MDS iNET 900 Series User manual

Installation Guide
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
Wireless IP/Ethernet Transceiver
MDS 05-2873A01, REV. D3
DECEMBER 2001
MDS
i
NET 900
™

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. D3 Installation Guide 1
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS MANUAL............................................................4
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION......................................................4
INSTALLATION PLANNING.....................................................5
INSTALLATION........................................................................6
Step 1—Mount the Transceiver....................................................6
Step 2—Install the Antenna.........................................................7
Step 3—Measure & Install Primary Power...................................7
Step 4—Review the Radio’s Configuration..................................8
Step 5—Connect the Data Equipment.........................................9
Step 6—Check for Normal Operation ........................................10
Performance Optimization..........................................................10
TROUBLESHOOTING...........................................................11
iNET SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................13
IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY... ..................................................14
INSTALLATION REFERENCE CHART ............. (Center Insert)
Copyright Notice
This publication is protected by U.S. copyright law. Copyright 2001, Micro-
wave Data Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Serviceability of this Manual
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 Customer Service Team using the information at the
back of this guide. Microwave Data Systems Incorporated reserves its right to correct
any errors and omissions. Updated information may also be available on our Web site
at www.microwavedata.com.

2Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev.D3
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
Operational Safety Notices
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 two meters (6 feet) to
the antenna when the transmitter is operating.
This manual is intended to guide a professional installer in installing, oper-
ating and performing basic system maintenance on the described equipment.
FM/UL/CSA Notice
MDS i Net 900 When Approved
Thisproductisavailable foruse inClass I,Division 2,Groups A,B, C & DHazardous
Locations. Such locations are defined in Article 500 of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) publication NFPA 70, otherwise known as the National Elec-
trical Code.
The transceiver has been recognized for use in these hazardous locations by three
independent agencies —Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual Research
Corporation (FMRC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The UL certi-
fication for the transceiver is as a Recognized Component for use in these hazardous
locations, in accordance with UL Standard 1604. The FMRC Approval is in accor-
dance with FMRC Standard 3611. The CSA Certification is in accordance with CSA
STD C22.2 No. 213-M1987.
FM/UL/CSA Conditions of Approval
MDS i Net 900 When Approved
The transceiver is not acceptable as a stand-alone unit for use in the hazardous loca-
tions 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 antenna feedline, DC power cable and interface cable must be routed
through conduit in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
3. Installation, operation and maintenance of the transceiver should be in accor-
dance with the transceiver's installation manual, and the National Electrical
Code.
4. Tampering or replacement with non-factory components may adversely affect the
safe use of the transceiver in hazardous locations, and may void the approval.
RF Exposure

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. D3 Installation Guide 3
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
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.
1
Z?
FCC Notice, U.S.A.
MDS i Net 900 When Approved
The MDS iNet 900 transceivers comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful inter-
ference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interfer-
ence 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 Microwave Data Systems may void the user’s authority to operate
this device.
Furthermore, this device is indented to be used only when installed in accordance with
the instructions outlined in this manual. Failure to comply with these instructions may
also void the user’s authority to operate this device.
FCC Information
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A dig-
ital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in
a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio fre-
quency 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.
1. This seem like this note should be a DANGER classification if
there is a potential for an explosion. Please verify.
EXPLOSION
HAZARD!

4Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev.D3
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
ABOUTTHIS MANUAL
This guide presents installation and initial operating instructions for
the MDS iNET 900™ transceiver. Following installation, we suggest
keeping this guide near the equipment for future reference.
Thescope of thismanual islimited to the safe andeffective installation
of the unit in typical office or non-hazardous industrial settings. Users
who require optimization of the equipment’s capabilities and oper-
ating range should read the MDS iNET 900 Network Administrator’s
Manual , P/N 05-xxxxA01. This manual provides more in-depth infor-
mation on antenna selection and optimization, and extensive coverage
on user-controllable parameters and diagnostic tools.
Many of the essential installation information is contained on the
Installation Reference Chart found at the center of this manual.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The MDS iNET 900 transceiver (shown on the cover) is a data radio
transceiver designed for to support wireless data networks.
The MDS iNET 900 transceiver is designed to provide network man-
agerswitha easy-to-install wirelesslocal area network(LAN)services
with plug-and-play hardware. The unit can be reconfigured for any
one of three standard operating arrangements; some require the use of
electronickeys (alphanumeric code) purchased fromMDS. Themodel
descriptions reflect their operating mode capabilities. The core data
interface services are 1. Ethernet, 2. Serial, and 3. Serial and Ethernet.
(See Table 1 on page 5 for a summary of core interface services.)
Three model configurations are available; they are:
1. Ethernet Bridge—Supports Ethernet traffic only
2. Serial gateway—Supports serial traffic only
(Encrypted over IP protocol)
3. Access Point/Dual Gateway—Supports Ethernet and serial data
simultaneously

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. D3 Installation Guide 5
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
The MDS iNET 900 transceivers serve as either an “Access Point” or
“Remote Gateway”. An Access Point is a wireless hub that provides
connectivity into a wired Ethernet LAN/WAN. From a radio perspec-
tive, an Access Point also serves as the radio network’s “master sta-
tion” providing synchronization signaling for associated iNET 900
Remote Gateway radios.
INSTALLATION PLANNING
Thissectionprovides tipsfor selecting anappropriate site, choosingan
antenna system, and reducing the chance of harmful interference.
General Requirements
There are three main requirements for installing the radio—adequate
and stable primary power, a good antenna system, and the correct
interface between the transceiver and the data device. The center
Installation Reference Chart shows a typical Remote Gateway instal-
lation.
Table 1. i NET 900 Models and Data Interface Services
Model Oper. Mode LAN Data
(IP/Ethernet) COM1 Data COM1 MGTSys.
Access
COM2
Data
Ethernet
Bridge
1
Remote
Gateway Yes No Yes No
Serial
1
Remote
Gateway No Yes Yes Yes
Dual
Gateway
2
Remote
Gateway &
Access
Point
Yes Yes Yes Yes
NOTES
1. Firmware key required to convert to alternate operating modes:
Remote Serial/LAN Gateway, Ethernet Bridge, or Access Point Oper-
ation.
2. Default: Remote Serial/LAN Gateway. Able to be converted to Access
Point without firmware key

6Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev.D3
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
Access Point stations are similar, but typically they use an omni-direc-
tional antenna and a Local-Area Network (LAN) or a Wide-Area Net-
work connected to the LAN port. The Access Point iNET radio
provides a connection to the wired network for devices attached to the
Remote Gateways.
Antennas are a vital link in the system; they must be chosen and
installed correctly. The MDS iNET 900 Network Manager’s Manual
provides details on choosing a site and making antenna selections
INSTALLATION
A typical transceiver product shipment consists of an iNET 900 trans-
ceiver and a manual. Check the contents against the packing list
attached to the outside of the shipping box.
Beloware the basic steps for installing a i NET 900transceiver. Should
further information be required, see “IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...”
on page 14 of this manual for information on contacting the factory.
You will also find support information at the Microwave Data System
Web site at www.MicrowaveData.com on the Internet.
NOTE:
It is recommended that the Access Point station be installed
first. In this way, it will be possible to quickly check the
operation of each associated Remote Gateway unit as it is
placed on the air.
MDS iNET 900 transceivers are shipped from the
factory set to the “Remote Gateway” mode unless they
are marked differently.
Step 1—Mount the Transceiver
Mount the transceiver to a stable surface. (Fasteners/anchors/screws
are not supplied unless specified when the order.) Four threaded holes
are located on the bottom of the radio that are suitable for connecting
mounting hardware. Use 6-32 x 1/4 inch screws to attach mounting
hardware to the bottom of the radio.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. D3 Installation Guide 7
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
Screws used to hold the mounting brackets to the radio should
be 5⁄16 inch (8 mm) long or shorter to prevent damage to the
radio’s internal PC board. If these screws are replaced for any
reason, the new screws must not exceed this length. The
radio’s case is made of a durable cast-aluminum, however, the
use of the wrong sized screws can damage the screw sockets
on the cover.
Step 2—Install the Antenna
The antenna and i NET 900 unit should be mounted with the antenna a
minimum of six inches (15 cm) from other equipment, especially
metallic objects.
NOTE:
Radio frequency energy generated by the i NET 900 can
interfere with the operation of nearby low-level RTU
circuits and change the reported values of the data being
monitored. For this reason, the antenna should be mounted
at least 10 feet (>3 meters) from the RTU, sensors and other
components of the system.
General information on the selection and installation of antenna sys-
tems is provided in the MDS iNET 900 Network Manager’s Manual .
Step 3—Measure & Install Primary Power
The primary power at the transceiver’s power connector must be
within 10.5–30 Vdc and be capable of continuously furnishing up to
500 mA. The optimum voltage is 13.8 Vdc. Be sure to observe proper
polarity as shown in Figure 1. A power connector is provided with
each radio suitable for use with pigtail leads.
Invisibleplaceholder
Figure 1. Primary Power (DC) Polarity
The radio is designed to be used only in nega-
tive-ground systems. Make sure the polarity of the
power source is correct. Reverse polarity will dam-
age the iNET 900’s circuitry and will result in per-
manent damage to the unit.
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
EQUIPMENT
DAMAGE
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
EQUIPMENT
DAMAGE

8Installation Guide MDS 05-2873A01, Rev.D3
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
The power supply used with the transceiver should be equipped with
overload protection (NEC Class 2 rating), to protect against a short cir-
cuit between its output terminals and the transceiver power connector.
Step 4—Review the Radio’s Configuration
There are two essential settings for i NET 900 transceivers that should
be known before placing the radio into service. They are:
Radio Operating Mode —Access Point or Remote Gateway
Network Name— Unique name of the radio network that is
used to generate the hopping pattern.
NOTE:
Transceivers are normally shipped from the factory config-
ured as a Remote Gateway.
Unit IP Address —Must be a unique number to allow for IP
access through the Ethernet Port.
Transmitter Power Output Level —Default is 1 Watt.
Adjust as necessary for compliance with FCC guidelines.
NOTE:
A unique IP address is important if the radio’s LAN
(Ethernet) port will be used for IP-based data communica-
tions or for unit configuration.
NOTE: The COM1 port’s only function is to provide access to the
iNET 900’smanagement system. COM2is notfunctional at
this time.
The following is a summary of the installation procedure. For more
detailed instructions on using the menu-based COM1 and the
HTTP/Bowser interfaces, please read the MDS iNET 900 Network
Administrator’s Handbook .
Procedure
a. Connect a personal computer’s serial communications port
(COM1 or COM2) to the
COM1
Port connector on the radio
transceiver. (See the I nstallation Reference Chart for location.
Data defaults: 19,200 kbs/8N1.)
b. Launch a terminal emulator program, such as HyperTerminal,
on the computer.
c. Depress the
ENTER
key. The radio will respond with the
start-up screen of a text-based Management System.

MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. D3 Installation Guide 9
Review Draft 3—12/17/01
d. A login with password will be required to make any changes
to the radio. (Default =
admin
)
e. Select the desired options to review existing settings and to
initiate necessary changes such as the IP address and other
network parameters. Changes are saved in the unit’s flash
memory.
f. Repeat the above steps for each transceiver in the network.
Basic i NET Unit Parameter Defaults
The table on the center Installation Reference Chart provides a sum-
mary of basic operating parameter’s range of and default values. All
of these are available through the i NET’s Management System acces-
sible through a terminal emulator connected to the
COM1
port.
Step 5—Connect the Data Equipment
Connect Ethernet/IP-compatible equipment data equipment to the
transceiver’s LAN port. The port supports only 10BaseT.
Use only the required pins for the application—do not connect any-
thing to unused pins. Use a straight-through Ethernet cable to connect
to a hub or a crossover cable to connect directly to an Ethernet station
or RTU. See the Installation Reference Chart in the middle of this
guide for pinout information.
Remote Gateway —If the radio network seems to be operating prop-
erly based on observation of the unit’s LEDs, connect the user data
equipment to the LAN port. Use the IP
PING
command to verify the
communications link integrity with the Access Point unit.
Access Point —Connect the WAN/LAN to the LAN port of the radio.
LED Indicators
A table of LED functions can be found on the center Installation Ref-
erence Chart .