ABB GSB Users Manual

Tropos Networks MetroMesh Router

Installation Guide

Model 4210

Tropos Networks, Inc.
555 Del Rey Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
USA

www.troposnetworks.com
408-331-6800

Part No. 200148-00 Rev A0

May 2005

Copyright Notice

©2005 Tropos Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Tropos Networks is a registered trademark of
Tropos Networks, Inc. in the United States and certain other jurisdictions. Specifications are
subject to change without notice.

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide ii

Contents

Installing the Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Preparing for Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Package Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Installation Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Selecting Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Antenna Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

RF Planning Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Cable Connections and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Installing the Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Remote Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Service Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Resetting the Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Fuse Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Clock Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

FCC Notice to Users and Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Product Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Antenna Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 1

1 Installing the Tropos 4210 MetroMesh

Router

This guide explains how to install the Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router. This chapter covers the
following topics:

 “Preparing for Installation” on page 2
 “Installing the Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router” on page 6
 “Remote Indicator” on page 9
 “Service Instructions” on page 10

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 1

Preparing for Installation

The next figure shows the router unit and dimensions.

Figure 1 Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router

Preparing for Installation

Depth

7.91 inches

20.1 cm

Package Contents

The Tropos 4210 router shipping package contains the followi ng items:

 Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router
 Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide (this document)
 2-pin power plug attached to router
 Fuse attached to router
 Screws, lock washers, nuts

Width 13.1 inches

33.3 cm

Height

3.54 inches

9.0 cm

Height

3.85 inches

9.8 cm

trp_137

Installation Accessories

You must supply the following accessories:

 1/4-20 panhead machine screws with split lock washers
 Ethernet cable to connect the router to the laptop computer you plan to use for network

access (crossover cable if no switch or hub is used)

 #18 AWG wiring to connect the router to vehicle power
 Antennas and antenna cables

The following items are optional:

 USB GPS receiver supporting standard NMEA 0183 sentences with cable (USB connector)
 Right angle antenna adapters

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 2

Selecting Locations

Tropos 4210 routers are radio devices, and as such, they are susceptible to common causes of
interference that can reduce throughput and range. To ensure the best possible performance,
follow these basic guidelines:

 Install antennas on the highest area of the vehicle (roof).
 If the vehicle has a light bar, install antennas at least three feet away from the bar.
 It is desirable to have the antenna cables as short as possible.
 Install the router away from other possible sources of 2.4 GHz WLAN interference, such as

cordless phones, spy cameras, frequency hopping (FHSS) and DSSS LAN transceivers
(non-802.11g), electronic news gathering video links, radars, amateur radios, land mobile
radio services, local government sites (such as law enforcement), fixed microwave services,
local TV transmission and private fixed point transmitters).

 The router is not weather-proofed, so install only in protected interior locations.

Choose a splash-resistant mounting surface that is at least 13 inches by 8 inches to provide
sufficient space to screw the router into the surface. See FIGURE. It is not necessary to level the
unit.

Preparing for Installation

The Tropos 4210 router contains integral ESD protection and vehicle power conditioning, so
external protection is not required.

Antenna Options

You can purchase any of the Tropos-approved, cable-attached antennas that are listed in

“Ordering Information” on page 17. Omni-directional antennas are best for systems requiring a

signal distribution in more than one direction. To comply with regulatory RF exposure limits,
locate antennas a minimum distance of 7.9 inches (20cm) from people. It is possible to use a
single antenna; however, two antennas are strongly recommended.

Note

Only use antennas that are approved by Tropos. Operating the unit with non-qualified
antennas is a violation of U.S. FCC Rules Part 15.203(c), Code of Federal Regulations, T itle

47.

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 3

Preparing for Installation

Note

The device and the antennas must not be co-located or operate in conjunction with any
other antenna or transmitter.

Figure 2 Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Routerwith Cable-Attached Antennas

Cables

from antennas

to unit

Tx/Rx antenna

RF Planning Guidelines

Tropos wireless routing technology is embedded in each Tropos 4210 MobileMesh router,
allowing each router to work in almost any environment and with a wide range of network
topologies. To maximize coverage range, locate the router in wireless-friendly areas. Try not to
place them in areas that can block or interfere with transmission. 802.11g devices transmit in the

2.4 GHz frequency spectrum. This spectrum is shared by devices such as microwave ovens,
portable phones, intercom systems and wireless alarm systems. Place each router in a location at
least 15 to 20 feet from any other transmitter to prevent the possibility of interference.

Aux

Main

Tx/Rx antenna

trp_128

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 4

Cable Connections and Power

Figure 3 shows the power and connector ports on the side panel of the Tropos 4210 router:

 The status indicator is red when the router is plugged in and has power. It is green when the

router has a working IP address and network connectivity.

 The Ethernet Management (MGT) port is used to connect the router to the laptop computer

that is used for network access. The LAN port is not currently used for the Tropos 4210
router.

 There are two USB ports, either one of which can be used to connect a GPS receiver.
 There are two RS-232 serial ports, one of which can be used to connect to a client PC. One

RS-232 port is reserved for factory use.

 The fuse is user replaceable (see “Fuse Replacement” on page 11).
 The power plug accepts #18AWG wire.

The Tropos 4210 router is desi gned to be used with negative ground systems, such as motor
vehicle power. There is no internal battery back-up, so the vehicle must be powered for the
router to operate.

Preparing for Installation

Note

The Tropos 4210 router does not have a power switch. The router is powered when the
power plug is attached and then connected to vehicle power. To remove power from an
installed router, remove the power plug, remove the fuse, or turn off vehicle power.

Figure 3 Connector Panel

RS-232 port

GPS out

Fuse

Power

connection

LED

RJ-45 (Management) port

to client

Ziptie

holder

USB port

GPS in

trp_129

Tropos 4210 MetroMesh Router Installation Guide 5