MDS 4790 Series Original operating instructions

Installation & Operation Guide
MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E
AUGUST 2005
400 MHz/900 MHz
Multiple Address System
Master Station Radio
MDS 4790/9790 Series
(Including MDS 4790A/C/E/S, MDS 9790A)

QUICK START GUIDE
1. Install and connect the antenna system to the radio (page 8).
• Use an appropriate antenna aimed at the associated station.
• Use low-loss feedline suited for 400/900 MHz.Keep the feedline as short as possible.
2. Connect the backup battery (page 15).
3. Connect the host computer to the DATA connector on the rear panel (page 22).
4. Verify proper input voltage level and connect power to the radio.
Set the power switch(es) to ON.
5. Observe front panel indicators for proper operation.
Invisible place holder
ACTIVE (green)—This transceiver board (A or B) is the selected unit.
STBY (yellow)—This transceiver board (A or B) is the standby unit (redundant version only).
ALARM (red)—General fault not covered by the other alarm categories (RX ALR, TX ALR, I/O ALR).
RX ALR (red)—Difficulty receiving.May be due to an antenna problem, receiver fault, or other
condition causing a low received signal level.
TX ALR (red)—Fault with the transmit circuitry.
I/O ALR (red)—The data rate or format of data at the data interface connector is incompatible with the
radio settings.
A
B
ACTIVE STBY ALARM RX ALR TX ALR I/O ALR
ACTIVE STBY ALARM RX ALR TX ALR I/O ALR

MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................1
2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION.....................................................................1
2.1 Network-Wide Diagnostics ...............................................................2
2.2 Redundant versus Non-redundant Operation ..................................2
2.3 Applications ......................................................................................3
Basic MAS Master Station Operation ...............................................3
Repeater and Polling Remote Operation..........................................3
2.4 Features ...........................................................................................4
2.5 Accessories ......................................................................................5
2.6 Model Number Codes ......................................................................6
3.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING....................................................................6
3.1 General Requirements .....................................................................6
Site Selection....................................................................................7
A Word About Interference................................................................8
3.2 Antenna and Feedline Selection ......................................................8
Antenna System................................................................................8
Feedline Selection ............................................................................9
4.0 INSTALLATION PROCEDURES...........................................................10
4.1 Unpacking and Inspection ..............................................................10
4.2 Mounting the Radio ........................................................................11
Rack Mounting................................................................................11
Tabletop Mounting...........................................................................11
Remote Front Panel Mounting—Optional Configuration.................12
4.3 Primary Power ................................................................................13
AC-Powered Units...........................................................................14
DC-Powered Units ..........................................................................14
4.4 Backup Battery ...............................................................................15
Location of Battery Backup Switch.................................................15
Low-Voltage Disconnect Feature....................................................16
Battery Reset Switch (SW1/LVD PCB)...........................................16
4.5 Antenna Installation ........................................................................16
Feedline Installation........................................................................17
4.6 Interface Wiring Connections .........................................................17
TX, Antenna and RX Coaxial Connectors (Type-N)........................18
Ground Connection.........................................................................20
Diagnostics Connector—J1 ............................................................21
4-Wire Audio Connector—J2..........................................................21
Data Interface Connector—J3 ........................................................22

ii MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E
Orderwire Connector—J9...............................................................23
Alarm Contacts—J10......................................................................23
4.7 Post Installation Checks .................................................................24
5.0 START-UP AND OPERATION...............................................................24
5.1 Initial Startup ..................................................................................24
Normal Indications..........................................................................24
Maximizing RSSI.............................................................................24
Coordinating Activities by Orderwire...............................................25
5.2 Front Panel Indicators ....................................................................25
LED Indicators ................................................................................26
Front Panel Display.........................................................................27
6.0 DIAGNOSTICS AND CONTROL ..........................................................28
6.1 PC Connection ...............................................................................28
6.2 PC Command Summaries .............................................................30
Commands and Command Parameters..........................................31
6.3 Detailed Command Descriptions ...................................................35
ALARM............................................................................................35
AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]...................................................37
ASENSE [HI/LO].............................................................................38
BATT(ery) [ON/OFF].......................................................................38
BAUD [xxxxx abc] ...........................................................................38
BUFF [ON/OFF]..............................................................................39
CKEY [ON/OFF]..............................................................................40
CTS [0-255].....................................................................................40
DATAKEY [ON/OFF]........................................................................40
DATE [mmm dd yyyy]......................................................................41
DKEY..............................................................................................41
DLINK [ON/OFF/xxxx].....................................................................41
DMGAP [xx]....................................................................................42
DTYPE [NODE/ROOT/GATE/PEER]..............................................42
EMP [ON/OFF]................................................................................42
HREV..............................................................................................43
INIT.................................................................................................43
KEY.................................................................................................44
LOG [CLR]......................................................................................44
MADDR [NONE, 1–255] .................................................................44
MODEL...........................................................................................45
MODEM [NONE/4800/9600/19200/DEFAULT]...............................45
NMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]...................................................45
OPT.................................................................................................46
OWM [xxxxx]...................................................................................46
OWN [xxxxx]...................................................................................46
PTT [0-255].....................................................................................47
PWR [20–37]...................................................................................47
RADIO [AUTO/A/B].........................................................................47
REPEATER [ON/OFF] ....................................................................48
RSSI, RSSI!....................................................................................48

MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide iii
RTU [ON/OFF/0-80]........................................................................48
RX [xxx]...........................................................................................49
RXLEVEL [–20 to +3]......................................................................49
RXMUTE [ON/OFF/Time in msec]..................................................49
RXPAD [ON/OFF] ...........................................................................50
RXTOT [NONE, 1-1440] .................................................................50
SCD [0-255]....................................................................................50
SER.................................................................................................50
SHOW [DC/PWR/CURRENT/RADIO]............................................51
SNR, SNR!......................................................................................51
SREV..............................................................................................52
STANDBY [ON/OFF].......................................................................52
STAT................................................................................................52
TEMP..............................................................................................53
TIME [hh:mm:ss].............................................................................54
TOT [ON/OFF, 1-255]......................................................................54
TX [xxxx].........................................................................................54
TXGAIN [ON/OFF]..........................................................................55
TXLEVEL [–20 to +3, AUTO] ..........................................................55
UNIT [10000–65000].......................................................................55
6.4 Configuration and Programming using the Front Panel .................56
Programming and Control Buttons..................................................58
NavigatingThrough the Front Panel Screens.................................58
Switching the Front Panel Display to Configuration Mode..............59
Use of Control Buttons in Configuration Mode................................59
Making changes to radio functions .................................................60
6.5 Screen Descriptions .......................................................................60
Group 1—Startup Screen and Menu Directory (page 64) ..............60
Group 2—Configuration Screens (Page 64)...................................60
Group 4—Event Log (Page 75).......................................................61
7.0 LOCAL & NETWORK-WIDE PROBLEM SOLVING..............................75
7.1 Local Problem-Solving ...................................................................76
Front Panel LEDs............................................................................76
Chassis-Mounted LEDs..................................................................77
Problem Solving Using a Connected PC........................................78
Problem Solving Using the Front Panel Display..............................78
System Bench Testing Set-up.........................................................79
7.2 Performing Network-Wide Radio Diagnostics ................................80
8.0 REPLACING ASSEMBLIES..................................................................82
8.1 Transceiver Board and Power Supply Assemblies .........................82
8.2 Installation & Removal of Backup Battery
(P/N 28-1575Axx) ...................................................................................83
8.3 Front Panel .....................................................................................84
8.4 Operating Frequency Change Considerations ...............................85
MDS 4790—400 MHz Notch-Type Duplexers.................................86
MDS 9790—Bandpass-Type Duplexers..........................................86
MDS 4790/9790 Simplex Radios—With Antenna Switch Modules.87

iv MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E
MDS 4790/970—Front End Helical Coil Alignment.........................87
8.5 Testing and Removing an Internal Duplexer ...................................87
Testing.............................................................................................87
Removing the Internal Duplexer......................................................88
8.6 Testing and Removing the Antenna Switch Module .......................89
Testing.............................................................................................89
Removing the Antenna Switch........................................................90
8.7 Cooling Fan Maintenance .............................................................91
9.0 RADIO SOFTWARE UPGRADES ........................................................91
9.1 Obtaining New Code ......................................................................91
9.2 Preparing for Download .................................................................92
9.3 Downloading New Code—Procedure ............................................92
10.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE.................................................................93
10.1 Technical Specifications ...............................................................93
10.2 RF Propagation Planning .............................................................95
Fresnel Zone Clearance..................................................................96
Earth Curvature ..............................................................................97
Fade Margins..................................................................................97
Calculating Path Loss .....................................................................98
10.3 Formulas for System Planning .....................................................98
Free Space Path Loss.....................................................................98
Fresnel Zone Boundary ..................................................................98
Theoretical Signal Strength.............................................................98
Probability of System Fading ..........................................................99
10.4 dBm-Volts-Watts Conversion Chart ............................................100
Copyright Notice
This Installation and Operation Guide and all software described herein
are protected by copyright: 2005 Microwave Data Systems Inc. All
rights reserved.
Microwave Data Systems Inc. reserves its right to correct any errors and
omissions in this publication.
Operational Safety Notices
The radio equipment described in this guide uses radio frequency trans-
mitters. Although the power level is low, the concentrated energy from
a directional antenna may pose a health hazard. Do not allow people to
come in close proximity to the front of the antenna when the transmitter
is operating.
This manual is intended to guide a professional installer to install,
operate and perform basic system maintenance on the described radio.
RF Exposure

MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide v
ISO 9001 Registration
Microwave Data Systems adheres to this internationally-accepted
quality system standard.
Quality Policy Statement
We, the employees of Microwave Data Systems, are committed to
achieving total customer satisfaction in everything we do.
Total Customer Satisfaction in:
• Conception, design, manufacture and marketing of our products.
• Services and support we provide to our internal and external
customers.
Total Customer Satisfaction Achieved Through:
• Processes that are well documented and minimize variations.
•Partnering with suppliers who are committed to providing quality
and service.
• Measuring our performance against customer expectations and
industry leaders.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and employee
involvement.
Revision Notice
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 addi-
tional questions or need an exact specification for a product, please con-
tactour CustomerService Team usingthe informationat the backof this
guide. In addition, manual updates can often be found on our Web site
at www.microwavedata.com.
Warning—400 MHz Distress Beacons
In the U.S.A., the 406 to 406.1 MHz band is reserved for use by distress
beacons. Since the MDS 4790 Series radio is capable of transmitting in
this band, take precautions to prevent the radio from transmitting
between 406 to 406.1 MHz.

vi MDS 4790/9790 Series™ I/O Guide MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E
ESD Notice
To prevent malfunction or damage to this radio, which may be caused
by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), the radio should be properly
groundedby connection totheground stud ontherear panel. Inaddition,
the installer or operator should follow proper ESD precautions, such as
touching a grounded bare metal object to dissipate body charge, prior to
adjusting front panel controls or connecting or disconnecting cables on
the front or rear panels.
Environmental Information
The equipment that you purchased has required the extraction and use
of natural resources for its production. Improper disposal may contami-
nate the environment and present a health risk due to hazardous sub-
stances contained within. To avoid dissemination of these substances
into our environment, and to diminish 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 MDS or your supplier for
more information on the proper disposal of this equipment.

MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E MDS 4790/9790 Series I/O Guide 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This guide presents installation and operating instructions for the
MDS 4790 and MDS 9790 Series master station. It begins with an
overall description of radio features and is followed by the steps
required to install the unit and place it into normal operation.
Additionally, the guide contains troubleshooting tips for resolving
system difficulties that may be encountered. After you install the radio,
keep this guide near the radio for future reference.
2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The master station (Figure 1) is a full-duplex data telemetry radio suit-
able for use in a Multiple Address System (MAS) and Supervisory Con-
trol and Data Acquisition (SCADA) applications. The radio uses
microprocessorcontrol andDigital SignalProcessing (DSP) technology
to provide highly reliable communications even under adverse condi-
tions.
The MDS 4790 is intended to be used in systems with compatible
MDS 4710 Series remote radios; it operates in the 400 MHz frequency
band (380 to 512 MHz for A and C models; 400 to 480 for E models).
The MDS 4790S uses an over-the-air data rate of 9600 bps.
The MDS 9790 is used with compatible MDS 9710 Series remote
radios, and it operates between 800 and 960 MHz. Radios are available
in either a redundant configuration or a non-redundant configuration.
Refer to Section 2.2, Redundant versus Non-redundant Operation ,
beginning on Page 2 for further description.
Invisible place holder
Figure 1. MDS 4790/9790 Series Master Station
ENTER
ESCAPE
ACTIVE
ACTIVE
STBY ALARM RX ALR TX ALR
STBY ALARM RX ALR TX ALR LINE
LINE

2 MDS 4790/9790 Series I/O Guide MDS 05-3438A01, Rev. E
All assemblies, including the duplexer and power supply, are contained
in the radio’s compact (2RU high) enclosure. The radio’s compact size
allows it to fit into most existing systems, in either tabletop or rack
mounting arrangements. Connectors are provided on the rear panel for
easy connection of power, antenna, data, alarm and diagnostic func-
tions.
2.1 Network-Wide Diagnostics
Newer MDS remote and master station radios, including the
MDS 4790/9790, Series offer network-wide diagnostics capability. Net-
work-wide diagnostics communications is a modern, packetized mode
that has several advantages over DTMF diagnostics communications
(used by older MDS radios):
• Diagnostic data can be gathered over a large radio network
without disrupting system communications flow.
• When required, diagnostics communications speed can be
increased by actively collecting diagnostic data.
• Diagnostic data for each radio in the network can be accessed
from any radio diagnostics port in the network.
• Certain messages can be broadcast to all radios in the system
simultaneously.
The MDS 4790/9790 Series master station can be used to poll remote
radios in its radio system for diagnostic data. For more information on
the implementation of network-wide diagnostics, see the MDS Network
Handbook (P/N 05-3467A01).
2.2 Redundant versus Non-redundant Operation
A redundant configuration means that the master station has two com-
pletetransceiver boardsand power suppliesinstalled inthe enclosure. In
the event of a failure in the primary equipment, the controlling logic
causes a switch-over to the stand-by unit. The stand-by transceiver
board is constantly operating and its operational readiness is monitored.
However, the power amplifier in the stand-by board is not operating
when it is in stand-by mode.
In a non-redundant configuration, there is only one transceiver board
installed in the “A” slot of the enclosure, and back-up transceiver board
operation is not possible.
Transceiver boards may be moved from one master station to another,
or an additional transceiver board may be added to a non-redundant
master station. You do not need to specify redundant or non-redundant
operation, or select the active transceiver board. Installing or replacing