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menuAF-2X Quick Start Guide

Package Contents

airFiber radio
GPS Antenna Mount
External GPS Antenna
Metal Strap
Zip Ties (Qty. 2)
Universal Bracket
airFiber PoE (24V, 1A) with Mounting Bracket
Power Cord

Antenna Compatibility

The airFiber radio is designed for use with the following airFiber X antenna model:

The radio can also operate with the following RocketDish antenna model:

Installation Requirements

Hardware Overview

airFiber Antenna Connectors

Used to attach RF antenna cables (not included).

GPS Antenna Connector

Used to attach the GPS Antenna.

Signal LEDs

  Signal 4 LED will light blue when on.
Signal 3 LED will light green when on.
Signal 2 LED will light yellow when on.
Signal 1 LED will light red when on.

Bootup to airOS When powering on, the Power, GPS, Link, and Signal 1-4 LEDs light on. Once the CPU code takes over, the GPS, Link, and Signal 1-3 LEDs turn off. The Signal 4 LED remains on to indicate the boot sequence is underway.

Initializing airFiber Software When the airFiber application begins to boot under airOS®, the Signal 4 LED goes from solidly on to a 2.5 Hz flash. This continues until the AF-2X is fully booted.

Signal Level Once fully booted, the Signal 1-4 LEDs act as a bar graph showing how close the device is to ideal aiming. This is auto-scaled based on the link range, the antenna gains, and the configured TX power of the remote device. Each Signal LED has three possible states: On, Flashing, and Off. All Signal LEDs would be solidly on in an ideal link. If the link has a 1 dB loss, the Signal 4 LED will flash; a 2 dB loss and the Signal 4 LED will turn off. The full bar graph LED states are shown below.

dB loss
0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6
-7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13

Link LED

Off

RF Off

Syncing

Beaconing

Registering

On

Operational

GPS LED

Off

No GPS Synchronization

Non-Operational (Weak Signal)

On

Operational (Strong Signal)

MGMT LED

Off

No Ethernet Link

On

Ethernet Link Established

Random Flash

Ethernet Activity

Data LED

Off

No Ethernet Link

On

Ethernet Link Established

Random Flash

Ethernet Activity

Power LED

Off

No Power

On

Powered On

Management Port

10/100 Mbps, secured Ethernet port for configuration. In-Band Management is enabled by default in the airFiber Configuration Interface. When In-Band Management is disabled, the MGMT port is the only port that can monitor, configure, and/or update firmware.

Reset Button

To reset to factory defaults, press and hold the Reset button for more than 10 seconds while the device is already powered on.

Data Port

Gigabit PoE port for handling all user traffic and powering the device.

Installation Overview

We recommend that you configure your paired AF-2X radios before site installation. The overview below summarizes the installation procedure, and the subsequent sections provide detailed installation information.

Connecting Power over Ethernet

  1. WARNING: Use only the included adapter, model POE-24-AF5X. Failure to do so can damage the unit and void the product warranty.

airFiber Configuration

The instructions in this section explain how to access the airFiber Configuration Interface and configure the following settings:

  1. Configure the Ethernet adapter on your computer with a static IP address on the 192.168.1.x subnet.
  2. Launch your web browser. Type http://192.168.1.20 in the address field. Press enter (PC) or return (Mac).

  3. Enter ubnt in the Username and Password fields. Select your Country and Language. You must agree to the Terms of Use to use the product. Click Login.
  4. Note: U.S. product versions are locked to the U.S. Country Code to ensure compliance with FCC regulations.

  5. Go to Settings. Click the Wireless tab.
  6. Configure the Basic Wireless Settings:
    1. For one radio, select Master as the Wireless Mode. For the other radio, keep the default, Slave.
    2. Enter a name in the Link Name field. This should be the same on both the Master and the Slave.
    3. If needed, change the Channel Bandwidth, Master TX Duty Cycle, Output Power and/or Maximum Modulation Rate settings.
  7. Configure the Frequency setting. The selected Frequency must be the same on both airFiber radios.
  8. Configure the Wireless Security:
    1. Select the AES Key Type, HEX or ASCII.
    2. For the Key field:
      • HEX Enter 16 bytes (eight, 16-bit HEX values: 0-9, A-F, or a-f). You can omit zeroes and use colons, similar to the IPv6 format.
      • Note: The airFiber Configuration Interface supports IPv6 formats excluding dotted quad and “::” (double-colon) notation.

    • ASCII Enter a combination of alphanumeric characters (0-9, A-Z, or a-z).
  9. Click Save Changes.
  10. In-Band Management is enabled by default, so each airFiber radio must have a unique IP Address. (If the airFiber radios use the same IP Address, you may lose access to the airFiber radios via the DATA ports.) Click the Network tab.
    1. For the Management IP Address option:
      • DHCP Keep the default, DHCP, to use DHCP reservation on your router to assign a unique IP Address.
      • Static Change the IP Address, Netmask, and other settings to make them compatible with your network.
    2. Click Save Changes.

Repeat the instructions in “airFiber Configuration” on the other radio.

For details on the airFiber Configuration Interface, refer to the airFiber X User Guide, available at: ui.com/download/airfiber

Hardware Installation

Install a Ground Wire

  1. At the installation site, secure the other end of the ground wire to a grounded mast, pole, tower, or grounding bar.

    WARNING: Failure to properly ground your airFiber radio will void your warranty.

    Note: The ground wire should be as short as possible and no longer than one meter in length.

Mount to the airFiber X Antenna

The airFiber X antenna AF-2G24-S45 is shown in this section:

Mount to a RocketDish Antenna

The RocketDish RD-2G24 antenna is shown in this section:

Mount the External GPS Antenna

Locate a mounting point that has a clear view to the sky, and is above and as far away as possible from the radio.

  1.  
  2. OR

Connecting Power over Ethernet

  1. WARNING: Use only the included adapter, model POE-24-AF5X. Failure to do so can damage the unit and void the product warranty.

    Optional

Surge Protection

For added protection, install two surge suppressors, such as the Ubiquiti Ethernet Surge Protector, model ETH-SP, at the end of each link. Install the first surge protector within one meter of the airFiber DATA port, and install the second surge protector at the ingress point of the location housing the wired network equipment.

Alignment

Tips

Establishing a Link

Adjust the positions of the Master and the Slave to establish a link.

Note: The Master must be aimed first at the Slave because the Slave does not transmit any RF signal until it detects transmissions from the Master.

  1. Master Visually aim the Master at the Slave. To adjust the Master’s position:
    1. Rotate the antenna while it is supported by the stabilizer brackets to align the azimuth.
    2. Tighten or loosen the nuts on the elevation rod to adjust the elevation.
    3. Tighten all bolts and nuts to approximately 50 N-m.
  2. Note: Do NOT make simultaneous adjustments on the Master and Slave.

  3. Slave Visually aim the Slave at the Master. To adjust the Slave’s position:
    1. Rotate the antenna while it is supported by the stabilizer brackets to align the azimuth.
    2. Tighten or loosen the nuts on the elevation rod to adjust the elevation.
    3. Tighten all bolts and nuts to approximately 50 N-m.
  4. Check to see if a link is established. Ensure that the LINK LED is solidly lit green and the Signal LEDs of the Slave are displaying signal levels.

  5. Slave Aim the Slave at the Master to achieve the strongest signal level on the Master.

    Note: Refer to the Signal LEDs section for details on the signal values.

    Note: Maximum signal strength can best be achieved by iteratively sweeping through both azimuth and elevation.

  6. Master Aim the Master at the Slave to achieve the strongest signal level on the Slave.
  7. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you achieve an optimal link, with all four Signal LEDs solidly lit. This ensures the best possible data rate between the airFiber radios.
  8. Lock the alignment on both airFiber antennas by tightening all the nuts and bolts.
  9. Observe the Signal LEDs of each airFiber radio to ensure that the values remain constant while tightening the nuts and bolts. If any LED value changes, loosen the nuts and bolts, adjust the alignment of each antenna, and retighten the nuts and bolts.

Installer Compliance Responsibility

Devices must be professionally installed and it is the professional installer’s responsibility to make sure the device is operated within local country regulatory requirements.

Antenna

When using a Custom antenna (if applicable), Antenna Gain is entered manually. Note the requirements and antenna types listed below.

Cable Loss (When applicable)

Enter the cable loss in dB. Output power is adjusted to compensate for loss between the radio and the antenna.

Certified Antenna Types

This radio transmitter FCC ID: SWX-AF2X / IC: 6545A-AF2X has been approved by FCC / ISED Canada to operate with the antenna types listed below with the maximum permissible gain for each antenna type indicated. Antenna types not included in this list or having a gain greater than the maximum gain indicated for that type, are strictly prohibited for use with this device.

Antenna

Frequency

Gain

Dish

2 GHz

24 dBi

Specifications

AF-2X

Dimensions

224 x 82 x 48 mm (8.82 x 3.23 x 1.89")

Weight

0.35 kg (0.77 lb)

RF Connectors

(2) RP-SMA Weatherproof (CH0, CH1)

(1) SMA Weatherproof (GPS)

GPS Antenna

External, Magnetic Base

Power Supply

24V, 1A PoE Gigabit Adapter (Included)

Power Method

Passive Power over Ethernet

Mounting

Rocket Mount Compatible

GPS Pole Mount (Included)

Operating Temperature

-40 to 55° C (-40 to 131° F)

Certifications

FCC Part 15.247,
CE EN 300328 v1.8.1

Networking Interface

Data Port (1) 10/100/1000 Ethernet Port
Management Port (1) 10/100 Ethernet Port

System

Maximum Throughput 500 Mbps
Encryption 128-bit AES
OS airOS F
Wireless Modes Master/Slave

Radio

Operating Frequency 2400-2500 MHz
(Depends on Regulatory Region)
Max. Conducted TX Power 29 dBm
(Depends on Regulatory Region)
Frequency Accuracy ± 2.5 ppm without GPS Synchronization
± 0.2 ppm with GPS Synchronization
Channel Bandwidth 10/20/30/40/50 MHz Selectable Programmable Uplink and Downlink Duty Cycles