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Cisco Aironet 1520 Series Outdoor Mesh Access Point Hardware Installation Guide
OL-12632-03
Chapter1 Overview
Network Deployment Examples
–
2-hour access point operation using two radios at 77oF (25oC)— with PoE output port on
•banding strap tool (BAND IT) (AIR-BAND-INST-TL=)—used to install the metal straps used in
pole mounting.
Network Deployment Examples
The access point is a wireless device designed for wireless client access and point-to-point bridging,
point-to-multipoint bridging, and point-to-multipoint mesh wireless connectivity. The access point
provides 5-GHz backhaul capability to link with another access point to reach a wired network
connection or to provide repeater operations for other access points.
The access point plays one of two primary radio roles: a root access point (hereafter called a RAP) or the
access points that relay their wireless connections to the controller are called mesh access points
(MAPs). When the access point has a wired Ethernet, fiber-optic, or cable connection to the controller
(through a switch), the radio role is called a RAP. A RAP is a parent node to any bridging or mesh
network. A controller can support one or more RAPs, each one parenting the same or different wireless
networks. There can be more than one RAP for the same mesh network for redundancy. Both RAP and
MAP access points can support wireless clients using the 2.4-GHz radio.
Note The access point must be configured as a RAP in the controller, whereas the MAP role is a default
setting.
When the access point does not have a wired Ethernet, fiber-optic, or cable connection to the controller,
the radio role is called a MAP. The MAPs have a wireless connection (through the backhaul interface)
to other MAPs and finally to a RAP with an Ethernet or cable connection through a switch to the
controller. MAPs can also have a wired Ethernet connection to a local LAN and serve as a bridge
endpoint for that LAN (using a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge connection).

Wireless Backhaul

The access point supports wireless backhaul capability using the 5-GHz radio to bridge to another access
point to reach a wired network connection to a controller (see Figure1-5). The access point connected
to the wired network is considered a RAP in this configuration. The remote access point is considered a
MAP and transfers wireless client traffic to the RAP for transfer to the wired network. Lightweight
access point protocol (LWAPP) control traffic is also transferred over this bridged link.
Figure 1-5 Access Point Backhaul Example
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(5.8 Ghz) (2.4 Ghz)