Vega Absolute BS-3 User manual
www.vega-absolute.ru
GATEWAY
VEGA BS-3
User Manual
DOCUMENT REVISION
BS REVISION
FIRMWARE VERSION
05 1 1.0
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CONTENT
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
1 DEVICE PURPOSE AND OPERATION PRINCIPAL.............................................................................................................. 4
2 SPECIFICATION ....................................................................................................................................................................... 5
3 OPERATION.............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Device appearance................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Control instruments – buttons and switches ................................................................................................................. 11
Indication ............................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Mounting Recomendations................................................................................................................................................ 13
Antenna mounting recommendations............................................................................................................................. 14
4 CONFIGURING OF THE GATEWAY.................................................................................................................................... 15
Gateway connecting to the computer – the operation begining .............................................................................. 15
Operation with the configuration file .............................................................................................................................. 19
Configuration of a static IP-adress for the gateway...................................................................................................... 24
Gateway setting up for LTE operation ............................................................................................................................. 27
Recommendations for gateway using in white IP net .................................................................................................. 29
5 STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................... 31
6 CONTENT OF THE PACKAGE ............................................................................................................................................. 32
7 WARRANTY ............................................................................................................................................................................. 33
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INTRODUCTION
This manual is designed for Vega BS-3 gateway (hereinafter – the gateway, BS)
manufactured by Vega-Absolute OOO and provides information on powering and activation
procedure, control commands and functions of the gateway.
This manual is targeted at specialists familiar with installation work fundamentals for
electronic and electrical equipment.
The gateway shall be installed and adjusted by qualified specialists to
ensure proper operation of the device
Vega-Absolute OOO reserves the right to make changes to the manual related to the
improvement of equipment and software, as well as to eliminate typos and inaccuracies,
without prior notice.
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1 DEVICE PURPOSE AND OPERATION PRINCIPAL
Vega BS-3 gateway is designed to deploy LoRaWAN®network within 863-870 MHz
frequency plan.
The gateway operates with Linux operating system and is supplied with pre-installed
Packet forwarder software.
The Vega BS-3 gateway has 16 channels and the ability to connect an expansion card
that allows the gateway to work on 64 channels.
The gateway is powered and communicates with the server via the Ethernet channel.
The device is configured through Ethernet with SSH protocol or while direct connection
to the device board with USB cable. For connection to the gateway, you will need terminal
program (e. g. PuTTY).
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2 SPECIFICATION
MAIN
GNSS module yes, with supporting GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou,
QZSS, SBAS and Galileo
GSM modem Quctel EC21-E, GSM/LTE
GSM and GNSS antenna connectors SMA
Geolocation function yes
Communication with server Ethernet, 3G/LTE
Operating system Linux
USB-port yes
Operating temperatures -40…+70 °С
LORAWAN®
Number of LoRa channels
16 64
Frequency band
863-870 MHz
LoRa antenna connectors N-Type female
Radio coverage in restrained urban conditions up to 5 km
Radio coverage within line of sight up to 15 km
POWER
Power supply POE IEEE 802.3bt 4PPoE 50W
Power consumption up to 30 W up to 40 W
CASE
Housing dimensions 285 х 213 х 67
Ingress protection rating IP67
Additional features Tamper, vandal-proof, lighting conductor
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3 OPERATION
DEVICE APPEARANCE
Vega BS-3 gateway is represented in vandal-proof metal case with IP67 protection rating.
At the back side there is a fastening for the mounting on the mast with metal clamps.
The case is equipped with a hermetic gland of M12 size. A sealant is installed inside the
gland, ensuring compliance with the declared Ingress Protection rating of the device case. Also,
sealant is placed on the perimeter of case between two case parts. Removing the sealant can
lead to moisture entering the gateway case.
1
3
2 4
3 – fastening for metal clamps
4 – protective vent
1 – cable gland
2 – N-connectors for LoRa antennas
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Waterproof protective vent serves to equalize the air pressure inside and outside the
case.
The gateway board has control and indication instruments, input, and output interfaces.
1 – 8P8C connector
2 – SIM-card slot
3 – additional power connector (optional)
4 – mini USB-port for connection to a computer
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5 – USB-host for connection external devices
6 – gateway reset button
7
– reserve
8 – group of indicators
9 – service switches
10 – micro SD-card slot
11 – connectors for expansion card installing
The gateway case has connectors for connecting the external antennas: two connectors
for LTE antennas, a connector for GNSS antenna and two connectors for LoRa antennas.
The connectors for LTE are located on the left in the picture above and are marked on
the board as LTE - the main connector, and DIV - an additional connector. If there is only one
LTE antenna, then it is necessary to connect it to the main connector, if there is a second
antenna, it is connected to the additional connector.
DIV ГНСС LoRa A
LTE
LoRa B
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On the right are two connectors for LoRa antennas: LoRa A is the main connector, LoRa
B is an additional one. If there is only one antenna, connect it to the main connector.
The gateway is connected to the network with an 8-core network cable (twisted pair)
through 8P8C connector on the board. Cable shall be crimped in compliance with Т568А and
Т568B standards. Contacts are numerated from 1 to 8 in order right-to-left.
Colors are shown for cable T568B:
Contact number
Color
Designation
1 Orange-and-white TD+ signal
2 Orange TD- signal
3 Green-and-white RD+ signal
4
Blue
Power
5
Blue-and-white
Power
6
Green
RD- signal
7
Brown-and-white
Ground
8
Brown
Ground
There is an additional power connector on the board. It can be connectable only when
power contacts 4, 5 and 7, 8 in the network cable are disabled. Permissible power voltage is 12
V ± 1 V. Minimum power is 20 W.
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CONTROL INSTRUMENTS – BUTTONS AND SWITCHES
There are two buttons on the gateway board. BTN1 is reserved for further developments.
Press the RESET for the gateway instantaneous rebooting.
In addition, there are service switches on the board used to select the download option
of the firmware image: from internal memory, from the SD card or via mini-USB from the
computer. The switches are only for service conditions. In operating mode, only switches 3, 4
and 6 shall be enable, as it shown at the figure below.
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INDICATION
There is a group of indicators on the terminal board; its signals showing in the table
below. They indicate operation of systems: power (on / off), visibility of GPS satellites, GSM
modem (on / off), operation of the LoRa signals processing program (Packet forwarder on/off).
LED
Color
Indication
LTE Green
Lights
– GSM-modem is enabled
Does not light
– GSM-modem is disabled
PWR Red
Lights
– gateway is powered
Does not light
– gateway is not powered
GNSS1Blue
Does not light
– no data from GPS-receiver
Flashes
– there data exist, but are not valid for use by Packet
forwarder
Lights –
location identified
LoRa Yellow
Lights
– Packet forwarder is started
Does not light
– Packet forwarder is stopped
1GNSS LED indicates the GPS/GLONASS system functioning only while Packet forwarder processing (LoRa LED lights).
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MOUNTING RECOMENDATIONS
The necessary stage for the network deploying including a big quantity of end devices is
a radio planning work with nature experiments.
For mounting you will need:
cross-shaped screwdriver for gateway assembling;
mounting belts and tool for them;
wire cutters;
a set of tools for cable crimping (stripper, crimper, twisted pair tester, cap,
connector);
antenna mounting wrenches;
laptop.
Step by step mounting guide:
1. Setting the gateway is usually carried out in the office (see Network Deployment
Manual).
2. Determination of suitable places for mounting at the object with a network tester —
radio planning work.
3. Antenna placement and mounting. It’s important to place the gateway antenna
properly for high-quality signal reception. Antenna installing recommendations see
below.
4. Connection POE-injector cable to the gateway. To do this, you need to pass it
through the cable gland of the case, and then crimp it with an Ethernet connector.
5. Gateway placement on the pole with mounting belts.
6. Power applying on the POE.
7. By the laptop you can make sure that the device successfully sends the data.
8. Installing of gateway case top.
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ANTENNA MOUNTING RECOMMENDATIONS
The Antenna included in the scope of supply has fasteners for installation on a mast
support. To ensure maximum communication range, follow the installation guidelines for the
antenna:
1. Install the antenna outside, preferably on the roof of the building (the higher - the
better, depending on the surrounding buildings). Installing the antenna in the room significantly
weakens the sensitivity of the antenna.
2. The installation site shall be as far as possible from the cellular antennas. Antenna
tuning requires the maximum distance from other antennas. After tuning and testing, antenna
can be brought back closer to the cellular antennas, if the quality of the communication is
satisfactory.
3. The antenna shall not stand in the proximity to obstacles (about 2 meters from railing,
walls, etc.). The sensitivity towards the obstacle weakens.
4. The gateway shall be installed in the proximity to the antenna – at the length of the
antenna coaxial conductor. Increase of the cable length between the antenna and the gateway
will result in a loss of antenna sensitivity.
For example, 25 meters of RG-58 cable attenuate the signal by 14 dBm, i.e. if
transmission power is 14 dBm (25mW), the power on the antenna will be 1mW
5. The antenna directional pattern shall be considered. In the horizontal plane, the
antenna has a circular direction, but no vertical direction. Therefore, the quality of
communication directly under the antenna will be worse than at some distance from the
antenna.
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4 CONFIGURING OF THE GATEWAY
GATEWAY CONNECTING TO THE COMPUTER – THE OPERATION BEGINING
Connection is possible, for example, with a free PuTTY program. There are two ways of
connection to the gateway – a direct USB connection or remote connection through SSH.
1. USB connection
In case of a USB connection, you need to connect the gateway with a personal computer
through a mini-USB connector cable. Next, connect to a virtual COM port by installing the
driver for MCP2200. "Ports (COM and LPT)" menu appears at the device manager.
Search “USB Serial Port” in the “Ports” menu and see its number.
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2. Connection via SSH
In case of SSH connection there is no need to direct connection. Select SSH connection
in the PuTTY dialog box, enter the device's IP-address and port 22. By default, the device
obtains an IP-address via DHCP when connected via Ethernet.
Press “Open” button.
After connecting to the gateway by one of the methods, PuTTY terminal window
appears where you should enter login and password. By default, login root and password
temppwd (symbols not displaying while entering the password) are used for connection to the
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gateway. At the first connection, it is recommended to change the password for individual
access.
Now the configuration can be carrying out.
OPERATION WITH THE CONFIGURATION FILE
Packet forwarder starts automatically when the system starts. Before the gateway
configuring, stop Packet forwarder by entering command:
systemctl stop lora_pkt_fwd
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Configuration file global_conf.json is in the directory /opt/LoRa/config/ – it may
contain frequency band, the gateway ID, IP-address and server ports settings.
Enter the command, containing the required configuration file to change the settings,
for example:
After all changes completed enter the command:
systemctl start lora_pkt_fwd
Packet forwarder will automatically start with new settings.
To connect the gateway to the server, you must use the UDP port
specified in the server configuration file. On the gateway, the port
configuration is in the global_conf.json file
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