User Manual

MDS 05-4055A01, Rev. A MDS entraNET 900 System Guide (Preliminary) 7
including reduced management requirements via the MDS NETview
MS application. Finally, entraNET offers a nearly unlimited potential
for future applications that run over IP and Ethernet.
1.2.3 Upgrading Older Wireless Network with
Serial Interfaces
Millions of wireless data products have been sold in the last two decades
for licensed and license-free operation, many of them manufactured by
Microwave Data Systems. There are several ways that these systems can
benefit from the more flexible MDS entraNET 900 equipment—more
flexible serial and Ethernet interfaces, and higher data throughput.
MDS entraNET 900 units are well suited to replace leased or dial-up
lines, or existing 900 MHz data transceivers by taking advantage of the
transceiver’s serial and Ethernet interfaces.
Replacing Legacy Wireless Products
In most cases, legacy radio transceivers supporting serial-interface
equipment can be replaced with MDS entraNET 900 units with little or
no special configuration. This equipment can be connected to MDS
entraNET 900 units through the
COM1
or
COM2
port with a DB-25 to
DB-9 cable wired for EIA-232 signaling. The
COM2
port supports all
standard EIA-232 signaling and acts as a data-terminal equipment
device (DTE).
Several previous MDS-brand products had non-standard signal lines on
their interface connectors; for example, to control the unit sleep func-
tion. These special functions are not provided nor supported by the
MDS entraNET 900 unit at this time. Always consult the legacy equip-
ment manual(s) for interface pinout information prior to making con-
nections.
Supplement legacy wireless network with IP services
The MDS entraNET 900 Dual Gateway model can support up to two
serial devices and one Ethernet connection at the same time. The serial
interfaces (COM1 and COM2) operate in two different modes: Connec-
tionless serial-to-serial (UDP) and connection-oriented IP-to-serial
(TCP).
In the UDP (connectionless serial-to-serial) mode, the transceiver sup-
ports point-to-multipoint serial-port to serial-port connectivity. In the
TCP (connection-oriented IP-to-serial) mode, the transceiver supports
point-to-point Ethernet/IP to serial port connectivity.
For further details on Serial Gateway interface modes, see “CONFIG-
URING THE SERIAL INTERFACES” on Page 32.