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The Radio (eNodeB/eNB)

Equipment Used

  • Baicells Nova 233 (datasheet)
    • Paired antenna: Alpha Wireless AW-3014-T4 (datasheet)
    • Meant for long-range/outdoor deployment
  • Baicells Nova 227 (datasheet)
    • Meant for short-range/microcell
    • Integrated antenna

Configuration

  • eNB was configured per documentation from the Seattle Community Network (SCN)
    • Because our controller/EPC will not be directly attached to the radio, we will configure the Baicells' WAN interface to be DHCP (see more about the NYC Mesh implementation here)
      • The MME IP will always be 10.70.90.170 to use the Open5GS server at SN3, routed through the Mesh network
    • Because the Google SAS product is paid software we are using the account from UW's local connectivity lab
      • To sign configurations, a CPI License is still needed - otherwise we would have to ask another licensed CPI to sign the configuration any time a change is made (this is attached to a person, not an organization)
    • The PLMN used by SCN (as we are using their SIM cards) is 91054

Current Deployment

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The Nova 233 and AW-3014-T4 installed on the East Mast of Vernon.

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The estimated range for this deployment (sourced from Ubiquiti's UISP Design Center tool and generic 60° antenna parameters and their LIDAR info) and the configuration parameters for the SAS platform based on the real-world installation characteristics.

Radio Install Details

  • The Nova 233 is powered using a DC cable (crimped ToughCable) into a DC junction box inside the water tower, and plugged into the EP-S16
  • No additional configuration was done to the router to support the LTE connectivity
  • Baicells supports a mode called LGW, which allows the radio hardware to perform NAT and terminate LTE traffic locally, but this would then require per-hub configuration to support OSPF (out-of-scope at this time)

Client Install Details

PXL_20241102_195740853 (2).jpg

  • Current client is a MikroTik LHG LTE device with a R11e-4G modem (datasheet) at 5107 (10.69.51.207)
    • RouterOS 7 ptmp mode appears to work natively with BIRD ptmp mode, so ROS7 is used
  • Connects to a standard rooftop OmniTik and provides a backup with cost 100 to SN3 (due to the LTE tunnel, no intermediate hubs are considered in cost calculation)
  • Specific configuration for OSPF deployment:
/interface lte apn add apn="" ip-type=ipv4 name=internet
/ip address add address=10.45.0.7/16 interface=lte1 network=10.45.0.0
/interface lte set [ find default-name=lte1 ] apn-profiles=internet band=43 mtu=1400 sms-read=no
/routing filter rule
add chain=ospf-in disabled=no rule="set distance 205;\
    \nset bgp-communities 65000:110;\
    \naccept;"
add chain=ospf-out disabled=no rule="if (dst == 10.69.0.0/16) {\
    \n  reject\
    \n}"
add chain=ospf-out disabled=no rule="if (dst == 10.45.0.0/16) {\
    \n  reject\
    \n}"
add chain=ospf-out disabled=no rule=accept
/routing ospf interface-template
add area=default cost=100 disabled=no interfaces=lte1 networks=10.45.0.0/16 priority=1 type=ptmp
add area=default cost=10 disabled=no interfaces=ether1 networks=10.69.0.0/16 priority=1 type=ptmp-broadcast
    1. Sets the APN to "internet" (required for use with the Open5GS core)
    2. Adds a /16 to match the 10.45.0.0/16 network on the LTE tunnel
      • Note: upon connection, a 10.45.0.0/32 address is assigned by the Open5GS core, which will not allow OSPF to function (as it does not match the CIDR of the "ogstun" interface on the EPC/controller)
    3. Sets the LTE interface to use the "internet" APN and use Band 43 (the CBRS frequency supported on the Nova 233)
    4. Adds the standard OSPF route filters used, while also filtering announcement of the 10.45.0.0/16 LTE address space
    5. Adds the standard OSPF interface templates for the LTE and "mesh" OSPF interfaces
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