The Foundation: Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
First, because cell range lowers when the emitted signal from a cell tower encounters low-emissivity glass, metal, or concrete, it’s necessary to create another way into the building. This other way in is through the distributed antenna system (DAS), which first receives a clear cell signal at the base station without building impediments. It then transports the signal through various cable materials to each floor, then splits into several localized antennae throughout each floor. Users can then easily utilize these nearby antennae to use their devices without issue, eliminating tricky internal dead spots.
Boosting the Signal: Bi-Directional Amplification (BDA)
Another type of system that can improve cell range at your jobsite is a Bi-Directional Amplification system. While the DAS provides the foundational structure—the cabling, base station, and antennae—to obtain a clear cell signal, a bi-directional amplifier (BDA), strengthens the received signal. It also amplifies the frequencies your workers transmit somewhere else. It’s this two-way relationship that makes it bi-directional. There are two types of BDAs—full-duplex and half-duplex—that function differently. Full-duplex amplifiers receive and transmit signals simultaneously because there are two parallel channels for each job the BDA has. Meanwhile, half-duplex amplifiers switch off between transmitting and receiving various signals with the help of an internal switching mechanism.
If you have areas of your building, campus, or jobsite that experience weak cellular or RF signal strength, contact ERS Wireless. We have a great deal of experience engineering DAS and BDA systems and could perform an assessment to see which type of amplification system would work best in your environment.
