Pixel Lift Gateway Post-Installation Checklist (EM-4GEx/1L & EM-4GE2/4L)

For lift technicians, facilities managers, and strata building managers

Installing a Pixel wireless gateway is only half the job. A correctly commissioned unit that passes post-install verification is the difference between a lift phone that works when it matters and one that fails silently — often discovered only during an emergency.

This checklist covers everything you should verify after mounting and powering a Pixel EM-4GEx/1L or EM-4GE2/4L gateway. Work through it in order before signing off on any installation.

Before You Begin

Keep the following on hand during commissioning:

• A mobile phone capable of sending and receiving SMS (for SMS verification commands)
• The gateway's SIM card phone number
• The factory default PIN: 123
• The Pixel user guide for your model

All SMS commands in this guide are case-sensitive. The gateway will respond to each command via SMS.

Step 1 — Confirm the Unit is NOT Mounted on the Lift Car

This is the most common installation error and the hardest to diagnose remotely.

The Pixel gateway must be mounted in a fixed, static location — typically in the lift motor room, plant room, or a dedicated comms cabinet in the lift shaft. It must never travel with the lift car.

Why it matters: If the unit moves with the lift car, signal strength will vary floor by floor, dBm readings will be inconsistent, and calls may drop mid-emergency as the car descends into basement coverage dead zones.

How to verify:

• Confirm the unit is wall-mounted using the M4 mounting holes on a fixed surface
• The unit should not be clipped to, resting on, or cabled to any moving component of the lift
• The phone line cable runs from the fixed gateway down to the lift car handset — not the other way around

Step 2 — Verify Signal Strength (dBm) is Optimal for VoLTE

4G VoLTE voice calls require a stronger and more stable signal than basic data. A unit that registers as "connected" on 4G may still deliver poor call quality or dropped calls if the signal is marginal.

Check the SIG LED on the front panel:

Target: SIG LED should be green at the installed location. Orange is acceptable but warrants antenna review. Pink or red requires remediation before sign-off.

If signal is marginal:

• Relocate the unit to a higher position in the shaft or motor room
• The supplied 2dBi antenna can be extended up to 8 metres using a Pixel SMA extension cable (P/N: CB-LF195-08) — use this to position the antenna where signal is strongest while keeping the unit in an accessible location
• Do not proceed to mounting until the SIG LED is green or orange at the chosen location — this is explicitly called out in the Pixel installation guide

Verify via SMS:

Unlock to me 123
Show your status

The gateway will respond with current signal strength, network type, and SIM carrier — confirm the response shows 4G/LTE and an acceptable dBm reading.

Step 3 — Confirm Firmware is VoLTE-Ready

Older Pixel gateway firmware does not support VoLTE on all Australian carriers. Before commissioning, verify the firmware version meets the minimum requirement.

Check firmware via SMS:

Unlock to me 123
Show your firmware version

Minimum firmware requirements for full VoLTE support (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone):

Recommended: Update to firmware 1.0.2434.xx or greater — this version also adds AutoAPN support, which automatically configures the correct APN for the inserted SIM without manual setup.

If firmware requires updating, do this before final mounting. Post-3G shutdown, a gateway that cannot connect to the network cannot receive a firmware update via SMS.

Also confirm: the SIM plan must be VoLTE-capable. A 4G SIM on a voice-only or data-only plan will not support VoLTE calls. Confirm with your SIM provider before installation.

Step 4 — Enable Monitoring (SMS Fault Notification or Pixel eLiioT Cloud)

An unmonitored lift phone is a compliance and liability risk. The Pixel gateway supports two monitoring methods — at least one must be enabled before sign-off.

Option A — SMS Fault Notification

The gateway sends an SMS alert to nominated numbers when a fault is detected (network loss, power failure, battery fault). Configure fault notification numbers via SMS commands.

Verify monitoring is active by checking that a nominated mobile number is registered to receive fault alerts. Test by temporarily removing mains power — the gateway should send a fault notification SMS.

Option B — Pixel eLiioT Cloud Platform

The Pixel eLiioT cloud monitoring platform provides real-time monitoring, fault notification, battery status, and signal strength visibility — accessible remotely without needing to physically inspect the unit.

Verify: Log in to the eLiioT platform and confirm the unit is visible, online, and reporting correct signal strength and battery status.

Recommendation: For strata buildings with multiple lift cars or buildings under a portfolio management arrangement, eLiioT cloud monitoring is strongly preferred — it gives building managers and strata teams remote visibility without requiring a lift technician visit to check unit status.

Step 5 — Confirm Battery Backup is Operational

The built-in battery provides 8 hours talk time and 14 hours standby — critical for lift phone operation during power outages.

Check the BAT and CHG LEDs:

To test battery backup:

1. With the unit powered and connected, remove the mains 12V DC adapter
2. Confirm the unit remains operational on battery power
3. Confirm the SIG LED remains active and the unit can place a call
4. Reconnect mains power and confirm CHG LED shows charge in progress, then green when complete

Battery replacement: Pixel recommends replacing the Li-Ion batteries every 3 years from the installation date. Record the installation date on the unit or in the building's maintenance log at handover.

Step 6 — Conduct Test Calls from Both Extremes of the Building

A single test call from the motor room is not sufficient. Signal conditions vary significantly between the top floor and the basement — and the basement is where most coverage failures occur.

Before Testing — Confirm the SIM is an Australian Postpaid Number

Check the SIM card phone number before placing any test calls. The number must be an Australian local mobile (04xx) or landline — not an international SIM card.

Why it matters: International SIM cards can be booted off the Australian 4G network without warning, leaving the lift phone with no active connection. This may not be immediately obvious — the gateway may still show as connected while calls fail. An Australian SIM on a VoLTE-capable plan is mandatory.

Prepaid SIMs are not suitable for lift phone installations. Prepaid services can expire, run out of credit, or be deactivated without notice — any of which will silently take the lift phone offline. Always use a postpaid SIM on a business or IoT plan with automatic billing. Confirm the plan is active and in good standing with the carrier before sign-off.

Confirm the SIM number via SMS:

Unlock to me 123
Show your status

The gateway will return the active SIM number in its response. Verify it is an Australian number before proceeding.

Outgoing Test Calls

Required test calls:

1. Top floor / highest point of the lift travel — Press the emergency button in the lift car at the highest floor. Confirm the call connects, audio is clear in both directions, and the call does not drop.
2. Bottom floor / basement level — Repeat the test call at the lowest point of the lift travel. Basement and underground levels are the most common failure point due to concrete signal attenuation. If the call fails or quality is poor at this level, the antenna placement or extension cable length needs to be reviewed.

What to listen for:

• Clear two-way audio with no echo or clipping (a VoLTE call quality indicator)
• No delay greater than 1–2 seconds
• Call connects within 5 seconds of dialling

Incoming Test Call — Confirm Emergency Message and Address

Once outgoing calls are verified, conduct an incoming test call to the lift phone's SIM number.

Call the SIM number from an external phone and confirm:

• The lift phone picks up automatically
• The unit plays the emergency message including the building address
• The address in the message is correct and current for the building

This step is critical. An incorrect or missing address in the emergency message means a monitoring centre or emergency service receiving the call cannot dispatch to the right location. Verify the address with the building manager at handover and update it if required before sign-off.

Document all test calls with the time, floor level, direction (outgoing/incoming) and result. This documentation should be provided to the building manager and strata committee at handover — it demonstrates AS1735.19 compliance and is required for building records.

Step 7 — Confirm the Unit Location is Accessible to Both Lift Technicians and Building Management

The gateway must be in a location that:

• Is fixed and static (not on the lift car — see Step 1)
• Is accessible to lift technicians for maintenance, firmware updates, battery replacement, and fault investigation
• Is accessible to building management for visual LED status checks and battery status review without requiring a specialist visit

Recommended locations:

• Lift motor room — preferred, accessible, typically climate-controlled
• Dedicated comms cabinet within the lift shaft — acceptable if locked with building management key access
• Plant room adjacent to lift shaft — acceptable

Do not install in:

• The lift car itself or on any moving component
• Locations requiring specialist access tools or carrier approval to reach
• Areas exposed to temperatures outside 0–50°C or humidity above 90%

At handover, ensure building management knows:

• Where the unit is physically located
• What the LED indicators mean (provide the LED status card from this guide)
• How to read battery status and signal strength from the LEDs
• Who to contact for faults — and that SMS or eLiioT alerts mean the system is already notifying the right people

Post-Installation Sign-Off Checklist

• Unit is mounted in a fixed, static location — NOT on the lift car
• SIG LED is green or orange at the installed location
• Signal strength confirmed via SMS: Show your status
• Firmware is version 1.0.2434.xx or greater
• SIM plan is confirmed VoLTE-capable with carrier
• SIM is an Australian mobile (04xx) or landline — NOT an international SIM
• SIM is postpaid — prepaid SIMs are not permitted
• AutoAPN configured or Custom APN set correctly
• SMS fault notification OR eLiioT cloud monitoring enabled and tested
• Battery backup tested — unit operates on battery with mains removed
• Battery installation date recorded (replacement due in 3 years)
• Outgoing test call completed from top floor — pass
• Outgoing test call completed from bottom floor / basement — pass
• Incoming test call completed — lift phone picks up automatically
• Emergency message plays with correct building address confirmed
• All test calls documented with time, floor, direction, and result
• Unit location is accessible to lift technician and building management
• LED status guide left with building manager or posted near unit
• Handover documentation provided to strata committee

Need Help with Commissioning or Monitoring?

Pickle supplies and manages Pixel gateway installations across Australian strata buildings. If you are commissioning a new unit, migrating from PSTN or 3G, or setting up portfolio-level monitoring via the eLiioT platform, our team can help with configuration, SIM provisioning, and ongoing fault management.

Visit the emergency lift phone products page to request a site assessment, or contact the Pickle team directly:

Phone: 1300 688 588 Email: [email protected]

This guide references the Pixel EM-4GEx/1L User Guide (Rev 1.0.2434.2) and the Pixel Wireless Gateway 4G VoLTE Compatibility document (Rev 1.0.2440.8). Always refer to the latest Pixel documentation for your specific model.