We have been experiencing the same problem with Proxim AP2000 b/g
here in Wayne State. For unknown reason, newly installed APs were
likely to lose configuration and back to factory default. Upgrading
the firmware (> v2.4.4) usually solved the problem. We have seen
one possible instance of that fluctuating signal problem : We could
get to the AP from wired side and saw everything was just fine however
nobody could wirelessly associate to the AP and the signal strength was
fluctuating wildly. Remotely rebooting it didn't fix the problem. Cold
reboot did the trick. We also have couple of newly installed APs
freezing up during reboot. we had to to return them to the dealer.
-------------------------------------
Sean Che
Network Engineer
Network Services
Wayne State University
Voice: (313)577-1922
Pager: (313)990-5403
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------------------------------
Chris Hessing wrote:
On Mon, 26 Jul 2004, Enfield, Chuck wrote:
Thanks for the feedback. I did a couple google searches, but didn't find
anybody else complaining of the same problem. Strangely though, our radios
worked fine for a few months, then went wacky beyond the point of being
functional, then went back to working fine again. I'm reasonable sure that
none of our efforts are what corrected the problem. I'm interested to see
if anyone else had the same problem with AP-3 g radios.
We have had a LOT of problems with the AP-2000 access points. One problem
we had when we upgraded to g was that after a short period of time, the AP
would lose it's configuration (and sometimes it firmware). We would
rebuild it, and a short time later it would be dead again. We realized
that our APs were all the board revs with the problem Michael mentioned.
Using the power splitters solved most of those problems.
As for fluctuating signal, we have seen it too. In many cases, the cards
would just stop responding to anything. Rebooting the AP would bring it
back for a while, and then it would die again. The amount of time it
stayed alive was between a few hours, and a few days.
We found that a lot of the signal issues could be resolved by using the
latest code rev. (Anything after 2.4.5.) But, if we do that and enable
vlans, the ESSID no longer broadcasts. And, on the 2.4.11 code if you use
anything but IE to connect to the management the first time, the AP won't
speak to you.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of all of the problems we have had
with these APs. Neither Proxim, or Avaya tech support has been any help
in resolving any of the problems. In most cases the best we get is
someone verifies the problem, and tells us it won't be fixed in the
AP-2000s. (Usually followed by a comment like, "Why don't you upgrade
to the 4000s?") With all of the problems we had, and the lack of
support it prompted a local reseller to refuse to sell
Proxim/Avaya APs anymore. Needless to say, we won't buy Proxim/Avaya
again any time soon. (FWIW, we have 802.11a, and 802.11g everywhere in my
building.)
So, we have been searching for a new AP vendor that supports what we need,
at a reasonable price. If anyone else is interested in what we have so
far, you can see the testing we have done on
http://wireless.utah.edu/global/research/ap-reqs.html. A lot of it is
skewd toward supporting 802.1X, so people that are considering .1X might
be interested in just the criteria we are using. (Also, since I wrote the
bulk of the criteria, I will gladly discuss it with anyone, on, or off
list.) ;)
Regarding PoE testing, it isn't really to solve a problem but to assist our
troubleshooting. We questioned the power quality when we were having our
signal problem, but had no good way to test our midspan power supplies. I'm
sure we're going to encounter the "is it the device or is it the power"
question again and would like to have a better way to test the power. My
web searches haven't turned anything up, but I haven't got around to
emailing any test equipment manufacturers yet. I was hoping somebody out
there could save me the trouble.
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Griego [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 5:08 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] anyone try an ap-8 yet?
To answer your first question, yes we have seen the same wildly
fluctuating signal strengths from the G upgrade kits in the AP-2000s.
In my environments, the radios perform the same regardless of whether
they are on PoE or connected to the AC power supply. From my various
reading, Proxim does not follow the reference spec for the Atheros
radious that they use in both their client and AP products. My
assumption is that they have foobared something in their custom
implementation as I have had problems with the Atheros-based client
products as well.
As an aside, I don't have much experience with the 802.11a kits in the
AP-2000s. We only have 2 802.11a-capable spots on campus (and those
only because we were told to "get an A presence somewhere", likely for
political reasons). Anyway, there you have it. In my tests with the
AP-4000s, the *first* thing I noticed was that the G performance was
actually stable.
As to your second question, I'm not completely sure what it is that
you're asking. Are you having problems with a particular 802.3af power
supply? There have been a couple of issues with Proxim APs and the PoE
as well. For instance, there was a service bulletin released for
AP-2000s with board revisions of H or lower where, if both a G and A
card were used (to achieve a tri-mode AP), the AP would continually
reboot. The soft-fuse in the device was calibrated too low for the
current draw for the AP and both of those devices. The solution to that
was simply to use a PoE splitter with those devices. Also, I don't know
if you're using the Proxim or Avaya PoE injectors, but if you are,
they're generally rated to deliver 11 watts per port.
--Mike
On Mon, 2004-07-26 at 15:07, Enfield, Chuck wrote:
Mike,
Your reply leads me to believe you may have had some problems with 802.11g
on an AP-2000 or AP-3. We had some difficulties with wildly fluctuating
signal strengths on our AP-3/802.11ag test LAN and were wondering if
anyone
else experienced similar difficulties? Our problem seemed to pass before
we
could adequately dignose it. Due to a concurrent temperature problem in
our
equipment room, we couldn't be certain if the problem was AP/radio related
or POE power related.
Which brings me to a second question: does anyone know a way to test
802.3af
power quality? It is pretty easy to test the voltage using a break-out
cable and multimeter, but much harder to determine the current delivery
capacity. We can't be sure if a small measured current is due to a
defective
power supply or just low demand from the AP. Is there a cable tester,
network analyzer, or a single-purpose unit that will put an 802.3af power
supply through its paces?
Thanks,
Chuck Enfield
Sr. Communications Engineer
PSU, Information Technology Services
Suite 110, University Support Bldg. 2
University Park, PA 16802
ph. (814) 863-8715
fx. (814) 865-3988
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Griego [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 9:57 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] anyone try an ap-8 yet?
It's the same product as the Proxim AP-4000. If you're using the
Proxim/Avaya equipment, then the AP-4000 is a good upgrade. The .11G
performance in my testing has been more solid than the performance of
the .11G upgrade kit for the AP-2000 (Avaya AP-3). Other than that, the
management interface is identical to the AP-2000/AP-3. Having antenna
connectors for the .11A side is a nice new feature of the 4000s/8s.
--
--Mike
-----------------------------------
Michael Griego
Wireless LAN Project Manager
The University of Texas at Dallas
On Mon, 2004-07-26 at 08:23, Matt Ashfield (UNB) wrote:
Hi All
We currently use Avaya's Access Points on our campus, and the latest
product
they've released is the AP-8. I've read the pdf's and heard the
supplier's
details, but just thought I'd ask this group if anyone has used it and
if
so, what are their impressions?
Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Matthew Ashfield
Network Analyst
Integrated Technology Services
University of New Brunswick
(506) 447-3033
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--
--Mike
-----------------------------------
Michael Griego
Wireless LAN Project Manager
The University of Texas at Dallas
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