GE MDS DS SD1 User Manual

1.0 INTRODUCTION

ANTENNA
CONNECTOR (TNC)

SERIAL DATA

CONNECTORS (DB-9)

DC INPUT
POWER

LED INDICATOR

PANEL

ETHERNET

CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

COM1 used for radio management

DC POWER SUPPLY
Negative Ground Only

TRANSCEIVER

LOW-LOSS FEEDLINE

ANTENNA SYSTEM

SERIAL

Master Stations typically use

omni-directional antenna

TO

DATA TELEMETRY

DEVICE

7.25˝ (16.99 cm)

2.75˝ (7 cm)

The MDS SD1 transceiver (Figure 1) is a software-configurable,
industrial solution for use in wireless telemetry applications. The
unit operates in the 150-174 MHz frequency band.

The radio interfaces with a variety of data control equipment such
as remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers
(PLCs), flow computers, and similar devices. Data interface con­nections may be made by both serial (RS-232/485) and limited
Ethernet protocols.

MDS SD1 Transceiver

Quick Start Guide (x710 Mode)

2.0 INSTALLATION

There are three main requirements for installing the transceiver:

• Adequate and stable primary power

• An efficient and properly installed antenna system

• Correct interface connections between the transceiver and
the data device.

Figure 2 shows a typical installation of the radio.

NOTE: Retrofit Kits are available to simplify installation at former

2.1 Installation Steps

In most cases, the steps given here are sufficient to install the
transceiver. Refer to the Reference Manual for additional details,
as required.

1. Mount the transceiver using the brackets supplied. Attach

NOTE: To prevent moisture from entering the radio, do not mount

CAUTION:Using screws longer than 1/4 inch (6 mm) to attach the

MDS x710 digital and analog sites. Consult the Refer­ence Manual for ordering details.

the brackets to the bottom of the transceiver case (if not
already attached), using the four 6-32 x 1/4 inch (6 mm)
screws supplied. Mounting bracket dimensions are shown in

Figure 3. If DIN Rail mounting brackets are to be used, consult

the Reference Manual.

the case with the cable connectors pointing up. Also,
dress all cables to prevent moisture from running along
the cables and into the radio.

Invisible place holder

Figure 1. MDS SD1 Data Transceiver

brackets to the radio may cause internal damage. Use
only the screws supplied.

Figure 2. Typical Installation (Remote Site Show n)

Figure 3. Mounting Bracket Dimensions

2. Install the antenna and feedline. The antenna used with the
radio must be designed to operate in the radio’s frequency
band, and be mounted in a location providing a clear path to
the associated station(s). At Remote sites, aim directional
antennas toward the Master Station. Low loss coaxial feedline
should be used and it should be kept as short as possible.

3. Connect the data equipment. Connection may be made to
the COM port using Serial protocols (RS-232/RS-485).

• Connect your data equipment to the appropriate serial port

on the front panel. (Typically, COM2 is used for connecting
data equipment, and COM1 is used for management of the
radio. Other arrangements are possible. Refer to the Refer-
ence Manual for details.) In all cases, the radio is hardwired
as a DCE device. A straight-thru cable may be used for most
applications.

4. Connect primary power. Input power must be 10.0 to 30 Vdc
and capable of providing at least 2.5 Amperes. A power con­nector with screw-terminals is provided wit h th e un i t (se e

05-6358A01, Rev. 02 (FCC) MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (x710 Mode) 1

Figure 4). Strip the wire leads to 6 mm (1/4 inch) and insert

PC Running Terminal Session

Transceiver

DB-9M to COM1 Port

ESCAPE

ENTER

ENTER

ENTER

them into the wire ports. Be sure to observe proper polarity as
shown below. Tighten the binding screws securely.

Figure 4. DC Power Connector

CAUTION:The unit is designed for use with negative-ground

systems only. The power supply should be equipped
with overload protection (NEC Class 2 rating), to
protect against a short circuit between its output termi­nals and the radio’s power connector.

5. Set the radio’s configuration. Connect a PC to the radio’s
COM1 port as shown in Figure 5. A straight-thru cable may be
used for this connection.

MODEM command. Use MODEM [xxxx] if changes are
required, where xxxx represents the modem speed in bps.

When finished with the steps above, review the other configu­ration options to determine if other settings are required for
your system. Table 3 lists key software commands for the
radio.

2.2 Initial Checkout

In-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic.
The only operator actions required are to apply DC power and
observe the LEDS for proper indications. Table 1 summarizes the
radio’s LED functions.

2.2.1 LED Functions

NOTE: LED labeling may vary on early un its. LED position and

functionality remains as described below.

NOTE: Consult your System Administrator if you are unsure of

the settings required for your network.

Figure 5. Setup for PC Configuration

2.1.1 Software Configuration

There are two methods for communicating with the radio for con­figuration and management: Serial (COM1 DB9 connector) and
Telnet (ETHERNET RJ-45 connector). Both present identical
functionality, but the method of access is different for each. The
focus here is on Serial access, but Telnet may be used by following
these additional points, which replace Steps 1 and 2 below:

• For Telnet, connect to the radio with a PC that is on the

same IP network as the transceiver. Launch a Telnet pro­gram, and connect to the radio using its programmed IP
address.

• The default IP address is 192.168.1.1. If you do not know the

IP address of the radio, use the serial configuration steps
below to view the address with the IPCONFIG command.

1. With a PC connected to the COM1 serial port, launch a
terminal program, such as HyperTerminal (included with most
pre-Vista Windows®-based PCs) and set the following
parameters:

8 bits, no parity, one stop bit (8N1), flow control disabled,
VT100 emulation. The radio’s COM1 port automatically

determines the connected baud rate (within the range of
1200–115200 bps).

2. Press the key followed by a series of
keypresses (1/2 second intervals) until the > prompt appears.
The radio is now ready to accept commands.

3. Set/verify the RX (receive) and TX (transmit) frequencies. To
set the receive frequency, enter RX followed by the correct fre-

quency in MHz (xxx.xxxxx). Press .
To set the transmit frequency, enter TX followed by the correct

frequency in MHz (xxx.xxxxx). Press .

4. The factory default modem settings support operation for most
systems. Other options are available using the proper soft­ware commands. The current setting may be viewed using the

Figure 6. LED Status Indicators

Table 1: Description of LED Status Indicators

LED Name Description

PWR • Continuous—Power applied, no problems detected.

• Rapid flash (5x-per-second)—Alarm indication.

LAN • Flashing—Ethernet data activity is detected.

• Off—Ethernet signals not detected, or excessive
traffic is present at the port.

DATA1/DATA2 These LEDs show data activity on the DB-9 serial

LINK When lit, indicates that a communication link exists

NOTE: The Ethernet connector also has two embedded LEDs. A

flashing green indicates Ethernet data activity, and a
yellow indicates 100 Mbps operation has been achieved.

payload port(s).

with the master station.

2.2.2 Antenna SWR Check

Before placing the unit in final operation, the antenna system’s
standing wave ratio (SWR) should be checked using a wattmeter
suited to the frequency of operation. High SWR (above 2:1) may
indicate an antenna or feedline problem, and should be corrected.

2.2.3 RSSI Check (for Remotes)

Using the RSSI command (received signal strength indication),
check for adequate signal strength. The radio must be receiving a
signal from the associated Master Station (LINK LED on or
blinking). In general, signal levels stronger than –80 dBm will pro­vide very reliable communication and allow for a degree of “fade
margin.”

Optimize the RSSI at Remotes by slowly adjusting the direction of
the station antenna. Watch the RSSI indication for several seconds
after making each adjustment so that the RSSI accurately reflects
any change in the signal strength. With RSSI, the less negative the
number, the stronger the incoming signal (i.e., -70 dBm is stronger
than -80 dBm).

3.0 TROUBLESHOOTING

All radios in the network must meet the following basic require­ments for proper operation. Check these items first when trouble­shooting a communication problem:

• Adequate and stable primary power

• Secure cable connections (RF, data and power)

• A clear transmission path between Master and each Remote

2 MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (x710 Mode) 05-6358A01, Rev. 02 (FCC)