Table of Contents
Advertisement
Quick Links
Advertisement
Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Avlite AvMesh
- Page 1 AvMesh RF Communications Systems INSTALLATION & TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE V1.0...
- Page 2 Version No. Description Date Author Reviewed Approved Design Manual Launch April 2019 P. Naidu J. Ohle W. Evans M. Sugars...
-
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Maintenance/Housekeeping of the AvMesh Communications System ......32 Troubleshooting ........................33 9.1 Identifying the Problem..............................33 9.2 Single Fixture Non-functional ...........................34 9.3 Whole Runway Non-functional ..........................35 9.4 Multiple Fixtures Non-functional ..........................36 9.4 Multiple Fixtures Non-functional Continued ....................37 Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... - Page 4 Table of Figure Figure 1: Hub and Spoke architecture (left) and Mesh Network (right) ........6 Figure 2: Radio Communications System ....................7 Figure 3: Wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency ............7 Figure 4: Creation of intermodulation products ................... 9 Figure 5: Radiation pattern of Isotropic (left) and Dipole (right) antennas ......10 Figure 6: Unidirectional (left), Bi-directional (center) and Omnidirectional (right) antennas ..................................10 Figure 7: Vertically (left) and Horizontally (right) polarized antennas ........
-
Page 5: Glossary Of Terms
Passband - The range of frequencies that can pass through a filter without attenuation. Primary Node - A light that is part of the primary AvMesh network. This light will receive commands from a controller, other primary node or a reserve node. This light will act upon the commands and pass them on to other nodes in the network. -
Page 6: Background
The AvMesh Communications System is a wireless communication platform which operates by broadcasting signals from the Avlite wireless remote controller to the lights in the system via a 2.4GHz encrypted mesh network. A typical network architecture (e.g. networks used to connect devices such as phones, computers and routers) uses a ‘hub and spoke’... -
Page 7: Rf Fundamentals
Higher frequency- Higher frequency- Lower frequency- Lower frequency- shorter wavelength shorter wavelength shorter wavelength longer wavelength longer wavelength Figure 3: Wavelength is inversely proportional to frequency Lower frequency- Lower frequency- Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com longer wavelength longer wavelength... -
Page 8: Modulation And Demodulation
3.2 Modulation and Demodulation Modulation occurs in the transmitter, where the input signal (also known as the modulating signal) is intentionally ‘mixed’ with a sinusoidal carrier wave (a wave of constant frequency, amplitude and phase). Through this process, one of the three parameters (i.e. amplitude, frequency or phase) of the carrier wave is modified by the input signal according to a predefined method known as the modulation technique. -
Page 9: Antennas
The two main types of reference antenna are either the isotropic antenna which radiates the radio frequency energy uniformly in all directions or the dipole which does not. Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 10: Direction
Figure 5: Radiation pattern of Isotropic (left) and Dipole (right) antennas A higher gain typically indicates that the signal (transmitted or received) is concentrated over a smaller beam width and can therefore cover a larger distance. However, the effectiveness of a high gain antenna depends on the application. Typically, a high gain antenna is most suitable for applications where the source or destination of the signal is known in order to isolate a specific signal and avoid external interfering signals. -
Page 11: Polarization
A brief description of the main categories of RF propagation are shown below. Avlite products (2.4 GHz) operate at frequencies in the Ultra high frequency (UHF) range of the radio spectrum. The main type of RF propagation in this frequency range is line-of- sight propagation. -
Page 12: Line-Of-Sight Propagation
3.5.1 Line-of-sight propagation Line of sight propagation (also known as free space propagation) is the most common mode of propagation for radio waves in the Very High Frequency (VHF) section and above of the radio spectrum. The radio waves travel in a direct path, propagating outwards from the transmitting antenna towards the receiving antenna at the speed of light, with the signal strength reducing as it moves further away from the transmitter. -
Page 13: Interference
RF Communications Systems ® Installation & Service Manual The AvMesh Communications system uses the Avlite wireless remote controller as well as the lights themselves as transmitters. It is therefore essential to consider the impact of the following on the RF propagation: •... -
Page 14: Figure 8: The First (Red), Second (Green) And Third (Blue) Fresnel Zones Between The Transmitting And Receiving Antennas
Line of sight path Line of sight path Figure 8: The first (red), second (green) and third (blue) Fresnel zones between the transmitting and receiving antennas Obstacles in the Fresnel zones can cause some of the radio waves to be reflected, refracted or diffracted before they arrive at the receiving antenna. -
Page 15: In-Band Interference
Because the transmitted signals are very similar to each other, it is highly likely that they will interfere with each other and affect the receivers’ ability to receive the intended signal. The AvMesh Communications System mitigates this issue by allowing the nodes to wait a predetermined amount of time before they transmit. -
Page 16: Spectrum Analyzers
3.7 Spectrum Analyzers To comprehend the extent of potential sources of interference, an analysis of the actual conditions at the intended receiver site is required. This analysis is usually done by a Spectrum Analyzer which is an electronic measurement device that helps to determine the type and frequencies of interfering signals. -
Page 17: The Decibel Formula
-3dB (loss) indicates that the output power is half the input power. Because of the logarithmic scale, even a small change in dB value has a significant impact on the actual power (signal strength). Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... - Page 18 Decibel formula X dB [10log (Pout/Pin)] Power ratio (Pout/Pin) 1 000 000 100 000 10 000 1 000 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.00001 0.000001 The notation of the Decibel typically follows the form dBx, where ‘x’ is the reference unit. Common dBx terms are shown below: •...
-
Page 19: Signal To Noise Ratio (Snr Or S/N)
V , the signal to noise ratio is negative and reliable communication is generally not possible unless the noise level is decreased and/or the strength of the desired signal is increased. Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 20: Avmesh Tm Communications System: Theory Of Operation
The primary nodes make up the primary network. This node is able to receive and decode signals from the Avlite wireless remote controller, another primary node or a reserve node and act upon the signal itself. The primary node is able to pass on the received signal to... -
Page 21: Network Set-Up Procedure
A light is configured as listen only upon first start-up. Listen only lights receive and decode signals from either the Avlite wireless remote controller, a primary node or a reserve node and acts upon the signal itself. However, listen only lights are not able to pass on signals to other lights. -
Page 22: Figure 10: The Nodes Are Configured As Primary If They Are Not Within Range Of At
The next node that is turned on (e.g. node 6 in figure 10) will first be configured as a listen only node and will receive the signals broadcasted from other nodes, which, in this case, will only be from node 3. Since the new node will not be within range of at least 3 other primary nodes, it too will become a primary node and will broadcast a signal to all other nodes indicating that it has become a primary node. -
Page 23: Figure 12: If A Node Is Within Range Of At Least 3 Other Primary And 3 Other Reserve Nodes, It Will Remain As A Listen Only Node
The resulting mesh network will consist of a mixture of primary and reserve nodes and listen only lights all connected to each other. Figure 13: Resulting mesh network Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 24: Network Bridging
Through this network set up procedure, the AvMesh Communications System can deduce how many lights need to repeat commands or be ‘nodes’ to provide the airfield enough coverage. ‘ After ten days of continuous operation, each light will perform a reset in which it will restart its network set-up procedure. -
Page 25: Figure 15: The Next Nodes To Turn On Will Be Independent Of The Nodes At The Other End Of The Runway
Figure 16: Node 5 will become a primary node in network 4 if node 9 accepts the bridging Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 26: Figure 17: Other Primary Nodes Within Range Of Node 5 Will Also Join The New
Since nodes 1, 2, 4 and 9 are within range of node 5, they will also join the new network (i.e. network 4). Figure 17: Other primary nodes within range of node 5 will also join the new network Nodes 11 and 12 will also join the new network once they receive a signal from node 9. This will result in one network ID being used by the primary nodes throughout the system. -
Page 27: Avlite Wireless Remote Controller
5.1 Radio Controller Menu Every time the SEND button is pressed on the Avlite wireless remote controller, a command signal containing all the current settings in the Radio Controller is sent to the lights in the Avlite Communications System. -
Page 28: Advanced Op Mode
Light groups are used to cluster lights in a particular area such as a taxiway so that they can be controlled independently from other light groups such as a runway or helipad. The Avlite Wireless Remote Controller offers 10 individual light groups (i.e. 0-9) as well as an option to select all groups at once. -
Page 29: Timeout Duration
Yes: The light is a primary node in the primary network. No: The light is not a primary node. • External Power Yes: The light has an external power connection. No: The light does not have an external power connection. Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 30: Controller Menu (Advanced)
‘Controller Setup Menu’. Press and hold the menu button on the Avlite wireless remote controller for 3 seconds to navigate to the ‘Controller Setup Menu’ and step through the menu options using the ‘Menu’ button. The following menu options are available: •... -
Page 31: Direct Connection
The Avlite wireless remote controller is able to program and communicate with individual lights in the system via physical connection. In the direct connection method, the Avlite wireless remote controller is connected to the light of interest via a programming cable. This allows the controller to send messages and commands to the individual light without the commands being sent to the other lights in the mesh network. -
Page 32: Rotary Switches
RF propagation is not obstructed. The Avlite wireless remote controller should also be raised as high as possible to clear the first Fresnel zone and maintain signal strength between the controller and the lights within range. -
Page 33: Troubleshooting
(the cause of which could be a number of factors) a series of flowcharts have been provided to guide you through a structured approach to identify and solve the problem as a preliminary step to contacting the Avlite technical services team. -
Page 34: Single Fixture Non-Functional
RF match? match? controller controller Attempt to control Attempt to control fixture from close fixture from close Contact Avlite Contact Avlite proximity with proximity with technical services technical services handheld controller handheld controller Does light Does light... -
Page 35: Whole Runway Non-Functional
Is whole runway unresponsive. unresponsive. technical technical responsive? responsive? 2. Install a high gain antenna. 2. Install a high gain antenna. services services Check if whole runway Check if whole runway becomes responsive. becomes responsive. Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... -
Page 36: Multiple Fixtures Non-Functional
Is whole runway Is whole runway spots as recommended by spots as recommended by responsive? responsive? Avlite technical services Avlite technical services Test system at long Test system at long range range See next See next page... -
Page 37: Multiple Fixtures Non-Functional Continued
Avlite Avlite Contact Avlite Contact Avlite Clear indication Clear indication technical technical of interference? of interference? services services Send Send information to information to Avlite Avlite Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com... - Page 38 Notes...
- Page 39 AvMesh RF Communications Systems ® Installation & Service Manual Latest products and information available at www.avlite.com...
- Page 40 Avlite Solution Verticals available Airfield Heliport Obstruction We believe technology improves navigation avlite.com info@avlite.com Avlite Systems Avlite USA LLC Avlite Asia Pte Ltd Australia Singapore +61 (0)3 5977 6128 +1 (603) 737 1311 +65 6908 2917...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the AvMesh and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers