R
A N G E O F
O
P E R A T I O N
Within the data range, a station can exchange information at full Ethernet speeds. For best opera-
tion, RadioLAN recommends that you locate all stations within a 120-foot circular area (see Figure
1). This ensures proper operation of the network’s CSMA/CA feature, which overcomes network
communication collisions.
Figure 1: Range of Operation
Obstructions can decrease the data range:
RadioLAN products are designed to operate in a semi-open
office environment. Listed below are some obstructions that may reduce your data range:
• Walls made of a metallic substance
• Thick concrete walls
• Walls reinforced with metallic studs
• Foil-backed insulation installed within walls
• Desktop objects that surround your RadioLAN transceiver
Roaming
RadioLAN networks provide an automatic ability to select the Access Point with the best signal.
(Note: The term
Access Point
in this manual refers to RadioLAN’s BackboneLINK
™
). This allows the
stations to move from one Access Point to another without user intervention. For instance, a
portable computer using a RadioLAN PCMCIA card may easily move from one area of the building to
another area served by a separate Access Point, while receiving constant 10Mbps service. This
allows the user to take the computer from the office area to a conference room and continue to
work on the network. The station’s software manages the relationship to the nearest Access Point,
and when conditions change, the station will notify the new Access Point that it is selected to pro-
vide service for that station, and the old Access Point to discontinue service. This is done automati-
cally and seamlessly.
Performing a Site Survey
Performing a site survey allows you to map out your signal quality ratings throughout the office
area. To perform the survey, you need a laptop and an Access Point. For example, a RadioLAN
BackboneLINK
™
and a wireless notebook station using the RadioLAN MOBILINK
™
. While testing,
each station is monitoring the other for connectivity quality.
Mapping the Site
Create a map of the wireless site. On the map, mark the locations of each stationary station; for
example, mark each office where a wireless station will be located. Also specify and mark the sta-
tion that will connect to the hard-wired 10BaseT local area network. In this example, the Access
Point is the center point of the wireless network. From the Access Point, measure the distance to
each office where a wireless station is located. Note the distance at each station on the map.
W
HA
T
T
O
K
N
O
W
F
IR
S
T
S
ECT
ION
1:
3
300 feet
radio carrier
range
120 feet
data range