Product specifications
Table Of Contents
- 1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL
- 2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
- 2.1 Transceiver Features
- 2.2 Model Number Codes
- 2.3 Spread Spectrum Radios— How Are They Different?
- 2.4 Typical Applications
- Multiple Address Systems (MAS)
- Point-to-Point System
- Adding a Tail-End Link to an Existing Network
- Extending a TransNET Network with a Repeater
- 2.5 Accessories
- 3.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING
- 3.1 General Requirements
- 3.2 Site Selection
- Terrain and Signal Strength
- Conducting a Site Survey
- 3.3 A Word About Radio Interference
- 3.4 Antenna & Feedline Selection
- Antennas
- Feedlines
- Antenna System Ground
- 3.5 How Much Output Power Can be Used?
- 4.0 INSTALLATION
- 4.1 Transceiver Installation
- 4.2 Configuring Multiple Remote Units
- 4.3 Tail-End Links
- 4.4 Configuring a Network for Extensions
- 5.0 OPERATION
- 5.1 Initial Start-up
- 5.2 Performance Optimization
- Antenna Aiming
- Antenna SWR Check
- Data Buffer Setting—Modbus Protocol
- Hoptime Setting
- TotalFlow™ Protocol at 9600 with Sleep Mode
- Operation at 115200 bps
- Baud Rate Setting
- Radio Interference Checks
- 6.0 RADIO PROGRAMMING
- 6.1 Radio Programming Methods
- Terminal Interface
- PC-Based Configuration Tool
- 6.2 User Commands
- Entering Commands
- 6.3 Detailed Command Descriptions
- ADDR [1–65000]
- AMASK [0000 0000–FFFF FFFF]
- AT [ON, OFF]
- ASENSE [HI/LO]
- BAUD [xxxxx abc]
- BAND [A, B, C]
- BUFF [ON, OFF]
- CODE [NONE, 1…255]
- CSADDR [1–65000, NONE]
- CTS [0–255]
- CTSHOLD [0–60000]
- DEVICE [DCE, CTS KEY]
- DLINK [xxxxx/ON/OFF]
- DKEY
- DTYPE [NODE/ROOT]
- FEC [ON, OFF]
- HOPTIME [7, 28]
- INIT
- HREV
- KEY
- LED [ON, OFF]
- LPM [1, 0]
- LPMHOLD [0–1000]
- MODE [M, R, X]
- MRSSI [NONE, –40...–90]
- OT [ON, OFF]
- OWM [xxxxx]
- OWN [xxxxx]
- PORT [RS232, RS485]
- PWR [20–30]
- REPEAT [0–10]
- RETRY [0–10]
- RSSI
- RTU [ON, OFF, 0-80]
- RX [xxxx]
- RXD [0–255]
- RXTOT [NONE, 0–1440]
- SAF [ON, OFF]
- SETUP
- SER
- SHOW CON
- SHOW PWR
- SHOW SYNC
- SKIP [NONE, 1...8]
- SLEEP [ON, OFF]
- SREV
- STAT
- TEMP
- TX [xxxx]
- UNIT [10000–65000]
- XADDR [0–31]
- XMAP [00000000-FFFFFFFF]
- XPRI [0–31]
- XRSSI [NONE, –40...–120]
- ZONE CLEAR
- ZONE DATA
- 7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
- 7.1 LED Indicators
- 7.2 Alarm Codes
- Checking for Alarms—STAT command
- Major Alarms versus Minor Alarms
- Alarm Code Definitions
- 7.3 Troubleshooting Chart
- 7.4 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics
- 7.5 Internal Fuse Replacement
- 8.0 RADIO FIRMWARE UPGRADES
- 8.1 Obtaining New Firmware
- Saving a Web-Site Firmware File Onto Your PC
- 8.2 Installing Firmware Into Your Radio
- 9.0 OPERATING PRINCIPLES AND CONFIGURATION
- 9.1 SAF Operation with Extension Radios
- Simple Extended SAF Network
- Extended SAF Network
- Retransmission and ARQ Operation
- SAF Configuration Example
- 9.2 Synchronizing Network Units
- Synchronization Messages
- 9.3 Using AT Commands
- 9.4 Configuration Parameters for Store-and-Forward Services
- 9.5 Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode (Remote Units Only)
- Sleep Mode Example
- 9.6 Low-Power Mode (LPM)—Master Enabled
- Setup Commands
- Reading RSSI and Other Parameters with LPM Enabled
- Power Consumption Influence by HOPTIME and SAF Settings
- 9.7 Low-Power Mode versus Remote’s Sleep Mode
- 9.8 Mobile Operation Support
- Introduction
- Operational Influences—Hoptime & SAF
- 9.9 MIRRORED BITS™ Protocol Support
- 9.10 Seamless Mode Emulation
- Master Station Configuration
- Antenna System for Co-Located Master Stations
- 10.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE
- Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-232 Mode
- Pin Descriptions—RS/EIA-422/485 Mode
- Using the I/O Points with InSite™ NMS Software
- Application Example—Digital Input and Output at a Remote

10 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. E
At Remote sites and point-to-point systems, a directional Yagi antenna
(Figure 8), is generally recommended to minimize interference to and from
other users. Antennas are available from a sources including MDS.
Invisible place holder
Figure 8. Typical Yagi Antenna
mounted to a mast
Feedlines
The choice of feedline used with the antenna should be carefully considered.
Poor-quality coaxial cables should be avoided, as they will degrade system
performance for both transmission and reception. The cable should be kept as
short as possible to minimize signal loss.
For cable runs of less than 20 feet (6 meters), or for short range transmission,
an inexpensive type such as Type RG-8A/U may be acceptable. Otherwise,
we recommend using a low-loss cable type suited for 900 MHz, such as
Times Microwave LMR 400
®
or Andrew Heliax
®
.
Figure 7.
Omnidirectional Antenna
(mounted to mast)










