Community mobile trial

Help fund the next Lodestar cell.

We want to raise £1,600 for the first equipment phase: a Baicells Nova230i Pro and the side-wall mount, network and protection kit needed for a controlled, Ofcom-licensed trial.

Contribute by bank transfer Read contribution terms

All-or-nothing equipment goal

£1,600

Direct Baicells quote: £1,100
Supporting-equipment allowance: £500

Baicells quoted Lodestar £1,100 directly. Before Lodestar pays the supplier, the written order must confirm the exact Band 40 model, VAT and delivery, the UK-mains PoE++ adaptor, mounting clamp, seals, warranty and UK conformity documents.

Open for eight weeks, from 8 September to 2 November 2026. If less than £1,600 in cleared contributions has been received by 23:59 UK time on the closing date, contributions will be refunded in full.

Any money above the goal, or left through savings against the published budget, will stay with Lodestar and be reinvested in the network with the aim of lowering costs for users.

The radio

Baicells Nova230i Pro

A compact outdoor LTE base station intended for targeted coverage. The integrated-antenna model avoids a separate LTE panel antenna and feeder run.

The manufacturer lists a Gigabit Ethernet connection, IEEE 802.3bt PoE++ power, built-in GPS/BeiDou timing, IP65 protection and support for up to 128 RRC-connected users per cell. That is a connection limit, not a guarantee of simultaneous performance. For the proposed UK 2.3 GHz trial, the intended unit is the integrated-antenna Band 40 pBS3140i.

No separate GPS antenna is planned: Baicells' current installation guide says this model has one built in. The final mounting position must still give it a suitable view of the sky, and timing must be proved during commissioning.

We expect the £1,100 package to include the PoE++ adaptor, so a second injector is not in this budget. Baicells' public documents confirm the power standard but do not publish the contents of every sales package. The final quote and packing list must therefore confirm the adaptor, its UK mains input and lightning rating, and the complete Baicells mounting clamp.

Official product page Manufacturer datasheet Installation guide

2 × 500 mWLTE radio output

10–10.5 dBiBuilt-in antenna, variant dependent

PoE++IEEE 802.3bt power

1 GbEIP backhaul connection

GPS/BDSBuilt-in synchronisation

IP65Outdoor-rated enclosure

UK prices checked 7 September 2026

A practical side-wall install basket.

These are example UK sources, not endorsements or a final order. The reference layout is for a gable or side wall near roof level; it does not rely on a chimney. A qualified aerial or roof installer must choose the actual position, wall anchors, cable route, bonding and weatherproofing for the building.

Gable bracket and 1 m mast

A welded 12-inch T&K TV-aerial bracket holds a separate 1 m length of 48.3 mm hot-dip-galvanised steel tube with two matching V-bolts. The tube fits Baicells' 40–70 mm requirement and can be ordered cut to the required length, so there is no need to buy a 2 m mast. Its cut end will need deburring, zinc-rich repair protection and a cap. The installer must confirm the bracket clears the eaves, approve the wind loading, choose anchors for sound structural masonry and check whether the supplied zinc-plated clamps need a more corrosion-resistant alternative.

12-inch welded T&K bracket£15.36 1 m × 48.3 mm galvanised tube£13.13 2 × matching V-bolts£0.92 18-inch bracket if extra clearance is required£36.38

£29.41

Outdoor Cat6A without DIY crimping

No connector crimping by the owner is planned. The cable must be shielded, full-copper Cat6A, at least 7 mm in diameter, suitable for four-pair PoE++ and measured for the real route. The linked 15 m StarTech lead is factory terminated, 7.2 mm in diameter and explicitly rated for IEEE 802.3bt Type 4; other lengths exist, but UK availability and the required length must be checked.

The radio's waterproof gland is the catch. Baicells says its parts must go over the cable before the RJ45 enters the radio, but publishes no maximum plug size, so a normal moulded plug cannot be promised to pass through. Do not force the plug, omit the gland or try to crimp it yourself. First ask Baicells to confirm the exact lead, or have a network installer or cable assembler load the supplied gland parts before fitting and testing the radio-side connector.

15 m pre-terminated 802.3bt outdoor lead£42.77 StarTech cable-family specificationType 4 UK custom-length assembly optionAsk for quote IP68 4PPoE coupler fallbackConditional

£42.77

Conduit, enclosure and weatherproofing

Flexible conduit, an IP-rated box for the indoor-rated surge protector if needed outside, suitable glands and correctly sized cold-shrink. The linked conduit and cold-shrink are budget examples only: the installer must confirm UV exposure, cable and connector diameters before ordering. A side-wall entry needs a suitable sleeve or gland, a drip loop and a weatherproof seal selected for the actual construction.

10 m flexible conduit kit£26.39 IP66/IP67 enclosure£29.32 2 × IP68 cable glands£5.62 3M cold-shrink example£20.80

£82.13

PoE++ Ethernet surge protection

The linked protector carries Gigabit Ethernet and IEEE 802.3bt up to 95 W. It is indoor-rated, so it belongs indoors or in a suitable enclosure, correctly bonded. It is an electrical match on paper, but Baicells and the installer must confirm compatibility with the Nova. If the included adaptor's documented protection makes a separate device unnecessary, this allowance stays in contingency.

AXIS TU8001 protector£64.24 Manufacturer specification802.3bt

£64.24

Bonding conductor and lugs

The example allows 10 metres of 10 mm² green/yellow copper conductor and a pack of 10 mm²/M6 tinned-copper lugs. This is not a lightning design: the installer must determine the route, stud size, building earth connection and whether a larger conductor is required.

10 m of 10 mm² conductor£16.70 10 mm²/M6 lugs£16.73

£33.43

Power resilience, delivery and site contingency

The priced materials above total £251.98. The remaining allowance can cover delivery, a custom Ethernet assembly, an installer-sized UPS, substrate-specific wall anchors, a tube cap and zinc-rich protection for the cut end, a longer bracket, wall-entry parts, extra cable protection and reasonable price movement. Professional work and major lightning-protection changes are not included.

Optional APC 850 VA / 520 W UPSfrom £120.06 delivered

£248.02

Supporting equipment total£500

Reference prices include VAT where shown by the retailer and exclude delivery unless stated. They were checked on 7 September 2026 and can change. Equivalent installer-approved parts may be used. Wall anchors depend on the building and are not yet selected. The custom cable route, coupler fallback, 18-inch bracket and optional UPS are alternatives or additions and are not included in the £251.98 reference basket.

Side-wall rule

The proposed mount goes on the side of the house, not a chimney.

The Nova's own two-part clamp fixes it to the 48.3 mm mast. The proposed mast is 1 m long, not 2 m. Its location must be on sound structure rather than fascia, cladding, mortar, render alone or unsupported masonry. A competent installer must choose the bracket spacing, anchors and stand-off for the local wind load; if the 12-inch bracket does not clear the eaves, the longer alternative must be assessed. Baicells publishes the radio's 1.55 kg weight but no wind-load or mast-moment rating, so static weight alone cannot approve the mount.

The installer must also keep the radio within the building's designed lightning-protection zone and connect the radio, mast, surge protection and enclosure to the proper building earthing system. An isolated earth rod must not be improvised.

What the target does not include

A radio is one part of a live cell.

The £1,600 goal is for the first equipment phase. It is not a promise that an outdoor public site can go live for that amount.

Spectrum authorisation

The Ofcom licence fee, application work and any RF or EMF assessment are separate from the £1,600 equipment target. The exact frequency, power, location and licence class must be approved before installation or transmission.

Site and installation

Site permission, structural checks, qualified labour and any substantial electrical or lightning-protection work are separate.

Backhaul, timing and core

The cell needs reliable IP connectivity to Lodestar's existing LTE core, management platform, subscriber provisioning and compatible SIMs. The pBS3140i has built-in GPS/BeiDou, so no separate GPS antenna is in the basket. If the installed position cannot provide reliable satellite timing, a suitable IEEE 1588v2 timing network may still be needed.

Power resilience and ongoing costs

A UPS is optional but sensible where continuity matters and must be sized for the radio, router and backhaul together. Power, connectivity, licensing, monitoring, maintenance and replacement equipment continue after purchase.

Before any transmission

A site-specific Ofcom trial.

We intend to apply for a site-specific Ofcom Innovation and Trial licence before the radio is mounted or switched on. Ofcom can consider a channel within the Nova's 2300–2390 MHz range, subject to availability and coordination with existing spectrum users. Ofcom—not the radio's maximum specification—will decide the authorised frequency, bandwidth, power, antenna height and other technical conditions. No transmission will begin until the licence has been issued.

The licence will be temporary, non-commercial, non-interference and non-protected. It cannot guarantee a future operational licence or long-term spectrum. Ofcom lists Innovation and Research at £50 per location for up to 12 months, while Demonstration and Trial costs £50 per location for each month. Innovation and Research does not permit public participation; if community members take part, we will ask Ofcom to confirm the correct Demonstration and Trial route.

Any participant will be told that this is a temporary, non-commercial trial, what costs—if any—apply, and that participation creates no right to coverage, future service or priority access. The application will set out the exact outdoor site, antenna height, gain, direction and tilt, transmission schedule, requested frequency, power and EIRP.

Ofcom Innovation and Trial overview Ofcom applicant guidance OfW225 application form Ofcom EMF compliance guidance

Public money trail

The account, purchases and balance will be visible.

Lodestar Networks Ltd will receive the campaign money and own the purchased equipment. During the campaign we will update the public totals at least weekly. After purchases begin, the ledger will show each purchase, refunds and the remaining balance.

Cleared contributions: £0.00
Refunded: £0.00
Purchases: £0.00
Available balance: £0.00

Last updated 8 September 2026.

Supplier receipts and invoices will be published after permanent redaction of delivery addresses, personal contact details, payment-card or unrelated bank data, account and order identifiers, QR codes, barcodes and hidden metadata. Contributor names, email addresses, bank details, payment references and messages will not be published.

Campaign privacy notice ICO guidance on publishing documents securely

Campaign open for bank transfers

Contribute in pounds sterling

Sending a transfer means you agree to the campaign contribution terms and have read the privacy notice.

Account name: Lodestar Networks LTD
Sort code: 04-06-05
Account number: 33494581

Check the nameChoose a business account. Confirmation of Payee should return Lodestar Networks LTD. Stop if the name does not match.
Add a referenceUse CELL followed by four characters you choose, such as CELL7K2Q. Do not put personal information in the reference.
Register itUse the secure registration page to give us your email, amount, date and reference. Do not provide full bank or card details.

Security check. Lodestar will not announce replacement bank details by email, direct message or social media. Always return to lodestarnetworks.co.uk before paying. If your bank reports a mismatch or anything looks different, stop and contact us.

Deadline. Send and register the contribution in time for it to clear by 23:59 UK time on 2 November 2026. A late transfer will not count and will be returned in full.

The build sequence

From funding to a controlled test.

DefineConfirm the pBS3140i package, side-wall survey, cable route, core, trial plan and UK conformity documents.
ApplyGive Ofcom the exact site, antenna, frequency, power, emissions and transmission schedule, then wait for its decision.
PurchaseBuy against the published budget once the licence route and written Baicells packing list are clear; bench-configure without unauthorised RF.
Install and testMount or transmit only after the licence, site permission, structural, earthing, EMF and technical conditions are satisfied.

The campaign is open.

The eight-week campaign runs from 8 September to 2 November 2026. It is all or nothing: if the £1,600 target is missed, contributions will be refunded in full. If the target is reached, surplus money will be reinvested in Lodestar's network with the aim of reducing costs for users.

Lodestar Networks Ltd is a commercial private limited company, not a charity. A contribution is voluntary: it is not a purchase, preorder, deposit, loan or investment, and it does not create a right to service, coverage, a SIM, ownership, profit or repayment if the target is reached. The campaign cannot guarantee a launch date, an Ofcom licence or coverage.

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