By Ki Grinsing

What is HOWABN1?

Hawking HOWABN1 is an Outdoor Hi-Gain Wireless Access Point Bridge delivers the speeds of up to 300 Mbps. It’s a multifunction device -wireless access point, wireless bridge either point to point or point to multipoint, and a wireless repeater.

Main features:

• Wireless N300
• Multi operation modes
• Heavy duty Weather proof outdoor device
• POE support

Heavy duty outdoor AP

Powered by the latest 802.11n technology delivers the speed up to 300Mbps. The Hawking HOWABN1 is an outdoor heavy duty weather proof wireless access point ideal for deployment in harsh environment such as in industrial workshop and yards.

Multifunction modes

This devices can be configured with three functions. Firstly, you can configure HOWABN1 as the wireless access point – the default function – to extend your existing wired network wirelessly. See also home wireless network setup.

Secondly, you can configure HOWABN1 Wireless Access Point Bridge as a wireless repeater to repeat your existing wireless network. And lastly, you can configure it as the Wireless Bridge point to point or point to multi-point to enable any wired Ethernet-ready device or existing wired network to connect to your existing wireless network.

HOWABN1 wireless access point bridge is designed for outdoor purposes; it’s a weather proof outdoor multifunction access point with Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection feature to allow you place the device in an area where power outlet is not available. Just connect to the Ethernet port of the switch with PoE enabled feature. See also OWL800 wireless outdoor access point.

Configuration and Diagram

HOWABN1 Wireless Access Point Bridge includes PoE DC Injector to provide power and network access (through your home or business router or network connection) and combines them into a single RJ-45 connection for the device which will simplify the setup. Install the device in a hard to reach locations without worrying about running both power and Ethernet cables.

Three easy steps

Installing the device is very easy; everyone can do it without a hassle in three simple steps:

1. Step 1: Power on the device and connect the HOWABN1 wireless outdoor access point to your network and a power source using the included PoE injector
2. Step 2: Configure the AP device by inserting the included CD and then open the Setup Utility to configure the operation mode of the device and other settings
3. Mount the device in a safe location

Mode configurations

HOWABN1 wireless access point bridge includes a powerful windows based utility to allow the administrator to configure and troubleshoot the setting of the device. With this utility you can upgrade the firmware, reset the device back to factory default, change the operation mode, and change the IP and so on.

Wireless AP Mode

The first operation mode you can configure the HOWABN1 wireless access point bridge is as the wireless access point. With the wireless access point mode, you can extend your existing wired network wirelessly. Connect the Ethernet port of the HOWABN1 to the LAN port of the modem-router. You cannot connect to the modem-only device to share the internet. The figure 1 shows networking diagram of the wireless access point using the HOWABN1.

Fig 1 AP Mode

Wireless Bridge

The second operational mode you can configure for this HOWABN1 is the wireless Bridge mode. With the wireless bridge mode, you can allow many wired devices connected to a switch to connect wirelessly to your existing wireless network. Or you can also link two separate LAN networks in separate building by connecting the two networks using this wireless Bridge mode.

The figure 2 is a diagram of the HOWABN1 configured as the wireless bridge with point to multi-point to connect the wired devices on the switch to the existing wireless network. Connect the Ethernet port of the HOWABN1 to the switch where many network devices (such as desktops, laptops or even a game console) are connected to the switch too.

Fig 2 Howabn1 in point to multipoint bridge diagram

Wireless Repeater

With the wireless repeater mode, you can extend the range of the existing wireless b/g/n network. Configure the HOWABN1 as the wireless repeater and place it in area where you require extending the wireless coverage. You can place it in a harsh outdoor environment since the device is designed for heavy duty and is weatherproof. The figure 3 shows the diagram of the HOWABN1 as the wireless repeater.

Fig 3 Howabn1 in wireless repeater mode

The HOWABN1 Wireless Access Point Bridge is a heavy duty outdoor multifunction wireless access point. For a home environment, you can consider DAP-1360 wireless N300 range extender – the same multifunction access point.