About This Manual; Product Description - Microwave Data Systems iNet 900 Quick Start Manual

DRAFT 6—8/29/01

1.0 ABOUT THIS MANUAL

This guide presents installation and basic operating instructions for the
MDS i Net 900™ transceiver. Following installation, we suggest
keeping this guide near the equipment for future reference.
The terms Access Point and Station Adapter are abbreviated as "
A.P."
and " in various technical illustrations and tables used in this
S.A."
manual wherever space is at a premium.
This manual does not cover all possible MDS iNet 900 user-controllable
parameters and/or diagnostic tools. For an in-depth description of all of
the features and controls of the MDS iNet 900, please read the
MDS iNet Network Manager's Manual, P/N 05-xxxxA01.

2.0 PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The MDS i Net 900 transceiver, shown in Figure 1, is designed to pro-
vide network managers with a easy-to-install wireless local area net-
work (LAN) services with plug-and-play hardware. For basic services,
just hook up an antenna, connect your Ethernet LAN to the radio's LAN
port, apply primary power, and you are done. And, no license is
required.
The transceiver is a spread-spectrum radio designed for operation in the
license-free 900 MHz frequency band. The MDS iNet 900 provides reli-
able communications up to distances of 30 miles (50 km), even in the
presence of weak signals or interference.
Only two user-controllable parameters need to be checked at the time of
installation—the radio's Access Point/Station Adapter operating mode,
and "network name" of the unit.
The MDS iNet 900 transceiver is based on the IEEE 802.11 wireless
LAN specification. From this perspective, iNet transceivers serve as
"Access Points" and "Station Adapters". An Access Point is a wireless
hub that provides connectivity into a wired Ethernet LAN. This connec-
tivity is achieved through remote Station Adapters. From a radio per-
spective, an Access Point also works as a "master station" providing
synchronization signaling for the remote radios (Access Point units).
A Station Adapter provides wireless connectivity to and Access Point to
one or more Ethernet devices connected to its local interface. From a
radio perspective, the Station Adapter also works as a remote radio that
communicates to a master radio (Access Point).
MDS 05-2873A01, Rev. A MDS i Net 900 Installation and Operation Guide 1