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AP170 Hardware User Guide

AP170 Hardware User Guide

Read about and view specifications for the AP170 in this topic. Install the AP170 using this topic.

If your access point is configured for the World Regulatory Domain, it is important to set the country code to the country in which the AP will be deployed to meet regulatory requirements and for optimal wireless operation. To do this, follow these steps:

Note

The country code selection is for World models only and is not available to FCC, CAN, and other country-specific models. Per FCC regulations, all Wi-Fi products marketed in the United States must be set to U.S. channels only.

For Devices Running HiveManager

1. Power on the AP and allow it to find and connect to ExtremeCloud IQ. Once the AP is connected it appears in the table of devices on the Manage > Devices page.
2. Select the check box next to the AP, and then choose Assign Country Code from the Actions drop-down list. In the dialog box, select the appropriate country from the drop-down list, and then click Save.
3. Upload your changes to the device.

For Devices Running HiveManager Classic

1. Power on the AP and allow it to find and connect to HM Classic. Once the AP is connected, it appears in the table of unconfigured devices on the Manage > Devices page and is categorized as New under the Management Status table header.

1. Select the check box for the AP, and then choose Update > Advanced > Update Country.
2. On the Update Country Code page, choose the appropriate country code from the drop-down list, and then click Upload.

The AP170 is a multi-channel mesh wireless access point with a watertight chassis that can be deployed in virtually any outdoor setting, including extreme environments.

With four antennas and the ability to provide service concurrently on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, the AP170 supports 802.11n and legacy 802.11a, b, and g clients. The device provides 2x2:2 MIMO and a single 10/100/1000 Ethernet port through which it is powered using PoE (power over Ethernet) that follows the IEEE 802.3at standard.

The Extreme AP170 is specifically designed for outdoor high-bandwidth wireless deployments in harsh environments. The AP170 supports a variety of authentication and security protocols, including Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ WPA™ and WPA2™, 802.11i, WEP, 802.1X, PSK, Extreme Networks’s patented PPSK, and AES:CCMP, TKIP, and RC4 (WEP only) encryption.

For more information about Extreme Networks APs in general, see Introduction to Extreme APs

For information about connecting your AP to the network, best-practices, and troubleshooting, see Onboarding New Devices Troubleshooting Tips

For compliance information for these devices, see http://www.aerohive.com/support/tech-docs-and-online-training.

Safety Guidelines

The information in this section applies to the AP170 devices.

The following safety icons are used in these guidelines to identify the type of precaution:

	This icon indicates a general caution. Failure to comply with a caution notification can result in damage to equipment.
	This icon indicates an electrical caution. Failure to comply with an electrical notification can result in serious injury or death, and extensive damage to equipment.
	This icon indicates a laser caution. Failure to comply with a laser caution can result in serious injury.
The following table lists the safety precautions you should follow when installing your AP170 device.
	Extreme Networks devices must be installed by a professional installer who is certified to install these types of devices and to ensure that they are properly grounded and meets applicable local and national electrical codes.
	Do not install the device in an environment where the operating ambient temperature might exceed the recommended ranges.
	If you install the AP170 in wet, windy location, make sure to install the Ethernet cable housing for a complete waterproof connection.
	To protect the AP170 from lightning, do not place it at the highest point of a building or structure.
	Use only attachments and accessories specified by Extreme Networks.
	During operation, the surfaces of the AP170 can become hot. Use caution when handling.
	Electrical equipment generates heat. Ambient air temperature may not be adequate to cool equipment to acceptable operating temperatures without adequate circulation. Be sure that the room where you install your device has adequate air circulation.
	Changes or modifications made to this device that are not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
	Do not connect or disconnect antennas or cables from the AP170 during periods of lightning activity.
	Make sure that the AP170 is connected to a suitably installed ground conductor. Contact the appropriate electrical inspection authority if you are uncertain that suitable grounding is available.
	Do not locate the AP170 enclosure near overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can come into contact with such circuits. During installation, exercise extreme care not to come into contact with these circuits, which can cause serious injury or death. For proper installation and grounding of the product, refer to national and local electrical codes: NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 70, National Electrical Code Article 810 (U.S.); Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, CSA 22.1 and Section 54 (Canada); and if local or national electrical codes are not available, refer to IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 364, Part 1 through 7 (other countries).
	Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage equipment and impair electrical circuitry. ESD damage occurs when electronic components are improperly handled and can result in complete or intermittent failures. Be sure to follow ESD-prevention procedures when handling electronic components.
	Disconnect all power by turning off the power switch and unplugging the power cord before installing or removing a device, or working near power supplies.
	Never assume that power is disconnected from a circuit; always check the circuit.
	Explosion risk - There is a risk of an explosion if the lithium battery (for the CMOS clock) is replaced with an incompatible battery type. Battery replacement should be performed only by a trained electrician or technician who is able to understand all installation and device specifications.
	Lithium battery disposal - Regulations and laws pertaining to the recycling and disposal of lithium ion batteries vary from country to country as well as by state and local governments. European governments have more strict regulations on the disposal of rechargeable batteries than the USA and Canada. Check the laws and regulations where you live before disposing of lithium batteries.
	To comply with RF (radio frequency) exposure limits, do not place the AP170 within 9.05" (23 cm) of people or animals when using omnidirectional antennas. If you are using a point-to-point mesh directional antenna, do not place the AP170 within 26" (65 cm) of people.

Install the AP170

This section explains how to mount an AP170 to a pole or flat surface in virtually any outdoor setting, and connect it to ExtremeCloud IQ over the network.

To install your AP170, you will need the following accessories (ordered separately) and tools:

• (2) 2.4 GHz antennas (AH-ACC-170-ANT-2G)
• (2) 5 GHz antennas (AH-ACC-170-ANT-5G)
• A switch that provides PoE power, or a PoE provisioning device
• (1) shielded cat5 Ethernet cable rated for outdoor use; length not to exceed 328 feet (100 m)
• Crosshead screwdriver for 1/4” (6 mm) x 3/8” (10 mm) screws
• Drive sockets (nut drivers) for 3/8” (10 mm) nuts
• Flat blade screwdriver to tighten the hose clamp

Shipping Carton Contents

The AP170 shipping carton includes the items shown in this illustration.

When you mount the AP170 you can adjust the orientation to vertical for optimum radio transmission. For example, you can mount the AP170 on a non-penetrating roof stand or to a Winegard bracket, often used for mounting satellite dishes. The mounting bracket accommodates poles with a 1" to 3.5" (2.5 cm to 8.9 cm) diameter.

For unobstructed RF coverage, mount the AP170 in a relatively open area. At a minimum, mount it on a pole, mast, or flat surface. These options are described below. The following illustration shows an AP170 mounted on a vertical pole with the major devices and accessories called out.

Note

For best performance, install APs at least 100' (30.5 m) apart.

Vertical Pole Mount

The steps in the following illustrations explain how to mount the AP170 on a vertical pole.

1. Attach the bracket to the AP as shown in the illustration.

1. Attach the AP to the pole, as shown in the illustration. Make sure you ground the unit as described in "Grounding the AP170".

Horizontal Pole Mount

The following steps and illustrations explain how to mount the AP170 on a horizontal pole.

1. Attach the bracket to the AP as shown in the illustration:

1. Attach the AP to the pole, as shown in the illustration. Make sure you ground the unit as described in "Grounding the AP170".

Note

When attaching the AP170 to a horizontal pole, such as the arm of a street light, make sure that the face of the device is perpendicular to the Earth for optimal RF coverage, as shown here:

Flat Surface Mount

The following steps explain how to mount the AP170 on a flat surface. You will need the plane bracket and the four sleeve-bolt assemblies.

1. Install the mounting bolts in the surface, as shown in the illustration.

Note

If you are installing the device on a concrete wall, you can use 2" (5 cm) threaded screws and plastic wall anchors (not supplied) to mount the device.

1. Attach the AP and bracket assembly to the wall, as shown.

Grounding the AP170

When you have completed the mounting steps, you must ground the device. Connect one end of the grounding cable to the grounding lug on the chassis and the other end to an appropriate ground.

Attaching External Antennas

Once you have grounded the AP170, you are ready to connect the antennas.

Note

It is extremely important to properly ground your device to complete your installation.

The omnidirectional antennas are available from Extreme Networks (SKUs AH-ACC-170-ANT-2G, AH-ACC-170-ANT-5G). These antennas fit the N-type antenna connectors on the top and bottom of the AP170. The two connectors on the bottom of the unit are for the 2.4 GHz antennas, and the two on the top of the unit are for the 5 GHz antennas (device and antennas are labeled).

To connect the antennas, screw them onto the antenna connectors by hand, turning them clockwise until tight.

Note

You do not need to use a tool to tighten the antennas or apply self-amalgamating PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) tape about the threads of the connectors to create a waterproof seal.

Attaching the Ethernet Cable Waterproof Housing

The following steps explain how to ensure a weatherproof seal for the Ethernet cable using the waterproof housing assembly shown in the figure.

1. Disassemble the waterproof housing. There are three pieces: a threaded nut, a slotted cable grip, and a threaded housing.
2. Slide the threaded nut over the Ethernet cable.
3. Slip the slotted cable grip onto the Ethernet cable in front of the threaded nut.
4. Slide the threaded housing onto the cable and over the cable grip (the grip fits inside the housing).
5. Screw the threaded nut onto the threaded housing.
6. Plug the Ethernet cable into the connector. Screw the assembled housing onto the threaded connector cover.
7. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to a PoE injector or Ethernet protector.

PoE and Ethernet Protection

In most cases, you can connect an Ethernet cable directly from the AP170 to a PoE-enabled switch or to a PoE injector (AH-ACC-INJ-30W-XX) inside the building. In some cases, you might need to install an outdoor waterproof PoE injector, available separately (AH-ACC-OINJ-30W).

The AP170 and outdoor PoE injectors have built-in surge protection to guard against lightning strikes. However, the network where the Ethernet cable enters the building requires protection as well. To prevent the indoor network from power surges caused by lightning, place an Ethernet protector (AH-ACC-1G-ETH-PROT) inline between the AP and the rest of the network as shown here.

1. Attach the Ethernet protection device to the building at the entry point of the shielded Ethernet cable from the AP170.
2. Make the following connections, as shown in the illustration below:

Hardware Components

You can see the hardware components for both models in the following illustration, and read about them in the descriptions that follow.

Component Descriptions

AP170 Chassis

The durable, weatherproof AP170 chassis is designed for deployment in extreme conditions. Features include six grounding lugs, four antenna connectors, and a waterproof 10/100/1000 Ethernet connector. The device ships with a complete mounting kit.

Ethernet Port

The PoE 10/100/1000Base-T/TX Ethernet port accepts standard Cat5, Cat5e, or Cat6 Ethernet cable and is powered from 802.3at-compatible PSE (power sourcing equipment). PSE can be embedded in a switch or router, or can be a separate device that injects power into the Ethernet line en route to the AP.

With 802.3at, the 1/2 and 3/6 wire pairs connect to DC source 1, and 4/5 and 7/8 pairs to DC source 2 in PSE. Although the exact polarity depends on the PSE design, the AP170 Ethernet port can support all options.

Antennas

The AP170 supports four external antennas; two 2.4 GHz band (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) with a 5 dBi gain, and two 5 GHz band (IEEE 802.11a/n) with a 7 dBi gain. The antennas are omnidirectional, providing fairly equal coverage in all directions in a toroidal (donut-shaped) pattern around each antenna. For greater coverage on a horizontal plane, it is best to orient the device so that the antennas are vertical.

The two 2.4 GHz antennas link to a 2.4 GHz radio for 802.11b/g/n, and the two 5 GHz antennas link to the a 5 GHz radio for 802.11a/n. The two radios can operate concurrently.

The AP170 has four antenna connectors. Two connectors on the top panel support 5 GHz antennas, and two connectors on the bottom panel support 2.4 GHz antennas. You must install an antenna in every connector.

Although hive members automatically adjust their signal strength according to their environments, you can manually resize the area of coverage by increasing or decreasing the signal strength. To resize the coverage area, enter the interface { wifi0 | wifi1 } radio power <number> command, where <number> can be from 1 to 20 and represents a value in dBm.

Power Connector

Power the device through the ETH0 port from PSE (power sourcing equipment) that is compatible with the 802.3af and 802.3at standards. Because there is no on/off switch, these devices automatically power on when you connect them to power.

Accessing the Internal Reset Switch

Although not recommended, you can remove the cover the AP170 to access the internal reset switch if necessary. The following steps describe this process.

1. Remove the six screws that secure the top of the AP170 and remove the top.

Note

Be very careful not to disturb the black rubber and woven metal gaskets when removing or replacing the device top. These gaskets are essential for weatherproofing the device.

1. Push the tip of a paper clip or similar small tool against the outside edge of the reset switch to depress the switch mechanism. Hold this position for a minimum of 10 seconds to reset the device.
2. Replace the top, being careful not to disturb the weatherproofing gaskets.
3. Tighten the six screws to secure the top to the chassis.