Paradise 205486 REV F User Manual

Operations Manual, HPA2, Compact Outdoor SSPA 

205486 REV F 

87 

 
This section describes the basic serial communication protocol between the Compact       
Outdoor SSPA and a host computer.  Serial port settings must be configured for 8 bit data at 
no parity, with 1 stop bit. 
 
The Amplifier will only respond to properly formatted protocol packets.  The basic communica-
tion packet is shown in Figure 10-1.  It consists of a Header, Data, and Trailer sub-packet.   
 

 
The Header packet is divided into 3 sub-packets which are the Frame Sync, Destination     
Address, and Source Address packets, as shown in Figure 10-2.  

10.1.1 Frame Sync Word 
 
The Frame Sync word is a two byte field that marks the beginning of a packet.  This value is 
always 0xAA55.  This field provides a means of designating a specific amplifier  packet from 
others that may exist on the same network.  It also provides a mechanism for a node to syn-
chronize to a known point of transmission. 
  
10.1.2 Destination Address 
 
The destination address field specifies the node for which the packet is intended.  It may be 
an individual or broadcast address. The broadcast address is 0xFF. This is used when a 
packet of information is intended for several nodes on the network. The broadcast address 
can be used in a single device connection when the host needs to determine the address of 
the amplifier. The Compact Outdoor amplifier will reply with its unique address. 

 

HEADER  

(4 bytes) 

DATA 

(6-32 bytes) 

 

 

 

(1 byte) 

 

HEADER  

(4 bytes) 

DATA 

(6-32 bytes) 

(1 byte) 

 

 

 

Frame Sync (2 bytes) 

0xAA5 

Destination Address 

(1 byte) 

Source Address 

(1 byte)