Protected Network Operation Using Multiple Access Points; Collocating Multiple Radio Networks; The Network Name And The Association Process - GE MDS iNET 900 Reference Manual

station antenna. A detailed discussion on the effects of terrain is given
in Section 4.1.2, Site Selection (beginning on Page 131)
1.4.2 Protected Network Operation using Multiple
Access Points
Although GE MDS transceivers have a very robust design and have
undergone intensive testing before being shipped, it is possible for iso-
lated failures to occur. In mission-critical applications, down time can
be virtually eliminated by using some, or all, of the following configu-
rations:
In a point-to-multipoint scenario, the Access Point services multiple
remotes. A problem in the Access Point will have an effect on all
remotes, since none will have access to the network. When operation of
the network does not tolerate any down time, it is possible to set up a
protected configuration for the Access Point to greatly reduce the possi-
bility of this occurrence. An MDS P21 Protected Network Station may
be used to achieve redundant operation. It employs two APs in a single
enclosure, with appropriate switching circuits.
In this application, two or more Access Points are configured with the
same Network Name and kept active simultaneously, each with its own
independent antenna. In this scenario, Remotes will associate with
either one of the available Access Points. In case of a failure of one of
the AP's the Remotes will quickly associate with another of the
remaining Access Points re-establishing connectivity to the end devices.
The Access Points are unaware of the existence of the other AP's.
Because the hopping algorithm uses both the Network Name and the
Wireless MAC address of the AP to generate the hopping pattern, mul-
tiple AP's can coexist—even if they use the same network name. The
collocated AP's will be using different hopping patterns and frequencies
the great majority of the time. Although some data collisions will occur,
the wireless-MAC is built to tolerate and recover from such occurrences
with minimal degradation.

1.4.3 Collocating Multiple Radio Networks

Many networks can operate in relatively close physical proximity to one
another provided reasonable measures are taken to assure the radio
signal of one Access Point is not directed at the antenna of the second
Access Point.

The Network Name and the association process

The Network Name is the foundation for building individual radio net-
works. It is part of a beacon signal broadcast by the Access Point (AP)
to any Remote units with the same Network Name. Remotes that join the
network are referred to as being "associated" with the Access Point unit.
14 iNET Series Reference Manual 05-2806A01, Rev. J