User's Manual

1-Way Repeater Setup

97-1077 rev AB Page 2 of 11

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION NOTICE:

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF CELLNET AND SHALL NOT

BE DUPLICATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART OR USED OR DISCLOSED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN THAT

APPROVED BY CELLNET.

Page 2 of 11

Introduction

Overview

The Cellnet 1 way repeater (BLTr) is intended to be a low cost way to extend the

coverage of an MCC in rural (low customer density) areas.

Cellnet’s current 1-way technology utilizes the BLT radio for communication over

the wireless LAN. The Cellnet 1-way Repeater is designed to reduce the

network costs associated with 1-way electric, water, and/or gas meter

deployments for low density areas. The 1-Way Repeater will utilize the latest

firmware enhancements available for the BLT repeater radio, designed to

increase the performance of the existing BLT radio.

The BLT repeater is a project aimed at stretching the RF coverage capability of

the Cellnet network at a cost that is not prohibitive to the company or the

customer.

Increased coverage for more rural areas is planned to be obtained by using 1-

Way Repeater to extend the LAN coverage of each MCC. The present RF range

of a MCC is approximately 0.4 miles in radius that equates to roughly 0.5 square

miles of area. By using 1-Way Repeater for LAN extension, the area of coverage

is expected to be extended by an order of magnitude to 5 square miles. In other

words using an average of 10 1-Way Repeaters reporting to each MCC, we

should be able to increase the radius of coverage to approximately 5 square

miles.

The 1 way repeater forwards Cellnet 1-way packets received on 917.58 Mhz /

Spread Channel #1 at 911.58 Mhz / spread channel #2. The MCC is reconfigured

to receive packets on 911.58 Mhz and spread channel #2. Repeaters are

installed around the MCC to extend its coverage area. The 1-way repeater

should not require device specific configuration other than configuring it with a

unique LAN address if heart beat packets are required to monitor its proper

operation.

The 1-Way Repeater is built using a standard BLT transceiver and modifying it

with SW so that it operates as described in this document. These modifications

also result in a minor reduction in output power to a nominal 25.5 dBm at 911.58

MHz from the nominal 27 dBm at 917.58 MHz of the standard BLT radio.