Mounting the Antenna on a Ceiling Tile
Connecting the Antenna to the Access Point
Communications, Services, and Additional Information
First Published: March 19, 2020
Last Updated: July 8, 2020
This document describes the Cisco Catalyst 2.4 GHz and 5/6 GHz Dual-Band Polarization-Diverse Omnidirectional Antenna (C-ANT9101=), and provides electrical specifications and mounting instructions.
The antenna is an octal DART port, polarization-diverse omnidirectional antenna that operates over the 2.4 GHz band and extended 5 GHz band (up to 7.125 GHz), and IoT. It has 8 RF paths and 16 digital lines. It also has an LED. The antenna ships with an articulating mount for use on flat surfaces and masts, and is adjustable in both horizontal and vertical planes.
The antenna is designed for use in indoor environments with an approved Cisco Catalyst series access point that requires four dual-band and four 5/6 GHz antennas. The antenna also includes circuitry to enable self-identification of the antenna by the Cisco Catalyst Series access points.
The following information is provided in this document:
■Communications, Services, and Additional Information
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The antenna is designed for indoor use with the Cisco Catalyst series C9130AX-E access point that requires four dual-band and four 5/6 GHz antennas. The antenna can be mounted on suspended ceiling tiles having a thickness between ½ in. (1.27 cm) and 1 in. (2.54 cm). The antenna also includes circuitry to enable self-identification of the antenna by the Cisco Catalyst Series access points.
Follow these safety instructions when installing your antenna.
■Plan your installation procedure carefully and completely before you begin.
■If you are installing an antenna for the first time, for your own safety as well as others, seek professional assistance. Consult your dealer, who can explain which mounting method to use for the location where you intend to install the antenna.
■Select your installation site with safety, as well as performance, in mind. Remember that electric power cables and telephone lines look alike. For your safety, assume that any line is an electric power line until determined otherwise.
■Call your local power company or building maintenance organization if you are unsure about cables close to your mounting location.
■When installing your antenna:
–Dress properly: shoes with rubber soles and heels, rubber gloves, and a long sleeved shirt or jacket.
■If an accident or emergency occurs with the power lines, call for qualified emergency help immediately.
Because antennas transmit and receive radio signals, they are susceptible to RF obstructions and common sources of interference that can reduce throughput and range of the device to which they are connected. Follow these guidelines to ensure the best possible performance:
■Mount the antenna to utilize its propagation characteristics. A way to do this is to orient the antenna horizontally as high as possible at or near the center of its coverage area.
■Keep the antenna away from metal obstructions such as heating and air-conditioning ducts, large ceiling trusses, building superstructures, and major power cabling runs. If necessary, use a rigid conduit to lower the antenna away from these obstructions.
■The density of the materials used in a building’s construction determines the number of walls the signal must pass through and still maintain adequate coverage. Consider the following before choosing the location to install your antenna:
–Paper and vinyl walls have very little affect on signal penetration.
–Solid and pre-cast concrete walls limit signal penetration to one or two walls without degrading coverage.
–Concrete and wood block walls limit signal penetration to three or four walls.
–A signal can penetrate five or six walls constructed of drywall or wood.
–A thick metal wall causes signals to reflect off, causing poor penetration.
–A wire mesh spaced between 1 and 11/2 in. (2.54 and 3.81 cm) acts as a harmonic reflector that blocks a 2.4 GHz radio signal.
■Install the antenna away from microwave ovens and 2-GHz cordless phones. These products can cause signal interference because they operate in the same frequency range as the device to which your antenna is connected.
■Install the antenna horizontally to maximize signal propagation.
Mount the antenna clear of obstructions to the sides of the radiating elements. Generally, the higher an antenna is above the floor, the better it performs. If possible, mount the antenna on the ceiling panel within 12 in. (30.5 cm) of the access point so you can connect its cable directly to the access point’s octal DART port. If you must mount the antenna farther away from the access point, try to make the distance as short as possible.
You can install the antenna on a ceiling tile having a thickness between ½ in. (1.27 cm) and 1 in. (2.54 cm).
The antenna is installed to a suspended ceiling tile with a supplied plastic nut. See Figure 31 for details.
The antenna cable terminates with an octal DART connector after a 24 in. (60.96 cm) cable. The mating connector to the antenna on the access point is also an octal DART connector.
The following tools and equipment are not provided:
■13/8" (3.49 cm) hole saw to create a hole in the suspended ceiling tile.
Figure 31 Ceiling Tile Mounting Details
To mount the antenna on a suspended ceiling tile:
1. Mark the mounting location on the ceiling tile.
2. Remove the ceiling tile from the ceiling grids.
3. Use a 13/8" (3.49 cm) hole saw to cut a hole in the ceiling tile.
4. Insert the antenna cable through the hole in the ceiling tile.
5. Insert the antenna cable into the slot of the plastic nut as shown in Figure 31.
6. Ensure that the antenna is properly positioned on the ceiling tile and then tighten the plastic nut hand-tight.
7. Reinstall the ceiling tile.
8. Connect the octal DART cable of the antenna to the access point’s octal DART port.
The antenna has an 8-port DART connector which is connected to the octal DART port on the access point.
The C-ANT9101= includes circuitry to enable self-identification of the antenna by the Cisco Catalyst series C9130AX-E access points. The C-ANT9101= antenna has a built-in EEPROM that can be read by the AP to automatically configure the antenna type, gain, and beamwidth in the wireless controller.
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The following information is for FCC compliance of Class B devices: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If the equipment causes interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, users are encouraged to try to correct the interference by using one or more of the following measures:
■Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
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