Before mounting the Mesh Gateway, scan the Device ID using the Deployment app to register the Gateway and provide its GPS location with the Silvanet Cloud.
Learn how to mount the Gen 2 Silvanet Mesh Gateway to a pole or a tree.
Learn how to mount the Gen 3 Silvanet Mesh Gateway to a pole or a tree.
Start the connectivity test to ensure the Mesh Gateway has connectivity to the Border Gateway or neighboring Mesh Gateways.
Start the connectivity test to ensure the Mesh Gateway has connectivity to the Border Gateway or neighboring Mesh Gateways.
The Mesh Gateway must be registered before the Border Gateway has been mounted. If this step has not been followed, see Register Mesh Gateway.
Use the Deployment app to begin the Connectivity test. This checks if the Mesh Gateway can connect with any neighboring Mesh Gateways or Border Gateways.
After mounting the Mesh Gateway, tap Confirm & Start Connectivity Test.
The Deployment app begins to connect with a Border Gateway.
The Mesh Gateway then runs the connectivity test and attempts to connect to another Mesh Gateway or Border Gateway.
If the Mesh Gateway could connect, a success message appears. You can close the dialog and continue deploying the next device or tap Show Device Details.
The Device Details screen appears. You can add additional information in the Notes field such as relevant details about the deployment location.
If the Silvanet Cloud could not reach the Border Gateway, troubleshooting information is provided.
If the Border Gateway could not be reached, the following dialog appears.
Review the information provided in Border Gateway not reachable for troubleshooting information.
If the Mesh Gateway could reach another Mesh Gateway but the signal is too weak, troubleshooting information is provided.
If the Device connectivity is too low, the following dialog appears.
You can close the dialog and after troubleshooting. To return to this screen, tap the Mesh Gateway icon on the map.
Check the following to troubleshoot connectivity:
Check device orientation: Make sure the Mesh Gateway is oriented towards the sun at 12:00 noon (northern/southern hemisphere). After confirming it is oriented in the correct direction, retry the Connectivity Test.
Wait for the device to be charged: If the superconductors in the device discharged during transit or were stored in a box or backpack, it can take some time to charge the superconductors and switch on. Give the device at least a half-day to charge then retry the Connectivity Test.
Find another location: If after confirming the device is oriented properly and is charged, the Mesh Gateway may be deployed too far away from the neighboring gateways. Move the device 60m (200ft) closer to an active gateway using the network map, then restart the Connectivity Test.
After troubleshooting, tap Confirm & Restart Connectivity Test.
Restart Connectivity Test
If you had closed the dialog, the Device Details screen appears showing the current status of the Test.
Tap the circular arrow to restart the Connectivity Test.
If you have moved the Mesh Gateway to a new location, tap Reset Device to Current Location. If the Mesh Gateway is still in the same location, tap Keep Device Original Location.
If the Silvanet Cloud cannot reach the Mesh Gateway you are deploying, use the same troubleshooting steps as described in Signal too weak from neighboring gateways.
With the Mesh Gateway now connected to the Silvanet Cloud, go ahead and continue mounting the remaining Mesh Gateways in the deployment plan.
Learn how to mount the Gen 3 Silvanet Mesh Gateway to a pole or a tree.
The Mesh Gateway can be mounted to a metal/wooden pole or to a healthy tree.
if a 60 mm (2.3 inch) wooden or metal pole is available, you can use the provided U-Clamps to attach the Mesh Gateway to the pole.
Loosely attach the U-Clamps to the mounting bracket.
Hand-tighten the nuts, then use the 17 mm wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use excessive force to prevent damage to the mounting bracket.
Clip the Mesh Gateway to the bracket. You can use locks to secure the device to the brackets.
If the Mesh Gateway is to be attached to a tree, ensure the tree is stable and unlikely to be cut.
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.
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.
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 bracket. 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.
Carefully hammer the treenails through the top loops.
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.
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.
Clip the Mesh Gateway and solar panels to the brackets. You can use locks to secure the devices to the brackets.
After mounting the Mesh Gateway, allow the superconductors to fully charge. Run the Connectivity Test to ensure the Border Gateway connects with the Silvanet Cloud.
See also
For details, see .
Before mounting the Mesh Gateway, scan the Device ID using the Deployment app to register the Gateway and provide its GPS location with the Silvanet Cloud.
Device ID
Each Silvanet Mesh Gateway has its own unique Device ID (also referred to as Serial ID). It is provided as a unique text string as well as a QR Code printed on a label attached to the Gateway.
In the Silvanet Deployment app, select a Site.
In the list of devices that appears select a Mesh Gateway. Alternately, select Show Devices on Map.
On the page that appears, tap Register Device. The blue dot on the map shows your current location.
Finding the deployment location
Note in the figure above the Mesh Gateway is 120 m away from the user. Use this map to move towards the deployment location.
If you tapped Show Devices on Map, the map shows an overview of the Site. Your location is indicated by a blue dot.
Once the deployment location is found, register the Device ID.
Scan the device's QR Code which is attached to the back of the Mesh Gateway.
The Silvanet Deployment app automatically fills in the Mesh Gateway's location (latitude and longitude) using the Smartphone's GPS location.
QR Code not scannable?
If the QR Code cannot be scanned, manually enter the Device ID which is found as a text string next to the QR Code.
After a few moments, the Registration successful message appears. The device icon changes from Planned to Deployed. For more information, see Status icons.
After a successful registration, the Mesh Gateway can be permanently mounted to a tree or pole. The Deployment app provides guidelines for mounting the Mesh Gateway.
Mount the Mesh Gateway to a metal or wood pole or on a tree, as described in the following sections.
Relocating a Mesh Gateway
For more information, see Relocate a Silvanet Sensor or Gateway.
The Mesh Gateway can be mounted to a metal/wooden pole or to healthy tree.
After a successful Device Registration, the Mesh Gateway can be permanently mounted to the tree or pole. The Deployment app provided guidelines for mounting the Mesh Gateway.
To attach Mesh Gateways to a metal or wood pole, the maximum dimension of the pole must be 60 mm (2.3 inch). U-Clamps are provided to attach the Mesh Gateway to the pole.
Loosely attach the U-Clamps to the Mesh Gateway, then slide the Mesh Gateway onto the pole from the top, if possible.
Ensure the Gateway is oriented properly (facing the sun at 12:00 noon) with the antenna connector facing upwards. You may need assistance holding the Mesh Gateway.
Maximizing radio transmissions
Ensure the pole is not interfering with radio transmission. If a metal pole is used, ensure the top of the Mesh Gateway is level with the top of the pole to allow the antenna to free from interference from the metal.
Hand-tighten the nuts on the U-clamps, then use the 17 mm wrench to tighten the nuts. Do not use excessive force to prevent damage to the Border Gateway. Ensure the Mesh Gateway is securely connected to the pole and cannot move.
Attach the LoRaWAN antenna to the Mesh Gateway.
If the Mesh Gateway is to be attached to a tree, ensure the tree is stable and unlikely to be cut.
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 and facing the sun (at 12:00 noon).
Remove any branches that might interfere with maximum sunlight irradiation.
If required, carefully remove a small portion of the bark with an axe where the holes for the treenails will be drilled. This allows the Mesh Gateway to hang vertically on the tree.
Drill the top holes using the 10mm drill bit approximately 6–7 cm into the tree. The distance between the holes must be 70 mm.
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.
When drilling into a hardwood tree, start with a smaller drill bit then drill to the final size with the 10 mm drill bit. Also, ensure you are using a drill bit for wood, not for steel or concrete.
Hammer the treenails through the top loops of the Mesh Gateway into the drilled holes. Be careful not to damage the device while doing so. You may need an assistant to support the Mesh Gateway while hammering the treenails into the tree.
With the Mesh Gateway attached to the tree at the top, drill through the bottom loops of the device approximately 6-7 cm into the tree. Do not damage the Mesh Gateway while drilling through the loops.
If you plan on drilling the bottom holes before attaching the Mesh Gateway to the tree, you can use the Mesh Gateway as a template to locate the positions to drill the bottom holes.
Carefully hammer the treenails through the bottom loops into the holes. Do not damage the device.
Attach the LoRaWAN antenna to the Mesh Gateway.
To maximize the radio connection of the Mesh Gateway, the antenna should have at least a finger-width distance from the trunk.
Check to ensure the Mesh Gateway is securely connected to the tree and does not move.
After mounting the Mesh Gateway and allowing it to fully charge, run the Connectivity Test to ensure the Mesh Gateway connects with either the Border Gateway or another Mesh Gateway.
See also
For details, see Mesh Gateway Connectivity Test.
