Galaxy: How do I perform loopback testing on a Galaxy display using Gen 2 serial radio system?

• Follow the instructions below to perform loopback testing.

Note:  Prior to starting the loopback test we can run Radio Config Utility in an attempt to poll the server and client radios

• Follow - How to use the Radio Config Utility (RCU)
  • This will tell us if loopback testing should start at the control computer or at the client radio

Step 1: Locate proper software that can perform needed functions for loopback testing.

• Venus 1500 version 3.12 or older versions can be used to perform loop back testing, using Venus Administrator. Follow: Venus 1500: How do I perform a loopback test with v3 software?
• If using Venus 1500 version 4 and up. Then you will need to use either PuTTY, Tera Term, or HyperTerminal to perform the loopback test.
  • Tera Term will be used with Windows Vista and newer operating systems. Follow: How to perform a loopback test to test a serial communication system using Tera Term, With or without a Lantronix box .
  • Hyper Terminal will be used with Windows XP and earlier operating systems. Follow: How do I perform a loopback test using HyperTerminal to test a serial communication system? .

Step 2: Start loopback testing. There are different areas that the test can be ran on to help isolate where the communication failure is located.

• Radio Configurator Utility can also aid in determining where failure may be occurring, or help with a point to start loop back testing.
• Follow: How to use the Radio Config Utility (RCU)

Step 3: If loopback passes at test points, remove the loopback and test for it to fail.

• After each test point it is important to reconnect everything before moving to next test point.
• If at any point the loopback test fails, please contact Daktronics Technical Support at 1-888-325-7446.

Step 4: Do loopback test on com port of the computer, serial cable or on the USB to serial adapter by jumping pins 2 & 3 on the 9pin male or female end. Refer to the image below.

• A small flat blade screwdriver can be used to jump the pins on the male end of the serial cable.

Step 5: Do a loopback test on the signal converter (Radio TX Interface J-Box).

• Remove wires on TX-P, RX-P, TX-N and RX-N.
• Jump pins TX-P and RX-P together and TX-N and RX-N together with a paper clip, small flat-head screw driver, or another piece of a metal conductor.
• These pairs must be jumped at the same time. Refer to the image below.

Step 6: Do a loopback test on the cable coming into the server radio by disconnecting and twisting together TX-P and RX-P, as well as TX-N and RX-N wires.

• Color of cable may vary. It is important to note the pinout prior to removing cable from TB2.
• The cable color in the image below is recommended Daktronics installation as per: Serial Communication Radio Manual, ED-13932.
• Red wire below is ground, Green wire below is power

• It may be needed to power off the display/client radio as there is a potential for interference while testing loopback at the output of the server radio
  • If the loopback test fails at this point power off the display which will power off the client radio, and run the test again.
• Connect RX to TX(pins 5 and 6) on TB1 signal out.
  • This socket will be empty.

Step 8: Do a loopback at client radio. Remove wires from TB1, RX (pin5) and TX (pin6), place jumper into TB1 RX (pin 5) to TX (pin 6) on the radio. Refer to the image below.

• Note: Color of cable may vary. It is important to note the pinout prior to removing cable from TB1.

Step 9: If loopback testing passes out of the client radio loopback test at the controller

• Loopback test out of the MDC or M2 controller, follow - Message Displays: Message Displays: How do I perform loopback test out of a M2 or MDC controller