Mounting an Aruba IAP-93 Access Point to a roof - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 12:15:36 am
content: I have an Aruba IAP-93 access point which I use for my normal home network. The problem I have is mounting it to the roof.The chassis of the access point has wall mounting screw points and clips to attach to a 1.4cm ceiling tile rail (which I don't have because I don't have a dropped ceiling like you find in offices).The problem with using the screw points is it doesn't leave enough room for the ethernet cable stress boot to fit between the AP and the roof.Is there some kind of 1.4cm standoff/bracket that I could buy to utilise the ceiling tile mount? Apparently Aruba made a ceiling mounting kit for this model but there are proving difficult to find.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 12:32:28 am
content: I thought Aerohive had adapters for their APs, but I cannot find anything in their latest catalog.It might be possible to make a standoff that uses the screw head wall mount capture points.Perhaps a short length of 25mm box alloy, drill and tap at the hole centres and thread in a couple of short M5.Drill bigger holes beside them to allow you to screw through into the ceiling to attach the alloy.Don't know if I am explaining myself well there.Do you have ceiling space?I just through my AP up in the ceiling space above my lounge.(Facing down of course.)

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 12:35:38 am
content: Only a suggestion, a Clipsal mounting block might do the job and the keyway mounts on the AP might even line up with the standard screw spacing's, you can get them just about anywhere such as electrical wholesalers and Bunnings, etc.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 01:00:47 am
content: ^ That is a much more elegant solution than my alloy box section suggestion.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 09:46:33 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on October 14, 2016, 12:35:38 amI have some of these in a box somewhere (...now what did I do with that box?). Cheers Muttley!

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 09:57:16 am
content: The standard screw spacing on wall plates and those mounting blocks is 84mm, after posting I took a ruler to the screen and estimated your AP keyways at around 46mm so you may still have to do an additional mod to suite, otherwise I can go out to the workshop and measure the screw spacing on an architrave style mounting block which are much smaller.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 10:06:42 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on October 14, 2016, 09:57:16 amThe photo wasn't mine, I stole it. However according to the installation manual, the wall mounting holes are 4.7cm apart (see attached diagram from said manual).This is all well and good for wall mounting, however I'd like something a bit more secure for mounting upside down on the roof. Just so I don't come home to it dangling by the Ethernet cable one day.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 10:11:58 am
content: I was an entire millimeter out, bloody shameful.You can get 4 fixing points using the mounting block so if possible get a screw or two into a ceiling batten otherwise use nylon butterfly anchors or a combination of both, the mounting block won't go anywhere and you could also add some double sided tape to rear of the AP to help lock it in. A blank wall plate screwed to the mounting block would suffice to then fix either the keyway screws or the hanging bracket if one was supplied.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2016, 01:14:52 pm
content: I would use a small section of a 2x4 as a spacer. So the AP is mounted to the 2x4 which is mounted to the ceiling.