RF Neulink NL6000 User manual






      
     

RF Neulink 2 NL6000 User Guide
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 by RF Neulink. This manual may be reproduced for distribution
with the NL6000 as long as the manual remains intact, in its entirety, with all
appropriate Copyright, Intellectual property, and Trademark notices.
This product contains intellectual property and copyrighted material owned by RF
Neulink. Unless expressly agreed to in writing, no one may copy, disassemble, or
distribute in any form, any computer readable information contained within this
product, and in particular information contained within the EEPROM, EPROM, or
ROM memory circuits. All rights, title, and copyrights to the software or firmware in
this product are owned by RF Neulink.
NL6000 is a registered trademark of RF Neulink, a division of RF Industries. RF
Neulink reserves all rights not expressly granted to the purchaser of this product.

R F Industries
7610 Miramar Road,
San Diego, CA 92126
858.549.6340
[e-mail]
www.rfneulink.com

RF Neulink 3 NL6000 User Guide
Table of Contents
1. Product Overview ....................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Features............................................................................................................. 7
2. Regulatory Information............................................................................................... 9
3. Specifications............................................................................................................ 11
4. Hardware Installation and Operation........................................................................ 13
4.1. Parts Description............................................................................................. 13
4.2. Power Connections ......................................................................................... 13
4.3. Mounting Instructions..................................................................................... 13
4.4. Serial Port........................................................................................................ 14
4.5. Antenna Connection........................................................................................ 15
4.6. LEDs ............................................................................................................... 15
4.7. Operation......................................................................................................... 15
4.8. Technical Support ........................................................................................... 16
5. Software Configuration............................................................................................. 17
5.1. Prerequisites.................................................................................................... 17
5.2. Preparation ...................................................................................................... 17
5.3. Unique Data Requirements for a Base Station ............................................... 18
5.4. Source and Destination Addressing................................................................ 18
5.5. Behavior of Repeater Units............................................................................. 19
5.6. Packet Data Options........................................................................................ 22
5.6.1. Transmission Mode ........................................................................... 22
5.6.2. Maximum Packet Size....................................................................... 25
5.6.3. Over-the-Air Data Rates.................................................................... 25
5.6.4. Acknowledgements ........................................................................... 25
5.6.5. Carrier Sense Multiple Access .......................................................... 25
5.7. Serial Connection to an I/O Device ................................................................ 25
5.7.1. Basic Serial Parameters..................................................................... 25
5.7.2. Flow Control...................................................................................... 26
5.7.3. DCD Mode ........................................................................................ 26
5.7.4. Pre- and Post-Data DCD Time.......................................................... 26
5.8. Planning the RF Channel ................................................................................ 27
5.9. Factory Default Parameters............................................................................. 27
6. Procedures................................................................................................................. 28
6.1. General Procedures ......................................................................................... 29
Entering Programming Mode ......................................................................... 29
Setting the Program Mode .............................................................................. 29
Saving Configuration Changes to Flash Memory........................................... 29
Saving Configuration Changes Temporarily .................................................. 29
Reverting to the Prior Configuration .............................................................. 29
Returning to the Previous Menu ..................................................................... 30
Displaying the Configuration Summary Window .......................................... 30
6.2. Radio Network Setup...................................................................................... 31
Setting the Unit Type...................................................................................... 31
Setting the Unit ID (MYID)............................................................................ 31

RF Neulink 4 NL6000 User Guide
Setting the Target Unit ID (TOID) ................................................................. 31
Setting the Active Channel ............................................................................. 31
Setting the Receive Frequency........................................................................ 31
Setting the Transmit Frequency...................................................................... 31
6.3. Serial Connection Setup.................................................................................. 32
Setting the Baud Rate...................................................................................... 32
Setting the Data Bits ....................................................................................... 32
Setting the Stop Bits........................................................................................ 32
Setting the Transmit Character Timeout......................................................... 32
Setting the Flow Control Option..................................................................... 32
Setting the DCD Mode.................................................................................... 32
Setting the Pre-Data DCD Time ..................................................................... 33
Setting the Post-Data DCD Time.................................................................... 33
6.4. Data Setup....................................................................................................... 33
Setting the Maximum Packet Size.................................................................. 33
Setting the Packet Mode ................................................................................. 33
Setting the Data Rate ...................................................................................... 34
Setting the Request ACKs Option .................................................................. 34
Setting the Contention Option ........................................................................ 34
6.5. Repeater Setup ................................................................................................ 35
Selecting the Repeater Entry to Edit............................................................... 35
Setting the Repeater Trigger........................................................................... 35
Setting the Repeater Trigger ID...................................................................... 36
Setting the Repeater Transmit Channel .......................................................... 36
Setting the Repeater Transmit Delay.............................................................. 36
6.6. File Management ............................................................................................ 36
Downloading a Software Upgrade.................................................................. 36
Saving Parameters to Disk.............................................................................. 37
Restoring Parameters from Disk..................................................................... 37
Restoring Default Parameters ......................................................................... 38
7. Menu Quick Reference ............................................................................................. 39
7.1. Main Menu...................................................................................................... 39
7.2. Summary Screen ............................................................................................. 39
7.3. Serial Menu..................................................................................................... 40
7.4. DCD232 SubMenu.......................................................................................... 40
7.5. Network Menu ................................................................................................ 41
7.6. Repeater SubMenu.......................................................................................... 41
7.7. Radio Menu..................................................................................................... 42
7.8. Diagnostics Menu ........................................................................................... 42
7.9. Save/Restore Parameters Menu ...................................................................... 43
8. Other Considerations ................................................................................................ 44
8.1. Duty Cycle ...................................................................................................... 44
8.2. Troubleshooting.............................................................................................. 44
8.2.1. Use a Good Antenna.......................................................................... 44
8.2.2. Three-wire Interface.......................................................................... 44
8.2.3. Hardware Flow Control..................................................................... 45

RF Neulink 5 NL6000 User Guide
8.2.4. Use a Fully-Wired RS-232 Cable...................................................... 45
8.2.5. Use a Slower Baud Rate.................................................................... 45
8.2.6. Use a Faster Baud Rate ..................................................................... 45
8.2.7. Unit Does Not Enter Programming Mode......................................... 45
Appendix A – Diagnosing and Correcting Performance Problems.................................. 46
Setting the Power Value............................................................................................ 46
Setting the Frequency Trim (includes setting Power)............................................... 46
Setting the Deviation and Balance............................................................................ 47
Setting the Receive Gain........................................................................................... 48
Appendix B - Factory Default Parameters........................................................................ 50
Index ................................................................................................................................. 51

RF Neulink 6 NL6000 User Guide
1. Product Overview
The RF Neulink NL6000 is an integrated radio modem that provides reliable
bi-directional RS-232 data transmissions on a land mobile radio channel.
Configurable RS-232, radio, and packet data parameters provide the NL6000 with the
flexibility necessary for use in both simple and complex networks.
In its simplest configuration, the NL6000 transmits wireless data from one modem to
another to send instructions and receive a response. In many cases, the factory-
configured default parameters make the unit ready to use after just setting two address
IDs. Figure 1 shows a simple system to transmit data between two terminals.
Figure 1: Use the NL6000 in a Simple Configuration
In a more sophisticated configuration, the NL6000 provides wireless communication
between multiple units in a network. A unit configured as a base station can transmit
instructions to multiple remote units and collect responses from those remotes for
analysis and management reporting. Configuration of multiple units is a simple task
using the menu-driven user interface. Figure 2 shows a system for maintaining the
water level for a number of water tanks.
Figure 2: Use the NL6000 in a Multi-Unit Network

RF Neulink 7 NL6000 User Guide
The NL6000’s powerful and efficient packet communications protocol provides a
solution to many of the problems affecting conventional wireless data networks.
Bursts of noise, RF interference, inter-modulation, overload, and signal fade can
corrupt and interrupt radio data links. The NL6000 eliminates these problems through
the use of advanced technologies including sophisticated forward error correction
technology.
The NL6000 can transmit in any of the following frequency ranges:
•UHF 400 - 420 MHz
•UHF 450 – 470 MHz
•VHF 136 – 162 MHz
•VHF 148 – 174 MHz
1.1. Features
The following list highlights the primary features of the NL6000:
Product Reliability The NL6000 makes extensive use of Digital Signal
Processing (DSP) technology resulting in outstanding
performance under adverse environmental conditions.
Data Reliability Advanced signaling end error control technologies
provide exceptional performance under poor channel
conditions.
RF Data Rate The NL6000 can transmit or receive at over-the-air rates
of 12,000 bps or 22,050 bps.
Protocol Flexibility The NL6000 provides three data transmission modes
resulting in peak system performance for a wide range of
data communication scenarios.
Easy User
Interface
An easy to follow menu-based user interface makes
configuring the NL6000 a simple task.
Base Station
Configuration
The NL6000 can be configured as a remote or a base
station. A remote transmits data to a specific unit or
group of units. A base station transmits data to multiple
units or groups.

RF Neulink 8 NL6000 User Guide
Repeater
Configuration
In areas where you lack a reliable path, you can
configure an NL6000 unit as a repeater to reach a hidden
unit. This feature can fill in RF blind spots or extend the
usable range of the system’s desired coverage area.
Single and Multi-
Point Addressing
An NL6000 can be configured to transmit to a single
unit, a group of units, or to broadcast to all units within
range.
Acknowledgement The NL6000 can be configured to request an
acknowledgement (ACK) from the destination modem
with each transmission. If it does not receive an ACK,
the unit will retransmit.
Auto-Transmit Two events will automatically trigger transmission of
data over the RF link: a pause between bytes equal to a
user-defined number of milliseconds, or the buffer
reaching a user-defined number of bytes.
Configuration
Templates
The NL6000 software lets you save a configuration as a
template and download the parameters in that template to
other units that share the same configuration. This saves
time when configuring a large network.

RF Neulink 9 NL6000 User Guide
2. Regulatory Information
Notices
It is the responsibility of the user of this equipment to obtain the proper FCC license
to operate this product on the desired channel of operation.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice.
FCC Part 15
This product complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules and regulations (Code of Federal
Regulations 47CFR Part 15). It may not be modified without the expressed consent of
RF Neulink. Modification of this product could void the user’s authorization to use
the product.
FCC Part 90
The NL6000 has been type accepted for operation by the FCC in accordance with
Part 90 of the FCC rules (47CFR Part 90). See the label on the unit for the specific
FDD ID and any other certification designations.
FCC Part 101
The NL6000 has been type accepted for operation by the FCC in accordance with
Part 101 of the FCC rules (47CFR Part 101). See the label on the unit for the specific
FDD ID and any other certification designations.
406.0 to 406.1 MHz Operation
The frequency band from 406.0 to 406.1 MHz is reserved for use by distress beacons.
As such, the NL6000 should not be programmed to transmit on any frequency within
this band. Caution should be used when programming frequencies into the NL6000 to
eliminate the possibility of NL6000 users interfering with rescue operations on this
band.
Safety Warning
In order to ensure the safe operation of this radio equipment, the following practices
should be observed.
•DO NOT operate radio equipment near electrical blasting caps or in an explosive
atmosphere.
•DO NOT operate any radio transmitter unless all RF connectors are secure and
any open connectors are properly terminated.
•DO NOT allow the antenna to come close to, or touch, the eyes, face, or any
exposed body parts while the radio is transmitting.

RF Neulink 10 NL6000 User Guide
•DO NOT operate the radio unless it has been installed and inspected by a
qualified radio technician.
•DO NOT let children operate transmitter equipment.

RF Neulink 11 NL6000 User Guide
3. Specifications
GENERAL
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions 3.0 in L x 2.6 in W x 1.6 in H
DC voltage input Nominal 10-15 VDC
Operating temperature -30° C to +65° C
Humidity Tbd
Number of channels 64
Number of ID codes 65,525
Over-the-air (Tx) data rate 12,000 bps or 22,050 bps
Serial baud rates 1200 bps, 2400 bps, 4800 bps,
9600 bps, 19.2 kbps, 28.8 kbps,
38.4 kbps
Power connect (ask SMI)
RF input/output connector SMA-F
Data interface 9-pin (DB9)
Serial interface RS-232 async
Mode of operation Simplex or Half Duplex
Frequency control PLL synthesizer
Error control 3 data transmission modes provide
progressively increasing error
correction strength
UHF RADIO
SPECIFICATIONS
Model Numbers NL6000 (tbd)
Transmission frequencies 400-420 MHz, 450-470 MHz
Current Drain at 12 V:
IDLE radio channel Tbd
Receive Tbd
Transmit Tbd
Transmitter:
RF power 1 to 6 watts
Modulation 4-FSK with spectral precoder
Frequency stability 1.5 ppm
Channel spacing 12.5 kHz (narrow), 25 kHz (wide)
Channel step size 6.25 kHz UHF
Duty cycle 5% to 10%, depending upon voltage,
power level, and ambient temperature
RF load impedance 50 ohms
Receiver:
Sensitivity (95% reliability,
500 byte payload) Basic Telemetry Mode – xxx dBm Enhanced Telemetry Mode – xxx dBm

RF Neulink 12 NL6000 User Guide
UHF RADIO
SPECIFICATIONS
Mobile Data Mode – xxx dBm
Selectivity 60dB min (narrow), 70dB min (wide)
Intermod 70dB min
RF input impedance 50 ohms
VHF RADIO
SPECIFICATIONS
Model Numbers NL6000 (tbd)
Transmission frequencies 136-162 MHz, 148-174 MHz
Current Drain at 12 V:
IDLE radio channel Tbd
Receive Tbd
Transmit Tbd
Transmitter:
RF power 1 to 6 watts
Modulation 4-FSK with spectral precoder
Frequency stability 1.5 ppm
Channel spacing 12.5 kHz (narrow), 25 kHz (wide)
Channel step size 2.5 kHz VHF
Duty cycle 5% to 10%, depending upon voltage,
power level, and ambient temperature
RF load impedance 50 ohms
Receiver:
Sensitivity (95% reliability,
500 byte payload) Basic Telemetry Mode – xxx dBm Enhanced Telemetry Mode – xxx dBm
Mobile Data Mode – xxx dBm
Selectivity 60dB min (narrow), 70dB min (wide)
Intermod 70dB min
RF input impedance 50 ohms

RF Neulink 13 NL6000 User Guide
4. Hardware Installation and Operation
4.1. Parts Description
Figure 3: Parts Description of the NL6000
Part # Description
(1) Antenna Connector
(2) USB Port (used by factory)
(3) Tx/Rx LED
(4) Power Connector
(5) Pwr/USB LED
(6) Serial Port (DB9 Connector)
(7) not shown Mounting holes (on bottom)
4.2. Power Connections
Connect a 12 VDC power supply to the power connector to provide power
to the NL6000.
Note: If you want to use an external power amplifier, contact the RF
Neulink sales department.
4.3. Mounting Instructions
You can mount the NL6000 on any surface or enclosure using the
mounting holes provided. Use 4-40 mounting screws.

RF Neulink 14 NL6000 User Guide
Caution: The mounting screws should protrude no more than 3/16 inches
into the case to avoid damaging the electronic circuitry within the unit.
Caution: For radio modems operating with the 5 Watt VHF option, a
mounting bracket is required as an additional heatsink. The mounting
bracket is available from RF Neulink.
4.4. Serial Port
The serial port on the NL6000 is a 9 pin female connector.
The NL6000 is a Data Communications Equipment (DCE) device. Other
equipment that can connect to the NL6000 via the serial port fall into one
of the following categories:
DTE Data Terminal Equipment (computers, mainframes,
terminals)
DCE Data Communications Equipment (modems, printers,
other peripherals)
Connect a DTE device to the DB9 connector with a 9-pin male connector
wired one-for-one as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5.
Figure 4: DTE to DCE Connection
Figure 5: Male and Female Connectors with Numbered Pins

RF Neulink 15 NL6000 User Guide
Connect a DCE device to the DB9 connector with a “null modem” cable
wired as shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6: DTE to DTE Connection
4.5. Antenna Connection
You must connect a suitable antenna to the RF antenna connection. This
antenna is used for both transmitting and receiving over-the-air messages.
Caution: Do not operate the radio modem without an antenna.
4.6. LEDs
Table 1 interprets the two LEDs on the NL6000.
LED Color Meaning
Red Transmitting
Green Receiving a signal on the active channel.
Tx/Rx
None Not receiving or transmitting
Amber
Blinking Powered on
Green Powered on and connected to USB
Pwr/USB
None Powered off
Table 1: NL6000 LEDs
Note: If the Rx LED is continuously red, this means an open squelch or
interference problem exists that will inhibit transmissions.
4.7. Operation
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain the proper FCC license to
operate this product on the desired channel of operation.

RF Neulink 16 NL6000 User Guide
The NL6000 comes factory-configured for the broadcast mode of
operation and tuned and tested on the default frequency of 464,550 MHz
(UHF) and 154,6000 MHz (VHF).
The NL6000 operates automatically after you properly install the physical
units and configure the software parameters. In most networks with more
than two units, you must set the MYID and TOID parameters before
operation. Sections 5 and 6 discuss the available software parameters and
the procedures for setting them.
4.8. Technical Support
Telephone support is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to
4:00 pm Pacific Time at [phone].

RF Neulink 17 NL6000 User Guide
5. Software Configuration
5.1. Prerequisites
To configure the NL6000, you must connect a computer to the RS232 port
and run a terminal emulator such as Procomm or HyperTerminal.
5.2. Preparation
Plan the network before configuring the parameters that control each
individual unit. The network plan must address the following questions:
•What is the location of each unit in the network?
•Which units are remotes and base stations?
•Does the network require any repeaters?
•How many frequencies are available?
•Which transmission mode should be used?
You can configure the NL6000 as a remote or a base station. A remote is
limited to transmitting data to a pre-programmed destination. A base
station can transmit data to any remote using a destination ID specified in
the data string it receives from the serial port. See Section 5.3 for
additional detail on the data requirements for a base station.
Assign each NL6000 with a unique address (MYID). If the unit is a
remote, you also assign a destination address (TOID). The destination
address can be specific to a single unit or can include wildcards for
transmitting to a group of units. If the unit is a base station, the software
determines the TOID from the received data string. See Section 5.4 for
examples of addressing and wildcards.
If a reliable path does not exist between a remote unit and a base station,
you can configure one or more NL6000 units as a repeater to reach the
hidden unit. The repeater can work with both simplex and half duplex
networks. See Section 5.5 for additional detail on the unique behavior of a
repeater unit.
You can select from three radio channel transmission modes that provide
increasing levels of error control. By evaluating the signal strength and
path between two modems, you can select a transmission mode that results
in the best performance. See Section 5.6 for a description of each
transmission mode.

RF Neulink 18 NL6000 User Guide
5.3. Unique Data Requirements for a Base Station
When configured as a base station, there are specific requirements for the
data strings sent through the NL6000’s serial port. Because a base station
is the central point of a network, it must be able to selectively transmit to
any remote. To provide for selective destinations, each data string coming
into the serial port must begin with a colon (:) followed by four ASCII
characters that specify the destination TOID. The data string must
immediately follow the ASCII characters with no pause between them as
in the example:
:ABCD[user data]
5.4. Source and Destination Addressing
Specify a unique identification number for each NL6000 unit in the
network plan. This number, the MYID, references the source of the data
packet. The TOID is the destination address for the packet, so the TOID is
the MYID of the unit for which the data is intended. Both the MYID and
TOID are a hexadecimal value from 0000 to FFFF. Figure 7 illustrates
point-to-point addressing.
Figure 7: Point-to-Point Addressing
Use the FF character as a wildcard to designate a group of destination
units. For example, a TOID may be FF56 or 42FF. A packet sent with a
TOID of FF56 is a match to destination units with a MYID of 1256 and
8856. A packet sent with a TOID of 12FF is a match to destination units
with a MYID of 1277 and 1219. A TOID of FFFF is a broadcast to all
units.
Figure 8 shows the use of a wildcard (12FF) to transmit data to multiple
units within range of Unit #1 that have a MYID starting with “12”.

RF Neulink 19 NL6000 User Guide
Figure 8: Addressing with Wildcards
Figure 9 shows the use of a wildcard (FFFF) to broadcast data to all units
within range of Unit #4.
Figure 9: Using Wildcards to Broadcast
5.5. Behavior of Repeater Units
When configured as a repeater, the unit listens for packets that qualify for
repeating – in addition to its normal functions. A unit qualifies a packet for
repeating based upon the TOID or MYID value associated with the packet.
The trigger for repeating a packet from a base station to a remote is the
value in the packet’s TOID field. The trigger for repeating a packet from a
remote to a base station is the value in the packet’s MYID field. You can
establish up to eight triggers for each repeater unit.
Consider the following example of a repeater (MYID3000) configured to
repeat packets transmitted from a base station (MYID2000) to a hidden
remote (MYID4203). Unit MYID3000 is configured with a repeater entry
that has a Trigger = TOID and ID = 4203. This entry tells unit MYID3000
to listen for packets that have a destination address of TOID4203. If the
repeater receives a packet matching the criteria, it immediately repeats the
packet. Figure 10 illustrates this scenario.

RF Neulink 20 NL6000 User Guide
Figure 10: Repeat from a Base to a Remote
Consider the following example of a repeater (MYID3000) configured to
repeat packets transmitted from a hidden remote (TOID4201) to a base
station (TOID2000). Unit MYID3000 is configured with a repeater entry
that has a Trigger = MYID and ID = 4201. This entry tells unit
MYID3000 to listen for packets that have a source address of MYID4201.
If the repeater receives a packet matching the criteria, it immediately
repeats the packet. Figure 11 illustrates this scenario.
Figure 11: Repeat from a Remote to a Base Station
Because MYID and TOID values may use wildcards, it is possible to set
up a single repeater entry that will repeat all packets destined to a group of
hidden remotes. In Figure 12, a repeater entry with a Trigger = TOID and
ID = 42FF repeats any packet with a destination matching TOID42FF.
Figure 12: Repeat to Multiple Remotes using Wildcard