SOMAport 140 Setup Guide Document ID: Date: OPN-USER.0003 August 30, 2001 Author Information Author E-mail Phone # Irene Suchocki isuchocki@somanetworks.com 514-484-1016 Revision History Status Version Date Changes Made Draft 0.01 March 8, 2001 Document created Draft 0.02 March 23, 2001 Comments from subject matter expert review incorporated Initial Draft 0.03 April 10, 2001 Comments from editor incorporated Initial Draft 0.04 May 15, 2001 Illustrations incorporated.
Copyright 2001 SOMA Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SOMA Networks, Inc. 185 Berry Street Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94107 U.S.A. Phone +1 415 882 6500 Fax +1 415 882 6501 SOMA Networks, Inc. 312 Adelaide Street West Suite 700 Toronto, ON M5V 1R2 Canada Phone +1 416 977 1414 Fax +1 416 977 1505 SOMA, SOMA Networks, and the star-and-circle logo are trademarks of SOMA Networks, Inc. All of SOMA Networks’ product names are trademarks of SOMA Networks, Inc.
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Important Safety Instructions Installation Read Instructions — All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the product is operated. Retain Instructions — The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference. Heed warnings — All warnings on the product and in the operating instructions should be adhered to. Follow instructions — All operating and use instructions should be followed.
Maintenance and servicing Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleanser. Use a damp cloth for cleaning. Servicing — Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Regulatory Notices This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Proprietary and Confidential
Contents Important Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Regulatory Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The front panel . . . .
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Introduction Chapter 0 Use this guide to install the SOMAport 140 and connect it to the devices in your home, small office, or home office. You can connect phones, fax machines, dial-up modems, computers, and local area networks (LANs) to the SOMAport 140. For more information about connecting and using the SOMAport 140, visit the SOMA Networks Web site. Contents Overview ........................................................................................................... The front panel ...........
Overview Introduction Overview The SOMAport 140 is a compact terminal that uses wireless technology to bring telephone services and high-speed, always-on Internet services to your home, small office, or home office. The particular services you have access to depend on your service provider’s offerings and the features you have purchased in your subscription package. The SOMAport 140 has four RJ-11 phone jacks and provides you with four additional independently dialable phone lines.
The front panel Introduction The front panel There are five light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the front panel of the SOMAport 140. These are status lights that indicate the state of the SOMAport 140. Their locations are shown below. LEDs The LEDs have the following functions. LED Description 1 The first LED is the Status LED. It indicates whether or not the SOMAport 140 is receiving power and functioning normally. 2-5 LEDs 2 through 5 make up the signal strength indicator.
The back panel Introduction The back panel The jacks and ports that are used to connect other devices to the SOMAport 140 are located on the back panel. A jack connects telephone equipment to the SOMAport 140, whereas a port connects computer equipment. The on/off switch is also located on the back panel. The locations of the connectors and switches are shown below. The connectors and switches on the back panel have the following functions.
The back panel Introduction # Part Description 7 On/Off Switch This switch turns the SOMAport 140 on and off. 8 Ethernet (RJ-45) port This port provides Internet services using standard 10Base-T Ethernet. You can connect a PC to it directly with a straightthrough cable, or a hub with a crossover cable. The Ethernet LEDs are located on this port. They indicate the status of the Ethernet connection. See “Ethernet status LEDs” on page 44.
SOMAport 140 feature overview Introduction SOMAport 140 feature overview Antennas Instead of using phone lines to bring services into your home or office, the SOMAport 140 uses wireless technology. Inside the SOMAport 140 is an antenna that receives radio signals from and transmits radio signals to a transmitting tower operated by your service provider. There is also an optional external antenna that can be ordered to boost performance if necessary.
I NS TALLI NG THE SOMA PO R T 140 Chapter 0 This chapter describes how to connect telephone and computer equipment to the SOMAport 140. Contents Do you have everything? .................................................................................. Where to put the SOMAport 140 ....................................................................... Installing the power supply ................................................................................ Connection options for telephone equipment ....
Do you have everything? Installing the SOMAport 140 Do you have everything? Unpack the SOMAport 140 from its box and make sure you have all of the pieces that are shown below. 1 2 3 4 6 5 00083 The pieces that are shipped in the box are as follows.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Where to put the SOMAport 140 Where to put the SOMAport 140 Put the SOMAport 140 where you can reach it easily and where you can connect other devices to it with cables that do not exceed recommended maximum cable lengths. Do not place the SOMAport 140 near a computer monitor. Doing so can cause interference. Maximizing the signal strength Like a radio receiver, the SOMAport 140 uses an antenna to receive radio signals from a transmitting tower.
Where to put the SOMAport 140 Installing the SOMAport 140 Maximum cable lengths The different devices you connect to the SOMAport 140 require different types of cables. Each type of cable has a recommended maximum length. Cables that are longer than the recommended length can cause performance degradation. If you have a number of devices that are distributed throughout your home or office, place the SOMAport 140 closest to the devices that have the shortest maximum cable length, as shown here.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Installing the power supply Installing the power supply The SOMAport 140 uses an external desktop power supply or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Instructions for installing the UPS are in the Uninterruptible Power Supply Quick Reference Card that is packaged with the UPS. To install the power supply W A R N I N G : Use only the power supply and power cord that were shipped with the SOMAport 140.
Installing the power supply Installing the SOMAport 140 A T T E N T I O N : If you need to disconnect the power supply, disconnect the power cord from the power outlet first. Then unplug the connector from the back of the SOMAport 140.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connection options for telephone equipment Connection options for telephone equipment There are two ways to connect telephone equipment (phones, fax machines, dial-up modems) to the SOMAport 140.
Connection options for telephone equipment Installing the SOMAport 140 In-building telephone wiring When you plug the SOMAport 140 into a wall phone jack to use your building’s existing telephone wiring, any other phones, answering machines, fax machines, and dial-up modems connected to the same phone line through other wall jacks will get telephone service from the SOMAport 140. All of the devices, however, will share the same line. This means that only one of the devices can be in use at any time.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment directly to the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment directly to the SOMAport 140 When you plug a phone, fax machine, or dial-up modem directly into the SOMAport 140 it operates independently of any residential or small business in-building telephone wiring. To connect phone equipment directly to the SOMAport 140 1 Insert one end of the RJ-11 cable into the RJ-11 jack on the phone, fax machine, or dial-up modem.
Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring You can connect the SOMAport 140 to your in-building telephone wiring by plugging it into a wall phone jack. The benefit of using this method is that you can connect a number of telephone devices (phones, fax machines, dial-up modems) that are located in other rooms to the SOMAport 140.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring Connect additional telephones, fax machines, answering machines, and dialup modems in other rooms to Line 2 (and, therefore, the SOMAport 140).
Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring Installing the SOMAport 140 2 Look at the telephone wall phone jack. 00099 If you see four pins, then the wall jack is probably wired for two phone lines. If only two pins are visible (the middle ones), then the jack is wired for one phone line. Connect telephone equipment directly to the SOMAport 140 or call the telephone company to rewire your jacks and in-building wiring for two lines.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring The following illustration shows the front and back view of the two-way splitter. The connector on the left connects to Line 1. The one on the right connects to Line 2. (Note that some splitters have three jacks. The left connector is for Line 1, the middle one is for Line 2, and the right connector is for Lines 1 and 2 so that you can connect two-line phones.
Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring Installing the SOMAport 140 b Insert the other end of the cable into the wall phone jack. 00102 4 For each telephone device you want to connect to the SOMAport 140 via the wiring, insert the device’s RJ-11 cable into the wall phone jack. 5 Connect any other equipment to the SOMAport 140 using the proper procedures. 6 Turn on the SOMAport 140.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring b Insert the other end of the cable into the Line 2 jack (the one on the right if you have a 2-jack splitter, or the one in the middle if you have a 3-jack splitter). 00100 5 Connect other phone equipment, located in other rooms, to the SOMAport 140 using the in-building wiring. a Insert a two-line splitter into each wall phone jack that will be used to connect telephone equipment to the SOMAport 140.
Connecting telephone equipment to in-building telephone wiring Installing the SOMAport 140 7 Turn on the SOMAport 140.
Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140 Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140 When you connect a computer to the SOMAport 140, you get high-speed Internet access that is always on. Connection options You can connect a computer to the SOMAport 140 in one of three ways. Connection Option Cable Type If your computer has a network interface card (NIC), you can connect it to the SOMAport 140 with an 8-pin straightthrough Ethernet cable.
Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140 Installing the SOMAport 140 If you have Windows 98, click the Device Manager tab. If you have Windows 2000, click the Hardware tab and then click the Device Manager button. 4 Click the plus (+) icon next to the Universal Serial Bus Controller option. If you see a USB host controller listed, USB is probably enabled. If you do not see this device listed, see your computer’s documentation. If USB is not enabled, use the Ethernet port.
Installing the SOMAport 140 To Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140 connect a computer to the Ethernet port 1 Turn off your computer. 2 Insert one end of the straight-through Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the back of the SOMAport 140. N O T E : Make sure the length of the cable does not exceed 100 m (328 feet). 3 Insert the other end of the cable into the Ethernet port on your computer. 0008 4 Connect any other equipment to the SOMAport 140 using the proper procedures.
Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140 Installing the SOMAport 140 3 Insert the other end of the RS-232 cable into your computer’s serial port. 0008 4 Connect any other equipment to the SOMAport 140 using the proper procedures. 5 Turn on the computer. 6 Turn on the SOMAport 140.
Connecting a LAN to the SOMAport 140 Installing the SOMAport 140 Connecting a LAN to the SOMAport 140 To provide Internet access to all of the PCs on your LAN, run a cable from the SOMAport 140 to your hub. You can connect a hub to the SOMAport 140 using a crossover (null modem) cable. Use a networking technology such as HomeRF, 802.11b, or HPNA. Enable all devices to have Internet access through the Ethernet port on the SOMAport 140.
Connecting a LAN to the SOMAport 140 Installing the SOMAport 140 6 Turn on the SOMAport 140.
Maintaining the SOMApor t 140 Chapter 0 Once you have installed the SOMAport 140, minimal upkeep and maintenance are required. This chapter describes how to read the LEDs so that you can recognize the operating status, strength of the radio signal, and Ethernet status. Contents Overview ........................................................................................................... Status LED .......................................................................................................
Overview Maintaining the SOMAport 140 Overview The SOMAport 140 does not require maintenance or servicing other than occasionally cleaning the outside of the unit. If you purchased the optional UPS/battery backup unit, you will have to replace the battery every 4 to 6 years (on average). The UPS will indicate when battery replacement will need to be performed. This is described in the Uninterruptible Power Supply Quick Reference Card that comes with the UPS.
Status LED Maintaining the SOMAport 140 Status LED The status LED is a bi-color LED that indicates whether or not the SOMAport 140 is powered on and operating normally. It can be either green or amber. It is the top LED bar on the front panel of the SOMAport 140 and is labeled with the number 1 below. 1 LED states The following table shows the meaning of the possible LED states. LED state Description Off Power is not being supplied to the SOMAport 140.
Signal Strength LEDs Maintaining the SOMAport 140 Signal Strength LEDs The signal strength indicator is made up of four LEDs. They are on the front of the SOMAport 140, below the status LED. The indicator is labeled with the number 2 below. 2 LED states The following table lists what the five possible signal strength indicator states indicate.
Maintaining the SOMAport 140 Signal Strength LEDs What to do if the signal is weak Radio signal strength can have an effect on the quality of your phone calls and your ability to access the Internet. If the signal is weak, you may experience noise or cutting out during phone calls. If you try to log on to the Internet while the signal is weak, you may notice that it takes a long time to open a Web page, or you may not be able to get on to the Internet at all until the signal is stronger.
Ethernet status LEDs Maintaining the SOMAport 140 Ethernet status LEDs There are two Ethernet status LEDs. They are located on the Ethernet port on the back of the SOMAport 140. 1 The Link LED (green) 2 The Data Transmit LED (amber) 1 2 00097 LED states The following table shows the meaning of the possible LED states. Green LED State Description Off No Ethernet carrier is present. See “Network connection problem” on page 49. On Ethernet carrier is present.
Troubleshooting and getting help Chapter 0 If there is a problem, look it up in this chapter and carry out the recommended actions. If the proposed solutions do not work, contact your service provider’s technical support center. Contents Phone or Internet performance problems ......................................................... Fault conditions and power problems ............................................................... Network connection problem ................................................
Phone or Internet performance problems Troubleshooting and getting help Phone or Internet performance problems If you are having any of the following problems, they may be due to a weak signal. To While using the phone, the voice quality is poor or calls drop out. It takes a long time to open a Web page. This can also be a temporary problem that is due to Internet congestion. You cannot get on to the Internet at all.
Troubleshooting and getting help Phone or Internet performance problems There is bad weather—rain, ice, strong winds—in your area. The effect of weather on reception is temporary.
Fault conditions and power problems Troubleshooting and getting help Fault conditions and power problems The status LED on the front panel can indicate one of two problems. To If the status LED is amber, the SOMAport 140 has detected a fault during the self-test. The self-test is run whenever the SOMAport 140 is powered on after being fully shut down. Reboot the SOMAport 140. If the status LED is off, the SOMAport 140 is not getting power. Check the power source.
Network connection problem Troubleshooting and getting help Network connection problem If the green link LED on the Ethernet port is off, then there is no network connection and you will not be able to get on to the Internet. This can be due to excessive Ethernet traffic. However, if the problem persists, it may be due to a power or cable problem. To find the source of the problem 1 Check the status LED to make sure the SOMAport 140 is receiving power.
Network connection problem Troubleshooting and getting help a Turn off the SOMAport 140 and the computer or hub. b Remove the USB cable. c Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet port on computer or hub to the Ethernet port on the SOMAport 140. N O T E : If connecting a PC use a straight-through cable. If connecting a hub, use a crossover (null modem) cable. See “Connecting a computer to the SOMAport 140” on page 33 or “Connecting a LAN to the SOMAport 140” on page 37.
Data transmission problems Troubleshooting and getting help Data transmission problems If you are trying to use the Internet but cannot, check the amber data transmit LED on the Ethernet port. If it is off while you are trying to use the Internet, then the SOMAport 140 is not sending data over the network. If there is no problem with the cabling, this can indicate a problem with your PC configuration.
Data transmission problems 52 Troubleshooting and getting help Proprietary and Confidential
Index A adaptors, 28–29 answering machine.
Index front panel, 12 H hub connecting to a SOMAport 140, 37 I installing power supply, 21 internal antenna, 15, 19 Internet problems, 46 troubleshooting connection, 51 IP address, 51 J jacks. See telephone jacks and power jack L LAN. See hub LEDs, 12, 40 Ethernet status, 44 problem states, 48, 49 RSSI, 42 status, 41 light-emitting diodes.
Index directly, 25 using a separate line, 26–27, 30–31 using the main line, 26, 29–30 maximum cable length, 19–20 telephone jacks, 13 checking the wiring of, 27–29 testing cables, 49–50 U universal serial bus port. See USB port upkeep.
