of non-volatile flash memory for parameter storage! 1024K x 8 of static RAM for data storage (optionally 2048K x 8)! External RS-232 I/O ports (3)! Internal TTL GPS port! Transmitter communication port! Receiver communication port! 10-bit 11 channel A/D converter (6 channels available for external sensors)! Real-time clock! Power fail detection circuitry! Digital Signal Processor with D/A converters! Optically isolated digital inputs (6)! Form C Relay Outputs (2) with current rating of 2 amps.All I/O ports are RS 232 compatible and can be programmed to adapt to various customerprotocols. The DATA port contains full flow control hardware lines.The A/D converter measures TX forward and reverse power, battery voltage, antenna noisevoltage, transmitter board temperature, and 6 channels of 0-5V external sensor inputs.All processor components are located on a 198mm x 95mm (7.8” x 3.75”). All components aresoldered in place using the latest in surface mount technologies. As an option the board can be

DESCRIPTION 2-8O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000conformal-coated with an acrylic encapsulate that contains a tropicalizing, anti-fungal agent toincrease durability and provide increased protection against moisture and contamination.Specifications for the unit and the individual circuit boards are given in Tables 2.1 through 2.4.MCC-545B GENERAL SPECIFICATIONSCHARACTERISTIC SPECIFICATIONDimensions 10.6”L X 4.0”W X 2.42”HWeight 2.7 kg (3 lbs.)Temperature Range -30° to 60° C (-22° to 140° F)Power Requirements Standby: 100 ma (Continuous)Transmit: 25 Amps Nominal (100 msec)12 VDC Nominal (10-14 VDC)TABLE 2.1MCC-545B RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONSCHARACTERISTIC SPECIFICATIONFrequency 37-50 MHz .0005% Synthesized 10KHzstepsModulationTypeRateFormatBPSK4 KBPSNRZNoise Figure < 7 dB minimumSensitivityBit Error Rate < 10-3 at 4 kbps -120 dBmIF Bandwidth (3/80 dB) 13/40 KHz typicalRF Bandwidth (3 dB) 13 MHz typicalSignal Acquisition Time < 5 msec3rd Order Intercept Point >- 4 dBmImage Response Attenuation > 70 dB minimumSpurious Response Attenuation > 70 dB minimumSP Threshold Adj. From –115 to –106 dBmTriggered by DET RF and Demodulator LockNoise Blanker > 20 dB Reduction in Impulse NoiseI/O MCC StandardTABLE 2.2

DESCRIPTION 2-9O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000MCC-545B TRANSMITTER SPECIFICATIONSCHARACTERISTIC SPECIFICATIONFrequency 36-50 MHz .0005% Synthesized 10KHzstepsRF Power Output > 100 Watts at 12 VDC InputLoad VSWR < 2:1 for Rated PowerHarmonic Levels 70 dB below Unmodulated CarrierModulationTypeRateFormatBPSK4 KBPSNRZSpurious > 70 dB below Unmodulated CarrierTransmit Modulation Spectrum 10 KHz offset – 40 dB25 KHz offset – 70 dBTx Duty Cycle 16% Max without shutting down20% shuts down transmitterT/R Switch Solid-StateSwitching Time < 100 micro secI/O MCC StandardProtectionHigh VSWR Withstands Infinite VSWRTABLE 2.3MCC-545B MULTIPROCESSOR SPECIFICATIONSCHARACTERISTIC SPECIFICATIONMain Processor Motorola MC68332FC 32-bit EmbeddedControllerMemory: Program Storage Data StorageParameter Storage512K x 16 non-volatile Flash memory1024K x 8 static RAM (optional 2048K x 8)512K x 16 non-volatile Flash memorySwitches: S1 Momentary System ResetJumper: JP2 JP3JP4Modulation Select (In for BPSK) (Out for BPSK)DSP Clock Select (pins 1-2)Mod Filter Select (In for BT=.5) (Out for BT=1.0)Memory: Program StorageTABLE 2.4

INSTALLATION 3-1O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.0 INSTALLATIONThis section provides general information on site selection and installation of the 545B, as wellas 545B power-up procedures.3.1 Site SelectionOne of the most important considerations in the proper operation of the MBCS is the selection ofthe 545B-operating site. There are a number of factors, which influence selection:1. External Noise/Interference2. Horizon angle3. DC power source4. Site dimensions5. Antenna considerations3.1.1 External Noise/InterferenceNoise and signal interference can reduce the performance of the 545B. There are several sourcesof interference; following are the most common sources:! Cosmic Noise! Power Line Noise! Auto Ignition Noise! Computer-Generated Interference! External Signal InterferenceCosmic NoiseCosmic noise is the limiting noise factor in a meteor burst system, especially in the lowfrequency band (40-50 MHz). The noise is generated by star systems in the galaxy and isfrequency dependent. The noise is approximately 15 dB above thermal at 40 MHz, and 13 dBabove thermal at 50 MHz. The noise is also diurnal in nature, being the highest when theantennas are pointed directly at the center of the galaxy and lowest when they are pointed at rightangles to it. Daily variations of 3 to 4 dB are to be expected. An optimal meteor burst site is onethat is limited only by cosmic noise.The 545B STAT command is very useful in determining the site antenna noise levels. Since theReceiver has an IF bandwidth of 13 KHz, the STAT reading should read from –120 to –115dBM if the Receiver to antenna line loss is about 1 to 2 dB (100-200 ft of RG-214). The noiseblanker is not effective for cosmic noise, so the noise readings are the same whether the blankeris on or off.

INSTALLATION 3-2O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000Power Line NoiseOne of the main sources of external noise are the high voltage power lines common throughoutthe country. Noise on these lines is generated by high voltage breakdown occurring on powerline hardware such as transformers, insulators, etc. This noise shows up at the Receiver IF testpoint (using a scope) as a series of spikes that occur every 8 ms (1/60 Hz) or every 10 ms (1/50Hz). The level of the spikes will be much higher than the normal background noise floor. Thenumber of spikes can vary, depending upon the level of interference, from one or two every 8-10ms to several dozen every 8-10 ms. The impulse noise blanker can remove a large amount of thisnoise. However, as the number of spikes increases, the effectiveness of the blanker is reduced.When setting up a site always look at the IF test point with a scope to determine the level of thepower line noise interference. It is mandatory that power line noise be avoided. Try to set up Rxantennas well away from power lines and try not to point the antennas directly toward nearbypower lines.NOTE.Local power companies should maintain power lines to reduce noise. Call your local utility incase of severe noise.Auto Ignition NoiseAuto ignition noise is generated by any gasoline engine and is a result of the high voltagerequired to fire the spark plugs in automobiles. A basic characteristic of auto ignition noise isthat it is similar to power line noise (i.e., this type of noise generates a DET RF spike visible withan oscilloscope), but it does not have the 8-10 ms period which is associated with power linenoise. If the unit is operated on a vehicle, care must be taken to ensure that the vehicle ignitionsystem, any DC motors, and any other source of electrical noise are isolated through shielding,ferrite beads, and-or bypass capacitors.Computer-Generated InterferenceAll computers and printers contain high-speed logic circuits which generate spurious signalsthroughout the 37-50 MHz band. If one of these signals occurs at the receive frequency,interference results when the spurious computer signal is picked up by the receive antenna. Toavoid this type of interference keep the antenna away from buildings that contain computers.Separating the antennas from the computers by 100 to 300 feet generally prevents thisinterference. The noise blanker does not suppress computer-generated interference.Signal InterferenceThis type of interference occurs whenever the unit is set up in an area where another transmitteris operating on the desired receiver center frequency. Antenna nulling and spatial separation canbe used to reduce this type on interference.

INSTALLATION 3-3O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.1.2 Horizon AngleThe second consideration in site selection is the horizon angle in the direction of the MasterStation. To achieve optimum performance at ranges of up to 1600 km (1000 miles), the horizonor look angle must be free from obstructions, buildings, bridges, etc., and must be within 2 or 3degrees of horizontal. Trees and other shrubbery do not present a problem if they are not within6.1 m (20 ft) of any element of the antenna. At shorter ranges the horizon angle can be higher.3.1.3 Power SourceThe 545B requires a 12 VDC power source. An automobile battery provides an excellent powersource. Care must be taken to ensure that proper wiring is used to support the 545B high in-rushcurrent during transmission. Typical transmit current is 25 to 30 amps for a period of about .10seconds. A #14 wire (or two #16 wires) should be used for both +12 VDC and ground. Keep thewire length shorter than 10 feet. Remember that this is 20 feet counting the ground return. The545B contains a 20 amp internal fuse and a special circuit that protects the unit from a power linereversal. The fuse will have to be replaced if the power lines are reversed.3.1.4 Site DimensionsIn order to obtain the maximum performance from a Meteor Burst Communications System, theStation must be set up on level flat ground. The terrain in front of the antenna must be flat and befree of buildings and other structures for a distance of at least 30 times the height of the antenna.Operation in an area that does not have a ground plane to support ground reflection can reducemeteor performance by a factor of two.3.1.5 Antenna ConsiderationsThe final consideration in setting up a site is selecting the antenna and co-ax cable. Any antennathat provides a 50 ohm load will work. This impedance must be maintained at both Tx and Rxfrequency. In a single frequency system, a very narrow bandwidth antenna can be used. Theinformation bandwidth of the system is less than 15 KHz.The higher the antenna gain the better the performance. Yagi antennas work better than dipoles(2 to 4 times improvement). Always maintain the same polarization as the Master Stationantenna. For example, if you use a whip antenna with the 545B, the Master Station antenna mustbe vertically polarized.In a Meteor Burst System, the height of the antenna should be optimized as a function of thedistance between the Master Station and the Remote Station. A plot of best antenna height vs.range is given in Figure 3.1-1 below.

INSTALLATION 3-4O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000In a LOS or ELOS System, the higher the antenna the better. In general every time the height isdouble the system gain is increased by approximately 6 dB.REMOTE STATION ANTENNA HEIGHT FOR METEOR BURSTFIGURE 3.1-1Antenna coax cable length must be kept as short as possible, to minimize line loss. Maintain aline loss between antenna and 545 of less than 1 dB if possible. A table of cable loss (at 50 MHz)for various types of co-ax is given below for reference.CABLE Loss/100 feet dB Diam. Inches Weight/100 feet lbs.RG 223, RG 58 3.0 .211 3.4RG 214, RG 8 1.8 .425 12.6RG 17 1.2 .870 20.1LDF4A-50 ½ inch heliax .48 .500 15.0LDF5A-50 7/8 inch heliax .26 .875 33.0Best Antenna Height051015202530100150200250300350400450500RANGE (mi)Antenna Height (ft)40 Mhz45 Mhz50 Mhz

INSTALLATION 3-5O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.2 Equipment InstallationAlthough the 545B is housed in a metal enclosure, it is not waterproof. If your applicationrequires using the 545B outside of an environmentally controlled shelter or vehicle, you mustinstall the 545B inside a waterproof enclosure. A NEMA enclosure is generally used in outdoorinstallations. The unit operates over a temperature range of -30°C to +60°C.3.2.1 Antenna InstallationMCC buys all antennas from an antenna vendor. Each antenna is shipped with a set of assemblyinstructions. Refer to these instructions for assembly details.Antenna installation is entirely dependent on site conditions. You should always consult withMCC's engineering department for help in the proper placement of antennas. Remember thatantenna placement can make the difference between a system that performs marginally and onethat performs well.3.2.2 Cable ConnectionsThe following is a general description of cable connections for the 545B. The 545B connectiondata is shown in Table 3.1, along with general connection information.To ensure proper operation, shielded cable must be used for all connections. All cabling must begrounded at the 545B enclosure. All cables must have adequate strain relief and a weatherproofseal provided at the entry point to the enclosure.The 545B has one 44 pin I/O connector, that contains three RS232 port wires and onedigital/analog data I/O wires. MCC provides a standard cable harness that breaks out the 37 pinconnector to three 9 pin RS 232 connectors and one 25 pin I/O connector. A schematic for thisconnector is given in Figure 3.2 . Table 3.1 describes the pin out of the four I/O connectors.

INSTALLATION 3-6O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000CONNECTOR FUNCTIONPower Input power connector, attaches to battery.Antenna BNC antenna connector.Operator Port RS-232 port for connection of local operator terminal. D Connector9S from 14001252 adapter cable.Data Port RS-232 port for connection of data logger, GPS or other serial device.D connector 9S from 14001252 adapter cable.Auxiliary Port RS-232 port for connection of GPS unit (or other serial device). Alsosupports MCC test equipment (pins 6, 8, 9). D Connector 9S from14001252 adapter cable.I/O Port Contains analog inputs, digital inputs and outputs, relay outputs, optocoupled inputs, power, ADC reference voltage, and DET RF testpoint. D connector 25S from 14001252 adapter cable.GPS Antenna(optional) SMA connectorANTENNA POWERPin Signal Pin Signal-- BNC Connector 1 +12V2 +12V3 Ground4 GroundOPERATOR PORT –9S DATA PORT – 9S AUX PORT – 9SPin Signal Pin Signal Pin Signal1CD(tied to pin 4 and 6) 1 Not Used 1 Not Used2Tx Data(from 545B) 2Tx Data(from 545B) 2Tx Data(from 545B)3Rx Data(to 545B) 3Rx Data(to 545B) 3Rx Data(to 545B)4DTR(tied to pin 1 and 6) 4DTR(to 545B) 4 Not Used5 Ground 5 Ground 5 Ground6DSR(tied to pin 1 and 4) 6DSR(from 545B) 6 Ant. Clock(from 545B)7RTS(tied to pin 8) 7RTS(to 545B) 7 Not Used8CTS(tied to pin 7) 8CTS(from 545B) 8 Ant. Dir.(from 545B)9 Not Used 9 Ring Ind.(from 545B) 9 Ant. Sel.(from 545B)MCC-545B INTERFACE CONNECTIONSTABLE 3.1 (1 of 2)

INSTALLATION 3-7O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000MCC-545B INTERFACE CONNECTIONSI/O Connector pin FUNCTION1 Optocoupled input #1 positive ( 500 ohm resistor)2 Optocoupled input #1 return3 Optocoupled input #2 positive ( 500 ohm resistor)4 Optocoupled input #2 return5 Optocoupled input #3 positive ( 500 ohm resistor)6 Optocoupled input #3 return7 Optocoupled input #4 positive ( 500 ohm resistor)8 Optocoupled input #4 return9 Ground10 Relay Output #1 Normally Open (2Amp rating)11 Relay Output #1 Common12 Relay Output #1 Normally Closed (2Amp rating)13 Relay Output #2 Normally Open (2Amp rating)14 Relay Output #2 Common15 Relay Output #2 Normally Closed (2Amp rating)16 Ground17 Analog Input #1 ( 0 to 5 V)18 Analog Input #2 ( 0 to 5 V)19 Analog Input #3 ( 0 to 5 V)20 Analog Input #4 ( 0 to 5 V)21 Analog Input #5 ( 0 to 5 V)22 Analog Input #6 ( 0 to 5 V)23 +5V Reference (10mA for sensor excitation)24 +12V (0.5A maximum)25 Detected RF Test PointMCC-545B INTERFACE CONNECTIONSTABLE 3.1 (2 of 2)

INSTALLATION 3-8O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.2.2.1 DC PowerConnect +12 to +14VDC to the power plug that mates with the power connector on the 545Bfront panel. Refer to Table 3.1 for location and proper connections. Use large gauge wire (#16),since the unit can draw up to 30 Amps during transmission. The power connector can onlyaccept #16 wires maximum. Use 2 #16 wires for positive and 2 #16 wires for negative. If runslonger than about 6 feet are necessary, splice a large gauge wire (#10) onto the 2 #16 wires forboth positive and negative. The splice should be done within a foot or two of the 545B. (MCCpart number 14001261-03 is a 6' power cable with lugs for 3/8" post connection).The shorter the DC power cable, the more RF power will be available for transmitting since therewill be less voltage dropped in the wires.3.2.2.2 AntennaConnect the antenna cable to the "BNC" RF connector on the front panel. Use double shieldedcable, such as RG-214 for long runs (100 feet). RG-223 can be used for runs less than 20 feet.3.2.2.3 Ground WireConnect a heavy duty ground wire (#12 or larger) between the front panel ground stud and theStation shelter ground.3.2.2.4 Operator PortConnect a standard RS-232 cable with a 9-pin male D connector to the OPERATOR port on thefront panel. Connect the other end of the cable to the local operator terminal3.2.2.5 Data PortConnect a standard RS-232 cable with a 9-pin male D connector to the DATA port on the frontpanel. Connect the other end of the cable to the data-logging device. Refer to Appendix B formore information on the 545B-to-data logger interface.3.2.2.6 Auxiliary (AUX) PortConnect a standard RS-232 cable with a 9-pin male D connector to the AUX port on the frontpanel. Connect the other end of the cable to the GPS or other position location device. Refer toAppendix C for more information on the 545B-to-GPS interface.

INSTALLATION 3-9O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000IMPORTANTThe AUX port connector has three extra pins (pins 6, 8, and 9) whose signals do not conform tothe RS-232 standard. These are for MCC test purposes and are not used at this time. These pinswill NOT interfere with a normal 3-wire RS-232 connector (pins 2, 3, and 5).3.3 Power-Up SequenceIMPORTANTBefore you apply power to the 545B, check all connections between the 545B and externalequipment (power, antenna, operator terminal, GPS receiver, data logger(s), etc.). Refer toSection 3.2 for complete cabling instructions.3.3.1 Internal BatteryWhen the 545B is shipped from the factory, it does NOT have the internal LiIon batteryconnected to the processor RAM. This battery is used to provide battery back-up of time anddate in the event of a power failure. Check to make certain battery is correctly installed.3.3.2 Power OnCAUTIONDisconnect antenna cable until unit ID is set (see paragraph 3.3.3).To power up the 545B, apply +12VDC to the power connector. When the unit transmits, it willdraw up to 25 amps, so make sure that you use a large at least two # 16 gage wires for the powerand two for the ground. Limit cable lengths to less than 10 feet. If larger runs are required uselarger diameter wires. The voltage drop in the power wires plus the drop in the battery voltageshould be less than 2 VDC for proper operation of the unit.The 545B processor should come start up and print a greeting message on the operator terminal,assuming it was turned on and set to the baud rate that matches the processor on the 545B. The545B's default baud rate setting is 9600 baud, with no parity, 8-bit data bit, and 1 stop bit.However, the current baud rate is determined by the last configuration settings saved in the545B's flash memory. If necessary, refer to Chapter 4 for changing the 545B baud rate settingswith the SETBAUD and SAVE commands.

INSTALLATION 3-10O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000MCC 545B INTERFACE CABLE SCHEMATICMCC P/N 14001352-01FIGURE 3.2

INSTALLATION 3-11O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.3.3 Set Unit IDIt is very important that the unit ID be set correctly before operation on an antenna. If the unittransmits with the wrong ID, it may conflict with another unit in the system and result in data ormessages being misrouted or lost and network topography and statistics being confused. Use theID Command to set the unit ID:ID,nnnn,mmm{,aaaa},INITwhere nnn is the unit ID, mmm is the Master Station assignment and aaaa is the Masterconnectivity initial setting for Remote operation. Obtain these numbers from your networkmanager. The 545B will save the ID (and total configuration) and reboot.3.3.4 Set and Verify Tx/Rx FrequenciesThe MCC 545B contains an internal frequency synthesizer that is used to set the Tx frequencyand two receiver local oscillator frequencies. The first local oscillator frequency is set to 10.7MHz above the desired receive frequency. The second local oscillator frequency is set at 10.6MHz and can not be changed. The unit is programmed by a factory-trained technician to operateon a number of authorized frequency channels. Once programmed , these frequencies can beselected by the operator.You can set or display the TX and RX frequencies using the following command:FREQUENCIES, XXXX,YYYYWhere XXXX is the desired transmit frequency and YYYY is the desired receive frequencyExample: FREQUENCIES,4550,4550 for Tx and Rx on 45.50 MHzYou can only select those frequencies programmed into the unit at the factory.Once the frequencies are selected, you must make sure that the synthesizer is “ON” and locked,by entering the following command:SYNTHESIZER, ONThe unit will respond withSYNTHESIZER, ON Locked or UnlockedIf the synthesizer returns an unlocked response, check the frequency command to insure that youhave entered the proper frequencies. Note that the unit will not transmit if the synthesizer is notlocked.

INSTALLATION 3-12O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003.3.5 Perform RF TestA simple, but very thorough RF test can be accomplished by typing TEST[CR]. TEST forces theprocessor to key the transmitter and check for the amount of forward and reverse RF power thatis transmitted. It also checks the battery voltage under load and the antenna noise voltage.The following command response results: Syncs Xmits Acks pwr-fwd pwr-rev v-bat det-RFXXXX YYYY ZZZZ AAAA BBBB CCC DDDwhere: XXXX = # Of sync patterns heard from the masterYYYY = # Of transmissionsZZZZ = # Of Acknowledgements from masterAAAA = Forward power in watts >80BBBB = Reflected power in watts <5.0CCC = Battery voltage under load (while transmitting) >10.6 voltsDDD = Received signal strength (usually noise at antenna) in DBMFor full power 545Bs, the forward power should exceed 80 watts. If not, check the batteryvoltage on the printout. It should be greater than 10.6 VDC. If it is low, check the power sourceand cables. If the forward power is OK, the reverse RF power should be less than 5 watts. If not,check the antenna and RF cables. Also check the antenna and cables if both the forward andreverse power are low and the battery voltage is okay, since the transmitter is probably shuttingdown due to an excessive antenna VSWR (>3:1).This completes the power up of the 545B. If you followed the above check list and everythingwas satisfactory, the unit should be ready for operation. Refer to Chapter 4 for detailed operatinginstructions.

$OPERATIONS 4-1O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20004.0 OPERATIONSThis chapter covers the fundamental operating procedures and is functionally divided into sevensections:! Getting Started! Station Operational Parameters! Sending and Receiving Messages! Data Logging! Reporting Position Location! Master Mode Functions! Examining Systems Statistics4.1 Getting Started4.1.1 Command Entry and EditingYou must enter carriage returns after every command. A list of operator commands follows theoperating instructions (Table 4.2).When a command is accepted, the operator terminal prints the system time. For a description ofprintouts, see Appendix A.Before you begin, you should know about the special editing functions that you can use whenentering commands:[DEL] Deletes last character entered.[CTRL] Prints command line on next line down.[CTRL]-R Repeats last command line\X Removes current line from command buffer.[CR] Terminates line and causes command entered to be executed. or[LF] or[ENTER]$

OPERATIONS 4-2O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20004.1.2 Unit Name and Station IDIn command descriptions, the parameter "name" is the assigned Station name. The name is thenumeric Station ID. For more information on 545B operation as either a Remote or Master, referto Section 4.2.1. Station IDs, represented by "nnnn", can be assigned as follows:1 – 245 Master Station256 – 4095 RemoteVerify the ID is set correctly:IDIf it is not correct, refer to section 3.3 for procedures to set it.4.1.3 HELP CommandInformation about many 545B commands can be obtained via the HELP command. TypingHELP with no parameters produces a single page display of an alphabetized command list. Forselected commands, typing HELP,command yields a summary explanation of how to use thespecified command. For example, typing HELP,ASSIGN explains the format to use when youenter the ASSIGN command, along with a brief description of the command's function.4.1.4 System Time and DateThe system calendar is maintained during power outages. If the date and/or time shown isincorrect, the calendar can be initialized with the following commands:DATE,mm/dd/yyTIME,hh:mm{:ss}The time of day maintained at the 545B is transmitted to all Remote Stations, thus maintainingall units on the same time reference. If the time of day received at a Remote Station is greaterthan two minutes from the internal Remote clock, the Remote sets its clock to the received timeof day.To properly manage time, each Master and Remote must know how its own time zone relates toUTC and the system time. This relationship is established by relating its time zone to knownreference points. UTC is always referenced to GMT; however, system time can be referenced toany desired time zone. The time zone offset in the MCC-520B is defined with the followingcommand:TIME ZONE,UTC offset,system offset

OPERATIONS 4-3O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20004.2 Station Operational ParametersConfigure the 545B for operation in your network. Configuration requirements vary fromapplication to application. Refer to your systems manual or consult your systems manager forcorrect settings.Use the CONFIG and ASSIGN commands to verify proper configurations. Use the commandsdescribed in this section to set the configuration as required.Finally, enter the SAVE command to write the configuration into the EEPROM for non-volatilestorage.4.2.1 Configuring the 545BIn order for the 545B to operate correctly in your network, it must be properly configured.Configuration parameters include the unit ID, the Master Station assignment, I/O port functionsand baud rates, transmit and receive parameters and network parameters. Commands whichallow you to display/modify the configuration are marked with an * in the command table.Parameters or operational states set by these commands are retained and determine the way inwhich the 545B will interact with other equipment at the site and with the communicationsnetwork.Most configuration parameters can be viewed with the "config" and the "assign" commands. Youshould use these commands to verify that the configuration is correct. If it is not correct, use theappropriate command(s) to correct the configuration, then enter the "save" command to write theconfiguration parameters into the EEPROM.Saving and Restoring the Configuration - The TheoryIn order to understand how the 545B operational configuration is saved and restored, it isnecessary to understand a little of the hardware and design philosophy of the 545B.The 545B is designed to operate unattended in a variety of environments where power may beapplied continuously or intermittently. The goal is for the unit to continue to operate without lossof messages, data or configuration even if power is randomly turned on and off. Therefore thesoftware is designed to operate continuously, to save all operational information when power isoff and to resume operation from that point when power is restored.To support this philosophy, the 545B has three types of memory PROM, RAM and EEPROM.Refer to Figure 4.1-1 (MCC-545B Configuration Management Functional Diagram) to see howthese memories interact. First, the PROM is non-volatile memory that has been programmedwith the 545B's operational software. This software contains the initial value of all operationalparameters. The values are referred to as the "factory defaults" because they are present in the

OPERATIONS 4-4O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000factory when the unit is first manufactured. The ROM can only be changed by replacing the chipwith one programmed with the new data.Second, the RAM contains all dynamic data for the 545B. Any data logger data, positional data,messages, etc. entered into the 545B are stored in RAM. Also, any command parameters - suchas configuration changes are stored in RAM. But RAM is volatile. It can only retain informationwhile power is applied. Normally turning off or disconnecting power would cause all RAMinformation to be lost. In order to prevent this, a small internal NiCad battery is used to maintainpower to the RAM when external power is off.So for normal operation of the 545B, the software operates from the data and parameters in theRAM - even when power has been turned off for several days, then back on. Unfortunately, thereare always situations where the RAM data is lost or corrupted. For instance, it the 545B is beingstored, the jumper for the NiCad battery should be removed to prevent total discharge of thebattery over time. Or the software may fail (crash) and invalidate the RAM data. Or the user maywant to clear everything out and start over. Since we do not want these cases to lose ourconfiguration data, we have a third type of memory.The third type of memory is EEPROM. It is nonvolatile (retains data even when power isremoved) and needs special access to program – thus it is not easily corrupted. The 545B canretain a copy of all configuration parameters in EEPROM. But EEPROM is limited to 10,000write cycles per memory location so the 545B only writes to EEPROM on special commands -"ID" and "SAVE". And then only values that have changed are written. A validation checksum issaved in the 545B to verify its data is correct.When the 545B ships from the factory it is in a default configuration. The Operator Port (port 0)is set for 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, ASCII protocol, no flow control. Thisprovides a known starting point for communicating with the unit with a terminal or computer.From this point, the user can enter the unit ID and other operational parameters and then enterthe "Save" command to write them to EEPROM. Note that as soon as parameters are enteredthey take effect, BUT once the software is rebooted or restart due to a crash or failure of thebattery backup RAM, all changes will be lost unless they are saved in EEPROM.Saving and Restoring Configuration - The OperationThus, the sequence is as follows -1. The software normally executes using data and parameters from RAM. When the unit isturned off or power is disconnected, the RAM information is maintained by batterybackup. When main power is restored, the unit continues operation from RAM.2. If the Reboot command is issued, the white Reset button (S1) is pressed, the internalbattery backup is disconnected (by removing jumper JP1 while external power is off), theNiCad battery fails or the software crashes and restarts, the RAM contents is lost. Thesoftware detects this and copies the values in EEPROM into RAM when it continuesoperation.

OPERATIONS 4-5O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20003. If the contents of the EEPROM is invalid - possibly because of EEPROM failure,software version in PROM is changed or and image has never been written to EEPROM,then the software will revert to the factory settings contained in the PROM.The user should beware that it is possible to "get in trouble" with this configuration process. Forexample, assume you accidentally set the protocol for the operator port to MSC. If you do nothave the ability to interface using MSC protocol you will immediately lose contact with the545B. You can no longer issue commands. Power cycling will not help because your change isretained in RAM and lives through power cycling. However, in this case you can recover byremoving the lid on the 545B and pressing and releasing the Reset button (S1). The software willreboot and restore the EEPROM settings.As a variation, assume you want to change the operator port to MSC. You connect in ASCIIprotocol, command the change to MSC protocol, then switch you PC to also use MSC protocol.Operation resumes and you are happy. But do not forget to do a save - or if the software everreboots, its back to ASCII. And remember that once you do the save you are committed to MSCprotocol. The reset button now reboots to MSC. There is no easy way back to the factorydefaults. You will need an MSC capability to command a change back to ASCII.4.2.2 Selecting 545B Remote/Master OperationThe 545B can operate as either a Remote Station or as a limited Master Station. Use theDEVICE command to select the mode you need.For normal 545B Remote operation, enter:DEVICE,REMOTEFor 545B operation as a limited Master Station, enter:DEVICE,MASTERNOTEAdditional 545B commands are available when DEVICE,MASTER is selected (No help for thiscommand).4.2.3 Selecting Network ParametersMCC recommends using the given default network parameters (values set on power-up or afterreset). If you choose to change these parameters, first review the discussion here and in Section4.8.5 and then use the following command to change the desired settings:SNP{,pname,value}

OPERATIONS 4-6O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000where "pname" is the network parameter, and "value" is a limit dependent on "pname". The"pname" parameters are as follows:TTL – time-to-live in minutes (default 120 minutes); i.e., the time limit for a message toreach its destination before it is deleted from the queue.The time-to-live parameter input is truncated to a 10-minute boundary forutilization by the 545B (e.g., if you enter 66 or 64, the TTL for the next messagestarts at 60). A resultant value of 0 (parameter range 0 – 9) means never time out.TTR – time-to-retransmit in minutes (default 20 minutes); i.e., the message isretransmitted if it has not reached its destinations in this time frame.NUP – neighbor-up threshold (default 20 acquisitions); the number of times a Stationmust hear from another Station in one minute before it becomes a neighbor.NDOWN – neighbor-down threshold in minutes (default 20 minutes); if there is nocommunication with a neighbor Station within the set time, the route to thatneighbor is ignored. Setting NDOWN to 0 keeps a neighbor defined indefinitely.RDOWN – Remote-down threshold in minutes (default 1,440 minutes); if there is nocommunication with a Remote Station within set time, the Remote is declareddown and is removed from the Remote table. Setting RDOWN to 0 keeps aRemote defined indefinitely. (MASTER OPERATION ONLY)OTL – outstanding text limit (default 20 texts); the number of messages a Station isallowed to send to another Station without an end-to-end acknowledgment.CONNP – connectivity message precedence (default 1 precedence); information on changesin the connectivity table is given highest precedence (automatic feature).(MASTER OPERATION ONLY)ETEAP – end-to-end ACK message precedence (default 0 [zero] precedence); theacknowledgment of a message when it reaches its final destination is givenhighest precedence.HTO – history file timeout in minutes (default 10 minutes); maintains information forduplicate filtering.TEXTL – text size in segments (default 32 segments). (MASTER OPERATION ONLY)FLOODP – partial "flooding" precedence level (default A precedence). Messages of thisprecedence level and above are transmitted over all routes of minimum length;messages below this precedence are not sent over all minimum length routes, but

OPERATIONS 4-7O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000are sent only over the route where the shortest transmit queues exist. (MASTEROPERATION ONLY)INF – infinity hop quantity (default 8 hops). Defines the width of the network in hopsplus one to determine when connectivity to a node is broken. Should be as low aspossible to minimize auto-connectivity traffic in the network, but large enough tonot erroneously flag nodes as being offline. (MASTER OPERATION ONLY)RELAY – relay function specification (default ON). Specifies whether the 545B should actlike a Remote in terms of relay functionality (i.e., does not share connectivitytable with other Masters. (MASTER OPERATION ONLY)DATAP – priority of data reports initiated at the MCC-545B (default Y precedence). Whenused in any data collection network, this setting defines the precedence of datareports generated asynchronously by the equipment itself. Typically, it should belower than operator entered messages and commands.MBHOP – meteor burst link hop weight (default 1 hop). Defines the number of networkhops to associate with a meteor burst Master Station link when determining theminimum path to use in routing a message. Should be high enough to prevent ameteor burst Master Station link to be picked over a line-of-sight Remote toRemote link in a generally line-of-sight network.4.2.4 Selecting the Burst MonitorThe 545B has a unique meteor burst monitor capability that allows you to monitor the number ofcharacters received, the RF signal level, and other parameters on each reception.To turn on the burst monitor and record statistics on meteor bursts, type:MON{,d{,r}}The two optional parameters are designed to limit the printout. The burst monitor generates twoor three lines of printout for every burst. This could conceivably create hundreds of pages ofprintout a day in a network environment. The first parameter is the duration character countlimit. Only meteors lasting long enough to deliver "d" characters will be monitored. The secondparameter is the received character count limit; if at least "r" characters are received on the burst,a monitor line will be generated. The default values are 100 for "d" and 1 for "r". For example, tolimit the printout, but still get some maintenance benefit from the monitor, enter:MON,500,100This limits the printout to meteors that have a duration character count greater than 500, or areceived character count greater than 100. You can adjust these parameters as desired.

OPERATIONS 4-8O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000The command MONOFF turns off the burst monitor.4.2.5 Controlling the Hourly Statistics ReportBy default, an hourly statistics report is generated on the maintenance terminal port on the hour.This report consists of the same statistics reports generated by the BINS, MEM, and STATcommands.The hourly report can be disabled by entering the command:HOURLIES,OFFThe hourly report can be re-enabled by entering the command:HOURLIES,ON4.2.6 Scheduling 545B EventsThe 545B SCHED command allows you to schedule automated command "events". An "event"simply consists giving one or more 545B commands a trigger time. When the 545B's real-timeclock reaches the trigger time, the scheduler invokes the command as though you had entered itfrom the 545B's operator terminal.Two different types of time trigger options are provided for command scheduling: INTERVALand TIME. The INTERVAL trigger allows you to schedule a command to be invoked at periodicintervals within a 24-hour time period; the TIME trigger allows you to schedule a command tobe invoked only once at a specified point within a 24 hour time period. The command schedulelist is restarted each time the real-time clock reaches midnight.To display current schedule list, enter:SCHEDTo add a new command to the schedule list, enter:SCHED,type,time{OFFSET,time},commandwhere: type = INTERVAL or TIMEtime = hours:minutes:secondsOFFSET,hh:mm:ss = time offset from specified timeframe (optional)command = any 545B command (with parameters)

OPERATIONS 4-9O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000NOTEThe scheduler ignores certain 545B commands due to their interactive nature. The MESSAGEcommand is currently the only ignored commandTo remove command event(s) from the schedule list:SCHED,DEL,xxxwhere: xxx = ALL (erases entire schedule)or = schedule list number (removes single scheduled event from schedule list)IMPORTANTThe 545B currently supports up to 50 scheduled command events. The schedule list will beerased if the system software re-boots (not to be confused with power failure recovery, whichwill preserve the schedule list).You can schedule several command events to trigger at the same time; however, you cannotforce one command to execute before or after another. After assigning command events to theschedule, the order of commands displayed in the schedule list is the order in which the eventswill trigger for any given trigger time (i.e., an event with a low schedule number occurs beforean event with a high schedule number).4.2.7 Setting Timeout DurationThere is one programmable time limit for I/O port input on the 545B. MCC recommends usingthe given default timeout parameter. If you choose to change the timeout, use the followingcommand. Time limits are set by entering the number of seconds, from 0 to 32767. Enter a 0 toturn off the time limit.Command DescriptionSTT,secs Set Teleprinter Timeout. Time limit for characters at maintenance terminal.Default is 60 seconds (1 minute).4.2.8 Setting FrequenciesThe FREQUENCIES command is used in systems using synthesized frequencies only (seeSection 2.7.4). To enable setting frequencies, you must first enter the following command toidentify the system as a synthesized frequency system:

OPERATIONS 4-10O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000SYNTH,ONYou can then display/set the TX and RX frequencies using the following command:FREQ{UENCIES{,aaaa,bbbb}}where: aaaa = Tx Frequency (e.g., 4053 for 40.53 MHz)bbbb = Rx Frequency (e.g., 4153 for 41.53 MHz)IMPORTANTComponentry in the MCC-545B limits the usable frequency range to a 2 MHz bandwidth. Iffrequencies are to be changed outside this bandwidth, hardware modifications must also be madeto the MCC-545B.If the synthesizer is unable to establish phase-lock when the SYNTH,ON command is entered,the MCC-545B will respond UNLOCKED to the request and turn off the TX key. It will tryonce a minute thereafter to establish phase-lock. If it fails, the message Synthesizer unlockedwill be displayed; if it succeeds, the MCC-545B will respond LOCKED and turn on the TX key.4.2.9 Defining Data RelaysPerformance at meteor mode Remote units having poor communication paths with a MasterStation due to ambient noise conditions, etc., can be enhanced by using an MCC-545B PACKETDATA RADIO located in a quiet location line of sight with the Remote units as a data relay.When used as a data relay, the 545B will concentrate data reports from one or more Remote unitsand forward them to the Master Station.When used as a relay, the MCC-545B must be defined as a Master Station and the Remote unitsto be relayed use the relay as their preferred Master. The relay will receive MCC-550C sensordata GROUP reports (see MCC-550C Operations Manual), repackage them and forward them tothe Master Station. A relay unit can handle up to a total of sixteen GROUP reports. Thesereports can be in any combination; i.e., four groups from each of four Remote units, one groupfrom each of sixteen Remote units or any combination in between. Substitution tables must beestablished in both the relay unit and also the Master Station to manage the relay function.When a designated GROUP report is received at the relay, it will substitute its own ID and groupnumber in the report as defined in its substitution table and forward the data to a 520B MasterStation using 550C RF format rather than standard 545B message format. When relayed data isreceived at the 520B, it will reconstruct the original data report based on its own substitutiontable and route the report as required.The following command is used to define entries in the substitution table for a relay unit:

OPERATIONS 4-11O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000SUBST,relay_id,relay_group,remote_id,remote_groupwhere: relay_id is the relay unit's IDrelay_group is the data group report number at the relayremote_id is the originating Remote unit's IDremote_group is the data group report number at the originating Remote unit4.2.10 Scaling A/D ReadingsThe 545B appropriately scales readings from its A/D converter for operator use. The readingsthat require scaling are battery level, detected RF and transmit power. The scaling factorsrequired for these readings depend on the type of hardware configuration in the 545B and are setby operator command using the SCALE command as summarized in Table 4.1.There are four values that need to be scaled differently depending on the equipmentconfiguration:! Battery Voltage (STAT/TEST commands)! Detected RF in dB (MM command, meteor monitor, BINS command)! Detected RF in microvolts (STAT/TEST commands)! Transmit power level (STAT/TEST commands)The required scaling factors are determined by the power supply used in the PACKET DATARADIO; however, the receiver type (RXTYPE command) is also significant since the 527 and543 receiver calibration curves which relate detected RF (in dB) to microvolts arenonlinear and significantly different.To apply the scaling factors, the transmit power A/D reading value must first be squared thenthen multiply by the factor in the table. For the other values, take the A/D reading directlyand multiply by the factor.MCC-545B SCALING FACTORSPARAMETER STANDARD545B, 12V EGYPT543, 36V NORWAY545B, 28VBAT 0.0623 0.05 0.1749DETRF 0.0188 0.1074 0.0188TXPWR 0.000353 0.00116 0.000353RXTYPE 527 543 527TABLE 4.1

OPERATIONS 4-12O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/20004.3 Sending and Receiving Messages4.3.1 Entering and Deleting MessagesEntering MessagesThere are two ways to enter messages:1. If you want to send a message to your 545B's default destination (set with theDESTINATION command), enter the MESSAGE command with no parameters byfollowing these steps:a. Type MESSAGE. The computer enters the edit mode. If you decide to exit the editmode before transmitting a message, type [CTRL]A.b. Enter a message up to 3,570 characters in length, pressing [CR] at the end of each 80character line. To correct mistakes made upon entering the message, see Section4.3.3.c. After entering the message, press the [ESC] key. The [ESC] key queues the messagefor transmission.The computer prints the following message: hh:mm:ss Message No: name:sss, nnnn chars, nnn segments hh:mm:ss ROUTING name :sss TXT sss/nn TO: nameNOTEIf you want to use source routing, enter 0 for the destination ID. When the Master Stationreceives your message, it will send the message to the appropriate destination, based on its linktable showing which destination(s) are linked with your Station (the source Station where themessage was sent from). Refer to the Master Station manual for more information on sourcerouting.Messages entered in this fashion have a priority of R. If you want to send a message with ahigher (or lower) priority to your default destination Station, enter MESSAGE,p where "p" is anyletter A (top priority) to Z (lowest priority). If you also want to send the message to anotherStation, refer to step 2 following.2. If you want to send a message to another Station in addition to or instead of your defaultdestination, enter the MESSAGE command with priority and destination parameters byfollowing these steps:a. Type: MESSAGE,p,dest1,dest2...

OPERATIONS 4-13O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000where "p" is any letter from A to Z (A is top priority, and Z is the lowest priority).When you enter the message destinations as command parameters ("dest1", "dest2", etc.),the message is automatically routed to those Stations when you enter the message andpress [ESC]. Destination is the Station numerical ID..NOTEIf you also want to send a copy of the message to your default destination, you must enter itsStation numerical ID as one of the command parameters ("dest1", "dest2", etc.) as specifiedabove.b. Enter a message up to 3,570 characters in length, pressing [CR] at the end of each 80character line. To correct mistakes made upon entering the message, see Section 4.3.3.c. After entering the message, press the [ESC] key. The [ESC] key queues the message fortransmission.The computer prints the following message: hh:mm:ss Message No: name:sss, nnnn chars, nnn segments hh:mm:ss ROUTING name :sss TXT sss/nn TO: nameSpecial Features1. Retransmit a Previously Entered Message.You can resend the previous message by simply pressing [ESC] before any other keywhen the terminal prints ENTER TEXT. The message is sent to any destination(s) youentered when you typed MESSAGE, or to the default destination if you did not enter anydestinations.2. Revise a Previously Entered Message.You can add to the previous message or recover an abort by typing a [CTRL]T as the firstcharacter after the ENTER TEXT: prompt. The previous message prints, and leaves thecursor at the end of the message. You can now resume editing; press [ESC] to send themessage, or [CTRL]D to erase the message.Deleting MessagesTo delete a message once you have placed it on-the-air (maintenance terminal only), type:DEL MSG,id:sss

OPERATIONS 4-14O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000where: id - numerical Station ID sss - message serial numberThe maintenance terminal prints the date and time, followed by MESSAGE DELETED. Othercommands that you can enter to delete messages are described in Section 4.3.6. See Appendix Afor a description of the printouts.4.3.2 Sending Commands to Remote StationsCommands may be sent to any Remote Station, in the form of text messages. The commandsmay be any valid command for that type of Remote, except for message entry. The response textfor the command is transmitted back to the 545B in the form of command response packets, andit is displayed on both the console and alternate console ports. The command entry is similar tothe MESSAGE command, which is shown in the Section 4.3.1.To send a command to a Remote, enter the following:REMCMD,p,dest1,...destnwhere: p - the priority character A to Z dest1...destn Remote numeric IDThe operator is prompted for the text of the single command to be entered using the messageeditor. Once the command is entered, press the [ESC] key to send the command. The operatorterminal prints:Hh:mm:ss Message No: name:sss, nnnn chars, nnn segments Master ID number of 14-character segments Message Number number of characters (0 – 255)The message is enqueued as a type CMD (as displayed by the SMS command). The response is atype MON message.4.3.3 Editing MessagesThere are several keys on the maintenance terminal that provide editing functions while thecomputer is in the edit mode. If you have left the edit mode by pressing the [ESC] key, you canfurther edit the message by typing MESSAGE, then [CTRL]T. The contents of the message youhave just entered is displayed. You can then edit the message using the following keys:

$OPERATIONS 4-15O&M of the MCC-545B PACKET DATA RADIO12/2000[DEL] Deletes the last character entered.[CTRL]R Prints the current line of text on the next line down.[CTRL]I Performs a fixed tab function.\ Removes the current line from the edit buffer.[CR] Performs a carriage return and line feed.[LF] Performs a carriage return and line feed.[CTRL]X Removes the current line from the edit buffer and places the cursor at the end ofthe previous line.[CTRL]T Prints the contents of the edit buffer.[CTRL]D Erases the entire contents of the edit buffer.[CTRL]A Aborts the edit mode and returns to the command mode. A + indicates the command mode.[ESC]B Leaves text edit mode and queues message for transmission.4.3.4 Transmitting MessagesYou automatically transmit messages by entering messages with the MESSAGE command. Eachmessage is placed in the transmit queue in order by assigned priority - messages of equal priorityare placed in the queue in the order that you enter it. As the originating 545B begins to transmitthe message, it prints the following message on the maintenance terminal:hh:mm:ss Message No: name:sss, nnnn chars, nnn segmentshh:mm:ss ROUTING name :sss TXT sss/nn TO: nameMessages are transmitted in units called packets. Packets can be independently routed to thedestination Station. When the next Station receives a message packet, you see anacknowledgement text line formatted as:mm/dd/yy hh:mm:ss TXTMSG ACK name:sss, xxxx CHARS FROM nameWhen the message has been delivered to its destination, you will see an end-to-endacknowledgement:hh:mm:ss END-TO-END ACK OF name:sss FROM name$