MDR24X User’s Manual
10/26/2006
15
4.
MDR24X Configuration Utility Software
Black Box provides the easy to use MDR24X Utility Software for programming the MDR24X. The
software is compatible with Microsoft® Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, NT and XP. MDR24Xs are
plug-and-play devices that work with minimal or no configuration.
4.1
Installation
1.
Locate the MDR24X Configuration Utility Software section of the Black Box Tools & Literature CD.
This software is also available at
http://www.Black Box.com/Software/ConnexLink_4424.zip
.
2.
When prompted, select the directory where the program files will be installed.
3.
When finished, a window will be displayed indicating a successful installation. Click
OK
.
4.1.1
ConnexLink Settings
Client/Server: Designates MDR24X type. In each network, there must be only one Server. All
other MDR24X units must be programmed as Clients. The number of Clients in the network is
not limited; however, if performance diminishes due to the number of MDR24Xs that need to
access the network, consider additional RF Networks.
Interface Baud Rate: This defines the baud rate used for communicating with the MDR24X over
the serial interface. The RF baud rate is fixed at 576kbps and is independent of the Interface
Baud Rate. The default baud rate setting is 115,200 bps unless the units have been pre-
configured by Black Box. The Interface Baud Rate setting of the MDR24X must match the Baud
Rate setting of its host device.
Random Back Off: In an asynchronous network where any node can talk at any time, the
MDR24X can be programmed to use Random Back Off to mitigate the RF Link. If two nodes try
to send packets at the same time, the packets will collide over the RF and will not be received by
the destination node. If Random Back Off is enabled when this occurs, both radios will generate
a random amount of time (in 8ms increments) to wait before retrying.
Channel Number: The MDR24X is a frequency hopping transceiver. Each Channel Number
designates a unique hopping sequence and constitutes an independent network of MDR24X
units. Up to 40 independent networks can be created (up to 20 in France). Multiple Servers
operating in the same coverage area must be programmed with different Channel Numbers to
prevent inoperability of the networks. The valid range of values for this field is 0 to 39.
Table 1 – US and International RF Channel Number Settings
Channel
Set
RF Channel Number
Range
Frequency Range
Countries
1
0 – 19
2406 – 2435MHz US,Canada, Europe, France
2
20 – 39
2444 – 2472MHz
US, Canada, Europe
Max Transmit Retries (For all Clients and for Servers in Point-to-Point networks): This value
represents the maximum number of times a particular data packet will be transmitted
unsuccessfully, or without an acknowledgement, before the MDR24X discards the packet. The
default value is 16 attempts. If communication is lost and the Client’s Link LED is on, try
increasing this value in small increments until communication is reestablished. The valid range
of values for this field is 0 to 255.
