3CRWE9006A-E1 - 3Com Corporation

DATA SHEET

Key Benefits

Long-range,

cost-effective

wireless

connectivity

between sites

Top Performance

The 3Com®11 Mbps Wireless LAN

building-to-building bridge is based on

IEEE 802.11b technology to ensure

consistent top performance.*

Flexibility

This bridge delivers both point-to-

point and point-to-multipoint

connections at various ranges, depend-

ing on which antenna you choose.

Reliability

Support for dynamic rate shifting

helps keep your network connections

constantly available and reliable.

Manageability

The simple-to-use management

interface helps you manage all bridges

from anywhere on the same subnet on

the network, or use Telnet to remotely

manage this bridge over the Internet.

Security

Support for 40- and 128-bit WEP

encryption keeps network data and

transmissions safe from a security

breach. Plus, this bridge uses encapsu-

lation techniques to help protect data.

As part of our wireless LAN family,

the 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN

building-to-building bridge provides

reliable, high-performance connec-

tions between your hard-to-wire sites.

Extend your network to previously

hard-to-reach users without leasing

data circuits or having to lay cables.

Simply attach a bridge to your exist-

ing wired network and another to the

new building. Connect multiple

buildings, portable or temporary

classrooms, and temporary networks.

And if your company’s network

requirements or location change, the

wireless building-to-building bridge

can be easily relocated.

High Performance

With a wireless 3Com building-to-

building bridge, you get high-speed,

long-range connections. In fact, you’ll

get throughput exceeding that of two

dedicated T1 lines. Plus, you won’t

have to worry about expensive leased-

line service that’s actually slower than

this wireless bridge.

Flexible Connections

With point-to-point and point-to-

multipoint connectivity options, the

3Com wireless building-to-building

bridge lets you transfer information

between two buildings or multiple

buildings across campus. What’s

more, you can choose the antenna

option that best fits your needs—get

transmissions up to 1300 meters with

omni-directional antennas, and 4100

meters using sector panel antennas.

3Com®11 Mbps Wireless LAN

Building-to-Building Bridge

*Data throughput can vary depending on several factors, including network traffic load, distance between bridges, and antennas used.

3COM®11 MBPS WIRELESS LAN BUILDING-TO-BUILDING BRIDGE

Figure 1. Point-to-multipoint connections from

one to multiple buildings using omni-directional

antennas.

Figure 2. Point-to-point connections from one

building to another using sector panel antennas.

Simple Management

The easy-to-use graphical interface

reduces management burdens.

Manage all of your bridges from

anywhere on the same subnet, or do it

over the Internet using telnet. Easily

align antennas with real-time signal

strength reporting and usage data.

Plus, default settings make configura-

tion simple—all you have to do is

hook them up.

Complete Security

When you choose the 3Com wireless

building-to-building bridge, you don’t

have to worry about security. Support

for both 40- and 128-bit WEP encryp-

tion lets users exchange information

privately. Plus, our bridge uses a

3Com proprietary protocol to encapsu-

late data. This protocol ensures the

wireless bridge will not interfere with

VPN or other protocols—so your

encrypted data passes right through.

Cost Effective

Now you can connect all of those

hard-to-wire locations for less. With a

3Com building-to-building bridge,

you don’t have to worry about run-

ning expensive and tough-to-install

leased lines or fiber-optic cabling. Just

connect your wired LANs to wireless

building-to-building bridges, or

connect a remote building-to-building

bridge to a 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless

LAN Access Point 6000 or a 3Com

AirConnect®Wireless LAN Access

Point. In minutes, you’ve intercon-

nected a remote site with the central

site. Best yet, this hardware invest-

ment can pay for itself, when

compared to the money you would

have spent on leased-line service.

Customer Support

Quick access to support information

is available on 3Com’s Web site at

www.3com.com.

When to Buy

Our building-to-building bridge is

ideal for organizations who:

•Are looking for a cost-effective

alternative to leased lines.

•Don’t want to invest in laying

expensive and tough-to-install

cables since their network require-

ments or location may change.

•Want a simple way to connect

remote and hard-to-wire locations—

between office buildings that aren’t

already connected to one another,

portable classrooms and cross-cam-

pus office buildings, and buildings

separated by other structures such

as bridges or freeways.

3COM®11 MBPS WIRELESS LAN BUILDING-TO-BUILDING BRIDGE

Networking on a

Tight Budget

Consider this hypothetical scenario:

Jill, the principal of Fairmont High, is

excited about the new addition to the

school addition—three computer labs,

15 classrooms, and more. But that’s two

years off. Classrooms are bursting at

the seams. More students are on the

way. And 50 new computers need to be

networked. Is it possible on the

school’s budget? Yes.

Using our building-to-building

bridges, she turned one of three new

portable classrooms into a computer lab

and gave the others network access—

without running cables. She connected

one bridge to the school network and

another to a 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless

LAN Access Point 6000 in the portable

computer lab. Now all of the new com-

puters, including those in portable

classrooms, have access to network

resources and the Internet.

Just like you’d expect—a simply

powerful solution from 3Com.

Product Features Fast data transfer rates Allow bridging speeds much faster than

leased-line service.

Excellent range with antenna options Provide wireless links up to 1300 meters

using omni-directional antennas, and 4100

meters using sector panel antennas.

Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint Lets users transfer information between

support two buildings or multiple buildings across

the campus.

Dynamic rate shifting Keeps network connections available and

reliable by automatically determining

transfer rates based on signal strength and

environmental conditions.

MAC layer encapsulation Ensures LAN protocols are transparent to

the user. Secures data over the wireless link.

40- and 128-bit WEP encryption Allow users to exchange information in

full privacy.

Transparent to VPN protocols Enables encrypted data to pass without

interception.

GUI management interface Helps you to manage all bridges from any-

where on the same subnet—also displays

signal strength monitoring and usage data.

Remote management Allows IT administrators to manage

the bridge remotely, using the Internet

and Telnet.

Firmware upgradeable design Provides convenient local and remote

firmware updates from anywhere on the

same subnet, reducing IT workload and

helping to lower total cost of ownership.

Protocol independent Supports all networking protocols,

including TCP/IP, IPX, and more.

802.11b Data Rates Supported

11, 5.5, 2, 1 Mbps

Range

Transmit and receive informa-

tion up to 4100 meters between

wireless building-to-building

bridges, depending on the

antenna selected.

Network Standard

IEEE 802.11b

Network Connection Type

10BASE-T

Network Architecture Types

Bridge 802.3 to 802.11b

Number of Users/Bridge

Unlimited

Wireless Bridges/LAN

Unlimited

Frequency Band

2.4 GHz

Wireless Medium

DSSS

Media Access Protocol

CSMA/CA

Modulation

DSSS

Operating Channels

1 through 11 (U.S.), 1 through

13 (Worldwide)

Receive Sensitivity

11 Mb: -81 dBm

5.5 Mb: -84 dBm

2 Mb: -85 dBm

1 Mb: -87 dBm

Available Transmit Power

Settings

300 mw, typically

Antenna

Multiple antenna options let

you ensure the optimal signal

strength for your environment.

Encryption

40- and 128-bit WEP

encryption, shared key

Security

VPN pass through

LEDs

Power: green

Wireless: green when

associated; yellow when

transmitting/receiving

Ethernet: green when

connected; yellow when activity

is detected

Alert: amber

Serial: green when RX; yellow

when TX

Remote Configuration Support

GUI, Telnet

Local Configuration

GUI, serial console

Bridging Protocol

MAC layer encapsulation

Dimensions

Length: 251 mm (9.9 in)

Width: 157 mm (6.2 in)

Thickness: 25 mm (1 in)

Safety Compliance

Canada, the U.S.:

UL1950/CSA 22.2

Europe: CE Marked

Radio/Electromagnetic

Conformance Compliance

US: FCC Part 15B&C

Canada: Industry Canada

RSS-210

European Community: ETS 300

328, ETS 300 826

Australia: C-Tick

Environmental Operating

Ranges

Operating temperature:

-20 to 55˚C

Storage temperature: -20 to 70˚C

Altitude: Up to 3 km.

Humidity: 10 to 95%

noncondensing

Warranty

One-year hardware warranty

Specifications

3COM®11 MBPS WIRELESS LAN BUILDING-TO-BUILDING BRIDGE

Product Name For use in…** Order Number

3Com®11 Mbps Wireless LAN Canada, U.S. 3CRWE90096A

building-to-building bridge Australia, New Zealand,

Hong Kong, Singapore 3CRWE90096A-A1

Europe, Latin America 3CRWE9006A-E1

Product Accessories For use in…** Order Number

3Com 4 dBi omni-directional antenna, Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE490

up to 2600 meters; point-to-multipoint Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

3Com 8 dBi omni-directional antenna, Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE491

up to 4100 meters; point-to-multipoint Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

3Com 13 dBi sector panel antenna, Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE495

up to 4100 meters; point-to-point Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

3Com 18 dBi sector panel antenna, up to Canada, U.S. 3CWE496

4100 meters (typically paired with 50 ft

cable accessory); point-to-point

3Com 6-Foot Antenna Cable Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE480

Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

3Com 20-Foot Antenna Cable Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE481

Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

3Com 50-Foot Antenna Cable Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, 3CWE482

Hong Kong, Singapore, Europe, Latin America

Ordering Information

*Data throughput can vary depending on several factors, including network traffic load, distance between bridges, and antennas used.

**If your region isn't listed, contact your local 3Com Sales office for the availability date.

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 5400 Bayfront Plaza, P.O. Box 58145, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145.

trademarks of 3Com Corporation. Possible made practical is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. All other company and

product names may be trademarks of their respective companies. While every effort is made to ensure the information

given is accurate, 3Com does not accept liability for any errors or mistakes which may arise. Specifications subject to

change without notice. 400698-003 10/02