Cisco 1262AP- three 5hz cable antenna poor signal

[vostech236]

Refurbishing X-ray portables that have Cisco 1262 AP inside, with three cabled antennas mounted right, center and left in unit. Signal is only good on one side of unit. Have this problem with 2 identical units. Have Diversity selected for RX and TX which should use all antennas. Example: signal on right is 70-80 percent and drops to 20-30 on front and left side. Have tried tried uncheck diversity and selecting antenna which places sides at 36-50% and front 20-30 percent but normal systems work in the 60-70% range.

These are end of life units and I don't know weather a firmware upgrade is available or will help.

AP is communicating with a DR panel. I can make connection, but if signal drops unit will not expose.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!

And of course we don't know if this is one case where GUI is in-efficient or Command Line Interface is necessary.

[Scott Fella]

Did you take out the ap when you are testing?  I'm assuming you are using Cisco antennas not a 3rd party and they are mounted properly?  Not really knowing how you are testing, I would take the ap out and mount it on top of a table.  I would also attach some Cisco dipole antennas and test the signal again.  This way you can eliminate any issue with the antenna going bad, or attenuation from how the ap is mounted.  I can bet that you have signal loss from the machine itself because of the materials and where the ap or antenna is mounted.  This is assuming the antenna is still in good working order. 

[vostech236]

Antennas and cables are Cisco and original OEM specs. I am not on job site but both units are almost identical in that the signal is only good on one side. Also why would that change when unchecking Diversity and going to selected Antennas for RX and TX. I have read that the Cisco has algorithm that balances the assignment of antennas but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I have been troubleshooting remotely with a pair of hand on the equipment side for change DR panel location and reset. All signal readings are coming from the panel and displayed on OEM software.

I realize it is wrong to assume anything but in this case having to identical units behaving exactly the same after reconfiguration makes a bell go off in my head.

Trying to avoid driving 8 hours and pulling units apart placing new Cisco dipole antennas on and testing signal with Acrylic or Insight. I was hoping someone had encountered the even and had possible configuration answer.

However I see your point completely and if necessary will saddle up and head out on Monday.

thanks for you advice.

[Scott Fella]

Diversity is what you should use as long as all the antenna RP-TNC are connected to functional antennas.  You only change this setting if you don't have all the antenna connectors used and want to define which antenna will be used for TX or RX.  

If you want to say that the antennas and ap's are 100% good, then you must look at where the antenna is located and the direction of the antenna pattern.  Then look and try to determine if any material is in the way that can attenuate the signal.  For example, if the antenna is mounted on the left side of the equipment hidden away, I would expect lower signal or poor signal on the right side of the equipment.  

I'm not saying that you need to go onsite, but it would be better if you had a wireless engineer onsite whom can possible do testing and determine maybe that the antenna is mounted wrong or its in an enclosure that attenuates signal by 10% or maybe 50% or more.  You never know if how the unit was mounted initially is still the case.  There might be other things attached to the portable unit now that is blocking the signal.  

It will be interesting for sure to know what the fix is.

[vostech236]

I agree and that's why the people refurbishing the equipment should have brought me in prior to shipping and establish a check list for all components and services. As for as the condition of the equipment I am going by the examination of lay person who has no electronic background. If there, the first thing I would a have done is test antennas with leads and then with AP for signal. Along with a host of other elements, however that's water under the bridge at this point. I am having them pull all cowlings and we'll take it from there.

Again appreciate the input. Ill keep you abreast of the project and let you know how it turned out. It is an interesting problem if it wasn't so last minute.

Thanks

[Scott Fella]

Good luck.  I have also ran into issues like this, because its cheaper.... but in the end, taking that trip is the fastest way to figure things out and possible get working.  Let us know what you discover.

[vostech236 · Accepted solution]

Happy Ending

After making the client remove cowlings, trace cables to the antennas, verify their mounts and then check the corresponding A, B and C 5htz connectors, we found incorrect order or placement for A,B and C.We then replaced original configuration for 1262AP and receive 80% signal with cowling off and 70-80% with only minor fluctuation with unit enclosed.

I then gave the client their instructions to fix other unit in field and saved some major drive time.

Thank God for small favors. Thanks again for your support!!!

[Scott Fella · Accepted solution]

Good for you! Saved you a trip out there and now what you discovered becomes a process during troubleshooting.

[vostech236]

Have to make them a list because I know they won't. What a world! 

[Scott Fella]

Yeah that is true. I had mad a list also for our tier 1 support team to always add to the ticket when a tech was needed on-site.

[g.dieid162]

You may strive login through console port. You want to connect console port to your PC's COM port or use USB-COM converter. Then use putty link software program to connect to console with underneath settings.