Cisco Systems OL-8335-02 Cisco 1000 Series Lightweight Access Point LEDs, Antenna Sectorization

Chapter 7 Controlling Lightweight Access Points

Lightweight Access Point Overview

Note that the wireless LAN operator can disable either one of each pair of the Cisco 1000 series lightweight access point internal antennas to produce a 180-degree sectorized coverage area. This feature can be useful, for instance, for outside-wall mounting locations where coverage is only desired inside the building, and in a back-to-back arrangement that can allow twice as many clients in a given area.

Refer to Appendix E, “Antenna Patterns for 1000 Series Access Points” for antenna patterns.

External Antenna Connectors

The AP1020 and AP1030 Cisco 1000 series lightweight access points have male reverse-polarity TNC jacks for installations requiring factory-supplied external directional or high-gain antennas. The external antenna option can create more flexibility in Cisco 1000 series lightweight access point antenna placement.

Note The AP1010 Cisco 1000 Series lightweight access points are designed to be used exclusively with the internal high-gain antennas, and have no jacks for external antennas.

Note that the 802.11b/g 2.4 GHz Left external antenna connector is associated with the internal Side A antenna, and that the 2.4 GHz Right external antenna connector is associated with the internal Side B antenna. When you have 802.11b/g diversity enabled, the Left external or Side A internal antennas are diverse from the Right external or Side B internal antennas.

Also note that the 802.11a 5 GHz Left external antenna connector is separate from the internal antennas, and adds diversity to the 802.11a transmit and receive path. Note that no external 802.11a antennas are certified in FCC-regulated areas, but external 802.11a antennas may be certified for use in other countries.

Antenna Sectorization

Note that the Cisco WLAN Solution supports Antenna Sectorization, which can be used to increase the number of clients and/or client throughput a given air space. Installers can mount two Cisco 1000 series lightweight access points back-to-back, and the Network operator can disable the second antenna in both access points to create a 360-degree coverage area with two sectors.

Installers can also mount Cisco 1000 series lightweight access points on the periphery of a building and disable the Side B internal antennas. This configuration can be used to supply service to the building interior without extending coverage to the parking lot, at the cost of eliminating the internal antenna diversity function.

Refer to Appendix E: Internal Antenna Patterns for information on the radiation patterns of internal antennas in 1000 series lightweight access points.

Cisco 1000 Series Lightweight Access Point LEDs

Each Cisco 1000 series lightweight access point is equipped with four LEDs across the top of the case. They can be viewed from nearly any angle. The LEDs indicate power and fault status, 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) Cisco Radio activity, and 5 GHz (802.11a) Cisco Radio activity.

This LED display allows the wireless LAN manager to quickly monitor the Cisco 1000 series lightweight access point status. For more detailed troubleshooting instructions, refer to the Error Messages and Access Point LEDs appendix.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Configuration Guide

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