Nortel Meridian Companion User manual

Meridian 1
Meridian Companion
Guide to Site Planning
Document Number: 553-3601-105
Document Release: Standard 4.00
Date: September 1996
Copyright @ 1996—1999 Nortel Networks, All Rights Reserved
Printed in Canada
NORTEL NETWORKS CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained herein is the property of Nortel Networks and is strictly confidential. Except as
expressly authorized in writing by Nortel Networks, the holder shall keep all information contained herein
confidential, shall disclose the information only to its employees with a need to know, and shall protect the
information, in whole or in part, from disclosure and dissemination to third parties with the same degree of
care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but with no less than reasonable care. Except as
expressly authorized in writing by Nortel Networks, the holder is granted no rights to use the information
contained herein.
Meridian 1, SL-1, and Companion are trademarks of Nortel Networks Corporation.
NOTICE: Notwithstanding any explicit confidentiality or proprietary markings to the contrary, the
information contained in this document has been reviewed and approved for public disclosure
by Nortel. However, the access to, use and disclosure of this document and the information
contained therein continue to be subject to copyright and other restrictions, conditions and
limitations as detailed in the Terms of Use. (http://www.nortel.com/help/legal/index.html)

Page iii of iv
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Contents
About this guide ................................................1
Base Station installation rules .........................3
Do .....................................................................................3
Don’t..................................................................................4
Companion Deployment Tool ...........................5
Checking the CDT.............................................................5
Cell boundary values ........................................................6
Using the CDT to determine cell boundaries....................6
Planning a typical site.......................................9
Gathering information .......................................................9
Required site information.........................................................9
The Sample Site: Required site information ..........................10
Cell center location .........................................................11
The Sample Site: Cell center location....................................13
Determining the number of Base Stations per cell..........16
The Sample Site: Determining the number of Base Stations 19
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553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
Reviewing your work.......................................................21
Checking system capacity......................................................21
Reviewing with customer........................................................21
Providing floor plan information..............................................21
Providing provisioning record information ..............................22
The Sample Site: Completed site plan...................................22
1

Page 1 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
About this guide
This guide shows you, the site planner, how to plan a single floor, low portable
density, indoor Companion system. This guide contains:
• rules for installing Base Stations
• directions for using the Companion Deployment Tool
• an example of how to plan a typical site
For more detailed planning procedures and for an overview of the Companion
system, refer to the appropriate Companion Site Planning Reference Manual.

Page 2 of 24 About this guide
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Page 3 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Base Station installation rules
Do
• Ensure that the installation complies with your local electrical code.
• Install Base Stations indoors where there is no condensation and the
temperature remains between 32°and 120°F (0 °C and 50°C).
• Install Base Stations within 4,000 ft (1 200 m) (wiring length for 24
AWG) of the Controller.
• Position Base Stations on ceilings, or upright against walls close to the
ceiling on the same surface with matching composition.
• Position Base Stations at least 40 in. (1 m) from large concrete or marble
columns.
• Allowa clearance of at least 31/2in.(9 cm) between the Base Stations and
surrounding objects (excluding other Base Stations).

Page 4 of 24 Base Station installation rules
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
• For the PCI protocol, position all the Base Stations at the same cell
center as close together as possible but maintain a minimum center to
center distanceof 54 in. (1.35 m). For the CT2Plusprotocol, position all
the Base Stations at the same cell center no more than 5 ft (1.5 m) and
no less than 31/2in. (9 cm) from each other.
• Mount the Base Stations as high as possible on walls or ceilings if there
are one or two Base Stations at the cell center.
• Mount the Base Stations on ceilings if there are three or four Base
Stations at the cell center.
• Mount Base Stations clear of obstacles such as pipes or ducts.
Don’t
• Do not position more than four Base Stations at a cell center.
• Do not install Base Stations in spaces that transport air (ducts, plenums
or hollow spaces).
• Do not mount Base Stations in rows.
• Do not install Base Stations on large concrete or marble columns.
COMPANIONCOMPANION
COMPANIONCOMPANION
2

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Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Companion Deployment Tool
Use the Companion Deployment Tool (CDT) to determine cell centers and cell
boundaries. The CDT consists of a stand, a CDT transceiver, a battery, a
portable and documentation.
For more information on the CDT, refer to the appropriate Companion
Deployment Tool User Guide.
Checking the CDT
Note: Do not use the CDT transceiver outdoors.
1. Charge the battery for the CDT transceiver the day or night before and
have a fresh set of batteries for the portable.
2. Establish a radio link.
3. In an open area, stand with the portable 10 ft (3 m) from the CDT
transceiver. Keep the CDT transceiver in plain view and make sure there
are no obstructions nearby, including people.
Note: The maximum signal strength is -35 for the PCI protocol and -44 for the
CT2Plus protocol.
If the portable displaysthe maximum signal strength,the CDT is working
properly. If the portable does not display the maximum signal strength,
repeat this procedure using a different portable. If the portable still does
not display the maximum signal strength, replace the CDT transceiver.

Page 6 of 24 Companion Deployment Tool
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
Cell boundary values
Use Table 1 to determine which cell boundary value to use with the CDT. An
“office” is the area where Companion users make and receive calls while
sitting at their desks. For example, an office can be a laboratory, cubicle, or
workstation.
Using the CDT to determine cell boundaries
1. Raisethe CDT transceiver ashigh as it goes or untilitreaches the heightyou
determined for Base Stations.
2. Hold the portable approximately 40 to 50 in. (1.0 to 1.3 m) from the
floor. Establish a radio link, enter *897 and the desired cell boundary
value.
Note: If the CDT transceiver powers off (for example, if the battery
unplugs), the cell boundary value resets.
3. Stand ata position near the CDTwhereyou hear a continuous tone.Your
portable shows two values—the signal strength on theleft and the cyclic
redundancy check error rate on the right. For more information, see the
appropriate Companion Deployment Tool User Guide.
Note: The farther you move away from the CDT transceiver, the more
negative the number you read.
4. Walk briskly away from the CDT transceiver until the tone changes.
— You hear a steady tone when you measure a signal strength stronger
than the cell boundary value.
— You hear a rhythmic high-low tone when you read a signal strength
weaker than the cell boundary value.
— You hear silence if you lose the link.
Table 1 : Cell boundary values
Indoors
(with office) Indoors (without office) Outdoors
-70 dBm -73 dBm -75 dBm
COMPANION
Northern
Telecom
2

Companion Deployment Tool Page 7 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Note: The tonemaychangebacktocontinuousafteryoustopwalking.
The tones and signal strength are useful only when you are
walking.
2

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Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Planning a typical site
Planning a site involves:
• gathering site specific information
• determining cell centers
• determining the number of Base Stations for each cell
• reviewing your work
Gathering information
Before you go to the site, make sure that your CDT is working properly and that
you have the following:
• a CDT and portable telephone
• copies of the site floor plan (one working copy and one clean copy)
• a pencil, an eraser, a ruler and colored markers
• a page from the appropriate Companion Provisioning Record
• any required safety equipment such as a hard hat or safety glasses
Required site information
You need the following information to accurately plan a site:
• name and telephone number of the site contact
• number of portables, the boundaries of the coverage area, and the
proposed Companion system

Page 10 of 24 Planning a typical site
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
• whether the customer wants to reduce the number of Base Stations by
not covering restrooms, stairwells or basements
• whether the users have desk telephones in their offices
• information gathered during the site inspection of the coverage area
• how to get access to secured areas
• location of the telephone switching room
• places where the customer does not want Base Stations
• locations of users’ offices
The Sample Site: Required site information
Before you go to the site, you know the following information:
• The customer is X-Bean Inc. You need a yellow hard hat from your
contact to be on the premises.
• The sales representative has recommended the appropriate Companion
system.
• All 25 users have offices and desk telephones.
• The customer does not need coverage in restrooms.
• The telephone switch room is beside the restroom.
• The customer has no installation restrictions.
Figure 1 shows the coverageareaand thelocation ofthe officesof the25 users.
There are 20 users’ offices in the office area and five users’ offices in the
factory area.
2

Planning a typical site Page 11 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Figure 1 : Site coverage area
Cell center location
Surveying the site
Surveythe site by working from one side of the coverage area to the middle of
the coverage area. Then go to the other side of the coverage area and work
back toward the middle until you have mapped all of the coverage area. Check
your floor plan to be sure that there are no areas where a portable in the
required coverage area could be outside the range of a cell center.
Note: Defining a cell typically takes 25 to 40 minutes.
Identifying critical points
1. Identify the initial critical points needed to determine a cell center.
2. Mark these critical points on the floor plan with . (A critical point is
an outer corner of the coverage area, or a point that may be difficult for
the radio signal to reach.)
Note: When determiningthe location ofa cell center, you typicallyuse
one or two critical points.
office
area
X-Bean Inc.
factory area
2

Page 12 of 24 Planning a typical site
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
Locating cell centers
1. Set up the CDT transceiver at a critical point and establish a link.
2. Check the floor plan to see if the critical point is within an office area.
If the critical point is within an office area, use -70 dBm as the cell
boundary value. If the critical point is not within the office area, use
-73 dBm.
Note: Refer to yourportableuserguidefor instructionson how tostore
cell boundary values for later recall.
3. Measurethe rangeintothecoverageareaina fewdirectionstodetermine
where a cell centercan be located and still be within range ofthe critical
point.
4. Mark a small xon the floor plan where you reach cell boundary values.
Draw a thin contour line through the x’s.
5. Select another critical point nearby and repeat steps 1 to 4.
Note: The intersection of the contour lines is a potential cell center.
6. Choose a position on the floor plan for the cell center that
— is farthest from the critical points and is still within range
— complies with the Base Station installation rules
— is in the coverage area
7. Label the cell center on the floor plan xCn ,where xis the floor, and nis
the cell number in the sequence of the entire plan.
Locating cell boundaries
1. Set up the CDT transceiver at the cell center and establish a link.
2. Check the floor plan for possible users’ offices within the cell.
If the entire area is office area, use -70 dBm as the cell boundary value.
If there are no, or only a few, users’ offices, use -73 dBm as the cell
boundary value.
3. Find the cell boundary position by measuring the range and recording it
on the floor plan with a small x.
2

Planning a typical site Page 13 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
4. Move back toward the CDT transceiver until the tone from the portable
changes from intermittent beeps to a continuous tone.
Note 1: Walk into all of the areas (rooms) necessary to determine the
complete cell boundary. Radio signals travel farther in
uncluttered areas than they do in cluttered areas.
Note 2: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you make enough x’s to draw a
contour line around the cell center (12 x’s for a full 360°around
a cell center are enough).
5. If in step 2, you chose a cell boundary value of -73 dBm and a user’s
office is within the cell, confirm that the office is within -70 dBm of the
cell center. Reset the CDT to -70 dBm and find the cell boundary in the
office area. If any of these users’ offices are not within -70 dBm of the
cell center, consider them as outside the cell.
6. Mark each office on the floor plan within the cell as covered.
7. Label any subsequent critical point on the floor plan with .
Completing the floor plan
As you locate cells, trace the defined cell boundaries and cell centers with
colored markers.
Repeat “Locating cell centers” and “Locating cell boundaries” to define the
cells for the subsequent critical points.
The Sample Site: Cell center location
Figure 2 shows how you use the floor plan to identify the initial critical points
P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6. Use -70 dBm as the cell boundary value and place
the CDT at P1, P2 and P3 to locate cell center 1C1.
2

Page 14 of 24 Planning a typical site
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
Figure 2 : Floor plan detailing cell 1C1
With the CDT placed at 1C1, you find the cell boundary at -70 dBm in the
office area and -73 dBm in the factory area. You confirm that 1C1 covers two
users’ offices in the factory area using -70 dBm. Two other users’ offices are
within -73 dBm of 1C1 but they are notwithin -70 dBm of 1C1.So,1C1 does
not cover these users’ offices.
You mark with a check 20 users’ offices as covered.
Figure 3 shows how you set up the CDT transceiver at critical points P4 and
P6. You find that one cell center cannot serve both critical points so you put
critical point P9 mid-way between P4 and P6. Using critical points P4, P5 and
P9 you find cell center 1C2. Because P6 is in an office area, you use -70 dBm
from P6; because P5 is in a user’s office, you use -70 dBm from P5. P9 is not
in an office or office area, so you use -73 dBm from P9.
-
7
0
-
7
0
1C1
X-Bean In c.
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
P8
-
7
3
-7 0
-7 0
-7 0
criticalpoin t
2

Planning a typical site Page 15 of 24
Meridian Companion Guide to Site Planning
Figure 3 : Floor plan detailing cell 1C2
With the CDT placed at1C2, you use -70 dBm in the office area and-73 dBm
in the factory area. You use -70 dBm to cover two more users’ offices in the
factory area.
You mark with a check five users’ offices as covered.
-
7
0
-
7
0
-
7
3
1C1
1C2
X-Bean In c.
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
P8
P9
-7 0
-7 3
-7 3
>-70
2

Page 16 of 24 Planning a typical site
553-3601-105 Standard 4.00 September 1996
Figure 4 shows how you use critical points P4 and P9 to find cell center 1C3.
You use -73 dBm for both critical points because neither critical point is in the
office area or a user’s office. You set up the CDT transceiver at cell center 1C3
and find the cell boundary using -73 dBm. This cell does not cover any
additional users’ offices so you do not need to use -70 dBm. Cell 1C3
completes the coverage of the building.
Figure 4 : Completely covered floor plan detailing cell 1C3
Determining the number of Base Stations per cell
1. Divide the floor plan into cell areas, one area per cell, splitting cell
overlap areas in half (see Figure 5).
-
7
3
1C1
1C2
1C3
X-Bean In c.
P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
P8
P9
-7 3
-7 3
2