Prepare to Take Q-Link into Use

The steps in this section should be completed in preparation for taking Q-Link feature into use:

  1. Check that you have all the required equipment:
    • Q17 or Q35 Locators with a PRO subscription and the Q-Link module enabled
    • Ethernet cables and other network components to connect the hub Locators to the Quuppa Controller (also potentially satellite Locators to perform firmware upgrade before installation)
    • USB cables and chargers (5 V, min. 500 mA) to power the satellite Locators
  2. Update to the latest Quuppa software version (software release 8.5 or later) on both the Quuppa Controller and the QSP computer. You can download the latest software package from the Quuppa Customer Portal's downloads section.

  3. Please make sure to update firmware of the Locators to Q-Link compatible version (main firmware version 1.98.753 or above) if you have:

    - Q17 products delivered before July 2023 (except for product code 5902110)

    - Q35 products produced before 28 February 2023.

    Complete this step before you install the Locators so that for the duration of this first upgrade, you can connect all of the Locators (including the Locators that will later be used as satellite Locators) to the QPE using Ethernet cables. Once all of the Locators are connected to the QPE, run the firmware update as you would for a normal cabled Quuppa system, following these steps:

    1. Open the QPE Web Console in your browser.
    2. Use the qpe/upgradeALLFW request to start the upgrade process. For further details, please refer to our Firmware upgrade for Generation Q Locators documentation.
    3. The Locator firmware update status table will open automatically. You can monitor the progress using the table.

    Once the Locators' firmware upgrade has been completed successfully (main firmware has been upgraded to 1.98.753 or above), you can remove the Ethernet cables from the Locators that will be used as satellite Locators. The Ethernet cables are only required for this first upgrade as the new firmware will enable wireless firmware upgrades for the satellite Locators in the future.

    Note: If you are using Locators that already have a license from a previous deployment setup, you can reset them to factory settings to remove the license to enable the firmware upgrade while the QPE is in deployment mode. To do so, use a small pin to press and hold the reset button while the Locator is connected to a power supply. Continue to hold the reset button as the indicator light turns green and only release it once it has turned red. When you release the reset button, the Locators will reboot, as indicated by the indicator light's reboot sequence of blinking red, green and blue once.

  4. Estimate a suitable hub to satellite ratio for your deployment environment. The Q-Link feature supports the use of up to 4 satellite Locators per 1 hub Locator. The optimal ratio of satellite Locators to hub Locators will depend on your deployment environment and project requirements. In some cases, 4 satellite Locators per hub Locator may be applicable, while in other cases you may want to use onle 1 satellite Locator per hub Locator.

    Please follow these recommendations respective to your locator type. Use the table below to benchmark a satellite Locator to hub Locator ratio to start testing in your environment.

    Hub:Satellite Ratio DF Packet Rate / Q17 Satellite Locator DF Packet Rate / Q35 Satellite Locator
    1:4 < 60 Not recommended
    1:3 < 80 < 60
    1:2 < 100 < 90
    1:1 < 200 < 150
    Important: When deciding how many satellite Locators per hub Locator to include in your project, remember to ensure that there is a maximum of 15 meters distance between a satellite and a hub in an indoor environment for both Q17 and Q35 locators. In outdoor open environments, the Q35 can work with a range of up to around 100m with a direct line of sight between the satellite and the hub.

  5. Decide if you would like the hub Locators to participate in the positioning of tags, or whether it should only provide connectivity for the satellite Locators. The option you choose will affect some for the later steps for setting up the system so it's good to consider which would work best in your environment before you get started. The options are:

    • Option A - The hub Locator provides connectivity to the satellite Locators and participates in the positioning of tags. In this option, the hub Locator needs to be installed on the ceiling and focused accurately (just like a normal Locator) so that the system can use the data from this Locator in the positioning estimates. This option can improve your system’s coverage and positioning performance as you have more Locators actively covering the same area.
    • Option B- The hub Locator only provides connectivity to the satellite Locators. In this option, the hub Locator doesn’t need to be focused as it will not participate in the positioning of the tags. This simplifies the installation as the Locator doesn't need to be installed on the ceiling. Instead it can be installed in a more convenient fixed spot (e.g. mounted on the wall) where it has a good line of sight (i.e. no obstacles in the way) to the satellite Locators.