3
Basic Initial Design And Deployment Considerations
Proper design considerations need to be addressed prior to installation of a VWG or JACE with a Viconics wireless
communication card and related wireless controllers.
1. To properly avoid network interference with 802.11 Wi-Fi devices in the 2.4GHz spectrum range, Viconics
recommends the use of 802.15.4 channels 15, 25 and 26 only. 802.11 Wi-Fi transmissions overlap and may interfere
with other channel selection allowed by 802.15.4 ( Channels 11 to 24 )
2. Maximum distance between each node ( controller(s) or repeater(s)) should be:
Clear line of sight distance between 2 nodes should be under 100 feet ( 30 M )
Non line of sight distance for typical wall gypsum partitions made with metal stud frame should be under 30
feet ( 10M )
3. Ensure that the minimum distance between any Viconics ZigBee node and any Wi-Fi devices ( wireless routers,
wireless adapters, lap-
tops using wireless networks, etc….) to be at least 3 foot ( 1 M ) and preferably 10 feet ( 3 M ) or
more.
4. Ensure that at least one controller is within 30 feet of the VWG and JACE for every cluster of 10 Controllers installed.
5. Always try to locate the VWG and JACE near the center of all associated wireless controllers when possible.
6. Always try to locate the VWG and JACE near on in line of sigh to as many wireless controllers as possible.
7. Avoid metal, brick walls or concrete obstructions between wireless devices when possible.
8. Make sure the antenna on the VWG and JACE is always perpendicular to the floor.
9. Avoid placing VWG, JACE and controllers near metal or enclosed in metal boxes. If the VWG and JACE need to be
installed inside a metal cabinet, use the remote antenna accessory.
VRP5000W1000W Deployment Considerations
When Viconics wireless controller nodes cannot be discovered or added to a VWG and JACE database due to distance, the
use of repeaters to bridge communication back to the VWG and JACE becomes necessary.
The number of repeater(s) necessary depends on how many devices are not able to join the VWG and JACE and how they are
organized and distanced from each other.
Clear line of sight distance between 2 nodes should be under 100 feet ( 30 M )
Non line of sight distance for typical wall gypsum partitions made with metal stud frame should be under 30
feet ( 10M )
If a single controller is too far away and cannot join the main network a single repeater may be used:
Viconics Controller(s)
Main Mesh Cluster
VRP5000W1000W
Repeater
Remote Viconics
Controller
All distances
Line of sight maximum 100 feet ( 30 M )
Through partitions maximum 30 feet ( 31 M )
