12 MDS iNET 900 User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. A
The Access Points are unaware of the existence of the other AP’s.
Because the hopping algorithm uses the Network Name and the Wire-
less MAC address of the AP to generate the hopping pattern, multiple
AP’s can coexist. The collocated AP’s will be using different hopping
patterns and frequencies the great majority of the time. Although some
collisions will occur, the wireless-MAC is built to tolerate and recover
from such occurrences with minimal degradation.
1.3.3 Collocating Multiple iNET 900 Networks
Many MDS iNET 900 networks can operate in relatively close physical
proximity to one another providing reasonable measures are taken to
assure the radio signal of one Access Point is not directed at the antenna
of the second Access Point and each network has a unique Network
Name.
The Network Name and the association process
The Network Name is the foundation for building individual MDS
iNET 900 networks. It is part of a beacon signal broadcast by the Access
Point (AP) to any iNET 900 Remote units with the same Network
Name. MDS iNET Remotes that join the network are referred to as
being “associated” with the Access Point unit.
NOTE: All MDS iNET 900’s are shipped with “Not Programmed” as
the Network Name. This puts the unit in a non-operational
mode—the Network Name must be configured in order to pass
data and begin normal operations.
Unless a redundant system is being deployed, multiple APs with the
same Network Name should be avoided. Using the same Network Name
in multiple APs may result in Remotes associating with undesired APs
and preventing data exchange from occurring. If you must use the same
Network Name, use a different Hop Pattern Seed value in each Access
Point. (See “Radio Configuration Menu” on Page 29.)
The use of a different Network Name does not guarantee an interfer-
ence-free system. It does however, assure that only data destined for a
unique network is passed through to that network.
Can radio-frequency interference (RFI) disrupt my MDS iNET
900 Network?
When multiple iNET networks operate in close physical proximity to
other wireless networks, individual units may not operate reliably under
weak signal conditions and may be influenced by strong radio signals in
adjacent bands. This radio frequency interference cannot be predicted
and can only be determined by experimentation. If you need to co-locate
two iNET units, start by using the largest possible vertical antenna sep-
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