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3Com® Wireless Antennas

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3Com ® Wireless Antennas PRODUCT GUIDE
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Page 1: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com® Wireless AntennasPRODUCT GUIDE

Page 2: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com offers small businesses and enterprises a range of antennas

specifically designed to optimize 802.11 wireless connectivity in

particular environments. These antennas extend the flexibility and

coverage of 3Com® wireless bridges and enterprise access points

(APs) that support external antenna options, enabling their

deployment in a variety of in-building and building-to-building

network environments.

Wireless bridging cost-effectively and securely connects buildings

and LANs over short or long distances with antenna transmitters

mounted on the roof in line-of-sight with antenna receivers.

Wireless connectivity eliminates the installation costs and right-of-

way problems with fiber cable and the monthly expenses of

T1/E1 lines.

With wireless LAN (WLAN)

deployment in an enterprise

network, desktop clients can

easily connect to the WLAN

through APs (in infrastructure

mode) while mobile users with

laptops can roam inside

buildings and connect to LAN

resources over the 802.11

wireless AP network.

This guide covers antenna

technology, including optimal

positioning and placement

inside and outside buildings to

maximize throughput potential

with 3Com 802.11a/b/g

wireless building-to-building

bridges and APs.

Introduction

Figure 1: 3Com 802.11 Wireless Antenna Family

Page 3: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

Antenna Variations

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 1

Performance characteristics of each antennavary and are based upon radio frequency(RF) transmitted, size, gain, radiationpatterns, and other factors beyond the scopeof this document. The guide explains thedifferent types of antennas and what effectthey have on performance in variousenvironments.

Omnidirectional Antennas

Omnidirectional antennas do just what theirname implies, they receive signals from alldirections, which means they cover a 360-degree pattern around the antenna.Omnidirectional antennas are great forhotspots in meeting rooms or public facilitiesor in office spaces where teams of employeesneed to work together effectively andefficiently. Figure 2 shows a top view of anomnidirectional antenna radio transmissionpattern.

Directional Antennas

Directional antennas—also known as sectorpanel, bidirectional, parabolic, patch, or Yagiantennas—come in a variety of designs.These antennas operate by focusing and re-directing the radio waves from thetransmitting unit to the receiver in theantenna.

The advantage of directional antennas is thatthey can be used to pick up weak signals atgreater distances than other designs. Theyalso optimize the signal because they canpartly reject interference when the interfereris located in the path of the antenna. There isa trade-off, however. As shown in Figure 3,the more gain, or power the antenna has(measured in dBi) the smaller the receivingangle of the signal it can pick up. As anexample, an 8 dBi antenna might be able tosupport a vertical beam width of 60 degrees,but an identical antenna with an 18 dBi gainmight only be able to receive the signal in a19-degree arc.

Figure 2: Omnidirectional Antenna

Figure 3: Directional Antennas

Directional Antenna

Transmission Range & Signal Strength

Transmission Range & Signal Strength

Transmission Range & Signal Strength

Antenna

Antenna

Antenna

Parabolic Antenna

Page 4: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

Antenna radiation patterns are often used todisplay the characteristics and capabilities ofa particular antenna. Antenna radiationpatterns indicate how the electromagneticwave propagates away from the antenna. Aradiation pattern is dependent on somethingcalled polarization between the transmitantenna and receive antenna. Antennapolarization can be horizontal, vertical orcircular; knowing which one is correct andhow to apply it to your environment isessential for optimal antenna systemperformance.

Vertically-polarized antennas have theirelectric field perpendicular to the earth’ssurface, while horizontally-polarized

antennas have their electric field parallel tothe earth’s surface. An antenna that iscircularly polarized radiates the signal inboth the vertical and horizontal planes andeverywhere in between.

As shown in Figure 4, there are four possibleconfigurations for transmit and receiveantennas, known as cross-couplings. Formost applications, an antenna system shoulduse Scenario #1. Note that when twoantennas are 90 degrees offset an effect calledpolarization loss occurs. The best signalstrength occurs when two devices use thesame polarization method.

A typical, desired antenna pattern for anomnidirectional antenna looks like the one inFigure 5. This flat diagram shows the verticalintersection (elevation plane) of a radiationdiagram. The line circulating around theinside of the graph shows the strength of thesignal relative to the radial location in a 360-degree arc.

2 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Antenna Radiation Patterns

Figure 4: Antenna Polarization Scenarios

Scenario 1)

Scenario 2)

Scenario 3)

Scenario 4)

Figure 5: Two-Dimensional Radiation Pattern

Radiation Elevation

Page 5: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

Figure 6 shows a detailed three-dimensionalside view of an omnidirectional antenna withrelative signal strength in relation to theantenna in the middle. As you can see, theshape is like a doughnut or apple.

To select the proper antenna for yourwireless networking application, you need tounderstand antenna performance patterns.On many patterns you will see bulges calledlobes and indentations known as nulls. Lobesidentify where the stronger area of the signalis relative to the antenna. Nulls identifywhere the signal is weaker—you don’t wantthe nulls of an antenna to be in your mostpopulated locations. Figure 7 shows a sampleradiation pattern indicating some of thelobes and nulls.

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 3

Figure 6: Three-Dimensional Side View of an Omnidirectional Antenna Radiation Pattern

Figure 7: Radiation Pattern Showing Lobes and Nulls

Page 6: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com’s access points come with two externalantennas mounted on the outside of the unitseparated by a short distance. This dual-antenna configuration is known as a diversityantenna. Diversity antennas are designed tocover the same

geographic space to optimize throughput andperformance by receiving the best possiblesignal in one specific region. The twoantennas are placed in relatively closeproximity, but at least a one-quarterwavelength distance apart. In an 802.11b or802.11g radio, this distance equates to 3cm, aquarter of the wavelength of the 2.4 GHzradio signal. Note that diversity antennas arenot meant to cover two separate 802.11b or802.11g geographic areas.

Figure 8 shows examples of 3Com enterprisewireless LAN access points with diversityantenna systems.

When buildings and offices have a lot ofradio-reflective surfaces—such as metallicfiling cabinets, or metal desks and tables—radio signals can bounce off them and createreflective signals. These reflective RF signalscan arrive at the receiving device antenna inopposite phase, causing what is known asflat fading. Figure 9 shows an example of thismultipath distortion.

Antenna diversity helps improve radioreception performance in an environmentwith multipath fading. When the receivingantenna receives the bounced and reflectedsignal, the signal can be of very low strengthand is essentially indiscernible. An AP with adiversity antenna will constantly evaluatewhich antenna is receiving the strongersignal. Once it determines which of the twoantennas receives the better signal, the APwill use that antenna for the remainder of thewireless packet transmission. When the APresponds, it automatically uses the antennamost recently receiving from the transmitter.If, for some reason, the AP is unable to

contact the remote transmitter, it automat-ically switches over to the other antenna andattempts the transmission again.

Note that most wireless AP installations withoptional antennas only use one externalantenna. In these cases you don’t haveantenna diversity and may not experienceimproved performance in a highly multipathenvironment.

When you use a single antenna, you mustconfigure the AP to transmit signals out ofthe port where the antenna is attached. Seeyour product user guide for configurationdetails.

4 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Antenna Diversity Systems

Figure 8: 3Com APs with Diversity Antenna Systems

Figure 9: Flat Fading and Multipath Signals

Page 7: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 5

Antenna Range and Positioning

For optimal throughput, antenna systemsmust have sufficient gain to communicatebetween the two endpoints and have noobjects in the line of sight between them.Trees, power lines, buildings, and othernatural or man-made objects can all impactantenna performance. Obstructions typicallyresult in reduced throughput betweenlocations; in extreme cases, there is noconnection at all.

Depending on the type of antennas used,beam width can be diverse and scattered(omnidirectional) or narrow with focusedreception (directional). If the antennas arelocated outside, a decrease in gain of 6dBcuts the achievable theoretical distance inhalf. An increase in gain of 6dB theoreticallydoubles the possible distance between twoantennas.

Line-of-Sight Positioningwith Outdoor Antennas

Outdoor antennas used to connect WLANbridges between buildings or locations arebest served when the antennas have a directline of sight between two locations. Ideally,you should be able to see the remote antennafrom the top of the building, either directlyor with a pair of binoculars or telescope.Remember that at a certain point thecurvature of the earth will begin to block thezone of the signal (known as the Fresnelzone) and the antennas will need to belocated higher on the building. Figure 10shows the approximate location of theFresnel zone where an optimal signal can befound. Any objects or interruptions to thissignal zone can severely impact antennaperformance.Figure 10: Fresnel Zone Location

Line-of-Sight Positioningwith Indoor Antennas

Metal floors, file cabinets, and even metalroofs can act as a "wave guide" for radiotransmissions and can actually propagate thesignal. However, this situation also increasesthe multipath of RF signals, which willreduce receiver performance. Antennadiversity will partly address this phenomena.Office cubical walls often contain internalmetal sheets which can create RF reflectionsand multipath distortion between the AP andthe client PCs inside the cubicles. It’s goodpractice to have an unobstructed line ofsight between the AP antenna and the clientantenna if possible.

If the wireless client is in a cubicle, ahorizontal polarization of the antenna isbeneficial for both AP and the client. Thesignal will reflect from the ceiling to thefloor a couple of times, but will "jump" intothe cubicle.

When two diversity antennas are offset 90degrees will give you polarization diversity.Tests and practical experience show thatpolarization gain provides significantlybetter results than traditional diversity gainin office environments.

Page 8: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

Dual-Band AntennaConsiderations

3Com offers wireless APs and bridges thatoperate in both 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) and 5GHz (802.11a) radio spectra. Dual-bandantennas allow you to design wirelesscoverage for both 2.4 and 5 GHz applications.Radio waves perform differently in thesedifferent frequency ranges, however, so thereare a number of things to keep in mind whendesigning your dual-band wireless network.

Power Dissipation: Due to the physics ofradio wave power dissipation, 5 GHz signalsof equal power output only travel approxi-mately half the distance of 2.4 GHz signals.This difference can be compensated for tosome degree by increasing the gain of the 5GHz antenna element. Keep in mind thatincreasing the gain means that the coveragepattern will narrow. Study the antennacoverage patterns and installationrequirements carefully to ensure that you areproviding adequate coverage in the requiredfrequencies.

Absorption and Penetration: Radio wavesin 2.4 GHz are absorbed differently thanwaves in 5GHz. Some materials absorb2.4GHz more than 5 GHz waves and viceversa. For example, 2.4 GHz waves areabsorbed very efficiently by water; in fact, amicrowave oven functions by exciting watermolecules with 2.4 GHz radio waves. Table 1shows the attenuation properties of commonbuilding materials.

As you can see from the table, nearly allbuilding materials attenuate RF signalssubstantially, which is why a wireless LANperforms best with line-of-site transmissions.A closed room or secluded area will not becovered adequately unless a transmitter isplaced in that area.

Site Surveys: Because of the different powerdissipation and absorption characteristics ofradio waves at 2.4 and 5 GHz, it is importantto measure the coverage of your network inactual operating conditions. For example, ifyou are designing a wireless LANdeployment in an office building, you shouldperform the site survey after the cubicles andoffice furniture are installed. If you aredesigning a wireless LAN deployment in awarehouse or industrial application, youshould perform the site survey during actualoperating conditions. This will help you todesign a network that provides the desiredcoverage when there are large reflectingobjects like vehicles or assembly equipmentthat would not be accounted for otherwise.

Antenna Cables: The coax cable used totransmit and receive RF signals is animportant component of your WLAN orwireless bridge network. Note that the longerthe coax cable between the access point orbridge and the antenna system, the greaterthe signal loss, and the weaker thetransmitting or receiving signal. Optimally,WLAN antenna cables should be less than 10feet long. If longer cable lengths arenecessary, use antenna cables labeled "lowloss" or "ultra-low loss," such as the 3Comultra low loss cables, to maximize theperformance of your antennas.

6 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Table 1: Attenuation Properties of Common Building Materials

BUILDING MATERIAL 5GHZ 2.4GHZATTENUATION (dBi) ATTENUATION (dBi)

Solid Wood Door 1.75" 10 6

Hollow Wood Door 1.75" 7 4

Interior Office Door w/Window 1.75"/0.5" 6 4

Steel Fire/Exit Door 1.75" 25 13

Steel Fire/Exit Door 2.5" 32 19

Steel Rollup Door 1.5" 19 11

Brick 3.5" 10 6

Concrete Wall 18" 30 18

Cubical Wall (Fabric) 2.25" 30 18

Exterior Concrete Wall 27" 45 53

Glass Divider 0.5" 8 12

Interior Hollow Wall 4" 3 5

Interior Hollow Wall 6" 4 9

Interior Solid Wall 5" 16 14

Marble 2" 10 6

Bullet-Proof Glass 1" 20 10

Exterior Double Pane Coated Glass 1" 20 13

Exterior Single Pane Window 0.5" 6 7

Interior Office Window 1" 6 3

Safety Glass-Wire 0.25" 2 3

Safety Glass-Wire 1.0" 18 13

Page 9: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 7

3Com Dual-Band Antennas

3Com offers five dual-band antennas to fit arange of indoor and outdoor environments:

• 3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band OmniAntenna (3CWE591)

• 3Com 3/4 dBi Dual-Band CeilingMount Omni Antenna (3CWE592)

• 3Com 18/20 dBi Dual-Band PanelAntenna (3CWE596)

• 3Com 4/6 dBi Dual-Band HallwayAntenna (3CWE597)

• 3Com 8/10 dBi Dual-Band PanelAntenna (3CWE598)

3Com® OmnidirectionalAntennas

3Com 6/8 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna(3CWE591) This omnidirectional antenna suppliesuniform coverage in all directions. It isdesigned for a wide variety of 802.11wireless networking installations for not-so-flexible environments. The antenna workswell for static wireless connections, roamingusers, and building-to-building connections.It provides point-to-multipoint connectionsbetween 3Com WLAN building-to-buildingbridges and also supports 3Com enterpriseAPs to deliver uniform coverage over a wideopen area.

The omnidirectional antenna is built tosupply maximum performance and reliabilityunder the toughest outdoor conditions. AU.V.-stable, vented enclosure providesultimate protection against weather elements.The antenna can be mast, wall or ceilingmounted.

Features and Benefits:

• Supports point-to-multipointconnections between 3Com indoor andoutdoor building-to-building bridges

• Supports 3Com enterprise accesspoints with removable antennas

• U.V.-stable fiberglass enclosure enablesoutdoor installation even in harshclimates

3COM 3COM ANTENNA DEPLOYMENT GAIN VSWR MAX TEMPERATURE ANTENNA ANTENNAPRODUCT PRODUCT TYPE ACROSS POWER RANGE DIMENSIONS WEIGHT

3CWE591 3Com 6/8 dBi Omnidirectional Medium range 2.4 GHz: <2.0:1 25 Watts -40° C to 80° C Length: 58.2 cm (22.9 in), .2 kgDual-Band point-to- 6 dBi -40° F to 176° F Diameter (mounting (7.8 oz)Omni Antenna mulitpoint 5 GHz: base): 3.2 cm (1.2 in)

8 dBi

3CWE592 3Com 3/4 dBi Omnidirectional Close-range 2.4 GHz: <1.35:1 50 Watts -40° C to 80° C Height: 4.3 cm (1.7 in), .2 kgDual-Band connections; 3 dBi -40° F to 176° F Diameter: 10.8 cm (4.2 in) (7.4 oz)Ceiling Mount allows ceiling AP 5 GHz:Omni Antenna installation 4 dBi

3CWE596 3Com Panel Long range 2.4 GHz: <1.5:1 20 Watts -40° C to 80° C Height: 35.4 cm (13.9 in), 1.8 kg 18/20 dBi point-to- 18 dBi -40° F to 176° F Width: 38.4 cm (15.1 in), (63.5 oz)Dual-Band point 5 GHz: Depth: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)Panel Antenna 20 dBi

3CWE597 3Com 4/6 dBi Bidirectional Midrange 2.4 GHz: <1.5:1 10 Watts -40°C to 71°C Height: 5.3 cm (2.1 in), .1 kg Dual-Band hallway 4 dBi -40°F to 160°F Width: 7.6 cm (3 in), (2.9 oz)Hallway installations 5 GHz: Depth: .5 cm (.2 in)Antenna 6 dBi

3CWE598 3Com 8/10 dBi Panel Medium range 2.4 GHz: <1.5:1 20 Watts -40° C to 80° C Height: 12.7 cm (5 in), .3 kgDual-Band point-to-point 8 dBi -40° F to 176° F Width: 13.7 cm (5.4 in), (12.3 oz)Panel Antenna 5 GHz: Depth: 3.6 cm (1.4 in)

10 dBI

Page 10: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

• Vented system design provides reliableperformance by protecting theelectrical design against extrememoisture and/or temperatures

• Thread relief improves accessibility fortaping, reduces installation time, andimproves overall effectiveness

• Internal O-ring seal in the base of theantenna with integrated connectorcreates a watertight seal to preventwater from migrating into the antenna

General Specifications: Polarization: VerticalNominal impedance: 50 OhmsBandwidth at 1.5:1 VSWR: 100 MHz2.4 GHz vertical beam width (50% power):30 degrees5 GHz vertical beam width (50% power):20 degreesEquivalent flat plate rate: 0.06 ftWind survival: 125 mph Lateral thrust at rated wind: 5.2 lbsBending movement at rated wind: 4.4 ft-lbsConnector: N FemaleAntenna housing: UV-resistant fiberglassMounting method: Mast, wall or ceilingmountedGain: 2.4 GHz: 6 dBi; 5 GHz: 8 dBi

3Com 3/4 dBi Dual-Band CeilingMount Omni Antenna (3CWE592) This antenna provides an appealing,low-profile ceiling mount solution forindoor applications requiring minimumvisibility. The omnidirectional antennaoffers uniform coverage in all directionsin open areas such as lobbies orconference rooms. Its attractive housingblends in well with office environmentsand other locations where aestheticconsiderations are important. Theantenna can be easily mounted to dropceiling tiles or to a solid ceiling surfacewhere cable routing access is available.

Features and Benefits:

• Supports all 3Com enterprise APs withremovable antennas

• For indoor installation only

• Includes a 12-inch pigtail with an Nconnector

• UL-listed materials and cable meet thestrictest safety specifications

• Single-hole stud connection can beeasily installed on standard ceiling tilesor solid ceiling surfaces

8 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Elevation Plane Radiation

2.4 GHz 5 GHz

Page 11: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

General Specifications: Polarization: Vertical, linearNominal impedance: 50 OhmsConnector: N FemaleAntenna housing: UL-listed plasticCable: 12-inch (30.5 cm) Plenum RG58/UMounting method: Stud mount, single holeGain: 2.4 GHz: 3 dBi; 5 GHz: 4 dBi

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 9

Elevation Plane Radiation Patterns

2.4 GHz 5 GHz

3Com Bidirectional Antenna

3Com 4/6 dBi Dual-Band HallwayAntenna (3CWE597)This diminutive antenna is the perfectsolution for extending the reach of yourwireless network down long hallways andthrough narrow spaces. It is ideal for use inlong corridors where more focused radiatedenergy is necessary to achieve adequatesignal coverage You can use the antenna with3Com enterprise APs to provide two-waydirected coverage in these tough locations.

Features and Benefits:

• Supports 3Com enterprise accesspoints with removable antennas

• Provides bi-directed point-to-pointcoverage in narrow hallways andcorridors

• For indoor installation only

• Provides extended wireless coverage intwo directions

• Attractive, low-profile housing blendswell in office environments and otherlocations where aesthetic consider-ations are important

• UL-listed materials and cable meet thestrictest safety specifications

• Single-hole stud mount or side cableexit option make it easy to install onstandard ceiling tiles or solid ceilingsurfaces

Page 12: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

10 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Elevation and Azimuth Radiation Patterns

General Specifications: Polarization: VerticalNominal impedance: 50 Ohms2.4 GHz vertical beam width: 100 degrees5 GHz vertical beam width: 75 degreesConnector: N FemaleCable: 12-inch (30.5 cm) Plenum RG58/UAntenna housing: UL94-VO plasticMounting method: Mast, wall or ceilingmountedGain: 2.4 GHz: 4 dBi; 5 GHz: 6 dBi

2.4 GHz Elevation

Azimuth2.4 GHz

5 GHz

5 GHz

Page 13: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 11

Elevation and Azimuth Radiation Patterns

2.4 GHz

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

5 GHz

3Com Panel Antennas

3Com 18/20 dBi Dual-Band PanelAntenna (3CWE596)This antenna enables long-range links for the3Com wireless LAN indoor building-to-building bridge. The versatile antenna can bemounted practically anywhere and in anyorientation, providing directed coverage inboth indoor and outdoor environments. Theantenna transmits data to another buildingor remote site equipped with another 3Combuilding-to-building bridge and antenna. Itis ideal for midrange, point-to-pointconnections that require longer cables to runbetween the antenna and bridge.

Features and Benefits:

• Supports the 3Com 11g 54MbpsWireless LAN Indoor Building-to-Building Bridge, 3Com Wireless LANBuilding-to-Building Bridge, and 3Comenterprise access points withremovable antennas

• Flat-panel directional antenna providesstable and directed coverage in bothindoor and outdoor environments

• Versatile antenna can be mountedpractically anywhere and in anyorientation for long-distance point-to-point wireless connections

• Corner exit RG-58/U pigtail designallows the polarized panel to bemounted in vertical or horizontalpolarity

• Adjustable mounting brackets provideflexibility for both indoor or outdoorinstallations

General Specifications: Polarization: Linear, vertical or horizontalNominal impedance: 50 Ohms3dB horizontal beam width: 18 degrees3dB vertical beam width: 19 degreesFront-to-back ration: > 25 dBConnector: N FemaleCable: 12-inch (30.5 cm) Plenum RG58/UWind loading (frontal) @ 100 Mph wind:85 lbsAntenna housing: UL94-VO plasticMounting method: Indoor or outdoor withmounting bracketsGain: 2.4 GHz: 18 dBi; 5 GHz: 20 dBi

Elevation

Azimuth

Page 14: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com 8/10 dBi Dual-Band Panel Antenna(3CWE598)This antenna shapes the coverage pattern of3Com enterprise wireless LAN managedaccess points with removable antennas, andenables short-range links for the 3ComWLAN indoor building-to-building bridge.The versatile antenna can be mountedpractically anywhere and in any orientation,providing directed coverage in both indoorand outdoor environments. The antennatransmits data to another building or remotesite equipped with another 3Com building-to-building bridge and antenna. It is ideal forpoint-to-point connections or for shaping APcoverage to a specific area.

Features and Benefits:

• Supports the 3Com enterprise accesspoints and the 3Com 54Mbps WirelessIndoor Building-to-Building Bridge

• Flat-panel directional antenna providesstable and directed coverage in bothindoor and outdoor environments

• Versatile antenna can be mountedpractically anywhere and in anyorientation for long-distance point-to-point wireless connections

• An excellent choice for short rangepoint-to-point connections

• Corner exit RG-58/U pigtail designallows the polarized panel to bemounted in vertical or horizontalpolarity

• Adjustable mounting brackets provideflexibility for both indoor or outdoorinstallations

General Specifications: Polarization: Linear, vertical or horizontalNominal impedance: 50 Ohms3dB horizontal beam width: 60 degrees3dB vertical beam width: 60 degreesFront–to-back ration: > 15 dBConnector: N FemaleCable: 12-inch (30.5 cm) Plenum RG58/UWind loading (frontal) @ 100 Mph wind: 9.3 lbsAntenna housing: UL94-VO plasticMounting method: Indoor or outdoor withmounting bracketsGain: 2.4 GHz: 8 dBi; 5 GHz: 10 dBi

12 3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE

Elevation and Azimuth Radiation Patterns

2.4 GHz

2.4 GHz

5 GHz

5 GHz

Elevation

Azimuth

Page 15: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com Ultra-Low LossAntenna Cables

All 3Com 802.11 wireless antennas must beused with 3Com antenna cables. The antennacables provide a certified connectionbetween the 3Com access point and the 3Comantenna. The cables also provide theconversion between the SMA connector onthe 3Com access points and the N-typeconnector on the antenna.

3Com uses ultra-low loss cables to maximizethe performance of your wireless installationin either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz applications. Notethat you should always choose the shortestcable that is appropriate for your installation.

Features and Benefits:

• Support 3Com dual band antennas,3Com enterprise WLAN access pointswith removable antennas, and wirelessbuilding-to-building bridges

• Ultra-low loss characteristics ensurethe maximum performance of yourexternal antenna installation

• Enable remote antenna installations tomeet aesthetic and performancerequirements of your WLAN

• For indoor and outdoor installation

3COM® WIRELESS ANTENNAS GUIDE 13

3COM 3COM CABLE GAIN CONNECTORPRODUCT PRODUCT LENGTH TYPENUMBER NAME

3CWE580 3Com Ultra-Low 1.83 m (6 ft) 2.4 GHz: -0.6 dBi SMA (male) to Loss 6-Foot Antenna 5 GHz: -1.2 dBi N type (male)Cable

3CWE581 3Com Ultra-Low 6.1 m (20 ft) 2.4 GHz: -2.0 dBi SMA (male) toLoss 20-foot 5 GHz: -4.0 dBi N type (male)Antenna Cable

3CWE582 3Com Ultra-Low 15.2 m (50 ft) 2.4 GHz: -5.0 dBi SMA (male) toLoss 50-foot 5 GHz: -10.0 dBi N type (male)Antenna Cable

Page 16: 3Com® Wireless Antennas

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 350 Campus Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752-3064

To learn more about 3Com solutions, visit www.3com.com. 3Com is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol COMS.

Copyright © 2005 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks and ExerciseChoice is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respectivecompanies. While every effort is made to ensure the information given is accurate, 3Com does not accept liability for any errorsor mistakes which may arise. Specifications and other information in this document may be subject to change without notice.

101900-003 04/05


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