Equipment you need
- Phone or laptop with mobile data or a hotspot connection
- Teltonika router running RutOS 07.04 or above (RUT200, RUT241, RUTX50, TRB140, TRB145)
- Install antennas connected and in their final position
- Roaming or multi-network SIM for full four-operator sweep. Any SIM works for basic testing.
- CellTester account - first month free, no credit card
Phone connection: a USB-C to Ethernet adapter (around £8 on Amazon) connects your phone directly to the router LAN port. Your phone mobile data provides internet access. The entire kit fits in a shirt pocket.
No site power needed. A Teltonika BAT120 or a quality 12V DC power bank powers the router from battery. This lets you run a full commissioning test on any site, at any stage of build, without depending on mains power.
Step-by-step workflow
1. Connect and authenticate
Connect your device to the router network via WiFi or Ethernet. Open CellTester in your browser. Enter the router IP (typically 192.168.1.1), username and password. Credentials are AES-256-GCM encrypted in your browser and never transmitted to CellTester servers.
2. Automated operator sweep
With a roaming or multi-network SIM, CellTester locks to each UK PLMN in turn - EE (23430), Vodafone (23415), Three (23420), O2 (23410) - waits for full registration, captures all signal metrics and runs an Ookla speed test on the router WAN interface. Takes 2-4 minutes. Results are ranked by RSRP and download speed. CellTester recommends the best primary and failover operators automatically.
3. Live antenna aim
RSRP updates every 0.6 seconds on a scrolling graph. Rotate the directional antenna and watch signal peak in real time. CellTester flags the optimal bearing. Tighten the mount at that point before proceeding.
4. MIMO port analysis
RSRP is read from each antenna port independently. For 2x2 MIMO the delta between ports is rated: under 3 dB is excellent, 3-6 dB is good, 6-10 dB is marginal (check connectors), above 10 dB is a fault. For 4x4 MIMO all four ports are analysed and balanced.
5. Configuration wizard
CellTester recommends primary PLMN, failover operator, band lock, APN, ping watchdog and keep-alive settings based on your scan results. Review and apply. CellTester writes to the router via the RutOS API and reads back to confirm changes were accepted.
6. Security scan
The router public WAN IP is scanned for exposed ports and known CVEs. Critical findings must be acknowledged before the certificate is issued.
7. Commissioning certificate
A PDF is generated and downloaded automatically. It records all signal data, MIMO analysis, operators tested, configuration applied and security scan results. Saved to your CellTester account with unlimited history and CSV export.
Total workflow from connecting to downloading the certificate: 8-12 minutes.