FCC ID: IMK-AP5 Wireless LAN Access Point

Harmony 8570 Access Point Technical Description Document # 610.00xx PRODUCT:

The product is a WLAN adapter operating in the 5.15 5.35 GHz band with a maximum TX output power of 50mW. It is a small desktop box with associated wall plug mounted 12VDC power supply, dual external antennas and a 10/100baseT port for connection to standard wired LAN. The peak gain for each antenna is 6dBi. Refer to the manual for MPE statement. This device can either be stand alone connected to an RJ-45 LAN hub port, or be connected to the RJ-45 port of a computing device. USER CONNECTIONS:

There is a single RJ-45 connector supplied for the single 10/100baseT port. The LED next to the RJ-45 changes colors to indicate the different connection speeds and blinks to indicate Ethernet activity. The 12VDC power is connected via a 2.5mm coaxial power connector. TEST CONNECTIONS:

There are two 50 ohm RF ports on the PCA, one for each of the two antenna connections. Each antenna is terminated with a Radiall UMP2.0 snap-on plug. A slide-on version of the plug can be used during FCC certification for conducted measurements. ACCESSORIES:

Proxim P/N 4000.0007 wall mounted unregulated power supply, 100-120V/50-60Hz input, 12V 1A nominal output. Proxim P/N 4000.0030 universal power supply, 100-240V/47-63Hz, 0.8A input, 12V, 1.5A nominal output. Proxim P/N 6001.0124 unshielded twisted pair RJ-45 cable assembly. INTERNAL CLOCK AND RF OSCILLATOR FREQUENCIES:

Processor ASIC Ethernet controller RF synthesizer 33MHz 25MHz PLL frequencies of 40, 80, or 160MHz derived from a 32 MHz oscillator 5180-5320MHz, 20MHz steps 4144-4256MHz 6216-6384MHz 20MHz TX and RX frequencies LO Leakage Mixer Product Baseband bandwidth SIGNAL FLOW:

The memory and Ethernet controller communicate with the processor IC. The MAC/baseband processor integrates the media access control (MAC), the baseband radio functions, A/D and D/A converters, transceiver control functions and a PCI/Cardbus interface. The Ethernet controller and processor ASIC each support their own on board clock oscillators at 25 and multiples of 33MHz to include 100MHz and 200MHz. In transmit, the synthesizer tunes to one of the TX frequencies listed above. Data is initiated at the Ethernet interface. The Ethernet controller processes serial data to the SDRAM which is then processed by the internal PCI controller within the processor IC to the MAC/baseband processor. Current outputs from the DAC of the MAC/baseband processor are low-pass filtered through the external reconstruction filter. The I and Q signals are converted to RF thru a dual-conversion architecture, from baseband to IF and from IF to RF signals. These signals are driven off-chip through a power amplifier, through the antenna switch, and to the antenna connector. Page 1 10/1/01 In receive, the synthesizer tunes to one of the RX frequencies listed above. The receive signal path is from the antenna connector, through the antenna switch, a band pass filter, an LNA, a receive balun, and to the integrated transceiver IC. Inside the transceiver IC, the RF mixer converts the output of the on-chip LNA to an intermediate frequency. The IF mixer converts this signal down to baseband I and Q signals. The I and Q signals are low-pass filtered by the external channel select filters, and amplified by a baseband PGA controlled by digital logic. The baseband signals continue through external anti-alias filters before being sent to the ADC of the MAC/baseband processor. Data at the PCI interface of the MAC/baseband processor is processed by the PCI controller within the processor IC to SDRAM which is then processed by the Ethernet controller to serial data to be sent to the Ethernet interface. Page 2 10/1/01

AP.book Page i Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Harmony Harmony 802.11a Access Point User's Guide AP.book Page ii Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Copyright 2001 Proxim, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. Covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 5,231,634; 5,875,179; 6,006,090. This users guide and the software described in it are copyrighted with all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means without the written permission of Proxim, Incorporated. Trademarks Harmony, the Harmony logo, 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 Liability For a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase by the retail customer, Proxim warrants the Harmony 802.11a Access Point Model 8570 against defects in materials and workmanship. Proxim will not honor this warranty if there has been any attempt to tamper with or remove the product's external foil label. This warranty does not cover and Proxim will not be liable for any damage or failure caused by misuse, abuse, acts of God, accidents, or other causes beyond Proxim's control, or claim by any entity other than the original purchaser. If, after inspection, Proxim determines there is a defect, Proxim will repair or replace the Access Point at no cost to you. To return defective merchandise to Proxim please call Proxim Technical Support 1-408-731-

2640 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. In no event shall Proxim, Incorporated be responsible or liable for any damages arising:

Whether such damages be direct, indirect, consequential, special or otherwise and whether such damages are incurred by the person to whom this warranty extends or a third party. Warranty Return Policy If you have a problem with the Harmony 802.11a Access Point Model 8570, please call Proxim Technical Support at 1-408-731-2640. 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 be defective, you may return the product to Proxim after obtaining an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number. The product must be returned in its original packaging. The RMA number should be clearly marked on the outside of the box. Proxim cannot be held responsible for any product returned without an RMA number, and no product will be accepted without an RMA number. FCC WARNING This equipment has been 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 reasonable 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 be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

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 abuse beyond the control of Proxim, Incorporated Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that which the receiver is con-

nected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Harmony 802.11a Access Point Model 8570 Users Guide Part # 7360.0150 Rev. A AP.book Page i Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM i Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Introduction .......................................................................................1 The Harmony Family ......................................................................................... 2 Requirements ................................................................................................... 3 Package contents ............................................................................................. 3 Access Point Overview ..................................................................................... 4 Top Panel LEDs ........................................................................................... 4 Status LED ............................................................................................ 4 Wireless LED ......................................................................................... 5 Ethernet LED ......................................................................................... 5 Rear Panel .................................................................................................. 5 Ethernet Port ........................................................................................ 5 Ethernet Link/Activity LED .................................................................... 5 Power Port ............................................................................................ 5 Chapter 2 - Installation .........................................................................................7 Pre-installation Considerations ........................................................................ 7 Regulatory Warnings .................................................................................. 7 FCC Guidelines ...................................................................................... 7 Radio Frequency interference requirements ......................................... 7 Installation ....................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 3 - Configuration Parameters ...................................................................9 The IEEE 802.11a Specification ....................................................................... 10 802.11a Access Point Configuration ................................................................. 11 Auto Configure Default Parameters ................................................................ 12 Basic Settings ........................................................................................... 12 AP Name ............................................................................................. 12 Physical Address ................................................................................ 12 Enable AP ........................................................................................... 12 Partnered APC .................................................................................... 12 Channel .............................................................................................. 12 SSID ................................................................................................... 13 IP Addressing ..................................................................................... 13 Security Settings ...................................................................................... 13 WEP Encryption .................................................................................. 13 WEP Keys ............................................................................................ 13 Advanced Settings .................................................................................... 14 Supported Rates ................................................................................. 14 RTS/CTS ................................................................................................... 14 2X Mode ................................................................................................... 14 Roaming Between Access Points..................................................................... 15 Roaming Guidelines ................................................................................. 15 AP.book Page ii Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM ii Chapter 4 - Troubleshooting ...............................................................................17 LED Error Codes .............................................................................................. 17 Common Problems and Solutions ................................................................... 18 Range ............................................................................................................. 19 Appendix A - Technical Specifications .................................................................21 Technical Specifications .................................................................................. 21 Parameters ..................................................................................................... 22 Appendix B - How to Reach Technical Support .....................................................23 Index ................................................................................................................. 25 AP.book Page 1 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 1 Chapter 1 Introduction mode). Thank you for choosing Proxim's Harmony 802.11a Access Point, a member of Proxim's Harmony wireless infrastructure family. The Harmony 802.11a Access Point complies with the IEEE 802.11a wireless standard to provide mobile clients with network connectivity at high speed data rates of up to 108 Mbps (in 2X The Harmony 802.11a Access Point is used in conjunction with a Harmony Access Point Controller as part of a single wireless networking solution that supports all current and future wireless network standards including OpenAir, IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11a simultaneously within a single, homogeneous architecture. A Harmony system which includes Access Point Controllers and Access Points provides centralized management, configuration and security for a wireless network. Proxim is the leading supplier of wireless networking solutions. Proxim's unmatched expertise in spread spectrum radio networking technology, combined with the company's extensive experience serving the communication needs of the mobile computing user, have kept Proxim at the forefront of the wireless LAN market. AP.book Page 2 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Introduction 2 The Harmony Family The Harmony 802.11a Access Point is a member of a product family that provides a complete wireless networking solution. Harmony Access Point Controller Model 7560

, the 802.11b Access Harmony Access Point Harmony Power System Model 7562 802.11a Access Point 8570 OpenAir Access Point Model 7550

. The centralizes the management, security, and filtering capabilities of a wireless LAN. The Access Point (AP) Control-

ler communicates with Harmony Access Points over the Ethernet network to pro-

vide wireless network access for mobile clients. The AP Controller can support multiple Access Points, even if each complies with a different wireless standard. The is a networking bridge that operates at Layer 2 of the OSI networking model. Working in conjunction with a Harmony AP Controller, the AP forwards packets between its radio and the Ethernet network. Three models of the Harmony AP are available to support the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b or OpenAir wireless standards: the Point Models 8550/8551 and the The optional APs over the unused pins of a twisted pair Ethernet cable. The CardBus slot in a laptop computer. It supports IEEE 802.11a wireless standards. The in a laptop computer. The 8430 Series supports the IEEE 802.11b wireless stan-

dards, and the 7430 Series supports OpenAir wireless standards. The CompactFlash slot in a Pocket PC. Two models are available to support the IEEE 802.11b (8630) or OpenAir (7630) wireless standards. The adapter that fits into a standard PCI expansion slot. The LAN adapter that connects to a Windows 98/ME/2000 computers Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into a PCMCIA Type II slot Harmony OpenAir USB Adapter Model 7230 is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into a Harmony 802.11b PCI Card Model 8110 is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into a is an 802.11b-compliant wireless LAN is an OpenAir complaint wireless Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card provides DC power to Harmony Harmony CompactFlash Card Harmony PC Card AP.book Page 3 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Introduction 3 Requirements To begin using the Harmony 802.11a Access Point, you must have the following items installed on your local network:

A Harmony AP Controller A 10Base-T Ethernet or 100Base-TX Fast Ethernet switch or hub At least one 802.11a adapter Package contents Each Harmony 802.11a Access Point package includes:

One Harmony 802.11a Access Point One power adapter (12V, 1 Amp) One Harmony 802.11a Access Point User's Guide One warranty registration card AP.book Page 4 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Introduction 4 Access Point Overview Top Panel LEDs The top panel LEDs are (from left to right) the Status Wireless and Ethernet LEDs. Status LED The Status LED gives information about the Access Point. Table 1: Status LED LED Indication Off Lit solid amber Blinking amber Lit solid green Unit not powered on Unit is initializing or is not partnered with an AP controller Unit needs new firmware Unit is partnered with an AP controller and operational Blinking red Problem with unit AP.book Page 5 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Introduction 5 Wireless LED The Wireless LED blinks green when the Access Point receives data packets over the wireless network. Ethernet LED The Ethernet LED blinks 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-T Ethernet network using a straight-through Ethernet cable. Ethernet Link/Activity LED The Link LED is lit solid green when the Access Point is connected at 100Mbps to the Ethernet network, and lit solid amber when connected at 10Mbps. It will blink to indicate activity on the Ethernet network. Power Port The Harmony 802.11a Access Point requires power from either a Harmony Power System or from an external power supply. If you are not using the Harmony Power System, connect the power supply that came with your Harmony 802.11a Access Point to the power port. Use only the supplied Class 2 power supply (12V, 1 Amp). AP.book Page 6 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM AP.book Page 7 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 7 Chapter 2 Installation The Harmony 802.11a Access Point requires a Harmony Access Point Controller. The AP Controller must be installed on the network before the Harmony Access Point can be installed and configured. See the User Guide that came with your Harmony Access Point Controller for instructions on how to install and configure Access Points on a Harmony network. Pre-installation Considerations Regulatory Warnings FCC Guidelines It is the responsibility of the installer and users of the Harmony 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 been adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. Radio Frequency interference requirements The Harmony 802.11a Access Point Model 8570 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 be used indoors in the frequency range of 5.15 to 5.25 GHz to reduce the potential or harmful interference to co-channel Mobile Satellite systems.Therefore the device should be used indoor only for channel 36, 40, 44 and 48 and when 2X power radars are allocated as primary users of the 5.25 to 5.35 GHz and 5.65 to 5.85 GHz band. These radar stations can cause interference with and/or damage the Harmony 802.11a Access Point. mode is enabled, channel 42 and 50. High AP.book Page 8 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Installation 8 Installation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Determine the best location for the Harmony 802.11a Access Point using the following considerations:

The length of the Ethernet cable 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 possible, such as on top of a desk or bookcase, keeping clear of metal obstruc-

tions 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. Place the Access Point in the desired location. Connect the Ethernet port on the rear panel of the Access Point to a 10/100Base-T network hub, switch, router or patch panel using a straight-through Category 5 Ethernet cable. If you are not using the Harmony Power System to supply power to the Access Point, use the AC power adapter included in the product package to connect the power port on the Access Point to a working power outlet. Use only the power adapter supplied by Proxim in the product package. Using another power supply may damage the Access Point. The Link LED on the rear panel will light to indicate that the Access Point has a network connection. The LED is lit green if connected to a 100Base-TX network, and lit amber if connected to a 10Base-T network. By default, the Harmony 802.11a Access Point will attempt to find an AP Controller to partner with. If you have one or more AP Controllers on the network, an AP Controller will automatically detect and configure the Access Point over the network (assuming you have not disabled the Harmony system's ability to automatically detect new Access Points). Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller User's Guide for more information on how to configure an Access Point. AP.book Page 9 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 9 Chapter 3 Configuration Parameters IP Tunneling The Harmony 802.11a Access Point must be used in conjunction with a Harmony AP Controller. A Harmony system generally consists of one or more Harmony AP Controllers, one or more Harmony Access Points, and one or more mobile clients that have an 802.11a adapter installed. Each Access Point acts as an intermediary between its mobile clients and the AP Controller, converting radio signals into Ethernet packets and vice versa. The Harmony AP Controller handles all of the configuration and management of the Access Points on the network, monitoring Ethernet traffic and determining which packets should be forwarded to mobile clients. An Access Point and Controller use a technique known as to encapsulate packets destined for or sent by mobile clients. Encapsulated packets from the Access Point are destined for the AP Controller's IP address; encapsulated packets from the AP Controller are destined for the Access Point's IP address. A single AP Controller can support a maximum of 10 Access Points (an AP Controller can support more than 10 Access Points but a maximum of 10 Access Points per AP Controller is the recommended configuration for best performance). A network subnet can support up to 10 AP Controllers to form a Harmony system that can be managed using a single user interface. The number of clients that can be supported by one Access Point depends on the amount of information that each client exchanges with the network. Therefore, the number of clients that can be supported by one Access Point will vary based on the applications in use and how frequently network information is accessed. An Access Point and AP Controller do not need to be on the same switch or hub in order to communicate. In addition, Access Points may be installed on different IP subnets from the AP Controller(s) on the local subnet. When a Harmony 802.11a Access Point is connected to the network for the first time, the AP Controller automatically configures it with the AP AutoConfigure Default settings. Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller User's Guide for additional information about AP Controllers and the Harmony architecture. AP.book Page 10 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 10 The IEEE 802.11a Specication 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 band. 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 Mbps. In 1999, the IEEE modified the 802.11 standard to support devices operating in the 5 GHz frequency band, calling this new standard backwards compatible with 2.4 GHz 802.11 or 802.11b devices. 802.11a radios use a radio technology called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) to achieve data rates of up to 54 Mbps. In addition, Proxims Harmony 802.11a products support 2X Mode. This mode is not part of the IEEE 802.11a specification but it allows data rates of up to 108 Mbps. See 2X Mode on page 14 for details. 802.11a devices are not 802.11a AP.book Page 11 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 11 802.11a Access Point Conguration All Harmony Access Points are configured automatically by the AP Controller or manually using the AP Controller interface. See the User Guide that came with your Harmony AP Controller for information about configuring the Access Point. Once an Access Point is added to a Harmony network, an AP Controller on that network will automatically configure it for operation. The AP Controller automatically assigns the Access Point a Channel and configures the other networking parameters using the AP Defaults settings. Once configured, the Access Point should automatically appear as an entry in the AP Controllers Web browser interface. (If not, you may need to manually add it. See Manually Adding a New Access Point section in your AP Controller manual.) Follow these steps to configure one of the Access Point Parameters:

1. Click the plus sign to the left of an AP Controller to view the list of its partnered Access Points. Click the icon that corresponds to the Access Point that you want to configure, as shown in the following example. Edit one or more of the Access Point Parameters. Click Save. Recycle power on the Access Point if you changed any of its IP parameters. 2. 3. 4. 5. AP.book Page 12 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 12 Auto Congure Default Parameters The AP Controllers Web interface lists each Access Point underneath the AP Controller with which it is partnered. (An Access Point that is not currently partnered with an AP Controller listed as an Unregistered AP.) The AP Controller will assign default settings to a new Access Point automatically. These settings can be changed using the AP Controllers Web utility. See your AP Controller manual for more information. The Access Point Configuration Parameters are divided into three categories:

Basic Settings Security Settings Advanced Settings Basic Settings AP Name The AP Controller assigns an AP Name to each Access Point that it automatically detects and configures. By default, the AP Name is the devices physical address, but you can assign a different 21 character name to the Harmony Access Point. Physical Address A Harmony Access Points physical address is assigned at the factory and cannot be changed by the end user. The physical address or MAC address is a 48-bit unique identifier assigned to each networking device. Enable AP AP is enabled by default, which allows the Access Point to operate normally, providing mobile clients with access to the Ethernet network. When disabled, the Access Point cannot partner with an AP Controller or communicate with mobile clients. Partnered APC By default, an Access Point can partner with any AP Controller on the Harmony System. You can change this setting to force new Access Points to partner with a specific AP Controller. If you do not wish to specify which AP Controller on the Harmony System the Access Point should partner with, then leave the default option selected. Any Channel In the United States, the Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card with integral antenna can use eight Channels in 802.11a-compliant mode: Channel 36 (5.18 GHz), Channel 40 (5.20 GHz), Channel 44 (5.22 GHz), Channel 48 (5.24 GHz), Channel 52 (5.26 GHz), Channel 56 (5.28 GHz), Channel 60 (5.30 GHz), and Channel 64 (5.32 GHz). AP.book Page 13 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 13 In the United States, the Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card with integral antenna can use three Channels in 2X mode: Channel 42 (5.21 GHz), Channel 50 (5.25 GHz), and Channel 58 (5.29 GHz). See Radio Frequency interference requirements on page 7 for important regulatory information concerning Channel selection. Radio Frequency interference requirements The Harmony 802.11a Access Point is restricted to indoor use only. FCC 15.407(e) requires this product to be used indoors in the frequency range of 5.15 to 5.25 GHz. Therefore the device should be used indoor only for channel 36, 40, 44, and 48 and when 2X mode is enabled, channel 42 and 50. SSID proxim By default, the Harmony System will configure new Access Points with SSID. The SSID is a string of up to 32 ASCII characters that must match on all communicating 802.11b devices within the same network. All Harmony Access Points and Harmony clients must use the same SSID to allow roaming between Access Points. as the IP Addressing The default setting allows the Access Point to receive an IP Address from a DHCP server (such as an AP Controller) on the local network. Otherwise, enter a static IP Address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway into the fields provided. Security Settings WEP Encryption The IEEE 802.11a standard specifies an optional encryption feature, known as Wired Equivalent Privacy or WEP, that is designed to provide a wireless LAN with a security level equal to what is found on a wired Ethernet network. WEP encrypts the data portion of each packet exchanged on the 802.11a network using a 40-bit, 128-bit, or 152-bit encryption algorithm. By default, WEP Encryption is off. When WEP is enabled, all 802.11a devices within the same Extended Service Set (ESS) or Ad Hoc network must have the same WEP encryption option and WEP Keys to communicate. WEP Keys An 802.11a device with WEP enabled uses a WEP Key to encrypt and decrypt information. If the WEP Keys do not match on two radios, no data communication will take place between these devices. For 40-bit encryption, a WEP Key is 10 hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F); for 128-bit encryption, a WEP Key is 26 hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F); and for 152-bit encryption, a WEP Key is 32 hexadecimal digits (0-9 and A-F). AP.book Page 14 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 14 Advanced Settings Supported Rates By default, Access Points will support all data rates. The IEEE 802.11a specification supports eight data rates: 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, and 6 Mbps. Harmonys 2X mode supports eight data rates: 108 Mbps, 96 Mbps, 72 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, and 12 Mbps. RTS/CTS The 802.11a standard supports optional RTS/CTS communication based on packet size. Without RTS/CTS, a sending radio listens to see if another radio is already using the medium before transmitting a data packet. This helps to minimize collisions. You may configure a Harmony 802.11a AP to never use RTS/CTS or to use RTS/CTS for packets over a certain size. The RTS/CTS Threshold parameter supports a range between 1 and 2345 Bytes. When set to 1, a sending radio will use RTS/CTS before transmitting any packet. By default, RTS/CTS is disabled. 2X Mode By default, 2X Mode is disabled. 2X mode is a high-speed mode to achieve data rates of up to 108 Mbps, twice the speed of standard 802.11a devices. When 2X Mode is disabled, Harmony 802.11a devices comply with the IEEE 802.11a standard and can operate on one of four Channels, achieving speeds of up to 54 Mbps. When 2X Mode is enabled, Harmony 802.11a devices do not comply with the IEEE 802.11a standard, can operate on one of two Channels, and can achieve speeds of up to 108 Mbps. Note:

You must configure all devices in the same network to use 2X mode. A device in 2X mode cannot communicate with a device in 802.11a mode. AP.book Page 15 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Configuration Parameters 15 Roaming Between Access Points A mobile client can roam between Access Points located on different IP networks as long as the Access Points on the remote networks are partnered to an AP Controller on the local network. The client maintains an uninterrupted connection to the network and retains its assigned IP address that is valid on the local subnet. This feature requires that the network administrator configure the AP Controller with a list of subnets used in the facility so the AP Controller and Access Points can communicate with each other across the router. Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller User's Guide for more information. Roaming Guidelines An 802.11a CardBus Card can only roam between 802.11a Access Points. All Harmony 802.11a Access Points must have the same SSID. All workstations with Harmony 802.11a client adapters must have the same SSID as the Access Points that they will roam between. If WEP encryption is enabled, then all 802.11a Access Points and client adapters must use the same encryption level and WEP Key(s) 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 available. All Access Points in the same vicinity should use a unique, independent Channel. Access Points that use the same Channel should be installed as far away from each other as possible to reduce potential interference. AP.book Page 16 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM AP.book Page 17 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 17 Chapter 4 Troubleshooting The Harmony 802.11a Access Point is designed to be very easy to install and operate. However, if you experience difficulties, use the information in this chapter to help diagnose and solve problems. Refer to the Harmony Access Point Controller User's Guide for additional instructions. If you cannot resolve a problem, contact Proxim Technical Support. See How to Reach Technical Support on page 23. If you require assistance to install your local network, Proxim can put you in contact with a Harmony reseller in your area. The reseller is an expert in the design, installation, and maintenance of local networks and will be able to examine your needs and recommend the most cost-effective solution for your local network, whether you are installing a new local network or adding on to an existing one. For the location of the Harmony reseller nearest you, contact Proxim at 1800-229-1630 and ask for the Sales Department. LED Error Codes The Status LED on the top of the Harmony 802.11a Access Point will flash red in a repeating pattern to indicate the following errors:

1 blink................................................Memory error 2 blinks..............................................Flash write error 3 blinks..............................................Ethernet initialization error 4 blinks.............................................. Radio initialization error If you see any of the above flashing sequences, recycle power to the Access Point. If the flashing sequence persists after you have reset the unit, make a note of which of the above patterns you have and contact Proxim Technical Support. AP.book Page 18 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Troubleshooting 18 Common Problems and Solutions Table 2: Troubleshooting steps Problem Solution The Harmony 802.11a Access Point does not automatically register with a Harmony AP Controller. Confirm that the Link LED is on. If the LED is not on, check your connection to the local Ethernet network. Try another Ethernet cable. Try repowering the unit. The Access Point will try to contact an AP Controller during boot-up. If you are using the external AC power supply, you should connect the AP to the Ethernet network before turning on the unit. Try to manually add the Access Point as described in the Harmony Access Point Controller User's Guide. Make sure the CardBus Card is in range. Confirm that the Access Point and CardBus Card have the same SSID. Confirm that the Access Point and CardBus Card have the same Encryption settings, if enabled. Confirm that the Access Point is partnered with an AP Controller. The Status LED will turn solid amber if the unit is initializing or has successfully initialized but could not find an AP Controller to partner with. The Status LED will blink amber if the Access Point requires new firmware. Check Proxim's Web site at http://www.proxim.com/support/. Verify that your Access Points wireless antenna is not blocked by metal or other obstacles. Add another Access Point to the network. No. 802.11a devices are not compatible with 802.11b devices. My 802.11 a CardBus Card will not associate with the Harmony 802.11a Access Point. The Status LED is amber. The throughput seems slow. My office has an existing 802.11b network. Is the Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card compatible?

AP.book Page 19 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Troubleshooting 19 Table 2: Troubleshooting steps Problem Solution I want to install a Harmony 802.11a network in my office that has an existing 802.11b network. Will the 802.11a network interfere with the 802.11b network?

No. 802.11a and 802.11b devices will not interfere with each other since they operate at different frequencies. 802.11a devices operate in the 5 GHz band, and 802.11b devices operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Is the Harmony 802.11a Access Point compatible with 802.11a products from other vendors?

In throughput tests, the 802.11a CardBus Card doesnt seem to transfer data as quickly as Id expect. Yes, the Harmony 802.11a product line is interoperable with 802.11a-compliant products from other vendors. However, the 2X mode which achieves data rates up to 108 Mbps is only compatible with Harmony 802.11a products from Proxim. Data rate is the raw signaling rate of a networking device; it does not equal data throughput. Actual data throughput is always less than the data rate since some of the available bandwidth is used to send control messages and regulate activity over the wireless medium. Also, throughput will depend on several factors such as network overhead, the file transfer program in use, the computers operating system, and the computers processor speed. Range Every environment is unique with different obstacles, barriers, materials, etc., and, therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact range that will be achieved without testing. Radio signals may reflect off of some obstacles or be absorbed by others depending on their construction. The IEEE 802.11a specification supports eight data rates: 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, and 6 Mbps. Harmonys 2X mode supports eight data rates: 108 Mbps, 96 Mbps, 72 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, and 12 Mbps. Operation at 6 Mbps or 12 Mbps provides greater range than operation at 54 Mbps or 108 Mbps. By default, a Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card will automatically adjust the data rate to maintain a usable radio connection. Therefore, a client that is close to an Access Point may operate at 54 Mbps while a client that is on the fringe of coverage may operate at 6 Mbps. AP.book Page 20 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM AP.book Page 21 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 21 Appendix A Technical Specifications The following technical specification is for reference purposes only. Actual products performance and compliance with local telecommunications regulations may vary from country to country. Proxim, Inc. will only ship products that are type approved in the destination country. Technical Specications Network Interface Data Rate Media Access Protocol Ethernet Compatibility Frequency Band Channels Ethernet 10Base-T /100Base-TX 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, 6 Mbps in 802.11a mode; 108 Mbps, 96 Mbps, 72 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps in 2X mode IEEE 802.11a IEEE 802.3, 802.3u 5.15-5.35 GHz (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) 8 in U.S. (802.11a mode); 3 in U.S. (2X mode) Operating Temperature 0C to +50C AP.book Page 22 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM Technical Specifications 22 Parameters Parameter Range Default Use DHCP Yes, No Static IP Address Static Subnet mask Static Gateway IP Address Supported Rates

2X Mode SSID Channel Disable RTS/CTS RTS/CTS Threshold Max Transmit Rate Yes 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 All Disabled proxim None selected Enabled, Disabled Up to 32 characters In 802.11a mode: Channel 36 (5.18 GHz), Channel 40 (5.20 GHz), Channel 44 (5.22 GHz), Channel 48 (5.24 GHz), Channel 52 (5.26 GHz), Channel 56 (5.28 GHz), Channel 60 (5.30 GHz), and Channel 64 (5.32 GHz). In 2X mode: Channel 42 (5.21 GHz), Channel 50 (5.25 GHz), and Channel 58 (5.29 GHz). On/Off 1 to 1245 Off 1245 Automatic (all rates in 802.11a mode) Select maximum transmit rate from among 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, and 6 Mbps in 802.11a mode and from among 108 Mbps, 96 Mbps, 72 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, and 12 Mbps in 2X mode Enable WEP for Encryption Enabled, Disabled Enable WEP for Authentication Enabled, Disabled Key Length WEP Keys 40 Bit, 128 Bit, 152 Bit Up to 4 Keys:

10 hexadecimal digits per key for 40 Bit, 26 hexadecimal digits per key for 128 Bit, 32 hexadecimal digits per key for 152 Bit Disabled Disabled 40 Bit Blank Default Key One of the four configured WEP Keys WEP Key 1 AP.book Page 23 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 23 Appendix B How to Reach Technical Support If you are having a problem using Harmony 802.11a Access Point and cannot resolve it with the information in Troubleshooting on page 17, gather the following information and contact Proxim Technical Support:

What kind of network are you using?

What were you doing when the error occurred?

What error message did you see?

Can you reproduce the problem?

You can reach Proxim Technical Support by voice, fax, e-mail, or mail:

Tel:

Fax:

Web:

E-mail:

Mail 800-477-6946 or 408-731-2640 408-731-3676 http://www.proxim.com/

support@proxim.com Proxim, Inc. Attn: Technical Support 510 DeGuigne Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94085 AP.book Page 24 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM AP.book Page 25 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 25 Index Numerics 2X Mode ............................................................................................................ 14 802.11a Parameters............................................................................................ 11 A Access Point Configuration................................................................................. 11 Access Point Overview ......................................................................................... 4 Advanced Settings ............................................................................................. 14 AutoConfigure Default Parameters..................................................................... 12 B Basic Settings .................................................................................................... 12 C Channel ........................................................................................................ 21, 22 Common Problems and Solutions ...................................................................... 18 Configuration Parameters .............................................................................. 9, 22 D Default configuration ...............................................................................12, 13, 14 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum .................................................................... 10 E ESSID ................................................................................................................ 22 Ethernet LED........................................................................................................ 5 Ethernet Link/Activity LED................................................................................... 5 Ethernet Port ....................................................................................................... 5 F FCC Guidelines .................................................................................................... 7 FCC warnings....................................................................................................... 7 Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum ............................................................... 10 H Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card .................................................................................. 2 802.11b Access Point ................................................................................... 2 802.11b PC Card ........................................................................................... 2 802.11b PCI Card .......................................................................................... 2 AP.book Page 26 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 26 Access Point Controller ................................................................................ 2 OpenAir Products......................................................................................... 2 Power System .............................................................................................. 2 Harmony AP Controller ........................................................................................ 9 I IEEE 802.11a Specification ................................................................................. 10 Infrared .............................................................................................................. 10 Installation ........................................................................................................... 7 Installation location.............................................................................................. 8 Installation requirements .................................................................................... 7 IP Tunneling ........................................................................................................ 9 K Key Length ........................................................................................................ 22 L LED Ethernet....................................................................................................... 5 Ethernet Link ................................................................................................ 5 Status .......................................................................................................... 4 Wireless....................................................................................................... 5 LED Error Codes ................................................................................................. 17 LEDs 4 P Package contents ................................................................................................ 3 Parameters........................................................................................................ 22 Ports and LEDs .................................................................................................... 4 Power Port........................................................................................................... 5 Pre-installation Considerations ........................................................................... 7 R Radio Frequency interference requirements........................................................ 7 Range ................................................................................................................. 19 Rear Panel ........................................................................................................... 5 Regulatory........................................................................................................... 7 Regulatory Information ....................................................................................... ii Regulatory Warnings ........................................................................................... 7 Requirements...................................................................................................... 3 Roaming Between Access Points ........................................................................ 15 AP.book Page 27 Wednesday, October 3, 2001 4:12 PM 27 S Security Settings ............................................................................................... 13 Spread Spectrum ............................................................................................... 10 Status LED........................................................................................................... 4 T Technical Specifications and Compliance........................................................... 21 Technical Support .............................................................................................. 23 Temperature Operating.................................................................................................... 21 The Harmony Family ............................................................................................ 2 Top Panel LEDs .................................................................................................... 4 Transmit Rate ...............................................................................................19, 22 Troubleshooting................................................................................................. 17 Troubleshooting steps ....................................................................................... 18 W Warranty Information .......................................................................................... ii Wireless LED........................................................................................................ 5