3. A Tour of RAD-Star 2 Hardware

Let’s now take a quick tour of the RAD-Star 2. We’ll examine the device from all sides, showing its external components and explaining what each does. This will help you become more familiar with the unit so you can more easily set up, configure and use it.

We’ll start with a look at the unit as a whole, then describe the operation of the membrane LED display and keypad on top, and show you the connectors on the unit’s sides. We’ll conclude with a discussion of cables used with the RAD-Star 2.

Like many Intrepid products, the RAD-Star 2 is designed so that all of its connectors are located on its sides, making the device easier to use in cramped quarters. When facing the unit with the top label text readable, the left side of the unit contains its vehicle network ports (plus its power jack) while the right side bears its PC connection interfaces. We’ll refer to these from here on as the vehicle network interface side and PC interface side, respectively.

Warning

Warning: The RAD-Star 2 is a complex device that does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Do not attempt to open the case of the RAD-Star 2 unless specifically instructed to do so by an Intrepid Control Systems technician, or you risk possible injury or damage to the unit.

3.1. Case and Overall Design

The RAD-Star 2 is enclosed in a sturdy black-anodized metal case. The device has been designed and tested for in-vehicle use, and is operational in a temperature range from -40°C to +85°C. An overall view of the RAD-Star 2 can be seen in Figure 5.

Connectors and ports are often a point of failure with hardware devices. To ensure that the RAD-Star 2 provides you with years of reliable service, Intrepid has ruggedized the physical interfaces on the device by using reinforced metal connectors.

To further protect the device against bumps and drops, it has blue rubber bumpers on both ends. These bumpers are removable, but there is no need to do this under normal circumstances, and we recommend that you leave them in place.

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Figure 5: Overview of the RAD-Star 2.

The bottom of the RAD-Star 2 contains useful reference information, including the device serial number, pinouts of its Nano MQS BroadR-Reach and CAN connectors, and Intrepid’s contact information (Figure 6). Pinouts for all RAD-Star 2 connectors can be found in Chapter 6.

Note

Note: The names of the channels may differ from one place to another in your hardware and software. “HS CAN” and “CAN 1” both refer to the first CAN channel, while “MS CAN” and “CAN 2” mean the second CAN channel.

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Figure 6: RAD-Star 2 Bottom View Showing Connector Pinouts.

3.2. Membrane LED Display and Keypad

One of the RAD-Star 2’s many improvements over the original RAD-Star is the addition of a membrane LED display and keypad on top of the unit (Figure 7). The membrane contains 10 LEDs that provide immediate visual feedback about the status of the device, and two keypad buttons that can be used to toggle the meaning of the status indicators and change the device’s operating mode and connection method.

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Figure 7: RAD-Star 2 Membrane LED Display and Keypad.

Keypad Buttons and LEDs

There are two keypad buttons on the RAD-Star 2’s top membrane: one with “BR” written in blue near the top left, and one with white “CAN” text near the bottom right. Pressing either button toggles the meaning of the 8 LEDs outside the buttons as follows:

  • Blue Button (Top Left): When pressed, activates the “blue set” of LED interpretations above the LEDs, which are associated with the RAD-Star 2’s BroadR-Reach channels.
  • White Button (Bottom Right): When pressed, activates the “white set” of LED meanings below the LEDs, which show the status of the device’s conventional vehicle networks (CAN, and in the future).

The buttons also both indicate the device’s operating mode by the color of the flashing LED in the button most recently selected, and allow you to change the mode as well. The colors correspond to the three modes of the device as follows:

  • Flashing Green: Device is operating in normal mode as either an active tap or media converter, with communication over USB/Ethernet. Selection of active tap or media converter is made via a software setting (see Section 5.6).
  • Flashing Magenta: Device is operating in message forwarding mode. All messages are forwarded out Ethernet as though the device is online with Vehicle Spy. Additional header information about packets is available.
  • Flashing White: Device is operating in raw media converter mode. Packets received on Ethernet are retransmitted on AE 01, and vice versa.

To rotate among these three modes, hold down both the “BR” and “CAN” buttons at the same time for around two seconds until the color changes.

Note that the speed that the LED flashes will change depending on whether the unit is currently online or offline.

“Blue Set” LED Status Indicators

The blue labels consist of two sets of four indicators for the two BroadR-Reach channels in the device. The meanings of the LEDs when the blue set is selected are as follows:

  • LINK 1 / LINK 2: Illuminate green when a link is established on BroadR-Reach channel 1 or 2 respectively.
  • ACT 1 / ACT 2: Blink green to indicate activity on BR1 or BR2 respectively.
  • MODE 1 / MODE 2: Illuminate green when the corresponding channel is configured or operating as the master device on the link, and blue when operating as slave.
  • SIG 1 / SIG 2: A signal quality indicator communicated from the BroadR-Reach PHY for channel 1 or 2. Blinking green means normal operation, while red indicates poor signal quality on the link.

“White Set” LED Status Indicators

The white labels provide information on the status of the RAD-Star 2’s conventional vehicle network channels. The LEDs for CAN 1, CAN 2 glow green to show activity on the associated channel.

The LEDs labeled “A” through “E” are reserved for future use.

3.3. Vehicle Network Interface Side Connectors

The left side of the RAD-Star 2 contains the two main connectors for interfacing to your vehicle networks, as well as the device’s 12V power jack, all of which are clearly labeled (Figure 8). We’ll describe them further, going left to right as you look at the side of the device.

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Figure 8: RAD-Star 2 Vehicle Network Interface Side View.

12V Barrel Connector (“12V”)

This standard 12V socket is the power input to the RAD-Star 2 and matches the male connector on the included power supply.

DB-9 Conventional Network Interface Connector (“CAN”)

This industry standard DB-9 male connector carries two CAN channels, plus power and ground.

BroadR-Reach Nano MQS Connector Socket (“BR”)

After creating an interface cable for your Automotive Ethernet networks from the included Nano MQS socket plug and crimp contacts, you attach it here. There are two BroadR-Reach (100BASE-T1 compatible) channels, which use pins 3/4 and 7/8 respectively of the 8-position connector.

3.4. PC Interface Side Connectors

This side of the RAD-Star 2 contains the Ethernet and USB connectors used to interface the device to a PC or other monitoring hardware (Figure 9).

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Figure 9: RAD-Star 2 PC Interface Side View.

RJ-45 Ethernet Jack

An industry standard 8-pin Gigabit Ethernet jack. It includes link and activity LEDs that will light up to show that a connection has been established and to indicate that messages are being sent between the RAD-Star 2 and the attached device.

USB Jack

This is an industry standard USB 2.0 “Type B” jack that is an alternative method of connecting the RAD-Star to a PC or similar unit.

3.5. Included Cables and Cable Assembly

The RAD-Star 2 is a relatively simple device that ships with just one standard Ethernet cable and the special components necessary to make the cable assembly for Automotive Ethernet networks. Depending on your vehicle network configuration, you may need to supplement or modify the included hardware to suit your needs.

This section briefly describes RAD-Star 2 cables and how they are used. More detailed instructions for hooking up the RAD-Star 2, including these cables, are provided in Chapter 4. Full pinouts for all RAD-Star 2 connectors can be found in Chapter 6.

Standard Ethernet Cable

The RAD-Star 2 is usually connected to a PC or other conventional Ethernet device using its RJ-45 jack and an industry standard Ethernet cable. The supplied cable is 3’ (about 1 m) in length, which should be sufficient for most bench applications. If you need a longer cable, any standard Ethernet cable suitable for Gigabit Ethernet will work; these can be obtained inexpensively at electronics and office stores, or ordered online.

USB Cable

In lieu of an Ethernet connection, the RAD-Star 2 can be linked to a PC using a standard USB cable. The cable needed is sometimes called an “A/B” cable since it links the “Type A” USB port found on PCs with the “Type B” found on electronic devices such as the RAD-Star 2. Since most users will employ Ethernet, a USB cable is not included with the device. However, these too can be obtained easily at retail or online stores. You can also order one directly from Intrepid.

Automotive Ethernet (BroadR-Reach) Cable Assembly

Specific cables for Automotive Ethernet are not included with the RAD-Star 2 for two reasons. First, Automotive Ethernet does not specify an industry-standard cable and connector type. Second, termination and connector requirements vary from one application to another, so it makes sense for each company to create the cables/harnesses needed for its own networks.

To support its two BroadR-Reach (100BASE-T1 compatible) connections, the RAD-Star 2 uses an 8-pin Nano MQS style connector made by TE Connectivity, which is designed for vehicle use. The part number of the male connector within the RAD-Star 2 is 2177372-3, while the matching female plug supplied is TE Connectivity part number 2177586-1. The crimp contacts that fit into the plugs are TE part number 2-2112449-1; 8 of these are provided with the RAD- Star 2 (the 4 required for its 2 channels, plus 4 spares).

You will need to create a cable assembly for the BroadR-Reach connection using the supplied plugs and contacts. To secure the wires of your cable to the contacts, you will need a special Nano MQS crimping tool, TE Connectivity part number 4-1579014-0. This device can be purchased from various electronic component suppliers or directly from Intrepid Control Systems. The contacts must then be inserted into the female plug following the pinout on the bottom of the RAD-Star 2. Pinout information is provided for your convenience in Chapter 6.

The other ends of the 4 wires coming from the Nano MQS plug should be terminated according to the needs of your vehicle network or bench application.

Be sure to label each of the wires and/or termination connectors with the appropriate RAD-Star 2 channel number. This will allow you to easily link the connectors to the correct devices in your network.

Conventional Vehicle Network Cables

The RAD-Star 2 supports two CAN / CAN FD channels. If you plan to use these conventional channels, you will need to supply the appropriate cable terminated in a standard female DB-9 connector. If you are unsure of exactly what you need, please contact Intrepid for assistance using the information at the end of this document.