Installing the mpr-50 on a network, Repeater mode, Repeater – Echelon MPR-50 Multi-Port Router User Manual

Page 20: Mode, Tool

Once the MPR-50 is physically attached to a network and powered-up, it must be

logically installed on the network. The MPR-50 is by default unconfigured and will

not route messages in this state. The MPR-50 can either be put into repeater mode

(which requires no network management tools), or it can be commissioned using

standard network management tools such as the LonMaker tool.
The Monitor within the MPR-50 only needs to be commissioned to interact with it

over the network. If the Monitor will not be accessed over the network, it does not

need to be commissioned.

To use the MPR-50 on a network without using network management tools, it must

be put into the repeater mode. Repeater mode is useful for the following:

• Self-installed networks where physical length of the network or node density

per-channel requires the use of a router

• Replacing free topology physical-layer repeaters, as physical-layer repeaters

are susceptible to noise which can halt traffic not just on the noisy channel,

but on the entire network

• Networks that have low traffic density and protocol routing is not required.

When in the repeater mode, the MPR-50 does not segregate traffic and may not be

appropriate for larger networks, or networks with traffic levels that in aggregate

approach saturation for the slowest channel.
To put the MPR-50 into repeater mode, hold down the Monitor Service button

continuously for 20 seconds. The Monitor Status LED will slowly flash green after

repeater mode is entered. To take the MPR-50 out of repeater mode, either hold

down the Monitor Service button continuously for 10 seconds (this will set the MPR-

50 to the factory default state), or commission Routers 1–5

with a network

management tool (in this case it is not necessary to first take the MPR-50 out of

repeater mode).

install the software as described in the previous chapter. The L

ARK

resource files

for the Monitor are installed into the L

ARK

recommended folders. See the

following chapter for a detailed description of the Monitor.

Connecting to the Network