User's Manual

pulsAR radio Operator’s Manual
2-4
parent in that same channel (see commands rf-1-setup and rf-2-setup). Once enough distance
separates cells you can start re-using overlapping channels.
The tree topology has the following features:
• There is no limit in the number of levels on the tree.
• Automatic association of new remote radios: just configure a new remote to receive on the
transmit channel of the desired parent, and it will automatically associate to the network (use the
“network-id” of the node command to prevent unauthorized radios from attaching).
• Self-learning bridging algorithm: the radios automatically learn the addresses of your equipment
attached on any of the LANs and route the packets using the minimal number of hops to reach
their destination.
• Self-healing network: If a parent node goes down a branch continues to operate and pass data
between its children. Once the parent recovers the branch automatically reattaches to the rest of
the network.
Dual antenna root mode: You also have the option of running the root with two antennas. This may
be useful if your remotes are grouped geographically such that you can use two directional or
sectorial antennas to cover each group. To run in this mode set the node type to root-2 and use rf-1-
setup and rf-2-setup to configure the RF parameters for each antenna.
Network throughput: A branch radio allocates half of the time to communicate with its parent and the
other half with its children. A root radio does not have a parent, so it divides its children into two
groups communicating with one group during the first half cycle, and with the second group during
the second half. Each of these two groups gets half of the total network capacity. Therefore in the
tree topology the maximum throughput available at one specific node in the tree is half of the total
network capacity. This is irrespective of the level in the tree, i.e., there is no further drop in
throughput as you go down the various levels.
2.1.4 Linear Network
A Linear Network topology is ideal for providing communications in systems that naturally require
stations deployed along a line. Some of the applications are:
• Railway wayside communications
• Pipeline communications
• Highway roadside communications
• Long links that requires multiple repeaters between the end points