Booster Antenna Installation Guide Document ID: Date: OPN-USER.0018 May 13, 2002 Author Information Author E-mail Phone # Irene Suchocki isuchocki@somanetworks.com 514.484.1016 Revision History Status Version Date Changes Made Draft 0.01 July 13, 2001 Document created. Draft 0.02 January 25, 2002 Document modified by author. Initial Draft 0.03 February 20, 2002 Comments from subject matter expert review and substantive edit incorporated. Initial Draft 0.
Copyright 2002 SOMA Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SOMA Networks, Inc. 185 Berry Street Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94107 U.S.A. Phone +1.415.882.6500 Fax +1.415.882.6501 SOMA Networks, Inc. 312 Adelaide Street West Suite 700 Toronto, ON M5V 1R2 Canada Phone +1.416.977.1414 Fax +1.416.977.1505 SOMA, SOMA Networks and the star-and-circle logo are trademarks of SOMA Networks, Inc. All of SOMA Networks’ product names are trademarks of SOMA Networks, Inc.
Important Safety Instructions For your safety and protection, read this entire guide before you attempt to install the booster antenna. In particular, read this safety section carefully. Keep this safety information where you can refer to it if necessary. W A R N I N G : One milliampere of current flowing through your body can kill you. Voltage as low as 15 volts can kill under the right conditions. Treat energized equipment with respect.
Coaxial cable – Coaxial cable should be fire-resistant and follow the guidelines in NEC 820-49, NEC 820-50, and NEC fire requirements. Cable should not be marked with voltage markings. Installation of the coaxial cable should also comply with NEC requirements. Alerts used in this guide W A R N I N G : Where you see this symbol and the WARNING heading, strictly follow the instructions to avoid personal injury or damage to the product.
Preface This document describes how to install the booster antenna, ground it, and connect it to the SOMAport. Related Documentation The following table lists the SOMA Networks consumer documents that cover SOMAport installation Component Description Audience SOMAport Setup Guide Installation and maintenance guide for the SOMAport Subscribers SOMAport Quick Setup Quick installation reference card Subscribers Conventions This section outlines the conventions used in this guide.
Preface : Trademark Identification The following SOMA Networks trademarks are used without notation in the rest of this document: SOMAportTM Tell Us How We Are Doing If you have any feedback about this document, e-mail Technical Communications at SOMA Networks: docs@somanetworks.
Contents Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The booster antenna assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I NTR ODUCTION Chapter 0 This chapter is an introduction to the SOMA Networks booster antenna that is used to increase the signal received and transmitted by the SOMAport. Contents Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The booster antenna assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Safety precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Overview The SOMAport has an internal antenna that provides sufficient levels of performance in the majority of cases. However, certain subscribers may be located too far away from the nearest base station and, as a result, the RF signal may be too weak. Under these conditions, the booster antenna amplifies the strength of the received and transmitted signal, thus enhancing the operational range and performance of the SOMAport.
Introduction The booster antenna assembly The booster antenna comes in three pieces: the mounting bracket the mounting pipe the booster antenna housing Housing Mounting pipe Mounting bracket Do you have everything? Before you begin, make sure you have everything you will need during the installation on hand.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Mounting pipe Mounting bracket Four 5/16-inch x 2-inch lag screws Seven 4/15-inch flat washers Three 5/16-inch x 1-inch carriage bolts One #10 screw One #10 flat washer One #10 lock washer Additional materials and tools In addition, you need the following materials and which are not supplied with the booster antenna: 12 RG-6/U coaxial cable Grounding wire Grounding block 3/16-inch drill bit Carpenter’s level Pencil
Introduction Safety precautions In addition to the safety instructions on page 3, follow these guidelines when installing the booster antenna. Carefully survey the job site before beginning the installation to locate secure handholds, dangerous conditions (such as power lines and weak roofs), and the safest and most convenient placements for ladders. Do not climb on a wet or icy roof. Do not attempt high installations on windy days.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide 14
I NS TALLI NG Chapter 0 ANTE NNA THE BOOS TER This chapter describes how to install the booster antenna outdoors using a variety of mounting options. It also describes how to route and ground cables, ground the antenna, and connect the antenna to the SOMAport. Be sure to read the important safety information in the front of this manual before beginning an installation. Contents Installation overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Installation overview Install the booster antenna yourself only if you have performed or are comfortable performing the following tasks.
Installing the booster antenna Installation requirements The booster antenna works best when it has a line-of-sight view of the basestation. However, you do not have to manually point it at a basestation. Install the booster antenna at the highest point available. Examples of optimal locations include the apex of a roof, the top of a chimney, or a tall pole mounted on a chimney. The installation must meet the following requirements: The booster antenna must not be used indoors.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide W A R N I N G : While this device is in operation, a separation distance of at least 20 cm (8 inches) must be maintained between the radiating antenna and the body of all persons exposed to the transmitter in order to meet the FCC RF exposure guidelines. No change to the antenna or device is permitted. Doing so may result in the installed system exceeding RF exposure requirements.
Installing the booster antenna Estimating cable requirements Once you have selected the installation site, you must decide where you want the cable to enter the house and approximately how much cable you are going to need. The following diagram shows an example of an installation. INSERT DIAGRAM - Shows the booster antenna mounted on a rooftop, a cutaway view of a house and a grounding block. The coax cable goes from the booster antenna to the grounding block and then the SOMAport.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide 3 Choose a location to mount the grounding block. The block should be as close as possible to the point where the cable will enter the house. 4 Estimate the amount of cable required for each of the following: Cable run One RG-6/U coaxial cable with ground wire to run from the booster antenna to the grounding block. One RG-6/U coaxial cable to run from the grounding block to the SOMAport.
Installing the booster antenna Installing the booster antenna on a roof When installing the booster antenna on a roof, install it in the highest possible location to maximize the signal you receive. Tools and materials Have the following tools and materials on hand during this process.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide 7 Fill all four holes with silicone sealant. 8 Hold the mounting bracket and pipe assembly over the holes. 9 Insert a 5/16-inch x 2-inch lag screw in each of the holes to attach the mounting bracket to the roof. 10 Tighten the screws enough to hold the mounting bracket and pipe assembly in place. 11 Adjust the mounting pipe so that it points straight up.
Installing the booster antenna Installing the booster antenna on solid wood or lap siding Follow these guidelines when installing the booster antenna on an external wall with a surface of solid wood or lap siding. Make sure the wooden surface is structurally sound. Do not mount the booster antenna on any type of aluminum or vinyl siding. Do not mount the booster antenna on any type of composite paneling, such as fibre board, particle board, or strand board.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide 7 Hold the mounting bracket and pipe assembly over the holes so that the short end of the mounting pipe points up. If the mounting bracket spans two pieces of siding, use a spacer. The mounting bracket should be positioned so that most of it is on the top board. A spacer should be installed to help hold the bottom of the mounting bracket in place. The spacer can be made of either solid wood or plastic.
Installing the booster antenna Installing the booster antenna on brick or poured concrete 25
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Installing the booster antenna on cinder block or masonry 26
Installing the booster antenna Installing the booster antenna on a metal pole 27
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Attaching the booster antenna to the mounting assembly Once the mounting bracket and pipe assembly are securely attached to the mounting surface and the mounting pipe is pointing straight up, you are ready to attach the booster antenna in its housing to the mounting assembly. To attach the booster antenna 1 Attach the booster antenna to the mounting pipe. i 2 QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO DO THIS? Attach the ground wire to the booster antenna.
Installing the booster antenna Routing and grounding the exterior cables Grounding the booster antenna to the central building ground helps protect it and the SOMAport from lightning damage. The booster antenna must be grounded in accordance with Section 810 of the NEC, Section 10 of the CEC, or the electrical code of the country in which you are installing the booster antenna. The following diagram depicts the grounding requirements.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Tools and materials Have the following tools and materials available: TYPE OF screwdriver(s) Hammer #??? insulated grounding wire Silicone grease To install the cable between the booster antenna and the grounding block 1 Attach the grounding block to the side of the building close to the point you have chosen as the entry point for the RG-6/U coaxial cable.
Installing the booster antenna 9 Route the ground wire to the central building ground and connect it to the central building ground.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Running cable to the SOMAport When routing cable to the SOMAport, you should select the shortest possible path and always protect the cable from physical damage. Depending on the installation site, you could run the cable through a floor or wall, or directly to the rear of the SOMAport. If the cable goes straight through a wall, you can use a wall plate at the access point.
Installing the booster antenna To install the cable from the grounding block to the SOMAport 1 Verify that there are no wires or pipes blocking the location where you will be feeding the RG-6/U coaxial cable into the building. 2 Drill a hole in the wall. 3 Insert the connector in the access hole of the grounding block. 4 Make a drip loop of 8–13 cm (3–5 inches) using cable clips. INSERT DIAGRAM HERE 5 Secure the drip loop and cable to the wall using cable clips.
Booster Antenna Installation Guide Troubleshooting COMMENT: This section is under construction. Need more information. Problem Corrective Actions The cable connections are poor. Secure the cable connections. The booster antenna was not detected. Check the cable connections to make sure they are secure. Check to see if the cable is shorted. If it is, connect another cable and check again. Turn off the SOMAport and then turn it back on.
