¶ RM3 Installation
This document is to be used by the person installing MD3 in the field. All notes and instructions are HIGHLY important for successfull installation and must be followed. If you feel you do not understand a certain step, ask Your head engineer. This is NOT a troubleshooting guide, but a guide for proper installation including quick functionality tests. If something seems wrong, go through this manual again step by step to avoid mistakes. If the problems persists, contact your head engineer immediately. It's important to solve issues as soon as you are able to in the field.
¶ Annotation:
- MD3 package set
- Antennas positioning
- Wiring
- Powering up
- Checking functionality
¶ 1. MD3 package
Your package must contain the following parts:
a) MD3 module
b) Charging system (wallplug, solar charger, battery)
c) Adequate solar panel
d) USB to USB_micro cable for powering MD3
e) GSM antenna
f) FM antenna
g) metallic base plate(s) for antennas (not necessary if you have an alternative metallic base on which to install them)
¶ 2. Antennas
We use two different antennas. One for GSM signal and one for FM signal. Although they seem similiar, they are NOT interchangeable. Always double check if the proper antenna is installed in the correct port. Any metalic plate used as a base must be clean of rust or thick paint to get best capacitance contact between the antenna base and plate. Use sandpaper if necessary.
Be careful with the FM antenna install, the telescopic FM antenna is very fragile, especially the screw which
is used to hold it in a base can easily break!!
GSM antenna is the one which is NOT telescopic and it’s smaller one
FM antenna is TELESCOPIC and the longer one when extended
- metallic base plate for GSM antenna - must be at least 10x10cm or rounded (shape does not matter quite much)
- metallic base plate for FM antenna - must be at least 25x25cm or rounded (shape does not matter quite much)
a) Basic rules for antenna installation are:
- Both antennas must be installed on a separate metallic plate and located at least one meter away from each other
- both antennas should be installed at least 1 meter off the wall, especially if the wall is made from concrete. If the wall is metallic, installing FM antenna close to such a wall is not recommended.
- antennas should NOT to be placed on the ground, especially the FM antenna. Try to install antennas at least one meter above the ground
- don't install antennas (especially FM) close to other electronic devices. Except for fridges, this might work well. Fridges are metallic, tall enough and don't spread electronic noise.
- you should install them close to the window if possible, especially if concrete or metallic walls are nearby
- DO NOT install antennas close to window it there are safety bars in the window!!
- don't install any antennas close to vertical pieces of metal (lamp e.g.) or any kind of electric cables
- GSM antenna can be installed either vertically and horizontally. Check with signal level meter what is better, vertically is usually best
- FM antenna should be installed vertically to get the best signal
- FM antenna is telescopic and must be extended to maximum length before use
- be careful with the FM antenna install, the telescopic FM antenna is very fragile, especially the screw which is used to hold it in a base can break easily
¶ 3. Wiring
a) Antennas
GSM and FM antennas have the same SMA plugs. Don't mix them! The GSM antenna tip is always smaller, FM is longer. GSM plug on the MD is the one which is closer to the MD corner, close to the SIM card slot. FM antenna plug is closer to the MD center.
b) Power
MD3 is equipped with two micro-USB ports. You can use one or both of them. The most safe is to use the center one (USB1) because it's more mechanically robust. To power MD3, you should use the original power-Box or any USB port which can deliver 1000mA or more. Note: standard USB port in a computer usually supports only 500mA which is not sufficient to power MD3 GPRS module. If you test MD in your computer and encounter problems with GPRS data connection, try to use a powerBox or powerBank to power it up. You can also use two different power sources for each MD3 micro-USB port.
¶ 4. Powering up
- Check if both antennas are installed in the proper socket and at least one micro-USB is connected to a powerBox or other sufficient USB supply.
- Switch powerBox switch ON
- MD3 should boot and display the current firmware version. Take a photo to be sure and keep it for the head engineer in case that problems occur. If you missed the number, switch off and ON again to get the boot screen again
- After successfully booting, you should see bars moving on the display
- On the left side of the MD there are four indicators. Position from the Top:
- power - must glow GREEN
- DTMF (don't care, usually OFF)
- FM signal level - GREEN (signal OK), ORANGE (signal intermediate, but readable), RED (signal LOW)
- GSM/GPRS signal - GREEN (signal OK), ORANGE (signal intermediate, but readable), RED (signal LOW)
Note: if fish appear on the display, it’s okay, it just means power saving mode is activate and it
has no influence on MD functionality.
¶ 5. Checking functionality
Check the colors of the FM and GSM signal. If one of them is RED, try to move its antenna to a different location. A difference of 5cm step may be used for GSM, a difference of 10-20cm should cause changes in signal strength.
When both level indicators keep showing ORANGE/GREEN, installation is successful.
Note: signal level indicators refresh every 5 seconds.
Note: FM antenna must be extended to at least half of its length to work OK
Then observe the MD, there are two BLUE indicatrs on the right side, below the antenna plugs
- The one below FM antenna (close to the MD center) should remain BLUE continuously if the FM signal is okay and stereo.
- the one below GSM/GPRS antenna should blink quickly (2x per second) if data connection successfully. Note: connecting to the server may take up to 2-3 minutes. During this time, BLUE indicator below GSM/GPRS antenna may be off for up to 30s during module reset.
IF everything works okay, contact your Head engineer to check if MD responds to the server
¶ 6. Troubleshooting
- if at least one signal level indicator glows RED, try repeating section 5.
- if the FM blue indicator blinks, try repeating section 5. with the FM antenna
- if GSM indicator blinks slowly (once second), try to repeat section 5. with the GSM antenna.
If nothing helps, contact your head engineer for detailed discussion. Prepare following photos: - firmware version photo
- MD installation overall photo
- antennas installation and position photos
You may also be asked to take a photo of some MD screen shots. Moving through menus is
possible using a short press of the button to the right of the display. up to 10 menus scroll repeatedly.
Note: navigating through menus does not affect MD functionality.
