Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Installation and operation manual

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Preface
This guide is designed to help you replace or upgrade your 1200 series access
point’s 2.4- or 5-GHz radio. Detailed installation and configuration
information can be found in the Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point
Hardware Installation Guide and Cisco Aironet 1200 Series Access Point
Software Configuration Guide, which are on Cisco.com.
Follow this link to access these documents on Cisco.com:
http://cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/tsd_products_support_s
eries_home.html

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Introduction to the 2.4- and 5-GHz Radios
The Cisco Aironet 2.4- and 5-GHz radios are designed for use in the Cisco
Aironet 1200 Series Access Point. Both radios offer industry-leading range
and performance and superior dual-band technology.
The 2.4-GHz radio is an IEEE 802.11b- or g-compliant 2.4-GHz radio card
that is installed in the access point’s mini PCI card slot. The card is located
beneath an access door on the bottom of the access point.
The 2.4-GHz radio card is available in two versions:
•IEEE 802.11b mini-PCI radio card (802.11b radio)
•IEEE 802.11g mini-PCI radio card (802.11g radio)
– Requires Cisco IOS Release 12.2(13)JA or later
The upgrade procedures are identical for both versions.
The 5-GHz radio is a IEEE 802.11a-compliant 54-Mbps 5-GHz radio module
with that is inserted into the access point’s cardbus slot. The cardbus slot is
located on the end of the access point and is protected by an access cover
when the radio module is not installed.
There are two versions of the 5-GHz radio: integrated antenna and
connectorized. The integrated antenna version contains an articulated
antenna paddle. The connectorized version contains two RP-TNC connectors
that accept external antennas.

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The 5-GHz radio module is available in three versions:
•Low power IEEE 802.11a radio module with integrated antenna (RM20A
radio module)
•Enhanced IEEE 802.11a radio module with dual integrated antennas
(RM21A radio module)
– Requires Cisco IOS Release 12.3(2)JA or later.
•Enhanced IEEE 802.11a radio module with dual external RP-TNC
antenna connectors (RM22A radio module)
– Requires Cisco IOS Release 12.3(2)JA or later.
Tip If you are upgrading to an 802.11g radio or an RM21A or RM22A
radio module, make sure you are running the correct Cisco IOS
version before you install the radio or module. If your access point
is running an earlier version, it will not recognize the radio or
module and continually boot.
All 5-GHz radios incorporate an Unlicensed National Information Structure
(UNII) radio transceiver operating in the UNII 5-GHz frequency bands.
The upgrade procedures are identical for either version.

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802.11 b/g (2.4-GHz) Radio Upgrade
Instructions
This section provides a step-by-step procedure for installing or replacing an
802.11b or g 2.4-GHz radio card. The section contains the following topics:
•“Overview” section on page 4
•“Unpacking the Radio” section on page 5
•“Opening the Access Cover” section on page 6
•“Removing the Blank Spacer Card” section on page 8
•“Removing a 2.4-GHz Radio Card” section on page 11
•“Installing a 2.4-GHz Radio Card” section on page 13
Overview
The following operations summarize the 2.4-GHz radio upgrade procedure:
1. Remove all cables and power connections from the access point.
2. Follow standard electrostatic discharge (ESD) procedures.
3. Place the access point on an ESD protected work surface.
4. Open the access point’s 2.4-GHz radio access cover.

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5. For an access point without the 2.4-GHz radio feature, remove the blank
spacer card.
6. For an access point with the 2.4-GHz radio feature, remove the existing
2.4-GHz card.
7. Install the new 2.4-GHz radio card.
8. Close the access point 2.4-GHz radio access cover.
Caution ESD can damage the Cisco Aironet client radio and the internal
components of the access point. It is recommended that the 2.4-
GHz radio upgrade procedures be performed by an ESD trained
service technician at an ESD-protected workstation.
Unpacking the Radio
Each 2.4-GHz radio is shipped with the following items:
•This quick start guide
•A product registration card
•A T-10 tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench
•2.4-GHz radio product compliance labels

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If anything is missing or damaged, contact your Cisco representative for
support.
Opening the Access Cover
Follow these steps to open the 2.4-GHz radio access cover:
1. Remove all cables and power connections from the access point.
2. Remove all static-generating items from the work area, such as plastic
material, styrofoam cups, and other similar items.
3. Place the access point and the 2.4-GHz radio (in its anti-static bag) on a
static-protected work surface.
4. Discharge any static buildup on your body by touching a grounded
surface (static-protected work surface).
5. Position the access point so that its bottom cover is facing up.
Caution The internal access point components and the 2.4-GHz radio
can be damaged by ESD from improper handling.

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6. Remove the bottom access cover using the provided T-10
tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench. See the illustration below.
If your access point was not configured with a 2.4-GHz radio, go to the next
section. If you are replacing an existing 2.4-GHz radio, go to the ““Removing
a 2.4-GHz Radio Card” section on page 11.
1Access Cover Screw
1
74458

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Removing the Blank Spacer Card
When your access point is not factory-configured with a 2.4-GHz radio, it
contains a blank spacer card in the internal mini-PCI connector. You must
remove the blank spacer card prior to installing a new 2.4-GHz radio card.
Caution Handle all components carefully and observe all ESD
precautions. The internal access point components and the
2.4-GHz radio can be damaged by ESD if not handled properly.
Follow these steps to remove the blank spacer card from the mini-PCI
connector. It may be helpful to refer to the following illustration before you
proceed.

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1. Push the card-retaining clips (on each side of card) away from the card.
When released, the card will spring up as shown in the following
illustration.
1Card-retaining clips 3Antenna connector (black wire)
2Antenna connector (white wire)
74248
1 3 12

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2. Carefully bend the card near the slot in opposite directions to provide
enough clearance to remove the antenna wires.
3. Remove the antenna wires from the blank spacer card.
Caution To avoid damaging the antenna wire assemblies, handle them by
their connectors.
74249

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4. Remove the card from the mini-PCI connector.
For instructions on installing the radio card, go to the “Installing a 2.4-GHz
Radio Card” section on page 13.
Removing a 2.4-GHz Radio Card
Follow these steps to remove a 2.4-GHz radio card from your access point.
Caution The internal access point components and the 2.4-GHz radio
can be damaged by ESD from improper handling.
Caution The antenna connectors can be damaged if you use a pair of
long-nose pliers to remove them.
Caution To avoid damaging the antenna wire assemblies, handle them by
their connectors.
1. Use your fingers to carefully remove the antenna wire connectors from
the 2.4-GHz radio card.

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2. Remove the 2.4-GHz radio card from the mini-PCI connector by
performing the following steps:
a. Push the card retaining clips (on each side of the card) away from
the card as shown in the following illustration. When released, the
card will spring up.
1Card retaining clips
MAIN AUX
74253
1 1

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b. Grasp the card only by its edges, being careful not to touch
components on the board or the gold connector pins.
c. Remove the card from the mini-PCI connector.
3. Place the card into an anti-static bag.
Installing a 2.4-GHz Radio Card
Follow these steps to install a 2.4-GHz radio card in the access point.
Caution The internal access point components and the 2.4-GHz radio
can be damaged by ESD from improper handling.
1. Carefully remove the 2.4-GHz radio card from its anti-static bag.
2. Grasp the radio card only by its edges, being careful not to touch
components on the board or the gold connector pins.
3. Connect the black wire’s antenna connector to the radio card antenna
connector marked by the black label.
4. Connect the white wire’s antenna connector to the radio card antenna
connector marked by the white label.

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See the illustration below.
1Antenna connector (black wire) 3Mini PCI connector
2Antenna connector (white wire)
MAIN AUX
74251
3
2
1

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5. Insert the radio card into the access point’s mini-PCI connector by
following these steps:
a. Tilt the radio card at approximately 20 to 30 degrees so that its gold
pins are aligned with the mini-PCI connector.
b. Push the card into the slot until it clicks into place.
6. Carefully push the card down (towards the access point’s motherboard)
until the card-retaining clips lock into the notches on the side of the card
(you will hear a click when the retaining clips lock into the notches).
7. Carefully position the antenna wires so that their metal connectors do not
touch each other.
Caution Damage to the radio could occur if the antenna connectors are
touching. If they are, carefully rotate them in opposite
directions until they are separated.
8. Make one final check of the following items:
a. The card is properly secured with both retaining clips engaged.
b. The antenna connectors are not touching.
9. Reinstall the 2.4-GHz radio access cover and use the T-10
tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench to tighten the cover’s retaining screw.

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10. Remove the backing paper from the 2.4-GHz radio product compliance
label.
11. Carefully attach the label in the space provided below the access point’s
product compliance label as shown in the following illustration.
Note If your access point contains a 5-GHz radio module, there will also
be a 5-GHz radio product compliance label on the back of the access
point.
12.4-GHz radio product
compliance label
2Access point product
compliance label
1 2
74246

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802.11a (5-GHz) Radio Upgrade Instructions
This section provides a step-by-step procedure for installing or replacing an
802.11a, 5-GHz radio module. The section contains the following topics:
•“Overview” section on page 17
•“Unpacking the Radio Module” section on page 18
•“Removing the 5-GHz Radio Access Cover” section on page 18
•“Removing a 5-GHz Radio Module” section on page 20
•“Installing a 5-GHz Radio Module” section on page 22
Overview
The following operations summarize the 5-GHz radio upgrade procedure:
1. Remove all cables and power connections from the access point.
2. For an access point without the 5-GHz radio feature, remove the access
cover.
3. For and access point with the 5-GHz radio feature, install the new 5-GHz
radio module.

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Unpacking the Radio Module
Each 5-GHz radio module is shipped with the following items:
•This quick start guide
•A product registration card
•A T-10 tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench
•A 5-GHz radio product compliance label
If anything is missing or damaged, contact your Cisco representative for
support.
Caution Handle all components carefully and observe all ESD
precautions. The internal access point components and the
5-GHz radio can be damaged by ESD if not handled properly.
Removing the 5-GHz Radio Access Cover
If your access point was configured with a 5-GHz radio, go to the “Removing
the 5-GHz Radio Access Cover” section on page 18. If your access point was
not configured with a 5-GHz radio, follow the steps below to remove the
5-GHz radio access cover:
1. Remove all cables and power connections from the access point.

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2. Place the access point on a flat surface so that it is upright with the front
end facing you.
3. Remove the 5-GHz radio access cover using the supplied T-10
tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench. See the following illustration.
Note The following procedure use the integrated antenna radio module to
illustrate the removal and installation process. The procedure is
identical for the connectorized radio module.
1Access cover screws 2Access cover
1 12
74632

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Removing a 5-GHz Radio Module
When your access point is configured with a 5-GHz radio module, follow
these steps to remove it:
1. Remove all cables and power connections from the access point. If you
are removing the connectorized antenna version, remove the antenna
cables from the radio module.
2. Place the access point on a flat surface so that it is upright with the front
end facing you.
3. Unscrew the two mounting screws using the supplied T-10
tamper-resistant Torx L-wrench. See the following illustration.
1Mounting screws 3Access point
25-GHz radio module antenna
74631
1 1 2 3