Outdoor 150 Mbps 1T1R Wireless-N Access Point - 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n PoE-Powered WiFi AP

The AP150WN1X1OD can be set up to create a wireless network for an existing wired network, which is called Access Point (AP) mode.

The following is required to set up the unit in AP mode:

• A network infrastructure or network device that is TCP/IP compliant.
• A computer with a wired Ethernet connection.
• Two Ethernet patch cables.

If the unit is not brand new or there are previous settings saved on the unit, you need to complete a factory reset before you can proceed. For more information about factory resets, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/networking_ap150wn1x1od_factory_reset.

Connect the AP150WN1X1OD

To set up the unit, you need to connect the AP150WN1X1OD using a wired Ethernet cable.

1. Remove the plastic panel from the bottom of the AP150WN1X1OD.
2. Connect the power adapter to the POE injector.
3. Connect an Ethernet cable to the POE injector and the AP150WN1X1OD. The AP150WN1X1OD should be receiving power. If it is not, move the Ethernet cable to the other port.
4. Connect the Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the POE injector to your computer. 
5. When you are done configuring the AP150WN1X1OD, reattach the plastic panel.

Wait 30 seconds for the unit to restart before you make any configuration changes.

Configure the software

To make changes to the configuration, you need to make sure that your computer is on the same network as the AP150WN1X1OD. By default, the access point assigns your computer an IP address that is on the 192.168.1.XXX network.

If you are having issues accessing the Wireless Access Point, you may need to manually set the IP address. For more information, refer to the following FAQ as appropriate for your operating system: How do I change my IP address in [your operating system]?

The default IP address of the access point is 192.168.1.200, which means that the computer needs to have an address similar to 192.168.1.[XXX], where [XXX] is a number between 1 and 255, but is not 200 (for example, 192.168.1.1).

Use the web configuration

Make sure that your computer is on the 192.168.1.XXX network and complete the following:

1. Open a web browser.
2. In the address bar, type http://192.168.1.200.
3. In the username and password fields, type admin.
4. Click the Start button at the bottom of the screen to begin the Setup Wizard.
5. To turn on AP mode, complete the steps in the Setup Wizard. Make sure that you add your preference for wireless SSID (what the unit will be identified as over Wi-Fi), security, and password.

When the Setup Wizard is finished, do the following:

1. If any modifications were made, set your computer back to the original IP configuration.
2. Plug your wired network into the LAN port of the AP or POE injector.

Your AP150WN1X1OD will now host the wired network over Wi-Fi.

A Wireless Distribution System (WDS) allows you to use the Access Point (AP) to connect to other APs using a wireless signal. A WDS can create a seamless network between multiple WDS-compatible APs. A WDS can improve network connectivity over a larger geographical area, but the network speed is reduced up to 50% each time that you add a new AP to the WDS.

Note: Only IP-based networks can be used with a WDS.

Connect the hardware

To set up the unit, you need to connect the AP150WN1X1OD using a wired Ethernet connection.

1. Use the provided power adapter to connect power to the POE injector.
2. Connect an Ethernet cable between the PoE injector and the AP150WN1X1OD. The AP150WN1X1OD should be receiving power, but if it is not, move the Ethernet cable to the other port.
3. Connect the Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the PoE injector to your computer system.

Wait 30 seconds for the unit to start before you make any configuration changes.

Prepare the site

The maximum range of the AP150WN1X1OD is 3 km, however, obstructions (such as buildings) may reduce the range. The AP150WN1X1OD can be used with multiple WDS-compatible APs (for example, additional AP150WN1X1OD devices) to overcome any physical barriers that may limit the Wi-Fi range.

To use multiple AP150WN1X1OD units to create a WDS, one unit needs to be assigned as the main AP and be connected to a wired network. The additional attached units need to be assigned as relay APs and be connected to the main AP.

Before you set up a WDS, you need the MAC address of all of the APs that you plan to use. The MAC address is located on a label on the back of the unit. The label has a barcode with text underneath it, showing MAC: 001AEF[xxxxxx]. Decide where you plan to locate the APs and write down the MAC address that correlates with each AP.

You also need to assign each AP a unique IP address that is on the same network as the wired network. For example, if the main network is 192.168.1.xxx and the default gateway is on 192.168.1.1, the APs need to be assigned static IP addresses from 192.168.1.[2-255]. Ideally, the IP addresses are outside of a DHCP server range to prevent IP address conflicts. This information can be obtained from the router on your network.

Although each AP that you use in your setup requires a unique MAC address, SSID, and IP address, the APs all need to have identical settings for the following:

• Band (for example, 2.4 GHz (B+G+N))
• Channel number (1 to 11)
• DHCP set to Disabled
• Subnet mask (for example, 255.255.255.0)
• Default gateway

The following is an example of a setup list:

AP	Location	SSID	MAC address	IP address
Main	Data center	StarTech.com Guest	001AEF41687F	192.168.1.200
Relay 1	Upstairs	StarTech.com Upstairs	001AEF416880	192.168.1.201
Relay 2	Downstairs	StarTech.com Downstairs	001AEF416881	192.168.1.202

Note: You should assign each AP a unique SSID (Wi-Fi name) instead of using a common SSID.

Set up the main AP

The steps described below apply to firmware version 1.2f.05 and use the factory default settings.

1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the AP150WN1X1OD to a computer.
2. Make sure that your computer is on the 192.168.1.xxx network.
3. Open a web browser (for example, Internet Explorer).
4. In the address bar, enter http://192.168.1.200.
5. In the username field, enter admin.
6. In the password field, enter admin.
7. Click More Settings > Wireless Settings > WDS Settings.
8. Under Wireless Network, enter the SSID of the main AP.
9. Disable DHCP.
10. Set the Channel Number, IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway to the predetermined values.
11. Enter the MAC address of the first relay AP.
12. Add a comment that describes the location or SSID of the relay AP.
13. Set the Band to the predetermined value.
14. Click Apply and wait for the AP to restart.
15. For each of the additional relay APs in your setup, repeat steps 11 to 14.
16. If you want to encrypt the wireless network, click Set Security and fill out the form.

Note: If the IP address was changed to a different network, you will need to change the computer IP address to the network of the access point to make further changes.

Set up the relay APs

1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the AP150WN1X1OD to a computer.
2. Make sure that your computer is on the 192.168.1.xxx network.
3. Open a web browser (for example, Internet Explorer).
4. In the address bar, enter http://192.168.1.200.
5. In the username field, enter admin.
6. In the password  field, enter admin.
7. Click More Settings > Wireless Settings > WDS Settings.
8. Under Wireless Network, enter the SSID of the main AP.
9. Disable DHCP.
10. Set the Channel Number, IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Gateway to the predetermined values.
11. Enter the MAC address of the main AP.
12. Add a comment for the main AP.
13. Set the Band to the predetermined value.
14. Click Apply and wait for the unit to restart.
15. For each of the additional relay APs in your setup, repeat steps 1 to 14.
16. If you want to encrypt the wireless network, click Set Security and fill out the form.

When you are done setting up the main and relay APs, place the units where you want them and connect the wired LAN to the main AP. To confirm the connectivity of the relay AP, under WDS Settings, click Show Statistics.

Although the AP150WN1X1OD does not have an explicit repeater mode, multiple access points can be configured in a WDS (Wireless Distribution System) with the same SSID to create a seamless wireless network over a large geographical area.

You can set up the AP150WN1X1OD in a WDS to set up the repeater network and ensure that the same SSID and security settings are used for the main and relay access points. Relay access points can also be daisy chained with other relays by adding their MAC addresses to the WDS AP List of the primary relay access point. For more information about setting up your AP150WN1X1OD in a WDS, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/networking_ap150wn1x1od_wds_setup.

The following are some drawbacks to using the repeater setup:

• If you use the same SSID as the main access point, some wireless devices may have to connect to lower power access points, which may cause issues with some wireless devices.
• Every time that you add a relay access point, the network bandwidth is reduced by half.
• Large geographical areas or obstructions can depreciate network integrity.

Note: Only IP-based networks can be used with a WDS.

This device's default static IP address is 192.168.1.200.

1. Make sure that the AP150WN1X1OD is on the same network as your computer.
2. In an Internet browser, enter the IP address of the unit. The default IP address is 192.168.1.1.
3. In the user name field, enter the user name. The default user name is admin.
4. In the password field, enter the password. The default password is admin.

Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.

You should not upgrade your device's firmware if you do not have any issues with the functionality of your device. The only time you should consider an upgrade is if you are experiencing a problem with the device, and you have confirmed that the firmware addresses this problem.  You can confirm this is the case by reviewing the documentation included with the firmware or by consulting with our Technical Support team. Incorrectly upgrading firmware can result in diminished performance so it is best to contact StarTech.com if you would like to perform this operation.

The AP150WN1X1OD features a directional antenna at the front of the unit (the front of the unit being the large open surface with the StarTech.com logo on it). The AP150WN1X1OD radiation pattern has a horizontal beam width of 30 degrees and a vertical beam width of 20 degrees.

For best results, you should position the AP150WN1X1OD towards the majority of wireless clients. Optimally, you should place the unit in a corner of a larger area, as opposed to the center. Connectivity can be improved when there is as few obstructions as possible, so you should use the AP150WN1X1OD in open areas.

To get more coverage in a larger geographical area, you can set up a WDS. A WDS works best when there is line-of-sight between the access points. For more information about WDS, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/networking_ap150wn1x1od_wds_setup.

You cannot replace the function of a router with the AP150WN1X1OD. You need a router connected to a modem to access the Internet.

The AP150WN1X1OD can be used to create a wireless access point for a router, switch, or networking device that does not have wireless capabilities. When you use the AP150WN1X1OD to create a wireless access point, wireless devices can be connected to a wired device. To connect a wireless device to a wired device, connect the wired network connection to the LAN port on the POE injector (gray box) or on the LAN port of the unit.

For more information about how to set up an access point, refer to the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/networking_ap150wn1x1od_access_point_setup.