It is expected that the FCC will open the 6 GHz band very soon for outdoor applications in the United States and territories under FCC jurisdiction. The new 6 GHz spectrum includes the UNII-5 and UNII-7 bands and will open 850 MHz of new spectrum for outdoor wireless broadband applications. The rules are expected to use a new service called an AFC (Automatic Frequency Coordination). Using thirteen entities and an incumbent database of 6 GHz users, the AFC checks the latitude/longitude geo-location of each radio as it goes into operation and then periodically -every 24 hours- verifies which frequencies can be used to avoid incumbent licensed 6 GHz services. The geo-Location has to be determined dynamically and reported every 24 hours.
Cambium Networks has developed products compatible with the new 6 GHz band and the AFC. We are now awaiting formal approval from the FCC before doing the full commercial launch. To function properly, a USB GPS puck (sku N000940L001A) must be deployed with every Force 4625. In the absence of this USB GPS puck, the radio will not work with AFC as a fixed client.
Based on our shipping records, the current ratio of radios to GPS pucks is about 2:1, meaning that about half of the radios shipped need the GPS puck. If you need them, it is important to contact your Cambium Networks reseller today.
It’s great to see all the interest in 6 GHz coming soon. Here’s a little background on this GPS receiver topic based on some initial feedback.
We’ve been building and shipping these Force 4625 subscriber modules for more than a year to experimental license holders in the United States and Canada. During this time the FCC has been finalizing the 6 GHz rules for unlicensed use with an AFC. We had originally lobbied for and had hoped there would be an allowance for a professional installer to enter the GPS coordinates into the radio GUI at the time of install. This would have eliminated the need for a GPS receiver on the SM and would have kept this cost out of the deployment.
However, at the end of the day, the rules have settled on the need for this GPS receiver to be installed and present at all times on Fixed client deployments to allow the full 36 dBm EIRP. Further, the current rules state that the GPS receiver used must be the one certified with the radio. There are different rules for Fixed client and Standard client. Our expectation is that range and capacity will be critical so these networks will work almost entirely in the Fixed client mode so will need the GPS receiver.
We do include the GPS receiver and antenna on the ePMP 4600 AP and Force 4600C Subscriber to allow for TDD synchronization and location services so nothing extra needs to be ordered there. But the Force 4625 doesn’t include it in the box. As the rules settle out including how the initial deployments go during the first year as well as feedback from the market (meaning WISPtalk and more) we may consider a bundled kit but we always try to keep the deployments economical and would hate to include an accessory and it’s cost in the box that gets thrown away or isn’t needed.
We continue to investigate if there will be other options in the future to allow 3rd party GPS receivers from our ecosystem partners to be tested or used with the radios but for now we just want to get the word out about this requirement as we look forward into 2024 and the coming 6 GHz launch.
There are several concerns about the USB GPS puck. Many have already mentioned it as well.
The USB connectors are not weather proof and will corrode after time exposed to moist environments.
The cost of the selected GPS puck is extremely high vs what we can obtain from Alibaba for the same model. $18 vs $69. Most of us will not need a GPS mounting kit and this will be thrown away. It is the magnet GPS module that we need.
Since the rules have settled on a GPS requirement, would it be possible to have this integrated into the chip set? It would only cost an extra $2(ish) to add the module onto the chip. I mean many other radio manufacturers already do this! You could make it a V2 design. Ubiquiti has done this exact thing with their Wave AP product (adding a SFP+ port, and then changing the 1Gbe interface with a 2.5 Gbe interface.)
The concerns with longevity on the current design is very concerning…
What are Cambium’s thoughts on this interpretation of the FCC rules? Mimosa claims that they can get away with SM GPS coordinates being managed by the AP as long as the AP communicates those locations to the AFC and they do not need GPS on the SM.
The C6x does not have GPS built in. They get GPS coordination from the A6 AP. The C6x would not be able to use GPS without significant redesign.
I believe this is the statement they are using to justify no GPS antennas on their client devices.
A general overview of the method used by the 6SD (access point) and 6FC (fixed-client) for either an internal geolocation capability or a secured connection to an external geolocation device or service, to automatically determine the standard power access point’s geographic coordinates and location uncertainty with a confidence level of 95%
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James_Mifsud
(James Mifsud (Certified Instructor))
6
Absolutely agree on the need for a more rugged antenna solution, the cabling used would die in the Australian heat and UV. Hoping we don’t adopt the same FCC AFC regulations.
Though, if a subscriber uses a GPS; would this location automatically appear on cnMaestro. As a lot of our customers subscribers are more mobile ie subscribers are mounted to trailers.
Hi, since nobody has FCC approval yet there is some room for interpretation. Given the feedback we’ve received from the test labs and directly from the FCC we believe the interpretation that a GPS receiver is required is the correct one. Of course if this shifts we’ll communicate right away.
Thanks for the feedback as we continue to evaluate options here. One criteria is that the GPS receiver needs clear sight of the sky. Many SM’s are deployed under the eaves of rooftops so having a tethered antenna on a USB port gives some flexibility to the installer. Also, the use of a standard USB port gives some flexibility on selecting a GPS model if and when we are able to open up the ecosystem for 3rd parties.
We do expect to be able to report the location of the SM’s in cnMaestro in a future software release.
I’m also curious about any updates for coming V2 models, or hardware revisions to accomodate the inclusion of GPS since it’s a requirement for operating the 6Ghz equipment. I’m based in the U.S. and have already been running into installer training issues with and without the GPS puck installed. Some locations we’ve attempted have been stuck in hold off mode with error codes pointing at high amounts of interference (using the spectrum analyzer reveals completely unrelated channels having high signal strength received by the SM), and thus it cannot connect to our AP no matter what we try.
From what I’ve been told, the F4625 has only been certified by the FCC for use with the one USB GPS puck antenna from Cambium. It would take re-certification to allow for additional USB GPS pucks. Secondly, Cambium confirmed there is only driver support for the one USB GPS puck antenna (people have tried using 3rd party ones and they don’t work).
That being said, if enough people ask for different USB GPS puck options, I’m sure the powers that be at Cambium would take it under consideration. It might be a situation where after the AFC is live, and sales jump up for e4k 6GHz equipment, that they’d do this. I think all of their time and resources are going into firmware improvements, so there’s not a lot of bandwidth to deal with additional USB GPS puck options ATM.
