Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Quick reference guide

Cisco Systems, Inc.
www.cisco.com
Cisco Aironet Series 1600/2600/3600 Access
Point Deployment Guide, Release 7.5
Last Updated: July 5th, 2013
Release: Cisco Aironet Series 1600/2600/3600 Access Point Deployment Guide, Release 7.5

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Cisco Aironet Series 1600/2600/3600 Access Point Deployment Guide, Release 7.5
Abstract
Abstract
This document covers the Cisco 2600 and 3600 Series Access Points theory of operation and installation
as part of a Cisco wireless LAN (WLAN) solution. Subjects related include:
•Choosing the right Access Point
•Differences between AP 3600 and AP 3500
•Differences between AP 3600 and AP 2600
•Introduction of AP 1600 – AP feature comparison
•Hardware details, mounting options, bracket choices and installation considerations
•Antenna options, radiation patterns external antenna deployments
•Understanding spatial streams, MCS rates, and what they mean
•ClientLink 2.0 – what this means for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
•Primer 802.11ac and Wave-1 802.11ac module for the AP 3600
•Site Survey considerations
•Look at poor installations, Q&A and useful URLs
Audience
This document is intended for trained and experienced technical personnel familiar with the existing
Cisco Wireless Networking Group (WNG) product line and features.
Table of Contents
•Choosing the Right Access Point
– Models
– Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 3500 Access Points
– AP 3600 Feature Module Support
•Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 2600
•Introducing Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Point
– Cisco Clean Air Express
•Access Point Physical Hardware and Mounting Options
– Channel Rail Adapters - Cisco Part Number AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER
– Mounting an AP Directly into the Tile Using Optional AIR-AP-BRACKET-3
– Wall-mounting the AP
– Changing the Color of an AP
•Unique Installations
– Clean Rooms (Healthcare)
– Above Ceiling Tiles

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Choosing the Right Access Point
– Stadium/Harsh Environments
– Areas with High Vibration
– Warehouse and Factory
•Ethernet Cable Recommendation
•Antenna Cable Recommendation
•Access Point Spacing Recommendations
– Installations in IDF Closets (Telecommunications or other Electrical Equipment)
– Installations at Very High Altitudes
– Installations Using a Common or Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
– Installations Inside and Around Elevators
•External Antenna Options and Patterns
– For use with AP 1600/2600 and 3600e Access Points
– AP 3600i, AP 2600i, and AP 1600i
•Understanding External Antenna Deployments
•802.11n Primer - Understanding Spatial Streams
– Clients That Support Three Spatial Streams
– Understanding Beamforming – ClientLink 1.0 and 2.0
•Site Survey Considerations
•General Considerations Regarding Access Points
– AP 3600 Radio Module Cisco Part Number (AIR-RM3000AC-x-K9=)
– Radio Module Operational Overview
– Client Band Steering
– 802.11ac Client Recommendations
– Radio Interfaces and Understanding Client Associations
– Troubleshooting the module (basics)
•802.11ac Primer – How is it different from 802.11n?
•Understanding 802.11ac and the option module
•A Quick Look at a few "Non-Optimal" Installations
•Misc. Questions and Answers
•URL Links and Other Resources
Choosing the Right Access Point
Models
The Cisco 3600 Series Access Point (AP 3600) targets customers requiring support for mission-critical
applications. The AP 3600 embodies ClientLink 2.0, an innovative antenna technology comprising four
transmit radios and four receive radios called 4X4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and three

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Choosing the Right Access Point
spatial stream (3SS) beamforming, together referenced as 4x4:3. ClientLink 2.0 permits speeds up to 450
Mbps via additional Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) data rates 16-23, while still maintaining
IEEE 802.3af (15.4 Watt) Power over Ethernet (PoE) compliance. More on spatial streams can be found
in section 802.11n Primer - Understanding Spatial Streams.
Figure 1 Access Point Portfolio Placement
Access Points are available in two models see Figure 2:
•Internal antennas version labeled “i” that has captured antennas (part of the housing and not
removable). The “i” series is designed for indoor Enterprise installations where office aesthetics are
a primary concern.
•External antennas version labeled “e” that is more rugged and designed for industrial use in
locations such as hospitals, factories, and warehouses, anywhere a need exists for external antennas
and/or extended operating temperatures. The “e” version also supports mounting inside NEMA
enclosures for use in the most demanding environments.

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Figure 2 AP 3600 Models and Eco-packs
Figure 3 AP 2600 Models and Eco-packs

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Choosing the Right Access Point
Figure 4 AP 1600 Models and Eco-packs
Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 3500 Access Points
The internal antenna version of AP 3600 and AP 3500 is almost identical in physical appearance with
the exception of the LED which is slightly larger and more oval on the AP 3600. The AP 3500 has a
square LED (allows for visual identification).
Figure 5 AP 3600 vs AP 3500 LED Appearance
From a side view, the AP 3600 is slightly thicker when compared to the AP 3500. The thicker size allows
for additional radio support and printed circuit board area, as well as modularity for future capabilities.
While the AP 3600 has a little more depth, this AP is completely backward compatible with the mounting
brackets for the existing Cisco Aironet 1040, 1140, 1260 and 3500 Series Access Points.

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Figure 6 Side View of AP 3600 (2.11 inches) and AP 3500 (1.84 inches) in height
The AP 3600e (external antenna version) differs in appearance from the AP 3500e, having fewer antenna
connector ports primarily due to the dual-band antenna system that is used.
The AP 3500e has separate antennas for each band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and does not support 3SS
technology since it has only two transceivers (transmitter/receiver) and one extra receiver per band
enabling operation up to two spatial streams.
The AP 3600e has combined all the antenna ports (dual-band) so that each antenna port can transmit
simultaneously on each band; had the antenna ports not been combined, this would have required 8
antennas. The AP 3600 has four transceivers (transmitter/receiver) radio ports per band for a total of
eight transceiver, four in each band. This additional radio per band permits beamforming to 3SS clients
using ClientLink 2.0 to improve the overall performance of all 802.11n clients with 1, 2 and 3 spatial
streams.
Note Beamforming to a 3SS client requires n+1 RF design. To accomplish this, the AP 3600 has an additional
radio per band, which improves client performance by using Cisco ClientLink 2.0.
Unlike AP 3500, the newer AP 3600 design supports an additional feature module. The bottom of the
AP 3600 unit looks different as it has openings to support the feature module. The openings, while fully
sealed, permit the module to have access to the topside of the AP to allow the module antennas (if present
in the module being used) to fully function. The unit includes a positive snap “spring loaded BB” so the
installer can feel a positive lock when the AP is fully engaged in the bracket (Figure 7).
Figure 7 Bottom of AP 3600 Unit

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Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 2600
AP 3600 Feature Module Support
The WSSI (Wireless Security and Spread Spectrum Intelligence) module adds new functionality to the
AP to future-proof customers' investment. This module provides a dedicated monitor radio to scan the
full spectrum (not just the channel on which the AP is operating). It will offload complete monitoring
and security services to the monitor module including CleanAir, WIDS/WIPS, Context-aware Location,
Rogue Detection, and Radio Resource Management (RRM). This module allows for full spectrum
analysis on all channels on both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.
Having the add-on feature module avoids having to deploy a separate, dedicated overlay network for full
spectrum monitoring and eliminates the need for an extra cable pull and additional infrastructure costs
(Figure 8).
The second available module will provide 802.11ac (wave-1) functionality to the AP 3600. This radio
module will operate at 5GHz and allow the AP 3600 to fully support 802.11a/n along with 802.11ac
clients. (Wave-1) functionality will support a 1.3 Gbps PHY / ~1 Gbps MAC (throughput) using 3 spatial
streams, 80 MHz, 256 QAM. Supporting Explicit Beamforming support per the 802.11ac standard.
Use of the module may require the local power supply, Cisco power injector, .3at PoE+ or the use of
Cisco Enhanced PoE, as the module may increase power draw greater than 15.4W.
Note Cisco Enhanced PoE was created by Cisco and is the forerunner to 802.3at PoE+.
Figure 8 Feature Module Slides into Bottom of AP 3600
Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 2600
The AP 3600 has a modular design that offers future protection with the .11ac module, security module
and perhaps other modules in the future. AP 3600 is a 4X4:3SS supporting an extra transmitter chain for
additional downlink performance for all bands and clients.

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Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 2600
The AP 2600 is very similar to the AP 3600 but is a 3X4:3SS so with the AP 2600 - Client Link does
not beamform to 3-ss clients, however; it does beamform at legacy and 1 & 2 Spatial Stream rates.
The AP 3600 has slightly higher performance and beamforms to legacy 1, 2, 3 spatial stream rates and
.11ac rates when using the optional .11ac module.
Unlike the AP 3600, the AP 2600 Access Point does not support optional modules but it does have a little
higher antenna gain in the 2.4 GHz band. A lot of effort has been put in to make sure the coverage area
is uniform between different models of Access Points so that if you surveyed for a 3600 Series AP, the
AP 2600 can also be substituted without performing another survey.
Figure 9 AP 2600 is same size as AP 3600 but does not support radio modules

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Introducing Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Point
Figure 10 Backside of the AP 2600 - mounting hardware and antennas are the same as AP 3600
Introducing Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Point
Designed as an entry level Access Point, key feature items include:

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Introducing Cisco Aironet 1600 Series Access Point
•ClientLink 2.0 – a key addition when moving up from the AP’s 1040/1140 and 1260 series.
– Support for 802.11n clients up to 1-SS
– Supports 802.11a/b/g clients
– ClientLink 2.0 for 1600 can support (beam-form) up to 32 clients per radio interface
•3x3:2 architecture for improved performance vs. 2x2:2 AP 1040
– Comparable for better throughput performance vs. AP 1140 & 1260
•External antenna model for entry-level / mid-market
•Can support up to 128 clients per radio for a total of 256 clients
•LED color change different from previous Access Points (see Getting Started Guide: Cisco Aironet
1600 Series Access Points)
•Support for Clean Air Express – Basic Spectrum Analysis coming via software upgrade
Cisco Clean Air Express
Cisco CleanAir Express technology is enabled on the advanced silicon design of the Cisco’s Second
Generation entry-level Access Point, the Cisco Aironet® 1600. With Clean Air Express the Aironet 1600
Access Point has the ability to effectively detect RF interference, identify the source, locate it on a map,
and then make automatic adjustments to optimize wireless coverage. With Clean Air Express
technology, organizations have a basic spectrum analysis capability to support their wireless networks
while simplifying ongoing operations.
Figure 11 Comparison of CleanAir features

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Access Point Physical Hardware and Mounting Options
Figure 12 Comparison 3600, 2600 and 1600 series Access Points.
Access Point Physical Hardware and Mounting Options
AP 1600, 2600 and 3600 have the same physical dimensions and mounting options with slightly different
cosmetic differences example (3 antennas on 1600) but share similar dimensions as shown in Figure 13.

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Figure 13 Mechanical Drawing of the AP 2600 and the AP 3600
There are many different installation options available depending upon the requirements of the customer.
Brackets are available from Cisco as well as third-party companies. During the ordering process, the
customer may choose one of two brackets (but not both). Each bracket is a zero-dollar ($0) option at the
time of configuration. If the customer does not choose a bracket, the selection default is
AIR-AP-BRACKET-1 which is the most popular for ceiling installations. The other choice is a universal
bracket that carries part number AIR-AP-BRACKET-2 (Figure 14).
Figure 14 Access Point Bracket Choices
Note While using AP 3600 module, we recommend AIR-AP-Bracket-2.

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If the AP will be mounted directly to a ceiling on the gridwork, then AIR-AP-BRACKET-1 mounts flush
and has the lowest profile. However, if the AP will be mounted to an electrical box or other wiring
fixture, or inside a NEMA enclosure or perhaps wall mounted, then AIR-AP-BRACKET-2 is a better
choice. The extra space in the bracket allows for wiring, and the extra holes line up with many popular
electrical boxes. When mounting the bracket to the ceiling gridwork, some ceiling tiles are recessed.
For this reason, two different styles of ceiling clips, recessed and flush rails, are available (Figure 15).
Figure 15 Recessed and Flushed Ceiling Grid Clips
Note Different clips are available for attaching to ceiling grid work
Channel Rail Adapters - Cisco Part Number AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER
When mounting APs to ceiling channel rails such as the ones shown in Figure 16, an optional channel
adapter is used: AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER. It comes in a two-pack and attaches to the ceiling grid clip
above. Refer to Figure 17 and Figure 18.
Figure 16 Example of Channel Rails

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Figure 17 AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER (left) Slides onto the Rails
Figure 18 AIR-CHNL-ADAPTER Mounted to Rail Clip (left) and Finished Installation (right)
Mounting an AP Directly into the Tile Using Optional AIR-AP-BRACKET-3
Many hospitals and other carpeted Enterprise environments prefer a more streamlined look and wish to
install the AP directly into the tile. This can be done using the optional Cisco AIR-AP-BRACKET-3
(Figure 19).
When using this bracket, the “beauty ring” is used as the template to cut the tile which can be cut using
a carpet knife or electric tool such as a rotary cutting tool, e.g., Dremel™ or Rotozip™. Cisco does not
offer custom cut tiles as there are simply too many different styles and the tiles are easy to cut.
The AP is fully supported above the tile with a metal rail that extends the length of the tile. This supports
the AP should the tile become wet or otherwise fail. A mechanical set screw pulls the AP tight to the
ceiling and locks it into the bracket. Additionally, physical security of the AP can be maintained by the
use of a Kensington style lock, but once installed it is difficult to remove the AP without removing the
tile as the AP will not slide out from the front side of the tile.

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Figure 19 Optional AIR-AP-BRACKET-3 used to install the AP directly into the tile
Note This bracket will fit the AP 1040, 1140, 1260, 1600, 2600, 3500 and 3600 Series Access Points.
Wall-mounting the AP
When wall mounting is desired, the installer should understand that walls can be a physical obstacle to
the wireless signal; therefore, maintaining 360 degree coverage may be compromised by the wall. If the
wall is an outside wall and/or the goal is to send the signal in a 180-degree pattern instead, a directional
antenna often referred to as a “patch” antenna may be a better choice assuming the AP 3600e is used.
Avoid wall-mounting APs with internal antennas such as the AP 3600i unless you use the optional
Oberon right-angle mount (Figure 20). The internal antenna model was designed to mount to a ceiling
to provide 360-degree coverage. If wall-mounted in a non-ceiling orientation the signal may penetrate
the floor above and below causing unintended coverage that could result in additional, needless roaming
access when a mobility client, e.g., user with Wi-Fi phone, walks by on an adjacent floor.
Instead, use the AP 3600e (with dipoles or patch antennas), or use an optional wall mount that puts the
AP 3600i or AP 3500e into a ceiling type orientation when mounted to a wall.
Note APs with internal antennas such as the AP 3600i that are wall-mounted should use the Oberon mounting
bracket unless roaming is not an issue, e.g., hotspot, kiosk, or small venue scenario.

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Figure 20 Wall-mounting APs antennas should be vertical (up/down) or use the Oberon
right-angle mounting structure - ideal for AP 3600i. Oberon P/N 1029-00)
Changing the Color of an AP
If there is a desire to change the color of an AP, rather than painting the AP which would void the
warranty, consider using colored vinyl tape or using a colored plastic cover from Oberon (Figure 21).
Figure 21 Third-party option for changing AP color, adding custom Logo, or hiding the LED

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Unique Installations
Unique Installations
Clean Rooms (Healthcare)
Many hospitals and factories have requirements to wipe down or gently spray the environment with a
chemical (often diluted material that has cleaning / disinfectant properties). The Cisco AP 3600 is
designed with a purpose guild Wi-Fi chipset with Enterprise and industrial class components
(Figure 22). This enables the AP enclosure to have a Plenum rating and is vent-less, so the unit is ideal
for these types of applications.
Figure 22 Inside of the AP 3600 - (no vents or fans, everything is industrial quality)
Note AP 2600 is also made of a similar construction and design for clean room deployments.
If the clean room environment requires metal ceilings or areas where tile is not practical, a metal
enclosure from Oberon can be used (Figure 23).

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Figure 23 Oberon Metal Enclosure protects and secures the AP in Clean Room Areas
Above Ceiling Tiles
The AP 2600 and 3600 are rated for installation in the Plenum area (UL-2043). Many customers prefer
to locate the AP so that nothing can be visible on the ceiling. In some cases this is preferred for aesthetic
reasons, so customers may install the AP above a drop ceiling. This also may be preferred in high theft
areas such as classrooms or in areas where policy dictates that nothing can be visible on the ceiling.
When this is a hard requirement, optional T-Bar hangar accessories from third-party companies such
Erico and Cooper can be used (Figure 24). The Erico Caddy 512a or the Cooper B-Line BA50a or similar
T-Bar Grid T-Bar hangars can be used.
For more information see:
www.erico.com
www.cooperindustries.com

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Figure 24 Example of how to hang an AP above the ceiling tiles
Note Installing APs above the ceiling tiles should only be done when mounting below the ceiling is not an
option. The tiles must not be conductive; such installations can certainly degrade advanced RF features
such as voice and location, so verify coverage and performance. Always try to mount the AP as close to
the inside middle of the tile as possible, and avoid areas with obstructions (Figure 25).
Figure 25 Installing AP above ceiling tiles: Pick an area clear of obstructions, avoid ceiling clutter