User's Manual

Version 3.03 SPEEDLAN 9000 Series Installation and Operation User Guide
1-6 Introduction
SPEEDLAN Polling Protocol -- How it Works
K
2
is the name of the Wave Wireless’ polling protocol. It enables communication
between a base station and a CPE router. A base station continuously polls CPE routers
and tells them where and when to send data. CPE routers only transmit when polled by
the base station, maximizing available bandwidth and preventing "hidden node"
problems common with 802.11b based products.
Enterprise customers may use the SPEEDLAN 9000 star products to provide point-to-
point and point-to-multipoint connectivity between buildings that are within line-of-sight
(LOS).
Point-to-Point Functionality
Figure 1-1: SPEEDView illustrating a point-to-point network
The point-to-point network is the simplest form of the fixed wireless network: a single
link between two wireless routers having line-of-sight (as shown in Figure 1-1 on
page 1-6). A fixed wireless building-to-building connection is a common alternative to
leased lines and trenching cable or fiber. Point-to-point links work well for dedicated
connections but limit network expansion. If any of the routers are unable to see each
other, a base station must be used to repeat traffic to the next router in line.
For a simple point-to-point link, use two 9102 routers.
Point-to-Multipoint Functionality
A point-to-multipoint network consists of a group of routers (Customer Premise
Equipment, hereon abbreviated as CPE) and a base station. The network is based on a
star topology (as shown in Figure 1-2 on page 1-7), thus CPE routers must have clear
LOS to a base station. A base station acts as the "traffic cop" within the network, making
use of the K
2
polling protocol in order to control the flow of data between buildings.