Wireless Networking

Sales and Technical Support Solution for Planning and Implementing Radiolinx Networks

ProSoft Technology provides various levels of technical support and application assistance to ensure the success of RadioLinx applications. Applications may vary in complexity, from a pair of radios communicating across a factory floor to hundreds of radios spread over a large metropolitan area.

The guide below suggests typical questions for each area of concern and the support available from planning your communication network and order configuration to site review and verification.

1. Define the application

How will the end devices communicate with each other? What protocol will be used? Is the vender familiar with my automation and industrial network technologies? Do I have a single or multiple master requirements? Will I use serial or Ethernet physical media? What are my throughput requirements and does the radio have the bandwidth capabilities to handle current and future network bandwidth? Where will I install my radios, inside or outside? What are the site environmental considerations? Is there power available at the site, if not what are the solar panel and battery requirements? Are the radios able to be installed in a harsh or hazardous industrial environment?

ProSoft Technology, RadioLinx Application Engineers can help. Support is paramount with RadioLinx products. Our Application Engineers are experienced in the industry and are familiar with automation applications, specific industry protocols and networking and radio path engineering applications. Download the ordering assistance documents to help get you started.

2. Plan your network

What is the coverage area? What is the network topology? Does my WLAN extend indoor and outdoor? Do PDAs, laptops or other mobile and roaming devices need access? What are my security requirements? How many and how for away are my sites or users? Will I need to add a repeater site? Are there sub-net requirements? What accessories are required and does the vendor supply these necessary components?

Whatever your wireless network designs may be, ProSoft Technology provides a full line of products and expertise to assist you. Turn an isolated island of information into a networked enterprise solution. Get connected and bridge any wired or wireless area of your plant with one of many ProSoft Technology products.

3. Path planning services

Does the vendor provide path planning assistance? What tools are available to determine link quality? How can I visualize the path terrain? What does line-of-sight (LOS) mean? What are the LOS obstructions? What data will be required for these services? What type of antenna should I use? How high do I need to mount my antenna and will I require an antenna mast or tower? Do I have specific antenna height restrictions?

Path planning services is an essential part of an outdoor wireless solution providing an accurate account of items and budgetary costs required for the project. A Site Audit should be performed to collect GPS, obstruction and existing structure data. This data supplies the RadioLinx Application Engineer pertinent information to provide a summary report for each site and path. The path planning report is generated indicating a complete radio bill-of-materials, antenna type, gain, height, tilt angle and location requirements, calculated fade margins, and a graphical path profile for each site and network topological terrain map. The report will also assist systems integrators with initial design specifications for testing and verifying each path link. See the sample Path Study Report attached.

Site Audits are available upon request. Please contact your local ProSoft Technology RadioLinx Distributor for assistance.

4. Request for quotation

Can I obtain an accurate account of the materials required? Will I use a single or multiple vendors for my project and what are the advantages? Are there additional software costs? Does the product warranty suggest value and will the manufacturer offer superior support?

Many project application and network design questions have been provided by ProSoft Technology, it just makes sense your radio vendor supplies all products, accessories and support. ProSoft Technology takes pride in providing our customers with an accurate and detailed quotation that has conveniently been divided into a site-by-site cost area as well as a per item bill-of-material cost summary.

5. Physical Installation and Reliability Assurance

Can I manage the project or need guidance with systems integration expertise? Can I have a single entity to assume total accountability and will they understand the complete project? What equipment is required to verify and troubleshoot acceptable fade margins? Are certifications and or licensing requirements an issue? Will I have any RF interference? What kind of guarantee can I obtain?

It may be necessary for complex networks and paths with complicated terrains to visit each site for quality and reliability assurance. The site surveyor will measure radios reception for signal strength, background noise, packet errors and data throughput. Completing the survey assures the customer and verifies the RadioLinx bill-of-material quotation and the networked system will operate with acceptable reliability.

Please contact your local ProSoft Technology RadioLinx Distributor for site survey assistance.