Applications; Repeater And Polling Remote Operation; Simplex And Switched Carrier Operation; Network Management - GE MDS Master Station Technical Manual

3.1 Applications

The Master Station is designed for point-to-multipoint data transmission in utility SCADA
communications, transactional systems, and telecommunications systems. The wireless network
provides communications between a central host computer and remote terminal units (RTUs) or
other data collection devices. In such an arrangement, the operation of the radio system is trans-
parent to the computer equipment.

Repeater and Polling Remote Operation

In a system using FCC Part 90 repeater and polling remote, the polling remote radio operates in
half-duplex mode and the repeater operates in full-duplex mode. The SD Master Station can be
used as a polling remote, or as a repeater. Refer to Page 46 for details on configuring the radio
for repeater operation.

Simplex and Switched Carrier Operation

System-wide simplex operation is achieved by switching the Master Station carrier on to trans-
mit, and then off to receive. The same frequency is used for both transmit and receive.
Switched carrier, half-duplex mode works in the same way, except different frequencies are used
for transmit and receive.
Refer to Page 60 for details on configuring the radio for simplex or switched carrier operation.

3.2 Network Management

Network-Wide Diagnostics

The Master Station offers network-wide diagnostics capability, sometimes referred to as DLINK
Diagnostics. Network-wide diagnostics communications is a packetized diagnostic capability
that provides the following advantages:
You can gather diagnostic data over a large radio network without disrupting the system
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communications flow.
When required, you can increase diagnostics communications speed by actively collecting
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diagnostic data.
You can access diagnostic data for each radio in the network from any radio diagnostics
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port in the network.
You can broadcast certain messages to all radios in the system simultaneously.
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You can use the Master Station to poll remote radios in its radio system for diagnostic data. For
more information on the implementation of network-wide diagnostics, refer to the GE MDS
Network-wide Diagnostics Handbook (P/N 05-3467A01).

Network Management Using PulseNET

PulseNET uses the DLINK protocol to monitor the Master Station and downstream devices. The
Master Station can be connected locally using either COM1 or COM2 serial or through Ethernet
using TCP. Refer to the section "Dlink" on Page 50 for more information about configuring
DLINK on the Master Station.
MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. E MDS™ Master Station 19