Firetide HotPoint 4500, HotPoint 4600 User Manual
Wireless Access Point User Guide
HotPoint 4500 Indoor Access Point HotPoint 4600 Outdoor Access Point
ii Wireless Access Point User Guide
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presences of
non-insulated dangerous voltage that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of lethal electric shock to persons.
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating, maintainance, and servicing instructions.
Failing to comply with this instruction may result in electrical
shock.
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating, maintainance, and servicing instructions.
Failing to comply with this instruction may result in a hazard.
Do not open the cover
Dangerous voltages inside.
No serviceable parts inside.
Refer to qualified service personnel.
Unit must be disconnected from power prior to servicing.
Unit has tamper-evident labeling that indicates when the cover has been
removed.
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Safety Instructions
The HotPoint node must be installed by a qualified professional. Failure to install this equipment properly may result in equipment damage, personal injury, or death.
Explanation of Graphic Symbols
Caution! Risk of electric shock!
POWER LINES CAN BE LETHAL
Do not install the HotPort outdoor mesh node where possible contact with
power lines can be made. Antennas, poles, towers, guy wires, or cables may
lean or fall and contact these lines. People may be injured or killed if they
are touching or holding any part of equipment when it contacts electric
lines. Make sure there is NO possibility that equipment or personnel can
come in contact directly or indirectly with power lines.
ASSUME ALL OVERHEAD LINES ARE POWER LINES
The horizontal distance from a tower, pole or antenna to the nearest power
line should be at least twice the total length of the pole/antenna combination. This will ensure that the pole will not contact power if it falls either
during or after installation.
SURVEYING THE SITE
Look over the entire site before beginning any installation and anticipate
possible hazards. Never assume anything without checking it out for yourself! Don’t take shortcuts!
HotPoint Wireless Access Point iii
TO AVOID FALLING, USE SAFE PROCEDURES WHEN WORKING AT
HEIGHTS ABOVE GROUND
Select equipment locations that will allow safe and simple installation.
Don’t work alone. A friend or co-worker can save your life if an accident
happens.
Don’t attempt repair work when you are tired. Not only will you be more
careless, but your primary diagnostic tool - deductive reasoning - will not
be operating at full capacity.
Use approved non-conducting ladders, shoes, and other safety equipment. Make sure all equipment is in good repair.
If a tower or pole begins falling, don’t attempt to catch it. Stand back and
let it fall.
If anything such as a wire or pole does come in contact with a power line,
DON’T TOUCH IT OR ATTEMPT TO MOVE IT. Instead, save your life by calling
the power company.
Don’t attempt to erect antennas or towers on windy days.
MAKE SURE ALL TOWERS AND POLES ARE SECURELY GROUNDED, AND ELECTRICAL CABLES CONNECTED TO ANTENNAS HAVE LIGHTNING ARRESTORS.
This will help prevent fire damage or human injury in case of lightning,
static build-up, or short circuit within equipment connected to the antenna. The HotPort outdoor node has built-in lightning protection. Be
sure that any other equipment connected to the HotPort node also has
the same level of protection.
The base of the antenna pole or tower must be connected directly to the
building protective ground or to one or more approved grounding rods,
using 10 AWG ground wire and corrosion-resistant connectors.
Refer to the National Electrical Code for grounding details.
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IF AN ACCIDENT SHOULD OCCUR WITH THE POWER LINES
DON’T TOUCH THAT PERSON, OR YOU MAY BE ELECTROCUTED.
Use a non-conductive dry board, stick, or rope to push or drag them so
they no longer are in contact with electrical power.
Once they are no longer contacting electrical power, administer CPR if you
are certified.
Immediately have someone call for medical help.
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iv Wireless Access Point User Guide
Firetide Limited End User Product Warranty
Pursuant to all provisions described herein, Firetide products are warranted
for one (1) year from the date of purchase against defects in the build materials and workmanship. Firetide also warrants that the Software will materially
conform to the documentation supplied by Firetide with the Software. In the
event that the Software fails to materially conform to the documentation and
an authorized Firetide reseller is notified in writing of such failure within the
warranty period, Firetide or its reseller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly correct the nonconformity. Firetide does not warrant that
the use of the Software will be uninterrupted or error free. Firetide does not
warrant that the Products will meet any requirements or specifications of any
End User Customer. This warranty applies to the entire Firetide product, including antennas and the AC power adapter.
The above warranties are void if the alleged defect cannot be verified by
Firetide or if, as determined by Firetide, the product failure was due to tampering, abuse, misuse, accident, shipping, handling, or storage; or if the
product has been installed, used, or maintained in a manner not described in
the product user manual; or if the product has been altered in any way; or if
product serialization has been altered. Any attempt to disassemble or repair
the product by anyone other than Firetide immediately voids this warranty.
This warranty applies only to the original End User purchaser of the product
and may not be transferred to any other individual or entity.
THE FOREGOING ARE THE EXCLUSIVE WARRANTIES APPLICABLE TO THE PRODUCT
INCLUDING THE SOFTWARE, AND THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR DEFECTS IN THE
PRODUCT. FIRETIDE DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS,
IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME LAWS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED
WARRANTIES SO TO THAT EXTENT THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
In no event will Firetide be liable for any special, incidental, consequential,
punitive or indirect damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, business interruption, loss of information, or other
pecuniary loss) arising out of the use or inability to use the product or the
performance, interruption or failure of the product, irrespective of the cause
of action, even if Firetide has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Firetide’s cumulative liability for all claims arising out of or in connection
with this warranty will not exceed the amount paid by the original End User
purchaser to purchase the product. The amounts payable for the product are
based in part on these limitations and these limitations shall apply notwithstanding the failure of essential purpose of any remedy. Some jurisdictions do
not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages,
so to that extent the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.
By using the product the original End User purchaser agrees to and is bound
by these terms and conditions.
In the event that a product fails to meet this warranty and Firetide’s authorized reseller is notified in writing of such failure within the warranty period,
Firetide shall, at its own discretion, either repair the product or replace it with
the same or a functionally-equivalent product free of charge. Replacement
products may contain refurbished materials in whole or in part. Firetide will
honor this warranty provided the product is returned through an authorized
Firetide reseller or dealer with shipping charges prepaid, along with a proof of
purchase describing the original purchase date and product serial numbers
if applicable. The authorized reseller must acquire a Return Materials Authorization (RMA) number from Firetide prior to returning any product. Firetide
does not accept shipments of defective products without shipping charges
prepaid.
HotPoint Wireless Access Point v
Indoor Manual Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Firetide HotPoint Wireless Access Point Family .............................................................................................................................................................1
HotPoint Access Point Features .................................................................................................................................................................................2
HotPoint + HotPort Network Applications ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
HotPoint + HotPort Features .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Indoor Unit - Unpacking and Installation ...........................................................................................................................................................................5
Outdoor Unit - Unpacking and Installation ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Understanding APs, AP Groups, VAPs, & VAP Groups ......................................................................................................................................................8
Software Installation ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Basic Setup Sequence ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Software Configuration ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
AP Node Commands .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
AP Group Commands ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13
Physical AP Radio Settings ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
VAP Group Configuration ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
VAP Settings ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
VAP Group Settings .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Advanced Features ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Country Code Assignment ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix A - HotPoint Features and Specifications ............................................................................................................................................................. 22
Appendix D—Regulatory Notices..................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
USA .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Canadian Compliance Statement ............................................................................................................................................................................. 25
vi Wireless Access Point User Guide
HotPoint Wireless Access Point 1
Introduction
Firetide HotPoint Wireless Access Point Family
Firetide’s HotPoint family of wireless access points are the newest addition to the company’s HotPort line of high performance wireless mesh networking products. The HotPoint access points provide an enterprise-class
wireless access solution and can be used as full-function standalone access points, or as part of an integrated, triple-play wireless mesh network.
Available in indoor and outdoor models, they include a high power, multispectrum extended range radio, multiple antenna options, robust security
features, and multiple ESSID support.
The Firetide™ HotPoint™ Wireless Access Points (AP) are companion units
to the Firetide HotPort™ High-Performance Mesh Network. Each AP allows
802.11b and 802.11g wireless clients to connect to the Firetide Wireless
Mesh network. Such clients include laptops, wireless security cameras,
VoIP phones, and portable terminal and POS devices.
The Firetide mesh network itself provides a high-capacity, self-healing
wireless mesh for indoor and outdoor networks. The HotPort system allows
standard Ethernet devices to operate on the wireless backbone, creating
secure and reliable wireless networks for video surveillance, voice, and
data. HotPoint APs and HotPort nodes can be managed together as a system with Firetide’s HotView mesh management sof tware.
HotPoint 4500 indoor APs are plenum-rated and can be mounted securely
to a wall, ceiling, or countertop using an optional mounting bracket. Each
HotPoint indoor node includes antennas.
HotPoint 4600 Outdoor APs feaure NEMA4X/IP66-rated aluminum enclosures, and can be powered over Ethernet.
Firetide’s modular access point design offers several benefits. Among them
are:
A HotPoint access point can be mounted to a Firetide mesh node to provide enterprise class Wi-Fi access to any indoor or outdoor location, without the need for backhaul cabling.
A HotPoint access point can connect directly to a conventional wired infrastructure. This eliminates the need to install a Firetide mesh node in
locations where wired connectivity is readily available, while preserving
the unified management capabilities for all access points.
Because the access points and mesh nodes are kept in separate enclosures, they can be independently positioned for optimum RF connectivity. For example, in a multi-building mesh network, mesh nodes should be
placed in areas that enable the best connectivity between buildings, while
the APs can be mounted for best interior coverage.
A HotPoint access point can share a Firetide mesh node with other devices
for true triple-play networking at any mesh node location. This can include a second HotPoint access point operating on a different channel, a
video camera, a VoIP device, or even a third party access point.
All HotPoint access points, as well as all Firetide mesh nodes, can be managed across the network from a central location regardless of whether the
access points are connected to wireless mesh nodes, to a wired infrastructure, or both. This integrated approach also allows network broadcasts to
all access clients anywhere on the network.
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2 Wireless Access Point User Guide
Management & Configuration features include:
SNMP v2/3
FTP firmware upgrade
Virtual AP Grouping- uniform SLAs
Physical AP Grouping – uniform parameters
Per-user and per-VAP data rate limiting
Per-user based accounting
HotPoint + HotPort Network Applications
Wi-Fi Networks
Together, HotPoints and HotPorts allow you to quickly deploy Wi-Fi service
anywhere. The Firetide mesh provides more flexibility for Wi-Fi deployment
than other mesh solutions because it can support existing third-party APs
as well as Firetide HotPoint APs. Each HotPort can support up to four APs,
so high-density Wi-Fi can be deployed at a lower cost than using mesh
nodes that are limited to a single access point.
Voice over IP
The HotPort mesh network enables clear VoIP traffic over the wireless backbone. Both wired and wireless VoIP phones support Class-of-Service prioritization which enables you to assign high priority to voice traffic to ensure
the best quality voice transmission.
Video
The high capacity and sustained throughput of the HotPort network makes
it ideal for IP video networks and video surveillance applications, especially those requiring multiple cameras or faster frame rates. Wi-Fi cameras
are not needed because any camera with an Ethernet interface can connect
directly to a HotPort mesh node. HotPort outdoor mesh nodes also support Power over Ethernet, allowing the use of a single power connection to
power both the node and the camera.
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HotPoint Access Point Features
Wireless features include:
Frequency ranges 2.400—2.484 GHz
Transmit up to 400 mW with 802.11h Automatic XMIT Power Control
Manual Transmit Power Control with 802.11d Auto Channel Select
Network features include:
Up to 16 independent VLANs
Up to 16 ESSIDs per HotPoint
Up to 64 clients per HotPoint
WDS
DHCP client and server, separate DHCP range per SSID
NAT
802.1p (Quality of Service)
802.11e (WMM) (Quality of Service)
Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP) enabled per 802.11f
Fast handoff enabled per draft of 802.11r
Intercell blocking – blocks communication between APs
Intracell blocking – blocks communication between BSSIDs
Security and Encryption features include:
802.11i with 40 bit or 104 bit WEP keys; 128 bit or 256 bit AES keys, TKIP
802.1x authentication
WPA2
VPN tunneling and filtering
ESSID suppression
Firewall
MAC access control
Rogue AP detection
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HotPoint Wireless Access Point 3
Data
The HotPort mesh network also provides direct connectivity for computers
and servers via a cable to the Ethernet ports on each node.
Point-of-Sale
HotPoint APs and the HotPort network make it easy to deploy Point-of-Sale
terminal support at trade shows, fairs, and other temporary locations, as
well as to support handheld wireless devices in inventory, tracking, and
other logistics applications.
Printing
With the HotPort mesh network network printers become wireless printers,
without additional setup, drivers, or software, simply by connecting to one
of the Ethernet ports on a HotPort mesh node. This wireless capability allows network printers to operate anywhere, including mobile carts and in
temporary settings.
HotPoint + HotPort Features
Security
HotPort mesh networks feature multiple layers of security, including 40
and 104 bit WEP key and 128 and 256 AES key encryption. The mesh also
provides packet filtering, based on MAC addresses, to limit access to the
mesh. For additional security, a proprietary mesh protocol prevents nonHotPort devices from participating on the mesh.
VLANs
The HotPort mesh network includes support for virtual local area networks
(VLANs) to enable traffic to be separated into smaller groups and application-specific LANs. The HotPort mesh supports 802.1q VLAN tagging of
packets entering and exiting the mesh. You can assign Ethernet ports to
different VLANs; only ports belonging to the same VLAN can switch traffic
among themselves. You can define up to 4093 VLAN IDs and create up to
16 multiple, logically separated VLANs within a single mesh. The HotPort
mesh also supports VLAN trunks.
Traffic Prioritization (class of service)
The HotPort system provides traffic prioritization levels to prioritize traffic on the mesh. This helps ensure that certain types of traffic requiring
high throughput or continuous service, such as voice, take precedence over
other forms of traffic.
Intuitive Network Mesh Management with HotView™ Software
HotView™ mesh management software provides live monitoring and management of Firetide HotPort wireless mesh networks, including HotPoint
AP nodes. The sof tware features a graphical user interface and provides
access to all mesh and node settings, including security, VLAN, class of service, radio power controls, and network gateway interconnects. Live monitoring features include mesh and node statistics.
HotView Pro extend the management features of HotView across multiple
meshes. Thus, an enterprise can manage all of its HotPort meshes worldwide from anywhere.
HotView and HotView Pro operate on virtually any workstation or server
that is connected to the mesh, either directly or remotely via WAN connection or the Internet.
Radio Settings
HotPort wireless mesh supports 2.4 GHz OFDM and DSSS radio modes, as
well as 5 GHz OFDM. When combined with 802.11b/g APs, the backbone can
be run at 5 GHz, thus avoiding interference.
4 Wireless Access Point User Guide
Table 1. Summary of Firetide Mesh Router Models
Model & SKU Use Band RF Output Power TCP Data Rate Default Channel
3101 Indoor 2.4, 5 GHz standard 10 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3103 Indoor 2.4, 5 GHz standard 25 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3100/PS Indoor, Public Safety 2.4, 4.9, 5 GHz standard 25 Mbps 4.962 GHz DSSS, Ch 5
3500-2401 Indoor 2.4 GHz high 10 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3500-5001 Indoor 5 GHz high 10 Mbps 5.805 GHz OFDM, Ch 161
3500-2403 Indoor 2.4 GHz high 25 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3500-5003 Indoor 5 GHz high 25 Mbps 5.805 GHz OFDM, Ch 161
3203 Outdoor 2.4, 5 GHz standard 25 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3200PS Outdoor, Public Safety 2.4, 4.9, 5 GHz standard 25 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3600-2400 Outdoor 2.4 GHz high 25 Mbps 2.462 GHz DSSS, Ch 11
3600-5000 Outdoor 5 GHz high 25 Mbps 5.805 GHz OFDM, Ch 161
HotPort 3100 and 3500 Series Mesh Routers
HotPort 3100 series mesh nodes provide fast and easy indoor network deployment. They connect wirelessly to other indoor and outdoor HotPort
nodes to form a mesh network. Ethernet packets are automatically switched
across the mesh, in a manner analogous to an Ethernet switch, using AutoMesh™, a proprietary protocol developed by Firetide. AutoMesh has been
optimized for efficiency in wireless mesh environments. HotPort nodes are
plenum-rated and feature a built-in four-port 10/100 Ethernet switch for
connecting networking devices a fully wireless mesh backbone. Models are
available for operation at 2.4 GHz for high capacity and maximum range or
at 5 GHz for high capacity and minimal interference from 2.4 GHz devices.
The HotPort 3100/PS supports the public safety band, used in the US.
The HotPort 3500 Series feature band-specific high-power radios, but are
otherwise identical to the 3100 Series Models.
Outdoor Nodes
In addition to the indoor models, Firetide offers a range of HotPorts for
outdoor use. These are similar to the 3100 and 3500 Series units, but are
packaged in NEMA-4 enclosures suitable for outdoor use.
The full model range is shown in this table: (Data rates are typical for a
single hop operation.)
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