Aironet UC3500 User manual

Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc. • 3875 Embassy Parkway
Akron, Ohio 44333-8357
www.aironet.com
User’s Guide
Clients for Ethernet or Serial
Products supported:
UC3500, MC3500
DOC-710-004236-B0

AironetWireless Communications, Inc.
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any means, elec-
tronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the written permission of Aironet.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.Aironet makes
no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this manual and
specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or
fitness for any particular purpose.
© 1999 Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
LM3500
TM
, AP3500
TM
, PC3500
TM
, MC3500
TM
, UC3500
TM
, ISA3500
TM
, PCI3500
TM
,
BR100
TM
, BR500
TM
, BRE100
TM
, BRE500
TM
, and Aironet
TM
are trademarks of
Aironet Wireless Communications, Inc.
Other trademarks used are properties of their respective owners.
Printed in USA
DOC-710-004236-B0

Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................ 1-1
Purpose of the Manual .................................. 1-2
Serial Client ................................................... 1-3
Ethernet Client .............................................. 1-6
Universal Client ...................................... 1-6
Multi-Client .............................................. 1-7
Safety Information ......................................... 1-8
Dipole Antenna ....................................... 1-9
High Gain Antennas ............................... 1-9
Other Devices in the Wireless
Infrastructure .......................................... 1-9
Before You Start .......................................... 1-10
Terminology ................................................ 1-11
Installation .......................................................... 2-1
Installing the Antenna .................................... 2-1
Installing the Console Port Cable .................. 2-2
Installing the Ethernet Connection ................ 2-3
Attaching the AC/DC Power Pack
and Powering On .......................................... 2-4
Viewing the Indicator Displays ...................... 2-5
Top Panel Indicators ............................... 2-5
Back Panel Indicators (Ethernet Only) ... 2-8
Using the Mounting Bracket .......................... 2-9
Configuration ..................................................... 3-1
Accessing the Console System ..................... 3-1
Configuring the Aironet Wireless Client ........ 3-4
SSID Identifier (SSID) ............................. 3-4
Verifying Association .............................. 3-4
Configuring the Port ................................ 3-5
Disconnecting the Terminal ........................... 3-7
Ethernet Client ........................................ 3-7
Serial Client ............................................ 3-7

Appendix A .........................................................A-1
DC Power Jack Connector ............................A-1
Appendix B .........................................................B-1
Serial Port Pinout ..........................................B-1
Ethernet RJ-45 Port Pinout ...........................B-2
Sample Application Cable Pinout ..................B-3
Appendix C..........................................................C-1
Manufacturers Federal Communication
Commission Declaration of Conformity
Statement.......................................................C-1
Department of Communications–Canada
European Telecommunications Standards
Institute Statement of Compliance
Information to User.........................................C-4
Declaration of Conformity...............................C-5
Appendix D .........................................................D-1
Technical Support .........................................D-1
Technical Reference Manual ..................D-1
Communications .....................................D-1
Web Site .................................................D-1

Introduction
1-1
Introduction
The Wireless Client from Aironet is another member of the
company’s broad array of wireless LAN solutions.Aironet
has pioneered the design and manufacture of wireless LAN
products that use advanced spread spectrum radio technol-
ogies for reliable data communications.
By using RF technology to rapidly send and receive data
over the airwaves, Aironet’s wireless LAN products enable
portable and mobile users to access all the resources of a
wired infrastructure without sacrificing roaming and mobility
capabilities.These wireless users enjoy network connectiv-
ity with the “real-time” speed and response that users have
come to expect from wired LANs.The mobility and portabil-
ity of Aironet’s wireless LAN products has spurred imple-
mentation among many vertical markets – including retail,
health care, manufacturing, and distribution.
The Aironet Wireless Client system is compliant with IEEE
802.11 standards for wireless LAN. Compliance with this
standard provides assurance of technical excellence as well
as capability of interoperability with products from other
wireless vendors.
All Aironet products include the company’s patented soft-
ware architecture that enables users to roam seamlessly
between Access Points without losing infrastructure con-
nections.This exclusive software also provides load balanc-
ing, easy network expansion, and advanced power
management for battery-powered mobile devices.Aironet’s
array of wireless LAN solutions (including Access Points,
Bridges, Adapters, PC Cards, Universal Clients, antennas,
and infrastructure management software) enables you to
experience infrastructure performance while enjoying the
mobility and portability of wireless communications.

Introduction
1-2
Purpose of the Manual
The purpose of this User’s Guide is to allow you to easily
install and configure your Aironet Wireless Client.
For detailed technical and configuration procedures, see
the Technical Reference Manual document number
710-004237.
The Aironet Wireless Client is a small, stand-alone unit that
provides a wireless infrastructure connection for a device
that is unable to use a standard wireless LAN adapter. A
Wireless Client-equipped peripheral device is able to estab-
lish radio connections with any Aironet Access Point (Ether-
net and/or Token Ring models) or devices equipped with
Aironet wireless products installed throughout a facility. The
Multi-Client can connect up to four end nodes to an Ether-
net infrastructure.
For greater installation and application flexibility, Aironet
Wireless Clients are offered with a choice of radio frequen-
cies and interfaces.The Aironet Wireless Client offers radio
communications to 2.4 GHz frequency hopping compliant
with IEEE 802.11 specifications.
There are two interface options:
• Serial Universal Client
• Ethernet Universal Client or Multi-Client

Introduction
1-3
Serial Client
The Serial Client has a standard EIA-232-E port for use
with a wide range of devices that support standard serial
input/output. Many serial devices such as point-of-sale reg-
isters, weigh stations, and printers cannot support wireless
LAN cards, however they can be connected using a Wire-
less Client serial connection.The Wireless Client’s Serial
Port connects directly to the device’s Serial Port.This allows
the device to communicate with the infrastructure or
another computer over a wireless radio link.The Serial Cli-
ent appears as a serial node in the infrastructure. It routes
packets from the wired LAN to remote workstations, such
as PCs and handhelds, on the radio network.
The Serial Client can provide wireless data communication
between:
• A Wired LAN and fixed, portable, or mobile devices that
each contain a radio.
• A single client on a remote serial LAN and other nodes
in a wired LAN.
• A Single EIA-232-E serial device connected to a Wire-
less Client Serial Port and another serial device or host
computer connected to another Wireless Client.

Introduction
1-4
There are two common applications for the Serial Client:
• Replacing a serial cable with a wireless link.The cable
between a serial device and its host can be eliminated.
NOTE: For this application, two Wireless Clients are
required.
Serial
Universal
Client
Serial
Universal
Client
Terminal connected
via EIA-232-E
EIA-232-E Device

Introduction
1-5
• Connecting a serial device to a LAN using an Access
Point.
File Server
Wired LAN
Access Point
Station with
Radio Card End Node
Serial
Universal
Client
Serial
Universal
Client
End Node

Introduction
1-6
Ethernet Client
The Universal Client and the Multi-Client can connect
nodes to an Ethernet infrastructure.
Universal Client
The Ethernet Client connects to a standard Ethernet
port using a 10BaseT/RJ-45 (twisted pair) connector.
The Ethernet Client supports ad hoc networking or
Ethernet connectivity to a wired LAN using Access
Points.The Ethernet Client can be used in a variety of
infrastructure system configurations.The figure below
shows Ethernet Universal Clients connected to a file
server over a wired LAN through the Access Point.
File Server
Wired LAN
Access Point
Station with
Radio Card End Node
Ethernet
Universal
Client
Ethernet
Universal
Client
End Node