Plura RUBIDIUM Series User manual

TIMING SOLUTIONS
Rubidium Series
RUB IE-M
RUB PM-M
Interface for Communication and
Synchronization of an MTDoE System
Functional Description and Specifications
Supplement to “Functional Description and Specifications of RUB Ethernet Modules”
Version: 3.5
February 23, 2021

Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M Page 3
CONTENTS
A1 REVISION HISTORY
A2 COPYRIGHT
A3 GENERAL REMARKS
1OVERVIEW 5
2MTD 6
2.1 SET-UP OF THE CENTRAL MTD UNIT 6
2.2 OPEN THE MTDOE CONFIGURATION 7
2.3 MTDOE STATUS 8
2.4 GROUP PASSWORD 9
3SEVERAL MTDOE RUB ETHERNET MODULES IN THE SAME NETWORK
10
3.1 REDUNDANT SYSTEM FOR ONE MTDOE GROUP 10
3.2 TWO OR MORE MTDOE GROUPS 11

Page 4 Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M
A1 Revision History
No.
Date
Subject
0.n
Preliminary documents, changes without notice.
1.0
March 25, 2010
First released document.
2.0
September 25, 2012
Completely revised.
3.0
January 23, 2013
Revised.
3.1
February 22, 2013
This option is available for PM modules as well.
3.2
August 26, 2019
Changed address of Plura Europe GmbH.
3.3
September 16, 2020
Clarified that option M requires option N.
3.4
December 3, 2020
Re-formatted in new design.
3.5
February 23, 2021
Remove requirement of option N and NTP server functionality.
A2 Copyright
Copyright © Plura Europe GmbH 2002-2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced, translated into another language, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise without the prior written consent of Plura Europe GmbH.
Printed in Germany.
Technical changes are reserved.
All brand and product names mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and
are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Information in this publication replaces all previously published information. Plura Europe
GmbH assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for
damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
For further information please contact your local dealer or:
Plura Europe GmbH
Binger Weg 12
D- 55437 Ockenheim
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]
Internet: http://www.plurainc.com
A3 General Remarks
This manual is a supplement to the manual
“Functional Description and Specifications of RUB Ethernet Modules”.
It describes a special feature for module IE or PM, realized by an optional firmware.

Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M Page 5
1 Overview
Plura has developed a system called the Multiple Time Display (MTD) system. An MTD system
consists of a central generator unit, control units, digital displays and/or studio clocks. The
central MTD generator (RUB GT) is the time & date reference and manages stop timers.
The MTDoE system utilizes the Ethernet to transport the MTD data as well as to communicate
between control units and central generator. The central generator transmits MTD data to the
Ethernet module (RUB IE or RUB PM with option M) via the internal TC_link interface of the
RUBIDIUM system, the Ethernet module then opens the gates to the network.
Please refer to the following documents as well:
Concerning the Ethernet module: „Functional Description and Specifications of RUB Ethernet
Modules “.
Concerning MTDoE: “MTD System“ manual.

Page 6 Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M
2 MTD
2.1 Set-Up of the Central MTD Unit
RUB GT module is the central generator of the MTD system.
Details of configuration →Functional Description and Specifications Module GT.
The Group Number has to be set at RUB
GT:
Set-up “MTD Generate“.
Example:
MTD over Ethernet “Group = 1“.
RUB GT should send data via TC_link to the
Ethernet module:
Enable telegrams Reference and MTDoE.
Optionally another telegram can be
selected as Gen, if any AT/DT/HT/XT or
AV/DV/HV/XV module is part of the system.
These modules can visibly insert a time, a
date, or a stop timer. Using this telegram,
such a module can receive data from GT
without external cable connection. Software
version 2.12.33 or higher enables these
modules to decode the “MTDoE” telegram,
so in this case it may not be necessary to
send a “Gen” telegram.

Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M Page 7
2.2 Open the MTDoE Configuration
Open the Configuration page with your browser.
Click on the IE or PM button to open the function menu of the Ethernet module.
The “MTD“ menu indicates status information and enables a basic set-up.

Page 8 Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M
2.3 MTDoE Status
Shows some status information and enables to set up the network communication method.
Active Groups Shows all active MTD groups. A group becomes “active” for this
Ethernet module if this module receives data for this group from an
MTD central generator and this module is responsible for the
Ethernet communication of this group.
Inactive Groups Shows all inactive MTD groups. A group becomes “inactive” for this
Ethernet module if this module receives data for this group from an
MTD central generator, but another Ethernet module is responsible
for the Ethernet communication of this group.
Active Operating Mode Indicates the selected or used transmission method.
Serving Devices Indicates all devices which are communicating with this Ethernet
module.
Operating Mode Unicast and Broadcast describe the way of sending messages in
computer networking. Unicast transmission sends a data packet to
a single destination host; Broadcast delivers information to a group
of destinations simultaneously. Please select:
•Auto (= default)
•Broadcast local
•Unicast only
•Broadcast only
MTD Priority You can assign a priority to the Ethernet module. A higher value
means higher priority. In a redundant system with two Ethernet
modules in the same network that module with higher priority will
be active.
After any change press the “Save To Module“ button to store the entry.

Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M Page 9
2.4 Group Password
Any MTD group can receive a password. If a password has been set for a group, the UD SC
Config.exe program has access to the devices of this group only if the password has been
entered correctly.
After any change press the “Save To Module“ button to store the entry.

Page 10 Functional Description and Specifications RUB IE-M RUB PM-M
3 Several MTDoE RUB Ethernet Modules in the
same Network
3.1 Redundant System for one MTDoE Group
Two Ethernet modules with option “M“ can be installed to work in parallel. Both modules serve
the same MTDoE group; there is only one MTD central unit active in use. Both Ethernet
modules receive the same data via TC_link.
If both Ethernet modules are located in the same network, one module will be active; the other
module will take over in case of a failure of the active module.
If the Ethernet modules are assigned to different networks, both modules will be active.
Redundancy still is given because each MTDoE device knows the IP addresses of both Ethernet
modules by manual set-up.
Example:
TC_link
IE
Option M
IE
Option M
Group1
GT
Local
Network
12:59:59 A
1:00:17 D
- 23 C
1:23 B
Even if there are two MTD central units for redundancy (two RUB GT modules + RUB SL as
changeover unit), there will be one MTDoE group only. Both RUB GT modules have to receive
the same set-up. Both RUB GT modules have to be connected to the RUB SL module. All
modules have to be connected to the same TC_link interface.
Example:
GT SL GT
TC_link
IE
Option M
IE
Option M
Local
Network
Group1
12:59:59 A
1:00:17 D
- 23 C
1:23 B