ZyXEL Communications ZyAIR B-5000 User manual

ZyAIR B-5000
Outdoor Access Point & Bridge
Quick Installation Guide
Version 1.5.8.200
April 2004

ZyAIR B-5000 Quick Installation Guide
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Table of Contents
1 Introducing the ZyAIR .................................................................................................................................2
2 Applications .................................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Access Point Application .....................................................................................................................3
2.2 Wireless Bridge Application ................................................................................................................4
3 Connections..................................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Outdoor Access Point & Bridge and Inline Power Injector Ports ........................................................5
3.2 Outdoor Access Point & Bridge Bottom Panel Connections ...............................................................6
3.3 The Inline Power Injector Back Panel..................................................................................................7
3.4 The Inline Power Injector Front Panel .................................................................................................7
3.5 Making the Connections ......................................................................................................................8
4 Hardware Installation .................................................................................................................................10
4.1 Antenna Mast/Antenna Requirements................................................................................................10
4.2 Grounding .......................................................................................................................................... 11
4.3 What is Lightning Protection? ...........................................................................................................11
4.4 Why is Additional Protection Recommended? ..................................................................................11
4.5 Unpacking the ZyAIR........................................................................................................................11
4.6 Mounting the ZyAIR..........................................................................................................................12
4.7 Power Connections ............................................................................................................................14
4.8 Attaching Antennas ............................................................................................................................16
5 Troubleshooting.........................................................................................................................................18

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1 Introducing the ZyAIR
The following Quick Installation Guide gives information on the hardware connections and mounting of
your ZyAIR B-5000.
The ZyAIR Outdoor Access Point & Bridge provides excellent wireless performance. The ZyAIR extends
the range of your existing wired network without any additional wiring efforts. The ZyAIR gives you the
flexibility of being able to use one device for either of these powerful functions.
 As an Access Point (AP), the ZyAIR can be used to allow wireless stations to access your wired
LAN. The ZyAIR also offers highly secured wireless connectivity to your wired network with
IEEE 802.1x, WEP data encryption and MAC address based access control. It is perfect for
providing outdoors broadband Internet access. The excellent RF performance means that the users
do not need to be inside the same building or even in the same block.
 The ZyAIR can also function as a bridge or router to provide a wireless backbone connection
between two or more buildings.
Rugged die-cast, watertight construction, built-in lightening protection, and grounding make the ZyAIR
perfect for outdoors applications.
It is easy to install and configure the ZyAIR. The embedded web-based configurator includes a wireless
link test that helps you to align the device. The web-based configurator and SNMP network management
feature allows remote configuration and management of your ZyAIR. The Power over Ethernet (PoE)
feature means that power can be delivered to the ZyAIR over an Ethernet line. This allows you to mount the
ZyAIR in areas where there are no nearby power sources.
The following chapter introduces application examples of what you can do with your ZyAIR.

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2 Applications
Here are application examples for your ZyAIR.
2.1 Access Point Application
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can use the ZyAIR (Z) to provide wireless Internet access to users that are
outdoors or in different buildings. A company with many employees working outdoors can also use the
ZyAIR to extend the existing network without expensive network cables. Wireless stations can move freely
anywhere in the coverage area and use resources on the wired network (see Figure 1). The ZyAIR is
connected to an antenna, through an inline power injector (P) and through a hub, switch or router to the
network.
Figure 1 - Access Point Application

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2.2 Wireless Bridge Application
You can use the ZyAIR as a bridge or router to form a wireless point-to-point or point-to-multipoint
backbone connection.
With the bridge mode, you configure each ZyAIR to act as either a central bridge or a remote bridge. For
point-to-multipoint applications, all communications between network systems go through the central
bridge. See Figure 2 for an example. The headquarters ZyAIR is the CB (central bridge). The ZyAIRs A
and B are remote bridges at branch offices. The CB ZyAIR routes or bridges all communications between
the ZyAIRs. The ZyAIR is connected to an antenna, through an inline power injector (P) and through a hub,
switch or router to a network.
Figure 2 - Wireless Bridge Application
Please see the section on example scenarios in Part I and IV of the ZyAIR User’s Guide for more
information on network topologies.

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3 Connections
The following section introduces the hardware connections for the ZyAIR.
3.1 Outdoor Access Point & Bridge and Inline Power Injector
Ports
1. This is the special Ethernet port for connecting the MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet cable.
2. This is the special serial port for connecting the MIL-C-5015 style RS-232 console port cable.
3. This is the grounding port
Figure 3 - ZyAIR Hardware Casing
4. These are the special N-Type connectors for connecting the antenna or an RF cable.
5. The POWER & DATA OUT port on the inline power injector is used for connecting the other
end of the MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet cable.
6. The DATA IN port on the inline power injector is used for connecting the Ethernet cable to a hub,
switch, router or a computer.

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Figure 4 – Casing Antenna Ports Figure 5 – ZyAIR Inline power injector
3.2 Outdoor Access Point & Bridge Bottom Panel Connections
Figure 6 - Special Ethernet Cable Connections
Table 1 - Side Panel and Connections
LABEL DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION
Outdoor
Ethernet
Connector Port
Use the included 30M MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet cable to connect the ZyAIR to the inline
power injector. These ports are auto-negotiating and auto-crossover (automatically
adjusts to the type of Ethernet cable you use (straight-through or crossover)).
Console Port Use the included MIL-C-5015 style RS232 console port cable to connect the ZyAIR to the
console port on your computer for initial ZyAIR configuration.

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3.3 The Inline Power Injector Back Panel
Figure 7 - Inline Power Injector Back Panel
Table 2 - The Inline Power Injector Back Panel
LABEL DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION
AC IN 100 ~
240V
Connect the end of the included power cord to this power socket.
After you’ve made the connection, connect the power cable to a power supply and look at the front panel
POWER LED.
The POWER LED turns steady on when the power cord is connected.
3.4 The Inline Power Injector Front Panel
Table 3 - The Inline Power Injector Front Panel
LABEL DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTION
POWER &
DATA OUT
Connect the RJ-45 Ethernet connector end of the MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet cable to this
port.
DATA IN Use an Ethernet cable to connect this port to a Local Area Network (LAN). This port is
auto negotiating (can connect at 10 or 100Mbps) and auto-crossover (automatically
adjusts to straight-through or crossover).
The ACTIVE LED turns steady on when the ZyAIR is connected to this port.

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Figure 8 - Inline Power Injector Front Panel
3.5 Making the Connections
Before installing your Outdoor Access Point & Bridge system in a hard-to-reach location, we recommend
that you configure and test all the devices first.
Follow the quick steps below for installation of the Outdoor Access Point & Bridge:
3.5.1 Procedure for Making the Connections
Step 1. With the unit turned off, attach the dipole antenna to the antenna connector as shown
in Figure 9.
Do not over-tighten the antennas. Position the antenna vertically for the best
omni-directional signal reception.
POWER
ACTIVE

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Figure 9 - Installation Layout
Step 2. Attach the MIL-C-5015 style (RS-232) console cable to the serial port adapter. Connect the
other cable end (DB9 female) to a terminal or a PC running a terminal emulation program.
Step 3. Connect the female end of the power cord to the inline power injector, and then connect the
male end of the power cord into a power outlet or power strip. The POWER LED on the front
of the Inline power injector should turn on.
Step 4. Run the Ethernet cable (included in your package) from DATA IN port (on the front panel of
the inline power injector) to the Ethernet port on a computer.
Step 5. Connect the MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet connector to the special Ethernet port on the bottom of
the ZyAIR.
Step 6. Connect the RJ-45 Ethernet connector (the other end of the special Ethernet cable) into the
POWER & DATA OUT port on the front of the inline power injector.
When the ZyAIR receives power over the Ethernet cable, the ZyAIR will start its boot sequence and the
ACTIVE LED on the front of the Inline power injector will turn on.
You can configure the ZyAIR using the HTML browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
from a remote host or PC. See Part I of your ZyAIR User’s Guide for a quick setup guide.

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4 Hardware Installation
In general, the best location for the access point is at the center of your intended wireless coverage area. It is
recommended that you do the initial configuration of the ZyAIR prior to mounting.
The Outdoor Access Point & Bridge device can be mounted on the side of a building or mounted to an
antenna mast as described:
A wall (side) mount allows for mounting an antenna (mast) on the side of a building or on the side of an
elevated penthouse. This will provide a convenient mounting location when the roof overhang is not
excessive and/or the location is high enough to provide a clear line of sight.
An antenna couples RF signals onto air. A transmitter within a wireless device sends an RF signal to the
antenna, which propagates the signal through the air. The antenna also operates in reverse by capturing RF
signals from the air.
Choosing the right antennas and positioning them properly increases the range and coverage area of a
wireless LAN.
In most situations mounting an antenna directly to the wall will not allow you to properly align the antenna
with the corresponding antenna at the opposite end of your wireless link. As poor alignment will typically
result in poor performance, we advise you to always mount the Outdoor Access Point & Bridge to a mast.
4.1 Antenna Mast/Antenna Requirements
To accommodate the ZyAIR, the mast must satisfy the following requirements:
 The construction of the mast must be of a sturdy, weatherproof and non-corrosive material, for
example, galvanized or stainless steel construction pipe.
 Typical diameter of the mast should be between 35 mm (1.4”) and 41 mm (1.625”). Subject to the
type of mast that you intend to install, other diameters are possible.
 The height of the antenna mast must be sufficient to allow the antenna to be installed at least 1.5 m
(5’) above the peak of the roof. If the roof is metal, then the height of the antenna should be a
minimum of 3m (10’) above the roof.
 The mast or wall-bracket must be free from any substance that may prevent a good electrical
connection with the antenna, for example, paint.

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4.2 Grounding
A safe grounding system is necessary to protect your outdoor installation from lightning strikes and the
build-up of static electricity.
Direct grounding of the antenna mast, Outdoor Access Point & Bridge and Surge Arrester are very
important. The ZyAIR has a built in Surge Arrester. The ZyAIR should be connected to the same grounding
system as the antenna mast and the AC wall outlet.
The grounding system must comply with the National Electrical Code and safety standards that apply in
your country. Always check with a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether your outdoor
installation is properly grounded.
4.3 What is Lightning Protection?
All outdoor electronic equipment is susceptible to lightning damage. Proper grounding to national and local
codes is instrumental in providing human safety. Lightning Protection is used when a customer wants to
maximize the reliability of the electronic system by diverting the excess energy that can be induced on any
transmission lines (data, power) though a series of surge protection devices. The energy is dissipated
through heat and is also diverted to the ground.
4.4 Why is Additional Protection Recommended?
Lightning, even with the built-in protection, can still damage ZyAIR equipment. This can occur for any
number of reasons, such as an improperly grounded installation or if the amount of transient energy from
nearby lightning exceeds what the devices can handle.
If the ZyAIR unit fails due to damage from lightning, the link is out-of-service until the unit is replaced or
repaired. An external, reverting protection device can provide a higher level of protection, and greater
probability of surviving lightning strikes without damage to the ZyAIR equipment.
4.5 Unpacking the ZyAIR
The ZyAIR’s shipping box should be left intact and sheltered until arrival at the installation site. If the
shipping container shows signs of damage, immediately notify the transportation company. Upon receipt,
inspect contents to make sure that there are no missing or damaged parts (see Packaging Specifications in
the appendix of the ZyAIR User’s Guide).
Retain all the packing materials (including all internal boxes). In the unlikely event that the equipment must
be returned, use the original packing materials for return shipment. The packing materials are also
recommended for transporting the equipment from location to location.

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4.6 Mounting the ZyAIR
Make sure the screws are securely fixed to the wall or mast and strong enough to
hold the weight of the ZyAIR with the connection cables.
4.6.1 ZyAIR Mast Mounting
You can mount the outdoor component of your ZyAIR directly to a pole with an outside diameter of
37.5mm ~ 62.5mm (1.5” ~ 2.5”).
To assemble the ZyAIR mast mounting components:
Step 1. Insert the U-bolt into the mast-mounting bracket and attach the two nuts with one lock
washer and one split-lock washer.
Figure 10 - U-Bolt and Mast Mounting Bracket
Step 2. Insert the two screws into the sides of the first mast-mounting bracket to fix the ZyAIR
to the mast-mounting bracket.

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Figure 11 - Mounted ZyAIR, Back Panel
4.6.2 ZyAIR Wall Mounting
To assemble the ZyAIR wall mounting components:
Step 1. Place the ZyAIR face down on a flat surface.
Step 2. Attach the wall mounting bracket to the back of the ZyAIR using the four screws, four
lock washers and four split-lock washers.
Figure 12 - Wall Mounting Brackets
Step 3. Refer to the following figure and mount the ZyAIR on the wall.

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Figure 13 - Mounted ZyAIR
4.7 Power Connections
Step 1. Connect the power cord to the inline power injector, and then connect the male end of the power
cord into a power outlet or power strip. The POWER LED on the front of the inline power
injector should turn on.
Figure 14 – Inline Power Injector, Power Outlet

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Step 2. Run the Ethernet cable from the DATA IN port (on the front of the inline power injector) to the
Ethernet port on a computer.
Figure 15 - Ethernet Cable With Inline power injector
This connection is required for setting up initial configuration information. After
configuration is completed, this cable will be removed, and then you should run
an Ethernet cable from the Data In port (on the front of the Inline power injector)
to the LAN connection (such as to a hub, bridge or directly into a patch panel).
Step 3. Connect the MIL-C-5015 style Ethernet connector into the special Ethernet port on the bottom
of the ZyAIR.
Figure 16 - MIL-C-5015 Style Ethernet Connector

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Step 4. Connect the RJ-45 Ethernet connector (the other end of the special Ethernet cable) into the
POWER & DATA OUT port on the front of the inline power injector.
Figure 17 - Power & Data Out Port
Step 5. Connect the antennas or RF cables to the ZyAIR’s two antenna ports.
4.8 Attaching Antennas
Follow the steps below to connect the supplied 5dBi Omni-direction rubber antennas.
Step 1. Locate the antenna connectors on the top of your ZyAIR.
Step 2. Screw the antennas clockwise onto the antenna connectors. The antennas should be
perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other.
Figure 18 - Antenna Attached

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4.8.1 Antenna Alignment
For optimal performance of your wireless link, make sure that the antennas are properly aligned (facing one
another “eye-to-eye”). To align the antennas:
 Use a pair of binoculars and/or a map of the area and compass to point the antennas to one another.
 Optimize antenna alignment if required, by making small modifications in the antenna orientation.
 Alternatively, consult a professional antenna installation service to optimize the antenna alignment.
Omni-directional antennas are characterized by a wide radiation pattern. Therefore alignment of this type of
antennas is less critical than for directional antennas.
For omni-directional antennas mounted on a table, desk, and so on, point the antenna up. For omni-
directional antennas mounted on a wall or ceiling, point the antenna down. For a single AP application,
place omni-directional antennas as close to the center of the coverage area as possible.
For directional antennas, point the antenna in the direction of the desired coverage area.
4.8.2 Connector Type
The ZyAIR is equipped with a Reverse Polarity-N type jack, so it will work with any 2.4GHz wireless
antenna with a Reverse Polarity-N type connection.
Make sure the antennas are securely screwed onto the antenna connector
The outdoor Router/Bridge antenna cabling systems can be identified by Reverse
Polarity-N connectors (pictured in following)
Figure 19 – Antenna Connectors
For more information on antennae, see the User’s Guide appendix.

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5 Troubleshooting
Table 4 Troubleshooting
PROBLEM CORRECTIVE ACTION
The POWER and/or
ACTIVE LED are
off on the inline
power injector.
Make sure the power cord is connected into an adequate power supply and that the
power supply is turned on.
Disconnect and Connect the ZyAIR to the power supply. If the error persists, you may
have a hardware problem. In this case, you should contact your vendor.
The ACTIVE LED
on the inline power
injector is off.
Check the cable connection to the ZyAIR special Ethernet port.
Make sure your computer’s network card is working properly.
I cannot ping any
computer on the
LAN.
If all of the inline power injector LEDs are off, check the cables between the ZyAIR
and your computer or hub.
I cannot access the
Internet.
Make sure the ZyAIR is connected to the network.
Make sure you entered your username correctly. A username may be case-sensitive.