NETGEAR AirBridge WBC502 Manual

Hardware Installation Guide
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveFebruary 2020
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-12059-01

Support and Community
Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest
downloads.
You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at
community.netgear.com.
Regulatory and Legal
Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français
canadien à https://downloadcenter.netgear.com/other/.
(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at
https://downloadcenter.netgear.com/other/.)
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy-policy/.
By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at
https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions/. If you do not agree, return the
device to your place of purchase within your return period.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR, and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Revision History
CommentsPublish DatePublication Part
Number
First publication.February 2020202-12059-01
2
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction
Overview................................................................................................6
Features.................................................................................................7
Safety instructions and warnings........................................................8
Chapter 2 Hardware Overview
Front panel..........................................................................................12
Back panel with status LEDs..............................................................13
Bottom panel with Ethernet ports....................................................15
Power adapter.....................................................................................16
RJ-45 ports for 10/100/1000M BASE-T Ethernet connectivity.....17
Reset button........................................................................................18
Chapter 3 Applications
Applications overview........................................................................20
Extend your network to a detached site..........................................21
Provide a WiFi Internet connection to a detached, independent
network................................................................................................23
Centrally manage video surveillance networks located at different
sites.......................................................................................................25
Provide long-range WiFi service to outdoor clients......................27
Provide a WiFi connection to an outdoor device that is not
WiFi-capable.......................................................................................29
Chapter 4 Installation
Step 1: Determine the site-to-site distance or required coverage
area.......................................................................................................32
Step 2: Prepare the site......................................................................34
Step 3: Unpack the AirBridge...........................................................35
Step 4: Set up the WiFi connection between a master and a
satellite.................................................................................................36
Step 4a: Set up the WiFi connection on the master at the main
site....................................................................................................36
Step 4b: Set up and establish the WiFi connection on the satellite
at the main site...............................................................................37
3

Step 4c: Reestablish the WiFi connection on the satellite at the
detached site..................................................................................39
Step 5: Mount the AirBridge.............................................................40
Mount the AirBridge to a wall......................................................40
Mount the AirBridge to a pole.....................................................41
Step 6: Manage the AirBridge and WiFi network...........................42
Chapter 5 Hardware troubleshooting
Hardware troubleshooting chart......................................................44
The satellite at a detached site does not reestablish a WiFi
connection with the master...............................................................45
4
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

1
Introduction
This hardware installation guide is for the NETGEAR Insight Instant Wireless AirBridge
WBC502.
The AirBridge can provide an outdoor, long-distance, WiFi connection in a
master–satellite configuration that lets you extend your main network to a detached
site. You can also use the AirBridge as a long-range, outdoor access point or client
bridge.
This hardware installation guide complements the installation guide that came with your
AirBridge. This chapter serves as an introduction to the AirBridge and includes the
following sections:
• Overview
• Features
• Safety instructions and warnings
Note: This device must be professionally installed. It is the installer’s responsibility to
follow local country regulations, including operations within legal frequency channels,
output power, and DFS requirements. The vendor, reseller, or distributor is not
responsible for illegal wireless operations. For more details, see the device’s terms and
conditions.
Note: For more information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the
support website at netgear.com/support/.
Note: For technical specifications, see the data sheet at
netgear.com/business/products/wireless/premium-wireless. For AirBridge
documentation, visit netgear.com/support/download/.
5

Overview
The AirBridge is intended for environments where you need to extend your network to
another building or across a large outdoor campus or field when no wired network
infrastructure is available.
The AirBridge can provide a long distance, high performance, IEEE 802.11ac WiFi
connection in the following setups:
•Single master to single satellite. Point-to-point setup between two AirBridges in
a configuration with a single master and single satellite with a long-distance reach
of up to 1.8 miles (3 km). This setup requires a line of sight between the main and
detached sites.
•Single master to multiple satellites. Point-to-multipoint setup between multiple
AirBridges in a configuration with a single master and up to four satellites with a
long-distance reach of up to 1.8 miles (3 km). This setup requires a line of sight
between the main and detached sites.
•Outdoor access point. A setup that allows for a long-range WiFi reach in which an
AirBridge functions as an access point that provides connections to WiFi clients,
client bridges, or both.
•Outdoor client bridge. A setup in which an AirBridge functions as a client bridge,
providing a network connection to a wired device, such as an IP surveillance camera.
The client bridge connects to the main network through a backhaul WiFi connection
to a WiFi access point.
Note: For information about application samples, see Applications on page 19.
You can mount the AirBridge outside to a wall or pole and provide power to the
AirBridge through an Ethernet cable that is connected to the provided power adapter,
which must be installed indoors. The AirBridge integrates a high-gain directional antenna
for a line of sight connection to other AirBridges or WiFi clients.
The AirBridge provides two 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 LAN ports for network
connections (see Bottom panel with Ethernet ports on page 15). One LAN port must
be connected to the provided power adapter (see Power adapter on page 16). Use
Category 5e (Cat 5e) or higher-rated Ethernet cables terminated with RJ-45 connectors
to make Gigabit connections.
The AirBridge provides administrative management options that let you configure,
monitor, and control the AirBridge and the WiFi network:
•Using the local browser user interface (UI) you can configure the AirBridge and set
up a WiFi connection between two or more units in any of the supported operation
modes.
Hardware Installation Guide6Introduction
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

For more information, see the user manual, which you can download from
netgear.com/support/download/.
•Using NETGEAR Insight, you can set up a pair or a group of AirBridges, with one
AirBridge functioning as the master and one or more other AirBridges functioning
as satellites.
For more information about NETGEAR Insight, visit netgear.com/insight and see the
NETGEAR knowledge base articles at netgear.com/support.
Features
The AirBridge supports the following key features:
•2.4 GHz dedicated radio for the management SSID
•5 GHz radio with 2x2 MU-MIMO for the support of 802.11ac/a/n WiFi clients
•WPA-PSK and WPA2-Enterprise WiFi security
•Advanced features such as WiFi output power level control, traffic shaping, and
realtime RSSI indication
•Automatic site survey to detect BSSIDs and SSIDs
•2 Gigabit Ethernet ports for network connections
(For more information, see Bottom panel with Ethernet ports on page 15 and Power
adapter on page 16.)
•Includes the following mounting hardware:
- Wall mounting screws and anchors
- Pole mounting strap
(For more information, see Step 5: Mount the AirBridge on page 40.)
•Full compatibility with IEEE switching standards:
- IEEE 802.3 Ethernet
- IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-T
- IEEE 802.3ab 1000BASE-T
- IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging
-IEEE 802.3x Full-duplex flow control
-IEEE 802.1p Class of Service (QoS)
- IEEE 802.1D Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
- IEEE 802.1x RADIUS network access control
Hardware Installation Guide7Introduction
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

•AutoSensing, autonegotiating capabilities, and Auto Uplink technology for the LAN2
Ethernet port.
(For more information, see Bottom panel with Ethernet ports on page 15 and RJ-45
ports for 10/100/1000M BASE-T Ethernet connectivity on page 17.)
Safety instructions and warnings
Note: This device must be professionally installed. It is the installer’s responsibility to
follow local country regulations, including operations within legal frequency channels,
output power, and DFS requirements. The vendor, reseller, or distributor is not
responsible for illegal wireless operations. For more details, see the device’s terms and
conditions.
Use the following safety guidelines to ensure your own personal safety and to help
protect your system from potential damage.
To reduce the risk of bodily injury, electrical shock, fire, and damage to the equipment,
observe the following precautions:
•This product is designed for outdoor use but can be used indoors too. However,
the power adapter must be installed indoors. For more information, see the
environmental specifications in the user manual or the data sheet.
•Power the product only with an Ethernet cable that is connected from the LAN1 port
to the PoE port on the supplied power adapter. Do not use any other power source
such as a PoE switch. The LAN1 port is not a standard PoE port. Using any other
power source could damage the device.
•Do not service the product except as explained in your system documentation. Some
devices should never be opened.
•If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the product from the electrical outlet
and replace the part or contact your trained service provider:
- Depending on your device, the power adapter, power adapter cable, power
cable, extension cable, or plug is damaged.
-An object fell into the product.
- The product was dropped or damaged.
-The product does not operate correctly when you follow the operating
instructions.
•Do not push any objects into the openings of your system. Doing so can cause fire
or electric shock by shorting out interior components.
•Use the product only with approved equipment.
Hardware Installation Guide8Introduction
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

•If applicable to your device, allow the product to cool before removing covers or
touching internal components.
•Operate the product only from the type of external power source indicated on the
electrical ratings label. If you are not sure of the type of power source required,
consult your service provider or local power company.
•To avoid damaging your system, if your device uses a power supply with a voltage
selector, be sure that the selector is set to match the power at your location:
-115V, 60 Hz in most of North and South America and some Far Eastern countries
such as South Korea and Taiwan
- 100V, 50 Hz in eastern Japan and 100V, 60 Hz in western Japan
-230V, 50 Hz in most of Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East
•Be sure that attached devices are electrically rated to operate with the power available
in your location.
•Depending on your device, use only a supplied power adapter or approved power
cable:
If your device uses a power adapter:
-If you were not provided with a power adapter, contact your local NETGEAR
reseller.
-The power adapter must be rated for the product and for the voltage and current
marked on the product electrical ratings label.
If your device uses a power cable:
-If you were not provided with a power cable for your system or for any
AC-powered option intended for your system, purchase a power cable approved
for your country.
-The power cable must be rated for the product and for the voltage and current
marked on the product electrical ratings label. The voltage and current rating of
the cable must be greater than the ratings marked on the product.
•To help prevent electric shock, plug the system and peripheral power cables into
properly grounded electrical outlets.
•If applicable to your device, the peripheral power cables are equipped with
three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or
remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use
a three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.
•Observe extension cable and power strip ratings. Make sure that the total ampere
rating of all products plugged into the extension cable or power strip does not
exceed 80 percent of the ampere ratings limit for the extension cable or power strip.
Hardware Installation Guide9Introduction
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide

•To help protect your system from sudden, transient increases and decreases in
electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power
supply (UPS).
•Position system cables, power adapter cables, or power cables carefully. Route
cables so that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over. Be sure that nothing rests
on any cables.
•Do not modify power adapters, power adapter cables, power cables or plugs. Consult
a licensed electrician or your power company for site modifications.
•Always follow your local and national wiring rules.
Failure to follow these guidelines can result in damage to your NETGEAR product, which
might not be covered by NETGEAR’s warranty, to the extent permissible by applicable
law.
Hardware Installation Guide10Introduction
Insight Instant AirBridge WBC502 Hardware Installation Guide