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Critical safety instructions for installation, including avoiding power lines and weather conditions.
Explains the importance and method of properly grounding the antenna system.
Select a location with clear line of sight, considering pole or wall mounting options.
Connect the CAT5 outdoor cable to the antenna feedthru and tighten the clamp.
Route the CAT5 cable indoors, creating a drip loop and sealing any holes properly.
Security features include WPA2 encryption and MAC address verification; recommended to change passwords and keys.
Discusses lightning as a threat to outdoor electronics and design considerations for protection.
Details how to ground the mounting bracket or pole to an earth ground for safety and code compliance.
Complies with FCC limits for uncontrolled environments; maintain 20cm separation.
The EZ-Bridge is a high-performance point-to-point wireless bridge system designed for reliable and secure data transmission over distances up to 4 miles with a clear line of sight. It offers speeds of up to 15 Mbit/sec, making it suitable for various applications requiring a robust wireless link.
The EZ-Bridge system creates a seamless, transparent wireless connection between two networks, effectively extending an Ethernet network wirelessly. It operates by transmitting microwave signals in a straight line, linking two locations without the need for physical cabling. This allows for the sharing of internet access, network resources, and the creation of high-speed links for various purposes.
The device is equipped with an HTML management system accessible via a standard browser, allowing users to configure and manage both units of the link from a single location. It supports both CAT5 Ethernet cable connections and wireless connections for management. The EZ-Bridge can be configured for either vertical or horizontal polarity, with horizontal polarity generally recommended due to less interference. The bracket can be rotated 180 degrees to provide either uptilt or downtilt, depending on the specific installation requirements.
Beyond simple point-to-point bridging, the EZ-Bridge offers advanced features, including the ability to function as an advanced access point router or an access point client. Multiple units can also be configured to form a mini mesh network using its WDS (Wireless Distribution System) capabilities.
Easy Installation and Setup: The EZ-Bridge is designed for plug-and-play installation. It is recommended to initially set up the system indoors in a single room to familiarize yourself with its operation. Connect one EZ-Bridge unit to your router, switch, or computer, and power up the other unit. Ensure the antennas are pointed away from each other for optimal results during this initial setup. Once powered, units can be accessed by typing their IP addresses into a standard browser.
Mounting Flexibility: The antenna can be mounted on an existing pole up to 2 inches in diameter or by using the provided wall mount bracket. For shorter distances, the antennas can even be mounted indoors. When installing outdoors, it's crucial to choose a location with a good line of sight to the remote unit.
Cable Management: The CAT5 outdoor cable is installed by inserting the RJ45 connector through the feedthrough and into the antenna's connector. The feedthrough is then screwed into the antenna connector and tightened against the gasket, with the cable clamp tightened while pushing the cable towards the connector. When routing the CAT5 cable into a building, always create a drip loop near the antenna to prevent water from running directly into the unit and to avoid strain on the antenna. Proper sealing of any holes in walls or roofs is essential to prevent water ingress. The CAT5 cable can be extended indoors using a standard RJ45 coupler, with a maximum length of 100 meters (328 feet).
Antenna Aiming: The EZ-Bridge features a specially designed wide beamwidth antenna, which means precise pointing is not overly critical. Simply pointing in the general direction of the receiving antenna will yield good results. After aiming, tighten the brackets securely.
Powering the System: The RJ45 connector from the POE (Power Over Ethernet) Inserter connects to the router, switch, or computer. The CAT5 cable from the antenna connects to the RJ45 output port of the POE Inserter. The DC plug from the power supply is inserted into the POE Inserter DC Jack, and the power supply is then plugged into a surge-protected AC power source.
Security: The system comes pre-configured with system passwords, WPA2 encryption, and MAC address verification, ensuring a secure link from the start. Users can later change the default username (EZTEAM) and password (link4me) via the ADMIN | Web Access settings. The WPA2 encryption key can also be changed in the SECURITY SETTINGS. When changing encryption, both sides of the link must have identical keys. HEX encryption keys can use characters A-F (both cases) and numbers 0-9, while passphrase keys can use any ASCII characters. More random keys offer greater security.
Channel Selection: The default channel is set to 11. Users may consider changing the channel if experiencing interference from other local wireless systems operating on the same channel. This is done via the WIRELESS settings. Both sides of the link must be on the same channel, and when configuring from one location, the remote unit should be set first, followed by the local unit.
Transmit Power (Tx Power): The factory default transmit power is 250mW, which is suitable for most applications. For very short links, reducing the Tx Power to around 100mW can improve performance, as excessive power at close range can overload the input stage of the units and degrade performance. Experimenting with different settings and measuring throughput (e.g., using DISKBENCH) can help optimize performance for a specific link.
Site Survey: A built-in site survey tool helps identify other wireless devices within range that could cause interference. This tool, accessible via WIRELESS | SITE SURVEY, displays channel numbers, MAC addresses, and relative signal strengths of all detected devices. Note that the EZ-Bridge itself will not appear in a site survey because its SSID broadcast is disabled for security reasons.
Internet Access Sharing: The EZ-Bridge is ideal for sharing internet access with friends or family members up to 4 miles away, creating a seamless connection between networks. Users should verify with their internet service provider to ensure compliance with their service contract before sharing internet access.
DHCP Functionality: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is used for automatic IP address assignment. The EZ-Bridge passes DHCP requests and responses across the wireless link. It's generally recommended to have only one DHCP server on a given network to avoid IP conflicts. If desired, the EZ-Bridge can also be configured as a DHCP server on the NETWORK page.
Typical Applications: The EZ-Bridge supports various applications, including sharing internet access, linking home and main offices, connecting multiple buildings (up to 4), creating high-speed links for remote studios or offices, establishing online gaming links, setting up secure links for remote video and network-based security cameras, and creating streaming video conference links. Its 15Mb/sec bandwidth easily supports video conferencing technologies.
Firmware Upgrades: Users can download the latest firmware updates for the EZ-Bridge from the manufacturer's website (www.e-zy.net/outdoor/EZ-Bridge). The firmware can be upgraded by selecting "UPGRADE" from the menu and browsing for the new file on the PC.
Factory Defaults Reset: If the system stops working due to configuration changes, it can be reset to factory defaults via ADMIN | Reset Settings to Defaults. This process will erase all customized settings. When resetting, always reset the remote unit first, then the local unit.
Environmental Durability: The EZ-Bridge is constructed from UV-protected materials, designed to withstand extreme solar environments and operate continuously at temperatures up to 122°F (50°C). While durable, mounting the unit in a more protected location, such as under a roof eave, is recommended if feasible. However, if a better line of sight is achieved in an unprotected environment, that location is preferred.
Weather Resistance: The 2.4GHz frequency used by the EZ-Bridge is generally unaffected by heavy rain or falling snow, so no significant performance degradation is expected due to inclement weather. However, if snow or ice accumulates more than 1 inch thick on the front of the antenna, especially over long distances (>3 miles), some reduced performance might occur.
Grounding: Proper grounding is critical for both safety and equipment protection. Local building and electrical codes require the antenna to be properly grounded. The mounting bracket or pole needs to be grounded by attaching a 10AWG or larger wire to a good earth ground (e.g., a cold water pipe or metal stake). If the house has metal rain gutters, the wire can be run from the wall mount bracket to the gutter, and then another wire from a downspout to an earth ground. The electronics inside the enclosure are designed with shielding to prevent damage from electrical storms, and shielded CAT5e cable is used to prevent electrical surges. The POE Power Supply should always be plugged into a surge-protected outlet or UPS.
Painting: The EZ-Bridge unit can be painted to match its surroundings. Only non-metallic enamel or latex paints should be used. Paints with metal content will block microwaves and reduce performance.
Microwave Barriers: Users should be aware of common microwave barriers that can reduce performance. Tinted windows with metallized film, concrete walls, and aluminum siding are significant barriers to microwave signals. Wood frame houses with brick or stucco are more transparent but will still reduce signal strength. Understanding these barriers helps diagnose potential performance issues.
General| Security | WEP, WPA, WPA2 |
|---|---|
| Category | Wireless Access Point |
| Operating Mode | Access Point |
| Ethernet Ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Operating Temperature | 70°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C |
| Humidity | 5% to 95% (non-condensing) |
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