1240AG extremely week signal

[gmassengale]

I just setup a 1240AG AP in our office for our wireless users.

other APs were far away and we were having connection issues.

here is the thing:

when I use inSSIDer to look at signal strengths of the APs, the 1240 (which is 5 feet away from me) is only showing -79 rssi, even an AP in a fairly far away area is showing -50 rssi.

the 1240 is only slightly stronger than an AP that is so far away that I cannot connect to it.

now I dont have external antenna's on it, but surely the internal should give me more than that.

what could be causing this, or is it just defective?

I tried resetting it to default, but that didnt change anything, so any suggestions would be apprecaited.

Gary

[Surendra BG · Accepted solution]

AP 1242 does not have an internal antenna at all!! WE NEED T OCONNECT THE ANTENNA to get the best signal.. There is no defect on the device, if you connect the antenna and still u see the issue, then we can say hardware but after troubleshooting!!

Without antenna, the 1242 APs are just like a plastic box!!

Search Features and benefits, u will see that it tells us to use the external antenna..

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5678/ps6521/product_data_sheet0900aecd8031c844.html

Lemme know if this answered ur question!!

Regards

Surendra

[Leo Laohoo]

now I dont have external antenna's on it, but surely the internal should give me more than that.
what could be causing this, or is it just defective?

Errrr ... I agree with Surendra.  The 1240 has external antenna socket so it doesn't have an "internal" antenna (a bit silly for a manufacturer to create an AP with BOTH an internal antenna and a socket for external antenna doesn't it?).

What could be causing your low signal?  I "don't really know".  Hmmmm ...

But I can offer a suggestion:  Get a pair of antenna.  Check e-bay for the correct antenna and you should be right.

By the way, it helps too if you read the instructions manual. 

NOTE:  Prolong operation of the 1240 without any antenna and I can guarantee you can and will 'burn" the radio transmitters inside.  When you do so you cannot RMA the device.

[dmantill]

nice answered leolaohoo

[gmassengale]

all the older models we had didnt need external antennas, recently our vendor switched us to this model and didnt mention they needed the external.

would have been nice if they did.  could have factored that in on the cost.

why would you sell one without an antenna?

[Peter Nugent]

RTFM

If your vendor recommended this they should have checked the environment it was going into. What did it replace, sell antennas with it?

At the end of the day if its the vendors fault find a vendor that knows about wireless.

As for why would you sell one without antennas? Why would you sell one with antennas? Different applications.

By the way if you need any other products just drop me a line just drop me a line.

[Leo Laohoo]

all the older models we had didnt need external antennas, recently our vendor switched us to this model and didnt mention they needed the external.

The most probable reason is because the vendor doesn't know what they recommended.  Think about it:  If I was a vendor nowadays, would I want to recommend a 1240?  I surely would not.

[gmassengale]

yeah, that is kind of what we are thinking now.

so what model would you recommend instead of the 1240?

[Surendra BG]

I prefer 1140 APs which are N capable!!

Regards

Surendra

[Peter Nugent]

If its an office environment I would recomend the 1142 or 3502. It really depends where you see your future wireless needs heading. If cost is an issue you could use a 1040 but generally I would say 1142 to get the best bang for your buck

[Leo Laohoo]

so what model would you recommend instead of the 1240?

That's a loaded question.  What do you need wireless for?  How much funds can you spare?

Both posts by Surendra and Pete are very viable.

In my humble opinion, here are some of the factors to consider:

1.  All new Cisco APs support 802.11N:  600, 1040, 1140, 1250, 1260, 3500i/e

2.  The 1250 requires 20.0w of PoE power but if you upgrade to the correct IOS you can use both radios and powered using 15.4w.

3.  1250, 1260 and the 3500e require external antenna as an option.  These models do NOT have internal antennas.

4.  1260 and 3500e can support antennas up to 6 dBi gain.  1250 can support higher.

5.  1040, 1140 and 3500i are designed for office space environment.  Antennas are built-in and is "pleasing to the eye".

6.   Unless you are doing H-REAP the 600 AP is not suitable in an office setting.

7.  3500i/3500e require a WLC/WiSM.  The rest can be configured as a "stand-alone" or autonomous.  I can't say anything for the 600 because I'm not yet faimiliar with this model.  But I believe that being H-REAP only, the 600 will need a WLC/WiSM too.

8.  The difference between the 1140 and the 1040 is the cost and the capability.  The 1040 is cheaper than the 1140.  The 1040 support 2 x 3 MIMO while the 1140 supports up to 3 x 3 MIMO.

9.  The 3500i/3500e are the only APs that support Cisco's CleanAir.  This model has a build-in spectrum analyzer.  This benefits an organization with alot of interferrance in the environment such as bluetooth or microwave oven.   In an environment with exclusive 3500 deployment, when the AP detects interferring signals operating in the same channels as the wifi service, the APs "talk" to everyone of the APs affected by this interferrence and they change the channels.

[mehtaanil]

Dear Sir,

I am joining in thi conversation, hope you will accept me.I am facing a similar problem as Gary of an extremely weak signal om 1240 AG accespoint.

I also have external antennae ( the two black pins jutting out). The AP is configured on G band only & the Antenna power is set to +120,

Still the moment I move even 10 feet away. The signal drops drastically. Can anyone help me?

Regards,

Anil