MG Cellular Best Practices

How to determine coverage? 

Device Compatibility

Different carriers may use varying network technologies and frequency bands for their 4G and 5G deployments. It's essential to ensure that your device supports the specific network technology and frequency bands used by the carrier you intend to subscribe to. Devices are equipped with radio modems that support specific LTE and 5G frequency bands. These bands determine which frequencies the device can communicate on and affect its compatibility with the carrier's network. Make sure to check the LTE and 5G bands supported by your device and compare them with the bands deployed by the carrier. 

Network Performance

Evaluate the network performance in terms of speed, reliability, and latency. Conduct speed tests using your mobile device in different locations to compare the download and upload speeds observed for each carrier.

Data Plans and Pricing

Review the available data plans and pricing structures offered by each carrier. Compare features such as data caps, speeds, pricing tiers, and any additional fees or charges.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose the best carrier for your FWA device that offers reliable internet connectivity, suitable data plans, responsive customer support, and value-added services.

Signal Strength

The signal strength between the device and the nearest cell tower significantly affects throughput.  It is measured in decibels (dBm) or signal bars on the device's interface. Higher signal strength values indicate a stronger signal, while lower values indicate a weaker signal.

Several factors can affect signal strength.  

• Distance from cell tower: The closer the device is to the cell tower the stronger the signal strength tends to be.  Signal strength decreases as the distance between the device and the tower decreases.

• Interference and Obstructions: Interference from neighboring towers or environmental factors can degrade signal strength.  Structures like buildings, trees, natural terrain, and various obstacles can weaken or obstruct radio signals, resulting in a decrease in signal strength.  Clear line-of-sight between the device and the cell tower is ideal for optimal signal strength.

• Weather conditions: Conditions like rain and snow can affect signal strength and signal propagation.  These can cause temporary degradation of signal quality and affect throughput. 

Frequency Bands

The choice of spectrum and frequency bands directly influences the performance, coverage, and capabilities of FWA services.  The device uses different frequency bands which have different characteristics like coverage range and capacity.

Here is how it affects throughput.

• Range of Frequency: Higher frequency bands like mmWave offer faster data speeds but require denser infrastructure deployments and line of sight connections limiting the coverage area.  Lower-frequency bands like Sub-6 GHz provide broader coverage and better penetration through obstacles, making them suitable for delivering services to a wide range of locations, including rural and suburban areas.  While they may not deliver the highest speeds compared to higher-frequency bands, they provide reliable connectivity over longer distances

• Signal Interference: Frequency bands at higher frequencies could face increased vulnerability to disruption from various sources like other wireless devices, atmospheric conditions, or electromagnetic sources. This interference has the potential to degrade signal quality, resulting in decreased throughput, especially in densely populated urban areas or regions with elevated levels of electromagnetic activity.

• Signal Propagation: Lower-frequency signals propagate more effectively through obstacles, resulting in more consistent throughput over longer distances.  Whereas higher frequency signals have shorter wavelengths and are likelier to experience attenuation caused by obstructions such as buildings and foliage. This attenuation has the potential to diminish signal strength and throughput, particularly in environments characterized by dense urban infrastructure or obstructed line-of-sight pathways.

Antenna placement and Alignment

The following factors show how antenna placement and alignment affect throughput

• Line of Sight: Ensuring a clear line of sight between the antenna and the cell tower is essential for achieving optimal throughput. This maximizes the signal reception.  Aligning the antenna precisely with the tower's direction minimizes signal divergence and ensures optimal signal strength, further enhancing throughput performance. ​​Obstructions along the signal path can block or weaken radio signals, leading to signal attenuation. Buildings, dense foliage, or hilly terrain can absorb or reflect radio waves, causing signal loss and reducing signal strength. This attenuation can result in lower throughput and slower data transfer speeds.

•  Signal Reception: The placement and alignment of the antenna dictate its capacity to receive signals from the cell tower or base station. Ensuring the antenna is correctly positioned optimizes signal reception, thereby maximizing both signal strength and throughput. Installing the antenna where it has an unobstructed view of the tower and is free from obstacles such as buildings or foliage enhances signal reception

• Optimization of antenna: Various frequency bands might necessitate distinct antenna designs or positioning techniques to enhance throughput. Antennas tailored for higher-frequency bands may demand meticulous alignment and placement owing to their shorter wavelength and high vulnerability to obstruction.  Understanding the characteristics of the frequency bands and optimizing the antenna placement is important for maximizing the throughput.  

Congestion of Network

This occurs when the demand for network resources exceeds the available capacity, resulting in degraded performance and slower data transfer speeds.  Congestion affects throughput in the following ways.

• Latency: Due to increased latency and delays in data transmission caused by the overload on network resources can lead to reduced speeds for users to access the network.  As data packets encounter congestion points in the network infrastructure, they experience longer queuing times, resulting in slower throughput.

• Jitter: Jitter is nothing but time delay in your network connection.  This can result in inconsistent performance for time sensitive applications.  Network congestion worsens jitter and can cause degraded performance for applications that require low latency.

• Packet loss: In congested periods, network devices might discard packets due to buffer overflow or congestion management methods. This packet loss exacerbates reduced throughput and may impair the quality of real-time applications like VoIP or video streaming.

Which MG Should I be using? 

There are many things to consider when deciding which MG best fits your deployment. Can I get a good signal? Will I need to deploy outside? Will Omni antenna work for me or will I need something more directional? 

The table below has some basic information that we recommend you keep in mind.

You can use the MG Sizing Guide for more detailed information.

MG Sizing Guide: https://meraki.cisco.com/product-col...gateways/?file

NAT Mode vs Passthrough Mode: What's right for me? 

Before deploying your MG, one of the first things you will need to do is determine which mode you would like your MG to operate in NAT Mode or Passthrough. See below for more information about these modes

Deployment Modes

Directly connected to an MX

In this scenario, you are installing the MG as a Failover/Primary uplink to an MX. If the MX is capable of providing PoE from its WAN interface, you can connect directly to the interface. If it is not capable of providing PoE, you could install a PoE injector (MA-INJ-4) between the MX and MG, or power the MG with a Power Adapter (MA-PWR-30W). 

MG with HA Pair

MG’s can be directly connected to HA pairs without any additional configuration. Connect the MG’s directly to WAN 2 for a backup cellular connection on both MX’s. 

Dual MG with HA Pair

MG’s with Breakout Switches

Using breakout switches between your MX and MG allows you to connect more than 2 devices to the MG. Deploying your MG in NAT Mode is required for this deployment. 

Highly Available MG Design through the use of MX HA Pair and Breakout Switches

For the most highly available deployment, a pair of breakout switches can be used to connect dual MG’s to an MX HA Pair. This deployment will require some configuration of the breakout switches: 

• A VLAN for Cellular Uplink

• A Trunk port configured between the switches

Internal Placement

Having your MG inside of a building is a common and valid practice. However, one must keep signal in mind, as some building materials can significantly impact received signal. 

If you intend to keep your MG inside of a building there are a few things we recommend: 

• Use a smartphone to determine where the best signal is in your building. Install the SIM you intend to use for the MG into a smartphone and walk around the building. Keep an eye on the signal. 

• Watch out for metal! Most metals have a very significant negative impact on cellular signals. With an average signal loss of -32 dB to -50 dB. If possible, try to install the MG in a location that does not have materials like metal or concrete on all sides. 

External Placement

All MG models are IP67-rated, so an outside placement is the best option to get the highest quality signal possible. Here are some recommendations for out-of-doors placements: 

• Keep it covered! While all MG’s are IP67 rated, direct exposure to the elements can and will deteriorate the MG when given enough time. We recommend mounting the MG in locations mostly protected from direct wind, rain, and sunlight. 

• Location Location Location! While an outdoor mount may provide the best signal, the location of the mount can still have a significant impact on performance. We recommend that you mount the MG in an elevated position and orient toward the closest known cell tower. If possible, try to give the MG line of sight of said tower, but in the event that it's not visible, ensure that there is nothing directly in the way. 

• Power! You'll need to make sure the MG has a reliable power source. Most deployments will have an ethernet cable run to the location that provides both PoE and a network connection. If PoE isn't an option, the AC Adapter (MA-PWR-30W) can be used in tandem with a weatherproof electrical outlet.

Patch vs Dipole: What's the difference? 

Dipole antennas are the default, catch-all, best all-around option when it comes to MG Antenna’s. They are going to broadcast a signal in all directions with the maximum allowable gain without exceeding the EIRP for Local Regulatory domains. 

Patch antennas fit a specific use case because they are directional. If you know the direction of the nearest tower, mounting a Patch antenna up high (on the side of a building or a pole) and pointing it that direction can give you much better results than a Dipole. However, because they are so directional, you will only get better performance if the orientation is correct. 

For more detailed information about the differences between Dipole and Patch antenna, see the documents linked below: 

MG41E and MG51E Cellular Patch Antenna Datasheet: https://documentation.meraki.com/MG/MG41E%2F%2FMG51E_Cellular_Patch_Antenna_Datasheet

MG41E and MG51E Cellular Dipole Antenna Datasheet: https://documentation.meraki.com/MG/MG_Cellular_Dipole_Antenna_Datasheet/MG41E_and_MG51E_Cellular_Dipole_Antenna_Datasheet

MG21E Cellular Patch Antenna Datasheet: https://documentation.meraki.com/MG/MG_Cellular_Patch_Antenna_Datasheet

MG21E Cellular Dipole Antenna Datasheet: https://documentation.meraki.com/MG/MG_Cellular_Dipole_Antenna_Datasheet

Using 3rd Party Antenna

The use of 3rd Party antennas are not supported. It’s up to the user to use based on their own discretion; the Meraki team will not be able to support additional questions for the 3rd party antennas. The antenna port is designed to detect the official MG smart dipole antennas and smart patch antenna. The Cisco Meraki antennas are designed for the maximum allowable gain without exceeding the EIRP for local regulatory domains on their supported bands.