Deployment: From Site Survey to Live Mesh

Plug-and-play basics, deliberate placement: most project time goes into node positions, not configuration.

Step 1 - Site Survey

List every RS485 and Ethernet device, its protocol (Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, TCP or UDP), and its position. Note distances, floors or obstacles between clusters, available power (including solar-plus-battery), and where the local gateway or control room sits.

Step 2 - Choose the Topology

• Star: one central node serving a compact yard or building group.
• Chain: nodes relaying along a pipeline, road or irrigation line.
• Ring: a loop for sites that want an alternate path.
• Mesh hybrid: mixed layout for farms, energy plants and campuses with irregular spacing, using up to 10 hops.

Step 3 - Install Nodes

Mount each IP65 DTU near its device cluster, connect RS485 or RJ45, and apply DC 4.7-16V power. Add up to 8 x 2.4G micro terminals per DTU where short-range points need expansion. Basic setup is plug-and-play; verify each node joins the mesh before moving to the next cluster.

Step 4 - Configure and Verify

Use the Web interface for site setup, AT commands for module control, or CLI/JSON for scripted configuration. Poll every Modbus device end to end, check forwarding behaviour across hops, and confirm that data stays within the private on-site network design. Our guide on connecting RS485 without cabling walks through the logic.