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AP User Guide
February 2009
Chapter 1 Introduction to the HotPoint Family
The Firetide™ HotPoint™ family of wireless access points are the newest addition to the company’s
line of high performance wireless mesh networking products. HotPoints provide an enterprise-class
wireless access solution and can be used as full-function standalone access points, or as part of
an integrated, triple-play wireless mesh network. Available in indoor and outdoor models, they
include a high power, extended-range radio, multiple antenna options, robust security features,
and multiple SSID support.
The Firetide HotPoint wireless access points can serve as companion units to the Firetide HotPort
Wireless Mesh Network. Each AP allows 802.11 wireless clients to connect to the network. Such
clients include laptops, wireless security cameras, VoIP phones, and portable terminal and POS
devices.
Firetide’s modular design offers several benefits. Among them are:
A HotPoint access point can be connected to a Firetide mesh node to provide Wi-Fi access to any
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location, without the need for backhaul cabling.
A HotPoint access point can connect directly to a conventional wired infrastructure. This elimi-
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nates the need to install a Firetide mesh node in locations where wired connectivity is readily
available, while preserving the unified management capabilities for all access points.
Because the access points and mesh nodes are kept in separate enclosures, they can be indepen-
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dently positioned for optimum RF connectivity.
A HotPoint access point can share a Firetide mesh node with other devices for true triple-play
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networking at any mesh node location. This can include a second HotPoint access point operat-
ing on a different channel, a video camera, a VoIP device, or even a third party access point.
Firetide HotPort Mesh Network
Firetide’s wireless mesh technology provides an ideal backhaul capability for 802.11 client traf-
fic. Together, the systems provide a complete wireless infrastructure. The HotPort system allows
standard Ethernet devices to operate on the wireless backbone, creating secure and reliable wire-
less networks for voice, video surveillance, and data. HotPorts connect wirelessly to each other to
form a mesh network. Ethernet packets are automatically switched across the mesh, in a manner
analogous to an Ethernet switch, using AutoMesh™, a proprietary protocol developed by Firetide.
AutoMesh has been optimized for efficiency in wireless mesh environments. The patent-pending
AutoMesh routing protocol delivers up to 30 Mbps throughput and very low latency of 1.5 ms per
hop across the wireless mesh backbone. Traffic prioritization is provided by HotPort mesh 802.1p
or port-based quality of service (QoS) while HotPoint APs provide 802.11e and WMM QoS between
clients and the AP. In addition, the HotPoint access point supports Turbo Mode, providing up to
108 Mbps data rates for clients using the industry-leading Atheros chip set.
Network Management with
HotView Pro Software
HotView™ management software provides full control of Firetide HotPort wireless mesh networks,
including HotPoint APs. The software provides access to all mesh and node settings, including
security, VLAN, class of service, radio power controls, and network gateway interconnects. Live
monitoring features include mesh and node statistics.
HotView Pro extends management across multiple meshes and enables advanced HotPort function-
ality. Thus, an enterprise can manage all of its HotPort mesh nodes and HotPoint APs worldwide
from anywhere.
HotPoint APs can also be managed via a standard web browser.
