B&B Electronics AirborneM2M APX-Q5 Series User manual

AirborneM2M™
APXx-Q5xxx Family User Manual
Revision: 1.1
June 2013
File Name: APXx_Family_User_Manual_R1.1_2213

B&B Electronics, Inc. AirborneM2M™ User Manual
21/9/2014
International Headquarters
B&B Electronics Mfg. Co. Inc.
707 Dayton Road
Ottawa, IL 61350 USA
Phone [phone] -- General Fax [phone]
Website: www.bb-elec.com
European Headquarters
B&B Electronics Ltd.
Westlink Commercial Park
Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland
Phone [phone] -- Fax [phone]
Website: www.bb-europe.com

AirborneM2M™ Users Guide B&B Electronics, Inc.
1/9/2014 3
Contents
1.0 Conventions ................................................................................................................................... 7
1.1 Terminology ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.2 Notes............................................................................................................................................ 7
1.3 Caution......................................................................................................................................... 7
1.4 File Format.................................................................................................................................. 7
2.0 Product Description....................................................................................................................... 8
3.0 Features.......................................................................................................................................... 9
4.0 Device Types ................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Serial...........................................................................................................................................10
4.2 Ethernet ......................................................................................................................................10
4.3 Flexport™ ...................................................................................................................................10
4.4 Industrial Packaging..................................................................................................................10
5.0 Pinout and Connectors................................................................................................................12
5.1 Serial Ports.................................................................................................................................12
5.2 Ethernet Port..............................................................................................................................13
5.3 Connector Definition .................................................................................................................14
5.4 Default Switch (Factory Reset)................................................................................................14
5.5 Indicator LEDs ...........................................................................................................................15
6.0 Electrical& RF Specification........................................................................................................16
6.1 AC Electrical Characteristics –Transmitter...........................................................................18
6.2 Performance/Range..................................................................................................................18
7.0 Antenna..........................................................................................................................................19
7.1 Antenna Selection.....................................................................................................................19
7.2 Antenna Location ......................................................................................................................19
7.3 Performance...............................................................................................................................20
To learn more about Link Margin, visit B&B Electronics’ online technical library..........................20
8.0 Mechanical Outline –Industrial Class .......................................................................................21
9.0 Getting Started..............................................................................................................................22
9.1 Unpack the AirborneM2M™ Device.......................................................................................22
10.0 Setup (APXx-Q542x) ...................................................................................................................23
11.0 Using the Web Interface..............................................................................................................28
11.1 Navigation Bar ...........................................................................................................................29
11.2 Feature Links.............................................................................................................................30
11.3 Navigating the Website.............................................................................................................30
11.4 Updating a Field ........................................................................................................................31
11.5 Uploading Certificates...............................................................................................................31
11.6 Upload Configuration Files.......................................................................................................32
11.7 Updating Firmware....................................................................................................................34
12.0 Express Setup Configuration Page............................................................................................37
13.0 Configuring the Wireless Interface.............................................................................................41

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14.0 Configuring the Security Settings...............................................................................................42
14.1 Configuring for WEP Security..................................................................................................42
14.2 Configuring for WPA-PSK Security ........................................................................................42
14.3 Configuring for WPA2-PSK Security......................................................................................43
15.0 Configuring the Serial Device Server ........................................................................................45
15.1 Configuring Serial Port for Access on Telnet Port................................................................45
15.2 Configuring Serial Port 1 for Access on Tunnel Port ...........................................................46
15.3 Configuring Serial Port 2 for Access on Tunnel Port ...........................................................47
15.4 Configuring Serial Port 1 as TCP Client.................................................................................48
15.5 Configuring Serial Port 2 as TCP Client.................................................................................50
16.0 Web Page Overview ....................................................................................................................52
Module Status........................................................................................................................ 53
Ethernet Status...................................................................................................................... 54
Radio Statistics...................................................................................................................... 55
Ethernet Statistics.................................................................................................................. 56
Display Associated Clients .................................................................................................... 57
Wireless DHCP Clients.......................................................................................................... 58
Express Setup ....................................................................................................................... 59
WLAN Settings ...................................................................................................................... 60
WLAN Security Settings ........................................................................................................ 61
Network Settings.................................................................................................................... 62
Serial Port Settings................................................................................................................ 63
Serial Port 2 Settings............................................................................................................. 64
Connection Settings............................................................................................................... 65
Ethernet Settings................................................................................................................... 67
Event Settings........................................................................................................................ 68
Port Forwarding Settings....................................................................................................... 69
IP Filtering Settings................................................................................................................ 70
Advanced Settings................................................................................................................. 71
Upload Configuration File...................................................................................................... 75
List Configuration File............................................................................................................ 76
Delete Configuration File....................................................................................................... 77
Active Configuration............................................................................................................... 78
User Configuration................................................................................................................. 79
OEM Configuration................................................................................................................ 80
Factory Configuration ............................................................................................................ 81
WPA Configuration................................................................................................................ 82
List Certificates ...................................................................................................................... 83
Upload Certificate .................................................................................................................. 84
Delete Certificate ................................................................................................................... 85
Network (Home Page)........................................................................................................... 86
Discover Airborne Modules ................................................................................................... 87
Scan for Access Points.......................................................................................................... 88
Maintenance (Home Page).................................................................................................... 89
Update Module Firmware ...................................................................................................... 90
Reset Factory Defaults.......................................................................................................... 91
Restart Module ...................................................................................................................... 92
Set System Time ................................................................................................................... 93
Blink the POST LED.............................................................................................................. 94
Stop Blinking the POST LED................................................................................................. 95
Upload Script Files................................................................................................................. 96

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List Script Files ...................................................................................................................... 97
Display Script Files................................................................................................................ 98
Delete Script File ................................................................................................................... 99
Run Script File..................................................................................................................... 100
17.0 Certification & Regulatory Approvals.......................................................................................101
17.1 FCC Statement........................................................................................................................101
17.2 FCC RF Exposure Statement................................................................................................102
17.3 Information for Canadian Users (IC Notice)........................................................................102
17.4 FCC/IC Modular Approval......................................................................................................103
17.5 Regulatory Test Mode Support .............................................................................................104
18.0 Physical & Environmental Approvals.......................................................................................105

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Figures
Figure 1 - Industrial AirborneM2M™ Device ..........................................................................................11
Figure 2- DE-9 (DB-9) Connector Pin-out...............................................................................................12
Figure 3 - Ethernet Jack Pinout................................................................................................................13
Figure 4 - Website Login............................................................................................................................28
Figure 5 - Default Home Page..................................................................................................................29
Figure 6- Website Navigation Bar ............................................................................................................29
Figure 7- Feature Links..............................................................................................................................30
Figure 8 - Airborne Web Page..................................................................................................................30
Figure 9 - Upload Certificate Web Page..................................................................................................31
Figure 10 - Upload Configuration Web Page..........................................................................................33
Figure 11 - Firmware Update Page..........................................................................................................34
Figure 12 - Firmware Update in Progress...............................................................................................35
Figure 13 - Firmware Update Complete..................................................................................................35
Figure 14 - Express Setup Page ..............................................................................................................37
Tables
Table 1–Serial Port Pin Definition ............................................................................................................12
Table 2 - Ethernet Connector Pinout .......................................................................................................13
Table 3 - PoE Pinout Alternatives ............................................................................................................13
Table 4 - Connector Description...............................................................................................................14
Table 5 - Reset Procedure ........................................................................................................................14
Table 6 - LED Indicators............................................................................................................................15
Table 7- Absolute Maximum Values1.......................................................................................................16
Table 8 - RF Characteristics –802.11a/b/g/n.........................................................................................16
Table 9 - Supported Data Rates by Band...............................................................................................17
Table 10 - Operating Channels.................................................................................................................17
Table 11 - Radio Typical Performance Range.......................................................................................18
Table 12- APXx Accessing the Web Interface ......................................................................................23
Table 13 - Navigation Bar Items...............................................................................................................29
Table 14 - Uploading Certificates.............................................................................................................32
Table 15 - Uploading Configurations .......................................................................................................33
Table 16 - Updating Firmware ..................................................................................................................35
Table 17 - Express Page Setup................................................................................................................37
Table 18 - Configuring for WEP Security................................................................................................42
Table 19 - Configuring for WPA Security................................................................................................43
Table 20 - Configuring for WPA2 Security..............................................................................................43
Table 21–Configure Data Tunnel on Telnet Port...................................................................................45
Table 22 - Data Tunnel using Telnet Port...............................................................................................46
Table 23 –Configure Data Tunnel on Serial Port 1 Tunnel Port (TCP) .............................................46
Table 24 - Data Tunnel using Tunnel Port on Serial Port 1..................................................................47
Table 25 –Configure Data Tunnel on Serial Port 2 Tunnel Port (TCP) .............................................47
Table 26 - Data Tunnel using Tunnel Port on Serial Port 2..................................................................48
Table 27 - Configure Serial Port 1 as TCP Client..................................................................................49
Table 28 - Configure Serial Port 2 as TCP Client..................................................................................50
Table 29 - Regulatory Approvals............................................................................................................101
Table 30 - Modular Approval Grant Numbers ......................................................................................103
Table 31 - Mechanical Approvals...........................................................................................................105

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1.0 Conventions
The following section outlines the conventions used within the document. Where
convention is deviated from, the deviation takes precedence and should be followed. If
you have any question related to the conventions used or clarification of indicated
deviation please contact B&B Electronics Sales or Wireless Support.
1.1 Terminology
APXx-Q5xxx is used in the opening section to describe the device detailed in this
document. After this section the term module or device will be used to describe
the device.
1.2 Notes
A note contains information that requires special attention. The following
convention will be used. The area next to the indicator will identify the specific
information and make any references necessary.

The area next to the indicator will identify the specific information and make any
references necessary.
1.3 Caution
A caution contains information that, if not followed, may cause damage to the
product or injury to the user. The shaded area next to the indicator will identify
the specific information and make any references necessary.

The area next to the indicator will identify the specific information and make any
references necessary.
1.4 File Format
These documents are provided as Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To
read them, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0.5 or higher. For your
convenience, Adobe Acrobat Reader is provided on the software CD. Should you
not have the CD, you can download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader
at the Adobe Web site: www.adobe.com

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2.0 Product Description
B&B Electronics' APXx-Q5xxx industrial grade access point enables a piece of M2M
equipment to become the center of a self-sufficient Wi-Fi network. This makes it easy to
access equipment data as well as resources from other Wi-Fi enabled devices, like
laptops, tablets and handhelds. The other devices can be powered by Android, iOS or
Windows. The APXx-Q5xxx includes a 10/100 Ethernet port that supports both bridge
and router modes, and two serial ports that are compatible with RS232/422/485 devices.
Users may make multiple connections to the same machine, and all ports may be used
simultaneously in any serial data configuration. This allows the APXx-Q5xxx to provide
more port configuration options than any competing device in the industry.
The APXx-Q5xxx also includes a wide range power supply input (5-36 VDC) with terminal
block and barrel jack connections. It is packaged in a rugged metal enclosure. The
APXx-Q54x8 models support 802.3af Class 1 based Power over Ethernet (PoE).
The Airborne™ family of access points includes models with single band or dual band
radios: the APXG supports 802.11b/g and the APXN supports 802.11a/b/g/n.
B&B Electronics is the industry leader in industrial grade 802.11 wireless serial-to-
Ethernet converters, access points, Ethernet bridges and Ethernet adapters. The APXx-
Q5xxx is the newest member of B&B Electronics' Airborne™ series, a family of fully
integrated 802.11 wireless LAN bridge, serial device server, and access point products
designed to provide wireless LAN and Internet connectivity in industrial, scientific,
medical and automotive applications. The highly integrated hardware and software
enables plug-and-play capability and significantly reduces the complexity of wireless
system deployment and network connectivity.
All Airborne™ 802.11 access point products include Airborne Management Center
software for web browser-based configuration and administration. The Airborne
Management Center makes it easy to install and configure Airborne devices. The same
interface is employed across the entire product line. If you’ve used one Airborne device,
you know how to use them all.

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3.0 Features
Wi-Fi Radio with 32-bit ARM9 CPU (256Mb SDRAM, 64Mb Flash)
APXG models support 802.11b/g
APXN models support 802.11a/b/g/n
Fully functional M2M Access Point and Wireless Router.
Software selectable as AirborneM2M™or AirborneDirect™client device
server.
Integrated Airborne Device Server and Wireless Adapter technology.
The AirborneM2M™Access Point supports integrated:
802.11 radio
TCP/IP stack, UDP, telnet, FTP server
Ethernet bridge mode (Access Point)
Ethernet router mode (Wireless Router)
Dual Serial ports (RS232/422/485)
Data bridging and buffering
Command Line Interface
Web interface
WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSKSecurity
DHCP Server (For wireless clients)
Firewall and Port Forwarding (Ethernet Router Mode)
Transmit RF power control
FTP Server
Operating Temperature(-40°C to 85°C)
Storage temp (-40°C to 85°C)
Industry standard wired connections:
D-9 Serial connectors (RS232/422/485)
RJ-45 (10/100 Ethernet)
Multiple host interfaces supported:
Dual Serial (RS232/422/485) –up to 921K BAUD
10/100 Ethernet
Dual RP-SMA antenna connectors.
Integrated standard and wide range (J1455) Power Supply (5-36VDC)
Power connector options include 2.1mm Barrel Jack, Terminal Block
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) using an 802.3af Class 1 PSE device (APXx-
Q5xx8 models)
Integrated Site Survey mode.
Advanced Low power modes.
Rugged mounting options.
Worldwide Regulatory Support (FCC, IC, CE)

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4.0 Device Types
This manual covers the AirborneM2M™Access Point/Wireless Router/Client. Information
on the variations and functionality available in the AirborneDirect™ device family can be
found in the ABDN Family User Manual. If you are not certain which type you have or
would like clarification on the available options please contact B&B Sales or Technical
Support.
The AirborneM2M™supports the following host interfaces:
4.1 Serial
This device supports dual serial ports and provides serial to 802.11 bridging. The
following serial interface types are available:
RS-232
RS-422
RS-485
Default configuration is RS-232. Conversion to RS-422/485 is software
selectable. Changing the serial port configuration is covered later in the manual.
4.2 Ethernet
The Ethernet adapter provides a wireless interface to an existing Ethernet port
(RJ-45). The connection to the Ethernet port of the host is made via the RJ-45
socket.
The device supports a 10/100 Ethernet interface with auto configuration. Manual
control of the interface is possible through the web or CLI interface.
4.3 Flexport™
This AirborneM2M™ allows for simultaneous connection of Serial and Ethernet
ports in any combination. You may maintain network-based connections to both
the Ethernet and Serial ports without compromising functionality or performance.
Each interface can be configured and operated independently of the others.
Connection to the serial port can be made via both the wireless and Ethernet
ports. In this mode the device is capable of supporting redundant network
connectivity for high reliability applications.
4.4 Industrial Packaging
Developed to support the demands of the industrial and automotive
environments, the packaging supports the full industrial operating temperature
range and the complete set of functional capabilities of the Airborne Access
Point, Airborne Device Server and Wireless Adapter technology.

AirborneM2M™ Users Guide B&B Electronics, Inc.
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Figure 1 - Industrial AirborneM2M™ Device
The device includes a metal enclosure and a wide range power supply capable
of exceeding the SAE J1455 power supply requirements.
The industrial packaging is ideal for the following application types:
CNC/DNC equipment.
Vehicle diagnostics.
Telematics.
Remote monitoring and management.
Industrial control.

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5.0 Pinout and Connectors
The following defines the pinouts for the wired interfaces.
5.1 Serial Ports
The AirborneM2M™unit supports two serial ports. The Port pinout can change
depending upon the interface configuration chosen. Table 1 shows the pinout for
the interface selected.
Figure 2- DE-9 (DB-9) Connector Pin-out
Table 1–Serial Port Pin Definition
Pin
RS232 (DTE)
RS232 w/Power
on pin 92
RS422/RS485
4-wire
RS485
2-wire
1
No Connect
No Connect
No Connect
No Connect
2
RxD
RxD
RxD+
Connect to pin 33
3
TxD
TxD
TxD+
TxD+/RxD+
4
No Connect
No Connect
No Connect
No Connect
5
GND
GND
GND
GND
6
No Connect
No Connect
RxD-
Connect to pin 93
7
RTS
RTS
No Connect
No Connect
8
CTS
CTS
No Connect
No Connect
9
No Connect
5VDC (Input)
TxD-
TxD-/RxD-

1. For 2-wire operation, the user must externally connect pin 3 to pin 2 and
pin 6 to pin 9.
The Port 1 and Port 2 interfaces support the following configurations:
BAUD: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 14400, 19200, 28800, 38400,
57600, 115200, 230400, 460800, 921600
Flow Control: None, Hardware (CTS/RTS), Software (XON/XOFF)
Port 1 Default settings: 9600, 8, N, 1, No Flow Control.
Port 2 Default settings: 9600, 8, N, 1, No Flow Control.

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5.2 Ethernet Port
The AirborneM2M™10/100Mbps interface supports auto negotiation. The
interface also supports both half and full duplex for 10Mbps and 100Mbps.Table
2 shows the interface pinout.
In some models, the Ethernet port supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) when
connected to an 802.3af Class 1 PSE device. Both Mode A (MDI and MDI-X) and
Mode B powering schemes are supported (Table 3).
Figure 3 - Ethernet Jack Pinout
Table 2 - Ethernet Connector Pinout
Pin
RJ45 Socket
1
TxD+
2
TxD-
3
RxD+
4
NC
5
NC
6
RxD-
7
NC
8
NC
Green LED
Unused
Yellow LED
Ethernet Link/Activity:
Off No Ethernet Link
On Ethernet Link active
Flashing Network activity
Table 3 - PoE Pinout Alternatives
Pin
Alternate A
(MDI-X)
Alternate A
(MDI)
Alternate B
(All)
1
Negative VPSE
Positive VPSE
2
Negative VPSE
Positive VPSE
3
Positive VPSE
Negative VPSE
4
Positive VPSE
5
Positive VPSE
6
Positive VPSE
Negative VPSE
7
Negative VPSE
8
Negative VPSE

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5.3 Connector Definition
The AirborneM2M™device has five connectors. Table 4 provides definitions for
the connectors.
Table 4 - Connector Description
Type
Description
Serial
DE-9 Connector Male
Ethernet
RJ45 Socket
Antenna
RP-SMA
Power
2.1mm Barrel Jack
Power
2 Position Terminal Block
5.4 Default Switch (Factory Reset)
The AirborneM2M™device will let you reset the configuration back to OEM
defaults and start over again. This is useful when a device has been incorrectly
configured. An incorrect configuration can make it impossible to communicate on
any of the available ports. That would prevent access to the configuration
interfaces and block your ability to correct the configuration.
Performing a Factory RESET will return the device to the original OEM defaults.
If no OEM configuration is installed the device will return to the B&B factory
defaults. That will restore your ability to communicate with the device.
The following Table 5 describes the sequence for resetting the AirborneM2M™
device to the OEM defaults
Table 5 - Reset Procedure
1
Disconnect or turn off the power supply.
2
Press and hold in the Default (factory reset) button.
This may require the use of a small, narrow object. Do not use anything sharp, as
that may damage the unit.
3
While the Default button is pressed and held in, re-apply power to the unit.
4
Continue to hold in the Default button for 5-6 seconds after power has been
applied.
5
Release the Default button.

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6
The device will restart with the installed OEM defaults. If no OEM configuration
exists the device will return to B&B Electronics factory defaults.
See section 11.6 on use of OEM factory configurations.
The AirborneM2M™Default button is on the Ethernet/Power end of the box, next
to the 2.1mm barrel connector (See section 8.0)
5.5 Indicator LEDs
The indicator LEDs provide feedback on the state of the device when it is
configured as an AP/WR. If the device is configured for any other operation
please refer to the appropriate device manual. The LEDs are a useful tool during
installation and troubleshooting.
Table 6 - LED Indicators
LED
Color
Airborne Device State
POWER
Adapter is not powered.

(Blue) Adapter is powered.
POST
Adapter is not powered.
(Red) Adapter failed Power On Self Test (POST).
(Orange) Adapter passed POST but is not configured for
wireless network communication.
(Green) Adapter passed POST and is configured for wireless
AP communication.
LINK
Adapter is not powered or the Wireless radio is off.
(Green) Adapter is powered and the Wireless radio is on.
COMM
• If Power LED and COMM LED are both Off the Adapter is not
powered.
• If Power LED is On but the COMM LED is Off, it means that
an Ethernet link has been detected, but no TCP session from
the WLAN or Ethernet interface has been established. The
LED will flash Red when Ethernet network traffic occurs.
(Red) The device is powered and no Ethernet link has been
detected.
(Orange) A TCP connection to the adapter has been
established from the Wireless interface and no Ethernet link
has been detected.
(Green) A TCP connection to the adapter has been established
from the Wireless or Ethernet interface. An Ethernet link has
been detected. The LED will flash Orange when Ethernet
network traffic occurs.

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6.0 Electrical& RF Specification
Table 7- Absolute Maximum Values1
Parameter
Min
Max
Unit
Maximum Supply Voltage
5.0
36
VDC
PoE 802.3af Class1 –Q5xx8 models
37
57
VDC
Power Dissipation
3.00
W
Operating Temperature Range
-40
85
oC
Storage Temperature
-40
85
oC
Note: 1. Values are absolute ratings, exceeding these values may cause permanent damage to the device.
Table 8 - RF Characteristics –802.11a/b/g/n
Symbol
Parameter
Rate (Mb/s)
Min
Average
dBm / mW
Peak
dBm / mW
Units
POUTB
Transmit Power
Output 802.11b
11, 5.5, 2, 1
15.0
31.6
dBm
POUTG
Transmit Power
Output 802.11g
6, 9, 12, 18, 24,
36, 48, 54
12.6
18.2
dBm
POUTA
Transmit Power
Output 802.11a
6, 9, 12, 18, 24,
36, 48, 54
17.0
50.1
dBm
PRSENB
Receive
Sensitivity
802.11b
11
-86
dBm
1
-92
PRSENG
Receive
Sensitivity
802.11g
54
-72
dBm
36
-78
18
-84
6
-89
PRSENA
Receive
Sensitivity
802.11a
54
-74
dBm
36
-80
18
-86
6
-90
FRANGEBG
Frequency
Range
2412
2484
MHz
FRANGEA
Frequency
Range
802.11a
4910
5150
5470
4990
5350
5825
MHz

The transmit power is automatically controlled by the device for minimum power
consumption.
The transmit power at the antenna connector is listed in Table 8 above (±2dBm).

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Table 9 - Supported Data Rates by Band
Band
Supported Data Rates (Mb/s)
802.11b
11, 5.5, 2, 1
802.11a/g
54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6
802.11n
65, 58.5, 42, 39, 26, 19.5 13, 6.5
Table 10 - Operating Channels
Band
Region
Freq Range
(GHz)
No. of
Channels
Channels
802.11b1,2
US/Canada
2.401 - 2.473
11
1 –11
Europe
2.401 - 2.483
13
1 –13
Japan
2.401 - 2.495
14
1 –14
802.11g1,2
US/Canada
2.401 - 2.473
11
1 –11
Europe
2.401 - 2.483
13
1 –13
Japan
2.401 - 2.483
13
1 –13
802.11a3
US/Canada
5.15 - 5.35,
5.725 - 5.825
13
36,40,44,48,52,56,60,64,149,153,157,
161,165
Europe
5.15 - 5.35,
5.47 - 5.725
19
36,40,44,48,52,56,60,64,100,104,108,
112,116,120,124,128,132,136,140
Japan
4.91 –4.99,
5.15 - 5.35,
5.47 - 5.725
23
36,40,44,48,52,56,60,64,100,104,108,
112,116,120,124,128,132,136,140,184
188,192,196
China
5.725 - 5.825
5
149,153,157,161,165

1. Only channels 1, 6 and 11 are non-overlapping.
2. Channel 14 is non-overlapping (Japan only).
3. Channel count denotes number of non-overlapping
channels. Channels shown represent non-overlapping
channel numbers.

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6.1 AC Electrical Characteristics –Transmitter
Transmit power is automatically managed by the device for minimum power
consumption. The transmit power at the RF connector is listed in Table 8 for
802.11a/b/g Modes (all rates).
6.2 Performance/Range
The following table illustrates the typical data rates, performance and range the
device can provide using an omni-directional antenna.
Table 11 - Radio Typical Performance Range
Data Rate
Typical Outdoor Distance
(Unity gain antenna)
Typical Outdoor Distance
(2dBi antenna gain on each end for
B/G mode)
1.0 Mb/s
240m
380m
11.0 Mb/s
135m
215m
6Mb/s 802.11g
135m
215m
6Mb/s 802.11a
49m
155m
54Mb/s 802.11g
12m
19m
54Mb/s 802.11a
4.5m
14m
Ranges are affected by receiver sensitivity; transmit power, free-space path loss,
antenna gain, and link margin. Actual range will vary from those stated. Non-line-
of-site applications will result in lower typical values than those shown above.
The Data Rate is the supported connection rate for the wireless link. The actual
data throughput for the link will be less than the stated data rates.

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7.0 Antenna
The unit supports antenna connection through two (2) RP-SMA connectors, located on
the sides of the enclosure.
Any antenna used with the system must be designed for operation within the 2.4GHz ISM
band and specifically support the 2.412GHz to 2.482GHz for 802.11b/g, the 5GHz ISM
band and must specifically support 5.1GHz to 5.9GHz for 802.11a operation. They are
required to have a VSWR of 2:1 maximum referenced to a 50system impedance.
7.1 Antenna Selection
The Airborne radio supports a number of antenna options. The correct antenna
option will be determined by a number of factors, including consideration of the
application, mechanical construction and desired performance. Since the number
of possible combinations is endless we will review some of the more common
solutions in this section. If your application is not covered during this discussion
please contact Technical Support for more specific answers.
Due to FCC/IC regulatory restrictions only antenna covered by the approvals
listed on the device may be used with the device. Please contact Technical
Support for a full list of approved antenna.
7.2 Antenna Location
Antenna location can determine the success or failure of the Wi-Fi
implementation.
There are several factors that need to be considered when choosing the location:
Distance of Antenna from radio
Location of host system
Proximity to RF blocking or absorbing materials
Proximity to potential noise or interference
Position relative to infrastructure (Access Points or Laptops)
Orientation of host system relative to infrastructure
Is it known
Is it static
To minimize the impact of these factors, take the following steps during the
development process:
Minimize the distance between the radio and the antenna. As the length of
the connecting cable increases, so does the negative impact on Transmit
Power and Receive Sensitivity.
Avoid situations where metal surfaces come into contact with the antenna, or
are close to the location of the antenna.
Avoid locations where RF noise or overlapping ISM bands may be present.
This would include microwave ovens and wireless telephone systems in the
2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency range.
Elevate the antenna as much as you can.

B&B Electronics, Inc. AirborneM2M™ User Manual
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Locate the antenna where there is a minimum of obstruction between the
antenna and the location of the Access Points. Access Points are typically
located in the ceiling or high on walls.
Keep the main antenna’s polarization vertical, or in-line with the antenna of
the Access Points. 802.11 systems utilize vertical polarization and aligning
both transmit and receive antenna maximizes the link quality.
No connection will ever be perfect. Experiment with the various possibilities until
you get the best connection permitted by the circumstances.
7.3 Performance
Performance will vary according to the application and the circumstances. In
most cases your primary concern will be the link quality, which is a function of the
bandwidth available between two devices. In general, as the link rate drops the
radio’s Transmit Power, Receive Sensitivity and link quality improve.
Measurement of link quality can be made in several ways. Bit Error Rate (BER),
Signal to Noise (SNR) ratio and Signal Strength are all very useful. The link
quality is used by the radio to determine the link rate. When the link quality for a
given link rate falls below a predefined limit, the radio will drop to the next lowest
link rate and try to communicate using that one.
The reverse is also true. If the radio observes good link quality at one rate it will
try to move up to the next rate to see if communication can be maintained at the
higher rate.
So consider your application’s actual bandwidth requirements and tailor your link
rate to optimize the link quality. For example, the link quality at 6Mb/s is likely to
be better than it would be for 54Mb/s. If the application only needs 2Mb/s of data
throughput, the 6Mb/s rate would provide a better link quality.
Aside from the radio performance, there are a number of other things that
contribute to the link quality. These include the items discussed earlier and
choices made when looking at the overall antenna gain. The antenna gain
contributes to the Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) of the system.
This is part of Link Margin, an overall measurement of link quality.
Link Margin provides a measurement of all the parts of the RF path that impact
the communications between two systems. The basic equation looks like this:
EIRP (dB) = TxP + TxA –TxC
Link Margin (dB) = EIRP –FPL + (RxS + RxA –RxC)
Where: TxP = Transmitter output power (dBm)
TxA = Transmitter antenna gain (dBi)
TxC = Transmitter to Antenna coax cable loss (dB)
FPL = Free Path Loss (dB)
RxS = Receiver receive sensitivity (dBm)
RxA = Receiver antenna gain (dBi)
RxC = Receiver to Antenna coax cable loss (dB)
To learn more about Link Margin, visit B&B Electronics’ online technical library.
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