Cambium Networks cnReach N500 User manual

User Guide
cnReach™ N500
System Release: 01-30
(900 MHz, 700 MHz, 450 MHz, 220 MHz)

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Quick Start One-Page Reference
Current Software Version
This user guide reflects system release 01-20 containing the following software versions which can be
downloaded from the Cambium Networks support website:
https://support.cambiumnetworks.com/files/n500/
OS firmware: cn-EBX.5.2.17d_update
Radio firmware:
rf_1.48.17487-450jumbo (for both 450 MHz FCC and 450 MHz ETSI RED models)
rf_1.48.17487-700g2
rf_1.48.17487-900jumbo
rf_1.48.17487-200
Optional Software Modules:
cs-5.2.17d_module (for high-availability 1+1 station)
wr-5.2.17d_module (for wire replacement feature)
Caution
Note that there are different radio firmware files depending on the band of the radio. The
band is denoted in the filename (eg. 450 = 450 MHz radios; 900 = 900 MHz).
Default Login Information
Default IP address: 192.168.0.3
Default Username: admin
Default Password: admin
Please refer to the Obtaining an Unknown IP Address section in the Quick Start Guide if you cannot access the
User Interface.
Accessing the User Interface
The User Interface is accessed by initiating a secure HTTPS connection (or HTTP connection depending on the
radio’s configuration) from a Web Browser, via direct Ethernet port connection or active radio link.
•Ensure that your laptop is configured with an IP address on the same subnet as the default IP address.
•Type https://<IP ADDRESS> in the URL box; i.e. https://192.168.0.3
•If this is the first time attempting to connect via https the browser may prompt you regarding privacy.
Certificates are usually associated with fully-qualified domain names and not individual IP addresses, so
this prompt is completely normal.

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Accuracy
While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of this document, Cambium Networks assumes no
liability resulting from any inaccuracies or omissions in this document, or from use of the information obtained herein.
Cambium reserves the right to make changes to any products described herein to improve reliability, function, or design,
and reserves the right to revise this document and to make changes from time to time in content hereof with no obligation
to notify any person of revisions or changes. Cambium does not assume any liability arising out of the application or use of
any product, software, or circuit described herein; neither does it convey license under its patent rights or the rights of
others. It is possible that this publication may contain references to, or information about Cambium products (machines
and programs), programming, or services that are not announced in your country. Such references or information must
not be construed to mean that Cambium intends to announce such Cambium products, programming, or services in your
country.
Copyrights
This document, Cambium products, and 3rd Party software products described in this document may include or describe
copyrighted Cambium and other 3rd Party supplied computer programs stored in semiconductor memories or other
media. Laws in the United States and other countries preserve for Cambium, its licensors, and other 3rd Party supplied
software certain exclusive rights for copyrighted material, including the exclusive right to copy, reproduce in any form,
distribute and make derivative works of the copyrighted material. Accordingly, any copyrighted material of Cambium, its
licensors, or the 3rd Party software supplied material contained in the Cambium products described in this document may
not be copied, reproduced, reverse engineered, distributed, merged or modified in any manner without the express
written permission of Cambium. Furthermore, the purchase of Cambium products shall not be deemed to grant either
directly or by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license under the copyrights, patents or patent applications of
Cambium or other 3rd Party supplied software, except for the normal non-exclusive, royalty free license to use that arises
by operation of law in the sale of a product.
Restrictions
Software and documentation are copyrighted materials. Making unauthorized copies is prohibited by law. No part of the
software or documentation may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into
any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of Cambium.
License Agreements
The software described in this document is the property of Cambium and its licensors. It is furnished by express license
agreement only and may be used only in accordance with the terms of such an agreement.
High Risk Materials
Cambium and its supplier(s) specifically disclaim any express or implied warranty of fitness for any high risk activities or
uses of its products including, but not limited to, the operation of nuclear facilities, aircraft navigation or aircraft
communication systems, air traffic control, life support, or weapons systems (“High Risk Use”). Any High Risk is
unauthorized, is made at your own risk and you shall be responsible for any and all losses, damage or claims arising out of
any High Risk Use.
© 2018 Cambium Networks Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Contents
Quick Start One-Page Reference................................................................................................................................ ii
Current Software Version................................................................................................................................................ ii
Default Login Information ............................................................................................................................................... ii
Accessing the User Interface ......................................................................................................................................... ii
About This User Guide ..................................................................................................................................................ix
Contacting Cambium Networks ..................................................................................................................................ix
Purpose ...................................................................................................................................................................................x
Cross references..................................................................................................................................................................x
Feedback ................................................................................................................................................................................x
Important regulatory information........................................................................................................................................xi
Problems and warranty ...........................................................................................................................................................xii
Reporting problems.........................................................................................................................................................xii
Repair and service ............................................................................................................................................................xii
Hardware warranty...........................................................................................................................................................xii
Security advice ......................................................................................................................................................................... xiv
Warnings, cautions, and notes ............................................................................................................................................ xv
Warnings.............................................................................................................................................................................. xv
Cautions ............................................................................................................................................................................... xv
Notes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... xv
Caring for the environment ................................................................................................................................................. xvi
Chapter 1: Product Description ............................................................................................................................1-1
cnReach System........................................................................................................................................................................1-2
cnReach N500 Radio Modules.................................................................................................................................. 1-4
Accessories.........................................................................................................................................................................1-7
Antennas............................................................................................................................................................................1-10
cnMaestro ..........................................................................................................................................................................1-14
LINKPlanner......................................................................................................................................................................1-16
Chapter 2: System Configuration........................................................................................................................2-1
User Interface Overview .......................................................................................................................................................2-2
Default IP Address..........................................................................................................................................................2-2
Accessing the User Interface .....................................................................................................................................2-2
Troubleshooting Access to the User Interface...................................................................................................2-2
Navigating the User Interface................................................................................................................................... 2-4
Main Menu ...................................................................................................................................................................................2-5
Main Menu Fields.............................................................................................................................................................2-5
Network Menu ...........................................................................................................................................................................2-7
Network/VLANs ..............................................................................................................................................................2-7
Network/Interface Settings....................................................................................................................................... 2-8
Network/Static Routes............................................................................................................................................... 2-12
Network/Net Filters ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-13
Network/NAT & Port Forwarding..........................................................................................................................2-13
Radio Menu...............................................................................................................................................................................2-14
Radio/Band Settings (Full Configuration Mode).............................................................................................2-14
Radio/RF Settings ........................................................................................................................................................ 2-15

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Radio/Network Settings (Full Configuration Mode)..................................................................................... 2-22
Auto-Configuration Mode ........................................................................................................................................ 2-32
Radio/Seamless Serial Map .....................................................................................................................................2-34
Serial Menu ..............................................................................................................................................................................2-35
Serial/Local Serial Settings......................................................................................................................................2-35
Serial/Serial Services ..................................................................................................................................................2-36
Seamless Serial Service .............................................................................................................................................2-42
Serial/Modbus Bridging ............................................................................................................................................2-43
cnMaestro Menu ....................................................................................................................................................................2-46
cnMaestro/Management Settings.........................................................................................................................2-46
I/O Menu...................................................................................................................................................................................2-48
I/O/Channel Settings..................................................................................................................................................2-48
I/O/Modbus Settings..................................................................................................................................................2-49
I/O/Calibration Settings.............................................................................................................................................2-51
Wire-replacement Menu .................................................................................................................................................... 2-52
Step by Step for wire-replacement configuration.........................................................................................2-53
Meanings for each field in the wire-replacement configuration..............................................................2-54
Wire Status .....................................................................................................................................................................2-55
Diagnostics Menu..................................................................................................................................................................2-56
Diagnostics/Neighbor List ....................................................................................................................................... 2-57
Diagnostics/RF Statistics .........................................................................................................................................2-57
Diagnostics/RF Ping ...................................................................................................................................................2-58
Diagnostics/RF Throughput................................................................................................................................... 2-60
Diagnostics/Spectrum Analyzer.............................................................................................................................2-61
Diagnostics/Network Statistics .............................................................................................................................2-66
Diagnostics/Forwarding Table...............................................................................................................................2-68
Diagnostics/Route Table ..........................................................................................................................................2-69
Diagnostics/ARP Table..............................................................................................................................................2-69
Diagnostics/Serial Statistics....................................................................................................................................2-70
Diagnostics/DNS Lookup .......................................................................................................................................... 2-71
Diagnostics/Ping ........................................................................................................................................................... 2-71
Diagnostics/Traceroute............................................................................................................................................. 2-72
Diagnostics/IO Status ................................................................................................................................................ 2-72
Management Menu...............................................................................................................................................................2-73
Management / Logout ............................................................................................................................................... 2-73
Management/Password ............................................................................................................................................ 2-73
Management/Administration..................................................................................................................................2-74
Management/Advanced Settings ......................................................................................................................... 2-75
Management/Files .......................................................................................................................................................2-75
Management/SNMP .................................................................................................................................................... 2-77
Security Menu.........................................................................................................................................................................2-79
Security/AES..................................................................................................................................................................2-79
Security/Banner............................................................................................................................................................2-80
Chapter 3: Technical Reference...........................................................................................................................3-1
Radio/Air Interface Features ..............................................................................................................................................3-2
Network Role ....................................................................................................................................................................3-2
Point to Point (PTP).......................................................................................................................................................3-2

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Point to Multi-Point (PMP) ..........................................................................................................................................3-2
Transmit Power and RSSI ........................................................................................................................................... 3-3
Transmit Rates ................................................................................................................................................................ 3-6
Adaptive Modulation .....................................................................................................................................................3-7
Frequency Hopping (900 MHz ISM Only)............................................................................................................3-7
Access Point Synchronization .................................................................................................................................. 3-9
Max Payload Bytes .......................................................................................................................................................3-15
Dynamic Payload..........................................................................................................................................................3-24
Networking Features...........................................................................................................................................................3-25
Routing .............................................................................................................................................................................3-25
Network/VLANs ...........................................................................................................................................................3-26
IO Capability on cnReach Radios...................................................................................................................................3-28
Digital I/O........................................................................................................................................................................3-28
Analog I/O.......................................................................................................................................................................3-29
Per-Pin Capabilties ......................................................................................................................................................3-29
Digital Input....................................................................................................................................................................3-30
Digital Output................................................................................................................................................................3-32
Analog Input...................................................................................................................................................................3-33
Analog Output...............................................................................................................................................................3-33
Roaming Feature (ISM only) ............................................................................................................................................3-34
Management and Diagnostics Features......................................................................................................................3-37
Radio Hardware and Interfaces ......................................................................................................................................3-38
Interface Cabling ..........................................................................................................................................................3-38
I/O Connections for Radios ......................................................................................................................................3-41
Status LEDs ....................................................................................................................................................................3-42
900 MHz Specific Performance Data.......................................................................................................................... 3-44
900 MHz ISM Throughput Measurements........................................................................................................ 3-44
900 MHz MAS Licensed Throughput Measurements...................................................................................3-46
Tx Power and Sensitivity (900 MHz ISM)..........................................................................................................3-47
Tx Power and Sensitivity (900 MHz MAS)........................................................................................................3-48
Channel and Hop Tables (900 MHz ISM Band Only)....................................................................................3-49
450 MHz Specific Performance Data ........................................................................................................................... 3-57
450 MHz Throughput Measurements..................................................................................................................3-57
450 MHz Tx Power and Sensitivity ......................................................................................................................3-58
700 MHz Specific Performance Data...........................................................................................................................3-59
700 MHz Throughput Measurements..................................................................................................................3-59
700 MHz Tx Power and Receive Sensitivity......................................................................................................3-61
220 MHz Specific Performance Data ...........................................................................................................................3-62
220 MHz Throughput Measurements ..................................................................................................................3-62
220 MHz Tx Power and Receive Sensitivity .....................................................................................................3-64
Chapter 4: Tasks and Best Practices..................................................................................................................4-1
Obtaining an Unknown IP Address ................................................................................................................................. 4-2
Optimizing Radio Settings.................................................................................................................................................. 4-5
Modulation ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4-5
Payload Bytes.................................................................................................................................................................. 4-5
Transmit Power............................................................................................................................................................... 4-5
Best Settings for Speed and Throughput............................................................................................................ 4-5

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Creating a Simple Point-to-Point Link ........................................................................................................................... 4-6
Identical Radio Settings .............................................................................................................................................. 4-6
Setting up a Simple PMP Network ................................................................................................................................ 4-10
Identical Radio Settings ..............................................................................................................................................4-11
Unique Radio Settings .................................................................................................................................................4-11
Notes for Bench Testing .....................................................................................................................................................4-12
Using the Status LEDs for Diagnostics.........................................................................................................................4-13
Setting up a Back-to-Back Repeater.............................................................................................................................4-14
Configure PMP Network #1.......................................................................................................................................4-15
Configure PMP Network #2......................................................................................................................................4-16
Setting Up Static Routes ...........................................................................................................................................4-16
Radio Subnet...................................................................................................................................................................4-17
Ethernet Port Subnets ................................................................................................................................................4-18
Optimizing Receive Levels (RSSI).................................................................................................................................4-22
Converting dBm to mW to dBm ....................................................................................................................................4-24
Transmission Systems.........................................................................................................................................................4-25
Chapter 5: Installation.............................................................................................................................................5-1
Safety .............................................................................................................................................................................................5-1
Power lines..........................................................................................................................................................................5-1
Working at heights..........................................................................................................................................................5-1
Power Supplies..................................................................................................................................................................5-1
Grounding and protective earth................................................................................................................................5-1
Powering down before servicing .............................................................................................................................5-2
Primary disconnect device..........................................................................................................................................5-2
RF exposure near the antenna ..................................................................................................................................5-2
Minimum separation distances..................................................................................................................................5-2
Grounding and lightning protection requirements ..........................................................................................5-2
Lightning protection zones.........................................................................................................................................5-3
Site grounding system................................................................................................................................................. 5-4
Grounding cable installation methods .................................................................................................................. 5-4
Siting the uGPS and antennas .................................................................................................................................. 5-4
Thermal Safety ................................................................................................................................................................ 5-4
Mounting the cnReach Module ......................................................................................................................................... 5-6
Deployment Process ..............................................................................................................................................................5-7
Planning...............................................................................................................................................................................5-7
LINKPlanner.......................................................................................................................................................................5-7
Site Survey .........................................................................................................................................................................5-7
Installation..........................................................................................................................................................................5-7
Chapter 6: Legal/Regulatory Information .......................................................................................................6-9
Complying with rules for the country of operation ............................................................................................... 6-10
USA specific information .......................................................................................................................................... 6-10
Canada specific information.................................................................................................................................... 6-10
Renseignements specifiques au Canada............................................................................................................ 6-10
EU specific information ...............................................................................................................................................6-11
EU Declaration of Conformity ..................................................................................................................................6-11
Application firmware....................................................................................................................................................6-11
Specific expertise and training for professional installers ...................................................................................6-12

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External antennas .........................................................................................................................................................6-12
Antennas externes........................................................................................................................................................6-12
Ethernet networking skills.........................................................................................................................................6-12
Lightning protection....................................................................................................................................................6-12
Training..............................................................................................................................................................................6-12
Compliance with safety standards .................................................................................................................................6-13
Human exposure to radio frequency energy ....................................................................................................6-14
Compliance with radio regulations ................................................................................................................................6-18
Type approvals...............................................................................................................................................................6-18
Cambium Networks end user license agreement .................................................................................................. 6-20
Third party software............................................................................................................................................................6-24

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About This User Guide
This guide contains the following chapters:
•Chapter 1: Product Description
oAn overview of cnReach with model numbers, descriptions of accessories, etc.
•Chapter 2: System Configuration
oA page-by-page walkthrough of the GUI with explanations and recommendations for
each setting.
•Chapter 3: Technical Reference
oDetailed descriptions of the technologies and techniques used by cnReach. Also
reference tables for capacity, link budgets and payload sizes.
•Chapter 4: Tasks and Best Practices Network Deployments
oRecommendations for performing common tasks associated with designing, deploying
and maintaining cnReach networks.
•Chapter 5: Legal and Regulatory
Contacting Cambium Networks
Support website: http://support.cambiumnetworks.com/
Main website: http://www.cambiumnetworks.com
Sales enquiries: [e-mail]
Telephone number list: http://www.cambiumnetworks.com/contact
Address: Cambium Networks
Suite 360
3800 Golf Road
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

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Purpose
Cambium Networks cnReach N500 documents are intended to instruct and assist personnel in the
operation, installation and maintenance of cnReach equipment and ancillary devices. It is recommended
that all personnel engaged in such activities be properly trained.
Cambium Networks disclaims all liability whatsoever, implied or express, for any risk of damage, loss or
reduction in system performance arising directly or indirectly out of the failure of the customer, or
anyone acting on the customer's behalf, to abide by the instructions, system parameters, or
recommendations made in this document.
Cross references
References to external publications are shown in italics. Other cross references, emphasized in blue text
in electronic versions, are active links to the references.
This document is divided into numbered chapters that are divided into sections. Sections are not
numbered, but are individually named at the top of each page, and are listed in the table of contents.
Feedback
We appreciate feedback from the users of our documents. This includes feedback on the structure,
content, accuracy, or completeness of our documents. Send feedback to
[e-mail] .