User's Manual

Chapter 2 Planning a CCU/Repeater Installation
8 CCU 100 and Repeater 100 Installation Guide
Proprietary and Confidential
Siting CCUs/Repeaters
CCUs/Repeaters are installed in the field on a variety of surfaces, such as wooden or metal
walls, metal pipes, fence railing, and utility poles.
When determining where to place the CCU/Repeater, there are four primary considerations:
• Siting for optimum RF reception.
• Siting for optimum GPS and/or WAN reception.
• Availability of Ethernet connection (if required).
• Availability of power connection.
• Availability of a structure or location that can physically support the CCU/Repeater
and its mounting hardware.
Caution Always ensure that you have permission to install a CCU/Repeater at
your chosen site prior to beginning installation.
Propagation Study and CCU/Repeater Site Selection
Prior to installing a CCU/Repeater in the field, consult with Itron to perform a propagation
study. This study:
• Evaluates the quantity and types of endpoints in the network.
• Assesses environmental and geographical considerations related to CCU/Repeater
installation.
• Optimizes CCU/Repeater placement in the network for the best possible reception.
• Helps influence the physical and structural implications of mounting a CCU/Repeater
to a given surface.
Once the propagation study is complete, you can determine exactly where to install
CCUs/Repeaters and what they will be mounted to.
GPS and WAN Coverage
CCUs/Repeaters must be installed in locations where a GPS signal is strong and consistent.
If WAN is being used as the communications backhaul for the network, a strong and
consistent WAN signal is required as well (for CCUs only). If the signal is too weak, or its
availability fluctuates, the CCU/Repeater can not gather accurate date/time information or
communicate with the Fixed Network software.
Itron recommends using a handheld GPS unit to verify that your CCU/Repeater or remote
GPS antenna mounting location can receive a signal from at least three satellites.
If you are using a GPRS WAN backhaul, Itron recommends testing the CCU or remote
GPRS antenna at your desired installation to ensure that GPRS service is available at that
location.