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Required parameter values
(TX device)
Related commands
Repeater mode theory of operation
You can extend the effective range and reliability of your data system by forwarding traffic through one or more
repeaters. Instead of using routing tables and path discovery to establish dynamic paths through a network, the
repeater system uses a sophisticated algorithm to propagate each RF packet through the entire network.
The network supports RF packets up to 2048 bytes when the RF data rate is set at 9600 bps (BR = 0). The repeater
network can operate using broadcast or addressed communications for multi-drop networks, and it works well in
many systems with no special configuration.
When in Repeater mode, the network repeats each message among all available devices exactly one time. This
mechanism eliminates the need for configuring specific routes. The following figure illustrates the Repeater network
topology.
Configure a repeater network
If an RF link is weak, a device is out-of-range or a difficult RF environment is present; you can use repeaters to extend
the effective range and reliability of the network.
A network may consist of End Nodes (EN), End/Repeater Nodes (ERN) and a Base Node (BN). The base node initiates
all communications. Both Repeater Nodes and End Nodes can source data, allowing connection to host devices.
Repeater Nodes however, are able to repeat information in a simple store and forward fashion. As an example, one
End Node (which can be a base or remote) must send a message to another End Node. Because the End Node is out of
range of the base device, you can use a repeater to forward information from the Base to the End Node.
You can configure a repeater network to operate using Basic Broadcast or Basic Addressed communications. The
addressing capabilities of the device allow integrators to send a packet as a global packet (DT = 0xFFFF) and shift out
of every device in the network (Basic Broadcast). Alternately, you can send the packet with a specific DT parameter so
that only a specific remote node accepts it (Basic Addressed).
XTend RF Module User Guide
Insert a variable delay before repeating packets to avoid collisions (based on RSSI).
Buffer any incoming serial data and delay response packet transmissions until the previous packet
clears out of the network.
For best results, use the RO and RB commands to ensure that the RF packets align with the
underlying protocol packets as the network can only accept one RF packet at a time.
MD = 5 or 6.
MY = unique value. You can accomplish this by issuing the AM and WR commands to all devices in
the network.
Networking (MD, DT, MY, AM), Serial interfacing (RN, PK, RO, RB)
Configure a repeater network
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