Cisco Meraki CW9163E User manual

CW9163E Installation Guide
About this Guide
This guide provides instructions on installing and configuring your CW9163E access point. This guide also provides mounting instructions and limited
troubleshooting procedures. For more wireless installation guides, refer to our documentation website's wireless installation guides section.
Product Overview
The Cisco Wireless CW9163E is an outdoor-rated, enterprise-class 802.11ax cloud-managed access point. The AP is equipped with tri-band concurrent radios
geared towards low/medium density applications. It will work with different external antennas for required directivity.
It features 2x2 tri-band traffic radios (2x2 2.4 G z + 2x2 5 G z + 2x2 6 G z), 1x1 tri-band scanning radio, and a 2.4 G z IoT radio for (BLE/Zigbee/Thread etc).
It also has an inbuilt GNSS receiver for 6 G z AFC compliance.
Physical Specifications
Dimensions and Weight
Interfaces
• 1x 10/100/1000/2.5G BASE-T Ethernet (RJ45)
• Four external N-type female antenna connectors
Antennas
• CW-ANT-O1-NS-00 (Direct Attach Omni Directional Antenna, tri-band)
• CW-ANT-D1-NS-00 (tri-band Patch, two 2.4 / 5 G z dual-band ports and Two 5 / 6 G z ports (Total 4 antenna ports)
• CW-ANT-GPS2-00 (L1/L5 Dual Band R CP GNSS antenna (active))
Power
• 802.3at PoE
• 802.3af (degraded performance mode)
• Injectors Supported:
◦ AIR-PWRINJ6 [30 W rated single-port PoE injector]
◦ AIR-PWRINJ7 [65 W rated single-port PoE injector (802.3bt), mGig Ethernet]
1

◦ MA-INJ-4 [30 W rated single-port PoE injector]
◦ MA-INJ-6 [60 W rated PoE injector (802.3bt), mGig Ethernet]
◦ AIR-PWRINJ-60RGDMG [37 W rated power injector]
Note: Actual power consumption may vary depending on the AP usage.
Note: The power injector provides DC voltage to the AP over the Ethernet cable and supports a total end-to-end Ethernet cable length of 100 m (328
ft) from the switch to the AP
Environment
• IP67 Environmental rating
• Up to 100/165 mph wind (sustained/gust)
• Operating temperature:
◦ -40° to +65° C
Security
• Four security screws
• Two mounting straps
• Supports secure boot
Package Contents
The CW9163E package contains the following:
•Quick install guide
•Regulatory compliance and safety information
•CW9163E Cloud-Managed Access Point
•Mount Plate, MA-MNT-MR-16
•Support bracket
•Grounding cable
•Gift Box
◦Mounting straps
◦Ground lug
◦RJ-45 Field termination gland
◦Waterproof cap
◦Antenna tape
2

◦Oxide inhibitor paste (Find purpose)
Product View and Physical Features
Your CW9163E has the following physical features:
3

The mount cradle has the following physical features:
A, C, E, G- Antenna port
B- Grounding post
D- GPS Antenna port
F- Mounting slots
- Ethernet/ Console ports
I- Positive reset cap (Covers access to rest button)
J- LED indicator
LED Indicator
The CW9163E is equipped with a multi-color LED on the bottom edge of the unit to convey information about system functionality and performance:
•Orange - AP is booting (permanent Orange suggests hardware issue)
•Rainbow - AP is initializing/scanning
•Blinking Blue - AP is upgrading
•Green - AP in Gateway mode with no clients
•Blue - AP in Gateway mode with clients
•Blinking Orange - AP can't find uplink
The CW9163E may be operated in “Run Dark” mode for additional security and to reduce the visibility of the access point. In this mode, the LED will not be
illuminated. This mode may be enabled through the Meraki Dashboard.
Ethernet Port
The CW9163E features one PoE 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port which can be sealed with a cable gland for outdoor operation.
The ethernet port accepts 802.3at power and should be used as the primary uplink to your LAN/WAN.
4

Powering Options:
Power
mode
PoE
Class Eth0 2.4GHz 5GHz 6GHz
max RF
power
ch0/ch1
Scan BLE GNSS (tracking)
1 AF 1 Gbps 1x1 1x1
off
22 dBm off off on
2 AT 2.5 Gbps 2x2 2x2 2x2 21 dBm on on on
Mount plate attachment slots
The mounting slots located on the rear shell of the CW9163E marry to the 4 mounting posts on the mounting plate, securely fastening the CW9163E to the
mounting plate.
Grounding post
The grounding post is located on the left side of the CW9163E unit. Using the included grounding lug, ground the unit to mitigate lightning and other adverse
electrical events.
Factory reset button
Using a flathead screwdriver, remove the reset cap to access the reset pinhole. If the pinhole push button is pressed and held for at least five seconds and then
released, the CW9163E will reboot and be restored to its original factory settings by deleting all configuration information stored on the unit.
Understanding the CW9163E mount plate
The MA-MNT-MR-16 mount plate will ship with the installation kit.
MA-MNT-MR-16
Note: The CW9163E will operate utilizing 802.3af in degraded mode. Please reference the power table below for the expected performance.
5

A- Wall mount slots
B- Vertical pole strap slots
C- Mount plate security screw
D- Mount plate attachment posts
E- orizontal pole strap slots
F- Release tab
AIR-MNT-VERT1
Note: The CW9163E is compatible with the AIR-MNT-VERT1 mounting plate. Refer to the below diagrams on mounting plate specifications.
6

A- Wall mount slots
B- Mount plate attachment screw
C- Release tab
D- Mounting posts
Mounting holes A (4x)
The mounting holes located on the 4 outermost corners of the MA-MNT-MR-16 mounting plate allow secure installation of the mounting plate to a surface such
as a wall.
Vertical orientation mounting strap slots B (2x)
The vertical orientation mounting strap slots located in the middle of the mounting plate secure the mounting plate to a vertical pole using the included mounting
straps.
Mount plate attachment screw C
The mount plate attachment screw is located at the bottom of the MA-MNT-MR-16 mounting plate. It securely attaches the AP to the mounting plate.
7

Mounting posts D (4x)
The mounting posts are located in the middle of the MA-MNT-MR-16 mounting plate, secure the CW9163E to the mounting plate via mounting slots on the AP.
Horizontal orientation mounting strap slots E (2x)
The horizontal orientation mounting strap slots located in the middle of the MA-MNT-MR-16 mounting plate secure the mounting plate to a horizontal pole using
the included mounting straps.
Release tab F
The release tab is located at the bottom of the MA-MNT-MR-16 mounting plate. Press down the release tab to when detaching the AP to unlock.
Safety and Warnings
These operations are to be taken with respect to all local laws. Please consider the following for safe operation:
•Power off the unit before you begin. Read the installation instructions before connecting the system to the power source.
•Before you work on any equipment, be aware of the hazards involved with electrical circuitry and be familiar with standard practices for preventing
accidents.
•Read the wall-mounting instructions carefully before beginning installation. Failure to use the correct hardware or to follow the correct procedures could
result in a hazardous situation to people and damage to the system.
•This product relies on the building’s installation for short-circuit (overcurrent) protection. Ensure that the protective device is rated not greater than 15 A,
125 Vac, or 10A, 240 Vac.
•Please only power the device with the provided power cables or standard PoE to ensure regulatory compliance.
Pre-Install Preparation
You should complete the following steps before going on-site to perform an installation.
Configure Your Network in Dashboard
The following is a brief overview of the steps required to add a CW9163E to your network. For detailed instructions about creating, configuring, and managing
wireless networks, refer to the online documentation (documentation.meraki.com/mr).
1. Login to http://dashboard.meraki.com. If this is your first time, create a new account.
2. Find the network to which you plan to add your APs or create a new network.
3. Add your APs to your network. You will need your Cisco Wireless order number (found on your invoice) or the serial number of each AP, which looks like
Qxxx-xxxx-xxxx, and is found on the bottom of the unit. You will also need your Enterprise license key, which you should have received via email.
4. Go to the map / floor plan view and place each AP on the map by clicking and dragging it to the location where you plan to mount it.
Check and Upgrade Firmware
To ensure your CW9163E performs optimally immediately following installation, it is recommended that you facilitate a firmware upgrade prior to mounting your
CW9163E.
8

1. Attach your CW9163E to PoE-enabled wired Internet connection. See the "Power the CW9163E" section for details.
2. The CW9163E will turn on, and the LED will glow solid orange. If the unit does not require a firmware upgrade, the LED will turn either green (no clients
associated) or blue (clients associated) within thirty seconds.
* If the unit requires an upgrade, the LED will begin blinking blue until the upgrade is complete, at which point the LED will turn solid green or blue. You should
allow at least a few minutes for the firmware upgrade to complete, depending on the speed of your internet connection.
Check and Configure Firewall Settings
If a firewall is in place, it must allow outgoing connections on particular ports to particular IP addresses. The most current list of outbound ports and IP addresses
for your particular organization can be found here.
Assigning IP Addresses to CW9163E
All gateway CW9163E (CW9163E with Ethernet connections to the LAN) must be assigned routable IP addresses. These IP addresses can be dynamically
assigned via D CP or statically assigned.
Dynamic Assignment (Recommended)
When using D CP, the D CP server should be configured to assign a static IP address for each MAC address belonging to an AP. Other wireless network
features, such as 802.1X authentication, may rely on the property that the APs have static IP addresses.
Static Assignment
Static IPs are assigned using the local web server on each AP. The following procedure describes how to set the static IP:
1. Using a client machine (e.g., a laptop), connect to the AP wirelessly (by associating to any SSID broadcast by the AP) or over a wired connection.
2. If using a wired connection, connect the client machine to the CW9163E either through a PoE switch or a PoE Injector. If using a PoE switch, plug an
Ethernet cable into the CW9163E’s Ethernet jack and the other end into a PoE switch. Then connect the client machine over the Ethernet cable to the
PoE switch. If using a PoE Injector, connect the CW9163E to the “PoE” port of the Injector and the client machine to the “LAN” port.
3. Using a web browser on the client machine, access the AP’s built-in web server by browsing to http://my.meraki.com. Alternatively, browse to
http://10.128.128.128.
4. Click on the “Uplink Configuration” tab. Log in. The default login is the serial number (e.g. Qxxx-xxxx-xxxx), with no password (e.g., Q2DD-551C-ZYW3).
5. Configure the static IP address, netmask, gateway IP address, and DNS servers that this AP will use on its wired connection.
6. If necessary, reconnect the AP to the LAN.
Static IP via DHCP Reservations
Instead of associating each CW AP individually to configure static IP addresses, an administrator can assign static IP addresses on the upstream D CP server.
Through “D CP reservations,” IP addresses are “reserved” for the MAC addresses of the CW APs. Please consult the documentation for the D CP server to
configure D CP reservations.
Collect Tools
You will need the following tools to efficiently install the CW9163E.
9

Required Hardware for Installation
You will need the following tools to perform an installation:
•Network cables with RJ45 connectors long enough for your particular mounting location
•802.3at PoE power source (either PoE switch or PoE Injector)
•Connection to the Internet (if you are setting up your CW9163E as a gateway to the Internet)
•Appropriately sized metal straps (if mounting to a pole larger than 3.9” in diameter)
•Screws- should be up to 6 mm in diameter and at least 1 - 1/4 inch length
•Mounting anchors appropriate for installation surface
Installation Instructions
For most mounting scenarios, the MA-MNT-MR-16 provides a quick, simple, and flexible means of mounting the CW9163E. The installation should be done in
two steps. First, install the mount plate to your selected location. Then, attach the CW9163E to the mount plate.
Warning: Due to the heat dissipation in the back of APs during normal operation, please do not stack powered-on APs on top of each other during
pre-installation to avoid heat damage.
10

Choosing a mounting location
A good mounting location is important to get the best performance out of your CW9163E access point. Keep the following in mind:
1. The device should have an unobstructed line of sight to most coverage areas.
2. Power over Ethernet supports a maximum cable length of 300 ft (100 m).
3. If used in a mesh deployment, the CW9163E should have a line of sight to at least two other Meraki devices.
4. The antennas should be as unobstructed as possible. Ensure there is clearance around the CW9163E to install selected antennas.
Attach the mounting plate
The CW9163E mounting plate can be used to attach the AP to wall or solid ceiling mount installations.
1. To mount the AP on the wall, use the mounting bracket as a template to mark the locations of the mounting holes on the bracket.
2. Use a 0.1360-in. [3.4772 mm] bit to drill a pilot hole at the mounting hole locations you marked.
3. Locate the pilot holes, insert a anchors(not included) into each mounting hole, and tighten.
4. Place the mounting bracket over the faster holes and then use screws up to 6 mm in diameter and at least 1 - 1/4 inch length (not included) to tighten it flush
to the wall
The AP is now ready to be mounted on the wall.
Note: It is recommended that the CW9163E be mounted to a wall or solid ceiling using the mounting plate for physical security reasons.
11

Attaching the AP to the mounting plate
1. Align the Mount Plate attachment posts with the mounting holes on the back of the AP.
2. Slide the mounting slots on the back of the AP over the mounting posts on the mounting plate. The AP is securely
attached when an audible click is heard.
3. Tighten the mount plate security screw.
12

Pole mount installation
1. Use the included mounting straps to mount the AP to a pole 2 to 3.9 inches in diameter.
2. Thread the mounting straps through the mounting strap slots to secure the mount plate horizontally or vertically.
13

Secure the pole mount bracket
3. Secure the mounting bracket by tightening the screws of the mounting straps. To tighten, use a flathead screwdriver.
Attaching the AP to the mount bracket
14

4. Slide the mounting slots on the back of the AP over the mounting posts on the mounting plate. The AP is securely attached when an audible click is heard.
5. Tighten the mount plate security screw.
Attaching grounding strap
If the AP is installed outdoors and exposed to the elements, it should be properly grounded to prevent damage to the unit, connected networking equipment, and
the mounting structure.
1. Thread grounding wire into the grounding strap saddle
2. Using a crimper attach the ground wire to the grounding strap
15

3. Connect one end of the grounding strap to the grounding post with included screw and washer. Securely attach the other end to a nearby metal structure.
Antenna Selection
Cisco Wireless offers new Wi-Fi and GNSS outdoor-rated antennas to work with CM63E and future outdoor Wi-Fi APs that work in the 6 G z band. Choose the
antenna based on the install location and designed area of coverage.
The datasheet includes a list of certified antennas. The CW9163E features tri-band antenna ports; thus, tri-band antennas should be paired with the AP. Below
is a highlight of the different antenna types and their applications. It is always best practice to consult with a Cisco SE or partner to select the best antenna for
the unique design.
PID Type Connector Cable length
Note: For more information on how power plays a big role in the performance of outdoor access points, refer to the following:
https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/Wi-Fi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Grounding_Overview_for_Outdoor_Access_Points
Note: The 6 G z antenna port is locked to the following antenna PIDs. Third-party antennas will not operate if inserted into the 6 G z port. For 2.4
G z and 5 G z third-party antennas may be used, but the end customer/partner is responsible for ensuring the operation is within regulatory
compliance.
16

CW-ANT-O1-NS-00 Direct Attach Omni Directional Antenna, tri-
band N-type Male NA
CW-ANT-GPS2-S-00 L1/L5 GNSS patch + SAW + combo-LNA,
active SMA Male 10 ft
Omni Directional
Omni-directional antennas are best for pole mount applications and mesh networks. Use omnidirectional antennas when designing to cover 360 degrees around
the Access Point.
Sector Antenna
Sector antennas are ideal for building mounts as they direct the signal away from the interior spaces of the building and focus the energy to the larger outdoor
space. This antenna type is ideal for outdoor use but may also be used for some mesh network designs.
Patch Antenna
Patch antennas are ideal for APs mounted on a high ceiling and are intended to cover a large space. This antenna type is ideal for warehouses.
Stadium Patch Antenna
A stadium patch antenna is ideal for high-density AP deployments with an expected high user traffic. Examples are in stadiums where 1 AP is designed to cover
a section and an event center with a high user per sqft.
Self-Identifying Antenna Circuitry (SIA)
With Self- Self-identifying antenna circuitry, the CW9163E can automatically detect and configure antenna details like the type of antenna connected and the
antenna’s gain values without user intervention.
Aim Antennas
If using directional antennas, aim them appropriately to ensure optimal performance for your network topography. Omnidirectional antennas perform best in a
mesh network when oriented vertically. Patch and sector antennas should be angled in the direction of the desired coverage area.
Antenna Ports
2x N-Type antenna ports are located at the top of the CW9163E and 2x are located at the bottom of the AP. The 4 antenna ports are connected to 2.4 G z, 5
G z, 6 Ghz client-serving radios, respectively. Please see the markings on the connectors located on the AP to verify the respective 2.4 G z, 5 G z, and 6
G z ports. In order to ensure the highest performance, ensure antennas connected to the 4 ports have overlapping coverage areas.
Port Identification Coloring Port colorings on the N-type male should attach the AP side
Note: Please select the right antenna in dashboard when adding the CW9163E to a network. Maximum TX power will depend on the antenna
selection made.
Note: For more information on Cisco Wireless access point antennas, refer to the following: https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/...eraki_Antennas
17

Port Function Color AP side connector
ANT A 6 G z + SIA Single Yellow
ANT B 6 G z Single Clear
ANT C 2.4&5 G z Single Orange
ANT D 2.4&5 G z + SIA Singe Purple
18

Attaching Antennas
CW-ANT-O1-NS-00
19

1. Remove protective plastic covers from all four N-type RF connectors.
2. Ensure a secure connection between antennas and AP by securing fastening into connectors.
3. Use the markings on the connectors located on the AP to verify the respective 2.4 G z, 5 G z, and 6 G z ports.
To ensure the highest performance, ensure antennas connected to the 4 ports have overlapping coverage areas.
ANT-GPS2-1 Wall Mount Installation
20