Advantech Advantech Modem ADAM-4550 User manual

ADAM-4550
User’s Manual
Radio Modem Module
(RS-232/485 Interface)
Part no. 2000455001 3rd Edition Printed in Taiwan June 1999ADAM and the ADAM logo are trademarks of Advantech

2 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
Contents
1. Introduction ............................................. 4
1.1 Built-in Intelligence .......................... 4
1.2 Features .......................................... 4
1.3 Specifications ................................. 5
2. Installation .............................................. 6
2.1 Basic Configuration ........................ 6
2.2 Power Supply ................................. 6
2.3RS-485CommunicationWiring ....... 7
2.4 Software Configuration .................. 7
2.5 Configuring ADAM-4550................. 8
2.6 Uploading a New Version
of Firmware ................................... 11
2.7 Using the Diagnostics Functions .... 12
2.8 Antenna Installation ........................ 13
3. Using ADAM-4550 .................................. 16
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
4.10ReadModuleName ....................... 27
4.11 Uploading....................................... 27
4.12 Send Data to Remote .................... 28
4.13 Get Error Rate Statistics ............... 29
4.14 Set Channel Number ..................... 30
4.15 Get Current Channel Number ....... 30
Appendix A: External Antenna Options .... 32
Appendix B: External Antenna
Wiring Diagram ................... 34

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
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense. However, there is not a guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation.

4 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
1. Introduction
ADAM-4550isaneconomical,wirelessRS-232/
485 converter designed to interface any bidi-
rectional RS-485 device with a control center
host computer. The ADAM-4550 can be used
in data acquisition where data sensors are in-
accessible to the host computer due to wiring
difficulties or long distances that make wiring
impractical 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 nu-
merous data acquisition devices.
1.2 Features
•Built-in microprocessor
•Data transmission speeds up to 115.2 Kbps
•Built-in RS-485 line surge protection
•Software configurable address and baud
rate
•Easily mounted on DIN rails, panels or as a
piggyback unit.
•All communication setup information stored
onsystemEEPROM
•Automatically sets RS-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
•Transmission speed (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
nominal
•Radio transmission rate: 1 Mbps
•Power requirement: Unregulated (+10VDC
to +30VDC) with protection from power re-
versals
•Case: ABS with captive mounting hard-
ware
•Standard accessories: Nylon DIN-rail
mounting adapter, SECC panel mounting
bracket
•RS-232 interface connector: DB-9
(female)
•RS-485 interface connector: Plug-in
screw 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. effec-
tive range (under open site test with 2 dBi
omni antenna). Actual distance depends
on environmental 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-
configured at 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: {
Parity: none
Address: 00
DTE/DCE:auto
RF channel: 3
2.2 Power Supply
For ease of use in industrial environments,
ADAM modules are designed to accept indus-
try standard +24 VDC unregulated power. Mod-
ules are certified for operation with any power
supply source between +10 and +30 VDC. Pow-
er ripples must be limited to 5 V peak to peak,
while voltage must in all cases remain between
+10 and +30 VDC. All power supply specifica-
tions are referenced at the module connector.
Power cables should be selected according to
thenumberofmodulesconnected and thelength
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 seri-
ous 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 pow-
er lines:
+Vs ð(R) Red
GND ð(B) Black

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 7
2.3 RS-485 Communication Wiring
We recommend using shielded-pair cables
which comply with the EIA RS-485 standard to
reduce interference in an ADAM network. Only
one set of twisted-pair cables is required to
transmit both DATA and RTS signals. We ad-
vise that the following standard colors (as indi-
cated on the modules) be used for the commu-
nication lines:
DATA+ ð(Y) Yellow
DATA- ð(G) Green
DATA+ must be connected to V+ and DATA-
must be grounded if RS-485 is not used.
Note: When RS-485 connection is not in use, it
is highly recommended to connect DATA+ to
V+ and DATA- to ground instead of leaving them
floating.
2.4 Software Configuration
The ADAM-4550 comes with a setup disk that
contains software for the following:
•Baud rate configuration
•Address configuration
•Statistical RF error rate retrieval
•Firmware upload tool for firmware upgrades
Note :
1. To configure the ADAM-4550, first short the
INIT pin (pin 6) to ground, then power on to set
the device in configuration mode. The yellow
LED should blink at approximately 1-second
intervals to indicate the device is in the config-
uration mode.
2. ADAM-4550 will automatically set itself as a
DCE during configuration mode.

8 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
2.5 Configuring ADAM-4550
1. Insert the ADAM-4550 disk in drive A. Start
Microsoft Windows 95/98. Go to the Start
Menu and choose Run.
Type a:\ADAM4550 and pressENTER. The
ADAM Configuration and Diagnostics win-
dow should now open.
2. You must now set the host computer’s port
configuration before configuring your
ADAM-4550. To configure your host com-
munication port, select the Setting... menu
and choose Local. A dialog box will open.
Select the proper COM port that is con-
nected 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. TheyellowLED light should
blink slowly.
4. You must now search your unit for its cur-
rent settings. To do this, select the Set-
ting... menu and choose Get. Enter a start-
ing address into the dialog box or use the
default start address 0. Click the OK but-
ton. The configuration software will scan
the unit for the address by matching the
unit’s address with each address number
between the starting address and 255. If
the unit’s address is found, its ID address,
baud rate and delimiter settings will be dis-
played.
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 sec-
tion to get the new desired configurations.

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 9
Figure 1: Basic Connection Diagram
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, if it is configured as auto for
theDCE/DTEsetting.
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 RTS/CTS
4 DSR/DTR
6 DTR/DSR
5 GND
RF
Module
DATA+
DATA-
RS-485
RF
Module DATA+
DATA-
RS-485
RS-232 Connector
RS-232 ADAM-4550 ADAM-4550

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

ADAM-4550 User's Manual 11
Note: 1. The address FFh is used for non-
addressable modules. The address-
es for addressable modules are be-
tween 00h and FDh.
2. The ADAM-4550 can be configured
as either a MASTER type module or a
SLAVE type module. The MASTER
ADAM-4550 is the module connected
to the host PC. The SLAVE ADAM-
4550s are those connected to remote
RS-485 devices or other ADAM series
products. Run your configuration pro-
gram ADAM4550.EXE to set the unit to
the correct type.
6. Disconnect INIT* pin from the ground pin
after 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
scanning address dialog box will ap-
pear. Click OK in the box to start the
scanning process. Now the configura-
tion software will scan for ID address-
es between 0 and 255. The current
settings of the unit will be displayed
when the units address is found. Us-
ers can also change the time-out value
in the scanning dialog box to allow
more scanning time for the configura-
tion 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 yellow
LED light on ADAM-4550 now changes to a
steady glow. When uploading is complet-
ed, the yellow LED will turn off and blinks
again for reconfiguration. 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
dialog box will open. Enter the selected ADAM-
4550 unit ID address and the communication
port baud rate. Click the OKbutton. TheRFlink
quality indicator will be displayed:
Total Received Packets indicates the total
number 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.
Good Packets indicatesthenumberofreceived
goodpacketswithoutCRCerrorand 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
number of retransmitted packets sent out from
the selected ADAM-4550 unit due to poor link
quality (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 posi-
tioning.
Longer communication distances can be
achieved by using an antenna 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
antenna 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 -inmoBd21 lanoitcerid
Bd42 lanoitcerid mK01mK5mK2
Bd81
lanoitceridmK5mK5.2mK1
-inmoBd21
lanoitceridmK2mK1mK5.0

14 ADAM-4550 User's Manual
3. Using ADAM-4550
ConnectoneADAM-4550tothecontrollingPC’s
serial port with the RS-232 cable. Connect re-
mote ADAM-4550 units to remote data units
through the RS-485 bus.
Configure each ADAM-4550 unit by following
the 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, select the proper COM port and set the
baud 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-4550connectedtothecontrollingPC and
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
through RS-232 must be powered on
before 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
R
S
R
S
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 mod-
ule 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,AAisthehexadecimalunitIDaddress
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
actions are instigated by the host computer
when several devices attempt to send data at
the same 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) or a %(percentage sign), but the Data
Pass mode command uses one of eight special
characters. The delimiter character is followed
by a two-character address (hexadecimal) that
specifies the target module. Depending on the
command, an optional data string follows the
commandstring. Everycommandisterminated
by a (cr) carriage return. Command sets are
divided 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
)rc(1DCAA&rebmunlennahcsteS 1DotrebmunlennahctesotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR
)rc(1DAA&lennahcsdaeR rebmunlennahcnruterotAAsserddataeludomehtstseuqeR
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 mod-
ule. 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