MDS SD Series

Quick Start Guide (Packet & Transparent Mode)

screws. Mounting bracket dimensions are shown in Figure 3.

1.0 INTRODUCTION If DIN Rail mounting brackets are to be used, consult the
Reference Manual.
The MDS SD transceiver (Figure 1) is a software-configurable,
industrial solution for use in wireless telemetry applications. The NOTE: To prevent moisture from entering the radio, do not mount
SD models currently offered include: MDS SD2 (215-235 MHz), the case with the cable connectors pointing up. Also,
SD4 (350-512 MHz), SD9 (928-960 MHz). In this guide, the term dress all cables to prevent moisture from running along
SD is used for information common to all models of the radio. the cables and into the radio.
The radio interfaces with a variety of data control equipment such
as remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers ANTENNA SYSTEM
(PLCs), flow computers, and similar devices. Data interface con- Master Stations typically use
nections may be made by both serial (RS-232/485) and limited omni-directional antenna
Ethernet protocols.
LED INDICATOR ETHERNET
PANEL CONNECTOR (RJ-45)
TRANSCEIVER

POWER SUPPLY
10.5–16 VDC @ 2.5A
Negative Ground Only

ET
L

N
IA

ER
DC INPUT
R E
POWER
SE IN

H
L

ET
SERIAL DATA ANTENNA OR: ED
CONNECTORS (DB-9) CONNECTOR (TNC) FE
SS
COM1 used for radio management
Invisible
place
holder -LO
W
Figure 1. MDS SD Data Transceiver LO
1.1 About This Guide DATA TELEMETRY DEVICE
This guide covers SD transceivers operating in Packet Mode or OR HOST COMPUTER
Transparent Mode. A more detailed Reference Manual is also
available (05-4846A01). SD manuals are available in printed or Figure 2. Typical Installation (Remote Site Shown)
electronic form. All manuals are available free of charge at
www.gemds.com. Invisible place
holder
1.1.1 x710 Mode—Different Manuals Required
The radio can be configured to emulate a corresponding MDS
"x710" radio. For x710 mode information, consult these manuals:
• Start-Up Guide (05-4669A01)
2.75˝ (7 cm)

• Reference Manual (05-4670A01)

2.0 INSTALLATION
There are three main requirements for installing the transceiver:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• An efficient and properly installed antenna system
• Correct interface connections between the transceiver and
the data device. 6.675˝ (16.95 cm)
Figure 2 shows a typical installation of the radio. Figure 3. Mounting Bracket Dimensions

NOTE: Retrofit Kits are available to ease installation at former 2. Install the antenna and feedline. The antenna used with the
MDS x710 digital and analog sites. Consult the Refer- radio must be designed to operate in the radio’s frequency
ence Manual for ordering details. band, and be mounted in a location providing a clear path to
the associated station(s). At Remote sites, aim directional
antennas toward the Master Station. Low loss coaxial feedline
2.1 Installation Steps should be used and it should be kept as short as possible.
In most cases, the steps given here are sufficient to install the 3. Connect the data equipment. Connection may be made
transceiver. Refer to the Reference Manual for additional details, using Ethernet signaling, Serial protocols (RS-232/RS-485),
as required. or both.
1. Mount the transceiver using the brackets supplied. Attach • If Ethernet is to be used, connect your data equipment to the
the brackets to the bottom of the transceiver case (if not front panel Ethernet port next to the PWR connector.
already attached), using the four 6-32 x 1/4 inch (6 mm)

05-4847A01, Rev. C MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (Packet & Transparent Mode) 1
 • If serial is to be used, connect your data equipment to the 2. Press the ESCAPE key followed by a series of ENTER
COM1 or COM2 port on the front panel. (Typically, COM1 is keypresses (1/2 second intervals) until the Login: prompt
used for management of the radio and COM2 is used for appears.
connecting data equipment. Other arrangements are possi-
ble. Refer to the Reference Manual for details.) In all cases, 3. At the prompt, enter the username. The default username is:
the radio is hardwired as a DCE device. A straight-thru cable admin (lower case). Press ENTER .
may be used for most applications.
At the next prompt, enter the password. The default password
NOTE: Do not connect the Ethernet port to a LAN with high is: admin (lower case). Press ENTER . (Before placing the
traffic. Excessive traffic will overload the port and unit in final service, it is recommended that a new password
Ethernet communications will be temporarily disabled. be set using the Security Configuration Menu.)
4. Connect primary power. Input power must be 10.0 to 30 Vdc NOTE: Consult your System Administrator if you are unsure of
and capable of providing at least 2.5 Amperes. A power con- the settings required for your network.
nector with screw-terminals is provided with the unit (see
Figure 4). Strip the wire leads to 6 mm (1/4 inch) and insert 4. Upon login, the Starting Information Screen appears
them into the wire ports. Be sure to observe proper polarity as (Figure 6). It shows basic read-only information about the
shown below. Tighten the binding screws securely. radio.
NOTE: Early SD4 models supported 10.5 to 16 Vdc power, not
10.0 to 30 Vdc. Check the labeling above the Power
connector to verify the proper range for your unit.

Figure 4. DC Power Connector

CAUTION:The unit is designed for use with negative-ground

systems only. The power supply should be equipped with
overload protection (NEC Class 2 rating), to protect Figure 6. Starting Information Screen
against a short circuit between its output terminals and (First screen displayed upon login)
the radio’s power connector. 5. Press G to access the Main Menu (Figure 7). This is the gate-
way to all settable parameters of the radio.
5. Set the radio’s configuration. Connect a PC to the radio’s
COM1 port as shown in Figure 5. A straight-thru cable may be
used for this connection.

Transceiver

PC Running Terminal Session

DB-9M to COM1 Port

Figure 5. Setup for PC Configuration

2.1.1 Software Configuration Figure 7. Main Menu Screen

There are two methods for communicating with the radio for con- 6. Select Radio Configuration from the Main Menu and then
figuration and management: Serial (COM1 DB9 connector) and select Basic Settings. The screen shown in Figure 8
Telnet (ETHERNET RJ-45 connector). Both present identical appears.
menus, but the method of access is different for each. The focus
here is on Serial access, but Telnet may be used by following these
additional points, which replace Steps 1 and 2 below:
• Connect to the radio with a PC that is on the same IP net-
work as the transceiver. Launch a Telnet program, and con-
nect to the radio using its programmed IP address.
• The default IP address is 192.168.1.1. If you do not know the
IP address of the radio, log in with the serial configuration
steps below, and view the address on the Starting Informa-
tion screen.
1. With a PC connected to COM1, launch a terminal program,
such as HyperTerminal (included with most Windows®-based
PCs, except Vista) and set the following parameters: 8 bits,
no parity, one stop bit (8N1), flow control disabled, VT100
emulation. The radio’s COM1 port automatically determines
the connected baud rate (within the range of 1200–115200
bps). Figure 8. Basic Settings Menu

2 MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (Packet & Transparent Mode) 05-4847A01, Rev. C
7. Review the basic settings to determine if they are appropriate
for your system.The RX (receive) and TX (transmit) frequen-
cies must always be set/verified. To set the frequencies, press
3.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
the letter shown to the left of RX and TX, and enter the correct All radios in the network must meet the basic requirements listed
frequencies in MHz (xxx.xxxxx). Press ENTER . below for proper operation. Check these items first when trouble-
shooting a system problem:
8. The factory default modem settings support 9600 bps trans-
mission in a 12.5 kHz bandwidth channel. Many other options • Adequate and stable primary power
are available. These may be viewed by selecting Modem • Secure connections (RF, data and power)
Type and pressing the spacebar to cycle through the list. • A clear transmission path between Master and each Remote
• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system providing
When done with the steps above, return to the Main Menu and adequate received signal strength.
review the other configuration options to determine if other • Proper programming of the transceiver’s parameters
settings are required for your system. • The correct interface between the transceiver and the con-
nected data equipment (correct cable wiring, proper data
2.2 Initial Checkout format, timing, etc.)
In-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic. 3.1 LEDs
The only operator actions required are to apply DC power and
observe the LEDS for proper indications. Table 1 summarizes the The radio’s LED indicator panel provides useful information when
radio’s LED functions. troubleshooting a system problem. Refer to Table 1 for LED infor-
mation.
2.2.1 LED Functions 3.2 Event Codes
NOTE: LED labeling may vary on early units. LED position and When an alarm condition exists, the transceiver creates a mes-
functionality remains as described below. sage that can be read on the Statistics/Events Menu. While
viewing this menu, select Alarms/Events to see the current
alarms. Consult the Reference Manual for details.

3.2.1 Types of Alarms

Minor Alarms—report conditions that, under most circumstances
will not prevent transceiver operation. This includes out-of-toler-
ance conditions, baud rate mismatches, etc. The cause of these
Figure 9. LED Status Indicators alarms should be investigated and corrected to prevent system
failure.
Table 1: Description of LED Status Indicators Major Alarms—report serious conditions that generally indicate a
hardware failure, or other abnormal condition that will prevent (or
LED Name Description seriously hamper) further operation of the transceiver. Major
PWR • Continuous—Power applied, no problems detected. alarms may require factory repair. Contact your factory represen-
tative for assistance.
• Rapid flash (5 times-per-second)—Alarm
indication. 3.3 Built-In Spectrum Analyzer
LAN • Flashing—Ethernet data activity is detected. A Spectrum Analyzer screen is available for viewing other radio
• Off—Ethernet signals not detected, or excessive signals near the SD’s operating frequencies. Access to the ana-
traffic is present. lyzer is made through the Maintenance Tools Menu (Mainte-
DATA1/DATA2 The DATA LEDs show data activity on the DB-9
nance/Tools>>Radio Test>>Spectrum). A submenu appears
serial payload port(s). where you can specify the center frequency and span frequency of
the spectrum scan. Start the analyzer function by selecting Spec-
LINK When lit, indicates that a communication link exists trum from the menu.
with the master station. The display creates a received signal strength indication (RSSI)
vs. frequency plot for the frequency and surrounding signals. Refer
NOTE: The Ethernet connector also has two embedded LEDs. A to the Reference Manual for detailed information.
flashing green indicates Ethernet data activity, and a
yellow indicates 100 Mbps operation has been achieved.
4.0 COM1/COM2 REFERENCE
2.2.2 Antenna SWR Check 4.1 COM1 Connections for PC Control
Before final operation begins, the antenna system’s standing wave The COM1 DB-9 connector is used for PC management of the
ratio (SWR) should be checked using a wattmeter suited to the fre- radio. A straight-through cable is required that connects Pin 2
quency of operation. High SWR (above 2:1) may indicate an (RXD), Pin 3 (TXD), and Pin 5 (Ground). (See Figure 10.)
antenna or feedline problem, and should be corrected.

2.2.3 RSSI Check (for Remotes) 2 RXD > RXD 2

DB-9 MALE DB-9 FEMALE
Using the Radio Performance menu, check the received signal (RADIO SIDE) 3 TXD < TXD 3 (COMPUTER)
strength indication (RSSI) for adequate signal strength. The radio
5 GND GND 5
must be receiving a signal from the associated Master Station
(LINK LED on or blinking). In general, signal levels stronger than
–80 dBm will provide very reliable communication and allow for a Figure 10. COM1 Wiring to Computer
degree of “fade margin.”
Optimize the RSSI at Remotes by slowly adjusting the direction of
the station antenna. Watch the RSSI indication for several seconds
after making each adjustment so that the RSSI accurately reflects
any change in the link signal strength. With RSSI, the less negative
the number, the stronger the incoming signal.

NOTE: The RSSI facility limits the maximum displayed signal

strength to -60 dBm.

05-4847A01, Rev. C MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (Packet & Transparent Mode) 3
4.2 COM2 Connections Table 2: COM2 Pin Descriptions—RS-232 (Continued)
The COM2 connector (Figure 11) is typically used to connect an Pin Input/
external DTE telemetry device to the radio, which supports the Number Output Pin Description
RS-232 or RS-485 (balanced) format, depending on how the radio
is configured. The radio supports data rates of 300, 1200, 2400, 3 IN TXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX
4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps (asynchronous data from the connected device.
data only).
4 IN Sleep Mode Input—Grounding this pin
The COM2 connector mates with a standard DB-9 plug that is turns off most circuits in a remote radio.
available from many electronics parts distributors. This allows for greatly reduced power
consumption, yet preserves the radio’s
ability to be quickly brought on line. (See
5 1 Using the Radio’s Sleep Mode” for details.)
Figure 11. COM2 Connector (DB-9F)
As viewed from outside the radio 5 -- Signal Ground—Connects to ground
(negative supply potential) on chassis.
9 6 6 OUT Alarm Output (DSR)—An RS-232
high/space (+5.0 Vdc) on this pin indicates
4.2.1 Pin Descriptions—RS-232 Mode an alarm condition. An RS-232 low/mark
(–5.0 Vdc) indicates normal operation. This
Table 2 provides pin descriptions for the connector when operating pin may be used as an alarm output. (See
in RS-232 mode. For RS-422/485, refer to the Reference Manual. Reference Manual.)
7 IN Reserved.
NOTE: The radio is hard-wired as a DCE device.
8 OUT Reserved.
9 -- User I/O for special applications, not
Table 2: COM2 Pin Descriptions—RS-232 normally used.

Pin Input/
Number Output Pin Description 5.0 MENU OVERVIEW
1 OUT DCD (Data Carrier Detect/Link)—A low The chart below shows a top-level view of the transceiver’s menu-
indicates signal received.
system. For detailed menu descriptions, refer to the SD Reference
2 OUT RXD (Received Data)—Supplies received Manual.
data to the connected device.

MENU SYSTEM
Overview

MAIN MENU

Starting Info Screen

Radio Device Security Ethernet Serial Radio

Configuration Configuration Configuration Configuration Configuration Performance Maintenance/Tools

Basic Settings Device Info Login Passwords IP Configuration COM1 Settings Measured RF Power Config. Management

Advanced Settings Device Settings Wireless Security Bridge Configuration COM2 Settings Signal to Noise Radio Test
LBT Settings Multihost Settings Device Security IP Payload Config. RSSI Version
Packet Settings DC Voltage Local Reprogram
Diagnostic Settings Temperature Remote Program
Statistics/Events
Ping

Alarms/Events Linktest
NOTES
• Chart shows top-level view only. See specific menu for details. Alarm Signal Config. Remote Management
• Not all menu items are user-configurable; some are read-only.
• PC Spacebar is used to make some menu selections. Event Log Authorization Codes

I/O Statistics

Ethernet Statistics

Telnet

GE MDS, LLC
175 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620
MDS SD Series Quick Start Guide (Packet & Transparent Mode) General Business: +1 585 242-9600
05-4847A01, Rev. C FAX: +1 585 242-9620
December 2009 (Copyright 2009, GE MDS, LLC) Web: www.gemds.com