HP ProCurve 802.11g Access Point Card 170wl Series - Manual (Page 5)

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Using an External Antenna with the 170wl Radio Card
Pre-Installation Considerations
Pre-Installation Considerations
Planning the Installation
To determine the best location of your wireless access points and antennas,
we recommend conducting a site survey before placing the devices in their
final locations. For information on how to conduct a site survey, contact your
local reseller.
W A R N I N G Never install an antenna or construct a radio mast near overhead
powerlines.
C a u t i o n Never mount the access point outdoors to be near an external antenna. The
access point must always be installed indoors.
■ Installation Location - Plan the antenna’s position and orientation.
Consider these points:
• Use the antenna’s mounting bracket or other hardware, if included.
• For optimum performance, mount antennas as high as possible above
any obstructions, and away from any signal absorbing or reflecting
structures (such as those containing metal).
• Be sure there are no other radio antennas mounted within 2 m (6 ft).
• Consider the antenna’s radio coverage pattern so that it can properly
cover the intended service area and not interfere with other radios
and antennas.
• Because most antenna pigtail cables are a relatively short length, be
sure to find a suitable mounting position for the antenna that is not
too far from the access point. Alternatively, you may need to relocate
the access point to achieve the desired coverage area for the antenna.
Use an extension cable to span excessive distance between the
antenna and the access point.
■ Omnidirectional Antennas - Consider these factors when selecting a
location for these antennas:
• Always mount the antenna in a vertical orientation so that the radio
coverage pattern fills the intended horizontal space.