G3P-R232 User Manual Release. 2.06 1
INDEX 1. RELEASE HISTORY... 3 1.1. Release 1.01... 3 1.2. Release 2.01... 3 1.3. Release 2.02... 3 1.4. Release 2.03... 3 1.5. Release 2.04... 3 1.6. Release 2.05... 3 1.7. Release 2.06... 3 2. GENERAL FEATURES... 4 3. CONTROL SIGNALS... 4 4. ORDER CODES... 5 5. RS232/485 CABLE REPLACEMENT... 5 5.1. One to one mode... 6 5.2. Broadcast mode.... 6 5.2.1. Broadcast speed mode... 6 5.2.2. Broadcast secure mode... 7 5.3. Mesh systems.... 8 5.3.1. Hardware mesh... 8 5.3.2. Software mesh... 9 6. MODULE CONFIGURATION... 10 7. MODULE TEST... 10 7.1. Test commands.... 10 7.2. Generate a fixed carrier.... 11 8. CONFIGURATION COMMANDS... 12 9. COMMANDS DESCRIPTION.... 13 10. RADIO CHANNELS.... 15 11. USE EXAMPLE... 16 11.1. Set the modules... 16 11.2. On air average speed... 17 12. DUTY CYCLE CALCULATION... 18 12.1. Duty cycle verify... 18 13. ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS... 19 14. ASSEMBLY... 20 14.1. Connector assembly... 21 14.2. Smd assembly... 21 14.3. Physical dimensions... 21 2
1. RELEASE HISTORY 1.1. Release 1.01 First release. 1.2. Release 2.01 Optimized transfer speed and protocol commands for a cable replacement application. Not on air compatible with the 1.01 release. 1.3. Release 2.02 Added auto power control for 868MHz channel #5. 1.4. Release 2.03 Calibrated the internal timing to better avoid noise. Increased security into Broadcast Secure Mode. Revised the latency from 500mS fixed to 30 characters time. 1.5. Release 2.04 Bug fixed in storing channel number. 1.6. Release 2.05 Beta release of 2.06. 1.7. Release 2.06 Added AES 128 encryption standard and rolling. Optimized latency and bitrate. Added commands for software mesh. Added radio power set command. Added sleep mode. 3
2. GENERAL FEATURES The G3P R232 modules are a fully integrated transceiver for radio communications for the low frequency (433 or 868MHz ISM band). Based on the G3P-R Family uses the same low level radio features. This module provide a cable less application. Can drive a 232 or 485 interface for cable replacement. The sub 1GHz frequency allows a long range also with obstacles. Operating at 3,3 V CMOS power supply, G3P modules have an asynchronous serial interface. Power levels: Power Supply 2.2-3.6 V Supply current active mode @3V 16.5 ma RF maximum power 10 dbm RF sensitivity -100 dbm Serial Baud Rate 1200-115200 bbs Temperature range -40 +75 C Four Tx power levels can be set Command C073 +10dBm Command C072 +6 dbm Command C071-2 dbm Command C070-10dBm 3. CONTROL SIGNALS Pin Function I/O 1 Vcc 2.2V-3.6V 2 GND 3 Com/Data I 4 Rx I 5 485 dir O 6 Busy O 7 /Rts O 8 Tx O 9 Reset I 10 Reserved 3.3 cm x 2 cm The serial input buffer is 512 byte long. Can be used the output RTS to transfer data larger than 512 bytes. The latency before begin a radio transmission is the time for 30 bytes at the selected speed. Ex. At 9600 baud every character takes 1.04mS. The total latency at 9600 baud is 1.04 x 30 = 31.2mS The Vcc range is from 2V to 3,6V. Rx and Tx signal are Cmos at Vcc level and operating in asynchronous mode 8N1. Unused input pins must not be unconnected. 4
*Reset Input pin, is the active low module reset. The module parameters are set to default Rx Asynchronous serial RX input. Tx Asynchronous serial TX output. Busy Output pin. Active high busy signal, means that the module is processing the last command. Wait this signal to zero before send any command. Used in command mode to set the module. /RTS Active low Request to Send. Com/Data Switch from command mode (pin low) to data mode (pin high). Use command mode to set the module, data mode for communication. 485 dir Direction signal for 485 drivers. This signal can be configured active high or low by software. High=Tx to be used with 3.3V drivers. Low=Tx to be used with an external interface transistor with 5V drivers. 4. ORDER CODES Code Band Antenna Connection G3P-R232-433 433 MHz Wire Connector G3P-R232-433-S 433 MHz Wire Smd G3P-R232-868 868 MHz Wire Connector G3P-R232-868-S 868 MHz Wire Smd G3P-R232-433-E 433 MHz UFL Connector G3P-R232-433-SE 433 MHz UFL Smd G3P-R232-868-E 868 MHz UFL Connector G3P-R232-868-SE 868 MHz UFL Smd 5. RS232/485 CABLE REPLACEMENT This stack allows a half duplex serial communication. The pin COM/DATA must be used at least one time low to set the module. Connect the pin COM/DATA to GND, then send to the module the initialization commands. The G3P module support three different communication modes: One to one with AKN handshake. Broadcast speed mode. Broadcast secure mode. Each mode can be selected using a specific configuration command. 5
5.1. One to one mode. This communication system is the best for security, an AKN will be expected after every block transmission. A repetition will be applied in case of no AKN reception. Used for: RS232 USB virtual com. RS485 with two devices. A A 120 120 B B 5.2. Broadcast mode. This communication system is used in RS485 with many devices. B A B A B A A A 120 120 B B The broadcast communication is less secure in front of the one to one AKN mode. The risk is that some device loses some data. G3P allows to configure two different broadcast modes, broadcast speed mode and broadcast secure mode. 5.2.1. Broadcast speed mode This mode used with RS485 bus, is optimized for speed. Every data frame will be transmitted only one. No AKN will be expected. Useful when after sending data an answer will be expected. 6
5.2.2. Broadcast secure mode This mode used with RS485 bus, is optimized for security. Every data frame will be transmitted always twice. The module will filter the double data. This mode allows to receive even if there is a frame lost. No AKN will be expected. The risk to loose data is less but the medium speed will be lower. 7
5.3. Mesh systems. It is possible to use two mesh systems, one hardware and the other software. The hardware mesh uses some repeaters and allows continuous and long communications. The Software mesh needs short communications and does not require extra hardware. 5.3.1. Hardware mesh For the hardware mesh it is necessary put a repeater (a boxed G3P product) to extend the operating area. Every new area will use a new radio channel. 17 radio channels with 1% duty are available. There are no limits to the repeaters number. Every repeater introduce the latency typical of the mode in use. See chapter 11.2 for latency details. The hardware mesh needs the hardware repeater, but is transparent for the user. All the different areas are always online even if on different channels. Sending data into a module, the every module will receive. There is no limit for the data number transferred at once. 8
5.3.2. Software mesh The software mesh is based on the concept to use the same radio channel and set some modules as repeaters. A module set as repeaters acts simultaneously as normal module and repeater. The advantage of the software system is that it is possible to set more than one repeater for security. For a proper mesh it is necessary to limit the number of bytes transmitted at once to maximum 29 bytes without AES encryption, 16 bytes maximum with AES encryption enabled. The software mesh works only in broadcast mode, for AKN mode use the hardware mesh. Double messages due to the reception of the original one and the repeated one, are filtered if the delay is 500mS maximum. Otherwise a double messages will be received. To active in a module the mesh function two commands are required: - Command C04 enables or disables the repeater function. - Command C05 to set the ms delay before repeat the message. set 500mS max to avoid double messages. In the example above, for security two modules per area are set as repeater. The first will be set to repeat after 20mS for example and the second after 50ms. The global delay in this case will be 50ms + the typical latency (see 12.2 table). With this system the data transferred at once must be max 29 or 16 bytes. All the network will use the same radio channel, this in the 868MHz band allow to use the channel #5 that have no duty limit. 9
6. MODULE CONFIGURATION & SLEEP MODE Setting the pin COM/DATA low, the module enter into command mode. Few ascii commands allow to set the module. After setting the module, put the pin COM/DATA high, now all the data sent will be transmitted. The pin COM/DATA also allows to go in SLEEP MODE if enabled. The command C08 enables the sleep function setting the filter time in ms, or disable. The default status is SLEEP MODE not active, as in the previous firmware releases. To activate the SLEEP MODE function is necessary send the command (pin COM/DATA low) C08nnn, where nnn id a decimal number in ms. If nnn=000, the sleep mode will be DISABLED, otherwise nnn is the filter time in ms. A low pulse of the pin COM/DATA will turn the module in sleep mode if less then filter time. The pin BUSY high indicates sleep status. Example set time 50mS, send C08050. 7. MODULE TEST To test a module set the pin COM/DATA low. 7.1. Test commands. To test the first time a G3P module, are available the following commands: C80 Set a fixed carrier (send C801) and reset a carrier (send C800). This command is intended for antenna testing. C85 The module answers with an asterisk. This command is useful to test if the module is alive. To test the first time the G3P module, connect to a PC or to a microcontroller. Use the debug ASCII commands to test the serial communication and the control lines if used. The debug commands allow also to generate a fixed carrier for antenna test. 10
7.2. Generate a fixed carrier. To generate a fixed carrier must be set the proper channel with the command C00. Then the carrier can be activated or deactivated with the command C80. Note: By law is not allowed to generate a fixed carrier for long time. Use this feature only for antenna testing and switch off the carrier as soon as possible. The module does not switch off the carrier automatically. To set the channel send C06xx, where xx is a two digit number. 433Mhz C0601 Channel 1 433.1 MHz C0602 Channel 2 433.2 MHz C0603 Channel 3 433.3 MHz C0604 Channel 4 433.4 MHz C0605 Channel 5 433.5 MHz C0606 Channel 6 433.6 MHz C0607 Channel 7 433.7 MHz C0608 Channel 8 433.8 MHz C0609 Channel 9 433.9 MHz C0610 Channel 10 434.0 MHz C0611 Channel 11 434.1 MHz C0612 Channel 12 434.2 MHz C0613 Channel 13 434.3 MHz C0614 Channel 14 434.4 MHz C0615 Channel 15 434.5 MHz C0616 Channel 16 434.6 MHz C0617 Channel 17 434.7 MHz 868Mhz C0601 Channel 1 868.2 MHz C0602 Channel 2 868.4 MHz C0603 Channel 3 868.8 MHz C0604 Channel 4 869.0 MHz C0605 Channel 5 869.8 MHz C0606 Channel 6 865.2 MHz C0607 Channel 7 865.4 MHz C0608 Channel 8 865.6 MHz C0609 Channel 9 865.8 MHz C0610 Channel 10 866.0 MHz C0611 Channel 11 866.2 MHz C0612 Channel 12 866.4 MHz C0613 Channel 13 866.6 MHz C0614 Channel 14 866.8 MHz C0615 Channel 15 867.0 MHz C0616 Channel 16 867.2 MHz C0617 Channel 17 867.4 MHz C0618 Channel 18 867.6 MHz C0619 Channel 19 867.8 MHz C0620 Channel 20 868.0 MHz Type C801 to switch the carrier ON. Type C800 to switch the carrier OFF. Note: Remember to switch off the carrier after the test with the command C800. 11
8. CONFIGURATION COMMANDS The following table shows the software commands; parameters and commands are ASCII codes. No characters or CR/LF can be inserted. Ex: to set channel # 12, use C0612 sending the ASCII codes 67, 48, 54, 49, 50 Point to Point Commands 433 MHz 868MHz Command Parameters Function Range Default Range Default C01 NNN Set network ID 000-255 224 000-255 224 C02 N Set Broad/Akn mode 0-2 0 0-2 0 C03 N Set Baud rate to 1200-115200 (N=0-7) 0-7 9600 0-7 9600 C04 N Enable/Disable repeater mode 0/1 0 0/1 0 C05 NNN Set the ms delay for repeater mode 0-999 50 0-999 50 C06 NN Set the radio channel. 01-17 1 01-20 1 C07 N Set TX power 0/3 3 0/3 3 C08 NNN Set, Enable, Disable sleep mode 0-999 0 0-999 0 C09 N Set Tx DIR polarity. 0/1 Tx=1 0/1 Tx=1 C45 C46 Store set up and Baud rate Set default setup and baud rate C50 N Set AES 128 off/on/auto 0/2 0 0/2 0 C51 N0..N15 Set 16 bytes key for AES encryption C54 Send the model type of the module 12
9. COMMANDS DESCRIPTION. C01 Set the network ID. The network ID is a number in the field 0-255. Set this value if two different networks are in the same radio area. Ex: Network ID 125 C01125 C02 Set the communication mode: C020 Set Broadcast speed mode. C021 Set Broadcast secure mode. C022 Set AKN mode. C03 Set the serial communication baud rate. The baud rate will be permanently changed. The following parameter defines the new baud rate like: 0 1200 8N1 1 2400 8N1 2 4800 8N1 3 9600 8N1 default 4 19200 8N1 5 38400 8N1 6 57600 8N1 7 115200 8N1 Ex: C035 Set baud rate to 38400 8N1. C04 Enable or disable the repeater function. When activated the module will works normally as before. When receives data, will output on the serial interface and after the time define by the command C05, will repeat the data on air. Ex: Enable repeater function C041 Disable repeater function C040 C05 Sets the delay before retransmit data in the repeater mode. Set the ms delay as long enough to do not make interference with the incoming data or other repeater modules. Ex: Set the repeater delay to 80mS. C05080 13
C06 Sets the radio channel. If a not preview channel is set, the command will be ignored. For 433MHz module the channels are 17, for the 868MHz one 20. Ex: To use the channel number 12 C0612 C07 Sets the TX power level. 0-10 dbm 1-2 dbm 2 +6 dbm 3 +10 dbm Limited to 6dBm if channel #5 is selected in 868MHz Band. Ex: power transmission +10 dbm C073 C08 Enable or disable sleep mode. The parameter nnn is a three digits decimal number of the filter in ms. nnn=0 disable sleep functions. nnn!=0 set the time filter in ms and enable function. Ex: C090 C091 enable sleep function with 50mS filter C08050 Disable sleep function C08000 Set TX=0, Rx=1 Set TX=1, Rx=0 C09 Set the DIR pin polarity for 485 interface. C090 Set TX=0, Rx=1 C091 Set TX=1, Rx=0 Use C091 if a 3.3V 485 driver is used, a direct dir connection will be allowed. Use C900 if a 5V 485 driver is used and will be necessary an interface transistor. C50 N Set AES encryption N=0 off, N=1 on, N=2 on auto Turn on/off the AES 128 bit encryption. In the state ON will be used the key loaded with the command C51. In the state ON AUTO, the key will automatically change every 16 bytes transmitted. Only the first 8 characters of the C51 key will be used. The last 8 character are generated automatically. Ex: Enable AES encryption standard with 16 bytes fixed key. C501 Enable AES encryption automatic 8 bytes random key. C502 14
C51 N0 N15 Set 16 bytes key for AES encryption Set the AES 128 bit encryption key. The key must be 16 bytes long. If AES 128 will be activated in auto mode (Command C502), only the first 8 characters will be used. The last 8 characters will be generated random by the module. Ex: Set the AES key like abcdefghijklmnop. C51abcdefghijklmnop C54 Send the model type of the module and the software release. Ex: C54 Answer: G3P-R232-868 R203CR+LF Means Frequency 868MHz, 232 Network, Software release 2.03 10. RADIO CHANNELS. The following table show the channels band for communication for 433 MHz Channel # f min f0 f max Duty dbm 1 433.05 433.1 433.15 10% 10 2 433.15 433.2 433.25 10% 10 3 433.25 433.3 433.35 10% 10 4 433.35 433.4 433.45 10% 10 5 433.45 433.5 433.55 10% 10 6 433.55 433.6 433.65 10% 10 7 433.65 433.7 433.75 10% 10 8 433.75 433.8 433.85 10% 10 9 433.85 433.9 433.95 10% 10 10 433.95 434.0 434.05 10% 10 11 434.05 434.1 434.15 10% 10 12 434.15 434.2 434.25 10% 10 13 434.25 434.3 434.35 10% 10 14 434.35 434.4 434.45 10% 10 15 434.45 434.5 434.55 10% 10 16 434.55 434.6 434.65 10% 10 17 434.65 434.7 434.75 10% 10 The following table show the channels band for communication for 868 MHz Channel # f min f0 f max Duty dbm Channel # f min f0 f max Duty dbm 1 868.1 868.2 868.3 1% 10 11 866.1 866.2 866.3 1% 10 2 868.3 868.4 868.5 1% 10 12 866.3 866.4 866.5 1% 10 3 868.7 868.8 868.9 0.1% 10 13 866.5 866.6 866.7 1% 10 4 868.9 869.0 869.1 0.1% 10 14 866.7 866.8 866.9 1% 10 5 869.7 869.8 869.9 100% 6 15 866.9 867.0 867.1 1% 10 6 865.1 865.2 865.3 1% 10 16 867.1 867.2 867.3 1% 10 7 865.3 865.4 865.5 1% 10 17 867.3 867.4 867.5 1% 10 8 865.5 865.6 865.7 1% 10 18 867.5 867.6 867.7 1% 10 9 865.7 865.8 865.9 1% 10 19 867.7 867.8 867.9 1% 10 10 865.9 866.0 866.1 1% 10 20 867.9 868.0 868-1 1% 10 15
11. USE EXAMPLE This chapter explains a typical setup and use of two modules. 11.1. Set the modules To set each module, connect to a PC or to a microcontroller: Pin 1 Vcc 3V Pin 2 GND Pin 3 COM/DATA Connected to GND Pin 4 Rx Pin 5 485 DIR Leave open Pin 6 BUSY Pin 7 *RTS Connect to *CTS or leave open Pin 8 Tx Pin 9 Reset Leave open Pin 10 Reserved Leave open Send the following commands using a terminal emulator or a program. The bolded values used are an example. Open the com interface as 9600,8,N,1 CTS/RTS Command Note C035 Set baud rate to 38400 if required a baud rate different from 9600. Change the baud rate to 38400,8,N,1 CTS/RTS C01123 Set the network ID to 123 if two or more network are in the same area. C0601 Set the radio channel 01. C092 Set AKN mode. C45 Store setup. Now connect the pin COM/DATA high and use as a cable replacement. 16
11.2. On air average speed The medium radio transfer speed depends by the used mode. Generally a good radio link provides an average speed less than the serial one. This fact is due to the necessity to have the time to switch the noise. In the following tables the average speed (Bit per Seconds unit) has been measured with a 50k bytes transfer file. The column Max bytes reports the maximum number of bytes that can be transferred without using the RTS signal. Using the RTS, there is no limit to the number of bytes to transfer. Radio noise can reduce the medium speed. Broadcast speed AES 128 OFF AES 128 ON Baud rate Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms 1200 1200 50000 250 960 2700 185 2400 2400 50000 129 1650 1700 119 4800 4020 3250 70 2550 1150 85 9600 8950 7900 39 3350 840 68 19200 18050 9100 24 4250 700 60 38400 28350 1220 14 4800 550 55 57600 40150 650 14 5150 540 55 115200 42300 320 11 5250 320 55 Broadcast secure AES 128 OFF AES 128 ON Baud rate Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms 1200 1200 50000 250 850 1850 185 2400 2400 50000 130 1290 1150 118 4800 4520 9300 70 1800 860 86 9600 6850 1850 39 2550 720 68 19200 7950 920 24 2700 640 61 38400 8550 660 15 3250 590 56 57600 8750 550 13 3260 510 55 115200 8850 310 11 3280 310 55 17
AKN AES 128 OFF AES 128 ON Baud rate Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms Average bitrate Max bytes Latency ms 1200 1150 27180 258 950 2600 193 2400 2250 11150 137 1580 1550 126 4800 4250 4850 77 1800 880 92 9600 7750 2860 46 1830 670 75 19200 12900 1640 31 1835 600 67 38400 19400 860 22 1840 560 63 57600 20400 570 21 1845 500 62 115200 20400 326 18 1850 310 62 12. DUTY CYCLE CALCULATION It is mandatory by law to respect the maximum transmission duty cycle allowed. See the radio channel chapter for details. 868MHz band: - Channels 1,2 and 6 to 20 Duty cycle 1% - Channels 3,4 Duty cycle 0.1% - Channel 5 Duty cycle 100%, limited to 5mW. 433MHz band: Channels 1 to 17 Duty cycle 10%. 12.1. Duty cycle verify To verify the duty cycle, must be calculated the maximum bytes number allowed to transmit in an hour. The AVERAGE BITRATE is the referring value to use for a real calculation. For example in Broadcast Speed mode, 9600 baud, AES 128 disabled, the average bitrate is 8900 bps. 8900bps * 10 = 890 bytes / sec. Duty 10% means 360 sec/h, 890 * 360 = 320400 bytes/h Duty 1% means 36 sec/h, 890 * 36 = 32040 bytes/h Remember that channel #5 in 868MHz band allows 100% duty cycle with a maximum power of 5mW. 18
13. ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS Parameter Notes Min. Typ. Max. Units Supply Voltage 2.2V 3.6V V Operating Temperature -40 +85 C Rx Supply Current 16.5 ma Sleep Supply Current 2 ua Tx Supply Current @ 10dBm 30 ma Tx Supply Current @ 6dBm 22 ma Tx Supply Current @ -2dBm 16.5 ma Tx Supply Current @ -10dBm 13.8 ma Frequency deviation ±42 ±50 ±58 khz Data rate a 50 kbps Channel spacing for 433MHz band 100 khz Channel spacing for 868/915MHz band 200 khz Sensitivity at 0.1%BER -100 dbm a. Data is Manchester encoded before GFSK modulation. 19
14. ASSEMBLY The modules allow a connector or smd assembly. For a proper use some rules must respected: 1. If the module is assembled planar with the board, under the module any CS connection, component, power or ground plane can be placed. Under the module the board CS must be wide. 2. Over the module do not place LCDs or other modules that can act as a Faraday shield. 3. Place the module near the card border to allow the RF signal to exit outside with the shortest distance possible. 4. If a wire antenna is used, solder the antenna (17cm @433MHz, 8cm @868MHz) directly on the antenna hole. The wire antenna can be turned if there is not enough space, will only be reduced the maximum distance. 5. If the module is assembled in SMD mode, provide 3 holes under the module corresponding to the antenna solder ing point and to the pushbutton in the G3P-RIO version. This will guarantee a proper planar contact between the module and the customer PCB. 20
14.1. Connector assembly The module is sold WITHOUT connector, if a connector is required can be soldered by the customer a male 2.54mm strip. The module is provided with the holes for the strip and at the same time has the pads for a smd assembly. 14.2. Smd assembly Provide the two holes described in precaution point #5. The soldering pads are present under the module and also on the border. This allow to solder both manually (using the border metallization) or automatically. 14.3. Physical dimensions Top view with holes for the 2.54mm male strip, antenna and pushbutton holes, for SMD assembly. 21