GE MDS MDS SD Specifications

Grid Solutions

MDS SD Series

Long Range IP/Ethernet & Serial SD1, SD2, SD4 & SD9

The MDS™ SD Series are industrial wireless solutions that provide long distance communications over
licensed radio bands, allowing users to interface to both Ethernet and serial devices such PLCs, RTUs
and meters with host monitoring and control systems.

The SD Series is the latest generation of MDS licensed narrowband wireless devices providing exceptional
communication performance and reliability to meet demands for IP/Ethernet services as well as support
for multiple devices and host systems. The SD is compatible with previous generations allowing for a
smooth and controlled migration for existing systems. The SD Series radios are compatible with the MDS
Master Station.

Key Benefits

• High speed, up to 65 Kbps in 50 KHz channel in SD2 and SD9

• Operate IP/Ethernet and serial communication on a single network

• Connect multiple host systems to a single Access Point radio

• Connect multiple devices to a single remote radio

• Implement push communication and report by exception from remote devices

• Simple, intuitive web based configuration and maintenance

• Easy migration path from serial to IP/Ethernet

• Backward compatible with existing MDS x710 networks

• Compatible with MDS Master Station

Application Specific Wireless Solution

Industrially Hardened

• Operational temperature range from –40°C to 70°C

• CSA Class I, Div. 2 groups A,B,C,D for Hazardous
Locations

• IEEE1613*, IEC 61850-3 and EN61000 for
electric substation environments

Application Flexibility

• Supports two serial ports and an IP/Ethernet
port simultaneously

• Broad coverage flexibility over distances up to
50 miles

• Extend Communication paths using single radio
Store and Forward

• Supports Ethernet Bridging, IP to serial and
serial to serial communications

• Low power consumption with sleep mode for
solar and battery powered applications

• Fast-serial features with embedded terminal
server functions for serial to IP/ Ethernet
encapsulation

Oil & Gas

• Remote data collection from meters and flow devices

• Monitor and transmit wellhead performance and status data collected by RTUs

Energy

• Remote control of IEDs and controllers at distribution substations

• Condition monitoring for pole-top circuit breakers and capacitor banks

Water & Wastewater

• Monitor lift stations across multiple sites from control room

• Communicate with remote PLCs controlling tank levels and water flow

Heavy Industrial

• Activation of perimeter gates based on detection of vehicle

• Monitor and control remote pumps and compressors

Reliable & Scalable

• Exclusive, non-shared licensed band operation

• High performance Media Access Control for
asynchronous polling and exception reporting

• Collision detection and avoidance insures data
arrives at destination without lost messages

• High receive sensitivity for long distance
communications

• Compatible with multiple industry protocols
including Modbus, Modbus TCP, and DNP3

Secure

• AES 128-bit data encryption

• Password protected access

• VLAN data segregation

* Requires an external DC to DC converter having floating

DC inputs (neither side grounded)

Long Range Communications

The MDS SD Series of industrial-strength radios offer secure, reliable, long
distance transmission of data for your mission critical applications. The SD
Series combines 5 Watt transmit power and exceptional receive sensitivity
to support wide coverage areas and maximum performance when difficult
terrain or obstructions such as trees and buildings limit the effectiveness
of other wireless devices. The SD Series operates in the 100 MHz (SD1), 200
MHz (SD2), 400 MHz (SD4) and 900 MHz (SD9) frequencies and allows users
to select the channel size and modulation option best suited to their unique
requirements. The combination of these features results in the ideal data
acquisition product for error free, long distance communication.

Exceptional Network Performance

The performance of a wireless network is more than a measurement
of speed. It also includes the efficiency of the radio system in mediating
over-the-air channel access. This is particularly important for operating IP/
Ethernet in narrow licensed channel sizes. The SD Series implements several
features designed to provide maximum performance. The SD’s Media
Access Control (MAC) is optimized to reduce Ethernet overhead and preserve
bandwidth for higher usable data speed. The IP Payload feature removes
unneeded Ethernet frames to shrink messages and improve throughput.

The SD Series automatically controls over-the-air communication between
host systems and remote devices to insure that data collisions are detected
and avoided. The result is exceptional performance for networks requiring
connections to multiple host systems, multiple device types connected
to a single remote radio, or a mix of Ethernet and serial devices. The SD
also insures maximum reliability for systems implementing unsolicited
communication and exception reporting from remote devices and RTUs,
which is particularly important for non-polled protocols such as DNP3.

Backward Compatibility

MDS SD Series radios can be directly added to existing MDS x710 and
x790 systems, providing both "drop-in" compatibility for expansions and
replacements, and adding Ethernet support. Backward compatibility
preserves your investment and allows a smooth transition from a serial
based SCADA infrastructure to IP/Ethernet without disrupting day-to-day
operations.

Existing

x710 Network

SCADA SCADA

Serial

x790 Master Station SDA with x790 Master Station

x710

Serial Data

Expansion

& Ethernet Upgrade

Ethernet

SD

x710x710

Serial DataSerial Data

SD Series Application Advantages

Remote Data Acquisition

RTU

RTU

RTU

RTU

RTU

Serial

Serial

IP/Ethernet

Serial

IP/Ethernet

Fixed Remote

Fixed Remote

Fixed Remote

Valve Position

Flow Rates

Tank Level

Pressure

Temperature

Alarm

Metering

Security

Unmatched Connectivity Flexible System Communications Highest Network Performance

• Connect multiple RTUs and controllers to a
single remote radio

• Operate serial and Ethernet devices
concurrently on the same network

• Implement exception reporting and pushed
communication initiated by remote devices.

• SD Media Access Control reduces network
overhead, prevents data collisions and insures
successful data delivery.

• High transmit power and exceptional receiver
sensitivity maximizes performance over
significant distances and challenging terrains

Range - Up to 50 miles

Access Point Data Control Center

Serial

Redundant SD

Model SDxP

IP/Ethernet

• Provides IP/Ethernet and serial communication
for multiple hosts and asynchronous polling

• Embedded terminal server functions support
serial & Ethernet connections without adaptors.

• Secure AES 128 encryption for IP/Ethernet UDP,
TCP Client and TCP Server and serial.

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