3Com 3CRWEASY96A manual Alignment, Polarization, Restrictions on Antenna USE

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minimize damage from lightning strikes. A lightning arrestor, properly grounded and installed at each building in the topology, will protect networking equipment in the building, as well as the people working there, from lightning-induced surges that travel on Ethernet cables.

ALIGNMENT

Position bridges so that they are aimed at each other wherever possible. While maintaining a direct line of sight between antennas helps to ensure a strong signal, it is not strictly necessary, nor is it always possible. Conditions such as long distances, mountainous regions, and architectural barriers could make a direct line of sight nearly impossible to achieve.

In a campus setting, where buildings are short distances apart, and especially in a point-to-point configuration, align each unit to point at the antenna with which it will communicate. If you place two units at different heights, tilt them up or down toward each other for optimal signal strength.

POLARIZATION

Polarization is a physical phenomenon of radio signal propagation. In general, any two antennas that are to communicate with each other must be set for the same horizontal or vertical polarization. If polarization on both antennas does not match—a situation called cross-polarization—the link will either work poorly or not at all. Follow these polarization guidelines:

Vertical polarization is preferred for point-to-multipoint configuration.

For point-to-multipoint configurations, the omnidirectional antenna connected to the access point should be vertically aligned in relation to the ground.

Unidirectional antennas that link with omnidirectional antennas should always be oriented for vertical polarization.

RESTRICTIONS ON ANTENNA USE

The following restrictions apply to the use of the bridge’s 18 dBi antenna:

FCC regulations require that in the United States, use of channels 12 and 13 in conjunction with an 18 dBi antenna is allowed only at very reduced power, which the 3Com unit sets automatically.

The highest allowable power level is set automatically when the country selection is made from the pulldown menu in the configuration tool.

To work properly with 18 dBi antennas, bridges must be separated by at least 61 Meters (200 Feet).

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Contents Wireless LAN Outdoor Bridge Solution United States Government Legend Contents Troubleshooting Regulatory Compliance Information Index Page Basic Network Topologies POINT-TO-POINTPOINT-TO-MULTIPOINT Basic Operating Modes Installation Requirements Power RequirementsInstallation Guidelines Administration RequirementsProper Grounding Operating Systems Windows XPAlignment PolarizationRestrictions on Antenna USE Safety Information Mounting the Bridge to a Mast Connecting the Bridge to the LAN Using the Power SupplyUsing a POWER-OVER-ETHERNET LAN Port Installing Software Utilities Establishing Wireless Association Using the 3COM Wireless Device Manager Launching a Wireless Device ConfigurationClick Configure Button DescriptionUsing the PRE-IP Configuration Wizard Using the Rssi MonitorSaving Configuration Changes Changing System PropertiesSetting IP Network Properties Property Description Default ValueSetting UP Protocol and Port Filtering UDP/IP TCP/IPSetting Wireless Network Properties Is using Setting Advanced Performance Properties Cable Power dBmAntenna 4dBiPage Setting UP AN AD HOC Network Optimizing AN AD HOC Installation Setting UP AN Access Point Infrastructure Network Configure the access point before configuring the bridgesChanging Security Settings BIT Shared KEY WI-FI No Security Open SystemResetting the Bridge Setting UP the Wireless Network LoginBIT Shared KEY BIT Dynamic Security LinkRestoring a Bridge to Factory Defaults Upgrading the SystemChanging the Administration Password Backing UP a ConfigurationRestoring a Configuration Viewing the Client ListResetting Statistics Listings Viewing Connection StatusViewing the System Summary Interoperating with THIRD-PARTY EquipmentDiagnosing Problems Symptom SolutionsBridge set for 128-bit Shared Key Disconnecting the Bridge Uninstalling Software and DocumentationUpgrading Bridge Firmware Online Technical Services Web ServicesWorld Wide Web Site 3Com KnowledgebaseSupport from Your Network Supplier Support from 3COMCountry Telephone Number Asia, Pacific Rim Returning Products for Repair Country Telephone NumberEurope, Middle East and Africa Latin AmericaCountry Contact Information Country Contact Information 3Com Wireless LAN Outdoor Bridge Solution Regulatory Compliance InformationIndustry Canada IC Emissions Compliance Statement Index