BreadCrumb
®
LX4 User Guide
Rajant Corporation
Version: 2.02
03-100117-001
4.3.5 Placement of BCWN Components
The placement of BreadCrumb devices has a major impact on maximum effective range, and
therefore network performance. The components must be elevated above the surrounding terrain to
allow for adequate wave propagation. A device placed directly on the ground has a significantly
reduced effective range. Elevating a device above the ground dramatically increased the maximum
effective range. Rajant recommends elevating the components a minimum of 6 ft. above the
surrounding surface.
4.4 Deployment Guidelines and Methodology
This section addresses the actual on-site deployment of the BCWN. While by no means an
exhaustive treatise, it is intended as a good source of guidelines and methodology for the successful
deployment of the BCWN in the field.
4.4.1 Deployment Guidelines
Follow these guidelines when deploying the BCWN:
1. Placement of BCWN components
(a) Elevate the BCWN components whenever possible.
i. Directly on the ground, the maximum distance between any two BCWN components
is approximately 300 ft. Also, the maximum distance between a wireless client and
the nearest BCWN component is approximately 300 ft.
ii. Rajant recommends elevating each BCWN component a minimum of 6 ft. above the
surrounding terrain for maximum range. Elevating the BCWN components, as little
as 14 inches, has proven to increase the range out to approximately 600 ft.
2. Distance
(a) If you cannot elevate the BCWN components, they can only be approximately 300 ft.
apart. Also, any wireless clients can be no farther than approximately 300 ft. from a
BCWN component.
3. Line of sight
(a) Obstructions to line of sight block/absorb/deflect the wireless network’s radio waves,
resulting in poor network performance or total loss of network connectivity.
(b) When placing the BCWN components, scan the area for LOS obstructions. Envision the
BCWN’s radio waves as a light beam. Look for obstructions that would result in
shadows in the light beam, they will most likely weaken or block the BCWN’s radio
waves.
4. Weather
(a) Light precipitation will reduce the range and performance of the BCWN components and
wireless clients.
(b) Heavy precipitation or fog will most likely result in extremely reduced range and
frequent or total loss of network connectivity.
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