User's Manual

pulsAR radio Operator’s Manual
1-2
5. Unique antenna alignment aid provides audio feedback proportional to the RSSI, freeing the
installer’s hands to adjust and tighten the antenna without having to hold or look at other
instrumentation.
The radios implements a transparent bridge algorithm, where each unit automatically learns the
addresses of all stations in the network and forwards over RF only the traffic that needs to be
delivered to the remote units. In the mesh tree network where packets may need to go through
multiple hops, the radios always route the packets to reach their destination with the minimum
number of hops.
If the application requires a serial synchronous interface, the radios can be paired with the Afar
NetCrossing™ Gateway to provide both an Ethernet and a serial link of up to 1024 kbps across the
same wireless connection. In this case the NetCrossing™ Gateway provides both the power and data
to the radio across the single CAT5 cable. Refer to the NetCrossing™ Gateway Operator’s Manual
for complete details.
The pulsAR radios are the building block for the Afar “Synchronized PulsAR Network” (SPAN). In a
SPAN network all radios synchronize their transmissions such that any co-located radios all transmit
and receive at the same time, thereby avoiding self-generated interference. This technique allows
deploying large networks with upwards of 24 radios co-located without generating self-interference.
Each pulsAR radio can be configured over a local serial interface or over the Ethernet using an
“Ethernet console” program provided by Afar. Once a unit is configured with an IP address you can
also configure and monitor the unit using Telnet or SNMP. The radio firmware, in non-volatile
memory, can also be updated remotely.
1.2 Radio Components
Table 1.1 below shows the part numbers of various accessories related with the pulsAR radio. You
may have received some of these accessories bundled with your radios.