GE MDS MDS TransNET Operating Manual

MDS TransNET 900

™

MDS TransNET 2400

Spr ead Spectrum

Data Transceiver

Including supplemental data for Board-Only units

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

MARCH 2013

™

Reference Manual

Installation & Operation Guide

Quick-Start instructions for this product are contained

in publication 05-4481A01.

All GE MDS manuals are available online at

www.gemds.com

CONTENTS

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

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ......................................... 1

2.1 Transceiver Features ......................................................1

2.2 Model Number Codes .....................................................2

2.3 Spread Spectrum Radios—How Are They Different? .....2

2.4 Typical Applications ........................................................2

Multiple Address Systems (MAS)......................................2

Point-to-Point System........................................................3

Adding a Tail-End Link to an Existing Network..................3

Extending a TransNET Network with a Repeater............. .4

2.5 Accessories .....................................................................5

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

3.1 General Requirements ....................................................6

3.2 Site Selection ..................................................................6

Terrain and Signal Strength...............................................7

Conducting a Site Survey..................................................7

3.3 A Word About Radio Interference ...................................8

3.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection .........................................9

Antennas ...........................................................................9

Feedlines...........................................................................10

Antenna System Ground...................................................11

3.5 How Much Output Power Can be Used? ........................12

4.0 INSTALLATION............................................................ 14

4.1 Transceiver Installation ...................................................14

4.2 Configuring Multiple Remote Units .................................18

4.3 Tail-End Links ..................................................................18

4.4 Configuring a Network for Extensions ............................ .19

5.0 OPERATION................................................................ 19

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual i

5.1 Initial Start-up .................................................................19

5.2 Performance Optimization ..............................................20

Antenna Aiming.................................................................20

Antenna SWR Check........................................................21

Data Buffer Setting—Modbus Protocol.............................21

Hoptime Setting ................................................................21

TotalFlow™ Protocol at 9600 with Sleep Mode ................21

Operation at 115200 bps...................................................21

Baud Rate Setting... ... ... ... .... ... ... .......................................22

Radio Interference Checks ...............................................22

6.0 RADIO PROGRAMMING .............................................22

6.1 Radio Programming Methods .........................................22

Terminal Interface .............................................................22

PC-Based Configuration Tool............................................22

6.2 User Commands ............................................................23

Entering Commands......................................................... 23

6.3 Detailed Command Descriptions ............................. ....... 28

ADDR [1–65000] .. ...................................................... .... ... 29

Network Address

AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF] ..................................... 29

Alarm Mask

AT [ON, OFF]....................................................................29

Hayes-Compatible AT Command Support

ASENSE [HI/LO]...............................................................29

Alarm Output Sense

BAUD [xxxxx abc]...................................................... .... ... 29

Data Interface Port Baud Rate

BAND [A, B, C].............................. ....................................30

Select Sub-Band (Normally used for 2.4 GHz units)

BUFF [ON, OFF].............. .... ... ... ... .... ... .............................30

Data Buffer Mode

CODE [NONE, 1…255].....................................................31

Security Code

CSADDR [1–65000, NONE] .............................................31

Clock-Synchronizing Master Address

CTS [0–255]......................................................................31

Clear-to-Send Delay

ii MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

CTSHOLD [0–60000] ....................................... ... .... ... ... ... .32

Clear-to-Send Hold Time

DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY]................................................32

Radio-MODEM Behavior

DLINK [xxxxx/ON/OFF] .....................................................32

InSite Diagnostics Link Support

DKEY.................................................................................33

Turn Off Radio Transmitter‘s Test Signal

DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]......................................................33

Network Diagnostics Mode

FEC [ON, OFF]..................................................................33

Forward Error Correction

HOPTIME [7, 28]...............................................................34

Radio Transmitter Hop Timing

INIT....................................................................................34

Initialize; Restore to Factory Defaults

HREV ................................................................................35

Hardware Revision

KEY ...................................................................................35

Turn On Radio Transmitter Test Signal

LED [ON, OFF]..................................................................36

Enable/Disable PCB LEDs

LPM [1, 0]..........................................................................36

Low-Power Mode—Masters Only

LPMHOLD [0–1000]..........................................................36

Low-Power Mode Sleep Time

MODE [M, R, X].................................................................36

Radio Operating Mode

MRSSI [NONE, –40...–90].................................................37

Minimum RSSI for Mobile Operation

OT [ON, OFF]....................................................................37

Output Trigger

OWM [xxxxx] .....................................................................37

“Owner’s Message”

OWN [xxxxx]......................................................................37

“Owner’s Name”

PORT [RS232, RS485]........................................ .... ... ... ... .37

Data Interface Port Signaling Standard

PWR [20–30].....................................................................38

Radio Transmitter Power Level

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual iii

REPEAT [0–10]................................................................. 38

Downstream Repeat Transmission Count

RETRY [0–10]...................................................................38

Upstream Repeat Transmission Count

RSSI.................................................................................. 38

Received Signal Strength Indicator

RTU [ON, OFF, 0-80] ........................................................39

Remote Terminal Unit Simulator

RX [xxxx]...........................................................................39

Radio Receive Test Frequency

RXD [0–255] .....................................................................39

RXD Delay

RXTOT [NONE, 0–1440] ..................................................40

Receive Data Timeout-Timer

SAF [ON, OFF] .................................................................40

Store-and-Forward Services Support

SETUP..............................................................................40

Setup Radio Test

SER................................................................................... 40

Radio Serial Number

SHOW CON......................................................................41

Show Virtual Connection Status

SHOW PWR ..................................................................... 41

Show Measured RF Transmit Power

SHOW SYNC....................................................................41

Show Clock-Synchronization Master Ntwk Address

SKIP [NONE, 1...8] ...........................................................41

Skip Radio Operating Zones

SLEEP [ON, OFF].............................................................42

Transceiver Sleep—Remotes Only

SREV................................................................................42

Firmware Revision Level

STAT.................................................................................43

Alarm Status

TEMP................................................................................43

Radio’s Internal Temperature

TX [xxxx].................................................... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... 43

Radio Transmit Test Frequency

UNIT [10000–65000].........................................................43

Unit Address

iv MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

XADDR [0–31]...................................................................44

Extended Address

XMAP [00000000-FFFFFFFF] ..........................................44

Map of Extension Addresses

XPRI [0–31].......................................................................44

Primary Extended Address

XRSSI [NONE, –40...–120] ..................................... ... ... ... .44

Extension RSSI Level

ZONE CLEAR ........ ... .................................................... ... .44

Clear Zone Statistics Log

ZONE DATA ..................... ... ... .... .......................................44

Read Zone Statistics Log

7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING..................................................45

7.1 LED Indicators ................................................................46

7.2 Alarm Codes ...................................................................46

Checking for Alarms—STAT command.............................46

Major Alarms versus Minor Alarms ...................................46

Alarm Code Definitions........... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .47

7.3 Troubleshooting Chart ....................................................48

7.4 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics ..............49

7.5 Internal Fuse Replacement ............................ ................. 50

8.0 RADIO FIRMWARE UPGRADES.................................51

8.1 Obtaining New Firmware ................................................51

Saving a Web-Site Firmware File Onto Your PC...............51

8.2 Installing Firmware Into Your Radio ................................51

9.0 OPERATING PRINCIPLES AND CONFIGURATION...52

9.1 SAF Operation with Extension Radios ............................52

Simple Extended SAF Network.........................................52

Extended SAF Network. ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .53

Retransmission and ARQ Operation.................................53

SAF Configuration Example..............................................53

9.2 Synchronizing Network Units ..........................................54

Synchronization Messages ...............................................55

9.3 Using AT Commands ......................................................55

9.4 Configuration Parameters for S&F Services ...................57

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual v

9.5 Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode (Remote Units Only) ......59

Sleep Mode Example . ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ................................ 60

9.6 Low-Power Mode (LPM)—Master Enabled .................... 60

Setup Commands............................................................. 60

Reading RSSI & Other Parameters w/LPM Enabled........61

Power Consumption by HOPTIME and SAF Settings ...... 61

9.7 Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep Mode ............ 62

9.8 Mobile Operation Support .............................................. 62

Introduction....................................................................... 62

Operational Influences—Hoptime & SAF..........................63

9.9 MIRRORED BITS™ Protocol Support ........................... 63

9.10 Seamless Mode Emulation ..........................................63

9.11 Full-Duplex Emulation ...................................................63

9.12 Co-Located and Close-Proximity Masters .................... 63

Master Station Configuration............................................. 64

Antenna System for Co-Located Master Stations............. 64

9.13 Security ........................................................................65

10.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE.......................................66

10.1 Product Specifications—900 MHz ................................ 66

10.2 Product Specifications—2.4 GHz ................................. 67

10.3 Diagnostic Interface Connections (RJ-11) .................... 69

10.4 Data Interface Connections (DB-9F) ............................ 69

Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-232 Mode ..................... ... .... ... 70

Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-422/485 Mode ........................ 71

10.5 Board-Only Supplemental Data .................................... 72

Product Differences—Board-only vs. Standard ................ 72

Unit Dimensions................................................................ 72

Mounting Requirements.................................................... 73

10.6 User Configurable I/O Connections .............................. 73

Using the I/O Points with InSite™ NMS Software............. 75

Application Example—Digital I/O at a Remote ................. 75

10.7 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart ..............................76

Copyright Notice

This manual and all software described herein are Copyright 2013 by GE MDS, LLC. All rights
reserved, including the right to correct any errors and omissions in this manual.

vi MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

Quality Policy Statement

RF EXPOSURE

RF Exposure

l'exposition aux RF

Our employees are committed to understanding and exceeding our customer’s needs and expec­tations.

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

• We promise to serve them and anticipate their needs.

• 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.

RF Exposure Notice

Professional installation required. 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 in the 900 MHz band or 11 .2 cm (4.4
inches) in the 2400 MHz band. More information on RF exposure is available on
the Internet at www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins.

RF Safety Notice (English and French)

Concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health
hazard to humans. Do not allow people to come closer to the antenna

than the distances listed in the table below when the transmitter is
operating. More information on RF exposure can be found online at
the following website: www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins.

Concentré d'énergie à partir d'une antenne directionnelle peut poser
un risque pour la santé humaine. Ne pas permettre aux gens de se rap-

procher de l'antenne que les distances indiquées dans le tableau
ci-dessous lorsque l'émetteur est en marche. Plus d'informations sur
l'exposition aux RF peut être trouvé en ligne à l'adresse suivante:

www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins.

ISO 9001 Registration

Microwave Data Systems adheres to the internationally-accepted ISO 9001 quality system stan­dard.

UL/CSA Notice

The MDS TransNET 900 is available for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C & D Haz­ardous Locations. Such locations are defined in Article 500 of the National Fire Protection Asso­ciation (NFPA) publication NFPA 70, otherwise known as the National Electrical Code.
(Approval of the MDS TransNET 2400 is pending as of August 2006.)

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual vii

Minimum RF Safety Distance

Safety Distance (900 MHz) 23 cm
Safety Distance (2.4 GHz) 11.2 cm

The transceiver has been recognized for use in these hazardous locations by two independent
agencies —Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The
UL certification for the transceiver is as a Recognized Component for use in these hazardous
locations, in accordance with UL Standard 1604, UL508. The CSA Certification is in accordance
with CSA STD C22.2 No. 213-M1987.

UL/CSA Conditions of Approval: The transceiver is not acceptable as a stand-alone unit for use
in the hazardous locations described above. It must either be mounted within another piece of
equipment which is certified for hazardous locations, or installed within guidelines, or conditions
of approval, as set forth by the approving agencies. These conditions of approval are as follows:

1. The transceiver must be mounted within a separate enclosure which is suitable for the
intended application.

2. The coaxial antenna cable, power input cable and interface cables must be routed through
conduit in accordance with Division 2 wiring methods as specified in the National Electrical
Code, Article 501.4(B).

3. The transceiver must be used within its Recognized “Ratings”.

4. Installation, operation and maintenance of the transceiver should be in accordance with the
transceiver's installation manual, and the National Electrical Code.

5. Tampering or replacement with non-factory components may adversely affect the safe use of
the transceiver in hazardous locations, and may void the approval.

6. A power connector with screw-type retaining screws as supplied by MDS must be used.

When installed in a Class I, Div. 2, Groups A, B, C or D hazardous location, observe the fol­lowing: WARNING —EXPLOSION HAZARD Do not disconnect equipment unless power
has been switched off or the area is know to be non-hazardous.

Refer to Articles 500 through 502 of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) for further infor­mation on hazardous locations and approved Division 2 wiring methods.

FCC Part 15 Approval Notice

The products described comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol­lowing two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired opera­tion. This device is specifically designed to be used under Section 15.247 of the FCC Rules and
Regulations. Any unauthorized modification or changes to this device without the express
approval of the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device. Furthermore,
this device is intended to be used only when installed in accordance with the instructions outlined
in this manual. Failure to comply with these instructions may void the user’s authority to operate
this device.

Industry Canada Notice

This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Servicing Precautions

When servicing energized equipment, be sure to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE). During internal service, situations could arise where objects accidentally contact or short
circuit components and the appropriate PPE would alleviate or decrease the severity of potential
injury. When servicing radios, all workplace regulations and other applicable standards for live
electrical work should be followed to ensure personal safety. All service must be performed by
qualified personnel.

Manual Revision and Accuracy

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 Technical Services team using the information at the back of this guide. In addition, manual
updates can often be found online at

www.gemds.com.

viii MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

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 a
single-point ground that includes the unit’s chassis and antenna system. In addition,
the installer or operator must observe proper ESD precautions, such as touching a
grounded bare metal object to dissipate body charge, prior to connecting or discon­necting cables or performing any other service work.

Environmental Information

The manufacture of this equipment has required the extraction and use of natural
resources. 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 limit 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 your factory representative for more information on the proper dis­posal of this equipment.

Battery Disposal—This product may contain a battery. Batteries must be disposed of properly,
and may not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste in the European Union. See the product
documentation for specific battery information. Batteries are marked with a symbol, which may
include lettering to indicate cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), or mercury (Hg). For proper recycling
return the battery to your supplier or to a designated collection point.

Product Test Data Sheets

Test Data Sheets showing the original factory test results for this unit are available upon request
from the GE MDS Quality Leader. Contact the factory using the information at the back of this
manual. Serial numbers must be provided for each product where a Te st Data Sheet is required.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual ix

x MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This manual presents installation and operating instructions of the
MDS TransNET 900™ and MDS TransNET 2400™ transceivers for use by
a professional installer. This person is expected to install, operate, and
perform basic system maintenance on the described radio. Following instal­lation, we suggest keeping this manual near the equipment for future refer­ence.

NOTE: If you have a board-only version of this product, the operating instructions in this

manual still apply, but refer also to the supplemental data at the back of this
manual (see Page 72).

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The transceiver, shown in Figure 1, is a spread spectrum radio designed for
license-free operation. These units employ Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
technology to provide highly-reliable long-distance communications, even in
the presence of weak signals or interference.

DSP technology also makes it possible to obtain information about radio
operation and troubleshoot problems, without going to the Remote radio site.
Using appropriate software at the Master station, diagnostic data can be
obtained on any DSP radio in the system, even while payload data is being
transmitted. (See “Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics” on

Page 49.)

The transceiver is housed in a compact and rugged die-cast enclosure that
need only be protected from direct exposure to the weather. It contains a
single printed circuit board with all necessary components for radio opera­tion. No jumper settings or manual adjustments are required to configure the
radio for operation.

Figure 1.
MDS TransNET
Series Transceiver

2.1 Transceiver Features

Listed below are several key features of the transceiver. These are designed
to ease the installation and configuration of the radio, while retaining the
ability to make changes in the future.

• 902–928 MHz operation using the TransNET 900

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 1

• 2400–2482 MHz ISM band operation with the TransNET 2400

• User-selectable option to skip sub-bands with constant interference

• 65,000 available network addresses

• Network-wide configuration from the Master station eliminates most
trips to Remote sites

• Data transparency ensures compatibility with virtually all asynchronous
SCADA system RTUs

• Peak-hold RSSI averaged over eight hop cycles

• Operation at up to 115,200 bps continuous data flow

• Store-and-Forward repeater operation

• Data latency typically less than 10 ms

• Same hardware for Master or Remote configuration

• Supports RS/EIA-232 and RS/EIA-485 user interface

• Low current consumption; typically less than 3 mA in “sleep” mode

NOTE: Some radio features may not be available on all models, or limited by the op-

tions purchased, or the applicable regulatory constraints for the region in which
the radio will operate.

2.2 Model Number Codes

The radio model number is printed on the label on the end of the radio’s enclo­sure. It provides key information about how the radio was configured when it
was shipped from the factory. This number is subject to many variations
depending on what options are installed and where (country) the product is
used. Contact the factory if you have questions on the meaning of the code.

2.3 Spread Spectrum Radios—
How Are They Different?

The main difference between a traditional (licensed) radio and the
MDS TransNET transceiver is that this unit “hops” from channel to channel
many times per second using a specific hop pattern applied to all radios in the
network. A distinct hopping pattern is provided for each of the 65,000 avail­able network addresses, thereby minimizing the chance of interference with
other spread spectrum systems. In the USA, and some other countries, no
license is required to install and operate this type of radio system, provided
that RF power and antenna gain restrictions are observed.

2.4 Typical Applications

Multiple Address Systems (MAS)

This is the most common application of the transceiver. It consists of a central
control station (Master) and two or more associated Remote units, as shown
in Figure 2. An MAS network provides communications between a central

2 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

host computer and remote terminal units (RTUs) or other data collection

MDS TransNET
Remote

MDS TransNET
Remote

MDS TransNET
Master

MDS TransNET
Remote

MDS TransNET
Remote

RTU

RTU

RTU

RTU

Host System

RXD

TXD

SYNC

PWR

RXD

TXD

SYNC

PWR

RXD

TXD

SYNC

PWR

RXD

TXD

SYNC

PWR

RXD

TXD

SYNC

PWR

MDS TransNET
Master

MDS TransNET
Remote

Host System

devices. The operation of the radio system is transparent to the computer
equipment. When used in this application, the transceiver provides an excel­lent alternative to traditional (licensed) MAS radio systems.

Invisible place holder

Figure 2. Typical MAS Network

Point-to-Point System

A point-to-point configuration (Figure 3) is a simple arrangement consisting
of just two radios—a Master and a Remote. This provides a half-duplex
communications link for the transfer of data between two locations.

Invisible place holder

Figure 3. Typical Point-to-Point Link

Adding a Tail-End Link to an Existing Network

A tail-end link can be used to extend the range of a traditional (licensed) MAS
system. This might be required if an outlying site is blocked from the MAS
Master station by a natural or man-made obstruction. In this arrangement, a

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 3

TransNET radio links the outlying Remote site into the rest of a licensed

PWR

SYNC

TXD

RXD

MDS TransNET

Master

REPEATER STATION

MDS x710B

Series Radio

ENTER

ESCAPE

ACT
IVE

ACT
I
V

E

S
TB
Y

A
LARM

RX A
L

R

TX A

LR
S
T
BY

AL
A
RM

RX A

LR

TX ALR

LIN
E

LI
NE

PWR

SYNC

TXD

RXD

Null-Modem Cable

Remote

Radio

Remote

Radio

MDS TransNET

Remote

Master Station

SPREAD SPECTRUM LINK

TO OUTLYING SITE

OUTLYING

REMOTE SITE

MAS SYSTEM (LICENSED OR UNLICENSED)

LICENSE-FREE SPREAD SPECTRUM SYSTEM

RTU

RTU

RTU

MDS TransNET

Extension
MODE = X

REPEATER STATION

MDS TransNET

Remote

MODE = R

SPREAD SPECTRUM LINK

TO OUTLYING SITE

OUTLYING

REMOTE SITE

MDS TransNET

Remote

MODE = R

MDS TransNET

Remote

MODE = R

MDS TransNET

Master

MODE = M

SAF = ON

RTU

RTU

RTU

RTU

MAS system by sending data from that site to an associated TransNET
installed at one of the licensed Remote sites (see Figure 4).

As the data from the outlying site is received at the licensed Remote site, it is
transferred to the licensed radio (via a local cable connection) and is then
transmitted to the MAS Master station in the usual manner. Additional details
for tail-end links are given in Section 4.3 (Page 18).

Invisible place holder

Figure 4. Typical Tail-End Link Arrangement

Extending a TransNET Network with a Repeater

Similar to a Tail-End Link, Store-and-Forward (SAF) offers a way to physi­cally extend the network range, but in a simple and economical manner. SAF
works by dividing a network in to a vertical hierarchy of two or more
sub-networks. Extension radios (designated as
repeaters that link adjacent sub-networks, and move data from one
sub-network to the next one.

MODE X) serve as single-radio

Invisible place holder

4 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Figure 5. TransNET Repeater Network

2.5 Accessories

The transceiver can be used with one or more of the accessories listed in

Table 1. Contact the factory for ordering details.

Table 1. Accessories

Accessory Description Part No.

AC Power
Adapter

2-Pin DC Power
Plug

Fuse (Internal) Fuse, 2A SMF Slo-Blo 29-1784A03

Omnidirectional
Antennas

900 MHz
Yagi Antennas

2400 MHz
Antennas

900 MHz
Bandpass Filter

TNC-to-N
Adapter Cable
(3 ft./1 meter)

TNC-to-N
Adapter Cable
(6 ft./1.8 meter)

TNC-to-N RF
Adaptor Plug

RS/EIA-232
Cable

RJ-11 to DB-9
Adapter Cable

Flat-Surface
Mounting
Brackets

Mounting
Bracket Screws

19-Inch Rail
Mounting
Brackets

DIN Rail Mtg.
Brackets

Small power supply module designed for con­tinuous service. UL approved.
Input: 120/220 Vac
Output: 12 Vdc @ 500 mA (20 Watts)

Mates with power connector on the transceiver.
Screw terminals are provided for wires.

Rugged antennas suited for use at Master
stations. Consult the factory for details.

Rugged directional antennas suited for use at
Remote stations. Consult the factory for details.

Rugged directional antennas suited for use at
Remote stations.

Antenna system filter to aid in eliminating inter­ference from paging system transmissions.

Coaxial cable used to connect the radio’s TNC
antenna connector to a Type-N style commonly
used on large-diameter coaxial cables.

Coaxial cable used to connect the radio’s TNC
antenna connector to a Type-N style commonly
used on large-diameter coaxial cables.

Adapts radio’s antenna connector to Type-N
style commonly used on large-diameter coaxial
cables.

Shielded data cable fitted with DB-9 male and
DB-9 female, 6 ft./1.8 meter.

For connecting a PC terminal to the transceiver
via the radio’s DIAG(nostics) connector. Used
for programming and diagnostics.

Brackets: 2˝ x 3˝ plates designed to be screwed
onto the bottom of the transceiver for sur­face-mounting the radio.

Screws: 6-32/1/4˝ with locking adhesive.
(Industry Standard MS 51957-26)

Adaptor for mounting the radio in a standard
19-inch equipment rack.

Adaptor for mounting the radio in a standard
19-inch equipment rack.

01-3682A02

73-1194A39

Various;
Consult factory

Various;
Consult factory

Various;
Consult factory

20-2822A02

97-1677A159

97-1677A160

97-1677A161

97-1971A03

03-3246A01

82-1753-A01

70-2620-A01

Consult Factory

03-4022A01

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 5

3.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING

POWER SUPPLY

13.8 VDC @ 500 mA

(6–30 Vdc)

DATA TERMINAL
EQUIPMENT

MDS Transceiver

LOW-LOSS FEEDLINE

ANTENNA
SYSTEM

The installation of the radio is not difficult, but it does require some planning
to ensure station reliability and efficiency. This section provides tips for
selecting an appropriate site, choosing an antenna system, and reducing the
chance of harmful interference.

3.1 General Requirements

There are three main requirements for installing the radio—adequate and
stable primary power, a good antenna system, and the compatible interface
between the transceiver and the data device.

Figure 6 shows a typical Remote station arrangement. Master stations are

similar, but an omni-directional antenna is normally used instead of a direc­tional type, and a host computer replaces the data terminal equipment.

Invisible place holder

3.2 Site Selection

For a successful installation, careful thought must be given to selecting proper
sites for the Master and Remote stations. Suitable sites should provide the
following:

• Protection from direct weather exposure

• A source of adequate and stable primary power

• Suitable entrances for antenna, interface or other required cabling

• Antenna location that provides an unobstructed transmission path in the

6 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Figure 6. Typical Remote Station Arrangeme nt

direction of the associated station(s)

These requirements can be quickly determined in most cases. A possible
exception is the last item—verifying that an unobstructed transmission path
exists. Radio signals travel primarily by line-of-sight, and obstructions
between the sending and receiving stations will affect system performance. If
you are not familiar with the effects of terrain and other obstructions on radio
transmission, the discussion below will provide helpful background.

Terrain and Signal Strength

While the 900 and 2400 MHz bands offer many advantages over VHF and
lower UHF frequencies for data transmission, they are more prone to signal
attenuation from obstructions such as terrain, foliage or buildings in the trans­mission path.

A line-of-sight transmission path between the Master station and its associ­ated Remote site(s) is highly desirable and provides the most reliable commu­nications link. A line-of-sight path can often be achieved by mounting the
station antenna on a tower or other elevated structure that raises it to a level
sufficient to clear surrounding terrain and other obstructions.

The importance of a clear transmission path relates closely to the distance to
be covered by the system. If the system is to cover only a limited geographic
area, say up to 3 miles (4.8 km), then some obstructions in the communica­tions path can usually be tolerated with minimal impact. For longer range
systems, any substantial obstruction in the communications path could
compromise the performance of the system, or block communications
entirely.

Much depends on the minimum signal strength that can be tolerated in a given
system. Fade margin for a TransNET system does not usually have to be as
conservative as a licensed system. The nature of TransNET’s
frequency-hopping algorithm reduces the impact of frequency-selective
fading.

Although the exact figure will differ from one system to another, a Received
Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of –100 dBm will often provide acceptable
performance. A higher signal strength is generally desirable and may be
needed in special cases—for example, urban deployment.

Conducting a Site Survey

If you are in doubt about the suitability of the radio sites in your system, it is
best to evaluate them before a permanent installation is begun. This can be
done with an on-the-air test (preferred method), or indirectly, using
path-study software.

An on-the-air test is preferred because it allows you to see firsthand the
factors involved at an installation site and to directly observe the quality of
system operation. Even if a computer path study was conducted earlier, this
test should be done to verify the predicted results.

The test can be performed by first installing a radio and antenna at the
proposed Master station site and then visiting each Remote site with a trans­ceiver and a hand-held antenna.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 7

With the hand-held antenna positioned near the proposed mounting spot, a
technician can check for synchronization with the Master station (shown by
a lit

SYNC lamp on the front panel) and measure the reported RSSI value. If

adequate signal strength cannot be obtained, it may be necessary to mount the
station antennas higher, use higher gain antennas, or select a different site. To
prepare the equipment for an on-the-air test, follow the general installation
procedures given in this guide and become familiar with the operating
instructions given in Section 5.0, beginning on Page 19.

If time is short, and a site survey is impractical, a computer path study is a
good alternative. Factors such as terrain, distance, transmitter power, receiver
sensitivity, and other conditions are taken into account to predict the perfor­mance of a proposed system. Contact the GE MDS Technical Services Group
for more information on path study services.

3.3 A Word About Radio Interference

The radio shares the frequency spectrum with other services and other Part 15
(unlicensed) devices in the USA. As such, near 100% error free communica­tions may not be achieved in a given location, and some level of interference
should be expected. However, the radio’s flexible design and hopping tech­niques should allow adequate performance as long as care is taken in
choosing station location, configuration of radio parameters and soft­ware/protocol techniques.

In general, keep the following points in mind when setting up your commu­nications network:

1. Systems installed in rural areas are least likely to encounter interference;
those in suburban and urban environments are more likely to be affected
by other devices operating in the license-free frequency band and by
adjacent licensed services.

2. If possible, use a directional antenna at Remote sites. Although these
antennas may be more costly than omnidirectional types, they confine the
transmission and reception pattern to a comparatively narrow lobe, which
minimizes interference to (and from) stations located outside the pattern.

3. If interference is suspected from a nearby licensed system (such as a
paging transmitter), it may be helpful to use horizontal polarization of all
antennas in the network. Because most other services use vertical
polarization in these bands, an additional 20 dB of attenuation to
interference can be achieved by using horizontal polarization.

4. Multiple transceiver systems can co-exist in proximity to each other with
only very minor interference as long as they are each assigned a unique
network address. Each network address has a different hop pattern.

Additional RF isolation can be achieved by using separate directional
antennas with as much vertical or horizontal separation as is practical.
Vertical separation of antennas is more effective per foot/meter than
horizontal.

8 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

5. If constant interference is present in a particular frequency zone, it may
be necessary to “lock out” that zone from the radio’s hopping pattern.
The radio includes built-in tools to help users remove blocked frequency
zones. Refer to the discussion of the

SKIP command (Page 41) for more

information. In the USA, a maximum of four zones may be skipped, per
FCC rules. Check the regulatory requirements for your region.

6. Interference can also come from out-of-band RF sources such as paging
systems. Installation of a bandpass filter in the antenna system may bring
relief. (Contact the Customer Service Department for recommendations
and sources of suitable filters.)

7. Proper use of the

RETRY and REPEAT commands may be helpful in areas

with heavy interference.
The

RETRY

command sets the maximum number of times (0 to 10) that a
radio will re-transmit upstream data over the air. Values greater than 0
successively improve the chances of a message getting through when
interference is a problem.

The

REPEAT

command sets a fixed number of unconditional

retransmissions for downstream data.

8. The RF power output of all radios in a system should be set for the lowest
level necessary for reliable communications. This lessens the chance of
causing unnecessary interference to nearby systems.

3.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection

Antennas

The equipment can be used with a number of antennas. The exact style used
depends on the physical size and layout of a system. Contact your factory
representative for specific recommendations on antenna types and hardware
sources.

In general, an omnidirectional antenna (Figure 7 and Figure 8) is used at the
Master station site in an MAS system. This provides equal coverage to all of
the Remote sites.

NOTE: Antenna polarization is important. If the wrong polarization is used, a signal re-

duction of 20 dB or more will result. Most systems using a gain-type omnidirec­tional antenna at the Master station employ vertical polarization of the signal;
therefore, the Remote antenna(s) must also be vertically polarized (elements
oriented perpendicular to the horizon).

When required, horizontally polarized omnidirectional antennas are also avail­able. Contact your factory representative for details.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 9

Figure 7.
Omnidirectional Antenna

(mounted to mast)

At Remote sites and point-to-point systems, a directional Yagi antenna
(Figure 8), is generally recommended to minimize interference to and from
other users. Antennas are available from a sources including GE MDS.

Invisible place holder

Figure 8. Typical Yagi Antenna

mounted to a mast

Feedlines

The choice of feedline used with the antenna should be carefully considered.
Poor-quality coaxial cables should be avoided, as they will degrade system
performance for both transmission and reception. The cable should be kept as
short as possible to minimize signal loss.

For cable runs of less than 20 feet (6 meters), or for short range transmission,
an inexpensive type such as Type RG-8A/U may be acceptable. Otherwise,
we recommend using a low-loss cable type suited for 900 MHz, such as
Times Microwave LMR 400

®

or Andrew Heliax®.

10 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Table 2 lists several types of feedlines and indicates the signal losses (in dB)

that result when using various lengths of each cable at 900 MHz and Table 3
for 2.4 GHz. The choice of cable will depend on the required length, cost
considerations, and the amount of signal loss that can be tolerated.

Table 2. Length vs. loss in coaxial cables at 900 MHz

Cable Type

LMR 400 0.39 dB 1.95 dB 3.9 dB Unacceptable

1/2 inch
HELIAX

7/8 inch
HELIAX

1-1/4 inch
HELIAX

1-5/8 inch
HELIAX

10 Feet

(3.05 Meters)

0.23 dB 1.15 dB 2.29 dB 6.87 dB

0.13 dB 0.64 dB 1.28 dB 3.84 dB

0.10 dB 0.48 dB 0.95 dB 2.85 dB

0.08 dB 0.40 dB 0.80 dB 2.4 dB

50 Feet

(15.24 Meters)

100 Feet

(30.48 Meters)

300 Feet

(91.44 Meters)

Loss

Table 3. Length vs. loss in coaxial cables at 2400 MHz

Cable Type

LMR-400 0.70 dB 3.50 dB 6.61 dB Unacceptable

1/2 inch
HELIAX

7/8 inch
HELIAX

1-1/4 inch
HELIAX

10 Feet

(3.05 Meters)

0.35 dB 1.73 dB 3.46 dB 17.3 dB

0.20 dB 0.99 dB 1.97 dB 9.85 dB

0.15 dB 0.73 dB 1.45 dB 7.50 dB

50 Feet

(15.24 Meters)

100 Feet

(30.48 Meters)

300 Feet

(91.44 Meters)

Loss

Antenna System Ground

Precautions should be taken to assure the antenna and its support structure are
bonded to a good earth ground system to minimize the impact of voltages
created by lightning and atmospheric charges.

CAUTION: Safety grounding systems are beyond the scope of this manual. Below you

will find some elementary advice. These are generalities; every location and
installation is unique and requires a unique safety grounding system design.
Please consider consulting a radio system engineer or other professional for
advice or ground system design. A well-designed ground system will mini­mize risk of electrical shock to personnel and the chances of equipment
damage.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 11

Antenna Selection—Choose an antenna that offers a “DC ground” or direct
low-impedance ground connection for all metallic components. This will
allow static charges on the antenna system to be safely dissipated to ground.
It will also provide a low-impedance discharge path to an earth/safety ground
in the event of a direct lightning strike.

Support Earth/Safety Ground—The structure that supports your antenna
system should have a large-gauge ground wire that goes as directly as
possible to an safety/earth ground system. If a tower is used, it should have
its own ground system. Support structure grounds can be bonded to the elec­trical system ground for increased protection. Do not use the building’s
AC-power supply ground as a safety ground for lightning protection.

Chassis Ground—Connect a safety/earth ground to the ground post
provided on the electronic/electrical equipment. If a ground terminal is
present, bond the chassis to the safety ground at a point that is as close as
possible to the antenna system and primary power entry points on the chassis.

3.5 How Much Output Power Can be Used?

The transceiver is normally supplied from the factory set for an RF power of
+30 dBm (1 Watt) for 900 MHz and +27 dBm (0.5 Watt) for 2400 MHz; this
is the maximum transmitter output power allowed under FCC rules. The
power must be decreased from this level if the antenna system gain exceeds
6 dBi. The allowable level is dependent on the antenna gain, feedline loss, and
the transmitter output power setting. Power considerations for the transceiver
are discussed below.

NOTE: In some countries, the maximum allowable RF output may be limited to less

than your model’s peak output. Be sure to check for and comply with the require­ments for your region.

To determine the maximum allowable power setting of the radio, perform the
following steps:

1. Determine the antenna system gain by subtracting the feedline loss (in
dB) from the antenna gain (in dBi). For example, if the antenna gain is

9.5 dBi, and the feedline loss is 1.5 dB, the antenna system gain would be
8 dB. (If the antenna system gain is 6 dB or less, no power adjustment is
required.)

2. Subtract the antenna system gain from 36 dBm (the maximum allowable
EIRP). The result indicates the maximum transmitter power (in dBm)
allowed under the rules. In the example above, this is 28 dBm.

3. If the maximum transmitter power allowed in your region is less than 30
dBm, use the

PWR command (described on Page 38) to set the power

accordingly.

12 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

For convenience, Table 4 lists several antenna system gains and shows the
maximum allowable power setting of the radio. Note that a gain of 6 dB or
less entitles you to operate the radio at full power output—30 dBm (1 watt).

Table 4. Antenna system gain vs. power output setting (USA)

for 900 MHz models to achieve +36 dBm EIRP

Antenna System Gain

(Antenna Gain in dBi

minus Feedline Loss in dBb)

6 (or less) 30 36

82836

10 26 36

12 24 36

14 22 36

16 20 36

a. Most antenna manufacturers rate antenna gain in

dBd in their literature. To convert to dBi, add

2.15 dB.

b. Feedline loss varies by cable type and length. To

determine the loss for common lengths of feedline,
see Table 2 on Page 11.

Maximum Power

a

Setting

(in dBm)

EIRP

(in dBm)

Table 5. Antenna system gain vs. power output setting (USA)

for 2400 MHz models to achieve +36 dBm EIRP

Antenna System Gain

(Antenna Gain in dBi

minus Feedline Loss in dB

2 dB 27 29

10 dB 26 36

a. Most antenna manufacturers rate antenna gain in

dBd in their literature. To convert to dBi, add

2.15 dB.

b. Feedline loss varies by cable type and length. To

determine the loss for common lengths of feedline,
see Table 2 on Page 11.

Maximum Power

a

b

Setting

(in dBm)

EIRP

(in dBm)

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 13

4.0 INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION &

OPERATION GUIDE,

AND SOFTWARE

(CD AND/OR MANUAL)

MDS Xxxx

2-PIN

POWER PLUG

MOUNTING
BRACKETS

SPARE FUSE

Figure 9 shows the contents of a typical transceiver shipment. Check the

contents against the packing list secured to the outside of the shipping box.
Accessories and spare parts kits, if any, are wrapped separately. Inspect all
items for signs of damage and save all packing materials for possible re-ship­ment.

Invisible place holder

Figure 9. Typical Transceiver Shipment

User documentation will be provided as a paper manual and/or as a PDF on
the “MDS TransNET Support Package CD” (P/N 03-2708A01). The CD
includes:

• Installation & Operation Guide in PDF (Also known as Adobe
Acrobat™)

• TransNET Configuration Software

If a paper copy is required but not provided with your shipment, please
contact the factory Customer Support Team.

4.1 Transceiver Installation

The following is an overview of a typical procedure for installing the trans­ceiver. In most cases, these steps alone will be sufficient to complete the
installation. Should further information be required, contact the factory using
the information given on the inside back cover of this manual.

If you are installing a tail-end link system, you should also review Section 4.3
(Page 18) for important details on configuration.

NOTE: It is recommended that the Master station be installed first. In this way, it will be

possible to quickly check the operation of each associated Remote station as it
is placed on the air.

1. Mount the transceiver to a stable surface using the brackets supplied with
the radio. (Fasteners/anchors are not supplied.) Figure 10 shows the
dimensions of the transceiver case and its mounting brackets. If possible,

14 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

choose a mounting location that provides easy access to the connectors

6.63

(16.64 cm)

2.75

(7.0 cm)

1.62

(4.15 cm)

Antenna Primary PowerData

(6–30 Vdc)

Diagnostic

(Communications)

(Payload)

on the end of the radio and an unobstructed view of the LED status
indicators.

Invisible place holder

Figure 10. Transceiver Mounting Dimensions

Figure 11 shows the four connectors on the transceiver and their functions.

Invisible place holder

Figure 11. Interface Connector Functions

2. Install the antenna and antenna feedline for the station. Antennas should
be mounted in the clear and in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions. Additional information on antennas and feedlines is
contained in Section 3.4 on Page 9.

NOTE: It is recommended to mount the antenna be at least 10 feet (>3 meters) from the

radio, RTU, sensors and other components of the system to prevent RFI.

3. Connect the data equipment to the transceiver’s DATA connector. Use
only the required pins for the application.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 15

Typical RS/EIA-232 applications require the use of Pin 2 (receive

5

96

1

Pin Function

1.....Data Carrier Detect (DCD)

2.....Receive Data (RXD)

3.....Transmit Data (TXD)

4.....Sleep (GND = Sleep)

5.....Signal Ground (GND)

6.....Alarm Output (+5/-5 Vdc)

7.....Ready-to-Send (RTS)

8.....Clear-to-Send (CTS)

9.....Reserved for Special Uses (Do not connect)

Pin Function

1.....Not Used (Open)

2.....TXD+/TXA, Non-inverted driver output.

Supplies data to connected device.

3.....RXD+/RXA, Non-inverted receiver input.

Accepts data from the connected device.

4.....Sleep Mode Input (GND = Sleep)

5.....Signal Ground (GND)

6.....Not Used (Open)

7.....RXD–/RXB, Inverting receiver input

8.....TXD–/TXB, Inverting driver output

9.....Not Connected (User configureable via internal jumper)

5

96

1

data—RXD and Pin 3 (transmit data—TXD). Some systems may require the
use of Pin 7 (Request-to-send—RTS). Figure 13 shows connection details for
the

DATA connector for EIA/RS-232 and EIA/RS-485, respectively.

If hardware flow control is desired, Pin 7 (RTS) and Pin 8 (CTS) may also be
connected. For a more detailed discussion of pin functions, see “Data Inter-

face Connections (DB-9F)” on page 69.

Invisible place holder

Figure 12. DATA Connector Pin Functions, EIA/RS-232 Mode

NOTE: The data cabling between the transceiver and the connected device should be

kept as short as possible. For EIA/RS-232 operation, the maximum recom­mended cable length is 50 feet/15 meters.

As viewed from outside the radio

Invisible place holder

Figure 13. DATA Connector Pin Functions, EIA/RS-485 Mode

4. Measure and install the primary power for the transceiver. It must be
within 6–30 Vdc (including transients) and be capable of providing 7.5
watts over this voltage range. (Typical current draw is 400 mA
@13.8 Vdc; 0.9 A @6 Vdc.) A power connector with screw-terminals is
provided with each unit. Strip the wire leads to 0.25˝/6 mm. Be sure to
observe proper polarity. The left pin is the positive input; the right is
negative. (See Figure 14.)

16 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

As viewed from outside the radio

The radio must be used only with negative-ground sys-

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

EQUIPMENT

DAMAGE

Wire Ports (2)

Lead
Screws (2)

Binding

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

EQUIPMENT

DAMAGE

tems. Make sure the polarity of the power source is cor­rect. The unit is protected from reverse polarity by an
internal diode and fuse.

Invisible place holder

Figure 14. Power Connector

(Polarity: Left +, Right –)

The power connector used with the MDS TransNET

transceiver is similar to that used by other MDS prod­ucts, such as the MDS 9810 and MDS x710 family. The

connectors are not equal and the use of the other style

connector may provide unreliable connections and a
spark may be created.

Only the power connector, shown in Figure 14 with
screw terminals and two retainer screws should be used
with this unit.

5. Set the radio’s basic configuration with a PC terminal connected to the

DIAG(nostics) connector via an RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter cable,

P/N 03-3246A01. (If necessary, a cable of this type may be constructed
using the information shown in Figure 21 on Page 69.) For more
information on connecting a PC terminal and preparing it for use, refer to
Section 6.1 on Page 22.

The three essential settings for the Transceiver are as follows:

Mode—Master, Remote, or Extension
Network Address—a unique number from 1 to 65000
Data Interface Parameters—bps, data bits, parity, stop bits

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 17

a. Set the Mode using the MODE M (Master), MODE R (Remote), or

MODE X (Extension) command. (Note: There can be only one Mas-

ter radio in a system.)
If any

MODE X radios are used in the network, SAF must be turned

on at the Master station. The

MODE X radio must be programmed

with an Extended Address (XADDR). Units that need to hear the

MODE X radio must be programmed with an appropriate XPRI and/or
XMAP value. (See “SAF Operation with Extension Radios” on

Page 52 for more information.)

b. Set a unique Network Address (1–65000) using ADDR command.

Each radio in the system must have the same network address. Tip:

Use the last four digits of the Master’s serial number to help avoid
conflicts with other users.

c. Set the baud rate/data interface parameters. Default setting is 9600

bps, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit. If changes are required, use the

BAUD xxxxx abc command where xxxxx equals the data speed

(300–115200 bps) and

abc equals the communication parameters as

follows:

a = Data bits (7 or 8)
b = Parity (N for None, O for Odd, E for Even
c = Stop bits (1 or 2)

NOTE: 7N1, 8E2 and 8O2 are invalid interface parameters.

4.2 Configuring Multiple Remote Units

In most installations, the Remote radios will be programmed with virtually
the same set of parameters. This process can be streamlined by testing key
pieces of equipment—such as the Master, any Extensions, and a typical
Remote—on a benchtop setup prior to installation. This allows you to test
various configurations in a controlled environment. Once the evaluation
network is working satisfactorily, you can save the configuration of each unit
in a data file on your PC’s hard drive through the use of the MDS TransNET
Configuration Software (included on the support CD shipped with the radio,
part number 03-2708A01).Most often, there are many Remote units that will
need configuring. Using the MDS TransNET Configuration Software, you
can save the sample unit’s configuration, then open the configuration file with
the program and install it in the next Remote. The software will prevent you
from overwriting unit or mode-unique parameters.

4.3 Tail-End Links

A tail-end link is established by connecting an MDS TransNET Series radio
“back-to-back” with another identical radio such as a licensed MDS x710B
Series transceiver. This can be used to link an outlying Remote site into the
rest of an MAS network. (Figure 4 on Page 4 shows a diagram of a typical
tail-end link system.) The wiring connections between the two radios in a
tail-end link system should be made as shown in Figure 15.

18 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Any device on the left that requires a keyline, as in this illustration, will

If required.

RXD
TXD

GND
RTS

3
2

7
4

DCE

DB-25

MDS x710B Series

Remote T ransceiver

(or device requiring keyline)

TXD

RXD
GND
CTS

3
2
5

8

DCE

DB-9

MDS T ransNET 900

Remote T ransceiver

(DEVICE CTS KEY)

require the bottom line (C TS to RTS) and the TransNET on the right will need

DEVICE type set to CTS KEY. See DEVICE, on Page 32 for details.

4.4 Configuring a Network for Extensions

The installation and configuration of an Extension transceiver is straightfor­ward with only a few unique parameters that need to be considered and set at
each unit.

In every network there can be only one Master station. It will serve as the sole
gateway to the outside world. The tables in “Configuration Parameters for

Store-and-Forward Services” on Page 57 detail the parameters that need to

be set on each type of radio in the network. For a detailed description of this
network design, see “SAF Operation with Extension Radio s ” on page 52.

5.0 OPERATION

5.1 Initial Start-up

In-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic. Once the unit
has been properly installed and configured, operator actions are limited to
observing the LED status indicators for proper operation.

If all parameters are correctly set, start operation of the radio as follows:

1. Apply primary power.

2. Observe the transceiver LED status panel for proper indications. Table 6
provides an explanation of the LED functions.

In a normally operating system, the following indications will be seen
within 16 seconds of start-up:

•

•

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 19

Figure 15. Data Interface Cable Wiring for Tail-End Links

PWR lamp lit continuously
SYNC lamp lit continuously

• Remote radio(s) transmitting data (TXD) and receiving data (RXD) with

PWR SYNC TXD RXD

Master station

Table 6. LED indicator descriptions

Name Description
PWR

SYNC Continuous—Radio is receiving/sending synchronization frames

TXD Transmit data activity on the DB-9 DATA interface connector

RXD Receive data activity on the DB-9 DATA interface connector.

• Continuous—Power is applied to the radio; no problems detected

• Flashing (5 times-per-second)—Fault indication

See “TROUBLESHOOTING” on Page 45

• Off—Radio is unpowered or in Sleep mode

See also, “LED [ON, OFF]” on Page 36

On within 10 seconds of power-up under normal conditions

Payload data to connected device

Payload data from the connected device

5.2 Performance Optimization

After the basic operation of the radio has been checked, you may wish to opti­mize its performance using some of the suggestions given here. The effective­ness of these techniques will vary with the design of your system and the
format of the data being sent.

Complete instructions for using the comman ds refer enced in this manual are
provided in “RADIO PROGRAMMING” on Page 22.

Antenna Aiming

For optimum performance, directional antennas must be accurately aimed in
the direction of desired transmission. The easiest way to do this is to point the
antenna in the approximate direction, then use the Remote radio’s
command (Received Signal Strength Indicator) to further refine the heading
for maximum received signal strength.

In an MAS system, RSSI readings are only meaningful when initiated from a
Remote station. This is because the Master station typically receives signals
from several Remote sites, and the RSSI would be continually changing as the
Master receives from each Remote in turn. Adjust the antenna for the highest
(most positive) value to insure the greatest communication reliability.

20 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

RSSI

Antenna SWR Check

It is necessary to briefly key the transmitter for this check by placing the radio
in the

SETUP mode (Page 40) and using the KEY command. (To unkey the

radio, enter
operation, enter

DKEY; to disable the SETUP mode and return the radio to normal

Q or QUIT.)

The SWR of the antenna system should be checked before the radio is put into
regular service. For accurate readings, a wattmeter suited for 1000 MHz is
required. One unit meeting this criteria is the Bird Model 43 directional watt­meter with a 5J element installed.

The reflected power should be less than 10% of the forward power
(2:1 SWR). Higher readings usually indicate problems with the antenna,
feedline or coaxial connectors.

Data Buffer Setting—Modbus Protocol

The default setting for the data buffer is

OFF. This allows the radio to operate

with the lowest possible latency and improves channel efficiency. MODBUS
and its derivatives are the only protocols that should require the buffer to be
turned on. See “BAND [A, B, C]” on Page 30 for details.

Hoptime Setting

The default hop-time setting is

7 (7 ms). Alternate settings of 14 and 28 milli-

seconds can be used to increase throughput, but at the cost of increased
latency. A detailed explanation of the

HOPTIME command can be found on

Page 34.

TotalFlow™ Protocol at 9600 with Sleep Mode

For reliable operation with TotalFlow meters, use the default settings for
9600 with the following alterations:

HOPTIME 28—Allows large data packets
FEC OFF—Improves store-and-forward performance for a large contin-

uous data stream

BUFF ON—Ensures “ungapped” 4-second polls if unit in sleep mode

Operation at 115200 bps

Burst throughput at 115200 bps is supported at all settings. The radio will
always buffer at least 500 characters. Sustained throughput at 115200 bps is
only possible when the data path is nearly error-free and the operating settings
have been properly selected. For sustained operation at 115200 bps, use the
following settings:

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 21

SAF OFF, FEC OFF, REPEAT 0, RETRY 0, HOPTIME 28.

Baud Rate Setting

ESC

ENTER

The default baud rate setting is 19200 bps to accommodate most systems. If
your system will use a different data rate, you should change the radio’s data
interface speed using the

BAUD xxxxx abc command (Page 29). It should be

set to the highest speed that can be sent by the data equipment in the system.
(The transceiver supports 300 to 115200 bps.)

Radio Interference Checks

The radio operates in eight frequency zones. If interference is found in one or
more of these zones, the

SKIP command (Page 41) can be used to omit them

from the hop pattern. You should also review Section 3.3, A Word About

Radio Interference, when dealing with interference problems.

6.0 RADIO PROGRAMMING

There are no manual adjustments on the radio. Programming and control is
performed through a PC connected to the radio’s

DIAG connector.

6.1 Radio Programming Methods

Terminal Interface

A PC may be used by operating it in a basic terminal mode (for example, a
HyperTerminal session) and entering the radio commands listed in the tables
found in “User Commands” on Page 23. The PC must be connected to the
radio’s
03-3246A01). If desired, a cable of this type may be constructed using the
information shown in Figure 21 on Page 69.

Once connected, communication (baud rate) is established through the
command interface. To access the command interface, press the key,
followed by one or more keystrokes (delivered at about half-second

intervals), until the “>” prompt is displayed.

DIAG connector using an RJ-11 to DB-9 Adapter Cable (P/N

NOTE: The DIAG port (RJ-11 connector) uses 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity. It

can automatically configure itself to function at 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200,
38400, 57600, and 115200 bps. [Default:

If the DLINK setting is ON, the DIAG port will start out in Diagnostic Link mode.
This is a special protocol used to support Network-Wide Diagnostics. The pro­cess described in the paragraph above causes the radio to exit the diagnostic
link mode and enter the command mode. If there is no input in command mode
for 5 minutes, the DIAG port will revert back to diagnostic link mode.

BAUD = 9600]

PC-Based Configuration Tool

The MS Windows™-based MDS TransNET Configuration Software
(P/N 06-4059A01) is designed for use with a PC connected to the radio’s

DIAG connector through an RJ-11 to DB-9 cable assembly (Part No.

03-3246A01). A cable of this type may be constructed using the information
shown in Figure 21 on Page 69.

22 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

The TransNET Configuration Software provides access to all of the radio’s

ENTER

SPACE

ENTER

capabilities with the benefit of context-sensitive help. The program is shipped
as part of the TransNET support CD included with every order (CD P/N
03-2708A02)

6.2 User Commands

A series of tables begin on the next page that provide reference charts of
various user commands for the transceiver. See “Detailed Command Descrip-

tions” on Page 28 for more details.

Entering Commands

The proper procedure for entering commands is to type the command,
followed by an keystroke. For programming commands, the
command is followed by , the appropriate information or values, and
then .

Table 7. Network Configuration—Mast er Sta ti on

COMMAND DESCRIPTION

AT [ON, OFF]

Details Page 29

BUFF [ON, OFF]

Details Page 30

FEC [ON, OFF]

Details Page 33

HOPTIME [7, 28]

Details Page 34

LPM [1, 0]

Details Page 36

REPEAT

Details Page 38

RETRY [0–10]

Details Page 38

SAF [ON, OFF] Details, Page 40 Enables/disables the store-and-forward func-

SKIP [NONE, 1...8] Details,

Page 41

Enables Master station to emulate a modem
and respond to AT commands

ON = Seamless data
OFF = Fast byte throughput.

Sets/disables FEC
(Forward Error Correction) setting.

Displays hop-time or sets it to 7 or 28 ms.

Used at Master to set all associated stations
in an energy-conservation mode.

1 = Low-power mode enabled network-wide

0 = Disable low-power mode (Default)

Sets/displays the fixed downstream re-send
count.

Sets/displays the maximum upstream re-send
count for ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request)
operation

tion for the network controlled by this Master
unit.

Skip one or more frequency zones

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 23

Table 8. Network-Wide Diagnostics

Command Description

DLINK [xxxxx/ON/OFF] Details,

Page 32

DTYPE [NODE/ROOT] Details,

Page 33

Controls operation of diagnostic link function.

Set radio’s operational characteristics for

network-wide diagnostics

Table 9. Operational Configuration—Set/Program

Command Description

ADDR [1–65000] Details, Page

29

AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]

Details, Page 29

ASENSE [HI/LO] Details, Page

29

BAND [A, B, C]

Details Page 30

BAUD [xxxxx abc] Details,

Page 29

CODE [NONE, 1…255] Details,

Page 31

CSADDR [1–65000, NONE]

Details, Page 31

CTS [0–255] Details, Page 31 CTS delay in milliseconds

CTSHOLD [0–60000] Details,

Page 32

DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY]

Details, Page 32

MODE [M, R, X] Details, Page

36

MRSSI [NONE, –40...–90]

Details, Page 37

OT [ON, OFF] Details, Page 37 Enables a 1-second delay on delivery of RXD

Program network address

Alarm response

Default: FFFF FFFF

Sense of the alarm output on Pin 6 of the
DATA interface connector in the EIA-232
mode. Default: Alarm present = HI

Selects one of three operating bands.

(2.4 GHz Model Only)

Data communication parameters

Select the security/encryption setting in the
radio

Used on a single Master/Remote network to
support TDD-style simulated full-duplex.

(A value of 0 returns CTS immediately)

“Hold time” that CTS is present following last
character from DATA port.

Device behavior:
DCE (normal) or CTS Key

Operating mode:
M = Master, R = Remote, X = Extension

Minimum RSSI level required to preserve syn­chronization with a Master radio for Remotes
in mobile service.

serial data.

24 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Table 9. Operational Configuration—Set/Program (Continued)

Command Description

OWN [xxxxx] Details, Page 37 Owner’s name, or alternate message

(30 characters maximum)

PORT [RS232, RS485] Details,

Page 37

PWR [20–30] Details, Page 38 Power output in dBm

RXD [0–255] Details, Page 39 Set RXD delay time for virtual seamless mode

RXTOT [NONE, 0–1440]

Details, Page 40

RTU [ON, OFF, 0-80] Details,

Page 39

SLEEP [ON, OFF] Details, Page

42

UNIT [10000–65000] Details,

Page 43

XADDR [0–31] Details, Page 44 This unit’s Extended address

XMAP [00000000-FFFFFFFF]

Details, Page 44

XPRI [0–31] Details, Page 44 Address of the primary Extended radio unit

XRSSI [NONE, –40...–120]

Details, Page 44

ZONE CLEAR Details, Page 44 Reset zone data statistics

Data port (DATA connector) interface
signaling mode: RS232 or RS485

(Figure 30 on Page 76)

with low latency

Maximum duration (in minutes) before
time-out alarm. Default is OFF.

Enable or Disable unit’s built-in RTU
simulator. Default is OFF. Set RTU address
between zero and 80.

Enable or Disable the radio’s energy-conser­vation Sleep mode function.

Unit address used for network-wide
diagnostics. (Unique within associated net­work.)

Typically, the Master is set to zero (0).

Included Extended units in MODE X.
(Extensions and Remotes only)

(Extension).

Minimum RSSI level required to preserve syn­chronization with a non-primary radio.
(Only meaningful when XPRI is not NONE)

Table 10. Operating Status—Display Only

Command Description

ADDR

Details Page 29

AMASK

Details Page 29

Network address

Alarm mask (response)

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 25

Table 10. Operating Status—Display Only (Continued)

Command Description

ASENSE

Details Page 29

BAUD

Details Page 29

BUFF

Details Page 30

CODE

Details Page 30

CTS

Details Page 31

CTSHOLD

Details Page 32

DEVICE

Details Page 32

HOPTIME

Details Page 34

LPMHOLD

Details Page 36

MODE

Details Page 36

MRSSI

Details Page 37

OWM

Details Page 37

OT

Details Page 37

OWN

Details Page 37

PORT

Details Page 37

PWR

Details Page 38

Current sense of the alarm output.

Data communication parameters. Example:

BAUD 9600 8N1

Data buffering mode: ON = seamless data,

OFF = fast byte throughput

Security/encryption operational status.

“NONE” (Inactive), or “ACTIVE”

CTS delay in milliseconds (0–255 ms)

“Hold time” that CTS is present following last

character from DATA port.

Device behavior

Alternatives: DCE and CTS KEY

Hop-time value in milliseconds (ms).

Time (0-1000 ms) provided to give an RTU

time to respond before the radio goes to sleep.

Current operating mode:

M = Master

R = Remote
X = Extension (Repeater)

Minimum RSSI level required to preserve syn-

chronization with a Master radio for Remotes
in mobile service.

Owner’s message or site name

Status (ON/OFF) of the 1-second delay on

delivery of RXD serial data.

Owner’s name or system name

Current data port (DATA connector) interface

signaling mode: RS232 or RS485

Forward power-output setting in dBm

26 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Table 10. Operating Status—Display Only (Continued)

Command Description

REPEAT

Details Page 38

RETRY

Details Page 38

RSSI

Details Page 38

RTU

Details Page 39

RXTOT

Details Page 40

SAF

Details Page 40

SER

Details Page 40

SHOW CON

Details Page 41

SHOW PWR

Details Page 41

SHOW SYNC

Details Page 41

SKIP

Details Page 41

SLEEP

Details Page 42

SREV

Details Page 42

STAT

Details Page 43

TEMP

Details Page 43

UNIT

Details Page 43

XADDR

Details Page 44

The fixed downstream re-send count.

The maximum upstream re-send count for
ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) operation.

Received signal strength indicator (in dBm).
Unavailable at Master unless SETUP is
enabled.

RTU simulator’s operational status (ON/OFF)

The amount of time (in seconds) to wait before
issuing a time-out alarm.

Store-and-forward mode status in this unit.
(ON/OFF)

Serial number of radio

Display virtual modem connection status

RF output power.
Measured RF power in dBm.

Information on synchronization source

Frequency zones that are skipped

Radio’s Sleep Mode setting.
(At Remotes Only)

Transceiver firmware revision level

Current alarm status

Transceiver’s internal temperature (°C)

Programmed unit address for
network-wide diagnostics

This unit’s Extended address

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 27

Table 10. Operating Status—Display Only (Continued)

Command Description

XPRI

Details Page 44

XMAP

Details Page 44

XRSSI

Details Page 44

Address of the primary Extended radio unit

(Extension).

Included Extended units in MODE X.

(Extensions and Remotes only).

Minimum RSSI level required to preserve

synchronization with a non-primary radio.
(Only meaningful when XPRI is not NONE)

Table 11. Diagnostic and Test Functions

Command Description

KEY

Details Page 35

DKEY

Details Page 33

TX [xxxx]

Details Page 43

RX [xxxx]

Details Page 39

SETUP

Details Page 40

ZONE DATA

Details Page 44

ZONE CLEAR

Details Page 44

Enables the transmitter test.
(Must be in Setup mode. Details on Page 40.)

Turns off the transmitter test.
(Must be in Setup mode. Details on Page 40.)

Set/display transmit test frequency.
(Must be in Setup mode. Details on Page 40.)

Set/display receive test frequency.
(Must be in Setup mode. Details on Page 40.)

Enables Setup mode.
Times out after 10 minutes. Press “Q” to quit.

Zone data statistics

Clears the Zone Data log

6.3 Detailed Command Descriptions

The essential commands for most applications are Network Address (ADDR),
Mode (

MODE), and Baud Rate (BAUD). However, proper use of the additional

commands allows you to tailor the transceiver for a specific use, or to conduct
basic diagnostics on the radio. This section gives more detailed information
for the commands listed above in Section 6.2.

Most of the commands below can be used in two ways. First, you can type
only the command name (for example,
programmed data. Second, you can set or change the existing data by typing
the command, followed by a space, and then the desired entry (for example,

ADDR 1234). In the descriptions which follow, allowable programming vari-

ables, if any, are shown in brackets [ ] following the command name.

28 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

ADDR) to view the currently

ADDR [1–65000]

Network Address

This command sets or displays the radio’s network address. The network
address can range from 1 to 65000.

A network address must be programmed at the time of installation and must
be common across each radio in a given network. Radios are typically

shipped with the network address unprogrammed, causing the address to
display as

NONE. If the address is not set (or is set to a wrong value) it leaves

the system in an invalid state, preventing operation and generating an alarm.

NOTE: It is recommended that the last four digits of the Master radio’s serial number be

used for the network address. This helps avoid conflicts with other users.

AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]

Alarm Mask

This command sets the alarm bits that cause the alarm output signal to be trig­gered. The

PWR LED will still flash for all alarms, but the alarm output signal

will only be activated for those alarms that have the corresponding mask bit
set. The hex value for the mask aligns directly with the hex value for the

ALARM command. The default is FFFF FFFF. Through proper use of the
AMASK command, it is possible to tailor the alarm response of the radio.

Refer to the Using the AMASK Command Application Bulletin (AP_08004)
for more information on configuring the alarm mask.

AT [ON, OFF]

Hayes-Compatible AT Command Support

AT-style modem commands, also know as “Hayes-Compatible Commands”,
can be processed through the payload port. By setting
(

MODE M), individual Remotes can be accessed by using ATDT

AT ON at the Master

[Unit Address]. In this mode, RTUs designed only for dial-up access can be
accessed through the Master station. For more details, see See “Using AT

Commands” on Page 55 and “OT [ON, OFF]” on Page 37.

ASENSE [HI/LO]

Alarm Output Sense

This command is used to set the sense of the alarm output at Pin 6 of the DATA
connector. The default is

HI which means an alarm is present when an RS-232

high is on Pin 6.

BAUD [xxxxx abc]

Data Interface Port Baud Rate

This command sets or displays the communication attributes for the normal
payload communications through the
on the RJ-11

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 29

DIAG(NOSTICS) port.

DATA port. The command has no effect

The first parameter (xxxxx) is baud rate. Baud rate is specified in
bits-per-second and must be one of the following speeds: 300, 600, 1200,
1800, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200. At baud rates of
19200 bps or less, the radio can support unlimited continuous data transmis­sion at any hop rate.

The second parameter of the

BAUD command (abc) is a 3-character block

indicating how the data is encoded. The following is a breakdown of each
character’s meaning:

a = Data bits (

7 or 8)

b = Parity (N for None, O for Odd, E for Even)
c = Stop bits (

1 or 2)

The factory default setting is 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
(Example:

NOTE: 7N1, 8O2, and 8E2 are invalid communication settings and are not supported

9600 8N1).

by the transceiver.

BAND [A, B, C]

Select Sub-Band (Normally used for 2.4 GHz units)

This command sets or displays the receiving and transmit operating band for
the radio.

A = 2.4016–2.4270 GHz
B = 2.4272–2.4526 GHz
C = 2.4528–2.478.2 GH z

NOTE: The same

BAND must be programmed at the time of installation and

must be common across each radio in a given network.

BUFF [ON, OFF]

Data Buffer Mode

This command sets or displays the received data handling mode of the radio.
The command parameter is either
setting of this parameter affects the timing of received data sent out the

ON or OFF. (The default is OFF.) The

DATA

connector. Data transmitted over the air is unaffected by the BUFF setting.
If data buffering is set to

OFF, the radio will operate with the lowest possible

average latency. Data bytes are sent out the DATA port as soon as an incoming
RF data frame is processed. Average and typical latency will both be below
10 ms, but idle character gaps may be introduced into the outgoing data flow.

If data buffering is

ON, the radio will operate in a seamless mode. That is, data

bytes will be sent over the air as quickly as possible, but the receiver will
buffer the data until the entire packet has been collected. The delay introduced
by data buffering is variable and depends on message size and the number of
retransmissions required, but the radio will not create any gaps in the output
data stream. This mode of operation is required for protocols such as
MODBUS™ that do not allow gaps in their data transmission.

30 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Seamless mode (BUFF ON) is intended only for applications where the
message size is 256 characters or less. Enforcement of this rule is left up to
the user. If more than 256 characters are transmitted data delivery will not be
seamless and data may be lost.

Changes to the

BUFF setting may only be made at the Master radio. This is

because the Master radio broadcasts the buffer setting for the entire network.
At Remote radios, the buffer setting may be read when the radio is in synchro­nization with the Master, but it cannot be changed.

CODE [NONE, 1…255]

Security Code

The CODE command is used to select or display the security/encryption
setting in the radio.

The default is

CODE NONE. Setting CODE to a value other than NONE

provides an extra level of security beyond that provided by the Network
Address (

ADDR). The disadvantage is increased complexity in managing the

network.
The

CODE command takes an argument 1…255, or NONE. Entering CODE

without an argument will display either

NONE or ACTIVE. ACTIVE means

that security/encryption has been enabled, but the radio will not display the
security argument.

When a

CODE value is active, all radios in the system must use the same code

value. If the code value is not properly programmed, a Remote radio will not

synchronize with the Master.
CAUTION: Record the

CODE value and store it in a safe place. If the code is

later forgotten, and a unit is to be added to the system, all radios in the
network must be set to

NONE and then reprogrammed to a new value.

CSADDR [1–65000, NONE]

Clock-Synchronizing Master Address

Used to specify the network address of a “Clock-Sync” Master station to
which this station will be synchronized. Also see “ADDR [1–65000]” on

Page 29 and “Co-Located and Close-Proximity Masters” on Page 63 for

further details.

CTS [0–255]

Clear-to-Send Delay

The CTS (clear-to-send) command sets or displays the timer value associated
with the CTS line response. The command parameter ranges from 0 to 255
milliseconds.

For DCE operation, the timer specifies how long to wait after the RTS line
goes high before asserting the CTS line. A timer value of zero means that the
CTS line will be asserted immediately following the assertion of RTS.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 31

For CTS Key operation (see the DEVICE command), the timer specifies how
long to wait after asserting the CTS line before sending data out the

DATA

port. A timer value of zero means that data will be sent out the data port
without imposing a key-up delay. (Other delays may be in effect from other
radio operating parameters.)

CTSHOLD [0–60000]

Clear-to-Send Hold Time

Used in DEVICE CTS KEY mode, this command sets the amount of time in
milliseconds that CTS remains present following transmission of the last
character out the RXD pin of the

DATA port. This “hold time” can be used to

prevent squelch tail data corruption when communicating with other radios.
The

CTSHOLD setting can range from 0 to 60000 (i.e., 60 seconds). The

default value is 0, which means that CTS will drop immediately after the last
character is transmitted. If the command is entered when the radio is in

DEVICE DCE mode, the response CTSHOLD N/A will be displayed.

DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY]

Radio-MODEM Behavior

The DEVICE command sets or displays the device behavior of the radio. The
command parameter is either

The default selection is

DCE or CTS KEY.

DCE. In this mode, CTS will go high following RTS,

subject to the CTS programmable delay time. Keying is stimulated by the
input of characters at the data port. Hardware flow control is implemented by
dropping the CTS line if data arrives faster than it can be transmitted.

If

CTS KEY is selected, the radio is assumed to be controlling another radio,

such as in a repeater or tail-end link system. The RTS line is ignored and the
CTS line is used as a keyline control for the other radio. CTS is asserted
immediately after the receipt of RF data, but data will not be sent out the

DATA port until after the CTS programmable delay time has expired. (This

gives the other radio time to key.)
Following transmission of the last byte of data, CTS will remain asserted for

the duration specified by the

CTSHOLD command. CTSHOLD should be set

sufficiently high.

DLINK [xxxxx/ON/OFF]

InSite Diagnostics Link Support

DLINK ON enables use of Diagnostic Link mode and establishes it as the

default protocol on the RJ-11
protocol used to support Network-Wide Diagnostics.

ON to support connection to InSite or to support chained diagnostics between

radio networks even while the radio is in sleep mode.
feature. The default setting is

32 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

DIAG port. Diagnostic Link mode is a special

DLINK must be set to

DLINK OFF disables this

ON.

The following DLINK baud rates selections are supported:

• 1200 • 4800 • 9600 • 19200 (default)

• 38400 • 57600 • 115200

Example:

DLINK 4800 sets the RJ-11 DIAG port to operate at 4800 bps when

diagnostics is closed. This setting will not affect the port’s autobaud opera­tion. Use only of
programmed value. The default is

DLINK ON, will enable the use 19200 or the most recently

DLINK 19200 and DLINK ON.

NOTE 1: The same baud rate must be entered into the InSite Equipment List’s BAUD

NOTE 2: The DLINK rate must match the rate of any connected device to the diagnos-

field.

tic port. This may be either another MDS radio’s diagnostic port, InSite com­puter, or another data link device that eventually connects to the InSite
computer.

DKEY

Turn Off Radio Transmitter‘s Test Signal

Disables the transmitter when it is keyed. See also KEY command.

DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]

Network Diagnostics Mode

The DTYPE command specifies the radio’s operational characteristics for
network-wide diagnostics. The transceiver uses the following types:

•

NODE—The most common setting, and the default. This is the basi c

system radio device-type. Typically, the radio network is comprised of
nodes and one root. Intrusive diagnostics can originate from any node.
However, non-intrusive diagnostics can only be conducted from the
root node.

ROOT—Always one, and only one, per network (including units

•
associated through Extension units.) The root is the focal point of
network-wide diagnostics information. Intrusive diagnostics can
originate from any radio, including the root. However, the root is the
only radio through which non-intrusive diagnostics can be conducted.

FEC [ON, OFF]

Forward Error Correction

This command is used to view the FEC setting, or turn it on or off. The default
setting is

FEC ON. (It needs to be turned off when throughputs exceed

57,600 bps.) FEC is set at the Master and is automatically passed on to all
Remotes in a network.

Setting FEC to

ON improves sensitivity at the cost of reduced throughput.

Typical SCADA/telemetry applications use low data rates and, as such, the
FEC setting is normally transparent to them.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 33

HOPTIME [7, 28]

Radio Transmitter Hop Timing

The HOPTIME command is used to set or display the hop-time setting. The
command is a digit corresponding to the hop-time setting in milliseconds. The
default

HOPTIME setting is 7. A setting of 28 must be used when throughputs

exceed 57,600 bps and is recommended when data transmission sizes exceed
256 bytes.

Changes to the

HOPTIME setting may only be made at the Master radio. (This

is because the Master radio establishes the hop-time setting for the entire
network.) At Remote radios, the hop-time setting may be read when the radio
is in synchronization with the Master, but it cannot be changed.

INIT

Initialize; Restore to Factory Defaults

The INIT command is used to reset the radio’s operating parameters to the
factory defaults listed in Table 12 on Page 34. This may be helpful when
trying to resolve configuration problems that resulted from the entry of one
or more improper command settings. If you are unsure of which command
setting caused the problem, this command allows you to get back to a known
working state.

NOTE: Caution should be exercised when using the INIT command on radios in a sys-

tem employing the Store-and-Forward feature. Settings relating to the use of Ex­tension services will be lost and will need to be re-entered. Record the settings
for XADDR, XPRI and XMAP before using the INIT command.

SPECIAL
NOTE: Installing firmware of Revision 3.0 or later into a radio with Revisions 1.x firm-

ware will preserve the radio’s compatibility with other radios running Revision

1.x firmware. If updating the radio’s firmware is part of a system-wide upgrade,
the last step should be to use the INIT command at the Master station. Use of
the

INIT command causes the changes shown in Table 12 to be applied.

Table 12. INIT Command Generated Defaults

Corresponding

Parameter Default Setting

For ALL radios

Alarm Mask FFFF FFFF AMASK
Alarm Output Sense RS-232 High (+5.0 Vdc) ASENSE
Device Operation DCE DEVICE DCE
DATA Interface Port • 9600 baud

• 8 data bits

• none (no parity)

• 1 stop bit

Data Port Setting RS/EIA-232 PORT RS232
CTS Delay 0 (CTS is continuously asserted) CTS 0
CTS Hold-Time 0 CTSHOLD 0

Command

BAUD 9600 8N1

34 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Table 12. INIT Command Generated Defaults (Continued)

Corresponding

Parameter Default Setting

LED Operation OFF LED
Low-Power Mode

Hold
RX Time-Out-Timer None/Disable RXTOT
RF Output Power 30 dBm (1 watt) PWR 30
Transmitter

Test Frequency

Receiver
Test Frequency

Sleep Mode OFF SLEEP OFF
Primary Extension

Radio Address
Synchronization

Source Map
Extended Address 0 XADDR 0

For MASTER radios

AT Command
Support

Buffer Mode OFF BUFF OFF
Forward Error

Correction
Hop-Time 7 ms HOPTIME 7
Low-Power Mode 0 (Off) LPM
Skipped Frequencies None (radio will hop across all

Retry Count 10 (max. of 10 repeats for ARQ) RETRY 10
Repeat Count 3 (downstream repeats) REPEAT 3

0 LPMHOLD

915.000 MHz or

2436.0 MHz
(Model dependent)

915.000 MHz

2436.0 MHz
(Model-dependent)

0 (Master) XPRI 0

None XMAP 0

OFF AT

ON FEC ON

frequencies)

Command

TX xxx

RX xxx

SKIP NONE

HREV

Hardware Revision

Shows the hardware revision of the radio.

KEY

Turn On Radio Transmitter Test Signal

Enables the transmitter. (Radio must be in Setup mode.) See also DKEY
command (DKEY Details, Page 33).

35 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

LED [ON, OFF]

Enable/Disable PCB LEDs

LED ON enables/disables the PCB board mounted LEDs seen only with the

transceiver’s covers removed. LED is normally OFF, it may be useful to have
them on for testing the radio with the covers removed. Note: the external
LEDs will be dimmer if the

LED command also affects the operation of the LEDs in the “Low-Power

The
Mode” (

LPM). When LED is OFF, the radio keeps the PWR and SYNC LEDs

LED function is left ON.

extinguished.

LPM [1, 0]

Low-Power Mode—Masters Only

This feature trades increased latency to gain power savings. Low-power
mode (LPM) automatically saves power at a Remote by instructing the
Remote to shutdown for large periods of time in between

SYNC messages.

Master transmissions are automatically blocked while the Remotes are
asleep. Note, both Masters and Remotes are adaptive and will suppress a
normal sleep interval if data transmission or reception is in progress.

•

LPM 1 at the Master enables low-power mode network-wide; all

Remotes pick it up and start saving power by automatically sleeping.

LPM 1 can work in conjunction with the AT dialing feature. The dialed

unit will be forced awake; all others will sleep.

LPM 0 at the Master to disable low-power mode (Default setting).

•

SLEEP command must be enabled for LPM to function. Further, when

The
you enable LPM, the LEDs on the Remote radio dim even though the LPM
function is not properly enabled by turning on

SLEEP. For more information,

see “Low-Power Mode (LPM)—Master Enabled” on Page 60, and

“Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep Mode” on Page 62.

LPMHOLD [0–1000]

Low-Power Mode Sleep Time

Used to give an RTU time (0-1000 ms) to respond before the radio goes to
sleep. Value determines how long to suppress auto-sleep following reception
of the last character sent out of the RXD serial data port.

NOTE: Any values entered will be rounded to the nearest multiple of 4 ms.

To verify the exact hold time, enter LPMHOLD, the response will give you the
value currently being used.

MODE [M, R, X]

Radio Operating Mode

The MODE command sets or displays the operating mode of the radio. A
Master radio is set by MODE M; a Remote set by MODE R, and an Extension
is set by

36 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

MODE X.

All units default to Remotes; other modes must be specifically programmed
with the

If

MODE command.

MODE X is used, the MODE X radio should be programmed with an

Extended Address (XADDR). Units that need to hear this MODE X radio must
be programmed with an appropriate

XPRI and/or XMAP value.

MRSSI [NONE, –40...–90]

Minimum RSSI for Mobile Operation

The MRSSI command sets or displays the minimum RSSI level (dBm) of a
Master station’s signal to maintain synchronization. When the Master’s
signal falls below this level, the Remote will attempt to resynchronize with
the next Master it can hear within the same network—same Network Address
(

ADDR)—and, meets the MRSSI level. See “Mobile Operation Support” on

Page 62 for additional information.

OT [ON, OFF]

Output Trigger

The “output trigger” feature sets up a 1-second default delay on delivery of
RXD serial data, however, a receipt of RTS causes cancellation of timer
followed by immediate data delivery.

Hierarchy Rules:

OT = ON, RTS always cancels data delay and outputs im mediately

•if

OT = ON, DEVICE = DCE, and RXD = 0, data delay is 1 second or

•if
until RTS

DEVICE = DCE, and RXD = N, data delay is N ms

•if

DEVICE = CTS KEY, and CTS = N, data delay is N m s or until RTS

•if

DEVICE = CTS KEY overrid es RXD, RXD overrid es OT default.

•if

OWM [xxxxx]

“Owner’s Message”

The OWM command sets or displays an optional owner’s message, such as the
system name. The entry can contain up to 30 characters.

OWN [xxxxx]

“Owner’s Name”

The OWN command sets or displays an optional owner’s name, such as the
site name. The entry can contain up to 30 characters.

PORT [RS232, RS485]

Data Interface Port Signaling Standard

Select or identify the current data port (DATA connector) interface signaling
mode:

RS232 or RS485. This is the port though which the payload data will

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 37

pass. Pin descriptions for EIA-232 are on page 69 and EIA-485 can be found
on page 71.

PWR [20–30]

Radio Transmitter Power Level

This command displays or sets the desired RF power output of the radio. The

PWR command parameter is specified in dBm and can be adjusted in 1 dBm

steps. The default setting is 30 dBm (1 watt) for the 900 MHz model and
27 dBm (0.5 watt) for the 2400 MHz model. To read the actual (measured)
power output of the radio, use the

SHOW PWR command.

In the USA, maximum allowable power is governed by FCC limits on Effec­tive Isotropic Radiated Power output (EIRP). The EIRP limit of +36 dBm on
the 900 and 2400 MHz band, means that any user with a net antenna gain
greater than 6 dBi on the 900 MHz band, or 9 dBi on the 2400 MHz band,
must decrease the

PWR setting accordingly. “How Much Output Power Can

be Used?” on Page 12 contains a detailed discussion of this topic.

REPEAT [0–10]

Downstream Repeat Transmission Count

The REPEAT command affects “downstream” data. The command causes a
Master or Extension to always repeat transmissions for the specified number
of times (range is 0 to 10; default selection is 3) . Unlike the

RETRY command,

there is no acknowledgment that a message has been received.
Use the

REPEAT command without a value to display the current setting.

RETRY [0–10]

Upstream Repeat Transmission Count

The RETRY command affects upstream data. The command selects, or
displays, the maximum number of times (0 to 10) that a Remote radio will
re-transmit data. The default setting is 10.

This command is associated with ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) opera­tion of the radio and is intended for use in areas with heavy radio interference.

When the

RETRY command is is sued without parameters, the maximum

retransmission count is shown. A value of 0 represents no retries, while
values of 1 or greater successively improve the chance of data delivery in
spectrally harsh environments (at the expense of possibly increased latency).
The

RETRY value is only setable at the Master. It is readable by a synchro-

nized Remote.

RSSI

Received Signal Strength Indicator

This command displays the radio’s Received Signal Strength Indication in
dBm (decibels relative to 1 mW). The output can range from –40 dBm to
–120 dBm. Command availability and results depend on the mode of opera­tion (Master or Remote). The closer to 0 dBm, the stronger the signal, thus a
reading of –70 dBm is stronger than –80 dBm.

38 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

For a Remote radio, under normal operation, RSSI is based on the average

ENTER

signal strength of the SYNC message received in each of the eight frequency
zones. (RSSI is sampled each time a SYNC message is received.) When using
the RSSI reading to align a directional antenna, it is important to make
changes slowly so that the RSSI reading will provide meaningful results. It
will take several seconds to indicate a change in signal level. The radio stays

in RSSI mode until is pressed.
For a Master radio, under normal operation, entering the RSSI command

causes the response

NOT AVAILABLE to be returned. This is because a Master

is normally receiving signals from several Remote stations and an RSSI
reading would be continually changing. The only exception is when the

SETUP command has been asserted. This disables hopping and allows

reading a “raw” RSSI signal level in real time from a Master or Remote radio.

NOTE 1: RSSI readings will not accurately indicate signals stronger than –40 dBm.
NOTE 2: RSSI works for Dependent Masters. Command displays “NOT AVAILABLE” if

the Dependent Master is not synchronized.

RTU [ON, OFF, 0-80]

Remote Terminal Unit Simulator

This command re-enables or disables the radio’s internal RTU simulator,
which runs with GE MDS proprietary polling programs (poll.exe and
rsim.exe). The internal RTU simulator is available whenever a radio has diag­nostics enabled. This command also sets the RTU address to which the radio
will respond.

The internal RTU can be used for testing system payload data or pseudo bit
error rate (BER) testing. It can be helpful in isolating a problem to either the
external RTU or the radio. The default RTU setting is

OFF. To use this

command in a polling environment for testing, refer to the Network-wide
Diagnostics Systems Handbook (P/N: 05-3467A01).

RX [xxxx]

Radio Receive Test Frequency

This command sets or displays the test receive frequency used in place of
hopping when the radio is in SETUP mode. The test receive frequency can be
reprogrammed to any value between 902.200 MHz and 927.800 MHz, inclu­sive. The factory default setting is 915.000 MHz.

For the 2400 MHz radios, the test frequency can be programmed to any
frequency between 2400.6 MHz and 2482.0 MHz. The default value is

2436.0 MHz.

RXD [0–255]

RXD Delay

Used to set a delay, in milliseconds, of RXD data to emulate a seamless mode
with much lower latency in applications where retries are not required. Use a
delay of twice the value of the

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 39

HOPTIME period (See page 34).

Entering a RXD ON (0 ms default) or RXD XX will enable the function.
Entering

RXD OFF will disable the function and erase any stored value.

RXTOT [NONE, 0–1440]

Receive Data Timeout-Timer

This command sets or displays the amount of time (in minutes) to wait for the
next received data packet before issuing a receiver time-out alarm. The
default setting is

NONE.

SAF [ON, OFF]

Store-and-Forward Services Support

This command enables/disables the operation of the Store-and-Forward
services. It can be set only at the network’s Master station, but will effect all
radios in the associated network. The default setting is OFF. See related
commands: “XADDR [0–31]” on Page 44, “XPRI [0–31]” on Page 44, and

“XMAP [00000000-FFFFFFFF]” on Page 44.

SETUP

Setup Radio Test

This command sets up the transceiver for checking antenna SWR or trans­mitter power with external measuring equipment. Do not use this mode
during normal operation.

When the

SETUP command is entered, the prompt changes to SETUP>, and:

• Hopping is disabled.

• Synthesizer frequencies are reset to the test frequencies specified by the

TX and RX commands described earlier.

• The radio can be keyed using the

KEY command. DKEY is used to unkey

the radio. (If the radio is left in a keyed state it is automatically unkeyed
after 10 minutes.)

• The

RSSI is sampled in a raw, continuous fashion regardless of whether

the unit is a Master or a Remote.

Entering

Q or QUIT returns the system to normal operation.

A timer keeps the Setup mode from accidentally leaving the system disabled.
After 10 minutes the system behaves as if

Q or QUIT had been entered,

returning the unit to normal operation.

NOTE: TransNET uses a automatic level control in normal operation to keep transmit

power constant over time. This facility is disabled in Setup mode. To test 1 Watt
power output in Setup mode, the user must enter PWR 30 followed by
power output will only be valid for the first couple of seconds.

KEY. The

SER

Radio Serial Number

Displays the serial number of the radio.

40 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

SHOW CON

Show Virtual Connection Status

Shows virtual connection status established by the latest ATDT command
sequence. (Works only with

If no connection is established, it displays

AT ON. See“AT [ON, OFF]” on Page 29)

NONE.

If a connection is active, it will display:

<Master unit address> TO <Remote (“dialed”) unit address>.

SHOW PWR

Show Measured RF Transmit Power

The SHOW PWR command displays the actual (measured) RF power output
in dBm. Unlike the

PWR command, this command shows the actual level

being measured, not the programmed RF power setting.

SHOW SYNC

Show Clock-Synchronization Master Network Address

When used at a Remote station, this command will display Extende d Address
and

Unit Address of the Master or Extension radio to which the Remote is

synchronized. The network depth at the Remote, defined as the number of
downstream links from the Master, is displayed in parentheses.

SHOW SYNC works for Dependent Masters. A value of zero (0) means the

station is a Master synchronized to a Clock-Sync Master. The

SHOW SYNC

command will display an asterisk (*) after depth value if the radio is operating
with co-located Masters.

SKIP [NONE, 1...8]

Skip Radio Operating Zones

This command sets or displays which, if any, of the eight zones will be
skipped from the radio’s hopping sequence. Skipping zones is one way of
dealing with constant interference on one or more frequencies in the radio’s
operating band. See “A Word About Radio Interference” on Page 8 for more
information on dealing with interference.

Tables 13, 14, 15 and 16 show the frequency range covered by each zone. The
command parameter is either the keyword

NONE or an undelimited string of

up to four digits where each digit 1...8 represents a corresponding zone to
skip. (For zone parameter input, the digits can appear in any order and can be
optionally separated by a blank space.) The

SKIP command is display-only at

Remote radios. (Remotes must be synchronized with the Master radio to
display the skip status.)

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 41

In the USA, a maximum of four zones may be skipped for TransNET 900 and
a maximum of three zones may skipped for TransNET 2400. Check the regu­latory requirements for your region. The
in your country and the radio will not respond to the

SKIP function may not be permitted

SKIP command.

Table 13. 900 MHz Frequency Skip Zones

ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6 ZONE 7 ZONE 8

902.2
to

905.2

905.4
to

908.4

908.6
to

911.6

911.8
to

914.8

915.0
to

918.0

918.2
to

921.2

921.4
to

924.4

924.6
to

927.6

Table 14. 2400 MHz, Band A, Frequency Skip Zones

ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6 ZONE 7 ZONE 8

2401.6
to

2404.6

2404.8
to

2407.8

2408.0
to

2411.0

2411.2
to

2414.2

2414.4
to

2417.

2417.6
to

2420.6

2420.8
to

2423.8

2424.0
to

2427.0

Table 15. 2400 MHz, Band B, Frequency Skip Zones

ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6 ZONE 7 ZONE 8

2427.2
to

2430.2

2430.4
to

2433.4

2433.6
to

2436.6

2436.80
to

2439.8

2440.0
to

2443.0

2443.2
to

2446.2

2446.4
to

2449.4

2449.6
to

2452.6

Table 16. 2400 MHz, Band C, Frequency Skip Zones

ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6 ZONE 7 ZONE 8

2452.8
to

2455.8

2456.0
to

2459.0

2459.2
to

2462.2

2462.4
to

2465.4

2465.6
to

2468.6

2468.8
to

2471.8

2472.0
to

2475.0

2475.2
to

2478.2

SLEEP [ON, OFF]

Transceiver Sleep—Remotes Only

This command is used to set or display the radio’s Sleep Mode setting. The
default setting is

SLEEP OFF. When this setting is ON (enabled) the

Low-Power, or RTU-forced Sleep Mode, can be used. This function cannot
be turned on for a Master or Extension radio unless the unit is in the
Low-Power Mode. See “Using the Radio’ s Sleep Mode (Remote Units Only)”

on Page 59 and “Low-Power Mode versus Remote’ s Sleep Mode” on Page 62

for more information.

SREV

Firmware Revision Level

This command displays the version of the firmware currently loaded into the
transceiver.

42 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

A display of 06-4040A01, 3.6.1 is an example of the firmware version identi-

ENTER

fier—part number followed by release/version number.

STAT

Alarm Status

This command is used to check the alarm status of the radio. If no alarms
exist, the message

NO ALARMS PRESENT is returned.

If an alarm does exist, a two-digit alarm code (00–31) is displayed and the
event is identified as a “Major” or “Minor” alarm. A brief description of the
event is also given.

If more than one alarm exists, the word

MORE appears, and additional alarms

may be viewed by pressing the key. Detailed descriptions of the
alarm codes are provided in Table 18 on Page 47.

TEMP

Radio’s Internal Temperature

This command displays the internal temperature of the transceiver in degrees
Celsius. (Note that the radio is specified to operate in an environment between
–30° C and +60° C). This internal reading may be higher than the outside
temperature by several degrees.

TX [xxxx]

Radio Transmit Test Frequency

This command sets or displays the test transmit frequency used in place of
hopping whenever the radio is in Setup mode. The test transmit frequency for
the 900 MHz radios can be reprogrammed to any value between 902.200
MHz and 927.800 MHz, inclusive. The factory default setting is 915.000
MHz.

For the 2400 MHz radios, the test frequency can be programmed to any
frequency between 2400.6 MHz and 2482.0 MHz. The default value is

2436.0 MHz.

UNIT [10000–65000]

Unit Address

This command sets the unit addressing for network-wide diagnostics and
AT-Command address. The unit address is factory programmed to the last
four digits of the radio’s serial number. If re-programmed in the field, the
entry must consist of five digits between 10000 and 65000.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 43

XADDR [0–31]

Extended Address

Used to display or program the Extended Address of this radio that will serve
as a common address for the sub-network synchronized to this Mast er or
Extension. This value can be listed in the

XPRI parameter of associated Exten-

sion or Remote radios to allow them to synchronize to this radio. We recom­mend setting the Master to zero (0). It is easy to remember, and is the default
address when the INIT command is used. (Programmed only in Master and
Extension radios.)

XMAP [00000000-FFFFFFFF]

Map of Extension Addresses

XMAP is a 32-bit hex entry where the least significant bit represents XADDR
0 and the most significant bit represents XADDR 31. The full 32-bit hex
value represents the entire list of extensions with which the radio will be
allowed to communicate. (Pertains to Remotes and Extensions only.)

This parameter is easily programmed through the MDS TransNET Configu-
ration Software’s

Store-and-Forward Settings panel.

XPRI [0–31]

Primary Extended Address

Will display or program the extended address of the primary radio with which
this radio will attempt to synchronize and communicate. A setting of

NONE

allows the unit to synchronize with any Master or Extension in the XMAP list.
(Parameter only meaningful for Remote or Extension units.)

XRSSI [NONE, –40...–120]

Extension RSSI Level

The XRSSI command is used to set the RSSI minimum signal level required
to preserve synchronization with a non-primary Extension radio. This param­eter will be ignored if

XPRI is set to NONE.

ZONE CLEAR

Clear Zone Statistics Log

The ZONE CLEAR command clears the zone data for all zones in the Zone
Data Log, resetting the count to 0. (Zone data is also cleared automatically
upon reboot.)

ZONE DATA

Read Zone Statistics Log

The transceiver divides its frequency operating spectrum into eight

3.0 MHz-wide zones or sub-bands. (These are the same zones referenced by
the

SKIP command described earlier.) Data frame statistics are maintained for

each zone to indicate the transmission quality of data through the network.
This information is useful for identifying zones where significant interference
exists.

44 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Historical information on the quality of each zone can be accessed using the

ZONE DAT A command. The report shows you the number of data frames sent,

the number received, and the number received with errors. If an excessive
number of errors are seen in one or more frequency zones, it may indicate
interference, and you should consider “skipping” those zones using the

SKIP

command (See “SKIP [NONE, 1...8]” on Page 41).
Note: If a frequency zone has been skipped, all counts for that zone will be

zeros.
The

ZONE DATA format is displayed as follows:

1:TX TOTAL 00000000
1:RX TOTAL 00000000
1:RX ERROR 00000000
x:
x:
x:
8:TX TOTAL 00000000
8:RX TOTAL 00000000
8:RX ERROR 00000000

All data is based on payload packets. Incoming network data may be divided
into multiple packets for over-the-air transfers. The number before the colon
represents the zone.
receive packet total.

TX TOTAL is the transmit packet total. RX TOTAL is the

RX ERROR is the total number of received packets with

CRC errors. All zone data is reset with the ZONE CLEAR command.

7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING

Successful troubleshooting of the transceiver is not difficult, but requires a
logical approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting at the Master station, as
the rest of the system depends on the Master for polling instructions and
synchronization data. If the Master station has problems, the operation of the
entire network will be affected.

When communication problems are found, it is good practice to begin by
checking the basics. All radios in the network must meet these basic require­ments:

• Adequate and stable primary power

• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system

• Secure connections (RF, data & power)

• Proper programming of the radio’s operating parameters, especially
Operating Mode (
Baud Rate (BAUD). For TransNET 2400 check the sub-band (BAND).

• The correct interface between the radio and the connected data
equipment (proper cable wiring, data format and timing).

• In store-and-forward systems there are several areas that should be
checked or evaluated:

• Look for duplicate
Duplicates will cause failures unless the radios are too far apart to
hear each other.

MODE), Network Address (ADDR), and interface

XADDR values on MODE M and MODE X radios.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 45

• Check for errors in the synchronization qualifiers, XPRI and XMAP,

PWR SYNC TXD RXD

ENTER

on corresponding Remote radios.

•Verify

SAF is enabled at the Master radio.

7.1 LED Indicators

The LED status indicators are an important troubleshooting tool and should
be checked whenever a problem is suspected. Table 17 describes the function
of each status LED.

Table 17. LED indicator descriptions

Name Description
PWR

SYNC Continuous—Radio is receiving/sending synchronization frames

TXD Transmit data activity on the DB-9 DATA interface connector
RXD Receive data activity on the DB-9 DATA interface connector

• Continuous—Power is applied to the radio; no problems detected

• Flashing (5 times-per-second)—Fault indication. See “TROUBLE-

SHOOTING” on Page 45.

• Off—Radio is unpowered or in Sleep mode

On within 10 seconds of power-up under normal conditions

7.2 Alarm Codes

When an alarm condition exists, the transceiver creates an alarm code. These
codes can be very helpful in resolving many system difficulties.

Checking for Alarms—STAT command

To check for the presence of alarms, enter
message

NO ALARMS PRESENT appears at the top of the display.

If an alarm does exist, a two-digit alarm code (00–31) is displayed, and it is
identified as a major or minor alarm. A brief description of the alarm is also
given. Alarm codes and their meanings are listed in Table 18.

If more than one alarm exists, the word
screen; additional alarms can be viewed by pressing .

Major Alarms versus Minor Alarms

Major alarms report serious conditions that generally indicate a hardware
failure, or other abnormal condition that will prevent (or seriously hamper)
further operation of the transceiver.

46 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

STAT. If no alarms exist, the

MORE appears at the bottom of the

With the exception of alarm code 00 (network address not programmed),
major alarms generally indicate the need for factory repair. Contact the
factory for further assistance.

Minor alarms report conditions which, under most circumstances, will not
prevent transceiver operation. This includes out-of-tolerance conditions,
baud rate mismatches, etc. The cause of these alarms should be investigated
and corrected to prevent system failure.

Alarm Code Definitions

Table 18 contains a listing of all event codes that may be reported by the

transceiver. Additional alarm codes may be used in future firmware releases
or are used by the factory.

Table 18. Alarm Codes

Alarm

Code

Alarm
Type Description

00 Major The network address is not programmed.

01 Major Improper firmware detected for this radio model.

04 Major One or more of the programmable synthesizer loops is reporting

08 Major The system is reporting that it has not been calibrated. Factory

10 Major The DSP was unable to properly program the system to the ap-

12 Major Receiver time-out alarm.

16 Minor The unit address is not programmed.

17 Minor A data parity fault has been detected on the DATA connector.

18 Minor A data framing error has been detected on the DATA connector.

29 Minor RF output power fault detected. (Power differs by more than 2

30 Minor The system is reporting an RSSI reading below –105 dBm.

31 Minor The transceiver’s internal temperature is approaching an

an out-of-lock condition.

calibration is required for proper radio operation.

propriate defaults. A hardware problem may exist.

This usually indicates a parity setting mismatch between the ra­dio and the RTU.

This may indicate a baud rate mismatch between the radio and
the RTU.

dB from set level.) Often caused by high antenna system SWR.
Check antenna, feedline and connectors.

out-of-tolerance condition. If the temperature drifts outside of
the recommended operating range and the transceiver may fail.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 47

7.3 Troubleshooting Chart

Table 19 provides suggestions for resolving system difficulties that may be

experienced in the radio system. If problems persist, contact the factory for
further assistance. Refer to the inside back cover of this guide for contact
information.

Table 19. Troubleshooting Guide

Difficulty Recommended System Check s

Unit is
inoperative

Interference is
suspected

No synchroniza­tion with Master,
or poor overall
performance

BER is too high.
Data throughput
is spotty

Latency is too
high

a.Check for the proper supply voltage at the power connector.

b.The transceiver’s internal fuse may have opened. Refer to Sec-

tion 7.5 below for replacement instructions.

a.Verify that the system has a unique network address. Nearby

systems with the same address will cause interference.

b.Check for interference by locking out affected zone(s) using the

SKIP command (Page 41).

c. If omnidirectional antennas are used on Remote stations, con-

sider changing to directional antennas. This will often limit inter­ference to and from other stations.

a.Check for secure interface connections at the radio and the

connected device.

b.Check the antenna, feedline and connectors. Reflected power

should be less than 10% of the forward power reading
(SWR  2:1 or lower).

c. If the Remote radio is in synchronization, but performance is

poor, check the received signal strength using the RSSI com­mand (Page 38). If RSSI is low, it may indicate antenna prob­lems, or misalignment of directional antenna headings.

d.Verify proper programming of system parameters: mode, net-

work address, data interface baud rate, transmitter power, CTS
delay, etc. For store-and-forward applications, also verify the
following: SAF is ON; extended address is properly pro­grammed at each extension; Remotes are using the proper val­ues for XPRI and XMAP.

e.Check for alarms using the STAT command (Page 43)
a.The RETRY and REPEAT commands may be increased to

deal with interference, or decreased to increase throughput and
reduce latency.

b.Try turning on FEC. FEC on gives some coding gain, but comes

at the cost of reduced throughput.

a.Reduce the REPEAT count.
b.Turn BUFF OFF. BUFF ON ensures that no gaps occur in the

data, but this comes at the cost of increased latency.

c. Make sure HOPTIME is set to 7.

48 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

7.4 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics

Diagnostics data from a Remote radio can be obtained by connecting a laptop
or personal computer running MDS InSite diagnostics software (Version 6.6
or later) to any radio in the network.

NOTE: The diagnostics feature may not be available in all radios. The ability to query

and configure a radio via Network-wide Diagnostics is based on the feature op­tions purchased in the radio being polled.

If a PC is connected to any radio in the network, intrusive polling (polling
which briefly interrupts payload data transmission) can be performed. To
perform diagnostics without interrupting payload data transmission, connect
the PC to a radio defined as the “root” radio. A radio is defined as a root radio
using the

A complete explanation of Remote diagnostics can be found in the
Network-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (P/N 05-3467A01).

Command Description

DLINK [xxxxx/ON/OFF]

Details, Page 32

DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]

Details, Page 33

1. Program one radio in the network as the root radio by entering the

2. At the root radio, use the

3. Program all other radios in the network as nodes by entering the

4. Use the

5. Connect a PC on which MDS InSite software is installed to the root radio,

6. Launch the MDS InSite application at the PC. (Refer to the InSite user’s

DTYPE ROOT command locally, at the radio.

Table 20. Network-Wide Diagnostics Commands

Set baud rate of diagnostics link

Set radio’s operational characteristics for net­work-wide diagnostics

DTYPE ROOT command at the radio.

DLINK ON and DLINK [baud rate] commands to

configure the diagnostic link protocol on the RJ-11 port.

DTYPE NODE command at each radio.

diagnostic link protocol on the RJ-11 port of each node radio.

or to one of the nodes, at the radio’s diagnostics port.
To connect a PC to the radio’s

03-3246A01) is required. If desired, an adapter cable may be constructed
from scratch, using the information shown in Figure 21 on Page 69.

manual for details.)

DLINK ON and DLINK [baud rate] commands to configure the

DIAG port, an RJ-11 to DB-9 adapter (P/N

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 49

7.5 Internal Fuse Replacement

The radio is protected by an internal fuse. This fuse can be blown by an
over-voltage transient or an internal failure. Follow the procedure below to
remove and replace the fuse:

1. Disconnect the primary power cable and all other connections to the unit.

2. Place the radio on its back and remove the four Phillips screws at the
corners of the bottom cover.

3. Carefully separate the top and bottom covers. There is a flat ribbon cable
between the top cover’s LED panel and the motherboard. You do not
need to disconnect the ribbon cable.

4. Locate the fuse holder assembly behind the power connector.
(See Figure 16).

5. Loosen the fuse from the holder using a very small flat-bladed
screwdriver, then use a small pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the fuse
straight up and out of the holder.

6. Use an ohmmeter or other continuity tester to verify that the fuse is
blown.

7. Install a new fuse by reversing the process.
Replacement fuse: Littelfuse #0454002; 452 Series,
2 Amp SMF Slo-Blo fuse (Part No. 29-1784A03).

8. Re-install the covers, interface cables and check the radio for proper
operation.

Invisible place holder

Figure 16.
Internal Fuse and Holder
Assembly Location

50 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

8.0 RADIO FIRMWARE UPGRADES

From time to time, the factory releases new firmware for its radio products.
This file can be installed in existing radios to take advantage of engineering
improvements or additional features.

8.1 Obtaining New Firmware

The latest firmware for each radio type may be obtained free from our Web
site at:

www.gemds.com

Firmware is also available on disks from the factory that are bundled with an
installation utility for transferring the firmware file on the disk to the radio.

Saving a Web Site Firmware File Onto Your PC

Firmware upgrades are distributed as a plain-text (ASCII) file with a “.S28”
extension. Browse the factory web site to find the desired “.S28” file for your
radio. When you have found your selection, use the right mouse button to
select a path on your computer on which to save the file. (If this isn’t done,
your browser may display the firmware file contents as text on the screen
instead of downloading it to your local hard drive.)

After the “.S28” file has been saved to your computer, you may use either

MDS TransNET Configuration Software or MDS Radio Software Upgra de
programs to install this firmware in your radios.

8.2 Installing Firmware Into Your Radio

1. Connect the PC to the radio’ s DIAG port using an RJ-11 to DB-9 Adapter
Cable (Part No. 03-3246A01). If desired, a cable can be fabricated from
the information shown in Figure 21 on Page 69.

2. Start the MDS TransNET Configurati on Software. Open diagnostics port

to the radio. The program will automatically read the radio’s profile.

3. From the

prompts to install the new firmware into the radio. Do not press the

Cancel button once the installation has started or it will leave the radio

without any code. When the installation is complete, another radio may
be connected to your PC and programmed.

NOTE: If a firmware installation fails, the radio is left unprogrammed and inoperative.

File menu, select Radio Firmware Upgrade and follow the

This is indicated by the PWR LED flashing slowly (1 second on/1 second off).
This condition is only likely to occur if there is a power failure to the computer or
radio during the installation process. The installation should be attempted again.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 51

9.0 OPERATING PRINCIPLES AND CONFIGURATION

M

J

R

J

R

J

X

J,K

R

J

R

K

RR

KK

Sub-Network “J”

Sub-Network “K”

9.1 SAF Operation with Extension Radios

The Store-and-Forward (SAF) capability operates by dividing a network into
a vertical hierarchy of two or more sub-networks. (See Figure 5 on Page 4.)
Adjacent sub-networks are connected via Extension radios operating in
“

MODE X” which move data from one sub-network to the next one.

The Store-and-Forward implementation adheres to the general polling princi­ples used in most multiple-address systems (MAS). Polls originate from the
Master station, broadcast to all radios within the network, and travel hierar­chically downward. All Remotes will hear the same message, but only one
Remote will respond. Messages within a hierarchy only travel in one direc­tion at a time.

Using SAF will cut the overall data throughput in half, however, multiple
networks can be inter-connected with no additional loss in network
throughput.

Simple Extended SAF Network

The following example depicts a two-level network utilizing a single Master
(M) and an Extension (X) radio. See Figure 17.

Invisible place holder

Figure 17. Simple Extended SAF Network

Networks: J and K

In this network, messages directed to Remotes in the “K” sub-network, will
be relayed through Extension radio X

to the K-Remotes. Any response

j,k

from a Remote in sub-network “K” will pass back through Extension radio
X

to the Master Mj. Radios in sub-network “J” operate on the same set of

j,k

frequencies and sub-network “K” but with a different radio-frequency
hopping pattern.

In the SAF operation, the Extension radios are set to

MODE X

(Details Page 36) and operate with a “dual personality”—50% of the time it
serves as a Remote station and 50% of the time as a Master for sub-network
Remotes.

52 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Extended SAF Network

X

K,L

R

L

R

L

M

J

R

J

R

J

X

J,KI

R

J

R

K

R

K

R

L

Sub-Network “J”

Sub-Network “K”

Sub-Network “L”

Below is an example of a multilevel network utilizing two repeaters—X
and X

. The example demonstrates the extensibility of the network. In this

K,L

J,K

case, messages directed to Remotes in the sub-network L will be relayed
through Extension radios X

J,K

and X

. Like the previous example, the

K,L

Extension radios will split their operating time equally between their Master
and Remote “personalities.” This multi-layered network can be extended
indefinitely without degradation in throughput, beyond that initially incurred
by placing the network in the SAF mode.

Invisible place holder

Figure 18. Extended SAF Network

Networks: J, K, L

Retransmission and ARQ Operation

Functionally, the sub-network side of an Extension behaves like a corre­sponding connection between a Master and a Remote.

When an Extension is using its “Master personality” it sends acknowledg­ments and performs unconditional retransmissions based on its

REPEAT

count.
When an Extension is using its “Remote personality,” acknowledgments are

processed and retransmissions occur as needed, up to the number of times
specified by the

If data arrives from a new source prior to completion of retransmissions, it is
considered to be a violation of the polling model protocol. The new data takes

RETRY count value.

precedence over the old data, and the old data is lost. In such a situation, new
data is likely to be corrupted as it will have some old data mixed in with it.

SAF Configuration Example

Here is an outline for the configuration of a simple store-and-forward link.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 53

1. Mode X and M Radios—Can have direct reports (Mode R radios) out-

A B C D E

MODE = M
ADDR = 1234
X ADDR = Ø
X PRI = None

MODE = X
ADDR = 1234
X ADDR = 1
X PRI = Ø

MODE = X
ADDR = 1234
X ADDR = 2
X PRI = 1

MODE = X
ADDR = 1234
X ADDR = 3
X PRI = 2
XMAP = 2

MODE = R
ADDR = 1234
X ADDR = 4
X PRI = 3

TransNET

Radios:

Radio

Confguration:

side of the chain.

2. Data (Payload)—Travels from Master to Remote, and back from

Remote to Master.

3. Mode X and R Radios—Extension links can be protected by mapping

one or more fall-back paths in case of a failure. Add secondary exten­sion addresses (XADDR) into the

XMAP table. (See “XMAP

[00000000-FFFFFFFF]” on Page 44.)

For example, as shown in Figure 19, Remote “D” could use Remote “C”
as its extension primary , and Remote “B” (X ADDR = 1) as an alterna­tive in case of a failure of Remote “C” (X ADDR = 2). This arrange­ment assumes a serviceable path between Remotes “D” and “B”, and
requires Remote “D” to be programmed with XMAP = 2 to correspond
with the XADDR address of Remote “B.”

Invisible place holder

Figure 19. SAF Configuration Example

This configuration is easily arranged through the use of the Extension

in the MDS TransNET Configuration Software’s “Store-and-For-

Map

ward Settings.”

9.2 Synchronizing Network Units

The Master controls the synchronization for a given network for all modes.
Setting the Master to
radio units in the associated network either directly or through an Extension
radio. This command puts all radios in the entire system in a special
time-division duplexing mode that alternates between two timeslots. One
time slot for data communications upstream and the second for downstream
communications.

The Extensions are single radios which serve as bridges between adjacent
sub-network levels. Extensions will undertake a “Remote personality” in one
timeslot, and a “Master personality” in the alternate timeslot and provide
communications with associated Remotes downstream. Extensions behave
like two radios with their data ports tied together, first synchronizing with
their upstream Master during their Remote personality period, and then
providing synchronization signals to dependent Remotes downstream during
its Master personality period.

54 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

SAF ON broadcasts a command from the Master to all

All Remotes synchronize to a corresponding Master. This can be the “real
Master” (the

MODE M unit), or it can be a repeater “Extension” that derives

synchronization from the “real Master.”
Payload polls/packets broadcast from the network Master will be repeated to

all levels of the network, either directly to Remotes, or through network
repeaters—the Extension station. The targeted Remote responds to the poll
following the same path back to the Master.

Synchronization Messages

Remotes acquire synchronization and configuration information via
messages. They can synchronize to the Master (the
valid Extension (a

The Master will always transmit
start sending

MODE X unit).

SYNC messages. An Extension will only

SYNC messages after synchronization is achieved with its

MODE M unit) or to any

SYNC

Master.
The ability to synchronize to a given radio is further qualified by the sender’s

Extended Address (
(

XMAP, XPRI, and XRSSI).

When a primary is specified (

XADDR) and by the receiver’s Synchronization Qualifiers

XPRI is 0...31), a radio will always attempt to

find the primary first. If 30 seconds elapses and the primary is not found, then
the radio attempts to synchronize with any non-primary radio in the

XMAP

list.
Once every 30 minutes, if a primary is defined, the radio will check its

synchronization source. If the radio is synchronized to a unit other than the
primary, then the current
is less than

XRSSI (or if XRSSI is NONE) the radio will force a

RSSI value is compared to the XRSSI value. If RSSI

loss-of-synchronization, and hunt for the primary again (as described in the
previous paragraph).

By default, Extensions (and the Master) begin with
tion qualifiers are set to

XMAP 0, XPRI 0, and XRSSI NONE, respectively. This

XADDR 0. Synchroniza-

default configuration allows any radio to hear the Master. When an Extension
is added, the extended address of the Extension radio must be set to a unique
value. All Remotes that need to hear that extension can specify this either by
designating the extension as the primary (
of valid synchronization sources (

XPRI), or by including it in their list

XMAP).

9.3 Using AT Commands

A TransNET network may be configured to support protocols employing
Hayes-Compatible modem commands through the radio’s AT Mode. In this
mode, TransNET units can provide a communications replacement for
dial-up modems where the RTUs and the protocol do not contain address­ability, and the establishment of a direct-communications link is the only way
to determine if the RTU has data ready to be sent. This requirement is
common in many older SCADA systems which were developed for direct

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 55

connections where wire lines were the only communications link available at
the time. Most of these older system implemented support for the AT
commands needed in the host software, so TransNET units can be used
without software modifications.

In this mode, the Master’s
(See Supported Commands below). When an

DATA port is parsed for a subset of AT commands.

ATDT xxxxx data sequence is

detected, and xxxxx is a unit address of a radio in the network, the TransNET
Master will establish a virtual link to that unit. It will remain in that state until
either another

ATDT xxxxx or ATH (hang-up/disconnect) is detected. (Note:

Unaddressed Remotes in the network will not respond to user data. Data will
only be exchanged between the equipment connected to the addressed
Remote unit and the network or device connected to the Master’s

In order to use this mode, the command

AT ON must be selected at the Master

DATA port.

Radio. The acknowledgment to an ATDT command is simulated by the
Master; there is no true verification that the far-end connection is valid.

Please consider the following additional information before using the AT
commands:

• Radio commands and AT commands are independent with unique
syntax and functional objectives.

•

ATDT is not a radio command; it is part of the payload data input and

follows the syntax for Hayes-compatible modems.

• TransNET commands are entered through the RJ11
on Master and Remote radios.

AT ON and UNIT are examples of

DIAGNOSTIC port

TransNET commands.

• AT commands are only entered through the Master’s DB-9
and only when the TransNET command

AT ON has been previously

DATA port,

issued. The radio supports a subset of the Hayes-compatible modem AT
set. Each command is entered without spaces, and always begins with

AT, and ends with a carriage return key press.

Supported AT Commands

Supported modem commands on the payload port are:

AT <attention>

Replies with OK (Code 0).

AT DT [xxxxx] <dial>

The command
if applicable. This command replies with
connected, all characters are passed through until a

ATH <hang up> or +++

xxxxx

represents 5-digit unit address with a l eading zero (0)

CONNECT

(Code 1). Once

+++

is seen.

This command replies with OK (Code 0) and deletes any virtual connection
to the currently addressed Remote station.

ATV[x] <change verbosity>

x = 0

, means use numeric messages

x = 1

, means use text messages (Default)

Replies with

56 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

OK

(Code 0)

AT <command errors>

Replies with

Characters with <no AT command>

ERROR

(Code 4)

Modem will echo characters in data stream but will be ignored until a
second “AT” is seen at which time the modem closes the virtual
connection.

Operation Notes When AT Commands are ON

• Radios will not poll with the embedded RTU simulator unless a
connection is established.

• Network-wide diagnostics are unaffected by the dialed unit connection
status.

• The use of the TransNET

OT command (Output Trigger) can be of

benefit in some configurations. See “OT [ON, OFF]” on Page 37 for
configuration details.

9.4 Configuration Parameters for Store-and-Forward
Services

The installation and configuration of a radio network with an Extension using
SAF is straightforward with only a few unique parameters that need to be
considered and set at each unit.

In every network there can be only one Master station. It will serve as the sole
gateway to the outside world. The following three tables detail the parameters
that will need to be set on each type of radio in the network.

• Network Master Radio—Table 21 on Page 57

• Extension Radio(s)—Table 22 on Page 58

• Remote Radio(s)—Table 23 on Page 59

Table 21. Configuration Parameters for SAF Services

Network Master Radio

Parameter Command Description

Operating Mode

Network Address

MODE M

Details Page 36

ADDR

Details Page 29

Sets the radio to serve as
a Master.

A number between 1 and
65,000 that will serve as a
common network ad­dress.

All radios in the network
use the same number.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 57

Table 21. Configuration Parameters for SAF Services

Network Master Radio (Continued)

Parameter Command Description

Extended Address

Store-and-Forward
Mode

XADDR

Details Page 44

SAF ON

Details Page 40

A number between 0 and
31 that will serve as a
common address for radi­os that synchronize di­rectly to this Master.

Typically, the Master is
set to zero (0).

Enables store-and-for­ward capability in the net­work.

Table 22. Configuration Parameters for SAF Services

Extension Radio(s)

Parameter Command Description

Operating Mode

Network Address

Extended Ad­dress

Primary Extended
Address

Extension Map

Extension
Received Signal
Strength Indicator

MODE X

Details Page 36

ADDR

Details Page 29

XADDR

Details Page 44

XPRI

Details Page 44

XMAP

Details Page 44

XRSSI

Details Page 44

Sets the radio to serve as an
Extension.

A number between 1 and
65,000 that will serve as a
common network address.

All radios in the network use
the same number.

A number between 0 and 31
that will serve as a common
address for radios that syn­chronize directly to this Ex­tension radio serving as
Master for associated
sub-network units.

Zero (0) is recommended for
the Master station.

XADDR number of the pri­mary or preferred radio with
which this radio will synchro­nize.

Lists all XADDR values with
which this radio can syn­chronize, excluding the

XPRI address.

The minimum RSSI level re­quired to preserve synchro­nization with a non-primary
radio. (Ineffective when
XPRI is NONE)

58 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Table 23. Configuration Parameters for SAF Services

Remote Radio(s)

Parameter Command Description

Operating Mode

Network Address

Primary Extended
Address

Extension Map

Extension
Received Signal
Strength Indicator

MODE R

Details Page 36

ADDR

Details Page 29

XPRI

Details Page 44

XMAP

Details Page 44

XRSSI

Details Page 44

Sets the radio to serve
as a Remote station.

A number between 1
and 65,000 that will
serve as a common
network address or
name.

Same number for all
units in the same net­work.

XADDR number of the
primary or preferred
radio with which this
radio will synchronize.

Lists all XADDR val­ues with which this ra­dio can synchronize,
excluding the
address.

The minimum RSSI
level required to pre­serve synchronization
with a non-primary ra­dio. (Ineffective when

XPRI is NONE)

XPRI

9.5 Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode (Remote Units Only)

In some installations, such as at solar-powered sites, it may be necessary to
keep Remote transceivers’ power consumption to an absolute minimum. This
can be accomplished using the radio’s Sleep Mode feature. Power consump­tion in the sleep mode will be less at higher voltages and more at lower volt­ages. Power in the Sleep Mode at 13.6 Vdc is approximately 3 mA.

Sleep Mode can be enabled under RTU control by asserting a ground (or
EIA/RS-232 low) on Pin 4 of the radio’s
tions are suspended until it is awakened. The radio stays in Sleep Mode until
a built-in one-minute timer “awakens” it for resynchronization, or the low is
removed from Pin 4.

When Pin 4 is opened (or an EIA/RS-232 high is asserted), the radio will be
ready to receive data within 75 milliseconds or less. The radio can be awak­ened more often if desired, by your RTU.

NOTE: The SLEEP function must be set to ON; without this, a ground on Pin 4 will be

ignored.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 59

DATA connector. All normal func-

It is important to note that power consumption will increase somewhat as
communication from the Master station degrades. This is because the radio
will spend a greater period of time “awake” looking for synchronization
messages from the Master radio.

In order for the radio to be controlled by Pin 4, the unit’s Sleep Mode must be
enabled through the

SLEEP [ON, OFF] command. See “SLEEP [ON, OFF]”

on Page 42 for more information.

NOTE: If INTRUSIVE polling is used in InSite NMS software, it is necessary to select

SLEEP MODE INHIBIT ON from the Polling Options menu, on the Network
Wide Diagnostic Polling screen.

Sleep Mode Example

The following example describes Sleep Mode implementation in a typical
system. Using this information, you should be able to configure a system that
meets your own particular needs.

Suppose you need communications to each Remote site only once per hour.
Program the RTU to raise an EIA/RS-232 line once each hour (DTR for
example) and wait for a poll and response before lowering it again. Connect
this line to Pin 4 of the radio’s

DATA connector. This will allow each RTU to

be polled once per hour, with a dramatic reduction in power consumption.

9.6 Low-Power Mode (LPM)—Master Enabled

The Low-Power Mode (LPM) puts Remote radios into a configuration similar
to Sleep, but with some important distinctions. The most important difference
is the radio will automatically go to sleep in this mode, regardless of the
condition of Pin 4 of the

This feature trades increased latency to gain power savings. The low-power
mode (LPM) automatically saves power at a Remote by instructing the
Remote to shutdown for long periods of time between SYNC messages.
Master transmissions are automatically blocked while the Remotes are
asleep. Note, both Masters and Remotes are adaptive and will suppress a
normal sleep interval until after the end of a current data transmission or
reception.

DATA interface connector.

Setup Commands

These are the command options and their applications:

•

LPM 1 at the Master enables low-power mode network-wide; all

Remotes pick it up and start saving power by automatically sleeping.

LPM 1 can work in conjunction with the AT dialing feature. The dialed

unit will be forced awake; all others will sleep.

LPM 0 at the Master is used to disable low-power mode (LPM)

•
(Default setting following an

LPMHOLD 0 with REPEAT 0 setting, a Remote with no data to send will

For

INIT or firmware upgrade.)

consume about 1/4 of its normal power consumption. Note that the SLEEP
command must be enabled for the LPM to function.

60 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Reading RSSI and Other Parameters with LPM Enabled

It may be desired to perform tests and review operational settings of a Remote
radio which has been programmed to operate in the low-power mode. Follow
the abbreviated procedure below to interact with the radio through a local
computer.

• Disconnect the Remote’s antenna to force it to lose sync with the
Master

• Power-down the radio

• Connect a computer running TransNET configuration software to the
Remote’s

DIAG(nostic) port.

• Power-up the radio

• Reconnect the antenna

• Measure the RSSI or review and change any parameters you desire

Power Consumption Influence by HOPTIME and SAF Settings

Table 24 presents representative current consumption and data delay values

for various settings of TransNET radios setup for Low Power Mode, LPM
(See “LPM [1, 0]” on Page 36). It assumes the primary power voltage is

13.8 Vdc and the polling rate is minimized to yield best-case power consump­tion (current) values.

The more each RTU is polled and asked to transmit, the more current will be
consumed. Therefore, these values are the lowest that can be expected. Power
consumption (current) is inversely related to data delay as shown in the table.
When a radio is sleeping (LPM) mode, it is also waiting longer to deliver the
payload data.

Table 24. Power Consumption versus Hoptime and SAF Settings

HOPTIME SAF Current (ma) Data Delay

7 OFF 16 350 ms

7 ON 10 780 ms

28 OFF 7 1620 ms

28 ON 4 3360 ms

Note, the Store-and-Forward setting has a significant effect on power
consumption, as it effectively doubles the HOPTIME to support LPM
services. For the most power-efficient operation, turn on

SAF even if you are

not using repeaters.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 61

9.7 Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep Mode

The Low-Power Mode (LPM) puts Remote radios into an operational config­uration similar to Sleep, but there are some important differences. Below is a
comparison of the two modes.

Table 25. Power-Conservation Modes Comparison

Sleep Mode Low-Power Mode

Features • Manual control by

Benefits • Low latency

connected equipment

• Selective application of
Sleep control

• User determines length and
frequency of sleep periods

• Low standby power,
 3 mA at 13.6 Vdc

• Greatest potential for power
savings

• Automatic radio-controlled timing

• Automatic sleep during absence of
directed traffic

• Network-wide implementation
through Master station

• Less complicated implementation

• Simple configuration

9.8 Mobile Operation Support

Introduction

Reliable mobile operation of Remotes is practical in areas covered by
multiple Master Stations within the same network—Master stations with the
same Network Address (
Remote must have several reliable Master stations with which to communi­cate.

A “reliable” Master is defined as one, which consistently matches, or
exceeds, the Remote’s standard for Minimum RSSI (

Initially, the Remote will favor Masters with signal strengths 10 dB greater
than the MRSSI threshold. This will allows for some signal degradation of the
new Master as the Remote travels.

When the average signal level from the currently-associated Master falls
below the user-defined
and seek an alternate Master with a reliable signal.

ADDR). To make this type of service practical, the

MRSSI).

MRSSI level, the Remote will become out-of-sync

62 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Operational Influences—Hoptime & SAF

The synchronization period is influenced by two parameters’
values—

HOPTIME and SAF (Store-and-Forward). Table 26 shows several

configurations and the associated synchronization period value.

Table 26. Synchronization Period versus

Hoptime and SAF Settings

Sync Period Hoptime Value SAF

441 ms 7 OFF

1.8 sec 28 OFF

3.5 sec 28 ON

9.9 MIRRORED BITS™ Protocol Support

TransNET radios are compatible with Schweitzer’s Mirrored Bits MB8
protocol, provided complementary firmware (06-4045A01) is installed in all
network radios. A detailed application guide (AG2003-07) is available from
Schweitzer Engineering Labs Web site, www.SELinc.com/aglist.htm, or
from Microwave Data Systems’ Web site at www.microwavedata.com.

9.10 Seamless Mode Emulation

The RXD command assumes the payload message will be ready for transmis­sion after the delay period has expired. If there is a chance the payload data
may be delayed, it is recommended to use the
sure the entire message is received before delivery is started. The
command provides a highly-reliable seamless operating mode, but can be
very slow to start, especially if it waits for the reception of long messages
before passing on the message.

BUFF(er) command to make

BUFF

9.11 Full-Duplex Emulation

If your system design needs to support PTP or Point-to-Multipoint applica­tions and your communications must appear to be full-duplex to the
connected devices, set the Master to
Network Address (

ADDR). This will place the system in a time-division

CSADDR xxxxx (where xxxxx is the

duplex mode (TDD). The radio system will appear to be full-duplex to the
connected devices, but actually operates half-duplex over the radio link. Data
is buffered by the transmitting side until it is its turn to transmit. Throughput
will be approximately 1/2 of the

DATA interface rate.

9.12 Co-Located and Close-Proximity Masters

If your requirements call for multiple TransNET networks at the same loca­tion, you need to ensure that interference between the systems in minimized
to prevent overload that will diminish the performance of the radios. Tradi­tionally, vertical separation of the antennas of co-located radios was required

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 63

in order to reduce the interference to the point where overload of one network
by the other will not occur. The

CSADDR command will provide relief from

this antenna separation requirement by operating the networks in a TDD
mode and ensuring that one Master cannot transmit while the other (or
multiple others) are trying to receive a signal from a distant radio.

Master Station Configuration

On all Masters for which you wish to synchronize transmissions, establish
one Master as the “Clock-Sync Master by setting its
Network Address (

CSADDR values to the Network Address (ADDR) of the Clock-Sync Master.

ADDR xxxxx). Then, set all other dependent Masters

Make sure that you use a different Network Address (

CSADDR value to it own

ADDR) for each Master.

This value will be used to identify all units associated with this Master’s
network.

Note that all Masters must be set to the same
where the

HOPTIME, FEC and SAF values are provided by the Clock-Sync Master to all

CSADDR matches its own ADDR; this is the Clock-Sync Master.

CSADDR = ADDR
CSADDR  ADDR
CSADDR = NONE

—Unit serving as a Clock-Sync Master

—Unit serves as a Dependent Master (Clock Slave)

—Co-located Master feature disabled (default)

CSADDR setting, but only one

dependent units.

NOTE: If a Dependent Master station is unable to find the Clock-Sync Master station, it

will not be able to operate properly and the associated network will be
out-of-service.

Antenna System for Co-Located Master Stations

Using this TDD (Clock-Sync) mode will prevent any two Masters from trans­mitting and receiving at the same time and greatly reduce the antenna separa­tion requirements to near zero. Under this arrangement, the antennas of
co-located Masters may be placed a few feet (less than a meter) apart horizon­tally, or just above or below vertically with no ill effects. There are two
common antenna system arrangements:

Sharing a Common Antenna System

It is possible to share an antenna between multiple Masters using stan­dard power dividers, as long as the extra loss associated with these
devices is taken into account in your RF budgeting process. Masters in
this configuration must be operating with Clock-Sync (

CSADDR)

enabled.
Ideally , co-located Masters should use separate antennas. They can

share an antenna only if isolation is sufficient. If sufficient isolation is
not guaranteed, degraded performance will result. For example, the two
Master stations shown in Figure 20 on Page 65 are connected to a com­mon antenna system. They use a power-divider that will result in a sig­nal loss of 3 dB, or one-half power level, on both transmit and receive
signals.

The power divider, such as a Mini-Circuits ZAPD-1 or similar product,

64 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

must be capable of handling 1 Watt and have >25 dB isolation between

Master—Network “A”
CS Master

Power

Divider

(– 3 dB)

Omnidirectional
Antenna

Master—Network “B”
CS Slave

Network “A” Network “B”

TX ports. In some cases, up to 35 dB of isolation is required. Isolation is
improved by adding attenuators between the TransNET radios and the
splitters.

Invisible place holder

Figure 20. Co-Located Masters Sharing an Antenna

9.13 Security

Today, the operation and management of an enterprise is becoming
increasing dependent on electronic information flow. An accompanying
concern becomes the security of the communication infrastructure and the
security of the data itself. GE MDS takes this matter seriously, and provides
several means for protecting the data carried over its wireless products.

The radio addresses this issue primarily through the use of the following
items:

1. A proprietary modem/data link layer—Data signals are processed

using code and hardware specifically designed by GE MDS.

2. A unique Network Address—This provides a unique identifier for each

radio in a network. A radio is not addressable unless this unique code is
included in the data string.

3. An optional encryption value (code)—Setting an encryption code

requires the use of the

CODE command. This command scrambles the

radio’s hop pattern and encrypts payload data content. A radio requires
the correct Network Address (
synchronize. When the

CODE command is used, the same value must be

programmed into all radios in the network. See “CODE [NONE,

1…255]” on Page 31 for more details.

The effective combination of
exhaustive search to gain access to a system.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 65

ADDR) and CODE value in order to

CODE and ADDR discourage the use of an

The items described above provide sufficient security for a typical MAS
system. For more highly-sensitive applications, system designers should
consider employing application level encryption into their polling protocols
to further protect their systems. Third party software tools are available for
adding encryption, and these should be considered as part of any advanced
encryption scheme.

10.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE

10.1 Product Specifications—900 MHz

GENERAL

Frequency Hopping Range: 902–928 MHz,

Subdivided into eight 3.2 MHz zones
Hop Pattern: Based on network address
Frequency Stability: ±1.5 ppm
Half-Duplex Operation: ±1.6 MHz TX/RX split
Network Addresses: 65,000
Temperature Range: –40° C to +70° C
Humidity: <95% at +40° C; non-condensing
Primary Power: 13.8 Vdc, Nominal (6–30 Vdc range)
Current Draw

(typical @ 30 dBm):

Transmit: 510 mA @ 13.8 Vdc
Receive: 115 mA @ 13.8 Vdc
Sleep Mode:  3 mA @ 13.8 Vdc

Size: 5.30˝ W x 3.50˝ D x 1.40˝ H

(135 W x 89 D x 36 H mm)
Weight: 1 Lb / 0.5 kg w/o brackets;

1.15 Lb / 0.52 kg w/brackets
Case: Die-cast aluminum
Agency Approvals: • FCC Part 15.247

MTBF (Reliability): Consult factory for on-file data

(E5MDS-EL805)

• Industry Canada RSS-210 and RSS-139

(CAN 3738A 12122)

• UL/CSA Class 1, Div. 2; Groups A, B, C

and D hazardous locations

• Contact the factory for information on

availability of governmental approvals in
other countries

DATA CHARACTERISTICS (DB-9 Data Port

Data Interface: RS-232/422/485
Interface Connector: DB-9 female

66 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Data Rate: 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800, 9600,

19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 bps asyn-

chronous
Data Latency: 7 ms typical
Byte Length: 10 or 11 bits
Maximum Data Transmission: Continuous up to 115200 bps

RF CHARACTERISTICS (TNC RF Connector)

TRANSMITTER:

Power Output
(at antenna connector): 0.1 to 1.0 Watt (+20 dBm to +30 dBm),

set by user

Duty Cycle: Continuous
Modulation Type: Binary CPFSK
Output Impedance: 50 Ohms
Spurious: –49 dBm, 216 MHz–960 MHz

–41 dBm above 960 MHz

RECEIVER:

Type: Double-conversion superheterodyne
Sensitivity: –110 dBm @ 10
Intermodulation: 54 dB minimum (EIA)
Desensitization: 75 dB
Spurious: 70 dB minimum
Bandwidth: 200 kHz
Interference Ratio
(SINAD degraded by 3dB): Co-channel: –10 dB

Adjacent channel: +30 dB

Two channels away: +40 dB

Three channels away: +48 dB
Time Required to Synchronize
with Master Radio: 0.5 seconds (typical)

–6

BER

10.2 Product Specifications—2.4 GHz

GENERAL

Frequency Band: 2401.6–2477.8 MHz ISM band

A: 2401.6 MHz–2427.0 MHz

B: 2427.2 MHz–2452.6 MHz

C: 2452.8 MHz–2478.2 MHz

Subdivided into eight 3.2 MHz zones.

Hop Pattern: Based on network address
Frequency Stability: ±1.5 ppm
Half-Duplex Operation: ±1.6 MHz TX/RX split
Network Addresses: 65,000
Temperature Range: –40° C to +70° C
Humidity: <95% RH at +40° C; non-condensing

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 67

Primary Power: 13.8 Vdc, Nominal (6–30 Vdc range)
Current Draw
(typical @ 27 dBm):

Transmit: 510 mA @ 13.8 Vdc

Receive: 100 mA @ 13.8 Vdc
Sleep Mode (typical):  3 mA @ 13.8 Vdc
Size: 5.30˝ W x 3.50˝ D x 1.40˝H

(135 W x 89 D x 36 H mm). Weight: 1

Lb/0.5 k w/o brackets;

1.15 Lb / 0.52 k w/brackets

Weight: 1 Lb / 0.5 k w/o brackets;

Case: Die-cast aluminum

Agency Approvals: • FCC Part 15 Pending

MTBF (reliability): Consult factory for on-file data

1.15 Lb / 0.52 k w/brackets

(E5MDS-EL805-24)

• IC: Approved

• Contact the factory for information on
governmental approvals for other coun­tries

DATA CHARACTERISTICS (DB-9 Data Port)

Data Interface: RS-232/422/485
Interface Connector: DB-9 female
Data Rate. 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800, 9600,

Data Latency: 7 ms typical
Byte Length: 10 or 11 bits
Maximum Data Transmission: Continuous up to 115200 bps

19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 bps asyn­chronous

RF CHARACTERISTICS (TNC RF Connector)

TRANSMITTER:

Power Output
(at antenna connector): 0.1 to 0.5 watt (+20 dBm to +27 dBm),

Duty Cycle: Continuous
Modulation Type: Binary CPFSK
Output Impedance: 50 Ohms
Spurious: –49 dBm, 216 MHz–960 MHz

RECEIVER:

Type: Double-conversion superheterodyne
Sensitivity: –108 dBm @ 10
Intermodulation: 54 dB minimum (EIA)
Desensitization: 75 dB
Spurious: 70 dB minimum
Bandwidth: 200 kHz

set by user

–41 dBm above 960 MHz

–6

BER

68 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

10.3 Diagnostic Interface Connections (RJ-11)

RXD
TXD
GND

2
3
5

DTE

DB-9 FEMALE

(TO COMPUTER)

TXD
RXD
GND

4
5
6

DTE

RJ-11 PLUG

(TO RADIO)

RJ-11 PIN LAYOUT

1

6

5

96

1

Invisible place holder

Figure 21. RJ-11 to DB-9 Adapter Cable—Wiring Details

NOTE: Only wire pins 4, 5, and 6. Pins 1,2, and 3 are reserved for special functions and

are not normally connected.

10.4 Data Interface Connections (DB-9F)

The DATA connector (Figure 22) is used to connect the radio to an external
DTE data terminal that supports the EIA/RS-232 or EIA/RS-485 (balanced)
format, depending on how the radio was configured at the factory. The radio
supports data rates of 300, 600, 1200, 1800, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400,
57600, and 115200 bps (asynchronous data only).

The

DATA connector mates with a standard DB-9 plug that is available from

many electronics parts distributors. Table 27 and Table 28 provide detailed
pin descriptions for the
RS/EIA-485 mode, respectively.Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-232 Mode

DATA connector in RS/EIA-232 mode and

Figure 22. DATA Connector (DB-9F)

As viewed from outside the radio

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 69

Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-232 Mode

Table 27 lists the

DATA connector pin functions for radios configured to

operate in RS/EIA-232 mode.

NOTE: The radio is hard-wired as a DCE in the EIA-232 mode.

Table 27. DATA connector pin descriptions—RS/EIA-232

Pin

Number

1 OUT DCD (Data Carrier Detect)

2 OUT RXD (Received Data)

3 IN TXD (Transmitted Data)

4 IN Sleep—A ground on this pin turns off most circuits in a Re-

5 IN Signal Ground—

6 OUT Alarm Output—An RS-232 high/space (+5.0 Vdc) on this pin

7 IN RTS (Request-to-Send)

8 OUT CTS (Clear-to-Send)—Goes “high” after the programmed

9 -- Reserved for Special Uses (Do not connect)

Input/

Output Pin Description

A “high” indicates hopping synchronization.

Supplies received data to the connected device.

Accepts TX data from the connected device.

mote radio, including transmit, receive, modem, and diag­nostic functions. This allows for greatly reduced power
consumption, yet preserves the radio’s ability to be quickly
brought on line. See “Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode (Re-

mote Units Only)” on Page 59 for details.

Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on the ra­dio’s PC board and chassis.

indicates an alarm condition. An RS-232 low/mark
(–5.0 Vdc) indicates normal operation. This pin may be used

as an alarm output. (See ASENSE [HI/LO] Details, Page

29 for further information.)

CTS delay time has elapsed (DCE), or keys an attached ra­dio when RF data arrives (CTS KEY).

70 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-422/485 Mode

EIA-485 2-WIRE CONNECTIONS

TXD 

RXD 

2

3

7

RADIO

DATA CONNECTOR

8

RXD +

TXD +

EIA-422 4-WIRE CONNECTIONS

RXD/TXD

2

3

7

RADIO

DATA CONNECTOR

8

RXD+/TXD+

EXTERNAL DEVICE

EXTERNAL DEVICE

RXD +

TXD 

RXD 

TXD +

RXD +

TXD 

RXD 

TXD +

This jumpering must be provided by user.

Table 28 lists the

DATA connector pin functions for radios configured to

operate in RS/EIA-422/485 mode. See Figure 23 for wiring schemes.

Table 28. DATA connector pin descriptions—RS-422/485 Mode

Pin

Number

Input/

Output Pin Description

1 — Not Used—Do not connect

2 OUT TXD+/TXA—Non-inverting driver output. Supplies data to

the connected device.

3 IN RXD+/RXA—Non-inverting receiver input. Accepts data

from the connected device.

4 IN Sleep—A ground on this pin turns off most circuits in a Re-

mote radio, including transmit, receive, modem, and diag­nostic functions. This allows for greatly reduced power
consumption, yet preserves the radio’s ability to be quickly
brought on line. See “Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode (Re-

mote Units Only)” on Page 59 for details.

5 -- Signal Ground (GND)—Connects to ground (negative sup-

ply potential) on the radio’s PC board and chassis.

6 -- Not Used—Do not connect

7 IN RXD– /RXB—Inverting receiving input

8 OUT TXD– /TXB—Inverting driver output.

9 -- Open (User configurable via internal jumper. See

“User Configurable I/O Connections” on Page 73)

NOTES:

• RXD+ / RXB and RXD– / RXA are data sent to the radio to be transmitted.

• RXD+ / RXB is positive with respect to RXD– / RXA when the line input is a “0”.

• TXD+ / TXB and TXD– / TXA are data received by the radio and transmitted.

• TXD+ / TXB is positive with respect to the TXD– / TXA when the line output is a “0”.

Invisible place holder

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 71

Figure 23. EIA-422/485 Wiring Schemes

10.5 Board-Only Supplemental Data

The TransNET 900 board-only radio is electrically and operationally similar
to the standard (metal enclosed) version described in the body of this manual.
Refer to this manual for connector assignments, software commands and
other product information. This supplementary data explains the items that
are unique to the board-only radio.

Figure 24. MDS TransNET 900 Board-Only Transceiver

Product Differences—Board-only vs. Standard

The main differences between the board-only unit and the standard version
are physical—including overall dimensions and mounting hole spacing. In
addition, the board-only unit’s LED panel is positioned differently than on the
standard unit. The LED order and functionality remain the same, however.

Finally, the board-only unit is not intended for high duty cycle applications
such as may be required in some master station and repeater arrangements
(see note below). This is due to heat dissipation requirements.

NOTE

The board-only unit is not suitable for extremely high duty cycle applications. For
master station or repeater use, where transmit duty cycles could approach 50%,
it is recommended that a standard (metal enclosed) TransNET be utilized.

Unit Dimensions

The TransNET board-only radio is designed to fit into restricted spaces, and
is considerably smaller than the metal enclosed version. The dimensions of
the unit (excluding connectors) are as follows:

Height: 0.906 in. (2.3 cm)
Width: 5.063 in. (12.9 cm)
Depth: 3.563 in. (9.1 cm)

CAUTION

72 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

: The bottom of the board-only radio is not insulated. When

mounting the unit, ensure that no protruding objects will con­tact the bottom of the circuit board.

Mounting Requirements

3.0 in.

7.7 cm

4.625 in.

11.8 cm

The radio may be mounted to any flat surface using four sheet metal screws,
machine screws or other suitable fasteners. Fasteners are not supplied with
the radio. The radio should be mounted in a manner that permits easy access
to the connectors and viewing of the status LEDs.

Figure 2 shows the mounting hole spacing for the board-only radio. To
prepare the mounting surface for drilling, it may be helpful to use the radio
case itself as a template. To do this, position the radio as desired and mark
through the mounting holes with a felt-tip pen or similar marking instrument.

Figure 25. Mounting Hole Dimensions

10.6 User Configurable I/O Connections

Several connection points (eyelets) are provided within the transceiver near
the

DATA interface connector that allow the user to facilitate unique integra-

tion requirements.
By jumpering eyelets, external functions (unconditioned I/O) may be

communicated within the TransNET network using a Network Management
System (NMS) such as InSite or a user’s custom application that uses the
Network-Wide Diagnostics Protocol. Specifications for this protocol are
open and are contained within the InSite distribution material on CD and on
the GE MDS Web site.

One pin of the DB-9 Data Interface connector supports this function, as well
as three pins of the RJ-11 Diagnostics connector. See Tables 27 and 28 on the
previous pages for details.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 73

Care should be taken when soldering to the PCB eyelets due to

CAUTION

POTENTIAL

EQUIPMENT

DAMAGE

their small size. For this reason, only qualified personnel should
install the jumpers and external connections.

Installation of internal jumpers and connection to non-standard
interface pins may void the product’s warranty.

If you are uncertain of your interface design, please consult with
the factory Technical Services Department for a review of your
design to assure maintenance of your warranty.

Invisible place holder

Figure 26. User Interface I/O Jumper Eyelets

PCBs 03-4040A03/A04 and later

NOTE: If your PCB does not look like the one in the Figure 26, consult with the factory

Technical Services for assistance.

Each pin connected to user-designed equipment must be connected through a
special cable constructed to breakout the User I/O pins.

Your interface can complement your unique requirements. The input signals
and output interface must be within the radio’s interface parameters as
summarized in Table 29.

Table 29. TransNET User I/O Connection Resources

Function or Service Range

Filtered Receive Audio
(For test purposes)

General Purpose I/O 1 (GPIO 1)

General Purpose I/O 2 (GPIO 2)

Analog 1

Do not connect. Factory use only. H5

74 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

c

0 – 5 Vac, 30–5 kHz H2

a

TTL; External 10K to 3.3 V
Vcc Recommended

b

TTL; External 10K to 3.3 V
Vcc Recommended

0 – 5 Vac,  60 HZ H6

Available
at eyelet:

H3

H4

Table 29. TransNET User I/O Connection Resources

Data Interface Pin

DB-9, Pin 9 H1

RJ-11, Pin 1 H7

RJ-11, Pin 2 H8

RJ-11, Pin 3 H9

a. Configuration and data retrievable via MDS InSite™ software as “I/O 1”
b. Configuration and data retrievable via MDS InSite™ software as “I/O 2”
c. Parameter retrievable via MDS InSite™ software

Available
at eyelet:

Using the I/O Points with InSite™ NMS Software

InSite software has the ability to read the user analog input (

Analog 1) and two

user-configurable and independent I/O signals (I/O 1 & I/O 2). Each I/O
connection can independently configured as input or output. If configured as
an output, a saved default output value can be stored in the radio t o ensure the
radio boots to the desired state for this pin.

The values of
determine the current state. The values of

DATA Interface connector will remain in a constant state until manually

I/O 1 & I/O 2 can be read and displayed by an InSite user to

I/O 1 & I/O 2 at the TransNET’s

changed though the InSite Configuration screen.

Application Example—Digital Input and Output at a Remote

A typical application of the user I/O connections may require one digital input
and one digital output to be controlled by network diagnostics. In this
example,
to
output and

H3 could be jumpered to H7 (I/O 1 to RJ-11, Pin 1) and H4 jumpered

H8 (I/O 2 to RJ-11, Pin 2). Using InSite, I/O 1 could be configured as an

I/O 2 as an input.

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual 75

10.7 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart

Table 30 is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent voltage

or wattage of an RF power expressed in dBm with 50 Ohms load.

Table 30. dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart

dBm V Po

+53 100.0 200W
+50 70.7 100W
+49 64.0 80W
+48 58.0 64W
+47 50.0 50W
+46 44.5 40W
+45 40.0 32W
+44 32.5 25W
+43 32.0 20W
+42 28.0 16W
+41 26.2 12.5W
+40 22.5 10W
+39 20.0 8W
+38 18.0 6.4W
+37 16.0 5W
+36 14.1 4W
+35 12.5 3.2W
+34 11.5 2.5W
+33 10.0 2W
+32 9.0 1.6W
+31 8.0 1.25W
+30 7.10 1.0W
+29 6.40 800mW
+28 5.80 640mW
+27 5.00 500mW
+26 4.45 400mW
+25 4.00 320mW
+24 3.55 250mW
+23 3.20 200mW
+22 2.80 160mW
+21 2.52 125mW
+20 2.25 100mW
+19 2.00 80mW
+18 1.80 64mW
+17 1.60 50mW
+16 1.41 40mW
+15 1.25 32mW
+14 1.15 25mW
+13 1.00 20mW
+12 .90 16mW
+11 .80 12.5mW
+10 .71 10mW
+9 .64 8mW
+8 .58 6.4mW
+7 .500 5mW
+6 .445 4mW
+5 .400 3.2mW
+4 .355 2.5mW
+3 .320 2.0mW
+2 .280 1.6mW
+1 .252 1.25mW

dBm V Po

0.2251.0mW

-1 .200 .80mW

-2 .180 .64mW

-3 .160 .50mW

-4 .141 .40mW

-5 .125 .32mW

-6 .115 .25mW

-7 .100 .20mW

-8 .090 .16mW

-9 .080 .125mW

-10 .071 .10mW

-11 .064

-12 .058

-13 .050

-14 .045

-15 .040

-16 .0355

dBm mV Po

-17 31.5

-18 28.5

-19 25.1

-20 22.5 .01mW

-21 20.0

-22 17.9

-23 15.9

-24 14.1

-25 12.8

-26 11.5

-27 10.0

-28 8.9

-29 8.0

-30 7.1 .001mW

-31 6.25

-32 5.8

-33 5.0

-34 4.5

-35 4.0

-36 3.5

-37 3.2

-38 2.85

-39 2.5

-40 2.25 .1µW

-41 2.0

-42 1.8

-43 1.6

-44 1.4

-45 1.25

-46 1.18

-47 1.00

-48 0.90

dBm mV Po

-49 0.80

-50 0.71 .01µW

-51 0.64

-52 0.57

-53 0.50

-54 0.45

-55 0.40

-56 0.351

-57 0.32

-58 0.286

-59 0.251

-60 0.225 .001µW

-61 0.200

-62 0.180

-63 0.160

-64 0.141

dBm µV Po

-65 128

-66 115

-67 100

-68 90

-69 80

-70 71 .1nW

-71 65

-72 58

-73 50

-74 45

-75 40

-76 35

-77 32

-78 29

-79 25

-80 22.5 .01nW

-81 20.0

-82 18.0

-83 16.0

-84 11.1

-85 12.9

-86 11.5

-87 10.0

-88 9.0

-89 8.0

-90 7.1 .001nW

-91 6.1

-92 5.75

-93 5.0

-94 4.5

-95 4.0

-96 3.51

-97 3.2

dBm µV Po

-98 2.9

-99 2.51

-100 2.25 .1pW

-101 2.0

-102 1.8

-103 1.6

-104 1.41

-105 1.27

-106 1.18

dBm nV Po

-107 1000

-108 900

-109 800

-110 710 .01pW

-111 640

-112 580

-113 500

-114 450

-115 400

-116 355

-117 325

-118 285

-119 251

-120 225
.001pW

-121 200

-122 180

-123 160

-124 141

-125 128

-126 117

-127 100

-128 90

-129 80 .1ƒW

-130 71

-131 61

-132 58

-133 50

-134 45

-135 40

-136 35

-137 33

-138 29

-139 25

-140 23 .01ƒW

76 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F

INDEX

A

Accessories (table) 5
ADDR command (set/display radio network address) 29
Alarm

checking for 46
code definitions 47
codes 46
codes, table 47
major vs. minor 46
receiver timeout (RXTOT command) 40
reset output signal 29
set/display output sense (ASENSE command) 29

status (STAT command) 43
ALARM command (superseded; see STAT command) 43
Alarm Mask (AMASK) Command 29
Alarm Sense (ASENSE) Command 29
Alarm Status Command (STAT) 43
AMASK command (configure alarm output signal) 29
Antenna

installation 15

performance optimization 20

selection 9

SWR check 21

system gain vs. power output setting, table 13

Yagi, illustrated 10
ASENSE command (set/display alarm output sense) 29

B

BAUD command (set/display data interface port attributes) 29
Baud rate

setting 22

setting for RJ-11 DIAG port (DLINK command) 49
BUFF command (set/display received data handling mode) 30

C

Cable

data equipment to DATA INTERFACE connector 15, 22

data interface wiring for tail-end links 19

feedlines 10

maximum length, recommended 16, 71
Clear Zone Statisics Log, ZONE CLEAR 44
Clear-to-Send Delay (CTS) Command 31
Clear-to-Send Hold Time (CTSHOLD) Command 32
Clock-Synchronizing Master Address (CSADDR) Command 31
CODE command (display/set encryption value) 31
Command 36

TEMP (radio’s internal temperature reading) 43
Commands

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual I-1

ADDR (set/display radio network address) 29
AMASK (configure alarm output signal) 29
ASENSE (set/display alarm output sense) 29
BAUD (set/display data interface port attributes) 29
BUFF (set/display received data handling mode) 30
CODE (set/display encryption value), See also Encryption 31
CTS (set/display CTS line response timer) 31
CTSHOLD (set/display CTS hold timer) 32
detailed descriptions 28–44
DEVICE (set/display DCE or CTS Key behavior) 32
display operating status 24
DKEY Command, Turn off radio tra n sm itter test signal 33
DTYPE (set radio’s diagnostics type) 33
FEC (Forward Error Correction) 33
FEC (Forward Error Correction) Command 33
HOPTIME (set/display hoptime setting) 34
how used 28
INIT (restore factory default settings) 34
LPM (low-power mode) 36
LPMHOLD (low-power mode sleep time) 36
MODE (display/set radio mode as master, remote, or extension) 36
MODE (radio operating mode) 36
most often used commands 28
network configuration 23
OWM (set/display optional owner’s message) 37
OWN (set/display optional owner’s name) 37
PORT (display/set current data port) 37
PWR (set/display RF forward output power) 38
Radio transmitter test frequency (TX) 43
RSSI (display received signal strength) 38
RTU (enable/disable internal RTU) 39
RX (set/display receiver test frequency) 39
RXD 39
RXTOT (set/display received data timeout value) 40
SAF (store-and-forward) 40
SER (radio serial number) 40
SETUP (enter testing and setup mode) 40
SHOW (display measured power output) 41
SHOW PWR (show power) 41
SHOW SYNC 41
SHOW SYNC (show Clock-Synchronization Master) 41
SKIP (set/display frequency zone to skip) 41
SLEEP (display/set radio’s sleep mode setting) 42
SLEEP (transceiver sleep mode) 42
SREV (firmware/software revision level) 42
ST AT (list alarms) 43
TEMP (display internal temperature) 43
UNIT (unit address) 43
XADDR (extended address) 44
XMAP (Map of Extension Addresses) 44

I-2 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

XPRI (display/program primary radio’s extended address) 44

XRSSI (sets min. signal level for sync. with non-primary extension unit) 44
Connectors

Diagnostic Interface, Connections 69

D

Data Baud Rate (BAUD) Command 29
Data Baud Rate (BUFF) Command 30
Data buffer setting 21, 30
DATA INTERFACE

cable wiring for tail-end links, illustrated 19

connections 69

connector pin descriptions, table 70
Data Port Signalling Standard (PORT) Command 37
Default settings

data interface baud rate 22

factory settings reset by INIT command (table) 34

restoring (INIT command) 34

See also individual command descriptions

DEVICE Command 32
DEVICE command (set/display DCE or CTS Key behavior) 32
Diagnostics

network-wide, performing 49

setup mode (SETUP command) 40

using InSite software for network-wide 49
Diagnostics Link (DLINK) 32
Display

alarm output sense (ASENSE command) 29

alarms (STAT command) 43

CTS hold timer value (CTSHOLD command) 32

CTS line response timer value (CTS command) 31

data interface baud rate (BAUD command) 29

device behavior (DEVICE command) 32

hoptime setting (HOPTIME command) 34

network address (ADDR command) 29

operating status commands 24

owner’s message (OWM command) 37

owner’s name (OWN command) 37

receive test frequency (RX command) 39

received data handling mode (BUFF command) 30

received data timeout value (RXTOT command) 40

received signal strength (RSSI command) 38

RF forward output power (PWR command) 38

RF power output, actual measured (SHOW command) 41

skipped frequency zones (SKIP command) 41

temperature, internal (TEMP command) 43
display/set radio mode as master, remote, or extension (see MODE command) 36
DKEY command (disable transmitter) 21, 40
DKEY, Disable Transmitter, Command 33
DLINK command (set/display baud rate of diagnostics link) 49

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual I-3

Downstream Repeat Transmission Count (REPEAT) Command 38
DSP (digital signal processing) 1, 47
DTYPE command (set radio’s diagnostics type) 33, 49, 50

E

Enable

internal RTU (RTU command) 39
network-wide diagnostics, procedures 49
Setup mode (SETUP command) 40
skipped zone (SKIP command) 41

Sleep Mode
Enable/Disable LEDs (LED) Command 36
Encryption. See CODE command
Equipment List 33
Extended Address Command (XADDR) 44
Extension radio. See Store-and-Forward (SAF)

F

Feedline

selection 9, 10
Firmware Revision Level Command (SREV) 42
Forward-Error Correction (FEC) Command 33
Fuse Replacement 50

G

Gate (radio diagnostics type) 33, 50

H

Hardware Revision (HREV) Command 35
Hayes-Compatible AT Command (AT) 29
Hoptime

setting 21
HOPTIME Command (radio transmitter hop timing) 34
HOPTIME command (set/display hoptime setting) 34

I

Illustrations

antenna, Yagi 10

data interface cable wiring for tail-end links 19

model configuration code 74

point-to-point link 3

remote station arrangement 6

tail-end link 4

typical MAS network 3
INIT command (restore factory default settings) 34
Initialize 34
InSite software 49
Installation

antenna 15

connecting transceiver to data equipment 15, 22

I-4 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

feedline selection 10
performance optimization 20
requirements 6
site selection 6
site survey 7
tail-end links 18
transmission path 7

Interference

about 8
checks 22
troubleshooting 48

interference 8

K

Key

set to CTS keying (DEVICE command) 32
transmitter, for antenna SWR check 21

KEY command (key transmitter) 21, 40

L

LED status indicators

table 20, 46
Low-Power Mode (LPM) Command 36
Low-Power Mode Sleep Time (LPMHOLD) Command 36
LPM Command (low-power mode) 36
LPMHOLD Command 36

M

Map 44
Map of Extension Addressses (XMAP) 44
Master Station

default settings 34
MIRRORED BITS™ Protocol Support 62, 63
MODE Command 36
MODE command (display/set radio mode as master, remote, or extension) 36
MODE command (display/set radio’s operating mode as master, remote, or

extension) 36, 37
Model configuration code, illustrated 74
Modes

Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep 62
Mounting instructions/dimensions 14–15
Multiple Address System (MAS)

network, illustrated 3
Multiple Address Systems (MAS) 2

N

Network Address (ADDR) Command 29
Network configuration commands 23
Network Diangnsotics Mode (DTYPE) Command 33
Network-wide diagnostics

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual I-5

procedures 49

Node (radio diagnostics type) 33, 50

O

LED 36
Modbus, BUFF 30
Operation 19–22
OWM command (set/display optional owner’s message) 37
OWN command (set/display optional owner’s name) 37
Owner’s Message (OWM) Command 37
Owner’s Name Command (OWN) 37

P

PC

connecting to radio’s diagnostic port 49
launching InSite application at 49

performing diagnostics using connected 49
Peer (radio diagnostics type) 33, 50
Performance optimization 20
Pins, DATA INTERFACE connector descriptions (table) 70
Point-to-point system

link, illustrated 3
Point-to-Point System (P-P) 3
PORT command (set/display current data port) 37
Power

Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep 62
Power (RF)

how much can be used 11

Measurement 41

set/display RF forward output (PWR command) 38
Power saving mode (see Sleep Mode)
Primary Extension Address (XPRI) 44
Procedures

antenna aiming 20

antenna and feedline selection 9

antenna SWR check 21

connecting data equipment to DATA INTERFACE connector 15, 22

connecting PC and radios for network-wide diagnostics 49

enabling sleep mode

installation planning 6

installing the antenna and feedline 15

interference check 22

mounting the transceiver 14–15

network-wide diagnostics 49

performance optimization 20

performing network-wide diagnostics 49

programming radio for network-wide diagnostics 49

reading LED status indicators 19

site selection 6

troubleshooting 45–48

I-6 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

Programming radio 28–44

as root or node 49

PWR command (set/display RF forward output power) 38

R

Radio

inoperative (troubleshooting chart) 48
no synchronization with master (troubleshooting chart) 48

poor performance (troubleshooting chart) 48
Radio Operating Mode (MODE) Command 36, 37
Radio Receive Test Frequency Command (RX) 39
Radio Serial Number Command (SER) 40
Radio Transmit Test Frequency (TX) 43
Radio Transmitter Hop Timing (HOPTIME) 34
Radio Transmitter Power Level (PWR) Command 38
Radio’s Internal Temperature Command (TEMP) 43
Radio-MODEM Behavior (DEVICE) Command 32
Receive Data Timeout-Timer Command (RXTOT) 40
Received Signal Strength Indicator Command (RSSI) 38
Remote radio

default settings 34
Remote station

typical arrangement, illustrated 6
Remote Terminal Unit Simulator Command (RTU) 39
Repeater Operation. See Store-and-Forward (SAF)
Restore to Factory Defaults (INIT) 34
RJ-11

Diagnostic Interface, Connection 69
Root (radio diagnostics type) 33, 50
RSSI command (display received signal strength) 38
RTU command (enable/disable internal RTU) 39
RX command (set/display test receive frequency) 39
RXD Command 39
RXD Delay Command (RXD) 39
RXTOT command (set/display received data timeout val ue) 40

S

SAF command (store-and-forward) 40
Security

Network Address 65

optional encryption value 65
Security Code (CODE) Command 31
Security, Data 65
SER Command 40
Set

alarm output sense (ASENSE command) 29

alarm output signal (AMASK command) 29

CTS hold timer (CTSHOLD command) 32

CTS line response timer (CTS command) 31

data interface baud rate (BAUD command) 29

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual I-7

DCE or CTS Key device behavior (DEVICE command) 32
frequency zone to skip (SKIP command) 41
hoptime (HOPTIME command) 34
network address (ADDR command) 29
owner’s message (OWM command) 37
owner’s name (OWN command) 37
radio mode (see MODE command) 36
received data handling mode (BUFF command) 30
received data timeout value (RXTOT command) 40
receiver test frequency (RX command) 39

testing mode (SETUP command) 40
SETUP command (enter testing and setup mode) 40
Setup Radio Test (SETUP) 40
Show Clock-Synchronization Master Network Address (SHOW SYNC) 41
SHOW command (display power output) 41
SHOW CON Command (show virtual connection status) 41
Show Measured RF Transmit Power (SHOW PWR) 41
SHOW SYNC Command 41
Show Virtual Connection S tatus Command (SHOW CON) 41
Site selection 6
SKIP command (set/display frequency zone to skip) 41
Skip Radio Operating Zones (SKIP) 41
SLEEP command (display/set radio’s sleep setting) 42
SLEEP command (transceiver sleep ON/OFF) 42
Sleep Mode 59
Spread spectrum, basic principles of 2
SREV Command 42
STAT command (list alarms) 43
Store-and-Forward (SAF) 4, 23, 27, 34, 40, 45, 52, 57
Store-and-Forward Services (SAF) Support Command 40
SWR (Standing Wave Ratio)

performance optimization 21
Synchronization qualifiers 46, 55
synchronization, check 8

T

Tables

accessories 5

alarm codes 47

antenna system gain vs. power output setting 13

DATA INTERFACE connector pin descriptions 70

LED status indicators 20, 46

troubleshooting 48
Tail-end link

Adding to Existing Network 3

cable wiring for, illustrated 19

illustrated 4

installation 18
Te chnical specifications 66–68
TEMP command (display internal temperature) 43

I-8 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

Temperature, display internal (TEMP command) 43
Terrain 7
Terrain and Signal Strength 7
Te st, on-the-air 7
Transceiver

connecting to data equipment 15, 22
default settings 34
mounting instructions/dimensions 14–15
performance optimization 20

sleep mode 59
Transceiver Sleep (SLEEP) 42
Troubleshooting 45–48

performing network-wide diagnostics 49

table 48
Turn Off Radio Transmitter Test Signal (DKEY) Command 33
Turn On Radio Transmitter Test Signal (KEY) Command 35

U

UNIT Command (unit address) 43
Upstream Repeat Transmission Count Command (RETRY) 38

X

XADDR (extended address command) 17, 27, 34, 35, 45, 55, 58
XADDR (extended address) Command 37
XPRI command (display/set extended address) 44
XRSSI command (sets min. RSSI level to maintain sync. w/non-primary extension

radio) 44

Z

ZONE CLEAR (clear zone statistics log) 44
ZONE DATA Command (read zone statistics log) 44
Zone, Clear Statistics Log (ZONE CLEAR) 44
Zone, Read Statistics Log (ZONE DATA) 44

MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. F MDS TransNET Ref. Manual I-9

I-10 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev . F

IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...

GE MDS products are designed for long life and trouble-free operation.
However, this equipment, as with all electronic equipment, may have an occa­sional component failure. The following information will assist you in the event
that servicing becomes necessary.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Technical assistance for GE MDS products is available from our Technical
Support Department during business hours (8:30 A.M.–6:00 P.M. Eastern
Time). When calling, please give the complete model number of the radio,
along with a description of the trouble/symptom(s) that you are experiencing.
In many cases, problems can be resolved over the telephone, without the need
for returning the unit to the factory. Please use one of the following means for
product assistance:

Phone: [phone] E-Mail: gemds.techsu [e-mail]
FAX: [phone] Web: www.gemds.com

FACTORY SERVICE

Component level repair of equipment is not recommended in the field. Many
components are installed using surface mount technology, which requires
specialized training and equipment for proper servicing. For this reason, the
equipment should be returned to the factory for any PC board repairs. The
factory is best equipped to diagnose, repai r and align your unit to its proper
operating specifications.

If return of the equipment is necessary, you will be issued a Service Request
Order (SRO) number. The SRO number will help expedite the repair so that the
equipment can be repaired and returned to you as quickly as possible. Please be
sure to include the SRO number on the outside of the shipping box, and on any
correspondence relating to the repair. No equipment will be accepted for repair
without an SRO number.

A statement should accompany the unit describing, in detail, the trouble
symptom(s), and a description of any associated equipment normally connected
to it. It is also important to include the name and telephone number of a person
in your organization who can be contacted if additional information is required.

Note: A backup copy of the product’s programming code should be retained (if
applicable), as units are normally returned from the factory in a default state.

The unit must be properly packed for return to the factory. The original shipping
container and packaging materials should be used whenever possible. All
factory returns should be addressed to:

GE MDS, LLC
Product Services Department
(SRO No. XXXX)
175 Science Parkway, Rochester, NY 14620 USA

When repairs have been completed, the equipment will be returned to you by
the same shipping method used to send it to the factory. Please specify if you
wish to make different shipping arrangements. To inquire about an in-process
repair, you may contact our Product Services Group using the telephone, Fax,
or E-mail information given above.

GE MDS, LLC

175 Science Parkway

Rochester, NY 14620

General Business: [phone]

FAX: [phone]
Web: www.gemds.com