Inscape Data AirEther AB54 User Manual

2.4ghz 802.11b/g wireless access point / bridge / repeater / client

Advertisement

Quick Links

AirEther™ AB54 / AB54E
WIRELESS ACCESS POINT / BRIDGE /
/AB54E PRO
2.4GHz 802.11b/g
REPEATER / CLIENT

User Manual

Version 1.2.1
July 11, 2006

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the AirEther AB54 and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Summary of Contents for Inscape Data AirEther AB54

  • Page 1: User Manual

    AirEther™ AB54 / AB54E /AB54E PRO 2.4GHz 802.11b/g WIRELESS ACCESS POINT / BRIDGE / REPEATER / CLIENT User Manual Version 1.2.1 July 11, 2006...
  • Page 2 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater FCC Notice NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Table of Contents INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS ................5 – A ..............6 ETWORK OPOLOGY CCESS OINT – R ............... 7 ETWORK OPOLOGY EPEATER – W (WDS) P ..8 ETWORK OPOLOGY IRELESS RIDGE OINT TO ULTI OINT ....................
  • Page 4 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY ....................42 APPENDIX B: SPECIFICATION..................45 APPENDIX C: AB54 SERIES PACKAGE CONTENTS ……………………………….47...
  • Page 5: Installation Considerations

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Installation Considerations The AP lets you access your network, using a wireless connection, from virtually anywhere within its operating range. Keep in mind, however, that the number, thickness and location of walls, ceilings, or other objects that the wireless signals must pass through, may limit the range. Typical ranges vary depending on the types of materials and background RF (radio frequency) noise in your home or business.
  • Page 6: Network Topology - Access Point Mode

    ( i.e. AirEther OA12 or AirEther SA1218 sector antenna). This setup can achieve point to multipoint expanded wide area coverage . For cost effective sectorized mobile or fixed wireless coverage area, use the AirEther AB54 with integrated 12 dBi antenna.
  • Page 7: Network Topology - Repeater Mode

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 1.2 Network Topology – Repeater Mode The AirEther AB54 or AB54E in the repeater mode extends AB54 series equipment and other 802.11 b/g Access Point’s coverage area to service hard to reach wireless clients. This is convenient if a wired distribution system is not feasible.
  • Page 8: Network Topology - Wireless Bridge (Wds) Point To Multi -Point Mode

    1.3 Network Topology – Wireless Bridge Point to Multi-Point Mode The AirEther AB54 or AB54E in the wireless bridge mode provides two functionality, point to point or point to multipoint layer 2 bridge. Each AB54 has packet fowarding capability to provide AP to AP communication.
  • Page 9: Installation Diagram

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 1.4 Installation Diagram (AB54E and AB54E Pro Shown Below)
  • Page 10 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater AB54E PRO hardware installation diagram Attention: The cable distance between the AB54/E and the Router, Switch, or PC should not exceed 100 meters, the Ethernet cable limitation. In 10Mbps operation, Category 3/4/5 cable can be used for the cable connection. To reliably operate your network at 100Mbps, you must use Category 5, or better data grade cables.
  • Page 11: Equipment Configuration Using Locator Utility Software

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 2 Equipment Configuration Using Locator Utility Software The locator utility software will automatically search for available AB54 series or CB54 series equipment on the same network. The results displayed by the locator are the following: the Device Name, Device Type, IP Address, Ethernet MAC Address and Firmware Version in first page.
  • Page 12: Initial Configuration Of The Equipment Using A Web Browser

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 2.1.2 Initial configuration of the equipment using a Web Browser After a network connection is established, start the web browser (make sure you disable the proxy) and type 192.168.1.20 in the Address field. Press Enter. User name Password Enter the factory default...
  • Page 13: Wireless Configuration - Ap Mode

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 3 Wireless Configuration - AP Mode System Status – The first page appears in main page will show “System Status -> System Summary” automatically, you can find detail system configuration in this page including System Information –...
  • Page 14 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater The first page will display “System Status -> Wireless Station List” automatically, this page can help user identify current devices that already associated to the AP. You can also click on the MAC address column then the system will show the detailed technical information for each wireless station.
  • Page 15 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Field Description RSSI Displays the strength of the received signal in dBm (the remote devices received signal strength). Refresh every 2 seconds. RSSI of ACK Displays the strength of the ACK signal from far end in dBm (the local devices received signal strength).
  • Page 16: System Configuration

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater The page below describes the detail connection information with each station. You can get all information needed right here. System Configuration – Now you can start to configure the system. In System Properties page, you can configure the following features: Device Name –...
  • Page 17: Administration

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater retransmitted within its range. Choose repeater mode if you want to extend the range of your original AP. Wireless Bridge (WDS) can allow point to point or point to multi-point layer 2 bridge. In order to establish the wireless link between bridge radios, the MAC address of remotes bridge(s) need to be registered in the address table.
  • Page 18: Ip Settings

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater IP Settings – IP Setting page allows configuration of the AB54’s system IP address. Default IP address is 192.168.1.20 and Subnet Mask is 255.255.0.0. You can manually input IP address setting or get an IP from a DHCP server.
  • Page 19: Wireless Network

    11b/g but also 108M SuperG. (Note: 108 M SuperG only works with Inscape Data’s AirEther AB54 series and AirEther CB54 series equipment.) Wireless Network Name (SSID) - The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wireless network.
  • Page 20: Wireless Security

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Channel / Frequency – Select the appropriate channel from the list provided to correspond with your network settings. All points in your wireless network must use the same channel in order to function correctly. The default setting is “SmartSelect” which means the system will pick best channel for you automatically at the time of selection.
  • Page 21 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. To use WEP, you will need to select a default transmit key and a level of WEP encryption, Authentication type – Select “Open System” to communicate the key across the network.
  • Page 22 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater WPA-PSK stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access – Pre-Shared Key. WPA-PSK is design for fast deployment and for users who do not have RADIUS server in their network environment. WPA can provide better security level than WEP without difficult setting procedure. PassPhrase - Enter a WPA Shared Key of 8-63 characters.
  • Page 23 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater WPA option features WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Access Point.) RADIUS Server – Here enter the IP address of your RADIUS server. RADIUS Port –...
  • Page 24: Advanced Wireless Settings

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Advanced Wireless Settings - The page below can help users to configure advanced wireless setting. Before making any changes at this page, please check your wireless settings on other system as well, as these changes will alter the effectiveness of the Access Point.
  • Page 25 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater A beacon is a packet broadcast by the Access Point to keep the network synchronized. A beacon includes the wireless LAN service area, the AP address, the Broadcast destination address, a time stamp, Delivery Traffic Indicator Maps, and the Traffic Indicator Message (TIM).
  • Page 26: Mac Filtering

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater point to point or point to multi-point in the network. The input needs to be greater than 1KM to 30KM normal mode or equal to the real distance. The range can be from 1KM to 15 KM Super mode Remember to click on “Apply”...
  • Page 27: Backup/Restore Setting / Firmware Upgrade And Reboot

    60 seconds. Before upgrading, make sure you are using the version for your equipment model. Flashing wrong firmware may result in permanent damage of the equipment and complete void of all related product warranties. Please check Inscape Data’s website periodically for firmware upgrades.
  • Page 28 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater NOTE: Upgrading the firmware does not reset the equipment to factory default configuration.
  • Page 29 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Reboot – Click on “Reboot” button to restart Access Point.
  • Page 30: Wireless Configuration - Wireless Bridge Mode

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 4 Wireless Configuration – Wireless Bridge Mode (Point to Point & Point to Multi-Point) Wireless Bridge is mode is used to wirelessly bridge two or more AB54 series equipment together to form a transparent bridge between two or more locations. The Wireless Bridge mode provides 1 to 8 multipoint capabilities.
  • Page 31: Settings

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater wireless stations that operate at the same time will all share single radio bandwidth. (Ex. 11g have 54Mbps bandwidth). Bridge links beyond 2 to 3 hops is not recommended. Latency – In the chain topology configuration, if the chain becomes very long, end-to-end latency issue may come in play.
  • Page 32: Wireless Configuration - Wireless Repeater Mode

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 5 Wireless Configuration – Wireless Repeater Mode When the Access Point is set to the Repeater mode, the AP is able to talk with one remote access point within its range and retransmit its signal. In order to setup the AP to work in Ethernet bridge mode, you need to choose “Repeater”...
  • Page 33 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater After clicking on the “Site Survey” button, you can choose the Access Point you need to extend its range by clicking on “BSSID” column. Then click “Apply” for the changes to take place. fter all the changes are made, you can check the “Connect Status”...
  • Page 34 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater SSID and link quality / signal strength. NOTE: Currently WEP wireless security is supported in the repeater mode...
  • Page 35 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 6. Wireless Configuration – Client Bridge Configuration The AB54 series equipment in Client Bridge Mode can allow up to 16 Ethernet devices onto the wireless network infrastructure. In order to setup the AB54 to work in Ethernet bridge mode, choose “Wireless Client”...
  • Page 36: Connection Status

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater The Wireless Client Bridge is set with factory default values. Should you need to change any device setting, please follow instructions described in the following sections. Connection Status – This page display the current wireless connection status. If the AB54 is associated to an Access Point, the BSSID (MAC address) of the associated Access Point will display.
  • Page 37: Wireless Network

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Wireless Network - Network Mode – You can set the wireless client to 2 different modes by clicking radio button. Wireless Client (Infrastructure) act as an AP client while Ad-hoc can support peer to peer network.
  • Page 38 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater The Site Survey page can help you identify all the APs currently operating in your environment. Just easily click on the BSSID column, the system will associate to the SSID you specify. In the Site Survey page you can also see the details of all SSID currently available.
  • Page 39: Wireless Security

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Wireless Security – WEP is the basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. To use WEP as a client, you will need to input a transmit key and a level of WEP encryption exactly the same as the Access Point.
  • Page 40 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater WPA-PSK stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access – Pre-Shared Key. WPA-PSK is design for service providers who do not wish to use a RADIUS server in their network environment. WPA can provide very superior security encryption level than WEP. One exception to use WPA is to make ensure the wireless clients also support the encryption.
  • Page 41: Ethernet Client List

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Ethernet Client List – In Ethernet Client List page, you can check all the details here including IP Address and MAC Address. Press “Refresh” if you add any new Ethernet client into network. The page will update the latest status of current Ethernet network.
  • Page 42: Appendix A: Glossary

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 7 Appendix A: Glossary 802.11b - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps and anoperating frequency of 2.4GHz. 802.11g - An IEEE wireless networking standard that specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.
  • Page 43 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Hardware - The physical aspect of computers, telecommunications, and other information technology devices. IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - An independent institute that develops networking standards. Infrastructure - A wireless network that is bridged to a wired network via an access point. IP (Internet Protocol) - A protocol used to send data over a network.
  • Page 44 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater Subnet Mask - An address code that determines the size of the network. Switch - 1. A data switch that connects computing devices to host computers, allowing a large number of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit.
  • Page 45: Appendix B: Specification

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 8 Appendix B: Specification Standard support IEEE802.11b IEEE802.11g IEEE802.3 IEEE802.3u IEEE 802.1x Interface Wireless IEEE802.11b/g One 10/100 RJ-45 port Auto MDI/MDIX (Auto Cross-Over) External Antenna Connector Type N- Female (CB54E Only) Antenna Gain CB54 (12 dBi) | CB5418 (18 dBi) Max.
  • Page 46 AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater − Transmission Rate (Best, 108, 54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 11, 9, 6, 5.5, 2, 1) in Mbps − Transmit power (Full, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Minimum) − Beacon Interval (20-1000): 100 − Data Beacon Rate (DTIM (1-16384): 1 −...
  • Page 47: Appendix C: Ab54 Series Package Contents

    AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater 9 Appendix C: AB54 Series Package contents ™ AB54/AB54E PACKAGE CONTENTS THER Item Name 1. AirEther™ AB54 or AB54E Outdoor Wireless Client Bridge Unit 2. Ethernet Inline Power Injector (PoE), 12V DC 3. Waterproof Connector 4.

This manual is also suitable for:

Airether ab54eAirether ab54e pro

Table of Contents