ELPRO 905U-E User Manual

ELPRO Technologies Pty Ltd, 9/12 Billabong Street, Stafford Q 4053, Australia.

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.elprotech.com

User Manual

905U-E Wireless Ethernet

DRAFT

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 2

Thank you for your selection of the 905U-E Wireless Ethernet Modem. We trust it will

give you many years of valuable service.

ATTENTION!

Incorrect termination of supply wires may

cause internal damage and will void warranty.

To ensure your 905U-E enjoys a long life,

double check ALL your connections with

the user’s manual

before turning the power on.

Caution!

For continued protection against risk of fire, replace the internal module fuse only with the same type and
rating.

CAUTION:

To comply with FCC RF Exposure requirements in section 1.1310 of the FCC Rules, antennas used with
this device must be installed to provide a separation distance of at least 20 cm from all persons to satisfy RF
exposure compliance.

DO NOT:

operate the transmitter when someone is within 20 cm of the antenna
operate the transmitter unless all RF connectors are secure and any open connectors are properly

terminated.
operate the equipment near electrical blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere

All equipment must be properly grounded for safe operations. All equipment should be serviced only by a
qualified technician.

Important Notices

Page 3 © June 2005

FCC Notice:

This user’s manual is for the ELPRO 905U-D radio telemetry module. This device complies with Part

15.247 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

q

This device may not cause harmful interference and

q

This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

This device must be operated as supplied by ELPRO Technologies. Any changes or modifications made to
the device without the written consent of ELPRO Technologies may void the user’s authority to operate the
device.

End user products that have th is device embedded must be supplied with non-standard antenna connectors,
and antennas available from vendors specified by ELPRO Technologies. Please contact ELPRO
Technologies for end user antenna and connector recommendations.

Notices: Safety

Exposure to RF energy is an important safety consideration. The FCC has adopted a safety standard for
human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by FCC regulated equipment as a result
of its actions in Docket 93 -62 and OET Bulletin 65 Edition 97-01.

Limited Warranty, Disclaimer and Limitation of Remedies

ELPRO products are warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for a period of 24 months from the
effective date of purchase by the end user. The effective date of purchase is decided solely by ELPRO
Technologies.

This warranty does not extend to:

- failures caused by the operation of the equipment outside the particular product's specification, or

- use of the module not in accordance with this User Manual, or

- abuse, misuse, neglect or damage by external causes, or

- repairs, alterations, or modifications undertaken other than by an authorized Service Agent.
ELPRO’s liability under this warranty is limited to the replacement or repair of the product. This warranty is

in lieu of and exclusive of all other warranties. This warranty does not indemnify the purchaser of products
for any consequential claim for damages or loss of operations or profits and ELPRO is not liable for any
consequential damages or loss of operations or profits resultin g from the use of these products. ELPRO is
not liable for damages, losses, costs, injury or harm incurred as a consequence of any representations,
warranties or conditions made by ELPRO or its representatives or by any other party, except as expressed
solely in this document.

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 4

Important Notices

Page 5 © June 2005

Important Notice

ELPRO products are designed to be used in industrial environments, by experienced industrial engineering
personnel with adequate knowledge of safety design considerations.

ELPRO radio products are used on unprotected license-free radio bands with radio noise and interference.
The products are designed to operate in the presence of noise and interference, however in an extreme case,
radio noise and interference could cause product operation delays or operation failure. Like all industrial
electronic products, ELPRO products can fail in a variety of modes due to misuse, age, or malfunction. We
recommend that users and designers design systems using design techniques intended to prevent personal
injury or damage during product operation, and provide failure tolerant systems to prevent personal injury or
damage in the event of product failure. Designers must warn users of the equipment or systems if adequate
protection against failure has not been included in the system design. Designers must include this Important
Notice in operating procedures and system manuals.

These products should not be used in non-industrial applications, or life-support systems, without consulting
ELPRO Technologies first.

1. A radio license is not required in some countries, provided the module is installed using the aerial and
equipment configuration described in the 905U-E Installation Guide. Check with your local
distributor for further information on regulations.

2. Operation is authorized by the radio frequency regulatory authority in your country on a non­protection basis. Although all care is taken in the design of these units, there is no responsibility
taken for sources of external interference. Systems should be designed to be tolerant of these
operational delays.

3. To avoid the risk of electrocution, the aerial, aerial cable, serial cables and all terminals of the 905U ­D module should be electrically protected. To provide maximum surge and lightning protection, the
module should be connected to a suitable earth and the aerial, aerial cable, serial cables and the
module should be installed as recommended in the Installation Guide.

4. To avoid accidents during maintenance or adjustment of remotely controlled equipment, all
equi pment should be first disconnected from the 905U-E module during these adjustments.
Equipment should carry clear markings to indicate remote or automatic operation. E.g. "This
equipment is remotely controlled and may start without warning. Isolate at the switchboard before
attempting adjustments."

5. The 905U-E module is not suitable for use in explosive environments without additional protection.

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 6

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................87

1.1 N

ETWORK TOPOLOGY

....................................................................................................87

1.2 G

ETTING STARTED QUICKLY

.......................................................................................109

CHAPTER TWO INSTAL LATION................................................................................1110

2.1 G

ENERAL

...................................................................................................................1110

2.2 A

NTENNA INSTALLATION

..........................................................................................1110

2.2.1 Dipole and Collinear antennas.............................................................................1312

2.2.2 Yagi antennas..................................................................................................... 1413

2.3 P

OWER SUPPLY

..........................................................................................................1514

2.4 S

ERIAL CONNECTIONS

...............................................................................................1514

2.4.1 RS232 Serial Port ..............................................................................................1514

2.4.2 RS485 Serial Port ..............................................................................................1615

CHAPTER THREE OPERATION..............................................................................1817

3.1 S

TART-UP

.................................................................................................................1817

3.2 D

EFAULT CONFIGURATION

........................................................................................1918

3.3 C

ONFIGURING THE UNIT FOR THE FIRST TIME

.............................................................2019

3.4 C

ONFIGURING ADDRESSES

.........................................................................................2524

3.5 E

THERNET DATA

....................................................................................................... 2726

3.6 N

ORMAL OPERATION

................................................................................................2726

3.7 S

PREAD-SPECTRUM OPERATION

............................................................................... 2827

3.8 R

ADIO CONFIGURATION MENU

..................................................................................2827

3.9 S

PANNING TREE ALGORITHM

/ R

EDUNDANCY

............................................................3029

3.10 W

IRELESS MESSAGE FILTERING

..................................................................................3130

3.11 S

ERIAL PORT CONFIGURATION

..................................................................................3331

3.12 M

ODULE INFORMATION CONFIGURATION

.................................................................. 3332

3.13 R

EMOTE CONFIGURATION

.........................................................................................3332

3.14 C

ONFIGURATION EXAMPLES

......................................................................................3433

CHAPTER FOUR DIAGNOSTICS .................................................................................4038

4.1 D

IAGNOSTICS CHART

................................................................................................4038

4.2 D

IAGNOSTIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE

.................................................................... 4038

4.2.1 Connectivity....................................................................................................... 4038

4.2.2 Monitor Communications ...................................................................................4038

Contents

Page 7 © June 2005

4.2.3 Statistics............................................................................................................4139

4.2.4 Network Traffic Analysis....................................................................................4139

4.3 T

ESTING RADIO PATHS

..............................................................................................4139

4.4 U

TILITIES

...................................................................................................................4139

4.4.1 PING ................................................................................................................4139

4.4.2 IPCONFIG .......................................................................................................4240

4.4.3 ARP ..................................................................................................................4341

4.4.4 ROUTE.............................................................................................................4341

CHAPTER FIVE SPECIFICATIONS..............................................................................4643

APPENDIX A FIRMWARE UPGRADE.........................................................................4744

APPENDIX B GLOSSARY...............................................................................................4946

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 8

Chapter One INTRODUCTION

The 905U-E Wireless Ethernet module provides wireless connections between Ethernet devices or Ethernet
wired networks (LAN’s). It has an internal 900MHz spread spectrum frequency hopping wireless
transceiver, which can be used without a radio license in many countries.

The 905U-E has a standard RJ45 Ethernet connection which will operate at up to 100Mbit/sec. The module
will transmit the Ethernet messages on the wireless band at up to 200 Kbit/sec.

1.1 Network Topology

The 905U-E is an Ethernet device, and must be configured as part of an Ethernet network. Each 905U-E
must be configured as:

q

an “Access Point” or a “Client”, and

q

a “Bridge” or a “Router”.

Access Point vs Client

The Access Point unit acts as the “wireless master” unit. The
Access Point sets up the wireless links to the Client units,
and controls the wireless communications. The following
diagram shows two Ethernet devices being linked. One
905U-E is configured as an Access Point and one as a Client

- in this example it doesn’t mater which unit is the Access

Point.
The next diagram shows an existing LAN being

extended using 905U-E’s. In this example, the
Access Point should be configured at the LAN end

- although the wireless link will still work if the Client

is at the LAN end.

An Access Point can connect to multiple Clients. In this
case, the Access Point should be the “central” unit.

Client

Ethernet

Device

Access

Point

LAN

Ethernet Device

Client

Access

Point

LAN

Ethernet Device

Client

Access

Point

Client

Client

Chapter One Introduction

Page 9 © June 2005

LAN A

Client

Bridge

Access Point

Router

192.168.0.34

169.254.102.54

LAN B

169.254.102.17

169.254.102.53

An Access Point could be used as a “Repeater” unit to connect two 905U-E Clients which do not have

direct reliable radio paths.

Bridge vs Router

Each 905U -E is configured with an IP address for the Ethernet side, and another for the wireless side.
A

Bridge

connects devices within the same Ethernet network - for example, extending an existing Ethernet
LAN. For a Bridge, the IP
address for the wireless side is the
same as the Ethernet side.

A

Router

connects devices on
different LAN’s. The
IP addresses for the
Ethernet and wireless
sides are different.

In the above example, the wireless link is part of LAN A, with the Client unit acting as a Router between
LAN A and LAN B. Alternately, the Access Point could be configured as a Router - the wireless link is
then part of LAN B.

LAN

Ethernet device

Client

Access

Point

Client

LAN

Client

Bridge

Access Point

Bridge

192.168.0.34

192.168.0.34 192.168.0.72

192.168.0.72

LAN A

Client

Router

Access Point

Bridge

192.168.0.

34

192.168.0.34

LAN B

169.254.102.17

192.168.0.72

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 10

There is limit of two Routers within the same radio network. There is no limit to the number of Bridges in the
same network - although there is a limit of 255 Client units linked to any one Access Point.

1.2 Getting Started Quickly

Most applications for the 905U-E require little configuration. The 905U-E has many sophisticated features,
however if you don’t require these features, this section will allow you to configure the units quickly.

First, read Section 2, “Installation”. The 905U -E requires an antenna and a power supply.

q

Power the 905U-E and make an Ethernet connection to your PC (for further information on how to do
this, refer to section 3.3)

q

Set the 905U-E address settings as per section 3.4 - also select Access Point / Client and Bridge /
Router

q

Save the configuration - the 905U-E is now ready to use.

Before installing the 905U -E, bench test the system. It is a lot easier to locate problems when the equipment
is all together.

There are other configuration setting which may or may not improve the operation of the system. For detail
on these settings, refer to section 3.

Client

Router

LAN C

169.254.102.17

192.168.0.73

LAN A

Client

Bridge

Access Point

Bridge

192.168.0.34

192.168.0.34

192.168.0.72

192.168.0.72

Client

Router

LAN B

169.254.109.40

192.168.0.74

Chapter Two Installation

Page 11 © June 2005

Chapter Two INSTALLATION

2.1 General

The 905U-E module is housed in an rugged aluminum case, suitable for DIN-rail mounting. Terminals
will accept wires up to 12 gauge (2.5 sqmm) in size.

All connections to the module must be SELV. Normal 11 0-240V mains supply should not be
connected to any terminal of the 905U -E module.

Refer to Section 2.3

Power Supply

.

Before installing a new system, it is preferable to bench test the complete system. Configuration
problems are easier to recognize when the system units are adjacent. Following installation, the most
common problem is poor communications caused by incorrectly installed antennas, or radio interference
on the same channel, or the radio path being inadequate. If the radio path is a problem (ie path too
long, or obstructions in the way), then higher performance antennas or a higher mounting point for the
antenna may rectify the problem. Alternately, use an intermediate 905U -E Module as a repeater.

The foldout sheet 905U -E

Installation Guide

provides an installation drawing appropriate to most

applications. Further information is detailed below.
Each 905U-E module should be effectively earthed via the "GND" terminal on the 905U-E module -

this is to ensure that the surge protection circuits inside the 905U-E module are effective.

2.2 Antenna Installation

The 905U-E module will operate reliably over large distances. The distance which may be reliably
achieved will vary with each application - depending on the transmit power (user configurable), type
and location of antennas, the degree of radio interference, and obstructions (such as hills or trees) to the
radio path. Typical reliable distances for 1W transmit power are :

USA/Canada 15 miles 6dB net gain antenna configuration permitted (4W ERP)
Australia/NZ 12 km unity gain antenna configuration (1W ERP)
Longer distances can be achieved if one antenna is mounted on top of a hill.
To achieve the maximum transmission distance, the antennas should be raised above intermediate

obstructions so the radio path is true “line of sight”. Because of the curvature of the earth, the antennas
will need to be elevated at least 15 feet (5 metres) above ground for paths greater than 3 miles (5 km).
The modules will operate reliably with some obstruction of the radio path, although the reliable distance
will be reduced. Obstructions which are close to either antenna will have more of a blocking affect than
obstructions in the middle of the radio path. For example, a group of trees around the antenna is a
larger obstruction than a group of trees further away from the antenna. The 905U -E modules provide a
diagnostic feature which displays the radio signal strength of transmissions.

Line-of-sight paths are only necessary to obtain the maximum range. Obstructions will reduce the
range, however may not prevent a reliable path. A larger amount of obstruction can be tolerated for

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 12

shorter distances. For very short distances, it is possible to mount the antennas inside buildings. An
obstructed path requir es testing to determine if the path will be reliable - refer the section 6 of this
manual.

In certain circumstances, much longer distances can be achieved by reducing the transmitter power and
using higher gain antennas. Although the effective radiated power at the transmitter end is the same, the
additional antenna gain at the receiver gives increased distance. This is only true for locations of low
background noise as the antenna gain will also increase the noise level. For example, in America where
4W ERP power is permitted, a combination of 0.1W transmitter power and 16dB antenna gain (giving
4W ERP) can give distances of more than 60 miles (100km). However antennas will need to be
elevated to give line-of-sight. This is a special installation and advice from ELPRO should be sought.

Where it is not possible to achieve reliable communications between two 905U modules, then a third
905U module may be used to receive the message and re-transmit it. This module is referred to as a
repeater. This module may also have a host device connected to it.

An antenna should be connected to the module via 50 ohm coaxial cable (eg RG58, RG213 or Cellfoil)
terminated with a male SMA coaxial connector. The higher the antenna is mounted, the greater the
transmissi on range will be, however as the length of coaxial cable increases so do cable losses. For use
on unlicensed frequency channels, there are several types of antennas suitable for use. It is important
antenna are chosen carefully to avoid contravening the maximum power limit on the unlicensed channel

- if in doubt refer to an authorized service provider.
The net gain of an antenna/cable configuration is the gain of the antenna (in dBi) less the loss in the

coaxial cable (in dB).
The maximum net gain of the antenna/cable configuration permitted is
Country Max. gain (dB)
USA / Canada 6
Australia / New Zealand 0 for 1W transmit power
10 for 0.1W transmit power
The gains and losses of typical antennas are

Antenna Gain (dB) Antenna Gain (dB)

Dipole with integral 15’ cable 0 6 element Yagi 10
5dBi Collinear (3dBd) 5 9 element Yagi 12
8dBi Collinear (6dBd) 8 16 element Yagi 15

Cable type Length (m) Loss (dB)

CC10/900 10 3
CC20/900 20 6

Chapter Two Installation

Page 13 © June 2005

The net gain of the antenna/cable configuration is determined by adding the antenna gain and the cable
loss. For example, a 6 element Yagi with 70 feet (20 metres) of Cellfoil has a net gain of 4dB (10dB

– 6dB).
Connections between the antenna and coaxial cable should be carefully taped to prevent ingress of

moisture. Moisture ingress in the coaxial cable is a common cause for problems with radio systems, as
it greatly increases the radio losses. We recommend that the connection be taped, firstly with a layer of
PVC Tape, then with a vulcanizing tape such as “3M 23 tape”, and finally with another layer of PVC
UV Stabilized insulating tape. The first layer of tape allows the joint to be easily inspected when trouble
shooting as the vulcanizing seal can be easily removed.

Where antennas are mounted on elevated masts, the masts should be effectively earthed to avoid
lightning surges. For high lightning risk areas, surge suppression devices between the module and the
antenna are recommended. If the antenna is not already shielded from lightning strike by an adjacent
earthed structure, a lightning rod may be installed above the antenna to provide shielding.

2.2.1 Dipole and Collinear antennas.

A collinear antenna transmits the same amount of radio power in all directions - as such that are easy
to install and use. The dipole antenna with integral 15 ‘ cable does not require any additional coaxial
cable, however a cable must be used with the collinear antennas.

Collinear and dipole antennas should be mounted vertically, preferably 3 feet (1 metre) away from a
wall or mast to obtain maximum range.

1m minimum

COLINEAR

ANTENNA

MAST

EARTH STAKE
IF GROUND CONDITIONS ARE
POOR, INSTALL MORE THAN

INSTALL AERIAL ABOVE
LOCAL OBSTRUCTIONS

ANT

905U

SURGE
ARRESTOR
(OPTIONAL)

COAXIAL CABLE

WEATHERPROOF
CONNECTORS WITH
“3M 23” TAPE

STRESS RELIEF LOOP

PROVIDE GOOD
GROUND
CONNECTION TO
MAST, MODULE
AND SURGE
ARRESTOR

GND

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 14

2.2.2 Yagi antennas.

A Yagi antenna provides high gain in the forward direction, but lower gain in other directions. This
may be used to compensate for coaxial cable loss for installations with marginal radio path.

The Yagi gain also acts on the receiver, so adding Yagi antennas at both ends of a link provides a
double improvement.

Yagi antennas are directional. That is, they have positive gain to the front of the antenna, but negative
gain in other directions. Hence Yagi antennas should be installed with the central beam horizontal and
must be pointed exactly in the direction of transmission to benefit from the gain of the antenna. The Yagi
antennas may be installed with the elements in a vertical plane (vertically polarized) or in a horizontal
plane (horizontally polarized). For a two station installation, with both modules using Yagi antennas,
horizontal polarization is recommended. If there are more than two stations transmitting to a common
station, then the Yagi antennas should have vertical polarization, and the common (or “central” station
should have a collinear (non -directional) antenna.

Also note that Yagi antennas normally have a drain hole on the folded element - the drain hole should
be located on the bottom of the installed antenna.

905U

Antenna installed
with drain holes

down

Coax feed looped

at connection

90

o

Chapter Two Installation

Page 15 © June 2005

2.3 Power Supply

The 905U-E module can be powered from a 10 - 30VDC power supply. The power supply should be
rated at 1 Amp and be CSA Certified Class 2. The negative side of the supply should be connected to a
good “ground” point for surge protection. The supply negative is connected to the unit case internally.

The positive side of the supply must
not be connected to earth. The DC
supply may be a floating supply or
negatively grounded. The power
requirements of the 905U-E unit is
280mA @ 12V or 150mA @ 24VDC.
This is inclusive of radio and Ethernet
ports active, & serial port plugged in.
Transmission current (1W RF) is
nominally 500mA at 12V, 250mA at 24VDC.

2.4 Serial Connections

2.4.1 RS232 Serial Port

The serial port is a 9 pin DB9 female and provides for connection to a host device as well as a PC
terminal for configuration, field testing and for factory testing. This port is internally shared with the
RS485 - ensure that the RS485 is disconnected before attempting to use the RS232 port.
Communication is via standard RS232 signals. The 905U-E is configured as DCE equipment with the
pinouts detailed below.

905U-E

DB9

MALE

DTE HOST

DB9

FEMALE

905U-E

DB9

MALE

DCE HOST

DB9

MALE

Hardware handshaking using the CTS/RTS lines is provided. The CTS/RTS lines may be used to reflect
the status of the local unit’s input buffer, or may be configured to reflect the status of CTS/RTS lines at
the remote site. The 905U-E does not support XON/XOFF.

Example cable drawings for connection to a DTE host (a PC) or another DCE hosts (or modem) are
detailed above.

+

_

A
B

-

+

COM

DIO

905U-E

10-30

VDC

RS485

SUPPLY

905U-E Wireless Ethernet User Manual

Man_905U-E Rev 1.0 Draft Page 16

DB9 Connector Pinouts

Pin Name Direction Function

1 DCD Out

Data carrier detect –

- on when link is established in controlled mode

- on alway s in transparent mode

2 RD Out Transmit Data – Serial Data Output
3 TD In Receive Data – Serial Data Input
4 DTR In

Data Terminal Ready - DTR can be configured to initiate low power
mode, or to force a link disconnection (“hang up” in controlled mode.

5 SG Signal Ground
6 DSR Out Data Set Ready - always high when unit is powered on.
7 RTS In Request to Send - hardware flow control configurable
8 CTS Out Clear to send - hardware flow control configurable
9 RI Ring indicator - indicates another module is attempting to connect in

controlled mode.

2.4.2 RS485 Serial Port

The RS485 port provides for communication between the 905U-E unit and its host device using a multi­drop cable. Up to 32 devices may be connected in each multi-drop network. N ote that the RS485
port is shared internally with the RS232 port - make sure that the RS232 port is disconnected before
using the RS485 port.

As the RS485 communication medium is shared, only one of the units on the RS485 cable may send
data at any one time. Thus communication protocols based on the RS-485 standard require some type
of arbitration.

RS485 is a balanced, differential standard but it is recommended that shielded, twisted pair cable be
used to interconnect modules to reduce potential RFI. It is important to maintain the polarity of the two
RS485 wires. An RS485 network should be wired as indicated in the diagram below and terminated at
each end of the network with a 120 ohm resistor. On-board 120 ohm resistors are provided and may
be engaged by operating the single DIP switch in the end plate next to the RS485 terminals. The DIP
switch should be in the “1” or “on” position to connect the resistor. If the module is not at one end of the
RS485 cable, the switch should be off.

Chapter Two Installation

Page 17 © June 2005

HOST 905U-E HOST

RS485 CONNECTIONS

120

Ω

RS485

SUPPLY

RS232

DIP SWITCH

FOR 120

Ω

120

HOST HOST

905U-E

+

+

+

RS485 CONNECTION USING TERMINATING RESISTOR

ETHERNET

DIO

DEFAULTS DIP SWITCH