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RLXIB-IHW-66
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802.11a, b, g
User Manual
Industrial Hotspot
ProSoft Technology, Inc.
Page 11 of 109
May 18, 2009
1.5
Planning the Network
Before you configure and install the network, you should create a plan for it. The
following points assume that you are creating a bridge network of masters and
repeaters, but you can also set up clients to work with devices on existing
wireless LANs. For information, see Set Up a Client.
To begin, determine where you need radios and then choose locations for them
accordingly. For example, you might decide to install your master radio near a
PC in a central plant location. (You can use the PC to configure the radios
through the Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility.) If the plant is an oil refinery,
for example, you might decide to install radios near the oil tanks.
The next important issue is how to link the radios. Unless the radios are very
close together, you must make sure that each pair of radio antennas in the
network has a line of sight between them. In other words, you must be able to
see from one antenna to another, either with the naked eye or binoculars.
If a line of sight does not exist between antennas, you must choose a site for
installing a repeater radio, which will create a bridge between the radio antennas.
Choose the appropriate antennas for the network. If an antenna will be
connected to the radio by a long cable, you might need to purchase a power
amplifier, which is available from ProSoft Technology. The more distance
between an antenna and its radio, the more signal loss the radio will have. For
more information, see Antennas.
Consider drawing up your network plans on paper. As part of the drawing, you
should assign a logical name to each radio. You can use these names later when
configuring the radios in the Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility.
As part of your planning, you might want to conduct a site survey. ProSoft
Technology can perform this survey, you can do it yourself, or you can hire a
surveyor.
Protect radios from direct exposure to weather, and provide an adequate, stable
power source. Make sure that your plan complies with the radio’s power
requirements (page 82) and cable specifications (page 83).
Important:
Radios and antennas must be located at least 8 inches (20 cm) away from personnel.