Tips and Tricks
Q: I have an Indoor SkyLink Radio. Anything I can do to make it faster?
A: If you have a wireless router, and if it's near the SkyLink, move it farther away. Although the 2.4 GHz wireless router is not SUPPOSED to interfere with the 5.8 GHz SkyLink, we've found that the sheer amount of power in the air can affect both of them. Move them farther apart, ideally at least five feet apart. Also, if you have a cordless phone, try moving it farther away from both the SkyLink and the router. TV's, microwave ovens, and computers which are missing their radio-shielding case are also sources of radio noise.
Q: I have an Indoor SkyLink radio. How do I make sure it's pointed in the right direction?
A: There may be a sticker on the back of the radio showing its IP address, or you can phone Cactus at 208-883-5500 to find out your radio's IP. Type this address (which looks something like 172.31.8.138) into the address line of your web browser and if you're connected at all, you'll get a table something like this:
| Address | LType | NType | State | LRSSI | RRSSI | LTxMod | RTxMod | Lant | Rant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:0a:db:03:12:20 | data | Gateway | act path | 23 | 27 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
Move the radio just a bit to one side or the other, then press "refresh" or "reload" on your web browser to get the updated table. Go slowly. You want the LRSSI and the RRSSI to be as large as possible. The LTxMod and the RTxMod should also increase, but it can take them as long as an hour to reach their best values after a move, so it's best to use the first two numbers to optimize your pointing.
Be careful if you change the tilt on the radio. Even a fraction off in the tilt can result in a lost signal. If you lose the signal, re-point the radio until the right-hand light (seen from the back) is flashing its fastest. Then wait five to ten minutes for it to re-link. When it's linked the next-to-right-most light will be steady.
Q: I've noticed that my SkyLink radio will occasionally stop working for a few minutes, then it's back to normal.
A: That's the mesh network re-configuring itself. If your radio decides it can get a faster or more reliable connection on a different access point, it will lock on to that one instead. The changeover can take up to five minutes.
Q: I've noticed that when I first turn on my SkyLink radio in the morning, it is slow. What's going on?
A: It's not a good idea to turn off your SkyLink radio at night for that reason. The software in the radio values reliability over speed, and it considers the power-down to be a fault. When it first starts up, it artificially lowers the speed for greater reliability. Over time, as the radio gains confidence, the speed will increase. We recommend that you leave the SkyLink radio on all the time.
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