Please note: It is recommended that the Test Engineer confirms the CERNO Configuration is correctly set for their use case prior to commencing each walk test. It is good practice to run a test log file under decent RF conditions before commencing your first log file to ensure that all scripts are operational and that all HEMs are serving on the expected channels.
Overview
1. Connect to the CERNO Network and access the CERNO Administration Page.
Power on the CERNO Unit.
Connect to the Wi-Fi Network produced by the CERNO once all LEDs are white.
On the device connected to the CERNO Network, type 192.168.10.1 into an internet browser address bar (preferably Google Chrome).
2. Access the CERNO Settings Page and select the relevant HEM to be configured.
Click on the Wrench icon at the top right of the CERNO Administration Page and click ‘Settings’.
Click on the relevant HEM in the HEM list on the top left of the CERNO Settings Page.
Please note: Click anywhere on the relevant HEM’s row on the HEM List other than the check box. This check box is used specifically for updating the HEM’s firmware and nothing else.
3. Configure the Cerno to your needs.
Band Locking
Identifying Nearby Channels
Channel Locking
Setting up Scripts
4. Set a relevant name for the HEM Configured.
Input a relevant name at the top right corner of the CERNO Settings Page.
Click ‘Set Name’
Ensure the name appears on the HEM List.
Please note: It is recommended that each HEM is named to its Band Lock / Channel Lock / SIM operator once configured. This ensures that any configurations can be easily confirmed and remembered.
Band Locking
1. Confirm desired RF technology and SIM operator.
The CERNO can measure GSM (2G), UMTS (3G), LTE (4G), and NR SA/NSA (5G) technologies. Confirm your use case and technologies/bands to be tested.
Each operator broadcasts within their own spectrum allocation, which may vary again based on location. Each operator will broadcast on their own set of bands.
Please note: When locked onto a band which is not in use in your vicinity, the CERNO will show no measurements on the CERNO Administration Page.
2. Select the relevant bands under the relevant technology tabs.
When selecting multiple bands, the HEM will usually swap to the highest capacity band, as dictated by base station parameters.
Upon the selection of an NR NSA band, the requisite LTE anchor layer must also be selected. The HEM will not be able to measure an NR NSA band without also locking to its LTE anchor layer.
Tip: Selecting all bands and technologies will allow the HEM to perform similarly to a typical user device – usually swapping to the highest band as dictated by the base station.
For NR NSA Band Locking: If the requisite LTE anchor layer for a specified NR NSA band is unknown, selecting all LTE bands should allow the HEM to serve on the specified NR NSA band. Please also note that a download script must be set for NR NSA to be served on.
3. Click 'Set Band'
Confirm the band lock by unticking any unwanted bands in the pop-up menu, then click ‘Ok’. In most cases, it is recommended to leave all ticked, as the HEM will work out which one to use.
Please note: It may take a few moments for band locks to go through. If the HEM configured does not successfully show configured band locks after a few moments, it is recommended to refresh ‘RF Scan Data’.
Identifying nearby channel
Please note: The CERNO comes equipped with RF scanning functionality – allowing the device to identify all available nearby channels following the configurations set on the CERNO Settings Page.
1. Stand in a location where coverage is likely to be strongest on site.
For macro coverage, this will be near a window or outside.
For DAS coverage, this will be under or close to a DAS antenna.
2. Set relevant Band Locks if identifying serving channels for a specific band.
If Band Locks are not set, the HEM will identify all nearby available channels for all bands. This takes much longer to complete.
Please note: It is recommended that Band Locks should be set prior to identifying nearby channels for Channel Locks.
3. Refresh RF Scan Data
It may take a few moments for information to fill the RF Scan Data table.
Please note: It is recommended to not swap between selected HEMs while performing an RF scan. Selecting another HEM will cause the table to inaccurately update, showing results on incorrect HEM configuration pages.
4. Identify channel number for desired technology, band, and operator.
For further information, See: CERNO Administration Page
Channel Locking
1. Confirm specific channel to be locked to.
The CERNO currently allows for locking to a single specific LTE or NR SA channel per HEM. Locking the HEM to a channel which does not exist in the current band lock setting will cause the HEM to show no measurements.
Please note: Locking a HEM to a second channel will undo the initial channel lock, regardless of channel technology.
2. For NR SA Channels: Select the sub carrier spacing of the desired channel between 15/30/60/120/240kHz.
Tip: 15Khz for lower frequencies and 30Khz for higher frequencies is a good starting point if guessing the sub carrier spacing. If incorrect, no samples will show on the HEM display.
3. Input the relevant channel number into the Channel Lock text boxes
Ensure to input NR SA channels in the NR Channel text box, and LTE channels in the LTE Channel text box.
4. Click ‘Lock Channel’.
Please note: There is currently no indication of the channel each HEM is locked to after refreshing the page; it is therefore recommended that each HEM name should include its relevant channel lock when appropriate.
5. Unlocking Channel Locks
Clicking ‘Unlock’ or locking the HEM to a new channel will undo previous channel locks.
Please note: There is currently no indication that a HEM has been successfully channel locked/unlocked. It is recommended that all channel lock changes are checked prior to removing the HEM name. If channel lock changes are unsuccessful, it is recommended to reboot the CERNO and change the band lock to confirm that the HEM is now serving on other channels.
Setting up scripts
Please note: All HEMs must be inserted with a provisioned SIM card to successfully perform any scripts.
Constructing Scripts
Scripts can be constructed by dragging and dropping included functions from the Function Pane in the middle of the page into the Active Script Pane on the left.
By switching between 'Script 1' and 'Script 2' at the top left of the Active Script Pane, up to two scripts may be constructed per HEM. Each HEM can simultaneously run both constructed scripts while performing RF testing.
Once a desired script is constructed, it must be saved via the “Save Scripts” button at the top left of the Active Script Pane.
Once saved, scripts will be converted into raw text at the bottom of the CERNO Settings Page. This raw text can be copied into the 'raw text' box of other HEMs to easily copy scripts across.
Functions may be deleted by dragging them to the Rubbish Pane to the right of the Function Pane.
Please note: Switching HEMs or refreshing the page will wipe all unsaved scripts. It is recommended to save all scripts immediately after construction.
Common Scripts
Script Components
Set APN
Sets APN to allow HEM to connect to network of inserted SIM. CERNO 4 is sometimes able to automatically connect to networks using relevant APNs but setting an APN prior to performing download or upload scripts is recommended.
Start/End Loop
Loops all functions between the “Start Loop” and “End Loop” functions X times, where X is the number inputted into the “Start Loop” function.
Setting the loop number to a value such as 99999 allows the HEM to loop the script virtually infinitely.
Data Connect
Connects the HEM to data as provisioned by the SIM operator.
Once connected, the HEM will remain connected until turned off. It is therefore recommended that the “Data Connect” function is kept outside of any loops. It is only necessary to run this command on one of the two scripts for each HEM. A simple wait function of a few seconds on the second.
Download/Upload
Downloads or uploads packets from a determined HTTP source. The script will run for the number of seconds inputted in the “Run Time” box.
The HEM must first be connected to data prior to performing any downloads or uploads.
FTP Get/Put
Downloads/Uploads files from a determined FTP server. FTP server details must be correctly inputted prior to use.
The FTP Get block's file path must target an existing file on the FTP server. Ensure this file is of sufficient size (such as 1GB) so that the file download does not complete prior to the timeout. Doing so will cause breaks in the recorded data.
The FTP Put's file path indicates a file which will be created on the FTP server. Note that these files are not automatically deleted, and it is therefore recommended to upload towards a destination folder which regularly clears its contents.
Voice Call
Will call a specified phone number for the number of seconds inputted in the “Timeout” box.
Wait
Will cause the HEM to wait an inputted number of seconds before continuing the remainder of the script.