TECHNICAL NOTE

HSD Transceivers
EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd., Capturing HSD Troubleshooting Reports
1725 Woodward Drive TN-1110-10090/A
Ottawa, Ontario
December 15, 2004
K2C 0P9 CANADA

Overview
This technical note describes how to capture and save HSD maintenance reports to be
used in troubleshooting HSD system problems.
Reviewing and analyzing system log files is extremely useful when troubleshooting
suspected HSD system problems.
Once the data is captured in a log file, the information can then be forwarding to EMS
SATCOM Product Support for analysis.

NOTE: For detailed information, refer to the HSD Installation and Maintenance Manual,
EMS MN-1110-10113.

Connecting to the HSD Maintenance Application

A maintenance application is built into the HSD and HSD-X transceiver’s operational
software. It provides a system interface for fault isolation and diagnostic procedures and
supports the capture of system log files.
To access and use the HSD Maintenance Application, connect an RS-232, VT-100
terminal (PC or Laptop operating a terminal emulation program) to the HSD or HSD-X
unit’s maintenance port.
Table 1 lists the equipment required to capture diagnostic log files from HSD transceivers.
For detailed cabling and connection information, refer to the HSD Installation and
Maintenance Manual, EMS PN 1110-10113.

This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd. Neither this document nor the
information contained within may be disclosed or copied without the prior written permission of EMS. The EMS logo is a trademark of EMS
Technologies. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© Copyright 2004 EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.

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Table 1 – List of Required Test Equipment

ITEM EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATION
Computer Standard VT-100 386 CPU, 20-MHz minimum
VT-100 terminal HyperTerminal©, ProComm Serial communication program using an
emulation program Plus©, or equivalent RS-232 port
Maintenance port Use a serial cable to connect Remote access: maximum length 25 ft
interface cable to a remote access “breakout” (Measured from the ARINC 600 connector
to the DB9 breakout connector)
Use a special cable to connect
to the HSD front panel Front Panel access: maximum length 50 ft
Refer to the HSD Installation
and Maintenance Manual
(EMS MN 1110-10113) for
detailed cabling instructions

NOTE: The direct and remote connection points to the HSD maintenance port cannot
be used simultaneously.

Interface Requirements
A standard VT100 compatible terminal running an emulator program, such as
HyperTerminal (© Hilgraeve Inc.) or another similar serial communication application,
provides the user interface to the HSD maintenance utility program. The RS-232
connection settings for HSD and HSD-X maintenance ports are the same.
Refer to Table 2 for the recommended terminal connection settings.

Table 2 – Terminal Connection Settings

PARAMETER SETTING
Character Format ASCII
Baud Rate 19200 bps
No. of bits 8
Parity None
Stop bits 1
Flow Control None

This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd. Neither this document nor the
information contained within may be disclosed or copied without the prior written permission of EMS. The EMS logo is a trademark of EMS
Technologies. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© Copyright 2004 EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.

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Using the HSD Maintenance Application

The basic HSD Maintenance Application user commands are described below:
Press the equal sign on the keyboard (=) to open the application menus.
To activate a report, type the number of the report, and then press ENTER. This
“toggles” ON the report number entered. To “toggle” the report OFF, type in the report
number again, and press ENTER.
Press X to disable all report items (toggles reports OFF).
Press CTRL+N to display the next page of report items.
Press CTRL+O to return to the previous page of report items.
Press S to save all selected report items to EEPROM. If the items selected are not
saved, they are "de-activated" when the system is reset or power is cycled to the unit.
Press the ESC key to activate the scrolling, report display.
To return to the application menus from the report display, press ESC.

Capturing an HSD Troubleshooting Log File

This procedure describes how to create or “capture” a log file for the HSD or HSD-X
transceiver for troubleshooting and diagnostic analysis.

NOTE: Remember to date and save the file. Annotate the file with any system
anomalies or unique operating environments that may in anyway affect system
functionality (e.g., physical location of aircraft or transceiver, Land Earth Station
being used, list of connected devices).

To capture a log file:

1 Connect a PC/Laptop to the HSD transceiver. Refer to the HSD Installation and
Maintenance Manual for detailed connection and cabling requirements.
2 Open a log file using a terminal program. For example, if you are using
HyperTerminal use the “Capture Text” function.

NOTE: To capture a log file using HyperTerminal: From the application toolbar, click
Transfer, and then click Capture Text. Name the file for easy identification (e.g.
HSD_ID#_date) and then select an appropriate folder location to save
the file to.

This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd. Neither this document nor the
information contained within may be disclosed or copied without the prior written permission of EMS. The EMS logo is a trademark of EMS
Technologies. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© Copyright 2004 EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.

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3 Power up the HSD system.

4 Enter the password MAINT. The password does not appear on screen.
5 Press = (the equals symbol) to open the report item menu.
6 Enter the report numbers 21 and 23 and then press ENTER, respectively, to
activate (“toggle on”) each report.
7 Press S to “SAVE” this report configuration. Saving the report enables the user to
view these reports on subsequent HSD power-ups or “Reset” entries.
8 Press the ESC key to return to the main screen of the application.
9 Reset the system by: cycling the power to the LRU, pressing the reset button on
the HSD front panel—or in Menu 2, press Z to reset the system.
CAUTION: In Combined, Cooperative, and Selective Mode systems, do not use the HSD
LRU reset function as this may cause communication problems with the
Satellite Data Unit (SDU). Instead, reset the complete SATCOM system.

NOTE: The system will restart (takes approximately two minutes). Successful ocean
registration is verified with the display of the message “ACSE successful ORR”
for both channel cards. Report 23 will display “no call” for both channel cards.

10 When the reset is completed, you need to re-enter the password MAINT.

11 After the Beam Registration process completes, press CTRL+N, go to Menu 2.

12 Make a call from the system or execute the procedure or sequence that causes the
call failure. Make a note of the call progress. For example: Did you get dial tone?
Was the call successful?
13 If possible, attempt a call from the second channel or place a “bonded” data call.
Keep the call or calls connected for approximately one or two minutes.
14 Press V to display the software versions of the system.
15 Using CTRL+N, go to Menu 3, and then press L to display EEPROM parameters.
The EEPROM list displays one terminal screen of information at a time; therefore,
press L, repeatedly, to display all of the EEPROM parameter information.
16 Press the ESC key to return to Menu 3.
17 Press the letter O (list ORT). The ORT list displays one terminal screen of
information at a time; therefore, press O, repeatedly, to display all of the ORT
parameter information. The last page of the ORT list displays all Ocean Region
Parameters.

This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd. Neither this document nor the
information contained within may be disclosed or copied without the prior written permission of EMS. The EMS logo is a trademark of EMS
Technologies. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© Copyright 2004 EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.

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18 Press the ESC key to return to Menu 3.

19 Press S (list event log), and then press the number 0 (zero) to list the complete
event log.

20 To list all remaining entries, enter a period “.”.

21 Return to Menu 3.
22 Press F (list call log), and then press X to select the “extended EIRP trace.”

23 To list all remaining entries, enter a period “.”.

24 Close the log file on the terminal program (click Transfer>Capture Text>Close).
25 The log file is a text (.txt) file. Open the file and add notes to the beginning of the
file indicating:
• System serial number (from the label on the front of the unit)
• Aircraft identification and customer information
• Any notes about the problems encountered
• Contact name, telephone number, and e-mail address
26 E-mail the log file for analysis to EMS SATCOM Product Support at:
hsd.help@emssatcom.com

Contacting EMS SATCOM Product Support

If you need help capturing or analyzing HSD system log files, please contact EMS
SATCOM Product Support for assistance.
For technical assistance contact:
EMS SATCOM Product Support:
In North America call: 888-300-7415
(routed to a mobile phone after regular business
hours – Eastern Standard Time)
Outside of North America call: 613-727-5338
Customer Care and Sales:
In North America call: 800-600-9759
Outside of North America call: 613-272-1034
For general inquiries:
EMS Reception 613-727-1771
EMS Website: www.emssatcom.com

This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd. Neither this document nor the
information contained within may be disclosed or copied without the prior written permission of EMS. The EMS logo is a trademark of EMS
Technologies. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© Copyright 2004 EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.

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