Advantech Advantech Modem ADAM-4550 User manual

ADAM-4550
User’s Manual
Radio Modem Module
(RS-232/485 Interface)
Part no. 2000455000 2nd Edition Printed in Taiwan October 1997ADAM and the ADAM logo are trademarks of Advantech

2 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
Contents
1. Introduction.............................................. 3
1.1 Built-in Intelligence.......................... 3
1.2 Features .......................................... 3
1.3 Specifications.................................. 4
2. Installation .............................................. 5
2.1 Basic Configuration......................... 5
2.2 Power Supply .................................. 5
2.3 RS-485 Communication Wiring ...... 6
2.4 Software Configuration ................... 6
2.5 Configuring ADAM-4550 ................. 7
2.6 Uploading a New Version
of Firmware .................................... 11
2.7 Using the Diagnostics Functions .... 12
2.8 Antenna Installation ........................ 12
3. Using ADAM-4550................................... 14
3.1 A Test Sample ................................ 16
4. ADAM-4550 Command Set..................... 17
4.1 Set New Configuration .................... 20
4.2 Read Configuration ......................... 22
4.3 Write Identification .......................... 22
4.4 Read Identification .......................... 23
4.5 Set Delimiter Character .................. 23
4.6 Read Delimiter Character ............... 24
4.7 Set Data Gate ................................. 24
4.8 Read Data Gate Status................... 26
4.9 Read Firmware Version .................. 26
4.10 Read Module Name ...................... 27
4.11 Uploading ...................................... 27
4.12 Send Data to Remote ................... 28
4.13 Get Error Rate Statistics............... 29
Appendix A: External Antenna Options ..... 30
Appendix B: External Antenna
Wiring Diagram..................... 32

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 3
FCC Identification
MKZAZY4550MDM
FCC Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in an industrial / commercial installa-
tion. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio com-
munications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interfer-
ence in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense. How-
ever, there is not a guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

4 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
1. Introduction
ADAM-4550is an economical, wireless RS-232/
485 converter designed to interface any bidirec-
tional RS-485 device with a control center host
computer. TheADAM-4550 can be used in data
acquisition where data sensors are inaccessi-
ble to the host computer due to wiring difficul-
ties or long distances that make wiring impracti-
cal or impossible.
1.1 Built-in Intelligence
The ADAM-4550 is equipped with an on-board
microprocessor and a radio-frequency (RF)
module that can be used to interface one host
computer with multiple RS-485 networks. Each
RS-485 network can be used to support numer-
ous data acquisition devices.
1.2 Features
•Built-inmicroprocessor
•Data transmission speeds up to 115.2 Kbps
•Built-in RS-485 line surge protection
•Softwareconfigurableaddress andbaudrate
•Easily mounted on DIN rails, panels or as a
piggyback unit.
•All communication setup information stored
on system EEPROM
•AutomaticallysetsRS-232 port to DTE/DCE
and automatic RS-485 data flow control
•Can be used as point to point or point to
points communication
•Can be operated with address or without
address

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 5
1.3 Specifications
•Transmissionspeed(bps): 300,600,1200,
2400, 4800, 9600, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K,
115.2K (transmission speeds are software
configurable)
•Radio frequency : 2.442 GHz, Direct
Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS)
•Radio bandwidth : 22 MHz
•Radio transmission power: 100 mW nom-
inal
•Radio transmission rate: 1 Mbps
•Power requirement: Unregulated (+10VDC
to +30VDC) with protection from power re-
versals
•Case: ABS with captive mounting hardware
•Standard accessories: Nylon DIN-rail
mounting adapter, SECC panel mounting
bracket
•RS-232 interface connector: DB-9
(female)
•RS-485 interface connector: Plug-inscrew
type terminal [accepts AWG 1-#12 or 2-
#14~#22 (0.5 to 2.5 mm2) wires]
•Operating temperature: -10oto 70oC
•Power consumption : 4 W
•Communication distance: 550 ft. effective
range (under open site test with 2 dBi omni
antenna). Actual distance depends on en-
vironmental conditions, antenna type and
positioning.

6 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
2. Installation
2.1 Basic Configuration
Before installing the ADAM-4550 in an existing
network, the ADAM-4550 unit should be pre-
configured. Though all modules are initially pre-
configuredat the factory, it is recommended that
you check the baud rate settings.
Factory Default Settings:
Baud Rate: 9600 bps (both RS-232 and RS-485)
Delimiter: {
Address: 00
2.2 Power Supply
For ease of use in industrial environments,
ADAM modules are designed to accept industry
standard +24 VDC unregulated power. Modules
are certified for operation with any power sup-
ply source between +10 and +30 VDC. Power
ripplesmust be limited to5 V peak topeak, while
voltage must in all cases remain between +10
and +30 VDC. All power supply specifications are
referenced at the module connector.
Power cables should be selected according to
thenumberofmodulesconnectedandthelength
of the power lines. When using a network with
long cables, we advise the use of thicker wire to
limit the line voltage drop. In addition to serious
voltage drops, long voltage lines can also cause
interference with communication wires.
We advise that the following standard colors (as
indicated on the modules) be used for power
lines:
+Vs ð(R) Red
GND ð(B) Black

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 7
2.3 RS-485 Communication Wiring
Werecommendusingshielded-pair cableswhich
comply with the EIA RS-485 standard to reduce
interference in an ADAM network. Only one set
oftwisted-paircables is required totransmit both
DATA and RTS signals. We advise that the fol-
lowingstandardcolors (as indicated onthe mod-
ules) be used for the communication lines:
DATA+ð(Y) Yellow
DATA- ð(G) Green
2.4 Software Configuration
The ADAM-4550 comes with a setup disk that
contains software for the following:
•Baudrate configuration
•Addressconfiguration
•Statistical RF error rate retrieval
•Firmware upload tool for firmware upgrades
Note: 1. Before turning on the power and
configuring the ADAM-4550, make sure it is
connected to your host computer through an
RS-232 cable and that the host computer is
on. The ADAM-4550 will automatically detect
the cable and set itself as a DTE/DCE
according to the RS-232 port of the connected
host computer. If there is no RS-232 cable
connected to the host computer, the ADAM-
4550 will set itself as a DCE when you turn on
the power.
For RS-485 wireless transceiver applications,
the user can leave the RS-232 port opened.
The ADAM-4550 should set RS-232 as a DCE
after power is turned on.
2.ThepinINIT (pin 6)should be grounded while
you turn on the power of ADAM-4550 for config-
uration. For normal operation, just leave INIT
(pin 6) open while you turn the power on.

8 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
2.5 Configuring ADAM-4550
1. Insert the ADAM-4550 disk in drive A. Start
Microsoft Windows. From the Program
Manager, select the File menu and choose
Run. Type a:\ADAM4550 and press EN-
TER. The ADAM Configuration and Diag-
nostics window should now open.
2. You must now set the host computer’s port
configurationbeforeconfiguringyourADAM-
4550. To configure your host communica-
tion port, select the Setting... menu and
choose Local. A dialog box will open. Se-
lect the proper COM port that is connected
to the ADAM-4550 and set the baud rate to
9600. Click the OK button.
3. Connect your PC’s RS-232 serial port to
ADAM-4550’s RS-232 port. Connect the
INIT pin with the ADAM-4550’s ground pin.
Turn on the power. The unit is now in con-
figurationmode. ThegreenLEDlightshould
blink slowly.
4. You must now search your unit for its cur-
rent settings. To do this,select the Setting...
menu and choose Get. Enter a starting ad-
dress into the dialog box or use the default
start address 0. Click the OK button. The
configuration software will scan the unit for
the address by matching the unit’s address
witheachaddressnumber betweenthestart-
ing address and 255. If the unit’s address
is found, its ID address, baud rate and de-
limiter settings will be displayed.
5. You may now change the settings. To
change the configuration, select the Set-
ting... menu and choose Set. A dialog box
will open. Enter the new configuration set-
tings (new address, identification, new baud
rate, master/slave) and click the OK button.
Follow the procedure in the Search section
to get the new desired configurations.

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 9
Figure 1: Basic Connection Diagram
PC
2 RX
3 TX
7 RTS
8 CTS
4 DTR
6 DSR
5 GND
2 RX/TX
3 TX/RX
7 CTS/RTS
8 TRS/CTS
4 DSR/DTR
6 DTR/DSR
5 GND
RF
Module
DATA+
DATA-
RS-485
RF
Module DATA+
DATA-
RS-485
RS-232 Connector
DATA+
DATA-
RS-485
RS-232 ADAM-4550 ADAM-4550 ADAM-4011
Note: The RS-232 cable does not have to be
a null-modem cable. The ADAM-4550
will automatically detect and set itself
as a DCE.

10 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
Figure 2: Pin Assignment

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 11
Note: 1. The address between F8h and FFh
are used for non-addressable modules.
Theaddressesfor addressable modules
are between 00h and F7h.
2. The ADAM-4550 can be configured
as either a MASTER type module or a
SLAVE type module. The MASTER
ADAM-4550is the moduleconnected to
the host PC. The SLAVE ADAM-4550s
are those connected to remote RS-485
devices or other ADAM series products.
Run your configuration program
ADAM4550.EXE to set the unit to the
correct type.
6. Disconnect INIT pin from the ground pin af-
ter configuration is complete.
Note: During the Get or Set configuration pro-
cess, the configuration software will au-
tomatically search the unit for current
settings using a certain default ID ad-
dress. If the unit does not respond, a
scanningaddressdialogbox will appear.
Click OK in the box to start the scan-
ning process. Now the configuration
software will scan for ID addresses be-
tween 0 and 255. The current settings
of the unit will be displayed when the
units address is found. Users can also
change the time-out value in the scan-
ning dialog box to allow more scanning
time for the configuration software.
2.6 Uploading a New Version of Firmware
1. Follow the procedures in sections A.1 and
A.2 and start the Adam Configuration and
Diagnostic Program.
2. Select the Setting... menu and choose Lo-
cal. A dialog box will open. Select the
proper COM port connected to the ADAM-
4550 and set the baud rate to 9600. Click
the OK button.

12 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
3. Select the Upload menu. A dialog box will
open. Enter the file name where the firm-
ware to be uploaded is located. Click the
OK button to begin uploading. The green
LED light on ADAM-4550 now changes to a
steady glow. When uploading is complet-
ed, the green LED will turn off. Turn off your
ADAM-4550’spowerandthen turnthepower
onagain to complete theuploading process.
The ADAM-4550 unit is now ready to be
configured. Follow procedures in section A
to re-configure the unit.
2.7 Using the Diagnostics Functions
Start the ADAM Configuration and Diagnostic
Program. Select the Diagnostics menu. A di-
alog box will open. Enter the selected ADAM-
4550 unit ID address and the communication
port baud rate. Click the OK button. The RF
link quality indicator will be displayed:
TotalReceived Packets indicatesthetotalnum-
ber of packets received by the selected ADAM-
4550 unit.
CRC Error indicates the number of received
packets with the CRC checking error.
Check Sum indicates the number of received
packets with the Check Sum error.
Transmit acknowledged indicates the total
number of acknowledged packets received by
the selected ADAM-4550 unit from the remote
ADAM-4550 unit.
Transmit retransmitted indicates the total num-
ber of retransmitted packets sent out from the
selected ADAM-4550 unit due to poor link qual-
ity (i.e. no acknowledgment received).

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 13
2.8 Antenna Installation
Indoor communication distance is about 300 to
550 ft. using a standard 2 dB antenna. Howev-
er, actual distance depends on environmental
conditions as well as antenna type and position-
ing.
Longer communication distances can be
achievedbyusinganantenna with a higher gain.
A table of communication ranges as a function
of differing combinations of antennas (at the
source and receiving ends) is displayed below.
Note : 1. While using directional antennas, care
should be taken to install and adjust the anten-
nas direction according to the instructions of
the antenna’s manufacturer. Please see the
example specification for an external 24 dBi an-
tenna at appendix A.
2. A user’s license may be required to use a
directional antenna. Please consult your local
authority for local regulations.
3. We strongly recommend that you install
ADAM-4550 as near as possible to its antenna.
Where the antenna has to be located at a dis-
tance from the ADAM, special RF cable is re-
quired. Please see the example cable connec-
tion arrangement in appendix B.
4. Omnidirectional antennas should be used
when the ADAM-4550 communicates with more
than one other ADAM-4550 unit located in dif-
ferent directions.
annetnA taniaG dnerehtie Bd42 lanoitcerid Bd81 lanoitcerid -inmoBd11 lanoitcerid
Bd42 lanoitcerid mK01mK5mK2
Bd81
lanoitceridmK5mK5.2mK1
-inmoBd11
lanoitceridmK2mK1mK5.0

14 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
3. Using ADAM-4550
Connectone ADAM-4550 to thecontrolling PC’s
serial port with the RS-232 cable. Connect re-
mote ADAM-4550 units to remote data units
through the RS-485 bus.
ConfigureeachADAM-4550unitbyfollowingthe
procedures in section A.
Start the ADAM Configuration and Diagnostic
Program on the controller PC. Select the Set-
ting... menu and choose Local. In the dialog
box,selecttheproperCOMport and set thebaud
rate to the one configured for the ADAM-4550.
Make sure all ADAM-4550 units are powered
off. From the ADAM Configuration and Diag-
nostic Program, select the Connections menu
and choose Connect. Turn on power to the
ADAM-4550connectedtothecontrollingPCand
the green LED should blink slowly. Turn on the
power to the remote ADAM-4550 units one by
one. The green LED on the ADAM-4550 that is
connected to the controlling PC, as well as the
green LEDs on the remote ADAM-4550 units
should now be in a rapid blinking mode. This
indicates that the RF links between the control-
ling unit and all the remote units have been es-
tablished.
Note: It is important that during the initial set-
up, the ADAM-4550 unit connected to
the controlling PC must be powered up
before the other remote ADAM-4550
units are powered up. Moreover, any
devices connected to an ADAM-4550
throughRS-232mustbepoweredonbe-
fore the ADAM-4550 is powered on.
This will allow the ADAM-4550 to auto-
matically detect the connected device
and set itself into proper DCE or DTE
modes.

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 15
Figure 3: Test Sample
PC
RS-232
MASTER
ADAM-4550
115.2
kbps
ADAM-4550
SLAVE
ADAM-4550
SLAVE
ADAM-4550-00
ADAM-4550-01
ADAM-4550-S
aa
AA
RS-485 DEVICES
RS-485 DEVICES
115.2 kbps
115.2 kbps
Type { aaDDD....(cr)
Type { AADDD....(cr)

16 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
3.1 A Test Sample
1. Follow procedures in section C to install one
ADAM-4550 unit as the MASTER module
for a controlling PC and two ADAM-4550s
as SLAVEs for the remote devices (see Fig.
3).
2. Start the ADAM Configuration and Diagnos-
tic Program on the controlling PC. Select
Generate-Traffic menu and choose Send
One Packet. In the window area type in
{AADDD...... (cr)} where {is the delimiter
selected when configuring the ADAM-4550
units,AA isthe hexadecimal unit IDaddress
and DDD...... is the data. The transmitted
data DDD...... should be displayed on the
PC monitor connected to the remote
ADAM-4550.

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 17
4. ADAM-4550 Command Set
In order to avoid communication conflicts, all
actionsareinstigatedbythehostcomputerwhen
severaldevicesattempttosenddataatthesame
time . The basic form is a command/response
protocol with the host initiating the sequence.
The host issues a command to a module with a
specified address and waits a specific amount
of time for the module to respond. If no re-
sponse is received, a time-out command aborts
the sequence and returns control to the host.
Syntax
[delimitercharacter][address][command] [data]
[carriage return]
Every command begins with a delimiter charac-
ter. Most of the commands can use a $ (dollar
sign)ora%(percentagesign),butthe DataPass
mode command uses one of eight special char-
acters. The delimiter character is followed by a
two-character address (hexadecimal) that spec-
ifies the target module. Depending on the com-
mand, an optional data string follows the com-
mand string. Every command is terminated by
a (cr) carriage return. Command sets are divid-
ed into two categories: configuration mode
commands and data pass mode commands:

18 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
xatnySdnammoCemaNdnammoCnoitpircseD
)rc(PPFFCCTTNNAA%noitarugifnocwensteS AAeludomtaetarduab,sserddawentesotstseuqeR
)rc(2AA$noitarugifnocsdaeR AAsserddaeludommorfnoitarugifnoctnerructegotstseuqeR
)rc()gnirtsDI(6AA$noitacifitnedisetirW AAsserddataeludomot)setyb61ot0(atadnoitacifitnediehtsteS
)rc(7AA$noitacifitnedisdaeR AAsserddataeludomehtmorfatadnoitacifitnediehtsdaeR
)rc(DCAA$retimiledehtsteS ataDrof)"|","~","}","{","^","]","[",":"(retcarahcretimiledehtsteS
sdnammocedomssaP
)rc(DAA$retimiledehtsdaeR AAsserddataeludomehtmorfretcarahcretimiledsdaeR
)rc(FAA$noisreverawmrifsdaeRrebmunnoisreverawmrifehtsdaeR
)rc(MAA$emaneludomsdaeReludomehtfoemanledomehtsdaeR
)rc(LAA$gnidaolpustratS AAsserddataeludomehtoterawmrifwenfognidaolpustratS
)rc(2D1DAAA&etaGataDsteS
dnammoc ro)1(nepOotetaGataDtesotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR )0(esolC
)rc(BAA&sutatSetaGataDsdaeR sutatsetaGataDnruterotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR
Configuration Mode Commands

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 19
xatnySdnammoCxatnySdnammoCxatnySdnammoCxatnySdnammoCxatnySdnammoCemaNdnammoCemaNdnammoCemaNdnammoCemaNdnammoCemaNdnammoCnoitpircseDnoitpircseDnoitpircseDnoitpircseDnoitpircseD
)rc(DDAA{etomerotatadsdneS AAsserddataeludometomerehthguorhtDDgnirtsatadsdneS
)rc(QAA&scitsitatsetarrorresteG AAsserddataeludomehtmorfscitsitatsetarrorreFRsteG
)rc(2D1DAAA&etaGataDsteS
dnammoc ro)1(nepOotetaGataDtesotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR )0(esolC
)rc(BAA&sutatSetaGataDsdaeR sutatsetaGataDnruterotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR
Data Pass Mode Commands
Note: All commands should be issued in upper case letters.

20 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
Command Descriptions
4.1 Set New Configuration
Description Requests to set new baud rate,
new address… for module.
Syntax %AANNTTCCFFPP(cr)
AA: module address ( 2 char-
acters hexadecimal )
NN: new module address
TT: set to 0x40(H)
CC: High 4 bits represents RS-
232 baud rate code for module.
Low 4 bits represents RS-485
baud rate code for module.
Currently, RS-232 and RS-485
ports have the same baud rate.
Baud rate code are listed below:
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
RS-232 RS-485
Code Baud rate
01 300 bps
02 600 bps
03 1200 bps
04 2400 bps
05 4800 bps
06 9600 bps
07 19200 bps
08 38400 bps
09 57600 bps
0A 115200 bps