Wireless Quick Install Guide
Wireless Ranges
Connect the RS-Wi to the Network
The maximum unobstructed 418 MHz sensor range for both the RS-Wi and Point
Repeaters is 100 foot (30.48m). The 900 MHz antennae that the RS-Wi and Point
Repeaters use have a 300 foot (91.44m) maximum range for communication. Multiple
Point Repeaters will create a mesh network to report to the RS-Wi more efficiently.
The RS-Wi needs network connectivity in order to access the web interface,
configuration screen, and to activate the email (SMTP), BACnet slave, Modbus slave,
RS-Wi Placement
Geist recommends installing the RS-Wi in a 19-inch rack and provides mounting
brackets. The brackets will also allow wall mount when reversed with the enclosed wall
mounting kit.
The ideal location for the RS-Wi is in the center of the area the wireless sensors will
be deployed. The RS-Wi unit comes with a 418 MHz (long antenna branches) and
900 MHz antenna (short antenna branches) both attached via a 6 foot (1.83m) cable.
The antennas need to be connected to the correct jacks on the RS-Wi unit to function
properly.
and SNMP features. Use the provided CAT 6 crossover cable to the 10/100BASE-T
Thank you for purchasing a RS-Wi wireless sensor network manager. This guide
outlines basic RS-Wi installation and configuration.
For additional information visit us on the web at www.geistglobal.com. If you need
further assistance, please email our support staff at [email protected]
or call us at 877.449.4150.
877.449.4150 | www.geistglobal.com
v1.4 06/2013
Even if there are no 900 MHz sensors or Point Repeaters, do not discard the 900 MHz
antenna as it could be needed later. Ideally, the antennas should be mounted as high
as possible with as few obstructions to the sensors as possible.
Point Repeater Location and Placement (if applicable)
In some cases sensor density, obstructions, interference and sensor placement
may make it necessary to add Point Repeaters even if the distance is less than the
recommended 100 feet (30.48m) from the RS-Wi unit. The antennas that come with
the Point Repeater are the 418 MHz with a 6 foot (1.83m) cord and a bayonet style
900 MHz antenna for communication with the RS-Wi. The Point Repeater should be
placed in a location that will allow coverage of the sensors, with the 418 MHz antenna
mounted as high as possible depending on obstructions. A standard 5-15A power
receptacle is needed for power.
Installation Supplies
Ethernet port directly to a PC. Use a straight-through CAT 5 cable (purchased
separately) to connect the RS-Wi to a network hub or switch.
Included with the RS-Wi
• RS-Wi device
EIA-232 Connection
The RS-Wi can be connected directly to a PC through its EIA-232 port. Designed for
temporary use, this connection supports IP configuration, firmware downloads, and
troubleshooting. Connect via a straight through, 9-pin serial cable.
• 24VDC wall-mount power supply
• CAT 6 Crossover Network Cable
• Two antennae - 418MHz (longer shafts) & 900MHz (shorter shafts)
• Rack-mount bracket
Connect the Antennae
The RS-Wi is shipped with a 418MHz, six foot cable antenna and a 900MHz, six foot
cable antenna. The 418MHz antenna has longer shafts; the 900MHz antenna has
shorter shafts. Plug each antenna into its labelled jack on the front of the RS-Wi.
Point Repeater
• 5VDC wall-mount power supply
• Two antennae-418 MHz on a six foot cable & 900 MHz bayonet style
Wire the Relay Outputs and Digital Inputs
Available from Geist, sold separately
• Wireless sensors and point repeaters, as necessary for your application
• Optional supplies
Provide a Power Supply and Ground Connections
• 18AWG shielded twisted pair stranded copper wire - no more than 2000ft (610m)
(Modbus RTU communication via EIA-485 port)
Power the RS-Wi from a UPS supply so the device can send alarm notifications during
a power outage. Power can be supplied to the RS-Wi through either the power jack
and the provided wall adapter or the power supply terminal block.
1. Connect an 18AWG ground wire from the ground terminal (marked on the upper
left side of the enclosure) to a suitable earth ground.
Network Communications Information
Consult your IT administrator and determine the following RS-Wi network settings:
•
IP Address _______________________________________________
•
Subnet Mask _____________________________________________
•
Default Gateway __________________________________________
Four (4) wired digital inputs and two (2) wired relay outputs provide expanded
monitoring and notification capabilities. Your wired inputs may look like this:
Wired outputs may look like this:
Configure the digital inputs and relay outputs in the Configuration > Digital IO section
of the RS-Wi web interface. Refer to the RS-Wi User Guide for more detailed
information.
Set the IP Address Using a Web Browser
2. Plug the provided wall adapter into the jack at P1 and the UPS outlet. The wall
adapter has a five foot (1.524m) power cord.
If you have not set an IP address before, consult your IT Department for support.
3. If you’re providing your own power supply, connect 24VDC to the unit through the
power terminal block.
Note:
The default IP address for the RS-Wi is 10.0.0.188
The default Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0
The default user name is admin (all lowercase)
There is no default password - leave the password field empty.
1. Contact your IT Department to obtain an available IP address, Subnet Mask, and
default Gateway.
2. Plug a crossover network cable (provided) into the laptop or workstation that will
be used to configure the RS-Wi.
3. You’ll need to change the IP address and Subnet Mask of your computer so it can
communicate with the RS-Wi in its factory-configured state. Before you change
any settings, write down the original IP address and Subnet Mask of your
computer - you’ll need to revert back to these original settings once the RS-Wi is
configured.
5. For a TS sensor, turn it over to show the product label on the bottom. The label
will contain the serial number (FSN) needed to enter into the RS-Wi interface. For
a THS sensor the serial number will be on the antenna inside the cover.
6. Select the sensor that is being configured from the drop down menu: ENV-TS for
a TS sensor or TH-Bapi for a THS sensor.
High Ages and Interference
In some cases the location of the sensor can cause the sensor to report less frequently
than it is broad casting. The wireless sensors send out a data message once every ten
seconds. This can be viewed on the Home screen on the RS-Wi web interface.
4. Change the IP address and Subnet Mask of the computer from its existing
address to one that will allow it to communicate with the RS-Wi, such as
10.0.0.189. It may be beneficial to set the IP address to one that is one number
different from the RS-Wi’s IP address (10.0.0.188).
7. Enter the FSN for a TS sensor or the serial number for the THS sensor into the
Serial # field for the sensor, click refresh. A few seconds later check the ‘Age’ field
of the sensor. Ideally, the ‘Age’ should be low (if the Age is high—more than about
20 seconds—see the trouble shooting section “High Ages and Interference”).
When the sensor reports the Age, click on the Submit Changes button. Place the
sensor and record its location for later integration.
5. Connect the other end of the crossover cable to the Ethernet port on the back of
the RS-Wi.
8. To add the next sensor click on the next button on the bottom of the Sensor
screen, repeat steps 2-6 for each sensor.
6. Access the RS-Wi through a web browser—type the RS-Wi’s IP address
(10.0.0.188) into the location bar. When prompted, enter the RS-Wi user name,
which is fds. There is no default password, leave it blank.
9. After adding all sensors click on the Home tab, this will give a complete listing of
all sensors added and the reported Ages. A complete listing of all Serial Numbers
next to the sensor index number can be obtained by clicking the View All Sensors
IDs on the bottom of the Home screen.
•
Sensor Placement
Sensor Battery Issues
The wireless sensors should be placed with an unobstructed view of the RS-Wi
418 MHz antenna or as close to the top of the area needing to be monitored. When
sensors are placed lower they can have trouble reporting to the RS-Wi unit. Lower
placement may result in the need for a Point Repeater. Placing sensors inside of a
metal cage, solid or perforated, will cause interference even if they are placed close to
the RS-Wi or Point Repeater.
The sensors use a 3.6V lithium battery—not a AA battery. If the battery has been
replaced, ensure it is the correct type of battery before continuing.
Troubleshooting
2. Gently squeeze the battery clips toward each other, bending them slightly inward.
7. Select the Configuration Menu link, then change the IP address, Subnet Mask,
and default Gateway to the one provided by your IT Department. Press the Submit
Changes button. The RS-Wi will save the new IP address, Subnet Mask and
default Gateway and reboot.
8. Change the IP address of the computer back to its original IP address. If the
computer was configured as DHCP (the network domain controller assigns
an IP address) return it to this state. This may require assistance from your IT
Department, or you may need to consult the computer’s manual.
9. The computer and the RS-Wi are now both configured to communicate on the
network. Both should be accessible via the network. Connect the PC and the
RS-Wi to the network. From the PC web browser, type in the new IP address of
the RS-Wi. Enter the user name and password as stated above to verify network
access to the device.
Sensor Configuration
If the RS-Wi has not been pre-configured, Geist highly recommends adding sensors
individually as this is more accurate for placement and entry into the RS-Wi. The
RS-Wi interface does come with a Sensor Discovery feature. If the Sensor Discovery
feature is used for initial configuration, it must be turned off after configuration of the
sensors to avoid a multitude of errors from occurring.
To configure sensors in the RS-Wi, follow these steps:
1. In the RS-Wi web interface, click on the Configuration tab and go to the Wireless
menu section. Click disable on the Sensor Discovery button and click the Submit
Changes button.
2. Take the cover off of the sensor by pinching the sides (TS) or by using the
provided Hex tool (THS) to then remove the battery tabs. Replace the cover for a
TS sensor.
3. To begin adding the sensor, navigate to the home screen of the web interface.
4. Click on the number of the sensor that will be added. Geist recommends starting
at #1.
877.449.4150 | www.geistglobal.com
Some common troubleshooting information is listed below (i.e., Ghost Sensors, High
Age and Interference, and Sensor Battery Issues). Current TS units and older THS
units, which look externally similar, have reset buttons that are engaged by depressing
the center of the unit. The newer THS units will need their cover removed due to the
white reset button being located on the PC board. Using the reset button will force the
unit to transmit within 10 seconds and is helpful for many of the below steps. When
trouble shooting sensors, it is helpful to bring sensors close to the RS-Wi.
“Ghost” Sensors
This issue may occur if the Sensor Discovery feature had been used during installation
or if the Sensor Discovery feature was never disabled. “Ghost” sensors can appear in
the Home screen after the initial installation of the unit if it receives a garbled message
from one of the sensors. To avoid this problem, the Sensor Discovery feature must be
disabled.
•
•
•
If the sensor(s) age is 300-900 (5-15 minutes) this can indicate it may need to be
relocated to a better position if possible. Bringing a sensor closer to the RS-Wi
can help indicate if the issue is from interference caused by location. Be sure to
press the reset button when the unit is brought closer to force it to transmit within
10 seconds.
If multiple sensors are determined to have interference issues from their locations,
the map with their locations will need to be consulted. This will help identify gaps
in coverage from the RS-Wi.
If an area has been identified as having signal interference, it may be necessary to
implement a Point Repeater to strengthen the signal. Your account manger can
help with this.
Installing wireless sensors inside of perforated or solid metal cabinets is not
recommended as it can interfere with the transmission of the unit.
On occasion when the protective tab is pulled to activate the sensor’s battery,
the metal terminal clip on the PC board can bend slightly causing intermittent
transmission. To fix this issue:
1. Remove the battery.
3. Insert the battery.
4. Replace the cover. Press the reset button to force the transmission of the unit
within 10 seconds.
While Geist inspects all units sent out, on occasion in the older TS and THS units the
small red sticker near the positive terminal of the battery may release some residue on
either the battery terminal or the battery clips. This residue may affect the function of
the battery. To ensure this is not the problem:
1. Remove the Battery.
2. Clean both the positive terminal end and the battery clips with an alcohol swab.
The rubbing alcohol should dissolve the adhesive residue. Keep cleaning the clips
and battery until the residue is no longer sticky nor visible.
To fix this issue if it has occurred:
1. Enter the RS-Wi web interface, click on the Configuration screen. Click ‘disable’
next to the Sensor Discovery selection.
3. Insert the battery.
2. Click Home the home screen and click on the sensor ID number.
The 3.6V lithium battery in the TS and older THS units has an average life of 3 years
while the newer THS units have an average life of 8 years. When the battery is
replaced it will need a 3.6V lithium battery as the units will not function properly with
any other battery types.
3. In the Sensor screen, delete the Serial Number and select ‘none’ from the Sensor
Type drop down menu.
4. Click the Submit Changes button. Click on the Home screen to verify the sensor
was deleted.
5. Repeat the process for each sensor that needs deleted. In some cases it may be
necessary to verify the sensors are duplicates by using the View All Sensor IDs
screen available at the bottom of the Home screen.
4. Replace the cover and press the reset button to see if it is reporting.
While Geist products have a one year standard warranty, this does not apply to the
battery within the above mentioned wireless sensors. Geist warranties the batteries in
the wireless sensors 90 days from the date of purchase.
Please note the information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Technical claims listed depend on
a series of technical assumptions. Your experience with these products may differ if you operate the products in an
environment, which is different from the technical assumptions. Geist reserves the right to modify these specifications
without prior notice. Geist makes no warranties, express or implied, on the information contained in this document.