TP-LINK CPE220 (02) PDF DOCUMENT

The package for the TP-LINK CPE220 includes the following items:

• Pharos CPE

• Passive PoE Adapter

• Power Cord

• Pole Mounting Straps

• Mounting Bracket

• Plastic Wall Anchors (Qty. 2)

• Self-tapping Screws (Qty. 2)

• Installation Guide

The LED indicators on the TP-LINK CPE220 have the following meanings:

Signal Strength LEDs:

• In AP/AP Router Mode: All four LEDs remain solid.

• In Client/Bridge/Repeater/AP Client Router Mode: The more LEDs that are lit, the better the wireless signal strength.

LAN0/LAN1 LEDs:

• On: A device is connected to the port, but there is no activity.

• Flashing: A device is connected to the port, and it is active.

POWER LED:

• On: The CPE is powered on.

The panel on the bottom of the TP-LINK CPE220 contains the following ports and terminals:

• Grounding Terminal: Used for ESD protection.

• Shielded Ethernet Port LAN0 (Passive PoE IN): This is the primary port for data and for receiving power via the Passive PoE adapter.

• Shielded Ethernet Port LAN1: An additional Ethernet port.

• RESET: A button to reset the device to factory defaults.

The Passive PoE Adapter has a Remote Reset button and a Power LED.

• Remote Reset Button: Press and hold this button for about 8 seconds until the CPE’s wireless signal strength and LAN LEDs flash. This will reset the connected CPE device.

• Power LED: The Power LED is on when the passive PoE adapter is working normally.

For optimal performance, consider the following when selecting a site for your TP-LINK CPE220:

Mounting Height:

Ensure a clear line of sight between the wireless devices. An elevated location is recommended, as obstacles like trees, buildings, and large steel structures will weaken the wireless signal. The minimum mounting height should be calculated to avoid obstructions within the Fresnel Zone.

Orientation:

Install the CPE devices with the front facing the intended signal-receiving devices. You can use tools like Google Maps, GPS, and landmarks to help with orientation. The horizontal beamwidth for the CPE220 is 60°.

Follow these steps to connect the TP-LINK CPE220 and its power adapter:

1. Prepare a shielded CAT5e (or above) Ethernet cable with a ground wire. The maximum recommended length is 60 meters.

2. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the LAN0 (PoE IN) port on the TP-LINK CPE220.

3. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the port labeled POE on the passive PoE adapter.

4. Connect a second Ethernet cable from your computer, router, or switch to the port labeled LAN on the passive PoE adapter.

5. Plug the power cord into the passive PoE adapter and then into a power outlet.

6. Once all connections are finished, slide the cover back onto the bottom of the CPE to protect the ports.

Mounting the CPE:

At your selected site, use the provided pole mounting straps to attach the TP-LINK CPE220 to a pole. Approximately align the CPE in the direction that you have oriented for the best signal.

Mounting the Power Adapter (Optional):

To mount the passive PoE adapter securely, it is recommended to install it with the Ethernet ports facing upward.

1. Drill two holes on the wall and insert the plastic wall anchors.

2. Secure the mounting bracket to the wall using the self-tapping screws. Ensure the shoulders at the corners of the bracket are on the outside and pointing upward.

3. Attach the passive PoE adapter to the mounting bracket by sliding it in the direction of the arrows until it locks into place.

Proper grounding is extremely important for outdoor devices. There are two methods to protect the TP-LINK CPE220 from ESD attacks:

Method 1: Shielded Cable with PoE Adapter

Use a shielded CAT5e (or above) cable with an integrated ground wire for the connection between the CPE and the provided passive PoE adapter. Connect the PoE adapter to a grounded 3-wire power outlet. This setup effectively eliminates ESD attacks.

Method 2: Grounding Terminal

If you use a general CAT5e cable without a ground wire, you must connect the grounding terminal of the CPE to an earth ground using a separate grounding cable.

Follow these steps to log in to the PharOS interface:

1. First, you need to assign a static IP address to your computer. The IP address must be on the same subnet as the CPE. Set your computer’s IP address to 192.168.0.X (where X is a number between 2 and 253, for example, 192.168.0.10) and the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0.

2. Open a web browser (latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari is recommended) and type http://192.168.0.254 into the address bar, then press Enter.

3. On the login page, enter “admin” for both the User Name and Password. Read and agree to the terms of use, then click Login.

4. You will be prompted to change the default User Name and Password to protect your CPE. After changing them, you can begin configuring the device. For subsequent logins, use the new username and password you created.

To set up your TP-LINK CPE220 as an Access Point, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the PharOS interface and navigate to the Quick Setup page.

2. For the Operation Mode, select Access Point and click Next.

3. For LAN Settings, you can keep the default settings (IP: 192.168.0.254). Click Next.

4. On the Wireless AP Settings page:

a. Create a new SSID (Network name) for your wireless network.

b. Select WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK for the Security method and create a PSK Password.

c. Enter the distance between the Access Point and the Client device in the Distance Setting field.

d. Select the MAXtream checkbox for better performance (note: only other Pharos devices can connect when MAXtream is enabled). Click Next.

5. On the Finish page, verify your settings and click Finish to complete the configuration.

To set up your TP-LINK CPE220 as a Client, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the PharOS interface and navigate to the Quick Setup page.

2. For the Operation Mode, select Client and click Next.

3. For LAN Settings, change the IP Address to an unused address on the same subnet as the Access Point (e.g., 192.168.0.X, where X is between 2 and 253, like 192.168.0.2). Click Next.

4. On the Wireless Client Settings page:

a. Click Survey to scan for available networks. Select the SSID of your Access Point from the list and click Connect.

b. Select WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK from the Security option and enter the same PSK password you set on the Access Point.

c. Ensure the distance value matches the Access Point’s setting. Click Next.

5. On the Finish page, verify your settings and click Finish to complete the configuration.

To optimize the antenna signal for the best wireless performance, use the Antenna Alignment tool:

1. In the PharOS web interface, click on the tools drop-down list in the upper-right corner and select Antenna Alignment.

2. In the Antenna Alignment window, check the box for Alignment Beep to enable a sound indicator.

3. Physically adjust your antenna’s position. Listen to the beep frequency. The lower the frequency of the sound, the stronger the signal strength.

4. Continue adjusting the antenna until the sound frequency is at its lowest, which indicates optimal alignment and the strongest possible signal.

HARDWARE FEATURES

WIRELESS FEATURES

Note:

1. Protection estimation is based on copper grounding cable and shielded CAT5e cable with ground wire.

2. Beamwidth values may vary throughout operating frequency.

3. Please use the included PoE adapter.

With the TP-LINK CPE220 powered on, you can reset the device using one of two methods:

Method 1: Via the RESET Button on the CPE

Locate the RESET button on the bottom panel of the CPE. Press and hold the button for about 8 seconds until the CPE’s LEDs for wireless signal strength and LAN begin to flash.

Method 2: Via the Remote Reset Button on the Passive PoE Adapter

Locate the small Remote Reset button on the Passive PoE Adapter. Press and hold this button for about 8 seconds until the CPE’s LEDs for wireless signal strength and LAN begin to flash.

To maximize the received signal strength, you need to minimize the effect of out-of-phase signals caused by obstacles. The Fresnel Zone is a common method to calculate the required clearance. The formula is:

r = sqrt((d1 * d2 * c) / (d1 + d2 * f))

Where:

• r = Fresnel zone radius in meters

• c = 3×10^8 m/s (speed of light)

• f = operating frequency of the devices in Hz

• d1 & d2 = the distances between the obstacle point and the devices in meters

The minimum mounting height (H) of the CPE must be greater than the height of the obstacle (h) plus at least 60% of the Fresnel zone radius (r). A common rule is H > h + r * (1 – 40%).

Example:

Assume d1 is 2 km, d2 is 8 km, and f is 2.4 GHz. The Fresnel radius (r) would be 14.142 m. Considering a 40% tolerance, the allowable radius would be 8.485 m. If the tallest obstacle (h) at that point is 10 m, then the minimum mounting height would be 10 m + 8.485 m = 18.485 m. You should perform this calculation for all obstacles in the path and use the maximum calculated height as your final minimum mounting height.

Pharos MAXtream is a proprietary protocol developed by TP-Link based on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). It is designed to improve the performance of outdoor wireless links. The advantages of MAXtream technology include:

• Eliminates hidden node collisions and improves channel efficiency.

• Provides lower latency, higher throughput, larger network capacity, and more stability.

• Improves the Quality of Service (QoS) for video, voice, and sound data streams.

MAXtream works by dividing transmission timing into different time slots, allowing Pharos devices to transmit one after another in rapid succession without interfering with each other. This greatly reduces the chance of data collisions.

Please note: Pharos MAXtream is a non-standard Wi-Fi protocol. It is only compatible with TP-Link’s Pharos series products. You will not be able to connect standard Wi-Fi devices (like laptops or phones) to a TP-LINK CPE220 Access Point that has MAXtream enabled.

You can use the Spectrum Analysis tool to find the wireless channel with the least radio noise, which will help improve performance.

1. Log in to the PharOS web interface. From the tools drop-down list in the upper-right corner, click Spectrum Analysis. A window will pop up reminding you that all wireless connections will be lost during the analysis. Click Yes to continue.

2. Click Start. The Pharos device will begin to analyze the power of frequencies in the selected range.

3. Observe the graphs for a period of time. Look for the part of the graph where the “average” curve is relatively low and continuous. This indicates less radio noise and interference.

4. After observing, click Stop.

5. Choose a channel/frequency that corresponds to the area of the graph with the least noise. For example, if the area around 5560 MHz is lowest, the recommended channel would be 112.

Please read and follow the safety information below when operating the device:

• Keep the device away from fire or hot environments. DO NOT immerse in water or any other liquid.

• Do not attempt to disassemble, repair, or modify the device. If you need service, please contact us.

• Do not use a damaged charger or USB cable to charge the device.

• Do not use any other chargers than those recommended.

• Do not use the device where wireless devices are not allowed.

• The adapter shall be installed near the equipment and shall be easily accessible.

• The adapter should be used indoors where the ambient temperature is lower than or equal to 40 °C.

• Use only power supplies which are provided by the manufacturer and in the original packing of this product. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.