Troubleshooting - GE MDS SD Series Technical Manual

MDS 05-4846A01, Rev. H
7.0

TROUBLESHOOTING

Successful troubleshooting of the radio system requires a logical
approach. It is best to begin troubleshooting at the Master unit, as the
rest of the system depends on the Master for polling commands. If the
Master unit has problems, the overall operation of the network will be
affected.
It is good practice to start by checking the simple things. For proper
operation, all radios in the network must meet these basic requirements:
• Adequate and stable primary power
• Secure cable connections (power, data and Antenna)
• An efficient and properly aligned antenna system and a received
signal strength of at least –90 dBm. (It is possible for a system to
operate with weaker signals, but reliability may suffer.)
• The correct interface between the transceiver and the connected
data equipment (correct cable wiring, proper data format, timing,
etc.)
• Proper programming of the transceiver's operating parameters.
Table 14 provides suggestions for resolving system difficulties that may
occur in the radio system. If problems persist, contact the factory for fur-
ther assistance. Refer to the inside back cover of this guide for contact
information.
Table 14. Troubleshooting Guide
Difficulty Recommended System Checks
Unit is
a. Check for the proper supply voltage at the power
inoperative.
connector.
b. The transceiver's internal fuse may have opened. Factory
repair normally required.
Interference or
a. Use the Spectrum Analyzer/Graph function to check for
signal overload is
interference near the radio channel.
suspected.
b. Try re-orienting the station antenna to limit interference to
and from other stations.
c. For excessively strong signals, set RX Signal Attenuation
to ON (Configuration>>Radio>>Advanced Settings).
Note: Also affects the strength of desired, on-channel
signals.
SD Series Technical Manual 87