Operating instructions

1892 1335 - Orion Radio Modem Operating Instructions - v2.9 / Aug 2009 19
SERIAL INTERFACE CONFIGURATION
The Orion has no user-selectable switches or links, but is fully programmable via its serial
data ports, using either the supplied Graphical User Interface described in Part Two of this
manual, or the AT commands listed in Part Three. The serial ports are the same ones used
during operation for User Data, SCADA and I/O.
Serial port connections are shown on page 33, and port parameters below.
v If your computer has no serial port, you need to use your computer’s USB port
and a serial-to-USB adaptor: see Appendix D on page 85, 86.
v The main reason for failure to connect to an Orion is that your terminal
equipment is not set to the same protocols as the serial port which it is
connected to (default 38400bps, no parity).
Serial Port A – User Data and AT Commands
Hardware mode (ATB2) Six combinations of interface and flow control are available:
RS232 with RTS/CTS, Xon/Xoff or no handshake;
RS422 with Xon/Xoff or no handshake; or
RS485 with no handshake.
The default is RS232 with no handshake.
Baud rate (ATB0) 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, or 38400 (default)
Data bits (ATB5) 7 or 8 (default)
Parity (ATB1) Even, odd or none (default)
Serial Port B – GUI, Telemetry (SCADA) and AT Commands
Hardware mode Fixed RS232 with no handshake.
Baud rate (ATB3) 9600, 19200, or 38400 (default)
Data bits Fixed 8
Parity (ATB4) Even, odd or none (default)
AT commands
Either Serial Port A or Serial Port B can be used for AT commands, provided the sending
equipment is correctly connected and configured for the hardware mode. Matching
parameters (baud rate etc.) must be selected at the Orion and the sending equipment. AT
commands consist of ASCII characters passed in either direction, so a special access
sequence is used to ensure that they are not confused with data. See page 63.
Graphical User Interface (GUI) and SCADA
The GUI or SCADA equipment can only be connected to Serial Port B. This is never used for
User Data, and hence no special access arrangements are needed. The PC is connected to
the Orion and communicates with it using a proprietary language.