RESEARCH CONCEPTS RC2000 User manual

RC2000 Web Server User’s Manual
RCI P/N: FP-SER-ETH-SERVR1
v 1.1
Content Subject to Change
13 September 2012
9501 Dice Lane Lenexa, Kansas USA TEL: [phone], FAX: [phone]
Website: WWW.ResearchConcepts.COM Email: [email protected]

RC2000 Web Server User’s Manual 1
1.0 THEORY OF OPERATION
1.1 User Interface Overview
The RC2000 Web Server allows control of the RC2000 by using a web browser. A built-in HTTP
server communicates with the RC2000 using an internal serial port. The server allows control and
feedback of the current controller operation using a web-based user interface. Detailed information on
the use of the main user interface is given in section 3.1 of this document.
1.2 Ethernet-to-Serial Overview
The RC2000 Web Server also provides an ethernet-to-serial connection. The entire RC2000 remote
control protocol can be used by encapsulating regular serial messages within UDP datagrams. The
corresponding replies are returned in similar fashion. Detailed information on the use of UDP
encapsulation is given in section 3.3 of this document.
2.0 CONFIGURATION
2.1 Physical Interface
The RC2000 Web Server comes in a 4.25” x 3.5” box that mounts using standard rack holes. The box
has four indicators to show network and serial port status and activity.
The connection from the target PC or other web-enabled device to the web server should be done
with a suitable CAT-5e cable. Depending on other equipment in the network, a cross-over cable may
be required.
The connection from the web server to the RC2000 is illustrated in the following drawing:
2.2 Network Settings
The PC or other web-enabled device and the web server must be properly configured to exist in the
same subnet in order to communicate with each other. Ask your system administrator for the subnet
mask and a unique IP address, and then configure the web server to that subnet and IP address
before connecting it to your network. Specifics on what IP addresses exist within any given subnet
and/or how to configure a particular device is outside the focus of this document.
All web servers are factory configured to have an IP address or 192.168.1.1 and a subnet mask of
255.255.0.0. Changes to the IP address or subnet mask can be made from within the configuration
interface. Setting the IP address of the target device to 192.168.1.2 with a subnet mask of
255.255.255.0 will usually allow a quick connection to the web server.

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3.0 DETAILED OPERATION
3.1 User Interface
The main page of the user interface contains a remote front panel with a 2x40 character display and a
16-button keypad. This is a Java applet and provides primary interaction with the RC2000 antenna
controller. Pressing keys on the panel performs the same action as if keys were actually pressed on
the front panel. The current content of the RC2000 display is periodically reflected.

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3.2 Configuration Interface
This section describes the various screens available through the web-based configuration interface.
The configuration interface can be reached by adding “/config” to the end of the IP address of the
unit. For example, with the default IP address the configuration interface can be loaded by entering
“192.168.1.1/config” into the address bar of your browser.
The main configuration interface panel has two navigation buttons. Clicking on these buttons will
switch between the available pages. Any changes made to the current page must be saved by
clicking the Save button before switching to a different page. The Save button will become enabled
anytime a change has been detected.
Each page has several expandable panels. These panels can be expanded and collapsed to show or
hide various items. There is no need to save when switching between panels.

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Configuration Items > TCP/IP Settings
The available TCP/IP settings and default values are shown below.
Applet Port is the port on which the antenna controller will use to communicate with the Applet. This
port must be open and not in use on the target web-enabled device.
The interface must be reset if a change is made to any of the settings. The following panel will be
displayed during the reset. After the reset is complete, the web browser will reload the page at using
the new settings.

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Configuration Items > Antenna Controller Settings
The available Antenna Controller Settings and default values are shown below.
Display Refresh Time is the number of milliseconds between display updates. Key Repeat Time is the
number of milliseconds between successive jog keystrokes. Both of these items may be changed to
overcome network latency issues. NOTE: The defaults settings for Display Refresh Time and Key
Repeat Time should be used unless instructed by support personnel.
Window Name is the name that will be displayed on the browser window. This can be changed to
uniquely identify each controller when multiple RC2000s are used at one location.

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Firmware Update > User Interface Firmware
The User Interface Firmware panel is shown below. Choose a file and click the Start Update button
to start the user interface firmware update process.
The following panel displays the current progress of the firmware update. Click the Done button to
return to the configuration interface.

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3.3 Ethernet-to-Serial
This section describes how the RC2000 antenna controller can be controlled remotely over an
ethernet connection using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
UDP is a simple connectionless protocol where datagrams are sent from a host IP and port to a target
IP and port. No acknowledgement, retransmission, or timeout is built in. The SA-Bus protocol used by
the RC2000 remote system fills these roles, making UDP the natural choice for monitor and control
over an ethernet connection.
The RC2000 maintains an open IP connection for UDP datagrams on the user-defined Applet Port.
By default, this port number is 6767. The packet data of an incoming datagram is relayed directly to
the RC2000 internal serial port. The RC2000 response is returned to the host in a similar fashion.
The packet structure of a UDP datagram is beyond the scope of this document. For the following
examples, a datagram will consist of a packet header and packet data as illustrated below:
UDP Packet Header UDP Packet Data
To send a command to the RC2000, make the packet data equal to the full SA-Bus compliant
command including the STX, ETX, and trailing checksum as shown below:
UDP Packet Header STX Address Command
Code Message Body ETX Checksum
The reply from the RC2000 will be in a similar fashion as shown below:
UDP Packet Header ACK/NAK Address Command
Code Message Body ETX Checksum
If no response is received from the RC2000, the reply datagram will be:
UDP Packet Header TO
Research Concepts, Inc. has prepared a demo program written in C#, to assist individuals interested
in developing monitor and control software for an antenna controller with the integrated IP option.

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4.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
4.1 Web Browser Will Not Load Main Web Page
Problem Solution(s)
Web browser will not load main web page 1. PC or device assigned invalid address.
2. Ethernet cable not connected or bad.
Remote front panel stuck at “Connecting to…” 1. Software firewall blocking Applet port (6767).
2.