Mount Border Gateway (Gen 3)
The Gen 3 Border Gateway provides two solar panels and can be mounted to either a healthy tree or a stable metal/wooden pole.
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The Gen 3 Border Gateway provides two solar panels and can be mounted to either a healthy tree or a stable metal/wooden pole.
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The Gen 3 Border Gateway can be deployed using the supplied PoE (Power over Ethernet) to connect to a mains power supply. The solar panels must be connected to the Border Gateway.
The Gen 3 Border Gateway can also be deployed using solar panels only without use of the PoE.
The Border Gateway must be registered before the Border Gateway has been mounted. If this step has not been followed, see Register Border Gateway.
Orientation of Border Gateway and solar panels
The Border Gateway can be oriented to optimize connectivity to the Silvanet Mesh Network, while the solar panels can be oriented towards the sun (as it would be at 12:00 noon).
If a 60 mm (2.3 inch) wooden or metal pole is available, use the provided U-Clamps to attach the Border Gateway and solar panels to the pole.
Prepare U-Clamps: Place the U-Clamps around the pole, through the mounting bracket and hand tighten the bolts to the U-Clamps.
Tighten U-Clamps: After placing the mounting bracket at the correct location on the pole, use the 17 mm wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use excessive force to prevent damage to the mounting bracket.
Repeat for solar panel brackets: Repeat these steps for the two solar panel mounting brackets. The mounting bracket for the Border Gateway can face the Silvanet Mesh Network while the solar panels can be directed towards the sun at 12:00 noon.
Mount Border Gateway and solar panel to brackets: Clip the Border Gateway and solar panels to the brackets. You can use locks to secure the devices to the brackets.
Attach cables to Border Gateway: Connect the solar panels to the Border Gateway using the supplies cables.
(Optionally) Use PoE to provide power: If a mains power supply is available, connect the PoE Injector to the mains.
If the Border Gateway is attached to tree, the tree must be stable, healthy and and unlikely to be removed. It should survive most typical wind storms.
Find 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, with an assistant stabilizing the ladder at the bottom locate a position on the tree that is approximately 3 m above forest floor.
Prepare mounting areas: For the Border Gateway and solar panels, 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: With a distance between the holes at 70 mm, drill approximately 6-7 cm (2 1/5 inches) into the tree for the top loops of the mounting brackets. Ensure you do not split the tree or drill on an angle. Use 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 mounting brackets.
Drill the bottom holes: With the mounting brackets attached at the top, carefully drill the bottom two holes using the lower holes as templates. Be careful not to damage the bracket 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 mounting bracket is securely attached to the tree and cannot move.
Attach the devices to the mounting brackets: Clip the Border Gateway and solar panels to the brackets. You can use locks to secure the devices to the brackets.
Connect the cables: Connect the solar panels to the Border Gateway using the supplies cables.
(Optionally) Use PoE to provide power: If a mains power supply is available, connect the PoE Injector to the mains.
After mounting the Border Gateway and providing it with a power supply, allow the superconductors to fully charge.
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.
