HotPort 3203 Outdoor Wireless Mesh Node
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Building a Firetide Mesh Network
Although network planning is often not required for basic installations, adhering to a few simple
guidelines will help ensure that your network performs reliably and gives you the full benefits and
performance that mesh networking has to offer.
Planning Your Network
Before implementing a wireless mesh network, perform the following preliminary steps:
•
Survey your site and make a simple sketch of where you’ll place the HotPort nodes.
•
Make sure that you can install all HotPort nodes close enough to AC power outlets so
you can connect the HotPort nodes’ AC power supplies to the outlets. (If you plan to use
the Power over Ethernet option to power the HotPort, make sure that you can install the
HotPort close enough to the Power Sourcing Equipment.)
•
As described in detail below, you can increase the working distance of your outdoor,
wireless mesh by avoiding obstacles between nodes. For best performance, ensure that
there is a clear line of sight between each HotPort node.
See the sections below for more site-planning information.
Understanding HotPort Antenna Patterns
HotPort 3203 outdoor mesh nodes have omni-directional antennas that radiate in a broad circular
pattern perpendicular to the antenna shaft. For optimum coverage, orient the antennas in your
mesh network vertically (perpendicular to the ground). Since the coverage of the RF spectrum is
different in the various spectrum bands, orientation of the antennas will enhance your coverage
area. The two included dual-spectrum antennas support the following frequency bands:
5.250-5.350 GHz; 5.725-5.825 GHz;
2.420-2.497 GHz (OFDM and DSSS modes).
Line-of-Sight Improves Operating Distance
Although HotPort wireless mesh nodes can communicate between walls and buildings, you can
increase the working distance of your nodes by avoiding obstacles made of dense materials,
such as concrete, metal, or wood. Positioning the HotPort units so the space between them
provides an unobstructed, line-of-sight view, will greatly increase the effective range and reliability
of transmission. They should be located high enough above obstacles to prevent interference.
Creating a Mesh Topology for Maximum Performance and Reliability
Unlike simple point-to-point bridging, Firetide provides true mesh networking with flexible and
redundant paths. This improves overall performance, allows the network to be extended over long
distances, and reduces the chance of single point failures. To fully benefit from the self-forming
and self-healing properties of the mesh, place each HotPort node within direct range of two or
more HotPort nodes. It is not recommended to install your HotPort network in a linear, point-to-
point configuration. The Firetide network protocol is optimized for two and three dimensional
topologies.
