Improving Your Site Survey Results - Banner Sure Cross DX80 Instruction Manual

Judging if the reliability of a network's signal meets the needs of the application is not just a matter of green, yellow, and red
packets received. In normal operating mode, when data packets are not received, the transmitter re-sends the packet until all
data is received.
For slow monitoring applications such as a tank farm, where data is required in terms of seconds or minutes, receiving most
of the data in the 'red' range, indicating a weak but reliable signal, transmits enough data for accurate monitoring. Nodes
positioned near the outside range of the radio signal may have 90% of the data packets received in the red zone, again
indicating a weak, but reliable signal.

3.5.6 Improving Your Site Survey Results

Refer to the Sure Cross Installation Guide (p/n 151514) for installation details and tips and tricks for improving your radio
network's performance.
If your Site Survey results have more yellow than green, consider replacing the Node's antenna with one the following:
• Use a 2 dBi Omni dome antenna (model BWA-9O2-D) or a 5 dBi Omni antenna (model BWA-9O5-C)
• Use a 6 dBi Yagi (directional) antenna (model BWA-9Y6-A)
If the distance between devices is greater than 5,000 meters (3 miles) line-of-sight or objects, such as trees or man-made
obstructions, interfere with the path, and the MISSED packet count exceeds 25 per 100 packets, consider the following
steps:
• Install the antenna(s) remotely at a higher position (requires an antenna extension cable);
• Use a higher gain antenna;
• Decrease the distance between devices; or
• Use data radios to extend the position of the Gateway relative to the host system.
Performance Levels
Referenced omni-directional and directional antennas are listed at the end of this section.
Very strong signal strength is 100 green signals (displayed on the LCD) or eight flashes per second (models without
LCDs). If the included 2 dBi OMNI antenna does not achieve this signal strength, use a different omni antenna, such as the 2
dBi dome antenna (same gain, different form factor) or 5 dBi antenna (higher gain). You may also use a low-gain directional
antenna, such as the 6.5 dBd Yagi antenna.
Strong signal strength is represented by some green signals and some yellow signals (very few red signals and very few
missed signals) or four flashes per second. To improve your radio performance, consider using a different omni antenna,
such as the 2 dBi dome antenna, 5 dBi antenna, 6 dBi antenna, or 8 dBi antenna. You may also use a low-gain directional
antenna, such as the 6.5 dBd Yagi antenna. We also recommend installing the antenna(s) remotely at a higher position.
Additional antenna cables are available from Banner Engineering if needed.
Good or weak signal strength equals some yellow signals and a majority of red signals (very few green signals, a small
number of yellow signals, and a small to medium number of missed signals) or one to two flashes per second. To improve
your radio performance, consider using one of the 6 dBi or 8 dBi omni-directional antennas or the 10 dBd directional antenna.
We also recommend installing the antenna(s) remotely at a higher position. Additional antenna cables are available from
Banner Engineering if needed.
No radio communication is when more than 50% of the radio signals are missed or a solid amber LED. To improve radio
performance, use a 8 dBi omni-direction antenna or a 10 dBd directional antenna and elevate the antenna above any
obstructions. The lack of signals may also be due to the distance between the Gateway (master radio) and Nodes (remote
radio). If this is the case, please contact Banner Engineering for further assistance. We also recommend installing the
antenna(s) remotely at a higher position. Additional antenna cables are available from Banner Engineering if needed.
Omni-Directional (Omni) Antennas
BWA-9O2-D (2 dBi OMNI antenna, dome style)—For applications where a durable antenna is needed external to the radio
enclosure.
BWA-9O5-C (5 dBi OMNI antenna with RP-SMA connector)—Antenna for medium antenna performance increase or to
elevate the antenna above obstacles such as buildings or tall crops. We recommend using one of the following LMR200
extension cables (RP-SMA to RP-SMA):
• BWC-2MRSFRS3 (3 meters long)
• BWC-2MRSFRS6 (6 meters long)
• BWC-2MRSFRS9 (9 meters long)
• BWC-2MRSFRS12 (12 meters long)
BWA-9O6-AS (6 dBi OMNI antenna with Type N cable connector)— Antenna for strong antenna performance increase.
Requires a RP-SMA to Type N converter cable (BWC-1MRSMN05). May require one of the following antenna extension
cables:
• BWC-4MNFN3 (3 meters long)
• BWC-4MNFN6 (6 meters long)
• BWC-4MNFN15 (15 meters long)
www.bannerengineering.com - Tel: + 1 888 373 6767
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Sure Cross DX80 Performance Wireless I/O Networks
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