Access5830™ User Manual
21
Cabling and Weather Considerations
Shielded twisted pair Cat-5 cable is recommended for all installations. The shield within the Cat-5 cable
does not need to be grounded if the radio itself is grounded. It is important consider that most Cat-5 cable
will deteriorate over time if exposed to the weather (especially direct sunlight). It is recommended that
installers place all Cat-5 cables inside conduit. Plastic or conduit is sufficient. If metal conduit is used, it is
not necessary to use shielded Cat-5 cable.
It is imperative that the radio be COMPLETELY SEALED at the both the Ethernet port as well as
the Serial Port access cover.
The contracting weather-proofing clamp at the bottom of the Ethernet port
must be securely tightened around the cable if conduit is not used. Proper sealing of the radio will ensure
that moisture will not enter the enclosure of the radio.
Without proper sealing, moisture may enter the
radio and potentially cause damage which will not be covered under warranty.
The cable ports are purposely located at the bottom of the radio to minimize the risk of water intrusion.
Do
not mount the radios upside down.
Note: The J-Box is not a weatherized device and must be located either indoors or in a weather-
protected cabinet.
SU Installation and Antenna Alignment
Once the AP is installed, and aligned in the correct general direction, it is time to install the SU. The
hardware installation of the SU is identical to the AP, including considerations for line-of-site, cable
distances, cable type, weather sealing, and grounding.
Once the SU is installed and aimed in the general direction of the AP, it is time to perform an RSSI test to
determine the signal strength from the AP, and to precisely align the SU antenna for maximum signal
strength.
SU Antenna Alignment Procedure
1. Ensure AP is in opmode AP
2. Telnet into the SU (while in opmode “OFF”) or access the radio via hyperterminal/serial port.
3. Type
command
RSSI <channel> <polarization>
- Example
RSSI 3 V
(chan. 3, vertical
polarization)
4. Telnet session screen will begin a continuous readout of the received signal strength.
5. As you read the RSSI reading, move the antenna in the horizontal and vertical planes until the
maximum RSSI reading is achieved. For short links you can expect an RSSI of –60 dBm or
better. For longer links and RSSI of –75 dBm is acceptable. Any RSSI of less than –80 dBm may
be too weak for the radios to reliably associate and pass data.
Grounding
Proper mounting of the radio includes consideration for
grounding. Please note that if the radio is attached to a metal
pole which is earth-grounded, no other grounding is necessary.
If the radio is not earth-grounded via the mounting bracket, you
must attach a grounding wire to the grounding stud on the back
of the radio as per the adjacent diagram.
