Relcom FBT-6 Fieldbus Network Monitor User’s Manual

1. Introduction

The FBT-6 Fieldbus Monitor is a physical network and signal testing tool for Foundation
Fieldbus networks. It provides features that allow both engineering and service
technicians to determine the health of fieldbus networks. The FBT-6 supports network
troubleshooting without interfering with network operation.

Summary of Features

The FBT-6 includes the following features:

o Tests the network automatically and gives a good/bad indication without operator
intervention.
o Measures network DC voltage.
o Detects short circuits between the network cable’s wires and shield.
o Indicates number of detected retransmissions to devices.
o Measures noise in three bands: Below, at and above Fieldbus frequencies
o Shows when a device is added to or dropped from the network.
o Supports the transfer of data collected to a PC via a USB port.
o Supports firmware updates via a USB port.
o Displays the number of devices on the network.
o Indicates the address of the device with the lowest detected signal level.
o Displays device address (in decimal and hexadecimal) and signal level.
o Usable in hazardous areas (certification pending)

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2. Operation

WARNING: Do not connect the FBT-6 to a fieldbus and a PC at the same time.
This could damage the fieldbus network and the FBT-6.

The FBT-6 is powered by the network it is connected to and turns on automatically. The
firmware version in the Monitor is displayed for 4 seconds:

RELCOM FBT-6
FW VER XX.XX

The Monitor begins measuring network parameters. A bar (icon) twirls on the right side
of the display’s second line when network signals are present. If a bad frame is
detected since the last display update then an underscore is displayed beneath the
twirling icon.

Two buttons on the front of the Monitor control its operation. The buttons are labeled
FUNC (for FUNCTION) and SEL (for SELECT). Pressing the FUNCTION button cycles
through the available Monitor functions. Some functions have multiple sub-screens of
data available for display. Sub-screens available for each function are cycled through
by pressing the SELECT button. Most functions are reset by holding down the SELECT
button for 2 seconds. After holding down the SELECT button for 2 seconds, the data
collected for that function is erased giving that function a “fresh start”. Short button
presses (less than 2 seconds) are acted upon when the button is released, not when
depressed.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of how to navigate through the Monitor functions.

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Figure 1: Navigating through the Monitor’s Functions

Initial
Screen

Voltage

Peak Noise Peak Noise Peak Noise

Fieldbus Frequency Low Frequency High Frequency

Average Noise Average Noise Average Noise

Fieldbus Frequency Low Frequency High Frequency

Retransmit Device X Device Y Device Z

Add / Drop

Device Device X Device Y Device Z

Low

Device
Count
FUNCT SEL

Save Data

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Network Check Mode

When first attached to a network, the Monitor enters the automatic Network Check
Mode and shows:

NETWORK CHECK
IN PROGRESS *

The Monitor proceeds to automatically collect data and evaluates it to determine the
health of the network. The user may press either button to exit this mode and enter the
Manual Mode at any time.

In Network Check Mode, the Monitor collects the same data that it continuously collects
in Manual Mode. As the data is collected, the Monitor evaluates the data to determine if
it is out of specification. When the Monitor has collected enough data to determine that
all of the measured parameters are in specification, the display shows:

ALL MEASUREMENTS
OK *

In this state the Monitor continues taking measurements and displays the OK message.

If at any point in time the Monitor finds a parameter out of specification, it will jump into
the Manual Mode and display the screen for the function associated with the first
detected out of specification parameter. For example, if a + to Shield Short condition is
detected, the Monitor enters the Shield Short function in Manual Mode and displays:

(+) TO SHIELD
SHORT *

The Monitor then operates in Manual Mode as described below from that point on.

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Parameters checked in Network Check Mode are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Parameters Checked in Network Check Mode

Voltage is >= 9VDC
Peak noise is < 75mV in all 3 frequency bands
Average noise is < 75mV in all 3 frequency bands
No shield short to – exists
No shield short to + exists
No retransmits
No device drops
At least one device is detected on the network
The low device signal level is > 150mV

Manual Mode Functions

Manual Mode is entered when the Monitor detects the first out of specification
parameter or the user pushes a button. The functions available for the user are
described below in the order in which they will appear to the user.

1. Voltage

The DC voltage of the network is displayed.

VOLTAGE
26.5V OK *

If the DC voltage is less than 9V, BAD is displayed instead of OK.

VOLTAGE
8.5V BAD *

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2. Peak Noise

Peak noise is measured in three bands: frequencies in the Fieldbus signaling

band (Fieldbus Frequency, FF), frequencies below Fieldbus signaling band (Low
Frequency, LF), and frequencies above Fieldbus signaling band (High
Frequency, HF). The value displayed is the highest noise level measured since
the last reset. The particular frequency band displayed is selected by pushing
the SELECT button. The FF band is shown first followed by the LF then HF
bands.

PK FF NOISE
64 mV OK *

If the band displayed has a noise level of 75mV or above, the display will say
BAD where it normally says OK.

PK LF NOISE
99 mV BAD *

The peak noise values can be individually reset by holding down the SELECT
button for 2 seconds.

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3. Average Noise

Average noise is measured in three bands: frequencies in the Fieldbus signaling

band (Fieldbus Frequency, FF), frequencies below Fieldbus signaling band (Low
Frequency, LF), and frequencies above Fieldbus signaling band (High
Frequency, HF). The value displayed is the average of the last 32 noise
measurements. The particular frequency band displayed is selected by pushing
the SELECT button. The FF band is shown first followed by the LF then HF
bands.

AVG FF NOISE
68mV OK *

If the band displayed has a noise level of 75mV or above, the display will say
BAD where it normally says OK.

AVG HF NOISE
1090mV BAD *

The average noise values can be individually reset by holding down the SELECT
button for 2 seconds.

4. Shield Short

If the network wiring is good, the Monitor shows

WIRING OK
*

If one of the wires is shorted to the cable shield, the Monitor indicates a (+) or (-)
to shield short as applicable.

(+) TO SHIELD
SHORT BAD *

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5. Retransmit

If a device does not respond to a Pass Token message from the LAS or if the
LAS does not hear the device’s response to the Pass Token message, the LAS
will query the device again. The Monitor displays the address of the device most
recently requiring a retransmission.

RETRANSMIT
NONE OK *

Or

RETRANSMIT
DEVICE 19(13H)*

Pressing the SELECT button cycles through a display for each device . The
number of retransmissions (up to 250) detected since the Monitor was connected
is displayed. If more than 250 retransmissions are detected for a device, 250+ is
displayed.

RETRANSMITS=250+
DEVICE 19(13H)*

Holding down the SELECT button for 2 seconds resets the number of retransmits
for all devices to 0.

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6. Add-Drop

If a new device is added to the network, the Monitor will display its address and
signal level. A new device is detected by its receipt of a Pass Token frame. If a
device does not respond to a Pass Token frame the device is considered
dropped by the FBT-6 and the Monitor will display the address and last known
signal level of the dropped device.

ADD or DROP
NONE *

If a device drops from the network the Monitor shows

DROP 17 (11H)
690mV *

If a device is added to the network, the Monitor shows

ADD 19 (13H)
700mV *

The ADD-DROP function can be reset by holding down the SELECT button for 2
seconds.

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7. Device

The address (decimal and hexadecimal) and signal level of each device is
displayed in turn by pushing the SELECT button. If the signal level is above
150mV OK is displayed. The first device shown will be the Link Active Scheduler
(LAS). “LAS” is displayed after the signal level to indicate that the device shown
is the LAS.

DEVICE 16 (10H)
1000mV LAS OK *

If the device has been added since the Monitor was connected, a + symbol is
displayed after the signal level. If the device has been removed since the
Monitor was connected, a - symbol is displayed after the last known signal level.

DEVICE 16 (10H)
1000mV +LAS OK *

If any device has a signal level of 150mV or less, the display will say BAD where
it normally says OK.

DEVICE 41 (29H)
150mV BAD *

Holding down the SELECT button for 2 seconds will clear the “added” status of
any devices added since the Monitor was connected (or since the last reset).
Holding down the SELECT button for 2 seconds also deletes the devices that
were removed from the network from the device list.

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8. Low

The Monitor displays the lowest (weakest) detected device signal level since the
Monitor was connected and the address (decimal and hex) of the associated
device. If the lowest signal level is above 150mV OK is displayed.

LOW=1000mV OK
ADDR= 41 (29H) *

If the lowest signal level is 150mV or less, the display will say BAD where OK is
normally displayed.

LOW= 150mV BAD

ADDR= 41 (29H) *

The low signal level value is reset by holding down the SELECT button for 2
seconds.

9. Device Count

The Monitor displays the number of active devices on the network, including the
Link Active Scheduler (LAS). If the count has remained the same since the
Monitor was connected and the count is greater than 0, OK is displayed.

DEVICE COUNT
12 OK *

If a an active device does not respond to a Pass Token message from the LAS it
is considered dropped (no longer active). The device is taken off an internal list,
the count is reduced, and the display shows a – instead of OK. If a new device is
added, the display shows a +.

DEVICE COUNT
11 - *

If the number of active devices is the same as the number of devices detected
when the Monitor was first connected to the network then the device count
displays OK.

To make it easier to detect the adding or dropping of a device, the starting device
count can be reset by holding down the select button for 2 seconds.

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10. Save Data

The Monitor allows the user to save the data collected by the Monitor in one of eight
files (memory blocks). The display shows the file that the Monitor will store the data in.

SAVE DATA
FILE 1 *

The user chooses one of the eight files to store the current fieldbus data in by pressing
the SELECT button. Pressing the SELECT button increments the file number.

SAVE DATA
FILE 8 *

When the user is on file 8 and presses the SELECT button it rolls back to file 1. The
user holds down the SELECT button for 2 seconds to save the data in the selected file.
The display shows, SAVE DATA:SAVING FILE #, while the data is being saved where #
is the file selected by the user.

SAVE DATA:SAVING
FILE 5 *

When the database has been saved, the display shows SAVE DATA: SAVED.

SAVE DATA: SAVED

FILE 5 *

Any file that has data saved in it will display SAVE DATA: SAVED as shown above.
When a file with saved data is chosen and the SELECT button is held down for 2
seconds the originally saved data is overwritten with new data.

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3. USB Port and Associated Features

The USB port on the FBT-6 can be connected to a PC. Using the FBT-6 Assistant
program installed on a PC, the user can transfer data collected on the FBT-6 to a file on
the PC or update the firmware in the FBT-6.

Install the FBT-6 Assistant software by following the instructions in the FBT-6
Assistant Software Installation document before attempting to connect the FBT-6
to the USB port.

WARNING: Do not connect the FBT-6 to a fieldbus and a PC at the same time.
This could damage the fieldbus network and the FBT-6.

1. Connecting the FBT-6 to the PC USB Port and Starting the FBT-6 Assistant

Connect the FBT-6 to the USB port using the supplied USB cable. Only connect one
FBT-6 at a time. Open the FBT-6 Assistant program by double clicking on the FBT-6
Assistant desktop icon or selecting Start – All Programs – FBT-6 Assistant – FBT-6
Assistant. The user is presented with pushbuttons to perform USB related functions.
You will see the screen below.

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2. Transfer Data function

Click the Transfer Data from FBT-6 button to transfer the data saved in all eight FBT-6
files to a PC via the USB port.

The FBT-6 USB application prompts the user to save each file it detects with a screen
like the one below.

A default file name is generated. Browse to the location where you wish to save the file,
specify the desired file name and click the Save button. This process is repeated for
each file transferred from the FBT-6 (up to 8 times). The user will only be prompted to
save files that have saved fieldbus data. Click the Cancel button to avoid saving files
you do not wish to save.

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When all files have been saved, the main menu is displayed.

The files are saved in a comma delimited text (.csv) file format. Saved files can be
opened with Excel or a text editor (such as Notepad). The contents of the file and how
it will look when opened in Excel (following column width adjustments) are shown in
Table 2.

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Table 2: Data stored by FBT-6 and how it should display
Note some formatting in Excel is necessary to make the data "look nice" (column widths, left justify).

Fieldbus Data Set Name <Name of the Data Set, up to 16 characters, default name is FILE #>

Date/Time Connected to Bus
Date/Time Data Saved
Voltage (V)
Lowest Device Signal (mV)
Lowest Device Signal Address
Date/Time of Lowest Device Signal
Avg Fieldbus Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak Fieldbus Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak Fieldbus Frequency Noise Date/Time
Avg Low Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak Low Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak Low Frequency Noise Date/Time
Avg High Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak High Frequency Noise (mV)
Peak High Frequency Noise Date/Time
Shield Short
LAS Address
Most Recent Add/Drop Address
Device Add or Drop
Date/Time of Device Add/Drop
No. of Active Devices
<Date and time the FBT-6 was connected to the bus, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Date and time the data set was saved by the user, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Fieldbus DC Voltage to nearest 0.1V>
<Lowest detected device signal level>
<Address of the device with the lowest detected signal level, decimal (HexH)>
<Date and time the lowest device signal was detected, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Average Fieldbus Frequency Band Noise>
<Peak Fieldbus Frequency Band Noise>
<Date and time that Peak Fieldbus Frequency Band Noise was detected, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Average Low Frequency Band Noise>
<Peak Low Frequency Band Noise>
<Date and time that Peak Low Frequency Band Noise was detected, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Average High Frequency Band Noise>
<Peak High Frequency Band Noise>
<Date and time that Peak High Frequency Band Noise was detected, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<Shield short to +, Shield short to -, or None>
<Address of the LAS, decimal (HexH)>
<Address of the most recently added or dropped device, decimal (HexH)>
<Indicates whether the device above was added or dropped (Add, Drop, or NA)>
<Date and time the last device add or drop was detected, MM-DD-YY:HH:MM>
<0-32>

Device Address <Device 1 Address, decimal (HexH)>

Signal Level (mV) <Device 1 Signal Level>
Added/Dropped/Discovered <Device 1 Add, Drop, or NA>
Retransmits <No. of Device 1 Retransmits>

… …

Device Address <Device n Address>

Signal Level (mV) <Device n Signal Level>
Added or Dropped <Device n Add, Drop, or NA>
Retransmits <No. of Device n Retransmits>

End of FILE # Fieldbus Data

FBT-6 Assistant Version <FBT-6 Assistant software version>

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3. Update Firmware function

The Update Firmware function allows the user to over-write the existing firmware in the
FBT-6 with new firmware. Click the Update Firmware button to begin the process. The
Choose Hex File window opens.

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Specify the new firmware file by browsing to the provided firmware update file, selecting
the file, then clicking the Open button.

The Final Check! window opens as shown below.

Updating the firmware erases any files saved on the FBT-6. Click OK to proceed with
the update. Click Cancel to stop the update and return to the main FBT-6 Assistant
screen.

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After clicking OK, you will see the following screen.

Once the firmware update is complete, the FBT-6 Assistant status line in the middle of
the FBT-6 Assistant main menu will change from, “This will take a few moments.
Please wait…” to “Ready”. You may now close the FBT-6 Assistant program by clicking
the Exit button and begin using the FBT-6.

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4. Behavior in Special Cases

The FBT-6 behaves differently under certain special circumstances. This section
describes the behavior of the FBT-6 in these special cases.

Limitations

The FBT-6 will collect data on a total of up to 32 devices, including the LAS (each
device has a separate address). This total of 32 devices includes devices that had
been on the network, but are now removed. If the total number of devices exceeds 32,
the data for one of the removed (dropped) devices will be deleted to make memory
space for the newly detected device. If 32 active devices are present on the network
and a 33rd device is added it will be ignored.

Silent Network Behavior

The fieldbus network that the FBT-6 is connected to may contain no frame traffic for
long periods of time. This Silent Network condition may be present when the FBT-6 is
initially connected to the network or may occur after the network has been transmitting
frames for some period of time. The FBT-6 will continue to record and display data,
even when the network is silent.

When the network is in a silent condition the FBT-6 will collect a set of non-device
related data (DC Volts, Noise, etc.). In addition, if the network remains silent for about 2
seconds, the FBT-6 will mark all devices as dropped and set the (active) device count to
0.

Initial Discovery

When the FBT-6 is connected to the network, it begins an Initial Discovery phase.
During this phase, the FBT-6 is collecting data that will represent the initial condition of
the network (i.e. the number of devices initially present on the network). The Initial
Discovery phase ends when the FBT-6 gathers adequate information to determine if all
parameters it measures are in specification.

Unavailable Data

The data for some or all displays will be unavailable during Initial Discovery, after the
user resets a function, or because the network is silent. When the FBT-6 is collecting
and processing network data, information may not be ready for display. In this case,
only the selected FBT-6 function name is displayed. The user can still navigate through
the menus with the FUNCTION and SELECT buttons.

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Revision History:

Revision Date Description

A 11/15/05 Original Release
B 12/22/05 Added warning not to connect USB and FF ports at the
same time

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