Mount Border Gateway (Gen 2)
The Gen 2 Border Gateway provides a single solar panel and can be mounted to either a healthy tree or a stable metal/wooden pole.
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The Gen 2 Border Gateway provides a single solar panel and can be mounted to either a healthy tree or a stable metal/wooden pole.
Last updated
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The Border Gateway must be registered before the Border Gateway has been mounted. If this step has not been followed, see Register Border Gateway.
The Gen 2 Border Gateway can be deployed using the supplied PoE (Power over Ethernet) to connect to a mains power supply. The solar panel must be connected to the Border Gateway.
The Gen 2 Border Gateway can also be powered using only the solar panel in deployments without access to a mains power supply.
See also
For more information, see Border Gateway deployment scenarios.
If a 60 mm (2.3 inch) wooden or metal pole is available, you can use the provided U-Clamps to attach the Border Gateway to the pole.
Prepare U-Clamps: Loosely connect the U-Clamps to the Border Gateway, then slide the gateway onto the pole from the top (if possible).
Tighten U-Clamp: Hand-tighten the nuts, then use the 17 mm wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use excessive force to prevent damage to the Border Gateway.
Attach the antennas: The LoRa antenna is attached to the top connector, LTE antenna on the bottom connector and satellite antenna is on the side.
Attach solar panel: Attach the solar panel to the pole above the Border Gateway. And if used, connect the Ethernet cable to a router.
Run connectivity test: Run a connectivity test to ensure the Border Gateway is connected to the Silvanet Cloud.
If the Border Gateway is to be attached to a tree, ensure the tree is stable and unlikely to be cut.
Fina a mounting location at least 3 m above forest floor: Once a tree has been selected, use a safety strap to hold the ladder to the tree. Then, have an assistant stabilize the ladder, locate a position on the tree that is approximately 3 m above forest floor.
Prepare mounting area: Remove any branches and other obstructions at the deployment height. This allows the solar panel to have good irradiation from the sun to charge the device. Carefully remove a small portion of the bark with an axe or chisel where the holes in the tree will be drilled. This allows the gateway to hang vertically on the tree.
Drill two holes 70 mm apart for top loops: Using a 10 mm drill bit for wood, drill two holes approximately 6-7 cm (2 1/5 inches) into the tree with a distance of 70 mm apart. Ensure you do not split the tree or drill on an angle. We recommend drilling a pilot hole using a small drill bit (1/4 inch / 6mm) then drill the final hole with the 10mm drill bit.
Drill a pilot hole
When drilling into a tree, first drill a pilot hole using a small drill bit (1/4 inch / 6mm) then drill the final hole with the 10mm drill bit. Also, ensure you are using a drill bit for wood. This ensures the wood in the tree does not split.
Hammer the top treenails into the tree: Carefully hammer the treenails through the top loops of the Border Gateway into the holes.
Drill the bottom holes: Carefully drill the bottom two holes using the lower holes as templates. Be careful not to damage the Gateway case while doing so. Also, use a drill bit with a sufficient length to ensure the holes are at the correct depth.
Hammer the bottom treenails into the tree: Carefully hammer the treenails through the bottom loops into the tree. Check to ensure the Border Gateway is securely attached to the tree and cannot move.
Attach the antennas: The LoRa antenna is attached to the top connector, the LTE antenna to the bottom connector and the satellite antenna to the connector on side of the device.
Mount the solar panel: Attach the solar panel to the tree above the Border Gateway. And if used, connect an Ethernet cable from a router. See below.
After installing the Border Gateway, attach the solar panel to the same pole or tree to provide a backup power supply.
The cable from the Border Gateway to the solar panel is pre-connected and is 2 m long.
After attaching the Border Gateway to either a pole or a tree, the solar panel needs to be attached to the same location, preferably above the Border Gateway. Garden wire is used to secure the solar panel to the support structure (tree or pole).
Mount on same tree or pole as Border Gateway: Ensure the solar panel is attached to the same tree or pole used for the Border Gateway.
Oriented towards sun at 12:00 noon (northern/southern hemisphere): Locate the deployment location towards where the sun would be at 12:00 noon. This allows the solar panel to have maximum sunlight irradiation during daylight hours.
Protect cable from accidental damage: Ensure the solar panel cable is placed in such a way that it cannot be damaged by human or animal incidents.
Mount above Border Gateway: If the deployment location is a public area, the minimum height for both the Border Gateway and the solar panel should be at least 3m above the forest floor with the solar panel mounted above the Border Gateway. A higher deployment allows for better connections to Mesh Gateways.
Securely mount the solar panel to pole or tree: Ensure the solar panel is tightly connected to the tree or pole so that it cannot slip or turn during strong winds or other environmental actions.
To mount solar panel to pole or tree:
Cut two equal lengths of provided garden wire, each being twice the circumference of the tree or pole.
With the solar panel is at ground level, insert garden wire through the holes.
Climb the ladder with the panel and place the solar panel on the opposite side of the tree or pole and pull it tight using the top wire, then twist the cable tight. Ensure the panel faces south towards where the sun would be at 12:00 noon.
Follow the same procedure with the lower wire.
Twist the two ends of the cables together and bring the twisted cable within the back of the panel.
Ensure the solar panel is tight against the tree and pole and cannot move.
The following shows a completed Border Gateway and solar panel deployment.
If an Ethernet connection is available, use the PoE Injector to connect to a mains power supply. The Border Gateway provides a sealed RJ45 connector to attach an Ethernet cable to the device.
Open the Ethernet connector by unscrewing the cap.
Disassemble the Ethernet connector, including the end cap, sealing ring and housing.
Lead the Ethernet cable through the end cap, sealing ring and housing.
Connect the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet socket in the connector.
Reassemble the connector. Carefully seat the sealing rings in the housing without damaging the barbs, then screw the end cap on the housing and screw the housing to the connector.
Connect the supplied Ethernet cable to the PoE and then connect an Ethernet cable (not supplied) from the PoE to an available router.
Plug in the PoE to a mains power supply using the provided power cable.
Let superconductors charge: After mounting the Border Gateway and providing it with a power supply, allow the superconductors to fully charge.
Run connectivity test: With the Border Gateway mounted and powered, run the Connectivity Test to ensure the Border Gateway connects with the Silvanet Cloud.
See Also
For details, see Border Gateway Connectivity Test.
