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

48 MDS TransNET Ref. Manual MDS 05-2708A01, Rev. E
7.3 Troubleshooting Chart
Table 19 provides suggestions for resolving system difficulties that may be
experienced in the radio system. If problems persist, contact the factory for
further assistance. Refer to the inside back cover of this guide for contact
information.
Table 19. Troubleshooting Guide
Difficulty Recommended System Checks
Unit is
inoperative
a.Check for the proper supply voltage at the power connector.
b.The transceiver’s internal fuse may have opened. Refer to Sec-
tion 7.5 below for replacement instructions.
Interference is
suspected
a.Verify that the system has a unique network address. Nearby
systems with the same address will cause interference.
b.Check for interference by locking out affected zone(s) using the
SKIP command (Page 41).
c.If omnidirectional antennas are used on Remote stations, con-
sider changing to directional antennas. This will often limit inter-
ference to and from other stations.
No synchroniza-
tion with Master,
or poor overall
performance
a.Check for secure interface connections at the radio and the
connected device.
b.Check the antenna, feedline and connectors. Reflected power
should be less than 10% of the forward power reading
(SWR ≈ 2:1 or lower).
c.If the Remote radio is in synchronization, but performance is
poor, check the received signal strength using the RSSI com-
mand (Page 38). If RSSI is low, it may indicate antenna prob-
lems, or misalignment of directional antenna headings.
d.Verify proper programming of system parameters: mode, net-
work address, data interface baud rate, transmitter power, CTS
delay, etc. For store-and-forward applications, also verify the
following: SAF is ON; extended address is properly pro-
grammed at each extension; Remotes are using the proper val-
ues for XPRI and XMAP.
e.Check for alarms using the STAT command (Page 43)
BER is too high.
Data throughput
is spotty
a.The RETRY and REPEAT commands may be increased to
deal with interference, or decreased to increase throughput and
reduce latency.
b.Try turning on FEC. FEC on gives some coding gain, but comes
at the cost of reduced throughput.
Latency is too
high
a.Reduce the REPEAT count.
b.Turn BUFF OFF. BUFF ON ensures that no gaps occur in the
data, but this comes at the cost of increased latency.
c.Make sure HOPTIME is set to 7.










