User's Manual
February 2004 3
2. Design Principles of a M/LC
Repeater Network
2.1 General Hardware Selection Guidelines
When selecting hardware components of a M/LC Repeater Network, there are several important issues
that must be addressed.
2.1.1 M/LC Infrastructure Hardware
Because Cisco bridges and access point have their own proprietary routing algorithms that dictate how to
make the “wireless” hops back to the hardline network, they can not be mixed with standard MasterLink
(M/L) repeaters.
IMPORTANT: ALL repeaters used in a mine must either be M/L or M/LC, but not a combination of the
two.
All of the mobile equipment in the mine should be standard M/L, and as such, will associate themselves
with one of the M/LC repeaters. As these mobile clients travel through the mine, they may change
associations often with the various M/LC repeaters.
M/LC Repeater Infrastructure includes the following:
• shovels
• base stations
• crusher bays
• mobile and fixed repeaters
Although it is possible for a shovel to be a M/L client instead of a M/LC repeater, it is highly
recommended that they be established as a M/LC repeater. This enables them to provide coverage to
surrounding haul trucks as the shovel digs itself into tights spots where coverage from a regular repeater
site is difficult. Remember, if the part number doesn’t contain an “M/LC” designation, it is not Cisco-
based.
The GPS ground station need not be M/LC since its location is determined by other factors not related to
vehicle coverage (such as satellite constellation view, proximity to power, security, or even hardwired
Ethernet). A wireless M/L ground station needs only to associate itself with a M/LC repeater in order to
get its correction data through.