Introduction

The QuickBridge is a point-to-point, outdoor, wireless system offering a high-capacity alternative to wired data networks.   Using IP packet radio transmitters, standard Ethernet interfaces, and an easy-to-deploy design, the QuickBridge system enables a broad bandwidth link between two locations.

The product’s principle components are a radio and a power adapter. The radio has a self-contained antenna enclosed in a weatherproof, 10” by 10” container, which can be mounted to the side of a building, on a pole, or on a tower structure.

Power and Ethernet connections are supplied through a UV-protected, CAT5 cable attached to a power adapter. The power adapter should be located either in a weatherproof enclosure located near the radio or inside a building. The radio then can be connected to a switch or hub on your network, or directly to a PC.

Product Highlights

Intended Audience

This book is designed for network engineers and field service personnel who will install, maintain, and troubleshoot the QuickBridge. It assumes that you have an understanding of networks in general, and a basic understanding of the following subjects:

System Requirements

The minimum system requirements for installing and running the QuickBridge Manager are as follows:

Planning for Installation

There are several planning factors to be considered prior to installing the radio system. In addition to selecting the installation site, you must:

Calculate:

Determine:

Plan for:

For detailed information regarding these planning items, see Site Planning.

Installing the QuickBridge System

Perform the following steps in this chapter to install the QuickBridge system:

  1. Gather Required Tools
  2. Unpack the Shipping Box Contents
  3. Pre-assemble Hardware
  4. Connect the Cables
  5. Test Back-to-Back
  6. Install the Software
  7. Setup for Configuration
  8. Mount the Radio Outdoors
  9. Align the Antenna

Step 1.  Gather Required Tools and Materials

You should have the following tools available before installing the Tsunami QuickBridge radios:

Step 2.  Unpack the Shipping Box Contents

The product’s shipping boxes should be left intact and sheltered until arrival at the installation site. Carefully unpack the Tsunami QuickBridge shipment and check for any shipping damage or missing parts. There are two sets of equipment in the box. The following figure depicts the Enclosure A shipping box contents.

The next figure depicts the Enclosure B shipping box contents.

The Tsunami QuickBridge Quick Install Guide and a Documentation and Software CD also are included in the shipment.

Enclosure A Mounting Hardware

Enclosure B Mounting Hardware

Contact Technical Support regarding any missing or damaged parts.

Notes:

  1. If the shipping container shows signs of damage, immediately notify the transportation company. Upon receipt, inspect contents to ensure no parts are missing or damaged.

  2. Save the original shipping boxes to re-use for shipping the equipment back to the factory, for storage, or for re-shipping the equipment to another location.

Step 3.  Pre-Assemble Hardware

Proxim recommends that you pre-assemble the radio mounting hardware on the ground to familiarize yourself with the equipment and check for any possible damaged or missing components before mounting the radios. This includes attaching the mounting bracket and loosely attaching the washers, lock washers, and lock nuts to the radios. Installers having prior installation experience may choose to skip this step and proceed with Step 4.

For outdoor installation, the Tsunami QuickBridge package includes a CAT5e cable. This is a higher grade than a standard cable.

For indoor installation, use either a standard CAT5e or a CAT5 cable when connecting to the PC.

Pre-Assemble Mounting Hardware, Enclosure A

Perform these steps on each radio to pre-assemble the mounting hardware on the radios:

  1. Squeeze the sides of the supplied mounting bracket and slide it inside the pipe clamp assembly until the pins extend into the holes on the side of the assembly.

  2. Insert the two U-bolts into the slots in the mounting bracket and loosely secure them using the bolts, washers, and nuts. Orient the U-bolts so the ends extend outside the mounting bracket.

  3. After you align the radios, you must tighten the U-bolt nuts to secure the radio to its mounting pole. The U-bolts included in the kit fit on a pole with an outside diameter up to 1.75”.


    U-bolts, Washers, and Nuts


    Mounting Bracket Attached to Radio

  4. Insert the two side bolts (#10-32) through the sides of the mounting bracket/pipe clamp assembly and loosely secure them with the bolts and lock washers. These bolts are used later to adjust the unit’s elevation.

Pre-Assemble Mounting Hardware, Enclosure B

Perform these steps on each radio to pre-assemble the mounting hardware on the radios:

  1. Place mounting bracket onto mounting hole on rear of radio unit; insert mounting screw.

  2. Screw locking bolt onto mounting screw.

  3. Raise mounting bracket to proper angle and tighten screw firmly (using a nut driver or a socket wrench.

  4. Place the other mounting bracket section on the two bracket mounting screws and loosely secure them with the bolts supplied. These bolts are used later to adjust the unit’s elevation.

Step 4.  Connect the Cables

When you initially install the radios, you should configure the radios in the same room. A brief overview of the recommended computer/network configuration follows.

An interface cable with an 8-pin DIN connector and a weather-tight RJ45 cable are supplied in the product package. You also can construct your own interface cable. See “Constructing an Interface Cable” in Tsunami QuickBridge Installation and Management for instructions.

The following steps detail how to connect the cables between the radio, power adapter, and your network.

For each radio/power adapter set, perform these steps:

  1. Position the radios approximately 25 feet from each other. Place them on a tabletop or shipping box.

  2. Connect the 8-pin DIN connector on the supplied interface cable to the 8-pin DIN port on the power adapter.

  3. Connect the RJ45 connector on the interface cable to the RJ45 port on the back of the radio. Hand-tighten the connector nut; do not use the wrench to tighten the connector. Connect the other end of the interface cable to the Power Supply Adapter.

     
              Enclosure A                                                                  Enclosure B

  4. Connect an RJ45 connector from a standard CAT5 cable (not supplied) to the RJ45 port on the power supply adapter. Connect the other end of the cable to a switch/hub on your network or directly to a PC.

    To directly connect the radio to a PC, use a straight-through Ethernet cable between the network interface card in the PC and the RJ45 port on the power adapter.

    WARNING!   The maximum length of the CAT5 cable allowed between the radio unit and the power adapter is 75 meters. If you are connecting the radio through a hub or switch, the maximum length of the two CAT5 cables is 75 feet; for example, if the cable between the radio and the power supply is 50 feet, the cable between the power adapter and the PC can be only 25 feet, for a total length of 75 feet.

    Use a cross-over Ethernet cable if connecting the power supply adapter to a switch or a hub.

    If your installed radio is connected to a switch or a hub, connect your PC to the same switch or hub. Each PC is used to configure and control its associated radio.

  5. Connect the power supply adapter to a grounded AC power source. A chirping sound should be heard from the radio indicating power to the radio.

Notes:

  1. There is no ON/OFF switch on the radio. To remove power to the radio, unplug the AC cord from the AC outlet or disconnect the 8-pin DIN connector from the power supply adapter.

  2. The radio software program can run on two PCs connected to both ends of the link and not interfere with one another.

Step 5.  Test Radios Back-to-Back

Proxim recommends a back-to-back test of the radio pair. Back-to-back testing is a simple way to verify that the radios are fully operational before they are installed.

The process of installation adds several variables that can add to system turn-up delays during troubleshooting (such as antenna alignment, cabling, and path dynamics).  Back-to-back testing can eliminate link problems caused by auxiliary equipment, installation, or the radio path, and isolates potential radio hardware problems.

Note:  Back-to-back testing must be performed to verify a radio problem before returning any radio to Proxim for repair.

When the equipment is connected as shown in the following figure, a link should be established.

          Back-to-Back Test Configuration (Enclosure A Depicted)

Step 6.  Install the Software

The QuickBridge includes configuration software (the QuickBridge Manager), which provides basic setup and operating capabilities. Before installing the software, be sure you have completed Step 4.  Connect the Cables.

Note:  Install a copy of the QuickBridge Manager on any PC from which you want to manage a radio.

To install the QuickBridge Manager:

  1. Insert the supplied CD into the PC’s CD-ROM drive. Locate the installation folder and the install program, install.exe. Double-click install.exe to start the installation program. The Introduction window is displayed; click Next to continue.

  2. The License Agreement screen is displayed. After reading and agreeing to the terms, select “I accept the terms of the license agreement”, then click Next to continue.

  3. The Choose Install Folder screen is displayed. The recommended installation directory is C:\Program Files\QuickBridge Manager 2.1. Click Next when you have made your selection or to accept the default folder.

  4. The Choose Shortcut Folder screen is displayed; click Next when you have made your selections or to accept the default folder.

  5. The Pre-Installation Summary screen is displayed; click the Install button to install the configuration software.

    When installation is complete, the following window is displayed; click the Done button to exit the installation program.

Step 7.  Setup for Configuration

Be sure you have completed Step 6.  Install the Software.

Before configuring the QuickBridge with the Manager program, you must:

These tasks are covered in the following procedure:

  1. Change the PC’s IP address to 192.168.20.75 (or a similar address in the same subnet).Use a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. This change is only temporary. Later, you will be able to change the IP address of the QuickBridge unit and return your PC to its original IP address.

    Notes:

    • The IP address of the PC must be in the same subnet as the QuickBridge unit in order to use the QuickBridge Manager for configuration.
    • The Primary or Master unit is configured at the factory with a default IP address of 192.168.20.56. The Secondary or Slave unit is configured with a default IP address of 192.168.20.51.

  2. Connect the PC to the Primary unit; start the Manager program by clicking on the QuickBridge Manager icon. You can connect to the Secondary unit as well; however, this guide steps you through the initialization process by locally connecting to the Primary.

    Note:  The QuickBridge Manager program can run on two PCs connected to both ends of the link without interfering with one another.

  3. Apply power to both units by connecting the AC cord of the power supply adapters to an AC outlet. After power is applied and a power-up sequence has been successfully completed, the radios each “chirp” once.

The radios are now ready for any optional configuration steps, and can establish a wireless link.

Step 8.  Mount the Radio Outdoors

Selecting a Location

When selecting a location in which to install the radios, keep the following points in mind:

If necessary, disconnect the cables you used to configure the radios inside, move the radios to their outdoor locations, and then connect them to the network segments you want to bridge.

After you connect each radio to its network segment, make sure you install the configuration software on the two PCs used to control the radios (one PC per radio). Use the configuration software to assign each radio a valid and unique IP address for the network segment to which it is attached.

Be sure to properly weatherproof outdoor connections. See Weatherproofing Connections.

WARNING!  Do not co-locate two hops on the same side of the building or on the same pole.

Mounting the Radio to a Pole, Enclosure A

The radio is designed to mount directly to a pole. Using optional mounting brackets, you can mount the radio to a wall or other flat surface (see Mounting the Radio to a Flat Surface).

To mount the radio directly to a 1 ½-inch or 1 ¾-inch diameter pole, perform the following steps:

  1. Slide the U-bolts attached to the radio through the mounting pole.

    Note:  If it is not practical to slide the pole mounting assembly through the pole (for example, if the pole is too tall), disassemble the U-bolts, mounting bracket, and side screws and reassemble them around the pole. See Step 3. Pre-Assemble Hardware for information about assembling these components.

  2. Hand-tighten the U-bolt and side bolt nuts to keep the radio in position until you have aligned it with the other radio (see Step 9. Align the Radios for more information).

Mounting the Radio to a Pole, Enclosure B

The radio is designed to mount directly to a pole. Using optional mounting brackets, you can mount the radio to a wall or other flat surface (see Mounting the Radio to a Flat Surface).

  1. Remove the nuts you loosely attached in “Pre-Assemble Mounting Hardware, Enclosure B.”

  2. Slide the top part of the mounting bracket off of the mounting screws.

  3. Place the radio with mounting bracket at the desired height on the pole and slide the top part of the bracket onto the mounting screws. Screw on the nuts and firmly tighten.

     

Mounting the Radio to a Flat Surface

To mount the radio to a flat surface:

  1. Attach the supplied mounting bracket to the radio using the supplied bolts.
  2. Mount the radio and mounting bracket to a flat surface using your own hardware.

Note:  To ensure proper grounding, use the hole on the back of each radio and the provided grounding screws to attach a ground wire to each radio.Use proper wire grounding techniques in accordance with your local electrical codes. You also can mount the radios on tall, multi-section poles with guide wires. For these types of installations, you should consult professionals with experience.

Step 9.  Align the Radios

A cellular telephone or two-way radio may be useful for coordinating alignment activities between both ends of the link. Perform a general alignment of the antennas on both ends of the path using binoculars, compass, GPS, or other related tools. You must align the antennas as accurately as possible before passing traffic over the link. This will help in getting the system running more rapidly.

It is critical that you perform antenna alignment on one end of the link at a time, with the other end remaining stationary. In some cases, you may need to perform coarse alignment using a wide arc in both azimuth and elevation while listening to the audio alignment tone to find the main beam of the opposite end antenna.

For information about using the Receive Signal Quality feature to fine-tune alignment, Aligning Antennas with QuickBridge Manager.

When you finish aligning the radios, tighten down the U-bolt nuts and side bolt nuts to secure each radio in its aligned position.

Discovering and Configuring the QuickBridge Radios

This chapter tells you how to:

Tools Required:  None.

Equipment Required:  PC with 10/100 Ethernet adapter, CAT5 cable w/RJ45 connectors(straight-through)

Required configuration steps include:

See Configuring Settings if you want to:

Step 1:  Establishing a Connection

From the Connection window, click on the Discover Radio(s) button. The QuickBridge Manager program should discover all local radios and display the IP address of each discovered unit in the Radio(s) Available field.

Note:  Other radios located elsewhere on your network are reachable, but only those discovered through the Ethernet connection are discovered automatically.

All units have a default IP address assigned at the factory. The Master is set to 192.168.20.56; the Slave is set to 192.168.20.51.

Once you have selected the radio in which you are interested, click the Login button. For first-time configuration, you should login to the Master radio. You may have to clear the ARP table in the PC if there was a previous entry for 192.168.20.56.

Note:  If you want to connect to a different radio, you can enter the IP address and click the Login button for the Manager to connect to the specified radio.

Step 2:  Logging In

The radios are shipped from the factory without preset passwords; click the OK button to log in at the Admin level.

Note:  For first-time configuration, you should login to the Master radio. You may have to clear the ARP table in the PC if there was a previous entry for 192.168.20.56.

Notes:  

Step 3:  Reviewing the Master Unit's Status

From the Link Status window, review the current status of both ends of the QuickBridge link; in this case, the locally connected radio (Master) and the remote radio (Slave). This window is updated as changes occur.

Note:  When the link has not been established to the remote unit, the remote status is shaded gray and shows incorrect status. After the link is established, the correct status is reported.

Link Status Tab Field Descriptions

Node Type
Displays the Node Type setting (Master or Slave) assigned to the unit.

Link State
When the link status between the radios changes (for example, when you first power up the radios, change the radios’ configuration, and so on) the following status messages are displayed in this field:

Slave Searching for Signal
Slave searches for an inbound signal; Master searches for an outbound signal.

Master Searching for Signal
Master searches for an inbound signal; Slave searches for an outbound signal.

Inbound fine sync
Indicates inbound signal detected and link is being “finalized.”

Link established
Indicates link established between radios.

ODU not connected
Indicates that there is no local link between the PC and the radio. See Troubleshooting for possible causes and solutions to the problem.

Throughput Setting
Shows the current Throughput Setting at which the link is operating.

Frequency Channel
Shows the Frequency setting specified for the local radio. Set both radios to the same Frequency (for example, if the Master is 3A, the Slave also should be set to 3A).

Receive Signal Level (dBm)
Shows the level of signal received by the local radio (in dBm). The signal quality should be at least 10 dB above the threshold for the throughput level you are using. See Technical Specifications for the thresholds associated with each data rate. You can use this field to fine-tune radio alignment. After you mount the radio outdoors, check the Receive Signal Level value as you make fine adjustments to the radio alignment until you obtain optimal signal quality.

Transmitter Level (EIRP, dBm)
Shows the level of signal transmitted by the local radio (in dBm).

Packet Loss Rate
Shows the rate of packet loss. This is expressed as “X e- Y”, exponential notation, meaning that approximately X packets out of 10Y received are in error. This is used as a general indicator of the link quality. For example, “3e-5” indicates that approximately three packets in every 100,000 received is in error.

Range km
Shows the estimated distance (in kilometers) between the two radios. Measuring the delay between two sides of a link, a value of “0” indicates that the radios may be too close together for efficient data communication.

Ethernet Activity / Ethernet Detection
Indicates whether the Ethernet link has been detected (auto-negotiate has completed) and whether it is active.

GPS Status
This field has been added to support some models of the QuickBridge radio. It is grayed out if GPS is not supported by your QuickBridge radio.

Managing the QuickBridge Link

Elements Common to All QuickBridge Manager Windows

Tabs

Tabs available through the Tsunami QuickBridge Manager appear following the window header on all QuickBridge Manager windows. The following figure shows the tabs before you log on to a particular radio. At this point, you can view only the list of discovered radios and information about Tsunami QuickBridge Manager.

Once you have logged in, the Connection tab indicates the IP address of the selected radio being managed by QuickBridge Manager and the tabs you can access to configure the selected radio.

The selected tab is highlighted; for example, when you click on the Link Status tab, the tabs appear as follows:

Link Status LEDs

LEDs indicating status of the local and wireless links are displayed at the bottom of all QuickBridge Manager windows.

Configuring Settings

After you initially configure the radios, you can change the settings defined for each radio. To change settings:

  1. Start up the QuickBridge Manager software on the PC connected to the radio whose settings you want to change. When you start the Manager, the Connection tab is selected by default.

  2. Login to the radio by selecting it from the list of Radio(s) Available and clicking Login.

  3. Click the Settings tab; the Radio tab of the Settings window is displayed. (The exact window layout depends upon which unit is selected (Master or Slave) and the radio model.) If the wireless link is established, you can select either the Local or Remote device to control from the Selected Radio box.

    Note:  The Selected Radio box is available on all configuration windows. It indicates which radio is currently selected, Local or Remote. You can change the currently selected radio by clicking the radio button to the left of the selection.

  4. Select the settings you want to define for the radio; click Save to save your settings.

Saving Settings

The Configuration sub-tab contains three buttons: Restart, Refresh, and Save.

Local and Remote Configuration Changes

The following table indicates whether the value for each field can be configured on the local unit, the remote unit, or both units.

Field

Operation

Reset

Master-Slave (or Primary-Secondary)

BOTH, REMOTE

Yes

Channels

BOTH, REMOTE

Yes

Frequency

BOTH, REMOTE

Yes

Antenna audible

LOCAL

No

Antenna pointing

LOCAL

No

IP address

LOCAL

No

Subnet

LOCAL

No

SNMP Community String

LOCAL

No

Default Gateway

LOCAL

No

Security

BOTH, REMOTE

No

Throughput Setting1

BOTH, REMOTE

Yes

Ethernet Protocol Support

BOTH, REMOTE

No

1Changing throughput to 40 Mbps or 60 Mbps can only be accomplished on, and is only valid on, the QuickBridge 60 Master (or Primary) unit. The Slave (or Secondary) assumes the setting of the Master/Primary.

Notes to table:
BOTH
Indicates that the RF link is UP and secure;in this case, both the Local and Remote radios are updated with the change. If the link is down, or not secure, just the Local radio is updated.
LOCAL
Indicates that only the local radio is updated, or if remotely configured than only that radio is affected.
RESET
Indicates that the radio is reset after the update (including remote). Traffic is interrupted for all resets.
REMOTE
Indicates that, if the remote radio is configured, both radios are updated (assuming the RF link stays up and secure). This is the same as BOTH, except the user interface is operating on the Remote radio.

Reassigning the Unit’s IP Address (Admin Tab)

Click the Settings tab and the Admin sub-tab to view or change the default current IP address. This appears in the Network box’s Radio IP Address field. Once a link has been established, you can re-assign the IP address of the remote radio. Any Class A, B, or C address is valid.

Set the local radio’s IP address to an address in the same subnet as the PC’s IP address. If you change the IP address of the local radio, you must change the IP address of the PC to an IP address in the same subnet as the radio in order to be able to use the Manager program.

To manage the QuickBridge on the other side of a router, configure the subnet mask for the desired subnet and select a unique IP address supported on that subnet.

Assigning a Security Key ID (Admin Tab)

The Security Key is used to authenticate both radios for authorized point-to-point communication. Before setting the key, be sure the wireless link has been established. Click the Settings tab and the Admin sub-tab and enter a Security Key in the Security Key(0-16 characters): box. Click Save. With the wireless link established, the Security Key is assigned to both the Local and the Remote unit. The default Security Key is <blank> (there is no Security Key specified at the factory).

The Security Key can consist of up to 16 alphanumeric characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9) and is case-sensitive. Non-alphanumeric keys such as * or # are not valid.

Example:  ABC6543210jklmnO, or Sunnyvale94085, or BaldMountain888

This key is used to authenticate both radios for authorized point-to-point communication. Radios that do not have the same key cannot communicate with each other and will not establish a wireless link.

The default Security Key is (no Security Key is specified at the factory).

Specifying a Default Gateway (Admin Tab)

The default gateway defines the address of the router for your network. The default gateway for each client would point at the router interface for that subnet.

For instance, if you defined a subnet 192.168.1.0 and the IP address for the router interface on that subnet were 192.168.1.254, then all the clients in that subnet would have their default gateway set for 192.168.1.254.

Selecting Node Type (Radio Tab)

You can switch between configuration of the Master unit and the Slave unit by clicking the radio button next to Master or Slave.

Changing the Throughput Setting (Radio Tab)

You can change the throughput setting for the selected radio by clicking the radio button next to one of these selections: 18 Mbps, 34 Mbps, or 54 Mbps. A possible reason for changing this setting is to reduce throughput to increase the range of reception.

Selecting Ethernet Protocol Support (Admin Tab)

In the Ethernet Protocol Support box, you can select IP Only mode or Enhanced Ethernet mode.

Choose IP Only mode when all the bridged traffic is known to be composed of only IP or ARP packets, or protocols that use the 802.3 length field of the Ethernet Header.

Choose Enhanced Ethernet mode when the bridged traffic is known to contain packets with protocols that use 802.2 type fields (in addition to IP or ARP), such as Appletalk, IPX, 3Com 8688, and so on. Note that, with certain traffic loads, performance may be impacted.

Setting the SNMP Community String (Admin Tab)

Click the Settings tab and the Admin sub-tab to enter or change the Get and Set SNMP Community names in the Set SNMP Community String box.

SNMP delimits management domains by defining communities. Each community is identified by a name, which is an alphanumeric string of up to 255 characters defined by the user.

The Tsunami QuickBridge SNMP agent defines strings of up to 10 characters (case-sensitive, numeric, and alphabetic).

Any SNMP entity (both managed entities and management stations) is assigned a community name by its user. In parallel, the user defines a list of the communities for each SNMP entity authorized to communicate with the entity, as well as the access rights associated with each community (this is the SNMP community name table of the entity).

You can proactively check the performance of the radio by receiving SNMP traps that are sent to a network element manager.

Reassigning the Frequency Plan

The Frequency Selection consists of two components—a Channel and a Frequency. Throughout this document, these two settings are collectively referred to as the Frequency Plan. The Frequency Plan box lets you choose the Frequency Plan to be used for the selected radio. See Available Frequency Plans for available frequencies. Choose the same Frequency Plan for both radios.

You can leave the Frequency Plan unchanged and proceed with the installation, or you can change the Frequency Plan (now or at any later time). Generally, for a single hop of radios, any of the seven frequency channels (3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, or 4D) can be selected. Once a link has been established, changing the frequency plan of either Master radio (when locally connected to the Master) causes the frequency plan of the Slave radio on the other end of the link to change as well.

Click the Settings tab and the Radio sub-tab to reassign the frequency plan. To select a new frequency plan, click on one of the other buttons for the other frequency channel not marked.

WARNING!  Traffic is interrupted for all resets.

Changing Frequency Plans is especially useful when installing multiple QuickBridge units at the same location.

Available Frequency Plans

The QuickBridge offers two channel plans, each with non-overlapping frequencies, as defined in the following tables. The 26 dB bandwidth of the RF signal is less than 26 Mhz. Each channel is 20.75 MHz wide at the 3 dB point.

3-Channel Plan

 

4-Channel Plan

Channel ID

Frequency

 

Channel ID

Frequency

3A

5742.20 MHz

 

4A

5743.86 MHz

3B

5775.40 MHz

 

4B

5764.61 MHz

3C

5808.60 MHz

 

4C

5785.36 MHz

 

 

 

4D

5806.11 MHz

Aligning Antennas with the QuickBridge Manager

Better alignment (“pointing”) of the antennas results in greater link reliability and robustness. An alignment tool is included in the QuickBridge Manager to assist with this process. It requires at least an approximate alignment of the antennas prior to its execution.

CAUTION:  Put only one unit into “pointing mode” at a time.

Note:  Before a link is established, the Slave indicates an RSL immediately, whereas the Master must complete the RF link before showing the RSL (up to 2 minutes). Therefore, Proxim recommends starting antenna alignment from the Slave.

  1. To align the radios, from the Settings tab, click on the Installation sub-tab at the bottom of the window. Then check On in the Audible Signal-Strength Indicator box (when this option is on and the radio is in “antenna pointing mode,” the radios emit a tone. The tone increases in pitch as the radios are aligned.)

  2. Click the Antenna Pointing button at the bottom of the window. A dialog box warning of the antenna-pointing mode’s out-of-service condition is displayed.

    CAUTION!  If the link is already established when you enter the Antenna Pointing Program, traffic is interrupted.

  3. Upon acknowledging the warning, the following dialog box is displayed:

  4. The process of achieving the best receive signal level is an iterative process: Adjust antennas one at a time and adjust for the highest possible number in the Receive Signal Quality indicator box. At longer distances, the signal can be weak, but may be adequate to establish and maintain the link.

    Note:  There is a slight delay (a few seconds) before the Receive Signal Quality bar moves to indicate adjustments to the antennas and the Receive Signal Level.

  5. Select the Link Status tab to check the status of both radios. When a link is properly established, the Wireless Link indicator at the bottom of the Status screen is green. The Link State field also indicates “Link Established.”

Upgrading Your System’s Firmware (Upgrade Tab)

Occasionally, flash upgrades may be made available, offering the ability to enhance some features of your QuickBridge equipment. To upgrade the firmware for your QuickBridge radios:

  1. Start QuickBridge Manager; connect and login.

  2. Click the Upgrade tab.

  3. Select the Local or Remote unit to which you are going to download the firmware. (The current firmware versions are displayed in parentheses following “local” and “remote”.)

    CAUTION!  When upgrading firmware from one side of the link, the remote side should always be upgraded first. Failure to do so may render the link inoperable, requiring the remote unit to be upgraded locally.

  4. Click on Select and Download Code to begin the download; the Status window displays the current download progress.

  5. After the progress bar indicates completion, verify that the new version of firmware is displayed in parentheses next to the local or remote selection area. (It can take up to 60 seconds for this area to be “refreshed” with the new information.)

  6. Click on any other tab to exit this window when you have completed your download.

Rolling Back to a Previous Version (Upgrade Tab)

To rollback to Version 1.0:

  1. Start QuickBridge Manager and connect to the radio you want to rollback.

  2. Login and click the Upgrade tab.

  3. Click Select and Download Code; select QB_release1-0.mot.

  4. Click Select to start the download; download process is displayed.

    To verify successful download, login and select the About tab to view software, hardware, and firmware versions.

Viewing Hardware and Firmware Version Numbers (About Tab)

To view the levels of QuickBridge firmware, hardware, and software in your system, click the About tab. This window also provides information about contacting Proxim Technical Support.

Note:   Click on the Firmware Version, QuickBridge I Model Number, or Ethernet Physical Address in the “Radio Info” box to toggle the display to the other radio in the link. Click on any of these fields again to toggle back to the original radio information.

Management with SNMP

In addition management with the QuickBridge Manager, you also can manage and partially configure a Tsunami QuickBridge using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Note that this requires an SNMP manager program, such as HP Openview or Castlerock’s SNMPc.

Tsunami QuickBridge supports several Management Information Base (MIB) files that describe the parameters you can view or configure over SNMP:

Proxim provides these MIB files on the Documentation and Software CD included with each Tsunami QuickBridge unit. You must compile the above MIBs into your SNMP program’s database before you can manage a QuickBridge using SNMP. See the documentation that came with your SNMP manager for instructions about how to compile MIB files.

The Enterprise MIB defines the read and read-write objects that can be viewed or configured using SNMP. These objects correspond to most of the settings and statistics that are available with the other management interfaces. See the Enterprise MIB for more information; the MIB can be opened with any text editor, such as Microsoft Word, Notepad, or Wordpad.

Support for Enterprise and MIB-II traps is included; these are generated when events occur on the QuickBridge radio. Traps can be enabled and disabled individually for customization. (See the Enterprise MIB description for more detailed information).

Enabling Roaming Support

Tsunami QuickBridge Manager allows a node moving from one side of a QuickBridge hop to another to re-establish connectivity in a minute or less. Enabling roaming support consists of two steps:

  1. Installing WinPcap(this program relies on WinPcap V3.01 Alpha, which must be installed for roaming support to function as expected. This program is included on the Tsunami QuickBridge Software and Documentation CD. For more information about WinPcap, see http://winpcap.polito.it/301a/download.htm

  2. Enable Roaming Support

Step 1. Install WinPcap

To install WinPcap, follow these steps:

  1. Select Add/Remove Programs from the Control Panel. If WinPcap 3.01 is listed, you have the correct version of WinPcap installed and you can continue with step 2.

    If a previous version of WinPcap is installed, as shown in the following figure (back-level WinPcap 3.0 is shown in a Windows 2000 Add/Remove Programs window), click the Change/Remove button.

  2. After removing any previous versions of WinPcap, reboot your system.

  3. Locate WinPcap V3.01 Alpha (on the Tsunami QuickBridge Documentation and Software CD) and install the program on the same machine on which QuickBridge Manager is installed.

  4. Follow the instructions on the screen; the installation applet will automatically detect the operating system and install the correct drivers. The WinPcap-based applications are now ready to work.

Step 2. Enable Roaming Support

Roaming (the -r option) is disabled by default; it can be enabled only through the QuickBridge Manager's command line interface at startup.

Note:L  Radios on both sides of the QuickBridge link must be running, logged in, and have roaming support enabled for roaming support to operate correctly.

To enable roaming, follow these steps:

  1. From the Windows Start menu, place your cursor on the second QuickBridge Manager 2.1 selection (as shown below), click your right mouse button, and select Properties from the menu displayed:

    Programs à QuickBridge Manager 2.1 à QuickBridge Manager 2.1

  2. In the Target text entry box, space once, then type ‑r after c:\Program Files\QuickBridge Manager 2.1\QuickBridge Manager.exe. The command in this field should read c:\Program Files\QuickBridge Manager 2.1\QuickBridgeManager.exe -r.

      

  3. Click Apply or OK to complete the process.

  4. Start QuickBridge Manager.

  5. Select your radio from the Connection window displayed.

  6. Login to the radio. Roaming is now enabled.

To disable roaming, remove the -r from the Target text entry box of the Properties window and click Apply or OK to complete the process.

Troubleshooting

The following table summarizes link and other problems you might experience, along with recommended ways to solve the problems.

Problem

Possible Cause

How to Resolve

Devices do not correctly roam from one side of a QuickBridge radio link to another

You are moving your PC from one side of the link to the other and do not have QB Manager 2.1 running on both ends of the link.

You have a redundant connection to the QuickBridge link and have not implemented the roaming support feature.

Enable roaming support (see Enabling Roaming Support

Cannot log on to the QuickBridge Manager

IP address of the PC is not in the same subnet as the QuickBridge

Change the IP address of the PC to “192.168.20.xx”

Excessive traffic through radio

Redistribute your network traffic to reduce throughput to this radio

PC ARP table has old information

Clear PC ARP table at the DOS prompt

QuickBridge Manager cannot discover any units

PC ARP table has old information

Clear PC ARP table at the DOS prompt

Excessive traffic through radio

Redistribute your network traffic to reduce throughput to this radio

PC not connected to the QuickBridge

Check all cable connections, also check straight and cross over cable rules

“ODU not connected” message displayed in configuration software

Wrong cable type used

If connecting a radio to a switch or hub, use a cross-over Ethernet cable; if connecting directly to a PC, use a straight-through cable.

Excessive traffic through radio

Redistribute your network traffic to reduce throughput to this radio

The QuickBridge unit is not receiving power

Check the AC power connection and/or “cycle” power at the unit by unplugging and reinserting the RJ-45 connector

Radios remain in Slave/Master “searching for…” state indefinitely

Channel plan/frequency settings do not match on radios

Use the configuration software to set both radios to the same frequency plan.

Security key settings do not match on radios

Use the configuration software to define the exact same security key for both radios.

Far end unit is not receiving power

Apply power to the unit. Check or “cycle” power to the unit.

Antennas are not pointed at one another

Visually align the antennas so that they are pointed in elevation and azimuth to each other.

High interference over link (as determined by Packet Loss Rate)

Path between radios too great

Shorten the path between radios.

Conflict with other transmissions

Try setting both radios to a different channel plan.

Conflict with another radio or transmitter

Try moving one or both radios to a different location.

See the following sections for more detailed troubleshooting information.

Data Stream Errors and Interference

This section describes troubleshooting methods for:

Errors in the Data Stream

When the radios are in service, errors in the data stream can occur. This usually is known to the operator by either faulty data indications of downstream equipment or external bit error rate testing. The QuickBridge employs a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on all wireless data, strongly reducing the likelihood of such events. However, there always exists a finite probability of such events.

Some errors are exhibited on downstream data processing equipment or during an external BER test. In other cases, there may be data errors due to atmospheric conditions (fading), interference, or other reasons. In the case of these types of errors, the following information can be helpful to troubleshoot the radio link.

Indications

Possible Causes

Recommended Actions

During external BER test, test equipment indicates errors

Downstream equipment (switch, router, and so on) indicates errors

  • Path fading due to atmospheric conditions
  • Continuous or intermittent interference
  • Antenna problems, misalignment, or path clearance
  • Received signal level (RSL) is too strong
  • Far-end radio transmitter circuitry is faulty
  • Near-end radio receiver circuitry is faulty

Re-align antennas

Verify 10/100 Base-T wiring

Counteracting and Evaluating Interference

Selecting a Different Frequency

The QuickBridge radio offers several distinct non-overlapping frequency channel plans (see Reassigning the Frequency Plan).

Re-Locating Equipment/Antenna

Occasionally, interference is caused by the radio being too close to another similar transmitter. Moving the radio or the interfering equipment can reduce or eliminate interference.

Interference countermeasures rely to some extent on the measurement of the received interference level and frequency. Prior to turning up a new hop, a spectrum analyzer can be used to monitor the spectrum at each end to check for possible interfering signals. For more details, see Using a Spectrum Analyzer to Evaluate Potential Interference. ”

Using a Spectrum Analyzer to Evaluate Potential Interference

Connecting a spectrum analyzer to an external antenna and using “peak hold” on, the spectrum across the receive frequency range of the radio (5725 – 5825 MHz) can be swept and any signals being received at levels above the radio’s specified threshold identified. If potential interfering signals are found, then the frequency plan can be changed to avoid a receive channel that may contain significant interference (see Configuring Settings). For example, you can reduce interference by moving from the 3A plan to the 4D plan.

Signals outside the receiver frequency range can be ignored; they will not cause interference.

When using a spectrum analyzer for determining the presence of interference, very narrow resolution bandwidth settings must be used to detect signals down to the radio’s threshold (approximately –89 dBm).

Using Short Paths

The single most effective countermeasure against interference is to maintain “short path” length. This can be achieved by dividing long paths into multiple small paths by cascading hops. Intermediate repeaters can be formed using back-to-back QuickBridge radios.

By definition, short path is a path where fades are extremely rare and signal levels vary by no more than 3 dB during fades. This distance varies with the RF frequency. Typically, a short path is defined as any path length shorter than 5 miles/8 kilometers at 5.8 GHz.

Site Planning

This section provides insight into the planning necessary to prepare your site for your broadband fixed wireless system.

The installation of a wireless network requires much the same basic planning as any wired network. The main difference is that the wireless signal requires some additional planning. This additional planning includes:

Although the technology implemented in this broadband fixed wireless system can make use of multipath signals, reducing the effect of obstructions in the path, the characteristics of the path must be examined carefully. With this knowledge, components and network requirements can be planned correctly for your specific application.

General Considerations

A basic consideration is the physical location of the sites at each end of the link. Because microwave signals travel in a straight line, a clear line of sight between antennas is necessary. Frequently, however, the locations of the desired links are fixed. When a clear line of sight cannot be achieved, you must plan accordingly.

Other questions to consider include:

The following sections should assist you in determining which information is critical to the site and in making appropriate decisions.

Specific Site Planning

Weather

Research any unusual weather conditions that are common to the site location. These conditions can include excessive amounts of rain, wind velocity, or extreme temperature ranges. If extreme conditions exist that could affect the integrity of the radio link, you should take these conditions into consideration early in the planning process.

Rain
Except in extreme conditions, attenuation (weakening of the signal) due to rain does not require serious consideration for frequencies up to the range of 6 GHz. When microwave frequencies are at the 15 GHz range or above, attenuation due to rain becomes much more of a concern, especially in areas where rainfall is of high density and long duration. The systems discussed in this manual operate at frequencies below 6 GHz, so rain is not a concern.

Temperature
Temperature can adversely affect the radio link when phenomena such as temperature inversion or very still air accompanied by stratification occur. Temperature inversion can negate clearances, and still air along with stratification can cause severe refractive or reflective conditions, with unpredictable results.

Temperature inversions and stratification also can cause ducting, which can increase the potential for interference between systems that do not normally interfere with each other. Such effects of temperature are noticeable for path links farther than 3 miles.

Wind
Any system components mounted outdoors are subject to the effect of wind. You should know the direction and velocity of the wind common to the site. Antennas and their supporting structures must be able to prevent these forces from affecting the antenna or causing damage to the building or tower on which the components are mounted. Antenna designs react differently to wind forces. This is known as wind loading.

Note:   For definitions of wind loading specifications for antennas and towers, see TIA/EIA-195 (for antennas) or TIA/EIA-222 (for towers)specifications.

Lightning

You must always consider the potential for lightning damage to radio equipment when planning a wireless link. A variety of lightning protection and grounding devices are available for use on buildings, towers, antennas, cables, and equipment, whether located inside or outside the site, that could be damaged by a lightning strike.

Lightning protection requirements are based upon the exposure at the site, the cost of link downtime, and local building and electrical codes. If the link is critical and the site is in an active lightning area, attention to thorough lightning protection and grounding is critical.

Lightning Protection

To provide effective lightning protection, install antennas in locations that are unlikely to receive direct lightning strikes, or install lightning rods to protect antennas from direct strikes. Makes sure that cables and equipment are properly grounded to provide low-impedance paths for lightning currents. Install surge suppressors on adjacent telephone lines and power lines.

In regions that have extreme lightning occurrences, you should provide additional lightning protection for cables leading to the wireless radio. Place this optional lightning protection at points close to where the cable passes through the bulkhead into the building, as well as near the radio. A grounding screw is provided on the radio.

Note:  Polyphaser manufactures lightning arrestors compatible with the QuickBridge . For the Polyphaser distributor closes to you, go to the Polyphaser website (). See Lightning Protection Recommendation.

CAT5 Cable

When the entire interface cable, from the building entrance to the radio, is encased in steel conduit, no surge arrestors are required. Otherwise, each interface cable requires one surge arrestor within two feet of the building entrance.

Interference

An important part of planning your broadband fixed wireless system is the avoidance of interference. Interference can be caused by affects outside the system. Good radio frequency (RF) planning can overcome most interference challenges.

Co-channel interference results when another RF link is using the same channel frequency. Adjacent channel interference results when another RF link is using an adjacent channel frequency. In selecting a site, a spectrum analyzer can be used to determine whether any strong signals are present and, if present, determine how close they are to the desired frequency. The further removed from your proposed frequency, the less likely they are to cause a problem.

Antennas

For point-to-point applications, the narrower the antennas’ beamwidth, the better. QuickBridge Ethernet Systems use integrated directional antennas that transmit and receive a relatively narrow beamwidth of radio energy, improving system performance by reducing the likelihood that surrounding RF clutter will interfere with reception.

The integral antennas have the following characteristics:

Type:    Flat-panel antenna
3 dB Beamwidth:    10-degree
Polarization    Circular polarization, left-hand sense

Even when other licensees are not an issue, all these considerations are still important to reduce interference between your own adjacent installations. Antennas are tuned to operate on a specific group of frequencies. QuickBridge offers two channel plans that provide a flexible tool for overcoming present and future interference.

Three or four non-overlapping channels (seven total directional channels) can be used to avoid existing traffic in the 5. 8 GHz frequency band. If one part of the 5.8 GHz spectrum is occupied when QuickBridge initially is deployed, another frequency channel can be selected to bypass the interfering signal. If interference arises after deployment, another frequency channel plan can be selected to “steer around” the impacted channel. Beamwidth and gain have been optimized in this equipment.

Towers

When planning antenna placement, it might be necessary to build a free-standing tower for the antenna. Regulations and limitations define the height and location of these towers with respect to airports, runways, and airplane approach paths. These regulations are controlled by the FAA. In some circumstances, the tower installations must be approved by the FAA, registered with the FCC, or both. To ensure compliance, review the current FCC regulations regarding antenna structures. These regulations (along with examples) are on the FCC website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/.

Path Planning

To get the most value from a wireless system, path planning is essential. In addition to the fact that radio signals dissipate as they travel, many other factors affect a microwave signal as it moves through space. All of these must be taken into account, because any obstructions in the path will attenuate the signal.

Calculating a Link Budget

A link budget is a rough calculation of all known elements of the link to determine whether the signal will have the proper strength when it reaches the other end of the link. To make this calculation, consider the following information. A signal degrades as it moves through free space. The longer the path, the more loss it experiences. This free-space path loss is one factor in calculating the link viability. Free space path loss is easily calculated for miles or kilometers.

Availability represents the quality of a link. It is the ratio of the time that the link is available to the total time. This serves as a guide to the service that you can expect, on average, over a period of one year.

Unlicensed Frequencies

U-NII

The FCC has identified the frequencies from 5.725 to 5.825 GHz as Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII). This band can be used by anyone without having to obtain a license. However, you must use radio equipment that is “type approved” by the FCC or local government for use within the specific band. The QuickBridge 60 and QuickBridge 20 are type approved to operate in the U-NII band.

ISM

The FCC has identified the frequencies from 5.725 to 5.850 GHz as Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM). This band can be used by anyone without having to obtain a license. However, you must use radio equipment that is “type approved” by the FCC or local government for use within the specific band. The QuickBridge 20 is type approved to operate in the ISM band.

Antenna Height and Placement

The outdoor placement and height of the QuickBridge radios on a tripod, mast, or pole is critical to the proper operation of the equipment to provide error-free performance.

The wireless path will suffer from poor performance (high bit error rate or even complete outage) if the path has any of the following:

The height of the QuickBridge unit must be sufficiently above the blockage so that definite clear line-of-sight is achieved, as well as clearance in the first Fresnel Zone.

The Fresnel Zone is the shape of the radio beam between the two transmitters that is determined primarily by the distance between the antennas and the frequency of transmission. The Fresnel Zone is not a straight and narrow beam like a laser, but rather “bulged” in the middle like a football. Any blockage within 60% of this “bulge” would interfere with the performance of the wireless link.

Clearance in the path is defined as consisting of:

The height of each end of the QuickBridge hop must be high enough to ensure:

Distance between
two transmitters

0. 6 x First
Fresnel Zone

Earth
Curvature

Total Clearance (minimum)

0.1 mile

3 ft.

0

3 ft.

0.25 mile

4 ft.

0

4 ft.

0.5 mile

6 ft.

0

6 ft.

1 mile

9 ft.

0

9 ft.

2 miles

13 ft.

1 ft.

14 ft.

3 miles

16 ft.

2 ft.

18 ft.

4 miles

18 ft.

3 ft.

21 ft.

5 miles

20 ft.

4 ft.

24 ft.

6 miles

22 ft.

6 ft.

28 ft.

For example, for a path that is 3 miles long, the transmitters on each end of the hop must be 18 feet above any obstruction that is in the path. Therefore, if there is a 30-foot building in the middle of the path, then the two transmitters must be at least 48 ft (30 + 18 ft) above ground. This then dictates the height of the pole or mast; could be a 48 foot mast, or an 8 foot pole on a 4-story building.

Antennas should be placed with the following simple guidelines:

Note:  The length of the CAT5 cable has no effect on the transmitter output power and therefore the distance the QuickBridge unit can operate.

Weatherproofing Connections

Weatherproof outdoor connections with waterproof butyl tape, as shown in the following photos:

  1. The following photo depicts the connector before weatherproofing. You will add three layers of tape; one 6-inch strip of butyl tape and two 6-inch strips of electri­cian’s tape are required.

  2. First, wrap the connector using the first strip of electri­cian’s tape, as shown in photos 2, 3, and 4. This serves as a base for the butyl tape, letting you remove the butyl tape easily when necessary.

  3. Next, in the same manner, apply a layer of butyl tape over the electrician’s tape, as shown in photos 5 through 8.

  4. Finally, apply a layer of black electrician’s tape over the butyl tape for further protection, as shown in photos 9 and 10; the butyl tape alone is not UV protected.

Constructing an Interface Cable

CAUTION:  For best results this cable should be constructed by professional cable manufacturer or by experienced personnel with proper tools.

The following illustrates 8-Pin DIN and RJ45 contact arrangements.

Perform the following steps to construct an interface cable of the desired length.

WARNING!  Interface cable length should not exceed 75 m.

Required Materials

The following is a list of the materials required to assemble an interface cable.

Assembling the 8-Pin DIN Connector

To assemble the 8-pin DIN connector:

  1. Slide the jacket of the 8-pin DIN connector over one end of the CAT5 UV cable.

  2. Prepare the CAT5 cable ends by removing 0. 75” of the main jacket. Do not cut the twisted pair wires.

  3. Remove 0.06” of insulation from the end of each wire in each twisted pair.

  4. Solder each wire prepared in step 3 to the appropriate cup on the DIN connector. See the following table for information.

  5. Assemble the metal shell over the DIN connector; make sure the DIN connector fits into the slots of the metal shell.

  6. Using small pliers, crimp the metal strain relief over the CAT5 cable. Do not cut into the cable. Slide the jacket over the completed assembly.

Assembling the RJ45 Weatherproof Connector

CAUTION!  For best results this cable should be constructed by professional cable manufacturer or by experienced personnel with proper tools.

To assemble the RJ45 weather-tight connector:

  1. Slide the threaded cover over the bare end of the CAT5e cable.

  2. Slide the body of the connector over the bare end of the CAT5e cable.

  3. Remove 0.5” of jacket from the CAT5e cable. Do not cut the wires of the twisted pairs.

  4. Insert the ends of the twisted pairs into the RJ45 connector positioning wire color code.

  5. Crimp the wires into the RJ45 connector using a standard RJ45 crimp tool.

  6. Slide the body over the RJ45 connector until the connector is fully seated.

  7. Tighten the end nut until it is firmly seated.

  8. Slide the threaded cover over the completed assembly.

  9. Insert the ends of the twisted pairs into the RJ45 connector positioning wire color code.

CAUTION!  For best results this cable should be constructed by professional cable manufacturer or by experienced personnel with proper tools.

Lightning Protection Recommendation

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 to maximize the reliability of the electronic system by diverting the excess energy that can be induced on any transmission lines (data, power) through a series of surge protection devices. The energy is dissipated through heat and also diverted to ground.

What Protection is Provided?

All Tsunami Multipoint and QuickBridge equipment have built-in lightning protection on both the power supply lines and the Ethernet lines. There are RVS diodes that provide protection to IEC 61000-4-05. Proxim Corporation uses well-design practices incorporating these devices in the Tsunami Multipoint and QuickBridge products.

Why is Additional Protection Recommended?

Lightning, even with the built-in protection, can still damage outdoor wireless 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 a wireless unit fails due to damage from lightning, the link is out-of-service until the unit is replaced or repaired. An external, revertive protection device can provide a higher level of protection and greater probability of surviving lightning transients without damage to the wireless equipment. If damage does occur, most likely it is to the lightning protection devices and not the wireless equipment.

What Protection is Recommended?

Proxim recommends the following for its QuickBridge products:

 

Installation Requirement

Proxim Product

Industrial

Commercial

SOHO

QuickBridge 20 or 60 (2 units)

(1)

(1) or (2) (up to 50 meters)

(1) or (2) (up to 50 meters)

 (1)  PolyPhaser 101-1218W-A.1 CAT5 
       Data Protector

Contact Information:

Polyphaser Corporation

2225 Park Place

P. O. Box 9000
Minden, Nevada   89424

(702) 782-2511
(702) 782-4476 (fax)

(2)  Transtector 1101-TSU Surge Supressor

Contact information:

Transtector Systems
OEM Division
10701 Airport Drive
Hayden Lake, ID  83858
(208) 762-6069
(208) 752-6155 (fax)
oem@transtector.com

PolyPhaser CAT5 Data Protector

This is a heavy-duty aluminum, weather-tight enclosure for outdoor use that serves to protect wireless outdoor units, as well as the indoor power adapter and connected line equipment inside the roof penetration. This product can be used for all CAT5 cable lengths up to 100 meters from the outdoor wireless unit to the indoor power adapter.

The Polyphaser Data Protector uses Cascade Technology. This is a multi-stage technology that is superior to single stage because of high surge current capacity and fast response time. The unit is designed to fit in-line onto the outdoor CAT5e cable, using two weatherized plug openings for the cable to enter and exit. The existing cable is cut, dressed, and reconnected onto two sets of 8 screw terminals inside the Data Protector.

Transtector Systems Surge Supressor

This outdoor-use, molded plastic, weather-tight enclosure is a surge suppressor designed to protect the QuickBridge unit from lightning damage. This product can be used for CAT5 cable lengths up to 50 meters from the outdoor wireless unit to indoor power adapter.

The 1101-TSU uses silicon avalanche suppression diodes (SASD) to provide lower voltage protection level (VPL). This technology provides a superior protection level over traditional gas tube type devices. The unit is designed to fit onto a CAT5 cable in a pass-through configuration. The input and output connections can be made at two sets of 8-screw terminals, or two 8-pin DIN style connectors. This arrangement allows the installation of the connectorized CAT5e cable directly into the Surge Suppressor, or with a cut cable.

How are the Lightning Protection Units Connected to the CAT5 Cable?

The lightning protection units recommended are designed to be installed in-line onto the CAT5e cable that connect the QuickBridge unit and the indoor power adapter. The lightning protection device has a Surge (cable-facing) side, and an Equipment (equipment-facing) side. The Equipment side faces the outdoor QuickBridge unit or the indoor power adapter. The Surge side faces the long length of cable; when installing two lightning protection units, each unit's Surge side face one another.

See pin-out information for each unit in "Protection Unit Specifications" for connecting the cable to the protection device.

Where Should the Protection Units Be Located?

At least one unit should be installed near every outdoor QuickBridge unit. General guidelines are:

Installing two protectors provides the maximum protection against lightning damage to the outdoor QuickBridge unit and the indoor power adapter, especially if the CAT5 cable length is greater than 15 meters.

The QuickBridge "Hop-in-a-Box" contains two complete radio units. A total of two or four lightning protection units should be ordered per QuickBridge link.

Lightning Protection Specifications

PolyPhaser 101-1218W-A.1 Data Protector

Surge

BellCore 1089 10/100msec, 100A

Temperature

-40°C to +65°C storage/operating +50°C

Maximum Characteristics Data:

Turn-on

+7.0 VDC ± 10%

Resistance

0.02 ohm

Capacitance

15 pf Line to Ground, 30 pf Line to Line

Data Range

Up to 100Mbps (100BT)

Maximum Characteristics DC:

Turn-on

± 68 VDC ± 10%

Resistance

0.02 ohm

User Current

2A max.

Size

L x W x T:  6.53” x 2.77” x 1.25”

Pinout and Wiring Specifications

Surge Side

Equipment Side

Application

Wire Color

Vdc in

VDC out

48Vdc

White/Orange

RTN in

RTN out

Ground

Orange

Vdc in

VDC out

48Vdc

White/Brown

RTN in

RTN out

Ground

Brown

Tx+ in

Tx+ out

Tx +

Green

Tx- in

Tx- out

Tx -

White/Green

Rx+ in

Rx+ out

Rx +

Violet

Rx- in

Rx- out

Rx -

White/Violet

GND

GND

Shield, if req.

N/A

Note:  VDC in (out) and RTN in (out) pinouts are based upon applying a negative or positive 48 FDC to the VDC terminal and applying the dc ground to RTN.

For additional information, go to www.polyphaser.com.

Transtector Systems ALPU-TSU Surge Suppressor

Surge

IEEE 10/1000 Long Wave, 150 A peak

Temperature

-40°C to +80°C operating and storage

Ethernet Characteristics:

Transfer Rate

CAT5

Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage

20 VDC

Protection Mode

Line to Line, Line to Ground

Response Time (max)

5 nanoseconds

Standby Power (max)

<0.5 Watt

Peak Power

5000 Watts

DC Characteristics:

Service Voltage

20 VDC

Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage

80 VDC

Response Time (max)

5 nanoseconds

Standby Power (max)

<0.5 Watts

Peak Power

20,000 Watts

Protection Mode

Line to Line

Size

L x W x T:  6.13” x 4.5” x 2.5”

Pinout and Wiring Specifications

Surge Side

Equipment Side

Application

Wire Color

VDC in

VDC out

48 VDC

White/Orange

RTN in

RTN out

Ground

Orange

VDC in

VDC out

48 VDC

White/Brown

RTN in

RTN out

Ground

Brown

Tx+ in

Tx+ out

Tx +

Green

Tx- in

Tx- out

Tx -

White/Green

Rx+ in

Rx+ out

Rx +

Violet

Rx- in

Rx- out

Rx -

White/Violet

GND

GND

Shield, if req.

N/A

Security

The QuickBridge provides ways to prevent unauthorized users from communicating with the QuickBridge unit. You can password protect the system to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the system. Also, you can use the Link Security Key to scramble the transmitted signal, preventing unauthorized units from detecting the signal.

Password Protection

The QuickBridge provides two levels of password protection:

User level
Lets the user display the system’s current status only.

Admin level
Lets the user display the system’s status and change its configuration.

The default password is <blank>. By default, password protection is turned off. Password protection for either password level (user or admin) can be turned on and off.

Passwords can be from 1 to 16 characters; any combination of alphanumeric characters are allowed.

Note:  If you forget your password, you can contact Technical Support to obtain a new password. See Technical Support for contact information.

Specifying a User-Level or Admin-Level Password

To define the password for either access level from the QuickBridge Manager:

  1. Select the Connection tab and Login to the radio you want to change (if not already logged in).

  2. Click the Security button (to the left of the Discover Radio(s) button on the Connection tab).

  3. Enter the current password in the current password: field (leave blank if never set), then enter the new password twice in the fields provided.

  4. Click OK; the following message box is displayed:

  5. After entering the new password, select Logout. Login with the new password.

Upon successful login, the Link Status window for the selected radio is displayed.

Turning Off Password Protection

To turn off password protection, reset both passwords to <blank>.

Do this by returning to the Security window and entering the current password while leaving the two new password entries blank (for both the User and Admin access levels).

Note:  If you turn off both display-level and user-level password protection, restart the unit to refresh its memory.

Logging In

If a password has been specified for the access level you desire, you must log in to the system with the appropriate password.

Security ID on the QuickBridge Link

Wireless transmissions on the QuickBridge employ PN scrambling whereby all emissions are "shuffled." The shuffling method is uniquely determined by the 16-character security key so that the receiving device can correctly "un-shuffle" the transmission. With a mismatched security key, the shuffled transmissions are unusable to the device attempting to receive the signal.

The 16-character Security Key is user-defined using the QuickBridge Manager program. The two keys, set for both the Master and Slave units, must match before a link can be established. The ID code is made up of 0-9, a-z, and A-Z characters.

In addition, the two units must match frequency plans and one must be designated a “Slave” and the other must be “Master”. Two Slaves cannot talk to one another, and two Masters cannot talk to another.

Technical Specifications

The following technical specification is for reference purposes only. Actual product performance and compliance with local telecommunications regulations may vary from country to country. Proxim Corporation will only ship products that are type approved in the destination country.

Radio Unit

Maximum Transmitter Power (EIRP)

+36 dBm, maximum (includes +20 dBi antenna gain)

Receiver Sensitivity
QuickBridge 20
QuickBridge 60

-89 dBm for 18 Mbps setting

-81 dBm for 36 Mbps setting

-77 dBm for 54 Mbps setting

Operating Frequency Range

5742-5808 MHz

Access Method

Time Division Duplex (TDD)

Integrated Antenna

20 dBi (10” x 10”) LHCP

Maximum Receive Threshold

-20 dBm error free

Latency

2. 5 msec typical, 5 msec. max

Modulation Technique

QPSK with equalization and FEC for 18 Mbps; 8QAM for 36 Mbps; 16QAM for 54 Mbps

Security ID

16 character Security ID used for authentication and PN transmission scrambling

Frequency Channels

7 channels total (3 in plan A, 4 in plan B)

Regulatory Compliance

FCC Part 15. 407 (U-NII), 15. 247 (ISM) IC RSS210

Layer 2 transparent bridge – IEEE 802. 3

 

Interfaces

Ethernet Interface

10/100 Base-T via AC power adapter

Ethernet Connector

RJ45, female with weather protected shell

Interface Cable

 CAT5 cable

 

Management

Local and Remote Access

QuickBridge Manager (java-based GUI) for discovery, status, and configuration

Software Upgradeable

Over-the-air reprogramming for upgrades

Security

Two-level password access on Manager

 

Power/Environment/Safety

Radio

+18 to +28 Volts DC, 0. 8 Amps, power over Ethernet Cat5 cable

Power Adapter

100-240 Volts AC

Operational Temperature

0° to 55° C (indoor), -25° to 55° C (outdoor)

Humidity

95% non-condensing (indoor power adapter)
5% to 100% condensing (outdoor unit)

Altitude

Up to 10,000 ft

Windloading

115 mph

 

Physical Unit/Installation Details

Radio Unit

Pole Mounting, 1. 5-3. 00” diameter

Size (per QuickBridge unit)

10. 5 x 10. 5 x7 inches, 26. 5 x 26. 5 x 14. 4 cm

Weight (per QuickBridge unit)

10 lbs/4. 5 kg

Shipping weight (per QuickBridge Kit)

42 lbs/20 kg

 

Installation Kit

The Installation Kit provides necessary instructions, cabling, mounting hardware, and software to install the radio at the customer’s premises, and includes the following items.

– Quick Install Guide for QuickBridge
– Interface cable – 50 meters

– Mounting hardware for pole attachment
– QuickBridge Manager on CD-ROM

 

Optional Accessories

AC-5200 Cable Terminationkit

 

Frequency Plans

Channel Plan 3

Channel Plan 4

3A: 5742. 19 MHz

4A: 5743. 85 MHz

3B: 5775. 39 MHz

4B: 5764. 60 MHz

3C: 5808. 59 MHz

4C: 5785. 35 MHz

 

4D: 5806. 10 MHz

Technical Support

If you are having a problem and cannot resolve it with the information in “Troubleshooting,” gather the following information and contact Proxim Technical Support:

Be sure to obtain an RMA number before sending any equipment to Proxim for repair.

To ask a question of Technical Support, be sure to include the part number and the serial number of the product or products in question. We cannot respond to your inquiry without this information.

To contact Proxim Technical Support by telephone, dial 1-866-674-6626 (Domestic) or 1-408-542-5390 (International). Telephone support hours are 6:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, PST.

To send an email to Technical Support, use this address: WANtechnicalsupport@proxim.com

For online support or to see whether answers to your questions already exist is Proxim’s Support Knowledgebase, go to http://support.proxim.com/ and choose from these selections:

Regulatory Notice

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:

Shielded cables and I/O cords must be used for this equipment to comply with the relevant FCC regulations.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved in writing by Proxim Corporation may void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Additional Notice

This device must be professionally installed
.
The QuickBridge 20 and QuickBridge 60 units are intended for mounting on a roof or the side of a building. Installation must not be attempted by someone untrained or inexperienced in this type of work. These units must be installed by a suitable, trained, professional installation technician or by a qualified antenna installation service. Site pre-requisites must be checked by a person familiar with the national electrical code and with other regulations governing this type of installation.

Product Safety Instructions

This product is intended to be installed, used and maintained by experienced telecommunications personnel only. Equipment is suitable for mounting on concrete or other noncombustible surface only.

QuickBridge units have been evaluated to the U.S. and Canadian (Bi-National) Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equipment, CAN/CSA C22.2, No. 950-95 * UL 1950, Third Edition, including revisions through revision date March 1, 1998, which are based on the Fourth Amendment to IEC 950, Second Edition. In addition, this product was also evaluated to the applicable requirements in UL 1950, Annex NAE.

This unit is intended for installation in a Restricted Access location in accor­dance with Articles 110-18, 110-26, and 110-27 of the United States National Electric Code ANSI/NFPA 70.

This equipment should be installed in accordance with Article 810 of the United States National Electrical Code.

When installed, this equipment is intended to be connected to a Lightning/Surge Protection Device that meets all applicable national Safety requirements.

To avoid injury, risk of fire, and damage, do not connect this product directly to an antenna. Ensure that proper lightning isolation is also pro­vided between this unit and other equipment.

Equipment is to be used and powered by the type of power source indicated on the marking label only.

QuickBridge units are intended to be connected to a + 24 VDC power source which must be electrically isolated from any AC sources and reliably earthed. Only a DC power source that complies with the Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) requirements in the Standard for the Safety of Information Technology Equipment, Including Electrical Business Equipment, CAN/CSA C22.2, No. 950-95 * UL 1950, Third Edition, can be used with this product. A 15-Amp circuit breaker is required at the power source. In addition, an easily accessible disconnect device should be incorporated into the facility wiring. Always use copper conductors only for all power connections.

This equipment is intended to be earthed. If you are not using the power supply provided by Proxim Corporation, you will need to connect the earthing conductor of your power source to the earthing terminal located on the back of the unit; or, connect an earthing conductor between the unit's earthing terminal and your earthing point. For safe operation, always ensure that the unit is earthed properly.

Do not connect or disconnect the power cable to the equipment when the other end of the cable is connected to the dc power supply.

Servicing of this product should be performed by trained personnel only. Do not disassemble this product. By opening or removing any covers you may expose yourself to hazardous energy parts. Incorrect reassembly of this product can cause a malfunction, and/or electrical shock when the unit is subsequently used.

Do not insert any objects of any shape or size inside this product while powered. Objects may contact hazardous energy parts that could result in a risk of fire or personal injury.

Do not spill any liquids of any kind on or inside this product.

Always ensure that sufficient amount of space is provided above and below this product.

If this product is to be powered from the same source as other units, ensure that the power supply circuit does not get overloaded.

 

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