User Manual

SkyPilot SkyAccess DualBand Installation 20
Planning your Installation
When choosing a site for the SkyGateway or SkyExtender, 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 possible 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.
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.
For TriBand installations, operators should review laws and regulations
regarding the registration and use of the 4.9 GHz frequency in the area
of deployment. For example, 4.9 GHz is used in the US for public safety
information.