RF400 Series Spread Spectrum Data Radio/Modems

Green LED activity indicates that there is an RF signal being received whose hopping sequence corresponds to the configured hopping sequence of the RF400. This does not necessarily mean that the network/radio address of the received packet corresponds with that of the RF400 (where a neighboring network exists it is a good idea to choose a unique hopping sequence).

4.1.2 Setup Menu

The RF400 has a built-in Setup Menu for configuring active interface, RS-232 properties, network/radio addresses, hopping sequence, power saving (standby) modes, address masks, and other parameters. The Setup Menu is accessed by connecting the radio’s RS-232 port to a PC running a terminal program such as Hyper Terminal TM or Procomm TM (always 9600 baud, 8-N-1) and pressing the “Program” button on the RF400 for one second. Changed settings are saved in flash memory by selecting menu item “5” as you exit the Setup Menu. If left idle, the Setup Menu will time out 60 seconds after the last received character and exit without saving any parameter changes with the message “Config Timeout.” A datalogger can remain connected to the CS I/O port while setting RF400 parameters on the RS-232 port, although CS I/O communications would be inactive until exiting the Setup Menu.

4.1.2.1 Auto Sense

The factory default setting for Active Interface is “Auto Sense.” It is designed to automatically configure an RF400’s port and radio address mask for common user situations. When selected, Auto Sense determines whether or not a datalogger (or PS512M null modem) is connected to the RF400 by monitoring for 5 V on CS I/O pin 1. If 5 V is present, Auto Sense selects the RF400’s CS I/O port and a radio address mask appropriate for a remote station. Not finding 5 V on CS I/O pin 1, Auto Sense selects the RS-232 port and a radio address mask appropriate for a base station (see Section 4.1.3.1 and Appendix C for more information on radio address masks).

4.1.2.2 Standby Modes

The RF400’s average idle current can be set with the following Standby Modes (default setting shaded):

TABLE 2. Standard Setup Menu

 

Standby

 

 

Wake-up

 

 

Mode

Advanced

Avg.

Interval

Maximum

Duty

Menu

Standby

Receive

(red LED

Response

Cycle

Selection

Mode

Current

flash interval)

Delay*

 

 

 

 

 

 

100%

1

0

< 24 mA

0 sec (constant)

100 mS

 

 

 

 

 

 

17%

2

4

< 4 mA

½ sec

600 mS

4%

3

6

< 2 mA

1 sec

1100 mS

 

 

 

 

 

 

2%

4

7

< .4 mA

8 sec

8100 mS

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Maximum time it takes to get an RF Packet sent and for the other RF400 to respond.

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