Cisco Aironet 13.5-dBi Yagi Mast Mount Antenna (AIR-ANT1949)

General Installation Instructions for Mast-Mounted Antennas

The following instructions are common to most mast-mounted installations.

Step 1 Assemble your new antenna on the ground at the installation site.

Step 2 Attach the antenna to the mast and connect its coaxial cable while you are on the ground.

Step 3 If you lose control of the mast while raising it, make sure that it does not fall in the wrong direction. Use a durable non-conductive rope secured at each 2-foot level as the mast is raised. Have an assistant tend the rope, ready to pull the mast clear of any hazards (such as power lines) if it begins to fall.

Step 4 Use the mounting bracket provided with the antenna.

Step 5 If the installation will use guy wires:

a. Install guy anchor bolts.

b. Estimate the length of guy wire and cut it before raising the mast.

c. Attach guy wires to a mast using guy rings.

Step 6 Carefully connect the antenna and mast assembly to its mounting bracket and tighten the clamp bolts.

a. For a guyed installation, you must have at least one assistant to hold the mast upright while you attach and tighten the guy wires to the anchor bolts.

Step 7 Attach the provided self-adhering DANGER label at eye level on the mast.

Step 8 Install ground rods to remove any static electricity buildup and connect a ground wire to the mast and ground rod. Use ground rods designed for that purpose, not a spare piece of pipe.

Grounding the Antenna

Follow these guidelines to ground the antenna in accordance with national electrical code instructions.

1. Use No. 10 AWG copper or No. 8 or larger copper-clad steel or bronze wire as ground wires for both mast and lead-in. Securely clamp the wire to the bottom of the mast.

2. Secure the lead-in wire to an antenna discharge unit and the mast ground wire to the building with stand-off insulators spaced from 4 ft (1.2 m) to 8 ft (2.4 m) apart.

3. Mount the antenna discharge unit as closely as possible to where the lead-in wire enters the building.

4. Drill a hole in the building’s wall as closely as possible to the equipment to which you will connect the lead-in cable.

Caution There may be wires in the wall. Make sure your drilling location is clear of any any obstructions or other hazards.

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5. Pull the cable through the hole and form a drip loop close to where it enters the building.

6. Thoroughly waterproof the lead-in area.

7. Install a lightning arrestor.

8. Connect the lead-in cable to the equipment.

Choosing a Mounting Location

The antenna is designed to create a directional broadcast pattern. To achieve this pattern, the antenna should be mounted clear of any obstructions to the sides of the radiating element. If the mounting location is on the side of a building or tower, the antenna pattern is degraded on the building or tower side.

Site Selection

Before attempting to install your antenna, determine where you can best place the antenna for safety and performance.

Follow these steps to determine a safe distance from wires, power lines, and trees.

Step 1 Measure the height of your antenna.

Step 2 Add this length to the length of your tower or mast and then double this total for the minimum recommended safe distance.

Caution If you are unable to maintain this safe distance, stop and get professional help.

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Generally, the higher an antenna is above the ground, the better it performs. Good practice is to install your antenna about 5 to 10 ft (1.5 to 3 m) above the roof line and away from all power lines and obstructions. If possible, find a mounting place directly above your wireless device so that the lead-in cable can be as direct as possible.

Tools and Equipment Required

A mast mounting installation kit is shipped with the antenna. To install the antenna on a mast, you need the following tools and equipment.

• A 7/16-in. (11.1 mm) wrench
• Cable ties or electrical tape
• Coaxial cable weatherproofing material (such as CoaxSeal)

Note The antenna can also be mounted on a wall or other flat vertical surface. Mounting hardware is not provided.

The following sections contain a typical procedure for installing the antenna on a mast. Your installation may vary. Before you begin, you may want to refer to Figure 1.

Mounting the Antenna

The antenna is provided with a mast mounting kit that allows you to mount the antenna to masts up to
1 5/8 in. in diameter. Figure 1 shows how the antenna should be mounted to a mast or wall.

Figure 1 Antenna Mounting

Follow these instructions to mount the antenna on a mast.

Step 1 Attach the U-bolts, clamps, and backing plate to the antenna as shown in Figure 1.

Step 2 Install a washer and start a locknut on each U-bolt.

Step 3 Position the loose mounting assembly over the mast.

Note To ensure correct antenna polarization orientation, make sure the arrows on the antenna are pointed up.

Step 4 Use a 7/16-in (11.1-mm) wrench or suitable adjustable wrench to secure the assembly to the mast. Tighten the locknuts to a point where the antenna does not slide down the mast but is loose enough for you to rotate.

Step 5 Rotate the antenna until it points towards the other WLAN antenna your wireless device is to communicate with.

Note The accuracy of the orientation should be within 15 degrees to achieve maximum gain. This is especially important if the path length is over 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). If you use this antenna to connect to several terminals, aim it in the general direction of the group. If the paths are not obstructed or are less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), this arrangement should work well.

Step 6 Tighten the locknuts.

Note Tighten the locknuts evenly and do not exceed 45 in-lbs of torque on the locknuts.

Step 7 Secure the antenna cable to the mast with cable ties or electrical tape.

Step 8 Apply the danger label to a plainly visible area of the antenna support structure.

Note The antenna is not DC grounded. It is recommended that you install lightning-protection devices in your system. See the Installation Instructions for Cisco Aironet Lightning Arrestors. This document is available on the World Wide Web at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/lightning_arrestor/installation/guide/hslar.html

Suggested Cable

Cisco recommends a high-quality, low-loss cable for use with the antenna.

Note The higher the frequency, the greater the loss through the cable. Also, the longer the run, the greater the loss.

The antenna terminates with a RP-TNC plug after a short, 3-ft (0.91-m) cable. The mating connector to the antenna is an appropriate RP-TNC jack. The connector on the opposite end will vary according to the type of equipment used.

After the cable is attached to the antenna, make sure that the connections are sealed (if outdoors) to prevent moisture and other weathering elements from affecting performance. Cisco recommends using a coax seal (such as CoaxSeal) for outdoor connections. Silicon sealant or electrical tape is not recommended for sealing outdoor connections.

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