User's Manual

UtiliNet® Endpoint User Guide 1-5-2007

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the new network you would like the radio to be a member of and click OK. The radio will be

automatically moved to the destination network and updated with the destination network’s

network ID.

Note UtiliNet radios may only communicate on one network at a time. You will not be

able to communicate to the integrated meter radio over-the-air until you move your

locally connected radio to the same network.

For more information on UtiliNet module configuration, transparent port configuration, and

routing configuration see the UtiliNet Technical Reference Guide.

Chapter 3 Network Engineering

This chapter discusses the network design plan, calculation of latitude/longitude, RF considerations, field

studies and use of directional or gain antennas.

Network Design Plan

A UtiliNet network consists of two or more UtiliNet packet radios that communicate data to and from

points in the network. When designing a UtiliNet network, it is important to remember that UtiliNet

combines three different technologies: a connectionless (store and forward) mesh architecture, packet

switched data transfer, and spread spectrum radio techniques. Since this combination of technologies

affects the design layout and plays a part in the overall optimization of the network, each one is discussed

in this chapter.

OSI Layers

For those familiar with the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, the above technologies, or OSI

layers, also address why a UtiliNet network communicates like a computer network. In fact, it is often said

that UtiliNet radios are computers that use radio waves to communicate with each other, or that end devices

do not talk through UtiliNet radios but to them. From a certain point of view, this is true. UtiliNet radios

are computers first and spread spectrum radios second. Truly optimizing the benefits of a UtiliNet network

requires understanding the interaction and purpose of the physical, data-link, network, transport, and

session layers of the OSI model.