GE MDS P21, MDS P22, MDS P23 Installation & Operation Manual

Installation and Operation Guide

Installation & Operation Guide

MDS 05-4161A01, Rev. C

AUGUST 2007

Protected Network Stations

Equipped with MDS iNET Series, EntraNET, or Mercury Transceivers

MDS P21/P22/P23

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QUICK START GUIDE

Below are the basic steps for configuring a Protected Network Station. Detailed instructions are given in
“INSTALLATION” on Page 6.

1. Install transceivers (if not already present)

• Remove chassis cover.

• Remove the transceiver mounting plates.

• Mount the transceivers to the plates. Secure transceiver/plate assemblies to chassis. (Note that MDS
iNET/iNET-II and entraNET radios are stacked, but Mercury radios are installed side-by-side.)

• Connect internal cabling between transceivers and the Switchover Logic Board. (See “Internal
Cabling Arrangements” on Page 10.

2. Remove top cover plate and connect the internal back-up battery (if equipped). Re-install the
top cover.

• Units are shipped with the battery disconnected.

• Use care not to short the battery terminals.

• After the unit is powered up, allow several hours for the battery to fully charge.

3. Connect external wiring

• Connect chassis ground stud to facility’s Earth ground.

• Connect antenna feedline(s), data interface cabling, input power, and any alarm devices. (These
steps are explained with more detail in “External Connections” on Page 17.)

4. Program transceivers

• Programming can be performed with a PC terminal connected to the appropriate Data I/O connector
on the rear panel

• Consult transceiver manual(s) for programming details

5. Apply primary power

• Observe proper input voltage and polarity

• Verify that power supply has enough current capacity to power the chassis.

6. Select the active transceiver

• Set the front panel RADIO SELECTION Switch to A (Transceiver A, no auto switchover), B (Trans­ceiver B, no auto switchover), or AUTO (automatic switchover)

7. Verify proper operation

• Observe LEDs on transceivers

•Refine directional antenna headings for maximum signal strength

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL ............................................................... 1

2.0 PRODUCT INFORMATION ......................................................... 1

2.1 Product Features ..............................................................................2

2.2 Chassis Radio Configurations ..........................................................3

2.3 Antenna Port Configurations ............................................................4

2.4 Items Supplied .................................................................................4

2.5 Model Configuration Codes ..............................................................5

3.0 INSTALLATION ............................................................................ 6

3.1 Installation Planning .........................................................................6

3.2 Installing Transceivers—MDS entraNET, iNET/iNET-II ...................... 7

3.3 Installing Transceivers—MDS Mercury .............................................9

3.4 Internal Cabling Arrangements ......................................................10

3.5 External Connections .....................................................................17

Safety Ground...............................................................................17

Station Antenna Connection(s)..................................................... 17

Data Connections ......................................................................... 18

Alarm Equipment Connections ..................................................... 19

Primary Power Connections ......................................................... 19

3.6 Mounting the Protected Network Station .......................................20

3.7 Initial Startup .................................................................................. 21

4.0 PROGRAMMING THE TRANSCEIVERS .................................. 23

4.1 Initial MDS iNET/iNET-II Programming and Setup ......................... 23

Redundancy Configuration Menus ...............................................23

“Mirrored Configuration” of Transceivers.......................................29

4.2 Initial MDS entraNET Programming and Setup .............................30

Redundancy Menu........................................................................30

4.3 “Mirrored Configuration” of Transceivers ........................................35

4.4 Initial MDS Mercury Programming and Setup ................................ 35

Redundancy Configuration (AP Only)...........................................35

5.0 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................... 36

6.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE ....................................................... 37

6.1 Field-Replaceable Assemblies and Parts ......................................37

Replacing Power Supply Modules ................................................37

Replacing Other Assemblies ........................................................37

6.2 Specifications .................................................................................38

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ii P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

Copyright Notice

This Installation and Operation Guide and all software described herein
are protected by

copyright: 2007 GE MDS, LLC . All rights reserved.

GE MDS reserves its right to correct any errors and omissions in this
document.

Operational Safety Notices

The radio equipment described in this guide emits radio frequency
energy. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from
a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to
come closer than 23 cm (9 inches) to the antenna when the transmitter
is operating in indoor or outdoor environments. More information on RF
exposure is on the Internet at www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulle­tins.

This manual is intended to guide a

professional installer to install,

operate and perform basic system maintenance on the described radio.

ESD Notice

To prevent malfunction or damage to this radio, which may be caused
by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), the radio should be properly
grounded by connection to the ground stud on the rear panel. In addition,
the installer or operator should follow proper ESD precautions, such as
touching a grounded bare metal object to dissipate body charge, prior to
adjusting front panel controls or connecting or disconnecting cables on
the front or rear panels.

Environmental Information

The equipment that you purchased has required the extraction and use
of natural resources for its production. Improper disposal may contami­nate the environment and present a health risk due to hazardous sub­stances contained within. To avoid dissemination of these substances
into our environment, and to diminish the demand on natural resources,
we encourage you to use the appropriate recycling systems for disposal.
These systems will reuse or recycle most of the materials found in this
equipment in a sound way. Please contact the factory or your supplier
for more information on the proper disposal of this equipment.

Quality Policy Statement

We are committed to understanding and exceeding our customers’
needs and expectations.

• We appreciate our customers’ patronage. They are our business.

• We promise to serve them and anticipate their needs.

RF Exposure

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iii P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

• We are committed to providing solutions that are cost effective,
innovative and reliable, with consistently high levels of quality.

We are committed to the continuous improvement of all of our systems
and processes, to improve product quality and increase customer satis­faction.

ISO 9001 Registration

GE MDS adheres to this internationally accepted quality system stan­dard.

Notice

While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of
this manual, product improvements may result in minor differences
between the manual and the product shipped to you. If you have addi­tional questions or need an exact specification for a product, please con­tact our Customer Service Team using the information at the back of this
guide. In addition, manual updates can often be found on the GE MDS
web site at

www.GEmds.com .

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 1

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This guide provides:

• Instructions for installing the P21 (MDS iNET/iNET-II Series)
P22 (MDS entraNET), and P23 (MDS Mercury) Protected Net­work Stations, and configuring them for desired operation

• In-service operating instructions

• Instructions for installing or changing transceivers, power sup­plies and other assemblies in the chassis

• Troubleshooting information

This manual is a system-level guide to the Protected Network Station. It
does

not contain detailed information on the radio transceivers installed

within the chassis. Radio-specific information will be found in the
appropriate manual(s) supplied with the units installed in your system.
After installation, you may wish to keep this guide, the internal radio
documentation, and all other related information near the equipment for
future reference.

2.0 PRODUCT INFORMATION

The Protected Network Station (Figure 1) is a tabletop or rack-mount
unit designed to hold two GE MDS transceivers, two power supplies,
and a switchover logic board that automatically selects between trans­ceiver A or B as the active transceiver. Manual transceiver selection
may also be made using a front panel switch.

NOTE:

When switchover occurs, a delay of approximately 30 seconds
occurs until the new radio initializes. It may take up to one
minute for the radio to re-establish a link with an associated
station.

Additionally, certain network devices may require up to 20
minutes to detect that the MAC address has changed for the IP
address of the radio. This does not affect the data-passing
ability of the radio—only the ability to conduct a console
management session.

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2 P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

Invisible place holder

Figure 1. Protected Network Station

With two transceivers and power supplies installed, the unit will con­tinue to communicate even if a failure occurs in one of the transceivers
or its associated power supply. This capability is important in mis­sion-critical applications where uninterrupted service is required.

At the time of publication, the following transceivers are supported by
the Protected Network Station:

• MDS iNET/iNET-II Series Access Point

• MDS iNET/iNET-II Series Dual Gateway Remote

• MDS iNET/iNET-II Series Ethernet Bridge Remote

• MDS iNET/iNET-II Series Serial Remote

• MDS entraNET (Access Point only)

• MDS Mercury (Access Point only)

The unit is equipped with alarm connections on the rear panel which
activate whenever the standby transceiver is put online. These are “dry”
(isolated) alarm contacts that may be connected to customer-supplied
external alarm equipment, such as a lamp or sounding device.

2.1 Product Features

The Protected Network Station provides:

• Fully-protected capability—Standard chassis contains two
transceivers and two power supplies. A provision for an
optional redundant antenna port is also available.

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 3

• Automatic switchover to alternate transceiver if a failure occurs
in the primary unit or its power supply.

• Optional built-in battery backup for AC-powered units

• Rear panel alarm connections for customer-supplied alarm
equipment

• Tabletop or 19-inch rack mount installation

• Utilizes standard GE MDS transceivers inside

2.2 Chassis Radio Configurations

The chassis is available in the following transceiver configurations:

•

Two transceivers installed

This configuration provides an immediately usable Protected
Network Station for new installations.

•

One transceiver installed

This configuration allows customers to add an existing trans­ceiver to the P21/22/23 chassis to create a Protected Network
Station.

•

No transceivers installed

This configuration allows customers to install two existing
transceivers in the empty chassis to create a Protected Network
Station.

NOTE:

Existing MDS iNET/iNET-II Series radios to be used in a
Protected Network Station must have firmware revision 5.1.0
or higher installed. (All firmware versions of iNET-II radios
meet this requirement.) If entraNET transceivers are used, they
must have firmware revision 2.3.7 or higher installed. Consult
the factory for firmware availability.

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4 P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

2.3 Antenna Port Configurations

The Protected Network Station can be configured with a single antenna,
or with two separate antennas for full redundancy to continue operation
if the primary antenna becomes damaged or is otherwise inoperative.
The following configurations are available:

•

Single antenna port

The port is automatically switched to the active transceiver by
an internal relay.

•

Two antenna ports

Each port is connected to one of the transceivers and to separate
station antennas.

2.4 Items Supplied

Figure 2 shows the contents of a typical Protected Network Station ship­ment.

Invisible place holder

Figure 2. Protected Network Station Typical Shipment

POWER CORD(S)
(AC type shown)

REDUNDANT
STATION

TRANSCEIVER
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL

P-21/22
INSTRUCTION
MANUAL

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 5

2.5 Model Configuration Codes

The configuration details of the Protected Network Station (as shipped
from the factory) can be quickly determined from the model number
label attached to the outside of the chassis. Figure 3 shows the signifi­cance of the model number characters printed on the label.

Invisible place holder

Figure 3. Model Configuration Codes

PACKAGE

1 - 12V DC
2 - 24 V DC
3 - 48V DC
4 - 125V DC
A - 115/230V AC w/battery
B - 115/230V AC w/o battery

ANTENNA PORTS

1 - One
2 - Redundant

P2x

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6 P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

3.0 INSTALLATION

This section presents installation steps for:

1. I

nstallation Planning

2.

Installing transceiver(s) inside a chassis

This step may be skipped if transceivers are already installed.

3. Installing the Protected Network Station

Use these steps to connect external wiring and prepare the unit for
regular service.

4.

Configuring the Protected Network Station

This section describes how to set up the station for desired opera­tion, including what events will trigger a switchover to the alternate
transceiver.

5.

Optimizing radio performance

This section offers tips for obtaining peak performance from your
Protected Network Station.

3.1 Installation Planning

Helpful advice for planning a radio system, including site and antenna
selection, can be found in the manual(s) supplied with your transceivers.

The Protected Network Station is typically installed at an Access Point
(AP) site to ensure uninterrupted communication with remote radios.
For iNET/iNET-II systems, it may also be used at one or more remote
sites in a network to increase reliability and protect against equipment
failures at these locations.

Figure 4 shows a typical installation arrangement.

The installation site should have adequate and stable primary power,
suitable access for cabling, and should not be subject to temperature
extremes or poor ventilation. The unit may be placed on a sturdy
tabletop or installed in a standard 19-inch rack cabinet.

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 7

Invisible place holder

Figure 4. Typical P-Series Installation

3.2 Installing Transceivers—MDS entraNET,
iNET/iNET-II

(If not already installed)

The modular construction of the Protected Network Station makes it
easy to install transceivers. The only tool required is a Phillips screw­driver. If the transceivers were not installed at the factory, proceed with
the steps below for installation and to connect the internal cabling. Refer
to Figure 5 during these steps.

NOTE:

Before installing a transceiver in the chassis, make sure each
radio is operating properly as a standalone unit, and is
equipped with up-to-date firmware code. The latest revision of
firmware for most GE MDS products is available for down­load at www.GEmds.com.

1. Make sure the power is off.

2. Remove the top cover of the Protected Network Station by loosen-

ing the two screws at the rear panel.

3. If a backup battery is installed in the chassis, be sure it is discon-

nected from the battery control board.

4. Remove the transceiver mounting plates from the chassis by loosen-

ing the screws that secure them to the chassis.

5. Attach the lower mounting plate to the lower transceiver (Radio B)

using four screws. Attach the mounting plate and radio to the chas­sis.

STATION ANTENNA

LOW-LOSS FEEDLINE

PC, DATA
EQUIPMENT
OR LAN

TO DATA
INTERFACE CONN.

TO ANTENNA
CONNECTOR

PRIMARY
POWER CORD(S)

P2x PROTECTED
NETWORK STATION
(With transceivers installed)

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8 P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 05-4161A01, Rev. C

6. Attach the upper mounting plate to the upper transceiver (Radio A)

using four screws. Place the radio/mounting plate over the top of
Radio B and attach the plate to the chassis.

7. Connect and secure the data interface, diagnostics and power cables

to the transceivers as shown in

Internal Cabling Arrangements on

Page 10

.

8. Connect the battery cable to the battery control board, if it has been

purchased and installed in the chassis. (See Figure 33 on Page 38.)

9. Re-install the top cover of the Protected Network Station and tighten

the side screws.

This completes the installation of transceivers in the chassis. Refer to

Section 3.5, External Connections to complete the installation.

Invisible place holder

Figure 5. Top View Showing Two Radios Installed

NOTE: The internal back-up battery (if equipped) is disconnected for

shipment from the factory. To enable back-up power, remove
the top cover of the chassis and connect the battery cable to the
battery control board. See Figure 33 on Page 38.

J11

COM1LAN PWR LINKCOM2

J16 J17

J13J2

J6

J8

J10J5

J14J3

J7

UPPER:
RADIO A

LOWER:
RADIO B

1

J12

J4

J18

J19

J1

J9

J15

COM2 LINKPWRLAN COM1

Battery
& Control PCB

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05-4161A01, Rev. C P21/P22/P23 Protected Network Station 9

3.3 Installing Transceivers—MDS Mercury

(If not already installed)

The modular construction of the Protected Network Station makes it
easy to install transceivers. The only tool required is a Phillips screw­driver. If the transceivers were not installed at the factory, proceed with
the steps below for installation and to connect the internal cabling. Refer
to Figure 5 during these steps.

NOTE:

Before installing a transceiver in the chassis, make sure each
radio is operating properly as a standalone unit, and is
equipped with up-to-date firmware code. The latest revision of
firmware for most GE MDS products is available for down­load at www.GEmds.com.

1. Make sure the power is off.

2. Remove the top cover of the Protected Network Station by loosen-

ing the two screws at the rear panel.

3. If a backup battery is installed in the chassis, be sure it is discon-

nected from the battery control board.

4. Remove the transceiver mounting plates from the chassis by loosen-

ing the screws that secure them to the chassis.

5. Attach the Radio A mounting plate to the first transceiver using four

screws. Secure the mounting plate and radio to the chassis.

6. Attach the Radio B mounting plate to the second transceiver using

four screws. Secure the mounting plate and radio to the chassis.

7. Connect and secure the data interface, diagnostics and power cables

to the transceivers as shown in Internal Cabling Arrangements on
Page 10.

8. Connect the battery cable to the battery control board, if this option

has been purchased and installed in the chassis. (See Figure 33 on
Page 38.)

9. Re-install the top cover of the Protected Network Station and tighten

the side screws.

This completes the installation of Mercury transceivers in the chassis.
Refer to Section 3.5, External Connections to complete the installation.

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