Airlink X EV-DO manual Frequently Asked Questions and Technical Support, 129

Frequently Asked Questions and Technical Support

Power, Antennas, and Signal Strength

What is RSSI? Why is the RSSI for my Raven X negative?

RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) is a measurement of the strength or intensity, not nec- essarily the quality, of the received signal.

The RSSI is measured in dBm which is the power ratio in decibel (dB) of the measured power ref- erenced to one milliwatt (mW). One milliwatt is zero, therefore less than a milliwatt, common and ideal for cellular communication, is expressed as a negative interger.

What is the Proper RF Coverage for my Raven X?

The optimal range for AirLink modems is an RF Coverage (RSSI value) of -60 to -95. RF coverage between -95 to -105 DBm will often still register, however functionality at this range can be greatly reduced and registration can become difficult. Any devices with an RSSI below -105 DBm will likely fail to register on a regular basis.

Caution: Low RSSI will have a direct affect on the ability to activate (or provision) your Raven X if it relies on over the air activation such as the the V315E modems.

When addressing RF coverage ensure the antenna choice is appropriate for the device and frequen- cies required.

What Type of Antenna is Best for my Raven X?

Antennas for cellular communication are commonly omni-directional and either dual-band or multi-band. They come in a variety of shapes and mounting confirgurations to suit several differ- ent types of needs.

While AirLink does sell a limited selection of antennas and antenna accessories, these are by no means all that are available or usable with your Raven X. There are several suppliers of cellular accessories with a much wider selection of antennas designed to cater to a broader variety of situa- tions.

Antennas selected should not exceed a maximum gain of 5 dBi under standard installation config- uration. In more complex installations (such as those requiring long lengths of cable and/or multi- ple connections), it’s imperative that the installer follow maximum dBi gain guidelines in accordance with the FFC’s, regulations.

Dual-band

For cellular communication, the Raven X requires a dual band antenna supporting both 800 MHz and 1900 MHz (1.9 Ghz) bands.

Raven X EV-DO for Verizon - User Guide, version 2.34 129