Dual Signal Booster System Covering Public Safety Radios + Smartphones

Cost-Effective Solution Provides In-Building Coverage for Public Safety Bands +4G LTE Cell Frequencies

The public safety signal boosters and cell phone signal boosters can be installed side by side for optimal communication and potentially life-saving outcomes. The two types of systems are ideal for large buildings. The public safety signal booster system provides coverage for public safety bands to boost indoor in-building coverage to first responder 2-way radios operating on public safety bands including the new FirstNet network frequencies. The cell phone signal booster provides coverage for all consumer cellular devices such as smartphones operating on all major North American cell carrier networks. This dual signal booster system simultaneously improves emergency responder radio and consumer cell phone network communication in structures with weak signals.

Installed simultaneously, the systems can be leveraged to enhance communication among first responders and the public, respectively. Both the Guardian3 QR and the Force 5 amplifier systems must use their own antennas and cables. However, while they cannot share cables and antennas, cost effectiveness results from ability to run the cables side by side in pathways that would make it easier to install the two systems together. SignalBooster.com is now installing both systems side by side for the most comprehensive results.

What is the main purpose of signal boosters in such scenarios?

Signal boosters are designed to strengthen two-way radio and cell phone network communication. Interiors of large structures often contain dead zones that disrupt the wireless network from providing coverage within such spaces. Without a public safety band signal booster system installed like the Guardian3 QR, these zones can be perilous in emergency situations. Wireless dead zones make it challenging for police and other first responders to communicate.

Similarly, without a 4G LTE cell phone signal-boosting system like the Force 5 2.0, the public may also experience communication disruptions in buildings with weak signals.

In particular, metal buildings and structures with reinforced concrete create these wireless dead zones extensively within buildings. Neither two-way radio public safety bands and frequencies, nor cell phone 4G LTE can penetrate these zones without assistance of signal boosters which amplify exterior signals and inject them to dead zone areas in any building or establishment.

Why have dual signal boosting systems become a necessity in buildings?

The following building materials and other factors are known to hinder signal strength making signal boosting systems a necessity in many buildings:

• E-glass, cement, concrete, metal, and other conductive materials can disrupt radiofrequency and cellular signals.
• Due to their energy-efficient materials, "Green" and LEED-certified buildings can cause radiofrequency and cellular signals to reflect and bounce off the structure.
• Heavy-duty and industrial buildings — in particular those with thick interior and exterior walls can act as radiofrequency and cellular signal shields.
• Similarly, rooms with thick walls (i.e., basements, stairwells, and elevators) can block radiofrequency and cellular signals, creating dead zones as a result.
• Local terrain can hinder signal strength as well: Mountains, trees, hills, and other features can weaken radio-frequency and cellular signal strength.
• Distance from a cellular or public safety radio signal tower also plays a critical role in determining signal strength.

Accordingly, to promote public safety and efficient communication, local and regional governments across United States require that new buildings and all structures undergoing major renovations meet the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA 72) and International Code Council (ICC) codes. Signal boosters, one might argue, are just as important as fire alarms and sound plumbing when it comes to disaster prevention and management. This is why it is so important that large structures meet the NFPA and ICC codes, which include the following:

• The NFPA 72 code requires 90 percent coverage in standard building areas and 99 percent coverage in critical building areas.
• Both the ICC and NFPA 72 codes require 12-hour battery backup.
• The ICC and NFPA 72 codes also require that cellular strength be a minimum of -95 dB at all times to ensure prompt inbound and outbound communication among first responders.
• The ICC and NFPA 72 codes require alarm system failure warnings (including antenna, repeater, and power failure warnings). Our remote monitoring service helps in these instances.
• All battery, component system, and repeater equipment must be enclosed in NEMA-4 or NEMA-3R to ward off lethal elements including fire and water.

While safety is of course a major benefit of signal boosters, clear communication is important no matter the situation. Installed simultaneously, for example the GuardianA Class A or Guardian4 Class B, and the Force5 2.0 will allow those using wireless devices to access their respective networks throughout the building. These signal-boosting systems help to enhance the way emergency responders and the public communicate.

Cellular vs. Public Safety Band Signal Boosters.

While cellular and public safety band signal boosters (also known as bidirectional amplifiers, or BDAs) boost different types of signals, they share the shame objective: To facilitate wireless communication in places with weak wireless signals.

The difference between the two signal-boosting systems? Public safety band signal boosters cater specifically to first responders and their two-way radios. They ensure firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders enjoy timely, clear communication even in dead zones.

Since public safety band signal amplifiers only transmit across public safety bands and frequencies, poor reception can get in the way of first responder communication. As such, public safety signal boosters provide extended coverage throughout large structures, and are able to withstand conditions like lack of electricity (with battery backup) and high heat (with built-in heat resistant enclosure).

Alternatively, cell phone signal boosters give the public access to stronger cellphone signals. This type of signal-boosting system is also ideal for large buildings with weak reception, and improves the network connection in dead zones by locating external wireless signals, amplifying them, and rebroadcasting them throughout in-building coverage area. The system consists of three parts - An outside antenna(e), inside antenna(e), and signal amplifier(s) that play off one another to boost an existing signal.

When exterior antenna receives a signal from outside building, it is worth noting that even the weakest signals can be effective. They are certainly better than no signal at all, as signal boosters cannot create new signals from scratch. Interior coverage may not be as extensive if outside signal strength is very weak. Therefore, weaker outdoor signals would require stronger outside antenna(s) and stronger indoor signal amplifier(s) for boosting purposes.

Ultimately, businesses and structures that experience a high volume of traffic rely on cellular signal boosters to provide consistent coverage - but we will get to that later in this article. Let us dive into the details of the SureCall signal boosters we are now installing side by side.

Features of Public Safety Band Signal Booster.

The Guardian 3 QR public safety band signal booster allows emergency responders to communicate seamlessly throughout the building and outside with their team. The signal-boosting system is ideal for large structures such as hospitals, multiple-dwelling units (MDUs), hotels, education institutions, houses of worship, and even large police/ fire stations.

A tri-band, bidirectional amplifier, the signal-boosting system is designed specifically to improve signal strength in buildings with dead zones. It boosts indoor reception on all public safety bands including 700, 800, and 900 MHz SMR standards, and prevents the disruption of first-responder two-way radio reception.

The Guardian3 QR is equipped with the following features:

• Built-in SureCall Sentry Remote Monitoring System and ethernet port.
• Integrated 7-pin alarm and USB port for external battery backup.
• Maximum gain of 80 dB with a maximum downlink output power of 26 dBm.
• Adjustable frequency attenuation for uplink and downlink, reducing gain incrementally by -1 dB.
• Dry contacts.
• Linear design.
• Lowest out-of-band emissions.
• Auto Gain Control (AGC) and automatic shutdown.
• NEMA-4 enclosure.
• Integrated GUI (Graphical User Interface) for intelligent monitoring and configuration.
• Stealth technology featuring a power-saving operation that makes the bands dormant as needed.

Benefits of Public Safety Band Signal Booster.

The Guardian3 QR public safety band signal booster strengthens the signals of first-responder two-way radios. Again, this is especially important when building materials and other factors including distance from public safety radio towers hinder emergency responder radio signals.

Emergency responders and other 1st responder authorities rely on their two-way radios to communicate efficiently inside large buildings. The Guardian-3 QR signal-boosting system amplifies signals inside these structures, enabling emergency responders to engage in rapid, two-way communication that can save lives in emergency situations.

This signal-boosting system prevents the disruption of first-responder two-way radios, is equipped to boost the signal coverage even in dead zones, and its SureCall Sentry Remote Monitoring System can be managed offsite to keep the Guardian3 QR working consistently and effectively.

The device, which features a robust metal construction and includes a three-year warranty, also meets the minimum decibel output safety requirements, as well as the NFPA 72 Chapter 24 Emergency Communications System code and the cell phone signal requirements of the National First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). It is designed to meet all the latest standards and regulations, and can be upgraded as needed over time.

The benefits of the Guardian3 QR public safety band signal-boosting system are extensive. That said, just as public safety band signal boosters are essential for first responders, 4G LTE cell phone signal boosters are crucial for consumers. This is where SureCall's Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal booster comes in.

Features of 4G LTE Cell Phone Signal Booster.

The Force-5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal-boosting system allows the public to communicate with anyone no matter where they are within the building using any smartphone on any service provider network. The system improves signal coverage for a minimum of 25,000 square feet in standard conditions, and up to 100,000 square feet in ideal conditions. It is also the first signal booster to be controlled via mobile app. The SureCall app is available in the Android and Apple Stores.

The Force 5 2.0 is equipped with the following features:

• High 4G data rate, boosting signal for voice, text, and 4G LTE data for all major North American cellular carriers.
• 4 panel internal antennas and 1 Yagi external antenna (complete with an outdoor antenna failure alarm).
• Built-in SureCall Sentry Remote Monitoring System enables users to adjust the booster attenuation via iPhone app, Android app, or Sentry web interface.
• Smart technology featuring a dual-embedded central processing unit (CPU).
• Linear, independently-configurable bands.
• Maximum downlink output power of 17 dBm.
• Auto Gain Control (AGC).
• Lowest out-of-band emissions.
• Supports upto 100 simultaneous users while reducing dropped and missed calls.
• Stealth technology featuring a power-saving operation that makes the bands dormant as needed.
• 8 received signal strength indication (RSSI) detectors for all available inputs and outputs.

Before moving on to the benefits of the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal booster, let us discuss the device's antennas in more detail. The Yagi or log periodic external antenna included in the kit is ideal for when signals outside the building are especially weak. Unidirectional Yagi exterior antennas can reach towers up to 30 miles away, and should be pointed in the direction of the closest cell tower to subsequently draw signals from longer distances than an omnidirectional antenna would be capable of attracting.

The four panel internal antennas in the kit are especially effective in long rectangular spaces like structures with long corridors or multilevel buildings. To strengthen the cellular signal in rectangular areas, a panel antenna should be mounted on the wall facing the length of the narrow space. To boost the cellular signal on multiple floors, a panel directional antenna should be mounted on the ceiling facing the ground. Interior unidirectional panel antennas provide the maximum in-building reception.

Benefits of 4G LTE Cell Phone Signal Booster.

The benefits of the Force5 2.0 cell phone signal booster are many. In addition to increasing public safety by ensuring consumers can reach authorities by smartphone or text in emergency situations, the 4G LTE cell phone-boosting system is touted as an alternative to distributed antenna systems (DAS) at a lower cost.

In turn, by combining cellular dual-bands and PCS with LTE and AWS frequencies, the Force5 2.0 extends the signal strength and battery life of consumers' cellular devices. This is because stronger signals don't need as much power on part of cellular devices to receive and transmit data. Lack of signal makes them rev up their power to continuously search for signal and drain battery. This commercial signal booster enhances voice, text, 3G, and 4G LTE signals, and decreases dropped and missed calls as a result. Furthermore, the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal booster can accommodate maximum downlink output power that ensures superior performance.

Not only that, but the linearity of the frequency bands included in the Force5 2.0 allow the maximum amount of data to go through while improving data speed. Each band is independently configurable to work in challenging environments. The Force5 2.0 offers flexibility due to the multiple kitting options available, including the ultra-thin dome antennas and plenum cables. They can accommodate any floor plan or building type within the parameters discussed in this article.

Like the Guardian3 QR, the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal booster is also highly durable, with a resilient metal construction and an industry-leading three-years warranty. Its features and benefits make it a substantial draw when it comes to boosting in-building cell signals. Most importantly, by allowing the public to make and maintain 911 phone calls, the Force5 2.0 improves safety and guarantees quick response times from first responders.

Why Install Both 2-Way Radio & Smartphone Signal Boosters Side by Side?

The coverage maps of all wireless service carriers show fantastic coverage all across United States. However, the coverage in buildings does not exist in many instances. This is due to the fact that wireless telecommunication radio wave signals get disrupted primarily due to the building materials like the concrete walls and low emissivity glass windows. Therefore, if a building has weak public safety radio bands signal coverage, then most likely it will also have weak consumer cell phone coverage. Therefore, the public safety signal booster and the cell phone signal-boosting systems are best used simultaneously because if signals are weak indoors for one system, most likely they will be weak for other as well.

We have gone over the draw of public safety band signal boosters quite thoroughly - not to mention the fact that these boosters help to meet a number of building and safety requirements but it is worth mentioning again that this system guarantees that emergency responders can perform their job duties and communicate quickly with minimal disruption.

In an emergency situation like a shooting or fire, the quality and speed of first-responder two-way radio communication can minimize the impact of an incident and ultimately save lives. Poor public safety radio signal strength can keep first responders from addressing the situation at hand, cause navigational issues, and limit their ability to strategize solutions.

Of course, cell phone signal boosters can also increase public safety. Stronger signals allow the public to get in touch with emergency services by phone or text with ease. It helps public to stay in contact with relevant others during an urgent or disastrous situation. Similarly, cell phone signal boosters afford the public the signal strength to access situational updates during an emergency or outage.

For these reasons, among others, both SureCall systems should be installed side by side for optimal results. The Guardian3 QR public safety band signal booster will ensure first responders can communicate throughout the building, while the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal booster will allow the public to transmit and access information with minimal disruption. Even if you aren't experiencing an emergency situation, both systems promote in-building signal strength that is truly second to none.

About SureCall.

SureCall designs and manufactures cellular signal boosters, amplifiers, and related accessories, including the Guardian3 QR public safety band and the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal boosters. The company's FCC-approved signal boosters are designed to enhance cellular reception and two-way radio communication, improving the range of reception for essentially any cellular transmission.

The Silicon Valley-based organization was founded in 2001, and remains an authority in cellular signal-boosting technology. Fortune 100 and 500 companies ranging from Chrysler to Exxon Mobile, as well as universities like Duke and Stanford, and government entities such as the U.S. Military and State Department, have substantially benefited from SureCall signal boosters and related products.

Installation Details.

SignalBooster.com can install the Guardian3 QR public safety band and the Force5 2.0 4G LTE cell phone signal-boosting systems side by side to ensure those using wireless devices - both emergency two-way radios and regular smart cell phones, can communicate without disruption from inside the building. Our aim is to guarantee wall-to-wall signal strength for first responders and the public. Therefore, our certified installers go out of their way to meet all local, state, and federal requirements throughout the installation process. They make sure each signal booster has received the certifications required by the local fire department, building management, and all other relevant authorities.

Interested in learning more about enhancing your public safety radio and cellular signals? We will gladly help you equip your building with the most up-to-date, top-tech signal-boosting solutions available on the market. SignalBooster.com can install public safety band signal boosting system and their cell phone signal boosting system side by side to make sure both emergency two-way radios and regular smart cell phones can communicate throughout the structure. Please note that there should be 50 ft. of separation between both type system's indoor antennas. Don't hesitate to reach out to us to get started, or for more information.