DART 200 CDPD Modem User’s Guide | 2 Installation and Setup |
Getting started
Before opening the DART 200 box, but preferably before it arrives, check that the following equipment is available:
∙A 12.0 V DC regulated power source with 2.5 amp capability. You can either provide your own, or order the power source as an option with the DART 200
∙A standard cellular antenna of good quality with a maximum gain of 3 dB. Cable attached magnetic mount antennas are preferred because the antenna can be positioned easily for optimum signal reception
∙A PC with a communications program capable of operating in ASCII terminal emulation mode. For IBM
This makes the PC function as a terminal attached to the modem and permits the entering of AT commands required for both modem setup and diagnostics. It is recommended that the program chosen is capable of logging terminal communications activity to a file for later analysis or printout in the event that technical support is required
∙A PC communications cable with a male DB9 connector. If your PC has a DB25 communications port, get a DB25 to DB9 adapter (available from electronics stores)
Modem setup
To setup the DART 200:
1.Connect the antenna, PC, and power supply to the DART 200 using appropriate cables and connectors. The red light on the end of the modem turns on and start blinking at a rate of approximately once per second (slow blink). If the light does not turn on, check the power source and connections.
The red OPR light doubles as a signal strength indicator. When the DART 200 finds a usable CDPD channel the rate of blinking increases in proportion to the strength of the received signal. This is discussed in more detail in Channel acquisition, p.
