ProSoft Technology RLX-IFH24S-A - Manual (Page 53)

RLX-IFHS ♦ RadioLinx Industrial Wireless Guide to the RLX-IFHS User Manual
RadioLinx® Industrial Frequency Hopping Serial Radios User Manual
ProSoft Technology, Inc. Page 53 of 107
November 19, 2013
2.1.2 Connecting antennas
Each radio must have an antenna connected to the Main antenna port on the
radio; without an antenna for each radio, the network will not function.
All antennas for radios that communicate directly with each other should be
mounted so they have the same antenna polarity. Small antennas with a reverse-
polarity SMA connector can be mounted directly on the radio. Screw the antenna
onto the antenna port connector until it is snug.
Larger antennas and antennas that do not have a reverse-gender SMA
connector must be mounted separately and connected to the radio using a
coaxial antenna cable. Because the antenna cable attenuates the RF signal, use
an antenna cable length that is no longer than necessary to ensure optimum
performance.
Important: If the radio is to be used in a hazardous location, the radio must be mounted in an
enclosure approved for hazardous locations. The radio requires a separate cable connection to the
SMA connector that leads to an internal antenna.
Improve signal quality
If yo u need to improve a radio’s signal quality, try the following steps:
 Adjust the direction of the high-gain antennas.

Increase the height of the antenna’s placement.
 Use higher-gain antennas or external preamplifiers.
 Select a new location for the radio and/or its antenna.
 Decrease the length of the antenna cable.
 Determine and resolve sources of interfering electrical noise.
 Add a repeater between radios that are not communicating.