3 Connecting External Antennas
The access point has connectors for attaching optional external antennas and antenna cables. The tables
below list the external antenna and cable models that are certified for use with the access point.
Antenna Model
3CWE591
3CWE597
3CWE598
Cable Model
Type
3CWE580
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss
6-foot Antenna Cable
3CWE581
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss
20-foot Antenna Cable
3CWE582
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss
50-foot Antenna Cable
a.Each 3Com cable includes a separate 50 Ohm SMA terminator.
The 3Com antennas are dual-band, which means that they operate in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectra.
You can use these antennas with either the 802.11b/g radio or the 802.11a radio.
Each antenna requires the purchase of a separate antenna cable.
NOTE: Antenna cables introduce loss of the RF signal. Always use the shortest cable that your
application allows.
For installation instructions, see the documentation that is supplied with the antenna.
NOTE: During the installation, connect the antenna to the access point before connecting the
Category 5 Ethernet cable. This ensures that the access point is not powered on when the
access point is connected to the network.
4 Mounting the Access Point
The access point can be mounted on the following types of surfaces:
•
Suspended ceiling — flush ceiling tiles
•
Suspended ceiling — drop ceiling tiles
•
Junction box
•
Solid wall or ceiling
•
Tabletop
Type
3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band Omnidirectional Antenna
3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band Hallway Antenna
3Com 8/10 dBi Dual-Band Panel Antenna
Length
Gain
1.8 m
2.4 GHz: -0.6 dBl
(6 ft)
5.0 GHz: -1.2 dBl
6.1 m
2.4 GHz: -2.0 dBl
(20 ft)
5.0 GHz: -4.0 dBl
15.2 m
2.4 GHz: -5.0 dBl
(50 ft)
5.0 GHz: -10.0 dBl
5
Restrictions
Not supported for IEEE 802.11
a-band channels 36-48 for the
United States, Canada, Mexico,
Peurto Rico, Panama, Guatemala,
Dominican Republic and
Colombia
Connectors
SMA (male) to N-type
(male)
SMA (male) to N-type
(male)
SMA (male) to N-type
(male)
a