4RF Aprisa SR+ User Manual

April 2013

Version 1.0.0.03 (for General Availability Release in October 2013)

| 1

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Copyright

Copyright © 2013 4RF Limited. All rights reserved.

This document is protected by copyright belonging to 4RF Limited and may not be reproduced or
republished in whole or part in any form without the prior written permission of 4RF Limited.

Trademarks

Aprisa and the 4RF logo are trademarks of 4RF Limited.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Java
and all Java-related trademarks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the
United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Disclaimer

Although every precaution has been taken preparing this information, 4RF Limited assumes no liability for
errors and omissions, or any damages resulting from use of this information. This document or the
equipment may change, without notice, in the interests of improving the product.

RoHS and WEEE compliance

The Aprisa SR+ is fully compliant with the European Commission’s RoHS (Restriction of Certain Hazardous
Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
environmental directives.

Restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS)

The RoHS Directive prohibits the sale in the European Union of electronic equipment containing these
hazardous substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs),
and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

4RF has worked with its component suppliers to ensure compliance with the RoHS Directive which came
into effect on the 1st July 2006.

End-of-life recycling programme (WEEE)

The WEEE Directive concerns the recovery, reuse, and recycling of electronic and electrical equipment.
Under the Directive, used equipment must be marked, collected separately, and disposed of properly.

4RF has instigated a programme to manage the reuse, recycling, and recovery of waste in an
environmentally safe manner using processes that comply with the WEEE Directive (EU Waste Electrical
and Electronic Equipment 2002/96/EC).

4RF invites questions from customers and partners on its environmental programmes and compliance with
the European Commission’s Directives ([e-mail]).

2 |

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Compliance General

The Aprisa SR+ radio predominantly operates within frequency bands that require a site license be issued
by the radio regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the territory in which the equipment is being
operated.

It is the responsibility of the user, before operating the equipment, to ensure that where required the
appropriate license has been granted and all conditions attendant to that license have been met.

Changes or modifications not approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

Equipment authorizations sought by 4RF are based on the Aprisa SR+ radio equipment being installed at a
fixed location and operated in point-to-multipoint or point-to-point mode within the environmental profile
defined by EN 300 019, Class 3.4. Operation outside these criteria may invalidate the authorizations and /
or license conditions.

The term ‘Radio’ with reference to the Aprisa SR+ User Manual, is a generic term for one end station of a
point-to-multipoint Aprisa SR+ network and does not confer any rights to connect to any public network or
to operate the equipment within any territory.

Compliance European Telecommunications Standards Institute

ETSI compliance pending for the Aprisa SR+.

Compliance Federal Communications Commission

FCC compliance pending for the Aprisa SR+.

Compliance Industry Canada

IC compliance pending for the Aprisa SR+.

| 3

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

WARNING:

The installer and / or user of Aprisa SR+ radios shall ensure that a separation distance
as given in the following table is maintained between the main axis of the terminal’s
antenna and the body of the user or nearby persons.

Minimum separation distances given are based on the maximum values of the
following methodologies:

1. Maximum Permissible Exposure non-occupational limit (B or general public) of

47 CFR 1.1310 and the methodology of FCC’s OST/OET Bulletin number 65.

2. Reference levels as given in Annex III, European Directive on the limitation of
exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz)
(1999/519/EC). These distances will ensure indirect compliance with the
requirements of EN 50385:2002.

Frequency (MHz)

Maximum Power

(dBm)

Maximum Antenna

Gain (dBi)

Minimum Separation

Distance

(m)

300

+ 37

15

2.5

330

+ 37

15

2.5

400

+ 37

15

2.5

470

+ 37

15

2.3

520

+ 37

15

2.2

850

+ 37

28

7.7

960

+ 37

28

7.2

RF Exposure Warning

Contents | 5

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Contents

1. Introduction ................................................................................ 9

The 4RF Aprisa SR+ Radio ....................................................................... 9

Product Overview ............................................................................... 10

Network Coverage and Capacity ....................................................... 10

Automatic Registration .................................................................. 10

Remote Messaging ........................................................................ 10

Product Features ......................................................................... 11

Functions .................................................................................. 11

Performance .............................................................................. 11

Usability ................................................................................... 11

Architecture...................................................................................... 12

Security ........................................................................................... 12

Interfaces ......................................................................................... 13

Antenna Interface ........................................................................ 13

Ethernet Interface ....................................................................... 13

RS-232 Interface .......................................................................... 13

USB Interfaces ............................................................................ 13

Alarm Interface ........................................................................... 13

AUX Interface ............................................................................. 13

Mounting .......................................................................................... 14

DIN Rail Mounting ........................................................................ 14

Rack Shelf Mounting ..................................................................... 16

Wall Mounting ............................................................................. 16

2. Product Options ......................................................................... 17

Interface Ports ................................................................................... 17

Protected Station ............................................................................... 18

Operation .................................................................................. 18

Switch Over ........................................................................ 19

Configuration Management ...................................................... 19

Data Driven Protected Station................................................................. 20

Operation .................................................................................. 20

6 | Contents

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

3. Specifications ............................................................................ 21

RF Specifications ................................................................................ 21

ETSI Compliant ............................................................................ 21

Frequency Bands .................................................................. 21

Channel Sizes ...................................................................... 21

Transmitter ......................................................................... 22

Receiver ............................................................................ 24

Modem .............................................................................. 24

Data Payload Security ............................................................ 24

Interface Specifications ........................................................................ 25

Ethernet Interface ....................................................................... 25

RS-232 Asynchronous Interface ......................................................... 25

Protection Switch Specifications ....................................................... 26

Power Specifications ............................................................................ 27

Power Supply .............................................................................. 27

Power Consumption ...................................................................... 27

Power Dissipation ........................................................................ 28

General Specifications .......................................................................... 29

Environmental ............................................................................ 29

Mechanical ................................................................................ 29

Compliance ................................................................................ 29

4. Management ............................................................................. 31

SuperVisor ........................................................................................ 31

Viewing the Aprisa SR+ Terminal Settings ............................................ 32

Configuring the Aprisa SR+ Terminal Details ......................................... 33

Configuring the Aprisa SR+ RF Network Details ...................................... 33

Configuring the Aprisa SR+ Radio Settings ............................................ 34

Command Line Interface ....................................................................... 35

SNMP .............................................................................................. 35

LED Display Panel ............................................................................... 36

Normal Operation ........................................................................ 36

Single Radio Software Upgrade ......................................................... 37

Network Software Upgrade ............................................................. 37

Test Mode ................................................................................. 37

5. Applications .............................................................................. 38

Basic point-to-multipoint application ........................................................ 38

Advanced point-to-multipoint application with repeater ................................. 39

Multi-interface point-to-multipoint application ............................................ 40

6. Architecture ............................................................................. 41

Product Description ............................................................................. 41

Physical Layer ............................................................................. 41

Data Link Layer / MAC layer ............................................................ 41

Channel Access .................................................................... 41

Hop by Hop Transmission ......................................................... 42

Network Layer ............................................................................ 43

Packet Routing ..................................................................... 43

Security ........................................................................................... 44

Product Architecture .................................................................... 45

Aprisa SR+ Block Diagram ............................................................... 46

Contents | vii

7. Contact Us ................................................................................ 47

Introduction | 9

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

1. Introduction

The 4RF Aprisa SR+ Radio

The 4RF Aprisa SR+ is a point-to-multipoint digital radio providing secure narrowband wireless data
connectivity for SCADA, infrastructure and telemetry applications.

The radios carry a combination of serial packet data and Ethernet data between the base station,
repeater stations and remote stations.

The Aprisa SR+ is configurable as a point-to-multipoint base station, a remote station or a repeater
station.

10 | Introduction

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Product Overview

Network Coverage and Capacity

In a simple point-to-multipoint network, an Aprisa SR+ base station can communicate with up to a
practical limit of 150 remote stations.

The Aprisa SR+ has a typical link range of up to 60 km, however, geographic features, such as hills,
mountains, trees and foliage, or other path obstructions, such as buildings, tend to limit radio coverage.
Additionally, geography may reduce network capacity at the edge of the network where errors may occur
and require retransmission. However, the Aprisa SR+ uses Forward Error Correction (FEC) which greatly
improves the sensitivity performance of the radio resulting in less retries and minimal reduction in
capacity.

Ultimately, the overall performance of any specific network will be defined by a range of factors including
the geographic location, the number of remote stations in the base station coverage area and the traffic
profile across the network. Effective network design will distribute the total number of remote stations
across the available base stations to ensure optimal geographic coverage and network capacity.

Automatic Registration

On start-up, the remote station transmits a registration message to the base stations which responds with
a registration response. This allows the base station to record the details of all the remote stations active
in the network.

If a remote station cannot register with the base station after multiple attempts (RF LED flashing red)
within 10 minutes, it will automatically reboot. If a remote station has registered with the base station
but then loses communication, it will automatically reboot within 2 minutes.

Remote Messaging

There are two message types in the Aprisa SR+ network, broadcast messages and unicast messages.
Broadcast messages are transmitted by the base station to the remote stations and unicast messages are
transmitted by the remote station to the base station. These messages are commonly referred to as uplink
(unicast remote to base) and downlink (broadcast base to remote).

All remotes within the coverage area will receive broadcast messages and pass them on to either the
Ethernet or serial interface. The RTU determines if the message is intended for it and will accept it or
discard it.

Introduction | 11

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Product Features

Functions

Point-to-Point (PTP) or Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) operation
Licensed frequency bands:

UHF 330-400 MHz

UHF 400-470 MHz

UHF 928-960 MHz

Channel sizes – software selectable:

12.5 kHz

25 kHz

Adaptive modulation: QPSK to 64 QAM
Half duplex or full duplex RF operation
Ethernet data interface and RS-232 asynchronous multiple port options
Software selectable dual / single antenna port options (dual antenna port for external duplexers or

filters)

Data encryption and authentication
Terminal Server
Build-configuration / flexbility of interface ports (3+1, 2+2, 4+0)
Radio and user interface redundancy (provided with Aprisa SR+ Protected Station)
Protected Station fully hot swappable and monitored hot standby
Complies with international standards, including ETSI RF, EMC, safety and environmental standards

Performance

Typical deployment of 30 remote stations from one base station with a practical limit of a few

hundred remote stations

Long distance operation
High transmit power
Low noise receiver
Forward Error Correction
Electronic tuning over the frequency band
Thermal management for high power over a wide temperature range

Usability

Configuration / diagnostics via front panel Management Port USB interface, Ethernet interface
Built-in webserver with full configuration, diagnostics and monitoring functionality, including

remote station configuration / diagnostics over the radio link

LED display for on-site diagnostics
Dedicated alarm port
Software upgrade and diagnostic reporting via the Host Port USB flash drive
Over-the-air software distribution and upgrades
Simple installation with integrated mounting holes for wall, DIN rail and rack shelf mounting

12 | Introduction

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Architecture

The Aprisa SR+ Architecture is based around a layered TCP/IP protocol stack:

Physical

Proprietary wireless

Standard RS-232 and Ethernet

Link

Proprietary wireless (channel access, ARQ, segmentation)

Standard Ethernet

Network

Standard IP

Proprietary automatic radio routing table population algorithm

Transport

Standard TCP, UDP

Application

Proprietary management application software

Security

The Aprisa SR+ provides security features to implement the key recommendations for industrial control
systems. The security provided builds upon the best in class from multiple standards bodies, including:

IEC/TR 62443 (TC65) ‘Industrial Communications Networks – Network and System Security’
IEC/TS 62351 (TC57) ‘Power System Control and Associated Communications – Data and

Communication Security’

The security features implemented are:

Data encryption

Counter Mode Encryption (CTR) using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

Data authentication

Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code (CBC-MAC) using Advanced Encryption

Standard (AES)

Data payload security

CCM Counter with CBC-MAC integrity (NIST special publication 800-38C)

Secured management interface protects configuration
Address filtering enables traffic source authorization
Proprietary physical layer protocol and modified MAC layer protocol based on standardized IEEE

802.15.4

Licensed radio spectrum protects against interference

Introduction | 13

Aprisa SR+ Product Description

Interfaces

Antenna Interface

2 x TNC, 50 ohm, female connectors

Software selectable single or dual antenna port operation.

Ethernet Interface

2, 3 or 4 ports 10/100 base-T Ethernet layer 2 switch using RJ-45

Used for Ethernet user traffic and product management.

RS-232 Interface

2, 1 or 0 RS-232 asynchronous ports using RJ-45 connector

Used for RS-232 asynchronous user traffic only.

USB Interfaces

1 x Management Port using USB micro type B connector

Used for product configuration with the Command Line Interface (CLI).

1 x Host Port using USB standard type A connector

Used for software upgrade and diagnostic reporting.

Alarm Interface

1x Alarm Port using RJ-45 connector

Used for monitoring and control of protection switches.

AUX Interface

1x Port using a QMA female connector

Reserved for future use.