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
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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)
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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.
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