W-AIR Network Admin Guide - Sync over the air

This guide leads you through the installation of W-AIR Base and W-AIR Base Outdoor and setting up a W-AIR DECT Network in which the bases sync over the air.

Updated: February 2022

Permalink: https://wildix.atlassian.net/wiki/x/SwrOAQ

Watch the video tutorial about setting up W-AIR Multicell Network (registration is required):

Description

System architecture

W-AIR is a Wildix cordless solution. The system supports auto-provisioning enabling instant connection to the Wildix PBX. Due to high scalability, new components are quickly and easily integrated to guarantee better performance.

Wildix W-AIR system uses the wireless technology CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology – Internet quality). 

The architecture consists of three components:

1. Base station - an essential component of a DECT system. Wildix W-AIR base stations:

2. Repeater - extends the signal coverage of the base station.

3. Cordless endpoints:

Wildix W-AIR handsets: W-AIR Basic2, W-AIR LifeSaver, W-AIR Med, W-AIR Office and W-AIR Headset. Follow the online Guides to get detailed informationW-AIR DECT Handset - User GuideW-AIR Headset - User Guide.

Multicell network scalability and features

Sync over the air with W-AIR Base, W-AIR Base Outdoor or mixed network in which W-AIR Bases Sync Plus are present:

  • Up to 1000 users per system
  • Up to 250 bases
  • Up to 30 handsets registered to one base station*
  • Up to 3 Repeaters per base
    • Up to 50 bases - 3 repeaters 
    • 50-125 bases - 1 repeater
    • More than 125 bases - no repeater
  • Up to 100 Repeaters registered to one system
  • Up to 8 concurrent calls** per base
    • 8 narrow band audio channels per base
    • 4 CAT-iq wideband audio channels per base
    • (Single cell setup) Max 10 concurrent calls per base
  • Handover through the base station (max. 8 simultaneous handovers)
  • Up to 5 concurrent calls per repeater
  • Up to 24 sync levels
  • Base station indoor range: 50 m; outdoor range: 300m


*Note: by default W-AIR system supports up to 20 devices, to increase the number to 30 devices, use Custom Provisioning parameter, described in this document: Provisioning Custom Settings.

** Enabling PTT feature (Push-to-talk) on W-AIR handsets reduces the number of available channels on each base station to 6.

Planning a multicell network

Before you start 

Important:

  • Base stations can sync over the air only in case they are able to see each other.
  • They see each other if the dBm value is between -75 and 0.
  • Repeater which is placed between the two Base stations can only extend the coverage but cannot perform the sync.


Intelligent Networking Configuration:



Connecting 3 Repeaters in a chain:


Base Station and Repeater positioning:


For a good conversation and a correct handover between Bases and Repeaters the dBm value must be between -75 and 0.

Handover and Roaming

Handover

Handover is a process in which a call is transmitted from one base station to another without interrupting the session.

When the call is set up, the handset is located at Base 1. Thus, the DECT communication takes place between the handset and Base 1, and the SIP signaling as well as the RTP stream takes place between Base 1 and the PBX:


After handover, the handset is located at Base 2, and hence the DECT communication goes on between the handset and Base 2. However, to avoid disruption of the audio, the RTP stream is relayed via the initial base station, since a transfer of the RTP stream to another base may cause the PBX to re-initialize the RTP stream with a small disruption of the RTP stream as consequence. Thus, RTP stream is not affected by the handover, and since the call control also remains at Base 1, SIP signaling is also unaffected, as shown below:


Since the call control and hence the SIP User Agent remains at the initial base station, the SIP registration is also unaffected by the handover. If the handset makes yet another handover, the RTP stream will still be relayed via the base station at which the call was established (Base 1 in our case):


Roaming

By roaming it is meant that the handset moves its SIP and DECT registration from one base station to another base station. Roaming can only be initiated from idle.

Roaming does not immediately result in a new SIP registration, to avoid unnecessary signaling. Therefore, the handset will not perform a new DECT Location Registration until it has resided on the same base station for a defined period of time*. Since the SIP registration is initiated by the completion of the Location Registration, a new SIP registration will also not be done until this procedure has completed on a new base station. Thus, a handset must stay on the same base station before a new SIP registration is made.

*How the period of time after which Location Registration is performed, is defined:

  1. Handsets lose contact to the initial base station due to reset/ power off/ heavy DECT traffic.

  2. After 5 minutes but before 5+2 minutes (+2 minutes occur when service connection traffic is signalled at the same time as location registration should take place; in this case the location registration procedure will be delayed)

If an incoming call arrives while the handset has moved to another base station (Base 2 in our example) but the new Location Registration was not yet performed, the SIP call will arrive at the initial base station (Base 1 in our example), the RTP stream will be set up between Base 2 and the PBX. Alternatively, in the case of an outgoing call, the SIP call will be established from the initial base station, and the RTP stream will be set up between Base 2 and the PBX:


Deployment considerations

The following radio related issues should be considered before deploying a W-AIR DECT Network:

  • Building Penetration: when a signal strikes on a building it is diffracted or absorbed; therefore the signal can be reduced. The amount of absorption depends on the building and its environment, the amount of solid structure.
  • Interference Sources: other signals can create interferences and weaken the signals of the receiving antennas. These interferences can come from the same network or from the outside. For choosing the optimal position of the Base station and Repeaters, these potential interference sources should be considered before installing a Wildix W-AIR system.
  • Radio/ Cell Range: a suggested distance between two base stations depends on the physical path between them. If the path loss is lessened, e.g. by minimizing the amount of walls/ obstacles on the path, then the signals of the base stations cover more distance. In a typical office building a suggested distance between two base stations is 30-40 m.

Do not place base stations close to GSM Media gateways (DaySaver or W01GSM)

Capacity planning

The maximum quantity of calls is indicated in the list below:

  • Base stations: up to 8 simultaneous calls
  • Repeaters: up to 5 simultaneous calls

Notes:

  • The total coverage capacity of a base station and one or more Repeaters is always limited to the capacities of a base station.
  • A W-AIR network uses an auto-balancing model to increase the number of simultaneous calls, distributing the calls to 2 or more adjacent Base stations
  • Simulate the worst environmental conditions (close the doors, turn on the equipment, etc) to perform a realistic test of configuration
  • Call 98 code (conference) on your W-AIR Handset to listen to the music on hold, to test an audio reception quality.
  • If you enable PTT (push to talk) feature on W-AIR Handset, the number of available channels on each base station is reduced to 6.

Call 76 code (echo) on your W-AIR Handset to test the voice quality

Site Survey

Requirements

  • PoE switches or a 48V PoE power injector. Site survey is possible without network connectivity.
  • A DHCP server. If you are using Wildix PBX as DHCP Server, go to Settings → System → DHCP Server and search for the device among the DHCP leases.
  • A W-AIR base. Reset the base station to the default settings.
  • A W-AIR handset. Before getting started make sure the handset is fully charged. The handset does not need to be pre-registered to a particular base. Connect the base station to the power injector and turn it on.

How to check RSSI level

Follow the steps below:

  1. Press "Menu" key of the W-AIR handset
  2. Type *ip* (*47*)
  3. Use the cursor down/ up to select the base MAC address
  4. Select the base station to view its RSSI level. 

Placing the first base station

Follow the steps below:

  • place the W-AIR base station exactly at the desired position and power on the base.
  • Check RSSI level on the handset.
  • use the building plan drawing and check the base station coverage using the Site survey mode of the phone. Mark up acceptable and unacceptable spots on the plan drawing. Take notes of the RSSI levels of the base. Acceptable spots are the ones where the phone shows RSSI levels better than -75 dBm.

Follow the steps again to place more base stations. 

Typically, when the system is installed in the office buildings, hotels or hospitals, there should be both Base stations and Repeaters on several floors to create uniform and complete radio coverage. Open areas can be covered by wide network of Base stations. In these applications, the Base stations and/ or Repeaters cover an extended range due to the extended line-of-sight radio propagation capability.

Check the Radio Coverage

Handset

  • Press "Menu" key of the W-AIR handset (the phone must be registered to the base station)
  • Type *service* (*7378423*).
  • Select the line Site survey mode
  • The phone will show up to 5 bases (RPN) and the coverage value.
  • Check PP and FP values, they indicate the transmission errors. Empty value or a low number indicates a correct behavior (value 100 = the worst behavior)

Base station 

For a good conversation and a correct handover between bases and Repeaters the dBm value should be between -75 and 0.

Go to the web interface of a base station and click on Multi Cell to see the status and the coverage values of every connected base, check the column DECT sync source to know the value.


Repeaters

Go to the web interface of a base station and click on Repeaters to see the status and the coverage values of every connected Repeater, check the column DECT sync source to know the value.


Base station/ Repeater Placement Strategy

The antennas of the base stations are close to omnidirectional, thus it is not important how the base stations are directed and how they face each other. There is no single strategy for deploying base stations, but there are some recommendations:

  • In the Corridors: base stations/Repeater should be deployed vertically, preferably in the corridor intersections so that the propagation follows the corridor patterns/curves. If there are high objects in the area, the base station/Repeater should be installed above them.
  • Multi-storey Buildings: base stations and Repeaters can be installed on the opposite sides of the floors to cover the area floor-to-floor. The coverage design cannot rely entirely on floor-to-floor propagation; each case should be verified due to variations in local attenuation patterns
  • Large Halls: base stations and Repeaters can be deployed in large halls that contain a central open space area with windows leading to other areas. This provides a good coverage for the rooms in the inner circle on all floors (e.g. hotels). In large halls, Base stations/Repeaters should be installed vertically in the middle of the space below the drop ceiling.
  • Mounting Positions: when Base stations and Repeaters are mounted vertically on a wall, the radio coverage in front of these devices is twice as large as the coverage behind them. The base stations should always be mounted higher than the obstructive objects in the area – e.g. minimally 2m above the floor. Repeaters should be installed in the middle of the corridors and small rooms.
  • Metallic Structures/Objects: base stations and Repeaters should not be deployed near large metallic objects
  • Reinforced Concrete Structures: these structures create a high attenuation factor inside the building. They reduce the radio coverage range of the Base stations and Repeaters thus a higher number of base stations or Repeaters are required in the building. Lighter types of construction materials require fewer base stations since attenuation figures are considerably lower.

Radiation pattern - base optimal position for optimal coverage

Here is radiation pattern, measured when the unit is in an upright position. Antenna 0 is the right antenna seen from the back of the base station. If you print the pattern out on a paper and place a base station in the center you can see the radiation pattern:

Antenna 0:



Antenna 1:



From the radiation pattern it can be seen that the optimal position of the base for optimal coverage is upright position. When base is deployed this position must be considered as it is optimal for cell coverage between base chains and handset usage.

In case the upright position is not possible it is important to again study the radiation pattern.

In case the base is horizontally positioned, the optimal radiation pattern between bases is when bases are placed side by side in the chain.

A doughnut shape radiation pattern means that the radiation is mainly concentrated on the sides of the Base and the radiation levels at the top and at the bottom are from -10 to -15dB lower.

Base station and repeaters connection and overview

Packing lists

W-AIR Base:

  • Mounting screws x 2 and anchors x 2
  • Plastic stand x 1
  • Base station unit x 1

W-AIR Base Outdoor:

  • Enclosure 175x250x75mm with some pre-installed parts:
    • RJ45 cable gland + O-ring + Counter Nut x 1 set
    • Ventilation Device x 1
    • Wall mounting lugs x 4
  • Metal bracket x 1
  • Plastic plate x 1
  • Base station unit x 1

W-AIR Repeater:

  • Power adapter x 1
  • Repeater unit x 1

Base stations mounting, connection and reset


Reset a base station: press the Reset button on the back side for more than 2 seconds. 

LEDs of the Base Stations 

  • LED blinks purple when a base is rebooting
  • LED blinks red when a base reports a configuration error
  • LED remains solid blue if a base is configured and registered to the Wildix PBX

Mounting instructions

W-AIR Base

Mount the base unit as high as possible to clear all nearby objects (e.g. office cubicles and cabinets, etc.). Make sure that when you fix the base stations with screws, the screws do not touch the PCB on the unit. Avoid all contacts with any high voltage lines.

W-AIR Base Outdoor


Find Base station IP

On the handset press “Menu” key followed by the keys: *47* to get the handset into find bases menu. Depending on the amount of powered on bases with active radios and the distance to the base it can take up to minutes to find a base.

  • Use the cursor down/up to select the base MAC address for the base
  • The base IP address will be shown in the display

The feature is also used for deployment.

Repeaters connection and overview

Repeater connection and reset


Reset a repeater: press and hold the Reset button on the back side for more than 2 seconds (LED turns solid RED and then GREEN with a double pulsation).

LEDs of the Repeaters

  • LED blinks green with a double pulse during the first registration process
  • LED blinks green during the connection process
  • LED remains solid green when it is registered to a base station
  • LED blinks green with a fast pulse when a phone connected to the Repeater starts a new call, during the conversation it blinks red
  • LED becomes solid red if the Repeater fails to connect to the base station
  • Double color flashing (red/green): Repeater is in recovery mode for one of the following reasons (try to re-assign Repeater to Base station):
    • Repeater is locked to base/repeater without repeater mode activated
    • Sync source base/repeater not found (Manual mode)
    • Timeout during RPN allocation due to busy base/repeater

W-AIR Network configuration

Step 1. Provision base stations

For detailed instructions, refer to Provisioning of Wildix devices - Admin Guide.

Go to menu Devices of the WMS, click +Add and provision the gateway. Provisioned base stations appear in the table of Devices.

Step 2. Create a W-AIR Network

Important:

  • W-AIR Network consists of one or more gateways that should belong to the same LAN or connected via VPN (without NAT). A base station can be a part of a W-AIR Network only if is reachable by other base stations. W-AIR cells exchange the network packages; in order to ensure the sync in case the packages are bigger than 1500 bytes, the network must correctly process “UDP fragmentation”
  • In order to be able to configure a W-AIR network, an NTP server is necessary. To configure the gateway to use the NTP server of the PBX, select the gateway and click Edit, then enter the PBX IP address into the line “NTP Server” and click Save.
  • In case you add a base station that previously functioned as a separate base station or belonged to a different W-AIR network, it’s necessary first to delete the base station, reset it and add it again to the WMS.

Follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the WMS menu DevicesW-AIR Networks → click Add
  2. Enter the name Name for your W-AIR Network
  3. Select the gateways from the list on the left and move them to the list on the right

    Limitation: it is impossible to register a W-AIR Headset if the code of W-AIR network is different from "0000" (default code). Workaround: temporarily change the code to default one ("0000") , register and assign the Headset(s), and then change it back to custom one.

  4. Click “Save

    The first base becomes the Main base of the network (M). The gateways make radio sync over the air with each other automatically to extend the work range if possible.


  5. Go back to the Devices Menu, select your base/bases and press “Configure/ Sync device” button

For CLOUD PBXs, you need to power off the base station and then power it on again (reboot the base station) to apply the new parameters!

Step 3. Register a W-AIR Handset

To register the handset:

  1. Verify that there is only one active W-AIR Network
  2. Go to the handset’s main menu
  3. Select Connectivity
  4. Select Deregister, enter 0000 as PIN, then press Yes
  5. Select Register, enter 0000 as Access code, then press OK
  6. The cordless phone is ready for a new login procedure

To unregister the handset:

  1. Log out (register to “unknown” account) by calling the Feature Code “Login” (“99” by default)
  2. Select “Deregister” in the “Connectivity” menu of the handset
  3. Enter the Pin Code “0000”, then press “Yes”.

Step 4. Assign a W-AIR handset to user

You can assign W-AIR handset to a user via the handset itself or via WMS (starting from WMS 5.04.20220309.1).

Assigning via the handset

  1. Switch on your phone and wait till the system assigns you an “unknown account” and the coverage indicator turns active
  2. Dial the Login Feature Code (“99” by default)
  3. Enter an extension number and PIN (= the first five symbols of the user WEB password)

How to enter the PIN: 

  • The keys are alpha-numeric, they allow you to enter both letters and digits, to enter letters: press only once the key corresponding to the letter you need to enter (there is no difference between lowercase and uppercase letters)
  • Press * (the star key) to enter any special characters present in the user password, including the symbol "#"

Example: PIN is 4Ag7$Zl@, you have to dial 4247*

Admin password is also accepted

Assigning via the WMS

Note: The support starts from WMS 5.04.20220309.1.

  1. Go to WMS -> Devices -> W-AIR devices


  2. Choose the handset and click Assign to user