Install a Base Station

Install a Base Station before installing Outdoor Gateways for Outdoor Staff Safe coverage. The Outdoor Gateways rely on the Base Stations being installed and connected to the Kontakt.io platform.

For how Outdoor Staff Safe coverage works and how the devices communicate, see About Outdoor Staff Safe coverage.

Prerequisites

Before installing the Base Station, make sure the following are complete:

• Kontakt.io deployment ticket: includes the security keys, certificate bundle, and regional endpoint required for configuration.
• Network firewall rules allow outbound WSS traffic on port 443 to the regional endpoint: wss://chirpstack-gw.cloud.us.kontakt.io:443.
• Laptop or mobile device: required to connect to the Base Station default Wi-Fi access point for first-time configuration.
• Mobile device: Kio Setup Manager mobile app installed and updated to the latest version.
  • Bluetooth enabled
  • internet connection available through Wi-Fi or cellular
  • iPhone or iPad: iOS 17 or later
  • Android phone or tablet: Android 8 or later
• User role: you are assigned the Setup Manager (mobile) Installer role. Roles are assigned in the Kio Cloud Users app by a User Management Administrator or through your organization’s SSO identity provider.
• Kontakt.io order claimed: the order ID is claimed in Device Management.
• Smart Location setup complete: the Base Station is not assigned to an install location in Smart Location. Only Outdoor Gateways are assigned to a Parking Lot location. Before beginning a Outdoor Staff Safe deployment, make sure Smart Location setup is complete for each parking lot.
• Device power source: have one of the following power options available at the mounting location:
  • The supplied DC power adapter and a nearby AC outlet.
  • PoE from a compatible switch port or PoE injector.

What's included

The Base Station is supplied with:

• (1) Base Station unit

• (2) 12V DC power adapter

• (3) Mounting plate and screws

• (4) Antenna (two antenna types determined by the kit type)

  • Standard kit antenna with a 90-degree connector.
  - Optional Long Range (5 dBi) straight antenna for demanding environments.

  Note: The device label, packaging, or manufacturer manual may show the model name Milesight UG-65. This is the Base Station.

Coverage area

When installed at the recommended height with a clear path to the parking lot, one Base Station can cover up to 1,200 ft (400 m) in any direction across a parking lot. Buildings, building corners, dense trees, large signs, and metal structures can reduce coverage. Use the deployment plan and site conditions to confirm the final location.

For backup coverage, install at least two Base Stations with overlapping coverage. If one Base Station goes offline, nearby Outdoor Gateways can send data through another Base Station in range. Each Outdoor Gateway uses the Base Station with the best available connection. If that connection is lost and another Base Station is available, the gateway can switch to the other station.

Mounting and placement guidelines

The Base Station is installed indoors. Common locations include a top-floor interior wall or a network closet with a clear signal path toward the parking lot. Choose a location with a clear signal path to the parking lot. LoRaWAN performance depends on line-of-sight, antenna height, and nearby obstructions.

Required location

• Mount at location where its antenna as high as practical with clear line-of-sight to the parking lot.
• Install the device at least one floor above the parking lot level when possible.
• Keep the antenna vertical. If you must mount the unit horizontally, for example under a soffit, use an external antenna with a vertical whip and a low-loss coaxial extension.
• Ensure the antenna has at least 10 inches of clearance from metal in all directions.
• If the unit must be mounted horizontally, for example under a soffit, use an external antenna with a vertical whip and a low-loss coaxial extension.

Locations to avoid

Do not mount the Base Station:

• Lower than the Outdoor Gateways.
• Below ground-level.
• Behind multiple interior walls.
• Inside metal cabinets, closed IT racks, or mechanical closets.
• Directly against ductwork, large structural steel, or HVAC equipment.
• Behind low-E glass or metallized window film when the signal must pass through the window to reach the parking lot.
• Anywhere the antenna cannot be mounted vertically with at least 10 inches of clearance from metal in all directions.

Step 1: Mount the Base Station

1. Confirm the install location meets every guideline in Mounting and placement guidelines.
2. Wall mounting: Mark and drill the mounting holes, or use 3M double-sided tape, or position the rack rails or bracket.
3. Attach the antenna (or antennas) to the base station antenna connectors — tighten by hand only.
4. Connect the Ethernet cable to local network port.
5. Apply power with PoE or the supplied DC power adapter.
6. Attach the Base Station to the supplied bracket.
7. Verify the device powers on. The Power, ETH, Status, and Wi-Fi LEDs turn solid turquoise within 60 seconds. The LoRa LED may also become active at this stage; you can ignore it for now.

Step 2: Configure the Base Station in the web panel

The Base Station is configured in its built-in web panel. The device ships with a default Wi-Fi access point enabled for first-time setup. You will turn off the default Wi-Fi access point after the device is configured and reachable over Ethernet.

1. From your laptop or mobile device,join the base station's default Wi-Fi access point. The default Wi-Fi SSID and Password are printed on the sticker attached to the back of the device and documented in the Milesight UG-65 user manual that ships with the unit. Kontakt.io does not pre-configure them.

2. Open a browser and go to: `192.168.1.1` > sign in with the default credentials: username `admin`, password `password`. > **Note:** Manufacturer defaults may change between firmware versions. A previously deployed unit may also have a different password. If the default credentials do not work, check the manufacturer manual or the Kontakt.io deployment ticket. 3. From the **Choose Your LoRa Antenna Type**, select **External Antenna** > **Next**. > **Note:** The base station can use the internal antenna, but it is not recommended. 4. **Change the default password** immediately, write down the **New Password**, select **Save**. During step 3, you'll add this password to the device's notes for future reference (saved in the device's profile in Device Management). 5. Turn off the embedded packet forwarder: From the left menu, select **Packet Forwarder** > from the **Multi-Destination** section's **Operation column**, select the **edit icon** > set the **Type** to **Embedded NS** > clear the **Enable** checkbox > **Save**. 6. Add a new **Basics Station** forwarder. From the **Multi-Destination** section's **Operation column**, select the **+** icon > select the **Enable** checkbox > set the **Type** to **Basics Station**. Proceed to the next step to configure the **Connecting to an LNS** settings. 7. In the **Connecting to an LNS** section, you will set the URl, and upload the trust certificate, client certificate, and client key file provided in the **Kontakt.io deployment ticket.** - Set the **URI** to the regional endpoint: `wss://chirpstack-gw.cloud.us.kontakt.io:443` - **Upload** the **CA File (*trust)**, **Client Certificate File (.crt)**, and the **Client Key File (*.key)** > Select **Import** for each certificate file after you upload it. 8. **Save** the configuration > **Save** the **Packet Forwarder** configuration. 9. Connect the **Base Station** to the **local Ethernet network** if it is not already connected. 10. From the **Multi-Destination** section, **confirm** the **Basics Station** > **Connected Status** column shows **Connected**. 11. Turn off the default Wi-Fi access point in the web panel. From the left menu, go to **Network** > **Interface** > **WLAN**. 12. On the front panel of the Base Station, confirm the **Wi-Fi LED** is **off**.

From this point on, the Base Station is reachable only over the local Ethernet network.

Step 3: Verify install with the Kio Setup Manager mobile app

Kio Setup Manager provides a install verification to confirm the Base Station has connectivity to the Kio Cloud platform.

1. From the bottom menu, tap Install.

2. Tap **Parking Device**. 3. Tap **Base Station**. 4. While the verification screen is open, check the LEDs on the front of the Base Station. The **Power**, **LoRa**, **Status**, and **ETH** LEDs must all be on. If any of them is off or blinking an error pattern, investigate before you leave the site. 5. Scan the QR code on the back of the device, or enter the **MAC** address manually. Advance through the screens. 6. From the **Add a device note** screen, enter the new web-panel **password** you set in Step 2, details of where the device is located, and any information relevant to the installation that may help with future support requests.

When everything is correct, a Device Verified message appears.

Repeat these steps for each Base Station being installed.

What happens next

The Base Station is mounted, configured, and verified. The device appears as Online in Device Management within a few minutes, and Device Health monitors it automatically.

You can now install Outdoor Gateways on the parking-lot lighting poles. See Install an Outdoor Gateway.

Troubleshooting

If the Base Station does not come online or will not stay connected, see Troubleshooting: Base Station cannot reach the cloud endpoint.