Border Gateway deployment steps

1. Register the Border Gateway.

2. Mount the Border Gateway.

3. Run Connectivity Test.

Deployment overview

• Choose deployment scenario

  • Mains (via PoE) and router (via Ethernet): Uses mains power supply and a router for Internet connectivity

  • Mains (via PoE) and mobile networks: Uses mains power supply and cellular networks for Internet connectivity

  • Remote locations: Uses solar panel and cellular networks for Internet connectivity

  • Loss of Internet and power supply: Uses solar panel and satellite connectivity.

• Choose Border Gateway location

  • Forest edge: The Border Gateway location should be chosen carefully. If possible, mount the Border Gateway at the edge of a forest.

  • Sufficient sunlight: If the Border Gateway is powered by only by solar, select a sunny location with direct sunlight.

  • Mount in an elevated location: To maximize range, install the Border Gateway on a hill, or at least a higher location to maximize range.

• Ensure reliable Internet connectivity

  • Mobile or router: Based on selected scenario, use a router for Internet connectivity (recommended) or mobile connectivity with its built-in 4G/LTE-M with 2G/GPRS fallback.

  • Satellite for backup: For satellite connectivity, the Border Gateway needs a clear line of sight to connect to a satellite.

• Ensure within range to Mesh Network

  • 2 km to 3 km: The range of a Border Gateway to a Mesh Gateway is approximately 2 km to 3 km. The actual range may vary depending on environmental conditions.

  • Line of sight: Ensure line of sight to at least one Mesh Gateway.

• Mount Border Gateway correctly

  • Above 3 m on pole or tree: Mount the Border Gateway at least 3 m high on the pole or tree and, if possible, higher for better signal propagation.

  • Stable metal or wooden pole: Mount to a stable metal pole that is unlikely to be moved. Use the provided U-Bolt Clamps to securely hold the Border Gateway and can be tightened accordingly without damaging the device. Also, on a pole, the Border Gateway does not interfere with a living tree over the lifetime of the Border Gateway.

  • Correct diameter for pole (60.3 mm): The diameter of a pole used to support the Border Gateway must not be greater than 60.3 mm. A 17 mm wrench is used to attach the M10-nuts to the U-Bolt Clamps.

  • Mount towards the top of pole: To maximize the radio contact when attaching the Border Gateway to a pole, put the Gateway on top of the pole (if possible) so that the LoRa antenna is above the top of the pole.

  • Healthy tree: If the Border Gateway is attached to a tree, ensure it is attached to a healthy tree and not expected to be cut down.

• Clear any obstructions

  • Whether the Border Gateway is installed on a tree or a pole, it needs a clear line of sight to communicate via wireless mobile networks or satellite communication.

  • It also needs an unobstructed area to obtain sufficient sunlight for the solar panel to charge the Border Gateway in case of power failure.

  • If it is installed on a tree, the solar panel should not be covered by branches

• Mount solar panel correctly

  • Towards sun (at noon): Mount the solar panel facing the sun at 12:00 noon (northern or southern hemisphere).

  • True south/north: Use a compass to identify true South (in the northern hemisphere) or true North (in the southern hemisphere). This maximizes the amount of light that hits the solar panel.

  • Direct sunlight: Select a location with direct sunlight (such as a hillside) and keep it free from branches that obscure direct sunlight.

• Use backup Border Gateway, if required

  • For 1000 sensors or more: Ideally, for deployments greater than 1000 sensors, provide a backup Border Gateway.

Each Silvanet Border 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 Border Gateway. The Deployment app uses the smartphone's camera to allow the user to scan the device's QR Code.

After the Border Gateway is registered with the Silvanet Cloud, the latitude and longitude of the device in the Site is provided to the Site Details section of the Site Management app.

Scan QR Code

The following shows the steps to register the Device ID (Serial ID) by scanning the QR Code of the Border Gateway.

1. In the Silvanet Deployment app, select a Site.

1. In the list of devices that appears, select the Border Gateway. Alternately, select Show Devices on Map.

1. On the map that appears, tap Register Device. The blue dot on the map shows your current location.

1. If you tapped Show Devices on Map, the maps shows on overview of your Site. Your location is indicated by a blue dot.

1. Once the deployment location is found, scan the device's QR Code which is attached to the back of the Border Gateway. The Deployment app automatically fills in the Gateway's latitude and longitude using the Smartphone's GPS location.

1. After a few moments, the Registration successful message appears. The device icon changes from Planned to Deployed. For more information, see Status icons.

Next step

After a successful registration, mount the Border Gateway to a tree or pole.

After a successful Device Registration and Connectivity Test, the Border Gateway can be permanently mounted to the tree or pole. The Deployment app provided guidelines for mounting the Border Gateway.

Go ahead and mount the Border Gateway to a metal or wood pole or on a tree, as described in the following sections. Afterwards, mount the solar panel to provide a power supply. Alternately, use the PoE Injector to provide power from mains.

Mount Border Gateways to metal/wood poles

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.

1. Loosely connect the U-Clamps to the Border Gateway, then slide the gateway onto the pole from the top (if possible).

2. 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.

1. 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.

2. Attach the solar panel to the pole above the Border Gateway. And if used, connect the Ethernet cable to a router.

3. Run a connectivity test to ensure the Border Gateway is connected to the Silvanet Cloud.

Mount Border Gateways to trees

If the Border Gateway is to be attached to a tree, ensure the tree is stable and unlikely to be cut.

1. 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.

2. 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.

1. 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. Ensure you do not split the tree or drill on an angle. Use the 10mm drill bit. 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.

1. Carefully hammer the treenails through the top loops of the Border Gateway into the holes.

1. 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.

2. Carefully hammer the treenails through the bottom loops into the tree. Check to ensure the Border Gateway is securely attached to the tree and can not move.

3. 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.

4. Attach the solar panel to the tree above the Border Gateway. And if used, connect an Ethernet cable from a router. See below.

Mount solar panel

After installing the Border Gateway, attach the solar panel to the same pole or tree to provide a backup power supply.

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 towarss 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:

1. Cut two equal lengths of provided garden wire, each being twice the circumference of the tree or pole.

2. While the solar panel is at ground level, insert the garden wire through the holes.

3. Climb the ladder with the panel and place the solar panel on the opposite side of the tree or pole and pull it tight against the tree or pole using the top wire, then twist the cable tight. Ensure the panel faces south towards where the sun would be at 12:00 noon.

1. Follow the same procedure with the lower cable.

2. Twist the two ends of the cables together and bring the twisted cable within the back of the panel.

3. 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.

Connect Border Gateway to Ethernet (PoE)

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.

1. Open the Ethernet connector by unscrewing the cap.

2. Disassemble the Ethernet connector, including the end cap, sealing ring and housing.

1. Lead the Ethernet cable through the end cap, sealing ring and housing.

2. Connect the Ethernet cable with the Ethernet socket in the connector.

1. 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.

1. Connect the supplied Ethernet cable to the PoE and then connect an Ethernet cable from the PoE to a router.

2. Plug in the PoE to a mains power supply.

Next step

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.

Run Connectivity Test

Use the Deployment app to begin the Connectivity test. This checks if the Border Gateway can connect with the Silvanet Cloud.

1. After mounting the Border Gateway, tap Confirm & Start Connectivity Test.

1. The Silvanet Cloud attempts to reach the Border Gateway. A popup dialog appears over the map with a progress indicator. This popup can be minimized.

1. If the Silvanet Cloud could reach the Border Gateway, a Connectivity Test successful message appears. Tap Show Device Details or Close to dismiss the popup dialog.

1. If you have tapped Show Device Details, the following screen appears. You can add additional information in the Notes field.

Border Gateway not reachable

If the Silvanet Cloud could not reach the Border Gateway, troubleshooting information is provided.

1. If the Border Gateway could not be reached, the following dialog appears.

• Check the following to troubleshoot connectivity:

  • Power supply: Check the power supply. Is the PoE correctly connected to mains power source? Is the solar panel correctly connected to Border Gateway, correctly oriented towards the sun (at noon), and no obstructions in front of the solar panel.

  • Border Gateway not fully charged: Wait for the Border Gateway to be fully charged. If the device has not had sufficient time to charge its superconductors, wait until it has been fully charged.

  • Border Gateway has no connection to a mobile network: It is possible the planned location for the Border Gateway does not have connectivity to a mobile network. In this case, the device needs to be relocated to a location where it has connectivity.

1. After troubleshooting, tap Confirm & Restart Connectivity Test.

1. If you have moved the Border Gateway to a new location, tap Reset Device to Current Location. If the Border Gateway is still in the same location, tap Keep Device Original Location.

1. After restarting the Connectivity Test, the Silvanet Cloud attempts to reach the Border Gateway. If successful, the Connectivity Test successful message appears.

Next Steps

With the Border Gateway now connected to the Silvanet Cloud, Mesh Gateways can now be deployed according to the deployment plan.