8 Successful planning

The components of the Moeller RF system are easy to install. However, the choice of installation location can have a great influence on the radio signals and thus on the range and transmission reliability. The distance between the components and installations which emit interference signals must also be taken into consideration.

Inside buildings, you will seldom find the same ideal conditions for installation as outside, i.e. no obstacles between the transmitter and the receiver. By observing the following points, you can nevertheless ensure successful and fault-free operation. The following factors have a major influence on the installation:

• the number, material and thickness of the walls or ceilings
• whether the radio signal passes through the obstacles in a straight line or obliquely
• decentralised (distributed) installation of the radio components
• whether there are sources of interference in the vicinity of the receiver

8.1.1 Range planning

The angle at which the radio waves penetrate the building material also has a great influence. If possible, the positions of the transmitter and the receiver should be selected so that the line drawn between them is as short as possible where it passes through walls and ceilings and so that it does not pass through them obliquely. Human beings also obstruct radio waves. This must be considered especially when installing the equipment in rooms where many people can be expected to reside. In addition, damping through fittings in the room, plants, metallic surfaces or floor coverings should be taken into consideration. However, as each situation is unique, we cannot give precise values here. How to set about it? Here are a few tips on how to assess whether it will be possible to operate the radio components in the desired location. The following illustrations show the steps you should follow.

• Take a building plan and mark the position of the transmitter (T) and the receiver (R) and draw a straight line connecting the two.
• Estimate the permeability of the walls and ceilings, depending on material, thickness and angle of passage and make a note of it.
• Calculate the estimated possible range and compare it with the actual distance.

8.1.2 Range planning

Walls (1, 2 and 3) are examples of obstacles which obstruct radio waves. Material, wall thickness and angle determine how much of the transmitter power is absorbed. The range calculated here should be greater than the measured distance in reality to ensure that the radio components will receive signals reliably. In borderline cases, it is advisable in practice to test the radio components before installing them in their final location or to use the routing function. In your calculation, assume a range of 30 m without obstacles and enter the estimated value in a table as shown below.

Obstacle	Material	Estimated permeability	Range without obstacles 30 m
1	Cavity brick	approx. 60%	30 x 0.6
			approx. 18 m
2	Cavity brick	approx. 60%	18 x 0.6
			approx. 10.8 m
3	Plasterboard	approx. 80%	10.8 x 0.8
			approx. 8.64 m

8.1.3 Range planning

The range calculated here should be greater than the measured distance in reality to ensure that the radio components will receive signals reliably. In borderline cases, it is advisable in practice to test the radio components before installing them in their final location or to use the routing function.

8.2 Greater range through routing

Here, two huge advantages of RF systems in general and of the Moeller RF system in particular become apparent. The decentralised installation of the mains-powered actuators and the routing function in Comfort Mode.

It is important to distribute the actuators as evenly as possible throughout the building and as optimally as possible in every room. This ensures that the neighbouring actuators have good radio contact. If this is not possible in particular cases, you can choose to position an actuator to ensure contact without making use of its switching function.

The illustration shows a good distribution of the actuators which allows combination switching and routing. The MRF Software assists you in setting up the routing function in Comfort Mode. Actuators are located in the direct communication range.

One actuator is located outside the direct communication range. An actuator from another circuit assumes the routing function.

8.3.1 Combination switching function (Resend)

In the simplest case, a RF system consists of one transmitter (sensor) and one receiver (actuator).

However, it is possible to assign several sensors (up to 15) to one actuator.

In the combination switching function several actuators (theoretically an infinite number) are assigned to one sensor.

In this case, the Resend function is used. This means that only one of the actuators assigned to a sensor (switch), (this actuator is called the group master) reacts directly to a transmitted command. The other actuators simply "listen". The group master passes the radio command on to the other actuators. The RF system itself assigns the group master automatically in both Basic Mode and Comfort Mode.

Note that in Basic Mode, all members of the group involved in the combination switching are located in the communication range of the sensor (e.g. push-button). After teaching, only one of the actuators reacts directly to a transmitted command while all others simply "listen". The group master passes the command on to all other members of the group.

8.3.2 Combination switching function (Resend)

After assignment of all radio components in Basic Mode, the wireless system, when quitting programming mode, selects as group master the actuator that reacts fastest to a transmitted command.

In Comfort Mode there is also the option to select an additional special feature of Moeller RF systems, namely that of distributed groups. This means that if, for example, the group master cannot reach an actuator within the group, a second group with a second group master is automatically defined. Within each group, the command is distributed via Resend.

Important: Every member assigned to a group with the MRF Software must be contactable via a transmitted command, otherwise the entire group cannot be put into operation.

In Comfort Mode, the system selects as group master the actuator with the connection which offers the best radio quality.