GE MDS SD Series User manual

05-4847A01, Rev. B MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide 1
MDS SD Series
Quick Start Guide (Firmware 3.x)
The MDS SD Series transceiver (Figure 1) is a software-configu-
rable, industrial solution for use in wireless telemetry applications.
As of the publication date, two SD models are offered: 400 MHz
(SD4) or 900 MHz (SD9). In this guide, the term SD is used for
information common to all models of the radio.
The radio interfaces with a variety of data control equipment such
as remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers
(PLCs), flow computers, and similar devices. Data interface con-
nections may be made by both serial (RS-232/485) and limited
Ethernet protocols.
Invisibleplaceholder
Figure 1. MDS SD Data Transceiver
1.1 About This Guide
This guide covers SD transceivers operating in Packet Mode or
Transparent Mode. A more detailed Reference Manual is also
available (05-4846A01). SD manuals are available in printed or
electronic form. All manuals are available free of charge at
www.gemds.com.Invisibleplaceholder
1.1.1 x710 Mode—Different Manuals Required
The radio can be configured to emulate an MDS 4710 (400 MHz)
or 9710 (900 MHz) radio. (These radios are referred to as “x710”
here.) For x710 mode commands, consult these manuals:
•Start-Up Guide (05-4669A01)
•Reference Manual (05-4670A01)
There are three main requirements for installing the transceiver...
• Adequate and stable primary power
• An efficient and properly installed antenna system
• Correct interface connections between the transceiver and
the data device.
Figure 2 on Page 1 shows a typical installation of the radio.
NOTE: Retrofit Kits are available to ease installation at former
MDS x710 digital and analog sites. Consult the Refer-
ence Manual for details.
2.1 Installation Steps
In most cases, the steps given here are sufficient to install the
transceiver. Refer to the Reference Manual for additional details,
as required.
1. Mount the transceiver using the brackets supplied. Attach
the brackets to the bottom of the transceiver case (if not
already attached), using the four 6-32 x 1/4 inch (6 mm)
screws. Mounting bracket dimensions are shown in Figure 3.
If DIN Rail mounting brackets are to be used, consult the
Reference Manual.
NOTE: To prevent moisture from entering the radio, do not mount
the case with the cable connectors pointing up. Also,
dress all cables to prevent moisture from running along
the cables and into the radio.
CAUTION:Using screws longer than 1/4 inch (6 mm) to attach the
brackets to the radio may cause internal damage. Use
only the supplied screws.
Figure 2. Typical Installation
Figure 3. Mounting Bracket Dimensions
2. Install the antenna and feedline. The antenna used with the
radio must be designed to operate in the radio’s frequency
band, and be mounted in a location providing a clear path to
the associated station(s). At Remote sites, aim directional
antennas toward the Master Station. Low loss coaxial feedline
should be used and it should be kept as short as possible.
3. Connect the data equipment. Connection may be made
using Ethernet signaling, Serial protocols (RS-232/RS-485),
or both.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 INSTALLATION
ANTENNA
CONNECTOR (TNC)
SERIAL DATA
CONNECTORS (DB-9)
DC INPUT
POWER
LED INDICATOR
PANEL
ETHERNET
CONNECTOR (RJ-45)
COM1 used for radio management
POWER SUPPLY
10.5–16 VDC @ 2.5A
Negative Ground Only
TRANSCEIVER
LOW-LOSS FEEDLINE
ANTENNA SYSTEM
ETHERNET
SERIAL
Master Stations typically use
omni-directional antenna
DATA TELEMETRY DEVICE
OR HOST COMPUTER
OR:
7.25˝(16.99 cm)
2.75˝(7 cm)

2 MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide 05-4847A01, Rev. B
• If Ethernet is to be used, connect your data equipment to the
front panel Ethernet port next to the PWR connector.
• If serial is to be used, connect your data equipment to the
COM1 or COM2 port on the front panel. (Typically, COM1 is
used for management of the radio and COM2 is used for
connecting data equipment. Other arrangements are possi-
ble. Refer to the Reference Manual for details.) In all cases,
theradioishardwired asaDCEdevice. Astraight-thru cable
may be used for most applications.
NOTE: Do not connect the Ethernet port to a LAN with high
traffic. Excessive traffic will overload the port and
Ethernet communications will be temporarily disabled.
4. Connect primary power. Input power must be 10.5 to 16 Vdc
(SD4) or 10.0 to 30 Vdc (SD9) and capable of providing at
least 2.5 Amperes. A power connector with screw-terminals is
provided with the unit (see Figure 4). Strip the wire leads to
6 mm (1/4 inch) and insert them into the wire ports. Be sure to
observe proper polarity as shown below. Tighten the binding
screws securely.
Figure 4. DC Power Connector
CAUTION:The unit is designed for use with negative-ground
systems only. The power supply should be equipped with
overload protection (NEC Class 2 rating), to protect
against a short circuit between its output terminals and
the radio’s power connector.
5. Set the radio’s configuration. Connect a PC to the radio’s
COM1 port as shown in Figure 5. A straight-thru cable may be
used for this connection.
NOTE: Consult your System Administrator if you are unsure of
the settings required for your network.
Figure 5. Setup for PC Configuration
2.1.1 Software Configuration
There are two methods for communicating with the radio for con-
figuration and management: Serial (COM1 DB9 connector) and
Telnet (ETHERNET RJ-45 connector). Both present identical
menus, but the method of access is different for each. The focus
hereison Serial access,butTelnetmay beusedbyfollowingthese
additional points, which replace Steps 1 and 2 below:
• Connect to the radio with a PC that is on the same IP net-
work as the transceiver. Launch a Telnet program, and con-
nect to the radio using its programmed IP address.
• Thedefault IP addressis192.168.1.1.Ifyoudonotknowthe
IP address of the radio, log in with the serial configuration
steps below, and view the address on the Starting Informa-
tion screen.
1. With a PC connected to COM1, launch a terminal program,
such as HyperTerminal (included with most Windows®-based
PCs, except Vista) and set the following parameters: 8 bits,
no parity, one stop bit (8N1), flow control disabled, VT100
emulation. The radio’s COM1 port automatically determines
the connected baud rate (within the range of 1200–115200
bps).
2. Press the key followed by a series of
keypresses (1/2 second intervals) until the Login: prompt
appears.
3. At the prompt, enter the username. The default username is:
admin (lower case). Press .
At the next prompt, enter the password. The default password
is: admin (lower case). Press . (Before placing the
unit in final service, it is recommended that a new password
be set using the Security Configuration Menu.)
4. Upon login, the Starting Information Screen appears
(Figure 6). It shows basic read-only information about the
radio.
Figure 6. Starting Information Screen
(First screen displayed upon login)
5. Press Gto access the Main Menu (Figure 7). This is the gate-
way to all settable parameters of the radio.
Figure 7. Main Menu Screen
6. Select Radio Configuration from the Main Menu and then
select Basic Settings. The screen shown in Figure 8
appears.
Figure 8. Basic Settings Menu
PC Running Terminal Session
Transceiver
DB-9M to COM1 Port
ESCAPE
ENTER
ENTER
ENTER

05-4847A01, Rev. B MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide 3
7. Review the basic settings to determine if they are appropriate
for your system.The RX (receive) and TX (transmit) frequen-
cies must always be set/verified. To set the frequencies, press
the letter shown to the left of RX and TX, and enter the correct
frequencies in MHz (xxx.xxxxx). Press .
8. The factory default modem settings support 9600 bps trans-
mission in a 12.5 kHz bandwidth channel. Many other options
are available. These may be viewed by selecting Modem
Type and pressing the spacebar to cycle through the list.
When done with the steps above, return to the Main Menu and
review the other configuration options to determine if other
settings are required for your system.
2.2 Initial Checkout
In-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic.
The only operator actions required are to apply DC power and
observe the LEDS for proper indications. Table 1 summarizes the
radio’s LED functions.
2.2.1 LED Functions
NOTE: LED labeling may vary on early units. LED position and
functionality remains as described below.
Figure 9. LED Status Indicators
Table 1: Description of LED Status Indicators
NOTE: The Ethernet connector also has two embedded LEDs. A
flashing green indicates Ethernet data activity, and a
yellow indicates 100 Mbps operation has been achieved.
2.2.2 Antenna SWR Check
Before final operation begins, the antenna system’s standing wave
ratio (SWR) should be checked using a wattmeter suited to the fre-
quency of operation. High SWR (above 2:1) may indicate an
antenna or feedline problem, and should be corrected.
2.2.3 RSSI Check (for Remotes)
Using the Radio Performance menu, check the received signal
strength indication (RSSI) for adequate signal strength. The radio
must be receiving a signal from the associated Master Station
(LINK LED on or blinking). In general, signal levels stronger than
–80 dBm will provide very reliable communication and allow for a
degree of “fade margin.”
Optimize the RSSI at Remotes by slowly adjusting the direction of
thestation antenna.WatchtheRSSIindicationforseveralseconds
after making each adjustment so that the RSSI accurately reflects
anychange inthe linksignalstrength.WithRSSI, theless negative
the number, the stronger the incoming signal.
All radios in the network must meet the basic requirements listed
below for proper operation. Check these items first when trouble-
shooting a system problem:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• Secure connections (RF, data and power)
• A clear transmission path between Master and each Remote
• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system providing
adequate received signal strength.
• Proper programming of the transceiver’s parameters
• The correct interface between the transceiver and the con-
nected data equipment (correct cable wiring, proper data
format, timing, etc.)
3.1 LEDs
The radio’s LED indicator panel provides useful information when
troubleshooting a system problem. Refer to Table 1 for LED infor-
mation.
3.2 Event Codes
When an alarm condition exists, the transceiver creates a mes-
sage that can be read on the Statistics/Events Menu. While
viewing this menu, select Alarms/Events to see the current
alarms. Consult the Reference Manual for details.
3.2.1 Types of Alarms
Minor Alarms—report conditions that, under most circumstances
will not prevent transceiver operation. This includes out-of-toler-
ance conditions, baud rate mismatches, etc. The cause of these
alarms should be investigated and corrected to prevent system
failure.
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. Major
alarms may require factory repair. Contact your factory represen-
tative for assistance.
3.3 Built-In Spectrum Analyzer
A Spectrum Analyzer screen is available for viewing other radio
signals near the SD’s operating frequencies. Access to the ana-
lyzer is made through the Maintenance Tools Menu (Mainte-
nance/Tools>>Radio Test>>Spectrum). A submenu appears
where you can specify the center frequency and span frequency of
the spectrum scan. Start the analyzer function by selecting Spec-
trum from the menu.
The display creates a received signal strength indication (RSSI)
vs.frequencyplot forthe frequency and surroundingsignals.Refer
to the Reference Manual for detailed information.
4.1 COM1 Connections for PC Control
The COM1 DB-9 connector is used for PC management of the
radio. A straight-through cable is required that connects Pin 2
(RXD), Pin 3 (TXD), and Pin 5 (Ground). (See Figure 10.)
Figure 10. COM1 Wiring to Computer
LED Name Description
PWR • Continuous—Power applied, no problems detected.
• Rapid flash (5 times-per-second)—Alarm
indication.
LAN • Flashing—Ethernet data activity is detected.
• Off—Ethernet signals not detected, or excessive
traffic is present.
DATA1/DATA2 The DATA LEDs show data activity on the DB-9
serial payload port(s).
LINK When lit, indicates that a communication link exists
with the master station.
ENTER
3.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
4.0 COM1/COM2 REFERENCE
RXD
TXD
GND
2
3
5
RXD
TXD
GND
2
3
5
>
<DB-9 FEMALE
(COMPUTER)
DB-9 MALE
(RADIO SIDE)

GE MDS, LLC
175 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620
MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide General Business: [phone]
05-4847A01, Rev. B FAX: [phone]
September 2009 Web: www.gemds.com
4.2 COM2 Connections
The COM2 connector (Figure 11) is typically used to connect an
external DTE telemetry device to the radio, which supports the
RS-232 or RS-485 (balanced) format, depending on how the radio
is configured. The radio supports data rates of 300, 1200, 2400,
4800,9600,19200,38400, 57600,and115200bps(asynchronous
data only).
The COM2 connector mates with a standard DB-9 plug that is
available from many electronics parts distributors.
4.2.1 Pin Descriptions—RS-232 Mode
Table 2provides pindescriptionsfortheconnector whenoperating
in RS-232 mode. For RS-422/485, refer to the Reference Manual.
NOTE: The radio is hard-wired as a DCE device.
The chart below shows a top-level view of the transceiver’s menu-
system. For detailed menu descriptions, refer to the SD Reference
Manual.
Figure 11.COM2 Connector (DB-9F)
As viewed from outside the radio
Table 2: COM2 Pin Descriptions—RS-232
Pin
Number Input/ Output Pin Description
1OUTDCD (Data Carrier Detect/Link)—A low
indicates signal received.
2OUTRXD (Received Data)—Supplies received
data to the connected device.
5
96
1
3INTXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX
data from the connected device.
4INSleep Mode Input—Grounding this pin
turns off most circuits in a remote radio.
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” for details.)
5--Signal Ground—Connects to ground
(negative supply potential) on chassis.
6OUTAlarm Output (DSR)—An RS-232
high/space (+5.0 Vdc) on this pin 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
Reference Manual.)
7 IN Reserved.
8 OUT Reserved.
9 -- User I/O for special applications, not
normally used.
5.0 MENU OVERVIEW
Table 2: COM2 Pin Descriptions—RS-232 (Continued)
Pin
Number Input/ Output Pin Description
 PC Spacebar is used to make some menu selections.
MENU SYSTEM
Overview
Basic Settings
Advanced Settings
LBT Settings
Radio
Configuration
Device
Configuration
Serial
Configuration Maintenance/Tools
Security
Configuration
Config. Management
adio Test
Version
Local eprogram
emote Program
Ping
Linktest
emote Management
Authorization Codes
M IN MENU
Device Info
Device Settings
Multihost Settings
Packet Settings
Diagnostic Settings
Radio
Performance
NOTES
 Chart shows top-level view only. See specific menu for details.
 Not all menu items are user-configurable; some are read-only.
COM2 Settings
COM1 Settings Measured F Power
Signal to Noise
SSI
DC Voltage
Temperature
Ethernet
Configuration
IP Configuration
Bridge Configuration
IP Payload Config.
Statistics/Events
Alarms/Events
Alarm Signal Config.
Event Log
I/O Statistics
Ethernet Statistics
Telnet
Starting Info Screen
Login Passwords
Wireless Security
Device Security