ProSoft RadioLinx FH Series, User Manual, Page: 17 / 151

Radio Networks RLX-FHE, RLX-FHES, RLX-FHS ♦ RadioLinx FH
Frequency-Hopping Industrial Radio
ProSoft Technology, Inc. Page 17 of 151
November 25, 2008
3 Radio Networks
In This Chapter
™
Radio Network Defined ......................................................................... 17
™
Network Types - FH Radios .................................................................. 18
3.1 Radio Network Defined
A radio network provides wireless replacements for serial or Ethernet cables. Any
two devices which could otherwise function together with a physical serial cable
between them can be incorporated into a wireless network and continue to
function normally. A basic network consists of a Master radio cabled to one
device and a Remote radio cabled to another device.
As examples, Master device - Remote device pairs could be:
ƒ
computer - printer
ƒ
computer - scanner
ƒ
scanner - printer
ƒ
Modbus controller - industrial tool
A radio link can be used in any situation where a Master device and its Remote
device are located in such a way that a
serial or ethernet cable connection
between them is impractical or impossible . The radios can communicate up to
15 miles depending upon site selection (page 29) (terrain, antenna type,
environmental noise, etc.) and other sources of interference (page 30).
An example of a basic radio network is illustrated below. In this example, the
Master device is a
computer and its Remote device is a hand-held scanner .