Firetide FWB-205 User manual

Firetide
2011-01-25 Preliminary Version 2.0
The contents of this User Guide are subject to change without notice.
Please refer to the Firetide partners web site, partners.retide.com, for current versions.
User Guide
FWB-205
Wireless Bridge

2 Firetide FWB-205 Wireless Bridge User Guide January 2010
Chapter 1. Installation
The FWB-205 Kit is shown in Figure 1. Each kit includes two radio modules, two MIMO antennas,
RF cables, Ethernet PoE injector/powersupplies, and mounting hardware.
Installation requires these tools:
• 1/2-inch open-end wrench
• 7/16-in open-end wrench
• 3/8-inch open-end wrench
• Phillips screwdriver
• Channel-lock or slip-joint pliers
• RJ-45 crimping tool and male plug
• Waterproong tape or mastic for RF connections.
The assembly must be grounded. If the mast is not already properly grounded, you will need ap-
propriate grounding hardware. Consult local codes.
Figure 1. FWB-205 Kit Contents
The FWB-205 units have three antenna connectors for each radio. Each FWB-205 unit should
be installed with its antenna on a sturdy pole or mast. It does not matter whether you install
the antenna rst or the radio unit rst. In all cases, antennas should be installed by a qualied
professional. Outdoor installations MUST have code-approved grounding and lightning-protection
systems.

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Antenna Installation
An assembled and mounted antenna is shown in Figure 2. The mounting systems consists of a pole
clamp assembly, a pivot link, and an antenna bracket. These are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Mounted Antenna
Figure 3. Pivot Link; Pole Clamp Assembly; Antenna Bracket
Begin assembly by attaching the pivot link to the pole clamp assembly, as shown at left in Figure
3. Use a at washer under the bolt head, and under the nut use a at washer and lock washer.
Next, attach the pole clamp assembly to the pole, as shown at center in Figure 3. Again, use a at
washer under the bolt heads, and under the nuts use a at washer and lock washer.
Mount the antenna bracket to the antenna such that the mounting lug is horizontal when the top
of the antenna is up, as shown at right in Figure 3. Antenna polarizations must match between the
two ends of a link.

4 Firetide FWB-205 Wireless Bridge User Guide January 2010
Installing the Radio Unit
The radio unit mounts with a two-piece mounting assembly. One half of the assembly is perma-
nently attached to a pole or wall; the second half, on the radio itself, hooks over the rst.
Figure 4. Two-Piece Radio Mounting Plate Assembly
Hooks (4) Hook Attachments
(4)
Radio Unit with
Mounting Plate
Plate for Pole
or Wall Mount
The FWB-205 is shipped with a two-piece mounting plate already attached, as shown in Figure 5.
Loosen the four fasteners, two on each side, to remove the hook-attachment plate. The captive
screws are tight; you will need channel-lock or slip-joint pliers.
Figure 5. Radio and Mounting Plate Assembly, As Shipped
Captive Screws (4)

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Attach two U-bolt assemblies to the mounting pole, as shown in Figure 6. The U-bolts are large
enough to accomodate large poles; if you are mounitng on a smaller-dialmeter pole, you must
either cut the U-bolts to length or use four additional spacer nutes, as shown at right in Figure 6.
Figure 6. U-Bolt Attachment to Pole, Spacer Nuts on U-Bolts
Now you can hang the radio unit on the bracket, and tighten the four captive screws.
Connecting the Antennas
Connect the radio unit to the antenna using the supplied cables. The cables are equipped with
lightning-arrestor units, and should be installed with the arrrestors connected to the radio unit,
not the antennas. This is shown at left in Figure 7.
Figure 7. Cable-to-Radio Connections; Completed Installation

6 Firetide FWB-205 Wireless Bridge User Guide January 2010
Cable connection pattern is critical. You must use the Radio 2 antenna connectors; these are on
the right side of the unit when viewed from the front. The panel antennas included with the FWB-
205 are ‘handed’; the individual antenna connections on the radio unit must be connected to the
antenna in a specic way, and it is slightly different on each end of the link.
On one end of the link, connect the three antenna leads as shown in red. On the other end, con-
nect them as shown in green. Not that this reverses connections 2 and 3; this preserves matching
antenna polarization
Figure 8. Antenna Connections
11
23
32
The nal step is to fabricate the weatherproof Ethernet connect. Thread the cable as shown, and
then attach it to the FWB-205 radio unit.
Figure 9. Ethernet Cable Fabrication

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Chapter 2. Initial Setup for the FWB-205
Initial Setup & Login
The FWB-205 units are sold in pairs. and each pair has been programmed at the factory to work
with each other. Installation of the devices should only be done by qualied and experienced
personnel. Outdoor installation involves many safety hazards, including electrocution, lightning
strikes, and falls. Please be careful.
In all cases, test and congure the units before mounting it on the pole or mast. Set the two units
up on the bench and apply power. Wait about 1-2 minutes for the units to boot up and establish a
radio connection.
Each unit has a label, as shown, which identies the unit and its partner. Connect your computer
to the power insertion unit which feeds the lower-numbered member of the pair.
MO 3 2 4 0 8 0 6 0 0 0 1 6 7
MO 3 2 4 0 8 0 6 0 0 0 3 9 1
192.168.224.161
192.168.224.162
FWB nodes are paired, or “married”, at the factory. Within each pair, the unit with the lower serial
number is assigned IP address 192.168.224.161, and the unit with the higher serial number is as-
signed IP address 192.168.224.162. You can change these addresses if desired.
Congure the computer to have an IP address on the subnet 192.168.224.0/24. When you power
up the two units on the bench, they will usually connect. The LEDs should look like .
Figure 10. LED Pattern for Normal Operation
Connect to the unit labeled with the 192.168.224.161 IP address. Point the browser at
https://192.168.224.161. IE8 is the preferred browser, but most other common browsers will also
work. Note: it is a secure web connection (https) not a conventional connection (http).
You will be asked for a login and password; the defaults are admin and retide. You should change
these when you congure the FWB units. Proceed to set the country code.
Website Security Certicate Warning
Website security certicate warnings may occur. Accept Continue with the Website prompts when
they occur.

8 Firetide FWB-205 Wireless Bridge User Guide January 2010
Chapter 3. Radio and System Settings
Radio and System settings include Link Conguration (RF settings), Node Conguration (IP and
network settings), Node Management Settings, Node Status, and Firmware Upgrade commands.
Link Conguration
Operating Country
Firetide FWB-205 nodes require that you enter the country of operation to ensure compliance
with the channel limitations, indoor/outdoor restrictions, and license requirements of your region.
Selecting a country other than where you are using the device may result in illegal operation and
may cause harmful interference to other systems. The node will reboot after you click Apply to set
the country code.
Link Radio Settings
Link Status shows whether or not the two devices connected successfully. If the two nodes did
not connect with each other, you must connect to and point your browser at the second node, at
https://192.168.224.162. Log in as before, and set its country code. The nodes should connect.
If not, check the radio settings on each node, and make sure the two nodes are set to the same
channel and operating mode (a, n, etc).
Conguration options include: Wireless Mode, Channel, Auto Selection of Channel and Extended
Range. Wireless Mode settings include: 11a, 11a static turbo, and 11n-20MHz and 11n-40MHz.
Extended Range can be set from 0 to 9 miles (0 to 14.5 km). Increasing the range setting does not
actually increase the range or power of the radios. Rather, it affects the timing of pauses between
packets. Longer links require longer pauses. Set this parameter to be greater than the path length.
A too-short setting will result in frequent collisions and reduced throughput.
Click Apply to save settings.

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Link Basic Settings
Link Basic Settings include Multicast Data Rate, Fragmentation Threshold, and Management VLAN
Settings.
The multicast data rate can be set from 1 Mbps up to 54 Mbps. Per the original 802.11 standard,
many WiFi systems automaticlly slow down when sending multicast trafc, to maximize the likeli-
hood of all recipients receiving the signal. In a point-to-point conguration this is not necessary,
thus a setting of 54 Mbps is recommended.
The fragmentation threshold is generally best left at the default setting of 2346. Management VLAN
status can be enabled or disabled. If enabled, select the appropriate management VLAN number.
Click Apply to save settings.
Link Security Settings
Link Security Settings provide support for encryption. The default is Enabled, WPA2-PSK.

10 Firetide FWB-205 Wireless Bridge User Guide January 2010
Node Conguration
IP Address Settings
Congure node IP address settings here. Enter the node IP address, IP Net Mask, and Gateway IP
address. Click Apply to save settings.
Basic Radio Settings
Radio settings used by the node are displayed on this page. Node settings for Modulation Data Rate
and Transmission Power can be selected. Click Apply to save settings.
Node Management
User Settings
Congure users with conguration privileges here by adding User Name and Password.