Guide

MDS SD Series

Manual
Secure, Long Range IP/Ethernet & Serial

and Operation
Installation Technical
Covering ES/SS Units with Firmware Version 5.x

Applies to all models EXCEPT those operated in x710 Mode. For x710 mode
operation, refer to Publication 05-4670A01.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

November 2013
Quick-Start instructions for this product are contained in publication 05-4847A01.

All GE MDS manuals and updates are available online at www.gemds.com.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Conventions Used in This Manual ................................................................................................. 1

1.2 New Features in this Release ....................................................................................................... 2

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION................................................................................................... 3

2.1 Front Panel Connectors and Indicators ......................................................................................... 3

2.2 Key Product Features .................................................................................................................... 4
Media Access Control (MAC)........................................................................................................... 4
VLAN Capability............................................................................................................................... 5
Terminal Server Capability ............................................................................................................... 5
Store and Forward Capability........................................................................................................... 5
Peer-to-Peer Capability.................................................................................................................... 6
Frequency Re-use (System ID) ....................................................................................................... 6
2.3 SD Model Offerings ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.4 Operating Modes and Applicable Manuals .................................................................................... 6
2.5 Accessories and Spares ................................................................................................................ 8

Protected Network Station ............................................................................................................... 8

Dual Protected Configurations ......................................................................................................... 9

3.0 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS ...................................................................................................11

3.1 Operating Parameters ................................................................................................................. 11

3.2 Example Systems ........................................................................................................................ 12
Multiple Address Systems (MAS) .................................................................................................. 12
Point-to-Point System .................................................................................................................... 12
IP Payload/Ethernet Polling and Terminal Server Operation ......................................................... 13
Port Sharing with Multiple Hosts .................................................................................................... 14
Push Communication (Report-by Exception)................................................................................. 15
IP Polling of Serial Remotes .......................................................................................................... 15
IP Polling of Two Serial Ports on One Remote .............................................................................. 16

4.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING ............................................................................................... 18

4.1 Chassis Dimensions .................................................................................................................... 19

4.2 Mounting Bracket Options ...........................................................................................................19
Optional DIN Rail Mounting ...........................................................................................................20
4.3 Antennas and Feedlines .............................................................................................................. 20
Antennas........................................................................................................................................ 20
Feedlines ....................................................................................................................................... 21
4.4 DC Power Connection ................................................................................................................. 22
4.5 Grounding Considerations ...........................................................................................................22
4.6 Ethernet Data Interface (RJ-45) .................................................................................................. 23

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual i

 4.7 Serial Data Interfaces .................................................................................................................. 24
COM1 (Serial) Connection............................................................................................................. 24
COM2 (Data) Connections............................................................................................................. 25

5.0 STEP-BY-STEP INSTALLATION ........................................................................................ 28

5.1 Initial Configuration ...................................................................................................................... 29

Web-Based Management .............................................................................................................. 29
Web Browser Connection .............................................................................................................. 30
Alternative Management Methods .................................................................................................32
5.2 Initial Startup & Checkout ............................................................................................................ 33
Ethernet Connector LEDs .............................................................................................................. 33
5.3 Optimizing the Radio Network ..................................................................................................... 34
Modem Type Setting ...................................................................................................................... 34
Inter-Packet Gap Settings.............................................................................................................. 34
Baud Rate Setting.......................................................................................................................... 34
Ethernet Settings ........................................................................................................................... 35
Antenna SWR Check ..................................................................................................................... 35

6.0 USING THE DEVICE MANAGER....................................................................................... 36

6.1 Navigating the Screens ............................................................................................................... 36

Overview Screen............................................................................................................................ 37
6.2 Management Tasks ..................................................................................................................... 38
6.3 Configuration Screens ................................................................................................................. 43
Radio.............................................................................................................................................. 43
Store and Forward Operation......................................................................................................... 49
Features......................................................................................................................................... 55
Understanding the Use of Virtual Radio Channels (VRCs)............................................................ 60
Using the Terminal Server—Typical Example................................................................................ 63
Communications Ports ................................................................................................................... 67
Security .......................................................................................................................................... 70
6.4 Maintenance & Status Screen ..................................................................................................... 73
Event Log....................................................................................................................................... 73
Alarm Summary ............................................................................................................................. 74
Performance .................................................................................................................................. 75
Firmware Utilities ........................................................................................................................... 81
Configuration Files ......................................................................................................................... 85

7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING....................................................................................................... 87

7.1 LED Indicators ............................................................................................................................. 89

7.2 Checking for Alarms/Events ........................................................................................................ 89
Major Alarms vs. Minor Alarms ...................................................................................................... 89
Status and Informational Events .................................................................................................... 90
Event Code Definitions .................................................................................................................. 90
7.3 Operating Constraints .................................................................................................................. 91

8.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE ................................................................................................ 93

8.1 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics .......................................................................... 93

Setting Up Diagnostics................................................................................................................... 94

ii SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 8.2 Over-the-Air Firmware Upgrades ................................................................................................ 94
Intrusive vs. Passive (Non-Intrusive) Mode ................................................................................... 95
Broadcast Reprogramming Suggestions by Network Type ........................................................... 96
OTA Reprogramming Overview .....................................................................................................97
Cancelling OTA Reprogramming ...................................................................................................97
Error Conditions/Recovery............................................................................................................. 97
Execution and Screen Examples ................................................................................................... 98
8.3 COM1 Operating Modes ............................................................................................................. 99
Changing COM1 Modes ................................................................................................................ 99
8.4 Implementing Sleep Mode ...........................................................................................................99
8.5 Technical Specifications ...........................................................................................................101
8.6 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart ...........................................................................................103

9.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................. 104

Copyright and Trademark

This manual and all software described herein is protected by Copyright: 2013 GE MDS, LLC. All
rights reserved. GE MDS, LLC reserves its right to correct any errors and omissions in this publi-
cation. Modbus® is a registered trademark of Schneider Electric Corporation. All other trademarks
and product names are the property of their respective owners.

RF Safety Notice (English and French)

RF Exposure Concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health hazard to
humans. Do not allow people to come closer to the antenna than the distances
listed in the table below when the transmitter is operating. More information on
RF exposure can be found online at the following website:
www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins.

l'exposition aux RF Concentré d'énergie à partir d'une antenne directionnelle peut poser un risque
pour la santé humaine. Ne pas permettre aux gens de se rapprocher de l'antenne
que les distances indiquées dans le tableau ci-dessous lorsque l'émetteur est en
marche. Plus d'informations sur l'exposition aux RF peut être trouvé en ligne à
l'adresse suivante: www.fcc.gov / oet / info / documents et bulletins.
Antenna Gain vs. Minimum RF Safety Distance
Antenna Gain
0–5 dBi 5–10 dBi 10–16.5 dBi
Safety Distance (SD4) 0.79 meter 1.41 meters 3.05 meters

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual iii

 Antenna Gain vs. Minimum RF Safety Distance
Antenna Gain
0–5 dBi 5–10 dBi 10–16.5 dBi
Safety Distance (SD9) 0.46 meter .82 meters 1.74 meters
For SD1, maintain an RF safety distance of
1.80 meters for a 7 dBd (9.15 dBi) antenna.
Safety Distance (SD1) Use of higher gain antennas means
increasing the distance accordingly.
For SD2, maintain an RF safety distance of
1.50 meters for a 7 dBd (9.15 dBi) antenna.
Safety Distance (SD2) Use of higher gain antennas means
increasing the distance accordingly.
Safety Distance Consult factory prior to operation.
(other models):

FCC Part 15 Notice

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful inter-
ference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation. Any unauthorized modification or changes to this device without the
express approval of the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device. Further-
more, this device is intended to be used only when installed in accordance with the instructions out-
lined in this manual. Failure to comply with these instructions may void the user’s authority to
operate this device.

Industry Canada Notice

This Class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Servicing Precautions
When servicing energized equipment, be sure to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE). During internal service, situations could arise where objects accidentally contact or short
circuit components and the appropriate PPE would alleviate or decrease the severity of potential
injury. When servicing radios, all workplace regulations and other applicable standards for live
electrical work should be followed to ensure personal safety.

Manual Revision and Accuracy

This manual was prepared to cover a specific version of firmware code. Accordingly, some screens
and features may differ from the actual unit you are working with. While every reasonable effort
has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, product improvements may also result in
minor differences between the manual and the product shipped to you. If you have additional ques-
tions or need an exact specification for a product, please contact GE MDS using the information at
the back of this guide. In addition, manual updates can be found on our web site at
www.gemds.com

iv SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

Environmental Information
The manufacture of this equipment has required the extraction and use of natural resources.
Improper disposal may contaminate the environment and present a health risk due to hazardous
substances contained within. To avoid dissemination of these substances into our environment, and
to limit the demand on natural resources, we encourage you to use the appropriate recycling sys-
tems for disposal. These systems will reuse or recycle most of the materials found in this equipment
in a sound way. Please contact GE MDS or your supplier for more information on the proper dis-
posal of this equipment.

Battery Disposal—This product may contain a battery. Batteries must be disposed of properly, and
may not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste in the European Union. See the product doc-
umentation for specific battery information. Batteries are marked with a symbol, which may
include lettering to indicate cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), or mercury (Hg). For proper recycling return
the battery to your supplier or to a designated collection point.

Product Test Data Sheets

Test Data Sheets showing the original factory test results for this unit are available upon request
from the GE MDS Quality Leader. Contact the factory using the information at the back of this
manual. Serial numbers must be provided for each product where a Test Data Sheet is required.

CSA/us Notice
This product is approved for use in Class 1, Division 2, Groups A, B, C & D Hazardous Locations.
Such locations are defined in Article 500 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) pub-
lication NFPA 70, otherwise known as the National Electrical Code. The transceiver has been rec-
ognized for use in these hazardous locations by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) which
also issues the US mark of approval (CSA/US). The CSA Certification is in accordance with CSA
STD C22.2 No. 213-M1987.

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.The
antenna feedline, DC power cable and interface cable must be routed through conduit in accor-
dance with the National Electrical Code. Installation, operation and maintenance of the transceiver
should be in accordance with the transceiver's installation manual, and the National Electrical
Code. Tampering or replacement with non-factory components may adversely affect the safe use
of the transceiver in hazardous locations, and may void the approval. A power connector with
screw-type retaining screws as supplied by GE MDS must be used.
Do not disconnect equipment unless power has been switched off or the area is known to
be non-hazardous. Refer to Articles 500 through 502 of the National Electrical Code
EXPLOSION (NFPA 70) for further information on hazardous locations and approved Division 2 wiring
HAZARD! methods.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual v

BSD License Information
The SD Series products contain source code originally released as part of “WPA Supplicant” which
is copyrighted as indicated below and is redistributed under the terms of the BSD license:

WPA Supplicant
Copyright (c) 2003-2010, Jouni Malinen <[email protected]> and contributors
All Rights Reserved.

BSD License
-------

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted pro-
vided that the following conditions are met:

1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
the following disclaimer.

2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distri-
bution.

3. Neither the name(s) of the above-listed copyright holder(s) nor the names of its contributors may
be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written
permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

“AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIM-
ITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

vi SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 1.0 INTRODUCTION
This manual is one of two publications for users of the MDS SD Series
Transceiver shown in Figure 1. It contains an overview of common
applications, installation planning data, specifications, troubleshooting,
and instructions for using the web-based Device Manager. This manual
is intended for technical personnel who perform network design, config-
uration, and troubleshooting of the equipment.

A companion Setup Guide is also available (Part no. 05-4847A01). The

scope of the Setup Guide is limited to installing the transceiver and
placing it in service for the first time. All product documentation can be
downloaded free of charge from the GE MDS website at www.gemds.com.
The website also contains links to Application Bulletins and other
product information.

Invisible place holder

Figure 1. MDS SD Series Transceiver

1.1 Conventions Used in This Manual

Software & Device This product is designed for software control via a connected PC. To
Manager Notations show the names of screen items, keyboard entries, or other information
displayed on a PC, a bolded font is used throughout the manual that
appears as follows:
Bolded font example (for screen names and keyboard entries)

To show the navigation path leading to a particular screen, this same

font is used with forward-pointing arrows between screen names. For
example, suppose you wish to access the radio’s Features Screen. The
navigation path shown for it would appear as follows:
Configuration>>Features

Model Number The term “SD” or “SD Series” is used in this manual to denote all
Notations models in the SD product line. Specific model numbers such as MDS
SD1 (150-174 MHz), SD2 (216-235 MHz), SD4 (300-512 MHz), and
SD9 (820-960 MHz) are used only when necessary to reference
model-specific features.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 1

Authorization Some features of the radio are dependent on purchased options and
Features applicable regulatory constraints. A “key” icon is shown near the
heading of any such features. In some cases a feature upgrade may be
available. Contact your sales representative for additional information.

1.2 New Features in this Release

The SD transceiver has been updated to include the following function-
ality in the latest release of the product:

• Peer-to-Peer capability (see Page 6 and Page 67)

• Internal MODBUS TCP to RTU conversion (see Page 62)
• Transparent mode with AES Encryption (see Page 72)
• DLINK AES Encryption (see Page 72)
• System ID (frequency re-use) capability (see Page 6 and Page 45)
• Data Key Hold Time-Out (see Page 9 and Page 54)
• 4800B Modem supports baud mismatch functionality at 300,
1200, and 2400 baud rates. (This feature available with
post-version 5.0.9 firmware.)

2 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The transceiver is a software-configurable, industrial radio for use in
licensed data acquisition networks. It may be interfaced with a variety
of data control equipment including remote terminal units (RTUs), pro-
grammable logic controllers (PLCs), flow computers, and similar
devices. Data interface connections may be made for both serial
(RS-232/RS-485) and Ethernet protocols. It is designed for use in both
polled networks and report-by-exception (push) systems.

The radio employs digital signal processing (DSP) technology and a

fully digital transmit and receive IF chain to provide robust communica-
tions even under adverse conditions. DSP technology also helps elimi-
nate the effects of component variations or temperature changes,
resulting in optimized performance.

2.1 Front Panel Connectors and Indicators

Figure 2 shows the transceiver’s front panel connectors and indicators.
These items are referenced in the installation steps and in various other
locations in the manual. The transceiver’s LED functions are described
in Table 10 on Page 33.

Invisible place holder

LED INDICATOR ETHERNET
PANEL CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

DC INPUT
POWER
SERIAL DATA ANTENNA
CONNECTORS (DB-9) CONNECTOR (TNC)
COM1 used for radio management

Figure 2. Front Panel Connectors & Indicators

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 3

 2.2 Key Product Features
The transceiver is designed to meet the demanding needs of today’s
wireless networks in a compact, and rugged package. It offers an array
of features in a single hardware platform:

• Software-configurable via a built-in Device Manager—no man-

ual controls or adjustments.
• Media Access Control (MAC) to prevent data collisions when
two or more radios try to use the radio channel at the same time.
• Available encryption of payload data (AES 128-bit)
• Supports Virtual LAN (VLAN) operation
• Terminal Server capability to enable IP addressing of serial inter-
face ports on individual radios
• Store and Forward capability
• Supports a wide variety of modem speeds and bandwidths for
regulatory compliance in virtually all regions of the world
• Ethernet & serial interfaces—ideal for migration to IP networks
• Dual serial functionality (RS-232 and RS-485)
• Over-the-air reprogramming of remote units—no unnecessary
trips to radio sites
• Licensed 5-watt design, maximizes communications range with
low interference risk from other users
• Configurable via software as a Remote or an AP unit
• Low power “sleep mode”—ideal for battery-powered solar sites
• Virtual Radio Channels (VRC) support multiple polling applica-
tions on one radio

NOTE: Some features may not be available on all units, depending on the
options purchased and regulatory constraints for the region in which
the radio will operate.

Media Access Control (MAC)

An important feature of the transceiver is Media Access Control (MAC).
The radio’s MAC is specifically designed for use with narrow band-
width, half duplex radio networks such as those commonly used in
licensed telemetry systems. When the MAC is enabled, it provides effi-
cient support of multiple data traffic models including multiple hosts,
synchronous and asynchronous polls, and report-by-exception (push
traffic). MAC ensures that every transceiver in the network has an equal
probability of gaining access to the radio channel when it has data to
send.

Coordination of The main objective of the MAC is to coordinate channel access for all
Channel Access radios in the network, preventing data “collisions” that can occur with
simultaneous transmissions from radios on the same RF channel. With
MAC operation, a single radio is configured as an Access Point (AP)

4 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 and other units are designated as Remotes. The AP serves as the con-
troller of the RF network. Remotes request permission from the AP to
use the RF channel before sending payload data, thus avoiding collisions
of data, and creating a highly reliable wireless network. The MAC is
responsible for allocating which unit gets access to the broadcast
medium (the RF channel), when, and for how long.

Data Validation Additionally, the MAC validates all messages and purges corrupted data
from the system. Successful delivery of data is ensured through the use
of retries and acknowledgements. Minimal overhead is used to accom-
plish these tasks, which translates to increased bandwidth efficiency of
the radio channel with minimal latency, ensuring that messages are
delivered in a timely manner.

VLAN Capability
A Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) is essentially a limited broad-
cast domain, meaning that all members of a VLAN receive broadcast
frames sent by members of the same network, but not frames sent by
members of a different network.

The radio supports port-based VLAN at the Ethernet interface and over
the air, in accordance with the IEEE 802.1Q standard. When VLAN
Mode is enabled, the wireless ports of both AP and Remote radios act as
a “trunk port” to carry data.

Terminal Server Capability

The unit’s Terminal Server option allows serial port data to be sent over
the air in the form of IP packets. It works by encapsulating data from the
serial (COM1/COM2) ports as IP packets, then transmitting it over the air.
At the receiving end, the data is decapsulated and delivered to the appro-
priate COM port. The Terminal Server option provides a front-end RTU
conversion for TCP MODBUS Data. See “Terminal Server COM1/2
Configuration” on Page 61 for more information.

Store and Forward Capability

Store and Forward (SAF) capability is only available in Packet w/MAC
mode. It allows a radio to store incoming data and retransmit it a short
time later to other stations. This can be used to link outlying Remote sta-
tions to the AP when direct communication is not possible due to terrain,
distance, or other obstructions.

Communication routes are automatically discovered and traffic is intel-

ligently filtered such that only store and forward traffic is sent through
the SAF unit, conserving critical bandwidth in the network.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 5

 Peer-to-Peer Capability
Peer to Peer capability is available in Packet w/MAC mode only. It
allows Remote radios in the same radio network to pass data directly
between each other. When the Peer-to-Peer functionality is enabled on
the Remote, both the Remote and the AP will be able to pass data in the
system. The AP will route data to and from the enabled peers without
disrupting AP-to-Remote specific communications.

Frequency Re-use (System ID)

Frequency Re-use is possible in some applications. SysID (or System ID
as it is referred to in the Device Manager) offers approximately 20 dB
of additional co-channel isolation when operating networks on the same
frequency (see Page 45 for detailed information). Note that proper
system design is required. SysID offers nine unique choices including
the default value of NONE. Master and Remote radios in the same net-
work must use the same value.

To use this feature, a network must consist of all SDx radios. This fea-
ture is applicable only on digital modems (B modems are excluded).
Note that this feature does not affect adjacent channel performance, but
only co-channel performance.

2.3 SD Model Offerings

The radio is offered in three model types, using one hardware platform:

• Ethernet (ES)—All SD features and functionality

• Standard (SS)—All SD features, except over-the-air Ethernet
data
• x710 (MS)—Direct, drop-in compatibility for networks using a
mix of SD and older MDS x710 radios
Model Number The unit’s model number is printed on the bottom label. Additional unit
Codes details are available through the Device Manager, described later in this
manual.

2.4 Operating Modes and Applicable Manuals

In addition to the model offerings above, the radio may be configured to
operate in any of the following modes:

6 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

Standard Modes • Packet Mode—Payload data from the radio’s serial and Ethernet
(Modes covered by ports is assembled into packets and transmitted over the air.
this manual)
Packet mode supports Ethernet Bridging, AES 128-bit encryp-
tion, and Virtual Radio Channels (VRC). This mode requires an
all-SD radio network.

• Packet w/MAC—This mode is similar to Packet Mode above,

but adds a Media Access Control (MAC) layer to the feature set.
The MAC provides robust collision avoidance, with an AP con-
trolling which unit can access the communication channel, and
when, for maximum efficiency of the radio channel. This mode
supports push traffic, data retry, Virtual Radio Channels (VRC),
AES 128-bit encryption, Peer-to-Peer, and Store and Forward
operation. This mode requires an all-SD radio network.

• Transparent Mode—This mode is over-the-air compatible with

MDS x710 transceivers, while supporting payload data encapsu-
lated in IP at the Ethernet port. This mode is ideal for mixed net-
works containing SD and older MDS x710 radios. It allows
currently deployed x710 networks to add support for Ethernet
data at either the Master or Remote radios. Note that Ethernet
Bridging is not supported in this mode.
Transparent Mode also offers AES Encryption and added security
for DLINK polling. DLINK Encryption is only available in
Transparent Mode when AES Encryption is enabled. Transparent
w/AES Encryption requires an all SD radio network.

x710 Mode: • x710 Mode—This mode provides direct, drop-in compatibility

Different Manual with MDS x710 (4710 or 9710) transceivers, and uses the same
Required
core command set as these radios. It is designed for use in systems
containing a mix of SD radios and legacy MDS x710 units.
IMPORTANT: This manual does not cover x710 Mode opera-
tion. Refer instead to the following manuals for x710 instruc-
tions:
• Start-Up Guide (x710 Mode)— Part No. 05-4669A01
• Technical Manual (x710 Mode)—Part No. 05-4670A01
Invisible place holder

Figure 3. SD Transceivers offer compatibility with older MDS x710

Transceivers (left), and may be used for replacement and/or
interoperability in these networks. A retrofit kit is available for
connector conversion (see Table 1).

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 7

 2.5 Accessories and Spares
Table 1 lists common accessories and spare items for the transceiver.
GE MDS also offers an Accessories Selection Guide listing additional
items that may be used with the product. Visit www.gemds.com or contact
your factory representative to obtain a copy of the guide.
Table 1. Accessories & Spare Items
Accessory Description Part Number
Retrofit Kit, Digital Contains adapters and connectors 03-4696A01
needed to facilitate the replacement
of an existing MDS x710A/C/M
digital transceiver.
Retrofit Kit, Analog Contains adapters and connectors 03-4697A01
needed to facilitate the replacement
of an existing MDS x710A/C/M
analog transceiver.
DC Power Plug, Mates with power connector on radio 73-1194A53
2-pin, polarized case. Screw terminals provided for
wires, threaded locking screws to
prevent accidental disconnect.
Setup Guide Describes the installation and setup 05-4847A01
(for Packet and of the transceiver. A companion to
Transparent Modes) this Technical Manual.
Flat Mounting Brackets that attach to the bottom of 03-4123A14
Bracket Kit the unit. Used for mounting to a flat
mounting surface. Fits the mounting
footprint of MDS x710 transceivers.
DIN Rail Mounting Contains bracket for mounting the 03-4125A04
Bracket Kit transceiver to standard 35 mm DIN
rails commonly used in equipment
cabinets and panels.

Protected Network Station

The transceiver is available in a protected network configuration, known
as the SDxP (Figure 4), where x denotes the particular model of SD
transceiver installed inside the chassis (i.e., SD1, 2, 4, 9, etc.).

The SDxP is a tabletop or rack-mount unit designed to hold two trans-

ceivers, two power supplies, and a switchover logic board that automat-
ically selects between transceiver A or B as the active unit. Manual
selection may also be made using a front panel switch.

8 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 4. Protected Network Station

With two transceivers and two power supplies installed, the unit con-
tinues to communicate even if a failure occurs in one of the transceivers,
or its associated power supply. This capability is important in critical
applications where uninterrupted service is required. Refer to publica-
tion 05-4161A01 for detailed information on this product.

Dual Protected Configurations

Two dual transceiver configurations are offered for the SD Series. They
are known as the SDxDT and the SDxDP. These configurations are used
for the following purposes:

• When full duplex operation is desired using dedicated Transmit

and Receive transceivers.
• When a Master or Repeater site requires bandpass duplexers due
to the presence of co-located antennas.
• When streaming Repeater operation is desired using dedicated
Transmit and Receive transceivers
To improve performance in networks that require the use of the modem
speed being faster than the baud rate, increase the Data Key Hold Time-out
parameter which prevents frequent key-up key-down sequences
between character times. This parameter can be adjusted between 1 and
10 characters. See Data Key Hold Time-out on Page 54 for a complete
description.

SDxDT The SDxDT uses a similar chassis as the SDxP described above. How-
Configuration ever, one radio is configured with the transmit frequency and the other
for the receive frequency, with appropriate connections between them.
It also includes a bandpass duplexer tuned to a specific frequency for
simultaneous transmission and reception (full duplex) operation. Note
that the SDxDT provides one serial port and one Ethernet port for user
equipment.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 9

SDxDP The SDxDP is a protected, full duplex Master or Repeater site configu-
Configuration ration. This consists of two SDxP chassis described earlier, with appro-
priate interconnect cabling between the units. The radios in one SDxP
are configured with the transmit frequency and the radios in the other are
configured with the receive frequency. The SDxDP also includes a
bandpass duplexer tuned to a specific frequency for simultaneous trans-
mission and reception (full duplex) operation.

10 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 3.0 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
This section describes common scenarios the transceiver may be used
in. A number of variations are possible; If you have unique requirements
not found here, it is recommended that you consult a support specialist
at GE MDS. Contact information is provided at the back of this manual.

3.1 Operating Parameters

The transceiver can operate in both poll-response and “push” communi-
cation/report-by-exception networks. In poll-response networks a cen-
tral Master unit communicates with a number of Remote radios one at a
time. The Master exchanges data with the currently-connected Remote,
and when finished, it establishes a new connection with the next Remote
in the polling order. In push communication/Report by Exception net-
works, a Remote can also transmit if it has data to send, typically
prompted by a change in status conditions from connected data equip-
ment.

The radio includes a number of parameters which may be set to suit the
requirements of a particular application. Table 2 provides a summary of
common applications, protocols, and radio modes used. Refer to the
table to determine what applications can be supported and the required
radio mode settings.

Table 2. Application Types vs. Key Radio Settings

Protocol Recommended
Application Notes
(Example) Radio Mode
Polled Bridged Ethernet MODBUS TCP Packet w/MAC May also use Packet mode and enable LBT
with Listen on RX.
Bridged Ethernet IP(ICMP/TCP/UDP/ Packet w/MAC May also use Packet mode and enable LBT
MODBUS TCP) with Listen on RX.
Mixed Serial and Bridged MODBUS RTU & IP Packet w/MAC May also use Packet mode with Multihost
Ethernet feature enabled.
Report by Exception Serial and/or IP Packet w/MAC
Single Poll Multiple Serial and/or IP Packet w/MAC
Response
Two or more concurrent DNP3 and Modbus Packet w/MAC May also use Packet mode with Multihost
serial polling applications RTU feature enabled.
(COM2, COM1, and /or
IP Payload at master
Single Port Serial Polling Modbus RTU Packet AES On
with encryption (COM2 or Transparent AES On
COM1)
Single Port Serial Polling Modbus RTU Packet AES Off
without encryption Transparent AES Off
(COM2, COM1, or IP
Payload at master)

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 11

 3.2 Example Systems
The following sections describe common system arrangements for the
transceiver. Other variations are possible, and if you have questions
about a specific application not covered here, you may contact your fac-
tory representative using the information at the back of this guide. For
typical radio settings in these systems, refer to Table 2 on Page 11.

Multiple Address Systems (MAS)

This is a common application for the transceiver. It consists of a central
Master unit and several associated Remote units as shown in Figure 5.
An MAS network provides communication between a central host com-
puter and remote terminal units (RTUs) or other data collection devices
in the field. Often, such a system is used to carry telemetry data to and
from widely separated remote radios.

Typical MAS applications may be for automatic, remote monitoring of

gas wells, water tank levels, electric power distribution systems, and
similar control and measurement functions.

Invisible place holder

REMOTE RADIO
RTU
RTU
REMOTE RADIO

RTU

REMOTE RADIO

RTU MASTER STATION

REMOTE RADIO

OR: SDA-Augmented
Master Station

HOST SYSTEM

Figure 5. Typical MAS Point-to-Multipoint Network

Point-to-Point System
Where permitted, the transceiver may also be used in a point-to-point
arrangement. A point-to-point system consists of just two radios—one
Master and one Remote (see Figure 6). It provides a simplex (or
half-duplex) and a duplex communications link for the transfer of data
between two locations.

12 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 6. Typical Point-to-Point Link

IP Payload/Ethernet Polling and Terminal Server Operation

Modern data/control networks often employ IP/Ethernet connectivity

throughout the system. The transceiver is well suited to provide connec-
tivity between such sites using its RJ-45 modular connector on the front
panel and enabling Ethernet Bridging capabilities. Figure 7 shows an
overview of such a system.

Note that the Remote radio on the right side of the illustration uses a
serial connection. The radio’s Terminal Server feature allows direct
IP/addressing of serial ports on selected radios. See “Terminal Server
COM1/2 Configuration” on Page 61 for more details.

Invisible place holder

MASTER UNIT

To Ethernet Port

Ethernet

REMOTE RADIO REMOTE RADIO

(One of several possible sites) (One of several possible sites)

Ethernet
Serial

Ethernet RTU Serial RTU

(Terminal Server Connection)

Figure 7. IP/Ethernet Polling Example

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 13

 The type of network shown in Figure 7 can also be used for general
Ethernet bridging as supported by the over-the-air bandwidth of the
system. Bridge filters in the radio may be set to reduce Ethernet traffic
over the RF channel, and improve performance.

Port Sharing with Multiple Hosts

The transceiver allows for several external data networks to use the
same RF network without confusing the data streams. In such a system,
multiple host computers at the Master Unit poll their respective RTUs,
which may be alone or co-located at the Remote sites. Figure 8 shows
an example of such a system. In this case, two host computers (Host A
and Host B) are connected to the Master Unit via the applicable data
ports.

At the Remote sites, serial and Ethernet-based RTUs are employed, and
responding to a specific host computer. In the case of the Remote shown
on the lower right side of the figure, two RTUs are co-located, but
responding to different host computers and handling entirely different
data streams.

The radio eliminates the need for an external adapter or special external
configuration and handshaking when multiple host systems are con-
nected to the network. The radio automatically controls access to the RF
channel by multiple hosts when Packet w/MAC is activated. Virtual
Radio Channels (VRCs) are used to separate serial data streams on
COM2, COM1, or IP payload ports. Packet w/MAC operation provides
Media Access Control. It is the recommended method of operation for
port sharing systems. See “Understanding VRC’s” on Page 60.

NOTE: An option exists to operate in Packet mode without MAC.

However, this Packet mode option should only be used for
systems that use legacy methods of collision avoidance
including Multihost and Listen Before Transmit (LBT). The
mode Packet w/MAC provides superior performance and
better network reliability, collision avoidance and better
overall throughput.

14 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Device Settings Screen
Radio Mode: Packet w/MAC

MASTER RADIO

To Ethernet Port
HOST COMPUTER
(Host B)

HOST COMPUTER
(Host A)
Ethernet Serial

HOST C

To COM2
Serial Port

REMOTE RADIO REMOTE RADIO

(One of several possible sites) (One of several possible sites)

Ethernet

Co-located RTUs
Responding to
Different Hosts
Serial RTU Responding to Serial RTU Responding to
Host B Host B
Ethernet RTU Responding to
Host A

Figure 8. Port Sharing with Multiple Hosts Arrangement

Using Packet w/MAC Mode

Push Communication (Report-by Exception)

Push Communication, sometimes referred to as Report-by-Exception

(RBE), differs from polled response in that a Remote radio normally
transmits only when it has data to send. It does not depend on polling
from a Master radio to initiate transmission. Some typical characteristics
of push communication systems are as follows:

• Remotes transmit asynchronously

• May contain large amounts of data
• Buffering and flow control are used

DNP3 and IEC 104 are examples of protocols that implement push com-
munication. Note that both the serial and Ethernet versions of DNP3
support push communication.

IP Polling of Serial Remotes

The transceiver is ideal for use in systems employing a mix of serial and
Ethernet protocols. While many variations are possible, Figure 9 shows
a typical arrangement with an Ethernet host at the Master Unit that is
polling serial-based RTUs at Remote sites.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 15

 In this example, the Host Computer is connected directly to the radio’s
Ethernet port and the RTUs at the Remote sites are connected to the
transceiver via the radio’s COM2 serial data ports. The IP Payload fea-
ture, used at the Master, efficiently passes TCP/UDP payload over the
air, and eliminates the need for an external terminal server. (COM1 may
also be used for payload data if properly configured via the menu
system. See next example.)

Invisible place holder

Ethernet Data Port Menu
MASTER RADIO
(TCP Server)

To Ethernet Port

HOST COMPUTER MODBUS RTU

(TCP Client) Protocol

REMOTE RADIO REMOTE RADIO

(One of several possible sites) (One of several possible sites)

To COM2 To COM2
Serial Port Serial Port

MODBUS® SERIAL RTU MODBUS® SERIAL RTU

Figure 9. IP Polling of Serial Remotes

IP Polling of Two Serial Ports on One Remote

In some cases, it is necessary to poll more than one RTU at a Remote
site. Figure 10 shows an example of such a system. Here, two RTUs are
connected to each Remote transceiver, both using the radio’s serial
ports—COM1 and COM2.

By default, the radio’s COM1 port is configured for serial management

functions with a connected PC, but it may be configured for data service
using the web interface. This arrangement allows two telemetry net-
works to share a single radio system.

16 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Packet w/MAC is the recommended method of operation when both
serial ports are used to pass payload data if there are two hosts (e.g., Port
Sharing with multiple host case). If there is a single host polling all units,
packet or transparent mode is the preferred option even if there are two
RTUs connected to a Remote radio.
Device Settings Screen
Radio Mode: Packet w/MAC

MASTER RADIO

To Ethernet Port

HOST COMPUTER TCP Ethernet

(Host A)

REMOTE RADIO
(One of several possible sites) REMOTE RADIO
(One of several possible sites)

SERIAL RTU SERIAL RTU

SERIAL RTU SERIAL RTU

Figure 10. IP Polling of Two Serial Ports on One Remote

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 17

 4.0 INSTALLATION PLANNING
This section covers pre-installation factors that should be considered when
installing the transceiver in the field. Careful planning will help achieve
optimal performance from the transceiver. After reviewing this section, refer
to the step-by-step installation procedures beginning on Page 28.

Figure 11 shows a typical station arrangement. The specific details at an instal-

lation site may vary, but there are three main requirements for installing the
transceiver in all cases:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• An efficient and properly installed antenna system
• Correct interface connections between the transceiver and the data
device.

ANTENNA SYSTEM
Master Stations typically use
omni-directional antenna

TRANSCEIVER

POWER SUPPLY
10–30 VDC @ 2.5A
Negative Ground Only
ET

L
RN

RIA NE
I
HE

SE DL
ET

OR: E
FE
O SS
-L
O W
L

DATA TELEMETRY DEVICE

OR HOST COMPUTER

Figure 11. Typical Station Arrangement (Remote shown)

18 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 4.1 Chassis Dimensions
Figure 12 shows the external chassis dimensions of the SD Transceiver.

Invisible place holder

Figure 12. Transceiver Dimensions

4.2 Mounting Bracket Options

The transceiver is normally provided with flat mounting brackets
attached to the bottom of the radio as shown in Figure 13. An optional
35 mm DIN rail mounting bracket is also available, and is described
below.

Invisible place holder

2.75˝ (7 cm)

6.675˝ (16.95 cm)

Figure 13. Mounting Bracket Dimensions

NOTE: To prevent moisture from entering the radio, do not mount the case
with the cable connectors pointing up. Also, dress all cables to
prevent moisture from running along the cables and into the radio.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 19

 Optional DIN Rail Mounting
The unit may be mounted with an optional 35 mm DIN Rail Mounting
Bracket Kit (Part No. 03-4125A04). Equipment cabinets and racks of
modern design often employ this type of mounting. Once the DIN
bracket is attached to the radio, it allows for quick installation and
removal of the radio from its mounting rail without the need for tools.

The DIN Rail bracket attaches to the unit’s case as shown in Figure 14.
The entire assembly then attaches to the mounting rail.

Release Tab

Step 1: Attach the bracket using the Step 2: Clip the assembly onto the
two screws provided. (Attach to DIN Rail. Removal is performed by
the end opposite the unit’s connectors.) pulling down on the Release Tab.

Figure 14. Attachment & Mounting of DIN Rail Bracket

(Unit shown is for example only, and is not an SD Transceiver.)

4.3 Antennas and Feedlines

Antennas
The transceiver may be used with a number of different antennas. The
exact style and gain factor depend on the physical size and layout of
your system. Connection is made to the radio via a TNC coaxial con-
nector.

A directional Yagi (Figure 15) or corner reflector antenna is generally

used at remote sites to minimize interference to and from other users.
Antennas of this type are available from several manufacturers,
including GE MDS. Contact your factory representative for details.

20 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 15. Typical Yagi Antenna (mounted to mast)

Feedlines
The selection of an antenna feedline is very important. Poor quality
cable should be avoided as it will result in power losses that may reduce
the range and reliability of the radio system.

The tables which follow show the approximate losses that will occur
when using various lengths and types of coaxial cable in the 200, 400
and 900 MHz bands, respectively. Regardless of the type used, the cable
should be kept as short as possible to minimize signal loss.

Table 3. Signal Loss in Coaxial Cables (at 200 MHz)

10 Feet 50 Feet 100 Feet 200 Feet
Cable Type (3 Meters) (15 Meters) (30.5 Meters) (61 Meters)

RG-8A/U 0.26 dB 1.27 dB 2.50 dB 5.07 dB

1/2 inch HELIAX 0.06 dB 0.38 dB 0.76 dB 1.60 dB
7/8 inch HELIAX 0.04 dB 0.21 dB 0.42 dB 0.83 dB
1-1/4 inch HELIAX 0.03 dB 0.16 dB 0.31 dB 0.62 dB
1-5/8 inch HELIAX 0.025 dB 0.13 dB 0.26 dB 0.52 dB

Table 4. Signal Loss in Coaxial Cables (at 400 MHz)

10 Feet 50 Feet 100 Feet 200 Feet
Cable Type (3 Meters) (15 Meters) (30.5 Meters) (61 Meters)

RG-8A/U 0.51 dB 2.53 dB 5.07 dB 10.14 dB

1/2 inch HELIAX 0.12 dB 0.76 dB 1.51 dB 3.02 dB
7/8 inch HELIAX 0.08 dB 0.42 dB 0.83 dB 1.66 dB
1-1/4 inch HELIAX 0.06 dB 0.31 dB 0.62 dB 1.24 dB
1-5/8 inch HELIAX 0.05 dB 0.26 dB 0.52 dB 1.04 dB

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 21

 Table 5. Signal Loss in Coaxial Cables (at 900 MHz)
10 Feet 50 Feet 100 Feet 200 Feet
Cable Type (3 Meters) (15 Meters) (30.5 Meters) (61 Meters)

RG-8A/U 0.85 dB 4.27 dB 8.54 dB 17.08 dB

1/2 inch HELIAX 0.23 dB 1.15 dB 2.29 dB 4.58 dB
7/8 inch HELIAX 0.13 dB 0.64 dB 1.28 dB 2.56 dB
1-1/4 inch HELIAX 0.10 dB 0.48 dB 0.95 dB 1.90 dB
1-5/8 inch HELIAX 0.08 dB 0.40 dB 0.80 dB 1.60 dB

4.4 DC Power Connection

The transceiver may be operated from any well-filtered 10 to 30 Vdc
power source. The supply must be capable of providing at least 2.5
Amperes continuously.

NOTE: Early SD4 models supported 10.5 to 16 Vdc power, not 10 to

30 Vdc. Always check the labeling above the power connector
to confirm the operating range for your unit.

A power connector with screw terminals is provided with each unit (see
Figure 16). Strip the wire leads to 6 mm (1/4 inch) and insert in the wire
ports, tightening securely. Be sure to observe proper polarity as shown
in Figure 16.

Invisible place holder

Lead
Binding
Screws (2)

Retaining
Screws (2)
Wire Ports (2)
(Polarity: Left +, Right –)

Figure 16. DC Power Connector (P/N 73-1194A39)

NOTE: The radio is designed for use in negative ground systems only.

4.5 Grounding Considerations

To minimize the chance of damage to the transceiver and connected
equipment, a safety ground (NEC Class 2 compliant) is recommended
which bonds the antenna system, transceiver, power supply, and con-
nected data equipment to a single-point ground, keeping all ground leads
as short as possible.

22 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Normally, the transceiver is adequately grounded if the supplied flat
mounting brackets are used to mount the radio to a well-grounded metal
surface. If the transceiver is not mounted to a grounded surface, it is rec-
ommended that a safety ground wire be attached to one of the mounting
brackets or a screw on the transceiver’s case.

The use of a lightning protector is recommended where the antenna

cable enters the building; bond the protector to the tower ground, if pos-
sible. All grounds and cabling must comply with applicable codes and
regulations.

4.6 Ethernet Data Interface (RJ-45)

The transceiver’s Ethernet Port is used to connect the unit to another
Ethernet device. The port has built-in MDIX (auto-sensing) capability,
allowing either a straight-through or crossover cable to be used.
Figure 17 and Table 6 show pinout data for the Ethernet port. The
Ethernet interface supports both radio management and payload data
transport functions.

For radio management, connecting via a web browser provides

enhanced functionality and ease-of-use over serial (COM1) methods or
Telnet. Web-based management is the preferred and primary means of
accessing the transceiver through the built-in Device Manager.

Telnet may also be used on this connector, and provides the same
menu-based user interface available via COM1. If you wish to use Telnet
for radio control, refer to the SD Serial/Telnet Management Supplement,
Part No. 05-6193A01.

Various options are available for passing Ethernet data on this con-
nector, allowing system administrators to optimize the configuration for
maximum narrowband efficiency, based on the operating characteristics
of their system.

87654 321

Figure 17. Ethernet Port (RJ-45) Pinout

(As viewed from the outside of the unit)

Table 6. Ethernet Port (IP/Ethernet) Pinouts

Pin Functions Ref.
1 Transmit Data (TX) High
2 Transmit Data (TX) Low
3 Receive Data (RX) High
4 Unused

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 23

 Table 6. Ethernet Port (IP/Ethernet) Pinouts (Continued)
Pin Functions Ref.
5 Unused
6 Receive Data (RX) Low
7 Unused
8 Unused

4.7 Serial Data Interfaces

COM1 and COM2 on the front panel serve as the serial interface ports for
radio management and payload data, respectively. The following sec-
tions identify the pin functions used on each interface. These ports are
user-configurable for specific applications. The procedures for changing
their default operation are provided later in this guide.

NOTE: Not all PCs have a serial port. If one is not available, a
USB-to-Serial adapter and appropriate driver software may be
used to provide serial connectivity. These adapters are avail-
able from several manufacturers, including GE MDS.

COM1 (Serial) Connection

The default factory settings for the radio’s COM1 port (Figure 18)
assigns it for management or diagnostics of the radio via a serial connec-
tion to a PC. COM1 may be used to set basic parameters such as output
power, modem type and operating frequency of the radio, using text
commands.

COM1 management provides an alternative to the web-based SD Device

Manager, accessible via the Ethernet RJ-45 port (see Page 23) when
Ethernet connectivity is not available. If you wish to use serial or Telnet
control, refer to the SD Serial/Telnet Management Supplement, Part No.
05-6193A01.

5 1
Figure 18. COM1 Connector (DB-9F)
As viewed from outside the unit
9 6

For typical applications, a straight-through DB-9 cable may be used for

PC management on COM1. If desired, a cable may be constructed as
shown in Figure 19, using Pins 2 (RXD), 3 (TXD), and 5 (Ground).
Table 7 lists all COM1 pins.

24 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 2 RXD RXD 2
DB-9 MALE DB-9 FEMALE
(RADIO SIDE) 3 TXD TXD 3 (COMPUTER)

5 GND GND 5

Figure 19. COM1 Wiring for PC Management

Table 7. COM1 Pin Descriptions

Pin Radio
Number Input/ Pin Description
Output
1 -- No function
2 OUT RXD (Received Data)—Supplies received data to the
connected device.
3 IN TXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX data from the
connected device.
4 -- No function
5 -- Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on
chassis.
6 -- No function
7 -- No function in most applications—User I/O for special
applications
8 --- No function
9 -- No function in most applications—User I/O for special
applications

COM2 (Data) Connections

Typically, the COM2 port (Figure 20) is used for connecting the radio to
an external DTE serial device supporting the RS-232 or RS-485 serial
data format. The radio supports serial data rates of 300, 1200, 2400,
4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, and 115200 bps (asynchronous only).

Pin Descriptions— Table 8 and Table 9 provide detailed pin descriptions for the COM2 data
RS-232 and RS-485 port in RS-232 mode and RS-485 modes, respectively.

NOTE: In addition to RS-485 mode, the radio is capable of operating

in RS-422 mode. RS-485 must be selected in the menu, and the
pin descriptions/wiring arrangements shown in Table 9 apply.

5 1
Figure 20. COM2 Connector (DB-9F)
As viewed from outside the radio
9 6

NOTE: The radio is hard-wired as a DCE device.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 25

 Table 8. COM2 Pin Descriptions—Radio in RS-232 Mode
Pin Radio
Number Input/ Pin Description
Output
1 OUT DCD (Data Carrier Detect/Link)—A high indicates signal
received.
2 OUT RXD (Received Data)—Supplies received data to the
connected device.
3 IN TXD (Transmitted Data)—Accepts TX data from the
connected device.
4 IN Sleep Mode Input—Grounding this pin places the radio in a
low power consumption mode.
5 -- Signal Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply
potential) on chassis.
6 OUT Alarm Output (DSR)—Behavior is user-configurable. Default
behavior: An RS-232 high/space (+5.0 Vdc) on this pin
indicates an alarm condition. An RS-232 low/mark (–5.0 Vdc)
indicates normal operation.
7 IN RTS (Request-to-Send)—Keys the transmitter.
8 OUT CTS (Clear-to-Send)—Goes “high” after the programmed
CTS delay time has elapsed (DCE), or keys another
connected radio when RF data arrives (CTS KEY).
9 -- Reserved—User I/O for special applications

Table 9. COM2 Pin Descriptions—Radio in RS-485 Mode

Pin Input/
Number Output Pin Description
1 OUT Carrier Detect/Link—A high indicates signal received.
2 OUT TXD-/TXA (Transmitted Data -)—Inverting driver output.
Supplies received payload data to the connected device.
3 IN RXD-/RXA (Received Data -)—Inverting receiver input.
Accepts payload data from the connected device.
4 IN Sleep Mode Input—Grounding this pin places the radio in a
low power consumption mode.
5 -- Ground—Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on
the radio’s PC board.
6 OUT Alarm Output—Behavior is user-configurable. Default
behavior: A high on this pin indicates an alarm condition; a low
indicates normal operation.
7 IN RXD+/RXB (Received Data +)— Non-inverting receiver input
8 OUT TXD+/TXB (Transmitted Data +)—Non-inverting driver output.
9 -- Reserved—User I/O for special applications

26 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 COM2 PORT NOTES:
• RXD+ / RXB and RXD– / RXA are data sent to the radio to be transmitted
• RXD+ / RXB is positive with respect to RXD– / RXA when the line input is a “0”
• TXD+ / TXB and TXD– / TXA are data received by the radio and transmitted
• TXD+ / TXB is positive with respect to the TXD– / TXA when the line output is a “0”
Invisible place holder
EIA-422 4-WIRE CONNECTIONS EIA-485 2-WIRE CONNECTIONS

DATA CONNECTOR

EXTERNAL DEVICE

EXTERNAL DEVICE
DATA CONNECTOR
TXD – 2 RXD – TXD – 2
RXD–/TXD–

RADIO
RXD – 3

RADIO
RXD – 3 RXD +
RXD + 7 TXD – RXD + 7
RXD+/TXD+
TXD + 8 TXD + TXD + 8

This jumpering must be provided by user.

Figure 21. RS-485 Wiring Arrangements

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 27

 5.0 STEP-BY-STEP INSTALLATION
In most cases, the steps given here are sufficient to install the trans-
ceiver. Refer to “INSTALLATION PLANNING” on Page 18 for addi-
tional details, as required.

1. Mount the transceiver. Attach the mounting brackets to the bottom

of the transceiver case (if not already installed), using the three
6-32 x 1/4 inch (6 mm) screws supplied. Mounting bracket
dimensions are shown in Figure 13 on Page 19. Secure the brackets
to a flat, grounded surface. (If a grounded surface is not available,
run a separate ground wire to the transceiver—see “Grounding
Considerations” on Page 22.)

2. Install the antenna and feedline. The antenna used with the radio
must be designed to operate in the radio’s frequency band, and be
mounted in a location providing a clear path to the associated sta-
tion(s). At Remote sites, aim directional antennas toward the Master
unit. Low loss coaxial feedline should be used and it should be kept
as short as possible.

3. Connect the data equipment. Connection may be made using

IP/Ethernet signaling, Serial protocols (RS-232/RS-485), or both.
• If an Ethernet device is to be used, connect it to the front panel
ETHERNET port to the right of the PWR connector.
• If a serial device is to be used, connect it to COM2 on the front
panel. The radio is hardwired as a DCE device. A straight-through
cable may be used in most applications.

NOTE: Do not connect the radio’s Ethernet port to a LAN with high
traffic levels. Excessive traffic will overload the port and cause
it to be temporarily disabled. In general, traffic levels above 4
Mbps are likely to cause port shutdown. (Traffic limit is less
than 4 Mbps with packet sizes smaller than 64 bytes.)

4. Connect primary power. Input power must be within 10 to 30 Vdc

and capable of providing at least 2.5 Amperes. (Note that some
older SD4 radios only allow a 10.5 to 16 Vdc range. Always verify
the voltage range by checking the label above the power input
socket.)

A power connector with screw-terminals is provided with the unit

(see Figure 16 on Page 22). Strip the wire leads to 1/4 inch (6 mm)
and insert them into the wire ports. Be sure to observe proper
polarity. Tighten the binding screws securely.

28 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 The unit is designed for use with negative-ground systems only. The
CAUTION
POSSIBLE
power supply should be equipped with overload protection (NEC
EQUIPMENT Class 2 rating), to protect against a short circuit between its output
DAMAGE terminals and the radio’s power connector.

5. Configure Basic Settings. Connect a PC to the radio’s Ethernet

connector. Access the radio’s Device Manager through the PC’s
browser (default is IP address is 192.168.1.1). On a factory default
radio, the Device Manager automatically starts the Basic Setup
Wizard as seen in Figure 24 on Page 32. The wizard steps you
through the essential radio settings in streamlined fashion. Detailed
steps for starting configuration of the radio are presented in Section
5.1 below.

5.1 Initial Configuration

This section describes setup of the radio for its first on-air operation. A
full description of operating settings is given in Section 6.0 on Page 36.

Web-Based Management
The Device Manager is the recommended method for user management.
It is a built-in software tool that works with your PC’s browser to pro-
vide an intuitive, web-style presentation of all radio information, set-
tings, and diagnostics.

The Device Manager also contains a “wizard” function to assist in set-

ting up a radio with a minimum of user actions. Web management uses
the radio’s Ethernet RJ-45 connector. See “Web Browser Connection”
on Page 30 for details.

Throughout Section 6.0 starting on Page 36, the following parameters

may be shown in the example Figures. These may not be explicitly
stated in the individual descriptions of the features, however, where they
are applicable, the following is always true:

• Commit Configuration—Clicking this button causes any “staged”

parameter changes to be activated and saved to non-volatile mem-
ory. Unlike most other attributes, terminal server attributes don't
automatically “take” after making a change. Similar to the Ether-
net settings, many items only make sense to change as a block,
and this is why the Commit Configuration button is provided.
• Refresh/Auto—Clicking the Auto button causes the Web/UI inter-
face to update and load the latest saved data. A configurable, peri-
odic refresh update interval is provided for the Auto parameter.
Clicking Refresh forces an instant update.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 29

 Web Browser Connection
Requirements This section describes connection and use of the radio’s built-in Device
Manager. To connect to the radio and manage it via the Device Man-
ager, you will need the following:

• A PC with a web browser program installed.

• An Ethernet cable connected between the PC and the radio as
shown in Figure 22. (Alternatively, a network connection may be
used, as long as the radio can be reached via its IP address.)
• The radio’s IP address. Check with your Network Administrator,
or determine the address via a serial/console connection (see Start-
ing Information Screen). The default address for a factory supplied
radio is 192.168.1.1.
• The user name and password for the radio. Check with your Net-
work Administrator, or, if a username and password have not
been set, use the factory defaults of admin for both entries. (For
security, a new password should be established as soon as possi-
ble after login.)
Invisible place holder

Transceiver

PC Running Web Browser

RJ-45 to Ethernet Port

Figure 22. PC Connection to Radio for Web Management

Logging On 1. Connect the radio to a PC via an Ethernet connection.

2. Configure your PC network settings to an IP address on the same

subnet as the radio. The default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0.

3. Enter the radio’s IP address in a web browser window, just as you

would enter a website address (http://192.168.1.1). When the login
screen appears (Figure 23), enter the User Name and Password for
the radio. The default entries for a new radio are both admin. Click
OK.

30 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 23. Login Screen

Using the Basic 4. The Basic Setup Wizard (Figure 24) begins automatically upon con-
Setup Wizard nection to a new factory shipped radio. It may also be started manu-
ally by selecting Setup Wizards>>Basic Setup, and then clicking Start. The
Wizard displays a series of screens with key selections as follows:
• TX/RX Frequencies
• System ID
• RF Output Power
• Radio Mode
• Modem Type (Transparent or Packet w/MAC)
• Com 2 Port Baud Rate
• Bridge Mode
• Encryption Mode
• DLINK Passphrase
• Device Type
• Ethernet Settings

NOTE: TX and RX frequencies may not be set when the radio is

shipped from the factory, depending on ordering options. If no
frequencies have been set, an alarm condition is generated and
the PWR LED flashes. These will be cleared after the frequen-
cies are set. In all cases, users must verify that the frequencies
are properly set according to the station license.

NOTE: Operation on exact multiples of 25 MHz is not supported by

the SDx transceiver (i.e., 400, 425, 450, 475, and 500 MHz).

NOTE: The option to configure the Radio Mode is also available under
Configuration >> Radio under Device Settings.

Continue through each wizard screen until all selections have been
made. (You may back up to previous screens if required, to review or
change settings.) If you are unsure about a required setting, contact
your Network Administrator for assistance.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 31

 Invisible place holder

Figure 24. Basic Setup Wizard

5. At the conclusion of the wizard, click Done. Configuration is now

complete for the connected radio. Log out of the Device Manager by
clicking Logout in the upper right hand side of the screen. If desired,
you may proceed with the additional functions described below.

Using the Remote To program the key settings of Remote radios installed in the wireless
Management Wizard network, select Setup Wizards>>Remote Management from the AP or Master
Radio and follow the prompts contained in that tool. At the conclusion
of the wizard, click Commit Configuration, followed by Done. Remote con-
figuration is now complete.

Getting an Overview To get a top-level view of the key settings and operating parameters for
of Radio Settings the radio, select Overview and a summary screen will be displayed. When
finished, log out of the Device Manager by clicking Logout in the upper
right hand side of the screen.

Alternative Management Methods

The following methods are for use where web-based management is not
available:

• Serial—(COM1 DB9 connector). This is the “console terminal”

method of control commonly used on earlier GE MDS radios.

• Telnet—(ETHERNET RJ-45 connector). Telnet offers essentially

the same capabilities as Serial control, but may be performed
either through a local connection, or over a network.
For more information on alternative management methods, refer to the
SD Serial/Telnet Management Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01, avail-
able from the GE MDS website at www.gemds.com.

32 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 5.2 Initial Startup & Checkout
In-service operation of the transceiver is completely automatic. Once
the unit has been properly installed and configured as described above,
operator actions are limited to observing the front panel LED indicators
for proper operation.

If all parameters are correctly set, operation of the radio can be started
by following these steps:

1. Apply DC power. Unit must be powered on

2. Observe the LED status panel for proper indications (Table 10).

3. If not done earlier, refine the antenna heading of the station to maxi-
mize the received signal strength (RSSI) from the Master Unit. The
Maintenance & Status>>Performance screen may be used to observe RSSI.
Turn the antenna heading slowly so that the RSSI display can be
updated.

NOTE: The RSSI facility limits the maximum displayed signal

strength to –60 dBm. Signal levels that are higher than -60
dBm will appear as > -60 dBm.
Invisible place holder

Table 10. LED Status Indicators

LED Name Description
PWR • Continuous—Power applied, no problems detected.
• Rapid flash (5 times-per-second)—Alarm indication, or
RX/TX frequencies not set.
LAN • Flashing—Data is being transmitted and received.
• Off—Ethernet signals not detected
DATA1 / DATA2 These LEDs show data activity on the DB-9 serial payload
ports (COM1/COM2).
LINK When lit, indicates that a communication link exists with the
Master Unit.

Ethernet Connector LEDs

The 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connector has two embedded LEDs. A
flashing green indicator shows data activity, and a yellow indicates 100
Mbps operation has been achieved.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 33

 5.3 Optimizing the Radio Network
With basic configuration complete, there are several additional settings
that can be made to optimize the radio system. The settings below
should be reviewed and changed as necessary to suit your particular
application.

Modem Type Setting

All radios in the network must be set to the same modem type and speed.
A range of values is available. The default setting is 9600. This setting
may be set/viewed using the Configuration>>Radio>>Basic Settings screen. See
Page 43 for details.

In general, the higher the modem baud rate, the faster the communica-
tion speed over the air. However, it must be remembered that signal
strength also plays a role in how fast a transmission may be sent. If sig-
nals are strong, faster speeds are possible. If signals are fair or poor,
slower speeds may be needed to achieve the best communication results
with the least number of re-transmissions due to errors.

Inter-Packet Gap Settings

For radios operating in Packet Mode, the inter-packet gap is a timing set-
ting used to delimit a packet on the serial interface. Too short of a time
can cause serial streams to be combined into one large packet instead of
two smaller ones. Too long of a time can slow down the communica-
tions channel.

Inter-Packet Gap Settings for COM1 and COM2 are made using the Con-
figuration>>Radio>>Packet Settings window. See Page 48 for details.

Baud Rate Setting

The higher the baud rate, the faster the communication speed of the
serial link connected to the COM port. However, this setting has no direct
effect on over-the-air transmission speed.

The modem baud rate is set using the Configuration>>Communication

Ports>>COM1/2 Port Settings window.
See Page 67 for details.

NOTE: Baud rate settings that are matched or higher than the modem
speed should be used in all cases. If the baud rate must be
lower than the modem speed, the Data Key Hold Time-out can be
adjusted. See “Data Key Hold Time-out” located on Page 54.

34 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Ethernet Settings
The local Ethernet connection must be configured to conform to the
needs of the local Ethernet network. The Configuration>>Communication
Ports>>IP/IP2 Configuration screen is used to set/view these settings. Here
are some general points that apply to Ethernet settings:

• The radio's Ethernet settings must be configured in order to com-

municate over the LAN to which it is connected.
• It must be known whether or not a DHCP server is active in a net-
work to make use of the radio’s DHCP client setting.
• If a DHCP server is available, DHCP client can be enabled on the
radio. Once enabled, it can take a few minutes before the radio
obtains an IP address, which will be displayed in the Current IP
Address field.
• If DHCP operation is unavailable (or is not desired), then a static
IP address may be manually set. IP network setup is beyond the
scope of this manual. Consult your network administrator.
• As a quick reference, a typical LAN setup might appear as fol-
lows:
Static IP Address 192.168.1.101
Static IP Netmask 255.255.255.0
Static Default Gateway 192.168.1.1
DHCP Disabled

See Page 69 for more information on Ethernet settings.

Antenna SWR Check

Before placing the radio into final service, a check should be made of
the antenna system’s standing wave ratio (SWR). Use a directional watt-
meter suited to the frequency of operation for this check. High SWR
(above 2:1) may indicate an antenna, connector, or feedline problem,
and should be corrected.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 35

 6.0 USING THE DEVICE MANAGER
The radio contains a built-in management system known as a Device
Manager. This web-based tool is accessed with a PC connected to the
radio’s Ethernet port as shown in Figure 25. It offers an intuitive method
for managing your radio and performing common maintenance tasks.

NOTE: The Device Manager is the preferred method for managing the
transceiver. Menu-based Serial or Telnet management is also
possible. Refer to the SD Serial/Telnet Management Supple-
ment, Part No. 05-6193A01 for details.

If you are using the Device Manager for the first time, refer to “Web
Browser Connection” on Page 30 for instructions on connecting a PC to
the radio and logging into the Device Manager for basic radio setup,
including use of the Setup Wizards.

Transceiver

PC Running Web Browser

RJ-45 to Ethernet Port

Figure 25. PC Connection to Radio for Web Management

6.1 Navigating the Screens

Upon login to the Device Manager, the Overview screen appears as
shown in Figure 26. The selection pane at the left side of this screen pro-
vides access to any of the available screens. Simply click an item of
interest, and the new screen appears. Sub-level screens are displayed
under the main heading, and may be clicked to open them.

With a desired screen displayed, simply scroll up or down to reach a

required setting or indication. Drop-down boxes or blank fields are pro-
vided for entering new information. Once a new parameter is entered,
click Commit Configuration on the right-hand side of the screen to apply the
setting, or select Undo to cancel it.

36 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 26. Overview Summary Screen

Overview Screen
The Overview screen (Figure 26) provides a read-only view of all key set-
tings and operating conditions for the radio. The Health & Maintenance Sum-
mary, in particular, can help you quickly spot changes in operating
conditions. By becoming familiar with expected readings, you can iden-
tify parameters that are outside their normal ranges, and take corrective
action.

Printout Option Clicking the Printer friendly configuration label at the bottom of the screen
brings up a print-ready report that includes not only the Overview screen,
but all settable items and indications. Printing this report and keeping it
with the manual provides a convenient way of reviewing the settings for
a particular unit at any point in the future.

Logging Out To exit the Device Manager, click Logout in the upper right hand side of
any screen. The session is terminated.

NOTE: To maintain security, it is best to log-out of the Device

Manager as soon as you are done working with it. If you do not
log out, the session automatically ends after 10 minutes of
inactivity.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 37

 6.2 Management Tasks
Table 11 shows a listing of commonly-needed tasks and the appropriate
sections of the Device Manager to refer to. The table can be used as a
quick reference before consulting the more detailed screen information
which follows in this section.

Table 11. Device Manager Quick Reference

Task
If you wish to... Refer to this Screen/Section
Category
View top-level unit information (Owner Overview, Page 37
Name/Message, Unit Number, IP Address,
Serial No., Firmware version, Run time, Alarm
presence, etc.)
View Radio Performance data (Power Output, Maintenance & Status>>
Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Received Signal Radio Performance,
Strength, DC Input voltage, operating Page 75
Status & Performance

temperature) Or: Overview>>

Health & Maintenance
View Overall

Information

Summary (shows uptime),

Page 37
View Serial No., Model 1 (software), Model 2 Overview>>
(hardware) version, Firmware Version, Build SD Summary, Page 37
Date
View Bootloader version information, Active Maintenance & Status>>
Firmware Image, Firmware Version level Firmware Utilities>>
Version Information,
Page 81
Maintenance & Status>>
View Alarm/Event information, I/O Statistics, Alarm Summary, Page 74
Ethernet Statistics
Maintenance & Status>>
Performance, Page 75

38 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Table 11. Device Manager Quick Reference (Continued)
Task
If you wish to... Refer to this Screen/Section
Category
Set RF Output Power, Modem Type, RX/TX Configuration>>Radio,
Frequency Basic Settings, Page 43
View/Set Soft-Carrier Dekey status, RX/TX Configuration>>
Time-Out options Radio>>
Advanced Settings, Page 53
View/Set Data-Key and RTS-Key settings Configuration>>
View/Set Radio (RF) Operating Parameters (ON/OFF) Radio>>
Advanced Settings, Page 53
View/Set Push-to-Talk/Clear-to-Send Delay Configuration>>
times (ms) Radio>>
Advanced Settings, Page 53
View/Set Automatic Frequency Correction Configuration>>
(AFC) setting Radio>>
Advanced Settings, Page 53
View/Set Switched Carrier ON/OFF setting (B Configuration>>
Modems) Radio>>
Advanced Settings, Page 53
Configure Listen-Before-Transmit (LBT) Configuration>>
collision avoidance Features>>
LBT Settings, Page 57
View Received Signal Strength (RSSI) level Maintenance & Status>>
Performance, Page 75
Key the radio transmitter, view power output Maintenance & Status>>
Radio Test>>
RF Keying Test, Page 79
View local radio emissions to locate possible Maintenance & Status>>
interference sources. Radio Test>>
Spectrum Graph, Page 79

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 39

 Table 11. Device Manager Quick Reference (Continued)
Task
If you wish to... Refer to this Screen/Section
Category
View Serial No., Model 1 (software), Model 2 Overview>>
(hardware) version, Firmware Version, Build SD Summary, Page 37
Date
Set Owner Name/Message, enable/disable Configuration>>
Sleep Mode, set COM LED mode, Radio Mode Radio>>Device Settings,
Page 46
Configure time delays to identify packets on Configuration>>
View/Set Device Configuration
serial ports Radio>>
Packet Settings, Page 48
Configure Media Access Control (MAC) settings Configuration>>
Radio>>
Media Access Control>>
Settings, Page 48
Configure Store and Forward (SAF) Configuration>>Radio>>
Media Access
Control>>Page 48
Configure Virtual LAN (VLAN) Configuration>>Features>>
VLAN Config., Page 55
Configure Terminal Server 1/2 Configuration>>Features>>
Term Srvr COM1/2 Config.,
Page 61
View Unit ID and/or DLINK diagnostics settings Configuration>>
Radio>>
Diagnostic Settings,
Page 52
Set Password for radio Configuration>>
Security>>
Login Password, Page 71
Security Settings

Set Device Security (enable/disable local login Configuration>>

requirement, enable/disable Telnet access, Security>>
enable/disable web access) Device Security, Page 70
Set Wireless Security parameters (Encryption Configuration>>
on/off, DLINK Security on/off, Encryption Security>>
Phrase, DLINK Encryption Phrase) Wireless Security, Page 71
Configuration>>
Security>>
Encryption Phrase, DLINK
Encryption Phrase, Page 72
Configure the IP settings (Static IP Address, Configuration>>
Static IP Netmask, Static Default Gateway, Communication Ports>>
DHCP enable/disable, Virtual Radio IP Configuration, Page 69
Configuration

Channels–VRCs)
IP Payload

Configure Ethernet Bridging, enable/disable Configuration>>

Bridge Filtering Features>>
Bridge Configuration,
Page 55
Configure the IP Payload settings Configuration>>
(Enable/disable port, set mode, Local IP Port, Features>>IP Payload 1, 2,
Destination IP Address, Destination IP Port) 3, Page 58

40 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Table 11. Device Manager Quick Reference (Continued)
Task
If you wish to... Refer to this Screen/Section
Category
Configure COM1 settings (Startup mode, Data Configuration>>

Configuration
Baud Rate, Data format, Virtual Radio Communication Ports>>

Serial Port
Channels–VRCs) COM1 Port Settings,
Page 67
Configure COM2 settings (Mode, Baud Rate, Configuration>>
Format, Buffer on/off, Device Type, Virtual Communication Ports>>
Radio Channels–VRCs) COM2 Port Settings,
Page 68
View Radio Performance data (Power Output, Maintenance & Status>>
Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Received Signal Performance>>
Strength, DC Input voltage, operating Radio Performance, Page
temperature) 75
Perform radio tests (Radio Keying, show Maintenance & Status>>
Spectrum Graph, run RTU Simulator) Radio Test, Page 77
View Bootloader version information, Active Maintenance & Status>>
Firmware Image, Firmware Version level Firmware Utilities>>Version
Information, Page 81
Transceiver Maintenance and Diagnostic Tests

Locally Reprogram the Transceiver via TFTP Maintenance & Status>>

transfer Firmware Utilities>>TFTP
Reprogramming, Page 82
Broadcast Remote Configuration settings to all Setup Wizards>>Remote
radios in the network Management, Page 32
Work with Configuration Files... Maintenance & Status>>
–Restore Factory default configuration TFTP Configuration File,
–Save/restore user configuration Page 85
–View/restore key configuration parameters
–Save/load key configuration parameters
using file transfer (TFTP)
Start radio network reprogramming (and monitor Maintenance & Status>>
progress) Firmware Utilities>>
Remote Reprogramming,
Page 82
Perform Ethernet PING to local Ethernet host Maintenance & Status>>
Radio Test>>Ping Test,
Page 78
Test communications to specific Remote radio Maintenance & Status>>
Radio Test>>Link Test,
Page 78
Enter a Factory Authorization code, or view Maintenance & Status>>
currently enabled features Firmware Utilities>>
Authorization Codes,
Page 84
View active Alarms Maintenance & Status>>
Alarm Summary, Page 74

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 41

 Table 11. Device Manager Quick Reference (Continued)
Task
If you wish to... Refer to this Screen/Section
Category
View logged Events Maintenance & Status>>

and Diagnostic Tests (Cont’d)

Event Log, Page 73

Transceiver Maintenance
Set alarm signal output (active high/low) Maintenance & Status>>
Alarm Summary>>
Alarm Signal Configuration,
Page 74
Conduct an Alarm Test Maintenance & Status>>
Radio Test>>
Alarm Test, Page 80
View I/O Statistics for COM1, COM2, Ethernet Maintenance & Status>>
Port, Remote Programming, Ethernet Interface, Performance>>
Data Link Layer, and MAC. I/O Statistics, Page 76, and
Ethernet Statistics, Page 76
View MAC Routes Maintenance & Status>>
Performance>>
MAC Routes, Page 77

The remainder of this section covers the screens for Configuration, and
Maintenance and Status of the transceiver. The emphasis is on available
selections, how to access them, and their effect on radio operation. If
you are unsure of the setting required for a particular radio in your net-
work, consult your Network Administrator for assistance.

NOTE: The Device Manager screens shown in this manual were

obtained from a radio operating in a lab environment and are
provided as examples only. Not all content will be legible in
these reduced size examples. Also, the parameters and settings
shown may differ from those seen in field service conditions.

42 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 6.3 Configuration Screens

The Configuration screen (Figure 27) contains a number of key settings for
the radio, including RF parameters, modem selection, packet settings,
MAC parameters, and several advanced settings. Individual screens
may be selected beneath Configuration on the left side of the screen.

Figure 27. Configuration Screen

(Portion of screen shown—scroll for additional selections)

Radio

Basic Settings The Basic Settings screen contains important RF and modem selections for
radio operation.

• RF Output Power (dBm)—The RF output power may be set between

20 and 37 dBm (0.1 to 5 watts) in 1 dB increments. The default
setting is 37 dBm. Full power is not required in many cases, and
lower settings will place less demand on the DC power supply
and reduce the chance of interference with other stations. Only
the power necessary to carry out reliable communications should
be used.

• Modem Type—This setting determines the over-the-air data speed

and bandwidth of the radio’s transmitted signal. All radios in the
network must use the same modem setting to communicate with
each other. The default setting is Modem 9600, but it may be set to

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 43

 any of the selections shown in Table 12. The table also lists
modem sensitivity ratings for the various modems. Note that
some modem choices are limited based on the model purchased.

Table 12. Modem Selection vs. Speed, Bandwidth & Sensitivity

Modem Type Over-the-air B/W (kHz) Approximate ETSI
Selection Speed (bps) Sensitivity4 Compliance

Modem 96001 9600 12.5 -112 dBm

Modem 48001 4800 12.5 -112 dBm X

Modem 32001, 2 3200 5.00 -108 dBm

Modem 9600M1 9600 12.5 -106 dBm X

Modem 4800F 4800 6.25 -108 dBm

Modem 9600B1 9600 12.5 -106 dBm

Modem 4800B1 4800 12.5 -110 dBm

Modem BELL1 1200 12.5 -110 dBm

Modem V23 1200 12.5 -110 dBm

Modem 19200N 19200 12.5 -100 dBm
Modem 19200E 19200 12.5 -96 dBm X
Modem 9600N 9600 6.25 -98 dBm
Modem 19200 19200 25.0 -105 dBm
Modem 38400N 38400 25.0 -99 dBm

Modem 650003 65000 50.0 See note 3

Modem 19200M 19200 25.0 -106 dBm X

Modem 38400E 38400 25.0 -97 dBm X

1) For MDS x710-compatible operation.

2) 3200 bps not applicable to SD4.
3) Only available for SD2 and SD9 units with wide bandwidth hardware option.
Approximate sensitivity is -104 dBm for SD2 and -95 dBm for SD9.
4) SD1 sensitivity may be up to 2 dB less, due to MDS 1710 interoperability
constraints.

• Transmit/Receive Frequency—The receive and transmit frequencies

may be viewed or set here. If no frequencies have been entered,
the fields will be blank and the radio’s PWR LED will flash, indi-
cating that an entry is needed. Frequencies must be entered for the
radio to operate. Consult your station license to determine the
authorized frequencies for your system, and enter them exactly as
listed.

44 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • System ID—Provides the possibility for Frequency Re-use. SysID
offers nine unique choices including the default value of NONE.
The setting NONE is required for mixed networks comprised of
MDS legacy and SDx products. SDx-only networks can utilize
the Frequency Re-use feature by setting the System ID to a com-
mon value [1-8] for all radios in a specific network. SysID (or Sys-
tem ID as it is referred to in the Device Manager) offers
approximately 20 dB of additional co-channel isolation when
operating networks on the same frequency. Note that proper sys-
tem design is required.

Operational Example: SDx System “Alpha” has eight units and

SDx System “Beta” has eight units. A user wishes to occupy fre-
quency 952.1235 MHz on both of these systems. Proper system
installation has been adhered to in both networks. System Alpha’s
units would all be set to System ID = 1, System Beta's units would
be set to System ID = 5. Both systems will now operate on the same
desired frequency.

Examples of valid and invalid arrangements are shown Figure 28

and Figure 29, respectively.

NOTE: All radio sites must adhere to proper RF installation tech-

niques. This is especially important for System ID arrange-
ments. Contact your factory representative if additional
guidance is required.
Invisible place holder

Figure 28. System ID Example—Valid Arrangement

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 45

 Invisible place holder

Figure 29. System ID Example—Invalid Arrangement

(Will not operate properly with SD Transceivers)

Device Settings

• Owner Name/Owner Message—An owner name and message may be

entered for the radio for informational purposes. These are
“free-form” fields which do not affect the operation of the radio
in any way. Such fields might be used to identify the network
administrator/company name, and include a site-specific message
(i.e., Unit 2 at North Tower site). Up to 30 alpha-numeric characters
may be entered (there is no minimum), and any printable charac-
ters may be used.
• Enable Sleep—Sleep Mode places the transceiver into a “hiber-
nated” low power state, with a nominal current draw of less than
12 mA (at 13 Vdc). “Wake-up” time is approximately 50 milli-
seconds. Sleep Mode is often used at battery/solar-powered
remote sites to conserve power. An active low on Pin 4 of the

46 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 COM2port is what actually puts the radio to sleep. This signal
must be supplied by the equipment connected to the radio (i.e.,
RTU, PLC, etc.). Sleep mode is not intended for use on Master
radios.
• COM LED Mode—The behavior of the radio’s COM/DATA LEDs
may be configured using this box. By default, the LEDs show
dual port activity (Auto). Four LED modes may be selected as
summarized in Table 13.

Table 13. COM/DATA LED Modes vs. Behavior

Serial COM/DATA LED Behavior
LED Mode Selection
LED1 Function LED2 Function
x710 Monitors TXD on COM2 Monitors RXD on COM2
port port
COM1 Activity Monitors any COM1 RX or OFF
TX activity
COM2 Activity OFF Monitors any COM2 RX or
TX activity
Dual Port Activity Monitors any COM1 RX or Monitors any COM2 RX or
(Auto Default) TX activity TX activity

• Radio Mode—The radio can operate in one of several modes. The

available selections are:
• Packet - with and without AES Encryption
• Packet w/MAC - with and without AES Encryption
• x710 (not covered by this manual; See pub. 05-4670A01)
• Transparent - with and without AES Encryption. (Transpar-
ent w/AES Encryption requires an all SD radio network.)
• User Interface—This parameter selects the method of radio manage-
ment for the Serial/Telnet interface. It has no effect on the web
interface. The default selection is Menu. Alternatively, you may
select CLI, which switches the radio to a Command Line Interface.
With this interface, commands are entered in text-based fashion,
as described in the SD Serial/Telnet Management Supplement,
Part No. 05-6193A01.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 47

Packet Settings

• COM1/COM2 Port Inter-Packet Gap—Timing setting used to delimit a

packet on the serial interface for radios operating in Packet Mode.
Too short of a time can cause serial streams to be combined into
one large packet instead of two smaller ones. Too long of a time
can effectively slow down the communications channel. The
Inter-Packet Gap is specified by the number of character times
(the time it takes to send an individual character).
• Transparent RX Timeout (ms)—This setting is similar to the timing
parameters for COM1/COM2 Inter-Packet Gap, but it applies to data
received over-the-air. It tells the radio how to build an Ethernet
packet based on a transparent data stream received over the radio
channel.
Media Access
Control
(AP menu shown)

• Device Type—Selects Access Point, Remote,

or Store and Forward. An
Access Point serves as the Controller of the RF network. Only
one radio is configured as an AP. Typically this is the “polling
master.” A Remote is connected to end devices in the field (e.g.
PLC, RTU), and there can be any number of these in a network.
Each Remote must have a unique Unit Address, which is set on

48 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 the Diagnostic Settings screen (see “Diagnostic Settings” on
Page 52). A Store and Forward device is a radio designated to
retransmit data to/from an outlying Remote (see SAF Network,
below).
• SAF Network—(AP Only) Selects whether or not a Store and For-
ward radio is present in the network (True), or not (False). Store and
Forward extends the coverage area of a network beyond the pri-
mary “footprint” of the system. This can be used to link outlying
Remotes (or Remotes blocked by terrain or other obstructions)
into the network. A detailed discussion on using Store and For-
ward is provided below.
• Repeater Network—(AP Only) This setting must be enabled if the
RF network contains a repeater station, or communications will
not work. Remotes automatically learn this setting from the AP.
• Retry Count—If a message is not acknowledged after transmission
it will be resent. This value controls how many times the radio
attempts to resend the message before discarding it.
• Time-to-Live (s)—When a message arrives from the payload inter-
face(s) it is time-stamped and queued for radio transmission. If
the radio cannot transmit the message before the Time-to-Live
(TTL) value, the message is discarded. This helps prevent stale or
old data from being sent over the air.

Store and Forward Operation

Store and Forward (SAF) operation extends a wireless network’s cov-

erage area by electing a device (or devices) to store data and forward it
to a unit (or units) beyond the reach of the primary coverage area. Con-
ventional RF repeaters receive and transmit data simultaneously. They
are effective at increasing range with low latency, but they are more
expensive, have high power consumption, and require more complex
installation. SAF-designated units act as smart single radio packet
repeaters. The SAF feature provides a simple, low cost alternative to
range extension when a traditional repeater isn’t desired.

Figure 30 on Page 50 depicts a typical single unit SAF network. This

network supports a single SAF hop. Chained SAF hops are not allowed.
However, multiple SAF radios are supported provided their RF cov-
erage areas do not overlap, as this would create radio interference and
severely reduce throughput. SAF will work in conjunction with repeater
assemblies to provide even more extended range.

NOTE: Remote radios being served by a Store-and-Forward unit must

have their TX/RX frequencies set to match those of the
AP/Master station. This allows communication with the SAF
radio, which uses standard Remote TX/RX frequencies.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 49

 Invisible place holder

Figure 30. Store and Forward System Example

Store and Forward is available in Packet w/MAC mode and supports all
MAC features including collision avoidance, retries, and acknowledge-
ments. Furthermore, all major radio features are supported in SAF net-
works such as diagnostics, over the air programming, bridging, VRCs,
etc.

Dual Duty of SAF Remotes: Since a SAF device doubles as a Remote

radio it may participate in direct exchanges with the Master/AP. By
design, an SAF device is always within the primary coverage area and
has direct communication to the Master/AP. Therefore, all SAF devices
act as both a standard Remote for direct exchanges, as well as an SAF
unit for Store and Forward exchanges. A SAF exchange is defined as
any exchange between the Master/AP and a Remote through an SAF
device. In all cases, the Master/AP still controls the operation of the net-
work.

After sending a SAF data frame, the Master/AP remains idle until the
frame has been delivered to the Remote, at which time it will return to
direct or SAF operation, depending on the message type (unicast or
broadcast).

Direct vs. SAF Traffic: Depending on network topology, it is possible

for some Remotes to hear both direct polls from the Master/AP and SAF
messages from an SAF-designated Remote. It is more desirable to use
the direct traffic to avoid the latency of going through the SAF link, and
the radio’s firmware handles this situation automatically. SAF frames
are ignored when the direct path is available. The system is dynamic; if
the direct path becomes unavailable for any reason, it quickly switches
to the SAF path to provide continued operation.

50 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Traffic Routing: Typically, network radios are immobile, but fading
may cause paths to come and go. Because of this, the Master/AP device
implements routing to each Remote device. This ensures that only SAF
traffic passes through SAF Remotes. Direct traffic is terminated at the
local coverage area, keeping efficiency high. The transceiver achieves
these steps automatically, and does not require user input. The following
is an explanation of how this routing scheme is achieved.

Initially, all Remote device routes are unknown. The Master/AP

assumes that all undiscovered Remotes can potentially be on the SAF
link. Once a Remote attempts to communicate upstream to the
Master/AP, the Master/AP is aware of the Remote's path based on the
exchange type, direct or SAF. The Master/AP stores this information in
a database linked to the Remote's address. Future exchanges with the
Remote initiated by the Master/AP will reference this database and the
Master/AP chooses the most recent exchange type.

Upstream, the Remote can freely choose the best exchange type based
on what is available at the time. The Master/AP continuously updates
the routing database on each exchange to a Remote. If a Remote has not
been heard from within a certain time frame, the route is reset to initial
conditions so that the route may be “relearned.” This does not cause any
additional delay and is implemented only as a safeguard. This allows for
highly efficient and adaptable routing to each Remote device without
the overhead of a routing protocol, and saves critical bandwidth.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 51

Diagnostic Settings

• Unit #—This parameter identifies the radio in the wireless network

with a specific ID during diagnostic sessions. This value is
defaulted to the last 4-digits of the unit’s Serial Number. Should
a network require a Unit # change, the value must be greater than
10000 in decimal (2710 in hexadecimal).
• Dlink Type—This setting identifies the radio as either a Node, Root,
Repeater, Peer, or Gate. Each of these are operating modes of the
transceiver with respect to diagnostic/management activities.
(See “Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics” on
Page 93 for details.)
• Dlink Status—This item is used to enable or disable diagnostics
functionality. Setting it to ON configures the radio to pass the
diagnostic link protocol (DLINK) over the radio’s COM1 manage-
ment port.
• Dlink Baud Rate—This setting determines the COM1 serial data
diagnostics communication rate in bits-per-second (bps).
• Dlink TCP Access—This setting enables DLINK over Ethernet via
TCP. This allows an external NMS to manage the radio without
the need to dedicate a serial port for this function.
• Dlink TCP Port—This setting specifies the TCP port for DLINK
communication. The address for Ethernet-based DLINK commu-
nication is given by the radio's IP address (from the Overview
screen) and the port number specified here.

52 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

Advanced Settings

• Soft-Carrier Dekey (ms)—Specifies how long (in ms) to wait after the
removal of the keying signal before actually dropping the trans-
mitter’s carrier. The default setting is 0, but it may be set to any
value up to 255 ms. In most cases, no change is required from the
default setting. A possible exception is when the transceiver is
inter-working with certain early-generation MDS radio equip-
ment.
• RX Time-Out Enable—Enables or disables the RX time-out function.
RX time-out protects against a receiver which fails to receive data
for a period exceeding the RX time-out delay setting (see below).
When the time is exceeded, an alarm is issued. The alarm may be
used to signal switchover to an alternate unit in redundant sys-
tems. The RX time-out is cleared when the radio receives a new
Carrier Detect signal. The default selection is OFF (no RX time
limit).
• RX Time-Out Delay (min)—Sets the time delay, after which an alarm
is issued when no signals have been received. The default setting
is 0 minutes.
• TX Time-Out Status—Enables or disables the TX Time-Out function.
This protects against a transmitter which remains keyed for a
period exceeding the TX Time-Out Delay setting (see below).
When this time is exceeded, the transmitter is taken offline, pre-
venting disruption of the wireless network. The TX time-out is
cleared when the keying source goes away and the radio keys
again.The default selection is ON (transmitter shuts down when
time limit is reached).
• TX Time-Out Delay (sec)—Sets the time delay, after which a keyed
transmitter is taken offline. The default time-out setting is 30 sec-
onds.
• Datakey—Determines whether or not the radio is configured to key
(transmit) upon receipt of payload data at its interface port. The
default setting is ON.
• RTS Key—Determines whether or not the radio is configured to
key (transmit) upon receipt of an RTS (ready to send) signal at its
interface port. The default setting is OFF.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 53

 • Push-To-Talk Delay (ms)—Allows programming a brief time delay
after a keying event, which must expire before the radio is
allowed to transmit. The allowable range is 0 to 255 ms, with the
default being 0.
• Clear-To-Send Delay (ms)—Allows programming a brief time delay
between when an RTS (ready-to-send) signal is received and
when the CTS (clear-to-send) signal is returned. The allowable
range is 0 to 255 ms, and the default is 0.
• Automatic Freq. Correction—Automatic Frequency Correction
(AFC), is used to counteract the slight RF frequency drift that
may occur over time or through wide swings of ambient temper-
ature.
• Switched Carrier (B Modems)—In some networks, the Master unit is
not keyed continuously (Ckeyed), and transmits only when it has
data to send to Remotes. This is known as Switched Carrier oper-
ation. The Switched Carrier setting is only for use on radio
modems with “B” suffixes (for compatibility with MDS x710
radios). In such networks, the Remote radios should have the
Switched Carrier setting turned ON. The default setting is OFF which
assumes B-modem operation with a continuously keyed Master.
Ckey Operation only applies to Master units operating in
full-duplex mode only. Master units in B-modem networks will
have SWC set to ON regardless of Ckey being on or off.
• RX Signal Attenuation—This setting is intended for use in strong sig-
nal environments (typically -70 dBm or stronger). When enabled
the radio will tolerate very strong signals of -20 dBm or stronger.
Note that RX Signal Attenuation will reduce sensitivity by a few
dB, so it should be disabled for maximum sensitivity when work-
ing with extremely weak signals.
• Force DCD to Asserted—Some systems require a constant Data Car-
rier Detect (DCD) signal. This setting allows the radio to be con-
figured to provide a DCD signal without the need for special
cabling.
• Data Key Hold Time-out (chars)— For networks with the demand for a
higher modem speed then the baud rate, this parameter can be
adjusted from 1 to 10 characters. This parameter gives the overall
network better performance by preventing frequent key-up and
key-down sequences between characters. This only applies to net-
works with all-SDx radios. The default setting is 2 characters.

54 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Features

Bridge
Configuration

• Bridge Mode—Used to enable or disable Ethernet Bridging on the

radio. Default setting is OFF.
• Basic Bridge Filter Sel—Sets the type of bridge filter to be used.
Available selections are: Broadcast/Unicast (All), Unicast and ARP, and
Unicast Only.
• Adv Bridge Filter Status—When on, this filter bridges the Ethernet
traffic received from a specific Ethernet-enabled device matching
one of the Adv Src Addr Filter Values (see below).
• Adv Src Addr Filter 1-4 Val—Sets the Advanced SRC Address Filter
Values. Four address fields are available. If the Adv Bridge Filter
Status is on, and an incoming Ethernet frame src addr matches
any of these values, the radio bridges the frame. Otherwise, it is
dropped by the radio. The entry format must be xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx.
• Ageout Time (mins) — Defines the amount of time (in minutes) a
radio holds a specific MAC entry in the Bridge route table. The
parameter can be varied from 0 to 5 minutes. Default for this set-
ting is 5 minutes.
• Lan filter — When set as SMART, this filter prevents any packets
which were transmitted from one endpoint to another which are
connected through a hub on a single transceiver. Default is AUTO.

NOTE: This feature should be disabled if there is a redundant bridge

in the network.

VLAN Configuration A VLAN is essentially a limited broadcast domain, meaning that all
members of a VLAN receive broadcast frames sent by members of the
same VLAN but not frames sent by members of a different VLAN.

The radio supports port-based VLAN at the Ethernet interface and over
the air, according to the IEEE 802.1Q standard. When VLAN Mode is
enabled, the wireless port of both AP and Remote radios act as a Trunk
port.

The Ethernet port of an AP radio is normally configured as a trunk port.

This type of port expects incoming frames to have a VLAN ID and sends
outgoing frames with a VLAN structure as well. The Ethernet port of a
Remote radio can be configured as an Access port or as a Trunk port.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 55

 When the Wireless or Ethernet port (AP or Remote) is configured as an
Access Port, the radio tags incoming traffic with a VLAN ID, and strips
the tag before sending out traffic. This traffic is known as the Data
VLAN. Additionally, a second VLAN is assigned for other traffic that
is terminated at the radio, such as Web, Telnet, DLINK over TCP, TFTP
reprogramming, etc. This traffic is known as the Management VLAN.
Traffic directed to the terminal server or IP payload service should be
sent via the Data VLAN.

When the Ethernet port of a Remote is configured as a VLAN trunk, the

radio expects all incoming Ethernet frames to be tagged, and passes
through all outgoing frames as received from the wireless link with the
unchanged VLAN tag.

• Mode—Defines the Ethernet port as Trunk, Access, or Disable (an

untagged port). The default setting is Disable. The mode should be
the last parameter changed when configuring the VLAN fea-
ture, since any Telnet or web connections will be lost after it
is changed. Also, configure the appropriate IP and IP2 settings
before changing this parameter.
• Data ID—Defines the VLAN ID assigned to the AP’s LAN traffic
to be delivered to an Access Port, and the terminal server service,
or the IP payload service. The ID is used for filtering and tagging
purposes. Any valid ID from 1 to 4095 may be entered. The
Default Data VLAN ID is 2.
• Mgmt ID—Defines the VLAN ID assigned to the AP’s LAN traffic
that is to be delivered to the radio. Note that traffic for the termi-
nal server and IP payload service is expected in the data VLAN.
This ID is used for filtering and tagging purposes. Any valid ID
from 1 to 4095 may be entered. The Default Mgmt VLAN ID is 1.
• Gateway IF—Defines the VLAN that contains the default gateway
in the radio. Available selections are Mgmt and Data. The default
setting is Mgmt.

NOTE: The VLAN Mode parameter must be consistent at both the AP

and Remote radios in order for data to flow correctly. Failure
to do so may result in data not being transported correctly even
when the radios are able to communicate over-the-air via an
RF link.

56 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

Listen Before The transceiver provides a legacy collision avoidance scheme called
Transmit (LBT) Listen Before Transmit (LBT). It employs P-Persistent CSMA protocol,
Settings
which senses channel usage and inhibits transmission if the channel is
currently in use. CSMA is an abbreviation for Carrier Sense Multiple
Access. This setting is superseded by Packet w/MAC and should only
be used in legacy systems and special use cases. Packet w/MAC is the
preferred method for collision avoidance.

NOTE: The Listen Before Transmit (LBT) feature requires radios to

be configured for Packet Mode operation. Packet w/MAC
operation provides an alternative method for media access.

• Listen Before Transmit—Used to activate or deactivate LBT when the

radio is running in Packet Radio Mode.
• LBT Behavior—LBT can be configured to behave in one of two
ways; either listen on the radio’s transmit frequency (TX) or listen
on the radio’s receive frequency (RX). Typically, Remote radios
are configured to Listen on RX (the default selection) to avoid colli-
sions with the Master unit. In split frequency operation, Listen on
TX may be preferred. Optimal choices depend on the data trans-
mission characteristics of the connected system.
• Min/Max Channel Wait (ms)—These settings refer to the time period
(in milliseconds) to wait after the channel is free before transmis-
sion is allowed.
Minimum wait time: Normally, the minimum channel wait time
should not be changed from its default setting of 0 ms unless per-
forming advanced operations, such as staggering the responses
from multiple Remotes.
Maximum wait time: Normally, this setting should not be
changed from its default of 100 ms unless performing advanced
operations. Some examples of when this may be beneficial
include:
• There is a need to stagger responses from several Remote
radios.
• The transmission latency from the time the channel is free is
too high, in which case a lower value can be entered.
• Collisions over the air are too high, in which case a higher
value can be entered.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 57

 NOTE: The lower the value of the Maximum Wait Time, the higher
the chances of collisions occurring over-the-air. Conversely,
the higher the value of the Maximum Wait Time, the higher the
transmission latency.

• Timeout (ms)—Provides a setting for the maximum wait time (in

milliseconds) for the channel to become free. When this time is
exceeded, the radio follows the action defined in the Packet Action
on Timeout setting (either Drop or Send).

• Packet Action on Timeout—Determines what to do with a packet once

the timeout period has expired and the channel is still not avail-
able. If set to Drop, the packet is discarded. If set to Send, transmis-
sion of the packet is attempted despite the channel being busy.
• Clear Channel RSSI (dBm)—LBT works by sensing the presence of a
carrier signal on the radio’s operating frequency. If a carrier is
present, transmission is inhibited. The Clear Channel RSSI setting
allows a threshold to be set which, when equaled or exceeded,
declares the channel busy and therefore unavailable for transmit-
ting.

IP Payload This section describes how to setup and configure the Master radio for
Configuration (1/2/3) exchanging IP/Ethernet Payload data with Remote radios. It is an effi-
cient feature that supports Ethernet connectivity with maximum
over-the-air (OTA) efficiency for UDP and TCP data streams. Remote
radios receiving the data can then forward this traffic to their serial ports
or Ethernet port. This feature is particularly useful for adding Ethernet
devices to a mixed system using MDS SDx and x710 Transceivers. This
feature is different than Ethernet Bridging, which is described on Page
55 in the Bridge Configuration Section.

NOTE: To make use of this feature, the radio must be properly autho-
rized for Ethernet data. If it is not, contact your sales represen-
tative for further information.

It is helpful to understand that IP data is terminated at the radio, yet the

payload data is transmitted OTA. As such, the radio acts as a terminal
server converting IP data into a serial “over-the-air port.” In other
words, a transmitting radio receives an IP message, strips off the IP
headers, and sends it over the air with VRC identification (VRC-1,
VRC-2, or VRC-3). A receiving radio may then be set up, for example,
to have COM2 or an IP port deliver all VRC-1 traffic.

The radio supports Ethernet operation on three IP payload ports. These

settings are made on the IP Payload Configuration Menu (1, 2, or 3) as shown
in the screen which follows later in this section. In the Master unit only,
Multihost may need to be enabled if more than one IP Payload port is
required. Multihost feature only pertains to Packet Radio Mode.

58 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 IP Payload is intended to be used in a poll-response system. An Ethernet
device at the Master radio sends UDP/TCP poll messages to the
Master’s Ethernet port which is configured to listen for data. The poll is
sent OTA and a RTU/PLC attached to one of the Remote radios (via
serial or Ethernet) responds. The response is sent OTA back to the
Master radio. The Master radio then sends the response back to the
polling station via Ethernet.

When configuring this feature, you are notified of the success or failure
of the operation. Additionally, Ethernet and OTA statistics can be mon-
itored to inspect the success of the poll-response communication.

The following additional points apply to Ethernet payload operation:

• To make efficient use of limited bandwidth, this feature trans-

ports the payload content of Ethernet data to be sent over the air.
• This feature does not bridge Ethernet networks separated by
radios. For more information, see Ethernet Bridging found on
Page 55 in the Bridge Configuration section.
• A broadcast poll-response network is assumed, where addressing
information is contained in the payload portion of the UDP/TCP
messages.

NOTE: Screen selections vary depending on the mode selected. Three

such screens are provided for Payload 1, 2, and 3.

• Status—Enables or disables the IP Payload port.

• Mode—The operating mode for the IP port may be set to UDP
Socket, TCP Client Socket, TCP Server Socket, or TCP Server/Client Socket to
match the service in which it will operate.
• Talk on/Listen to—Any combination of the three Virtual Radio
Channels may be entered in these fields. For more information on
how VRC settings are used, refer to the SD Serial/Telnet Manage-
ment Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01.
• Local Radio IP Port—Used to specify a port number for the RJ-45
modular connector on the radio’s front panel. As a general rule,
port numbers below 2000 should be avoided, as some are
reserved for special applications in data networks.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 59

 • Destination IP Address—Specifies the IP address associated with the
device connected through the RJ-45 modular connector on the
radio’s front panel (typically a PC). Any valid IP address may be
entered.
• Destination IP Port—Used to specify a port number for the RJ-45
modular connector on the connected device (typically a PC). Port
numbers below 2000 should be avoided, as some are reserved for
special applications in data networks.
• TCP Server IP Address—IP address of the TCP server being used.
• TCP Server IP Port—Port number of the TCP server being used.
• Connection Timeout—Used to specify a time in seconds, after which
the connection will be dropped following a period of inactivity.
• Persistent Connection—When set to Yes, the connection to the server
is maintained continuously, even during periods of inactivity.
• Committing Configuration—Once you are satisfied with all of the set-
tings on the screen, you make them active by clicking this button.
The message Changes committed appears at the bottom of the
screen to confirm the action.
• Restoring Configuration—In some cases, you may wish to revert to
the previous configuration of the screen, prior to any changes
being committed. This might be useful if one or more settings
were inadvertently changed and you wish to return to a “known
state.” To restore the prior settings, simply click Restore Configura-
tion.

Understanding the Use of Virtual Radio Channels (VRCs)

The use of Virtual Radio Channels (VRCs) may require additional
explanation for new users of the feature. VRCs allow over-the-air data
to be directed to specific interface ports (IP or Serial) on the radio. Con-
ceptually, this can be pictured as creating “pipes” for delivery of data to
the desired radio interfaces.

VRC works by associating data from a specific port (IP and Serial) with
a VRC channel number (1, 2, or 3). Each port at the receiving end then
filters incoming data based on the associated VRC number.

NOTE: The Virtual Radio Channel (VRC) feature is only supported in

Packet and Packet w/MAC modes. It is not supported in Trans-
parent or x710 mode.

To create the “pipes” that direct data to the desired ports, a route must
be established using the IP Payload Configuration Menu (or the
COM1/COM2 Settings Menu for serial data). The default setting is to
listen to all channels.) The Talk on parameter is used to specify the VRC
used for sending the data stream out, while the Listen to parameter spec-
ifies the VRC(s) for incoming data. Use of these parameters was
described earlier in this section.

60 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Any combination of the three VRC numbers may be entered in the selec-
tion fields. Figure 31 illustrates the relationship between the VRC set-
tings and the routing of data between units.

Invisible place holder

RADIO 1
IP Payload 1 Data
(Talk on VRC-1)

Serial COM2 Data

(Talk on VRC-2)

RADIO 2

IP Payload 1 Data
(Listen on VRC-1)
Serial COM2 Data
(Listen on VRC-2)

Ethernet/IP RTU Serial-Based RTU

Figure 31. Virtual Radio Channel (VRC) Concept

Terminal Server The radio’s Terminal Server feature allows IP addressing of the COM1
COM1/2 and COM2 serial interface ports. Data from these ports is sent over the
Configuration
air as encapsulated IP packets. At the receiving end, the data is decapsu-
lated and delivered to the appropriate COM port(s). In contrast to the
radio’s IP Payload feature, having a terminal server at the Remotes
means that Ethernet data can be delivered to specific devices connected
to these radios. Terminal Server settings, examples, and additional ben-
efits are described in the following paragraphs.

The image on the following page, shows the Device Manager’s Terminal
Server Configuration screen.
Two such screens are provided in the Device
Manager; one for COM1 and another for COM2. Here, the behavior of
the terminal server is set and applied. The Terminal Server must be
enabled and configured in all radios requiring IP encapsulation of serial
data. Proper configuration of the serial ports is also required, using the
Communications Ports section of the Device Manager.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 61

 NOTE: Available selections vary depending on the mode selected.
• Status—Enables or disables the Terminal Server feature.
• Mode—Sets the operating mode for the IP port. It may be set to
UDP Socket, TCP Client Socket, TCP Server Socket, or TCP Server/Client
Socket to match the service in which it will operate.
• Local Radio IP Port—Used to specify a port number for the RJ-45
modular connector on the radio’s front panel. As a general rule,
port numbers below 2000 should be avoided, as some are
reserved for special applications in data networks.
• Destination IP Address—Specifies the IP address associated with the
device connected through the RJ-45 modular connector on the
radio’s front panel (typically a PC). Any valid IP address may be
entered here.
• Destination IP Port—Used to specify a port number for the RJ-45
modular connector on the connected device (typically a PC). Port
numbers below 2000 should be avoided, as some are reserved for
special applications in data networks.
• TCP Server IP Address—IP address of the TCP server being used.
• TCP Server IP Port—Port number of the TCP server being used. Port
numbers below 2000 should be avoided, as some are reserved for
special applications in data networks.
• Socket State—Provides status on the configuration (i.e., whether or
not the terminal server port is active).
• Modbus TCP<->RTU Conversion — Used to convert Modbus TCP
messages to Modbus RTU, and conversely, Modbus RTU to
Modbus TCP. This feature eliminates the need for external equip-
ment to handle the conversion.
The Terminal Server supports the following communication protocols:

• Point-to-Point: TCP or UDP

• Point-to-Multipoint1: UDP (One of the Destination IP Addresses
is a multicast IP address)
• Multipoint-to-Multipoint1: UDP (Two or more of the Destination
IP Addresses are a multicast IP address)
1
Data from local multicast IP addresses is always delivered to the socket layer
by the radio's TCP/IP stack. Therefore, to receive data from local multicast IP
addresses, simply set the Local Radio IP Port equal to the destination IP port
of the multicast IP packet.

62 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Using the Terminal Server—Typical Example
The following describes a Terminal Server implementation in a radio
network. Figure 32 below is referenced in this discussion.

Figure 32. Terminal Server Example

IP/Radio Network Setup and Configuration

The following conditions are assumed for this example:

• Radio (RF) link is good between AP and Remote 1, and AP and

Remote 2.
• IP addresses are properly configured as shown in Figure 32.
• Packet w/MAC mode is enabled in all radios, and the MAC Device
Type is set to AP in radio with the IP address equal to 192.168.1.2.
• Ethernet Bridge is enabled in all radios.
Serial Addressability

This example shows that it is possible to communicate to specific serial

devices (e.g., PC 2 COM1, and PC 3 COM1) over the radio network.
Note that TCP is used as the transport layer for communication here,
which provides data reliability at the application level.

1. Configure Remote 1 and Remote 2 by navigating to the Term Srvr 2

COM2 Configuration screen and setting the parameters as listed below.
(Note that an Ethernet connection to Remote 1 and Remote 2—not
shown in Figure 32— will be required for this step unless Serial is
used.)
Status: Enabled
Mode: TCP Server Socket
Local Radio Port: 30000
Connection Timeout: 0 Seconds
Persistent Connection: Yes
TCP<->RTU Conversion:

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 63

 2. Navigate to the COM2 Port Settings of Remote 1 and Remote 2 and
configure them as listed below (note that VRCs are not used):
Mode: RS232
Baud Rate: 115200 bps
Format: 8 char bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
Buffer: Data Handling ON
Device: DCE
Talk on: VRC-1
Listen to: ALL

3. Click Commit Configuration after the changes are made.

To test the functionality of the Terminal Server, open a HyperTerminal
session on PC1 and connect to the Remote 1Terminal Server as shown
in Figure 33.

Invisible place holder

Figure 33. Remote 1 Terminal Server Connection

On PC2, open a HyperTerminal session and connect to Remote 1’s

COM2 port as shown in Figure 34.

Invisible place holder

Figure 34. Remote 1 COM2 Port Connection

On PC1, open a HyperTerminal session and connect to Remote 2 Ter-

minal Server as shown in Figure 35.

64 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Invisible place holder

Figure 35. Remote 2 Terminal Server Connection

On PC3, open a HyperTerminal session and connect to Remote 2’s
COM2 port as shown in Figure 36.

Figure 36. Remote 2 COM2 Port Connection

Type “hello” in the Remote 1 Terminal Server window. Note delivery
of the message only to the Remote 1 COM2 Port window (see
Figure 37). Type “hi” in the Remote 1 COM2 port window. Note
delivery of message only to the Remote 1 Terminal Server window. This
verifies proper delivery and routing of traffic.

Figure 37. Remote 1 Terminal Server/COM2 Port Communication

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 65

 Type “how are you” in the Remote 2 terminal server window (see
Figure 38). Note delivery of the message only to the Remote 2 COM2
Port window. Type “good” in the Remote 2 COM2 Port window. Note
delivery of message only to Remote 2 terminal server window.

Figure 38. Remote 2 Terminal Server/COM2 Port Communication

Multihost Settings Multihost is a legacy feature that has been superseded by the Packet
(Use only if operating w/MAC feature. It should only be used in legacy systems or in special
in Packet mode
without MAC) use cases.

The Multihost Settings screen is used only when Packet mode is selected. It
provides an alternative way to run multiple host applications at the
Master unit, which may be operating on different computers. Multihost
operation is described in more detail in the SD Serial/Telnet Manage-
ment Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01.

Packet w/MAC operation replaces multihost operation, and is the rec-

ommended method for passing multiple data streams. See Device Set-
tings starting on Page 46 for instructions on setting the Radio Mode to
Packet w/MAC.

• Multihost Enable—Enables or disables multihost capability.

• Multihost Delay—Sets the desired delay time (in ms) for switching
between hosts during multihost operation.

66 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

Peer-to-Peer
(Peer2Peer)

• Rebroadcast Allowed (AP only) — Determines if the AP will allow

enabled Peers to communicate through the AP to other enabled
Peers (serial data only).
• Ethernet Rebcast Allowed (AP only)—Determines if the AP will allow
enabled Peers to communicate through the AP to other enabled
Peers (Ethernet data only).

• Serial Rebcast Request (RM only) — Determines if the Remote is

allowed to communicate to other enabled Peers.
• Ethernet Rebcast Request (RM only)—Determines if the Remote is
allowed to communicate to other enabled Peers.

Communications Ports

COM1 Port Settings

• Startup Mode—The default mode for COM1 is Console when the

transceiver is first powered up, but the startup mode may also be
set to Data if the port is to be used for passing payload data.
• Current Mode—The mode setting for the COM1 port may be
changed on demand (Console or Data) using this selection.
• Data Baud Rate—The default data rate for COM1 is 115200 bps, but
it may be set to any of the following speeds: 300, 1200, 2400,
4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 67

 • Data Format—The default data format for the transceiver is 8 char-
acter bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1). A number of settings are
possible as listed below:
8 character bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (Default)
8 character bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
8 character bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
8 character bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
8 character bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
8 character bits, even parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, even parity, 2 stop bits
• Talk on/Listen to—Any combination of the three Virtual Radio
Channels may be entered in these fields. Refer to the SD
Serial/Telnet Management Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01 for
more information.
• Term Srvr Status—Indicates whether the radio’s Terminal Server is
enabled or disabled.

COM2 Port Settings COM2 is the standard port used for connection of serial payload data. The
COM2 Port Settingsscreen contains a number of settings that may be con-
figured to suit the needs of your system.

• Mode—The COM2 port can operate in either RS-232 or RS-485

mode. The default is RS-232.
• Baud Rate—The default data rate for COM2 is 9600 bps, but it may
be set to any of the following speeds: 300, 1200, 2400, 4800,
9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200.
• Data Format—The default data format for the transceiver is 8 char-
acter bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit (8N1). A number of settings are
possible as listed below:
8 character bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (Default)
8 character bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
8 character bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
8 character bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
8 character bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
8 character bits, even parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, no parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, odd parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, odd parity, 2 stop bits
7 character bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
7 character bits, even parity, 2 stop bits

68 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • Buffer—The transceiver’s buffer provides a way of handling data
“over-runs,” where more data is passing through the COM2 port
than can be immediately handled by the unit. When the buffer is
on, any such data is stored up and processed in the appropriate
order. Available selections are Data Handling ON or Data Handling OFF.
• Device—This setting controls the device behavior of x710 legacy
radios. It does not apply to packet or Ethernet radios, and may be
disregarded for these later models.
• Talk on/Listen to—Any combination of the three Virtual Radio
Channels may be entered in these fields. For more information on
how these settings are used, refer to the SD Serial/Telnet Manage-
ment Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01 more information.
• Term Srvr Status—Indicates whether the radio’s terminal server is
enabled or disabled.

NOTE: The radio can operate in RS-422 mode when RS-485 is

selected.

IP Configuration The IP Configuration screens contain various settings for the IP data
stream. Each item is listed below along with an explanation of the
parameter. Note that the top of the screen displays the current settings
that have been applied to the radio in a read-only fashion.

• Current IP Address—Read-only indication of the current IP address

programmed.
• Current Subnet Mask—Read-only indication of the subnet mask pro-
grammed.
• Current Default Gateway—Read-only indication of the current default
gateway programmed.
• Static IP Address—The radio requires a local IP address to support
remote management and serial device (terminal server) services.
An IPv4 IP address should be entered in this field, unless DHCP
is enabled, in which case it is not required.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 69

 • Static IP Netmask—This refers to the radio’s IPv4 local subnet mask.
This parameter is used when the radio attempts to send a
locally-initiated message, either from the terminal server, or a
management process. You do not need to define it if DHCP is
enabled.
• Static Default Gateway—This is the IPv4 address of the default gate-
way device, typically a router connected to the radio.
• DHCP—Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) handles
the assignment of IP parameters (Address, Netmask, Gateway) to
all units in a network, and allows for introducing new devices on
the network with minimal manual intervention. The assigned
parameters are valid for a specific “lease” time, at which point
they can be reassigned or renewed.

Security
The transceiver offers a number of safeguards against unauthorized
management access and protection of payload data. All of these features
are accessed via the security configuration screens.

Device Security

• Local Security—This parameter is used to specify whether or not a

local log-in is required when using the transceiver’s menu system.
The default setting is Local Login Required, and is appropriate for
most circumstances. Setting this parameter to No Local Login
Required might be useful in cases where only a small number peo-
ple with administrative duties have physical access to the radio,
and need to access the menu frequently. In this mode, the menu
operation behaves identically to the Administrator level login.
• Telnet Access—Telnet access is a powerful feature that allows man-
agement of the radio via an Ethernet connection. This may be
done locally, using a cable connected to the management PC, or
at any distance using an IP/Ethernet network connection. Telnet
access is also possible over the air if the Ethernet Bridging feature
is enabled. Any user with the IP address of the radio can log in to
the unit with this method.
• Remote Dlink Console — Contact GEMDS for more information.
• Dlink Security — Applies security restrictions to network-wide
diagnostic data. The default setting is OFF. If Dlink Security is
enabled, users performing network-wide diagnostics must per-
form a special login sequence via DLINK before being able to
change the configuration of the radio via DLINK.

70 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • Disable Web Access—Web access to the unit’s Device Manager is
normally enabled. Click this item to disable web access. A warn-
ing message appears to confirm disabling of web navigation.

NOTE: If web access has been disabled accidently via the web Device
Manager, the user must re-enabled it via the console or Telnet
interface.

Wireless Security

• Payload Encryption—When on, applies encryption to payload data

stream. The default selection is OFF.
Login Password

• Administrator Password—When the transceiver is shipped from the

factory, the password is normally set to the default entry of admin.
It is recommended that it be changed at the time of installation to
one that is known only to the Administrator or authorized user of
the system. The password should be changed periodically to
maintain the best security.

Passwords are case sensitive and may use up to 13 alpha-numeric

characters. Do not use punctuation mark characters. You will be
required to enter the current password to set a new one. Follow the
prompts, and refresh your web browser (typically View>>Refresh or
View>>Reload at the top menu bar) to apply the change to all pages.

TIP: For enhanced security, consider using misspelled words, a combi-

nation of letters and numbers, and a combination of upper and
lower case letters. Also, the more characters used (up to 13), the
more secure the password will be. These strategies help protect
against sophisticated hackers who may use a database of common
words (for example, dictionary attacks) to determine a password.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 71

 NOTE: If the radio login password is lost or forgotten, contact GE
MDS for assistance. Proof of authorized user is required for a
new password, and the radio will revert to its default settings.

It is recommended that users periodically export their config-

uration file so that it can be loaded back into the radio if their
old one requires replacement.

Encryption Phrase

• Encryption Phrase—If encryption has been enabled, a valid “phrase”

must also be set. Both the sending and receiving station must have
the same phrase for communication to occur. The phrase must
have at least 8 characters (maximum of 38), and any printable
character may be used.
Dlink Encryption
Phrase

• Dlink Encryption Phrase—If AES encryption has been enabled while

in Transparent mode, a valid “phrase” must be set for the use
Dlink Encryption. Both the sending and receiving station must
have the same phrase for communication to occur. The phrase
must have at least 8 characters (maximum of 38), and any print-
able character may be used. Transparent w/AES Encryption
requires an all SD radio network.

72 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 6.4 Maintenance & Status Screen
The Maintenance & Status screen (Figure 39) provides access to several
tools used in testing the radio and performing routine management tasks.
Individual screens may be selected beneath Maintenance & Status at the left
side of the screen.

Figure 39. Maintenance & Status Screen

Event Log

The Event Log is used to display all events stored by the transceiver,
even if the radio has been power-cycled. It also shows a running total of
the alarms stored.

• Total Event Log Events—Displays the number of events that have

been logged by the transceiver. To view the Event Log, click Show
Log. The listed events can be cleared by clicking Clear Log. (You
will be challenged by a caution message to verify that you intend
to clear the event log.)
• Show Log—Displays a detailed listing of each event.
• Clear Log—Erases the stored listing of events.
• Export Log—Used to save the log data as a text file in the desired
location on the PC.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 73

 Alarm Summary
Alarms This screen shows the current major and minor alarms, if any, since
power-up of the transceiver.

This menu is read only.

Status Conditions This screen shows status conditions reported since power-up of the
and Events transceiver. This includes normal, informational events such as booting
up the system and re-initializing.

This menu is read only.

Alarm Signal This screen contains settings to determine what events are detected, and
Configuration what will be done with them. At the bottom section of the screen are
selections for displaying specific alarms, conditions, and informational
events that will be reported. Select events to be reported by clicking the
box to the left of the item. The sample image below shows the first six
events in the bottom portion of the screen. Additional listings are visible
by scrolling down.

74 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • Alarm Signal Sense—This parameter may be set to either Active High
or Active Low. An active high means that Pin 6 on the COM2 port
will output a high DC signal when an alarm exists. (This is the
default behavior.) An active low means that Pin 6 on the COM2
port will output a low DC signal when an alarm exists. Select the
desired behavior in the drop-down box and click Set Alarm Signal
Sense to apply the setting.
• Set Signal by Class—Here, you can specify what classes of alarms
result in an signal being produced by the alarm output line. The
choices are:
Never assert Alarm Signal
Assert Signal on Major Alarm
Assert Signal on Major or Minor Alarm
Assert Signal on Any Alarm or Status

• Set Alarm Bits—This button is used to set the selections made in the
check box list below it. First, you must select which specific
alarms will result in a signal being produced by the alarm output
line. To set an alarm/message for reporting by the output line, you
click the check box next to an item of interest. To clear a check
box, simply click it again. When you are finished with the selec-
tions, click the Set Alarm Bits button.
• Undo—This button is used to return the screen to its original selec-
tions. It clears any selections made prior to clicking the Set Alarm
Bits button.

Performance
Radio Performance This screen contains several measurement parameters that can be used
to check the operating conditions of the radio.

• Measured RF Power—Read-only indication of the measured RF out-

put power (in dBm).
• Signal to Noise—Read-only indication of the signal-to-noise ratio of
received signal.
• RSSI—Read-only indication of the received signal strength (in
dBm).
• DC Voltage—Read-only indication of the DC supply voltage
applied to the transceiver.
• Temperature—Read-only indication of the chassis temperature
(degrees C).

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 75

I/O Statistics This screen allows viewing transmitted and received bytes on any of the
transceiver interface modules.

• Module Select—The drop-down box to the right of this area allows

selection of any of the transceiver interface modules: All, Media
Access Controller, Port(s), COM1, COM2, IP Payload Port 1, 2, 3, Remote
Reprogram. Once a module is selected, click Set Module to view a
summary of TX and RX bytes, along with the number of packets
missed, retries, and number of blocks (as applicable, depending
on the interface selected). The display continually refreshes to
show the latest information, and may be cleared at any time by
selecting Clear Module Statistics.
• Reset—Clicking this button restores the previous Set Module selec-
tion. If you've scrolled to a new module selection in the pull-down
box, and wish to return to the previous one, simply click this but-
ton to restore it.
Ethernet Statistics This screen presents a detailed summary of packets received and trans-
mitted, dropped packets, errors, overruns of the buffer, RX data rate
(bps), and RX/TX data for Unicast, Multicast, and Broadcast transmis-
sions.

• Clear Statistics—Clicking this button resets the displayed statistic

counts.

76 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

MAC Routes The MAC Routes function pertains to Packet w/MAC operation and it is
used as a networking tool. It works on both APs and Remotes, but is gen-
erally most meaningful from an AP perspective. The MAC Routes screen
shows all currently communicating radios in a network running in
Packet w/MAC mode.

Screen content varies with configuration. The following items are dis-
played on a fully populated screen for each radio, and appear in the
blank area of the MAC Routes screen:

• Index—Numerical identification.
• Unit—Unit address of the radio.
• ESN—Exchange Sequence Number, an incrementing 8-bit
sequence number used to uniquely identify packets coming from
that radio. It is used for redundant packet filtering in case of
re-transmissions.
• Link—Current link the radio is connected via, either DIRECT or
through Store and Forward (SAF).
• Clear Routes—Forces the radio to re-learn all actively communicat-
ing radios in the network.
• Export Routes — Send MAC Route Entries to a local host.
Note that because the radio network is point-to-multipoint (from a
Remote radio's perspective), the MAC Route function only contains infor-
mation about the Access Point.

Radio Test The Radio Test functions are a collection of tools useful for testing the
RF performance of the transceiver. It provides a way to key (activate)
the transmitter, measure power output, run a spectrum test, and enable
the built-in RTU simulator.

RTU Simulator The unit’s built-in RTU simulator generates random data similar to what
would be supplied by an external RTU connected to the radio. It is
useful for system testing within the radio network by providing realistic
data to pass over the radio channel.

• RTU Enable—Select ONor OFF from the drop-down box.

• RTU Number—Enter the desired RTU number in this box.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 77

 When you are done with these settings, press Commit Configuration to apply
the changes.

Link Test The primary use of the Link Test is to verify that a specific radio's set-
tings are consistent with the initiator including: Assigned frequency,
unit number setting, encryption (if enabled), etc. Also collected at the
same time is an indication of link quality. All radios are always ready to
respond to a Link Test message. Only the initiating radio requires con-
figuration when using the Link Test screen, and it is only available when
operating in packet mode or Packet w/MAC mode.

A summary of data statistics is displayed on the right side of the screen,

including transmit/receive packet counts, total bits, and total number of
bit errors.

NOTE: No other data traffic should be active when performing a Link-

Test.
• Destination Unit Address—Enter the Unit Address of the other radio
being tested.
• Linktest Count—Enter the number of times for the message to be
sent across the radio link.
• Response Timeouts (msec)—Enter the time (in milliseconds) that will
result in a timeout if no response is received within that period.
• Start Test—Set this box to ON to start the Link Test, or OFF to stop
the test.

When you are done with the settings above, press Commit Configuration to
apply the changes.

Ping Test A connectivity test to a specific destination address may be performed

using the radio’s Ping Test screen which follows.

78 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • Destination Address—Enter the IP Address of the radio to ping
tested.
• Count—Enter the number of pings to send across the radio link.
• Bytes—Enter the number of bytes in each ping.
• Interval—Use this box to specify how long (in seconds) between
ping transmissions after a response is received.
• Timeout—Use this box to specify how long (in seconds) to wait for
a ping response before a timeout occurs.
RF Keying Test The RF Keying Test screen provides a way to place the transmitter on the
air to check the measured RF power output, measure reflected power
from an antenna system, or to provide a signal at a receiving station so
that RSSI can be checked.

• Key Radio—Set to ON to enable the RF keying test; OFF to disable

it. The Commit Configuration button must be clicked to apply the set-
ting.
• Measured RF Power—Provides an indication (in dBm) of the mea-
sured power output of the transmitter.
Spectrum Graph A unique feature of the transceiver is the ability to view the RF spectrum
above and below the operating frequency using its built-in Spectrum
Graph. Often, this can assist in diagnosing the cause of interference, or
to view other signals near your operating frequency.

To use the Spectrum Graph, you must first specify a center frequency
and a span frequency. The center frequency is the frequency that you
wish the spectrum display to be centered on. The span frequency defines
the width of the overall spectrum to be examined.

• Center Frequency—The frequency (in MHz) that the graph will be

centered on.
• Span Frequency—Width (in kHz) of the spectrum to be examined.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 79

 A sample spectrum graph from the transceiver is shown below.

Example Spectrum Graph

Alarm Test The Alarm Test screen provides a way to force an alarm for testing alarm
reporting and radio response. When set to ON, clicking the Commit Config-
uration button sets an alarm, and the radio’s PWR LED begins to flash. An
“Alarm Test” entry is also made in the Event Log, and the external alarm
output status is changed.

In redundant configurations such as SDxP/SDxDP/SDxDT packaged

models, the Alarm Test can be used to force a switchover between
redundant radios. The alarm test is a timed facility. When applied, it will
assert for 30 seconds, and then deactivate. If active, it can be manually
deactivated prior to timeout by setting the parameter to OFF, and clicking
the Commit Configuration button again.

80 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Firmware Utilities
Version Information This screen shows Bootloader version information and indicates which
firmware image (1 or 2) is currently active, as well as the firmware ver-
sion of each image. The information on this screen is read-only.

This section is read only.

NOTE: The latest firmware version for this product can be obtained at
www.gemds.com.

Web
Reprogramming

Browse to the *.mpk file to reprogram into this radio, then click Program
to start the file upload process. Do not click away from this page until
the upload has finished processing.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 81

TFTP The TFTP Reprogramming screen contains settable parameters for TFTP
Reprogramming file transfers and selections for retrieving files, such as radio firmware
or configuration files.

• Host IP—Use this field to enter a valid IP address for the host com-
puter (where file to be transferred resides).
• File—This field is used to enter the exact name of the file to be
imported or exported.
• Timeout—Determines the amount of time (in seconds) that the
radio should wait for a TFTP server to respond. The default set-
ting is 20 seconds and will not normally require any change. If a
change is needed, enter a new timeout value in this field.
When all of the above fields have been set and you are ready to load a
new file, click the Retrieve File button to begin reprogramming.

Remote The transceiver has facilities for reprogramming key settings of other
Reprogramming radios in the network. These functions are contained on the Remote Repro-
gramming screen shown below. Additional information on remote repro-
gramming is given in “Over-the-Air Firmware Upgrades” on Page 94.

82 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 • Channel Usage—Set to either intrusive or passive as desired.
• Packet Data Size—Used to specify the size of the reprogramming
data packets. Default size is 40.
• Retry Count—Used to specify the number of times a transmission
is repeated when a packet is not received correctly. Default set-
ting is 3.
• Reprogram Block Size—Sets the overall block size (in bytes) of each
data packet. Default setting is 512.
• Auto-Reboot—When enabled, causes the transceiver to automati-
cally reboot after a firmware image upgrade. If disabled, the
newly loaded image will not become valid until the transceiver is
rebooted manually.
• Download Delay—This field can be used to introduce a time delay
when reprogramming begins. Typically, it is set to Extended Delay-1,
but may be increased incrementally by selecting one of the
extended delay times from the drop-down box (Extended Delay-1, 2,
3, None)

Verify Image This screen is used to verify the integrity of an image stored in flash
memory. You may wish to verify an image after reprogramming or as
part of a troubleshooting sequence.

• Verify—Click this button to verify the firmware image selected in

the drop-down box at the top of the screen. The available selec-
tions from the box are: Current active image, Image 1, Image 2, and Inac-
tive image.

Copy Image

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 83

 • Active Image—Shows the firmware package currently being used
by the transceiver (1 or 2).
• Package 1—Shows the version of firmware package 1.
• Package 2—Shows the version of firmware package 2.
• Copy—Click this button to copy the currently active firmware to
the inactive image.

Device Reboot

• Active Image—Shows the firmware package currently being used

by the transceiver (1 or 2).
• Package 1—Shows the version of firmware package 1.
• Package 2—Shows the version of firmware package 2.
• Image—Allows selection of the firmware image to use when
rebooting: Current active Image, Image 1, Image 2, Inactive Image.
• Reboot—Initiates reboot of the radio with the selected firmware
image.

Authorization Codes This screen allows the entry of a new authorization key to change the
enabled features of the radio. The enabled features are not displayed
here, but can be viewed using a Serial/Telnet session, under the Authori-
zation Codes menu.

• Authorization Key—A factory furnished code used to enable operat-

ing features of the transceiver. An error message is returned if an
invalid authorization key is entered. Contact your factory repre-
sentative for ordering details.

84 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Configuration Files

NOTE: It is recommended that users periodically export their config-

uration file so that it can be loaded back into the radio if their
old one requires replacement.

Dump/Load The transceiver provides a Dump/Load Configuration File utility to ease

Configuration File programming of operating parameters. This is especially useful if you
have a large number of radios to configure, and want to ensure that each
radio is uniformly configured.

• Dump Current Config—Click this button to generate and save the

current configuration file being used by the transceiver. You will
be prompted for a location to save the file.
• Load Config File—Click this button to select a configuration file for
loading into the transceiver. You will receive a browse window to
help you locate the file on your computer and upload it to the
transceiver.
TFTP Configuration The TFTP Configuration File screen contains settable parameters for TFTP
File file transfers and also selections for Importing/Exporting configuration
Files via TFTP.

• Host IP Address—Enter a valid IP address here for the host com-

puter (where the configuration file resides or where you want to
send it).
• Filename—Enter the exact name of the configuration text file that
will be used by the radio to import or export configuration data.
• Timeout (sec)—Determines the amount of time in seconds that the
radio should wait for a TFTP server to respond. The default set-
ting is 10 seconds, and will not require any change in most cases.
• Export/Import Config Files —Choose to export/import a configuration
file to/from a local host.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 85

Save/Restore This screen allows saving or restoring a configuration file for the trans-
Configuration ceiver. Saving a configuration file can be helpful in future trouble-
shooting tasks, as it allows reverting to a “known good” configuration
of the radio.

• Restore to Factory Defaults—Click this button to restore the radio's

configuration settings to the factory defaults.
• Save Current Config—Click this button to save the radio’s current
configuration to flash memory.
• Restore Saved Config—Click this button to restore the radio’s config-
uration from the last saved version.

86 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 7.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
Successful troubleshooting of the radio system requires a logical
approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting at the Master unit, as the
rest of the system depends on the Master for polling commands. If the
Master unit has problems, the overall operation of the network will be
affected.

It is good practice to start by checking the simple things. For proper

operation, all radios in the network must meet these basic requirements:

• Adequate and stable primary power

• Secure cable connections (power, data and Antenna)
• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system and a received
signal strength of at least –90 dBm. (It is possible for a system to
operate with weaker signals, but reliability may suffer.)
• The correct interface between the transceiver and the connected
data equipment (correct cable wiring, proper data format, timing,
etc.)
• Proper programming of the transceiver’s operating parameters.
Table 14 provides suggestions for resolving system difficulties that may
occur in the radio system. If problems persist, contact the factory for fur-
ther assistance. Refer to the inside back cover of this guide for contact
information.
Table 14. Troubleshooting Guide
Difficulty Recommended System Checks
Unit is a. Check for the proper supply voltage at the power
inoperative. connector.
b. The transceiver’s internal fuse may have opened. Factory
repair normally required.
Interference or a. Use the Spectrum Analyzer/Graph function to check for
signal overload is interference near the radio channel.
suspected.
b. Try re-orienting the station antenna to limit interference to
and from other stations.
c. For excessively strong signals, set RX Signal Attenuation
to ON (Configuration>>Radio>>Advanced Settings).
Note: Also affects the strength of desired, on-channel
signals.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 87

 Table 14. Troubleshooting Guide (Continued)
No link with Master, a. Check for secure interface connections at the radio and
or poor overall the connected device.
performance.
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 links, but performance is poor, check
the received signal strength using the RSSI feature on the
Radio Performance screen. If RSSI is low, it may indicate
antenna problems, or misalignment of directional antenna
headings.
d. Verify proper programming of system parameters: mode,
data interface baud rate, RF output power, etc.
e. Check for alarms using the Statistics/Events screen.
No communication a. Verify correct IP address is set.
to user interface b. Ensure PC is set to same subnet as radio.
(Ethernet system).
Ethernet port shuts a. Excessive data throughput. Do not connect radio to a LAN
down. with high traffic levels.
b. Auto Power Save is shutting the port down. Disable Auto
Power Save on Ethernet Port Configuration screen. (As of
this manual’s release date, this must be performed using a
console terminal session. Device Manager access is
planned for a future release.) Note that access to the unit via
Ethernet will not be possible if the port is currently shut down.

About Auto Power Save: This feature, enabled by default,

shuts down the Ethernet port if no connection is detected for
approximately 10 seconds, such as when a cable is
unplugged. Ethernet communications will resume when the
connection is restored. If your system experiences Ethernet
connection difficulties in operation, the Auto Power Save
feature may be disabled. A port that is shut down may also
be restored by cycling the radio’s DC power input.
No communication a. Connect terminal emulator to COM1 port, cycle power,
to user interface and press the Enter key within 10 seconds to obtain Login
(serial system). prompt.
BER is too high. a. If in packet mode, check the Packet Settings screen for
Data throughput is proper configuration.
spotty. b. If in serial mode, check the COM1/COM2 Port settings
screen for proper configuration.
Latency is too high. a. Adjust packet mode settings.
Unit won’t wake up a. Disconnect the device connected to COM2, and disable
from Sleep Mode. Sleep Mode on the Device Settings Screen.
b. Verify that the connected device is outputting the required
0 Vdc to 5 Vdc to control sleep mode on Pin 4 of COM2.
Correct as necessary.
c. Re-enable Sleep Mode on Device Settings Screen,
re-connect device to COM2, and check for proper operation.

88 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Table 14. Troubleshooting Guide (Continued)
Password lost or Contact GE MDS for password reset authorization code.
forgotten Proof of authorized user required.
Alarm message No load on Antenna connector or poor/shorted/open load.
“RF Output Out of Check condition of antenna cable, connectors, and antenna
Range” system.
Transmitter keys Many terminal programs raise the RTS line by default.
when using terminal Keying can be avoided by setting the transceiver’s RTSkey
communications parameter to OFF (Configuration>>Radio>>Advanced
program. Settings)

7.1 LED Indicators

The LED status indicators are an important troubleshooting aid, and
should be checked whenever a problem is suspected. Table 10 on
Page 33 describes the function of each status LED and their normal indi-
cations.

7.2 Checking for Alarms/Events

When an alarm condition exists, the transceiver registers it as an
“event.” These events can be viewed the Device Manager’s Maintenance
& Status>>Alarm Summary screen. Here, you can check for currently active
alarms, whether they be Major, Minor, Status Conditions, or Informa-
tional Events.

In addition, all historical events may be viewed by accessing the Device

Manager’s Event Log screen. To access the Event Log, select Maintenance
& Status>>Event Log and click Show Log to view stored events (see
Figure 40).

Figure 40. Event Log Screen

Both setting and clearing of major/minor alarms and status conditions
are logged, as well as informational events (i.e., remote rebooted, repro-
gramming in process, etc.).

Major Alarms vs. Minor Alarms

Major Alarms report serious conditions that generally indicate a hard-
ware failure, or other abnormal condition that will prevent (or seriously
hamper) further operation of the transceiver. Major alarms generally
indicate the need for factory repair. Contact your factory representative
for further assistance.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 89

 Minor Alarms report conditions that, under most circumstances will not
prevent transceiver operation. This includes out-of-tolerance conditions,
baud rate mismatches, etc. The cause of these alarms should be investi-
gated and corrected to prevent system failure.

Status and Informational Events

Status events indicate current states or conditions that are not errors.
They are used merely to indicate process functions (i.e., Reprogramming in
Process).

Informational (Inform) events pertain to those items which have

occurred since bootup. They may or may not indicate an error, and they
do not show current conditions, just an event that occurred at some point
after boot-up (i.e., Event #32 Booting Up).

Event Code Definitions

Table 15 contains a listing of event codes that may be reported by the
transceiver. The codes shown are a subset of a larger pool of codes used
for various GE MDS products. For this reason, the table does not show
a sequential listing of all code numbers. Only the codes applicable to
this product series are shown. This list is subject to change with product
revision.

Table 15. Event Codes

Event Event
Code Class Description
000 Major Not currently implemented.
001 Major Not currently implemented.
002 Major Frequency not programmed.
003 Major Authorization fault detected.
004 Major RF synthesizer out-of-lock condition.
005 Major Not currently implemented.
006 Major Not currently implemented.
007 Major Not currently implemented.
008 Major Radio not calibrated. Factory calibration is required for proper
operation.
009 Major DSP download fault.
010 Major Not currently implemented.
011 Major Not currently implemented.
012 Major Receiver time-out. No data received within the specified
receiver time-out time.
013 Major Transmitter time-out.
014 Major Alarm Test.
015 Major Not currently implemented.
068 Major Excessive Ethernet traffic on interface.

90 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Table 15. Event Codes (Continued)
Event Event
Code Class Description
016 Minor Unit address not programmed.
017 Minor Not currently implemented.
018 Minor Not currently implemented.
019 Minor Not currently implemented.
020 Minor Not currently implemented.
021 Minor Not currently implemented.
022 Minor Not currently implemented.
023 Minor Not currently implemented.
024 Minor Not currently implemented.
025 Minor Not currently implemented.
026 Minor DC input voltage approaching limit. If the voltage is too far out
of tolerance, operation may fail.
027 Minor Not currently implemented.
028 Minor Not currently implemented.
029 Minor RF Output Power not in valid range.
030 Minor Not currently implemented.
031 Minor Internal temperature approaching limit.
032 Inform Booting up.
033 Inform System initialization complete.
037 Minor Unexpectedly executing APP 1.
038 Minor Unexpectedly executing APP 2.
039 Minor Boot error; active image unknown.
042 Minor Reprogramming failure.
064 Minor A socket operation failed.
071 Minor AP not available.
041 Status Forced restart of Ethernet interface.
043 Status Reprogramming in progress.
044 Inform Firmware update successful.
045 Inform Reprogramming aborted.
046 Inform Remote rebooted.

7.3 Operating Constraints

The transceiver is a flexible unit offering a wide variety of features
needed in the wireless data industry. While many system arrangements
and applications are possible, there are a few constraints that system
planners should be aware of when designing a radio network. Table 16
lists these constraints and explains how to avoid difficulty in operation.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 91

 Table 16. Operating Constraints
Constraint Detailed Information
Minimum firmware version When operating in “Packet w/MAC” mode, do not
requirement downgrade the firmware revision below REV4.0.0.
Doing so will cause erratic and unpredictable behavior,
including causing the radio to become continuously
keyed.
RSSI display in strong The RSSI facility limits the maximum displayed signal
signal environments strength to –60 dBm. Signal levels that are higher than
-60 dBm will appear as > -60 dBm.
Radio operation in strong Operation with very strong receive signals (> -60 dBm)
signal environments may require selection of the programmable RX Signal
Attenuation feature (see Advanced Settings
screen). Some higher bandwidth modems (e.g.,
65000) may require further external attenuation if
operating at even stronger signal levels (> -35dbm).
Note that this is rarely a practical concern; the most
likely scenario is in bench testing. Typical field
deployments have normal signal strengths well below
this threshold.
DC input voltage (SD4) Early SD4 models supported 10.5 to 16 Vdc power, not
10 to 30 Vdc. Check the labeling above the power
connector to confirm the operating range for your unit.

92 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 8.0 TECHNICAL REFERENCE
8.1 Performing Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics
Diagnostics data from a remote radio can be obtained by connecting a
laptop or personal computer running GE MDS diagnostic software, such
as MDS PulseNET or MDS InSite to any radio in the network. InSite is
designed for operation with a serial-based (COM1) connection, unless
using a terminal server. PulseNET is designed to operate with the
radio’s Ethernet port. Figure 41 shows a sample serial arrangement for
performing network-wide remote diagnostics.

DLINK TYPE
RTU NODE
RTU DLINK TYPE
NODE

RTU

DLINK TYPE
NODE

TO DATA PORT
(DB-25)
TO DIAGNOSTICS
PORT (DB-9)

DLINK TYPE
ROOT

MASTER STATION

DIAGNOSTIC DATA
(TO NMS APPLICATION) PAYLOAD DATA
(TO SCADA APPLICATION)

HOST COMPUTER

Figure 41. Network-Wide Remote Diagnostics Setup

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 93

 NOTE: This section of the manual focuses on the use of the radio’s
Ethernet port for diagnostic configuration (i.e.,
PulseNET-based diagnostics, or InSite with a terminal server).
Alternatively, the COM1 port may be used for serial diagnos-
tics. See the SD Serial/Telnet Management Supplement, Part
No. 05-6193A01 for more information.

With a PC connected to any radio in the network, intrusive polling

(polling that interrupts payload data transmission) can be performed. To
perform diagnostics without interrupting payload data, connect the PC
to a radio defined as the “root” radio. This is defined using the Device
Manager on a connected PC. The following path takes you to the screen
where all diagnostic settings are made:
Configuration>>Radio>>Diagnostic Settings

To define a radio as the “root” unit, go to the Dlink Type box in the Diag-
nostics Settings screen, and select Root from the drop-down list.

Setting Up Diagnostics
The steps below outline the basic procedure of setting up diagnostics for
a radio. A more detailed description of remote diagnostics can be found
in the Network-Wide Diagnostics System Handbook (05-3467A01).

1. At the AP/Master radio, set the Dlink Type to Root.

2. Set the Dlink Type for all other radios in the network to Node.

3. On the root radio, set Dlink TCP Access to Enabled on the Diagnostic
Settings Screen.

4. Connect a PC running the management software to the root radio, or

to one of the nodes, using the radio’s Ethernet port. (This PC may
also be the computer used to collect payload data.)

5. Launch the diagnostic/NMS application at the PC. (Refer to the

software user’s guide for instructions.

8.2 Over-the-Air Firmware Upgrades

A major feature of the radio is the ability to reprogram remotes in the
network without the need to physically visit each radio site. This is
accomplished using the over-the-air (OTA) channel. OTA reprogram-
ming always re-programs the “Inactive” firmware image of the radio to
ensure that active firmware is not accidentally overwritten.

94 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 NOTE: OTA reprogramming over a narrowband radio channel can be
a lengthy process, requiring up to several hours to complete.
The time required depends on several factors, as discussed in
the following section.

Intrusive vs. Passive (Non-Intrusive) Mode

Firmware code may be transmitted to stations in either intrusive or pas-

sive (non-intrusive) mode using the built-in diagnostic capabilities of
the radio. When OTA reprogramming is initiated from either a root or
node the firmware image is broadcast to all Remotes in intrusive or pas-
sive use of the channel.

Intrusive operation means that the payload application data will be

interrupted while programming data is sent over the air. This is the
fastest method of programming radios over the air, but it comes at the
cost of interruptions in the primary use of the radio network. See
Table 17 for the approximate times needed for intrusive reprogram-
ming.

Table 17. Approximate Reprogramming Times—Intrusive Mode

Modem Speed Approximate Time Required
(bps)
4800 1 hour, 30 minutes
9600 35-40 minutes
19200 20-25 minutes
Radio assumptions: Signal strength -85 dBm or
stronger, Packet Size: 40, Block Size: 512, Retry: 3,
Download Delay: Extended-1

Polling assumptions: Serial polling with 1-second poll

time, sending random data at 50-100 bytes. Slower
polling times will significantly increase completion time.
Polling should be temporarily suspended while OTA
reprogramming is active.

NOTE: Intrusive mode should be used only when the radio channel
can be devoted to the reprogramming operation, as payload
data will be interrupted.

Passive (Non-intrusive) operation “piggy-backs” reprogramming data

onto normal payload data streams, thus allowing payload data to con-
tinue uninterrupted. This mode requires payload data to be sent so that
the reprogramming data can be carried.

NOTE: Radio networks configured for Packet w/MAC operation

support intrusive operation while still sending payload data.
Data is sent at the first chance, and does not wait for user data
to be sent.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 95

 The disadvantage to passive operation is that it takes longer to convey
the reprogramming information since it is must be attached to existing
data transactions. See Table 18 for the approximate times needed for
passive reprogramming.

Table 18. Approximate Reprogramming Times—Passive Mode

Modem Speed Approximate Time Required
(bps)
4800 6 hours, 7 minutes
9600 1 hour, 30 minutes
19200 1 hour, 30 minutes
Radio assumptions: Signal strength -85 dBm or
stronger, Packet Size: 40, Block Size: 512, Retry: 3,
Download Delay: Extended-1

Polling assumptions: Serial polling with 1-second poll

time, sending random data at 50-100 bytes. Slower
polling times will significantly increase completion time.

NOTE: It is possible for Remote radios receiving a firmware upgrade

to complete reprogramming before the initiating station does.
This is because transmissions are sent out “broadcast style”
and will be sent up to the number of times entered in the Retry
Count parameter of the radio. In a strong signal environment,
the image may be received successfully the first time, but the
initiator does not know this, and continues broadcasting image
data blocks until the specified retry count has been reached.

Broadcast Reprogramming Suggestions by Network Type

Table 19 provides suggested settings for performing Broadcast Repro-
gramming operations based on the type of network employed. Each
system has unique requirements, but experience has shown that these
settings provide reasonable performance for the network types listed.

Table 19. Broadcast Reprogramming—Suggested Settings

Network Type Packet Retry Count Block Size Download
Data Size Delay
Small Networks 40 3 512 Extended-1
(i.e., 10 Remotes or less)
Large Networks 40 6 512 Extended-2
(i.e., 11 Remotes or more)
Repeater Networks 40 6 256 Extended-3
Store and Forward Networks 40 6 256 Extended-2

96 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 OTA Reprogramming Overview

The “Root” is the central location from which polling originates. Other
locations in the network should be designated as “Nodes” which are the
receiving stations. Over-the-air firmware upgrades should always be
initiated from the Root. This ensures that all radios in the network will
be properly updated.

Once an OTA reprogram session has started, the initiating radio’s user
selects either the active or inactive image stored in its non-volatile
storage which is copied to all the other radios in the network.

The initiator broadcasts a series of messages to one or more remote

Nodes to accomplish the reprogramming process. The “broadcast”
method is used to program the greatest number of radios in the shortest
amount of time, however, the initiating station remains unaware of the
number or success of downstream radios participating in reprogram-
ming.

During reprogramming, the status of the reprogramming will be avail-

able on all the radios participating in the process. Because the initiator
is “broadcast-only” this status can only indicate progress toward
sending out of all of the messages. On the Nodes, the progress toward
completion of reception of reprogramming information is indicated.

Receiving stations can automatically reboot to the new image after suc-
cessful reprogramming. Alternatively, there is an OTA reboot command
that can be broadcast from the initiator to all receiving stations. This last
option instructs the receivers to reboot to a specific firmware revision if
available, and not already running at that revision.

Cancelling OTA Reprogramming

During the reprogramming operation the user has the ability to cancel
reprogramming at anytime either on the initiator, which will affect all
radios, or on individual receiving stations. Note that cancelling repro-
gramming at the initiator results in all radios in the network having only
one (instead of two) applications programmed in their image banks.
That is, the “inactive” image (which was only partially upgraded) and
will be corrupt and unusable until reprogrammed at a later time.

Error Conditions/Recovery

Other than cancelling the reprogramming process, there are few error
conditions that the initiator knows or can do anything about. Receiving
radios perform checks and verification on the incoming data. If after the
end of the reprogramming sequence a radio still has an invalid image
(for whatever reason) the radio will not reboot but continue running with
its active, and valid image.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 97

 Execution and Screen Examples
User Data Displayed information during reprogramming (at Root radios):
Explanations
• Progress (Percent Complete—Read-only): This parameter indi-
cates percent complete of a firmware upgrade. The calculation is
done each time a block of data is successfully transmitted or
received. Must be viewed on the Reprogramming screen.
User Command Command options available during reprogramming (at Root radios):
explanations
• Stop Remote Reprogramming—Terminate remote firmware upgrade
for all remote nodes in the network. Inactive images on non-root
radios will be invalid. (No change to status of root radio images)
• Reboot Remote to—Manually send a reboot to all remote nodes in
the network. All remote nodes will reboot to their image selected.
Command options available during reprogramming (at “Non-Root”
radios):

• Stop Remote Reprogramming—Terminate Remote Reprogramming

for local radio. Inactive image will be invalid.

Screen Example Figure 42 shows the radio’s Remote Reprogramming Screen.

Figure 42. Remote Reprogramming Screen

98 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 8.3 COM1 Operating Modes
The COM1 port can operate in one of several possible modes. From the
user's perspective, it can be considered to be in Data mode or Manage-
ment mode, where user input can be accepted via either a menu inter-
face, a command line interface, or a diagnostic interface such as GE
MDS-proprietary DLINK protocol. The list below shows all possible
modes for the COM1 port:

• Console mode—For serial-based “console terminal” control of

the radio. Menu screens are presented where you make selections
and apply them with the PC’s keyboard.
• Data mode—Where COM1 is used for payload data, and not user
control/management of the transceiver.
• DLINK (diagnostics) mode—Where a PC running InSite or
PulseNET management software is connected to COM1.
• Command line/scripting mode—Where text-based commands
are used to manage the radio, typically by means of an automated
“scripting” system, rather than by manual entry. (Refer to SD
Serial/Telnet Management Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01 for
a summary of text commands.)

Changing COM1 Modes

The Device Manager may be used to change the COM1 operating mode
by accessing the Configuration>>Communication Ports>>Com 1 Port Settings
screen (see “COM1 Port Settings” on Page 67). Using this screen, the
Startup Mode and Current Mode may be set to either Console or Data from the
drop-down selections.

NOTE: The COM1 operating mode may also be set using a PC

terminal connected directly to the port. See SD Serial/Telnet
Management Supplement, Part No. 05-6193A01 for details.

8.4 Implementing Sleep Mode

Sleep Mode places the transceiver into a low power “hibernating” state,
with a nominal current draw of less than 12 mA (at 13 Vdc) and a
“wake-up” time of approximately 50 milliseconds. Sleep Mode is often
used at battery/solar-powered sites to conserve power.

The ability to enter Sleep Mode is controlled through the Device Settings
Screen (see “Device Settings” on Page 46), but an active low on Pin 4
of the COM2 port is what actually places the radio in Sleep Mode.

NOTE: Sleep mode is not intended for use on a Master radio.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 99

 Guide
MDS SD Series

Manual
Secure, Long Range IP/Ethernet & Serial

and Operation
Installation Technical
Covering ES/SS Units with Firmware Version 5.x

Applies to all models EXCEPT those operated in x710 Mode. For x710 mode
operation, refer to Publication 05-4670A01.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

November 2013
Quick-Start instructions for this product are contained in publication 05-4847A01.

All GE MDS manuals and updates are available online at www.gemds.com.

How Sleep Mode When Sleep Mode is enabled via the Device Settings Screen, the state
Works of Pin 4 on COM2 is continuously monitored to detect a request to enter
sleep mode from an external device (RTU, PLC, etc.). For ease of use,
there are certain conditions which temporarily override the sleep request
to prevent unwanted behavior of the radio. These conditions are:

1. The radio must be powered up for at least 60 seconds before it is

allowed to enter sleep mode.

2. Any user-originated activity on the console terminal disables

entering sleep mode for 30 seconds, measured from the time of last
keystroke.

3. When locally reprogramming the transceiver’s firmware, sleep

mode is disabled throughout the reprogramming time, and is sup-
pressed for 30 seconds thereafter.

4. The passage of payload data does not inhibit sleep mode.

Sleep Mode Example This section describes how to implement Sleep Mode in a typical sce-
nario. Before using Sleep Mode, the following conditions must be met
to provide proper operation and avoid damage to the transceiver:

a. Sleep Mode must be enabled on the Radio >> Device Settings Screen.

b. Output voltage to the radio must not exceed +5.0 Vdc.

c. Output voltage to wake up the radio must be between +2.0 Vdc

and +5.0 Vdc.

d. Output voltage to enter Sleep Mode must be +0.6 Vdc or less.

With the above conditions met, you are ready to use Sleep Mode. As a
working example, suppose you need communication to each Remote
site in your network only once per hour. Program the RTU/PLC at the
Remote sites to raise an RS-232 line once each hour (DTR for example),
and wait for a poll and response before lowering it again. Connect the
RS-232 line to Pin 4 of the radio’s COM2 port. This allows each Remote
to be polled once per hour with a significant savings in power consump-
tion.

100 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 8.5 Technical Specifications
GENERAL
Frequency Range: SD1: 150-174 MHz

SD2: 216-235 MHz in one of the following bands:

Band A—216 to 220 MHz
Band B—220 to 222 MHz
Band C—220 to 235 MHz
Band D—216 to 220 MHz (50 kHz B/W)

SD4: 300–512 MHz in one of the following bands:

Band A—350 to 400 MHz
Band B—400 to 450 MHz
Band C—450 to 512 MHz
Band D—300-360 MHz

SD9: 820–960 MHz in one of the following bands:

Band A—820 to 870 MHz
Band B (not currently used)
Band C—928 to 960 MHz
Band D—928 to 960 MHz (50 kHz B/W)
Band E—880 to 915 MHz
Band F—880 to 915 MHZ (50 kHz B/W)
Band G—850 to 860 MHz/926 to 936 TX LO
Band H—850 to 860 MHz/926 to 936 TX HI

Specific frequency authorizations are dependent on the type-approval of the radio. Consult fac-
tory for details.

Occupied Bandwidths: SD1: 6.25,12.5, 25.0 kHz

SD2: 5.0, 6.25, 9.0, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 kHz
SD4: 6.25, 12.5, 25.0 kHz
SD9: 5.0, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 kHz
NOTE: This information subject to change depending on specific modem configuration. For
emission designator information, consult the FCC website for latest “GE MDS” grants:
http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid/. Emission designators are subject to change pending new
FCC additions and approvals.

RECEIVER
Maximum Usable Sensitivity: –112 dBm at 1x10–6 BER (9600 BPS)
NOTE: Typical sensitivity rating at 9600 BPS. See modem type listing in Section 6.0 for detailed
ratings.

TRANSMITTER
Carrier Power: 0.1 Watts to 5 Watts
Power Measurement Accuracy: +/- 1.5 dB
Duty Cycle: Continuous
Output Impedance: 50 

FCC ID: SD1: E5MDS-SD1

SD2: E5MDS-SD2-1
SD4: E5MDS-SD4
SD9: E5MDS-SD9-1
IC ID: SD1: 101D-SD1
SD2: 101D-SD2-1
SD4: 101D-SD4
SD9: 101D-SD9-1

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 101

 DATA CHARACTERISTICS
Signaling Types: RS-232/485; DB-9 Female connector
Ethernet 10/100 Mbps; RJ-45F connector
COM2 Data Rates: 300–115200 bps, asynchronous
Data Latency: 11 ms typical (transparent)

PRIMARY POWER
Voltage: 10.0 to 30 Vdc (Negative ground only)
NOTE: Early SD4 models supported 10.5 to 16 Vdc power, not 10 to 30 Vdc. Check the labeling
above the power connector to confirm the operating range for your unit.

TX Supply Current (Typical): 2.5 Amperes maximum @ 5 Watts RF Output

RX Supply Current (Typical): Operational—125 mA, Nominal
Sleep—<10 mA typical @ 13.8 Vdc
Fuse: 5 Ampere, internal

ENVIRONMENTAL
Humidity: 95%, non-condensing
Temperature Range: –40 to 70 degrees C (–40°F to 158°F)
Duty Cycle: 50% (ambient temperature, -40C to +70C)
Continuous (internal temperature <= +80C)
Weight (nominal): 1.22 lbs. (0.55 kg)
Transceiver Dimensions: 6.5” long (16.51 cm), 4.625” wide (11.75 cm),
1.5” High (3.81 cm)
Mean Time Between Failure
(MTBF): Consult factory for on-file data

DIAGNOSTICS INTERFACE
Signaling Standard: RS-232 (COM1, DB-9F connector)
RS-232/RS-485 (COM2, DB-9F connector)

Product specifications are subject to change without notice or obliga-

tion to any party.

102 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 8.6 dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion Chart
Table 20 is provided as a convenience for determining the equivalent
wattage or voltage of an RF power expressed in dBm.

Table 20. dBm-Watts-Volts Conversion—for 50 Ohm Systems

dBm V Po dBm V Po dBm mV Po dBm µV Po

+53 100.0 200W 0 .225 1.0mW -49 0.80 -98 2.9
+50 70.7 100W -1 .200 .80mW -50 0.71 .01µW -99 2.51
+49 64.0 80W -2 .180 .64mW -51 0.64 -100 2.25 .1pW
+48 58.0 64W -3 .160 .50mW -52 0.57 -101 2.0
+47 50.0 50W -4 .141 .40mW -53 0.50 -102 1.8
+46 44.5 40W -5 .125 .32mW -54 0.45 -103 1.6
+45 40.0 32W -6 .115 .25mW -55 0.40 -104 1.41
+44 32.5 25W -7 .100 .20mW -56 0.351 -105 1.27
+43 32.0 20W -8 .090 .16mW -57 0.32 -106 1.18
+42 28.0 16W -9 .080 .125mW -58 0.286
+41 26.2 12.5W -10 .071 .10mW -59 0.251 dBm nV Po
+40 22.5 10W -11 .064 -60 0.225 .001µW -107 1000
+39 20.0 8W -12 .058 -61 0.200 -108 900
+38 18.0 6.4W -13 .050 -62 0.180 -109 800
+37 16.0 5W -14 .045 -63 0.160 -110 710 .01pW
+36 14.1 4W -15 .040 -64 0.141 -111 640
+35 12.5 3.2W -16 .0355 -112 580
+34 11.5 2.5W dBm µV Po -113 500
+33 10.0 2W dBm mV Po -65 128 -114 450
+32 9.0 1.6W -17 31.5 -66 115 -115 400
+31 8.0 1.25W -18 28.5 -67 100 -116 355
+30 7.10 1.0W -19 25.1 -68 90 -117 325
+29 6.40 800mW -20 22.5 .01mW -69 80 -118 285
+28 5.80 640mW -21 20.0 -70 71 .1nW -119 251
+27 5.00 500mW -22 17.9 -71 65 -120 225 .001pW
+26 4.45 400mW -23 15.9 -72 58 -121 200
+25 4.00 320mW -24 14.1 -73 50 -122 180
+24 3.55 250mW -25 12.8 -74 45 -123 160
+23 3.20 200mW -26 11.5 -75 40 -124 141
+22 2.80 160mW -27 10.0 -76 35 -125 128
+21 2.52 125mW -28 8.9 -77 32 -126 117
+20 2.25 100mW -29 8.0 -78 29 -127 100
+19 2.00 80mW -30 7.1 .001mW -79 25 -128 90
+18 1.80 64mW -31 6.25 -80 22.5 .01nW -129 80 .1ƒW
+17 1.60 50mW -32 5.8 -81 20.0 -130 71
+16 1.41 40mW -33 5.0 -82 18.0 -131 61
+15 1.25 32mW -34 4.5 -83 16.0 -132 58
+14 1.15 25mW -35 4.0 -84 11.1 -133 50
+13 1.00 20mW -36 3.5 -85 12.9 -134 45
+12 .90 16mW -37 3.2 -86 11.5 -135 40
+11 .80 12.5mW -38 2.85 -87 10.0 -136 35
+10 .71 10mW -39 2.5 -88 9.0 -137 33
+9 .64 8mW -40 2.25 .1µW -89 8.0 -138 29
+8 .58 6.4mW -41 2.0 -90 7.1 .001nW -139 25
+7 .500 5mW -42 1.8 -91 6.1 -140 23 .01ƒW
+6 .445 4mW -43 1.6 -92 5.75
+5 .400 3.2mW -44 1.4 -93 5.0
+4 .355 2.5mW -45 1.25 -94 4.5
+3 .320 2.0mW -46 1.18 -95 4.0
+2 .280 1.6mW -47 1.00 -96 3.51
+1 .252 1.25mW -48 0.90 -97 3.2

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 103

 9.0 GLOSSARY OF TERMS &
ABBREVIATIONS
If you are new to digital radio 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 the trans-
ceiver.

Active Messaging—This is a mode of diagnostic gathering that may

interrupt payload system polling communications (contrast with passive
messaging). Active (or intrusive) messaging is faster than passive mes-
saging because it is not dependent upon the RTU polling cycle.

Antenna System Gain—A figure, normally expressed in dB, repre-

senting the power increase resulting from the use of a gain-type antenna.
System losses (from the feedline and coaxial connectors, for example)
are subtracted from this figure to calculate the total antenna system gain.

BER—Bit Error Rate

Bit—The smallest unit of digital data, often represented by a one or a

zero. Eight bits (plus start, stop, and parity bits) usually comprise a byte.

Bits-per-second—See BPS.

BPS—Bits-per-second. A measure of the information transfer rate of

digital data across a communication channel.

Bridging—(see Ethernet Bridging)

Byte—A string of digital data usually made up of eight data bits and
start, stop and parity bits.

Ckeyed—Pertains to continuously keyed Master stations (full-duplex).

CTS—Clear to Send

Decibel (dB)—A measure computed from the ratio between two signal
levels. Frequently used to express the gain (or loss) of a system.

Data Circuit-terminating Equipment—See DCE.

Data Communications Equipment—See DCE.

Data Terminal Equipment—See DTE.

dBi—Decibels referenced to an “ideal” isotropic radiator in free space.

Frequently used to express antenna gain.

104 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 dBm—Decibels referenced to one milliwatt. An absolute unit used to
measure signal power, as in transmitter power output, or received signal
strength.

DCE—Data Circuit-terminating Equipment (or Data Communications

Equipment). In data communications terminology, this is the “modem”
side of a computer-to-modem connection. The transceiver described in
this manual is hardwired as a DCE device.

Digital Signal Processing—See DSP.

DLINK—Data Link Mode. This is a GE MDS-proprietary protocol

used when the transceiver is in diagnostics mode.

DSP—Digital Signal Processing. The transceiver’s DSP is the core

operating unit of the transceiver through which nearly all functions
depend.

DTE—Data Terminal Equipment. A device that provides data in the

form of digital signals at its output. Connects to the DCE device.

ETH—Ethernet

Ethernet Bridging—A mode of operation for the transceiver where the

radio decides whether messages are handled locally or sent intact
over-the-air.

Fade Margin—The greatest tolerable reduction in average received

signal strength expected under most conditions. Provides an allowance
for reduced signal strength due to multipath fading, slight antenna
movement or changing atmospheric losses. A fade margin of 20 to 30
dB is usually sufficient in most systems.

FPGA—Field Programmable Gate Array

Frame—A segment of data that adheres to a specific data protocol and

contains definite start and end points. It provides a method of synchro-
nizing transmissions.

Gate—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diag-

nostic/management activities. See also NODE, PEER, and ROOT.

Hardware Flow Control—A transceiver feature used to prevent data

buffer overruns when handling high-speed data from the RTU or PLC.
When the buffer approaches overflow, the radio drops the clear-to-send
(CTS) line, which instructs the RTU or PLC to delay further transmis-
sion until CTS again returns to the high state.

Host Computer—The computer installed at the master unit, which con-

trols the collection of data from one or more remote sites.

I/O—Input/Output

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 105

 IP—Internet Protocol

Intrusive Diagnostics—A mode of remote diagnostics that queries and

commands radios in a network with an impact on the delivery of the
system “payload” data. See Active messaging.

LAN—Local Area Network

LED—Light Emitting Diode

Latency—The delay (usually expressed in milliseconds) between when

data is applied to TXD (Pin 2) at one radio, until it appears at RXD
(Pin 3) at the other radio.

Listen Before Transmit—A collision avoidance mechanism that

attempts to allow transmission only when the channel is clear.

mA—Milliamperes (current flow)

MAC—Media Access Control

MAS—Multiple Address System. A radio system where a central

master unit communicates with several remote stations for the purpose
of gathering telemetry data.

Master (Station)—Radio which is connected to the host computer. It is

the point at which polling enters the network.

Multiple Address System—See MAS.

Network-Wide Diagnostics—An advanced method of controlling and

interrogating GE MDS radios in a radio network.

Node—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diag-

nostic/management activities. See also GATE, PEER, and ROOT.

Non-intrusive diagnostics—See Passive messaging.

OTA—Over-the-Air

PA—Power Amplifier

Packet Radio—A transmission scheme in which data elements are

assembled into units, that are consecutively numbered and
error-checked at the time of transmittal. Errored packets result in retry
requests from the receiving station.

Passive messaging—This is a mode of diagnostic gathering or repro-

gramming that does not interrupt payload system polling communica-
tions. Diagnostic/reprogramming data is sent/collected non-intrusively
over a period of time; polling messages are carried with payload system
data (contrast with active messaging).

106 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 Payload data—This is the application’s communication data which is
sent over the radio network.

Peer—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diag-

nostic/management activities. See also GATE, NODE, and ROOT.

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.

PLC—Programmable Logic Controller. A dedicated microprocessor

configured for a specific application with discrete inputs and outputs. It
can serve as a host or as an RTU.

PPM—Parts per Million

Programmable Logic Controller—See PLC.

Remote (Station)—A radio in a network that communicates with an

associated master unit.

Remote Terminal Unit—See RTU.

Redundant Operation—A station arrangement where two transceivers

and two power supplies are available for operation, with automatic
switch-over in case of a failure.

Root—An operating mode of the transceiver with respect to diag-

nostic/management activities. See also GATE, NODE, and PEER.

RTS—Request-to-send

RTU—Remote Terminal Unit. A data collection device installed at a

remote radio site. An internal RTU simulator is provided with the trans-
ceiver to isolate faults to either the external RTU or the radio.

RX—Abbreviation for “Receive.” See also TX.

SAF—Store and Forward. An available feature of the radio where data

is stored by a designated Remote, and then retransmitted to a station
beyond the communication range of the AP.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio—See SNR.

SCADA—Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. An overall term

for the functions commonly provided through an MAS radio system.

SNR—Signal-to-Noise ratio. A measure of how well the signal is being

received at a radio relative to noise on the channel.

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 107

 Standing Wave Ratio—See SWR.

Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition—See SCADA.

SWR—Standing Wave Ratio. A parameter related to the ratio between

forward transmitter power and the reflected power from the antenna
system. As a general guideline, reflected power should not exceed 10%
of the forward power ( 2:1 SWR).

Telnet—A terminal emulation protocol that enables an Internet user to

communicate with a remote device for management activities as if it
were locally connected to a PC.

Terminal Server—An available feature on the radio which encapsu-

lates serial data from the COM1/COM2 ports, and sends it over the air
as IP packets. The data is decapsulated at the receiving end and routed
to the appropriate COM ports.

Transparent Mode—A mode in which payload data is unchanged from

its original format when it is sent over the air. A radio in this mode is
said to be “transparent” to connected equipment at each end of a link.

TX—Abbreviation for “Transmit.” See also RX.

VLAN—Virtual Local Area Network

WAN—Wide Area Network

x710—The generic name for GE MDS legacy transceiver-family prod-

ucts, including the MDS 9710 (900 MHz), MDS 4710 (400 MHz), 2710
(200 MHz) and MDS 1710 (100 MHz).

108 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

 NOTES

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual 109

110 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H
INDEX Hardware flow control, defined 105
Host computer, defined 105

A I
Active messaging (defined) 104 Illustrations
Alarms antenna, Yagi 21
alarm code definitions 90 MAS network 12, 16
major vs. minor 89 network-wide diagnostics 93
Antenna point-to-point link 13
installation 28 remote station arrangement 18
system gain, defined 104 InSite software
Yagi, illustrated 21 using to perform remote diagnostics 93
Antennas 20–21 Installation
Applications antenna 28
point-to-point system 12 power 28
power connection 22
B Interference
Bits-per-second. See BPS 104 troubleshooting 87
BPS (bits-per-second), defined 104 Intrusive diagnostics (defined) 106
Byte, defined 104
L
C Latency, defined 106
Cable LEDs
maximum length, recommended 26, 27 PWR 33
Cable, loss due to length of coaxial at 960 MHz 22 status indicators, illustrated 33
Cautions Loss. See Signal
use attenuation between all units in test setup 93
connectors 23 M
Conversions, dBm-Watts-Volts 108 MAS (Multiple Address System)
defined 106
D illustration 12, 16
Data Circuit-terminating Equipment—See DCE 104 Master Station
Data Communications Equipment—See DCE. 104 defined 106
Data Terminal Equipment—See DTE 104 Model number codes 8
dB. See Decibel 104 Mounting instructions 19
dBi, defined 104 Multiple Address System—See MAS. 106
dBm, defined 105
DCE (Data Circuit-terminating Equipment), defined 105 N
Decibel (dB), defined 104 Network-wide diagnostics
Description, product 3, 4 active messaging, defined 104
Diagnostics defined 106
interface specifications 102 illustrated 93
network-wide, performing 93, 99, 102 intrusive diagnostics, defined 106
PC software used for 94 passive messaging (defined) 106
using InSite software for network-wide 93 procedures 93, 99, 102
Digital Signal Processing—See DSP. 105 Non-intrusive diagnostics—See Passive
DIN Rail Mounting Bracket 8 messaging. 106
Downloading new software 94
DSP (Digital Signal Processing), defined 105 O
DTE (Data Terminal Equipment), defined 105 Operation
environment specifications for 102
E
Environment specifications 102 P
Equalization, defined 105 Passive messaging (defined) 106
Payload data (defined) 107
F PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), defined 107
Fade margin, defined 105 Point-to-point
Feedlines 21 link, illustrated 13
Frame, defined 105 system 12
Poll, defined 107
G port
Glossary 104 LAN 23
Power
H connection 22
Half-duplex 12 installing 28

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H SD Series Technical Manual I-1

 LED status indicator (PWR LED) 33 Technical reference 91–103
RF, chart for converting dBm-Watts-Volts 108 Transceiver
specifications 102 diagnostics using PC software 94
Procedures mounting 28
checking for alarms (STAT command) 89 mounting instructions 19
downloading new software 94 upgrading software 94
mounting the transceiver 19 Transmitter
network-wide diagnostics 93, 99, 102 specifications 101
troubleshooting 87–91 system specifications 101
Product Troubleshooting 87–91
description 3, 4 performing network-wide diagnostics 93, 99, 102
model number codes 8 STAT command (Status) 89
Protected Network Station table 87
definition of 8 using PC software for 94
PWR
LED 33

R
Radio
Configuration Software 94
inoperative (troubleshooting chart) 87
no synchronization with master (troubleshooting
chart) 88
poor performance (troubleshooting chart) 88
Receiver
specifications 102
system specifications 101
Redundant operation, defined 107
Remote
Station, defined 107
Station, illustrated 18
RTU (Remote Terminal Unit)
defined 107

S
SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition),
defined 107
Signal
loss due to coaxial cable length at 960 MHz, table 22
Simplex 12
Sleep mode
shown by PWR LED status indicator 33
Software
diagnostics and control used from PC 94
upgrading 94
Specifications
diagnostics interface 102
environment 102
power 102
receiver 102
receiver system 101
transmitter 101
transmitter system 101
Standing Wave Ratio—See SWR. 107
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition—See
SCADA. 108
SWR (Standing Wave Radio), defined 108

T
Tables
alarm code definitions 90
conversions, dBm-Watts-Volts 108
LED status indicators 33
length vs. loss in coaxial cables at 960 MHz 22
troubleshooting 87

I-2 SD Series Technical Manual MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H

IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY...
GE 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 GE MDS products is available from our Technical Support Department during
business hours (8:30 A.M.–6:00 P.M. Eastern Time). When calling, please give the complete model
number of the radio, along with a description of the trouble/symptom(s) that you are experiencing. In many
cases, problems can be resolved over the telephone, without the need for returning the unit to the factory.
Please use one of the following means for product assistance:
Phone: 585 241-5510 E-Mail: [email protected]
FAX: 585 242-8369 Web: www.gemds.com

FACTORY SERVICE

Component level repair of equipment is not recommended in the field. Many components are
installed using surface mount technology, which requires specialized training and equipment for
proper servicing. For this reason, the equipment should be returned to the factory for any PC board
repairs. The factory is best equipped to diagnose, repair and align your unit to its proper operating
specifications.
If return of the equipment is necessary, you will be issued a Service Request Order (SRO) number.
The SRO number will help expedite the repair so that the equipment can be repaired and returned
to you as quickly as possible. Please be sure to include the SRO number on the outside of the ship-
ping box, and on any correspondence relating to the repair. No equipment will be accepted for
repair without an SRO number.
A statement should accompany the unit describing, in detail, the trouble symptom(s), and a
description of any associated equipment normally connected to it. It is also important to include
the name and telephone number of a person in your organization who can be contacted if addi-
tional information is required. Note: A backup copy of the product’s programming code should be
retained (if applicable), as units are normally returned from the factory in a default state.
The unit must be properly packed for return to the factory. The original shipping container and
packaging materials should be used whenever possible. All factory returns should be addressed to:
GE MDS, LLC
Product Services Department
(SRO No. XXXX)
175 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620 USA
When repairs have been completed, the equipment will be returned to you by the same shipping method
used to send it to the factory. Please specify if you wish to make different shipping arrangements. To
inquire about an in-process repair, you may contact our Product Services Group using the telephone, Fax,
or E-mail information given above.
 GE MDS, LLC
175 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620
Telephone: +1 585 242-9600
FAX: +1 585 242-9620
www.gemds.com