1.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Camp-Tenna is a device that can change the world of camping. Campers, travelers, and many more
who stay on the go can benefit greatly from this device.

1.1. Need Statement

It is common for travelers and campers to have poor internet connection at campsites and in rural areas.
Those who travel regularly need access to fast and reliable internet for a wide variety of tasks. For
instance, one might have to work remotely. While solutions to this exist, they are slow and in some
situations, they do not work at all. The ability to stay connected is essential in the modern world.

1.2. Objective Statement

The Camp-Tenna is the ideal solution. It is a battery-operated, collapsible, all-in-one device. It utilizes a
unidirectional antenna that can receive stronger cellular signals than any cell phone can. The device is
equipped with an intelligent, motorized system that, upon a single button press, analyzes waves to
position itself for optimal reception from cellular towers. The goal is to provide campers with a
user-friendly and compact solution, ensuring enhanced signal strength and connectivity while maintaining
ease of portability.

1.3. Background and Related Work

Many of the antennas on the market today are difficult to set up and position. For directional antennas, the
user must manually point the antenna in the direction of the signal. This makes it difficult and
time-consuming to find the best placement for optimal signal strength. Cell phones use multiple
omnidirectional antennas to pick up signals in all directions. However, these antennas have range
limitations. Commonly, unidirectional antennas have a range of less than five miles [1]. Unidirectional
antennas like the one in the Camp-Tenna, have a range of over ten miles [1]. The idea behind the
Camp-Tenna is to provide the user with a device that can find the strongest signal on its own, allowing the
user to have a stress-free experience while camping. However, while most of the aspects of the
Camp-Tenna are considerable, there are limitations. Because the Camp-Tenna uses a unidirectional
antenna, the biggest limitation is positioning. Unidirectional antennas are great at receiving signals at long
ranges, but they need to be pointed directly towards the signal. Another limitation is the interference of
waves/signals. In campsites, the most common limiting factor is wooded areas. Trees can cause
interferences that restrict the capability of the Camp-Tenna. There are also existing antennas targeted for
long-range connectivity. Additionally, corporations such as Starlink specifically target satellite signals
with a wide-area antenna. The Camp-Tenna utilizes a unidirectional antenna for extremely long-range
signals that target signals pinged by cellular towers. To combat positional limitations, the Camp-Tenna
can be manually raised and lowered. The antenna in the device is motorized so that it can move itself to
the best signal. By receiving cellular signals from extreme ranges and transmitting them as Wi-Fi signals
to any device, campers can have a better connected experience outdoors.
2. DESIGN REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS

The following section outlines the market requirements, engineering requirements, constraints, and
standards of the Camp-Tenna.

2.1 Requirements

The Camp-Tenna’s requirements are split into two categories, marketing and engineering, which are
defined in the following subsections.

2.1.1 Marketing Requirements

The marketing requirements for the Camp-Tenna are as follows:

1. The Camp-Tenna calibrates itself by rotating 360 degrees.

2. The Camp-Tenna transmits a local area Wi-Fi signal.

3. The Camp-Tenna displays diagnostics to the user.

4. The Camp-Tenna can be used with any Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that has a data plan.

5. The Camp-Tenna is easy to set up anywhere.

Figure 2-1 below shows the objective tree for the Camp-Tenna, branching to the main goals of the device.
 Figure 2-1. Objective Tree for the Camp-Tenna

The objective tree for the Camp-Tenna gives a layout of the main aspects and abilities it targets. It also
provides the avenues in which it accomplishes those aspects. The next section specifies the engineering
requirements to expand on the marketing requirements.

2.1.2 Engineering Requirements

Table 2-1 introduces the engineering design requirements of the Camp-Tenna and relates them to the
marketing requirements.

Marketing Engineering Requirements Justification

Requirements

1 The motors spin the antenna 360 degrees until the The 360-degree scan ensures that
strongest signal is found. the antenna searches all possible
combinations of signal strength
and signal noise/quality.

2 The receiver connected to the antenna transmits a The receiver allows the user to
local area Wi-Fi signal. connect any device to the local
area Wi-Fi signal it transmits.
This eliminates the need for the
user’s device to have cellular data
capabilities.

3 A user interface displays diagnostics of the The screen allows the user to see
received signal to the user. useful statistics about the signal
that the antenna detects. It
 displays the strength of the signal
it is receiving.

4 The SIM card allows the directional antenna to In rural areas, cellular signals are
receive signals from cellular towers. commonly the only way to
achieve an internet connection.
The SIM card, paired with a
directional antenna, allows the
Camp-Tenna to receive cellular
signals at ranges up to 35 miles.

5 With auto-adjusting capabilities, the Camp-Tenna Because positioning an antenna to

is set up by pushing a button. the best possible signal can be
tedious, the auto-adjusting
capability of the Camp-Tenna
eliminates that concern.

5 The antenna can collapse for portability. The Camp-Tenna is designed to

be brought with the user on a
camping trip. With the
collapsibility of the Camp-Tenna,
the user can carry it as well as
transport via consumer vehicle.

Marketing Requirements:

1. The Camp-Tenna calibrates itself by rotating in a 360-degree motion.

2. The Camp-Tenna transmits a local area Wi-Fi signal.
3. The Camp-Tenna displays diagnostics to the user.
4. The Camp-Tenna can be used with any SIM card with a data plan.
5. The Camp-Tenna is easy to set up at the campsite.

The Camp-Tenna adheres to many engineering requirements. These requirements include, a user
interface, a motorization module, a collapsible design, a receiver, and an antenna.

2.2 Constraints

The Camp-Tenna’s design specifications are influenced by various constraints such as the encompassing
environment, curvature of the planet, budget, welfare of the developers and users, and restricted
development time. These considerations play a pivotal role in generating the design methodology,
impacting material selection, and organizing strategies aimed at meeting project objectives.

Table 2-2: Constraints

Type Name Description

Economic Budget The maximum given budget for the development of the
Camp-Tenna is $1000 as provided by Mississippi State
University.
 Economic Time The time to complete the building and testing of the
Camp-Tenna is two semesters.

Health and Safety Safety Operation and testing of the signal receiving and transmitting
can omit dangerous amounts of radiofrequency radiation if the
user is too close to the antenna during operation. The
Camp-Tenna is oriented high enough to eliminate any
possibilities of exposure to RF radiation [3].

Manufacturability Portability and The Camp-Tenna is not small enough to fit into a small
Size carrying bag or backpack. The GP1210-06830 directional
panel antenna it uses has a 12.56x12.31x5.31” frame. The
Camp-Tenna has a collapsable base on which the antenna is
mounted.

Environmental Weather The Camp-Tenna operates in heavy rain, high winds, and
extreme temperatures. The base and stand of the antenna
keeps the antenna stable, and the subsystems and wiring are
waterproof. The Camp-Tenna uses the Sierra Wireless Airlink
RV50 modem as well as the GP1210-06830 antenna. They
both operate in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees
Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit [2].

The Camp-Tenna has many constraints. These include budget, time, safety, size, and temperature. The
Camp-Tenna complies with these constraints for successful and safe operation.

2.3 Engineering Standards

Table 2-3 lists the engineering standards of the Camp-Tenna. Following these standards establishes the
compliance with regulations, ensures safety in operation, and guarantees optimal performance.

Table 2-3: Engineering Standards

Specific Standard Standard Document Specification / Application

Over-The-Air Installing Consumer-Owned Antennas Radiation exposure limits and

Reception Devices and Satellite Dishes environmental standards of the Federal
(OTARD) Communications Commission are
properly met in the Camp-Tenna [5].

Institute of IEEE Recommended Practice for IEEE states, “Individuals involved in

Electrical and Antenna Measurements the generation of electromagnetic
Electronics signals and in the testing of antennas
Engineers (IEEE) should carefully consider the potential
149-2021 hazards from exposure of humans to
excessive electromagnetic radiation”
[6]. The Camp-Tenna follows safe
practices of RF Safety as outlined by
IEEE.

National Institute Fixed and Base Station Antennas The Camp-Tenna meets the National
 of Justice(NIJ) Institute of Justice’s standard on
Standard-0204.02 temperature and solar radiation. The
Camp-Tenna can withstand highs up to
43°C, lows of-32°C, and solar
radiation up to 1120 W/m² [7].

The Camp-Tenna abides by these engineering standards in order to ensure safe and ideal performance.

REFERENCES

[1] "10 Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Omni-Directional Antennas," WilsonAmplifiers.com
https://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/blog/frequently-asked-questions-about-outdoor-omnidirectional-anten
nas/ (Accessed: Feb. 10, 2024).

[2] Sierra Wireless. "RV50 - Sierra Wireless."

https://www.sierrawireless.com/router-solutions/rv50/#specs (Accessed: March 6, 2024).

[3] Federal Communications Commission. "Radio Frequency Safety - FAQs."

https://www.fcc.gov/engineering-technology/electromagnetic-compatibility-division/radio-frequency-safe
ty/faq/rf-safety#:~:text=Biological%20effects%20that%20result%20from,to%20heat%20biological%20ti
ssue%20rapidly (Accessed: March 6, 2024).

[4] Galtronics. "GP1210-06830 Datasheet."

https://galtronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GP1210-06830_Datasheet_R2.pdf (Accessed: March
6, 2024).

[5] Federal Communications Commission. "Installing Consumer-Owned Antennas and Satellite Dishes."
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/installing-consumer-owned-antennas-and-satellite-dishes#:~:text=
The%20FCC%20requires%20fixed%20wireless%20antennas%20capable%20of,fixed%20wireless%20an
tennas%20be%20professionally%20installed%20are%20permissible. (Accessed: March 6, 2024).

[6] IEEE. "IEEE Recommended Practice for Antenna Measurements," in IEEE Std 149-2021 (Revision of
IEEE Std 149-1977). IEEE, Feb. 18, 2022, pp. 1-207. doi: 10.1109/IEEESTD.2022.9714428. (Accessed:
March 6, 2024).

[7] National Institute of Justice. “Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program Fixed
and Base Station Antennas.” https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/172205.pdf (Accessed: Mar. 25, 2024)