™ MDS iNET 900 Series Wireless IP/Ethernet Transceiver Firmware Release 4 MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1 DECEMBER 2005 User s Guide Microwave Data Systems Inc.
QUICK-START INSTRUCTIONS INSTALLATION SUMMARY Step 1 – Mount the Transceiver Step 2 – Install the Antenna ANTENNA SYSTEM Step 3 – Measure & Connect Primary Power (10.5–30 Vdc) Step 4 – Review the transceiver’s Configuration DATA TERMINAL EQUIPMENT OR LAN/WAN Device Mode—Access Point, or Remote (Default) Network Name—Unique name for each radio network. Required for Remotes to associate with Access Point. IP Address—Must be a unique number to allow for IP access through the Ethernet Port.
Contents 1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW AND APPLICATIONS ......... 1 1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................. 3 1.1.1 Model Offerings ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 APPLICATIONS .............................................................................................................. 5 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.2.7 Wireless LAN ........
2.6 STEP 5—CONNECT LAN AND/OR SERIAL EQUIPMENT ......................................... 22 2.7 STEP 6—CHECK FOR NORMAL OPERATION........................................................... 23 3 EMBEDDED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ................... 25 3.1 MS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 27 3.1.1 Differences in the User Interfaces ..................................................................................... 27 3.
3.8 PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION ................................................................................ 76 3.8.1 Performance Information Menu ......................................................................................... 76 3.8.2 Network Performance Notes ............................................................................................. 87 3.9 MAINTENANCE............................................................................................................ 91 3.9.1 3.9.2 3.
TECHNICAL REFERENCE ................................... 141 6.1 DATA INTERFACE CONNECTORS ............................................................................ 143 6.1.1 LAN Port .......................................................................................................................... 143 6.1.2 COM1 Port ....................................................................................................................... 144 6.1.3 COM2 Port .........................................
Other MDS iNET 900 Series Documentation The associated MDS iNET 900 Series Installation Guide, P/N 05-2873A01, is provided with the transceiver and is limited to essential information needed for installers. The installation guide assumes some guidance to installers will be provided by the readers of this manual. This includes such things as antenna selection, radio communication site survey tools and techniques, and network design.
UL/CSA Conditions of Approval: The transceiver is not acceptable as a stand-alone unit for use in the hazardous locations described above. It must either be mounted within another piece of equipment which is certified for hazardous locations, or installed within guidelines, or conditions of approval, as set forth by the approving agencies. These conditions of approval are as follows: The transceiver must be mounted within a separate enclosure which is suitable for the intended application.
1 PRODUCT OVERVIEW AND APPLICATIONS 1 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ..................................................... 3 1.1.1 Model Offerings ........................................................................ 5 1.2 APPLICATIONS ....................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Wireless LAN ........................................................................... 5 1.2.2 Point-to-Point LAN Extension ............................
2 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
1.1 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION The MDS iNET 900 transceiver provides an easy-to-install wireless solution for local area network (LAN) service with plug-and-play hardware and long range operation. It supports both Ethernet and serial data interface options at over-the-air data speeds of up to 512 kbps for iNET and 1024 kbps for iNET II).
abling/disabling remote access channels, and password protection. Remember, security is not a one-step process that can simply be turned on and forgotten. It must be practiced and enforced at multiple levels, 24 hours-a-day and 7 days-a-week. See “MDS SECURITY SUITE” on Page 14 for more information about the transceiver’s security tools.
1.1.1 Model Offerings The transceiver comes in two primary models—Access Point and Remote. Three types of Remote Gateways are available—the Ethernet Bridge, the Serial Gateway, and the Dual Gateway supporting both IP/Ethernet and serial services. Table 1-1 summaries the different interface abilities for each type. A unit can be configured by the owner to operate as an Access Point or as a Remote with some restrictions. Only the Dual Gateway Remote units can be reconfigured as an Access Point.
The Access Point is positioned at a location from which it can communicate with all of the Remote units in the system. Commonly, this is a high location on top of a building or communications tower. Messages are exchanged at the Ethernet level. This includes all types of IP traffic. A Remote transceiver can only talk over-the-air to an Access Point unit (AP). Peer-to-peer communications between Remotes can only take place indirectly via the AP.
A Remote transceiver using one serial port for the data stream, and the other for network-wide diagnostics can support operational radio networks built with earlier MDS radios, such as MDS x790/x710, MDS x810 and others. In the case of these existing radios, where a single port is used for data and diagnostics, the capabilities are doubled. The data streams are delivered to an IP socket in an application, or in serial format using the Access Point.
Invisible place holder RTU Remote Serial EIA-232 Flow Meter SCADA Host Modbus/IP EIA-232 Remote Serial HUB HUB EIA-232 Serial Device EIA-232 Serial Device EIA-232 Serial Device EIA-232 Serial Device Access Point WAN ROUTER Remote Serial HUB HUB Access Point NETview SCADA Host Total Flow Figure 1-5. Multiple Protocol Network By using a single radio, the cost of deployment is cut in half.
Invisible place holder Remote Bridge IP Camera IP/Ethernet Device Access Point Remote Bridge IP/Ethernet Device NMS Control Point SCADA Host Modbus/IP IP/Ethernet Device Printer Figure 1-6. Extended-Range LAN with Mixed Applications 1.2.6 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.
In the UDP mode, the transceiver supports point-to-multipoint serial-port to serial-port connectivity. In the TCP mode, it supports point-to-point Ethernet/IP to serial port connectivity. For further details on the transceiver’s Serial Gateway interface modes, see “CONFIGURING THE SERIAL INTERFACES” on Page 56. 1.2.7 High-Speed Mobile Data The iNET radios support high-speed data communications in a mobile environment.
Invisible place holder Remote REPEATER INT O O-P T-T Access Point K LIN IN PO Remote LAN Ethernet Crossover Cable Remote LAN Access Point Remote LAN/WAN LAN Figure 1-7. Typical LAN with a Repeater Link Overview Two transceivers may be connected “back-to-back” through the LAN Ports to form a repeater station. (The cable must be a “cross-over” Ethernet cable for this to work).
Option 2—Using the AP as a Store-and-Forward Packet Repeater A wireless network can be extended through the use of an alternate arrangement using the Access Point as a repeater to re-transmit the signals of all stations in the network. The repeater is a standard transceiver configured as an Access Point, and operating in Store and Forward mode. (See Figure 1-8.) Invisible place holder Remote Remote LAN Remote Access Point REPEATER LAN LAN/WAN Remote LAN Figure 1-8.
The Access Points are unaware of the existence of the other AP’s. Because the hopping algorithm uses both the Network Name and the Wireless MAC address of the AP to generate the hopping pattern, multiple AP’s can coexist—even if they use the same network name. The collocated AP’s will be using different hopping patterns and frequencies the great majority of the time. Although some data collisions will occur, the wireless-MAC is built to tolerate and recover from such occurrences with minimal degradation.
antenna separation between the two AP antennas on the same support structure. If that does not work, consult with your factory representative about other techniques for controlling radio frequency interference between the radios. (See “A Word About Radio Interference” on Page 136 for more details.) 1.4 MDS SECURITY SUITE Today the operation and management of an enterprise is becoming increasing dependent on electronic information flow.
Table 1-2. Security Risk Management Security Vulnerability MDS iNET 900 Solution Unprotected access to configuration via SNMPv1 •Implement SNMPv3 secure Intrusion detection • Provides early warning via SNMP operation through critical event reports (unauthorized, logging attempts, etc.) 1.4.
Table 1-3. Accessories 16 Accessory Description MDS Part No. 2-Pin Power Plug Mates with power connector on transceiver. Screw terminals provided for wires, threaded locking screws to prevent accidental disconnect. 73-1194A39 Ethernet RJ-45 Straight-thru Cable (CAT5) Cable assembly used to connect an Ethernet device to the transceiver. Both ends of the cable are wired identically. (Cable length ≈ 3 ft.
2 TABLETOP EVALUATION AND TEST SETUP 2 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 2.1 OVERVIEW.............................................................................. 19 2.2 STEP 1—INSTALL THE ANTENNA CABLING........................ 19 2.3 STEP 2—MEASURE & CONNECT THE PRIMARY POWER . 20 2.4 STEP 3—CONNECT PC TO THE TRANSCEIVER................. 20 2.5 STEP 4—REVIEW TRANSCEIVER CONFIGURATION ......... 21 2.5.1 Getting Started .........................................................................
18 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
2.1 OVERVIEW It is best to set up a tabletop network that can be used to verify the basic operation of the transceivers and give you a chance to experiment with network designs, configurations or network equipment in a convenient location. This test can be performed with any number of radios. When you are satisfied that the network is functioning properly in a bench setting, field installation can be performed.
NOTE: It is very important to use attenuation between all units in the test setup. The amount of attenuation required will depend on the number of units being tested and the desired signal strength (RSSI) at each transceiver during the test. In no case should a signal greater than –50 dBm be applied to any transceiver in the test setup. An RF power output level of +20 dBm is recommended. (See “Radio Configuration Menu” on Page 48.) 2.
2.5 STEP 4—REVIEW TRANSCEIVER CONFIGURATION 2.5.1 Getting Started Start by logging into the Access Point. Set up the Access Point first because the Remotes are dependent on its beacon signal to achieve the “associated” state. NOTE: Transceivers are shipped from the factory set to the “Remote” mode unless they are marked differently.
Table 2-1. Basic Configuration Defaults Item Menu Location Default Values/Range Device Mode1 Main Menu>> Network Configuration>> Device Mode Marked on unit’s ID label • Access Point • Dual Remote • Serial Gateway • Ethernet Bridge Network Name Main Menu>> Network Configuration>> Network Name “Not Programmed” • 1–15 alphanumeric characters IP Address Main Menu>> Network Configuration>> IP Address 192.168.1.
Invisible place holder LAN ◆ 10BaseT ◆ IP/Ethernet Port ◆ IP Address: 192.168.1.1 COM1 ◆ DCE Console/Terminal ◆ 19,200 bps/8N1 ◆ No Handshaking ◆ RS/EIA-232 ANTENNA ◆ 50Ω TNC ◆ +30 dBm/1W Out (Max.) ◆ –30 dBm Input (Max.) COM2 ◆ DTE Serial Data Equip. ◆ 9,600 bps/8N1 PRIMARY POWER ◆ Full Handshaking ◆ 13.8 Vdc @ 500 ma ◆ RS/EIA-232. (10.5–30 Vdc) ◆ Negative Ground ◆ + Left – Right Figure 2-3. Interface Connectors, Functions & Defaults 2.
Table 2-2.
3 EMBEDDED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 3 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 3.1 MS INTRODUCTION............................................................... 27 3.1.1 Differences in the User Interfaces ............................................ 27 3.2 ACCESSING THE MENU SYSTEM ........................................ 29 3.2.1 Methods of Control ................................................................... 30 3.2.2 PC Connection & Log In Procedures ....................................... 30 3.2.
3.7.1 Approved Remotes/Access Points List Menu .......................... 75 3.8 PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION ........................................... 76 3.8.1 Performance Information Menu ................................................ 76 3.8.2 Network Performance Notes .................................................... 87 3.9 MAINTENANCE....................................................................... 91 3.9.1 3.9.2 3.9.3 3.9.4 3.9.5 3.9.6 3.9.7 3.9.8 26 Reprogramming Menu ....................
3.1 MS INTRODUCTION The transceiver’s embedded management system is accessible through various data interfaces. These include the COM1 (serial) port, LAN (Ethernet) port, and via SNMP. Essentially the same capabilities are available through any of these paths. For SNMP management, the transceiver is compatible with MDS NETview MS™ software. Refer to MDS publication 05-2973A01 for more information on this tool.
Figure 3-1. Embedded Management System—Top-level Flowchart 28 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1 RSSI Hardware Version User Password HTTP Security Mode Force Key Rotation Remote Perf.
Figure 3-2. View of MS with a text-based program— (Terminal Emulator shown—Telnet has similar menu structure) Invisible place holder Figure 3-3. View of the MS with a Browser 3.2 ACCESSING THE MENU SYSTEM The radio has no external controls. All configuration, diagnostics and control is performed electronically using a connected PC. This section explains how to connect a PC, log into the unit, and gain access to the built-in menu screens. MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
3.2.1 Methods of Control The unit’s configuration menus may be accessed in one of several ways: • Local Console—This is the primary method used for the examples in this manual. Connect a PC directly to the COM 1 port using a serial communications cable and launch a terminal communications program such as HyperTerminal. This method provides text-based access to the unit’s menu screens. Console control is a hardware-based technique, and is intended for local use only.
Invisible place holder To COM1 or LAN Port (See Text) US B LA N CO M1 CO M2 CO M3 PW R Serial or Ethernet Crossover Cable (See Text) Configuration PC Figure 3-4. PC Configuration Setup Starting a Local Console Session (Recommended for first-time Users) 1. Connect a serial communications cable between the PC and the unit’s COM 1 port. If necessary, a cable may be constructed for this purpose as shown in Figure 3-5.
4. Enter the username (default username is admin). Press ENTER . 5. Enter your password (default password is admin). (For security, your password keystrokes do not appear on the screen.) Press ENTER . NOTE: Passwords are case sensitive. Do not use punctuation mark characters. You may use up to eight alpha-numeric characters. The unit responds with the Starting Information Screen (Figure 3-6). From here, you can review basic information about the unit or press G to proceed to the Main Menu.
2. Start the Telnet program on your computer targeting the IP address of the unit to which you are connected. and press ENTER . TIP: A Telnet session can be started on most PCs by selecting: Start>>Programs>>Accessories>>Command Prompt. At the command prompt window, type the word telnet, followed by the unit’s IP address (e.g., telnet 10.1.1.168). Press ENTER to receive the Telnet log in screen. NOTE: Never connect multiple units to a network with the same IP address.
Invisible place holder admin Figure 3-7. Log-in Screen when using a Web Browser NOTE: Passwords are case sensitive. Do not use punctuation mark characters. You may use up to eight alpha-numeric characters. 5. Click OK. The unit responds with a startup menu screen similar to that shown in Figure 3-8. From here, you can review basic information about the unit or click on one of the menu items at the left side of the screen. Invisible place holder Figure 3-8.
pressing the tree. ESCAPE key moves the screen back one level in the menu In general, the top portion of menu screens show read-only information (with no user selection letter). The bottom portion of the screen contains parameters that can be selected for further information, alteration of values, or to navigate to other submenus. When you arrive at a screen with user-controllable parameter fields, you select the menu item by pressing an associated letter on the keyboard.
3.3 BASIC DEVICE INFORMATION This section contains detailed menu screens and settings that you can use to specify the behavior of the unit. 3.3.1 Starting Information Screen Once you have logged into the Management System, you will be presented with a screen that provides an overview of the transceiver and its current operating condition. It provides an array of vital information and operating conditions. Figure 3-9.
• Hop Sync—The unit has changed its frequency hopping pattern to match that of the Access Point. • Associated —This unit has successfully synchronized and associated with an Access Point. • Alarmed—The unit is has detected one or more alarms that have not been cleared. NOTE: If an alarm is present when this screen is displayed, an “A)” appears to the left of the Device Status field. Pressing the “A” key on your keyboard takes you directly to the “Current Alarms” screen.
• • • • • • Radio Configuration—Tools to configure the wireless (radio) layer of the transceiver. (See “Radio Configuration Menu” on Page 48) Serial Gateway Configuration—Tools to configure the two serial ports. (See “Serial Data Port Configuration Menu” on Page 59) Security Configuration—Tools to configure the security services available with the transceiver’s environment.
• • Uptime (Display only)—Elapsed time since powering up. used at user’s discretion for general administrative purposes. The Device Name field is used by the transceiver as the “Realm” name for network security and in the MS screen headings. (See Figure 3-12 on Page 39) • Date—Current date being used for the transceiver logs. User-setable. (Value lost with power failure if SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) server not accessible.) • Time—Current time of day. User-setable.
3.4 CONFIGURING NETWORK PARAMETERS 3.4.1 Network Configuration Menu The Network Configuration Menu is the home of three parameters that should be reviewed and changed as necessary before placing a transceiver in service—Device Mode, IP Address and Network Name. Screens for both the Access Point and Remote units are shown below. Figure 3-13. Network Configuration Menu From Access Point Figure 3-14. Network Configuration Menu From Remote Unit 40 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
• Device Mode (User Review Recommended)—Either a variation of a Remote. [Remote] Access Point or • Network Name (User Review Required)—Name of the radio network of which this unit will be a part. Essential for association of Remotes to the Access Point in the network. [Not Programmed] TIP: For enhanced security, consider using misspelled words, a combination of letters and numbers, and a combination of upper and lower case letters. Also, the Network Name should be at least nine characters long.
• Database Timeout (AP Only)—This sets the database “age time” (Remote Listing Menu (Access Points Only) on Page 84) to determine when a remote is declared as unavailable. The timer may be set from 0 to 255 minutes and resets each time a message is received from a remote. [0–255 minutes; 5 minutes] • Database Logging (AP Only)—Determines which types of devices will be reported as “added” or “deleted” from the AP’s database (See Section 3.8.1, Performance Information Menu (beginning on Page 76).
CAUTION: Changes to any of the following parameters while communicating over the network (LAN or over-the-air) may cause a loss of communication with the unit being configured. Communication will need to be re-established using the new IP address. • IP Address Mode—Defines the source device. [Static, Dynamic; Static] • Dynamic Mode—Enabling of the IP address of this this option forces the transceiver (AP or Remote) to obtain an IP address from any DHCP server available on the LAN.
Figure 3-16. Ethernet Port Configuration Menu • Ethernet port enabled/disabled—Allows remote disabling of Ethernet traffic for security purposes. [Enabled, Disabled; Enabled] • Ethernet Rate Limit—The transceiver will send alarms (SNMP traps) when the rate reaches 50%, 75%, and 100% to help identify potential problems with traffic. • Ethernet Link (H/W) Watch (AP Only)—Detects the lack of an Ethernet connection to the LAN port at the electrical level (link integrity).
matic IP address assignments is that SNMP services may become inaccessible as they are dependent on fixed IP addresses. The network can be comprised of radios with the DHCP-provided IP address enabled or with DHCP services disabled. In this way, you can accommodate locations for which a fixed IP address if desired. Figure 3-17. DHCP Server Configuration Menu NOTE: There should be only one DHCP server active in a network (MDS iNET 900 or other DHCP server).
3.4.5 SNMP Agent Configuration The transceiver contains over 100 custom SNMP-manageable objects as well as the IETF standard RFC1213 for protocol statistics, also known as MIB II. Off-the-shelf SNMP managers such as Castle Rock Computing SNMPc™ and Hewlett Packard HP OpenView™ may also be used to access the transceiver’s SNMP Agent’s MIB. The transceiver’s SNMP agent supports SNMPv3. The objects are broken up into nine MIB files for use with your SNMP manager.
Invisible place holder Figure 3-18. SNMP Server Configuration Menu From Access Point This menu provides configuration and control of vital SNMP functions. • community name with SNMPv1/SNMPv2c read access. This string can be up to 30 alpha-numeric characters. • Write Community String—SNMP community name with SNMPv1/SNMPv2c write access. This string can be up to 30 alpha-numeric characters. • Trap Community String—SNMP community name with SNMPv1/SNMPv2c trap access.
• Trap Version—This specifies what version of SNMP will be used to encode the outgoing traps. The choices are v1_traps, v2_traps, and v3_traps. When v3_traps are selected, v2-style traps are sent, but with a v3 header. [v1 Traps, v2 Traps, v3 Traps] • Auth Traps Status—Indicates whether or not traps will be generated for login events to the transceiver. [Disabled/Enabled; Disabled] • SNMP V3 Passwords—Determines whether v3 passwords are managed locally or via an SNMP Manager.
Figure 3-20. Radio Configuration Menu From Remote Unit • RF Output Power (User Review Recommended)—Sets/displays RF power output level. Displayed in dBm. Setting should reflect local regulatory limitations and losses in antenna transmission line. (See “How Much Output Power Can be Used?” on Page 135 for information on how to calculate this value.) [20–30; 20] • Data Rate (Remote Only. AP fixed is at 256/512 kbps for iNET; 512/1024 kbps for iNET II.
• (Not applicable to iNET II)—Duration (in milliseconds) of one hop on a particular frequency in the hopping pattern. Dwell Time should be set to 32.8 ms. (This field is only changeable on an Access Point. Remotes get their value from AP upon association.) [16.4, 32.8, 65.5, 131.1, 262.1; 32.8] Dwell Time TIP: If a packet is being transmitted and the dwell time expires, the packet will be completed before hopping to the next frequency.
NOTE: While the transceiver accepts RTS Threshold values below 100, the lowest value that works is 100. TIP: Lower the RTS Threshold as the number of Remotes or overall over-the-air traffic increases. Using RTS/CTS is a trade-off, giving up some throughput in order to prevent collisions in a busy over-the-air network. The RTS Threshold should be enabled and set with a value smaller than the Fragmentation Threshold described above.
Figure 3-21. Skip Zone Options Menu (“Commit changes” displayed only on Access Point units) This is a display of current utilization of 10 zones, each of eight RF operating frequencies. Zones can be toggled between Active and Skipped at Access Point units by first keying in the letter of the zone to be changed, and then pressing the spacebar to toggle between the two options for each zone. Select the Commit Changes menu item to implement changes.
Invisible place holder Figure 3-22. Auto Data Rate Menu NOTE: In the description below, “high speed” refers to 512 kbps for the iNET radio and 1024 kbps for the iNET II radio. “Standard speed” refers to 256 kbps for the iNET radio and 512 kbps for the iNET II. The Auto Data Rate Configuration submenu consists of two threshold settings, each accompanied by a “delta” (amount of change) setting. Using the example of Figure 3-22, assume the current RSSI is -87 dBm.
Figure 3-22 shows the default values for RSSI and SNR parameters but these may be changed to optimize performance in your environment. In properly designed systems, experience has shown that RSSI levels between -50 dBm and -90 dBm provide reliable operation, provided the signal-to-noise ratio is 17 dB or above. Tailoring the thresholds with these baseline values in mind, can provide improved performance in your system.
avoid linking back to the same AP. If no alternate AP is found, a link is eventually made to the same AP as before. This is why it is important to design a system with sufficient overlapping coverage by multiple APs. Invisible place holder Figure 3-23. Enabling Mobility at Remote Radio Invisible place holder Figure 3-24. Radio Configuration Screen—Remote Other parameter settings that should be reviewed for Mobility Mode: • MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
• • • • • • Dwell Time [AP; 16.4 milliseconds]—This setting controls the amount of time that the unit spends on each frequency between hops. Due to the varying conditions of a mobile environment, this dwell time setting maximizes the benefits of frequency diversity.
between serial and IP remote devices. Two common scenarios are PC applications using IP to talk to remote devices, and serial PC applications talking to remote serial devices over an IP network. Essentially the same data services are available for both serial ports: COM1 and COM2. Note that the transceiver’s COM1 port is DCE and COM2 is DTE. Therefore, if the RTU to be connected is also DTE, then a null-modem cable will need to be used when connecting to COM2.
When data is received by the radio through the serial port it is buffered until the packet is received completely. There are two events that signal an end-of-packet to the radio: a period of time since the last byte was received, or a number of bytes that exceed the buffer size. Both of these triggers are user configurable. One radio can perform serial data encapsulation (IP-to-Serial) and talk to a PC.
The serial-to-serial example which follows shows how to provide multicast services. (See “Point-to-Multipoint Serial-to-Serial Application Example” on Page 69.) PPP External devices can connect to the transceiver using PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). The transceiver works as a server and assigns an IP address to the device that connects through this interface.
Figure 3-25. Serial Configuration Wizard • Begin Wizard—Tool for configuration of serial ports using a step-by-step process. • View Current Settings—Displays all settable options. Depending on the selected IP protocol. 3.6.3 Configuring for UDP Mode Invisible place holder Figure 3-26. UDP Point-to-Multipoint Menu UDP point-to-multipoint to send a copy of the same packet to multiple destinations, such as in a polling protocol.
• • • • • • • • • • • MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1 IP Protocol—Point to Multipoint [TCP, UDP PPP; TCP]. This is the type of IP port that will be offered by the transceiver’s serial device server. Multicast IP Address (used instead of Local IP Address when using UDP Point-to-Multipoint.)— Must be configured with a valid Class D IP address (224.0.0.0–239.255.255.255). IP packets received with a matching destination address will be processed by this unit [Any legal IP address; 0.0.0.0].
• (Custom Packet Mode only)—Maximum amount of characters, that the Remote end will buffer locally before starting to transmit data through the serial port. [16, 32, 64, 128, 256; 32] • Commit Changes and Exit Wizard—Save and execute changes made on this screen (Shown only after changes have been entered.) Invisible place holder Custom Data Buffer Size Figure 3-27. UDP Point-to-Point Menu Use UDP point-to-point configuration to send information to a single device. • • the serial data port.
• • • • • • • • MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1 Packet Redundancy Mode— For proper operation, all radios’ Serial Packet Redundancy mode must match (Single Packet mode vs. Packet Repeat mode). This is because a transceiver, when in Packet Repeat mode, sends 12 extra characters (sequence numbers, etc.) to control the delivery of the repeated data. Misconfigurations can result in undesired operation. Data Baud Rate—Data rate (payload) for the COM port in bits-per-second.
3.6.4 Configuring for TCP Mode Invisible place holder Figure 3-28. TCP Client Menu (Remote) • • • • • • • • • • 64 Status—Enable/Disable the serial data port. IP Protocol—TCP Client. This is the type of IP port that will be offered by the transceiver’s serial device server. [TCP, UDP, PPP; TCP] Primary Host Address—The IP address to be used as a destination for data received through the serial port. [Any legal IP address; 0.0.0.
• Serial Mode— If data buffering is Enabled, the radio will oper- ate in seamless mode. Data bytes will be sent over the air as quickly as possible, but the receiver will buffer the data until enough bytes have arrived to cover worst case gaps in transmission. The delay introduced by data buffering may range from 22 to 44 ms, but the radio will not create any gaps in the output data stream.
• Data Baud Rate—Data rate (payload) for bits-per-second. [1,200–115,200; 19200] • Configuration—Interface • • • • • the COM port in signaling parameters. Data bits, parity and stop bits [7N1, 7E1, 7O1, 8N1, 8E1, 8O1, 8N1, 7N2, 7E2, 7O2, 8N2, 8E2, 8O2; 8N1]. Flow Control (COM2 only)—RTS/CTS handshaking between the transceiver and the connected device. [Enable, Disable; Disabled] Serial Mode— If data buffering is Enabled, the radio will operate in seamless mode.
• • • • • • • • • • Status—Enable/Disable the serial data port. This is the type of IP port that will be offered by the transceiver’s serial device server. [TCP, UDP, PPP; TCP] Device IP Address—IP address that will be assigned to the dialing device once the connection is established. [0.0.0.0] Data Baud—The baud rate of the serial port of the transceiver to which the external device is connected.
connection is closed, or the link is interrupted. In this mode, the transceiver behaves the same, whether it is an Access Point or a Remote. (See Figure 3-31 and Table 3-1) NOTE: The TCP session has a timeout of 10 minutes (600 seconds). If inactive for that time, it will be closed. The transceiver will offer the port again for connection after this time expires.
192.168.0.10 192.168.0.1 Invisible place holder 192.168.0.2 LA N COM 1 EIA-232 Terminal or Computer COM 2 PW R LIN K Access Point EIA-232 Remote RTU Figure 3-32. Point-to-Point Serial-to-Serial Application Diagram Table 3-2. Serial Port Application Configuration Transceiver Location Menu Item Setting Access Point (COM2)1 Status Enabled Data Baud Rate 9,600 (Example) Flow Control Hardware (Example) Serial Mode Seamless SIFD 4 IP Protocol UDP Remote IP Address 192.168.0.
Access Point, stripped, and sent out the Access Point’s COM port (see Figure 3-33, Table 3-3, Figure 3-34, and Figure 3-35 on Page 71. Invisible place holder 192.168.0.2 192.168.0.10 192.168.0.1 LA N COM 1 EIA-232 COM 2 PW R LIN K Remote RTU 192.168.0.3 EIA-232 LA N COM 1 EIA-232 COM 2 PW R Terminal or Computer Access Point LIN K RTU Remote LA N COM 1 EIA-232 COM 2 PW R LIN K 192.168.0.4 Remote RTU Figure 3-33.
Figure 3-34. Access Point Serial Port Configuration Figure 3-35. Remote Radio Serial Port Configuration 3.6.9 Mixed Modes Note that in this example, the TCP mode does not involve the Access Point. Thus, the transceiver in a single network can run in both modes at the same time. In other words, some Remotes can be configured for TCP mode while others can be configured (along with the Access Point) for UDP mode. In this configuration, the Host PC can use both data paths to reach the RTUs.
Operation and Data Flow • Communicate with RTU A by Telneting to Remote 1, port 30011. • Communicate with RTU B by Telneting to Remote 2, port 30011. • Communicate with RTUs C and D by sending and receiving data from the Access Point’s COM port. • All communication paths can be used simultaneously.
Table 3-4. Serial Port Application Configuration (Continued) Transceiver Location Menu Item Setting IP Protocol UDP Send to Address IP address of the AP Send to Port 30011 Receive on Port 30011 Receive on Address 224.254.1.1 (The multicast IP address used for the AP’s Send To Address above) 3.7 SECURITY CONFIGURATION There are many options to assist you in providing secondary security for your transceivers and the network.
• Encryption— Enable encryption [Enabled, Disabled; Disabled] of over-the-air data packets. Enabling forces the transceiver to use 128-bit encryption on all over-the-air messages. This option requires the Encryption Phrase to be previously configured. • Auto Key Rotation—Enable automatic rotation of encryption keys.
3.7.1 Approved Remotes/Access Points List Menu This menu is the same for both Access Points and Remotes and the names change to reflect their mode. Replace “Remotes” with Access Points” in the following description. NOTE: The limit for remotes (in an Access Point) is 255. The limit for Access Points (in a remote) is 104. Figure 3-38. Approved Remotes List Menu • Add Remote—Enter MAC address of Remote.
3.8 PERFORMANCE VERIFICATION After the basic operation of the radio has been checked, you may wish to optimize the network’s performance using some of the following suggestions. The effectiveness of these techniques will vary with the design of your system and the format of the data being sent. There are two major areas for possible improvement—the radio and the data network.
• • • • • • Event Log—Access the menu for managing the unit’s log of operational activities.(See “Authorization Key—Alter the unit’s overall capabilities by enabling the built-in resources. (See “Authorization Keys Menu” on Page 105)” on Page 91) Packet Statistics—Multiple radio and network operating statistics. (See “Packet Statistics Menu” on Page 81) Wireless Network Status (Displayed only at Remotes)—Current association state and MAC address of the Access Point.
Figure 3-40. RSSI by Zone Menu TIP: Under normal circumstances, the signal levels in each zone should be within a few decibels of each other. If you see one that is significantly lower or higher, it may be a sign of radio frequency interference from another signal source on the 900 MHz band. See “Network Performance Notes” on Page 87 for further information. Event Log Menu The transceiver’s microprocessor monitors many operational parameters and logs them.
Access Point. (See “Device Information” on Page 38 for SNTP server identification.) The manually set time and date clock is dependent on the unit’s primary power. A loss of power will reset the clock to January 1, 2002 but will not affect previously stored error events. Figure 3-41. Event Log Menu • Current Alarms (Telnet/Terminal only)—View list of root causes that have placed the Device Status in the alarmed state.
• Filename (Telnet/Terminal only)—Name to be given to the Event Log file sent to the TFTP server for archiving. [Any 40-char alphanumeric string; Blank] NOTE: You may want to change the filename to reflect the type of log you intend to archive and/or its date. • TFTP Time-out (Telnet/Terminal only)—Time in seconds the TFTP server will wait for a packet ACK (acknowledgment) from the transceiver before suspending the file transfer.
View Event Log See Table 4-4 on Page 118 for event classifications. Figure 3-43. Sample Event Log Screen Packet Statistics Menu Figure 3-44. Sample Packet Statistics Menu Wireless Packet Statistics MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1 • • • • • Packets received—Over-the-air data packets received by this unit Packets sent—Over-the-air data packets sent by this Remote. Bytes received—Over-the-air data bytes received by this Remote. Bytes sent—Over-the-air data bytes sent by this Remote.
• Retries—Number of requests to re-send a data packet before it is acknowledged. If the packet was not acknowledged, this counter is not incremented. • Retry errors—Packets discarded after exceeding seven retries over-the-air. • Clear Wireless stats—Resets the statistics counter. Ethernet Packet Statistics • • • • • • • • Packets Received by Zone Packets received—Packets received by the transceiver through the Ethernet port.
Wireless Network Status (Remotes Only) The Wireless Network Status screen provides information on a key operating process of the transceiver—the association of the Remote with the Access Point. The following is a description of how this process takes place and as monitored on the Figure 3-46. Wireless Network Status Screen" on page 83.
• • • • • • • • Scanning—The unit is looking for an Access Point beacon signal. • Exp(ecting) Sync(hronization)—The unit has found a valid beacon signal for its network. • Hop Sync—The unit has changed its frequency hopping pattern to match that of the Access Point. • Associated —This unit has successfully synchronized and associated with an Access Point. This is the normal status. • Alarmed—The unit is has detected one or more alarms that have not been cleared.
Each transceiver maintains a table with the addresses of the devices it communicates with. The age-time countdown is restarted to 5 minutes every time a message to/from that device is detected. If no traffic is exchanged with that device, it then “ages out” of the table. When traffic is detected it is included again in the table. This optimizes memory space utilization. • DataRate—Supported data rate by this unit.
• TxPkt—Number of packets received from the endpoint device and passed over-the-air. Remote Performance Listing Menu (Access Points Only) Figure 3-49. Remote Performance Listing Menu for iNET AP (iNET II will show RxRate as 512 kbps or 1024 kbps) This screen provides a unit-by-unit summary of all Remote units currently associated with this Access Point. The parameters are displayed in a column format with each line corresponding to one Remote.
Serial Data Statistics Menu This screen provides a summary of port activity for both serial data ports. These values will be reset to zero after a reboot cycle. Figure 3-50.
• The radio goes through a listening and learning period at start-up before it will send any packets over either of its ports. This is about 10 seconds after the CPU’s operating system has finished its boot cycle. • The bridge code in the transceiver operates and makes decisions about packet forwarding just like any other bridge. The bridge code builds a list of source MAC addresses that it has seen on each of its ports.
Total over-the-air frame size=190 bytes If the frame is directed (for example: not multicast/broadcast), the 802.11 ACK frame must be accounted for: • 14 bytes—802.11 ACK • 30 bytes—Over-the-air ACK frame (added 16 the FHSS PHY) If the 802.11 encapsulated Ethernet frame (NOT the UDP or Ethernet frame) exceeds the RTS threshold, then the overhead for RTS/CTS frames must also be accounted for. • 20 bytes—802.11 RTS. • 14 bytes—802.11 CTS. • 66 bytes—Total Over-the-air bytes for RTS/CTS with PHY headers.
Tips for Optimizing Network Performance Here are some suggestion on things to try that may maximize throughput: 1. AP Only: Increment the Dwell Time to the maximum of 262.1 ms. This lowers the overhead since it will stay longer on a channel. The down side is that if a particular channel is interfered with it will take longer to hop to another channel. (Main Menu>>Radio Configuration>>Dwell Time) 2. AP Only: Change the Beacon Period to Normal (508 ms). This will also reduce the overhead of beacons sent out.
Under ideal conditions—low traffic and good RF signal path—the latency for units operating in the TCP mode, will typically be around 5 ms in each direction. However, when UDP multicast traffic is transported, the outbound packet latency (from AP to remote) is dependent on the beacon period. UDP multicast packet latency can be minimized by setting the Beacon Period to Fast (52 ms).
• Ping Utility—Diagnostic tool to test network connectivity. (See “Ping Utility Menu” on Page 108) Figure 3-51. Maintenance Menu 3.9.1 Reprogramming Menu The transceiver has two copies of the firmware (microprocessor code) used for the operating system and applications. One copy is “active” and the second one is standing by, ready to be used. You can load new firmware into the inactive position and place it in service whenever you desire. Figure 3-52.
• • • • • • • TFTP Host Address—IP address of the host computer from which to get the file. [Any valid IP address] This same IP address is used in other screens/functions (reprogramming, logging, etc.). Changing it here also changes it for other screens/functions. Filename—Name of file to be received by the TFTP server. [Any 40-character alphanumeric string] Verify that this corresponds to the TFTP directory location. May require sub-directory, for example: \firmware\inet\inet-4_4_0.ipk.
Firmware images are provided free-of-charge on the MDS Web site at: www.microwavedata.com/service/technical/support Installing New Firmware by TFTP To install firmware by TFTP, you will need: • A PC with a TFTP server running. • The IP address of the PC running the TFTP server. If you do not know your computer’s address on a Windows PC, you can use the RUN function from the Start menu and enter winipcfg or ipconfig to determine your local PC’s IP address.
Invisible place holder REMOTE PC W/FIRMWARE FILES TFTP SERVER HUB/LAN/WAN/MAN TCP/IP ETHERNET PORT AP or REMOTE IP ADDRESS: 172.0.0.B LAN PORT IP ADDRESS: w.x.y.z LA N CO M1 CO M2 PW R LOCAL WINDOWS PC L NA MI AM R R TE OG PR LINK COM1, 2, ETC. E (DTE) BL CA L A I R E S 9-PIN IP ADDRESS: 172.0.0.A COM1 PORT (DCE) INITIATE UPLOAD FROM HERE Figure 3-54.
5. Pull the firmware file through the TFTP server into the transceiver. (Main Menu>>Maintenance Menu>>Reprogramming Menu>>Retrieve File) Status messages on the transfer are posted on the Management System screen. NOTE: The new firmware image file that replaces the “Inactive Image” file will be automatically verified. 6. Reboot the transceiver. Main Menu>>Maintenance Menu>>Reprogramming Menu>>Reboot Device 7. Test the transceiver for normal operation.
3.9.2 Configuration Scripts Menu Figure 3-55. Configuration Files Menu • TFTP Host Address—IP address of the computer on which the TFTP server resides. [Any valid IP address] • Filename—Name of file containing this unit’s configuration profile that will be transferred to the TFTP server. The configuration information will be in a plain-text ASCII format. [Any 40-character alphanumeric string] May require sub-directory, for example: config\inet-config.txt.
only four essential parameters need to be reviewed and altered to use the file with another transceiver. A Configuration File (data file) will make it easy to apply your unique settings to any radio(s) you wish. Configuration files will also provide you with a tool to restore parameters to a “known good” set, in the event that a parameter is improperly set and performance is affected. (See “Using Configuration Scripts” on Page 98 for detailed instructions and a sample configuration file.
The IPv4 address of this unit. This field is unnecessary if DHCP is enabled. NOTE: Changing the IP value via the network will cause a loss of communication with other devices unaware of the new address. IP Netmask: 255.255.255.0 The IPv4 local subnet mask. This field is unnecessary if DHCP is enabled. IP Gateway: 0.0.0.0 The IPv4 address of the network gateway device, typically a router. This field is unnecessary if DHCP is enabled.
Max Remotes Allowed: 50 The maximum number of remotes allowed to connect to this Access Point. Device Mode: Access Point Configures the unit to act as a Remote or an Access Point. The Access Point option is not allowed unless the unit is specifically ordered as such, or an Authorization Key has been purchased to allow it. Dwell Time: 32.8 The amount of time the unit spends at any given frequency in its hopping pattern. This field is only changeable by an Access Point.
Active Boot Image: 0 Tx Coefficient1: 0 31 additional values follow; do not alter Rx Coefficient1: 0 14 additional values follow; do not alter Skipped Hop Zone1: Active Skipped Hop Zone2: Skip Skipped Hop Zone3: Active Skipped Hop Zone4: Active Skipped Hop Zone5: Active Skipped Hop Zone6: Active Skipped Hop Zone7: Active Skipped Hop Zone8: Active Skipped Hop Zone9: Active Skipped Hop Zone10: Active Firmware TFTP Host IP: 63.249.227.
Community string sent with traps using SNMPv1 SNMP Trap Manager #1: 0.0.0.0 IP Address of a SNMP manager to which traps will be sent SNMP Trap Manager #2: 0.0.0.0 SNMP Trap Manager #3: 0.0.0.0 SNMP Trap Manager #4: 0.0.0.0 SNMP Trap Manager #5: 0.0.0.0 Auth trap enable: disabled Setting to enable SNMP authentication traps Trap Version: v1 Traps Selects which SNMP trap format Package 1 Version: 1.1.0 Indicates the version of firmware in Image 1 Package 2 Version: 1.1.
SNTP Server IP: 0.0.0.
Setting to enable MD5 Digest Authentication Automatic Key Rotation: disabled Setting to enable Automatic Key Rotation Approved APs List Enable: disabled Setting to enable the Approved Access Points List Watch-Link-Status Flag @ AP: disabled A flag that controls whether the Remotes care about the AP's Ethernet Link Status Network Name Hash Enable: disabled A flag that controls whether MD5 hashing is applied to the network name End of Configuration File Editing Configuration Files Once a Remote unit’s ope
Each resulting file should be saved with a different name. We recommend using directories and file names that reflect the location of the unit to facilitate its identification. Editing Rules • You may include only parameters you want to change. • Change only the parameter values. • Capitalization counts in some field parameters. (Example: System Mode) • Comment Fields a. Edit, or delete anything on each line to the right of the comment delineator, the semicolon (;). b.
3.9.4 Auto-Upgrade/Remote-Reboot Menu NOTE: This menu is only available when MDS NETview MS key is enabled. Invisible place holder Figure 3-57. Auto-Upgrade / Remote Reboot Menu • Auto Upgrade—Causes all of the Remotes associated to this AP to read the AP’s newest firmware version (active or inactive) and upload it via TFTP to the inactive image, but only if it is newer than the Remote’s current firmware.
1. At the Reprogramming Menu (Page 92), Enter the AP’s IP Address in the TFTP Server field. 2. Enter upgrade_from_ap.ipk in the Filename field. NOTE: The filename is case sensitive. 3. Perform the firmware download. 3.9.5 Radio Test Menu This area provides several useful tools for installers and maintainers. You can manually key the radio transmitter to make measurements of antenna performance. (See “Antenna Aiming” on Page 125 for details.) Figure 3-58.
• TxKey—Manually key the radio transmitter surements. [Enable, Disable; Disable] • RSSI—Incoming for power mea- received signal strength on frequency entered in the frequency parameter on this screen (–dBm). This RSSI measurement is updated more frequently than the RSSI by Zone display of the Performance Information menu. 3.9.6 Ping Utility Menu Figure 3-59. Ping Utility Menu • • • • IP Addr—Address to send a PING. [Any valid IP address] Count—Number of PING packets to be sent.
tory default settings. Because of this, if the person requesting the password-reset authorization key is not the true owner, any custom configuration settings from the true owner are erased. This prevents the new person from recovering the network settings of the true owner. MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
110 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
4 TROUBLESHOOTING & RADIO MEASUREMENTS 4 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 4.1 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................. 113 4.1.1 4.1.2 4.1.3 4.1.4 4.1.5 4.1.6 Interpreting the Front Panel LEDs ............................................ 113 Troubleshooting Using the Embedded Management System .. 114 Using Logged Operation Events .............................................. 118 Alarm Conditions ..............................................................
112 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
4.1 TROUBLESHOOTING Successful troubleshooting of a wireless system is not difficult, but requires a logical approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting at the Access Point unit, as the rest of the system depends on the Access Point for synchronization data. If the Access Point has problems, the operation of the entire wireless network will be affected. When communication problems are found, it is good practice to begin by checking the simple things.
common system difficulties using the LEDs, and Table 4-2 provides other simple techniques. Table 4-1. Troubleshooting Using LEDs—Symptom-Based Symptom Problem/Recommended System Checks PWR LED does not turn on a. Voltage too low—Check for the proper supply voltage at the power connector. (10–30 Vdc) b. Indefinite Problem—Cycle the power and wait (≈ 30 seconds) for the unit to reboot. Then, recheck for normal operation. LINK LED does not turn on a.
Table 4-2. Basic Troubleshooting Using the Management System Symptom Problem/Recommended System Checks Remote does not associate; stays in HOPSYNC a. Verify the AP has sufficiently large number in the “Max Remotes” parameter of the Network Configuration Menu. Serial data is slow with UDP multicast traffic Change Beacon Period to FAST. (Radio Configuration Menu) Cannot access the MS through COM1 a. Connect to unit via Telnet or Web browser b.
The following is a summary of how several screens in the Management System can be used as diagnostic tools. For information on how to connect to the Management System See “STEP 3—CONNECT PC TO THE TRANSCEIVER” on Page 20. Starting Information Screen (See Starting Information Screen on Page 36) The Management System’s “homepage” provides some valuable bits of data. One of the most important is the “Device Status” field. This item will tell you if the unit is showing signs of life.
Packet Statistics Menu (See Packet Statistics Menu on Page 81) This screen provides detailed information on data exchanges between the unit being viewed and the network through the wireless and the Ethernet (data) layers.
You can use this screen as a indicator of port activity at the data and IP levels. Diagnostic Tools (See MAINTENANCE on Page 91) The radio’s Maintenance menu contains two tools that are especially useful to network technicians—the Radio Test Menu and the Ping Utility. The Radio Test selection allows for testing RF operation, while the Ping Utility can be used to verify reachability to pieces of equipment connected to the radio network. This includes transceivers and user-supplied Ethernet devices. 4.1.
Table 4-5.
Table 4-5.
Table 4-6. Correcting Alarm Conditions—Alphabetical Order Event Log Entry Generating Condition Clearing Condition or Action General System Error Internal checks suggest unit is not functioning properly Reboot the transceiver Initialization Error Unit fails to complete boot cycle Contact factory Technical Services for assistance Invalid IP Address The IP address is either 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 Program IP address to something other than 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.
The left hand column, “Event Log Entry” is what will be shown in the Event Log. Table 4-7.
Table 4-7. Non-Critical Events—Alphabetical Order (Continued) Event Log Entry Severity Description Hop Table Generated/Generation Failed INFORM Self explanatory HTTP Access Locked for 5 Min MAJOR Self explanatory HTTP User Logged Out/Logged In MAJOR httpLogin(49) Log Cleared INFORM Self explanatory MAC Param Changed Caused by remotes running in auto data rate mode.
• Antenna Direction Optimization These procedures may interrupt traffic through an established network and should only be performed by a skilled radio-technician in cooperation with the network manager. 4.2.1 Antenna System SWR and Transmitter Power Output Introduction A proper impedance match between the transceiver and the antenna system is important. It ensures the maximum signal transfer between the radio and antenna.
3. Set the transmit power to 30 dBm. (This setting does not affect the output level during normal operation—only during Test Mode.) (Main Menu>>Maintenance Menu>>Radio Test>>Test Mode>>Tx Power Output) 4. Key the transmitter. (Main Menu>>Maintenance Menu>>Radio Test>>Test Mode>>TxKey>> Enable) Use the PC’s spacebar to key and unkey the transmitter ON and OFF. (Enable/Disable) 5. Measure the forward and reflected power into the antenna system and calculate the SWR and power output level.
Procedure 1. Verify the Remote transceiver is associated with an Access Point unit by observing the condition of the LINK LED (LINK LED = On or Blinking). This indicates that you have an adequate signal level for the measurements and it is safe to proceed. 2. View and record the Wireless Packets Dropped and Received Error rates. (Main Menu>>Performance Information>>Packet Statistics>>Wireless Packet Statistics) This information will be used later. 3. Clear the Wireless Packets Statistics history.
5 PLANNING A RADIO NETWORK 5 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 5.1 INSTALLATION PLANNING..................................................... 129 5.1.1 5.1.2 5.1.3 5.1.4 5.1.5 5.1.6 5.1.7 General Requirements ............................................................. 129 Site Selection ........................................................................... 131 Terrain and Signal Strength ...................................................... 131 Antenna & Feedline Selection ..............
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5.1 INSTALLATION PLANNING This section provides tips for selecting an appropriate site, choosing an antenna system, and reducing the chance of harmful interference. 5.1.1 General Requirements There are three main requirements for installing a transceiver—adequate and stable primary power, a good antenna system, and the correct interface between the transceiver and the data device. Figure 5-1 shows a typical Remote Gateway installation.
4.5˝ (11.43 cm) location that provides easy access to the connectors on the end of the radio and an unobstructed view of the LED status indicators. TOP 6.75˝ (17.15 cm) 2.5˝ (6.35 cm) FRONT BOTTOM THREADED HOLES FOR MOUNTING SCREWS (4) #6-32 X 1/4˝ LONG 4.85˝ (12.32 cm) SIDE Not to scale 4.25˝ (10.8 cm) 1.4˝ (3.56 cm) 4.75˝ (12.0 cm) Figure 5-2. Transceiver Dimensions 130 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
Invisible place holder 2.75˝ (7 cm) . 7.25˝ (18.4 cm) Figure 5-3. Mounting Bracket Dimensions 5.1.2 Site Selection Suitable sites should provide: • Protection from direct weather exposure • A source of adequate and stable primary power • Suitable entrances for antenna, interface or other required cabling • Antenna location that provides as unobstructed a transmission path as possible in the direction of the associated station(s) These requirements can be quickly determined in most cases.
account for variations in signal strength that may occur from time-to-time. RSSI can be measured with a terminal connected to the COM1 Port or with a HTTP browser to the LAN (Ethernet) connector. (See “Antenna Aiming” on Page 125 for details.) 5.1.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection NOTE: The transceiver is a Professional Installation radio system and must be installed by trained professional installers, or factory trained technicians.
Invisible place holder High-gain Type Unity-gain Type Figure 5-4. Typical Omnidirectional Antennas At Remote Gateway sites and units in point-to-point LANs, a directional Yagi (Figure 5-5) antenna is generally recommended to minimize interference to and from other users. Antennas are available from a number of manufacturers. Invisible place holder Figure 5-5. Typical Yagi Antenna (mounted to mast) Feedlines The choice of feedline used with the antenna should be carefully considered.
900 MHz. The choice of cable will depend on the required length, cost considerations, and the amount of signal loss that can be tolerated. Table 5-1. Length vs. Loss in Coaxial Cables at 900 MHz Cable Type 10 Feet (3.05 m) 50 Feet (15.24 m) 100 Feet (30.48 m) 500 Feet (152.4 m) RG-214 .76 dB 3.8 dB 7.6 dB Unacceptable Loss LMR-400 0.39 dB 1.95 dB 3.90 dB Unacceptable Loss 1/2 inch HELIAX 0.23 dB 1.15 dB 2.29 dB 11.45 dB 7/8 inch HELIAX 0.13 dB 0.64 dB 1.28 dB 6.
NOTE: There is no minimum feedline length required when a 6 dBi gain or less antenna is used, as the EIRP will never exceed 36 dBm which is the maximum allowed, per FCC rules. The transceiver’s RF output power may only be adjusted by the manufacturer or its sub-contracted Professional Installer. The MDS iNET II Transceiver is factory set to +29 dBm power output to maintain compliance with the FCC’s Digital Transmission System (DTS) Part 15 rules.
station (shown by a lit LINK LED on the front panel) and measure the reported RSSI value. (See “Antenna Aiming” on Page 125 for details.) If adequate signal strength cannot be obtained, it may be necessary to mount the station antennas higher, use higher gain antennas, select a different site or consider installing a repeater station.
zone from the radio’s hopping pattern. The radio includes built-in software to help users identify and remove blocked frequency zones from its hopping pattern. See Page 56 for more information on Skip Zones. • If interference problems persist even after skipping some zones, try reducing the length of data streams. Groups of short data streams have a better chance of getting through in the presence of interference than do long streams.
Table 5-3. Antenna System Gain vs. Power Output Setting Antenna System Gain Maximum Power Setting Maximum Power Setting (Antenna Gain in dBi* (PWR command) (PWR command) minus Feedline Loss in dB†) iNET Radio iNET II Radio EIRP (in dBm) Omni 6 (or less) 30 28 36 Omni 9 27 26 36 Yagi 12 24 23 36 Yagi 14 22 Not allowable 36 Yagi 16 20 Not allowable 36 * Most antenna manufacturers rate antenna gain in dBd in their literature. To convert to dBi, add 2.15 dB.
5.2 dBm-WATTS-VOLTS CONVERSION CHART Table 5-4 is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent voltage or wattage of an RF power expressed in dBm. Table 5-4. dBm-Watts-Volts conversion—for 50 ohm systems MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
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6 TECHNICAL REFERENCE 6 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph Contents 6.1 DATA INTERFACE CONNECTORS......................................... 143 6.1.1 LAN Port ................................................................................... 143 6.1.2 COM1 Port ............................................................................... 144 6.1.3 COM2 Port ............................................................................... 144 6.2 FUSE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE .................................
142 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.
6.1 DATA INTERFACE CONNECTORS Three data interface connectors are provided on the face of the transceiver. The first, the LAN Port, is an RJ-45 connector. The other two use two DB-9 interface connectors that use the RS-232 (EIA-232) signaling standard. Note that the connector for COM1 Port is DCE (Female DB-9) and the COM2 Port is DTE (male DB-9). CAUTION RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE POTENTIAL The transceiver meets U.S.A.’s FCC Part 15, Class A limits when used with shielded data cables. 6.1.
6.1.2 COM1 Port To connect a PC to the transceiver’s COM1 port use a DB-9M to DB-9F “straight-through” cable. These cables are available commercially, or may be constructed using the pinout information in Figure 6-2 and Table 6-2. 5 9 1 6 Figure 6-2. COM1 Port (DCE) (Viewed from the outside of the unit.) Table 6-2. COM1 Port Pinout, DB-9F/RS-232 Interface Pin Functions DCE 1 Unused 2 Receive Data (RXD) <—[ Out 3 Transmit Data (TXD) —>[ In 4 Unused 5 Signal Ground (GND) 6–9 Unused 6.1.
Table 6-3. COM2 Port, DB-9M/EIA-232 Interface Pin Functions DTE 6 Data Set Ready (DSR) In ]<— 7 Request-to-Send (RTS) Out ]—> 8 Clear-to-Send (CTS) In ]<— 9 Unused 6.2 FUSE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE An internal fuse protects the transceiver from over-current conditions or an internal component failure. It should not be replaced until you are certain you are in a safe (non-flammable) environment. 1. Disconnect the primary power source and all other connections to the unit. 2.
8. Install the covers and check the transceiver for proper operation. Figure 6-4. Internal Fuse and Holder Assembly Location Invisible place holder 6.3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL Temperature Range: –30° C to +60° C (–22° F to 140° F) Humidity: 95% at +40° C (104° F); non-condensing Primary Power: 10–30 Vdc (13.8 Vdc Nominal) External Power Supply Options: 110–120/210–220 Vac Supply Current (typical): (9 Watts Maximum @ 1 Watt RF Output) Transmit: 8 watts (10.5-24 Vdc) 9 watts (24.
MANAGEMENT TOOLS • HTTP (Embedded Web server) • Text-based menu on COM1 serial port • Telnet • SNMP v1/v2/v3 • MDS NETview MS™ DATA CHARACTERISTICS PORTS: Ethernet: Interface Connectors: RJ-45 Standard Data Rate: 10BaseT Serial (2 Ports): Signaling Standard: EIA-232/V.
Frequency Hopping Range: Ten user-configurable 2.5 MHz-wide zones, each containing 8 frequencies Hop Patterns: 8192, based on network name Frequency Stability: 20 ppm TRANSMITTER: Power Output (at antenna connector): MDS iNET: 0.1 to 1.0 watt (+20 dBm to +30 dBm) ±1.0 dB, set by user MDS iNET II: 0.1 to 741 mW (+20 to +29 dBm ±1.0 dB, set by user Duty Cycle: Continuous Modulation Type: Binary CPFSK Output Impedance: 50 Ohms Spurious: –67 dBc Occupied Bandwidth: MDS iNET: 316.
NOTE: Range calculations for fixed locations assume a 6 dBd gain Omnidirectional antenna on a 100 ft tower at the AP, a 10 dBd gain Yagi on a 25 ft mast at the remote with output power decreased to yield maximum allowable EIRP (36 dBm), a 10 dB fade margin, and a mix of agricultural and commercial terrain with line of sight.
Table 6-4. Channel Hop Table (Continued) 150 Zone Channel Frequency 2 13 906.6145 2 14 906.9310 2 15 907.2475 3 16 907.5640 3 17 907.8805 3 18 908.1970 3 19 908.5135 3 20 908.8300 3 21 909.1465 3 22 909.4630 3 23 909.7795 4 24 910.0960 4 25 910.4125 4 26 910.7290 4 27 911.0455 4 28 911.3620 4 29 911.6785 4 30 911.9950 4 31 912.3115 5 32 912.6280 5 33 912.9445 5 34 913.2610 5 35 913.5775 5 36 913.8940 5 37 914.2105 5 38 914.
Table 6-4. Channel Hop Table (Continued) Zone Channel Frequency 7 55 919.9075 8 56 920.2240 8 57 920.5405 8 58 920.8570 8 59 921.1735 8 60 921.4900 8 61 921.8065 8 62 922.1230 8 63 922.4395 9 64 922.7560 9 65 923.0725 9 66 923.3890 9 67 923.7055 9 68 924.0220 9 69 924.3385 9 70 924.6550 9 71 924.9715 10 72 925.2880 10 73 925.6045 10 74 925.9210 10 75 926.2375 10 76 926.5540 10 77 926.8705 10 78 927.
(Refer to RFC2574 for full details). The SNMP Agent has limited SNMPv3 support in the following areas: • Only MD5 Authentication is supported (no SHA-1). SNMPv3 provides support for MD5 and SHA-1. Currently, only MD5 Authentication is supported in the SNMP Agent. • Limited USM User Table Manipulation. The SNMP Agent starts with 5 default accounts. New accounts can be added (SNMPv3 adds new accounts by cloning existing ones), but they will be volatile (will not survive a power-cycle).
manager, they will be reset to whatever has been stored for local management on power-cycle. This behavior was chosen based on RFC specifications. The SNMP Manager and Agent don’t exchange passwords, but actually exchange keys based on passwords. If the Manager changes the Agent’s password the Agent doesn’t know the new password; just the new key. In this case, only the Manager knows the new password. This could cause problems if the Manager loses the password.
• Passwords are currently being managed locally. The local passwords are Fairport (Auth) and Churchville (Priv). Configuration is changed to handle the passwords from the Manager. The Manager changes the passwords to Brighton (Auth) and Perinton (Priv). The radio is then rebooted. After a power-cycle, the radio will use the passwords stored in flash, which are Fairport (Auth) and Churchville (Priv). The Manager will have to be re-configured to use these new passwords. Table 6-5.
Table 6-5.
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7 GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 7 Chapter Counter Reset Paragraph If you are new to wireless IP/Ethernet systems, some of the terms used in this guide may be unfamiliar. The following glossary explains many of these terms and will prove helpful in understanding the operation of your radio network. Access Point (AP)—The transceiver in the network that provides synchronization information to one or more associated Remote units.
from the number and order of bits in a data string. This value is compared with a locally-generated value and a match indicates that the message is unchanged, and therefore valid. Data Circuit-terminating Equipment—See DCE. Data Communications Equipment—See DCE. Datagram—A data string consisting of an IP header and the IP message within. Data Terminal Equipment—See DTE. dBi—Decibels referenced to an “ideal” isotropic radiator in free space. Frequently used to express antenna gain.
DSP—Digital Signal Processing. DSP circuitry is responsible for the most critical real-time tasks; primarily modulation, demodulation, and servicing of the data port. DTE—Data Terminal Equipment. A device that provides data in the form of digital signals at its output. Connects to the DCE device.
Hop Pattern Seed—A user-selectable value to be added to the hop pattern formula in an unlikely event of nearly identical hop patterns of two collocated or nearby radio networks to eliminate adjacent-network interference. Host Computer—The computer installed at the master station site, that controls the collection of data from one or more remote sites.
Microcontroller Unit—See MCU. Mobile IP—An emerging standard by which access points and stations maintain network connectivity as the stations move between various IP networks. Through the use of Mobile IP a station can move from its home IP network to a foreign network while still sending and receiving data using it's original IP address.
PING—Packet INternet Groper. Diagnostic message generally used to test reachability of a network device, either over a wired or wireless network. Point-Multipoint System—A radio communications network or system designed with a central control station that exchanges data with a number of remote locations equipped with terminal equipment. Poll—A request for data issued from the host computer (or master PLC) to a remote radio.
essarily physical, move between access points within a specific network and IP subnet. RSSI—Received Signal Strength Indicator RTU—Remote Terminal Unit. A data collection device installed at a remote radio site. SCADA—Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. An overall term for the functions commonly provided through an MAS radio system. Skip Zone(s)—Groups of operating channels (frequencies) deleted from the radio transmitter and receiver operating range.
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INDEX Numerics 100BaseT 129 10BaseT 129 802.11b 8 A Access Point (AP) 157 accessories 15 Active Scanning 161 Actual Data Rate 76 Add Associated Remotes 75 AgeTime 84, 85 alarm conditions 118 correcting 120 Alarmed 116 Antenna aiming 125 directional 136 Minimum Feedline Length versus Antenna Gain 134 omnidirectional 133 polarization 132 selection 132 SWR check 124 system gain 157 system gain vs.
IP address 42 network 40 PPP Mode 66 radio parameters 48 scripts 97, 98 security 73 serial interfaces 56 SNMP Agent 46 TCP Mode 64 UDP mode 60 Connection Status 83 connectors 143 Contact 39 cost of deployment 8 Count 108 CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) 157 CSMA CA 157 CD 157 Current Alarms 79 AP IP Address 84 AP Mac Address 84 Custom Data Buffer Size 62, 63, 65, 66, 67 Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) 157 D data baud 67 baud rate 61, 63, 64, 66 buffering 59, 65 compression 91 rate 49 Data Terminal Equipment 159
zone 159 fuse replacement 145 Assigned Numbers Authority 58 Control Message Protocol 160 IP 44 Addr 108 Address 36, 40, 84, 85, 104 address 43 Address Configuration 41 Address Mode 43 Gateway 104 Mobile 161 Protocol 61, 62, 64, 65, 67 tunneling 57 G gain antenna 157 system 137 Glossary 157—163 Go 108 H K Hardware flow control 159 Version 37, 38 Hop Format 51 pattern 136 Pattern Seed 50, 160 Sync 116 Hopping channels 149 frequency 159 pattern seed 160 Host computer 160 HTTP 160 Access 74 Security Mode 7
radio 123 MIB 160 files 46 Microcontroller Unit 160 Mobile 54 Mobile Data Beacon Period 56 Compression 55 configuration 54 Dwell Time 56 Fragmentation Threshold 56 RTS Threshold 56 Mobile IP 161 Mobility 161 Mobility Capability 10 MODBUS 65 Mode Device 158 mixed 71 serial gateway interface 10 TCP 10 UDP 10 Model Number 38 MTBF 161 Multicast IP Address 61 IP Port 61 multiple protocols 7 services 7 Multiple Address System (MAS) 160 N NEMA 8 net mask 42 NETview MS 105 Network Name 13, 19, 36, 40, 41, 104, 161
SNTP 41, 163 STP 88, 163 TCP 57, 58, 64, 67, 71, 90, 163 TFTP 94, 163 UDP 57, 58, 67, 68, 71, 90, 163 R Radio Frequency Interference 13, 136 Remote 162 Test 107 range, transmission 8 Read Community String 47 Reboot Device 93 on Upgrade 106 Receive errors 81, 82, 117 Received Signal Strength Indicator 20, 131, 163 Redundancy Using multiple Access Points 12 Remote IP Address 62 IP Port 62 Listing 77 Listing Menu 84 Performance Listing 77, 86 radio 162 Terminal Unit 8, 163 Repeater 10 antennas 11 Network Name
Starting Address 45 Information Screen 37 State 84 Static IP Address 43 Gateway 43 Netmask 43 Status 36, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67 STP 163 subnet 43 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) 163 SWR 124, 163 performance optimization 124 Syslog Server 80 system gain, antenna 157 System Mode 104 T TCP 10, 58, 71, 90, 163 Client 58 Server 58 Telnet 68 Access 74 Test Mode 107 TFTP 163 Host Address 79, 93, 97 Time-out 80 Timeout 93, 97 Time 39 Time to Live (TTL) 61 Transmission Control Protocol 163 range 8 tran
IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY... MDS products are designed for long life and trouble-free operation. However, this equipment, as with all electronic equipment, may have an occasional component failure. The following information will assist you in the event that servicing becomes necessary. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Technical assistance for MDS products is available from our Technical Support Department during business hours (8:00 A.M.—5:30 P.M. Eastern Time).
Microwave Data Systems Inc. 175 Science Parkway Rochester, NY 14620 General Business: +1 585 242-9600 FAX: +1 585 242-9620 Web: www.microwavedata.com A product of Microwave Data Systems Inc.
