In-Building wireless, Going from
Assumptions to Fact
About PCTEL
Markets
Solutions
• High Performance
Application Specific Antennas &
Accessories
• Custom Wireless
Interconnect Solutions
• Scanning Receivers for
RF Networks
• Interference Management
Systems
Our Capabilities
• Manufacturing Locations in the USA and Asia
• Top of the Line Stargate 24 Anechoic Antenna
Test Chambers
• The Latest in Electrical Simulation and
Mechanical Design Software Tools
• In-house Environmental Test Facilities
• Wireless Planning and Installation Expertise
About PCTEL In-Building Antennas
Antennas & Accessories for Optimized Indoor Coverage
• Frequency Options (900MHz-6GHz)
• 6-Port and 3-Port MIMO Designs for Spatial Diversity Applications
• Single Band, Wideband and Multi-Band Models
• Ceiling, Wall and Surface Mount Designs
• UL 94-V0 Materials and Plenum Cables
• Attractive Low Profile Housings
• Customized Cable Assemblies
• NEMA-rated Insulated Enclosures
The Journey
Image we’re all going on a journey today.
It’s the journey from assumptions to facts.
At the beginning of the journey most of
what we have to work with are assumptions
At the end, through discovery (sometimes
painful) we have known hard facts
Scenario
Through the contacts in your community
you find yourself working with a
electrical contractor that has the
contract to do all electrical work in a
new high rise office, hospital, parking
garage or school. And building code
requires a public safety repeater system.
The Journey Begins
Could be a site walk
(be sure to bring your hardhat)
Usually it’s just plans
(after all, the building is only a hole in the ground
at this time or perhaps only conceptual)
What we do know
Floor plans
Frequency band or actual frequencies
•If VHF/UHF we must have actual frequencies
Donor Signal Strength
•If we don’t have this we’re really just guessing
Building Code Requirements
What we don’t know
Fire wall locations and type
Riser locations
•Must infer from the floor plans
Interior/exterior wall materials
Floor deck construction
Stair well construction/materials
What is above the suspended ceiling
Existing ambient signal from outside
What we don’t know, cont.
Availability of cable mounting
Cabling requirements
Location of BDA
Cable routing to donor antenna/roof
penetration
HVAC routing
Firewall penetration locations
Power availability
There’s a lot we don’t know
So we make assumptions and bid the
project
Then we wait, and wait some more.
Often these take many months, not always
Then we hear we got the job and it’s
time to start planning. Now we have the
opportunity to start turning those
assumptions that we bid on into facts
First Steps
Review original design, compare with
actual building
Check outdoor ambient signal inside
Confirm cable routing
Confirm donor antenna location and
donor cable routing
Measure donor RSSI and azimuth
Confirm BDA location
Review changes with designer
Do your paperwork
Is building permit required?
Do the plans require a PE stamp?
File plans with Fire Marshall/AHJ
Check cable fire rating requirements
This is where it’s handy to have a set of
construction plans. Something the
installer can follow that shows cable
routing and component part numbers
Installation tips
Keep cable reels small, 600-1000 ft
Make up a cart that can hold the reels
and allow you to navigate hallways
Use cable prep tools to make the
connector install quick and consistent
Follow the plans, especially couplers
•If you have to deviate, compare with designer
Anritsu E-Series Spectrum Master™, Cell Master ™, and Site Master ™
Spectrum Master
Cell Master
Site Master
™
Indoor Mapping
The Anritsu E-Series Spectrum Master™, Cell Master™, and Site Master™ models are powerful battery operated instruments that can
support a wide range of signal types. With the addition of option 431, Coverage Mapping users can easily make measurements and
create detailed maps and reports of indoor coverage. This option supports both indoor and outdoor mapping needs.
Both indoor and outdoor mapping features are particularly helpful for contractors, RF engineers, operators, public safety technicians and
LMR personnel seeking to locate signal strength and coverage holes in “real-world” environments. By sampling received
measurements from discreet locations, troubleshooting can be streamlined while network planning optimized.
Learn more at www.anritsu.com
CW Test First
Test everything
•Connect signal generator to DAS input with level at
calculated per channel power from BDA
•At each antenna check signal level with analyzer
•Eg… at 8ft @800Mhz free space loss is 38.6dB
•If projected output at each antenna is -10dBm,
should be seeing -48.6 on spec-an, give or take a
couple dB
•Walk to farthest, most shielded locations and
check signal strength to make sure you have at
least -95, generally the stairwells
Commissioning and live signal test
Commission the BDA using
manufacturers procedure
•Be sure to filter out unwanted signals
Test the worst areas to verify before
calling for inspection
Inspector usually does the 20 grid test
•Only one can fail and that gives you 95% coverage
•They can stand anywhere within that grid space
Typical PS Code Requirements
Signal of -95 or better in at least 95%
of the building
•100% coverage in areas determined by the fire
department to be critical areas
Battery backup
•4, 8, 12 or even 24 hours
NEMA 4 rating in some localities
Amplifier failure alarms
Code does vary by municipality
Critical Areas Defined
Exit Pathways
•Stairwells
Usually the target we design to
•Lobbies
•Areas of public gathering in an emergency
•Code compliance drawings shows this info
Fire and Pump Control Rooms
Where ever the fire inspector wants
Cellular DAS?
Maybe best to partner with
experienced VAR
Requires carrier coordination
Signal level (RSSI) is not the only
measurement of quality
Passive Components
• 50Ω ½” Coax
• N-Type Connectors
– Plenum – Corrugated + Positive Stop
– LSZH – Smooth wall + EZFit
• RF Splitters/Combiners
• Directional couplers / Taps
• Antennas
– Indoor and Outdoor
CELLMAX-O-CPUSE
Omni directional
CELLMAX-D-CPUSE
Directional
Typical Coverage – 1400-1850 m2 (15K-20K ft2)
What is Important for an In-Building Cable?
Feature
Why is it Important?
Benefit
Broadband
Ability to support existing and
future 4G technologies &
frequencies
Lowest cost of
ownership
PIM
Ability to add additional
technologies and frequencies
without distortion
Lowest cost of
ownership
Weight &
Strength
Ease of installation / Durability of
product
Lowest installation
cost
Cost
Lowest cost system
Lowest CAPEX,
best ROI
Wide
Selection
Optimize cable to meet application
Lowest CAPEX,
best ROI
Dependable
Service
Obtain product how you want it
Lowest CAPEX,
best ROI
Low Temp
Rating
Shipping, storing, and initial install
during cold weather
Lowest installed
cost, easy logistics
Tools of the Industry
BDAs and
Repeaters
Pico/Femto
Cells
Active DAS
•Extends coverage indoors
•BDAs are basic amplifiers and filters
•Repeaters demod-remod the signal
•Cellular operators only
•Single carrier solution
•Does not scale well
•Difficult to manage many devices
•Can be configured to add
capacity and coverage
•Highly Scalable to large buildings
and campuses
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Our Toolbox
Cellular
Specialties
Axell, Andrew
Type – Repeater/BDA
Uses – Medium office, manufacturing, 50k-150k sq ft
Frequency bands – Cell, PCS, iDen, AWS, LTE, public
safety > 700Mhz
MobileAccess
& Zinwave
Type – Fiber DAS & Cat5 DAS
Uses – Large office, hospitals, stadiums, arenas,
airports, convention centers, hotels > 100k sq ft
Frequency bands – 136 Mhz to 6 Ghz
CSI, Andrew,
Microlabs &
more
Type – Passive DAS components, optical fiber
Uses – passive components to augment all types
of in-building deployments
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Designs
Watch for upcoming webinar on how
to do your own designs
For design assistance contact your
account rep. They can put you in touch
with me or one of our design team.
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