Connecting Antennas; Test The Network Installation Plan - ProSoft RadioLinx RLXIB-IESC User Manual

RLXIB-IESC ♦ 802.11a, b, g
RadioLinx® Industrial 802.11abg Serial and Ethernet Client
way the radios are linked. A radio that is not linked to a parent will show as a
circle outlined by a flashing dashed red line. It may be near the bottom of the
window, so scroll down to view all available radios. To change how radios link to
the network, see Parent Link settings (page 43).
Refer to Improve Signal Quality (page 29) for more information on overcoming
poor connectivity.
2.1

Connecting antennas

Each radio must have an antenna connected to the Main antenna port on the
RLXIB radio; without an antenna for each radio, the network will not function.
All antennas for radios that communicate directly with each other should be
mounted so they have the same antenna polarity. Small antennas with a reverse-
polarity SMA connector can be mounted directly on the radio. Screw the antenna
onto the antenna port connector until it is snug.
Larger antennas and antennas that do not have a reverse-gender SMA
connector must be mounted separately and connected to the radio using a
coaxial antenna cable. Because the antenna cable attenuates the RF signal, use
an antenna cable length that is no longer than necessary to ensure optimum
performance.
Important: If the radio is to be used in a hazardous location, the radio must be mounted in an
enclosure approved for hazardous locations. The radio requires a separate cable connection to the
SMA connector that leads to an internal antenna.
2.2

Test the Network Installation Plan

Test proposed installations before the installation is finalized.
After the network has been configured (page 15) and the radios have been
configured (page 31):

install the Master radio in its proposed permanent location (page 14)

cable the Configuration PC to the Master radio

place the Remote radios in their proposed locations

temporarily place each radio's antenna near its proposed mounting location.
The temporary placement of the antenna can be by hand, however, with this
testing method, one person must hold the antenna while another monitors the
Remote radio's signal strength as displayed on the Configuration PC.
To improve the signal quality of each Remote's communication:

increase the height of the antenna's placement

use higher-gain antennas

increase the radio's transmission power, cable the radio to the Configuration
PC, and reconfigure it

select a new location for the Remote radio and/or its antenna

decrease the length of antenna cable

determine and resolve sources of "electrical" noise which may be interfering
with the radio transmission

add a repeater between the radios that are not communicating or reconfigure
an existing radio as a repeater if line of sight is available
Page 24 of 98
Installing the Radios
User Manual
ProSoft Technology, Inc.
May 25, 2010