1.3.4.3 Gateway Cellular Connection

Owned by Júlíus B. Benediktsson (Deactivated)
Last updated: Nov 17, 2023 by Alexandra Zsófia Kelemen (Deactivated)
3 min read





It is important that the gateway has good connection to the cellular network. 

Cellular signal strength is measured in -dBm. It is also common to project the -dBm scale to RSSI, or Recived Signal Strength Indicator. 

Good Cellular signal strength is -90dBm (12 RSSI) or better, see table. 

Cellular signal quality table 

RSSi

-dBm

Signal Quality



RSSi

-dBm

Signal Quality

30

-53

Excellent



14

-85

Good

29

-55

Excellent



13

-87

Good

28

-57

Excellent



12

-89

Good

27

-59

Excellent



11

-91

Marginal

26

-61

Excellent



10

-93

Marginal

25

-63

Excellent



9

-95

Marginal

24

-65

Excellent



8

-97

Marginal

23

-67

Excellent



7

-99

Marginal

22

-69

Excellent



6

-101

Bad

21

-71

Excellent



5

-103

Bad

20

-73

Excellent



4

-105

Bad

19

-75

Excellent



3

-107

Bad

18

-77

Excellent



2

-109

Not usable

17

-79

Excellent



1

-111

Not usable

16

-81

Good



0

-113

Not usable

15

-83

Good









Checking cellular signal strength

It is possible to check the cellular reception signal strength with a mobile phone, see below.

However, one must have in mind that the phone could be using another cellular provider and connected to another network cell

When checking cellular signal strength

Your phone and the gateway could be using different mobile service provides and connected to different mobile cells. A technical expert is needed to figure out if your phone and the gateway is on the same cellular network

However, the measurement can be used as an indication of cellular signal strength

Using iPhone

iPhone 6

Call number  *3001#12345#*

The iPhone display changes and a - number appears next to the signal strength icon. This is the signal strength, measured in - dBm



     

iPhone 7

Call number  *3001#12345#*

The iPhone display changes. 

Select LTE

Select Serving Cell Meas



rsrp0 is the -dBm signal strength

Using Android

It varies between Android mobile phone types, where the received signal strength in -dBm can be found. In most cases it can be found in Settings, under My Phone 

Samsung 

  • Settings

  • About Device

  • Status

  • SIM Card Status

Bad cellular network connectivity 

Is some cases, the cellular signal strength is too low inside the warehouse. In such cases, we have three (four) options:

  1. Ask the cellular network provider to improve the cellular coverage 

    1. In Europe, the cellular provider could add a signal booster in the building

  2. Add a 3dBm or 6dBm external antenna to the gateway and have the antenna inside the building 

    1. Picture of 3,5 dB mobile antenna with a magnetic base

b. Picture of directional Yagi mobile antenna

    3. Install a cellular antenna outside the warehouse

                   a. Using the antenna above

    4. Signal booster for USA only

                   a.  In USA, it is possible to install a Willson Signal booster to magnify the cellular signal

b. See Willson



Cellular Signal Problems Presentation