Proxim Skyline User manual

Skyline 802.11a Access Point
User's Guide
Skyline

Copyright
© 2001 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. Covered y one or more of the following U.S.
patents: 5,231,634; 5,875,179; 6,006,090. This user’s guide and the software descri ed in it are
copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this pu lication may e reproduced, transmitted,
transcri ed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form y any means
without the written permission of Proxim, Incorporated.
Trademarks
Skyline, the Skyline logo, 2X, Proxim, and the Proxim logo are trademarks of Proxim, Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Limited Warranty, Disclaimer, Limitation Of Lia ility
For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase y the retail customer, Proxim warrants the Skyline
802.11a Access Point against defects in materials and workmanship. Proxim will not honor this warranty
if there has een any attempt to tamper with or remove the product’s external foil la el.
This warranty does not cover and Proxim will not e lia le for any damage or failure caused y misuse,
a use, acts of God, accidents, or other causes eyond Proxim’s control, or claim y any entity other than
the original purchaser.
If, after inspection, Proxim determines there is a defect, Proxim will repair or replace the Skyline 802.11a
Access Point at no cost to you. To return defective merchandise to Proxim please call Proxim Technical
Support 1-408-731-2780 to o tain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) num er.
In no event shall Proxim, Incorporated e responsi le or lia le for any damages arising:
•From the use of the product
•From the loss of use, revenue or profit of the product
•As a result of any event, circumstance, action, or a use eyond the control of Proxim, Inc.
Whether such damages e direct, indirect, consequential, special or otherwise and whether such
damages are incurred y the person to whom this warranty extends or a third party.
Warranty Return Policy
If you have a pro lem with the Skyline 802.11a Access Point, please call Proxim Technical Support at
1-408-731-2780. Proxim Technical Support will assist with resolving any technical difficulties you may
have with your Proxim product.
After calling Proxim Technical Support, if your product is found to e defective, you may return the
product to Proxim after o taining an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) num er. The product must
e returned in its original packaging. The RMA num er should e clearly marked on the outside of the
ox. Proxim cannot e held responsi le for any product returned without an RMA num er, and no
product will e accepted without an RMA num er.
FCC WARNING
This equipment has een tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasona le protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in
a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can e determined y turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference y one or more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
•Increase the separation etween the equipment and the receiver.
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that which the receiver is
connected.
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is su ject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Skyline 802.11a Access Point User’s Guide
Part # 2050.0470
Rev. A

3
Table o f Co n te nt s
Chapter 1 - Introduction .................................................................................. 5
System Requirements ....................................................................................6
The Product Package .....................................................................................6
Access Point Overview ................................................................................... 7
Top Panel LEDs ........................................................................................ 7
Status LED ......................................................................................... 7
Wireless LED ......................................................................................8
Ethernet LED ......................................................................................8
Rear Panel ...............................................................................................8
Ethernet Port ......................................................................................8
Ethernet Link/Activity LED ..................................................................8
Power Port .........................................................................................8
Wireless Network Topologies .........................................................................9
Connecting to a Single AP ........................................................................9
Roaming Between Multiple Access Points .............................................. 10
Guidelines for Roaming .....................................................................11
The IEEE 802.11a Specification ..................................................................... 12
Chapter 2 - Installation .................................................................................. 13
Pre-installation Considerations .................................................................... 13
Regulatory Warnings .............................................................................. 13
FCC Guidelines ................................................................................. 13
Radio Frequency Interference Requirements ..................................... 13
Installation .................................................................................................. 14
Chapter 3 - Configuration .............................................................................. 15
Connecting to the Access Point .....................................................................15
Using the Access Point’s We Configuration Tool ..........................................17
Status Ta ................................................................................................... 18
Software Version .............................................................................. 18
Physical Address .............................................................................. 18
Configure Ta .............................................................................................. 19
Network ................................................................................................. 19
Use DHCP ......................................................................................... 19
IP Address .......................................................................................20
Su net Mask ....................................................................................20
Gateway IP Address .........................................................................20
Radio .....................................................................................................20
Ena le 2X Mode ............................................................................... 21
Channel ........................................................................................... 21
SSID ................................................................................................ 21
Send Rate ........................................................................................ 21
WEP Security ....................................................................................22

4
Dynamic WEP Key Entry ....................................................................22
Ena le Repeat ..................................................................................22
Fragmentation .................................................................................. 23
RTS/CTS ........................................................................................... 23
Security .................................................................................................24
System Access ....................................................................................... 25
Statistics Ta ...............................................................................................26
Radio Statistics ......................................................................................26
Transmit Statistics ...........................................................................26
Receive Statistics ............................................................................. 27
Ethernet Statistics ................................................................................. 27
Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting .......................................................................... 29
LED Error Codes ...........................................................................................29
Range ..........................................................................................................30
Common Pro lems and Solutions ................................................................ 31
Appendix A - Technical Specifications ............................................................. 32
Technical Specifications .............................................................................. 32
Parameters .................................................................................................. 33
Appendix B - Technical Support ...................................................................... 34
Appendix C - Installation Options .................................................................... 35
Ceiling Mount ........................................................................................ 35
Wall Mount ............................................................................................36
Index............................................................................................................ 38

5
Chapter 1
Introduction
The Skyline 802.11a Access Point provides a high-speed connection etween a wired
10Base-T/100Base-TX Fast Ethernet network and an 802.11a wireless network. The
Skyline 802.11a Access Point works with computers equipped with 802.11a wireless
adapters to create an Infrastructure network. This network allows properly configured
802.11a wireless clients to access the features of an existing wired network. In larger
environments, more than one Skyline 802.11a Access Point can e used, allowing
802.11a clients to roam from one to the other seamlessly, while maintaining the same
network connection.
In addition to complying with the IEEE 802.11a standard for wireless networking
devices, the Skyline 802.11a Access Point also supports wireless encryption (WEP),
DHCP, Access Control and 2XTM mode, which provides data rates of up to 108 M ps.
The Skyline 802.11a Access Point’s we configuration tool makes setup and
management easy.
Proxim is the pioneer in wireless road and networking. Proxim’s unmatched
expertise in radio networking technology, com ined with the company’s extensive
experience serving the communication needs of the mo ile computing user, have
kept Proxim at the forefront of the wireless LAN market.

Introduction 6
System Requirements
To egin using the Skyline 802.11a Access Point, you must have the following items
installed on your local network:
• A 10Base-T Ethernet or 100Base-TX Fast Ethernet switch or hu
• At least one computer with an 802.11a adapter installed
The Product Package
Each Skyline 802.11a Access Point package includes:
• One Skyline 802.11a Access Point with two integral antennas that provide
antenna diversity
• One power adapter (12V, 1 Amp)
• One Skyline CD-ROM containing this user’s guide as a Porta le Document Format
(PDF) file
• One Skyline 802.11a Access Point Quick Start Guide
• One warranty registration card
If any of these items are missing or damaged, please contact your reseller or Proxim
Technical Support.

Introduction 7
Access Point Overview
Skyline 802.11a Access Point Model 4040
To p P a n e l L E D s
The top panel LEDs are (from left to right) the Status, Wireless and Ethernet LEDs.
Status LED
The Status LED gives information a out the Access Point, as outlined in this ta le.
Status LED
LED Behavior Indication
Off Unit not powered on
Lit solid am er Unit is initializing
Blinking am er Unit needs new firmware
Lit solid green Unit is operational
Blinking red Pro lem with unit

Introduction 8
Wireless LED
The Wireless LED links green when the Access Point receives data packets over the
wireless network.
Ethernet LED
The Ethernet LED links green when the Access Point receives data packets over the
Ethernet port.
Rear Panel
Ethernet Port
This port connects the Access Point to your 10/100Base-TX Ethernet network using a
straight-through Ethernet ca le.
Ethernet Link/Activity LED
The Link LED is lit solid green when the Access Point is connected at 100 M ps to the
Ethernet network, and lit solid am er when connected at 10 M ps. It will link to
indicate activity on the Ethernet network.
Power Port
Connect the power supply for the Skyline 802.11a Access Point to the power port on
the ack panel. The voltage range for the Access Point’s power connector is 10-26
VDC. Proxim recommends that you use only the Class 2 power supply (12V, 1 Amp)
provided with the Skyline 802.11a Access Point.

Introduction 9
Wireless Network Topologies
The Skyline Access Point is used to extend the capa ility of an existing Ethernet or
wired network to devices on the 802.11a wireless network. The 802.11a devices can
connect to a single Access Point, or several Access Points can e configured to form a
single network over a large area, allowing wireless clients to roam from one Access
Point to another.
Connecting to a Single AP
Mo ile clients equipped with 802.11a wireless adapters are configured to operate in
Infrastructure mode and have the same SSID and security settings as the Access Point
in use on the Ethernet network.

Introduction 10
Roaming Between Multiple Access Points
For larger environments, Skyline 802.11a client devices may roam from one Skyline
802.11a Access Point to another while maintaining the same network connection. The
802.11a Access Points esta lish coverage areas or cells similar in concept to those of
a cellular phone network. The mo ile clients will connect to any 802.11a Access Point
that is within range.
Each Skyline 802.11a Access Point within a roaming network must e configured to
use the same SSID and security settings (if applica le), ut with a unique,
independent Channel for each Access Point.
Mo ile clients equipped with 802.11a wireless adapters are configured to operate in
Infrastructure mode and have the same SSID and security settings as the Access
Points. Alternatively, the mo ile client may use an SSID of “any” to associate with any
availa le Access Point, regardless of the Access Point’s SSID.
As the mo ile client seamlessly switches from cell to cell, its network connectivity is
preserved. The user can move freely etween the Skyline 802.11a Access Points in the
network. When the roaming client leaves the transmission range of one 802.11a
Access Point, the software automatically polls the other 802.11a Access Point(s) in the
same Extended Service Set (ESS) to continue the network connection.
Note: The cells must overlap to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage so that
the roaming client will always have a connection availa le.

Introduction 11
Guidelines or Roaming
• An 802.11a client can only roam etween 802.11a Access Points. An 802.11a cli-
ent cannot communicate with 802.11 Access Points.
• All 802.11a Access Points must have the same SSID.
• All workstations with 802.11a client adapters installed must use either an SSID of
“any” or the same SSID as the Access Points that they will roam etween.
• All 802.11a Access Points and clients must have the same security settings to
communicate.
• The Access Points’ cells must overlap to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage
and to ensure that the roaming client will always have a connection availa le.
• All Access Points in the same vicinity should use a unique, independent Channel.
• Access Points that use the same Channel should e installed as far away from
each other as possi le to reduce potential interference.

Introduction 12
The IEEE 802.11a Specification
In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) adopted the 802.11
standard for wireless devices operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency and. This standard
includes provisions for three radio technologies: direct sequence spread spectrum,
frequency hopping spread spectrum, and infrared. Devices that comply with the
802.11 standard operate at a data rate of either 1 or 2 M ps.
In 1999, the IEEE modified the 802.11 standard to support devices operating in the
5 GHz frequency and, calling this new standard “802.11a.” 802.11a devices are not
ackwards compati le with 2.4 GHz 802.11 or 802.11 devices. 802.11a radios use a
radio technology called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to
achieve data rates of up to 54 M ps.
In addition, the Skyline 802.11a Access Point supports 2XTM Mode. This mode is not
part of the IEEE 802.11a specification ut it allows data rates of up to 108 M ps. See
“Ena le 2X Mode” on page 21 for details.

13
Chapter 2
Installation
This chapter descri es how to install a Skyline 802.11a Access Point.
Pre-installation Considerations
Regulatory Warnings
FCC Guidelines
It is the responsi ility of the installer and users of the Skyline 802.11a Access Point to
guarantee that the antenna is operated at least 20 centimeters from any person. This
is necessary to insure that the product is operated in accordance with the RF
Guidelines for Human Exposure which have een adopted y the Federal
Communications Commission.
Radio Frequency Inter erence Requirements
The Skyline 802.11a Access Point operates in the frequency range of 5.15 to 5.35 GHz;
it is restricted to indoor use due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency
range. FCC 15.407(e) requires that the device e used indoors in the frequency range
of 5.15 to 5.25 GHz to reduce the potential for harmful interference to co-channel
Mo ile Satellite systems. Therefore the device should e used indoor only for
channels 36, 40, 44 and 48 and when 2X mode is ena led, channels 42 and 5o. High
power radars are allocated as primary users of the 5.25 to 5.35 GHz and 5.65 to 5.85
GHz and. These radar stations can cause interference with and/or damage the
Skyline 802.11a Access Point.

Installation 14
Installation
Determine the est location for the Skyline 802.11a Access Point using the following
considerations:
• The length of the Ethernet ca le that connects the Access Point to the network
must not exceed 100 meters.
• Place the Access Point indoors, on a flat, sturdy surface as far from the ground
as possi le, such as on top of a desk or ookcase, keeping clear of metal
o structions and away from direct sunlight.
• Try to centrally locate the Access Point so that it will provide coverage to all of
the wireless devices in the area.
• Install indoors on an elevated, flat, sturdy surface away from metal o struc-
tions and direct sunlight.
• Place in a central location to allow optimal coverage to all computers on the
wireless network.
1. Place the Access Point in the desired location. If you want to mount the Access
Point to a wall or ceiling, see “Installation Options” on page 35 for instructions.
2. Use a straight-through Category 5 Ethernet ca le to connect the Ethernet port on
the rear panel of the Skyline Access Point to a hu or switch on your
10/100Base-TX Ethernet network.
3. Use the provided power supply to connect the Skyline 802.11a Access Point to a
working power outlet. Use only the power supply that came in your Skyline
Access Point package.
4. The Link LED on the rear panel will light to indicate that the unit has a network
connection. The LED is green if connected to a 100Base-TX network and am er if
connected to a 10Base-T network.
5. Use the Access Point’s we configuration tool to edit its operating parameters.
See “Configuration” on page 15.

15
Chapter 3
Con iguration
After installing the Access Point as descri ed in Chapter 2 eginning on page 13, use
the Skyline Access Point’s we configuration tool to change or confirm the
configuration of the 802.11a network.
Connecting to the Access Point
1. Determine what computer you will use to connect to the Skyline 802.11a Access
Point’s we configuration tool. Use a computer connected to the same Ethernet
network as the Access Point, or a computer equipped with an 802.11a wireless
adapter.
2. Configure the computer you have chosen with an IP Address in the 169.254.0.0
range, so it will e on the same IP network as the Skyline Access Point. An IP
Address is printed on the underside of each Skyline Access Point.
• Open the Network Control Panel of the computer and locate the TCP/IP entry
for the network device you are using to connect the computer to the network.
• Click the Properties utton.
• Click the IP Address ta and configure it as follows:
• IP Address: Enter 169.254.0.x, where x is any num er from 1 to 254. For
example, if the IP Address of the Access Point is 169.254.16.205, configure
the computer with an IP Address of 169.254.0.1. Each computer on the local
network needs a distinct IP Address.
• Subnet mask: Enter 255.255.0.0
• Click OK and restart the PC if prompted.

Configuration 16
3. If you are using a computer equipped with an 802.11a wireless adapter, e sure it
is configured to connect to an Access Point as follows:
• SSID: default or any
• Mode:Infrastructure
• WEP:disaled
4. Open a we rowser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 on the computer.
5. In the Address or Location ox, enter the IP Address of the Skyline Access Point
(such as 169.254.16.205) and hit Enter. The Access Point’s IP Address is printed
on the underside of the unit.
6. The Status screen of the Skyline Access Point’s we configuration tool appears.
See the following pages for instructions on using the we configuration tool.

Configuration 17
Using the Access Point’s Web Configuration Tool
Navigate through the we configuration tool using the ta s at the top of each screen.
The parameters for each configuration screen are descri ed in this chapter.
1. Access the we configuration tool as descri ed in“Connecting to the Access
Point” on page 15.
2. The Status screen appears.
3. Click the Con igure ta at the top of the screen.
4. You will e prompted for a User Name and Password.
5. Enter any User Name (or leave the field lank).
6. Enter the word de ault as the password. The field is case and space sensitive.
Note: You can change the Password at any time using the System Access feature of
the we configuration tool (see page 25).
7. Use the ta s at the top of your screen to navigate through the utility and change
or confirm the Access Point’s configuration. Configuration options are descri ed
in this chapter eginning on the next page.
8. When finished, click the Submit or Apply utton at the ottom of the screen to
save the changes. The changes will take effect immediately, except for the
Network parameters, which will not take effect until the Access Point is re ooted.

Configuration 18
Status Tab
The Status ta displays the Access Point Status screen, which gives information a out
the Access Point.
So tware Version
This field reports the Flash Code version installed on the Access Point. Periodically,
Proxim makes new Flash Code availa le for Access Points on Proxim’s We site. You
can update an Access Point’s Flash Code using an Access Point upgrade tool (which
will e posted on Proxim’s We site with new Flash Code versions). If you are
experiencing a pro lem with your equipment, a Proxim Technical Support
representative may ask you to report the device’s Flash Code version.
Physical Address
A Skyline 802.11a Access Point’s physical address is assigned at the factory and
cannot e changed y the end user. The physical address or MAC address is a 48- it
unique identifier assigned to each networking device. The physical address is
commonly written as six pairs of two hexadecimal digits separated y colons (for
example, 00:06:80:00:10:cd).

Configuration 19
Configure Tab
The Configure ta displays the Configuration screens, which offer options for the
Access Point’s Network, Radio, Security and System Access parameters.
Network
This screen is where you can set DHCP and assign IP Address information to the
Access Point. You can configure the Access Point in one of three ways:
• Ena le DHCP so that the Access Point can receive a dynamic IP Address from a
DHCP server on the same network.
• Use the assigned default IP Address of 169.254.x.y that the Access Point was
given at the factory. This IP Address is printed on the underside of the unit along
with its serial num er and physical (or MAC) address.
• Manually assign the Access Point a static IP Address.
Use DHCP
If you have a DHCP server on the same network as the Access Point, set the Use DHCP
option to “Yes” so that the Access Point can receive an automatic IP Address
assignment. If you want to assign the Access Point a static IP Address, set the Use
DHCP option to “No” and configure an IP Address, Su net Mask, and Gateway IP
Address for the Access Point.

Configuration 20
IP Address
Enter an IP Address into the field provided to assign a static IP Address.
Subnet Mask
Enter a Su net Mask in the field provided to assign a static Su net Mask.
Gateway IP Address
Enter the IP Address of a network gateway in the field provided to assign a static
default Gateway IP Address.
Radio
The Radio configuration screen offers dynamic configuration fields for the 802.11a
wireless network including ena ling 2X mode, setting the Access Point’s SSID and
configuring WEP.