Varis Remote Diagnostics Manual

8/3/2019 Varis Remote Diagnostics Manual

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C:\Workspace\...\help\help_en.xml page 1 of 56

Chapter 1:

Chapter 2:

1

Smart Com Remote Diagnostics Manual -

Rev 6

Overview

Varis' Remote Diagnostics (RD) allows you to remotely troubleshoot your Smart Com communication system via

the mine's own local area network (LAN). This version of the software supports remote diagnostics for Smart Com

150/150IS, Smart Com 450/450IS and Smart Com Ethernet systems. Regardless of the size of the system, Remote

Diagnostics can improve uptime and provide confidence in the system.

Smart Com 150/150IS:

All Smart Com 150 and 150IS amplifiers periodically send RD data back to the DRX located in the Base Station.

software. Mine personnel can then simply point their web browser to the RD web server in order to view the status

of the system.

Smart Com 450/450IS:

Smart Com 450 and 450IS amplifiers are polled using the RD web server software through a serial connection

between the server and 450 Head End. Currently, amplifiers must be added to the system via the web interface to

be polled. Future versions will automatically detect amplifiers installed along the leaky feeder network.

Smart Com Ethernet:

Smart Com Remote Diagnostics is also capable of showing CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) and cable

modem diagnostics for Smart Com Ethernet systems. The RD web server will periodically poll Ethernet devicesusing SNMP to retrieve diagnostic information.

Key Benefits:

Immediate notification of system faults (emailed alarms).

The ability to pinpoint faults so that technicians can be dispatched directly to the problem area.

System status can be viewed from any computer on the mine's LAN.

Reduced need for expensive equipment to troubleshoot the Smart Com 150/150IS, Smart Com 450/450IS

and Smart Com Ethernet systems.

Software

Requirements

It's recommended that the Remote Diagnostic software be installed and run on Varis server hardware. Please

contact us for more information.

If alternate hardware must be used, the recommended system specifications are:

Pentium 4 or equivalent processor.

2 GB of RAM.

Windows XP, Windows Server 2003/2008.


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Chapter 3:

1

500 MB free disk space.

Ethernet adapter.

Serial port (only required for Smart Com 450/450IS systems)

MS Internet Explorer 6+ (Javascript enabled).

Administrator access to PC.

Installation

The RD web server must be installed on a computer connected to the mine's LAN and must have a static IP

address. Ask your IT Administrator for help in setting this up.

To install, run the "rdweb-setup-X.X.X.exe" file located on the distribution CD and follow the installation

wizard. It is recommended that you use the default file locations.

The HTTP Port selection screen allows you to select which port the web server will run on. The default is

port 80, but if you already have a web server running on port 80 (such as IIS), then you can chose an

alternate port such as 3000. Please note: if you chose a port other than the default of 80, then you will

have to specify the port number in the web address URL. For example, to access the main Remote

Diagnostics web page, you would use the following URL: http://ipaddress:3000/amplifier/list, where

ipaddress is the IP address of the web server PC.

The Site Name input screen allows you to enter the name of the site where the system is installed (i.e.,

mine name).

The System Type screen is used to select the type of Remote Diagnostics system; either Smart Com

150, Smart Com 450, or both Smart Com 150 and 450. This can be changed through the Administration

interface later if incorrectly specified here. See Viewing Amplifier and Ethernet Data for more information.

Note: It is important that the web server PC remain running at all times. This will ensure that all diagnostic

data is displayed by the Remote Diagnostic web server.

Smart Com 150/150IS Hardware

Overview


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6.7.

8.

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13.

"Alarm" Relay Contacts: Contacts close when an alarm condition is detected ("No Alarm" contacts

open).

"No Alarm" Relay Contacts: Contacts close when there is no alarm condition present ("Alarm" contacts

open).

RS232 Detect LED: LED will energize when a diagnostic packet is received from a MultiCOM amplifier

through the RS232 connector (P6).

Carrier Detect (CD) LED: Led will energize when an incoming Varis diagnostic packet is detected at the

Rx Connector (P3).

Reset P.B.: Performs a board software reset.

Power LED: LED energizes when power (+12 Vdc) is applied to the board.Power Connector: Power supply connector (+12 Vdc).

Fuse: 500 mA, 250V, Fast Acting, 2AG (P/N 225.500 HXP).

Rx Connector: 50 ohm BNC connector. Connects to receive port 16 of RNG-RF16.

RS232 Input Connector: Connect leads from supplied DB9 connector. DB9 plug connects to MultiCOM

diagnostic receiver. Proper polarity must be observed when connecting to the DRX.

RJ-45 Connector: Connects the DRX to the mine's LAN (Cat 5 cable).

Tx Connector: 50 ohm BNC connector. Connects to transmit port 16 of RNG-RF16. Please note that

some units may be fitted with an external Low Pass filter. This filter must remain in place for proper

operation.

Tx Level Adjust: Varying the potentiometer will vary the output signal strength of the on-board


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14.

15.

16.

1.1

1.1.1

1.1.2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

downstream pilot (154.5 MHz Channel List 2.0, 148.275 MHz Channel List 3.0, 146.4 MHz Channel List

3.1) between +3 and +14 dBm (max). The R48 potentiometer replaces R29 on Revision C DRX boards.

Tx On LED: LED will energize when the downstream pilot is on.

Downstream Pilot Jumper: The downstream pilot can be controlled locally or remotely using this three

position jumper. See Downstream Pilot for more information.

IP Default Jumper: Used to restore default network settings. See DRX Network Reset for moreinformation.

DRX Features

Status Relays

The diagnostic receiver provides two relay contacts to monitor the health of your Smart Com 150/150IS and Smart

Com Ethernet system (See Hardware Overview). These contacts can be connected to external devices to provide

visual and/or audible indications of the systems state.

Downstream Pilot

The diagnostic receiver has an on-board downstream pilot (154.5 MHz Channel List 2.0, 148.275 MHz Channel

List 3.0, 146.4 MHz Channel List 3.1) that can operate in local or remote mode depending on the position of the

Downstream Pilotjumper (JU3). The downstream pilot's signal strength can be adjusted between 3 and 14 dBm by

varying R48(R29 on Rev C boards). See Downstream Pilot Tuning for more information. A 50 ohm BNC-BNC

coaxial cable must be connected between the Txconnector (P2) and transmit port 16 of RNG-RF16. Please note

that some units may be fitted with an external Low Pass filter. This filter must remain in place for proper operation.

Local Mode:

In order to operate the downstream pilot locally, the Downstream Pilotjumper (JU3) must be set to the On orOff

positions.

Remote Mode:

Set the Downstream Pilotjumper (JU3) to theAuto position.

Connect to the RD web server by typing the IP address of the device on which the web server is running

(i.e., http://127.0.0.1/).

Login as an Administrator (See User Access).

Open the administration interface by clicking on theAdmin link in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Next, click on Downstream Pilotfrom the administration menu.


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1.1.4

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2.

The current state of the downstream pilot will be shown in the drop down box. Changes must be saved.

Note: The Downstream Pilotinterface will be disabled if the Downstream Pilotjumper

(JU3) is not in theAuto position. The downstream pilot state will be maintained through a

DRX power cycle.

MultiCOM Compatibility

MultiCOM amplifier diagnostic data can be retrieved and displayed using the Smart Com 150 DRX. The serial

cable provided must be connected between the DRX's RS232 Inputconnector (P6) and the MultiCOM diagnosticreceiver's DB9 connector. Proper polarity must be observed when connecting to the DRX.

Note: MultiCOM amplifiers must be added to the web interface before amplifier data will

be displayed (See Configuring Amplifiers).

DRX Network Reset

This feature allows the user to restore the default DRX network settings using the IP Default umper.

Remove the top cover of the Head End enclosure.

Locate the IP Defaultjumper (JU1) on the DRX.


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Warning

1.2

1.2.1

Ensure the jumper is in place over both pins and cycle power to the DRX. This will reset the DRX to the

following default values.

IP Address: 192.168.0.100

Netmask: 255.255.255.0

Gateway: 192.168.0.1

Remove the jumper from both JU1 pins.

Unless the jumper is removed from JU1, network settings will be reset each time

power to the diagnostic receiver is cycled.

Server

Diagnostics Web Server, a DHCP server (5 client license) and TFTP server. The DHCP/TFTP servers are intended

to support Smart Com Ethernet installations.

The server has two network interfaces, one of which is preconfigured to communicate directly with the RNG-DRX

diagnostic receiver through cross-over cable. The other network interface is used to connect the server to theServer Installation for more information.

Server Specifications

Server Specifications

Form Factor 1U Rack

Height 1.68" [4.27 cm]

Width 17.60" [44.70 cm]


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Depth 21.50" [54.61 cm]

Weight ~26.0 lbs [11.79 kg]

Operating Temperature 10 to 35 degrees C [50 to 95 degrees F]

Input Voltage 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz

Shelf Specifications

Shelf Specifications

Rack/Cabinet Size Standard 19" EIA 4-post rack or cabinet

Form Factor 1U Rack

Material 14 AWG Steel

Mounting Hardware 10-32 and 12-24 mounting screws

Dimensions (D x W x H) (20.25 to 33.25") x 19" x 1.25" [(51.4 to 84.5 cm) x 48.3

cm x 3.2 cm]

Shelf Load Rating 150 lbs [68.0 kg]

DRX Installation

DRX Mounting and Power

If you have been supplied with a DRX in its own enclosure, mount the enclosure in the base station

cabinet and skip to Step 4.

Otherwise, remove the cover of the head end enclosure.

Remove the nuts and washers from the bulkhead BNC connectors. Place the DRX in the enclosure as

shown. Replace BNC fasteners.

Connect the power leads marked +12 Vdc (red) and GND (black) to the Base Stations 12 Vdc terminal

block or power supply.

Connect a coaxial cable (1 m/3.3 ft, 50 ohm, BNC-BNC) between the DRX "Rx" connector (P3) and


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2.3

2.3.1

2.3.2

2.3.2.1

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receive port 16 of the RNG-RF16.

Connect a coaxial cable (1 m/3.3 ft, 50 ohm, BNC-BNC) between the DRX "Tx" connector (P2) and

transmit port 16 of the RNG-RF16. Please note that some units may be fitted with an external Low Pass

filter. This filter must remain in place for proper operation.

If MultiCOM diagnostics are required, connect the serial cable provided between the MultiCOM receiver

and the RS232 Input connector (P6) on the DRX. Observe connector polarity.

Downstream Pilot Tuning

Once the DRX has been installed and connected to the Smart Com 150/150IS system, the downstream pilot level

must be calibrated.

Ensure power is applied to the DRX. Move the Downstream Pilotjumper, JU3, (see Hardware Overview)

to the ONposition.

Put the Head End (HE) amplifier in Manual Mode (JU30, amp) and apply 4 dB of attenuation using the

manual attenuation switch (IC14, amp).

Increase the downstream pilot output level using R48 (R29 on Rev C DRX boards) until the OK Led (D8)

on the HE amplifier is lit. The DRX pilot has a maximum output level of +14 dBm.

Return the HE amplifier to Automatic mode (JU30, amp).

The downstream pilot can now be used in either local or remote mode. See Downstream Pilot for more

information.

DRX Configuration

The DRX is shipped from Varis with the following default settings:

IP Address: 192.168.0.100

Netmask: 255.255.255.0

Gateway: 192.168.0.1

Server IP: 192.168.0.112

DRX Configuration with Varis Server

Servers shipped with each Smart Com 150 head end have two Ethernet ports which are labelled DRXand LAN.

One connects directly to the DRX and the other to the mine's LAN. If you are using the server provided and

configured by Varis the DRX will require no configuration. Simply connect the DRX to the server Ethernet port

labelled DRXusing a crossover cable. The settings for the LANport will still have to be changed to match those of

the mine's LAN. See Server Configuration.

DRX Configuration Using Customer Provided Server

If you are using a server other than the one provided by Varis, it's likely that you will have to configure the DRX

settings. Initially you will have to change the settings locally. Once initial communication has been established

between the RD software and DRX, the network settings can be changed remotely.

Changing DRX Network/Server Settings Locally

If the diagnostic receiver is not on the same network as the web server, you will have to connect through cross-over

cable.

If the current IP address of the DRX is known, skip to Step 2. Otherwise the DRX's IP address must be


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reset to it's default value (192.168.0.100). See DRX Network Reset.

Connect a cross-over cable between a PC and the RJ-45 connector on the DRX.

Access Network Connections administration from the PC's Control Panel.

Double-click on Local Area Connection to access the following dialog box.

Click on the Properties button. The following screen should be displayed.


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Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) from the list box and click the Properties button.

Assign the PC an IP address, Netmask and Gateway IP that correspond to the network for the which the

DRX is currently configured. The values shown correspond to the default network settings of the

diagnostic receiver (IP Address =192.168.0.101, Netmask = 255.255.255.0, Gateway = 192.168.0.1).

Please note that the PC's IP address cannot be the same as the DRX's IP address.

Once the network settings have been modified, you can verify the PC's current IP address. Open a

command prompt (or click Start -> Run and type cmd).

At the prompt type ipconfig to view the PC's current network settings.


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The DRX WebServer IPmust be configured to match the IP address of the PC on which the web server

software is running. The configuration interface can be accessed at http://192.168.0.100/serverForm.html

(substitute the DRX IP address if different than shown). Configure the web server IP address and submit

changes. The Port Numbershown below is the port on the server PC used to receive data from the DRXunit and should be left to the default value of 4322.

Next, access the DRX's network configuration page by typing http://192.168.0.100/ipForm.html(substitute

the DRX's IP address if different than shown). Enter the new IP address, Gateway and Netmask that

correspond to the mine's network. Submit changes.


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Reconnect the DRX to the mine's network using a straight-through network cable. The web server will

automatically update it's DRX settings when the DRX first calls in to the server. Verify that the DRX is

communicating with the web server by checking the DRX Status (top left of main page on web server). A

check mark will be shown if the DRX and web server are configured properly.

Changing DRX Network/ Server Settings Remotely

If the DRX and webserver are communicating successfully (DRX status ), you can connect to the DRX

web interface by clicking on the DRXlink from the RD webserver's Administration menu. This will open

the DRX's main web interface in a separate window.

Click on Network Settings to access the DRX's network configuration page. Enter the new IP address,

Gateway and Netmask that correspond to the mine's network. Submit changes.

Go back to the DRX's main web interface and click on Web Server Settings. Configure the web server IP

address and submit changes. The Port Numberis the port on the server PC used to receive data from the

DRX unit and should be left to the default value of 4322


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Chapter 4:

1

Server Installation

Server Mounting and Power

adjustable rack shelf provided. The rack shelf will adjust to cabinet depths of 20.25 to 33.25" (51.4 to 84.5 cm).

Adjust shelf to proper depth and install in cabinet using the 4 mounting screws provided.

Place server computer on shelf and secure to rack by t ightening the front mounted screws on the server.

Server Configuration), connect the server to the

Connect the DRX to Network Adapter 2 (labeled DRX) on the server using a cross-over cable. The server

and DRX are pre-configured to communicate on this network interface.

Attach power cord to server and turn on.

Server Configuration

The server is not supplied with a monitor, keyboard or mouse. For initial setup, you must either attach these

peripherals or use Remote Desktop to remotely configure the server.

Connecting Through Remote Desktop:

Connect to Network Adaptor 1 on the server using a cross-over cable.

Change your IP settings to be on the same subnet as the server. The default IP settings of the server are

as follows:

IP Address: 192.168.1.50

Subnet: 255.255.255.0

Gateway: 192.168.1.1

Configure Server IP Settings:

Login to server.

Username: Administrator

Password: Varis123

From the Start menu, click Run to open the Run command box. Type ncpa.cpl into the textbox and click

OK. This should open the Network Connections page

Right-click on Network Connection 1 and select Properties.

In the Connection Properties window, double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) to open its IP

properties page.

OKto save and then Click OKagain to exit the

Connection Properties window and apply the changes

Smart Com 450/450IS Hardware

Overview


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Remote diagnostics are built in to every Smart Com 450/450IS line amplifier and head end. These components

require no special configuration to provide Remote Diagnostic data to the mine's network via the head end server.

Installation

Smart Com 450/450IS hardware requires no configuration upon installation to provide Remote Diagnostics. Theonly action required to receive RD data from an amplifier is to add the amplifier ID to the RD web interface and to

connect the hardware required for remote diagnostics (Server, Head end, Line amplifier) as shown below.

Connecting the Head End

The server must be installed in the base station cabinet. See Server Installation for more information.

Install head end in base station cabinet.

Connect the Head End and server using the serial cross-over cable provided.

Connect the Head End to the LF network through Branches 1 to 4. See Smart Com 450/450IS manual for

more information.


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Chapter 5:

1.

2.

Running the RD Web Server

By default, the RD Web Server is installed as a Windows service. As such, the RD software will automatically start

when Windows is started.

Controlling the RD Service Manually:

To stop and start the service manually, click Start -> All Programs -> Smart Com Remote Diagnostics ->

Configure web server. This will open the Varis Web Server Properties panel, shown below:

UnderStartup type, you can set the web server to start automatically when Windows starts (default). Or

you can set it to start manually, using the control buttons. The control buttons at the bottom of the page

allow you to Start, Stop, Pause and Restart the web server.

Accessing the RD webpage:

To verify that the web server is running properly, type in the IP address of the computer on which the RD web

server is installed (i.e., http://127.0.0.1/).

Note: The Internet Protocol defines the special network address, 127.0.0.1, as a local loop

back address. Hosts use local loop back addresses to send messages to themselves. This

will only point to the RD web server when working from the computer on which the RD web

server is installed.

To access the Remote Diagnostic web page from a different computer, you must substitute the local loop back

address (127.0.0.1) with the IP address of the machine running the RD Web Server.

You should be redirected to the login page as shown below (See User Access).


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Chapter 6:

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1.1

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Getting Started

User Access

There are two user types defined in the system: Administrator and Viewer. Administrators can change settings that

are not available to Viewers. Only administrators have access to the following features.

Adding/Editing/Deleting/Unassigning amplifiers

Configuring Network and Mail settings

Downstream Pilot control

Changing user passwords

Database backup/restore

Configuring alarm thresholds, deleting alarms.

The user name for Administrators is admin and the default password is admin. The user name for Viewers isviewerand the default password is viewer.

Note: It is highly recommended that you log in as an Administrator and change the

passwords from their default value.

Changing Passwords

Connect to the web server by typing the IP address of the device on which the web server is running (i.e.,

http://127.0.0.1/).

To change passwords login as an Administrator (user name = admin, default password = admin).


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3

Click on theAdmin link in the upper right-hand corner of the main page. This will take you to the system

Administration page.

Next, click on the Users link on the administration menu. You should see the following screen.

In order to change the Administration password, click on the Change passwordlink next to admin. Enter

the new password on the form provided and click Save. Repeat the same procedure for the Viewer

account.

DRX Network Settings

Before the system will function properly, you must configure the network settings of the DRX (See DRX

Configuration). Communication status between the DRX and web server is shown at the top left-hand corner of the

server's web interface (DRX status ). Clicking on the DRX status icon will open the status box, which indicates

how long it has been since the last successful communication.

If the DRX has not communicated in over 1 minute, the status will show a warning icon (DRX Status ). Thisindicates that the DRX has not been configured correctly or that there may be a firewall blocking communication.

See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

If the DRX is communicating successfully (DRX status ), and you would like to make changes to the settings on

the DRX, you can connect to the DRX web interface by clicking on the DRXlink in the Administration menu. This

will open the DRX web interface in a separate window. See DRX Configuration for more information about the

various settings.

Mail Settings

The RD Web Server can be configured to output e-mail notification of alarm conditions.


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http://127.0.0.1/).

Login to the RD interface as an Administrator (See User Access).

Open the Administration interface by clicking on theAdmin link on the upper right-hand corner of the

page. Next, click on Mail Settings from the administration menu.

Each of the fields are described below:

Mail Server: The name of your SMTP mail server.

Port: The SMTP port used by the mail server.

Username: The SMTP server account user name.

Password: The SMTP server account password.

From Address: The email address from which the email will be sent. This address will appear in the

From field of the email that is sent. Any email address can be specified as long as it is in proper

email format (i.e., [email protected]).

Recipients: The addresses where email should be sent. Multiple addresses must be separated by a

single comma (i.e., [email protected],[email protected]).

When you have finished editing the fields, click the Save button to activate the new settings. The mail


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settings can be verified by selecting the Testbutton. This will send an email to each of the recipients

specified.

Viewing Amplifier and Ethernet Data

Version 5.0.0 (and later) is able to provide Remote Diagnostic data for both Varis's Smart Com 150/150IS andSmart Com 450/450IS systems. There are two ways of selecting which interface is available and shown on the

main page.

During installation you will be asked whether you want the software to show the interface for the Smart

Com 150 system, Smart Com 450 system or for both.

If you select only one system or the other, only information for that system will be available from the main

interface. If you selected both systems during installation, data for both systems will be available from the

main interface. You will be able to switch between the RD data for both systems via the link shown on the

top of the screen.

Another way of changing which systems are available from the main interface is through the

administration interface.

Clicking on theAdmin link at the top right hand corner of the page will bring you to the Administration

menu. From here, click on the System tab to see the following screen.


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4.1

From this tab you can select which system type(s) you want available from the main interface. If you only

select 150or450then only one system is available from the main interface. If you select 150,450then

both are available and you can toggle between them using the link at the top of the page.

Viewing Smart Com 150/150IS RD Data

To view Smart Com 150/150IS amplifier, MultiCOM amplifier or Smart Com Ethernet data, point your browser to the

main page (http://127.0.0.1/amplifier/list).

Ensure that the Smart Com 150 system is displayed.

Initially, each branch will be empty and you will not see any amplifiers or Ethernet devices.


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If the DRX is configured properly, Varis amplifiers will be automatically added to the UNASSIGNED AMPLIFIERS

section when they call in. MultiCOM amplifiers must be added before MultiCOM diagnostic data will be displayed.

Head end amplifiers with the latest firmware will be automatically added to the Head Endbranch.

The following screen shot is of a fully configured system with multiple amplifiers.


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4.2

Clicking on the branch name will toggle the displayed state of the items within a branch.

Note: Varis amplifiers are indicated by a icon while MultiCOM amplifiers are indicated

by a icon. The icon is used to indicate a CMTS and the icon is used to indicate

cable modems.

Viewing Smart Com 450/450IS RD Data

To view Smart Com 450/450IS amplifier or Smart Com Ethernet data, point your browser to the main page

(http://127.0.0.1/amplifier/list).

Ensure that the Smart Com 450 system is selected from the link at the top of the main interface.


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4.3

4.4

Initially, each branch will be empty and you will not see any amplifiers or Ethernet devices.

In order to view Smart Com 450/450IS amplifier data, the amplifier ID must be added to the main interface (See

Adding Amplifiers). Once the amplifier ID has been added, the RD software will poll the amplifier at an interval

related to the size of the system (i.e., If the system has fewer amplifiers, then each amplifier will be polled moreoften).

Note: Varis amplifiers are indicated by a icon. The icon is used to indicate a CMTS

and the icon is used for cable modems.

Viewing Smart Com Ethernet RD Data

Ethernet devices will not show up until a CMTS is defined (see Configuring Ethernet Devices). Once a CMTS has

been added to the system, the web interface will automatically show all connected cable modems.

Note: The icon is used to indicate a CMTS and the icon is used for cable modems.

Enabling/Disabling Auto-Refresh

By default, the main amplifier list page is designed to automatically refresh every 45 seconds. This feature can be

controlled by clicking on the On orOfflink found at the top right of the web interface's main page.


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4.5

4.6

Manually Refreshing an Amplifier

Clicking on an amplifier number from the main page will open the Amplifier Options dialog shown below.

Clicking on the Refresh Data link will force the system to poll the selected amplifier for new diagnostics data.

Amplifier History

Clicking on an amplifier number from the main page will open the Amplifier Options dialog shown below.

Selecting the View historylink will open the Amplifier History page for the selected amplifier. This screen is shown

below.


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This screen shows a graphical display of amplifier data over time.

Using the check boxes along the top, you can control which values are displayed on the graph (RF Downstream

power, Attenuation, and Voltage). You can also set the time period for which the data is retrieved by adjusting the

Start Time and Resolution. Start Time can be changed using the calendar component shown below. This

component allows you to select both the date and time.

The Resolution is adjusted using the drop down box shown below.


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4.7

The resolution sets the interval for data retrieval. There are 5 options: 10 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 10 hours, and 24

hours. If you set the resolution too fine, you may get too much data to be displayed on the graph. If this happens,

you must reduce the resolution until the data fits.

Clicking the Live check box will provide a live view, retrieving the current amplifier data. The start time will be

automatically offset based on the current resolution setting such that Start Time + Resolution = Current Time. This

screen will automatically update every 10 seconds.

You can also use the navigation arrows, shown below, to move the time range forward or backward by predefinedamounts (10 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours).

The current time range is shown to the right of these arrows.

Ethernet Device HistoryClicking on the CMTS or one of the cable modems in the Ethernet branch will display a detailed information box for

the selected device, as shown below:

To view device history data, click the View Historylink at the bottom of the information box ( icon). You should


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see a screen similar to the one shown below:

This screen shows a graphical display of cable modem diagnostic data over time.

Using the check boxes along the top, you can control which fields are displayed on the graph (Downstream Power,

Upstream Power, and Signal-to-Noise). You can also control the time period for which the data is retrieved by

setting the Start Time and the Resolution. The Start Time can be changed using the calendar component shown

below. This component allows you to select both the date and time.

The Resolution is adjusted using the drop down box shown below.


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5

5.1

1.

The resolution sets the interval for data retrieval. If you set the resolution too fine, you may get too much data to be

displayed on the graph. If this happens, you must reduce the resolution until the data fits.

Clicking the Live check box will provide a live view of the current Ethernet device data. The start time will be

automatically offset based on the current resolution setting such that Start Time + Resolution = Current Time. This

screen will automatically update every 10 seconds.

You can also use the navigation arrows shown below to move the time range forward or backward by predefinedamounts (10 minutes, 1 hour, 24 hours).

The current time range is shown to the right of the arrows.

Configuring AmplifiersVaris' Remote Diagnostics allows you to order amplifiers such that it reflects the actual system layout. Each of the

four branches on the main interface can contain a tree of amplifiers with subbranches (See Layout Example).

Note: When a Varis amplifier initially reports in to the diagnostic receiver, it will be

displayed under "Unassigned Amplifiers" until otherwise configured. MultiCOM amplifiers

do not automatically add themselves to the unassigned amplifiers branch. Instead,

MultiCOM amplifiers must be added before amplifier data will be displayed on the

interface. Head end amplifiers with the latest firmware will be automatically added to the

Head Endbranch.

Adding Amplifiers

To add an amplifier to the system, click on theAdd Amp link next to the branch you would like to add the

amplifier to. You should see a screen similar to the one below:


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2.

The New Amplifierform has the following fields:

Amplifier ID - The unique ID number of the amplifier you are adding to the system. TheAmplifier ID

must be in the form of 255.nnn.xxx for Varis Smart Com 150 amplifiers, 254.nnn.xxx for Varis Smart

Com 150IS amplifiers, 100.nnn.xxx for Varis Smart Com 450 amplifiers, and 1.nnn.xxx or 5.nnn.xxx

for MultiCOM amplifiers. Each number "nnn" must be in the range of 0 to 255 and each number "xxx"

must be in the range of 1 to 255.

Location - A general description of the amplifier's location. The Location field is optional but it is

recommended that you enter a meaningful description of the amplifier's physical location. For

example, "2300L Refuge Station".

Branch - The branch you are adding the amplifier to.

Insert - Where to insert the amplifier relative to another amplifier (defined by the "Amp" field). Can

be one of "before", "after", or "as branch under". The InsertandAmp fields are used together to

determine where the amplifier is to be placed in the tree. For example, "Insert before Amp 255.1.6"

would insert the new amplifier before amplifier 255.1.6 in the tree. To simulate a splitter between

amplifiers, you would select "Insert as branch under Amp 255.1.6" (See Layout Example).

Amp - The related amplifier.

Click the Save button to commit the changes. The main page should now contain your newly added

amplifier.

Note: You can also add amplifiers by clicking on one of the buttons next to

the amplifiers. This will automatically setup the new amplifier form to insert after

the amplifier you clicked the button for. For example, clicking next to amplifier

255.1.6 will automatically preselect the InsertandAmp fields on the new

amplifier form to read "Insert after Amp 255.1.6. This makes it quicker and easier

to add amplifiers one after another.


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5.2

5.3

Editing Amplifiers

To edit an amplifier, click the corresponding edit button (same row as amp) to open the edit amplifier form. The

edit screen allows you to change the amplifier ID, location descriptor and placement of the amplifier.

Select the icon to change the amplifier ID to a new ID or the ID of any amplifier in the Unassigned Amplifiers

branch. The amplifier being replaced will be moved to the Unassigned Amplifiers branch.

Deleting Amplifiers

In order to delete an amplifier, click on the delete button next to it. You will be asked to confirm removal of the

amplifier. Click OKto delete the amplifier and return to the main page.

Note: An amplifier with subbranches must have an amplifier above it (in the listing) before

it can be deleted. Otherwise, each subbranch amplifier must be first deleted. If amplifier

255.1.11 were deleted from the listing shown below, amplifier 255.1.12 would replace it's

position in the tree structure.


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You can also delete all the amplifiers in the system by clicking theAdmin link in the upper right-hand corner of the

page and then clicking on theAmplifiers link. This will open the Amplifiers administration page, shown below.


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5.4

1.

2.

3.

Click on the Delete all amplifiers link to permanently delete all amplifiers. Warning: this cannot be undone!

Defining the Head End Amplifier (Smart Com 150/150IS Only)

Newer versions of the amplifier firmware allow the RD web server to differentiate between line and head end

amplifiers. Based on the amplifier type, the RD web server will either automatically populate the Head Endbranch

or add the new amplifier to the Unassigned Amplifiers branch. If the Head End amplifier is added to the

Unassigned Amplifiers branch (older firmware), it must be configured according to the following procedure.


http://127.0.0.1/).


Click on the Editbutton under the HEAD END section and you should see a screen similar to the

following.


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4.

5.

5.5

From the Change to drop down menu, select the amplifier you would like to set as the Head End. If there

are no amplifiers in the system yet, see the Adding Amplifiers section. You may also enter the location of

the Head End in the Location field.

Click the Save button to commit the changes.

Ordering Branches

Amplifiers may be branched from a single amplifier to represent splitters in your system. These branches can be

reordered by selecting the icon next to the parent amplifier. This is shown below next to amplifier 255.1.11.


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A screen similar to the one below should be displayed.


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5.6

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Move the branches into proper order and save changes.

Layout Example

The following procedure describes how to add amplifiers to the main interface such that they represent the

following layout. Amplifier 255.0.1 is the head-end amp and only two of four possible branches are shown.


Click on theAdd Amp link from the Unassigned Amplifiers title bar. Type in the head end amplifier ID and

save the changes. Amplifier 255.0.1 will now be listed underUnassigned Amplifiers.

Next, click on the Editbutton under the HEAD END section. Select amplifier 255.0.1 from the Change

to drop down box. Give the amplifier a location descriptor. Please note that the head end amplifier may

be automatically added with newer versions of the amplifier firmware (See Defining the Head End

Amplifierfor more information).

Add amplifier 255.0.2 to Branch 1 by clicking theAdd Amp link from the Branch 1 title bar.

Add amplifier 255.0.3 by clicking on the Add Amp icon next to amplifier 255.0.2.

Add amplifier 255.0.4 to Branch 2 by clicking theAdd Amp link from the Branch 2 title bar.


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7.

8.

5.7

Add amplifier 255.0.5 by clicking on the Add Amp icon next to amplifier 255.0.4.

Add amplifier 255.0.6 as a branch under 255.0.4 by clicking on the Add Amp icon next to amplifier

255.0.4. SelectAs Branch Underfrom the Insert drop down box. Save changes.

The amplifier listing shown below reflects the actual amplifier layout.

Unassigning Amplifiers

Removing a single amplifier from a branch and placing it in the Unassigned Amplifiers branch can be

accomplished by clicking the edit icon ( ) next to the amplifier you would like to remove. This will open the Edit

Amplifier box as shown below:


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Next, select Unassigned Amplifiers for the Branch and click Save.

It is also possible to unassign all amplifiers in a branch, or even all amplifiers in the system all at once. To do this,

click on theAdmin link in the upper right-hand corner of the page and then click on theAmplifiers link. This will

open the Amplifiers administration page, shown below.


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5.8

Next, click the Unassign all amplifiers link to unassign all amplifiers in the system. Or, choose a branch (1-4) from

the drop down menu.

Adjusting Atttenuation Settings (Smart Com 450/450IS Only)

To adjust the CMTS attenuation settings for an amplifier, click on an amplifier number from the main page. This will

open the Amplifier Options dialog shown below.

Click on theAdjust attenuation settings link to display the Attenuation Settings dialog shown below.


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6

6.1

1.

The dialog displays the current Upstream and Downstream CMTS attenuation settings along with corresponding

recommended values for each. The recommended value is calculated from the voice channel attenuation. Clicking

on the help button displays a table showing the complete list of recommended values. To change the

attenuation settings, edit the value in the corresponding text box and click the Save button.

Configuring Ethernet Devices

Varis' Remote Diagnostics allows you to view CMTS and cable modem diagnostic data on systems equipped with

these devices.

Before you can receive Ethernet diagnostic information, you must first add the CMTS to the RD webserver. Once

the CMTS is added, all of it's attached cable modems will show up automatically.

Adding a CMTS

To add the CMTS to the system, click on theAdd CMTS link next to the Ethernet branch . You should see

a screen similar to the one below:


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2.

6.2

The New CMTSform has the following fields:

IP Address - The IP address of the CMTS you are adding to the system.

Location - A general description of the CMTS location. The Location field is optional but it is

recommended that you enter a meaningful description of the CMTS's physical location. For

example, "Base Station".

Click the Save button to commit the changes. The main page should now contain your newly added

CMTS.

Editing Ethernet Devices

To edit the CMTS click the corresponding edit button . The edit CMTS form allows you to change the IP address

and location descriptor of the CMTS.

To edit a cable modem click the corresponding edit button . The edit cable modem form allows you to change


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6.3

Chapter 7:

the location descriptor of the cable modem only.

Deleting Ethernet Devices

In order to delete an Ethernet device, click on the delete button next to it.

Note: If you delete the CMTS, you will also delete all of its attached cable modems. You

will need to re-add a CMTS in order to get Ethernet diagnostics information (See Adding a

CMTS). If you delete a cable modem, and it is still physically connected to the system, it will

reappear after a couple of minutes.

Understanding Smart Com 150/150IS

Amplifier Data

The amplifier ID, location, RF downstream signal strength, RF upstream signal strength, attenuator setting, mode,

voltage, and time since last report are displayed for each amplifier. Following is a description of these data reports.

Amplifier Number: This is a unique 24 bit identifier which has been programmed into each amplifier (i.e.,

255.0.100 - Varis, 1.68.108 - MultiCOM). TheAmplifier ID must be a valid ID number in the form of 255.nnn.nnn for

Smart Com 150 amplifiers, 254.nnn.nnn for Smart Com 150IS amplifiers and 1.nnn.nnn or 5.nnn.nnn for MultiCOM

amplifiers. Varis amplifiers are indicated by a icon while MultiCOM amplifiers are indicated by a icon.

Location:

Down

indicates signal presence and strength. In a properly functioning Varis system, RF Down can vary from -16 dBm

(no signal present) to +6 dBm (signal present) for line amplifiers in a non-piloted system. The output signal strength

during signal transmission can vary between +2 and +6 dBm (Varis line amplifier). Please note that Varis head end

amplifiers have an output signal strength 5 dBm higher than line amplifiers. This information is available for both

Varis and MultiCOM amplifiers.

Up: This value shows the RF upstream signal strength (dBm). This information is available for MultiCOM amplifiers

only ("--" is displayed for Varis amplifiers).

Atten: This value is shown for Varis amplifiers only ("--" is displayed for MultiCOM amplifiers). This shows the

Automatic mode, the attenuation applied by the CPU is displayed. While the amplifier is in manual mode, theAtten

field shows the position of the manual attenuation switch (IC14) located on the amplifier board. An attenuation

value of 0 dB indicates that the amplifiers gain is at 100%. Alternately, an attenuation of 15 dB indicates that

maximum attenuation is being applied by the amplifier.

Note: An attenuation of 5 dB or more indicates that this amplifier has enough gain that it

could possibly be moved further out along the Smart Com system. Contact a Varis

technician for more information.

Varis Modes: This data field indicates whether the amplifier is running in Automatic or Manual mode. The

amplifiers mode setting is determined by the position of the mode jumper (JU30) on the front of the amplifier board.

controlled by the position of the attenuation switch (IC14).


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1.

2.

3.

4.

Chapter 8:

MultiCOM Modes: MultiCOM amplifiers may display several modes depending on the position of the Mode

umper/switch and the Return pilot generation feature. Valid modes and their jumper/switch position are shown in

the following table.

MultiCOM Modes

Mode Description

IN Position 1 - This amplifier detects a Return pilot and has disabled its pilot generation

feature (See Note 3).

IP Position 1 - The amplifier does not detect a Return pilot and has generated its own pilot

(See Note 4).

BN Position 7 - This amplifier is in "Branch Mode" and is operating at maximum gain.

Ensure 350 meter spacing is strictly adhered to. (See Note 1)

RP Position 8 - This amplifier's Return pilot (175.000 MHz) has been enabled (See Note 2).

NJ No jumper is installed. Immediate repair is required.

**All other modes are factory settings and should not be used.

Notes:

For any branch with less than 5 amplifiers, select jumper position 7. This will cause the amplifier to run at

full gain and may increase the overall Return noise floor, but is preferable to having another pilot for the

branch. This will reduce Return pilot noise in a MultiCOM system.

Enable the 175.000 MHz pilot tone for any amplifier at the end of a long branch (more than 6 amplifiers).

Always select jumper position 1 if the amplifier does not meet the criteria outlined in Notes 1 and 2.

Any MultiCOM amplifier in "IP" mode indicates that there is a cabling or pilot fault. Immediate repair is

required.

Voltage: This value indicates the DC Line voltage detected at the amplifier.

Report: The number of minutes that have elapsed since the amplifier last reported to the DRX. A maximum of 24

hours will be displayed.

Understanding Smart Com 450/450IS

Amplifier Data

The amplifier ID, location, RF downstream signal strength, RF upstream RSSI, attenuator settings, mode, voltage,

and time since last report are displayed for each amplifier. Following is a description of these data reports.

Amplifier Number: This is a unique 24 bit identifier which has been programmed into each amplifier (i.e.,

100.0.100). TheAmplifier ID must be a valid ID number in the form of 100.nnn.xxx. Each number "nnn" must be in

the range of 0 to 255 and each number "xxx" must be in the range of 1 to 255.

Location:

Down

indicates signal presence and strength. The target RF Downstream power level for Smart Com 450/450IS

amplifiers is -5 dBm.

RSSI: This value shows the RF upstream signal strength (dBm) as measured at the head end input. Upstream


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Chapter 9:

1

signals leave each amplifier at -20 dBm and should reach the head end between -30 dBm and -42 dBm.

Atten

amplifier is in Automatic mode, the attenuation applied by the CPU is displayed. While the amplifier is in manual

mode, theAtten field shows the position of the manual attenuation switch (SW1) located on the amplifier board.

Clicking on the attenuation value will bring up a screen that shows the attenuation setting for each bandpass:

Voice Downstream, Voice Upstream, CMTS Downstream and CMTS Upstream.

Mode: This data field indicates whether the amplifier is running in Automatic or Manual mode. The amplifiers mode

setting is determined by the position of the mode jumper (JU16) on the front of the amplifier board. While the

switch (SW1).

Voltage: This value indicates the DC Line voltage detected at the amplifier.

Report: The number of minutes that have elapsed since the amplifier last reported. A maximum of 24 hours will be

displayed.

Understanding Ethernet Data

CMTS Data

Downstream power, and time since last report are displayed for the CMTS on the main page. Detailed CMTS info

can be viewed by clicking on the CMTS IP in the device list.


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2

Following is a description of these data reports.

Model: Model name of the CMTS. For example, "C3" refers to the Arris Cadant C3 CMTS.

MAC: The MAC (Media Access Control) address of the CMTS. A MAC is a hardware address that uniquely

identifies each node of a network.

Up Time: The amount of time since the CMTS was last reinitialized.

Down Channel

Power: The downstream channel's transmit power-level from the CMTS.

Frequency: The downstream channel's center frequency.

Width: The bandwidth of the downstream channel.

Modulation: The modulation type associated with the downstream channel (QAM 64 or QAM 256).

Up Channel

Frequency: The center frequency of the upstream channel.

Width: The bandwidth of the upstream channel (3.2 MHz or 6.4 MHz).

Cable Modem Data

Downstream power, upstream power, receive signal-to-noise ratio, lost syncs and time since last report are

displayed for each cable modem on the main page. Detailed cable modem info can be viewed by clicking on thecable modem in the device list. This will bring up the cable modem Info box as shown below:


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Following is a description of these data reports.

Model: Model name of the cable modem. For example, "CM550A" refers to the Arris Touchstone CM550A cable

modem.

MAC: The MAC (Media Access Control) address of the cable modem. A MAC is a hardware address that uniquely

identifies each node of a network.

Up Time: The amount of time since the cable modem was last reinitialized.

Packet Stats

Undamaged: Number of data packets that arrived undamaged.

Corrected: Number of packets that arrived damaged, but could be corrected.

Uncorrectable: Number of packets that arrived so damaged that they were discarded.

Error Rate: The packet error rate (uncorrectable / total packets).

Down Channel

Power: The downstream power level detected at the cable modem.

Frequency: The downstream channel's center frequency.

Width: The bandwidth of the downstream channel.

Modulation: The modulation type associated with the downstream channel. Should be either QAM 64 or QAM

256.

Up Channel

Power: The power level of the upstream channel (transmitted from the cable modem).

Frequency: The center frequency of the upstream channel.

Width: The bandwidth of the upstream channel.


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Chapter 10:

1

1.

2.

3.

Alarms

The web interface will show voltage and RF alarms/warnings for amplifiers as well as various alarms/warnings for

Ethernet devices. These are shown by highlighting the device ID in red (alarm) or orange (warning) and includes a

brief description in the Alarm listing. The value with an alarm/warning condition is also highlighted in red/orange.

Email notification of alarms can be configured (See Mail Settings)

Viewing All Alarms

A complete alarm list can be seen by clicking on the Show Alllink above the message listing.

Deleting All Alarms

To delete all stored alarms, click on the on Show Alllink above the alarm listing on the main page. Next, select the

Clear Alllink from the Alarm listing title bar. It is recommended that alarms which no longer exist in the system be

deleted from the alarm listing. This will ensure that e-mail notification is generated each time a new alarm condition

occurs.

Deleting Individual Alarms

To delete an individual alarm, click on the Show Alllink above the alarm listing on the main page. Next, click on the

delete icon associated with the alarm you want to delete.

Defining Alarm Thresholds

The RD web server allows for complete control over setting alarm thresholds for Smart Com 150/150IS, Smart Com

450/450IS and MultiCOM amplifiers. The following procedure outlines alarm/warning threshold selection.


http://127.0.0.1/).Login to the RD interface as an Administrator (See User Access).

Open the Administration interface by clicking on theAdmin link on the upper right-hand corner of the

page. Next, click onAlarms from the administration menu.


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4.

5.

2

2.1

Enter the desired Low and High alarm/warning threshold values and save the changes. Click on the help

icon to view typical settings for a field.

To reset a particular set of fields back to their defaults, click the Resetbutton next to the row of fields. To

reset ALL of the alarm thresholds, click the Reset Allbutton and save changes.

Note: Cable modem alarm thresholds are not configurable through this interface.

Default ThresholdsAlthough the alarm thresholds can all be customized, the default settings should work for most installations. For

reference, the default thresholds are listed below. After making any changes, you can easily revert back to the

default settings by using the Resetbuttons.

Smart Com 150 Amplifiers

Voltage:

Low Alarm: 8.0 VDC

High Alarm: 37.0 VDC


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2.2

2.3

2.4

RF Downstream:

Low Alarm: -4 dBm (1 dBm for head end amplifiers)

Low Warning: 0 dBm (5 dBm for head end amplifiers)

High Warning: 6 dBm (11 dBm for head end amplifiers)

High Alarm: 7 dBm (12 dBm for head end amplifiers)

Smart Com 150IS Amplifiers

Voltage:

Low Alarm: 5.9 VDC

Low Warning: 7.6 VDC

High Warning: 12.1 VDC


RF Downstream:

Low Alarm: -4 dBm (1 dBm for head end amplifiers)

Low Warning: 0 dBm (5 dBm for head end amplifiers)

High Warning: 6 dBm (11 dBm for head end amplifiers)

High Alarm: 7 dBm (12 dBm for head end amplifiers)

Smart Com 450 Amplifiers

Voltage:

Low Alarm: 6.0 VDC




RF Downstream:

Low Alarm: -8 dBm

Low Warning: -7 dBm

High Warning: -3 dBm

High Alarm: -2 dBm

Smart Com 450IS Amplifiers

Voltage:

Low Alarm: 6.0 VDC



High Alarm: 12 VDC

RF Downstream:

Low Alarm: -8 dBm

Low Warning: -7 dBm

High Warning: -3 dBm

High Alarm: -2 dBm


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2.5

2.6

Chapter 11:

MultiCOM Amplifiers

Voltage:

Low Alarm: 7.5 VDC

Low Warning: 8 VDC

RF Downstream:

Low Alarm: -4 dBm

Low Warning: 0 dBm

RF Upstream:

Low Alarm: -10 dBm

Low Warning: -6 dBm

Cable Modems

Downstream Channel:

Low Alarm: < 5 dBmV

Low Warning: < 10 dBmV

High Alarm: > 15 dBmV

Upstream Channel:

Low Alarm: < 10 dBmV

Low Warning: < 15 dBmV

High Warning: > 40 dBmV

High Alarm: > 45 dBmV

Signal to Noise Ratio:

Low Alarm: < 29

Low Warning: < 35

Database

The Remote Diagnostics web server stores it's data in a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition database. The

Database administration screen allows you to backup the database, or restore the database from a previous

backup. It also allows you to delete old data that may no longer be needed.

It is highly recommended that you make occasional backups of your database file, especially after making

structural changes to the amplifier layout. That way, if there is ever a problem, you can restore the database to a

known working state without having to rebuild your amplifier layout manually.

It is also recommended that you delete old data periodically. This will help conserve disk space and improve

performance of the Remote Diagnostics system.

To access the Database administration screen, you must first be logged in as an Administrator (See User Access).

Next, open the Administration interface by clicking on theAdmin link in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

Then, click on the Database link from the administration menu and you should see a screen similar to the one

shown below:


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1

2

1.

2.

3.

Backing up the database

To backup the database, click on the Backup database link as shown above. You will then be prompted to Open or

Save the file, as shown below.

Click Save and then choose a safe location to save the file.

Restoring the database

To restore the database from a backup, perform the following steps:

Click the Browse... button next to Restore database.

From the Windows file chooser dialog that appears, find and select the backup file you would like to

restore.

Click the Restore button. You will be asked to confirm that you want to overwrite your current database


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Chapter 12:

Chapter 13:

with the file you selected in the previous step. Click OKto proceed.

Searching for Amplifiers

You can search for a particular amplifier by typing the amplifier's ID number into the Find Amplifiersearch box and

pressing Enter. If the amplifier exists in the system it will be highlighted in the amplifier list as shown in the screen

shot below:

Updating Amplifier Firmware

Smart Com 450/450IS amplifiers can have their firmware remotely programmed using the Remote Diagnostics web

interface. When amplifiers are being programmed, the system will not receive new amplifier diagnostics data until

the programming is complete.

From theAdministration menu, click on the Amplifiers tab and then select the Smart Com 450tab. This will display

the 450 amplifier list in a table as shown below:


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1

The amplifier table displays the amplifier ID, Firmware version, Board Revision, the Last Report time, and whether

the amplifier is currently in Programing Mode or not. When an amplifier is being programmed, it is put into

Programming Mode and can only respond to programming commands and thus will not respond to requests for

diagnostics data. If the firmware update fails or the serial connection is interruped, the amplifer will remain in

Programming Mode until is successfully programmed. Amplfiers that are in Programming mode are highlighted in

red:

Select amplifiers

Select the amplifiers to be updated by clicking on the checkbox next the amplifier ID. You can select all amplifiers


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2

3

Chapter 14:

in the list by clicking the checkbox in the header.

Select new firmware file

Click the Update Selectedbutton and then browse your computer's file system for the new firmware file to be used.

Update firmware

Click the Update button to begin updating the firmware on the selected amplifiers. The selected amplifiers will be

updated sequentially.

If the firmware update was successful, you will see the following screen:

System Settings

To access the System Settings page, click onAdmin and then the System tab.


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On this screen, you can change various system settings. Each of the fields are described below:

Site name: The Site Name is usually set to the name of the mine or tunnel where the system is installed. This

is displayed along the top of every screen.

System type: The System Type box is used to select the type of Smart Com Leaky Feeder system that is

installed. 150, 450 or 150 and 450 if both types of systems are installed.

UDP port: 150/150IS only - The UDP port is the port on the server PC used to receive data from the DRX unit

and should be left to the default value of 4322 unless there is a conflict with another application.

DRX alarming: If checked, this option will set the DRX alarm state on/off depending on the alarm state of the

diagnostics system.COM port: 450/450IS only - The COM port to use on the server for serial communications with the Head End.

Baud rate: 450/450IS only - The baud rate to use for the serial connection to the Head End.

Poll delay: 450/450IS only - This value controls how long the system waits between complete system polls. If

there is a small number of amplifiers in the system, this value should be increased to reduce the amount of

time the amplifier spends responding to diagnostics data requests.

Poll timeout: 450/450IS only - This value determines how long the system should wait to get a response from

an amplifier. If the server is connected to the Head End via serial-ethernet convertors for example, there can

be a significant delay in communications, and the timeout value may need to be increased. Increasing this

value will cause an increase in the time it takes to do a complete system refresh (retrieve data from all

amplifiers in the system).


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Chapter 15:

Chapter 16:

Printing

In order to generate a printable list of amplifiers click on the Print icon below the Find Amplifier search box near

the top of the page. This will display the amplifiers in a printer friendly layout.

To print this page go to the browser's menu and click File, then Print. It is recommended that the page layout be set

to landscape in order for all amplifier data to fit on the page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How often will each amplifier report to the diagnostic receiver?

Each Varis amplifier will report in to the diagnostic receiver approximately every 4-8 minutes. This default report

time varies between amplifiers to minimize data loss through transmission collisions.

Why are all amplifiers being reported as Unassigned?

Varis (not MultiCOM) amplifiers automatically add themselves to the UNASSIGNED AMPLIFIERS branch when

they first call in (See Configuring Amplifiers).

What are the differences between Varis and MultiCOM amplifiers?

MultiCOM amplifiers have AGC (Automatic Gain Control) in both the Forward (Down) and Return (Up) directions. A

MultiCOM system usually generates a pilot in each amplifier at the end of a long branch (more than 6 amplifiers).

The combination of several Return pilots (175.000 MHz+/-100 kHz) at splitters and at the Head End increases

noise in the 172-174 MHz band and significantly reduces signal to noise ratio, thereby reducing cable range (350

meters).

Varis AGC amplifiers do not require the generation or maintenance of pilot tones. Varis amplifiers can be used to

replace the "main trunk" of MultiCOM amplifiers and the MultiCOM amplifiers can be re-deployed on smallerbranches. This has the following benefits:

No pilot required in the "main trunk" reduces Return pilot noise.

Varis 500 meter spacing means fewer amplifiers, less noise and greater range from the cable.

Local Diagnostic LED's show system status immediately without special training or tools.

More consistent amplification of channels as Varis' 15 MHz Bandpass is completely flat over the 2.4 MHz

MultiCOM operating range.

Why does the DRX Status show a warning icon even after configuring the DRX?

If the DRX Status indicates there is no communication from the DRX ( ), there are a number of things you should

check:

Make sure the network cables are connected and/or not loose.

Check that the DRX is correctly configured for the network. Use thepingcommand to verify that you can "see"

the DRX from the web server.

Verify that you entered the correct Web Server IP address on the DRX.

If you have a firewall running on the web server or somewhere between the web server and the DRX, you

must configure it to allow UDP packets through on port 4322.

For example, in Windows XP, open the Windows Firewall dialog from the Control Panel. Click on the

Exceptions tab, then theAdd Port... button. For the Name, enter "Remote Diagnostics UDP" and for the Port

Number, enter 4322. Also make sure you check the UDPradio button. Finally, click OKto save the changes.


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Chapter 17: Technical Support

For more information about Varis' Remote Diagnostics please contact us at [email protected].

Varis - Smart Underground Communications

22 Brady Street, Unit 4

Sudbury,Ontario, Canada P3E 6E1

Tel: 705-674-8111

Fax: 705-674-7834

Toll free: 877-658-2747

Website: www.varismine.com

Documents

Varis Remote Diagnostics Manual