Please Read Due to complex host set-ups or local/environmental influences, any wireless network can suffer drop-outs, interference or connectivity issues that would compromise the effectiveness of the system. XTA have taken every possible step to ensure a fast, stable connection within a capable system/environment, but instability caused by external issues is beyond our control. Page 2 Walkabout Kit User Manual & Operating Instructions Introduction XTA have spent a considerable period of time searching for a reliable, straightforward solution to creating a wireless system that can interface with our units. The obvious choice of standard network is to utilise the `Ethernet' system as utilised by computer and control systems worldwide. We have developed a new version of AudioCore to work with local area networks (LANs) and wireless local area networks (WLANs) using the TCP/IP protocol. This system means there is no need for COM port redirection software or to use external USB to serial converters. These can prove troublesome, especially with laptops. We have found that the Netgear WG511T Wi-Fi card provides greatly extended range and improved stability, over and above any WLAN systems built into laptops or tablet PCs (such as those featuring `Centrino' processors). The solution for the connection to the serial port on our processors is catered for by the DiGi WiSP WLAN to Serial converter. This device is small, stable, and easy to set up. The setup of the WiSP is though a web interface so requires no special software, although a small utility program is supplied to check that the device is available and reconfigure it if necessary. Contents of the kit 1: DIGI WiSP Wi-Fi to Serial Converter; 2: Power supply for WiSP; 3: Netgear Wi-Fi card; 4: Adapter cable for direct RS485 connection. Also included, but not shown: XTA Walkabout PC Set-up CD; Netgear driver CD; DIGI support CD Important Note Before you begin installing the Netgear wireless card or the WiSP interface, please make sure you have the latest version of software in your unit(s). Unit Type/Program Name 4 Series DP226 DP224 DP6i AudioCore Earliest Compatible Version V1.50 V3.60 V2.60 V2.3 V8.00 This software and the loader program are available from our website at www.xta.co.uk and is also included on the XTA WiSP set-up disk supplied with this kit. Note: This system, operating on TCP/IP, is only designed to control the 4 Series, DP226, DP224, and DP6i. Inclusion of older units (DP100/200/202) will impair performance and is not recommended. ¥ © § ! ¦ § © § ¡ ¢ ¡ ¦ ¡ § © ¨ § ¦ ¥ ¤ ¡ £ ¢ ¡ Page 3 Upgrading unit software Note that this procedure can only be done one unit at a time ­ it is recommended that the unit being updated is disconnected from any RS485 network until the procedure is complete. Connect the unit to upgrade to a spare COM (serial) port on your PC or laptop. The serial cable must be a "one-to-one" cable and NOT a null modem cable. This is because a null modem cable has "transmit" and "receive" wires swapped, and so will not work. It is also possible to upgrade through an appropriate USB to RS232 converter, if your computer does not have serial ports. The software cannot be updated via RS485. Make sure the unit's interface is set up as Master1 on RS232 and ID1, and that the baud rate is the same as that chosen in the loader program (default is 38400). In the case of a DP6i, set the interface to 00. Plug the other end of the serial lead into the RS232 port on the unit. Run the loader program from the `Software' folder on the CD called "Load226.exe". Select the correct COM port and baud rate, and press the `CONNECT' button. If all is well, the loader will display details of the connected unit. At this point, press the "..." button beside the "File" text box, and choose the correct bin file (selection will have been automatically limited to software for the unit type detected). Do not switch off the unit during this procedure or attempt to run other software on the computer. If the upgrade is interrupted, the unit will become inoperable and may have to be returned to the factory. Finally press the `Load Now' button (which previously said `CONNECT'), and the unit will display REMOTE LOAD Block nnnn of 2048 The number nnnn will count up in sync with the number on the loader software and, when complete, the unit will reboot and display the new version number and the message New Software Loaded In the case of the DP6i, the unit will reboot and flash nS ("new software") to show that the update has been successful. The entire process will take less than two minutes. 1 " "Master" setting only on DP224/6/6i 4 Walkabout Kit User Manual & Operating Instructions ¡ Installation Set up the Netgear card first: Install the Netgear driver for the WG511T using the supplied Netgear driver disk BEFORE plugging the card into your PC or laptop. Follow the instructions on screen. Now plug the card in ­ Windows should recognise it and load the drivers as required. If, after installation, Windows then asks to load drivers itself, or reports new hardware found, it is now safe to follow these instructions. If a warning is displayed select `Continue Anyway'. Set up the WiSP converter: There are no drivers required for the WiSP. All that needs to be done is to plug it into your 4 Series, DP226, DP224, or DP6i, using either an RS485 connection or RS232 connection, and plug in the power supply. The settings for the WiSP have been pre-programmed by XTA at the factory and should not need changing. The WiSP can directly output serial data in either RS232 or RS485 modes. In RS232 mode, the module must be connected directly to the FIRST unit in the chain, in the same way as if it was a direct wired connection from a PC or laptop. A standard RS232 lead, wired 1-1 (NOT A NULL MODEM CABLE!) is used to plug the WiSP into the unit. The RS232 cable should be no longer than 25 feet, or about 7 metres. The switch settings on the back of the WiSP need to be set as shown below: RS232 Mode Switch 1 ON (UP) Switch 2 ­ 4 OFF (DOWN) For RS485 operation, use the adapter cable supplied in the kit and connect a standard mic cable to this from the first unit in the chain. The total cable length for the RS485 system may be up to 1000 metres (which includes cables between units). The switch settings on the back of the WiSP need to be set as shown below: RS485 Mode Switch 1 OFF (DOWN) Switch 2 OFF (DOWN) Switch 3 ON(UP) Switch 4 OFF (DOWN) ¥ © § ! ¦ § © § ¡ ¢ ¡ ¦ ¡ § © ¨ § ¦ ¥ ¤ ¡ £ ¢ ¡ Page 5 BY DEFAULT THE WiSP IS SET TO WORK IN RS485 MODE. Set up the Master unit: The Master unit is the first one in the chain, and has the WiSP directly connected to it This may be either an RS232 connection or an RS485 connection, as explained in the past section. RS485 connection (recommended) For 2 Series units, the first one should be Master, RS485, 38400 baud and ID1, and following units Slave, RS485, 38400 baud, ID2 (increment ID for each connected unit). For RS485 connections the DP6i units should be set to interface 06 with incremental IDs. Warning: The 4 Series by default are set to 115200 baud and this must be changed to 38400 for the system to work. On an exclusive 4-Series network the baud rate can be increased to 115200, but the WiSP will need to be reconfigured. Please see Appendix 1 for details of how to do this. 6 Walkabout Kit User Manual & Operating Instructions ¡ " RS232 connection Alternatively, the WiSP may be set to RS232 mode (by changing the DIP switches on it as explained on page 5) and connecting it as below. Other units on the network should be set up as Slave, RS485, 38400 baud, ID2 (increment ID for each connected unit). [4 Series Interface Menu] Or... Slave, RS485, 38400 baud, ID2 (increment ID for each connected unit). [DP224/6 Interface Menu] In the case of a DP6i, set the interface to 09, which is the same as Master on RS232 at 38400 baud. For RS485 connections the DP6i units should be set to interface 06 with incremental IDs. Warning: The 4 Series by default are set to 115200 baud and this must be changed to 38400 for the system to work. On an exclusive 4-Series network the baud rate can be increased to 115200, but the WiSP will need to be reconfigured. Please see Appendix 1 for details of how to do this. ¥ © § ! ¦ § © § ¡ ¢ ¡ ¦ ¡ § © ¨ § ¦ ¥ ¤ ¡ £ ¢ ¡ Page 7 Set the Netgear Card IP Address Whilst Windows will automatically assign the Wi-Fi card an IP address, our experience has shown that this must be changed manually to ensure correct operation. Here's what to do... From your Windows desktop, click start, then `Control Panel' to display... The `Network Connections' icon is already highlighted here. Double click on the `Network Connections' icon to display the list of network connections in place on the computer. In this list should be the network associated with the Netgear wireless card ­ it is highlighted here. Make sure you change the settings on the Netgear Card ­ check the "Device Name" column for "Netgear 108 Mbps Wireless PC Card" as shown above. Right click on this and select `Properties' to see how the card is set up ­ as shown on the next page... 8 Walkabout Kit User Manual & Operating Instructions ¡ " The item listed (and highlighted) here that needs to be checked is the `Internet Protocol' item ­ select it and then click on the `Properties' button to reveal the window shown below, which gives access to the actual IP address etc. used by the Wi-Fi card. Make sure that `Use the following IP address' is selected and the IP address is similar to that shown (i.e. starting with 192.168.). If it is an auto-allocated address (typically of the format 169.202.x.x), change it to one beginning 192.168, but NOT ending with 224.226 as that's the ADDRESS of the WiSP! Set the `Subnet Mask' to 255.255.0.0. Do NOT change the Default Gateway setting (normally blank)! ¥ © § ! ¦ § © § ¡ ¢ ¡ ¦ ¡ § © ¨ § ¦ ¥ ¤ ¡ £ ¢ ¡ Page 9 Search for and Establish a Wireless Link to the WiSP On your Windows desktop, double click on the Netgear Wi-Fi icon in the system tray beside the clock. This will display a window as below. Click onto the second tab on this window, `Networks', to display... Press the `Scan' button and the card will try to find any available Wi-Fi networks in range. If all is working, the name of the network with the WiSP connected should appear ­ default is "XTA WISP". (All in capital letters!) Assuming the network has now been found, click on it in the list (for example the one highlighted in grey in the above screen shot) and then the `Connect' button. The first tab will be selected again automatically, with the blue bar at the bottom showing the signal strength, connection speed and network name. Make sure the following parameters are set up: Network Type is set to `Adhoc'; Security settings are set with `WEP Encryption' ticked, and the `KEY1' (entered manually as to the left) is the matching key on the WiSP ­ default is 1234567890, with '64 bit' encryption selected. If this has been established, but AudioCore still says it cannot connect to the port, check the WEP encryption and the KEY1 value entered ­ if these settings are incorrect, the connection can still be established (so the network name may appear), but no data can be exchanged (hence AudioCore cannot use the network). NOTE: A common error when setting up the Netgear card settings is to accidentally select the "Create with Passphrase" button and enter the Key in the box associated with this, INSTEAD of the "Enter Key Manually" choice just below this. Make sure you've not done this, as AudioCore won't be able to find or control the units, even though the Netgear Card will find the WiSP. If you change any networking settings, always go back and check that this setting has not been overwritten or changed ­ in certain circumstances if may be adjusted automatically causing the symptom described above.. Walkabout Kit User Manual & Operating Instructions $ # ¡ " Setting up AudioCore to work with the WiSP You will need to install AudioCore version 8.00 or greater on the PC to be used with the wireless system. Start AudioCore as normal and then choose the menu Remote TCP/IP. The window below will be displayed. Pressing the "Test Connection" button should display a message saying "Connected to TCP/IP!" and the address/port number. Assuming this works, you should now be able to go on-line, and use AudioCore as normal. Nothing concerned with the operation of AudioCore has changed ­ you will be able to upload and download as normal, and the real-time meterin ...