How it Works
Campbell Scientific
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RF400
User Manual
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Campbell Scientific RF400, RF410, RF415 User Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
RF400/RF410/RF415 Spread
Spectrum Data Radio/Modem
Revision: 3/05
Copyright (c) 2001-2005
Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Warranty and Assistance

Products may not be returned without prior authorization. The following contact information is for US and International customers residing in countries served by Campbell Scientific, Inc. directly. Affiliate companies handle repairs for customers withi n their territories. Please visit www.campbe llsci.com to determine which Campbell Scientific company serves your country. To obtain a Returned Materials Authorization (RMA), contact CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC., phone (435) 753-2342. After an applications engineer determines the nature of the problem, an RMA number will be issued. Please write this number clearly on the outside of the shipping container. CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC's shipping address is:
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC.
RMA#_____ 815 West 1800 North Logan, Utah 84321-1784
CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC, INC. does not accept collect calls.
– CAUTION –
Where an AC adapter is used, CSI recommends
Item # 15966. This AC adapter is included as part of
Item # 14220 RF400 Series Base Statio n Cable/Power Kit.
Any other AC adapter used must have a DC output not exceeding 16.5 Volts measured without a load to avoid
damage to the RF400 Series radio!
Over-voltage damage is not covered by factory warranty!
(See Power Supplies, Section 4.2 for AC adapter requirements)
Power plug polarity
This is a blank page.
RF400 Series Table of Contents
PDF viewers note: These page numbers refer to the printed version of this document. Use the Adobe Acrobat® bookmarks tab for links to specific sections.
1. Introduction.................................................................1
2. RF400 Series Specifications......................................2
3. Quick Start ..................................................................3
4. System Components ..................................................7
4.1 RF400 Series Data Radio..........................................................................7
4.1.1 Indicator LEDs................................................................................7
4.1.2 Setup Menu.....................................................................................8
4.1.3 Networking......................................................................................9
4.1.4 Error Handling and Retries...........................................................10
4.1.5 Received Signal Strength..............................................................12
4.2 Power Supplies .......................................................................................12
4.3 Serial Cables...........................................................................................14
4.4 Antennas for the RF400 Series ...............................................................15
4.5 Antenna Cables and Surge Protection .....................................................19
4.5.1 Antenna Cables.............................................................................19
4.5.2 Electro-static Issues.......................................................................19
4.5.3 Antenna Surge Protector Kit.........................................................20
5. Software Setup..........................................................21
6. Troubleshooting........................................................28
Appendices
A. Part 15 FCC Compliance Warning.........................A-1
B. Setup Menu ............................................................B-1
5.1 Point-to-Point..........................................................................................21
5.2 Point-to-Multipoint.................................................................................21
5.3 Example Setups.......................................................................................21
5.3.1 Direct PC to RF400 Series Base Station Setup.............................21
5.3.2 Remote Station Setup ....................................................................23
5.3.3 LoggerNet Configuration..............................................................25
5.3.4 PC208W Configuration.................................................................26
i
RF400 Table of Contents
C. RF400 Series Address and Address Mask...........C-1
D. Advanced Setup Standby Modes .........................D-1
E. RF400 Series Port Pin Descriptions .....................E-1
F. Datalogger RS-232 Port to RF400 Series Radio ... F-1
G. Short-Haul Modems ...............................................G-1
H. Distance vs. Antenna Gain, Terrain, and
I. Phone to RF400 Series............................................. I-1
J. Monitor CSAT3 via RF400 Series............................J-1
Other Factors.....................................................H-1
K. Pass/Fail Tests .......................................................K-1
L. RF400/RF415 Average Current Drain
Calculations....................................................... L-1
Figures
1. RF400......................................................................................................... 2
2. RF400 Basic Point-to-Point Network......................................................... 5
3. Point-to-Point LoggerNet Network Map.................................................... 6
4. Some 900 MHz FCC Approved Antennas.......................................... 16-18
5. Example COAX RPSMA-L Cable for Yagi or Omni Colinear................ 19
6. Antenna Surge Protector.......................................................................... 19
7. Enclosure with Antenna Surge Protector for RF400................................ 20
8. Point-to-Multipoint System...................................................................... 26
9. PC208W Datalogger Generic Dial String................................................ 27
G-1. Short-Haul Modem to RF400 Setup...................................................G-1
I-1. LoggerNet Point-to-Multipoint Setup....................................................I-4
K-1. Loop-back Test without Antennas......................................................K-3
K-2. Vertically Polarized 9 dBd 900 MHz Yagi........................................ K-5
K-3. 3 dBd 900 MHz Collinear Omni Antenna..........................................K-6
Tables
1. Lacking 12 V on CS I/O Pin 8................................................................... 5
2. Standard Setup Menu................................................................................. 8
3. 15966’s Voltage Regulation..................................................................... 14
4. RF400 Series 12 V Power Supply Options.............................................. 14
D-1. Advanced Setup Menu....................................................................... D-1
H-1. 900 MHz Distance vs. Path Loss (Lp in dB) per Three Path Types ..H-6
H-2. Path Type vs. Path Characteristics Selector....................................... H-6
ii
RF400 Table of Contents
K-1. 900 MHz Gain Antenna Test Distances..............................................K-6
L-1. Advanced Setup Menu........................................................................L-1
iii
RF400 Table of Contents
This is a blank page.
iv

RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Radio/Modems

1. Introduction

This manual covers the RF400 series radios — the RF400, RF410, and RF415. These radios differ from one another primarily in the radio frequencies at which they communicate. In this manual the term “RF400” can refer to the “RF400 series” or to that specific model. For clarity we will sometimes add “900 MHz.”
The RF400 is a 900 MHz, frequency hopping, spread spectrum, data radio/modem for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications. An excellent receiver combined with 100 mW transmitter power make possible, depending on path specifics, communication distances of 1/4 to 5 miles using omni-directional antennas and 10 to 20 miles using 9 dBd directional antennas (see Appendix H for a discussion of antenna gain and other factors affecting distance).
The RF410 differs from the RF400 in that it operates at 922 MHz for regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. The RF410’s communication range is the same as that of the RF400.
The RF415 is a 2.4 GHz version with 50 mW transmitter intended mainly for certain European and Asian markets. Communication distances vary from 300 feet (indoors) to ¼ mile (100 to 400 meters) with omni-directional antennas to over 12 miles (19 kilometers) with gain antennas and optimal terrain.
Users do not normally need a communications authority license for the RF400 series configurations described in this manual including U.S. Government Agencies regulated by NTIA Annex K. The 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands are shared with other non-licensed services such as cordless telephones and with licensed services including emergency, broadcast, and air-traffic control, so band usage will vary from location to location as will man-made noise. Spread spectrum technology resists noise and interference; however, the user may wish to test communications on site using Quick Start (Section 3) before committing to its use.
The RF400 operates from a 12 VDC power supply. The RF400’s low standby current modes allow it to operate at remote sites on small power budgets.
The RF400 was designed for ease of installation. It works in many applications “out of the box” with default settings.
1
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
FIGURE 1. RF400
The RF400 has a 9-pin serial CS I/O port and a 9-pin serial DCE RS-232 port. The CS I/O port allows the RF400 to connect to a datalogger. The RS-232 port allows direct PC connection for Setup Menu access and to create a direct connect RF400 “base station” for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications. Where necessary, a more distant base station can be set up using short-haul modems or phone modems between PC and RF400.
Base Station power is usually provided by a wall adapter. For a remote RF400, power is normally provided by the datalogger.
A PC running LoggerNet, PC208W, or PC208 is used for data collection, program transfer, and other datalogger supported functions. The PakOS software or a terminal program is used to configure the RF400 radios.

2. RF400 Series Specifications

POWER
• Voltage 9 – 18 VDC
• Current 75 mA typical during transmit
24 mA typical receiving a signal (36 mA for RF415)
2
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
Quiescent Current in Standby Modes*
Avg. Quiescent
Current (mA)
RF400/
RF410 RF415
24.0 33.0 0 (no duty cycling) 1
3.9 5.5 3 2
2.0 2.8 4 3
1.1 1.5 5
0.64 0.84 6
0.40 0.50 7 4
* Not receiving a signal nor transmitting
PHYSICAL
• Size 4.75 x 2.75 x 1.3 inches (12.1 x 7.0 x 3.3 cm)
• Weight 0.5 lbs (225 g)
• Operating temp. range –25°C to + 50°C
• Humidity 0 to 95% RH, non-condensing
RF/INTERFACE
• Transceiver modules MaxStream
• Frequency bands RF400 – 910.5 to 917.7 MHz
• Interface ports 1) CS I/O 9 pin
• I/O Data Rates 38.4 K, 19.2 K, 9600, 4800, 1200 bps
• Mode Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), 25
• Channel capacity 65,535 addresses
• Transmitter output 100 mW nominal (50 mW RF415)
• Receiver sensitivity −110 dBm at 10
• Antenna impedance 50 Ω, unbalanced (SMA male connector)
• Interference reject 70 dB at pager and cellular phone frequencies
• RF packet size up to 64 bytes, half-duplex
• Error handling RF packet CRC failure detection/rejection or
Advanced Setup
Standby Mode
RF400 – 9XStream XO9-009 RF410 – 9XStream XH9-009 RF415 – 24XStream X24-009
RF410 – 920.0 to 927.2 MHz RF415 – 2.45015 to 2.45975 GHz
2) RS-232 9-pin (4 wire: Tx, Rx, CTS, GND)
hop channels, 7 hopping sequences, direct FM frequency control
-4
bit error rate
(−104 dBm for RF415)
(RF400/RF410)
configurable retry levels
Standard
Setup

3. Quick Start

This section is intended to serve as a “primer” enabling you to quickly build a simple system and see how it operates. This section descr i bes in four steps how to set up a pair of RF400s in a direct connect, point-to-point network. We recommend that you do this before undertaking field installation. For additional help on point-to-point networks and for help on creating point-to­multipoint networks, refer to Software Setup Section 5.
3
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
For this system you will need the following hardware or the equivalent:
1. Two RF400s
2. Two RF400 antennas
3. AC adapter (Item # 15966 or part of kit #14220)
4. Serial cable (6 ft.) for PC COM port to RF400 RS-232 port (Item # 10873 or part of Item # 14220)
5. SC12 cable (included with RF400)
6. Datalogger (CR10X, CR510, or CR23X)
7. Field Power Cable (Item # 14291) if datalogger or wiring panel doesn’t have 12 V on pin 8 of CS I/O port
You will also need:
TM
1. An IBM
2. LoggerNet or PC208W installed
compatible PC with one available COM port

Step 1 – Set Up Base RF400

a. Connect an antenna (or antenna cable with yagi or omni directional
antenna attached) to the RF400 antenna jack. Any RF400 antenna will work at close range in any orientation. The main objective is to provide an antenna. If you should transmit without an antenna attached, there will be no equipment damage as the transmitter is protected against load mismatch. The separation between the base RF400 antenna and the remote RF400 antenna can be any convenient distance.
b. Connect 6 ft. serial cable from PC COM port to base RF400 RS-232 port.
c. Plug AC adapter into AC outlet and plug barrel connector into base
RF400 “DC Pwr” jack. You will see the red “Pwr/TX” LED light immediately followed by the green RX LED in about 5 seconds. The green LED goes off after a second and the red after ten seconds indicating a successful power-up. The red LED then begins to flash on and off. The red LED flashes once every half second in the default “< 4 mA, ½ sec Cycle” standby mode as the RF400 wakes up briefly and listens for RF transmissions with an average current consumption less than 4 mA.
d. Use default settings of RF400.
4
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
AC Adapter
TECHNOLOGIESINC.
apx
HICKSVILLE,NEWYORK
CLASS2TRANSFORMER MODELNO:AP2105W INPUT: 120VAC60Hz20W OUTPUT: 12VDC1.0A
LISTED 2H56
U
U
E144634
L
L
R
R
MADEINCHINA
RS-232
LoggerNet or PC208W
FIGURE 2. RF400 Basic Point-to-Point Network

Step 2 – Set Up Remote RF400

a. Connect an antenna (or antenna cable with yagi or omni directional
antenna attached) to the RF400 antenna jack. The separation between the base RF400 antenna and the remote RF400 antenna can be any convenient distance.
b. Connect SC12 serial cable from datalogger CS I/O port to remote RF400
CS I/O port. Current datalogger/wiring panel CS I/O ports apply power to the remote RF400.
DC
RF400
Spread Spectrum Radio
This device contains transmitter module: FCC ID: OUR-9XTREAM The enclosed device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any intererence received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Pwr
CS I/O
Pwr/TX
RX
14320
MADE IN USASerial #
Logan, Utah
RS232
Program
Antenna
Datalogger CS I/O
Logan, Utah
910511 12
78
SE
6
4
DIFF
GHL
AGH L AG H L AG E3 AG G G
DC
RF400
Spread Spectrum Radio
This device contains transmitter module: FCC ID: OUR-9XTREAM The enclosed device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any intererence received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Pwr
CS I/O
CS I/O
Pwr/TX
RX
14320
MADE IN USASerial #
Logan, Utah
RS232
Program
Antenna
G
SE
34256
12
DIFF
3
1
G
GHL
AGH L AG H L AG E1 AG E2 G
EARTH GROUND
G 12V
SW 12V CTRL
POWER
SW 12V
IN
5V 5VG G
CR10X WIRING PANEL
MADE IN USA
SDM
P1G P2 G C8 C7 C6 C5 C4 C3 C2 C1 G 12V 12V
CS I/O
WIRING PANEL NO.
With older dataloggers lacking 12 V on pin 8 (see Table 1), you can power the RF400 using a Field Power Cable (see above hardware list) between the datalogger’s 12 V (output) terminals and the RF400’s “DC Pwr” jack.
TABLE 1. Lacking 12 V on CS I/O Pin 8
EQUIPMENT SERIAL NUMBER
CR500 < 1765
CR7 700X Bd. < 2779
21X < 13443
CR10 Wiring Panels All (black, gray, silver)
PS512M Power Supply < 1712
When you connect power to the RF400 (through the SC12 cable or the optional Field Power Cable) you should see the power-up sequence of red and green LEDs described in Step 1 (assuming datalogger is powered).
5
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
Current dataloggers and wiring panels (not mentioned in Table 1) provide 12 V on pin 8. For older products not listed, check for 12 V between CS I/O connector pin 8 and pin 2 (GND) or contact Campbell Scientific.
c. Use default settings of RF400.

Step 3 – LoggerNet/PC208W Set-up

a. The next step is to run LoggerNet/PC208W and configure it to connect to
the datalogger via the RF400 point-to-point network you have set up. The RF400 in a point-to-point network can operate transparent to LoggerNet/PC208W. Simply add a datalogger to a COM port in the Device Map.
FIGURE 3. Point-to-Point LoggerNet Network Map
b. Set the Maximum Baud Rate for 9600 baud which is the rate at which the
RF400 communicates by default. The datalogger “Extra Response Time” can be left at 0.
CAUTION
6
For safety, maintain 20 cm (8 inches) distance between antenna and any nearby persons while RF400 is transmitting.
Auto Sense
Radio Address
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
The RF400 has a default feature called “Auto Sense” that automatically configures certain RF400 settings. When you connect an RF400 to a datalogger (CS I/O port to CS I/O port) the RF400 detects the presence of the datalogger and makes its CS I/O port the active port. When you are not connected to a datalogger’s CS I/O port, Auto Sense detects that and configures its RS-232 port as the active port and configures certain other settings so it can serve as a base RF400.
For point-to-point networks Auto Sense and default settings take care of everything. An exception to this is where you ha ve a neighboring network that is also using the default RF400 settings. In this case, refer to Software Setup Section 5 and change your RF400s to a hopping sequence different than the default settings of “0” (zero). For this point-to-point network, configure both RF400s the same.
Each RF400 has a “Radio Address” that can be changed by the user. In order for two RF400s to communicate, their radio addresses must be set to the same number. The RF400’s factory default radio address is “0” (zero) so a pair of RF400s will be able to communicate out of the box (their network addresses and hopping sequences are also “0” (zero) by default). See Section 4.1.3.1 and Section 5 (Software Setup) for more details.

Step 4 – Connect

You are no w ready to Connect to your d atalogger using the LoggerNet/PC208W Connect screen. After you connect, notice the flashing of the green LEDs on both RF400s. This indicates that RF packets with the same hopping sequence are being received by the RF400s. The red LEDs light solid while the connection lasts. When you Disconnect, the red LEDs remain on for five seconds, which is the default setting of the “Time of Inactivity to Sleep.”
Datalogger program transfer and data collection are now possible. Refer to Appendix H for a treatment of communication distance vs. factors in the RF path.

4. System Components

4.1 RF400 Series Data Radios

4.1.1 Indicator LEDs
The RF400 has a red LED labeled “Pwr/TX” and a green LED labeled “RX.” When 12V power is applied the red LED lights for ten seconds. About 5 seconds after power-up the green LED lights for a second. Ten seconds after power-up the selected standby mode begins to control the red LED. The red LED lights to indicate when the receiver is actively listening. When the receiver detects RF traffic (header or data with the same hopping sequence), the red LED will light steadily. When the RF400 is transmitting, the red LED will pulse OFF as the RF packets are transmitted (it will not be on solid).
7
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
Green LED activity indicates that there is an RF signal being received whose hopping sequence corresponds to the configured hopping sequence of the RF400. This does not necessarily mean that the network/radio address of the received packet corresponds with that of the RF400 (where a neighboring network exists it is a good idea to choose a unique hopping sequence).
4.1.2 Setup Menu
The RF400 has a built-in Setup Menu for configuring active interface, RS-232 properties, network/radio addresses, hopping sequence, power saving (standby) modes, address masks, and other parameters. The Setup Menu is accessed by connecting the radio’s RS-232 port to a PC running a terminal program such as Hyper Terminal “Program” button on the RF400 for one second. Changed settings are saved in flash memory by selecting menu item “5” as you exit the Setup Menu. If left idle, the Setup Menu will time out 60 seconds after the last received character and exit without saving any parameter changes with the message “Config Timeout.” A datalogger can remain connected to the CS I/O port while setting RF400 parameters on the RS-232 port, although CS I/O communications would be inactive until exiting the Setup Menu.
4.1.2.1 Auto Sense
TM
or Procomm
TM
(always 9600 baud, 8-N-1) and pressing the
4.1.2.2 Standby Modes
Duty
Cycle
100% 1 0 < 24 mA 0 sec (constant) 100 mS
17% 2 4 < 4 mA ½ sec 600 mS
The factory default setting for Active Interface is “Auto Sense.” It is designed to automatically configure an RF400’s port and radio address mask for common user situations. When selected, Auto Sense determines whether or not a datalogger (or PS512M null modem) is connected to the RF400 by monitoring for 5 V on CS I/O pin 1. If 5 V is present, Auto Sense selects the RF400’s CS I/O port and a radio address mask appropriate for a remote station. Not finding 5 V on CS I/O pin 1, Auto Sense selects the RS-232 port and a radio address mask appropriate for a base station (see Section 4.1.3.1 and Appendix C for more information on radio address masks).
The RF400’s average idle current can be set with the following Standby Modes (default setting shaded):
TABLE 2. Standard Setup Menu
Standby
Mode Menu
Selection
Advanced
Standby
Mode
Avg.
Receive
Current
Wake-up
Interval
(red LED
flash interval)
Maximum
Response
Delay*
4% 3 6 < 2 mA 1 sec 1100 mS 2% 4 7 < .4 mA 8 sec 8100 mS
*Maximum time it takes to get an RF Packet sent and for the other RF400 to respond.
8
4.1.3 Networking
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
The Standard Setup standby modes automatically configure:
• Time of Inactivity to Sleep
• Time of Inactivity to Long Header
• Long Header Time
The default mode is the Standard Setup menu selection “2” for “< 4 mA and ½ sec Cycle.” There are standby modes available in addition to those in the above table. They can be accessed in the Advanced Setup menu; however, if you configure one of those, it will be necessary to also configure each of the three bulleted parameters above. In any case, be sure to select the same Standby Mode for all of the RF400s in the network. For more details see Appendix D.
The RF400 acts as a transparent radio link. Each radio has a configurable network address, radio address, and hopping sequence, and only radios that have the same network address, radio address, and hopping sequence will receive each other’s transmissions. The exception to this is that an RF400 base station can receive packets from multiple remote station’s if the base station’s Radio Address Mask is other than the maximum allowed number of 3ffh (hexadecimal). When Auto Sense is selected, it sets the Radio Address Mask to 0h if no 5 V is detected on its CS I/O port pin 1 (see Auto Sense Section
4.1.2.1).
4.1.3.1 Address and Address Mask
For simple point-to-point installations the RF400’s default settings (including address settings) should work unless there is a neighboring network which uses default settings. In that case the network address and, preferably, your hopping sequence should be set to different numbers than the neighboring network uses. A different network number is sufficient but a different hopping sequence (there are 7 available) will result in fewer retries.
The RF400 has a two-part address. When the RF400’s Radio Address is appended to its Network Address you have the complete 16-bit address.
Network Address Radio Address
(0 – 63) (0 – 1023) decimal
(0 - 11,1111) (0 - 11,1111,1111) binary
(3f) (3ff) hexadecimal
When an incoming packet arrives from another RF400 using the same hopping sequence, the receiving RF400 compares the packet header’s 16-bit address to its own 16-bit address. If they match, and there are no packet errors, the receiving RF400 sends the packet data to the configured active port (CS I/O or RS-232). This assumes a receiving RF400 address mask of ffffh. If other than ffffh (1111,1111,1111,1111 binary), only those address bits that correspond to address mask “1” bits will be used in the comparison. See Appendix C for details.
9
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
4.1.3.2 ATDT Command Mode
This mode is not required for basic point-to-point communication.
For point-to-multipoint operation the RF400 can temporarily be put into AT Command Mode by sending a string of three ASCII characters. The default sequence to enter AT Command mode is:
1. No characters sent for one second (before command character)
2. “+++”characters sent (default command mode entry character)
3. No characters sent for one second (after command mode character)
4. RF400 responds by sending “OK” <CR>
The AT Command mode characters are sent by PC208W along with other commands to change the base RF400’s Radio Address to talk to the desired remote RF400 (see point-to-multipoint example in Software Setup Section).
4.1.3.3 Combination Mode Communications
Besides the “direct” to PC communications described in the Quick Start and Installation sections, it is possible to combine methods in datalogger communications. Some examples:
• Phone to RF400: PC to external modem to COM210 w/PS512M to RF400
to datalogger (see Appendix I)
• Short Haul modem to RF400: PC to short haul modems to RF400s to
datalogger (see Appendix G)
• Network to RF400: PC to Internet to NL100 to RF400 to datalogger (use
LoggerNet IPPort or PC208W socket, remote IP address, port number)
4.1.4 Error Handling and Retries
In the RF module received packets are analyzed for data corruption with an embedded CRC. The RF400 rejects a received packet (doesn’t send it out a port) if the packet’s header address fails to match the RF400 address, if an RF module receive error is detected, or if the RF packet’s CRC test fails.
In early RF400s no notification was given when a packet was rejected, and there were no retries nor guaranteed delivery of packets. Retries were handled by protocols in LoggerNet and PC208W. Starting with SW Version 6.420 the RF400 series radios themselves are capable of doing retries in a network with an unlimited number of array-based stations or in a network consisting of two PakBus stations.
10
4.1.4.1 Standard Retry Levels
There are four pre-programmed Retry Levels available in the Standard Setup menu. All RF400s in the network should be configured for the same Retry Level. The default setting is “None.” The standard settings should satisfy most application requirements. Further choices are available in the Advanced Setup menu. All radios in a network should have the same “Maximum
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
Retries”, “Time-slots for Random Retry”, and “Bytes Transmitted before Delay” settings.
STANDARD RETRY LEVELS
Retry
Menu
1 None 0 0 65535
2 Low 3 2 1000
3 Medium 6 3 1000
4 High 10 5 1000
4.1.4.2 Number of Retries
This setting specifies the maximum number of times an RF400 will re-send a packet failing to get an ACK response. The default setting is zero which inactivates retries. The allowable range is 0 to 255. Entering a number greater than zero activates retries. A receiving RF400 responds to the sending radio with an ACK packet for every RF packet that it receives, addressed to it, that has a valid CRC.
4.1.4.3 Number of Time Slots for Random Retry
This setting is active when the Number of Retries is greater than zero. It specifies the number of 38 ms time slots to create among which to randomly re-send a packet which has failed to get an ACK packet response. The allowable range is 0 to 255.
Level
Maximum
Retries
Time-Slots for Random Retry
Bytes Transmitted
Before Delay
If packets are failing because of periodic noise or signals, specifying more time slots for random retries will improve the chances for successful retry packet delivery. Increasing the number of time slots, however, results in longer average retry delays wh i ch could lower data throughput.
4.1.4.4 Number of Bytes Transmitted before Delay
This feature prevents an RF400 Series radio which has lots of data to transfer from tying up a network until it is finished. The range of settings is 1 to 65535. The default value is 65535 (bytes). This setting forces an RF400 to pause long enough, after sending the specified number of bytes, for another radio to send some data.
4.1.4.5 Sync Timer Setting
This setting determines how often sent packets will include hop synchronization information in the headers. The default setting is 0 which specifies that every packet will contain hop sync information. A value greater than zero specifies the interval at which a packet will contain hop sync information. The allowable range is 0 to 255 in units of 100 ms. All radios in the network should have the same Sync Timer Setting.
11
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
For example, if you input a value of 50, then packets with hop sync info will be sent out every 5 seconds improving (shortening) the response time of a transmit/response sequence. Even though this shortens the time required to send x amount of data, the throughput is still determined by the CS I/O or RS-232 port baud rate setting.
4.1.4.6 Number of Retry Failures
This reading is available in Setup Menu/Advanced Setup/Radio Parameters/Radio Diagnostics. It indicates the number of times that the RF400 has re-transmitted the specified Number of Retries but failed to get an ACK packet from the receiving radio. For example, if the Number of Retries is set to 3, the transmitting radio will send the same packet up to 3 times; each time looking for an ACK packet back from the receiving radio. If it does not receive an ACK packet after sending the packet 3 times, the transmitting radio will increment its Number of Retry Failures count. If a radio is configured to do retries, it will produce an ACK packet for every RF packet that it receives, addressed to it, that has a valid CRC. If 0 retries are configured, the receiving RF400 will simply throw away any packet that fails the CRC. This reading is cleared upon exiting Setup Menu or cycling RF400 12 V power.
4.1.5 Received Signal Strength
Beginning with SW Version 6.420 the RF400 series radios provide a means of knowing the signal strength of the last packet received, addressed to it, that had a valid CRC. To see this reading enter the RF400’s Setup Menu /Advanced Setup/Radio Parameters/Radio Diagnostics menu. RSS readings are cleared upon exiting the Setup Menu or cycling the RF400’s 12 Volt power.
The RSS reading is a relative signal level indication expressed in dB (decibels). Readings may vary up to 10 dB from radio to radio for a given received signal level. The weakest signal reading is around 25 dB and the strongest signal reading is near 86 dB. Although the RSS readings are not absolute, they will be of value in such activities as:
• determining the optimal direction to aim a yagi antenna
• seeing the effects of antenna height, location
• trying alternate (reflective) paths
• seeing the effect of seasonal tree leaves

4.2 Power Supplies

The typical base station RF400 connected directly to a PC uses a 120 VAC wall adapter to supply 12 VDC power. You can order the optional Base Cable/Power Kit (CSI Item # 14220) to obtain the wall adapter with 6 ft. serial cable. In a phone to RF400 base station configuration (without datalogger) the RF400 can obtain power from a PS512M null modem.
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The typical remote RF400 will be connected to a datalogger CS I/O port and get its 12 V power from that. If your datalogger is an earlier unit without 12 V on CS I/O pin 8 (see Table 1), there is an optional Field Power Cable available
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
(CSI Item # 14291) with tinned leads to connect to power at the datalogger 12 V output terminals and barrel connector to plug into the RF400’s “DC Pwr” jack. If 120 VAC is available at the site, the 120 VAC adapter alone (CSI Item # 15966) is an option.
A 12 V supply may connect to either the RF400’s “DC Pwr” jack or CS I/O pin 8 (or both, since there is diode isolation between supply inputs). The 12 V supply inputs are diode protected against the application of reverse polarity power.
CAUTION
There are many AC adapters available with barrel connectors (plugs) tha t will fit the RF400. Some of these (including the CSI AC adapter Item # 272) will cause immediate damage if plugged into the RF400 even br iefly. It is also possible to damage the RF400 with an AC adapter labeled as l ow as “12 VD C” becaus e it may output an open-circuit (no current drain) voltage exceeding the maximum. The very low quiescent cur rent (170 uA) of th e RF400 in its default and other standby modes allows the supply voltage to rise at times virtually to its open-circuit level.
The RF400 series radio will sustain damage if
the DC Pwr jack voltage ever exceeds 18
Volts!
120 VAC line voltages vary from location to location and from time to time so observing a 16.5 VDC maximum is wise. Unconsidered AC adapter selection raises the specter of over-voltage damage to the RF400 and non­warranty repairs!
There are several things to consider. Beware of AC adapters outputting an AC voltage. An AC adapter can output the correct voltage but the wrong polarity. The center conductor of the barrel connector must be positive (+). The AC adapter must also be capa bl e of s u pp ly ing the instantaneous peak currents demanded by the RF400 transmitter. The best ap proach is to o btain t he AC adapter recommended by CSI (Item #15966 or the RF400 Base Station Cable/Power Kit I tem # 1 4220 wh ich c ontai ns it). If this is not possible, obtain an AC adapter that m atches the voltage vs. current characteristics shown below.
To be sure that the candidate AC adapter’s “no load” voltage is below the 16.5 VDC recommended maximum, measure the output with a DC voltmeter while the AC adapter is plugged into the outlet but not powering anything.
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RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
CSI AC adapter Item # 15966 voltage regulation (typical) while plugged into an AC outlet delivering 120.0 VAC:
TABLE 3. 15966’s Voltage Regulation
Current Drain
(mA)
0 (no load)
122 807
The voltage regulation of the 15966 is exceptionally good.
Power connector polarity: inner conductor positive (+)
TABLE 4. RF400 Series 12 V Power Supply Options
Network
Role
Base
RF400
Connection
Direct to PC
Datalogger
PS512M PS512M null-modem connectors
Options — CSI Item #
AC Adapter − 14220 (with serial cable)
If 12V on pin 8* CS I/O Port**
If no 12V on pin 8 Field Power Cable − 14291 AC Adapter − 14220 (in base cable/power kit)
Resistive Load
(Ohms)
∞ (open circuit)
100 Ω
15 Ω
− 15966 (adapter only)
− 15966 (adapter only)
AC Adapter Output
(Volts)
12.22
12.20
12.11

4.3 Serial Cables

In an RF400 base station, a straight-through DB9M/DB9F RS-232 cable will connect from the RF400’s RS-232 port to the PC COM port. This cable is part of the optional Base Cable/Power Kit (CSI Item # 14220).
A remote RF400 normally uses the included SC12 cable to connect the RF400’s CS I/O port to the datalogger’s CS I/O port.
If 12V on pin 8*
Remote
Datalogger
* See Quick Start − Section 3, Step 2, Table 1 ** If powering RF400 from CS I/O port but communicating via RS-232 port,
be sure to select “RS-232” as the Active Interface so CS I/O port is not auto selected by Auto Sense.
CS I/O Port
If no 12V on pin 8 Field Power Cable − 14291 AC Adapter − 14220 (in base cable/power kit)
− 15966 (adapter only)
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RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
A remote RF400 can be connected to a CR23X’s or CR5000’s RS-232 port with a null modem DB9M/DB9M cable (CSI Item # 14392). See Appendix F for details on power supply.

4.4 Antennas for the RF400 Series

Several antennas are offered to satisfy the needs for various base station and remote station requirements. These antennas have been tested at an authorized FCC open-field test site and are certified to be in compliance with FCC emissions limits. All antennas (or antenna cables) have an SMA female connector for connection to the RF400. The use of an unauthorized antenna could cause transmitted field strengths in excess of FCC rules, interfere with licensed services, and result in FCC sanctions against user.
NOTE
An FCC authorized antenna is a REQUIRED component. You must pick one of the antennas listed below.
CSI Item Number Description
14310 0 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, OMNI ¼ WAVE WHIP,
RPSMA STRAIGHT, LINX, 3.2 inches long.
14204 0 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, OMNI ½ WAVE WHIP,
RPSMA RT ANGLE, ASTRON, 6.75 inc hes long.
14221 3 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, OMNI COLLINEAR,
ANTENEX FG9023, 24 inches tall, W/FM2 MOUNTS, fits 1 in. to 2 in. O.D. mast (requires COAX RPSMA-L or COAX NTN-L)
15970 1 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, INDOOR OMNI ½
WAVE DIPOLE, 10 ft. cable with SMA connector to fit RF400 Series, window or wall mounted by sticky back, 4 inches wide.
14205 6 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, YAGI, LARSEN
YA6900 TYPE N-F, boom length 17.25 inches, longest element 7.25 inches, W/MOUNTS, fits 1 in. to 2 in. O.D. mast (requires COAX RPSMA-L or COAX NTN­L)
14201 9 dBd ANTENNA, 900 MHZ, YAGI, MAXRAD
BMOY8905 TYPE N-F, boom length 21.4 inches, longest element 6.4 inches, W/MOUNTS, fits 1 in. to 2 in. O.D. mast (requires COAX RPSMA-L or COAX NTN-L)
16005 0 dBd ANTENNA, 2.4 GHz, OMNI ½ WAVE WHIP,
RPSMA RT ANGLE, LINX ANT-2.4-CW-RCT-RP,
4.5 inches long.
16755 13 dBd ANTENNA, 2.4 GHz, ENCLOSED YAGI,
allows vertical or horizontal polarization, MAXRAD
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RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
COAX RPSMA-L LMR 195 ANTENNA CABLE, REVERSE POLARITY
COAX NTN-L RG8 ANTENNA CABLE, TYPE N MALE TO TYPE
14462 ANTENNA SURGE PROTECTOR KIT
FCC OET Bulletin No. 63 (October 1993)
Changing the antenna on a transmitter can significantly increase, or decrease, the strength of the signal that is ultimately transmitted. Except for cable locating equipment, the standards in Part 15 are not based solely on output power but also take into account the antenna characteristics. Thus, a low power transmitter that complies with the technical standards in Part 15 with a particular antenna attached can exceed the Part 15 standards if a different antenna is attached. Should this happen it could pose a serious interference problem to authorized radio communications such as emergency, broadcast, and air-traffic control communications.
WISP24015PTNF, boom length 17 inches, diameter 3 inches, W/ END MOUNT to fit 1 to 2 in. O.D. mast (requires either (1) COAX RPSMA-L for short runs or (2) COAX NTN-L with Antenna Surge Protector Kit)
SMA TO TYPE N MALE
N MALE CONNECTORS, REQUIRES 14462
CAUTION
In order to comply with the FCC RF exposure requirements, the RF400 series may be used only with approved antennas that have been tested with this radio and a minimum separation distance of 20 cm must be maintained from the antenna to any nearby persons.
Read Appendix A of this manual for important FCC information.
ITEM # 14310 900 MHZ OMNI ¼ WAVE WHIP 0 dBd
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RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
ITEM # 14204 900 MHZ OMNI ½ WAVE WHIP 0 dBd
ITEM # 14201 900 MHZ YAGI 9 dBd w/MOUNTS
ITEM #14205 900 MHz YAGI 6 dBd w/MOUNTS
ITEM # 14221 900 MHZ OMNI COLLINEAR 3 dBd w/MOUNTS
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RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
ITEM #15970 900 MHZ Indoor OMNI 1 dBd Window/Wall Mounted
ITEM #16005 2.4 GHz OMNI HALF WAVE WHIP 0 dBd
ITEM #16755 2.4 GHz ENCLOSED YAGI, 13 dBd w/MOUNTS
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FIGURE 4. Some FCC Approved Antennas
RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Rad io/ Mod ems
FIGURE 5. Example COAX RPSMA-L Cable for Yagi or Omni Colinear
FIGURE 6. Antenna Surge Protector

4.5 Antenna Cables and Surge Protection

4.5.1 Antenna Cables
The 14201, 14203, 14205, 14221, and 16755 antennas require an antenna cable; either (1) the COAX RPSMA or (2) the COAX NTN with surge protector. Indoor omni-directional antennas are either supplied with an appropriate cable or connect directly to the RF400 series radio.
4.5.2 Electro-static Issues
Many RF400 series installations are out of doors and therefore susceptible to lightning damage, espec i ally via the antenna system. Also, de pending on climate and location, electro-statically charged wind can damage sensitive electronics if sufficient electric charge is allowed to accumulate on the antenna and cable. To protect against this CSI offers the Item # 14462 Antenna Surge Protection Kit.
The COAX NTN-L cable is a low-loss RG8 coaxial cable that requires the 14462 surge protector in order to connect to an RF400 series radio. The RG8 / Antenna Surge Protector are recommended in preference to the COAX RPSMA in the following applications:
• When the antenna cable length exceeds 10 feet
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