User`s guide

12 MDS iNET 900 Series User’s Guide MDS 05-2806A01, Rev. E.1

Option 2—Using the AP as a Store-and-Forward Packet

Repeater

A wireless network can be extended through the use of an alternate

arrangement using the Access Point as a repeater to re-transmit the sig-

nals of all stations in the network. The repeater is a standard transceiver

configured as an Access Point, and operating in Store and Forward

mode. (See Figure 1-8.)

Invisible place holder

Figure 1-8. Typical network with store-and-forward repeater

As with the conventional repeater described in Option 1 above, the loca-

tion of a store and forward repeater is also important. A site must be

chosen that allows good communication with both the Access Point and

the outlying Remote site. This can be on the top of a hill, building, or

other elevated terrain from which all sites can be “seen” by the repeater

station antenna. A detailed discussion on the effects of terrain is given

in Section 5.1.2, Site Selection (beginning on Page 131)

1.3.2 Protected Network Operation using Multiple

Access Points

Although MDS transceivers have a very robust design and have under-

gone intensive testing before being shipped, it is possible for isolated

failures to occur. In mission-critical applications, down time can be vir-

tually eliminated by using some, or all, of the following configurations:

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.

Two or more Access Points can be 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.

Remote

Access Point

LAN/WAN

REPEATER

LAN