ProSoft Technology RLX-IFH24S-A - Manual (Page 64)

Guide to the RLX-IFHS User Manual RLX-IFHS ♦ RadioLinx Industrial Wireless
User Manual RadioLinx® Industrial Frequency Hopping Serial Radios
Page 64 of 107 ProSoft Technology, Inc.
November 19, 2013
3.3.2 Viewing Radio Channel Noise Level
All radio networks experience background "noise", known as Electromagnetic
Interference (EMI), which consists of such things as stray signals from other
radios on the same frequency, or random interference generated by non-radio
devices that "leak" or emanate EMI as a by-product or side effect of their actual
function. There are also natural sources of EMI, including atmospheric
disturbances and sunspots. The "snow" on an unused or distant television
channel, or "static" on a car radio when passing under high voltage power lines,
are two common examples of background noise.
Unwanted noise, or EMI, on a data network can cause data transmission errors,
or stop a radio network from functioning at all. Most modern devices, including
RadioLinx radios, are designed to prevent unwanted emanation of EMI from the
device. Radios are also typically designed to tolerate a certain amount of
interference from other devices, however when the amount of noise reaches a
certain threshold, typically within 10dB of a link's RSSI, the radio may be unable
to distinguish between wanted and unwanted signals.
ControlScape can help you diagnose transmission problems with a graphical
representation of radio channel noise. You can use this diagnostic information
during a site survey to check for RF signals already present in an area, or to
detect network issues caused by RF interference.
To detect the radio channel noise level for a particular radio, open the U TILITIES
menu, and then choose IFHE S PECTRUM A NALYZER . Select the radio by IP
ADDRESS , and then click O PEN . ControlScape will then scan within the radio, and
measure the noise in the its frequency band. This data can help determine if
there is a signal that is interfering with radio communications. The radio will
continue to periodically scan its frequency band until you click the C
LOSE button,
or you select a different radio to scan.
Note: The information in this dialog box is valid only for radios accessible through a wired Ethernet
network. Scans for radios reachable only over the RF network may not be accurate.
Note: Radio network communications are interrupted while the Spectrum Analyzer is active.
Normal communication will resume when you close the dialog box.