Prerequisites: This guide assumes that your FreedomFi gateway is already set up and is running. FreedomFi gateway software is updated to 1.12.2 or later.
To start, we will be placing the Outdoor small cell inside near a window and next to your network gear to confirm a set of preliminary checks. This validates that things are working before the outdoor small cell is deployed to its permanent location where it may be difficult to access.
Connect the Ethernet cable to the port labeled LAN on the POE+ injector.
Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the port labeled eNB1 the FreedomFi Gateway. Two additional CBRS small cells are supported on the eNB2 and eNB3 ports.
Connect an outdoor-rated Ethernet cable to the port labeled “POE” on the POE+ injector. The length of this cable should be long enough to reach the permanent location where you want to deploy the small cell. This will be the only cable that you need to route outside.
NOTE: Ethernet cables must be 330ft/100m or less in total length.
Assemble the weather seal around the end of your Ethernet cable.
Connect the other end of the outdoor rated Ethernet cable to the Outdoor small cell POE+ labeled port.
For now, don’t worry about the location of the outdoor small cell. We will be moving the outdoor small cell to a permanent location at a later point, but it is best to connect the cables while inside to make sure things are working.
Visit the small cell dashboard using: http://freedomfi-gateway.local
If all goes well, you should see the following in the small cell dashboard. Spectrum Access will be “TRYING” and On Air will be “OFF” until the small cell registration is submitted and approved.
To start, make sure you select a good place for the outdoor small cell. Obstructions will decrease coverage. CBRS signals have less range than LoRa. Similar to Wi-Fi they can be weakened or blocked by obstacles like walls, trees, and buildings. To capture the most data you can, you want your small cell to point towards a populated area, a place with a lot of people and phones, e.g. a park, a playground, an outdoor cafe/coffee shop.
Requirements: The outdoor small cell will require installation CPI approval before it can go on air and allow users to connect. The CPI process requires the following:
NOTE: How to get and submit this information along with sample photos will be covered in the small cell registration section below.
To enable the outdoor small cell, you’ll need to complete the CPI flow and get approval. The process starts with registering the small cell location.
To register the outdoor small cell, you’ll need the following information along with photos to prove it.
Here are some ideas on how to get the height:
Take a photo that shows the small cell and the ground. Sample Verification photo:
Azimuth is a fancy name for the compass direction in which the center of the antenna is pointing. NOAA has a free website that uses any phone accelerometer + compass to find azimuth. You can also use the built in Apple iPhone Compass app for this as well. (featured in the picture below)
Steps to collect this photo:
The sample picture is showing azimuth angle of 193 degrees.
The elevation angle is a fancy name for “is it pointing up or down from level.” The reference point is the middle of the antenna. You can again use a free app on your phone to find this value:
Steps to collect this photo:
The sample image is showing 4 degrees of down-tilt elevation angle using iOS App Measure.
Access the Radio Dashboard by pointing your web browser to http://freedomfi-gateway.local from a device on the same network as the FreedomFi Gateway. NOTE: The outdoor small cell MUST be powered on and connected to the FreedomFi Gateway to appear on the Radio Dashboard.
You will receive an email confirming your submission and then be notified by email with the status of your registration within 72 hours.
Once you get the CPI approval notification, your small cell should be ready to go.
To check, navigate to the Radio Dashboard and verify that the registration status is approved, and the statuses are all Green.
To access the local dashboard, point your web browser to http://freedomfi-gateway.local from a device on the same network as the FreedomFi Gateway. Click on Radio Dashboard.
| Symptom | Remedy |
|---|---|
|
GPS STATUS RED |
Move the small cell to a location with a clear view of the sky. |
|
CORE STATUS RED |
This status indicates if the connection between the core in the FreedomFi Gateway and the small cell is not established. In this case, you should just wait and do nothing. |
|
SPECTRUM ACCESS STATUS RED |
If SAS is “Connected” do not reboot, keep waiting for it to change to “Success” If you have been stuck over 16 hours after CPI approval with SAS not “Success” then reboot the Gateway and small cell. |
|
ON AIR STATUS RED |
eNB cannot connect to MME/S1
Reboot AGW & reboot small cell, check again after 15 minutes. |
| Symptom | Remedy |
|---|---|
|
PWR LED OFF |
Check your power connection. Try plugging directly into the wall if you are currently connected to an extension cable. If you are using POE, ensure the “POE” side of the power injector is connected to the WAN port of Small Cell. |
|
WAN LED OFF |
Check the connections made in Step 3 and Step 4. Verify that both the Freedomfi and Small Cell are powered on. Verify that the cables are in the correct ports. Lastly, try a different ethernet cable. |
|
SYNC LED OFF |
Make sure the connection between the GPS antenna and Small cell is secure, and should be firm finger tight. Try a different location for the GPS antenna, e.g. closer to a window to help it get a GPS lock. If you are having trouble, we recommend using a cell phone app such as GPSTest to find a location where you can get a GPS lock. |
|
LTE LED OFF |
First thing to do is wait, it can take time for the SAS to authorize your small cell, rebooting resets the clock and will make it take longer.
Check the Local Dashboard Radio tab and make sure the status for SAS, GPS, and LTE are all Success/InSync/Happy. If SAS is “Connected” do not reboot, keep waiting for it to change to “Success” If you have been stuck over 16 hours with SAS not “Success” then reboot the Gateway and small cell. |
