Antenna selection affects the transmission range. Click for PDF with more information.

There is a website that uses Google Earth to generate a topographic profile between any two points:

http://www.geocontext.org/publ/2010/04/profiler/en/

AvaLAN products operate in the less saturated 900MHz and 5.8GHz bands. Unique to AvaLAN products is our frequency intelligence that merges the best of Frequency Hopping with Direct Sequence radio architecture. AvaLAN’s protocol continuously monitors the error rates of each packet to determine the quality of the link. If the error rate increases due to interference the AvaLAN product will autonomously change channels. With 12 channels at 900MHz and 58 channels at 5.8GHz the AvaLAN solution can intelligently adapt where frequency stagnant or random hopping systems fail.

900MHz

Pros:

• AvaLAN’s AW900 product line uses the 900MHz band and the equipment does not interfere with WiFi.
• The AW900 product series does not require an FCC license.
• 900MHz provides great penetration power through walls and foliage.

Cons:

• Only 12 channels are available at 900MHz and some areas, denser metropolitan areas, may not have the whole spectrum available reducing the number of available channels.

5.8GHz

Pros:

• AvaLAN’s AW5800 product line uses the 5.8GHz band, the equipment does not interfere with WiFi.
• The AW5800 product series does not require an FCC license.
• With 58 channels available the AW5800 product series offers better functionality in dense metropolitan areas.

Cons:

• 5.8GHz does not penetrate and therefore must have a Line of Sight communication path.

WiFi systems generally are less secure and may not work well due to radio saturation and interference. The range is also reduced due to the wider spectrum and higher frequency being used.

The AW900xTR is identical to the AW900xT with the exception that it has an integrated web server that allows users to log into the radio using a standard internet browser. The same is true for the AW5800xTR vs. the AW5800xT.

When logged into the web interface it is possible to view diagnostic information, configure the radios and perform a spectral scan for interference.

The web interface works with most internet browsers by using an SVG plug-in for the Spectrum Analyzer (this plug-in is pre-installed in the Firefox browser).

AvaLAN products use a sub-block retransmission protocol rather than a full packet retransmission protocol. AvaLAN’s Smart Packet Fragmentation protocol breaks large Ethernet packets into smaller sub-blocks. If any sub-block has an error only that block is retransmitted instead of the whole packet.

Each AvaLAN radio is designed to find the best frequency/channel available. If the radio is having a hard time doing this because of interference, it has built-in tools to observe channel behavior and allow you to choose the best channel manually. The process depends on which model radio you are using. Details may be found in the instruction manual which may be downloaded from the product page.

Unlike many competitors AvaLAN products are optimized to maintain the same data rate at both long and short distances.

AvaLAN products use a 128-bit AES FIPS 197 NIST certified encryption protocol.

AvaLAN’s products use a proprietary communication protocol that has an exceptionally low latency and very high payload efficiency. The systems latencies are appropriate for video conferencing, surveillance video, VOIP applications, and even head to head gaming.

-40° C to 70° C (-40° F to 158° F)

AW900xTR/AW5800xTR
   POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)
AW900mTR/AW5800mTR
   POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)
   P5/2.1 power jack-9-48VDC
AW900x(T)/AW5800x(T)
   POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)
AW900m(T)/AW5800m(T)
   POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)
   P5/2.1 power jack-9-48VDC
   Screw Terminal-6-48VDC or 12-24VAC
AW900i(T)/AW5800i(T)
   P5/2.1 power jack-6VDC
AWD900/AWD5800 & AWH900/AWH5800
   Camera housing: 24VAC
   Mated radio: POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)
AWD2900/AWD25800
   Camera housing: 24VAC
   Mated radio: POE-9-48VDC (4/5 positive & 7/8 negative)

AvaLAN products are specifically designed to provide maximum range with very low power consumption.

AW900xTR/mTR: Transmit = 1.7 watts Receive = 0.8 watts
AW5800xTR/mTR: Transmit = 1.9 watts Receive = 1 watts
AW900x: Transmit = 1.4 watts Receive = 0.6 watts
AW5800x: Transmit = 1.8 watts Receive = 1 watt
AW900xT: Transmit = 1.25 watts Receive = 0.6 watts
AW5800xT: Transmit = 1.9 watts Receive = 1 watt
AW900m: Transmit = 1.4 watts Receive = 0.6 watts
AW5800m: Transmit = 1.8 watts Receive = 1 watt
AW900mT: Transmit = 1.4 watts Receive = 0.8 watts
AW5800mT: Transmit = 1.8 watts Receive = 1 watt
AW900i: Transmit = 2.4 watts Receive = 1.5 watt
AW5800i: Transmit = 2.8 watts Receive = 1.8 watt
AW900iT: Transmit = 2.4 watts Receive = 1.5 watts
AW5800iT: Transmit = 2.8 watts Receive = 1.8 watts

900MHz

• FCC (United States)
• Industry Canada (Canada)
• International (using a GSM 900 friendly version)

5.8GHz

• FCC (United States)
• Industry Canada (Canada)
• Several international locations

Only the ‘TR’ series radios have IP & MAC address and a web interface, default IP is 192.168.17.17.
You can also use the Discovery Utility to find any ‘TR’ series radio on the network
(http://www.avalanwireless.com/ipfinder/ipfinder.zip).
No other AvaLAN radios have an IP or MAC address or a web interface.

Visit http://75.76.254.182 Password: avalan2008, for an interactive live working demo radio.

The ‘TR’ series radios use a 10/100 full duplex interface. All other AvaLAN radio versions use a 10 base-T half duplex interface.

The ‘TR’ series radios will support any 10/100 Ethernet device. When using other AvaLAN version radios, most devices with auto-negotiate the interface connection speed. Occasionally a device will not auto-negotiate with the radio and needs to be manually assigned to work at 10 base-T half duplex.

A point to multipoint system uses one access point (AP) radio with up to 16 subscriber radios (SU) to create a multipoint network link extension. Each SU must be individually keyed to the AP before installation. After key exchanging the installation is simple, fast, and requires very little technical skill compared to other Ethernet products on the market today.

Each AP continually monitors the SU until data is transmitted or received. When data is to be transmitted either from the AP to the SU or vice versa the data is encrypted, transmitted, decrypted, and fed into the network.

While a total of 63 SU’s can be keyed with an AP, only 16 can connect to the AP at once.

The AP can handle up to 128 routable MAC addresses. This allows an Ethernet switch to be attached to subscriber units but still limits the total number of Ethernet devices to 128.

Yes, the AP monitors Ethernet traffic from each SU and transmits it to the appropriate destination, either another SU or into the network.

High gain antennas offer the best range. Our 900MHz high gain option is the AW15-900, 15dBi yagi. Our 5.8GHz option is the AW23-5800, 23dBi flat panel antenna.

Yes, but please verify that the polarization and positioning of the antennas align properly.

Yes, Lightning usually strikes the antenna and not the radio. To protect the unit if the antenna is struck use an AW-LA (Lightning Arrestor) to connect between the radio and antenna. AvaLAN will not replace or repair a radio that is struck by lightning.

All antennas need to be polarized the same for proper communication. The flat panel antennas have a sticker indicating polarization. Please refer to the charts below for proper alignment and polarization techniques. In the majority of cases simple eyeing techniques are sufficient to align the antennas. If unsure of alignment use the radios’ built-in link quality meter to indicate alignment. Click for PDF with more information.

Your "TR" series product manual includes web interface configuration only. But if you use the product manual for the earlier "T" series product, the manual configuration instructions using the LEDs and DIP switches are the same for the "TR" series.

For the AW900XTR, download the AW900XT Product Manual here (pdf).

For the AW5800XTR, download the AW5800XT Product Manual here (pdf).

The instruction manual for your "TR" series radio includes complete configuration information using the web interface. If you can't find yours, download another copy from the product page for your model.

Download or view this pdf document for a detailed explanation.

How to use the Spectrum Analyzer.pdf

If the user’s needs change, additional SUs can be added to the network and/or a SU can be reprogrammed to join a different network and/or a SU can be changed into an AP and/or an AP into a SU. The radios cannot be damaged by incorrect programming. If DIP 1 is accidentally toggled then DIP 1 can be turned back and the radio still retains all the network associations it had in its previous mode (assuming that the radio had not yet successfully key exchanged with a new network). An AP can be reset by programming it as a SU to a new AP and then turning it back into an AP again.

Simply take the new radios and perform the keying steps that were originally performed with the existing radios; either manually or through the web interface.
*IMPORTANT*
SUs that have not yet received a network key boot up in “key exchange mode” and wait to receive a key. SUs that have received a network key will boot up for 5 seconds in “key exchange mode” and will look to see if a new AP is present. If a new AP is present, then the SU exchanges keys with the AP, otherwise the SU begins normal operation after the 5 seconds.

APs that have not yet issued network keys boot up in “key exchange mode” until they have issued network keys to at least 1 SU. Once the AP has issued keys it will only boot up for 5 seconds in “key exchange mode.” If a SU is present during the 5 seconds, then the AP will issue new keys to the SU and will then remain in “key exchange mode,” waiting for more SUs to be attached. Once all new SUs have been attached, the AP must be power cycled. The AP will boot up and will enter normal operation after 5 seconds of “key exchange mode.”

Ping tests should be tried first with all radios to see how responsive the link is. If ping tests are successful then the radio link is solid, and any issue would be from the network or device. If the radios being used are the ‘TR’ series then try logging into the web interface to get packet results and a spectrum scan. If radios are not ‘TR’ series then you will have to look at the LEDs if ping tests are unsuccessful.

If you don't know how to ping, ask your system administrator or call AvaLAN Tech Support for help. (The method to use depends on your computer's operating system.)

Either can be used, but fixed IP addresses are more reliable because they don't rely on a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.

Horizontal polarization is recommended because most RF noise in the unlicensed spectrum uses vertical polarization.

• Reduce obstructions, reorient antennas, relocate antennas, elevate antennas, move antennas further apart at any co-location, check for bad/broken connectors. Check the Ethernet connection; look for the Ethernet Link light on the radio or try browsing to the radio's IP address (TR and TP series only).

• If the Ethernet Link LED is off, check all Ethernet cables for proper functionality. Try using other devices with the radios and/or bypass switches/routers and directly connect to the device.

• As a last resort, you can try to re-configure the radios by using the browser interface (TR and TP series only) or the DIP switches and LEDs.

Refer to the user manuals for your model radios. They may be downloaded from the product page for your model.

Two Options:

• Use a video server that converts analog video data to Ethernet data packets.
• Use a network enabled DVR that buffers the analog video data for later transmission over Ethernet.

Here are some examples of frame rate vs resolution that will fit within
the available bandwidth of an AvaLAN point-to-point bridge:

Yes, so long as the combined data rate from the cameras does not exceed the radios’ capabilities. A rule of thumb is to imagine only having 1000 kbps available through the AP or divided among the SUs. As long as the cameras operate within the bandwidth budget they can be combined in a point to multipoint configuration.

For example, if your system contains 3 cameras, each camera must be set to require a maximum of 333 kbps (5 fps for MJPEG CIF).

TCP protocol versus UDP protocol: We recommend using TCP protocol rather than UDP protocol because TCP uses large Ethernet packets that transmit with less packet handling overhead. UDP fragments the digital video data into tiny Ethernet packets that choke the wireless link.

Why TCP protocol works better: TO handle each packet (tiny or large), the wireless link must: buffer, encrypt, transmit, synchronize, receive, decrypt, check for bad bits, prepare request for retransmission of bad bits, encrypt, transmit, synchronize, receive, decrypt, prepare acknowledgement that packet is successful, encrypt, transmit, synchronize, receive, and decrypt. Much more overhead is needed to transmit 100Kbps as 10.000, 10-byte packets than it would take to transmit the same 100Kbps as 66, 1500-byte packets. In this situation, 20,000 less synchronizations per second are required to send the data in large packets.

MPEG4 versus MJPEG: Use high quality MPEG4 or H.264 cameras over older MJPEG models because this newer compression technology provides maximum data efficiency to produce higher frame rate and superior image quality.

Testing has shown that up to 14 VoIP phones can work simultaneously with the point-to multipoint system. For the test, one VoIP phone was connected to each subscriber unit. The subscriber units were all linked to the same access point. 14 VoIP phones were able to join a conference call successfully.

16 digital signs can be used simultaneously with the point-to-multipoint system; one subscriber unit per sign.

The point-to-multipoint system uses bandwidth that provides approximately 7.5GB per day. 16 digital signs w/ subscriber radios & 1 access point, you could deliver 465MB per sign; 7.5GB per day.

16 access control devices can be used simultaneously with the point-to-multipoint system.

Door open response time: AvaLAN’s point-to-multipoint system uses a special polling technique to minimize latency and provide robust data communication to each individual subscriber unit. With 16 door authentication devices each with its own subscriber unit and one access point, the door open response time would be approximately 1 second.

The point-to-multipoint protocol would separate the requests, and each request would appear on the network side of the access point one at a time. The access control server would then handle each request.

Not directly, but a RS232, RS485, Wiegand, TTL, or USB to Ethernet converter will enable functionality with AvaLAN systems.

For converters see:

• www.gridconnect.com

• www.digi.com

• www.cypressworld.com

While 63 subscriber units can be associated with an access point, only 16 subscriber units can connect to the access point at once.

Each subscriber unit is given a sequence number when it is linked with the access point. You can see the sequence number when the unit is first turned on.         

The 16 subscriber units to connect to an access point will be the ones with the lowest numbers. For example: If subscriber units 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12, 15, 22, 26, 29, 32, 37, 40, 41, 44, 48, 50, and 51 are in the same area, then the access point will only allow the first 16 to connect; 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 12, 15, 22, 26, 29, 32, 37, 40, 41, 44, and 48. Subscriber units 50 and 51 will remain idle until one of the other subscriber units no longer has data for the access point or goes out of range.

No, the subscriber unit can only hold encryption keys for one access point at a time. However, copies of an access point can be created, and the subscriber would be able to connect to any of the duplicates as well as the original access point. [call AvaLAN tech support for duplication procedures (650-384-0000)]

If you are using dynamic IP addressing and roam to a new network, you may have trouble connecting until the new network's DHCP server recognizes the addition. How often and how reliably this happens depends on the particular DHCP server. If necessary, you can force granting of a new IP address with a DHCP release/renew command. For example, with a Windows PC, run "ipconfig /renew" from the DOS command line.

If you are using fixed IP addressing, make sure that the IP Address is unique and that the subnet mask is valid for the new network.

If you roam to another access point on the same network, no IP configuration changes should be needed.