Appendices
Appendix A - Network design best practices
A.1 Overview
All recommended practices should be followed to ensure highest data reliability. Deviation from these best practices may require
device repeaters in the network to maintain 99 percent data reliability. The following are guidelines to achieve the best possible
wireless network.
• Each wireless network field should be scoped to a single process unit.
• Minimize the number of hops to the Gateway in order to reduce latency. A minimum of five wireless instruments should be within
effective range of the Emerson Wireless Gateway.
• Each device in the network should have at minimum three devices with potential communication paths. A mesh network gets its
reliability from multiple communication pathways. Ensuring each device has multiple neighbors within range will result in the most
reliable network.
• Have 25 percent of wireless instruments in the network within range of Emerson Wireless Gateway. Other enhancing modifications
include creating a higher percentage of devices within effective range of the gateway to 35 percent or more. This clusters more
devices around the gateway and ensures fewer hops and more bandwidth available to WirelessHART
• Effective range is determined by type of process unit and the density of the infrastructure that surrounds the network.
A.2 Effective range
Heavy Obstruction: 100 ft. (30 m). Typical heavy density plant environment. Cannot drive a truck or equipment through.
Medium Obstruction: 250 ft. (76 m). Typical light process areas, lots of space between equipment and infrastructure.
Light Obstruction: 500 ft. (152 m). Typical of tank farms. Despite tanks being big obstructions themselves, lots of space between and
above makes for good RF propagation.
Line of Sight: 750 ft. (230 m). No obstructions between WirelessHART
ground or obstructions.
For examples and complete explanations, refer to the
Appleton • 1.800.621.1506 • www.appletonelec.com
devices and devices mounted a minimum of 6 ft. (2 m) above
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IEC62591 WirelessHART System Engineering
DOC000084A000 Rev. 03 MY8382 • 03-AUG-22 • Page 21 of 46
devices with fast scan rates.
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Guide.