WTE MReX-SatLink User manual

MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
MReX-SatLink
LOW POWER SATELLITE IOT GATEWAY
User Manual
© WTE Limited, 0 3 – Christchurch New Zealand Page 1 of 53

MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
Table of Contents
Introduction.....................................................3
MReX-SatLink Features........................3
Safety Information...........................................4
Operation.........................................................8
Configuration...................................................9
Transmit Commands.................................11
*TX_FREQ..........................................11
*TX_PERIODIC..................................11
*TX_PWR............................................1
*TX_PROTO.......................................1
Receive Commands..................................13
*RX_FREQ..........................................13
*RX_BAUD.........................................13
*RX_MODE........................................14
*RX_RANGE......................................14
*CH_BUSY.........................................14
*RX_ENABLE....................................15
Base Commands.......................................16
*REBOOT............................................16
*CONFIG.............................................16
*SAVE..................................................16
*LIST...................................................16
*DEFAULTS........................................16
*VER....................................................17
*RSSI...................................................17
*LAB....................................................17
*RS4 _OPTS.....................................18
Store Forward Commands........................19
*STORE_FWD....................................19
Swarm Modem Commands...................... 0
*SWARM_OPTS................................. 0
*MODBUS...........................................
ASCII Protocol Commands...................... 3
*ASCII_OPTS..................................... 3
*ASCII_STATUS................................. 3
*ASCII_CMD...................................... 4
Protocols........................................................ 5
WT Protocol.............................................. 5
Support for Multiple Messages............ 6
Modbus RTU............................................. 8
Modbus Registers..................................... 9
Function Codes.................................... 9
Modbus Mapping Table.......................30
Minimum Operation Requirements.....31
Optional Robust System Operations....31
Optional Recovery Operations.............31
Optional Efficient Transmission Opera-
tions......................................................3
Examples..............................................3
ASCII Protocol.........................................33
POCSAG RX Message Queueing.............35
Installation.....................................................38
Cables Supplied........................................38
MReX-SatLink hardware..........................39
Internal Board...........................................39
Power Connection................................40
RS4 Serial Connection.....................40
Connecting to the MReX-SatLink............41
MReX SatLink Dimensions......................4
Antenna..........................................................44
Omni antenna............................................44
Directional antenna...................................44
Antenna Elevation.....................................44
Disclaimer......................................................47
Manufacturing marking and labels................48
Maintenance..................................................48
Product End Of Life......................................49
Product Warranty...........................................50
Specification..................................................51
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the MReX-SatLink.
The MReX-SatLink is a weatherproof solar powered satellite IoT gateway that shifts data using the
Swarm satellite constellation, owned by SpaceX.
The unit incorporates the Wireless Technologies MReX, which allows full time receiving of data
from a network of IoT sensors, or alternatively forward serial data bursts from third party devices
such as dataloggers.
Wired sensors can be directly connected via analog or digital input connections or through an
RS4 serial connection.
MReX-SatLink Features
•Simple integration with existing products, through either posting of ASCII-encoded serial
data or through the Modbus RTU protocol.
•Forwarding of received RF messages over the Swarm network with optional batching func-
tionality.
•MReX Output power up to 0 dBm and receiver sensitivity of -1 7 dBm (link to remote
sensors)
•“Polite” operation, checking the channel is clear before transmission.
•Acknowledges transmissions - clear LED indication of transmission success.
•Low operating frequency and modulation provides range coverage up to km in bush – and
greater than 15km line of sight with small elevation.
•Rapid installation.
•Directly integrates with all WTE radio products.
•Optionally sends POCSAG and proprietary data formats, giving many options over range,
performance and the final intended application.
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
Safety Information
Read these instructions carefully, and look at the equipment to become familiar with the device be-
fore trying to install, operate, or maintain it.
The following special messages may appear throughout this documentation or on the equipment to
warn of potential hazards or to call attention to information that clarifies or simplifies a procedure.
!This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to a potential personal injury
hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury
or death.
!WARNING
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
!CAUTION
CAUTION indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury
NOTICE
NOTICE is used to address practices not related to physical injury.
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
!WARNING
LOSS OF CONTROL
•The designer of any control scheme must consider the potential failure modes of control paths and,
for certain critical control functions, provide a means to achieve a safe state during and after a path
failure. Examples of critical control functions are emergency stop and over travel stop.
•Separate or redundant control paths must be provided for critical control functions.
•System control paths may include communication links. Consideration must be given to the implic-
ations of anticipated transmission delays or failures of the link.
Failure to ollow these instructions can result in death or serious injury
!WARNING
To comply with both FCC RF Exposure requirements in section 1.1310 of the FCC Rules and
EN50383, antennas used with this device must be installed to provide a separation distance of at
least 8 cm from all persons to satisfy RF exposure compliance.
DO NOT:
•Operate the transmitter when someone is within 8cm of the antenna. EN50383 regulatory
limits have deemed that 8cm is a safe clearance distance from this product while operating
at full power.
•Operate the transmitter unless all RF connectors are secure and any open connectors are
properly terminated.
•Use within 15cm of sensitive electronic devices and medical equipment while operating at
full power.
•Operate the equipment near electrical blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere. All
equipment must be properly grounded for safe operations.
!WARNING
THIS EQUIPMENT IS NOT INTENDED FOR MAINS VOLTAGES
•The MReX was NOT designed to operate and/or be connected directly to live main voltages. The
MReX must be connected to a certified, suitably rated low voltage DC supply.
Failure to ollow these instructions can result in death or serious injury
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
NOTICE
HAZARD OF EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
•This product is not chemical resistant, detergent, alcohol, aerosol sprays, and/or petroleum products may
damage the front panel. Clean using a soft cloth moistened in water.
•The radio can be damaged if there is any potential difference between the chassis-ground, Serial
signal ground, power (-) input, or antenna coaxial shield. Before connecting any wiring, ensure
that all components are earthed to a common ground point.
•The antenna port will be damaged if signals greater than 13 dBm are injected/received.
•Do not connect any other transmitter to the RF connector or share the antenna with any other
device.
•Extreme Heat or High temperatures can damage MReX components. DO NOT expose or oper-
ate the unit in extreme heat (above 65 degrees Celsius).
•Although this product is designed to be rugged, it will not survive excessive shock or vibration
abuse.
•When antennas are co-located on a community (shared) site the correct site engineering must be
performed to ensure that RF exposure limits are met.
NOTICE
CARE REQUIRED WHEN TRANSPORTING
Safety and care must be taken when transporting, handling, installing and/or replacing radio equip-
ment.
•Packaging should be adequate to ensure connectors are not damaged
•Store and handle the radio equipment in dry, clean safe environment
•Handle the equipment with care
•Care when stacking boxes must be taken to not damage part of the radio, such as connect-
ors.
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
FCC NOTICE
This device complies with Part 15. 47 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference and
. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device must be operated as supplied by the equipment supplier. Any changes or modifications
made to the device without the written consent of the equipment supplier may void the user’s au-
thority to operate the device.
End user products that have this device embedded must be installed by experienced radio and an-
tenna personnel, or supplied with non-standard antenna connectors, and antennas available from
vendors specified by the equipment supplier. Please contact the equipment supplier for end user
antenna and connector recommendations.
Exposure to RF energy is an important safety consideration. The FCC has adopted a safety stand-
ard for human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by FCC regulated
equipment as a result of its actions in General Docket 79-144 on March 13 1996.
This equipment complies with the FCC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with a
minimum distance of 11cm between the radiator and any part of your body
NOTICE
This symbol on the product or its packaging indicates that this product must not be
disposed of with other waste.
Instead, it is your responsibility to dispose of your waste equipment by handing it over to a
designated collection point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment at the time of disposal will help
conserve natural resources and help ensure that it is recycled in a manner that protects human
health and the environment. For more information about where you can drop off your waste equip-
ment for recycling, contact the dealer from whom you originally purchased the product.
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
Operation
When power is applied to the MReX-SatLink, there is a start-up period of 6 seconds before the mo-
dem is checked for queued messages to transmit.
On startup the following string is transmitted out the RS4 serial connection:
WTE-SATLINK vXX.XX – vXX.XX\r\n
where XX can be a variable number.
If there are no messages queued, the MReX will move to a low power state of operation and power
down the modem. The unit will wake on receiving serial commands, when receiving remote sensor
messages or on input change events.
When a valid serial or radio message has been received, power is applied to the satellite modem.
If the satellite modem is off or initialising, up to 8 messages will be queued in the MReX processor.
When able, queued messages will be shifted to the modem for transmission. The modem may not
actually transmit for several hours depending on satellite position.
When the modem has transmitted all queued messages, the modem will be powered down, and the
MReX-SatLink will return to its normal low power mode of operation. If the configured maximum
awake time has passed without transmission, the MReX-SatLink will return to it’s normal low
power mode for the configured sleep time before waking up and attempting to transmit again.
Note: All messages queued for transmission over the Swarm network are appended with a single
byte that represents a sequence number from 0- 55. This can be used to track any potential failures
to transmit. This sequence number is reset on system startup and when 55 messages have been
queued for transmission.
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MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
Configuration
In order to configure, connect to the unit RS4 serial port. Parameters can be changed using any
common serial terminal program. A free serial terminal program that also allows saving and load-
ing of configuration files can be downloaded from wte.co.nz/tools.html
Start-up operation is always at 9600:8-N-1.
All configuration commands always start with the asterisk ‘*’ character.
All messages that do not start with the * character are processed by the protocol decoder.
All messages (except Modbus RTU) are terminated by a Carriage Return character, shown in this
manual as <CR>
All commands that accept a value, can have that value read back by using the ‘?’ suffix. E.g.
*TX_FREQ?
Returns
*TX_FREQ=460000000 (for example)
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Figure 1: WTE Serial Terminal

MReX-SatLink User Manual v3.43 Firmware
There are some commands that support multiple entries (such as the same command but for differ-
ent ranges). In this case the question mark can be followed by the parameter to be interrogated. E.g.
*RX_RANGE?< R>
Returns (lists all ranges)
*RX_RANGE=1:8,2000000
*RX_RANGE=2:0,0
*RX_RANGE=3:0,0
*RX_RANGE=4:0,0
To find the first range only, usage would be:
*RX_RANGE?1< R>
Returns
*RX_RANGE=1:8,2000000
Note: It is a good practice to restart the unit after changing configuration. This can be achieved by
removing power to the unit or sending the *REBOOT< R> command.
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