3Com 3CRWE920G73 User manual

Secure and reliable
wireless connections
that extend the
network without
costly cabling or
leased-line charges
DATA SHEET
OVERVIEW
The 3Com®54 Mbps Wireless LAN Building-to-Building Bridge family
provides IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g Wi-Fi connections and bridged
links across building complexes, enterprise campuses and metropolitan
areas. Wireless outdoor bridges can connect intra-building LANs which
are up to 10 miles (17 kilometers) apart, while 802.11g indoor bridges
enable network connections between adjacent buildings and out to
open areas such as atriums and storage yards. In addition, the 3Com 11a
54 Mbps Wireless LAN Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g
Access Point combines the functions of a bridge and a full-featured
wireless access point in one durable weatherproof unit.
By installing 3Com building-to-building bridges, enterprises can avoid
the expense of extending their cabling plant between buildings or
using expensive leased lines with recurring monthly service fees.
Rugged design and multiple security features help ensure continuous,
reliable and secure operation. Several antenna options are available for
the indoor bridges and the outdoor bridge/access point.
KEY BENEFITS
NETWORK CONNECTIONS EVERYWHERE
3Com building-to-building bridges let users connect to the enterprise
network at full 54 Mbps or 108 Mbps Wi-Fi speeds wherever they
happen to be working—even outdoors or in a remote facility across
town. Extending the network beyond the reach of Ethernet cabling
gives users more freedom and helps them be more productive. The
bridges support both point-to-multipoint and point-to-point operation
to meet a variety of configuration requirements.
3Com®54 Mbps Wireless LA
Building-to-Building Bridge Family
from left: 3Com 11a 54 Mbps Wireless LAN Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and
11b/g Access Point, 11g 54 Mbps Wireless LAN Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge

3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
2
KEY BENEFITS
(CONTIN ED)
BRIDGE AND ACCESS POINT COMBINATION
The 3Com 11a Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g Access
Point provides point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge functionality
while simultaneously using another band for access point operation,
providing connectivity for mobile users. The access point, repeater, or
bridge functionality can be independently configured on both radios,
making the product extremely flexible for a variety of applications. The
bridge function supports data rates up to 108 Mbps between buildings
or to offsite locations. The access point function provides connectivity
at up to 108 Mbps for as many as 128 users.
With access point and bridging functionality on the same unit, mobile
users can link to the network and the traffic can be backhauled over a
wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge link to another
unit attached to the wired network up to 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles)
away. The unit includes an embedded 17 dBi high-gain antenna for
bridging applications. Optional external omni-directional and directional
antennas are available separately.
WIRELESS COST ADVANTAGES
Using wireless bridges to extend the network saves the high cost of
installing cable between buildings. Enterprises can also avoid the
expense of leasing T1/E1 lines, which can cost up to US$1,000 per
month or more. And 3Com building-to-building bridges provide 10
to 20 times the bandwidth of T1/E1 lines.
SEC RE COMM NICATIONS
To ensure privacy and protect valuable information, 3Com building-to-
building bridges are equipped with a full complement of enterprise-class
security features. The bridges provide the latest Wi-Fi Protected Access 2
(WPA2) with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) wireless encryption,
WPA with PSK authentication, and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
encryption. They also support virtual private network (VPN) and virtual
LANs (VLANs) pass-through so that data access can be restricted to
specific groups or individuals. IEEE 802.1X (EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-
TTLS and PEAP) is supported for user or MAC authentication, and an
embedded supplicant is included for authentication to the local LAN.
D RABLE AND RELIABLE
The outdoor bridges are designed to withstand harsh conditions, as the
rugged housing guards against vibration, water and shock, and even
includes internal lightning protection. An internal heater is included to
help keep it operational in extreme cold environments. Dynamic Rate
Shifting helps keep network connections available.
POWER FLEXIBILITY
To simplify installation where AC power outlets may not be readily
available, Power over Ethernet (PoE) is supported on all bridges. The
outdoor bridges require a custom PoE inserter (included with the unit) to
support the higher power required for the embedded heater. The included
power inserter also provides additional lightning protection, which is
critical when mounting any communications equipment outdoors.
CONVENIENT INSTALLATION AND MANAGEMENT
Setup wizard software makes installation and configuration easy. Once
setup is complete, the building-to-building bridges can be remotely
managed using a standard Web browser or SNMP management tools.

3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
3
ECONOMICAL, HIGH-SPEED CONNECTIVITY
Cost-effective wireless Rapid return on investment in as little as two to three months by eliminating
building-to-building links fiber cable installation or recurring T1/E1 line costs—wireless building-to-
building bridge deployments cost about one tenth what cabling would cost,
with no right-of-way or trenching issues.
High-speed 54 Mbps data rate Much higher throughput than 1.5/2.0 Mbps T1/E1 lines.
(108 Mbps for bridge/access point)†
OPEN AND FLEXIBLE
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED a/b/g Ensures access point interoperability with other Wi-Fi certified products.
Range up to 10 miles (17 km)‡etwork can be extended to buildings across an entire metro area;
longer distances are possible with external antenna options.
Antenna choices 4 dBi to 20 dBi panel or omni-directional antennas are available to provide
maximum RF coverage for a wide range of applications.
Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint Access point, repeater, and bridge functionality can be independently
wireless bridging, and mobile user configured on both radios, making the unit extremely flexible for a variety
connectivity§of applications.
Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint Flexibility in configuring building-to-building networks; point-to-multipoint
topology supports up to six bridge connections .
SEC RE AND RELIABLE
WPA/TKIP, WPA2/AES§, Toughest industry-standard algorithms help keep wireless transmissions
64-/128-/152-bit WEP, 802.1X private.
authentication and encryption
VP and VLA pass-throughˇSupports secure tunnels and segmented traffic to protect data and provide
workgroup containment.
Weatherproof, fire-resistant enclosure Meets stringent outdoor environmental and safety specifications.
with integrated antenna¥
E /EC 60529 IPX4 rated Meets UL and CA /CSA standards for waterproofing.
Dynamic Rate Shifting Matches the best connection speed in response to physical and traffic
conditions so wireless connections stay reliable.
INSTALLATION AND MANAGEMENT CONVENIENCE
Power over Ethernet PoE support eliminates the need to locate the device near existing AC power
outlets; a power injector is supplied with all building-to-building bridges.
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) Detects radar signals that must be protected against IEEE 802.11a
interference; automatically switches the 802.11a operating frequency to
one that is not interfering with the radar systems.*
Web browser, S MP and Bridges can be managed from anywhere; LA s may be seamlessly
3Com etwork Director support integrated with enterprise management tools.
Setup wizard Simplifies setup procedures.
FEAT RES AND BENEFITS
†Data throughput can vary depending upon several factors, including network traffic load, distance between bridges, antennas,
line-of-sight conditions, and local and remote electromagnetic emissions (EMI) and Freznel zone obstructions.
‡Maximum range of 10 miles requires 3Com wireless building-to-building bridges at both ends.
§Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g Access Point, 3CRWEASYA73, only.
ˇ Not available with Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g Access Point, 3CRWEASYA73.
¥Not available with Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge, 3CRWE920G73.
* Using IEEE 802.11a for bridging is not recommended in countries requiring radar detection, as link speed and quality may be adversely
affected due to Dynamic Frequency Selection.

3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
4
RegionalOfficeA
Headquarters
3ComWireless
LANBridge
RegionalOfficeB
Regional Office C
RegionalOfficeA
Headquarters
3Com Wireless
LANBridge
Point-to-Point Bridging
3Com WLAN bridges can be used to join sites toget er
over wireless links t at are fast, reliable, and secure.
Point-to-Multipoint Bridging
A single 3Com WLAN bridge can connect to multiple remote
facilities, providing a cost effective way to connect buildings
across campus or across town.
3COM 11G 54 MBPS WIRELESS LAN O TDOOR B ILDING-TO-B ILDING
BRIDGE: SAMPLE DEPLOYMENTS

3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
5
Headquarters
3ComWireless
LANBridge
withOmni Antenna
PDA/
VoWiFiPhone
PDA/
VoWiFiPhone
Wireless
Laptop
Wireless
Laptop
Headquarters
3Com Wireless
LANBridge
3ComWireless
LANBridge
with Omni Antenna
PDA /
VoWiFi Phone
Wireless
Laptop
PDA /
VoWiFi Phone
Wireless
Laptop
Outdoor Wireless Access
Te 3Com Outdoor WLAN Bridge / AP can be mounted anyw ere wireless access
is required. T roug out an Enterprise, college, or ospital campus, or mounted
on t e side of a building, t e unit provides up to 108 Mbps connectivity for mobile
users on 802.11a and 802.11g, and up to 11 Mbps connectivity on 802.11b.
Outdoor Wireless Bridging and Access
T e 3Com Outdoor WLAN Bridge / AP can provide access point services on one
radio, w ile providing wireless back aul on t e ot er radio. Access points can be
distributed t roug out a campus, s opping mall, park, or apartment complexes,
w erever wireless coverage is required, and can be mounted mounted anyw ere
power is available. Network/Internet connectivity is t en provided t roug a
wireless back aul link to anot er unit attac ed to t e corporate network/Internet.

All information in this section is
relevant to all members of the 3Com
Building-to-Building Bridge family,
unless otherwise stated.
MEDIA INTERFACES
Indoor Bridge (3CRWE920G73)
RJ-45, 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX,
802.11b/g
Outdoor Bridge/Access Point
(3CRWEASYA73)
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX, 802.11a/b/g
WIRELESS DATA RATES
3CRWE920G73
802.11a: 802.11b: 11, 5.5, 2, 1 Mbps
802.11g: 54, 48, 35, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6 Mbps
3CRWEASYA73
802.11a/g: 6/9/12/18/24/36/48/54 Mbps;
up to 108 Mbps (turbo and super
modes)*
802.11b: 1/2/5.5/11 Mbps
FREQ ENCY BAND
3CRWE920G73
802.11b/g: 2.4–2.4835 G z
3CRWEASYA73
802.11a: 5 G z*;802.11b/g: 2.4 G z
SERS S PPORTED§
Up to 64 simultaneous wireless users
per access point radio for a total of 128
OPERATING CHANNELS
Use of this product is only authorized
for the channels approved by each
country. To conform to FCC and other
country restrictions, this product may
be limited in the channels that are
available.
MOD LATION TECHNIQ E
802.11a: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
802.11b/g: CCK, BPSK, QPSK, OFDM
MEDIA ACCESS PROTOCOL
CSMA/CA
TRANSMIT POWER SETTINGS
Based on the regulatory domain set by
the system administrator, not to
exceed the following:
Indoor Bridge (3CRWE920G73)
17 dBm (U.S., Canada, Mexico)
20 dBm EIRP max. depending on
antenna and cable configuration
(Europe, U.K., Ireland, Latin America)
Outdoor Bridge/Access Point
(3CRWEASYA73)
802.11g
6 to 54 Mbps: 18 dBm (2412 and 2472
G z ); 20 dBm (2417 - 2467 G z )
802.11b
1 to 11 Mbps: 15 dBm (2412, 2472 and
2417 - 2467 G z )
802.11a*
6 to 48 Mbps: 17 dBm (5.150 - 5.250,
5.250 - 5.350, 5.500 - 5.700 , and 5.725
- 5.825 G z )
54 Mbps: 12 dBm (5.150 - 5.250 G z ),
17 dBm (5.250 - 5.35 and 5.500 - 5.700
G z ), 16 dBm (5.725 - 5.825 G z )
RECEIVE SENSITIVITY
3CRWE920G73
802.11a
6 Mbps: -87 dBm
9 Mbps: -86 dBm
12 Mbps: -84 dBm
18 Mbps: -82 dBm
24 Mbps: -79 dBm
36 Mbps: -75 dBm
48 Mbps: -72 dBm
54 Mbps: -71 dBm
802.11b
1 Mbps: -91 dBm
2 Mbps: -89 dBm
5.5 Mbps: -88 dBm
11 Mbps: -86 dBm
802.11g
6 Mbps: -85 dBm
9 Mbps: -83 dBm
12 Mbps: -81 dBm
18 Mbps: -79 dBm
24 Mbps: -77 dBm
36 Mbps: -74 dBm
48 Mbps: -72 dBm
54 Mbps: -70 dBm
802.11a/g
1 Mbps: -95 dBm
2 Mbps: -92 dBm
5.5 Mbps: -91 dBm
6 Mbps: -89 dBm
9 Mbps: -88 dBm
11 Mbps: -88 dBm
12 Mbps: -86 dBm
18 Mbps: -84 dBm
24 Mbps: -81 dBm
36 Mbps: -77 dBm
48 Mbps: -73 dBm
54 Mbps: -72 dBm
3CRWEASYA73
802.11a
6 Mbps: -88 dBm
9 Mbps: -87 dBm
12 Mbps: -86 dBm
18 Mbps: -84 dBm
24 Mbps: -81 dBm
36 Mbps: -75 dBm
48 Mbps: -72 dBm
54 Mbps: -71 dBm
802.11b
1 Mbps: -93 dBm
2 Mbps: -90 dBm
5.5 Mbps: -90 dBm
11 Mbps: -87 dBm
802.11g
6 Mbps: -88 dBm
9 Mbps: -87 dBm
12 Mbps: -86 dBm
18 Mbps: -85 dBm
24 Mbps: -81 dBm
36 Mbps:
-77 dBm (5.150 - 5.350 G z )
-78 dBm (5.500 - 5.825 G z )
48 Mbps: -73 dBm
54 Mbps:
-69 dBm (5.150 - 5.250 G z )
-70 dBm (5.250 - 5.700 G z )
-67 dBm (5.725 - 5.825 G z )
SPECIFICATIONS
3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
6
* Using IEEE 802.11a for bridging is not recommended in countries requiring radar detection, as link speed and quality may be adversely
affected due to Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS).
§Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g Access Point, 3CRWEASYA73, only.

3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
7
STANDARDS CONFORMANCE
IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11a§,
802.3, 802.1X§, WPA2§, WPA, WEP,
AES, EAP, FTP, TTP, IAPP, NTP,
SNMP, SNTP, DFS§*
ANTENNA
Indoor Bridge (3CRWE920G73):
Antenna must be ordered at time
of bridge purchase
Outdoor Bridge/Access Point
(3CRWEASYA73): Integrated 17 dBi
antenna; 18° horizontal beamwidth,
18° vertical beamwidth; unit supports
1 external 802.11a and 2 external
802.11g antennas with “N” connectors.
SEC RITY
3CRWE920G73
64-/128-bit WEP, WPA/TKIP encryption
WPA-PSK (AES) authentication
Local MAC address filtering
VPN and VLAN pass-through
3CRWEASYA73
WPA/TKIP, WPA2/AES
40/64-, 104/128-, 128/152-bit WEP
Local MAC authentication
RADIUS MAC authentication
Local MAC address filtering
RADIUS client support
Access Control Lists (ACLs)
SSL/SS
IEEE 802.1X authentication access
control with key rotation
IEEE 802.1X mutual authentication
access control between two bridged
access points
NETWORKING PROTOCOLS
NetBEUI, IPX, TCP/IP, Bridging
Protocol, Spanning Tree Protocol,
SNMP, D CP
PERFORMANCE
3CRWE920G73
Dynamic rate shifting
Packet bursting
Clear channel connect
3CRWEASYA73
Dynamic rate shifting
Packet bursting
Clear channel connect
802.11a/g turbo and Super G modes
MANAGEMENT
3CRWE920G73
CLI via Telnet or SSN
TTP or TTPS web browser interface
SNMP v1 and 3
3Com Network Director
Remote software upgrade via TTP
3CRWEASYA73
CLI via console port or Telnet / SS
TTP or TTPS web browser interface
SNMP v1 and 3
3Com Wireless Infrastructure Device
Manager (Widman)
LEDS
3CRWE920G73
Power, LAN activity, radio activity
3CRWEASYA73
Power, reset, Ethernet link, Ethernet
activity, radio activity, bridge link
RSSI
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
3CRWE920G73
Length: 17.5 cm (6.9 in)
Width: 12.1 cm (4.76 in)
eight: 3.6 cm (1.4 in)
Weight: 0.26 kg (0.575 lb)
3CRWEASYA73
Length: 19.5 cm (7.6 in)
Width: 19 cm (7.4 in)
eight: 7.4 cm (2.8 in)
Weight: 5.3 kg (11.6 lb)
REG LATORY/AGENCY APPROVALS
Sa ety
EN 60950 2000, IEC 60950 Edition 3,
CSA 22.2 60950 3rd edition, UL 60950
3rd edition, UL 2043, IEC 60529,
NOM-109 SCFI, AS/NZ 3260
Radio/ Electromagnetic
47 CFR Part 15, Section 15.247, 15.207,
15.407; FCC 03-287 Parts 2 & 15, FCC
Bulletin OEC-65; Canada RSS-102
Issues 1 & 5; EN 300-328, EN 301 983,
EN 301-489
Emissions/Immunity
ICES-003 Class B, FCC Part 15 Class B,
ETSI EN 301 489-17, EN 55022: 1994+
A1: 1995+A2: 1997 Class A, EN
61000-3-2:2000, EN 61000-3-3:
1995+A1:2001
SPECIFICATIONS
(CONTIN ED)
* Using IEEE 802.11a for bridging is not recommended in countries requiring radar
detection, as link speed and quality may be adversely affected due to Dynamic
Frequency Selection (DFS).
§Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge and 11b/g Access Point, 3CRWEASYA73, only.

Visit www.3com.com for more information about 3Com secure converged network solutions.
3Com Corporation, Corporate eadquarters, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064
3Com is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol COMS.
Copyright © 2008 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks, and Express is a service mark, of 3Com Corporation.
All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies. Wireless speed and performance depend on number of users, physical
conditions, and other electronic devices in the area. While every effort is made to ensure the information given is accurate, 3Com does not accept liability for any
errors or mistakes which may arise. All specifications are subject to change without notice. 401004-003 01/08
PROD CT DESCRIPTION 3COM SK
3Com 11g 54 Mbps Wireless LA Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge 3CRWE920G73
3Com 11a 54 Mbps Wireless LA Outdoor Building-to-Building Bridge 3CRWEASYA73
and 11b/g Access Point
Indoor Bridge (3CRWE920G73) Accessories
3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna 3CWE591
3Com 3/4 dBi Dual-Band Ceiling Mount Antenna 3CWE592
3Com 18/20 dBi Dual-Band Panel Antenna 3CWE596
3Com 4/6 dBi Dual-Band Hallway Antenna 3CWE597
3Com 8/10 dBi Dual Band Panel Antenna 3CWE598
3Com Ultra-Low Loss Antenna Cable 6-Foot 3CWE580
3Com Ultra-Low Loss Antenna Cable 20-Foot 3CWE581
3Com Ultra-Low Loss Antenna Cable 50-Foot 3CWE582
3Com RSMA to SMA 6” Antenna Cable 3CWE586
Outdoor Bridge/Access Point (3CRWEASYA73) Accessories
3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna 3CWE591
3Com 18/20 dBi Dual-Band Panel Antenna 3CWE596
3Com 8/10 dBi Dual-Band Panel Antenna 3CWE598
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss -to- Antenna Cable 6-Foot 3CWE810
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss -to- Antenna Cable 20-Foot 3CWE811
3Com Ultra-Low-Loss -to- Antenna Cable 50-Foot 3CWE812
3Com Global Services
3Com Wireless LA Site Survey, etwork Health Check,
Installation Services and ExpressSM Maintenance www.3com.com/services_quote
3Com University Courses www.3com.com/3comu
ORDERING
INFORMATION
3COM® 54 MBPS WIRELESS LA BUILDI G-TO-BUILDI G BRIDGE FAMILY
SPECIFICATIONS
(CONTIN ED)
ENVIRONMENTAL RANGES
3CRWE920G73
Operating temperature: -33 to 50°C
(-27 to 122° F)
Wind¥: operational loading up to
153 kph (95 mph); wind survival
to 201 kph (125 mph)
Vibration class 4M3
Transportation environment: ETS 300
019-2-2 Class 2.3 public transportation
Storage environment shock: IEC 68-2-29
Drop: IEC 68-2-32
Lightning¥: unit should withstand a
+4KV of Input surge, 1.2 µsec rise/fall
time, 50 µsec duration, every 10
seconds, for both RF and IF ports
3CRWEASYA73
Operating temperature: -40 to 65°C
(-40 to 149° F)
Wind: operational loading up to
246 kph (100 mph); wind survival
to 241 kph (150 mph)
Vibration class 4M3
Transportation environment: ETS 300
019-2-2 Class 2.3 Public Transportation
Storage environment shock: IEC 68-2-29
Drop: IEC 68-2-32
Lightning: unit should withstand a
+4KV of input surge, 1.2 µsec rise/fall
time, 50 µsec duration, every 10 sec.,
for both RF and IF ports
PACKAGE CONTENTS
3CRWE920G73
11g Wireless 54 Mbps Wireless LAN
Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge,
power adapter for PoE injector, power
cable(s) for PoE injector, mounting
bracket, CD-ROM with user guide and
configuration software, warranty
booklet
3CRWEASYA73
11a Wireless 54 Mbps Wireless LAN
Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge
and 11b/g Access Point (with internal
lightning protection), power injector
and 30 meter (98 ft) power cable, PoE
inserter, wall and pole mounting
brackets, grounding wire, weather-
proof Ethernet and console cables,
CD-ROM with Setup Wizard software
and user’s manual, warranty booklet
WARRANTY AND OTHER SERVICES
One Year Limited ardware Warranty.
Limited Software Warranty for 90
days. 90 days of telephone technical
support.
Refer to www.3com.com/warranty for
details.