English dropdown-ico

RTcom Radio Modems manual

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

Go to page of

Similar user manuals

A good user manual

The rules should oblige the seller to give the purchaser an operating instrucion of RTcom Radio Modems, along with an item. The lack of an instruction or false information given to customer shall constitute grounds to apply for a complaint because of nonconformity of goods with the contract. In accordance with the law, a customer can receive an instruction in non-paper form; lately graphic and electronic forms of the manuals, as well as instructional videos have been majorly used. A necessary precondition for this is the unmistakable, legible character of an instruction.

What is an instruction?

The term originates from the Latin word „instructio”, which means organizing. Therefore, in an instruction of RTcom Radio Modems one could find a process description. An instruction's purpose is to teach, to ease the start-up and an item's use or performance of certain activities. An instruction is a compilation of information about an item/a service, it is a clue.

Unfortunately, only a few customers devote their time to read an instruction of RTcom Radio Modems. A good user manual introduces us to a number of additional functionalities of the purchased item, and also helps us to avoid the formation of most of the defects.

What should a perfect user manual contain?

First and foremost, an user manual of RTcom Radio Modems should contain:
- informations concerning technical data of RTcom Radio Modems
- name of the manufacturer and a year of construction of the RTcom Radio Modems item
- rules of operation, control and maintenance of the RTcom Radio Modems item
- safety signs and mark certificates which confirm compatibility with appropriate standards

Why don't we read the manuals?

Usually it results from the lack of time and certainty about functionalities of purchased items. Unfortunately, networking and start-up of RTcom Radio Modems alone are not enough. An instruction contains a number of clues concerning respective functionalities, safety rules, maintenance methods (what means should be used), eventual defects of RTcom Radio Modems, and methods of problem resolution. Eventually, when one still can't find the answer to his problems, he will be directed to the RTcom service. Lately animated manuals and instructional videos are quite popular among customers. These kinds of user manuals are effective; they assure that a customer will familiarize himself with the whole material, and won't skip complicated, technical information of RTcom Radio Modems.

Why one should read the manuals?

It is mostly in the manuals where we will find the details concerning construction and possibility of the RTcom Radio Modems item, and its use of respective accessory, as well as information concerning all the functions and facilities.

After a successful purchase of an item one should find a moment and get to know with every part of an instruction. Currently the manuals are carefully prearranged and translated, so they could be fully understood by its users. The manuals will serve as an informational aid.

Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    User Manual RTcom-Universal, Global Max and Outback Radio Modems Copyright Radio-Tech Limited 1998-2000[...]

  • Page 2

    2 CONTENTS INTRODCUTION 3 Selecting the frequency of operation 5 R.F Path Surveys 5 INSTALLATION Power Supplies 6 Location 6 Antenna Feeders 7 Lightning Surge Protection 8 Antenna Installation 9 Antenna Options 10 GENERAL ARANGEMENT RTcom-Global and Universal 11 RTcom-Outback 12 RTcom-Max 12 CONNECTIONS Data and Power 13 CONFIGURATION Operating Mod[...]

  • Page 3

    3 INTRODUCTION The RTcom-range of radio modem is intended as a direct replacement for cables over short, medium and long distance, serial data links. They are suitable for part of point-to-point, master to slave or scanning telemetry links, where the modem is either used on its own our in conjunction with existing cables. The modems also operate tr[...]

  • Page 4

    4 In many countries it is quite legal to operate systems without need for operating licences. These countries include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, South Africa, Scandinavia and the majority of Europe. However, operation in these countries is normally subject to the equipment first being approved to a defined standard, such as [...]

  • Page 5

    5 Frequency of operation Often there is not a choice over operating frequency. In most countries frequency allocations are very limited, by way of example in Europe there is only 433-435MHz UHF or 868-870MHz SHF. While the UK and many others offer VHF, UHF and SHF allocations. However other frequencies may be used subject to local government licenc[...]

  • Page 6

    6 If there is doubt over the signal reaching the receiver a path survey should be conducted. The outback modem includes a test mode that places the modems transmitter into constant transmit mode. This permits the measurement of signal strength at the receiver. Normally our modems will work satisfactorily with a signal level below 1uV (-107dBm). INS[...]

  • Page 7

    7 For battery powered operation in cold and damp climates the only reliable way to achieve long term operation is to use double IP65/7 enclosures, with both the outer and inner enclosure fitted with silica gel desiccant sachets. Please be aware that solar heating and wind chill can take the modem beyond its designed operating temperature range. Fur[...]

  • Page 8

    8 Lightning Surge Protection: A direct lightning strike can never be totally protected against or predicted. Currents exceeding 10,000A can flow vaporising antenna, feeders, towers and other such structures. Lightning conductors will give a degree of protection to the building but not always to the electronic apparatus within. Generally the probabi[...]

  • Page 9

    9 Antenna Installation The type and location of the antenna used can have a profound effect on your overall system performance and its legality. In point to point links it is good practice to make efficient use of the radio spectrum by selecting an antenna that will project the R.F energy into the direction of desired operation and similarly at the[...]

  • Page 10

    10 Warning : The use of gain antenna in some countries is not permitted. Similarly where ERP (transmitted power limits) are imposed the actual transmitted power must not exceed the limit stated. This means that the transmitter output power, less any coaxial feeder losses, plus the antenna gain must not exceed the specified maximum ERP. Before insta[...]

  • Page 11

    11 Guide to your RTcom-Global & Max Modem Status LED's 12-24V dc supply RS422 & RS485 Interface RS232 interface Links to select 2-4 wire RS485 Mode Switch for Data Rate and data format Channel selection switch (Global Only, See Table) Mode Switch for RS232 / RS485 Modes Carrier Detect LED (Global only) Reset Button[...]

  • Page 12

    12 Guide to your RTcom-Outback Guide to your RTcom-Max (Please take care when opening cover) Optional Location for Battery Solar/12-24V dc supply RS422 & RS485 Interface RS232 interface Links to select 2-4 wire RS485 Configuration Mode Switch Radio Module mounted in cover Connections as per Global Modem[...]

  • Page 13

    13 CONNECTIONS Data connections should always be made using screened cable. This will insure maximum rejection of interference from outside sources. Always use a common ground point. The RTcom Global, Eurpoa, MAX and Outback modems support RS232, RS422 and RS485 communications, both 2 and 4-wire. The RS232 port should be used for short cable runs o[...]

  • Page 14

    14 Pin Number Designation WRT Modem Notes 1 DCD Optional not normally needed 2 RX (data) RS232 input data to modem 3 TX(data) RS232 output data from modem 4 RTS Optional not normally needed 5 GND Ground 6 B RX(-) RS485/RS422 7 A RX(+) " 8 +Vs Supply 7.5 to 15V dc 9 N/C 10 GND Ground 11 Z = TX(-) RS485/RS422 12 Y = TX(+) " 13 +Vs Optional [...]

  • Page 15

    15 On the Global and Max modems two dip switches are provided for the selection of the desired operating mode and two plug links are provided from the selection of 2 or 4 wire RS485 operation. A further DIP switch is provided on the Global modem for frequency Channel selection. Switch Number Function 1 Baud Rate (See Table) 2 Baud Rate (See Table) [...]

  • Page 16

    16 OPERATION The RTcom protocol permits 100% transparent operation and direct cable emulation. Simply what goes in comes out! R.F. packet framing, code balancing, encryption and preambles etc are taken care of automatically within the modem. Standard industrial communications protocols such as Modbus include a secure CRC 16 or 32 error check code o[...]

  • Page 17

    17 COMMISSIONING The data rate, parity and number of data bits are set using the dual in line switch located above. If a scanner is available the chosen channels and the adjacent channels should be scanned for activity. With frequency agile products such as the Max and Global a fee channel should be selected as far away as possible from the channel[...]

  • Page 18

    18 system. This results in the messages becoming fragmented, thus confusing the modem into thinking the end of file has been detected. The other common problem, in particular with WindowsTM Hyper Terminal, is the way in which is deals with errors. Should an error occur it attempts to re-establish the link from both ends simultaneously, something of[...]