Adcon Telemetry B900SS 500 Users Manual

B900SS-500

Radio Modem Card

Spread Spectrum

(FCC Part15.247)

Technical Manual

EDITION: 0.2

UPDATED: 18/06/2001

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ADCON. AG

Les Cardoulines - Bâtiment B4

1360 route des Dolines

06560 Valbonne

Sophia Antipolis - France

Tel [phone]

Fax [phone]

Internet Site

http://www.adcon.at

E-mail

[e-mail]

The information within this document may be modified without notice. No part of this manual
can be duplicated or transferred, electronically or mechanically in any way, without ADCON
AG.'s strict and written consent.

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INDEX

Chapter 1. Objective....................................................................................................................5

Chapter 2. Module introduction..................................................................................................6

2.1. Description................................................................................................................................. 6

2.2. Specifications............................................................................................................................. 7

2.2.1. General.................................................................................................................................................. 7

2.2.2. Specifications of the B900SS-500.......................................................................................................... 7

2.2.3. Schematic..............................................................................................................................................8

2.3. Available Configuration............................................................................................................ 9

2.3.1. Software Configuration.......................................................................................................................... 9

2.3.2. Hardware Configuration......................................................................................................................... 9

2.3.3. Antennas ............................................................................................................................................. 10

2.3.3.1. General............................................................................................................................................ 10

Chapter 3. Basic Operation.......................................................................................................11

3.1. General .................................................................................................................................... 11

3.2. "Hayes" Mode......................................................................................................................... 11

3.3. "Point-to-Point" Mode............................................................................................................ 12

3.4. "Network" Mode ..................................................................................................................... 13

3.5. B900SS-500 Operation ............................................................................................................ 14

3.5.1. Installation and Connection.................................................................................................................. 14

3.5.2. WinB900 Software Utilization in Point-to-Point Mode......................................................................... 15

3.5.3. Use of the WinB900 Software in Network Mode.................................................................................. 19

3.5.4. Use of the "Terminal" or "HyperTerminal" Software............................................................................ 22

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Chapter 4. Advanced Operation................................................................................................23

4.1. General.....................................................................................................................................23

4.2. "Hayes" Protocol Commands.................................................................................................24

4.2.1. General................................................................................................................................................24

4.2.2. Description of the standard commands .................................................................................................25

4.2.3. Registers Description...........................................................................................................................27

4.3. Operation Example..................................................................................................................28

4.3.1. Automatic Acquisition of two Point-to-Point Modems..........................................................................28

4.3.2. Manual Acquisition of two Point-to-Point Modems .............................................................................. 30

4.4. Radio Test Commands ............................................................................................................32

4.5. Advanced Operation of WinB900 software ............................................................................33

4.5.1. Hayes commands................................................................................................................................. 33

4.5.2. Test Commands...................................................................................................................................35

Appendix 1: Schematic Diagram ..................................................................................................37

Appendix 2: Mechanical Drawings..............................................................................................38

Drawing of the B900SS-500 Card.........................................................................................................38

Interface Signals ...................................................................................................................................39

Connector Drawing...............................................................................................................................41

Connecting Cable Description..............................................................................................................42

Appendix 3: Antenna Connection ................................................................................................43

Appendix 4: Connexion for WinB900..........................................................................................44

Appendix 5: Timing Diagrams.....................................................................................................45

Appendix 6: Description of the registers ......................................................................................47

Appendix 7: Document Revisions History....................................................................................50

Appendix 8: B900SS-500 Firmware Version History ...................................................................51

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Chapter 1. Objective

The objective of this document is to present the features and the application of the
B900SS-500 radio module.

The operation of this module is divided into two chapters:

• The ‘Basic Operation’ chapter describes the Module operating modes and allows
the user to learn the WinB900 Software in walking through it.

• The ‘Advanced Operation’ is especially for users that want to program the
module directly. It presents all the available commands.

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Chapter 2. Module introduction

2.1. Description

The B900SS-500 is an FM radio transceiver with frequency hopping using an F.S.K
modulation. The receiver is of a super beat oscillator type with heterodyning. It
operates on the 902-928 MHz band and, therefore, is within U.S. FCC part 15.247
standard.

Using the frequency synthesis, it has a maximum of 50 channels spaced by 200 kHz
and can communicate with equipment via a serial interface with RS-232 standard and
TTL levels.
The serial link is completely programmable from 2400 up to 38400 Baud. The radio
rate is established at 40 KBits/s.

The B900SS-500 uses the most recent technology of flash memory microcontroller,
which allows the user to update or to load new features through the serial link.

Many parameters are programmable through the serial link and the default
configuration is memorized in a Flash Bank with the 'ATO' order.

At each activation, the radio modem component is programmed with its configuration
parameters (Channel, Speed, Protocol, etc.).

The default data are: RS-232 connection at 19.200 Baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity,
Frequency Table 1, Client modem.

All these parameters are accessible and modifiable with HAYES (or AT) commands.

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2.2. Specifications

2.2.1. General

The B900SS-500 is a radio card component that receives and transmits data according
to a frequency table selected by the user.

2.2.2. Specifications of the B900SS-500

Radio Part :

• Electronic :

Frequency: 902 to 928 MHz (FCC part 15-247).
Number of channels: 50, channel 0 to 49.
Channel selection: Frequency hopping, according to a random

Radio rate: 40 KBits/s.
Modulation/Demodulation: FSK (Frequency Shift Keying).
Bit encoding: Quad Frequencies encoding.
RF sensitivity: -97 dBm (± 2 dB) at 50 Ohms.
RF power: +27 dBm (500 mW) (± 2 dB) over 50 Ohms.
Error rate: <10-4 bytes to -95 dBm.
Saturation: Two modules communicate at 0 dBm.
Operation Temp.: Standard operation : 14°F to +131°F.
Storage Temp.: -40°F to +176°F.
Relative humidity: From 20% to 90% RH (without condensation).

table of 50 channels. 8 tables are stored in
Flash memory.

• Performance range :

Length of communication : 500 to 1,000 Feet in difficult environment
3,400 to 4,500 Feet in open environment

Obstacles Impact : Walls, trees, obstacles can strongly reduce the

(Ex. : buildings, reinforced concrete),
(Ex : Ground level),

11,000 Feet in view and in height
(Ex: between buildings).

range.

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Digital Part :

• Electronic :

Processor: FLASH Microcontroller
Programming: Upload and download with a PC through the RS232

serial link and a specific cable.

Program Memory : 16 Kbytes of FLASH
Data Memory: 512 bytes of RAM for stack and data
Flash Data Memory : 256 bytes for all parameters (Registers).

Serial Link: 2400 to 38400 Baud, NRZ format, 5 volts TTL ou

RS232 level with TxD, RxD, CTS and RTS.

• Power Supply :

Supply voltage: 3,6V monitored (± 5%).
MAX RATING : 4V.
Consumption: Receive Transmit Sleep
<50mA <900mA <15µA

• Hayes Commands :
The user can program all the parameters. A Windows programming

software is supplied "on-line" with documentation support. (See AT
commands).

Examples of Hayes commands:

Serial: Serial link rate, parity, bit count, stop bit count, Serial Time-

out, …
Radio: Channels table selection, retry count, …
Mode: Point to Point, Network (future), Stand-by, etc.

Dimensions :

Weight: <50 g (without antenna).
Dimensions: 107 x 52 x14 mm (without antenna).
Connectors: 1x Delta-Ribbon 26 pins receptacle from 3M.

2.2.3. Schematic

See Appendix 1 for the principle schematics and the physical description of the card.

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2.3. Available Configuration

2.3.1. Software Configuration

The B900SS-500 has 3 operating modes managed by the WinB900 Software (See
Chapter 3) :

• "Hayes",

• Point-to-Point,

• Network.

2.3.2. Hardware Configuration

All the B900SS product radio modules are delivered with the necessary software for
operation. For more information, refer to Appendix 4.

With each radio module, the following is available :

• Series of programming ASCII messages to integrate the radio modems with a
serial link (Terminal & .

• A Windows configuration and test software programming the radio modules
and testing the links (quality, distance, shadow area, etc.).

• A set of reference material available in CD-ROM.

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2.3.3. Antennas

2.3.3.1. General

The radio module beams signals and communicates with its antenna, which is
absolutely essential.

If it has a defective antenna, if this antenna fails to balance or is installed in a noisy
environment, it can lead to a bad result.

For more information, refer to Appendix 3.

Purpose :

Ä ½ length wave model Omni +3dBi antenna with a short coaxial cable.
Ä Directive +6dBi antenna with a short coaxial cable.

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Chapter 3. Basic Operation

3.1. General

The B900SS-500 can operate with three data communication modes:

• "Hayes": inspired from the standard Hayes for voice modems, it is used to
program the modem's parameters.

• "Point-to-Point": Two B900SS-500 replace a cable (the Half-duplex operation
copies the function of an RS-485 cable). This mode automatically handles the data
security (encapsulation, iterations, etc.)

• "Network": Several B900SS-500 can work together, in accordance with a
Client/Server structure. A Server will then be able to handle up to 16 clients
simultaneously.

3.2. "Hayes" Mode

The Hayes commands used by the radio module are in conformity with the Hayes
protocol standard used for the voice modems. This protocol is based on the following
principle: A data frame always starts with the two ASCII characters "AT" for
"ATtention". The commands follow and are coded on one or several characters
eventually with additional data.

Since the B900SS-500 does not operate exactly like a voice modem, it includes
additional "AT" codes.

These commands are principally used to read and write the data in the configuration
registers stored in Flash.

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3.3. "Point-to-Point" Mode

In this mode, two B900SS-500 Modems can communicate together without getting
any interference with other Modems.

For this purpose, their work is synchronized and constantly jumping frequency,
avoiding interference with another transmitter: if one or more channels are busy, the
data will be transmitted through another channel.

On the other hand, a "Personal Network" owns each set of modem. The data used for
a "Personal Network" cannot be intercepted by another "Personal Network". Each
"Personal Network" owns a Master, which handles the communication
(synchronization, priority, etc.) and a Slave that obeys its Master.

The first synchronization is named "Acquisition", and lets a Slave get acquainted with
its Master (No. of Personal Network, Frequency Table used, etc.). Eventually, at each
powered reset, the Slave will synchronize, then later be able to communicate with its
Master. A "Lock" signal shows if a Slave has been synchronized with its Master or not.

Eventually, this synchronization is maintained all along the Master/Slave Dialogue.

A hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) is present on the Modems serial link in order to let
the user know that the buffer (130 characters) starts to saturate. The alarm level is by
default 130 characters and can be programmed through the S215 Register.

Finally, an Ack_Tx signal, synchronized on the RTS signal, allows the transmitter user
to know if the receiver user has received a data frame or not.

For more specific information and to get the Time Series Charts, see the following
chapter ("Advanced Part") and the Appendix 5.

3.4. "Network" Mode

In this mode, several B900SS-500 Modems are able to communicate with each other.
Therefore, they constitute a Network handled by a Server Modem that can hold up to
16 Client Modems.

The acquisition procedures, the modems synchronization and the RTS/CTS and
Ack_Tx signals handling are the same as for the "Point-to-Point" Mode.

On the other hand, when a frame is sent, it is necessary that a character indicating the
receiver modem number precedes the data frame. Also, in receiving the frame, a
character preceding this frame indicates the transmitter modem.

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14

¼ wave antenna

RS232 Cable for PC and Power supply

D connector and a

3.5. B900SS-500 Operation

3.5.1. Installation and Connection

A B900SS-500 radio module is provided with an antenna and a serial cable which can
be connected directly to a PC RS232 interface. This cable has also a power supply
connector to connect a stabilized 3,6V power supply (see picture).

with a 25 pins Sub-

2 pins power supply connector.

A Windows Software, 'WinB900' configures and tests the B900SS-500 radio module.
In order to install it on your PC, launch 'Setup.exe' located on the CD-ROM supplied
with the modem, in the WinB900 directory.

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3.5.2. WinB900 Software Utilization in Point-to-Point Mode

The WinB900 Software can have two radio modules communicate between the COM1
and COM2 Port of a PC, or between COMx and COMy of two PC. The software
detect automatically if a B900SS is connected on port COM1 and/or COM2.

In a first phase, the two modems have to recognize each other ("Acquisition"). Go in
the "Quick Configuration" Menu, to the "Acquisition" Option. When this option is
selected, the software displays the following screen:

When the two B900SS are present, modem on COM1 is Master always and modem
on COM2 is a Slave always. When only one modem is present, the user can select the
type of modem (Master or Slave).

Select the table of the chosen channels as well as the No. of Network (between 1 and

65535), and then launch the Acquisition clicking on the "Point-to-Point Acquisition"

button.

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After clicking the button, the following message appears:

You can then quit the window. The Modems are synchronized.
Consequently, you can communicate between the Modems with the ‘Point-to-Point

Dialogue’ Option from the "Quick Configuration" menu. When this option is selected,
the software displays the following screen: