Outdoor Access Point

Planning and
Installation Guide
 Copyright Information
Copyright © 2021 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP.

Open-Source Code
Certain Aruba products include Open-Source software code developed by third parties, including software code
subject to the GNU General Public License ("GPL"), GNU Lesser General Public License ("LGPL"), or other Open
Source Licenses.

The Open-Source code used can be found at this site:

http://www.arubanetworks.com/open_source

Revision History
The following table lists the revisions of this document:

Table 1 Revision History

Revision Change Description Revision Date

Revision 2.0 Update to current product and format May, 2021

Revision 1.0 Original Document March, 2016

Outdoor Access Point Planning and Installation Guide Page | 2

 Objectives
• A basic understanding of mounting options available for the Aruba outdoor access points
• The importance of and basic process for staging of hardware prior to installation
• A brief explanation of how to install the Aruba outdoor access points

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 Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................. 5
Identify Mounting Locations .................................................................. 5
Wall Mounting ............................................................................................................................ 5
Corner Mounting ....................................................................................................................... 6
Pole Mounting............................................................................................................................ 7
Roof Mounting ........................................................................................................................... 7
Verify Cable Runs and Distances to Cabling Closets .............................................................. 8

Staging Hardware .................................................................................... 9

Staging of AP Hardware ............................................................................................................ 9
Staging of AP Mounts ................................................................................................................ 9
Prep for Any Cable Glands or Flex Conduit ........................................................................... 11

Installing the Access Point .................................................................... 12

Wall Mounted AP Installation ................................................................................................. 12
Corner Mounted AP Installation............................................................................................. 13
Pole Mounted AP Installation ................................................................................................. 13

Other Considerations ........................................................................... 13

Conclusion and Resources ................................................................... 14
Useful Links ............................................................................................ 14

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 Introduction
The Aruba AP-36X/AP-37X/AP-387/AP-56X/AP-57X line of Outdoor Access Points (AP) can save partners and
customers a good deal of time and cost due to their easy to install design. Gone are the requirements for laborious
antenna weatherization, complicated AP and antenna mounts, and what could amount to hours of time per AP to
prepare, install, and deploy. The guidance below is a very general framework on the basic processes in planning for
the design, preparation/staging, and installation of the Aruba Outdoor APs. This document won’t address or
encompass every single opportunity or deployment but should serve as a comprehensive guide into the basics of
planning, staging, and deploying Aruba’s outdoor series of APs.

In general, the deployment of AP-36X/AP-37X/AP-387/AP-56X/AP-57X APs fall into the following three processes:

1. Identify Mounting Locations

2. Staging Hardware

3. Installing the Access Point

Identify Mounting Locations

As part of any outdoor wireless design the first thing that must happen is to identify the required coverage areas.
Then, available mounting assets must be identified upon which hardware will be installed. Mounting locations will
quite often dictate what the final design will be to meet the required coverage areas, and they will most always be
either walls, corners, or poles. There are occasions where APs will be placed on roof tops, or in specialized
structures built to accommodate special requirements, but the vast majority fall under the main categories
described in the following sections.

Wall Mounting
Wall mounting is one of the most common mounting options simply due to proximity to internal network resources
located within a building (power, switch closets, etc.) as well as the fact that, barring any aesthetic or community
review issues, mounting APs on the main building is one of the fastest installation methods to utilize. Mounting on a
wall usually involves multiple holes being drilled through the wall, one that allows the Ethernet cable to pass out to
the AP and the others to secure the mount to the wall. As seen in the pictures below, if using the AP-365/AP-374/AP-
375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575, the AP-270-MNT-V1 and AP-270-MNT-V2 are great brackets to use as they provide a
proper orientation for the access point and a covered shroud for the cable to be hidden under. If using AP-367/AP-
377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577, the AP-270-MNT-H1, AP-270-MNT-H2, or the AP-270-MNT-H3 mounts will allow for the
AP to face out towards the coverage area. When there is a need for more control of the elevation and azimuth for
the AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577, the AP-270-MNT-H3 is the best option (more information about the
mounts is available on page 9).

Wall mounting does have some caveats to be aware of. The AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575 are
capable of transmitting at powers up to 33dBm, depending on model, and when mounted to the wall (see Figure 1)
some of the RF from outside can bleed into the building and cause additional interference or coverage issues for
clients. If using one of these access points on a wall mount take care to plan for this potential by either validating
the wall will sufficiently attenuate the RF, or that there is sufficient coverage inside to keep clients from roaming
outside.

When wall mounting the AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575, like illustrated in Figure 1, the wall will
essentially make the AP emulate a 180° antenna pattern (as the other 180° of coverage is sent into the wall). If wall
mounting a AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577, seen in Figure 2, most of the RF is radiated away from the wall
providing better coverage with less interference into the building.

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 Figure 1 AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575 Wall Mount
Coverage Figure 2 AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577 Wall Mount Coverage

Corner Mounting
Mounting an omnidirectional AP at an outside corner of the wall effectively allows for 270° of coverage from the AP
(see Figure 3), covering the two sides of the walls of said building. To mount on an outside corner, the AP-270-MNT-
V2 mounting bracket is used in conjunction with a 3rd party bracket (Samsung SBP-300KM, see Figure 4) that allows
for corner installations.

Corner mounting does not share the same caveats as wall mounting as there is far less penetration of RF into the
wall and interior space due to the angle of incidence against the wall from the AP. However, more care does need to
be taken in terms of capacity, interference, and coverage regarding interference since a corner mounted AP will
project RF in more directions and cover more space, and thus will pick up more interference.

The AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577 access points are not commonly placed on an outside corner and so that
option is not addressed in this document.

Figure 3 AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575 Corner Mount Coverage Figure 4 Corner Bracket

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 Pole Mounting
Pole mounting is common when designing for outdoor
coverage located away from buildings and, where
copper or fiber optic Ethernet cabling has not been
pulled to each location, usually involves a wireless
mesh setup. When pole mounting the goal is to usually
provide 360° of coverage around the pole. However, if
the AP is mounted too close then the pole will create a
shadow behind the AP where the pole interferes with
the RF. To address this the AP-MNT-270-V1 should be
used as it puts enough space (~12") between the AP
and pole to minimize the shadow cast (see Figure 5).
This should be noted when looking at other solutions
than the AP-MNT-270-V1 where the AP may be too
close to the pole as the RF behind the AP will be highly
attenuated.

If using the AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577 for Figure 5 RF Attenuation from Pole

a directional solution they should be deployed using
the AP-270-MNT-H1 if vertical articulation is needed, or the AP-270-MNT-H3 if both vertical and horizontal
articulation is needed.

All AP mounts include zip ties to temporarily hold the mount in place on the pole. Then use the two included
stainless steel band clamps by running them around/through the mount to tighten and secure the mount to the
pole. Once the mount is attached to the pole the AP slots into the end and two stainless steel screws attach the AP
to the mount. See Figure 6 and Figure 7 for examples. This allows for a one-man installation crew to install APs.

Figure 6 AP-375/AP-575 Pole Mount Figure 7 AP-377/AP-577 Pole Mount

Roof Mounting
Roof mounting of APs is a viable deployment strategy assuming a few requirements are met, and some caveats are
accounted for or avoided. In most cases non-penetrating roof mounts (NPRM), like shown in Figure 8, are used to
install the wireless equipment on the roof surface without the need to anchor the mast through the roof structure.
NPRM installs may prevent the need for any re-engineering, inspections, or re-certifications by city or building
inspectors. Once an NPRM is selected the next step is to make sure that the AP can cover the areas required. In
many cases buildings have a façade or knee walls that extend above the roof surface so APs must be mounted
above or over the façade or they can be mounted directly to the structure and cables installed into an existing roof
penetration or cable way. Shown in Figure 9 is an example using antennas installed separately that could be

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 connected to an AP-374/AP-574. APs that have an integrated directional antenna (AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-
567/AP-577) could also be used with just the Ethernet connection required to be run.

Figure 8 Example of Non-Penetrating Roof Mount Figure 9 Knee Wall Installation over to External Antennas

Verify Cable Runs and Distances to Cabling Closets

If using Power over Ethernet (PoE) then the AP must be located within the distance specification of the cable (usually
100m) to an Ethernet switch and power source. In most cases outdoor rated power injectors are recommended for
use as they include built in surge protection and will protect the internal network from surges or lightning strikes.
Other options for connectivity are the use of Powered Fiber solutions, fiber connected PoE injectors with integrated
switching, or fiber-to-copper transceivers along with direct AC power.

When APs are mounted on the exterior of a building and powered by internally located switches or injectors, in-line
surge suppressors on the Ethernet cable may be desired or required by local electrical codes. Surge suppression on
the Ethernet cable will protect the indoor network by providing a path to ground at the ingress point. Local electrical
or codes expertise should be consulted to determine the best course of action in these situations.

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 Staging Hardware
Staging of AP Hardware
When starting a large outdoor wireless installation, the
best practice is to bring all of the hardware into the lab to
identify, provision, and verify operation of the devices
prior to installation. The reason for this is that all work
done in a lab, and at large scale, is far more cost effective
than doing the required work outdoors while on ladders
or lifts where the labor and equipment rental costs are
much higher. Previously the process was to open each
box, pull out each AP, connect the AP to network/power,
attach antennas, install mounting brackets, etc. was very
labor-intensive. The result was often a cumbersome pile
of hardware to be deployed (Figure 10) that could be Figure 10 Old Staging in Progress
confusing for installers and hard to transport in bulk.

With Aruba’s outdoor AP families, all APs are shipped in a

box where access to the connectors and Ethernet port(s)
is easily achieved and without ever having to remove the
AP from the box (Figure 11). Also within easy reach are
the Ethernet cable glands, the USB serial cable, etc. All
that is needed to stage the AP is to cut or open the plastic
to access the connectors, remove the port covers, and
plug in the Ethernet cable. The AP need never be
removed from the box, all labeling, firmware upgrades,
and configuration can be done with the AP still in the box
and once work is complete the box can be closed and
handed to the installers for easy transport. Once on-site
the installer can install the required AP mount at the
installation location, unbox the AP, and then hang the AP
with only having to use two screws to attach the AP to the
Figure 11 AP-375/AP-575 New in Box
mount.

Staging of AP Mounts
The mounts, being as simple as they are, in most cases will just be field installable out of the box. The AP-270-MNT-
H1 and AP-270-MNT-H3 do require additional assembly before mounting so, while the pieces are sufficiently large
that doing so can be done in the field, lab assembly might be advisable should there be a large number needed.
Installation templates are provided for marking drill locations when wall or corner mounting for easier installation.
Everything needed is contained within the boxes of the mounts (mount, drill guide, hardware, etc.).

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 Figure 12 AP-270-MNT-V1 – 18" Mounting Arm Bracket, Good for wall or Figure 13 AP-270-MNT-V2 – 12" Mounting Arm Bracket, Good for wall or
pole mounting the AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575 Corner Mounting the AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575

Figure 14 AP-270-MNT-H1 – Articulating Mounting Bracket. Good for wall Figure 15 AP-270-MNT-H2 – Non-Articulating Mounting Bracket. Good
or pole mounting the AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577, or ceiling for wall or pole mounting the AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577, or
mounting an AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575 ceiling mounting an AP-365/AP-374/AP-375/AP-565/AP-574/AP-575

Figure 16 AP-270-MNT-H3 - Dual Articulating Mounting Bracket. Good for wall or pole mounting when horizontal and vertical adjustments are
needed with the AP-367/AP-377/AP-387/AP-567/AP-577

When pole mounting, the mount should be first secured to the pole using the included zip tie as a temporary hold
while the stainless-steel band clamps are installed. Once the metal band clamps are installed the zip tie should be
removed.

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 Figure 17 AP-270-MNT-V1 Contents Figure 18 AP-270-MNT-H1 Contents

Prep for Any Cable Glands or Flex Conduit

Every outdoor AP includes one or more Ethernet cable glands (Figure 19). These glands are designed with split
gaskets that will allow for installation over pre-terminated cable ends or the cable can be terminated in the field.

If there is a desire to avoid exposed Ethernet cable, or to protect the Ethernet cable(s), the APs support the
installation of flexible conduit (Figure 20) using a separately ordered M20-to-1/2" NPT adapter. The conduit and
M20-to-1/2" NPT adapter can allow terminated connectors through to the AP.

Figure 19 Cable Gland Assembly Figure 20 Flexible Conduit Assembly

Also note that when using flexible conduit an outdoor box or junction (Figure 21) can be installed at the installation
location to simplify the installation of the AP and conduit in the field.

Figure 21 Cat5 Termination in Junction Figure 22 Finished Installation

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 Installing the Access Point
Wall Mounted AP Installation
Once the mounting location has been identified and the penetration or pathway for the Ethernet cable is located
and available the next step is to install the mount. Start by drilling the four mounting holes into the wall or
mounting surface. When using the AP-270-MNT-V1/V2, place the mounting template such that the arm will straddle
the location of the Ethernet cable penetration so that the Ethernet cable comes out under the arm. Check the level
of the mount and secure to the wall, test the Ethernet cable for continuity, attach the AP to the arm using the two
screws on the end, and connect Ethernet to the AP. At that point power can be verified by looking at the LED,
cabling can be dressed if needed, and AP ports verified as sealed. Installation time should be 15-30min.

The installation for the AP-270-MNT-H1/H2 is the same process, but there is no protecting cover for the Ethernet
cable, so a proper drip loop should be applied at the Ethernet ingress location.

Figure 23 Drill Mounting Holes Figure 24 Attach Mount to Wall

Figure 25 Attach AP to Mount Figure 26 Connect AP to Network

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 Corner Mounted AP Installation
With corner mounts, the same process will be used with the addition of the Samsung SBP-300KM that will be
attached to the wall at the corner. From there the AP-270-MNT-V2 can be bolted directly to the SBP-300KM. Since
most cables won’t be coming out of the exact corner, there is room under the SBP-300KM to plumb the cable
through the large hole in the center that will be under the arm of the AP-270-MNT-V2. After that the same
installation process for wall mounting applies to the AP. Note that while the AP-270-MNT-V2 is directly compatible
with the Samsung SBR-300KM, the AP-270-MNT-V1 could be used but requires some modification to be mount-hole
compatible.

Pole Mounted AP Installation

Pole mounting in many ways is much easier than wall mounting as generally no holes or cores for the mounts need
to be drilled. Routing of power and/or Ethernet can utilize existing pathways in the top cap or other passthroughs
installed on the pole but in some cases, there may be a need to install a penetration through the pole wall

Figure 27 AP-270-MNT-V1 Pole Mounted Close-up Figure 28 AP-270-MNT-H1 Pole Mounted Close-up

Use the included zip tie to temporarily attach the mount to the pole with enough tension to secure the mount to the
pole but allow for some movement for adjustment and alignment. Once the mount is in place, use the two included
band clamps to firmly secure the mount to the pole by placing one across the top and the other across the bottom.
Once the mount is in place the AP can be attached to the mount using the two screws at the end of the mount, the
Ethernet cable connected, and the cable gland secured. See Figure 27 and Figure 28 for a detailed look at the two
different types of mounts.

Other Considerations
When doing outdoor installations, other factors and considerations should be looked at. While not a complete list,
below are some other factors and considerations when looking at Aruba’s outdoor family of APs:

• No outdoor APs are built to withstand a direct lightning strike. However, a critical point for the installation is
that all outdoor APs be properly grounded to provide a path for any surge current to travel to ground to
avoid grounding through the building network. There is a grounding point on the back side of the AP that
should be used to attach a grounding lug and wire, The grounding lug and screw are included with the AP,
but the installers will need to provide wire of the proper type and gauge based on length.

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 • When using the AP-374/AP-574 where external antennas must be used (long distance mesh, mesh with
client access, etc.), lightning arrestors are ONLY required on cables LONGER than two (2) meters. Cables two
meters and under no longer require lightning arrestors because the APs are built with enough surge
resistance to handle atmospheric static buildup.

• While general guidance can be given, any use of electricity and electrical connections should be sourced to
local CE for proper local governance on building code requirements and proper installation.

• This guide does not cover easements, mounting resource ownership identification, etc. Please read through
Chapter 10 and 12 of Aruba’s ‘Outdoor MIMO for Wireless Networks’ VRD for more information on those
topics.

Conclusion and Resources

While this is not a comprehensive guide, this should give some indication as to the ease and efficiency of installation
with the Aruba Outdoor Access Point product line. The simplicity of the product and the mounts removes difficulty
and complexity from the installation process, while allowing for a quicker execution time and a more aesthetically
pleasing solution that minimizes visual impact while providing the best performance of any outdoor Wi-Fi solution
on the market today.

Useful Links
• https://www.arubanetworks.com/vrd/OutdoorMIMOVRD/

• Aruba Validated Reference Designs (VRDs)

• https://community.arubanetworks.com/

• https://www.commscope.com/product-type/networking-systems/powered-fiber-cable-systems/

• https://www.ventev.com/

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