Clear-Com FreeSpeak Beltpack - Manual (Page 66)

Clear-Com Communication Systems
Eclipse Wireless Communication System
4 - 4
Figure 4-1: A Beltpack’s Site Survey Screen
• The RSSI (signal strength) number will fluctuate, ranging from 0 to
55, as you walk through the coverage area, and may even
fluctuate as you stand still. As a rule-of-thumb, you will obtain best
system performance when the signal strength remains at 30 or
above. If the signal strength falls below 30, you may start losing
audio. This is the limit of the coverage zone.
• The ERR (error rate) number indicates packets of audio which are
lost or corrupted. When this number exceeds a few percent you
may start hearing audible audio breakup.
A beltpack can transmit to an antenna outdoors at an average
distance of 125 meters when the beltpack has an unobstructed
“line-of-sight” path to the antenna. In ideal conditions, the range may
be as high as 250 meters. Indoors, a beltpack can transmit to an
antenna at an average distance of 50 meters.
5. Draw a map of the coverage zone for the antenna. The coverage
zone is the area where the signal strength, as a rule-of-thumb, is 30
or above and the error rate is below a few percent.
6. Repeat this process, one antenna at a time, for as many antennas
as necessary to cover the required area. Overlap coverage zones
so that there is no area where the signal strength is below 30, and
no area where the error rate is above a few percent.
7. You will need to adjust antenna placement to get the best coverage.