Digi XEB09-BCS User Manual
XPress™EthernetBridgeMultipoint:User
Guide
Overview
The XPress Ethernet Bridge (XEB) replaces costly wiring with a solution that can enable industrial
Ethernet PLCs, electronic (LED) signs, remote Wi-Fi APs, Pan/Tilt/Zoom security cameras, VoIP
phones, Internet kiosks and more. With a range of up to 15 miles (line-of-sight with a high gain
antenna) and the ability to transmit through as many as 10 standard walls, the XEB uses the added
range and capabilities of the 900 MHz band to communicate where Wi-Fi and other wireless data
products fall short.
Contents
• 1 XEB RF Modem: XEB09-BCS = Commercial (Indoor), XEB09-BIS = Industrial (Outdoor)
Accessories Kit also includes:
• 1 Half-wave, 2.5 dBi dipole antenna
• 1 6VDC/110VAC power adapter (Commercial only)
• 1 12VDC/110VAC power adapter (Industrial only)
• 1 Power over Ethernet injector (Industrial only)
• 1 XEB Multipoint manual
How It Works
The XEB radios allow you to create a long range, wireless Ethernet network for up to 16 Subscriber
Units (SU) per Access Point (AP). The AP automatically scans for the best of the 12 available radio
channels. Then it encrypts Ethernet data received from the network and transmits it wirelessly to the
correct SU. The AP is constantly
monitoring the network performance and automatically
changes channels if the performance is hindered because
of interference.
Select any of the 12 radio channels by toggling DIP switch settings. (See DIP Settings for additional
information.) It is possible to operate up to 12 APs in the same area with each AP on a different
channel. To avoid interference, space the APs at least 10 feet apart. Typically, the AP is attached to
the wired network via an Ethernet Cable. The Auto MDI/MDIX feature on each XEB will work with
either a straight through or crossover network cable.
Note: The AP does not have a MAC/IP address.
Any 10BaseT Ethernet Client Device (ECD) can be connected to an XEB SU. Each SU encrypts Ethernet
traffic received from the attached ECD and transmits the data wirelessly to its AP. You can plug each
SU directly into an ECD without need for any drivers or loading software on the ECD. Crossover cables
are never needed.
You can only attach one ECD to each SU. The DIP switches on the SU should be in the default OFF
setting. To avoid overloading the radio’s receiver, place the SU at least 10 feet from the AP. 100-foot
spacing is recommended if using high-gain antennas.
Note: The SU does not have its own MAC/IP address.
XEB radios use electronic network keys that allow you to group radios together to form a network.
Network keys are shared between radios by connecting an Ethernet Cable between the RJ45 ports
while the radios are in “key exchange mode” (radios that are in “key exchange mode” display the 6
LINK QUALITY LEDs blinking sequentially back and forth).
Creating the Network
To share the keys and to create the network, follow these steps:
1. Select which radio will be the AP by setting DIP switch 1 ON.
• The other radios will function as SUs and do not require any DIP settings.
2. Connect an Ethernet Cable from the AP to each SU to transfer the network keys.
• For the Industrial/Outdoor XEB, the key exchange will occur through an Ethernet cable
attached to the supplied POE injector. Key exchange will not work through a switch or
hub.
Once the key sharing is complete, the AP and SU change their LED displays in confirmation of the
successful programming:
The SU blinks one of the GREEN LINK QUALITY LEDS.
The AP illuminates the LED labeled RF RX, and the AP remains in “key exchange mode.”
You can add additional SUs to the network or reprogram an SU to join a different network. Likewise,
an SU can be changed into an AP and an AP into an SU. If DIP 1 is accidentally toggled, it can be
turned back, and the radio still retains all the network associations it had in its previous mode
(assuming that the radio had not yet successfully key exchanged with a new network). You can reset
an AP by programming it as an SU and then turning it back into an AP again.
SUs that have not yet received a network key boot up in “key exchange mode” and wait to receive a
key. SUs that have received a network key will boot-up for 5 seconds in “key exchange mode” and will
look to see if a new AP is present. If a new AP is present, then the SU exchanges keys with the AP;
otherwise, the SU begins normal operation after the 5 seconds.
APs that have not yet issued network keys boot up in “key exchange mode” until they have issued
network keys to at least 1 SU. Once the AP has issued keys, it will only boot-up for 5 seconds in “key
exchange mode.” If an SU is present during the 5 seconds, then the AP will issue new keys to the SU
and will then remain in “key exchange mode” waiting for more SUs to be attached. Once all new SUs
have been attached, the AP must be power cycled. The AP will boot-up and after 5 seconds of “key
exchange mode,” it will enter normal operation.
LED Display
Name Function Color
Power Unit has power and has
RFTX Radio transmission is
RFRX Radio reception is occurring. Green
Eth Link The Ethernet Port has a valid
1
2
4
8
16
32
successfully booted.
occurring.
Ethernet connection.
By adding the numbers that
are lit the user can determine
the current radio channel.
1 903.12500 MHz
2 905.20833 MHz
3 907.29167 MHz
4 909.37500 MHz
5 911.45833 MHz
6 913.54167 MHz
7 915.62500 MHz
8 917.70833 MHz
9 919.79167 MHz
10 921.87500 MHz
11 923.95833 MHz
Red
Green
Green
Green
2
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