Product manual

XStream-PKG-E™ Ethernet RF Modem – Product Manual v4.2A

Communications

The Ethernet-connected serial modem supports several connection options:

• Com Port Redirector Software enables legacy serial applications to communicate with the

Ethernet RF Modem by forwarding serial data over Ethernet.

• “Telnet” communicates directly to the Ethernet RF Modem using port 14001. Refer to the

“Telnet Loopback Test

” section on page 11 for an example that by-passes the com port.

Com Port Communications

The X-CTU and Com Port Redirector software facilitate communications through a PC’s com port.

Follow the instructions below to setup a com port for configuring and testing RF modems.

Installation #1: X-CTU Software (version 4.8.0 or higher*)

Use the X-CTU software to configure the Ethernet RF Modem and PC com port. The software

provides is divided into four tabs:

• PC Settings tab - Setup PC serial com ports to interface with RF modem

• Range Test tab – Test RF modem’s range under varying environments

• Terminal tab – Test serial communications and set/read RF Modem parameters

• Modem Configuration tab – Set/read RF Modem parameters

Figure 4. Tabs of the X-CTU Software

* To verify X-CTU version number, click on the icon located in the top-left corner of the X-CTU user interface

and then select the “About X-CTU…” menu item.

To Install the X-CTU Software:

Double-click the “setup_X-CTU.exe” file then follow prompts of the installation screens. This

file is located in the “software” folder of the MaxStream CD and under the ‘Downloads’

section of the following web page: www.maxstream.net/helpdesk/.

Installation #2: Ethernet Com Port Redirector

MaxStream provides com port redirection software that creates a com port in the operating

system that will forward serial data to the IP address of the Ethernet-connected RF modem. The

Ethernet RF Modem can then be accessed by any com port enabled application.

The Ethernet Com Port Redirector must be installed separately to enable the “Ethernet Com

Ports” sub-tab of the X-CTU “PC Settings” tab. If this software is not installed, the features under

the “Ethernet Com Ports” section are grayed and cannot be used.

The “Ethernet Com Ports” sub-tab enables user to perform functions such as the following:

• Discover Ethernet RF Modems on a network

• Setup serial com ports for XStream-PKG-E Ethernet RF Modems

• Identify, assign and modify Ethernet RF Modem IP addresses

To Install the Ethernet Com Port Redirector:

1. Double-click the “setup_ComPortRedirector.exe” file then follow prompts of the

installation screens. This file is located in the “software” folder of the MaxStream CD.

2. Re-boot the PC to complete installation.