Modular Mining Systems M/LC Repeaters 302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide Part Number 201327 February 2004
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND DISCLAIMER Copyright © 2004 by Modular Mining Systems, Inc. Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 2. Design Principles of a M/LC Repeater Network............................................ 3 2.1 General Hardware Selection Guidelines.......................................................................... 3 2.1.1 M/LC Infrastructure Hardware...............................................................................................3 2.1.2 Data Rates and Range...........
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.3.2 Relative Gain........................................................................................................................16 3.3.2.1 dB (Decibels) ......................................................................................................................... 16 3.3.2.2 Half Power Points (—3 dB Points) ........................................................................................ 17 3.3.3 Tilt Angle (Down Tilt) ..
Contents—Continued 5.5 5.4.1.1 Ethernet connected ................................................................................................................. 38 5.4.1.2 Wireless.................................................................................................................................. 38 5.4.1.3 WEP .................................................................................................................................... 40 5.4.1.4 Setting the Channel ..........
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1. Introduction The Modular Mining Systems M/LC radio network provides high-quality, low-maintenance communications to all mine operating areas. (M/LC stands for “MasterLink® Cisco” and is based on an Ethernet Bridge from Cisco Systems.) To keep the system working optimally, you can monitor performance reports and graphical displays. Furthermore, equipment operators will inform you of any system degradation. This document discusses the following topics: • how to design an M/LC Repeater Network (i.e.
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2. Design Principles of a M/LC Repeater Network 2.1 General Hardware Selection Guidelines When selecting hardware components of a M/LC Repeater Network, there are several important issues that must be addressed. 2.1.1 M/LC Infrastructure Hardware Because Cisco bridges and access point have their own proprietary routing algorithms that dictate how to make the “wireless” hops back to the hardline network, they can not be mixed with standard MasterLink (M/L) repeaters.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 2.1.2 Data Rates and Range The M/LC repeater hardware is based on the 802.11b specification and as such supports data rates of 1.0 Mbps, 2.0 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, and 11.0 Mbps. As the data rate increases, the range deceases. At ½ watt of output power, the expected ranges are as follows: DATA RATE ANTENNAS EXPECTED RANGE 2.0 Mbps Two 6 dBi Omnis 8 miles 11.
Design Principles of a M/LC Repeater Network two batteries are used with a 150 W repeater and four with a 300 W system, but you can always choose to install four batteries in a 150 W system. (The battery box holds four.) 2.1.6 Lightning Protection All M/LC repeaters come with some lightning protection. There are Polyphasors on the GPS and RADIO RF inputs into the battery box. Also, power from the solar panels runs into a Delta lightning arrestor.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 2.2 General Coverage Guidelines Before designing a M/LC infrastructure, review the following general rules. 2.2.1 Locations, Repeater Quantities, and Antennas Location Description PITS It is always desirable to have triple coverage inside of deep pits. Three repeaters positioned around the edge at geographically different locations is recommended (roughly 120 degrees apart).
Design Principles of a M/LC Repeater Network 2.2.3 Overall System Throughput Design Considerations Even though intra-repeater (or intra-access point) traffic is at 11.0 Mbps, the “system” bandwidth or throughput is reduced in direct proportion to the number of wireless access points (or “hops”) that a message must be routed though in order to get to a bridge (an access point [AP] that is hardwired to the LAN). Therefore, it is desirable to have as many “zero-hop” or “hardwired” APs as possible.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 2.3 The 302395 Repeater Electronics Unit The common element to all M/LC repeater infrastructure installations is the 302395 M/LC Electronics unit. This contains the Cisco BR350 Bridge, the ½ bi-directional power amp, the SKII GPS, and the MMS power and interface circuit board. When using this unit always following these guidelines: 2.3.1 • Keep the unit out of direct sunlight.
Design Principles of a M/LC Repeater Network 2.4 FCC Statements MANDATORY SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALLERS AND USERS 1. Use only antennas supplied by Modular Mining Systems or dealer. 2. Antenna Minimum Safe Distance: 20 cm. 3. Antenna Gain: Zero dBd referenced to a dipole. The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a safety standard for human exposure to RF (radio frequency) energy which is below the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) limits.
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3. Antenna Evaluation As part of the initial system design, Modular Mining Systems commissions an RF propagation study to create a custom radio network for your mine. This design specifies • • • the number and location of access points the type of antenna on each access point the azimuth, height, and elevation of each antenna Antennas are selected and positioned to provide customized coverage so that every part of the active mine area is serviced by at least two access points.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.1 Antenna Characteristics Antennas have three main characteristics: horizontal coverage pattern vertical coverage pattern gain 3.1.1 (horizontal beamwidth) (vertical beamwidth) (signal amplification power) Antenna Coverage Patterns Antennas transmit and receive signals in a specific pattern; each pattern has a horizontal and vertical component. (See Figure 2.
Antenna Evaluation 3.1.2 Antenna Gain Gain is the ability of an antenna to amplify received and transmitted signals. Numerically, it is the comparison between an antenna’s maximum signal strength and the signal strength of a laboratory standard. 3.1.2.1 dBi (Decibels Relative to Isotropic) An antenna’s gain specification normally appears as a decibel value.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.2 Antenna Types Antennas are also classified by their characteristic horizontal pattern. The system uses three classifications of antennas: • • • omnidirectional (“omni”) antennas sector antennas parabolic antennas Figure 3 shows general horizontal beamwidth patterns for these antenna types. Figure 3 Typical Horizontal Patterns Omnidirectional antennas transmit and receive signals equally well in all directions horizontally.
Antenna Evaluation 3.3 Antenna Patterns Antenna patterns have three main components: • lobes • relative gain • tilt angle 3.3.1 Lobes Antennas do not radiate and receive signals equally well in all directions. When depicted graphically, this results in a pattern that has lobes in it. Figure 4 Lobes in Antenna Pattern Figure 4 shows the top view, or horizontal component, of an antenna’s radiation pattern.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.3.2 Relative Gain As shown in Figure 4, the strength of an antenna’s signal varies as you move around the antenna’s signal pattern. You might measure a signal a certain distance from an antenna where the signal is at its peak power, and then measure the signal at another location the same distance from the antenna where the signal might be only half as powerful as at the first location.
Antenna Evaluation 3.3.2.2 Half Power Points (—3 dB Points) The most important part of an antenna’s signal pattern is that portion where the signal is at least at the 50 percent power level. This level is commonly referred to as the half power point, or the —3 dB point. The antenna pattern in Figure 6 has its half power points (—3 dB points) at 330 degrees and 30 degrees, giving this antenna a usable horizontal pattern of 60 degrees.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 180 degrees Horizontal ANTENNA A 15 degrees Vertical 60 degrees Horizontal ANTENNA B 30 degrees Vertical 30 degrees Horizontal ANTENNA C 60 degrees Vertical Figure 7 Horizontal and Vertical Lobes 18 February 2004
Antenna Evaluation Basically, higher gain antennas concentrate more of the available RF energy into a smaller, more focused beam. The total amount of energy radiated from each antenna is therefore approximately the same (assuming that each is equally matched to 50 ohms). 3.3.3 Tilt Angle (Down Tilt) Figure 7 shows an antenna with a narrow vertical pattern.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.4 Signal Patterns and Gain Characteristics for Antenna Types This section describes signal patterns and gain characteristics for antennas used in the radio network. 3.4.1 Omnidirectional Antennas The network uses two omnidirectional antenna models. Omni Antennas Low Gain Medium Gain Horizontal Pattern Horizontal Pattern 360 Deg 360 Deg Vertical Pattern Vertical Pattern 60 Deg 25 Deg Gain Gain 2.5 dBi 6.
Antenna Evaluation 3.4.2 Sector Antennas The network uses two sector antenna models.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.4.3 Parabolic Antenna The network uses one parabolic antenna model.
Antenna Evaluation 3.
2395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 3.5.2 Recording Antenna Characteristics When you have isolated your network problem to a single access point, record the specifications for that access point’s antenna.
4. Moving an Access Point Because a mine’s layout is constantly changing, the radio network provides access points that can be moved when necessary. 4.1 Selecting a New Access Point Site Mine operations may require that you move an access point a short distance, where the access point, in its new location, maintains line-of-sight contact with all its associated coverage areas. Be aware of potential signal blockage problems at the new location.
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5. Cisco Wireless Access Point Support 5.1 Cisco Initial Setup 5.1.1 Site First Steps To configure the Cisco Aironet 350 Access Point to work at a customer site, you need to do the following: 1. Configure Ethernet Connected devices as Root Bridges 2. Configure static IP addresses. 3. Configure device names (mpr11, etc). 4. Configure customer specific WEP keys.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide Lat: 114841260 Lon: 3895267816 Elev: 1000 Num Sats: 8 GPS Age: 19271 Parent IP: 172.19.254.118 Temp: 30.6 Voltage: 27.3 Reply from 172.19.250.25: Lat: 114827520 Lon: 3895306156 Elev: 1018 Num Sats: 8 GPS Age: 19807 Parent IP: 172.19.254.124 Temp: 28.0 Voltage: 28.2 The default configuration is to use DHCP to get an IP address for these devices.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support To change the IP address, click the “View or Change current configuration” link, which will take you to the following screen: February 2004 29
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.1.3 MasterLink/OMS/Dispatch Integration The Network.hosts file should contain entries for all Cisco WAPs: 172.17.0.123 mpr123 cisco 172.17.0.120 mpr120 cisco After adding these entries, reload OMSns with ‘OMSns –r’ Modify /dsp/client/psw/OMSrun to contain a line that will start the CiscoDiags daemon: CiscoDiags& Verify that MasterLink mobile devices (trucks/shovels/etc.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support 5.2 Troubleshooting 5.2.1 The System Log Each WAP keeps a log in RAM of important events (if the device is powered down, the log is lost). Check this log if you are experiencing any problems. 5.2.2 Association Page If you connect to any Cisco WAP in the network and view the Associations page, you can select the “Entire Network” checkbox and click the “Save as Default” button to see the entire network at a glance.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.2.3 Link Test The Cisco Link test is available from the association page. You can only perform a link test when two devices are associated. From the parent device, click the MAC address of the device you want to test with, and you should see a link test button. If you do not see this button, the device you are connected to isn’t associated (either as a child or parent) with the station whose MAC address you clicked.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support 5.2.4 Ping test You can use the broadcast ping (ping –b 172.17.255.255) if you are using Linux. All possible devices will respond, giving you a quick idea of the latency and reliability of the network. Below is an example of the command: cnb4:mms$ ping -b 172.19.255.255 WARNING: pinging broadcast address PING 172.19.255.255 (172.19.255.255) from 172.19.0.5 : 56(84) bytes of data. 64 bytes from 172.19.0.5: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=0.036 ms 64 bytes from 172.19.255.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.3 Serial Port Configuration 5.3.1 Initial Configuration (Serial Port) 5.3.1.1 Connect PC to MasterLink/Cicso Repeater Hub 1. Using a standard SLIP cable, connect the COM1 serial port on the PC to the service serial port on the MasterLink/Cisco Repeater Hub. 2. Turn off power to the MasterLink/Cisco Repeater Hub. 5.3.1.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support The COM1 Properties dialog box appears. 4. Using the pull-down menus, in the Bits per second box, enter 9600; in the Data bits box, enter 8; in the Parity box, enter None; in the Stop bits box, enter 1; and in the Flow control box, enter None, as shown below. 5. Click the OK button. 6. Power up the MasterLink/Cisco Repeater Hub. The HyperTerminal window appears and text scrolls as the Cisco 350 boots up.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.3.1.3 Express Setup After the Cisco finishes booting, do the following to perform an express setup of the Cisco 350. 3. Type s in the HyperTerminal window to display the Setup screen. 4. Type ex to display the Express Setup screen, shown below. 5. To change a field, start typing the name of the field that is shown in brackets.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support 5.4 Standard Configuration via HTTP Now connect to the device through a web browser, using the IP address you specified in the setup.
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.4.1.1 Ethernet connected Role: Root Bridge 5.4.1.2 Wireless Role: Non-Root Bridge w/clients Select the “Ensure Compatibility With: 2Mb/sec Clients” checkbox. Set the following parameters: 38 • Set the system name as desired (mpr120, etc.) (from express setup page) • Set the SNMP admin community to “mms”.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support First, enable the user manager: Now, add a user and set all the permissions: February 2004 39
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide 5.4.1.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support After clicking the OK button, return to this screen to enable encryption: February 2004 41
302395 User’s Guide and Repeater Network Design Guide Set Long preambles (MasterLink requires long preambles to be set). Do this from the Root Radio: Advanced screen.
Cisco Wireless Access Point Support 5.4.1.4 Setting the Channel From the Root Radio: Hardware screen: 5.5 • Set both receive and transmit antenna to ‘Right’. • Select the desired Channel, and set “Search for less-congested Radio Channel?” to “No”. Password Recovery If the password for the Cisco devices is lost, refer to the Cisco document: “Password Recovery Procedure for Cisco Aironet Equipment” located at http://www.cisco.
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Revision History Revision — Date Comments February 2002 First issue
