User's Manual

7
Geng Started - First Steps
Site Survey
A well thought out plan for the locaon of the hub, hub antenna(s) and camera(s) is a crucial step to ensuring that
the enre system will provide reliable long-term service, and integrate eecvely with a new or preexisng video
management system.
RF Consideraons
Radio Frequency Line of Sight (RFLoS) diers from
visual line of sight. When dealing with RF, if you
imagine a laser beam between the two antennas, this
needs to be unobstructed, plus an addional space
around the beam. In most situaons, the addional
clearance needed is “football” shaped, and (at 1/2mile)
will ideally be at least 13 feet in diameter around at
the center point between the antennas. (100yrds
needs about 4.5’ min. clearance) This accommodates
the system’s Fresnel Zone requirements.
With unobstructed line-of-sight between the hub
and camera antennas, the standard Solveil system
will reliably transmit video up to 1/2 mile. Obstacles
such as trees, buildings, fences, and other objects
will greatly impact wireless performance in terms of
maximum transmission distance, data rate speeds, and
reliability. While a wall or tree may not cause any
signicant performance impact at very short ranges
(under 20yrds), it will likely completely block a signal
at longer distances. Addionally, for reliable extremely
short-range performance, the minimum distance
between the hub antenna and the Camera antenna
should be 25 feet with the RF output level set to the
lowest seng unless signal aenuators are installed.
It is also a good idea whenever possible to have an idea
of the ambient RF trac with regard to the installaon
locaon. Whenever possible, congested channels
should be avoided in favor of less ulized frequencies.
Use of RF scanning tools, such as the MetaGeek
“WiSpy” device, are strongly encouraged.
If obstrucons are present, the distance between the
antennas is too great, or area ambient RF condions too crowded, then the video streams may fail to establish a
link, experience dropouts and/or operate at a reduced frame rate.
Example of good, open RF line of sight.
Example of very challenging / poor RF line of site condions. Note the metal
surface low, and the buildings on the le and right side that can aenuate the
RF signal.