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Copyright
© 2000 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. This user's guide and the software
described in it are copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form by any means without the written permission of Proxim, Incorporated.
Trademarks
Harmony, RangeLAN, the RangeLAN logo, RangeLAN2, and Proxim are trademarks of
Proxim, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Limited Warranty, Disclaimer, Limitation Of Liability
For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the retail customer, Proxim warrants
the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 against defects in materials and workmanship.
Proxim will not honor this warranty if there has been any attempt to tamper with or remove the
product's external foil label.
This warranty does not cover and Proxim will not be liable for any damage or failure caused by
misuse, abuse, acts of God, accidents, or other causes beyond Proxim's control, or claim by
any entity other than the original purchaser.
If, after inspection, Proxim determines there is a defect, Proxim will repair or replace the
Access Point at no cost to you. To return defective merchandise to Proxim please call Proxim
Technical Support 1-408-731-2640 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
number.
In no event shall Proxim, Incorporated be responsible or liable for any damages arising:
From the use of the product
From the loss of use, revenue or profit of the product
As a result of any event, circumstance, action, or abuse beyond the control of
Proxim, Incorporated
Whether such damages be direct, indirect, consequential, special or otherwise and whether
such damages are incurred by the person to whom this warranty extends or a third party.
Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 User's Guide
Part # 7360.0133
Rev. A
1
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Table of Contents
Related Manuals for Proxim Harmony 802.11b
Summary of Contents for Proxim Harmony 802.11b
- Page 1 Proxim, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Limited Warranty, Disclaimer, Limitation Of Liability For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the retail customer, Proxim warrants the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 against defects in materials and workmanship.
- Page 2 Warranty Return Policy If you have a problem with the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550, please call Proxim Technical Support at 1-408-731-2640. Proxim Technical Support will assist with resolving any technical difficulties you may have with your Proxim product.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Power Requirements ................12 3. Wirefree Operation ............ 13 Harmony Architecture ................13 The IEEE 802.11b Specification ............14 Roaming Between Harmony 802.11b Access Points ......14 Roaming Guidelines ................15 4. Configuration Parameters ........17 Basic Settings ..................17 AP Name .................... - Page 4 LED Error Codes ..................26 Common Problems and Solutions ............27 A. Parameters ..............30 B. IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence Channels ....31 C. Harmony 802.11b Access Point Specifications ..32 D. How to Reach Technical Support ......33 Index ................34...
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Page 5: Introduction
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing Proxim’s Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550, a member of Proxim’s Harmony wirefree infrastructure family. The Harmony product line is the first wirefree networking solution to support all current and future wireless LAN standards, including OpenAir, IEEE 802.11b, and future 10 Mbps frequency hopping and 5 GHz technologies, within a single, homogeneous architecture. -
Page 6: The Harmony Family
The Harmony Family The Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550 is a member of a product family that provides a complete wirefree networking solution. The Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 centralizes the manage- ment, security, and filtering capabilities of a wireless LAN. The Access Point Controller communicates with Harmony Access Points over the Ethernet network to provide wirefree network access for mobile clients. -
Page 7: System Requirements
System Requirements To begin using the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, you must have the following minimum requirements: At least one Harmony Access Point Controller An Ethernet (10Base-T) LAN switch or hub At least one 802.11b PC Card The Product Package Each Harmony 802.11b Access Point comes with:... -
Page 8: Installation
This chapter describes the installation procedure for the Harmony 802.11b Access Point and includes a description of the LEDs found on the unit. Installation Procedure Follow these steps to install the Harmony 802.11b Access Point Model 8550. Note: You must install a Harmony Access Point Controller before installing a Harmony Access Point. - Page 9 Access Point and the other end to a power outlet. Note: Use the Access Point only with the power adapter supplied by Proxim in the product package. Using another power supply may damage the Access Point. If you want to use the Access Point in conjunction with the Harmony Power System, refer to the Harmony Power System Model 7562 User’s Guide for instructions.
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Page 10: Mounting Option
Tighten the screws with a screwdriver to attach the mounting bracket to the Access Point. LED Indicators There are three LEDs on the top panel of the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, as shown in Figure 1. Status LED: This LED, located on the left side (with the unit orientated so that you can read the Proxim logo), is green when the unit is powered up and operational. - Page 11 Figure 1 Harmony 802.11b Access Point’s Top Panel LEDs There is also one LED on the back panel of the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. Link LED: This LED, located between the power connector and the 10Base-T port, will turn green when the Access Point has a physical connec-...
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Page 12: Power Requirements
The Harmony 802.11b Access Point requires power from either a Harmony Power System or from an external power supply. The voltage range for the Access Point’s power connector is 10-26 VDC. The Harmony 802.11b Access Point ships with a UL listed, Class 2 power supply (12V, 1 Amp). -
Page 13: Wirefree Operation
Therefore, the number of clients that can be supported by one Access Point will vary based on the applications in use and how frequently network information is accessed. When a Harmony 802.11b Access Point is connected to the network for the first time, the AP Controller automatically configures it with the AP AutoConfigure Default settings. -
Page 14: The Ieee 802.11B Specification
The 802.11b operating parameters are described in Chapter 4. Roaming Between Harmony 802.11b Access Points If there are multiple Harmony 802.11b Access Points on the network, then a mobile client may seamlessly roam from one Access Point to another. Each Access Point creates its own wirefree cell or coverage area. This is also known as a Basic Service Set (BSS). -
Page 15: Roaming Guidelines
802.11b PC Card cannot communicate with Harmony OpenAir Access Points. All Harmony 802.11b Access Points must have the same SSID. All workstations with Harmony 802.11b PC Cards must have the same SSID as the Access Points that they will roam between. - Page 16 Proxim strongly recommends that you perform a site survey to determine the best location for each Access Point in the facility, as described in Proxim’s free one-day technical training class. See Proxim’s web site at http://www.proxim.com/support/ for more information on the technical training class.
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Page 17: Configuration Parameters
4. Configuration Parameters The first time a Harmony 802.11b Access Point is connected to the network, the AP Controller will automatically configure the Access Point using the AP AutoConfigure Default settings. In addition, a Harmony 802.11b Access Point may be manually configured via the Harmony system’s Web browser interface. -
Page 18: Physical Address
Physical Address A Harmony 802.11b Access Point’s physical address is assigned at the factory and cannot be changed by the end user. The physical address or MAC address is a 48-bit unique identifier assigned to each networking device. The physical address is com- monly written as six pairs of two hexadecimal digits separated by colons (for example, 00:60:b3:6e:00:77). -
Page 19: Supported Clients
802.11b devices to communicate with any existing 802.11 direct sequence devices that operate only at 1 or 2 Mbps. By default, the Harmony 802.11b Access Point will support both 802.11b and 2 Mbps 802.11 direct sequence clients. If you want the Harmony 802.11b Access Point to only support 11 Mbps 802.11b clients, select the 11 Mbps clients only option. -
Page 20: Security Settings
Shared Key Authentication algorithm to prevent unautho- rized devices from associating with an 802.11b network. WEP Encryption The Harmony 802.11b Access Point offers three configuration options for WEP Encryption: Authentication, All Traffic, and Off. When set to Off, the Access Point does not use WEP. -
Page 21: Wep Key Size
For 40 bit encryption, the WEP Key is expressed as 5 sets of two hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). The Harmony 802.11b Access Point can support up to four 40-bit WEP Keys. You must select one of these keys as the default key that the Access Point will use to encrypt and decrypt authentication packets and data. -
Page 22: Advanced Settings
Access Point may operate at 2 Mbps. By default, the Harmony 802.11b Access Point supports all four data rates. However, you can prevent the Access Point from using a specified data rate by unchecking the appropriate box. - Page 23 While RTS/CTS adds overhead to the radio network, it is particularly useful for large packets that take longer to resend after a collision occurs. You may configure a Harmony 802.11b Access Point to always use RTS/CTS, never use RTS/CTS, or use RTS/CTS for packets over a certain size.
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Page 24: Performance Hints
Harmony 802.11b network. Microwave Ovens Microwave ovens operate in the same frequency band as the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. Therefore, if you use a microwave within range of the Access Point you may notice network performance degradation. However, both your microwave and your Access Point will continue to function. - Page 25 Proper antenna placement can help improve range. Here are some guidelines: The antenna should be placed so that it emits its signal in the appropriate direction. The Harmony 802.11b Access Point comes with an integral diver- sity antenna. For best results, place the antenna in the up or vertical position.
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Page 26: Troubleshooting
6. Troubleshooting The Harmony 802.11b Access Point is designed to be very easy to install and operate. However, if you experience difficulties, use the information in this chapter to help diagnose and solve problems. Also, refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 User’s Guide for additional troubleshooting suggestions. -
Page 27: Common Problems And Solutions
If neither of the above solves the problem, try to manually add the Access Point as described in the Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560 User’s Guide. Problem 2: My Harmony 802.11 PC Card will not associate with the Harmony 802.11b Access Point. Solution 2: Follow these steps: Try to bring the devices closer together;... - Page 28 Confirm that the Access Point and PC Card have the same Encryption settings, if enabled. Confirm that the Access Point’s Status LED is green or use the Harmony system’s Web browser interface to confirm that it is partnered with an AP Controller.
- Page 29 Problem 5: The throughput seems slow. Solution 5: To achieve maximum throughput, verify that your antennas are well-placed, not behind metal, and do not have too many obstacles between them. If you move the client closer to the Access Point and throughput increases, you may want to consider adding a second Access Point and implementing roaming.
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Page 30: Parameters
Controller 11 Mbps clients only, Supported Clients Allow 2 Mbps clients Allow 2 Mbps clients SSID 1-32 characters proxim IP Address Use DHCP, Specify IP Use DHCP Off, Authentication, All WEP Encryption Traffic WEP Key Size 40 bit, 128 bit... -
Page 31: Ieee 802.11B Direct Sequence Channels
B. IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence Channels The IEEE 802.11b standard specifies 14 Channels within the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The following table lists the center frequency for each Channel. If operating multiple Access Points in the same vicinity, the distance between the center frequencies must be at least 25 MHz to avoid interference. -
Page 32: Harmony 802.11B Access Point Specifications
The following technical specification is for reference purposes only. Actual product’s performance and compliance with local telecommunications regulations may vary from country to country. Proxim, Inc. will only ship products that are type approved in the destination country. Network Interfaces... -
Page 33: How To Reach Technical Support
D. How to Reach Technical Support If you’re having a problem using the Harmony 802.11b Access Point, gather the following information and contact Proxim Technical Support: What Harmony products are installed on the network? What were you doing when the error occurred? -
Page 34: Index
Index 100Base-TX 9 10Base-T 7, 9 Access Point. See Harmony Access Point Access Point Controller. See Harmony Access Point Controller All Traffic 20, 21, 30 Antenna Placement Considerations 25 AP AutoConfigure Defaults 13, 17 AP Name 17, 30 Authentication 20, 30 Basic Service Set (BSS) 14 Channel 14, 15, 18–19, 30, 31, 32 Clear to Send (CTS) 22... - Page 35 Harmony Access Point 802.11b 6 Configuration Parameters 17–23 Firmware Upgrade 29 Installation Instructions 8–9 OpenAir 6, 15, 16 Harmony Access Point Controller 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 19 Harmony PC Card 802.11b 6 OpenAir 6 Harmony Power System 6, 8, 9, 12, 32 IEEE 802.11b Specification 14 Installation Assistance 26...
- Page 36 Radio LED 10 Range 24–25, 27 Request to Send (RTS) 22 Requirements 7 Roaming 14–16 RTS/CTS 22–23, 30 RTS/CTS Threshold 23 Shared Key Authentication 20, 21 SmartArchitecture 5 SmartAttach 5 Spread Spectrum Direct Sequence 14, 32 SSID 15, 19, 27, 30 Static IP Addressing 19 Status LED 9, 10, 28 Blinking Amber 28...