MSA fieldserver ProtoAir FPA-C41 User manual

Operating Manual
ProtoAir Start-up Guide
FPA-W44, FPA-C41, FPA-C42, FPA-C43
Revision: 3.N
Document No.: T18622
Print Spec: 10000005389 (F)
MSAsafety.com

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For your local MSA contacts, please go to our website www.MSAsafety.com

US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 3
Contents
1 About the ProtoAir 5
2 Equipment Setup 6
2.1 Mounting 6
2.2 Attaching the Antenna(s) 6
2.3 Physical Dimensions 7
2.3.1 FPA-W44 Drawing 7
2.3.2 FPA-C4X Drawing 8
3 Installation 9
3.1 DIP Switch Settings for FPA-C4X 9
3.1.1 Bias Resistors 9
3.1.2 Termination Resistor 10
3.2 DIP Switch Settings for FPA-W44 11
3.2.1 Bias Resistors 11
3.2.2 Termination Resistor 12
3.3 FPA-C4X: Inserting the SIM Card 13
3.4 FPA-C4X: Connecting the P1 Port 15
3.4.1 Wiring 15
3.5 FPA-W44: Connecting the R1 & R2 Ports 16
3.5.1 Wiring 16
4 Power up the Gateway 17
5 Connect the PC to the Gateway 18
5.1 10/100 Ethernet Connection Port 18
6 Connecting to the ProtoAir 19
6.1 Using the FieldServer Toolbox to Discover and Connect to the ProtoAir 19
6.2 Using a Web Browser 19
7 Setup Web Server Security 20
7.1 Login to the FieldServer 20
7.2 Select the Security Mode 22
7.2.1 HTTPS with Own Trusted TLS Certificate 23
7.2.2 HTTPS with Default Untrusted Self-Signed TLS Certificate or HTTP with Built-in Payload Encryption 23
8 Setup Network 24
8.1 Using FS-GUI to Input Network Settings 24
8.1.1 Ethernet 1 25
8.1.2 Wi-Fi Client Settings 26
8.1.3 Wi-Fi Access Point Settings 27
8.1.4 Routing Settings 28
8.1.5 FPA-C4X: Cellular Settings 29
9 Configuring the ProtoAir 30
9.1 Retrieve the Sample Configuration File 30
9.2 Change the Configuration File to Meet the Application 30
9.3 Load the Updated Configuration File 31
9.3.1 Using the FS-GUI to Load a Configuration File 31
9.3.2 Retrieve the Configuration File for Modification or Backup 32
9.4 Test and Commission the ProtoAir 33
9.4.1 Accessing the FieldServer Manager 33
10 Applications 34

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10.1 Connecting to the Network Through Wi-Fi 34
10.2 Connecting to Devices via Access Point 35
10.3 Device Communications via Wi-Fi 36
10.4 Connecting Devices to the Network 37
11 Troubleshooting 38
11.1 Communicating with the ProtoAir Over the Network 38
11.2 Lost or Incorrect IP Address 39
11.3 Viewing Diagnostic Information 40
11.4 Checking Wiring and Settings 41
11.5 Taking a FieldServer Diagnostic Capture 42
11.6 LED Functions 43
11.7 Factory Reset Instructions 44
11.8 Internet Browser Software Support 44
11.9 Wi-Fi and Cellular Signal Strength 44
12 Additional Information 45
12.1 Change Web Server Security Settings After Initial Setup 45
12.1.1 Change Security Mode 46
12.1.2 Edit the Certificate Loaded onto the FieldServer 47
12.2 Change User Management Settings 48
12.2.1 Create Users 49
12.2.2 Edit Users 50
12.2.3 Delete Users 51
12.2.4 Change FieldServer Password 52
12.3 Update Firmware 53
12.4 APN Table 53
12.5 ProtoAir Part Number by Carrier 53
12.6 Kaspersky Endpoint Security 10 54
12.7 Specifications 55
12.8 Compliance with EN IEC 62368-1 55
12.9 Warnings for FCC and IC 56
13 Limited 2 Year Warranty 59

1 About the ProtoAir
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 5
1 About the ProtoAir
The ProtoAir is a high performance,high-performance, multi-protocol IIoT gateway providing manufacturers Wi-Fi and
cellular connectivity into the cloud and instant multi-protocol deployment of field protocols, enabling new or legacy devices
to easily interface with other protocols.
It is not necessary to download any configuration files to support the required applications. The ProtoAir is pre-loaded with
tested profiles/configurations for the supported devices.
NOTE:For troubleshooting assistance refer to Section 11 Troubleshooting, or any of the troubleshooting
appendices in the related driver supplements. Check the MSA Safety website for technical support resources
and documentation that may be of assistance.
The ProtoAir is cloud ready and connects with MSA Safety’s Grid. See Section 9.4.1 Accessing the FieldServer
Manager for further information.

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2 Equipment Setup
2 Equipment Setup
2.1 Mounting
The gateway can be mounted using the DIN rail mounting bracket on the back of the unit.
2.2 Attaching the Antenna(s)
Wi-Fi Antenna:
If using the FPA-W44 model, screw in the Wi-Fi antenna to the front of the unit as shown in Section 2.3.1 FPA-W44
Drawing.
Cellular Antenna:
If using the FPA-C4X model, screw in the two cellular antennas. One antenna is screwed into the socket on the top of the
unit and one is screwed into the socket on the side as shown in Section 2.3.2 FPA-C4X Drawing.

2 Equipment Setup
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 7
2.3 Physical Dimensions
2.3.1 FPA-W44 Drawing

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2 Equipment Setup
2.3.2 FPA-C4X Drawing

3 Installation
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 9
3 Installation
3.1 DIP Switch Settings for FPA-C4X
3.1.1 Bias Resistors
To enable Bias Resistors, move both the BIAS- and BIAS+ dip switches to the right in the orientation shown
above.
The bias resistors are used to keep the RS-485 bus to a known state, when there is no transmission on the line (bus is
idling), to help prevent false bits of data from being detected. The bias resistors typically pull one line high and the other low
- far away from the decision point of the logic.
The bias resistor is 510 ohms which is in line with the BACnet spec. It should only be enabled at one point on the bus (for
example, on the field port were there are very weak bias resistors of 100k). Since there are no jumpers, many ProtoAirs
can be put on the network without running into the bias resistor limit which is < 500 ohms.
NOTE:Seethe Termination and Bias Resistance Enote for additional information.
NOTE:If the gateway is already powered on, DIP switch settings will not take effect unless the unit is power
cycled.

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3 Installation
3.1.2 Termination Resistor
If the gateway is the last device on the serial trunk, then the End-Of-Line Termination Switch needs to be enabled. To
enable the Termination Resistor, move the TERM dip switch to the right in the orientation shown in above.
Termination resistor is also used to reduce noise. It pulls the two lines of an idle bus together. However, the resistor would
override the effect of any bias resistors if connected.
NOTE:If the gateway is already powered on, DIP switch settings will not take effect unless the unit is power
cycled.

3 Installation
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 11
3.2 DIP Switch Settings for FPA-W44
3.2.1 Bias Resistors
To enable Bias Resistors, move both the BIAS- and BIAS+ DIP switches to the right in the orientation shown
above.
The bias resistors are used to keep the RS-485 bus to a known state, when there is no transmission on the line (bus is
idling), to help prevent false bits of data from being detected. The bias resistors typically pull one line high and the other low
- far away from the decision point of the logic.
The bias resistor is 510 ohms which is in line with the BACnet spec. It should only be enabled at one point on the bus (for
example, on the field port were there are very weak bias resistors of 100k). Since there are no jumpers, many ProtoAirs
can be put on the network without running into the bias resistor limit which is < 500 ohms.
NOTE:Seethe Termination and Bias Resistance Enote for additional information.
NOTE:The R1 and R2 DIP Switches apply settings to the respective serial port.
NOTE:If the gateway is powered on, DIP switch settings will not take effect unless the unit is power cycled.

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3 Installation
3.2.2 Termination Resistor
If the gateway is the last device on the serial trunk, then the End-Of-Line Termination Switch needs to be enabled. To
enable the termination resistor, move the TERM dip switch to the right in the orientation shown in above.
The termination resistor is also used to reduce noise. It pulls the two lines of an idle bus together. However, the resistor
would override the effect of any bias resistors if connected. The R1 termination resistor is 120 Ohms.
NOTE:The R1 and R2 DIP Switches apply settings to the respective serial port.
NOTE:If the gateway is already powered on, DIP switch settings will not take effect unless the unit is power
cycled.

3 Installation
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 13
3.3 FPA-C4X: Inserting the SIM Card
NOTE:A micro 4G SIM card must be purchased from an AT&T or Verizon cellular provider to set up cellular
functionality and create a data plan for the FieldServer. SIM card vendor contact information is available at
the end of the section.
Insert the SIM card into the Micro SIM card slot with the chip on the SIM card facing away from the cellular antenna as
shown below.
See Section 8.1.5 FPA-C4X: Cellular Settings to complete cellular setting configuration.
The table below shows cellular usage examples to forecast data usage on the chosen cellular plan.
Number of Data Points Logging Frequency Data Usage per Hour Data Usage per Month
10 40 sec 0.75 Mb 547 Mb
10 900 sec 0.55 Mb 400 Mb
50 40 sec 1.24 Mb 900 Mb
50 900 sec 0.90 Mb 657 Mb
100 40 sec 3.00 Mb 2.2 Gb
100 900 sec 1.26 Mb 900 Mb
500 40 sec 10.86 Mb 7.8 Gb
500 900 sec 0.55 Mb 1.5 Gb

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3 Installation
SIM Card Vendor Contact Information:
Verizon
A business contract is required to purchase a Verizon SIM card. The IMEI of the ProtoAir is required to purchase the
Verizon SIM card.
AT&T
Please call AT&T Customer Service at 800.331.0500 or find the nearest AT&T store.

3 Installation
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 15
3.4 FPA-C4X: Connecting the P1 Port
Switch between RS-485 and RS-232 by moving the number 4 DIP Switch left for RS-485 and right for RS-232.
Connect to the 3-pin connector as shown below.
The following baud rates are supported on the P1 Port:
9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 76800, 115000
NOTE:Not all baud rates listed are supported by all protocols. Check the specific protocol driver manual for a
list of the supported baud rates.
3.4.1 Wiring
RS-485 RS-232
OEM Device orBMS
RS-485 Wiring
Gateway Pin
Assignment
OEM Device orBMS
RS-485 Wiring
Gateway Pin
Assignment
RS-485 + TX + RS-232 - TX +
RS-485 - RX - RS-232 + RX -
GND GND GND GND
NOTE:The RS-485/RS-232 is part of the RS-485/RS-232 interface and must be connected to the corresponding
terminal on the BMS. If the cable is shielded, the shield must connected only at one end and to earth ground
– it will help suppress the electromagnetic field interference. (Connecting the shield at both ends will likely
produce current loops, which could produce noise or interference that the shield was intended to block).

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3 Installation
3.5 FPA-W44: Connecting the R1 & R2 Ports
For the R1 Port only: Switch between RS-485 and RS-232 by moving the number 4 DIP Switch left for RS-485 and right
for RS-232 (see images in Section 3.2 DIP Switch Settings for FPA-W44).
The R2 Port is RS-485.
Connect to the 3-pin connector(s) as shown below.
The following baud rates are supported on the R1 and R2 Ports:
9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 76800, 115000
NOTE:Not all baud rates listed are supported by all protocols. Check the specific protocol driver manual for a
list of the supported baud rates.
3.5.1 Wiring
RS-485 RS-232
OEM Device orBMS
RS-485 Wiring
Gateway Pin
Assignment
OEM Device orBMS
RS-485 Wiring
Gateway Pin
Assignment
RS-485 + TX + RS-232 - TX +
RS-485 - RX - RS-232 + RX -
GND GND GND GND
NOTE:The RS-485/RS-232 is part of the RS-485/RS-232 interface and must be connected to the corresponding
terminal on the BMS. If the cable is shielded, the shield must connected only at one end and to earth ground
– it will help suppress the electromagnetic field interference. (Connecting the shield at both ends will likely
produce current loops, which could produce noise or interference that the shield was intended to block).

4 Power up the Gateway
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 17
4 Power up the Gateway
Check power requirements in the table below:
Power Requirement for ProtoAir External Gateway
Current Draw Type
ProtoAir Family 12VDC 24VDC/AC
FPA –W44 (Typical) 250mA 125mA
ProtoAir Family 12VDC 24VDC
FPA –C4X (Typical) 320mA 185mA
FPA –C4X (Maximum) 670mA 390mA
NOTE: These values are ‘nominal’ and a safety margin should be added to the power supply of the host
system. A safety margin of 25% is recommended.
Apply power to the ProtoAir as shown below. Ensure that the power supply used complies with the specifications provided
in Section 12.7 Specifications . Ensure that the cable is grounded using the FG or “Frame GND” terminal.
• The ProtoAir FPA-W44 is powered by 12-24VDC or 24VAC.
◦ Supports both Full-Wave and Half-Wave AC
• The ProtoAir FPA-C4X is powered by 12-24VDC.
• Frame GND should be connected to ensure personnel safety and to limit material damages due to electrical faults.
Ground planes are susceptible to transient events that cause sudden surges in current. The frame ground
connection provides a safe and effective path to divert the excess current from the equipment to earth ground.
NOTE:Floating AC Power Supplies are supported.

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5 Connect the PC to the Gateway
5 Connect the PC to the Gateway
5.1 10/100 Ethernet Connection Port
NOTE:Do not use shielded Ethernet cables.
The Ethernet Port is used both for Ethernet protocol communications and for configuring the gateway via the Web App. To
connect the gateway, either connect the PC to the router’s Ethernet port or connect the router and PC to an Ethernet
switch. Use Cat-5 cables for the connection.
NOTE:The Default IP Address of the gateway is 192.168.1.24, Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0.

6 Connecting to the ProtoAir
US ProtoAir Start-up Guide 19
6 Connecting to the ProtoAir
The FieldServer Toolbox Application can be used to discover and connect to the ProtoAir on a local area network. To
manually connect to the ProtoAir using the Toolbox, click on the plus icon next to the "Devices" header and enter the IP
Address, or enter the Internet IP Address into a web browser.
6.1 Using the FieldServer Toolbox to Discover and Connect to the ProtoAir
• Install the Toolbox application from the USB drive or download it from the MSA Safety website.
• Use the FS Toolbox application to find the ProtoAir and connect to the ProtoAir.
NOTE:If the connect button is grayed out, the ProtoAir’s IP Address must be set to be on the same network as
the PC. (Section 6.2 Using a Web Browser)
6.2 Using a Web Browser
• Open a web browser and connect to the ProtoAir’s default IP Address. The default IP Address of the ProtoAir is
192.168.1.24, Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0.
• If the PC and the ProtoAir are on different IP networks, assign a static IP Address to the PC on the 192.168.1.X
network.
NOTE: Check Section 11.8 Internet Browser Software Support for supported browsers.

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7 Setup Web Server Security
7 Setup Web Server Security
7.1 Login to the FieldServer
The first time the FieldServer GUI is opened in a browser, the IP Address for the gateway will appear as untrusted. This will
cause the following pop-up windows to appear.
• When the Web Server Security Unconfigured window appears, read the text and choose whether to move forward
with HTTPS or HTTP.
• When the warning that “Your connection is not private” appears, click the advanced button on the bottom left corner
of the screen.