Installation guide

Install the AP300
© 2009 Meru Networks, Inc.Installing the AP300 11
z Relatively unobstructed access to the stations the AP serves. Select a location with minimal physical
obstructions between the AP and the wireless stations. In an office with cubicles, mounting the APs
below a hanging ceiling (plenum is supported) or the wall near the ceiling provides the least
obstructed communications path. For an external power supply connection, ensure the power
source is near to where the AP300 will be mounted.
z Access to wall outlet or a to a Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection to the network switch servicing
the controller.
Most installations receive the best coverage using the following guidelines:
z Install APs toward the center of the building.
z Do not install APs near metal objects, such as heating ducts, metal doors, or electric service panels.
z Relative to the ground, orient the antenna up or down, not sideways.
Attach the Antennas
The AP320, AP311, and AP302 have six external antenna ports, labeled 1 - 6. These units only operate
with six antennas attached, even though some configurations don’t use all six. Alternately, you can cap
the antenna connections with 50 ohm terminators. (Meru does not sell terminators.) In addition, the
Meru supplied antennas are suitable only for indoor use unless they are mounted in an outdoor enclo-
sure. To achieve the best performance from your AP300, position antennas at a 90 degree angle relative
to each other as shown in Figure 6. The antennas do not have to be oriented exactly as shown in the
figure, but it is important to maintain the relative angles. If for some reason you are unable to maintain
the angles, the network still operates, but you may experience up to 20% drop in throughput depending
on the antenna orientation.
Figure 6: AP320, AP311 or AP302 Antennas 1-6 in Ceiling and Wall Mount Configuration
Note:
The previous guidelines are general guidelines. Each site has its own unique
environment. Place access points accordingly.
A
2
A
2
A
L
A
N
R
F
1
R
F
2
2
1 (horizontal)
2 (vertical)
3 (horizontal)
4 (horizontal)
5 (vertical)
6 (horizontal)