MDS SD Series
Quick Start Guide
05-4847A01-GB, Rev. B
MDS SD Series Setup Guide
1
1 INTRODUCTION
The MDS SD transceiver (
Figure 1
) is a software-configurable,
industrial radio for use in wireless telemetry applications. Models
offered at the time of printing include:
MDS SD2
(215-235 MHz),
SD4
(350-512 MHz), and
SD9
(928-960 MHz). The term
SD
is
used for information common to all models of the radio.
The radio supports both polled and report-by-exception data net-
works, and interfaces with a variety of data control equipment
such as remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic con-
trollers (PLCs), flow computers, and similar devices. Data inter-
face connections support both Ethernet and serial (RS-232/485)
protocols.
Figure 1. MDS SD Data Transceiver
1.1 Additional Information
This Setup Guide covers the essential installation and startup for
all SD transceivers except those operating in x710 mode. Alter-
nate information is available in English, (see 05-4846A01 Tech-
nical Manual). GE MDS manuals, Setup guides, Firmware, driv-
ers and Application Notes are available free of charge at
www.gemds.com
.
GE MDS has produced a series of instructional
videos for configuration and setup of the Orbit
products on YouTube. These are available in
English, free of charge at:
http://ti-
nyurl.com/pey2ull
1.1.1 x710 Mode—Different Manuals Required
The radio may be configured to emulate a corresponding MDS
x710 transceiver. For x710 mode information, consult these man-
uals instead:
Setup Guide (05-4669A01)
Technical Manual (05-4670A01)
2 INSTALLATION
There are three main requirements for installing the transceiver:
Adequate and stable primary power
An efficient and properly installed antenna system
Correct interface connections between the transceiver and the
data equipment.
Figure 2
shows a typical installation of the radio.
NOTE:
Retrofit Kits are available to ease installation at former
MDS x710 digital and analog sites. Consult your factory repre-
sentative for ordering details.
2.1 Installation Steps
In most cases, the steps given here are sufficient to install the
transceiver. Refer to the
Technical Manual
for additional details,
as required.
1.
Mount the transceiver.
Attach the supplied brackets to the
bottom of the transceiver case (if not already attached), using
the four 6-32 x 1/4 inch (6 mm) screws. Mounting bracket
dimensions are shown in
Figure 3
. If DIN Rail mounting
brackets are to be used, consult the
Technical Manual
for
instructions.
NOTE
: To prevent moisture from entering the radio, do not mount
the case with the cable connectors pointing up. Also, dress all ca-
bles to prevent moisture from running along the cables and into
the radio.
POWER SUPPLY
10.5-30 VDC @ 2.5A
Negative Ground Only
ANTENNA SYSTEM
Master Stations typically use
omni-directional antenna
DATA TELEMETRY DEVICE
OR HOST COMPUTER
ETHERNET
OR SERIAL
POWER SUPPLY
10.5-30 VDC @ 2.5A
Negative Ground Only
ANTENNA SYSTEM
Master Stations typically use
omni-directional antenna
DATA TELEMETRY DEVICE
OR HOST COMPUTER
ETHERNET
OR SERIAL
Figure 2. Typical Installation (Remote Site Shown)
Figure 3. Mounting Bracket Dimensions
2.
Install the antenna and feedline.
The antenna must be de-
signed to operate in the radio’s frequency band, and be
mounted in a location providing a clear path to associated sta-
tion(s). At Remote sites, aim directional antennas toward the
Master Station. Low loss coaxial feedline should be used and
it should be kept as short as possible.
LED INDICATOR
PANEL
ETHERNET
CONNECTOR (RJ-45)
DC INPUT
POWER
SERIAL DATA
CONNECTORS (DB-9)
ANTENNA CON-
NECTOR (TNC)