MONNIT Alta 4G LTE Cellular Gateway User Guide

June 5, 2024
MONNIT

MONNIT-Alta-4G-LTE-Cellular-Gateway-LOGO

**MONNIT Alta 4G LTE Cellular Gateway

**

ABOUT THE LTE CELLULAR GATEWAY

Monnit’s ALTA LTE Cellular Gateway allows you to control your sensors’ settings without additional IT infrastructure. All you need is a power source to monitor your environment and equipment using Monnit’s industry-leading devices. The LTE Cellular Gateway communicates with sensors and iMonnit® to deliver data alerting you to conditions in a surrounding area. LTE Cellular Gateways operate utilizing 4G LTE CAT-M1/NB1 cellular technology.
The LTE Cellular Gateway is a specialized device with an incredible range. This advanced wireless loT (Internet of Things) gateway accommodates multiple vertical loT application segments and remote wireless sensor management solutions. Your gateway is equipped with a 24-hour backup battery.• Monn it Wireless AL TA Sensors will continue to communicate with iMonnit via cellular transmission in a power outage event. The LTE Cellular Gateway is ideal for applications without an existing wired Internet connection or where existing infrastructure is dedicated to other resources.

ALTA LTE CELLULAR GATEWAY FEATURES

  • Wireless range of 1,200+ feet through 12+ walls
  • Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
  • Improved interference immunity
  • Encrypt-RF® Security (Diffie-Hellman Key Exchange + AES-128 CBC for sensor data messages)
  • Up to 30,000 sensor message memory
  • Over-the-air updates (future proof)
  • True plug & play-no hassles for Internet configuration set-up ••
  • No PC required for operation
  • Low-cost cellular service packages
  • Local status LEDs with transmission and online status indicators
  • 24-hour battery backup in event of power outage
  • Actual range may vary depending on environment.
  • When paired with a Monnit data plan.

EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS

  • Remote Location Monitoring
  • Shipping and Transportation
  • Agricultural Monitoring
  • Vacant Property Management
  • Vacation Home Property Management
  •  Construction Site Monitoring
  • Data Center Monitoring

HOW YOUR GATEWAY WORKS

Your ALTA LTE Cellular Gateway manages communication between your sensors and iMonnit. When running, the gateway will periodically transmit data on a heartbeat. The gateway will store information received from sensors until its next heartbeat. The ALTA L TE Cellular Gateway is a cellular gateway. It uses cellular towers to relay data received from sensors to iMonnit. Sensors communicate with the gateway, then the gateway relays information to the cloud. For your wireless sensors to work optimally, orient all antennas for your sensor(s) and gateway(s) the same direction (typically vertical). Sensors must also be at least three feet away from other sensors and the wireless gateway in order to function properly.

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GATEWAY SECURITY

The AL TA LTE Cellular Gateway has been designed and built to securely manage data from sensors monitoring your environment and equipment. Hacking from botnets are in the headlines, Monnit Corporation has taken extreme measures to ensure your data security is handled with the utmost care and attention to detail. The same methods utilized by financial institutions to transmit data are also used in Monnit security infrastructure. Security features of the gateway include tamper proof network interfaces, data encryption, and bank- grade security. Monnit’s proprietary sensor protocol uses low transmit power and specialized radio equipment to transmit application data. Wireless devices listening on open communication protocols cannot eavesdrop on sensors. Packet level encryption and verification is key to ensuring traffic isn’t altered between sensors and gateways. Paired with a best-in-class range and power consumption protocol, all data is transmitted securely from your devices. Thereby ensuring a smooth, worry-free, experience.

SENSOR COMMUNICATION SECURITY
Monnit sensor to gateway secure wireless tunnel is generated using ECDH-256 (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman) public key exchange to generate a unique symmetric key between each pair of devices. Sensors and gateways use this link specific key to process packet level data with hardware-accelerated 128-bit AES encryption which minimizes power consumption to provide industry best battery life. Thanks to this combination, Monnit proudly offers robust bank- grade security at every level.

DATA SECURITY ON THE GATEWAY
The ALTA LTE gateway is designed to prevent prying eyes from accessing the data that is stored on the sensors. The AL TA LTE Cellular Gateway does not run on an off the shelf multi-function OS (operating system). Instead it runs a purpose specific real-time embedded state machine that cannot be hacked to run malicious processes. There are also no active interface listeners that can be used to gain access to the device over the network. The fortified gateway secures your data from attackers and secures the gateway from becoming a relay for malicious programs.

SERVER COMMUNICATION SECURITY
Communication between your ALTA LTE Cellular Gateway and iMonnit is secured by packet level encryption. Similar to the security between the sensors and gateway, the gateway and server also establish a unique key using ECDH-256 for encrypting data. The packet level data is encrypted end to end removing additional requirements to configure specialized cellular VPN’s. The gateway can still operate within a VPN if it is present. Because all traffic is initiated from the gateway there is no special IP configuration needed for the gateway allowing it to operate with any 4G LTE CAT-M1/NB1 enabled SIM provider.

GATEWAY REGISTRATION

If this is your first time using the iMonnit online portal, you will need to create a new account. If you have already created an account, start by logging in. For instructions on how to register for an iMonnit account, please consult the iMonnit User Guide.

REGISTERING THE GATEWAY

You will need to enter the Device ID and the Security Code from your L TE Cellular Gateway in the corresponding text boxes. Use the camera on your smartphone to scan the QR code on your Gateway. If you do not have a camera on your phone, or you are accessing the online portal through a desktop computer, you may enter the Device ID and Security Code manually.

  • The Device ID is a unique number located on each device label.
  • Next you’ll be asked to enter the Security Code (SC) on your device. A security code will be all letters, no numbers. It can also be found on the barcode label of your gateway.MONNIT-Alta-4G-LTE-Cellular-Gateway-3

USING THE POWER INTERRUPT SWITCH
The ALTA4G LTE Industrial Gateway comes with a power interrupt operated by a magnetic reed switch. The power interrupt disconnects both the main power supply and battery backup. Use this feature if you need to force a reset of the gateway without opening the waterproof seal. When magnetic contact is made, gateway status lights will turn off, indicating successful power interruption.

SETTING UP AND POWERING ON THE GATEWAY

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  1. Connect your antennas to the gateway as seen in the below diagram.
  2.  Plug the power supply cord into an outlet.
  3.  After the three LED lights switch to green, your network is ready to use.

UNDERSTANDING THE GATEWAY LIGHTS

The gateway will enter three stages as it powers on:
Power-on stage: The gateway will analyze electronics and programming. The LED lights will flash red and green, before all becoming green for one second. In case of failure, the light sequence will repeat after ten seconds. Please contact technical support if the lights aren’t green after two minutes.
Connection stage: The gateway will attempt to settle all operational connections. As the gateway first connects to the network, all other lights will be dark. A blinking green light indicates the gateway is attempting to make a tower connection. A flashing red light is a signal the cellular connection has encountered a problem.
Operational stage: All of the lights will remain green while powered externally, unless there is an issue. A blinking cellular link light is a signal that the gateway has encountered an issue in the cellular network .MONNIT-Alta-4G-LTE-Cellular-Gateway-6

If your gateway is running off battery power or the device has been switched to a low power mode, all lights are off. The sensor data light will blink green when data is received by the gateway. The internet server light will blink every five seconds the status of the last connection. If the light is green, the communication was good. If the light is red, the communication failed.
On battery power or “Forced-low power” mode : If your gateway is running off battery power or the device has been switched to a low power mode, all lights are off. The sensor data light will blink green when data is received by the gateway. The internet server light will blink every five seconds the status of the last connection. If the light is green, the communication was good. If the light is red, the communication failed.
Utility button actions: The utility button can be used during the operational stage to perform a configuration reset or a full factory reset. The configuration reset will erase all your unique settings and return the gateway to factory default settings, while saving any data collected by the sensors prior to the reset. The full factory reset will not only restore default settings, but will also erase any data on the gateway. To perform a configuration reset, the utility button is pressed for between five and ten seconds and released as well during that window of time. After pressing the utility button for more than five seconds, all the LEDs turn solid red and releasing the button during this LED display will result the configuration reset. If the utility button is held for more than ten seconds, all the LEDs will begin to blink red. Releasing the utility button when all the LEDs are blinking red will result in a full factory reset of the gateway, restoration of default settings, and the loss of all data in memory.

LTE CELLULAR GATEWAY SETTINGS

The LTE Cellular Gateway will receive data from all sensors assigned to the network and within range, then return this data to the server in a series of heartbeats.
You can access gateway settings by selecting “Gateways” in the main navigation panel. Choose the LTE Cellular Gateway from the list of gateways registered to your account. Select the “Settings” tab to edit the gateway:MONNIT-Alta-4G-
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The Gateway Name field is where you assign your gateway a unique title. By default, the gateway name will be the type followed by the Device ID. The Heartbeat Minutes configures the interval that the gateway checks in with the server. The default is fifteen minutes. So every fifteen minutes your gateway will report to the server.  The Global System for Mobile Communications utilizes a fifteen digit (International Mobile Subscriber IMSI Identity) number as the primary mode to identify the country, mobile network, and subscriber. It is formatted as MCC-MNC-MSIN. MCC is the Mobile Network Code attached to the cellular network. MSIN is a serial number making identification ICCID number corresponding to the cellular SIM card. It is possible to change the information contained on a SIM (including the IMSI), but the identity of the SIM itself remains the same. (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a number exclusive to your LTE Cellular E. IMEI Gateway to identify the gateway to the cell tower. The Global System for Mobile Communications network stores the IMEI numbers in their database (EIR – Equipment Identity Register) containing all valid cellular equipment.  The On Aware Messages option changes the reporting behavior such that, when thisoption is toggled to “Trigger Heartbeat,” if the sensor(s) reach an aware state outside of the heartbeat interval, the gateway will immediately relay that data to the server instead of waiting the extra time it would take to reach the next heartbeat minute. If the option is toggled to “Wait for Heartbeat,” the gateway will not relay data to the server, even if sensor(s) reach an aware  state, until the next heartbeat.  Standard The drop-down option, a menu Force for Low Gateway Power option, Power Force Mode High allows Power the user option. select When between Standard a is power selected, mode the when gateway the will gateway operate in operates high on power backup mode battery when line power. power When is Force provided Low and low Power is selected, the gateway always operates in low power mode, even when line powerwer is mode, provided, even and when when relying High on the Power is backup selected, battery, the reducing gateway the life always of the operates backup in high battery. po  port The used field to for communicate Primary Server with the displays gateway. the URL for the Monnit server, together with the

Commands
Choose the bullet for Commands located just under the Settings title to access the commands page.MONNIT-Alta-4G-LTE-Cellular-
Gateway-8

The Auto Reset field configures the interval, in number of hours, at which the gateway automatically resets to help maintain normal function. The default is 168 hours, or one week. During an automatic reset, the sensor(s) will store all their data to send to the gateway as soon as the reset is complete, whereupon the data is relayed by the gateway to the server. Selecting the Reform Network command will trigger the gateway to remove all sensors from the internal whitelist, and then request a new sensor list from the server. This command will force all sensors to reinitialize their connection with the gateway.Reforming the network cleans up communication when multiple networks are in range of each other so they are all in sync. This is especially useful if you must move sensors to a new network, and would like to clear these sensors from the gateway’s internal list. Reforming the network will place a new list of sensors that will continue to exchange data.  Choosing the Reset Gateway to Factory Defaults button will erase all your unique settings and return the gateway to factory default settings.

SUPPORT
For technical support and troubleshooting tips please visit our support library online at monnit.com/support/. If you are unable to solve your issue using our online support, email Monnit support at support@monnit.com with your contact information and a description of the problem, and a support representative will call you within one business day. For error reporting, please email a full description of the error to support@monnit.com.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

(a) Monnit warrants that Monnit-branded products (Product) will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery with respect to hardware and will materially conform to their published specifications for a period of one (1) year with respect to software. Monnit may resell sensors manufactured by other entities and are subject to their individual warranties; Monnit will not enhance or extend those warranties. Monnit does not warrant that the software or any portion thereof is error free. Monnit will have no warranty obligation with respect to Products subjected to abuse, misuse, negligence or accident. If any software or firmware incorporated in any Product fails to conform to the warranty set forth in this section, Monnit shall provide a bug fix or software patch correcting such non-conformance within a reasonable period after Monnit receives from customer (i) notice of such non-conformance, and (ii) sufficient information regarding such non-conformance so as to permit Monnit to create such bug fix or software patch. If any hardware component of any Product fails to conform to the warranty in this section, Monnit shall, at its option, refund the purchase price less any discounts, or repair or replace nonconforming Products with conforming Products, or Products having substantially identical form, fit, and function and deliver the repaired or replacement Product to a carrier for land shipment to customer within a reasonable period after Monnit receives from customer (i) notice of such non- conformance, and (ii) the non-conforming Product provided; however, if, in its opinion, Monnit cannot repair or replace on commercially reasonable terms it may choose to refund the purchase price. Repair parts and replacement Products may be reconditioned or new. All replacement Products and parts become the property of Monnit. Repaired or replacement Products shall be subject to the warranty, if any remains, originally applicable to the Product repaired or replaced. Customer must obtain from Mon nit a Return Material Authorization Number (RMA) prior to returning any Products to Monnit. Products returned under this warranty must be unmodified.Customer may return all Products for repair or replacement due to defects in original materials and workmanship if Monn it is notified within one year of customer’s receipt of the Product. Monnit reserves the right to repair or replace Products at its own and complete discretion. Customer must obtain from Monnit a Return Material Authorization Number (RMA) prior to returning any Products to Monnit. Products returned under this Warranty must be unmodified and in original packaging. Monnit reserves the right to refuse warranty repairs or replacements for any Products that are damaged or not in original form. For Products outside the one year warranty period repair services are available at Monnit at standard labor rates for a period of one year from the customer’s original date of receipt. (b) As a condition to Monn it’s obligations under the immediately preceding paragraphs, customer shall return Products to be examined and replaced to Monnit’s facilities, in shipping cartons which clearly display a valid RMA number provided by Monnit. Customer acknowledges that replacement Products may be repaired, refurbished or tested and found to be complying. Customer shall bear the risk of loss for such return shipment and shall bear all shipping costs. Monnit shall deliver replacements for Products determined by Monnit to be properly returned.(c) Monnit’s sole obligation under the warranty described or set forth here shall be to repair or replace non- conforming Products as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph, or to refund the documented purchase price for non-conforming Products to customer. Monnit’s warranty obligations shall run solely to customer, and Monnit shall have no obligation to customers of customer or other users of the products.
Limitation of Warranty and Remedies. THE WARRANTY SET FORTH HEREIN IS THE ONLY WARRANTY APPLICABLE TO PRODUCTS PURCHASED BY CUSTOMER. ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. MONNIT’S LIABILITY WHETHER IN CONTRACT, IN TORT, UNDER ANY WARRANTY, IN NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID BY CUSTOMER FOR THE PRODUCT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL MONNIT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. THE PRICE STATED FOR THE PRODUCTS IS A CONSIDERATION IN LIMITING MONNIT’S LIABILITY. NO ACTION, REGARDLESS OF FORM, ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT BY CUSTOMER MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION HAS ACCRUED.
IN ADDITION TO THE WARRANTIES DISCLAIMED ABOVE, MONNIT SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL LIABILITY AND WARRANTIES, IMPLIED OR EXPRESSED, FOR USES REQUIRING FAIL-SAFE PERFORMANCE IN WHICH FAILURE OF A PRODUCT COULD LEAD TO DEATH, SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LIFE SUPPORT OR MEDICAL DEVICES OR NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS. PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR AND SHOULD NOT BE USED IN ANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS.

CERTIFICATIONS

United States FCC
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital devices, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one of more of the following measures:

  • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
  • Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver
  • Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
  • Consult the dealer or an experienced radiofrV technician for help.

Warning: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Monnit could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
RF Exposure

Monnit and ALTA Cellular Gateways: This equipment complies with the radiation exposure limits prescribed for an uncontrolled environment for fixed and mobile use conditions. This equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum distance of 23 cm between the radiator and the body of the user or nearby persons. All ALTA Wireless Sensors and Gateways Contain FCC ID: ZTL- G2SC1.
Approved Antennas
ALTA devices have been designed to operate with an approved antenna listed below, and having a maximum gain of 14 dBi. Antennas having a gain greater than 14 dBi are strictly prohibited for use with this device. The required antenna impedance is 50 ohms.

  • Xianzi XQZ-900E (5 dBi Dipole Omnidirectional)
  • HyperLink HG908U-PRO (8 dBi Fiberglass Omnidirectional)
  • HyperLink HG8909P (9 dBd Flat Panel Antenna)
  • HyperLink HG914YE-NF (14 dBd Yagi)
  • Specialized Manufacturing MC-ANT-20/4.0C (1 dBi 4″ whip)

Monnit 4G LTE International Cellular Gateway models starting with MNG2-9-LTE- CCE and MNG2-9-ELTE-CCE also contain module: FCC ID: XPY2AGQN4NNN
The system antenna(s) used with the device must not exceed the following levels:

  • 3.67 dBi in 700 MHz, i.e. LTE FDD-12 band
  • 10 dBi in 850 MHz, i.e. LTE FDD-5 band
  • 6.74 dBi in 1700 MHz, i.e. LTE FDD-4 band
  • 7.12 dBiin 1900 MHz, i.e. LTE FDD-2 band

Under Industry Canada regulations, this radio transmitter may only operate using an antenna of a type and maximum (or lesser) gain approved for the transmitter by Industry Canada. To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain should be so chosen that the Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (E.l.R.P) is not more than that necessary for successful communication.
The radio transmitters (IC: 9794A-RFSC1, IC: 9794A-G2SC1, IC: 4160a-CNN0301, IC: 5131A-CE910DUAL, IC: 5131A-HE910NA, IC: 5131A-GE910 and IC: 8595A2AGQN4NNN) have been approved by Industry Canada to operate with the antenna types listed on previous page with the maximum permissible gain and required antenna impedance for each antenna type indicated. Antenna types not included in this list, having a gain greater than the maximum gain indicated for that type, are strictly prohibited for use with this device. This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATTONS

READ CAREFULLY
Be sure the use of this product is allowed in the country and in the environment required. The use of this product may be dangerous and has to be avoided in the following areas:

  • Where it can interfere with other electronic devices in environments such as hospitals airports, aircrafts, etc.
  • Where there is risk of explosion such as gasoline stations, oil refineries, etc.

It is responsibility of the user to enforce the country regulation and the specific environment regulation. Do not disassemble the product; any mark of tampering will compromise the warranty validity. We recommend following the instructions of this user guide for correct setup and use of the product. Please handle the product with care, avoiding any dropping and contact with the internal circuit board as electrostatic discharges may damage the product itself. The same precautions should be taken if manually inserting a SIM card, checking carefully the instruction for its use. Do not insert or remove the SIM when the product is in power saving mode. Every device has to be equipped with a proper antenna with specific characteristics. The antenna has to be installed with care in order to avoid any interference with other electronic devices and has to guarantee a minimum distance from the body (23 cm). In case this requirement cannot be satisfied, the system integrator has to assess the final product against the SAR regulation. The European Community provides some Directives for the electronic equipment introduced on the market. All the relevant information’s is available on the European Community website: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/rtteldocuments/ The text of the Directive 99/05 regarding telecommunication equipments is available, while the applicable Directives (Low Voltage and EMC) are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/electrical Additional Information and Support For additional information or more detailed instructions on how to use your Monnit Wireless Sensors or the iMonnit Online System, please visit us on the web.

References

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