Indoor coverage and coverage extension
Do you have insufficient mobile reception at work?
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Thanks to our long experience of two-way radio systems we have accumulated invaluable knowledge about radio wave propagation, system planning and antennas. Knowledge that is applicable on virtually all technologies for wireless communications.
Today we can provide solutions for high quality and reliable communications in distant locations outdoors as well as in tunnels, garages and highly insulated buildings. It does not matter if your need regard mobile phones like GSM, UMTS and LTE or two-way radios like PMR, DMR and TETRA (SINE).
We represent Cobham Wireless (p.k.a. Axell Wireless), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment for improving and expanding wireless systems, regardless of technology. Many mobile service providers use Cobham’s equipment to improve availability in their own mobile networks.
Cobham’s equipment is Software Defined, meaning that almost all parameters can be set remotely. This minimizes the need to exchange and alter the hardware thus reducing costs.
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Introduction to coverage extension
As we become more and more dependent on wireless communications the demand for good reception inflates among users, regardless of where they are located. This in turn increases the need for extended coverage in rural areas, underground and inside buildings.
Additionally many new buildings are well insulated to reduce energy consumption, with the consequence that they also shield radio signals. The paradox is that 80% of mobile calls today are made indoors, making it easy to understand the need to reinforce the mobile reception in shopping malls, arenas and other public real estate.
Some examples of solutions
Besides the obvious alternative to building a new radio tower, installing a new base station and laying out more cables there are three main ways to extend reach and/or improve indoor coverage. These are known as off-air repeaters, fibre-DAS and frequency translating repeater.
Off-air repeater
An off-air repeater receives signals from the original source, amplifies it and redistributes the signal through its own antenna system.
Fibre-DAS (Distributed Antenna System)
Unlike an off-air repeaters a Fibre-DAS is wired directly to the main network with a fibre optic cable, through which it receives the signal. The signal is then amplified and distributed via its own antenna system.
FTR - Frequency Translating Repeater (Frekvensöversättande repeater)
A FTR-solution is mainly used to extend range outdoors. An FTR uses the main signal from the base station which is amplified and sent to a remote receiving repeater with a directional antenna. Upon arrival, the signal is amplified once again and redistributed through an antenna system adapted to that specific environment.
