Edge-Core WA6202A, User Manual

Page: 21 / 332

Chapter 1: Introduction
The Dual-band Outdoor Access Point / Bridge system consists of two models that
provide point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge links between remote Ethernet
LANs, and wireless access point services for clients in the local LAN area:
• WA6202A – Includes an integrated high-gain antenna for the 802.11a radio and is
designed to operate as a “bridge node” in point-to-multipoint configurations, or
provide a high-speed point-to-point wireless link between two sites that can be up to
15.4 km (9.6 miles) apart. The 802.11b/g radio requires an external antenna option.
• WA6202AM – Provides only external antenna options and is designed to operate
as the “root bridge” in point-to-multipoint configurations, supporting wireless bridge
connections to as many as six units.
Note: Both models can be set to operate in either “root bridge” or “bridge node” mode.
Each model is housed in a weatherproof enclosure for mounting outdoors and
includes its own brackets for attaching to a wall, pole, radio mast, or tower structure.
The unit is powered through its Ethernet cable connection from a power injector
module that is installed indoors.
The wireless bridge system offers a fast, reliable, and cost-effective solution for
connectivity between remote Ethernet wired LANs or to provide Internet access to
an isolated site. The system is also easy to install and operate, ideal for situations
where a wired link may be difficult or expensive to deploy. The wireless bridge
connection provides data rates of up to 108 Mbps.
In addition, both wireless bridge models offer full network management capabilities
through an easy-to-use web interface, a command-line interface, and support for
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) tools.
Radio Characteristics
The IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g standards use a radio modulation technique known
as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), and a shared collision
domain (CSMA/CA). The 802.11a standard operates in the 5 GHz Unlicensed
National Information Infrastructure (UNII) band, and the 802.11g standard in the
2.4 GHz band.
IEEE 802.11g includes backward compatibility with the IEEE 802.11b standard.
IEEE 802.11b also operates at 2.4 GHz, but uses Direct Sequence Spread
Spectrum (DSSS) and Complementary Code Keying (CCK) modulation technology to
achieve a communication rate of up to 11 Mbps.
The wireless bridge provides a 54 Mbps half-duplex connection for each active
channel (up to 108 Mbps in turbo mode on the 802.11a interface).
1-1