STATION Network
INSTALL GUIDE

Use the Starlink app obstruction tool to verify the installation address has unobstructed southern sky view. Identify the optimal roof or wall-mount location before ordering hardware.

Cloud Gateway Max should sit in a secure, ventilated interior space — captain’s office, IT closet, or server rack. Needs AC power and proximity to the Starlink router Ethernet output.

Identify 1–2 interior zones with good RF path toward exterior walls. U7 Pro must have line-of-sight or near-LOS through a window or exterior wall toward the planned U6 Outdoor mount point. Mark on station floor plan.

Exterior eave, wall bracket, or soffit. Must have clear path back to the nearest U7 Pro through structure. Confirm no apparatus bay steel doors, thick masonry, or RF-blocking HVAC units between the two units.

Trace routes from Gateway to each U7 Pro. Note wall penetration points, conduit availability, and whether runs pass through apparatus bay (heat/flex conduit required). Measure and document run lengths — max recommended 328 ft (100m) per run.

If any coverage area (rear lot, apparatus bay, adjacent dormitory building) cannot be reached by U6 Outdoor mesh, flag for NanoBeam pair deployment. Document the two endpoints and line-of-sight path.

Inspect the IT closet, server rack, or comms room for an existing patch panel. A patch panel centralizes all Cat 6e runs into a single distribution point, significantly improving network signal distribution and organization across the station. If found, document port count, label layout, and location — this will determine whether a 5-port switch or direct Cloud Gateway Max connection is used. Flag stations with a patch panel for the optional Patch Panel Integration phase.

Schedule install during a shift when the captain or designee is on-site. Confirm access to all areas including roof. Note any station-specific constraints (drill schedules, active incidents, restricted areas).

Mount per Starlink instructions. Run Starlink Ethernet cable to the Cloud Gateway Max WAN port. Do not use the Starlink router in bridge mode unless the station needs it — the Cloud Gateway Max handles routing.

Mount in identified secure location. Connect power. Connect Starlink Ethernet to WAN port. Leave LAN ports ready for Cat 6e runs to U7 Pros.

Pull Cat 6e from Gateway to each U7 Pro mounting point. Use conduit through apparatus bay. Terminate with RJ-45 connectors and test continuity before mounting APs. Label both ends of each run.

Connect Cat 6e run to PoE+ injector DATA IN port; run short patch from DATA+POWER OUT to U7 Pro. Mount U7 Pro to ceiling or wall — orient so the antenna face points toward the exterior wall where U6 Outdoor will mount.

Mount at planned exterior location. No cable run required — the U6 Outdoor receives its uplink wirelessly from the nearest U7 Pro. Ensure the AP face has clear RF path back to the U7 Pro inside. Use weatherproof mounting hardware and outdoor-rated cable for any secondary power runs.

Mount NanoBeam units at both endpoints. Use the NanoBeam’s built-in alignment tool (LED indicators or airOS signal bar) to achieve tight point-to-point alignment. Run Cat 6e from each NanoBeam to the nearest switch port or AP.

Power on in order: (1) Cloud Gateway Max → (2) PoE+ injectors → (3) U7 Pros → (4) U6 Outdoors. Allow 3–5 minutes between each stage for devices to initialize before proceeding to configuration.

Document the patch panel’s port count, which ports are active, and which are free. Trace existing runs to confirm which rooms or zones are already wired. Free ports can be used for new U7 Pro or switch connections without pulling new cable.

If the Cloud Gateway Max has sufficient LAN ports, run a Cat 6e patch cable from each active patch panel port directly to a LAN port on the Gateway. Best for smaller stations with fewer than 5 total device runs. Label each port clearly at both ends.

For stations with more device runs than available Gateway ports, connect the patch panel to a 5-port switch, then run a single uplink cable from the switch to the Cloud Gateway Max LAN port. This expands capacity for U7 Pros, NanoBeam endpoints, and additional devices without requiring a full managed switch. Confirm the 5-port switch is PoE-capable if powering APs directly from it.

Punch down or connect all Cat 6e runs to the patch panel ports. Label every port at the panel and at the device end — use the station number and zone (e.g., FS-51-AP1, FS-51-NANO-A). Test continuity on each run before powering devices.

With the Gateway, switch, and patch panel connected, confirm each downstream device (U7 Pros, NanoBeam units) receives a link light and appears in UniFi before closing up the rack. A device not appearing in UniFi after 3 minutes indicates a cable, port, or PoE issue at the patch panel.

Connect a laptop to the Gateway LAN port or via Wi-Fi. Navigate to unifi.ui.com or the local Gateway IP (default 192.168.1.1). Log in with the RF master UniFi account credentials.

In UniFi → Devices, confirm Gateway, U7 Pros, and U6 Outdoor units all appear as Pending Adoption. Adopt each device into the station’s site. Name each device clearly: e.g., FS-[StationNum]-U7-1, FS-[StationNum]-U6-EXT.

In UniFi → Devices → U7 Pro → Config → Wireless Uplink: confirm the U6 Outdoor is connecting via wireless mesh. Verify the backhaul is running on 6 GHz band to keep 2.4/5 GHz free for clients. Check signal strength of mesh link — target –65 dBm or better.

Create two SSIDs minimum: RF-[StationNum]-OPS (WPA3, for station personnel devices) and RF-[StationNum]-MGMT (isolated management network, for RF/Joseph remote access). Apply consistent RF naming convention across all stations.

Set 2.4 GHz to Auto or Medium power (avoid high in dense station environments). Set 5 GHz and 6 GHz to High. Let UniFi auto-select channels initially; adjust if neighboring AP interference is detected post-install.

Enable UniFi remote access on the Gateway so Joseph can monitor and manage the site from unifi.ui.com without needing a VPN. Confirm the Gateway is registered to the RF UniFi account.

Access each NanoBeam via its management IP. Set one as Access Point mode and the other as Station mode. Confirm link is established and passing traffic. Note management IPs in the station’s network record.

Connect to RF-[StationNum]-OPS and run fast.com or speedtest.net. Document results. Minimum acceptable: 25 Mbps down / 5 Mbps up on the operational SSID from any point in the station.

Walk every room, corridor, bunk area, apparatus bay, and exterior apron with a phone connected to the OPS SSID. Confirm no dead zones. If signal drops below –75 dBm in any occupied area, reposition or add AP before sign-off.

In UniFi → Devices → U6 Outdoor, confirm wireless uplink status shows Connected and mesh link RSSI is –65 dBm or better. If marginal, adjust U7 Pro or U6 Outdoor position before finalizing mount.

Have Joseph log into unifi.ui.com from the RF office and confirm the new station site is visible and all devices show as Connected. Verify he can reboot an AP remotely as a test.

Photograph: dish mount, Gateway install location, each U7 Pro and U6 Outdoor, cable routes. Log serial numbers, device IPs, and SSID credentials in the Grant Tracker Starlinks sheet. Note any station-specific deviations from standard config.

Walk the captain through: SSID names and passwords, who to contact for issues (RF ops: starlink@respondersfirst.la), and monthly reimbursement process. Leave the Starlink One-Pager printed at the station.