Aironet Series 2600/3600 Access Point Deployment Guide Document ID: 113684 Contents Introduction Prerequisites Requirements Components Used Conventions Choosing the Correct Access Point Models Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 3500 Access Points AP 3600 Feature Module Support Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 2600 Access Point Physical Hardware and Mounting Options Channel Rail Adapters − Cisco Part Number AIR−CHNL−ADAPTER Mounting an AP Directly into the Tile Using Optional AIR−AP−BRACKET−3 Wall
• Antenna options and radiation patterns • Spatial streams, MCS rates, and what they mean • ClientLink 2.0 what this means for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) • Site Survey considerations This document is intended for trained and experienced technical personnel familiar with the existing Cisco Wireless Networking Business Unit (WNBU) product line and features. Prerequisites Requirements There are no specific requirements for this document.
APs are available in two models (see figure 2): • Internal antennas version labeled i that have captured antennas (part of the housing and not removable). The i series is designed for indoor Enterprise installations where office aesthetics are a primary concern. • External antennas version labeled e that are more rugged and designed for industrial use in locations such as hospitals, factories, and warehouses, anywhere a need exists for external antennas and/or extended operating temperatures.
Differences between the AP 3600 and AP 3500 Access Points The internal antenna version of AP 3600 and AP 3500 is almost identical in physical appearance with the exception of the LED which is slightly larger and more oval on the AP 3600. The AP 3500 has a square LED (allows for visual identification). Figure 3 AP 3600vs AP 3500 LED Appearance From a side view, the AP 3600 is slightly thicker when compared to the AP 3500.
The AP 3600e (external antenna version) differs in appearance from the AP 3500e, having fewer antenna connector ports primarily due to the dual−band antenna systemthat is used. The AP 3500e has separate antennas for each band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and does not support 3SS technology because it has only two transceivers and one receiver per band (2SS). The AP 3600e has combined all the antenna ports (dual−band) so that each antenna port can transmit simultaneously on each band.
is operating). It offloads complete monitoring and security services to the monitor module including CleanAIr, WIDS/WIPS, Context−aware Location, Rogue Detection, and Radio Resource Management (RRM). This module allows for full spectrum analysis on all channels on both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands.
Unlike the AP 3600, the AP 2600 does not support optional modules, but it does have a little higher antenna gain in the 2.4 GHz band. For rounded out performance if you surveyed for the AP 3600, the AP 2600 can also be used without performing another survey.
Figure 6c Comparison 3600, 3500 and 2600 series Access Points
Access Point Physical Hardware and Mounting Options Both the AP 2600 and AP 3600 have the same physical characteristics presented in the mechanical drawing shown in figure 7.
There are many different installation options available, which depends on customer requirements. Brackets are available from Cisco as well as third−party companies. During the ordering process, make sure to choose one of two brackets (but not both). Each bracket is a zero−dollar ($0) option at the time of configuration. If a bracket is not chosen, the selection default is AIR−AP−BRACKET−1, which is the most popular for ceiling installations.
bracket to the ceiling gridwork, some ceiling tiles are recessed. For this reason, two different styles of ceiling clips, recessed and flush rails, are available (Figure 9). Figure 9 Different clips are available for attaching to ceiling gridwork. Channel Rail Adapters − Cisco Part Number AIR−CHNL−ADAPTER When mounting APs to ceiling channel rails such as the ones shown in figure 10, an optional channel adapter is used: AIR−CHNL−ADAPTER. It comes in a two−pack and attaches to the ceiling grid clip above.
Figure 12 AIR−CHNL−ADAPTER Mounted to Rail Clip (left) and Finished Installation (right) Mounting an AP Directly into the Tile Using Optional AIR−AP−BRACKET−3 Many hospitals and other carpeted Enterprise environments prefer a more streamlined look and wish to install the AP directly into the tile. This can be done using the optional Cisco AIR−AP−BRACKET−3 (see figure 13).
Wall mounting the AP When wall mounting is desired, the installer should understand that walls can be a physical obstacle to the wireless signal. Therefore, maintaining 360−degree coverage can be compromised by the wall. If the wall is an outside wall or the goal is to send the signal in a 180−degree pattern, use a directional antenna often referred to as a patch antenna. This can be a better choice assuming the AP 3600e is used.
Changing the Color of an AP If there is a desire to change the color of an AP which might void the warranty, consider using colored vinyl tape or a colored plastic cover from Oberon (Figure 15). Figure 15 Third−party option for changing AP color,adding custom Logo, or hiding the LED Unique Installations Clean Rooms (Healthcare) Many hospitals and factories have requirements to wipe down or gently spray the environment with a chemical (often diluted material that has cleaning / disinfectant properties).
Figure 16 Inside the AP 3600 − Cover Removed (no vents or fans, everything is industrial quality) Note: The AP 2600 is also made of a similar construction and design for clean room deployments. If the cleanroom environment requires metal ceilings or areas where tile is not practical, a metal enclosure from Oberon can be used (Figure 17).
classrooms or areas where policy dictates that nothing can be visible on the ceiling. When this is a hard requirement, optional T−Bar hangar accessories from third−party companies such Erico and Cooper can be used (Figure 18). The Erico Caddy 512a or the Cooper B−Line BA50a or similar T−Bar Grid T−Bar hangars can be used.
Stadium / Harsh Environments If you want to install the AP in harsh environments where it can be exposed to weather, such as sporting areas, stadiums, open garden areas or warehouse freezers, consider using a NEMA type enclosure. Note: Some APs are not certified for outdoor deployments in a NEMA enclosure. This varies around the world; for example, some regulatory agencies permit AP outdoor NEMA enclosures if the AP is indoors, such as a freezer or garden area, but prohibit its use outdoors.
rating; for example, a black enclosure gets much hotter in the sun compared to a white one. You can also use a pressure vent to prevent moisture accumulation (see figure 20). Areas with high vibration If the AP is installed using a side arm type mount or other mounting locations where there is a probability of high vibration, it is recommended that a padlock or metal pin be used to prevent the AP from vibrating loose from the bracket. Figure 20a A metal pin or padlock does not deteriorate over time.
When mounting an AP at the end of a pipe or electrical conduit box, use the universal bracket Cisco AIR−AP−BRACKET−2, because it will mate to the holes of most electrical boxes (Figure 22). Conduit and adapters can be purchased at most electrical or home repair centers.
Ethernet Cable Recommendation The AP 3600 will work fine with CAT−5e for new cable installations. However, it is recommended that customers use CAT6a. This is the cabling required by the 10GE standard. Antenna Cable Recommendation Whenever practical/possible, keep antenna cable runs as short as possible. Cisco offers low loss (LL) and ultralow loss (ULL) cables, which have the same characteristics as Times Microwave LMR−400 and LMR−600.
at a minimum of 7.9 inches (20 cm) or more from the body of all persons. See the installation guide under declaration of conformity for more on this. Installations in IDF Closets (Telecommunications or other Electrical Equipment) When installing APs near other electrical or telecommunications equipment, keep all wiring and metal away from the antennas and avoid placing the antennas near electrical lines. Do not route wiring electrical or Ethernet in the near field (6−15 inches) from the antenna.
Installations Inside and Around Elevators Elevator coverage can sometimes be accomplished by placing APs in the near field of the elevator, typically on each floor near the elevator door. Because elevators often have metal doors and the shafts are often concrete or contain other materials that degrade Wi−Fi coverage, it is important to check the coverage inside the elevator. While such coverage can be challenging it is often do−able, especially if the elevator is only a few floors.
Figure 24 Radiation Pattern for the AIR−ANT2524Dx−R Dual−band Dipole Antenna Figure 25 Specifications for the AIR−ANT2566P4W−R Dual−band Patch Antenna
Figure 26 Radiation Pattern for the AIR−ANT2566P4W−R Dual−band Patch Antenna AP 3600i and AP 2600i Antenna patterns for the AP 3600i integrated antenna model are shown in Figures 27 and 28. Antenna patterns for the AP 2600i integrated antenna model are shown in Figures 28a and 28b Figure 27 Radiation Patterns for the AP−3600i at 2.
Figure 28 Radiation Patterns for the AP−3600i at 5 GHz Figure 28a Radiation Patterns for the AP−2600i at 2.
Figure 28b Radiation Patterns for the AP−2600i at 5 GHz 802.11n Primer −Understanding Spatial Streams For an overview of 802.11n, refer to Cisco ClientLink: Optimized Device Performance with 802.11n. MIMO, which refers to a radio system that has multiple separate receive and transmit paths, is at the heart of 802.11n. MIMO systems are described using the number of transmitters and receivers in the system.
Spatial streams, the act of transmitting information out of more than one antenna port concurrently, require that the AP have at least two or more transmitters and support elements of 802.11n, for example, support of multiple spatial streams. In the 802.11a/b/g days data rates were actual Mbps rates such as 2, 11, 54 Mbps etc., and was done with one transmitter. The AP 3500 series has two transmitters per band so it supports 802.11n data rates up to 300 Mbps using two spatial streams. With 802.
Unlike the AP 3500, the newer AP 3600 supports 3SS with twice as many transmitters (4 per band). This enables faster data rates of up to 450 Mbps. Note that there is an extra radio for redundancy and enhanced performance (upstream and downstream). Also, the AP 3600 can beamform to 3SS clients as well. The AP 2600 is similar. However, the extra or redundant radio is for upstream because it is a receive only. Therefore, it is unable to beamform to 3−ss clients but can beamform at the other non−3ss rates.
The yellow sections of the MCS chart in figure 32 depict the faster data rates supported by the AP 3600. The AP3600 supports 802.11a/b/g rates as well as 802.11n rates of MCS values 0−23. Figure 32 AP 2600 and AP 3600 Supports up to 450 Mbps (MCS rates 0−23) These additional MCS rates permit more choices for the client supporting 3SSwhen making rate−shifting decisions because the rate−shifting algorithm maintains the best overall throughput connection.
Understanding Beamforming ClientLink 1.0 and 2.0 ClientLink 1.0 was first introduced with the AP 1250 and AP 1140 series. It is a method of creating a stronger signal on the downlink side for 802.11a/g clients by hearing the clients on the uplink, then adjusting the transmitter timing so the signal appears much stronger at the client end. This feature used to be user configurable. However, starting with 7.
Figure 35 provides a visual comparison of ClientLink 1.0, using 1 spatial stream, and ClientLink 2.0, using 3 spatial streams. Unlike the AP 3500, the AP 3600 provides multiple spatial streams using four transceivers for even greater performance. AP 3600 can beamform to all 802.11a/g and 802.11n 1, 2 and 3 spatial stream clients. The signal is x3 as each stream is beamformed.
In summary, ClientLink 2.0 takes the received signals heard from the client on the uplink, calculates how the multipath signal looked from those streams, and then on the reciprocal side (transmit downlink) figures out the optimal way using all four radios to best form the signal (transmit beamforming) to enable the client to best decode (receive the signal on the downlink) with the least amount of retries. ClientLink 2.0 enables beamforming to all 802.
Note: The WNR for 3SS is 28 dB, per IEEE. However, Cisco RF engineers recommend 30−32 dB for best performance. Figure 38 Site Survey Sensitivity and SNR General Considerations About Access Points These are some guidelines to remember about all APs: 1. Always try to mount the AP as close to the users as possible for best performance.
3. Try to determine which clients are going to be used and check the coverage using those clients. For example, a PDA or Wi−Fi phone might not have the same range as a notebook or tablet. Tip: Verify coverage using the worst performing clients that you intend to deploy. 4. If you require 3 spatial stream coverage for the fastest throughput, and/or you are looking for the best BYOD experience, the Cisco Aironet 3600 Series Access Points with ClientLink 2.0 performs better than the AP 3500.
Figure 41 Example of an AP installation near metal and clutter (try to avoid metal and clutter) Tip: When mounting antennas outside, always mount with the wires down and never obstruct or put weatherproofing material over the drain holes.
Related Information • Cisco Aironet 3600 Series • Wireless Products • Cisco Aironet Antennas and Accessories Reference Guide • Why Buy Cisco Antennas? • Antenna Patterns and Their Meaning • Deployment Guide: Cisco Guest Access Using the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller, Release 4.
