Siemens SIMATIC RTLS Operating Instructions Manual page 12

Installation and operation
3.1 Notes on installation
Reflections and interferences
The antenna fields are weakened by absorbing materials and reflected by conducting materials.
When electromagnetic fields are reflected or there are other radio sources, this will result in
interferences. These circumstances will result in incorrect measurements; however, these can
be largely detected and corrected with the appropriate software (e.g. SIMATIC RTLS Locating
Manager). We still recommend that you prevent these influences. Especially objects that cannot
be penetrated by radio waves can cause localization errors.
Note
Metal surfaces reflect radio waves more than any other types of surfaces. Water, on the other
hand, attenuates radio waves. You should therefore evaluate your working environment and
integration for these influences.
During installation, pay attention to sufficient distance from such reflective surfaces so that
localization is not impaired.
Coexistence and de-sensing
To prevent interfering with each other, radio applications will use different frequency bands. Use
of these frequency bands is subject to state regulation. Because a frequency range is considered
a finite good, technologies were developed over the years that enable a coexistence of different
radio applications in the same frequency band. These technologies are also used by SIMATIC
RTLS. However, interferences can still be caused by other radio devices. Arrangements are being
made here, too, so that these interferences do not impact the operation of the RTLS localization
system. To keep interferences to a minimum, the RTLS infrastructure components must not be
installed in the close vicinity of other radio applications. Strong senders in close vicinity can
interfere with the reception, even when they are located in neighboring frequency bands (de-
sensing). This is true, for example, for the 2.4 GHz ISM band and PULSE in the UWB channel 5.
12
Operating Instructions, 08/2023, C79000-G8976-C687-02
SIMATIC RTLS5201T