
6 MDS entraNET 900 System Guide MDS 05-4055A01, Rev. A
more associated Remote units, as shown in Figure 1-2 on Page 6. A
LAN provides communications between a central WAN/LAN and
Remote Ethernet endpoints. Ethernet Remotes can support only one
Ethernet endpoint each.
The operation of the radio system is “transparent” to the computer
equipment it is connected to. That is, the system behaves just as it would
in a hardwired arrangement, with respect to data format and integrity.
Antenna Placement
The Access Point antenna is positioned at a location from which it can
reliably communicate with all of the Remote units in the system. Com-
monly, this is a relatively high location on top of a building or commu-
nications tower. Over-the-air messages are exchanged at the Ethernet
level. This includes all types of IP traffic.
Communication Rules
• A Remote transceiver can only talk over-the-air to an Access
Point (AP), unless specially configured Direct Mode opera-
tion—Available soon. Contact MDS for information.
• Peer-to-peer communications between Remotes can take place
indirectly through the AP.
• An AP can only talk over-the-air to Remote units, however two
APs can communicate with each other through their Ethernet
connectors utilizing a common LAN/WAN.
Invisible place holder
Figure 1-2. Typical wireless LAN
1.2.2 Multiple Protocols and/or Services
Prior to the introduction of the entraNET 900, two networks were often
required to service two different types of devices (typically connected to
different SCADA hosts). An entraNET 900 provides this functionality
through a single AP radio. Each of the two (or more) groups of Remote
radios can be connected via IP to different SCADA hosts, transporting
different (or the same) protocols. Both data streams are completely inde-
Remote
Remote
Access Point
Remote
Remote
WAN/LAN
Ethernet
Device
Ethernet
Device
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Ethernet
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Ethernet
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