DIGITAL RoamAbout Building to Building Site Preparation Guide

This document serves as a site preparation guide for sales engineers and site evaluators installing the DIGITAL RoamAbout outdoor antenna. It details the requirements for successfully implementing this RF antenna technology to extend Local Area Networks (LANs) between buildings, offering an alternative to costly T1 leased lines.

Key requirements for site evaluation include:

1. Lightning Protection: A lightning rod must be placed near the antenna mast or wall bracket, and a separate earth ground connection is required for the antenna, lightning arrestor, and mounting structure.
2. Grounding System: Direct earth grounding is essential for protection against lightning and static electricity.
3. Line of Sight: A clear, unobstructed line of sight is critical for point-to-point communication. This means no obstacles (such as buildings, trees, power lines, or large reflective surfaces like metallic glass buildings or water) should be in the direct path or within a specified "zone radius" around the antenna beam. Antennas must be mounted at a minimum height above this defined radius, which varies based on distance.
4. Minimizing Interference: Factors like large reflecting surfaces or proximity to high-voltage cables can reduce antenna range and efficiency, making high and clear mounting crucial.

The guide includes a comprehensive site preparation checklist covering lightning protection, mounting requirements (e.g., type of mount, guy wires for masts), detailed line of sight verification (including remote and local antenna visibility and RF interference checks), and installation requirements (e.g., Access Point location, cable lengths, accessible Ethernet and power). It also outlines data to be provided to the antenna vendor, specifies internal hardware like the RoamAbout Access Point with RAM, and details specifications for parabolic, Yagi, and omni antenna options. Additional information and contact details for custom antenna solutions are also provided.