NetComm CloudMesh Satellite NS-01 Manual

Overview

Prerequisites

To complete the installation of the CloudMesh Satellite, you may require the following items:

• A CloudMesh-enabled gateway with an active Internet connection.
• A computer with an Ethernet adapter or wireless 802.11a/b/g/n/ac capability and the TCP/IP Protocol installed.
• A smartphone or tablet with the Android* or iOS^# operating system.
• A current version of a web browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.

* Android is a trademark of Google LLC.
^# IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.

Notation

The following symbols may be used in this document:

Note – This note contains useful information.

This is important information that may require your attention.

Warning – This is a warning that may require immediate action in order to avoid damage or injury.

Package contents

The CloudMesh Satellite package consists of:

• 1 x NetComm CloudMesh Satellite (NS-01)
• 1 x RJ45 Ethernet cable
• 1 x Quick Start Guide
• 1 x Warranty Card
• 1 x End User License Agreement (EULA)
• 1 x USB-C Power Adaptor (5V/3A)

If any of these items are missing or damaged, please contact NetComm Wireless Support immediately by visiting the NetComm Wireless Support website at:
https://support.netcommwireless.com/

Product features/functionality

Perfect for

• End-users living in larger units / houses searching for a seamless whole-home network solution to improve WiFi coverage.
• ISPs looking to provide a cost-effective, fully integrated WiFi Mesh solution with full control and visibility of all access points to their new and existing customers
• ISPs who wants to reduce number of WiFi related support calls, using self-adapting WiFi Technology on the WiFi Mesh Satellites.

Key features

• Automated WiFi issue resolution with WiFi Auto Pilot
• Seamless connection with a CloudMesh Gateway
• CloudMesh App for WiFi Analytics and Troubleshooting
• LED light bar for indicating the optimal placement of each satellite
• 2 x Gigabit Ports for versatile connectivity
• Vertical PCB and Antenna design for increased Wi-Fi coverage and cooling
• Qualcomm-based chipset for powerful WiFi
• Zero-touch setup, Cloud Orchestration and Seamless WiFi Client Roaming for best user experience

Interfaces

Front view

NO	INTERFACE	DESCRIPTION
1	LED indicator	Provides a visual representation of the status of the CloudMesh Satellite. Refer to the LED indicator section.

Rear view

NO.	INTERFACE	DESCRIPTION
1	Ethernet ports	Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. Can be used to connect clients in bridge mode.
2	USB-C power adapter port	Connect the included power adapter here.
3	WPS button	Push this button within 2 minutes of pushing the 5GHz WPS button on the CloudMesh Gateway to connect (pair) them. During the pairing process, the LED indicator on the front side of the CloudMesh Satellite will be flashing purple.

Bottom view

NO	INTERFACE	DESCRIPTION
1	Reset button	To reset the CloudMesh Satellite, insert a straightened paper clip or similarly shaped object into the small hole marked with the reset icon and hold for ten (10) seconds.

Physical dimensions and weight

The table below lists the physical dimensions and weight of the CloudMesh Satellite.

DIMENSIONS
Width	113 mm
Height	145 mm
Depth	110 mm
Weight	320 grams

Device location

Your CloudMesh Satellite works best when it is placed in a central location to the area you want to cover. Ideally, it should be located no more than two rooms away from the CloudMesh Gateway. To increase the size of your mesh network, you can add multiple CloudMesh Satellites.

Signal strength

The wireless connection between your CloudMesh Satellite and your various WiFi client devices will be strong when they are in close proximity and have direct line of sight. As your client device moves further away from the CloudMesh Satellite / CloudMesh Gateway or solid objects block direct line of sight to the gateway or satellite, your wireless performance may degrade. This may not be directly noticeable, and is greatly affected by the individual installation environment.

Common location considerations

If you have concerns about your network's performance that might be related to range or obstruction factors, try moving the device to a position between three to five metres from the CloudMesh Satellite or CloudMesh Gateway to see if distance is the problem.

Note – While some of the items listed below can affect network performance, they will not prohibit your wireless network from functioning; if you are concerned that your network is not operating at its maximum effectiveness, this check list may help

If you experience difficulties connecting wirelessly between your WiFi Devices and your CloudMesh network, please try the following:

• In multi-storey homes, place the CloudMesh Satellite on a floor that is as close to the centre of the home as possible. This may mean placing the CloudMesh Satellite on an upper floor.
• Try not to place the CloudMesh Satellite near a cordless telephone that operates at the same radio frequency as the CloudMesh Satellite (2.4GHz/5GHz).

Avoiding obstacles and interference
Avoid placing your CloudMesh Satellite near devices that may emit radio "noise," such as microwave ovens.
If your wireless signal seems weak in some spots, make sure that objects such as those listed below are not blocking the signal's path between your devices and the CloudMesh Satellite.
Dense objects that can inhibit wireless communication include:

• Refrigerators
• Washers and/or dryers
• Metal cabinets
• Large aquariums
• Metallic-based, UV-tinted windows

Pair the Unit with your CloudMesh Gateway

Preconfigured – already paired

If the CloudMesh Satellite and the CloudMesh Gateway have been preconfigured by your internet service provider, the devices will already have been paired together and you can turn on both devices and begin using them.

Normal operation of paired devices
The startup sequence of paired a CloudMesh Satellite that is paired with a CloudMesh Gateway is as follows:

1. Turn on your CloudMesh Gateway (refer the CloudMesh Gateway User Guide).
2. Connect to the Internet.
3. Position the CloudMesh Satellite within distance of the CloudMesh Gateway (refer to CloudMesh Satellite location section of this guide, above).
4. Connect the power adapter to the CloudMesh Satellite, the LED will flash red.
5. The CloudMesh Satellite will start initialising, the LED will be solid purple.
6. Wait 10 minutes as the CloudMesh Satellite attempts to pair with the CloudMesh Gateway, the LED will flash blue.
7. When the satellite has been paired with the gateway the LED will be solid white or blue, depending on the signal strength.

If the LED is solid red, this means the signal is poor. Reposition the Satellite closer to the Gateway.
Refer to CloudMesh Satellite location section of this guide, above.

8. The CloudMesh Satellite is now ready to use.

Paired via WPS

If the CloudMesh Satellite and the CloudMesh Gateway have not been setup by your internet service provider, you will need to pair these devices together.

The CloudMesh Satellite can pair with a CloudMesh Gateway using the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) functionality of each device.

1. Place the CloudMesh Satellite next to your CloudMesh Gateway.
2. Connect to power, switch on and wait for both devices to power on.
3. If the CloudMesh Satellite LED light is still flashing blue after ten minutes, this confirms that you will need to pair it with the CloudMesh Gateway.
4. Ensure that the CloudMesh Gateway is connected to the Internet.
5. Press and release the WPS button on the rear of the CloudMesh Satellite.
6. The LED on the CloudMesh Satellite will flash purple to indicate that WPS pairing window has started and will last for two minutes.
7. Press and release the 5G WPS button on the CloudMesh Gateway while CloudMesh Satellite LED is still flashing purple.
8. The pairing process can take up to five minutes. It is normal for the CloudMesh Satellite LED to transition to flash blue to indicate that pairing is in progress.
9. When the pairing process is complete, CloudMesh Satellite's LED light will indicate signal strength, see the LED indicators section below.
10. Position the CloudMesh Satellite in a satisfactory location in your premises and begin using your new mesh.

Pair via Ethernet cable

An alternative pairing method to using WPS is to use the yellow RJ45 Ethernet cable (supplied with the satellite) connected to the Ethernet port of each device to pair the CloudMesh Satellite with a CloudMesh Gateway.

1. Place the CloudMesh Satellite next to your CloudMesh Gateway.
2. Connect to power, switch both on and wait for both devices to power on.
3. If the CloudMesh Satellite LED light is still flashing blue after ten minutes, this confirms that you will need to pair it with the CloudMesh Gateway.
4. Ensure that the CloudMesh Gateway is connected to the Internet.
5. Plug the yellow RJ45 Ethernet cable (supplied with the satellite) into any of the Ethernet ports on the back of each device.
6. Allow 2 minutes for the CloudMesh Satellite to download information from CloudMesh Gateway, the LED will turn solid white.
7. When the satellite has been paired with the gateway the LED will be solid white or blue, depending on the signal strength.
8. Unplug the ethernet cable from between the two devices and wait 10 minutes as CloudMesh Satellite attempts to pair with the CloudMesh Gateway, the LED will flash blue.
9. Position the CloudMesh Satellite in a satisfactory location in your premises.
10. Power on the CloudMesh Satellite and begin using your new mesh.

LED indicators

The following table explains the meaning of the different coloured LED indicator lights and actions.

LED	LED ACTIVITY	MEANING
	Briefly flashes red	Powering on
	Flashing blue	Pairing in progress
	Flashing purple	WPS pairing window
	Solid white	Pairing successful: Good signal
	Solid blue	Pairing successful: Medium signal
	Solid red	Pairing successful: Poor signal
	Flashing red	Firmware upgrade in progress

Connect client devices

You can connect any number of WiFi enabled client devices to the internet via the NS-01 CloudMesh Satellite using the WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) functionality of each device.

In addition, you can connect two peripheral client devices using the ethernet points on the back of the NS-01 CloudMesh Satellite.

Connect a client via WPS

The NS-01 provides two methods to establish a connection with client devices:

• WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) functionality
• Connection via Ethernet

Connect a device using the WPS button (default setting)

1. Bring a WPS enabled device within WiFi range and press the WPS button on the back of the CloudMesh Satellite.
2. The LED on the front of the CloudMesh Satellite will flash purple for up to two minutes.
   Note – You can also connect a client device using the WPS button on the CloudMesh Gateway (or another CloudMesh Satellite on your wireless mesh).
   Once it is connected using one device, it will be connected to all the gateways and satellites on your CloudMesh network.
3. Once the device is connected, the WPS LED will remain illuminated.

Connect a client via Ethernet cable

Alternatively, you can directly connect a device, for example a printer, to the CloudMesh Satellite using an ethernet cable.

1. Connect the yellow Ethernet cable provided to one of the yellow ports marked 'Ethernet' at the back of the NS-01.
2. Connect the other end of the yellow Ethernet cable to your client device.

Turn off the LED light

In some locations, for example a bedroom, the LED light may become an unwanted distraction.

To control the display of the CloudMesh Satellite's LED light, press and hold the WPS button for 7 seconds to switch the light's display between ON or OFF.

Device Web User Interface

This section contains information on accessing the NS-01's web user interface and how to perform firmware upgrade and accessing the logging feature.

Device firmware upgrade

Periodically both the gateway and its satellites will have firmware updates released to improve their performance.

We recommend always applying the latest upgrade when it becomes available, and at the same time you should check that the other components of the mesh also have their most recent version of firmware installed.

There are two ways of accessing the NS-01 Web User Interface. The method to use depends on whether or not the CloudMesh Satellite is paired with its Gateway or not.

If the CloudMesh Satellite is currently paired to a CloudMesh Gateway you can access the NS01's Web User Interface by typing its unique hostname into the URL test entry box.

The unique hostname for each CloudMesh Satellite is based on the following formula:

• http://ns-01-XXXX.local
• Where XXXX is the last 4 digits of that Satellite's unique serial number.
  The CloudMesh Satellite's serial number can be found on the label affixed to its bottom:
  

If the device is not paired, please first follow the instructions from section of "Set NS-01 IP connectivity to access Web UI" to set up a static IP for the Satellite and then continue from step 4.b of this section, below.

To access the NS-01 Web User Interface:

1. Connect the supplied power adapter into the USB connection on the bottom of your CloudMesh Satellite (NS-01) and plug the power adaptor into a power point.
   If necessary, switch the power point switch on at the wall.
2. Allow 60 – 90 seconds for the NS-01 to power up.
3. Connect the supplied RJ45 Ethernet cable from one of the two yellow ETHERNET ports on the bottom of the NS-01 CloudMesh Satellite to an Ethernet port on your computer.
   
4. Open a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc) and type in the IP address appropriate for your Satellite:
   1. If your CloudMesh Satellite is currently paired to a CloudMesh Gateway, type the unique hostname that you based on the formula described earlier in this section.
   2. If your CloudMesh Satellite is not paired to a CloudMesh Gateway, type the static IP address that you defined using the instructions in Set NS01 IP connectivity to access Web UI.
5. At the Authorization Required screen:
   
   1. Type admin into the Username field,
   2. Enter the serial number (Serial No) printed on the label on the label on the bottom of the NS-01 into the Password field, and
   3. Click the Login button.
6. Upon successful login, the Status page will display.
7. Select System > Backup/Flash Firmware from the menu in the toolbar of the screen:
   
8. From the Flash Operations screen select the Actions tab and in the Flash new firmware image section make the following settings:
   1. Deselect the Keep settings option
   2. Click the Browse button to locate and upload the NS-01 firmware upgrade file.
      
   3. When the file has been uploaded, its filename will appear immediately to the right of the Browse button.
   4. Click the Flash image button to proceed.
9. The system will read the file and ask you to Verify its details:
   
10. Click the Proceed button to finalise the upgrade process.
11. A progress message page appears:
    
12. Wait four to six minutes and then refresh the browser, you will be returned to the Authorization Required screen.
13. Log in as you did in step 5, above.

Upon successful login, the Status page will display.

View the unit log

The NS-01 compiles a chronological log of all recent events.

In the NS-01's web user interface, click Status in the main menu and select System Log from its drop-down menu.

Each log entry has a date and timestamp and a short description of the event.

Device reset

To reset the CloudMesh Satellite, insert a straightened paper clip or similarly shaped object into the small hole on the bottom of the satellite marked with the reset icon .

Press and hold the reset button for ten (10) seconds to return the satellite to its factory default settings.

Note – The gateway and its satellite(s) will still be paired once connected to the internet.
You will not have to repeat the pairing process, just start both up, connect the gateway to the internet and they will automatically pair (this pairing process may take a few minutes).

Safety Information

Please read before use:

LOCATION
This device is designed for indoor use only.
Place the device in a central location for the best WiFi performance.

AIRFLOW
Do not restrict airflow around the device.
The device is air cooled and may overheat where airflow has been restricted.
Always allow minimum clearance of 5cm around all sides and the top of the device.
Do not cover, do not put in an enclosed space, do not put under or behind large items of furniture.
Your device may become warm during normal use

ENVIRONMENT
Do not place this device in direct sunlight or any hot areas.
Safe operating temperature of this device is between 0° and 40°C
Do not allow this device to come in contact with any liquid or moisture. Do not place this device in any wet or humid areas such as kitchen, bathroom or laundry rooms.

POWER SUPPLY
Always use only the power supply unit that came with the device. You should immediately stop using the power supply unit if the cable or power supply unit is damaged.

SERVICE
There are no user-serviceable components in the device.
Do not attempt to disassemble, repair, or modify the device.

SMALL CHILDREN
Do not leave your device and its accessories within the reach of small children or allow them to play with it. Your device contains small parts with sharp edges that may cause an injury or which could become detached and create a choking hazard.

RF EXPOSURE
The device contains a transmitter and a receiver. When it is on, it receives and transmits RF energy. The device conforms with the radio frequency (RF) exposure limits adopted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Radiation - Human Exposure) Standard 2014, when used at a distance of not less than 20 cm from the body.

PRODUCT HANDLING
Always treat your device and its accessories with care and keep it in a clean and dust-free place.
Do not expose your device or its accessories to open flames.
Do not drop, throw or try to bend your device or its accessories.
Do not use harsh chemicals, cleaning solvents, or aerosols to clean the device or its accessories.
Do not paint your device or its accessories.
Please check local regulations for disposal of electronic products.
Arrange power and Ethernet cables in a manner such that they are not likely to be stepped on or have items placed on them.

Set IP connectivity to access Web UI

If your CloudMesh Satellite NS-01 is currently not paired to a CloudMesh Gateway you will have to access the Satellite directly using a separate IP address that you create for it.

As the CloudMesh Satellite does not have its own DHCP server, you must manually set the IP address of your PC to be in the 192.168.1.x subnet.

The static IP address cannot be 192.168.1.1 and must be any number in the range: 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254

To set a static IP address:

1. On the computer that you will use to connect to the NS-01 Satellite, click the Windows Start button in the lower left:
   
2. Type View Network Connections.
3. Select View Network Connections when it appears in the search results box:
   
4. From the Network connections page, right click on the connection that you had used to connect to the Gateway:
   
5. Select Properties from the popup menu:
   
6. In the Networking tab of the Ethernet Properties dialog box, go to the list of This connection uses the following items:
   Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4)
   
7. Double click on Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4), see blue highlight above.
8. The Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) Properties page appears:
   
9. Select Use the following IP address to enter the details of the new static IP address for the NS-01 CloudMesh Satellite:
   1. In the IP address text box enter any IP address in the range: 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254
   2. In the Subnet mask text box enter: 255.255.255.0
   3. In the Default gateway text box enter the IP address of the CloudMesh Satellite: 192.168.1.1
10. Click the OK button to close the Internet the Ethernet Properties dialog box.
11. Click the close button to close the Network connections page.

Technical specifications

WIRELESS NETWORK

• IEEE 802.11 ac/n/g/a

WIRED NETWORK

• 2 x Auto-sensing Gigabit LAN ports

DIMENSIONS

• 113 (w) x 145 (h) x 110 (d) mm

WEIGHT

• 320g

POWER INPUT

• 100 V to 240 V/AC, 50/60 Hz

TEMPERATURE
Operating Temperature Range:

• 0 to 40°C

Storage Temperature Range:

• 20 to 70°C (-4 to 158°F)

HUMIDITY
Operating Humidity Range:

• 10% to 90% non-condensing

Storage Humidity Range:

• 5% to 90% non-condensing

PART NUMBER

• NS-01-01

NetComm Wireless Limited was acquired by Casa Systems, Inc.
Casa Systems, the future of NetComm

ANZ HEAD OFFICE
SYDNEY
Casa Systems Inc.
18-20 Orion Road, Lane Cove
NSW 2066, Sydney
Australia | +61 2 9424 2070
www.netcomm.com

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
ANDOVER
Casa Systems Inc.
100 Old River Road,
Andover, MA 01810
USA | +1 978 688 6706
www.casa-systems.com

© NetComm Wireless 2020

Documents / Resources

References

• Home | NetComm Wireless Support
• Home - Casa Systems
• Home - Casa Systems

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Download NetComm CloudMesh Satellite NS-01 Manual