GE MDS TransNEXT NET9L Technical Manual
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GE MDS TransNEXT NET9L Technical Manual

GE MDS TransNEXT NET9L Technical Manual

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MDS
TransNEXT
MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual, Rev. A
December 2023

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  • Page 1 ™ TransNEXT MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual, Rev. A December 2023...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK ........................ 4 RF REGULATORY INFORMATION ......................4 SAFETY REGULATORY INFORMATION ....................9 PRODUCT OVERVIEW AND APPLICATIONS ................10 ..........................10 NTRODUCTION ..........................10 BOUT ANUAL PRODUCT DESCRIPTION ......................12 ..........................12 EATURES ........................12 YPICAL PPLICATIONS NEXT C...
  • Page 3 TECHNICAL REFERENCE ......................50 ..................50 BOUT ADIO NTERFERENCE ........................51 ROUBLESHOOTING LED S ......................... 51 TATUS NDICATORS ............................. 51 VENT ............................51 ETUP ......................53 ECHNICAL PECIFICATIONS GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ................. 56 APPENDIX A –ELECTRONIC INK DISPLAY ................59 ..........................

  • Page 4: Copyright And Trademark

    Copyright and Trademark This manual and all software described herein is protected by Copyright: 2023 GE MDS LLC. All rights reserved. GE MDS LLC reserves its right to correct any errors and omissions in this publication. RF Regulatory Information RF Exposure Notice (English and French) Concentrated energy from a directional antenna may pose a health hazard to humans.
  • Page 5 Approved Antennas This product has been approved for use with the antennas listed in Table 1-1, below: Table 1-1. Approved Antennas for TransNEXT Professional installation is required. The installation site must conform to 15.247/RSS-247 Conducted and Radiated Power limits. Proper feedline selection and/or radio power setpoints must be set accordingly for use with each antenna type as detailed in Table 1-2.
  • Page 6 FCC Part 15 Notice and Industry Canada RSS Notices This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules for a Class A digital device. Operation of this device subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
  • Page 7 Do not operate RF devices in an environment that may be susceptible to radio interference resulting in danger, specifically: • Areas where prohibited by law - Follow any special rules and regulations and obey all signs and notices. Do not use the TransNEXT when you suspect that it may cause interference or danger. •...
  • Page 8 If you have additional questions 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 website at www.gemds.com...

  • Page 9: Safety Regulatory Information

    Safety Regulatory Information CSA/us C1D2 Safety 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) publication NFPA 70, otherwise known as the National Electrical Code.

  • Page 10: Product Overview And Applications

    (model NXT9L) Figure 1-2. Figure 1-3. TransNET Standard with Display (model NXT9S) Information on other GE MDS products can be found by visiting our website at www.gemds.com. About This Manual This manual is intended for systems engineers, network administrators and others responsible for planning, commissioning, installing, using and troubleshooting the wireless system.
  • Page 11 For example: [1234567] Login: admin NOTE The software commands and responses shown in this manual were obtained from a unit operating in a lab environment. The information displayed may differ from field service conditions. MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual...

  • Page 12: Product Description

    • Network Management System— TransNEXT is supported by GE MDS PulseNET, a Network Management System (NMS), providing monitoring of small- and large-scale deployment of all GE MDS devices. (*** for interoperability, TransNEXT appears as a TransNET device) 2.2 Typical Applications MDS TransNEXT is the successor to the MDS TransNET radio.
  • Page 13 Point-to-Point System A point-to-point configuration is a simple arrangement consisting of just two radios—a Master and a Remote. This provides a half-duplex communications link for the transfer of data between two locations. Adding a Tail-End Link to an Existing Network A tail-end link can be used to extend the range of a traditional (licensed) MAS system.

  • Page 14: Transnext Connectors And Indicators

    2.3 TransNEXT Connectors and Indicators Figure 2-2 shows the unit’s front panel connectors and indicators. These items are referenced in the text that follows. The unit’s LED Indicator / Button Panel is described in Figure 2-6. Figure 2-2. TransNEXT, Connectors and Indicators PWR &...
  • Page 15 COM Port—This connector serves as the serial interface port for payload data. The COM port serves as the primary interface for connecting the unit to an external DTE serial device supporting RS-232 or RS- 485. If necessary, an adapter may be used to convert the unit’s RJ-45 serial jack to a DB-9F type (GE MDS 73-2434A25).
  • Page 16 Supported data formats for the COM port are: com1.databits com1.paritybits com1.stopbits “N” 8N1 - 8 char bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (Default) “N” 8N2 - 8 char bits, no parity, 2 stop bits “O” 8O1 - 8 char bits, odd parity, 1 stop “O”...
  • Page 17 Table 2-3. COM1 Port Pin Details (RS-485) Input/Output Pin Description Number ALARM Output DCD (Data Carrier Detect) Reserved Ground Connects to ground (negative supply potential) on chassis TXD+/TXB (Transmitted Data +)—Non-inverting driver output. Supplies received payload data to the connected device. RXD+/RXB (Received Data +) —...
  • Page 18 NOTE GE MDS part number 73-2434A25 provides a custom RJ45 to DB9 Adapter for use with the TransNEXT and other GE MDS products. The chart below provides details for connections made using this adapter. WIRING CHART RJ-45 PIN FUNCTION DB9 PIN LED / Button Panel —The LEDs on the top of the unit provide visual indications of device status.

  • Page 19: Grounding Considerations

    The LEDs are multi-color to convey different types of status conditions as shown in the following chart: Table 2-4. Description of LED Status Indicators LED Name LED State Description No power to unit. (DC Power) Solid Green Unit is powered, no problems detected. Flashing Red Alarm indication.

  • Page 20: Optional Din Rail Mounting

    NOTE To prevent moisture from entering the unit, 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 unit. Optional DIN Rail Mounting If ordered with the DIN rail mounting option, two choices are available. For vertical mounting the unit is supplied with a DIN rail clip attached to an integrated bracket on the unit’s case.

  • Page 21: Initial Settings Overview

    4.00 dB Accessories and Spares The table below lists common accessories and spare items for use with the TransNEXT. GE MDS also offers an Accessories Selection Guide listing an array of additional items that may be used with the product. Contact your factory representative or visit www.gemds.com to obtain a copy of the guide.

  • Page 22: Device Management

    Finally: Make sure to save configuration The Device Management section that follows provides more information on how to use the CLI. 3.0 Device Management This section describes the steps for connecting a PC, logging in and setting unit parameters. The focus here is on the local serial console interface, but other methods of connection are available and offer similar capabilities.
  • Page 23 Figure 3-1. PC Connection for Web Management Use of a current browser is highly recommended. Logging On Connect the unit to a PC via an Ethernet connection. Configure your PC network settings to an IP address on the same subnet as the unit. The default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.
  • Page 24 Dashboard The “Dashboard” is the default page after login. The screen is organized into 6 sections as shown: The 3 boxes on the top row, provide the most commonly accessed information. • The About section is for common fixed radio info. It provides Owner Message, Serial#, Network Address, Firmware and Hardware versions •...
  • Page 25 Configuration The “Configuration” page allows a Web UI user to change device configuration using the same parameter syntax visible in the CLI. To effect a change, move the scrollbar on the right to the appropriate configuration group (com1, radio, etc.) Next, find the specific attribute in the group to modify. The attribute’s current value is shown immediately to the right of the colon.
  • Page 26 Actions The “Actions” page is used to control device reboot and reprogramming. Click the carrot symbol on the right to expand or collapse a section. The Reboot section allows reboot to either the current image or the inactive image. The Reprogramming section allows specification of an application MPK file. Selecting “upload” automatically loads the firmware to the current inactive image.
  • Page 27 Logging The “Logging” page is used to display the non-volatile history of logged system events. Logs are displayed in reverse chronological order. The log index is a relative indicator of time. The most recent log has index number “0” and is shown first.

  • Page 28: Using The Command Line Interface (Cli)

    3.2 Using the Command Line Interface (CLI) Differences between USB, Serial and SSH USB, Serial and SSH each use different methods of access, but all require a login and will present an equivalent Command Line Interface after login is complete. The login prompt will appear as “[0000000] Login: ”...

  • Page 29: Establishing Communication- Usb

    Establishing Communication— USB Follow these steps to configure the unit for USB: Connect a PC to the unit’s USB port as shown in Figure 3-6. Maximum recommended cable length is 6 ft/2 m. Figure 3-5. PC Connection for Programming/Management The USB will instantiate a COM port to the PC Launch a terminal communications program, such as Tera Term or PuTTY, with the COM port matching the USB port instantiated by the TransNEXT device.

  • Page 30: Cli Overview

    CLI Overview NOTE For serial and USB operation, on timeout or logout, the TransNEXT will display an ASCII banner page followed by a new prompt for “Login:” After successful login, the “>” command prompt appears where you may configure and manage unit settings.
  • Page 31 cfg import <Paste> in a configuration >setup help chan Get/Set setup channel [0-127] f_MHz=902.2+(.2*chan) Continuous TX key burst Burst TX key dkey Key down rssi Sample continuous RSSI rssi! Get last RSSI sample quit Exit radio setup mode >app help app <1|2>...

  • Page 32: Device Configuration

    3.3 Device Configuration Overview Non-volatile, user-configurable parameters are controlled with the “cfg” command. > >cfg help cfg snapshot Save a snapshot of the database cfg restore Restores saved database snapshot cfg show Show entire database cfg load Load database from flash cfg save Save database to flash cfg replace...
  • Page 33 eth: { ipaddr: 192.168.1.1 netmask: 255.255.255.0 gateway: 192.168.0.0 com1: { baud: 115200, databits: 8, parity: "N", stopbits: 1, rxd: 0, cts: 0, ctshold: 0, device: "dce", port: "rs232", rtu: "off", rtuid: 0 radio: { power: 20, addr: 7552, xaddr: 0, hoptime: 7, fec: "on", retry: 0,...

  • Page 34: Radio Settings

    Settings are explained in greater detail in the sections that follow. Radio settings The Radio attribute group contains settings that control TransNEXT radio operation. Items under the radio group typically use names similar to that of commands found in the GE MDS TransNET radio. >cfg get radio power: 30,...
  • Page 35 NOTE Some countries may employ lower EIRP limits. Check the regulatory rules and turn down power as needed to ensure compliance. 3.3.2.2 radio.addr [1-65000] This is the radio’s Network Address. Valid network addresses range from 1 to 65000. A Network Address must be programmed at the time of installation and must be common across each radio in a given network.
  • Page 36 3.3.2.7 radio.repeat [0-10] This item affects downstream data. The setting causes a Master or Extension to unconditionally repeat transmissions for the specified number of times. Unlike the radio.retry behavior, there is no acknowledgment that a message has been received. The value represents the maximum number of times (0 to 10) that a Master or Extension radio will re- transmit data.

  • Page 37: Owner Settings

    Skipping zones is one way of dealing with constant interference on one or more frequencies in the radio’s operating band. See A Word About Radio Interference on Page 50 for more information on dealing with interference. Consult “APPENDIX B – Operating Frequencies” to see the frequency range covered by each zone.

  • Page 38: Display Settings

    mode: "TransNEXT", asense: "hi", amask: 0x00000000 3.3.4.1 system.asense [“hi” or “low”] This attribute is used to set the sense of the alarm output at Pin 1 of the RJ-45 COM1 connector. The default is active “hi” which means an unmasked alarm is present when the signal on pin 1 is asserted. 3.3.4.2 system.amask [0x00000000-0xFFFFFFFF] This attribute controls the alarm mask associated with alarm output on Pin 1 of the RJ-45 COM1 connector.

  • Page 39: Com1 Settings

    3.3.6.1 eth.ipaddr [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] This is the IP address for the radio. The radio requires a local IP address to support ssh and IP/Payload (terminal server) services. Default is “192.168.1.1”. 3.3.6.2 eth.netmask [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] This attribute refers to the radio’s IPv4 local subnet mask. Default is “255.255.255.0”. This parameter is used when the radio attempts to send a locally initiated message.
  • Page 40 3.3.7.5 com1.rxd [0-255] This is the receive data delay in milliseconds. Default is 0. This attribute sets a delay, in milliseconds to pause after data would normally be delivered to the port. The typical intent is to remove character gaps in data delivery. When set to a value sufficient to cover radio.hoptime and retransmissions this will emulate a seamless data delivery mode.

  • Page 41: Ippl Settings

    ["on" or "off"] This attribute enables the embedded RTU simulator poll detection and response. Default is “off”. When set to “on” this enables devices in a network to be polled using standard GE MDS polling utilities. 3.3.7.11 com1.rtuid [0-80] This attribute assigns an address/ID to the local radios embedded RTU simulator.

  • Page 42: Dlink Settings

    3.3.8.6 Ippl.connection_timeout [0-65535] This attribute specifies the connection timeout in milliseconds for all modes. The timeout is the maximum time the connection can remain idle before dropping the connection. 0 is reserved as a special value to mean do not apply a connection timeout. Default is 0. 3.3.8.7 ippl.keepAlive [“on”...

  • Page 43: Password Settings

    0, min_numbers: 0, min_non_alpha_numeric: 0, permit_username: "on" NOTE For best security practice GE MDS recommends changing the password prior to deployment. Passwords are changed with the password command. >password help password <user> Change password for specified user <user> [admin, tech, oper] 3.3.10.1...

  • Page 44: System Health And Status

    3.3.10.6 password.min_non_alpha_numeric [0-255] This item specifies the minimum number of special characters for a new password. Default is 0. password.permit_username [“on” or “off”] 3.3.10.7 This attribute specifies whether any of the reserved user roll names can be used as the password. Default is “off”.

  • Page 45: Snapshots And System Recovery

    Firmware reprogramming always applies to the inactive image. With this method if there is a problem, the active image is preserved. GE MDS provides signed TransNEXT firmware as proprietary .MPK files posted on our website. The CLI and Web Interface both offer facilities for local reprogramming of the saved firmware images. MPK files can be loaded directly by the Web UI.
  • Page 46 Prior to upgrading firmware, it is good practice to confirm what firmware is currently loaded and active. To check the current firmware, issue the app command as shown. >app Image 1 Version: 1.0.3 (active) Image 2 Version: 1.0.3 In this example we see that both the active and inactive image are 1.0.3. Next identify and locate which firmware you want to load.
  • Page 47 Progress is shown as follows: At completion the display will show: Transfer complete: 1111168 bytes Validating MPK..Updating image... > Now use the app command to verify that the new 1.0.5 firmware is now loaded as the inactive image. >app Image 1 Version: 1.0.3 (active) Image 2 Version:...

  • Page 48: Over-The-Air Reprogramming

    Over-the-Air Reprogramming Over-the-Air Reprogramming section allows the current firmware image running on a master radio to be broadcast over the air to the entire network of TransNEXT remotes. The operation relies on unacknowledged broadcast transmission with variable repeats. NOTE Varying RF environmental conditions may prevent Over-the-Air Reprogramming from successfully updating all devices.
  • Page 49 Table 3-2. OTA broadcast speed controls: Speed Transmission Inter-Message setting Sequence Delay Repeat Count robust 5 ms slow 50 ms medium 100 ms fast 150 ms turbo 200 ms The line below initiates the broadcast FW OTA operation from the master at the desired speed using previously set values for “method”...

  • Page 50: Technical Reference

    6. Interference can also come from out-of-band RF sources such as paging systems. Installation of a bandpass filter in the antenna system may bring relief. (Contact the GE CIC Customer Service Department for recommendations and sources of suitable filters.) 7.

  • Page 51: Troubleshooting

    The radio.repeat sets a fixed number of unconditional retransmissions for downstream data. 8. The RF power output of all radios in a system should be set for the lowest level necessary for reliable communications. This lessens the chance of causing unnecessary interference to nearby systems.
  • Page 52 the “rssi” command for continuous sampling (until <CR> is entered); alternatively use “rssi!” for a 1-shot sample that returns to the “SETUP>” prompt. Note that the transmission functions of setup mode are not intended for field use. Setup mode can be terminated at any time by typing “quit”...

  • Page 53: Technical Specifications

    4.3 Technical Specifications GENERAL Input Power 6 to 36 VDC, 1.0 Amp max. 6.0 Watts maximum (NET9L) 6 to 36 VDC, 1.6 Amp max. 9.6 Watts maximum (NET9S) Below are power consumption estimates: Table 4-1. TransNEXT Power Consumption: Mode NET9L NET9S Receive 760 mw 970 mw...
  • Page 54 Output Impedance 50 Ohms Permissible Antennas Various options depending on local regulatory, including .. GE MDS 93-/97-3194A14, 10dBd (12.15dBi) YAGI Antenna GE MDS 93-/97-3194A23, 7dBd (9.15dBi) 5/8 wavelength OMNI Antenna Connector TNC female Number of Frequency Channels Selectable 64 to 128 Channel Separation 200.0 kHz minimum...
  • Page 55 MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual...

  • Page 56: Glossary Of Terms And Abbreviations

    5.0 Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations If you are new to wireless communications 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 unit. While some of these terms may not appear in the text, they are included here to promote a more complete understanding of wireless technology.
  • Page 57 Hardware Flow Control: A feature used to prevent data buffer overruns when the unit is handling high- speed data from an RTU or PLC. When the buffer approaches overflow, the unit drops the clear-to-send (CTS) line, which instructs the RTU or PLC to delay further transmission until CTS again returns to the high state.
  • Page 58 MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A...

  • Page 59: Appendix A -Electronic Ink Display

    6.0 APPENDIX A –Electronic Ink Display 6.1 Introduction Select TransNEXT models are equipped with an Electronic Ink display. Electronic Ink is lower power technology ideally suited for a low power applications. It uses reflected light from the environment and provides a persistent display of the last image written even after power is removed.

  • Page 60: Spectrum Analyzer Page

    6.4 Spectrum Analyzer Page The page is intended to assist in initial installation and in field maintenance. The analyzer will plot data over the operating range (902-928MHz) providing a simple overview of the spectral environment in which the device is operating. The upper line provides a sample of the system based on received TransNEXT and TransNET messages.
  • Page 61 MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual...

  • Page 62: Appendix B - Operating Frequencies

    7.0 APPENDIX B – Operating Frequencies The TransNEXT is a Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) radio that can be configured to operate in a subset of all available frequencies in the 902-928MHz range. TransNEXT divides the available frequencies into a set of 8 configurable zones with 16 discrete, 200KHz bandwidth channels per zone.

  • Page 63: Appendix C- Licenses

    Upon request, in accordance with certain software license terms, GE will make available a copy of Open Source code contained in this product. This code is provided to you on an “as is” basis, and GE makes no representations or warranties for the use of this code by you independent of any GE provided software or services.

  • Page 64: Appendix D - Country Specific Information

    9.0 APPENDIX D – Country Specific Information The table below identifies any country-specific installation requirements or warning required by the country for the TransNEXT. Operation of the unit must be in full compliance with all country and regional requirements. Table 9-1. Country-Specific Installation Data Country Applicable Symbol(s) Installation/Operating Requirements...

  • Page 65: Appendix E - Alarm Codes

    10.0 APPENDIX E – Alarm Codes The TransNEXT has a facility to report alarm conditions and assert an external alarm signal based on configuration settings. Alarm Codes include the following: Table 18. Alarm Codes Alarm Alarm Code Type Description Major The network address is not programmed.
  • Page 66 NOTES MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A...
  • Page 67 MDS 05-7280A01, Rev. A MDS TransNEXT Technical Manual...
  • Page 68 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 product, 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.

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