Calix GigaSpire BLAST u6 User manual

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Calix GigaSpire BLAST u6 & u4
System Setup Guide for Employee User Group
This document updated as of July 22, 2021

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What have I received? And why?
You have opted to take part in the Calix GigaSpire Employee Pilot Program. Depending on the answers that you
provided on the intake questionnaire, you will receive one GigaSpire BLAST u6 system and potentially GigaSpire
BLAST u4 or u4m systems to provide additional coverage.
Note: If you have an existing GigaSpire BLAST system in your home, onboarding a new BLAST u6 as your gateway will reset your Wi-Fi
network name (SSID) to ‘Calix GigaSpire WiFi’. You will also lose customized configurations in CommandIQ, like Enhanced Parental
Control profiles. This can be avoided by contacting [e-mail] to schedule a TAC assisted install.
How do I get started?
The following slides provide quick-start instructions to get you up and running. Please keep in mind, your experience is
not the same as a typical subscriber, whose GigaSpire BLAST system would be connected to a service provider
network that has the back-office integration to initially provide the management settings needed to fully setup the
GigaSpire and all its features. Instead, you will be connecting your GigaSpire BLAST system to your existing service
provider's gateway. This is referred to as an 'OFF-NET' model and is not typical. Your experience will otherwise be
identical to that of a typical residential subscriber of high-speed Internet services.
If you need help along the way, reach out to the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) team:
•[e-mail]

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Please note a few things before proceeding with install and set-up of your GigaSpire BLAST system(s):
1. The instructions provided in this document are based on the assumption that your Internet service is being
provided by a router/gateway that was installed by your service provider.
2. If you received more than one GigaSpire BLAST system, one will act as your primary residential gateway and the
other(s) will act as a Mesh Wi-Fi system.
3. Placement of your GigaSpire systems is important. Do not place your GigaSpire system:
•Behind a large mirror or in a room that is separated from the rest of the home by dense building materials,
like concrete or brick
•Next to other household devices that also emit signals that might interfere with your Wi-Fi signal, such as
microwaves, baby monitors and cordless phones
•Next to large metal household appliances, like a refrigerator, freezer, washer or dryer
•On or near the floor; try to install the GigaSpire BLAST systems at eye level (or higher), ideally on a shelf
Important Notes
Note: If you initially configure your GigaSpire, and want to change to another configuration, please contact the TAC team.

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Important Details
Here is some important information to keep in mind when setting up and using your new
GigaSpire BLAST systems:
•The default network name for each u6 is the ‘SSID’ value that appears on the label found on
the bottom of the u6 (shown right).
•When your u6 connects, it will check in automatically to a Calix instance of Calix Support
Cloud (CSC). When this happens, the default SSIDs (of both the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz
radios) are changed to ‘Calix GigaSpire WiFi’. As a result, you will have a single SSID
(network name) for all devices in your home.
•The ‘WPA Key’ value that appears on the label affixed to the bottom of the GigaSpire (shown above) refers to the default
password to the Wi-Fi network, required when connecting your devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.)
•To avoid having to reconnect your existing devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) to the new Wi-Fi
network, you might want to change your new SSID (‘Calix GigaSpire WiFi’) to match the existing SSID used by your
previous router using the Calix CommandIQ app. Instructions to do this can be found on the last page of this document.
•Note: When changing your SSID, it will be case sensitive, so be sure that it matches exactly.
•It is recommended that once the u6 is up and running, you turn off the Wi-Fi on the router / gateway provided by your
service provider. For instructions on how to do that, visit your CSP web site.
•To enable advanced features (like ExperienceIQ and ProtectIQ) in CommandIQ, please contact the Calix Technical
Assistance Center (TAC) @ [e-mail].

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Setting up your GigaSpire
BLAST systems

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Setting up your first GigaSpire BLAST u6
(as a residential gateway)
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Connect the GigaSpire BLAST u6 to a power outlet.
Connect one end of the supplied Ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports
found on the back of the Internet access device provided by your service
provider (e.g., modem, router, gateway) and the other end of the cable to
the WAN port on the back of the u6.
Ethernet
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Note: The SSID (network name) of your new
GigaSpire will be 'Calix GigaSpire WiFi’ when
the system has checked into Calix Support
Cloud. The password remains the default
setting; as found on the bottom of your
GigaSpire (or on the sticker that came in your
box) beside ‘W PA Key’.
Set up your Calix CommandIQ App
(see last page for details).
The solid blue LED indicates you have connectivity to the Internet.
Need help?
Contact support: [e-mail]
Boot-up time
~4m

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1Connect the GigaSpire
BLAST u4 to a power outlet. 2
3s
When the LED is red on the satellite u4, you can begin
pairing it with the first Gigaspire BLAST u6.
Press and hold the WPS button on the first u6 system
for 3 seconds, then on the second u4 system for 3
seconds (less than 30 seconds apart).
Be sure to set up your Calix
CommandIQ App (see last page for
details).
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Note: The LED on both of the systems
will flash GREEN when pairing for
wireless backhaul.
The u6 should blink green and return to
solid blue within 2 minutes. The u4 will
cycle through colors as it connects and
updates.
Once pairing is successfully complete,
both systems will show a solid blue
light (this may take several minutes).
You can then move to step 3.
Otherwise, re-attempt until pairing is
successful.
3s
Setting up your second GigaSpire BLAST u4 or u4m
(as a satellite) Using wireless backhaul

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Setting up your second GigaSpire BLAST u4 or u4m
(as a satellite) Using wired backhaul
12Connect one end of the
supplied Ethernet cable to the
LAN port found on the back
of the first u6 and the other
end of the cable to the WAN
port on the back of the
satellite u4 system.
3m
Ethernet
NOTE: Once pairing is successfully
complete, both systems will show a solid
blue light (this may take several minutes).
You can then move to step 3.
Set up your Calix CommandIQ
App (see last page for details).
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Connect the GigaSpire
BLAST u6 to a power outlet.

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Setting up your Wi-Fi and CommandIQ App
Note: Please wait at least 10 minutes
after plugging in your GigaSpire BLAST
u6, before selecting "Yes" to the question
regarding your system being plugged in
and connected. Proceeding to Step 5
earlier may result in this error message:
'Please contact your service provider to
onboard your router.’
Download the app. Search either the
Apple App Store or Google Play Store
for: "CommandIQ" and install it on
your mobile device.
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Select “Let’s Get Started”
Enter your personal information, then
press Sign Up.
The password you enter here will be
used to access the app.
Tap the QR code that appears within the
app, then scan the QR Code that is affixed to
the bottom of your GigaSpire BLAST u6 (or
on the sticker that came in your box).
Note: You will be asked
to allow the
“CommandIQ" App
to access your camera.
Select OK.
Point your phone’s
camera at the QR code
(so that it is displayed
on your screen) and
wait 1-2 seconds.
*Notes:
•The Network Name (SSID) is what you will use as your wireless connection name.
•If you do not want to change your password on all the devices in your home, use
your existing wireless SSID and Password from your current router when setting up
the new GigaSpire BLAST network.
•To enable advanced features (like ExperienceIQ and ProtectIQ), contact
[e-mail].
Select “Sign Up” (found at the bottom
of the screen).
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For now, skip the addition of any Mesh. Name
your network and create a password. (The
‘Router Name’ will be used throughout the app.)