Installation Instructions

Network Planning | 13
When choosing a site for the SkyPilot Gateway Pro, consider the radio frequency
(RF) environment and the physical layout of the area. Trees, buildings, and hills can
attenuate or block a wireless signal. When assessing a site, examine the overall
topology of the wireless path for obstructions—both existing and planned—as
well as seasonal changes of foliage and tree growth. The RF environment is
dynamic, and can deteriorate over time as structures appear or are relocated.
Plan to use test signals to determine the suitability of the link topology for target
applications. Interference on your desired frequency results in overlapping signals,
causing outages or intermittent drops in throughput.
Once you’ve identified a potential site, use a topographic map or path profile
software to ensure that terrain or obstacles will not interfere with the links.
Numerous online tools for RF path analysis are available. These can also help
identify possible Fresnel zone issues.
Your site survey should include an RF scan to identify available frequencies. You
should also check your preferred frequency at all locations. A frequency that’s clear
at one location may be crowded at another. Frequency planning is a critical factor
in planning and implementing a wireless network. (For device operating
frequencies, see Appendix C, “Specifications.”)
The site survey process should be ongoing. To verify that a site is relatively free of
interference, make site audits every six to twelve months, scheduling regular
maintenance visits to coincide with the site audits.
In a typical wide area wireless mesh network, you’ll install a SkyPilot Gateway Pro
on the side of a building. The direct coverage area of the SkyPilot Gateway Pro is
usually proportional to the height of the installation.
You can also set up a SkyPilot Gateway Pro for use in smaller-scale networks—for
example, a high-capacity business, an academic campus interconnection, or a
local access network.
SkyPilot Extenders are far more flexible in terms of location. If you determine that
you need SkyPilot Extenders in order to reach all your customers or add
redundancy, you must also identify optimum locations for their installation.