Wireless Access Point User Guide HotPoint 4500 Indoor Access Point HotPoint 4600 Outdoor Access Point
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. Caution! Risk of electric shock! Explanation of Graphic Symbols 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.
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.
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.
Indoor Manual Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Firetide HotPoint Wireless Access Point Family.............................................................................................................................................................. 1 HotPoint Access Point Features............................
vi Wireless Access Point User Guide
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.
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.
Data The HotPort mesh network also provides direct connectivity for computers and servers via a cable to the Ethernet ports on each node. 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.
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.
Indoor Unit - Unpacking and Installation Unpacking and setup are straightforward. The HotPoint 4500 requires AC power, but can be mounted almost anywhere indoors. Brackets are available to facilitate wall or ceiling mounting. You will need a cat-5 cable to connect the AP to its companion Firetide mesh node. This cable can be any length permissible for 10/100 Mbps Ethernet. Your AP includes a power supply and three different AC line cords, as shown in Figure 1. Use the one appropriate for your region.
Outdoor Unit - Unpacking and Installation Unpacking and setup are straightforward. Included with your HotPoint 4600 are: • Mounting bracket and hardware • 2.4 GHz omnidirectional antennas (2) • Weatherproof Ethernet cable, 10-pin to 10-pin, PoE-compatible. This cable will power your HotPoint when connected to port 2 of a Firetide 3200 Series or 3600 Series outdoor node. You may wish to configure your HotPoint 4600 before installation.
Next, attach the plate, using two more nuts, as shown in Figure 6. Adjust the spacer nuts to insure that the U-bolts do not protrude out of the fold in the plate. The exact adjustment will depend on pole diameter. Figure 6. Mounting Plate Figure 7. AP Bracket Mounting Tabs Figure 8. AP Mount - Finished When the plate is mounted and aligned, tighten all the nuts with a 7/16inch wrench.
Understanding APs, AP Groups, VAPs, & VAP Groups Before you begin installation, you should understand how Firetide’s HotView Network Management System views HotPoint Access Points. An AP is a physical box - a computer and a radio - which can implement up to 16 “virtual” access points. Virtual access points are the things that wireless clients actually see and connect to. Each HotPoint node offers a range of network as well as radio configuration options.
Figure 11 shows a three-AP, three-VAP configuration. You can have up to 16 VAPs per physical AP. You can have as many AP Groups as needed, and there is no limit to the number of APs in any one AP Group. Figure 11. Large AP Matrix Table 2 gives a summary of all of the major commands and options available on the HotPoint APs, organized by logical group. Table 2.
Software Installation If you are installing a new Firetide-based wireless network, begin by installing the HotPort Mesh nodes, and the HotView or HotView Pro mesh management software, before installing any HotPoint APs. Refer to the documentation supplied with those products for details. If you are adding HotPoint APs to an existing network, begin by upgrading the existing mesh nodes to version 3.4.X.X or later. Use your existing version of HotView to upgrade all mesh nodes, then use HotView 3.4.X.
Software Configuration The Firetide HotPoint access point family requires HotView or HotView Pro software, version 3.4.X.X or newer, on your computer. In addition, the Firetide HotPort nodes to which the access points will be connected must be upgraded to firmware version M3.4.X.X. Access Points should have firmware version A3.4.X.X installed. After you’ve physically installed your access point, launch HotView (or HotView Pro).
AP Node Commands These commands are accessed by right-clicking the AP icon. Begin by assigning an IP address to each node, and logging in to the node. You must then set the Country Code. Finally, you should rename each node. Command Function Rename AP Assigns the management screen name to the physical node. Note: this is NOT the SSID of the node; that is specified under the VAP Group Configuration command.
Physical AP Radio Settings Each physical AP has certain radio settings which are common to all virtual APs on that node. These are set using the AP Configuration command, as shown at right. Auto Channel allows the AP to find the clearest channel, or you may set the channel manually. The Wireless Mode can be set to b, b/g, g-only, or 108g Static Turbo. The raw Transmit Data Rate of the wireless link can also be specified. Transmitter power and beacon can be controlled. Antenna Diversity is supported.
VAP Group Configuration VAP Groups are the collections of Virtual Access Points that form the uservisible ‘logical layer’ overlaid on the physical collection of Access Points. You must create at least one VAP Group, with at least one VAP in it. Do this by selecting VAP Group Configuration command from the Access Point menu. You will see the Manage VAP Groups screen, as shown on the left. Click on the New VAP Group button. The New VAP Group screen appears, as shown on the right. Enter a VAP Group Name.
VAP Settings As shown in Figure 11, VAP Groups logically intersect with APs to form VAPs. Certain settings are specific to each VAP. These settings include the IP address of the VAP, the DHCP Server settings, the DNS settings, and the optional NAT capability. To modify these settings, right-click on the AP icon and select the VAP Configuration command. This command will reveal a second drop-down menu which lists all of the available VAPs. Select the VAP you wish to configure.
VAP Group Settings Basic VAP Group Settings The SSID defaults to the VAP Group name, but this can be changed if desired. You must also enable the VAP Group by checking the box. DTIM is the Delivery Traffic Indication Message. It indicates which client stations, currently sleeping in low-power mode, have data buffered on the access point awaiting pick-up.
VAP Group Security Settings A wide range of wireless security options are supported. Select the one you prefer. Authentication choices include: • 802.
MAC Address Access Control If desired, VAP Group access can be limited to an explicit group of MAC addresses, or denied.
AP Group Commands HotPoint Access Points can be grouped for management purposes. Each group shares a set of administrative accounts and passwords. The AP Group Configuration command, under the Access Point menu, opens a dialog box, in which you can create new groups and edit existing groups. The Configure button lets you re-define the user ID and password for all APs in a group. There is an account name for read-write privileges, and a second, ‘guest’ account with read-only privileges.
Understand Advanced Settings Intracell Blocking Intracell blocking allows you to prevent users of a given VAP from seeing each other. When enabled, all users can use the AP to reach the network, but no user can access other computers on that VAP. Note Intercell blocking is accomplished with VLANs. User Data Rate In order to prevent one user from consuming excess bandwidth on the backbone, you can limit the data rate for each user. You can also limit the aggregate rate for each VAP Group.
Advanced Features Country Code Assignment Firetide HotPoint APs support several advanced features. These include: • NAT • Firewall • VPN Firetide HotPoint APs are designed to be compliant with all applicable regulations for their country of operation. In order for this to work, the AP needs to know which country it is in. You MUST set the Country code in order for the HotPoint AP to work correctly.
Appendix A - HotPoint Features and Specifications Wireless • IEEE 802.11b/g • Frequency ranges 2.400—2.484 GHz • Transmit power up to 400 mW • 802.11h (Automatic Transmit Power Control) • Manual Transmit Power Control • 802.11d (Auto Channel Select) • Receive sensitivity measured at N connector: • 2.4 GHz, DSSS • 1 Mbps: -96 dBm • 11 Mbps: -90 dBm • 2.
Performance • Up to 54 Mbps • Up to 64 concurrent users simultaneously per HotPoint • Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP) enabled per 802.11f • Fast handoff enabled, per 802.
Appendix B - Regulatory Notices Modifications Any modifications made to this device that are not approved by Firetide, Inc. may void the authority granted to the user by the FCC to operate this equipment. USA FCC Class A Notice This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference. • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Canadian Compliance Statement • This Class B Digital apparatus meets all the requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numerique de la classe B respecte les exigences du Reglement sur le material broilleur du Canada. This device complies with Class B Limits of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and 2.
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