FMN alpha DFM 5/868 User manual
alpha® DFM 5/868
User Manual
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Table of contents ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Safety precautions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
General product description ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Possible applications.................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Functional elements...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Interfaces........................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
Putting into operation ................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Delivery status.............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Putting the radio module into operation ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Possible settings in command mode .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Modes of the radio module........................................................................................................................................................... 8
Commands in command mode .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Usable frequencies .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Setting the interfaces ................................................................................................................................................................. 11
Setting the RS232 interface or settings at the terminal program........................................................................................... 11
Setting the USB interface........................................................................................................................................................... 13
Automatic USB driver installation......................................................................................................................................... 13
Manual USB driver installation ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Checking the USB driver settings ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Antennas ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Technical data.............................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Data rates of the radio module .................................................................................................................................................. 20
Conformity ................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Information regarding the used trademarks
Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other trade and product
names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.
Table of contents
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Safety precautions
Safety precautions
Attention!
l The relevant regulations for installation and operation of electrical installations have to be observed
(e. g. RL 1999/92/EG, RL94/9EG, ElexV, IEC/EN 60 079-14 and VDE 0100).
l The operator of an electrical installation in an explosion-endangered environment has to keep the
equipment in proper condition, duly operate it, control it and carry out maintenance as well as repair
works (ElexV and EN 60 079-14).
lThe detailed knowledge and the technically correct realization of the installation guidelines, safety
precautions and functions described in this user manual are essential to the safety of the operation.
lThe safety of the product requires an appropriate transport, an appropriate storage, installation and
operation.
lIntervention in the product may only be made by qualified personnel that is familiar with the user
manual.
lWhen observing the handling instructions and the safety-related instructions, no dangers regarding
damages to properties and to persons come from the product in normal case.
lOnly use the unit for the allowed application. Mind the EC-type examination certificate.
lFaulty or improper use as well as the noncompliance with the instructions of this user manual exclude a
warranty by the manufacturer.
The following regulations have to be observed:
lnational safety regulations
lnational rules for the prevention of accidents
lnational regulations for mounting and installation
lgenerally approved rules of the technique
lsafety precautions of this user manual
lcharacteristic values and measuring operating conditions of the type and data plates
ladditional signboards on the unit
Avoid to touch conductive parts of the unit.
Do not open the unit, only permit repairs by the manufacturer.
Mind the valid legal provisions for the protection of persons in electromagnetic fields when installing the
antenna.
Read the user manual carefully to be able to use the wealth of features of your new alpha DFM 5/868.
You can also find further information on our website http://www.fmncom.com.
ESD protection measures
Comply with the ESD protection measures according to DIN EN 61340-5-1/2 when opening the unit
(potential equalization between body and ground of the unit as well as ground of the casing via high-
value resistance (approx. 1 MOhm) e. g. by means of a usual wrist band).
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General product description
By means of two radio modems alpha DFM 5/868, a transparent RS232 track (half-duplex) can be set up. There-
fore, a very simple cable replacement can be realized. Within the first 60 seconds after connection of the power
supply, the configuration mode can be activated in which different parameters of the unit can be set by means of a
terminal program.
The following picture shows an example:
Advantages:
l high data rate up to 50 kbits/s 1)
l high range up to approx. 400 m 1)
l very simple operation and configuration
l point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connection (addressing)
l secured or unsecured transmission
l possibility to connect an external antenna
l interface RS232, USB (optional LAN)
1) higher data rates or higher range on request
General product description
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General product description
Possible applications
l Cable replacement for the serial interface (RS232), USB (Host to Host) and optional LAN (virtual COM-Port
driver)
l M2M Machine to Machine (data communication of machines, vehicles, containers, automatic machines or
other objects with a central control point)
l Traffic management systems (bus stop information)
l Transmission of measured values
Functional elements
The radio module is an interface between a radio channel and an RS232 or USB connection. This connection can
e. g. be realized at a PC, an SPS or other objects with a central control point or at external units. Connections over
RS232 and USB are available for this.
There are two LEDs at every radio module. The green LED indicates the operation of the module (glowing when the
module is active) and the red LED indicates correctly transmitted and received packets of data.
Status LED (red) glowing for approx. 50 ms: packet of data transmitted correctly
Status LED (red) glowing for approx. 500 ms: packet of data received correctly
Fig.1: Functional elements FM LED and antenna sockets
PIN Designation Function
X.1 Interior contact signal
X.2 External contact ground
Table 1: Assignment of the antenna socket
LED Colour Function
red status
green operation
Table 2: Assignment of the LEDs
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General product description
Interfaces
The power supply is possible via the USB interface. Alternatively, the power supply can also be realized over a
power supply unit.
Fig. 2: Functional elements RS232 socket, USB socket and socket for power supply unit
PIN Designation Function
X.1 N.C. not connected
X.2 RXD received data
X.3 TXD transmission data
X.4 N.C. not connected
X.5 GND ground
X.6 N.C. not connected
X.7 RTS transmitting request data
X.8 CTS receiving readiness data
X.9 N.C. not connected
Table 3: PIN assignment of the RS232 socket
PIN Designation Function
X.1 VCC +5 V supply voltage
X.2 D- data
X.3 D+ data
X.4 GND ground
Table 4: PIN assignment of the USB socket
PIN Designation Function
X.1 Interior contact positive supply voltage
X.2 External contact ground
Table 5: PIN assignment of the power supply unit socket
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Putting into operation
Putting into operation
Delivery status
The parameters of the radio module alpha DFM 5/868 are set to the following values ex works:
l data rate: 115.200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity bit, 1 stop bit and protocol RTS / CTS Handshake
(see chapter “Setting the RS232 interface or settings at the terminal program”)
l myaddr: 0
l destaddr: Broadcast operation (unconfirmed transmission)
l paclen: 245
l freq: 6
l retry: 15
By means of the command “restoredefault”, this delivery status can be restored.
Putting the radio module into operation
In order to be able to transmit data for first testing purposes by means of a terminal program (e. g. Hyperterminal),
just the above mentioned interface parameters have to be set at the computer. Further configurations are not
necessary in normal case.
Basically, you have to differentiate between pure data operation (Transparent mode) and command operation
(Command Mode). In data operation, the data exchange is realized between the single radio sets. In command
operation, for example the frequency of the radio set, the addressing and the interface parameters can be
programmed.
The unit is in data mode immediately after connection of the operating voltage. This means, data can be
transmitted immediately. But within the first 60 seconds after connection of the power supply, you can also switch
to command operation for configuration purposes.
In command mode, the interface parameters can be set. In this mode, no data transmission is possible. By means
of the Exit command, the command mode is left and data may be transmitted immediately.
To be able to make settings at the alpha DFM radio modem via a terminal program, the following settings of the
interface (default values) have to be selected:
115200 - 8 - N - 1 RTS / CTS-Handshake.
For RS232 operation, no software settings are necessary.
To be able to use the USB interface (virtual Com-Port), the provided driver has to be installed.
(see chapter “Setting the USB interface”)
Modi:
Command Mode —> setting all device parameters (see possible settings)
Transparent Mode —> transparent data transmission by radio with data protocol,
confirmed or unconfirmed transmission (CRC & Ack)
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Possible settings
Possible settings in command mode
RS232 parameters:
Data bits 7 or 8
Stop bits 1 or 2
Parity NO, ODD, EVEN
Baud rate 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 38400, 57600, 76800 and 115200
Protocol HW or NO
User data length:
from 1 byte up to max. 245 byte
Destination address:
Address range from 1 up to 65023 for point-to-point connections (confirmed, secured transmission)
Broadcast (unconfirmed, secured transmission “BR=ON”, see chapter “Commands in Command Mode”)
Own address:
Address range from 1 up to 65023
Frequency:
Channel 1 up to 6
Max. number of packet repetitions:
1 up to 15 or unlimited
Modes of the radio module
Only within the first 60 seconds after connection of the power supply, it is possible for the user to change to
command mode. Within this period, the user has to – before other data can be transmitted – press the keys
“Control” “C” or to send the control character 0x03, then the radio module switches to Command Mode. In the
terminal program, the device message (version and serial number) as well as an input prompt then appear.
Now, all important parameters can be read out and be configured newly, if necessary (see in the following chapter
“Commands in Command Mode”).
By entering “exit”<CR>, the radio module changes to Transparent Mode and is now ready to transmit and
receive.
At the same time, all changed parameters are saved and afterwards taken over and executed.
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Possible settings
Commands in command mode
Command Meaning Possibilities
Config <CR> Currently set parameters are dis-
played
Listing of the following parameters:
Baudrate
Databits
Stopbits
Parity
Protocol
Myaddr
Destaddr
Paclen
Freq
Baudrate=<Baudrate><CR> Setting baud rate e. g. Baudrate=38400<CR>
adjustable baud rates are:
1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200,
38400, 57600, 76800 or 115200
Databits=<Databits><CR> Setting data bits e. g. Databits=8<CR>
7 or 8 data bits adjustable
Stopbits=<Stopbits><CR> Setting stop bits e. g. Stopbits=1<CR>
1 or 2 stop bits adjustable
Parity=<Parity><CR> Setting parity e. g. Parity=NO<CR>
NO, ODD or EVEN
Protocol=<X><CR> Handshake of the RS232 interface X=HW (hardware / RTS-CTS)
X=NO (no handshake)
Myaddr=<X><CR> Setting own address for the connec-
tion oriented operation
e. g. Myaddr=1<CR>
Destaddr=<destination address><CR> Setting destination address e. g. Destaddr=65023<CR>
possible destination addresses can be
1 to 65023
Paclen=<user data length><CR> Indication of the user data lenght
(Payload) in byte
e. g. Paclen=245<CR>
1 up to max. 245 byte
user data length adjustable
Freq=<channel number><CR> Setting the der transmitting and
receiving frequency
e. g. Freq=6<CR>
channel 1 to 6 selectable
Exit<CR> Saving the current configuration and
leaving the Command Mode
Ends the command mode and changes
to transparent mode, it is only possible
to send and to receive data in this mode
Retry=<W><CR> Max. number of packet repetitions in
connection-oriented operation
W=1 ... 15
W=NO LIMIT: unlimited
Br=<X><CR> Broadcast operation on / off X=ON: Broadcast operation on
(no confirmation)
X=OFF: connection oriented operation
(P2P, confirmed transmission)
Restoredefault<CR> Restoring default settings
Table 6: Command syntax and semantics
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Possible settings
Usable frequencies
Channel number Frequenzy range in MHz
1 868.150
2 868.450
3 868.825
4 869.075
5 869.525
6 869.850
Table 7: Adjustable operating frequencies of the radio modules
Table of contents
