© Microhard Systems Inc.
Confidential
45
3.0 Configuration
Repeaters
can be used to extend the coverage of the Master. Required only if necessary to establish a
radio path between a Master and Slave(s); stores and forwards data sent to it. Synchronizes to Master
and provides synchronization to ‘downstream’ units. If a local device is attached to a Repeater’s serial
data port, the Repeater will also behave as a Slave (aka Repeater/Slave).
Adding one or more Repeaters within a network will cut the overall throughput of the network in
half
; the
throughput is halved only once, i.e. it does not decrease with the addition of more Repeaters. If there is
a ‘path’ requirement to provide Repeater functionality, but throughput is critical, a work around is to
place two modems at the Repeater site in a ‘back-to-back’ configuration. One modem would be config-
ured as a Slave in the ‘upstream’ network; the other a Master (or Slave) in the ‘downstream’ network.
Local connection between the modems would be a ‘null modem’ cable. Each modem would require its
own antenna; careful consideration should be given with respect to antenna placement and modem
configuration.
Drawing 3-3: Point to Multipoint Repeater
Slave
Repeater
Master
Master
Coverage
Area
Repeater
Slave
Slave
Slave
Repeaters
Coverage
Area
