User's Manual

60 MDS Master Station MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D
The Master Station broadcasts a series of messages to one or more remote nodes to accomplish the
reprogramming process. The “broadcast” method is used to program the greatest number of radios in the
shortest amount of time; however, the Master Station remains unaware of the number or success of
downstream radios participating in reprogramming.
During reprogramming, the status of the reprogramming will be available on all the radios participating in
the process. Because the initiator is “broadcast-only” this status can only indicate progress toward sending
out of all of the messages. On the nodes, the progress toward completion of reception of reprogramming
information is indicated.
Receiving stations can automatically reboot to the new image after successful reprogramming.
Alternatively, there is an OTA reboot command that can be broadcast from the Master Station to all
receiving stations. This last option instructs the receivers to reboot to a specific firmware revision if
available, and not already running at that revision.
Reprogramming Parameters:
Channel Usage – Set to either Intrusive or Passive as desired.
Passive (Non-intrusive) operation “piggy-backs” reprogramming data onto normal payload data
streams, thus allowing payload data to continue uninterrupted, but will be slower than intrusive
operation. This mode requires payload data to be sent so that the reprogramming data can be
carried. See Table 5-2 for reprogramming times.
Intrusive operation means that the payload application data will be interrupted while
programming data is sent over the air. This is the fastest method of programming radios over the
air, but it comes at the cost of interruptions in the primary use of the radio network. For best
results, data polling should be stopped during Intrusive Reprogramming. See Table 5-3 for
reprogramming times.
Block Size – Sets the overall block size (in bytes) of each data packet. Default setting is 512.
Auto-Reboot – When enabled, the remote radios will automatically reboot after a firmware image
upgrade. If disabled, the newly loaded image will not become valid until the remote radio is rebooted
manually.
Packet Size – Specifies the size of the reprogramming data packets. Default size is 40.
Retry Count – Specifies the number of times each transmission is repeated. Default setting is 3.
Decreasing this value will decrease reprogramming times, but increase the chance of a remote radio not
properly receiving a packet.
Download Delay – Introduce a time delay before reprogramming begins. Typically, it is set to Short, but
may be increased incrementally by selecting one of the extended delay times from the drop-down box
(Short, Medium, Long, None)