Pollen - Outdoor Small Cell Install Guide - Part 2
This installation guide is specific for setting up the MosoLabs Outdoor Small Cell for the Pollen network.
Installation Steps
Step 1 – Preparation
Step 2 – Initial Connectivity Setup
Step 3 – Ethernet Connectivity Setup
Part 2
Step 4 – Outdoor Small Cell Installation
Step 5 – Small Cell SAS Registration
Step 4 - Outdoor Small Cell Installation
STEP 4.1 - Location Selection
To start, make sure you select a good place for the outdoor small cell. Obstructions will decrease coverage. CBRS signals have less range than LoRa. Similar to Wi-Fi they can be weakened or blocked by obstacles like walls, trees, and buildings. To capture the most data you can, you want your small cell to point towards a populated area, a place with a lot of people and phones, e.g. a park, a playground, an outdoor cafe/coffee shop.
For best coverage and earnings, outdoor small cells are best mounted as high as possible above ground level. This often means on a roof, or near the roof line of a building. Roof mounting examples for a home or small business:
Flat Roof: Non-penetrating roof mount filled with cinder blocks
Angled Roof: J-Bar mounted to the facia
Important: The outdoor small cell will require installation CPI approval before it can go on air and allow users to connect. The CPI process requires the following:
Installation parameters must be shared with Pollen (including pictures) to get CPI approval
- Azimuth Angle (compass bearing)
- Latitude and Longitude
- Height (above ground)
- Elevation Angle (antenna tilt)
Disclaimer: Installing an outdoor small cell may require working at heights of 20ft or more off the ground. If you are not comfortable with such work or are not able to perform this work safely, please consult a professional installer.
NOTE: How to get and submit this information along with sample photos will be covered in the small cell registration section below.
STEP 4.2 - Component Preparations
Once you have selected your mounting location, confirm you have the necessary components for mounting. Depending on your mounting location, you may need a J-Pole, Non-Penetrating Roof Mount Mast, or other components that will give you a sturdy 2” diameter pipe to mount your small cell to. Prepare your chosen mounting equipment and installation hardware. At this time, you should disconnect your small cell from the PoE if you have not done so already.
STEP 4.3 - Mounting Bracket Assembly
Assemble the mounting bracket pivot bolt to connect the pipe clamp bracket to the main small cell mounting bracket.
Do not install the bracket on the small cell at this time
STEP 4.4 - Mounting Pole Installation
Once you have selected your mounting location and confirmed you have the necessary components for mounting, install your mounting pole.
Note: the pole is not provided in your MosoLabs kit.
STEP 4.5 - Install Bracket on Mounting Pole
Attach the assembled MosoLabs mounting bracket to the mounting pole. Make sure the locator holes are positioned at the bottom of the bracket and you have tightened the pipe clamp sufficiently, then locked it in place with the second set of nuts.
STEP 4.6 - Install Small Cell to the Mounting Bracket
Attach your MosoLabs small cell to the mounting bracket. Use the locator holes at the bottom of the bracket to help align and hold the small cell while you install the screws. Adjust the tilt to point your small cell toward your desired target.
STEP 4.7 - Connect the Grounding Cable
Now that your small cell is mounted on the bracket, you are ready to attach the cables. First, attach the provided grounding cable to the nearest ground source. If an appropriate ground is not available within the length of the supplied cable, you may need to make a longer cable.
STEP 4.8 - Connect the PoE+ Ethernet Cable
Lead your outdoor rated Ethernet cable from your PoE+ power supply (which needs to be mounted indoors) to your small cell and connect it to the PoE+ port on your small cell. Once connected, secure the weatherproof connector over the Ethernet cable and secure all of your cable runs.
(Note, you do not need to connect any other ports at this time.)
It is recommended that you install a lightning protector inline with your Ethernet cable between the small cell and your PoE power supply.
STEP 4.9 - Scan QR Code to Access Botanist
Your Moso Flower is built to work with Pollen Greenhouse.
Scan the QR code on the front of your Moso Flower to access Pollen's Botanist which will show you the status of your installation, help you complete your provisioning process, and provide access to your NFT.
Go here to read about Pollen's Botanist: Pollen Botanist
For any Pollen specific questions during your setup, you can check support.pollenmobile.io
Step 5 - Small Cell SAS Registration
To enable the outdoor small cell, you’ll need to complete the CPI flow and get approval from Pollen.
Pollen has the following document here which will guide you on how to register your radio with the SAS: How do I register my Flower with the SAS?
This document will guide you on expectations and then require you to fill out the SAS Registration form here: Pollen SAS Registration Form
The process starts with registering the small cell location. To register the outdoor small cell, you’ll need the following information along with photos to prove it.
- Azimuth Angle (compass bearing)
- Latitude and Longitude
- Height (above ground)
- Elevation Angle (antenna tilt)
STEP 5.1 - Record the Azimuth Angle
After setting your small cell at the final installation site, use a Compass app (with the very important): 'True North' setting (NOT Magnetic Heading), and GPS location enabled to find the azimuth angle.
With the compass app open on your smartphone, position the charging port of the phone against the front of the small cell, making sure the phone is aligned with the direction the antenna is pointing.
Take a screenshot of the azimuth reading for the primary LTE antenna.
App recommendations:
For iPhone, we recommend the default Apple compass app, make sure location services and 'Use True North' are turned on in 'Settings', 'Compass'
For Android phones, we recommend "Compass Steel" by "SimpleWerx", make sure to calibrate it using the menu on the upper left corner and turn on 'True North' using the menu on the upper right corner.
STEP 5.2 - Record the Latitude and Longitude
We need to record the location of your small cell.
Use the map app on your phone to place a pin to grab the latitude and longitude of your small cell's location. Record all digits listed (7-8 decimal places required).
Then, capture a screenshot of the satellite view map (able to see physical buildings instead of a map), zoomed in enough so we can tell exactly where on the building the antenna(s) are. Please make sure the install location (latitude and longitude) matches the dropped marker i the screenshot.
STEP 5.3 - Record the Height
Determine the height of your installation from the base of the small cell to the ground in feet.
Depending on your location, you can do this in a variety of ways:
- Measuring tape
- Laser measurer
- Altimeter
- Knowledge of the site
Take a photo that shows the small cell and the ground.
STEP 5.3 - Record the Elevation Angle
You will need to capture a picture showing the uptilt/downtilt of the small cell to see the angle of it compared to where it is mounted. (Taking a photo far above or below the antenna likely won't show the downtilt, your camera should be parallel to the side of the antenna, and show the top/bottom notches without any numbers blocked along with the side of the antenna, and include the pole/wall where it is mounted to).
STEP 5.4 - Complete the Pollen SAS Registration Form
You will also need to capture a few pictures to confirm the radio location.
- Photo of the street from the small cell
- Photo of the side of the small cell
- Photo of the small cell and background
With the captured information and pictures/screenshots, you are now ready to submit the SAS Registration form: Pollen SAS Registration Form
NOTE: The outdoor small cell MUST be powered on and connected to the internet
After the SAS Registration form is completed, a CPI from the Pollen team will review your details and reach out with any questions. You can expect to be in the SAS within 3-5 business days.
STEP 5.5 - Verify SAS Registration Success
Once you get the SAS Registration approved by Pollen CPI, your small cell should be ready to go.
You can check Botanist by scanning the QR code on the front of your small cell. All items should have a green checkmark to show success.
Please contact us if you are are seeing any of these non-green statuses after 72 hours of submitting the SAS Registration form via the Gateway.