Cellphone-Mate CM2500W User manual
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. i
CHAPTER 1: Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
1.1 - Package Contents - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
1.2 - Features & Benefits - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
1.3 - Additional Items Needed - - - - - - - - - - - 2
1.4 - How It Works - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
1.5 - About This Manual - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
CHAPTER 2: Safety - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
2.1 - Safety Warnings - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
CHAPTER 3: Planning - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
3.1 - Overview - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
3.2 - Exterior Antenna - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
3.3 - Interior Antennas - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9
3.4 - Antenna Separation - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
3.5 - Calculating Signal Strength - - - - - - - - 13
3.6 - Amplifier Location - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14
3.7 - Accessories - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15
3.8 - Need Help? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
CHAPTER 4: Installation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
4.1 - Selecting the Locations - - - - - - - - - - - 17
4.2 - Soft Installation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -17
4.3 - Exterior Antenna - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
4.4 - Internal Antennas - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18
4.5 - Mounting the Amplifier - - - - - - - - - - -19
CHAPTER 5: Configuration & Testing - - - - - - 21
5.1 - DIP Switches and Lights - - - - - - - - - - -21
5.2 - Initial Configuration - - - - - - - - - - - - - -23
5.3 - Powering on the Amplifier - - - - - - - - -23
5.4 - Testing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -24
5.5 - Adjusting the Amplifier - - - - - - - - - - - 24
5.6 - Automatic Shutdown - - - - - - - - - - - - -26
CHAPTER 6: Warranty - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27
6.1 - Warranty Periods - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -27
6.2 - Warranty Information - - - - - - - - - - - -28
6.3 - Contact Information - - - - - - - - - - - - -30
CHAPTER 7: Regulatory Information - - - - - - 31
7.1 - FCC Information - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -31
Table of Contents
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
ii Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright & Trademark Information
THIS MANUAL CONTAINS SAFETY, INSTALLATION, CONFIGURATION AND WARRANTY INFORMATION
FOR YOUR CELLPHONE-MATE, INC (CMI) AMPLIFIER. CMI RECOMMENDS THAT YOU SAVE THIS MAN-
UAL IN A READILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION IN CASE ANY QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT.
Copyright © 2011 by Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. SureCall is a registered trademark and
Cellphone-Mate is a trademark of Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 1
This chapter introduces the
CM2500W Amplifier and this manual.
Read this entire manual before pro-
ceeding with the installation. This
manual is for all CM2500W models.
1.1 - Package Contents
Your amplifier box contains the following items:
• CM2500W amplifier.
• Mounting kit (not shown).
• DC power supply (not shown).
• Wall anchors (not shown).
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
2Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
1.2 - Features & Benefits
The CM2500W amplifier offers the following fea-
tures and benefits:
• Powerful in-building amplifier with 31dB of
adjustable gain level.
• Extends cellular signals in areas with poor cov-
erage due to geographical location and/or
building design.
• Suitable for large areas up to about 30,000
square feet depending on outside signal
strength and carrier frequency.
• Automatic oscillation detection and protec-
tion system powers down the amplifier to pre-
vent harmful radio interference (if equipped).
1.3 - Additional Items Needed
The CM2500W amplifier
requires the following
additional components for
a complete installation:
• 4G WiMAX compatible
antenna (such as the
CM288-W omni or
CM230-W Yagi by Cell-
phone-Mate, Inc.)
• Lightning protector
(CMLP).
• Cable splitter if install-
ing multiple antennas
(up to six in a typical
installation).
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 3
• Sufficient CM400 ultra
low loss interior/exte-
rior cable (for amplifi-
ers above 55dB).
• Sufficient CM240 ultra
low loss interior/exte-
rior cable (for amplifi-
ers 55dB and below).
• Grounded surge sup-
pressor for DC power
supply.
1.4 - How It Works
The CM2500W amplifier boosts cellular signals
from the nearest cellular tower to phones in a
building and from those phones back to the tower
to compensate for weak reception caused by dis-
tance, topography, building structure, and/or
other reasons. The amplifier receives the signal
from an outside antenna, amplifies that signal,
and then rebroadcasts it via the interior
antenna(s) where it is picked up by cellular
phones, modems, and data cards. The interior
antennas also pick up signals from cellular devices
and pass them to the amplifier. The amplifier
boosts these signals and passes them to the exte-
rior antenna for rebroadcast back to the tower.
1.5 - About This Manual
This manual contains the following information:
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
4Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
•Introduction: This chapter introduces the
CM2500W amplifier and this manual.
•Safety: This chapter contains important safety
information.
• Planning: This chapter describes how to plan
your installation for best results.
•Installation: This chapter describes how to
install the amplification system.
•Warranty: This chapter contains warranty
information for your amplification system.
•Regulatory Information: This chapter contains
important regulatory agency information.
Lists of items or points to consider that need not
be performed in order appear in bullet format:
• Item 1
• Item 2
Procedures that must be followed in a specific
order appear in numbered steps:
1. Perform this step first.
2. Perform this step second.
This manual also contains important safety infor-
mation and instructions in specially formatted
callouts with accompanying graphic symbols:
WARNING: WARNINGS INDICATE THE
POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY.
CAUTION: WARNINGS INDICATE THE
POSSIBILITY OF EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
RADIO INTERFERENCE, ETC.
Note: Notes provide helpful information.
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 5
This chapter contains important
safety information designed to pre-
vent personal injury, equipment mal-
function, and/or radio interference.
You are responsible for ensuring a
safe installation.
2.1 - Safety Warnings
• You are responsible for knowing and following
all applicable codes and regulations and for
obtaining all required permits and inspections.
• Follow all safety precautions contained in this
Installation Manual.
• The installation process may require working
in high locations such as roofs and/or ladders.
Follow applicable safety regulations and best
practices to avoid falling. Take care not to drop
objects off any high area. Cordon off ground
areas directly below roof or ladder work when
possible.
• Always use appropriate personal protective
equipment such as goggles, gloves, hard hat,
etc. as needed and as required.
WARNING: FAILURE TO EXERCISE CAU-
TION WHEN WORKING IN HIGH AREAS
COULD CAUSE A FALL AND PERSONAL
INJURY.
CHAPTER 2: Safety
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
6Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Some components may be heavy and/or
bulky. Always use proper lifting and carrying
techniques when handling components, espe-
cially when working on a ladder, roof, or other
area with a fall hazard.
• The exterior antenna must not be co-located
or operating in conjunction with any other
antenna.
• Always use a properly installed Cellphone-
Mate lightning protector between the exterior
antenna and the amplifier.
CAUTION: FAILURE TO PROPERLY
INSTALL A LIGHTNING PROTECTOR CAN
RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIER,
ANTENNAS, AND WIRING.
• Always power off the amplifier before working
on the roof of the building or anywhere in
close proximity to the external antenna.
• Allow at least 24 inches (60cm) of separation
between interior antennas and humans or ani-
mals.
• Allow at least 24 inches (60cm) of separation
between exterior antennas and all persons.
• Comply with all antenna separation require-
ments to prevent signal oscillation.
CAUTION: SIGNAL OSCILLATION CAN
CAUSE RADIO INTERFERENCE WITH
CELLULAR TOWERS AND RESULT IN
CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 7
This chapter describes how to plan
your amplifier installation, including
how to determine the best locations
for the inside and outside antennas.
3.1 - Overview
The general amplifier installation process follows
these steps:
1. Decide where to mount the exterior antenna.
This will generally be on the wall or roof of the
building in the location with the strongest sig-
nal. You will need to decide whether to use an
omnidirectional antenna mounted vertically
or a directional Yagi antenna pointed directly
at the cellular tower (line of sight). You must
also consider attaching a grounded lightning
protector between the exterior antenna and
the amplifier.
2. Decide where to mount the interior
antenna(s), being sure to take separation
requirements into account. In general, long
narrow spaces will benefit most from direc-
tional flat-panel antennas while more square
spaces will benefit more from omnidirectional
dome antennas.
3. Decide where to mount the amplifier. This
should be in a secure indoor location near a
grounded power source.
CHAPTER 3: Planning
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
8Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
4. Decide where to route the cables between the
exterior antenna and the amplifier and
between the amplifier and interior antennas.
5. Install the antennas as described in their
respective Installation Manuals.
6. Route the cables to the amplifier location.
7. Install the amplifier as described in this man-
ual.
8. Power on the amplifier and perform the con-
figuration and testing as described in this
manual.
3.2 - Exterior Antenna
You may use either an omnidirectional antenna
such as the CM288-W (flat area with no obstruc-
tions) or a directional Yagi antenna such as the
CM230-W (to point directly at the tower). The
omnidirectional antenna receives and transmits
signals over a horizontal 360-degree circle while
the Yagi antenna receives and transmits signals
over a focused area and must be aimed directly
(line of sight) toward the cellular tower that pro-
vides the best signal to the building.
The exterior antenna and mast (if any) must be
mounted in a location that meets all of the follow-
ing criteria:
• Best signal strength.
CHAPTER 3: Planning
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 9
• Not collocated with other antennas or used in
conjunction with other antennas.
• Away from all power lines.
• 6’ from lightning rod antennas.
• 24” from all persons.
These distances are general guidelines only; refer
to the applicable building and electrical codes in
your area to determine local requirements.
3.3 - Interior Antennas
You may use any combination of omnidirectional
(dome) and/or directional (flat panel) interior
antennas needed to obtain optimal signal
strength throughout the building or installation
area. Dome antennas such as the CM222-W pro-
vide 360-degree hemispherical coverage suitable
for mostly square areas while flat panel antennas
such as the CM248-W provide a focused zone of
coverage suitable for long narrow areas. The fol-
lowing example uses two dome antennas and one
panel antenna to provide full coverage (exterior
Yagi antenna also shown):
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
10 Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
Keep in mind that floor structures in multistory
buildings can cause significant signal loss, which
means that you may need to install interior anten-
nas on more than one floor. Here is an example of
a multistory installation:
Note: You may or may not need anten-
nas on every floor of a multistory build-
ing depending on factors such as
building material, amplifier gain, etc.
3.4 - Antenna Separation
Proper antenna separation is essential in order to
prevent signal oscillation (feedback) that can
interfere with the cellular tower. Separation is
measured in a straight line from the exterior
antenna to the closest interior antenna. The clos-
est allowable distance depends on a number of
factors such as amplifier gain level, building mate-
rial, etc. Recommended separation distances are:
Amplifier gain Min. separation (ad)
40dB 5’
45dB 9-10’
50dB 15’
55dB 25’
65dB 50’
70dB 65’
CHAPTER 3: Planning
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 11
The easiest way to calculate the straight-line sepa-
ration between antennas is to break it down into
three simple measurements and then use some
basic geometry to find the distance, as follows:
1. Measure the distances ab, bc, and cd as
shown in the diagram on the next page.
- Distance from the nearest interior antenna
(Point a) to the wall underneath the exte-
rior antenna (Point b). This is distance ab.
Note: Vertical separation is more impor-
tant than horizontal separation. If you
are unable to obtain the required sepa-
ration horizontally, try raising the exte-
rior antenna. You may also try reducing
the amplifier gain as described in Chap-
ter 5 of this manual.
- Distance from Point bto directly under-
neath the exterior antenna. This is Point
(c). This is distance bc.
- Distance from Point cto the exterior
antenna (Point d). This is distance cd.
2. Multiply ab times ab to obtain ab2.
3. Multiply bc times bc to obtain bc2.
4. Multiply cd times cd to obtain cd2.
5. Add ab2+bc2to obtain ac2.
6. Add ac2+cd2to obtain ad2.
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
12 Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
7. The straight-line distance ad is the square root
() of the result obtained in Step 6.
Example:
• Distance ab=40 feet; ab2= 40x40=1600.
• Distance bc=10 feet; bc2= 10x10=100.
• Distance cd=20 feet; cd2= 20x20=400.
•ac2= 1600+100=1700
•ad2= 1700+400=2100
•ad = 45.83’
Here, the straight-line distance ad is just under 46
feet, which is compatible with 50dB amplifier gain
as indicated in the previous table.
Note: Most calculators have a square
root () key.
Separate interior antennas based on the calcula-
tions shown in Section 3.5. You may mix and
match dome and directional antennas as needed
to obtain proper coverage throughout the build-
ing or area where you need to boost the signal.
If you are using a
Yagi exterior ant-
enna, you should
normally aim it away
from all interior
antennas regardless
of separation to pre-
vent oscillation.
CAUTION: SIGNAL OSCILLATION CAN
CAUSE RADIO INTERFERENCE WITH
CELLULAR TOWERS AND RESULT IN
CIVIL AND/OR CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
CHAPTER 3: Planning
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 13
3.5 - Calculating Signal Strength
You can calculate the number of antennas you will
need using the following parameters (in dB):
•Outside signal level (OSL): This is the signal
strength at the exterior antenna location and
will always be a negative number that will usu-
ally fall between -50 and -100dBm. Calls will
drop at levels of about -100dB and lower.
•Outside antenna gain (OAG): This the signal
boost provided by the exterior antenna and is
always a positive number with Cellphone-
Mate antennas.
OAG 2500MHz WiMAX
CM288-W omni +3
CM230-W Yagi +10
•Inside antenna gain (IAG): This is the signal
boost provided by an interior antenna and is
always a positive number with Cellphone-
Mate antennas.
•Cable loss (CL): This is the signal loss caused
by the cable and is always a negative number.
IAG 2500MHz WiMAX
CM222-W omni dome +3
CM248-W directional
panel
+7
CL 2500MHz WiMAX
20’ CM400/CM240 -2.5/-5.0
30’ CM400/CM240 -2.5/-5.0
50’ CM400/CM240 -5.0/-10.0
100’ CM400/CM240 -5.0/-10.0
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
14 Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
•Splitter loss (SL): This is the signal loss caused
by a splitter (used if you are installing multiple
antennas).
•Amplifier gain (AG): Number of decibels of
amplification provided by the amplifier (rated
gain less any attenuation, as described in
Chapter 5 of this manual). This is always a pos-
itive number.
The signal strength Sat an interior antenna equals
OSL+OAG+IAG+CL+SL+AG. To calculate the
approximate coverage distance of each antenna:
1. Calculate the signal strength Sfor the first
interior antenna using the preceding formula.
SL 2500MHz WiMAX
2-way -3
3-way -5
4-way -6
2. Find the signal strength Sfor the antenna
along the bottom of the graph on the follow-
ing page.
3. Move straight up the signal strength line to
the PCS and cellular curves.
4. Read the approximate coverage radius on the
left.
3.6 - Amplifier Location
Select an indoor location for the amplifier that
meets the following criteria:
• Wall or ceiling mounts are acceptable.
• Near a properly grounded 110VAC outlet.
• Not in a tightly enclosed or overly hot space.
• All power and warning lights easily visible.
• Least amount of cable to connect all antennas.
CHAPTER 3: Planning
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 15
3.7 - Accessories
The final step in the planning process is to make
sure you have all of the necessary accessories to
complete the installation. You will need all of the
items listed in Chapter 1 of this manual plus some
or all of the following:
•Cable clips: Use these to secure the cables to
interior and exterior walls/ceilings.
•Appropriately rated sealant/caulking: Use
this to waterproof the opening where the
cable from the exterior antenna enters the
building, if needed.
•Hand and/or power tools: As needed to com-
plete the installation.
•Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use all
PPE required by local codes and/or best prac-
tices to help ensure personal safety during
installation.
Note: You may need to obtain a permit
from your local building department to
install the amplifier and antennas.
Check your local building and/or electri-
cal codes. You do not need any permits
from the FCC or the cellular carrier.
CAUTION: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING THAT THE INSTALLATION
MEETS ALL APPLICABLE CODES.
CM2500W Amplifier - Installation Manual
16 Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved.
3.8 - Need Help?
If you need help planning your installation, please
contact a qualified installer, the reseller from
whom you purchased the amplifier, or Cellphone-
Mate, Inc.
Copyright 2011 Cellphone-Mate, Inc. All rights reserved. 17
This chapter describes how to install
the amplifier and antennas for best
results.
4.1 - Selecting the Locations
Select the locations for the exterior antenna, inte-
rior antenna(s), amplifier, cables, and accessories
as described in the previous chapter.
CAUTION: FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN
THE AMPLIFIER INSTALLATION CAN
CAUSE SIGNAL OSCILLATION AND/OR
OTHER EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION.
4.2 - Soft Installation
Perform a “soft” installation of all components to
test signal coverage and oscillation before making
the installation permanent. Avoid making holes or
other permanent fixtures during this initial phase.
Please refer to Chapter 5 of this manual for config-
uration and testing instructions. Proceed with the
final installation once configuration and testing
are complete.
4.3 - Exterior Antenna
Mount the exterior antenna in the location you
selected during the planning process. Be sure to
follow all of the instructions included with the
antenna to ensure a safe installation. Remember:
CHAPTER 4: Installation
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