User's Manual

MDS 05-6399A01, Rev. D MDS Master Station 21
3.1 Applications
The Master Station is designed for point-to-multipoint data transmission in utility SCADA communica-
tions, transactional systems, and telecommunications systems. The wireless network provides communi-
cations between a central host computer and remote terminal units (RTUs) or other data collection devic-
es. In such an arrangement, the operation of the radio system is transparent 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 Section 5.6.5.1.1 Basic Settings 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 transmit, 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 Section 5.6.5.1.1 Basic Settings for details on configuring the radio for simplex or switched car-
rier operation.
3.2 Network Management
Network-Wide Diagnostics
The Master Station offers network-wide diagnostics capability, sometimes referred to as DLINK Diag-
nostics. 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 commu-
nications flow.
• When required, you can increase diagnostics communications speed by actively collecting diag-
nostic data.
• You can access diagnostic data for each radio in the network from any radio diagnostics port in the
network.
• You can broadcast certain messages to all radios in the system simultaneously.
You can use the Master Station to poll remote radios in its radio system for diagnostic data. For more in-
formation on the implementation of network-wide diagnostics, refer to the GE MDS Network-wide Diag-
nostics 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. Re-
fer to Section 5.6.5.1.2 Dlink for more information about configuring DLINK on the Master Station.
PulseNET remotely discovers and monitors Master Stations and other SD or x710 radios on the network
using DLINK. The locally connected radio may be a Master, Repeater, Polling Remote, or Remote. This
locally connected radio must be configured as the DLINK “root” radio. Downstream radios should be
configured as “node”. PulseNET uses passive polling to discover the “root” radio and all of the “node”
radios downstream. Passive polling allows monitoring without interrupting payload data transmission.