VectaStar RT Configuration iPhone App - Cambridge...
Transcript of VectaStar RT Configuration iPhone App - Cambridge...
VectaStar RT Configuration iPhone App User Guide
Cambridge Broadband Networks
Tuesday, 02 April 2013
CB-002856-UG Issue 3
VectaStar RT Configuration iPhone App User Guide CB-002856-UG-3 1
1 Introduction
The VectaStar RT Configuration app for the Apple iPhone provides a simple interface to allow installers to
perform start-of-day configuration and optimise the alignment of VectaStar remote terminals (RTs). This
document describes how to use the app in combination with a WiFi router to perform these tasks. Some
familiarity with the VectaStar system is assumed throughout.
2 Equipment
In addition to the VectaStar RT equipment, you will require:
One Apple iPhone (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S or iPhone 5)
One WiFi router
One CAT-5 network cable
The configuration information in this guide is based on a TP-Link TL-MR3040 150Mbps Wireless B
Portable Battery Powered Router. This device has a USB-rechargeable battery and is compact and
simple to configure. Other WiFi routers may also be suitable.
3 Workflow
The basic workflow is shown in figure 1.
Figure 1
Connect WiFi
router to RT and power on
Join WiFinetwork in
iPhone Settings
In ‘Connection’ screen, connect
to RT
AT RT SITEBEFORE ARRIVING AT RT SITE
Configure WiFirouter
Install app on iPhone
In ‘Frequency’ screen, configure
RT’s channel
Troubleshoot connection
Connection not made
Connection made
Roughly align RT and verify it has
registered
Find maximum RSSI in ‘Alignment’
screen
Fine-tune RT’s alignment
Set RT’s position using ‘Position’
screen
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4 Preliminary Work
These steps can be undertaken before visiting an RT installation site.
4.1 Configuring the WiFi router
The WiFi router should be configured so that its wired Ethernet port has an address on the
192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0 network, because the default IP address for VectaStar RTs is 192.168.1.1. In
addition, it is helpful to enable a DHCP server on the WiFi network so that when the iPhone selects the
network it is automatically allocated an address.
The detailed instructions below apply to the TP-Link MR-3040 as noted above.
4.1.1 Connect to the WiFi router’s web interface
Connect to the WiFi router on its default IP address of 192.168.0.1. You can connect over its wireless
network, which defaults to an open (no WPA) network with a name something like TP-
LINK_POCKET_3040_xxxxxx and with a DHCP server enabled. The default user and password are
both „admin‟.
When you log in you will see a status page something like this:
4.1.2 Change the mode to ‘Standard AP mode’
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Click on „Operation Mode‟ in the left-hand pane. The default mode is „3G Router Mode‟ but the
desired mode is „Standard AP Mode‟. Select „Standard AP Mode‟ and click „Save‟. You will be
prompted to allow the WiFi router to reboot, which you should permit.
4.1.3 Change the LAN port’s IP address
When the router has restarted, click on „Network‟ in the left-hand pane. Change the IP address from
its default value of 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.1.99. Again, click „Save‟ and permit the router to reboot.
The WiFi router is now correctly set up and will hand out DHCP IP addresses in the range
192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.199. You may now switch off the router.
4.2 Installing the app
If you were sent the app as a “.ipa” file, follow the instructions included in the email. Otherwise, connect
to the App Store and install the app in the usual way.
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5 At an RT Site
5.1 Connect the WiFi router to the ODU via a wallbox, GPI or IDU
Power up the Wifi router and connect it using a CAT-5 cable to the network port of the wallbox (VS1 or
VS2 systems), or to the network port of the IDU-GPI (VSG), or to port 1 of an IDU-4VL-4E1 (VS1, VS2 or
VSG). Alternatively you may connect the router to an “installer wallbox” or other “breakout” device. Be
careful not to connect the router to a powered Ethernet port carrying -48VDC as well as data; this may
result in permanent damage to the router.
5.2 Join the WiFi network
On your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap the Wi-Fi line. You should see the WiFi router in the list
under “Choose a Network”. Tap the name of the router to select it. Once it is selected you may tap the
“(>)” icon to verify that the IP address handed out by DHCP is in the range 192.168.1.102 to
192.168.1.199 as expected.
5.3 Launch the app and connect to the RT
Locate the “RT Config” icon on the phone‟s home screen and tap it. The app will start and immediately
attempt to connect via ssh to the ODU on the default IP address of 192.168.1.1:
5.4 Troubleshooting the connection
The connection to the ODU should succeed straight away, resulting in a “connected” icon in the top right
corner of the screens as shown here:
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If the connection does not succeed, try the following troubleshooting steps. After each troubleshooting
step, you can tap the Retry Connection button to try the ssh connection again. Once you have a working
connection, proceed to the next step.
Check the WiFi router is switched on and has a valid Ethernet connection on its WAN port. For the TP-
Link 4030 the lights should look as follows (the three lights represent, from left to right, wireless network
connectivity, wired network connectivity, power).
Check the ODU is receiving power by referring to the relevant LEDs on the wallbox, GPI or IDU.
Check the iPhone is correctly using the WiFi router network and not another nearby WiFi network, which
will not have the necessary connectivity.
Power-cycle the ODU by removing and replacing the power connector from the wallbox, GPI or IDU.
Verify that the ODU has not previously been installed and configured. If it is running in a live network, it
will not itself ordinarily respond to IP traffic on its Ethernet port.
5.5 Configure the RT’s frequency
Select the “Frequency” tab by tapping on the icon in the tab bar.
First set the channel bandwidth by tapping in the Channel Size field and selecting from the popup. Next,
tap in the Downstream field and, using the keypad, enter the downstream centre frequency in kilohertz.
It is critical that the correct channel is entered here, so that the next step aligns the RT to the correct AP:
check the settings with the local network operations or deployment team.
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When you enter the downstream channel, the app automatically fills in the upstream centre frequency and
chooses the frequency band for you and will check the frequencies entered against the band limits. If the
channel is valid, the button labelled Set RT’s Channel will become active. If not, check the error
message and correct the entries.
Finally, press Set RT’s Channel. The app configures the channel on the RT – this takes one to two
seconds. You can now move to the next step.
If the RT has previously been configured with a channel, that data is read by the app when it first connects
to the RT. You may then change the channel, but you will be asked to confirm before doing so.
5.6 Optimise the RT’s alignment
Select the “Alignment” tab by tapping the icon in the tab bar.
Once the RT‟s frequency is set, it will attempt to register with an AP. Until registration has taken place,
you will see the following message:
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Once registration has occurred, the app monitors the received signal strength indicated (RSSI) reported
by the RT, updating the figures shown on the screen once a second:
The purpose of this step is to optimise the alignment of the RT to the AP. Therefore, pan the RT‟s
directional antenna in azimuth and elevation to find the maximum value shown by the app. The best and
worst values are recorded and shown at the top of the screen as guidance. You can reset the best and
worst recorded values by pressing the button. For example, you might roughly align the antenna by
sweeping 5 degrees at a time in azimuth. Then reset the best/worst values and perform a fine sweep in
order to complete the alignment process.
Once the alignment is optimal, tighten the antenna mounting fixtures so that no further movement will take
place.
Note: the software version running on the RT is shown in the alignment tab as a convenience to the user.
It is not possible to upgrade the RT from the iPhone in the current version of the app.
5.7 Set the RT’s geographical position
This step is optional but highly recommended for networks that will be managed using the VectaStar
Network Management System (VNMS). The VNMS is a sophisticated, fully FCAPS-compliant network
management suite that can show a geographical overview of the performance of a network. In order to do
this, it needs to poll the network elements for their locations, which are intended to be set at installation
time.
To do this, select the “Position” tab by tapping the icon in the tab bar.
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You may be asked whether you want to give the app “RT Config” permission to use your current location if
this is the first time you have used this functionality in the app. You should choose OK here.
The Latitude, Longitude and Height fields are automatically filled in using the phone‟s GPS location.
The additional fields Downtilt and Bearing should be filled in by tapping and entering a decimal value in
degrees. You may also override the GPS setting for the Height field simply by tapping in the field and
entering a value. This may be necessary because the altitude calculated by GPS is not usually as
accurate as the latitude and longitude readings, or because the iPhone is not at the same height as the
ODU when performing this step. To return to the iPhone‟s GPS receiver providing the altitude, delete all
characters from the field (it will read “Set from GPS” and then be overwritten by the next update).
When all fields are correctly filled in and the reported GPS accuracy is acceptable, click the Set RT’s
Position button. The procedure takes one to two seconds to complete.
Please note that the RT‟s positional data will not be visible via the VectaStar Network Management
System until the RT has been re-registered or power cycled.