RadioLinx RLX-IH User manual

RLX-IH
Industrial Hotspot
802.11b
User Guide
April 10, 2007

Please Read This Notice
Successful application of this module requires a reasonable working knowledge of the RLX-IH
Module and the application in which it is to be used. For this reason, it is important that those
responsible for implementation satisfy themselves that the combination will meet the needs of the
application without exposing personnel or equipment to unsafe or inappropriate working conditions.
This manual is provided to assist the user. Every attempt has been made to assure that the
information provided is accurate and a true reflection of the product's installation requirements. In
order to assure a complete understanding of the operation of the product, the user should read all
applicable documentation on the operation of the radio.
Under no conditions will ProSoft Technology be responsible or liable for indirect or consequential
damages resulting from the use or application of the product.
Reproduction of the contents of this manual, in whole or in part, without written permission from
ProSoft Technology is prohibited.
Information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of ProSoft Technology Improvements and/or changes in this manual or the
product may be made at any time. These changes will be made periodically to correct technical
inaccuracies or typographical errors.
Your Feedback Please
We always want you to feel that you made the right decision to use our products. If you have
suggestions, comments, compliments or complaints about the product, documentation or support,
please write or call us.
ProSoft Technology
1675 Chester Avenue, Fourth Floor
Bakersfield, CA 93301
[phone]
[phone] (Fax)
http://www.prosoft-technology.com
Copyright © ProSoft Technology, Inc. 2000 - 2007. All Rights Reserved.
RLX-IH User Guide
April 10, 2007
PSFT.IH.RLX.UM.Tuesday, 10 April, 2007
ProSoft Technology ®, ProLinx ®, inRAx ® and RadioLinx ® are Registered Trademarks of ProSoft
Technology, Inc.

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Contents
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE...........................................................................................................2
Your Feedback Please ..................................................................................................................2
1START HERE..............................................................................................................................6
1.1 About the RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot .....................................................................6
1.2 Package Contents .........................................................................................................7
1.3 System Requirements...................................................................................................7
1.4 Installing the IH Browser Configuration Tool.............................................................8
1.5 Planning the Network....................................................................................................9
1.5.1 Installation Questions...................................................................................................10
1.6 Configuring the Radios...............................................................................................10
1.6.1 Start IH-Browser ..........................................................................................................12
1.6.2 Plug In the Cables........................................................................................................12
1.6.3 Detecting the Radio .....................................................................................................13
1.6.4 Assign a Temporary IP Address ..................................................................................13
1.6.5 Set Up the Master Radio..............................................................................................15
1.6.6 Save the Radio Configuration......................................................................................18
1.6.7 Set Up a Repeater .......................................................................................................18
1.6.8 Set Up a Client.............................................................................................................19
1.7 Verify Communication ................................................................................................20
2INSTALLING THE RADIOS......................................................................................................21
2.1 Connecting antennas..................................................................................................22
3DIAGNOSTICS AND TROUBLESHOOTING ...........................................................................23
3.1 Check the Ethernet cable............................................................................................24
3.2 LED display..................................................................................................................24
3.3 Retrieve the default password ...................................................................................24
3.4 Troubleshoot RLX-IH Browser error messages.......................................................25
3.5 Troubleshoot missing radios.....................................................................................25
3.6 Improve signal quality.................................................................................................26
4RADIO CONFIGURATION / DIAGNOSTIC UTILITY ...............................................................27
4.1 Radio Status.................................................................................................................29
4.1.1 Available Parents .........................................................................................................30
4.1.2 Port status....................................................................................................................32
4.2 Radio Network settings...............................................................................................34
4.2.1 Rapid Spanning Tree Functionality..............................................................................35
4.2.2 Spanning Tree Settings ...............................................................................................37
4.2.3 Advanced Settings .......................................................................................................39
4.2.4 Parent Link settings .....................................................................................................40
4.2.5 Address table ...............................................................................................................44
4.3 Security settings..........................................................................................................45
4.3.1 Encryption type ............................................................................................................46
4.3.2 WPA phrase.................................................................................................................46
4.3.3 WEP key ......................................................................................................................46
4.3.4 RADIUS server ............................................................................................................47

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4.3.5 MAC filter..................................................................................................................... 47
4.3.6 Hide Network SSID...................................................................................................... 48
4.4 Radio access settings ................................................................................................ 48
4.4.1 SNMP Agent settings .................................................................................................. 50
4.4.2 Change password........................................................................................................ 51
4.5 Apply Changes............................................................................................................52
4.6 Cancel Changes..........................................................................................................52
4.7 Factory Defaults..........................................................................................................52
5RADIOLINX INDUSTRIAL HOTSPOT BROWSER .................................................................53
5.1 Primary radio functions..............................................................................................54
5.2 Review of Windows mouse and keyboard controls................................................ 54
5.2.1 Tool Tips...................................................................................................................... 55
5.2.2 Using the Mouse.......................................................................................................... 55
5.2.3 Using the Keyboard..................................................................................................... 55
5.3 File Menu......................................................................................................................57
5.3.1 Scan Setup .................................................................................................................. 57
5.3.2 Scan ............................................................................................................................58
5.3.3 Clear ............................................................................................................................ 58
5.3.4 Import ..........................................................................................................................58
5.3.5 Export ..........................................................................................................................58
5.3.6 Freeze ......................................................................................................................... 59
5.3.7 Print ............................................................................................................................. 59
5.3.8 Print Preview ............................................................................................................... 59
5.3.9 Print Setup................................................................................................................... 59
5.3.10 Exit............................................................................................................................... 59
5.4 AP Operations Menu................................................................................................... 59
5.4.1 Connect ....................................................................................................................... 60
5.4.2 Assign IP ..................................................................................................................... 60
5.4.3 Update Firmware......................................................................................................... 61
5.5 AP Dialogs Menu......................................................................................................... 62
5.5.1 Wireless Clients........................................................................................................... 62
5.5.2 Ethernet Nodes............................................................................................................ 63
5.5.3 Scan List...................................................................................................................... 64
5.5.4 Properties .................................................................................................................... 65
5.6 View Menu.................................................................................................................... 66
5.6.1 Tool Bar ....................................................................................................................... 67
5.6.2 Status Bar.................................................................................................................... 67
5.6.3 List View ...................................................................................................................... 67
5.6.4 Topology View............................................................................................................. 67
5.6.5 Zoom In ....................................................................................................................... 69
5.6.6 Zoom Out..................................................................................................................... 70
5.6.7 Zoom to Fit .................................................................................................................. 70
5.6.8 Print Area..................................................................................................................... 71
5.6.9 Reset Columns ............................................................................................................ 71
5.7 Help Menu.................................................................................................................... 71
5.7.1 Help Topics.................................................................................................................. 72
5.7.2 About RLX-IH Browser ................................................................................................ 72
6REFERENCE ............................................................................................................................73
6.1 Product overview........................................................................................................ 73
6.2 RLX-IH Backward Compatibility ................................................................................74
6.3 Radio hardware........................................................................................................... 75
6.3.1 Radio power requirements .......................................................................................... 76

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6.3.2 Cable specifications .....................................................................................................76
6.3.3 Ethernet cable configuration ........................................................................................77
6.4 Antennas ......................................................................................................................77
6.4.1 Antenna pattern ...........................................................................................................78
6.4.2 Antenna gain................................................................................................................78
6.4.3 Antenna polarity ...........................................................................................................78
6.4.4 Adding Bi-directional Amplifiers ...................................................................................79
6.4.5 Approved antennas......................................................................................................80
6.4.6 Antenna location, spacing, and mounting....................................................................84
6.5 Regulatory Approvals.................................................................................................85
6.5.1 Antenna spacing requirements for user safety ............................................................85
6.5.2 FCC Part 15 & Industry Canada rules .........................................................................85
6.5.3 CSA C22.2 213-M1987 & UL Std. 1604 listing............................................................86
6.5.4 ATEX certification ........................................................................................................86
6.5.5 European CE certification ............................................................................................87
6.6 Glossary .......................................................................................................................87
7PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY, INC., SUPPORT, SERVICE & WARRANTY...............................90
7.1 How to Contact Us: Sales and Support.....................................................................91
7.2 RMA Policies and Conditions.....................................................................................91
7.2.1 All Product Returns: .....................................................................................................91
7.3 LIMITED WARRANTY..................................................................................................93
7.3.1 What Is Covered By This Warranty .............................................................................94
7.3.2 What Is Not Covered By This Warranty.......................................................................94
7.3.3 DISCLAIMER REGARDING HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES................................................95
7.3.4 DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY OF INFRINGEMENT.................................................95
7.3.5 DISCLAIMER OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES...........................................................96
7.3.6 LIMITATION OF REMEDIES.......................................................................................96
7.3.7 Time Limit For Bringing Suit.........................................................................................96
7.3.8 No Other Warranties ....................................................................................................96
7.3.9 Intellectual Property .....................................................................................................96
7.3.10 Additional Restrictions Relating To Software And Other Intellectual Property............97
7.3.11 Allocation of risks .........................................................................................................97
7.3.12 Controlling Law and Severability. ................................................................................97
8INDEX........................................................................................................................................98

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1 Start Here
In This Chapter
¾About the RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot ....................................6
¾Package Contents ....................................................................7
¾System Requirements ..............................................................7
¾Installing the IH Browser Configuration Tool ............................8
¾Planning the Network ...............................................................9
¾Configuring the Radios...........................................................10
¾Verify Communication ............................................................20
For most applications, the installation and configuration steps described in the
following topics will work without additional programming. ProSoft Technology
strongly recommends that you complete the steps in this chapter before
developing a custom application.
1.1 About the RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot
The RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot is four times more powerful than high-speed
commercial grade radios, and allows better coverage of the factory floor with
fewer radios and provides outdoor links of up to 20+ miles.
Features include:
Single unit repeater functionality
Powerful transmitter with amplifier option for long range outdoor applications
Redundant master radios
WPA encryption, 802.1x and MAC ID authentication
Built-in web server for browser-based configuration and remote diagnostics
Fast data throughput
Compatible with any device that supports EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, or
any 802.3 compliant Ethernet protocol
Three year standard warranty
802.11 Monitoring
Automatic Parent Selection & Prioritized Parent Selection
Rapid Spanning Tree
Specific Information on Ethernet Devices attached to the network
Immediate Broadcast Setting
Redundant Link Visibility
Rapid Network Adaptation to changes without the need for user intervention
Tools to trade automatic adjustment for manual control

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Tools for monitoring 802.11 traffic from other WiFi devices
1.2 Package Contents
Your new RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot radio includes the following components:
1.3 System Requirements
The RadioLinx IH Browser configuration tool is designed for Microsoft Windows
XP, 2000 and 2003. Minimum hardware requirements are:
Pentium® II 450 MHz minimum. Pentium III 733 MHz (or better)
recommended
Supported operating systems:
oMicrosoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 or 2
oMicrosoft Windows 2000 Professional with Service Pack 1, 2, or 3

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oMicrosoft Windows Server 2003
128 Mbytes of RAM minimum, 256 Mbytes of RAM recommended
CD-ROM drive
100 MB available hard drive space
Available RS-232 serial port and null modem cable
256-color VGA graphics adapter, 800 x 600 minimum resolution (True Color
1024 x 768 recommended)
Ethernet hub with standard RJ45 Ethernet cable
or
Ethernet port with RJ45 crossover cable for direct connection to module
Microsoft Internet Explorer
In addition, you will need
A connection to an existing wired or wireless Ethernet network, with a Static
or Dynamic IP address for your computer
Static IP address, Subnet Mask and Gateway address for each RadioLinx
device you plan to install. Obtain this information from your system
administrator
1.4 Installing the IH Browser Configuration Tool
¾To install the IH Browser application:
1 Insert the ProSoft Solutions CD in your CD-ROM drive. On most computers,
a menu screen will open automatically. If you do not see a menu within a few
seconds, follow these steps:
1. Click the Start button, and then choose Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, click the Browse button.
3. In the Browse dialog box, click "My Computer". In the list of drives,
choose the CD-ROM drive where you inserted the ProSoft Solutions CD.
4. Select the file prosoft.exe, and then click Open.
5. On the Run dialog box, click OK.

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2 On the CD-ROM menu, click Setup Software.
3 Follow the instructions on the installation wizard to install the program with its
default location and settings.
When the installation finishes, you may be prompted to restart your computer if
certain files were in use during installation. The updated files will be installed
during the restart process.
1.5 Planning the Network
Before you configure and install the network, you should create a plan for it. The
following points assume that you are creating a bridge network of masters and
repeaters, but you can also set up clients to work with devices on existing
wireless LANs. For information, see Set Up a Client (page 19).
To begin, determine where you need radios and then choose locations for them
accordingly. For example, you might decide to install your master radio near a
PC in a central plant location. (You can use the PC to configure the radios
through the Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility.) If the plant is an oil refinery,
for example, you might decide to install radios near the oil tanks.
The next important issue is how to link the radios. Unless the radios are very
close together, you must make sure that each pair of radio antennas in the
network has a line of sight between them. In other words, you must be able to
see from one antenna to another, either with the naked eye or binoculars.
If a line of sight does not exist between antennas, you must choose a site for
installing a repeater radio, which will create a bridge between the radio antennas.
Choose the appropriate antennas for the network. If an antenna will be
connected to the radio by a long cable, you might need to purchase a power

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amplifier, which is available from ProSoft Technology. The farther an antenna is
away from its radio, the more signal loss the radio will have. For more
information, see Antennas (page 77).
Consider drawing up your network plans on paper. As part of the drawing, you
should assign a logical name to each radio. You can use these names later when
configuring the radios in the Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility.
As part of your planning, you might want to conduct a site survey. ProSoft
Technology can perform this survey, you can do it yourself, or you can hire a
surveyor.
Protect radios from direct exposure to weather, and provide an adequate, stable
power source. Make sure that your plan complies with the radio's power
requirements (page 76) and cable specifications (page 76).
Important: Radios and antennas must be located at least 8 inches (20 cm)
away from personnel.
1.5.1 Installation Questions
Answer the following questions to make your installation easier, and to familiarize
yourself with your system and what you want to do.
How many radios in your network?
Master ID Repeater ID Client ID
Locations
Is there a Line of Sight between them?
Selected the appropriate antennas for your network?
1.6 Configuring the Radios
To configure the network radios, follow these steps.
Use the RLX-IH Browser to display all radios on the network, and then use a
Web browser or SNMP manager to view and change radio settings. The radio
package includes the program CD, power supply, Ethernet cable, and a small
antenna. You must install the antenna later, but it is not needed to get started.
IMPORTANT: If possible, you should configure all the radios side by side in an
office setting and make sure they link before you try to install them in the field.
¾To configure the radios in a network:
1 Start the IH Browser (page 12) configuration application.

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The PC or laptop must have a wired or wireless Ethernet connection
configured with a static or dynamic IP address.
2 Plug in the power cable and Ethernet cable (page 12) to the RLX-IH radio,
wait a moment for the radio to power up, and then examine the radio's LED
display to make sure the radio is working properly.
3 Assign a temporary IP address: (page 13, page 60) Double-click the radio
listing in the RLX-IH Browser. In the next window, click OK to accept the
temporary IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.
4 Double-click the radio listing again in the RLX-IH Browser to open the Radio
Configuration / Diagnostic Utility in your web browser. Enter "password"
(lower case, no quotes) in the next window and then click Login.
If necessary, you can enter your own password later. For information, see
Change Password (page 51).
5 Set up the master radio (page 15) first, using the Radio Settings window in
the Radio Configuration / Diagnostic Utility.
6 Click Apply Changes to save the master radio settings.
To cancel the settings and start over, click the Cancel Changes button before
you click Apply Changes. After they are configured, master radios are
preceded by an "M" in the utility window list.
NOTE: The text shown in yellow at the bottom of the window indicates the
status of changes you have made to the configuration.
•If the text shows "Changes not saved", click Apply Changes to save your
settings.
•If the text shows "Changes not saved; Will disrupt X s", you can click Apply
Changes, however the network will be disrupted temporarily while the
changes are applied. The value of "X" indicates the number of seconds the
network will be offline.
7 Unplug the Ethernet cable from the radio and plug it into the next radio to be
configured.
8 Set Up a Repeater. (page 18) Return to the RLX-IH Browser. To be sure that
you are seeing the latest status of the radio(s), go to the toolbar (page 67)
and click the "Clear" icon (eraser) followed by the "Scan" icon (binoculars).
Double-click the listing of the next radio to be configured, and configure it as a
repeater radio.
9 Save the Radio Configuration. (page 18) Save the repeater radio settings
by clicking Apply Changes at the bottom of the Radio Settings screen. Repeat
steps 7 through 9 to configure each repeater in the network.
10 After configuring the network and its radios, physically label each radio.
Labeling eliminates confusion about which radios correspond with which radio
configurations in the software. You should identify the radio's name, network
SSID, and IP address, if set.
11 Install the radios and antennas (page 21).
The remainder of the topics in this section describe each of these steps in more
detail.

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1.6.1 Start IH-Browser
¾To start IH Browser
1 Click the Start button, and then choose Programs.
2 In the Program menu, navigate to ProSoft Technology.
3 In the ProSoft Technology menu, navigate to RadioLinx.
4 Click RadioLinx IH Browser.
The window lists all the radios your computer can access. The MAC ID number is
essentially the serial number of the radio; this number is also printed on the side
of the radio. If a radio listing does not appear in the window, select Scan from the
File menu. If you still do not see a radio listing, see Troubleshooting (page 23).
1.6.2 Plug In the Cables
You can configure the RLX-IH using the Ethernet port on the radio. On the
underside are three ports; Ethernet, Serial and Power (10 to 24 VDC 6 W).
From left to right: Ethernet port, serial port and power connector.
If you are connecting to the radio through an Ethernet hub or switch, use the
gray (straight-through) cable.

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If you are connecting to the radio directly from your PC without going through
an Ethernet hub or switch, you must use the red (crossover) cable.
Note: After you plug in the power cable and Ethernet cable, the radio performs
a startup procedure that includes a self-test, loading the main program, and
initializing the radio. This startup procedure can take up to two minutes.
After the startup procedure has completed successfully, the Power/Status LED
should be green, meaning that the radio has power. The Ethernet LED should
also be green, meaning that the Ethernet connection is working. The RF
Transmit and RF Receive LEDs should blink.
For information on making connections, see Radio power requirements (page
76) and Cable specifications (page 76).
1.6.3 Detecting the Radio
After the radio has completed its startup procedure, the radio will appear in the IH
Browser window.
Tip: If a radio listing does not appear in the window, open the File menu and
choose Scan. If you still do not see a radio listing, refer to Diagnostics and
troubleshooting (page 23).
The next step is to assign a temporary IP address to the radio, so that you can
configure the radio through its web interface.
1.6.4 Assign a Temporary IP Address
You need the IP address to log into the Radio Configuration/Diagnostic Utility
and configure the radio settings. If the radio is connected to a network with a
DHCP server, the radio may already have an IP address assigned to it.

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If a DHCP server is not available, or if you prefer to assign a static IP address,
you can enter a temporary IP here. You will use the Radio Configuration /
Diagnostic Utility (page 27) to assign a permanent IP address.
¾To assign a temporary IP Address
1 In IH Browser, click to select the radio.
Tip: If a radio listing does not appear in the window, open the File menu and
choose Scan. If you still do not see a radio listing, refer to Diagnostics and
troubleshooting (page 23).
2 Open the AP Operations menu, and choose Assign IP. This action opens the
Assign Temporary IP Address dialog box.
3 Accept the dynamically assigned address, and then click OK.
For information, see Radio Access settings (page 48).

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1.6.5 Set Up the Master Radio
To configure the radio, double click on the radio (Radio1) in the IH Browser
window. This action opens Internet Explorer and loads the IH Radio's web
configuration interface.
Important: The radio configuration is protected by a login password. The
default password for the radio is "password" (lower case, no quotes). To
prevent unauthorized access to the radio configuration, you should change the
password when you have finished the initial configuration.

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Note: The master is the "root" or top-level radio in a network. You must have
at least one master radio per network. For redundancy, you can assign more
than one master to a network.
To configure a Master radio, make the following changes to the web
configuration form:
¾Radio Network Settings
Radio Name: Enter a unique name for the radio.
Select Master as the radio mode.
Network SSID: Assign a network name (SSID) of up to 32 characters. The
radio uses this name in all network references. All radios in a network must
have the same SSID.
Channel: Select a channel for the network or accept the default value.
Network channels allow radios to avoid sharing a frequency with other
networks in the same location.

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¾Security Settings
Encryption Type: Encryption scrambles data so that only intended viewers
can decipher and understand it. Although "none" is an available encryption
type, ProSoft Technology strongly recommends encrypting all data sent and
received from every radio on your network, to help prevent your data from
being intercepted and decoded.
WPA phrase: To use WPA encryption on packets sent between the radios,
select WPA in the Encryption Type field. Next, in the WPA phrase field, enter
a pass phrase of between eight and 63 normal keyboard characters. This
phrase automatically generates an encryption key of 128 hexadecimal
characters. The default pass phrase is "passphrase" (lower case, no quotes).
For more information on encryption, see Security settings (page 45).
Because you must assign the same Network SSID and WPA phrase to the
repeater radios later in this procedure, you should write down the settings.
Note: Network SSID and WPA phrase are both case-sensitive.
Network SSID:_________________
WPA phrase:__________________
¾Radio Access Settings
If a DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) server is configured on your local
area network, the DHCP server can assign IP addresses automatically.
If you prefer to assign a Static (Fixed) IP address, select "Use the following IP
address", and then enter the IP Address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway in
the Radio Access Settings area of the IH Radio web configuration form.
Important: If you intend to assign IP addresses manually, you must not
duplicate an IP address that is already in use on your network. If you are not
sure what IP addresses are available, ask your network administrator for
assistance.

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1.6.6 Save the Radio Configuration
Before closing the Radio Configuration window, you must apply your changes.
Click Apply Changes to save your configuration and restart the radio.
Note: To discard your changes and start over, click Cancel Changes.
1.6.7 Set Up a Repeater
Repeater radios help extend the range of a network and create the signal
"bridges" that allow networked radios to communicate.
To configure a Repeater radio, make the following changes to the web
configuration form:

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¾Radio Network Settings
Radio Name: Enter a unique name for the radio.
Select Repeater as the radio mode.
Network SSID: Enter the SSID you configured for the Master radio. All radios
in a network must have the same SSID.
¾Security Settings
Encryption Type: Encryption scrambles data so that only intended viewers
can decipher and understand it. Choose the same encryption type you
configured for the Master radio.
WPA phrase: Enter the pass phrase you configured for the Master radio.
Important: The Network SSID and WPA phrase are case sensitive. Use
exactly the same combination of upper case and lower case letters you
entered for the Master radio, otherwise the Repeater radio will not be able to
connect to the Master radio.
By default, a repeater connects automatically to the best available parent radio
on the network. If necessary, however, you can click the Parent Link button and
specify how repeater radios connect to the network. See Parent Link settings
(page 40) for information.
1.6.8 Set Up a Client
Client mode is a special mode in the radio that allows a user to connect an
Ethernet device to a wireless network through any 802.11b access point. Any
Ethernet device that has an RJ45 Ethernet port can, in effect, be transformed into
an 802.11b wireless client by attaching the radio. Only a single device can be
connected to the radio in client mode. Do not connect to more than one Ethernet
device (using a switch or hub).
You only use client mode if you need to connect to another brand 802.11b
access point. If you are using RLX-IH radios, you should always use them as
repeaters (and masters).
To connect a device to a radio in client mode, click the Client button for the radio
and try programming the radio's client mode using the Auto setting. To test
whether the Auto setting will work:
1 Connect the cable between the device and the radio.
2 Click the Specify button, determine the MAC ID of the Ethernet device, and
type the ID into the Client MAC field.
3 Turn ON the radio power, or cycle the power if the radio is already on.
4 Turn ON the device. Watch the radio to see if it initializes. The Auto setting
will work if the device advertises its MAC ID to the radio.
If the radio's RF LEDs do not show consistent activity after a few minutes, then
you may need to modify the radio's client settings.
Client radios are preceded by a 'C' in the list of radios in the RLX-IH Browser.

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1.7 Verify Communication
When configured, the name of each radio is preceded by an M (for Master), an R
(for Repeater), or a C (for Client) in the IH Browser window.
Look at the LEDs to ensure good link quality, as explained in LED display (page
24). After a repeater is configured, you can unplug the Ethernet cable from it.