ProSoft Technology RLX-IFH9E-A - Manual (Page 19)

RLX-IFHE ♦ RadioLinx Industrial Wireless Start Here
RadioLinx® Industrial Frequency Hopping Ethernet Radios User Manual
ProSoft Technology, Inc. Page 19 of 109
November 19, 2013
1.5 Planning the Network
Before you configure and install the network, you should create a plan for it. To
begin, determine where you need radios and then choose locations for them
accordingly. For example, you might decide to install your master radio near a
PC in a central plant location (You can use the PC to configure the radios
through ControlScape FH). If the plant is an oil refinery, for example, you might
decide to install radios near the oil tanks.
The following illustration shows how a radio network of RLX-IFH24E radios could
be deployed to connect a variety of PLCs using a variety of industrial protocols.
You could deploy a similar network of RLX-IFH9E radios.
The next important issue is how to link the radios. Unless the radios are very
close together, you must make sure that each pair of radio antennas in the
network has a line of sight between them. In other words, you must be able to
see from one antenna to another, either with the naked eye or binoculars.
If a line of sight does not exist between antennas, you must choose a site for
installing a repeater radio, which will create a bridge between the radio antennas.
As part of your planning, you may need to conduct a site survey. ProSoft
Technology can perform this survey, you can do it yourself, or you can hire a
surveyor.