Beginners SETUP GUIDE for NANOSTATION-M2 as receiver

and other Ubiquity airMAX devices using AirOS firmware v5

(Windows/MacOS)

This guide is primarily intended for mobile users (boaters, campers and truckers) who often
change access points. Fixed users can also use it, although there might be other more suitable
configurations for them.
Make sure the Nanostation-M2 (Nano for short) Main LAN socket is connected to your
computers network card with network cables, via the POE power injector (for a 12VDC power
source, use a passive power injector rather than the AC one normally supplied). There should then
be at least one LED lit on the back of the Nanostation. On the original Nanostation shipping box,
find and write down the default IP address (we assume:192.168.1.20), the user name and password
(should both be ubnt). Do not loose this information!
1) Set your computer to communicate with Nano (only done once)
1a) Windows
1b) Mac OS X
2) Program Nano as receiver (station) and router (only done once)
3) Choose and connect to a WIFI signal (done to find a new access point)

1a
Windows XP

Open Start/ Control panel/ Network Connections.

Or in Classic Start menu: Start/ Settings/ Control panel/ Network Connections.

Windows Vista

Open Start, right-click on Network and then Properties (or Start/Control Panel).
Double click Network and Sharing Center, click Manage network connections.
Network Connections window will appear:

Windows 7

Open the Start orb, click on Control Panel,

Click View Network Status and Tasks, then Change adapter settings:

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 Enable your network card: right-click on Local Area Connection and select Enable (if its
already enabled, the option would be Disable and just leave it as is).
If there is a built in WIFI card, it should be disabled (right click and choose Disable if not
already so).
Right click on Local Area Connection
and select Properties:
If you do not need to share files or a printer on
your local network you should disable (un-tick)
Client... and File and...
for added security.
WinXP: double click on Internet Protocol:
Vista and Win7: double click on
Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4):

Fill in as pictured here:

Were entering a static (fixed) IP address

This will be your computers IP *
This is always so
This is the IP of the Nano

Nano IP here too

(The Nano will be acting
as a DNS server)

* Note: The last number can be any number

from 1 to 254 except 20 which is taken.

Click OK twice. There should be 2 LEDs lit on the Nanostation (power + network cable).
Go to page 5.

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1b

Mac OS X
If the AirPort is on, best to turn it off:

Mac OS X 10.4
Click on the Apple icon then System Peferences:

Click on Network:

Select the Built-in Ethernet:

then click on Configure.
(Option: create a new Location configuration
named Nano to quickly return to
these settings in the future)

Fill in as pictured here:

(= default gateway)

Click on Apply.
There should now be 2 LEDs lit on the Nanostation (power + network cable).
Goto page 5.
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AC OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Click on the Apple icon then System Peferences
Click on Network:

(Option: create a
Location configuration
named Nano to quickly
return to these settings
in the future)

Select Ethernet:

Fill in like like this:

Click on Apply:

There should now be 2 LEDs lit on the Nanostation (power + network cable).
NOTE for other Mac versions: if you have two TCP/IP settings, then choose IPv4.

GENERAL NOTES

AirOS firmware versions (firmware on a device is like the operating system on a

computer): the current version is AirOS 5.3.2 as pictured here in the screen shots. If you
receive a unit with a later firmware (or if you update it later), additional settings may be
visible.
Resetting device: Should you be unable to connect to the Nanostation after changing
any settings (by mistake), it can be reset to its original default configuration (a hard reset)
by pressing the reset button (little hole, inside cover) for 20-30 seconds, with the power
on. The LED light should flash after releasing button.
Directional antenna: The built in antenna points to the front of unit (LEDs are on back)
with a horizontal beam width of about 60 degrees:

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2 Setting up the Nano

Open your browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc.) and type in address bar:
http://192.168.1.20 (the default address of the Nano) then press the Enter key.
Type in ubnt twice and click Login
(If this window did not appear, there may be
a problem with the wiring, the network card
or a firewall).
Select the Network tab and change Nano settings as follows:

The Nano will act as a router which makes

WIFI cruising safer and much easier.
(This refers to the WIFI side of the router)
The Nano will automatically be assigned an IP
address, gateway and DNS server by the WIFI
access point you connect to later.
Enter this just in case DHCP fails

(This refers to the wired side of router = you)

This will be the Nanos new IP address
and Netmask
Allows the LAN to communicate with the WLAN

Will allow you to connect a computer which has

its network setting to Obtain an IP address and
DNS server automatically.

Click Change

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 Youll notice that this now appears at the top of the window:

The changes made on the previous page are memorized but not yet
in effect. Only after clicking Apply with they take effect. Since we
still need to make some other changes, well Apply them all later.

DO NOT APPLY YET!

Click on the Advanced tab

Verify

(Optional: adjust at which signal

strength the LEDs at the back of
the Nano light up. This can also be
tweaked later.)
Click Change
(Do not click Apply yet)

NOTES

Just like there are several ways to skin a cat, the network settings of the Nano and computer can be many. The
settings here have been found most convenient while cruising because connecting to new WIFI access points in
different places require a minimum of effort.
Since the default Nano IP address is in the very common range 192.168.1.x, and we cannot risk having
the same range on our own local LAN as the WLAN ashore, we have changed the original Nano IP from
192.168.1.20 to 192.168.10.20. We have also activated the Nanos DHCP server which means that the computer
can get network settings assigned automatically (an IP in the range 192.168.10.100 to 200, plus the Gateway
and DNS server = IP of the Nano). We still need to set the computer to acquire the IP automatically (see end of
next page).

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 Click on the Wireless tab

Change Nano mode to Station

(i.e. receiver or client)

Make sure output power is on max

Leave rest as shown.

Click Change

Click Apply when it appears at the top:

Now all the changes will come into effect.
YES
Note: At this point communication with the Nano is lost because we still need to change the
computers IP address to be in the same (new) range as the Nano (192.168.10.x). The setting
can be either fixed (manually to e.g. IP=192 168.10.21, Subnet mask=255.255.255.0, Gateway/
Router/DNS=192 168.10.20), or automatic which is simpler and more flexible (as it allows you to
take the computer to another wired network and automatically acquire the settings):

Windows: refer back to page 1 and 2 to

open Internet Protocol Properties:
Change like this:
Then click OK twice.

Mac OS: refer to pages 3 and 4 and change

Configure from Manually to DHCP, then
click Apply.

From now on, all these settings will remain

in place and youll only need to take step #3
to connect to an new WIFI access point.

What a relief!

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Connecting to a WIFI signal

In the browser address bar type http://192.168.10.20 (the new address of the Nano) then press the
Enter key.
Clicking once on
Click on the Link setup tab, then on Select (second line at right) to get:
Signal will sort the
list with the strongest
at the top

Select a strong signal

(without encryption)
by clicking in the button.

This is the
strongest in the list.
Any figure lower
than about 90 is
normally usable.

Then click Select

Click on Change, wait; click Apply at top of new page, wait 10-15 seconds for device to reboot and
for connection (some access points take a while to connect). Thats it. There should be 3 or more
LEDs lit on the back of the Nano.
To verify the connection, click on Main tab. This page has no settings, only information to confirm a
connection. (You may have to refresh the browser page to get current info).
A number here means
that the Nanostation
has associated with
the WIFI acces point
Received signal
strength

This number
will increase with
long distance
connections

Wireless connection
speeds (transmit/
receive). Most public
access points can
reach 54Mbps
(internet connection
speed is usually
much lower).
Click on DHCP Client:
The numbers here tell us that the WIFI
access point has assigned all the
necessary numbers to the Nano
for connecting to the internet.
Numbers will vary with access points.
If blank, internet access will not work.
Some access points can take up to 30s
to assign numbers and sometimes you
have to click Renew for success.

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 Clicking on Tools, Align antenna will bring up a received signal strength indicator, useful for
improving signals by rotating the Nanostation:

Since the number

is negative,
a lower figure
is stronger.

Moving this slider

allows the signal
bar indicator to
better display
different strengths.

Assuming you have connected to an live WIFI access point, you should be ready to access the
internet. This may involve logging-in to a marina or hotel welcome page, or paying for access.
To connect to another WIFI access point in the future, just log-in to the Nano with your
browser and repeat step #3. Also see Bookmark recommendation below.
An alternative to step #3 is to type Any in ESSID (second line on tab Wireless), then Save
and Apply. From then onwards, the Nano will automatically connect to any un-encrypted access
point, without any intervention from your part. However, in locations with many WIFI signals, it
might not end up being the most desirable one.
Connecting to an encrypted wireless network (WEP or WPA) requires knowing the encryption
key and performing additional steps in #3.

Recommendations

For security, use a firewall (e.g. Windows firewall or free Zone Alarm) and a virus scanner (e.g.
Norton or free AVG).
Make a bookmark (or favorite) to the Nanostation address (http://192.168.10.20) and save the
log-in info (ubnt; ubnt) in your browser for quicker access.
The supplied white cable ties for mounting the device may fail after exposure to sunlight. Its
much better to use black ties, a good string, or hose clamps.
If you do not use your computer elsewhere, you may prefer to give it a fixed network
setting (manually to e.g. IP=192 168.10.21, Subnetmask=255.255.255.0, Gateway/Router/
DNS=192.168.10.20), as this removes the initial delay of being assigned settings when turning on
the computer.
To serve more than one computer you can use a network switch. To serve two computers the
Secondary LAN port of the Nano can be used as well.

Online resources

Download a more recent firmware (improvements and bug fixes; not necessary but
recommended) at: http://www.ubnt.com/support/downloads.
Once downloaded, log-in to the Nano, click on System tab, then Upgrade. Previous configuration
settings will not be lost.
For an advanced manual (AirOSv5 User guide) go to http://www.ubnt.com/wiki/Main_Page and
look under AirOS/AirMax/M Series Products.
For technical support use the UBNT Forum at: http://ubnt.com/forum
Leo Lindstrand,

08/2011 (not connected with Ubiquity Networks)

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ADDENDUM
Possible reasons for not getting online

Cannot associate with AP (access point)

- AP fault or intentional restriction

- Your signal not good enough/ distance too far (using a directional antenna helps)
- Interference from many other WIFI users (using a directional antenna helps)
- Look for another AP on a less busy channel (for example, in the USA only channels 1, 6,
and 11 do not overlap/interfere with each other).

Associated with AP (access point) but not online

- AP may be disconnected from internet

- APs DHCP server may not work and this would be evident on the Nano Main tab. If you
can find or guess the settings, then these can be enterned manually on Nano tab Network,
WLAN Network Settings: static. Youll have to enter the IP (often 192.168.0.90 or 1.90,
Netmask 225.225.255.0), the Default Gateway (often 192.168.0.1 or 1.1) and at least one
DNS Server (208.67.222.222 goes to OpenDNS and will always work). Then Save and
Apply.

If only some of your services work (e.g. Skype)

- It could be that only the DNS server is wrong or missing. Manually enter (as above) the
IP and Default Gateway that were assigned automatically, but change the DNS server to
208.67.222.222.

Problems sending email with SMTP

- Your usual SMTP server may not accept your outgoing email if you get online via a different
provider and/or you are not autheticated. Your SMTP provider can usually tell you what
their authenticated connecting settings should be. Alternatively try another SMTP provider,
or use browser webmail instead of an email program (e.g. Outlook).

Directional antenna
- For weak signals, aiming the antenna is required.
- For strong signals the direction is often not critical,
as signals tend to bounce and come from
multiple directions.

Typical passive POE for 12-24VDC

- Do not exceed 24VDC!

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