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
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.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio / TV technician for help.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
The antenna(s) used for this transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with
any other antenna or transmitter.
The manufacturer is not responsible for any radio or TV interference caused by unauthorized
modifications to this equipment. Such modifications could void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
Table of Contents
1 INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS ..............................................................................5
1.1 N
1.2
1.3
1.4
ETWORK TOPOLOGY – ACCESS POINT MODE................................................................6
NETWORK TOPOLOGY – REPEATER MODE.......................................................................7
NETWORK TOPOLOGY – WIRELESS BRIDGE (WDS) POINT TO MULTI-POINT MODE .......8
INSTALLATION DIAGRAM..................................................................................................9
2 EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION USING LOCATOR UTILITY SOFTWARE ........11
2.1 E
QUIPMENT CONFIGURATION USING WEB USER INTERFACE........................................11
2.1.1 Before Setup........................................................................................................... 11
2.1.2 Initial configuration of the equipment using a Web Browser.................................12
2.1.3 Initial configuration of the equipment using the Locator Utility...........................12
3 WIRELESS CONFIGURATION - AP MODE ..................................................................13
3.1 S
3.2 S
3.3 A
3.4 IP
3.5 W
YSTEM STATUS – ..........................................................................................................13
YSTEM CONFIGURATION –............................................................................................16
DMINISTRATION – ........................................................................................................17
SETTINGS –.................................................................................................................18
IRELESS NETWORK -...................................................................................................19
3.6 W
3.7 A
3.8 MAC
3.9 B
IRELESS SECURITY -....................................................................................................20
DVANCED WIRELESS SETTINGS -.................................................................................24
FILTERING.............................................................................................................26
ACKUP/RESTORE SETTING / FIRMWARE UPGRADE AND REBOOT -..............................27
4 WIRELESS CONFIGURATION – WIRELESS BRIDGE MODE (POINT TO POINT &
POINT TO MUL TI-POINT).......................................................................................................30
4.1 C
4.2 BRIDGE S
ONSIDERATIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION –...................................................................30
ECURITY SETTINGS–.....................................................................................31
5 WIRELESS CONFIGURATION – WIRELESS REPEATER MODE...........................32
6 WIRELESS CONFIGURATION – WIRELESS CLIENT BRIDGE CONFIGURATION
35
6.1 C
6.2 W
6.3 W
6.4 E
ONNECTION STATUS – ..................................................................................................36
IRELESS NETWORK -...................................................................................................37
IRELESS SECURITY –...................................................................................................39
THERNET CLIENT LIST –...............................................................................................41
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
7 APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY...............................................................................................42
8 APPENDIX B: SPECIFICATION......................................................................................45
9 APPENDIX C: AB54 SERIES PACKAGE CONTENTS ……………………………….47
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
1 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. The key to maximizing wireless range is to follow these basic
guidelines:
z Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices or
appliances that generate RF noise.
z Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the AP and other network devices to a
minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your AP’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30 meters.)
Position your devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
z Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5 feet thick(0.5
meters), at a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree
angle it looks over 42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position devices so that the signal will travel
straight through a wall or ceiling (instead of at an angle) for better reception.
z Building materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or aluminum studs
may have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless devices and computers with
wireless adapters so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not
other materials.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
1.1 Network Topology – Access Point Mode
The diagram above is shown with an AirEther AB54E combined with external wide radiation
pattern antenna ( 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.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
1.2 Network Topology – Repeater Mode
The AirEther AB54 or AB54E in the repeater mo de 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. To retian the quality of service and
broadband internet experience of the wireless coverage area, do not extend a repeater system
beyond 2 to 3 hops. The table reference below indicates few manufacturer’s access point
compatibility uncertainty due to propriety. It is recommended to use AB54 series AP to ensure
full compatibility.
Make P/N 802.11 Chipset Compatible
Broadcom BCM94704-GAP b/g Broadcom Yes
Cisco 1231G b/g No
Conexant ISL3900A a/b/g Conexant No
D-Link DWL-2100AP b/g Atheros No
Linksys WAP54G b/g Broadcom Yes
Proxim AP600 b/g Atheros No
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
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. Inscape Data bridges may span across multiple hops to span
across buildings, campus, and cities. For high capacity bridge, pleas e s ee t he AirEt her BR108
for optimal backhaul performance up to 108mbps data rate.
The X mark on the above topology diagram is an example of what not to do
using the bridge mode. Creating a bridge loop will cause instability in the bridge
system.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
1.4 Installation Diagram (AB54E and AB54E Pro Shown Below)
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
g
AB54E PRO hardware installation diagram
Attention:
z The cable distance between the AB54/E and the Router, Switch, or PC should not exceed 100
meters, the Ethernet cable limitation.
z In 10Mbps operation, Cate
operate your network at 100Mbps, you must use Category 5, or better data grade cables.
ory 3/4/5 cable can be used for the cable connection. To reliably
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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 T ype, IP Address, Ethernet MAC Address and Firmware Version in first
page. Before initiating the Locator utility, make sure you disable personal firewall installed in
your PC. (Ex. Windows XP personal firewall)
If you have 2 Fast Ethernet Adapter or more, you can choose enable on one of the Fast Ethernet
Adapter.
2.1 Equipment Configuration Using Web User Interface
2.1.1 Before Setup
Verify the IP address setting
You need to configure your PC’s network settings to obtain an IP address. Computer use IP
addresses to communicate with each other across a network, such as the Internet. The
following is a brief instruction for Windows based PC system. For other operating system,
please follow its respective user manual.
1. From the taskbar, click the Start button, select Settings > Control Panel. From
there, double-click the Network connections icon.
2. Right click the Local Area Connection icon Properties; select the TCP/IP line for
the applicable Ethernet adapter. Then, click the Properties button.
3. Click the IP Address tab page, select USE the following IP address, type
192.168.1.100 in the IP Address field and 255.255.255.0 in the Subnet Mask
field, then click OK button.
Attention:
Use the IP addresses in this section as an example only. The goal is to configure your PC to be in the
same sub-network as the equipment you are configuring. Please consult a network administrator if
there are any questions on setting up a PC’s IP address.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
2.1.2 Initial configuration of the equipment using a Web Browser
1. 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.
2. Enter the factory default
User Name: Admin
Password: (leave blank)
Then click OK button.
3. You will enter the Utility homepage.
2.1.3 Initial configuration of the equipment using the Locator Utility
1. Click on the “Web” icon in Locator main page. The Locator will launch a default
browser for you and lead you into web UI directly
User name
and
Password
fields:
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
3 Wireless Configuration - AP Mode
3.1 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
z System Information – This will display system name and both Ethernet MAC address
and Wireless MAC address. Current country setting and firmware version will also be
available here.
z Current IP Settings – This section show current IP address setting including IP address,
Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DHCP status.
z Current Wireless Settings – This area show current wireless setting including operation
mode, wireless mode, SSID, channel and security setting.
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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 . Y ou can also click on the
MAC address column then the system will show the detailed technical information for each
wireless station.
Clicking MAC address hyperlink of desired wireless devices will show a Statistics page for the
wireless device.
Values on this page are automatically refreshed every minute. You may manually press the
refresh button of browser to get the updated data more frequent. As RF signal strength is
more critical for outdoor deployment purpose, RSSI bar is refreshed every 2 seconds.
Note: Due to frequent refresh of Statistics page, it is strongly recommended that
you close this page when performing network performance tests.
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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). Refresh every 2 seconds.
MSDU Maximum Service Data Unit. Displays the number of packets sent
and received by the remote devices.
Data / Management /
Control
Packets can be data, management or control. Displays the
number of packets sent and received for each.
Multicast Displays the number of multicast frames.
Data Rate Displays the receive and transmit data rate in Mbps.
Receive Errors Displays the number of receive errors.
Discarded Frames Displays the number of receive discarded frames.
Duplicate Frames Displays the number of receive duplicate frames.
CRC Errors Displays the number of receive CRC errors.
Decrypt Errors Displays the number of receive description errors.
PHY Errors Displays the number of receive PHY errors.
DMA Errors Displays the number of receive DMA errors.
Transmit Errors Displays the number of transmit errors.
Discarded Frames Displays the number of transmit discarded frames.
Excessive Retries Displays the number of transmit excessive retries.
DMA Errors Displays the number of transmit DMA errors.
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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.
3.2 System Configuration –
Now you can start to configure the system. In System Properties page, you can configure the
following features:
z Device Name – Y ou may assign any name to the Access P oint. Unique names ar e helpf ul
especially if you are employing multiple access points on the same network. The device
name needs to be less than 32 characters. Click “Apply” to save the setting.
z Country/Region – Here you can set the AP to follow different country and region
regulation.
z Operation Mode - The default operation mode is Access Point, this connects your
wireless PCs and devices to a wired network. In most cases, no change is necessary. You
can switch oper ation mod e to Re peater, Bridge, or wireless client mode depending on your
application. In the repeater mode, one remote access point’s communication may be
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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. Type the MAC
address with format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx (x is the hexadecimal digit) and use “Add” and
“Delete” button to edit the address table. A Master Bridge Radio may accommodate
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remote MAC addresses. In the wireless client mode, the unit may bridge up to 16
Ethernet clients onto the wireless network.
up to
3.3 Administration –
In the administration page, you can modify “Administrator Name” and “Password”.
Changing the sign-on user name and password is as easy as typing the string you wish in the
column. Then, type the password into second column to confirm. Click “Apply” to finish the
procedure. Be sure to note the modification before apply all changes.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
3.4 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.
z IP Network Setting – Here you can choose to get IP from a DHCP server or specify IP
address manually . Choose to obtain an IP address from DHCP server if your environment or
ISP provide DHCP server. Otherwise, you can manually setup IP address.
z IP Address – The IP address need to be unique to your network. The default IP network
of 192.168.x.x. or 10.x.x.x may work well in your environment.
z IP Subnet Mask – The Subnet Mask may be the same as your Ethernet network. Please
consult a network specialist for recommendations.
z Default Gateway – If you have assigned a static IP address to the Access Point, then
enter the IP address of your network’s Gateway, such as a router, in the Gateway field. If
your network does not have a Gateway, then leave this field blank.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
3.5 Wireless Network -
The Wireless Network page allows you to set “SSID” / “Wireless Mode” and “Channel”. AP
supports not only standard 11b/g but also 108M SuperG. (Note: 108 M SuperG only works with
Inscape Data’s AirEther AB54 series and AirEther CB54 series equipment.)
z Wireless Network Name (SSID) - The SSID is the unique name shared among all
points in a wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless
network. It is case-sensitive and must not exceed 32 alphanumeric characters, which may
be any keyboard character. Make sure this setting is the same for all points in your wireless
network. For added security, you should change the SSID from the default name Generic,
to a unique name.
z Suppressed SSID – This option can hide the SSID not available from site survey tool.
Enable this function only if you do not want the Access Point to be found by others.
z Wireless Mode – Default setting is “2.4GHz 54Mbps (802.11g)”. This will support all
802.11b/g clients connected to the AP. You can choose “2.4GHz 11Mbps (802.11b)” in
wireless mode column if your environment only has 802.11b clients. The final selection
“2.4GHz 108Mbps (802.11 SuperG)” supports high speed 108Mbps SuperG function.
In order to support SuperG 108M transmission, all wireless clients will need to be AirEther
CB54 equipment.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
z 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. A
proper site survey is required for optimal channel and frequency planning. When possible,
use the 2.4 GHz non-overlapping channels of 1, 6, and 11.
3.6 Wireless Security -
The wireless security settings configure the security of your wireless network. There are three
wireless security mode options supported by the Access Point: WEP, WPA-PSK and WPA. (WPA
stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access, which is a security standard stronger than WEP encryption.
WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy.)
In Wireless Security page, you can configure the AP to work with No Security, WEP,
WPA-PSK and WPA security mode. Once you setup the AP to work in security mode, all
wireless stations will also need to have corresponding settings. System default setting is “No
Security”.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
WEP is a basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. T o use WEP, you will need to
select a default transmit key and a level of WEP encryption,
z Authentication type – Select “Open System” to communicate the key across the
network. Select “Share Key” to limit communication to only those devices that share the
same WEP settings.
z Shared keys input type – Select HEX or ASCII depends on your preference
z Key table – Yo u can input 4 different WEP encryption keys into the table and by choosing
the radio button to decide which one is valid now . The AP supports 64, 128 and 152bit key
length. The longer key we choose usually means the encryption is stronger.
After all changes are made, be sure to click on “Apply” to make sure all changes are saved into
system.
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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.
z PassPhrase - Enter a WPA Shared Key of 8-63 characters. The wireless clients should
have the same Shared Key in order to authenticate and associate to the AB54 series
equipment.
z Cipher Type - WPA gives you two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic
encryption keys. Select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES.
z Group Key Renewal period - Enter a number of seconds which instructs the Access
point how often it should change the encryption keys. Usually the security level will be
higher if you set the period shorter to change encryption keys more often. Default value is
1800 seconds, set 0 in Group Key Renewal period to disable key renewal.
Remember to click on “Apply” to make sure all changes are made before leaving this page.
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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.)
z RADIUS Server – Here enter the IP address of your RADIUS server.
z RADIUS Port – Port number for RADIUS service, default value is 1812
z RADIUS Secret – RADIUS secret is the key shared between Access Point and RADIUS
server.
z Cipher Type – WPA gives you two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic
encryption keys. Select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES.
z Group Key Update Interval – This column indicate how often should the Access Point
change the encryption key.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
3.7 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. In most cases, these settings do not
need to be changed.
z Data Rate – In data rate column you can select available bit rate supported in current
operation mode. The Default value of “best” means the system will automatically adjust
the connection speed dynamically according to your current link status.
z Transmit Power – You can reduce RF output power by selecting Half (-3dB) / Quarter
(-6dB) / Eighth (-9dB) / Minimum (-12dB). In most cases, changing transmit power may
decrease your wireless signal coverage, but increasing the transmit power may increase
noise level on neighboring wireless network. Use a power level that is in harmony with
your wireless environment.
z Beacon Interval (20-1000) – This value indicates the frequency interv al of the beacon.
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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).
z Data Beacon Rate (DTIM) (1-16384) – This value indicates how often the Access
Point sends out a Delivery Traffic Indication Message. Lower settings result in more
efficient networking, while preventing your PC from dropping into power-saving sleep
mode. Higher settings allow your PC to enter sleep mode, thus saving power, but interferes
with wireless transmissions.
z Fragment Length (256-2346) – This specifies the maximum size a data packet will be
before splitting and creating a new packet and should remain at its default setting of 2,346.
A smaller setting means smaller packets, which will create more packets for each
transmission. If you have decreased this value and experience high packet error rates, you
can increase it again, but it will likely decrease overall network performance. Only minor
modifications of this value are recommended.
z RTS/CTS Threshold (256-2346) – This setting determines how large a packet can be
before the Access Point coordinates transmission and reception to ensure efficient
communication. This value should remain at its default setting of 2,346. Should you
encounter inconsistent data flow, only minor modifications are recommended. Use this
option if hidden nodes are issues on your network.
z Short Preamble – Preambles are a sequence of binary bits that help the receivers
synchronize and ready for receipt of a data transmission. Some older wireless systems like
802.11b implementation use long preambles. If you are having difficulty connecting to an
older 802.11b device, try to enable long preamble.
z Protection Mode – Protection Mode should remain at default value (Auto) unless you are
having severe problems with your 11g Wireless LAN products not being able to transmit to
the Access Point in an environment with heavy 802.11b traffic. To enable this function
boosts the Access Point’s ability to catch all 11g Wireless transmissions but will severely
decrease performance.
z eXtended Range – The AB54 series utilizes Atheros eXtended Range technology. It is
fully compatible with IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance standards. In outdoor environments, XR
enables more economical point-to-point fixed wireless system and provides for greater
utility of public hot spots infrastructure with increased numbers of users able to connect
each access point.
z Distance (1-30) – Setup “Distance” according to the longest link distance between the
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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
or equal to the real distance. The range can be from
1KM to 15 KM
in
Super mode
.
1KM to 30KM
for
normal mode
and
Remember to click on “Apply” to make sure all changes are made before leaving this page.
3.8 SNMP
SNMP is a new feature introduced in firmware version 1.2.1. It is compatible with SNMP
v1/v2c and has MIB support for RFC1213, RFC2233
3.9 MAC Filtering
The Mac Filtering option allows increased security of passing or blocking MAC registered
wireless client onto the network. Mac address in the format of xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx is used.
Two options are available, allow only station in list or allow any station unless in list. The
introduction of firmware version 1.2.1 increased the MAC filter size from 30 to 1024.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
3.10 Backup/Restore Setting / Firmware Upgrade and Reboot -
In Management section, you can Backup/Restore Setting, Firmware Upgrade and
Reboot the system in following pages.
z Backup the current settings to a file – Click on the “Backup” button, system will
prompt you where to save the backup file. You can choose the directory to save your
configuration file.
z Restore settings from a backup file – Here you can restore the configuration file from
where you previous saved.
z Restore factory default setting – Be very carefully before restore system back to
default since you will lose all current settings immediately.
If you execute the function, the ip address will restore to 19 2.168.1.20 and subnet
mask to 255.255.255.0 .
z Firmware Upgrade – Enter the location of the firmware upgrade file in the file path field,
or click the “Browse” button to find the firmware upgrade file. Then click on the
“Upgrade” button, and follow the on-screen instructions. The whole firmware upgrade
process will take around 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.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
NOTE: Upgrading the firmware does not reset the equipment to factory default
configuration.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
z Reboot – Click on “Reboot” button to restart Access Point.
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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. In the “WDS Link
Settings”, check box and switch the “Mode” to “Enable”. Then you are able to fill in MAC
Address of each WDS link Settings.
4.1 Considerations before installation –
z Loop Prevention – Be careful to plan your WDS connections, prevent loops in your
wireless network topology. Once layer 2 bridge loops are present, the network traffic and
performance will become unstable.
z Performance – The system can support up to 8 remote bridge links. But all links and
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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.
z Latency – In the chain topology configuration, if the chain becomes very long, end-to-end
latency issue may come in play. We suggest the bridge link topology planning should not
exceed 2 to 3 hops in chain configuration.
4.2 WDS Security Settings–
WDS now only supports limited wireless security protocol and will have full dependency with
Access Point mode security settings. Here lists 4 different AP security settings below:
z No Security – Wireless Bridge traffic transmit without encryption
z WEP – Wireless Bridge traffic are encrypted by the same WEP key
z WPA-PSK – Wireless Bridge traffic are encrypted with WPA strength encryption
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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” mode and click “Apply” at System
Properties page.
After enabling the repeater mode, you can click on “Wireless Network” and choose “Site
Survey” to pick one of the SSIDs you would like to retransmit its signal. (Please be aware while
using the repeater mode, the throughput performance may be halved compared to the access
point mode. Because the repeater needs to communicate with original AP and also the clients
associate to the repeater at the same time.)
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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 to check current A
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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
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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” mode and click “Apply” at System Properties page. A reboot will
take place immediately to enter the AB54 series into Client Bridge Mode.
After the system reboot, the administrator GUI will display as shown below. Status > System
Summary page shows the AB54 is in the Wireless Client mode.
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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.
5.1 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. If
not, the connection column will show “N/A”. “N/A” reflects no Access Point
association.
z Network Type – Client mode (Infrastructure mode / Ad Hoc mode)
z SSID – SSID column displays current SSID assigned to the AB54
z BSSID – Displays the associated AP’s MAC add ress. N/A means no association.
z Wireless Mode – Displays the modulation mode (802.11b/g)
z Current Channel – This column indicates the radio channel currently in use.
z Security - Here indicates AP security settings in client mode. Should be either “Disabled”,
“WEP” or ‘WPA-PSK”.
z Link Quality – This row shows current link quality in 0 to 100 percentage scale.
z Signal Strength - This row shows current signal strength in 0 to 100 percentage scale.
z Activity – reflects the transmit and receive packets
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
5.2 Wireless Network -
z 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. Both Infrastructure and Ad-hoc can support up to 108M SuperG
transmission.
z Wireless Mode - Default setting is “2.4GHz 54Mbps (802.11g)”. This will support all
802.11b/g clients. You can choose “2.4GHz 11Mbps (802.11b)” in wireless mode
column if you r environment only have 802.11b clients. The final selection “2.4GHz
108Mbps (802.11 SuperG)” supports high speed 108Mbps SuperG function. In order to
support SuperG 108M transmission, all wireless clients will need to support Atheros
®
Super G solution.
z SSID - The SSID is the unique name shared among all points in a wireless network. The
SSID must be identical for all points in the wireless network. It is case-sensitive and must
not exceed 32 alphanumeric characters, which may be any keyboard character. You can
choose “Attach to any available SSID”; system will determine the Access Point
currently available and establish connection with that Access Point. If you already
understand your wireless environment well, you can type in the SSID in “Specify the
static SSID” manually.
At Wireless Network page you can find a “Site Survey” button as shown below. You can easily
click on the “Site Survey” to find all wireless networks available in your current environment.
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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.
After you determine which AP (SSID) to join, you can click on the AP’s BSSID column to initiate
wireless connection. The system will automatically associate to the SSID you specified after
reboot.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
5.3 Wireless Security –
WEP is the basic encryption method, which is not as secure as WPA. T o 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.
z Shared keys input type – Select HEX or ASCII keys
z Key table – Yo u can input 4 different WEP encryption keys into the table and by choosing
the radio button to decide which one is valid now . The AP supports 64, 128 and 152bit key
length. The longer key reflects higher encryption strength.
After all changes are made, be sure to click on “Apply” to make sure all changes are saved into
the system.
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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.
z PassPhrase Key - Enter a WPA Shared Key of 8-63 characters. The Shared K ey should be
the same key for all devices in the same wireless network.
z Cipher Type - WPA gives you two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic
encryption keys. Select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES.
Remember to click on “Apply” to make sure all changes are made before leaving this page.
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
5.4 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. Up to 16 Ethernet clients is support.
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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 d ata transfer rate of 11Mbps
and anoperating frequency of 2.4GHz.
802.11g - An IEEE wireless networking standard that spec ifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps,
an operating frequency of 2.4GHz, and backward compatibility with 802.11b devices.
Adapter - This is a device that adds network functionality to your PC.
Ad-hoc - A group of wireless devices communicating directly with each other (peer-to-pe er) without the
use of an access point.
Backbone - The part of a network that connects most of the system s and networks together, and
handles the most data.
Bandwidth - The transmission capacity of a given device or network.
Beacon Interval - Data transmitted on your wireless network that keeps the network synchronized.
Bit - A binary digit.
Browser - An application program that provides a way to lo ok at and interact with all the information on
the World Wide Web.
CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) - A method of data transfer that is used
to prevent data collisions.
CTS (Clear To Send) - A signal sent by a wireless device, signifying that it is ready to receive data.
Database - A collection of data that is organized so that its contents can easily be accessed, managed,
and updated.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - A networking protocol that allows administrators to
assign temporary IP addresses to network computers by "leasing" an IP address to a user for a limited
amount of time, instead of assigning permanent IP addresses.
Download - To receive a file transmitted over a network.
DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum) - Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern
resulting in a lower probability of information being lost in transit.
DTIM (Delivery Traffic Indication Message) - A message included in data packets that can increase
wireless efficiency.
Encryption - Encoding data transmitted in a network.
Ethernet - IEEE standard network protocol that specifies how d ata is placed on and retrieved from a
common transmission medium.
Firmware - The programming code that runs a networking device.
Fragmentation -Breaking a packet into smaller units when transmitting over a network medium that
cannot support the original size of the packet.
Gateway - A device that interconnects networks with different, incompatible communications protoc ols.
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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 netwo r k.
IP Address - The address used to identify a computer or device on a network.
ISM band - Radio bandwidth utilized in wireless transmissions.
ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that provides access to the Internet.
LAN - The computers and networking products that make up your local network.
MAC (Media Access Control) Address - The unique address that a manufacturer assigns to each
networking device.
Network - A series of computers or devices connected for the purpose of data sharing, st orage, and/or
transmission between users.
Node - A network junction or connection point, typically a computer or work station.
Packet - A unit of data sent over a network.
Passphrase - Used much like a password, a passphrase simplifies the WEP encryption process by
automatically generating the WEP encryption keys for Linksys products.
Port - The connection point on a computer or networking device used for plugging in cables or adapters.
Roaming - The ability to take a wireless device from one access point's range to another without losing
the connection.
Router - A networking device that connects multiple networks together.
RTS (Request To Send) - A networking method of coordinating large packets through the RTS Threshold
setting.
Server - Any computer whose function in a network is to provide user access to files, printing,
communications, and other services.
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) - A widely used network monitoring and control
protocol.
Software - Instructions for the computer. A series of instructi ons that performs a particular task is called
a "program".
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) - Market segment of professionals who work at home or in small
offices.
Spread Spectrum - Wideband radio frequency technique used for more reliable and secure data
transmission.
SSID (Service Set IDentifier) - Your wireless network's name.
Static IP Address - A fixed address assigned to a computer or device that is connected to a network.
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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 larg e number
of devices to share a limited number of ports. 2. A device for making, breaking, or changing the
connections in an electrical circuit.
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) - A network protocol for transmitting data that requires
acknowledgement from the recipient of data sent.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) - A set of instructions PCs use to
communicate over a network.
TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) - a wireless encryption protocol that provides dynamic
encryption keys for each packet transmitted.
Topology - The physical layout of a network.
Upgrade - To replace existing software or firmware with a newer version.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) - An optional cryptographic confidentiality algorithm specified
by IEEE 802.11 that may be used to provide data confidentiality that is subjectively equivalent to the
confidentiality of a wired local area network (LAN) medium that does not employ cryptographic
techniques to enhance privacy confidentiality.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) - a wireless security protocol using TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Prot ocol)
encryption, which can be used in conjunction with a RADIUS server.
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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. Bandwidth
Ethernet
Wireless
Full Duplex: 200Mbps (for 100BASETX), 20Mbps (for 10BaseT)
Half Duplex: 100Mbps (for 100BaseTX), 10Mbps (for 10BaseT)
1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 36, 48, 54, 108Mbps Auto Fall-Back
Wireless Radio Data Rate
1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 36, 48, 54 and 108Mbp s
Signal Frequency
2.4Ghz to 2.5Ghz
OFDM (BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM) 802.11g mode
DSSS (DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK) 802.11b mode
Encryption
64bit / 128bit and 152bit WEP data encryption
Channel
America/FCC：2.412~2.462 GHz (11 channels)
Europe CE/ETSI：2.412~2.472 GHz (13 channels)
Japan ：2.412~2.484 GHz (14 channels)
Wireless Setting − Operation Mode – Access Point / Repeater / Wireless Bridge
France： 2.457~2.472 GHz(4 channels)
Spain: 2.457~2.462 GHz (2 channels)
RF Power Output: 21dBm at 11Mbps / 17dBm at 54Mbps (typical)
Receiver Sensitivity: 54Mbps OFDM, 10% PER, -76dBm
11Mbps CCK, 8% PER, -88dBm
Point to Point and Point to Multi-Point Mode / Wireless Client
− SSID: airether
− Channel Selection: 1
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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
− Fragment Length (256-2346): 2346
− RTS Threshold (256-2346): 2346
− Short Preamble: Enable
− Protection Mode: Auto / Enable / Disable
− eXtended Range
− Distance setting for long range deployment
Wireless Security WEP setting
− Authentication type: Open System / Shared Key
− Shared keys input type: HEX / ASCII
− Shared keys length: (64-bit, 128-bit, 152-bit)
− Default WEP Key to use (1-4)
WPA-PSK setting
− PassPhrase
− WPA Cipher Type (Auto, TKIP, AES)
− Group Key Update Interval: 300
WPA setting
− Radius Server IP Address
− Radius Port: 1812
− WPA Cipher Type (Auto, TKIP, AES)
− Shared Key
− Group Key Update Interval: 300
Software / Firmware − Site Survey
− DHCP Client
− Wireless access control by MAC address (deny or accept)
− WPA Support (WPA personal and enterprise )
− Web-based configuration via popular browser (MS IE,
Netscape…)
Forwarding Mode Store and Forward
− Windows “Locator” program to help find IP in DHCP client mode
− Firmware upgrade and configuration backup via Web
− Reset to default by WebUI
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AirEther™ AB54 2.4GHz Access Point/Wireless Bridge/Wireless Repeater
9 Appendix C: AB54 Series Package contents
A
IRETHER™ AB54/AB54E PACKAGE CONTENTS
Item Name PCS
1. AirEther™ AB54 or AB54E Outdoor Wireless Client Bridge Unit 1
2. Ethernet Inline Power Injector (PoE), 12V DC 1
3. Waterproof Connector 1
4. AC-DC 12V, 1Amp, Adapter with Wall-Plug Power Cord 1
5. Installation CD with Locator Utility & User Manual CD 1
6. Mast Mounting Kit (U Bolt) 1
7. Warranty Information Sheet 1
8. Quick Installation Guide 1
AIRETHER™ AB54E PRO HIGH POWER WIRELESS BRIDGE
PACKAGE CONTENTS
Item Name PCS
1. AirEther™ AB54E Pro High Power Wireless Outdoor Base S tation Unit 1
2. Ethernet Inline Power Injector (PoE), 48V, 1Amp,with Power Cord 1
3. Weatherproof connector kit 1
4. Installation CD with Locator Utility & User Manual CD 1
5. Mast/wall mount kit 2
6. Warranty Information Sheet 1
7. Quick Installation Guide 1
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