Rain Bird IQ-NCC 4G User Manual

Using the NCC 4G Cartridge

NCC 4G Cartridge

IQ Direct

Satellite

IQ Direct

Satellite

Cellular

Tower

NCC 4G Cartridge

NCC 4G Cartridge

 The IQ Cellular Network Communication

Cartridge (NCC) provides easy remote
access to ESP-LX irrigation controllers

 Rain Bird has offered a 3G Cellular Cartridge

which allows the IQ Platform to communicate

with ESP-LXME, ESP-LXD and ESP-LX-IVM

commercial controllers.

NCC 4G Cartridge

 The official statement is that the AT&T 3G

network will remain on until December 2021
after which time the 3G network will not be
available

 Rain Bird has developed a cartridge with 4G-

LTE communication capability

 Customers can continue to use the 3G

Cellular Cartridge until December 2021

NCC 4G Cartridge

 The NCC 4G Cellular Cartridge is available

now – Model #: IQ4614X

– X = blank – no SIM card
– X = A – Australia
– X = B – USA
– X = C – Canada
– X = E – European Union
– X = I – all other international countries

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Users should update their NCC cartridges to

firmware v1.69 (3G, 4G, EN and RS
Cartridges as of time of publication)

 The IQ Platform and ESP-LX controllers will

support both the NCC 3G and NCC 4G

Cellular Cartridges

 Installation is identical between the NCC 3G

and NCC 4G cartridge other than antennas

 Configuring the cartridge is identical

between the NCC 3G and NCC 4G Cartridge

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Internal Antennas:

– The 3G and 4G internal antennas (provided with the

cartridge) are different and require different

installation locations

NCC 3G Internal Antenna installation location NCC 4G Internal Antenna installation location

NCC 4G Cartridge

 External Antennas:

– The 3G and 4G external antennas are different

(different frequency ranges). Installation is identical

NCC 3G/4G External Antenna installation

location

• 3G External antenna – IQ4640

• 4G External antenna – IQ4644

NCC 4G Cartridge

 The NCC 4G Cartridge uses Signal Quality

for troubleshooting cellular issues

 Similar to the NCC 3G Cartridge, a scale of 1

to 10 bars is used to show signal quality

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Any signal quality below 2 may require

additional hardware to assure robust
connectivity (Signal booster, Directional

antenna)

NCC 4G Cartridge

 NCC 4G Cartridge

 Troubleshooting the NCC 4G cartridge is

different

 Verify the status of the Cellular Data Plan for

the IQ Cartridge

– IQ3:

 Select Satellite through “Satellites” -> “Configure…”

 Select “Edit Configuration and Stations…”

 Verify the expiration of the cellular data plan from the information

displayed in the “Type” section

 If the Cellular Data Plan has expired, renew it through “Help” ->

“Cellular Data Plan Renewal”

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the Cellular Data Plan for

the IQ Cartridge

– IQ4:

 When logging into IQ4-Cloud, a banner will appear at the top of the

webpage indicating the need to renew one or more cellular plans for
the controllers listed in your system

 Check all connections (antenna, cable to

front panel, IQNet cables)

 Check IQ communications (Sync, Reverse

Sync, Log Retrieval)

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the IQ Cartridge

– Check the IQ LED indicators on the back of the

cartridge:

LED State IQ4G Status Troubleshooting Steps

Dark (no LEDs lit) Cartridge Inactive/Inoperative

No power to modem

1) Check connection to controller

2) Check AC power to controller

3) Check with known good cartridge

Blinking Red/Orange

No cell service connected

This is the initial condition after cartridge installation, AC power cycle or reset
button press while the cartridge is attempting to establish a service connection.
If this condition persists after five minutes:

1) Confirm that installation location has cellular service available

2) Check Signal Quality

3) If poor Signal Quality, install directional antenna and/or signal booster

Blinking Red

Cellular service detected, but service
authorization unsuccessful

This indication may occur during normal reset sequence after power cycle,
cartridge installation or reset button press.
If this condition persists for longer than two minutes:

1) Confirm that SIM is properly installed

2) Confirm that service subscription is valid and active

Solid Orange

Active connection to cell service and
service is authorized

This is the normal idle condition of a properly working IQ4G installation.
If IQ access is unsuccessful:

1) Check all IQ settings, retry connecting to cartridge from IQ

Solid Green

Authenticated with IQ but no data is being
sent or received

1) None

Blinking Green

Authenticated with IQ and data is being
sent or received

1) None

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the IQ Cartridge

– ESP LXME/ESP LXD: Turn the dial to “IQ Settings”
– ESP LXIVM: Turn the dial to “Advanced Settings” ->

“Configure Cartridge”

– Select “Status” using the arrow and Next button

NCC 4G Cartridge

 IQ 4G Cartridge Communication Ports

– The 4G cartridge has 3 communication ports:

 IQ – Primary Cellular communication with IQ
 Radio – Secondary radio communication with Client controllers

 CM – Secondary Connection Module communication with Client

controllers

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the IQ Port

 Resetting – Cartridge is resetting itself prior to connection attempt
 No Service – Cartridge has no connection to the local Cellular tower or

the service.

If this condition persists after five minutes:

1) Confirm that installation location has cellular service available

2) Check Status/Signal Quality

3) If poor Signal Quality, install directional antenna and/or signal

booster

 Connecting – Cartridge is trying to establish a connection to the local

Cellular tower and Internet service

 Idle – Active connection to cellular tower & service is authorized;

Waiting for a connection from IQ

 Connected – IQ is connected to the cartridge
 Connected/Active – IQ is connected and data is being transferred

between IQ and the cartridge

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the IQ Cartridge Ports

– Radio Port Status (Server configuration only):

 Disabled – Configured as “Radio Not Installed”
 No Service – Cartridge is not connected to a powered radio
 Connected – Cartridge is connected to the radio and it is trying to

communicate with Client controller(s)

 Connected/Active – Data is being transferred between Server and

Client controller(s)

– CM Communication Module Port Status (Server

configuration only):

 Disabled – Configured as “CM Module Not Installed”
 Connected – Cartridge is connected to CM Module and it is trying to

communicate with Client controller(s)

 Connected/Active - Data is being transferred between Server and

Client controller(s)

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the Cellular Signal Quality

– In the Status screen select “Signal” using the button
– Signal Quality Indications (1 to 10 bars):

 1 = POOR signal quality, consider signal booster or directional antenna

 2 - 5 = Fair signal quality
 6 – 9 = Good signal quality - good connection
 10 = Excellent signal quality - excellent connection

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the status of the IQ Cartridge

– If the Signal Quality is below 2

 Use IQ4GEXTANT Cellular External Antenna if the controller is in a

metal enclosure

 Relocate antenna where cellular quality is above 1
 Install Directional 4G Antenna
 Install Signal Booster

– Directional Antenna and Signal Booster information

can be found at rainbird.com/nccx

NCC 4G Cartridge

 Verify the Cellular Signal Quality

– In the Signal Quality screen press “Detail” to get

details on Signal Strength and Signal Quality

– Detail:

 RSSI - Received Signal Strength Indicator is a negative value, and

the closer to 0, the stronger the signal

 SINR - Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio is the strength of the

signal divided by the strength of any interference

 RSRQ - Reference Signal Received Quality indicates the quality of

the received reference signal

 RSRP - Reference Signal Received Power is the power of the 4G

Reference Signals spread over the full bandwidth

 Tower: indicates the tower ID that the cartridge is connected to

NCC 4G Cartridge

– RSSI for 4G/LTE is calculated from several other

signal related measurements: RSSI = noise + serving
cell power + interference power.

– For example, a 4G LTE modem might report an RSSI

of -68 dBm, but:

 RSRP = -102 dBm
 RSRQ = -16 dB

 SINR = -1.8 dB

– In this case, the signal quality is actually very poor.

This could be due to the device being some distance

away from the 4G transmitter or something is

interfering with the signal, such as a building or other
obstructions between the device and the tower.

NCC 4G Cartridge

Signal Quality Measurement Ranges

NCC 4G Cartridge

Signal Quality Measurement Ranges

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs