Active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Design & Installation for Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint

At large commercial or industrial facilities nationwide, where thousands of individuals come and go throughout the day, getting the appropriate level of Wi-Fi and mobile coverage can be a big challenge. But in this day and age, people have a voracious appetite for their phones - and you have got to accept the call.

But ensuring adequate and consistent coverage throughout your entire facility can be challenging. Making things even more complicated, not all of your building’s inhabitants will use the same carrier. In USA, they would probably use one of the four big carrier networks - AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, or Sprint.

The rest probably use the same network because they subscribe services from MVNO's (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that resell services on networks owned and operated by the same 4 major carriers. What does that mean for your facility? There's no one-size-fits-all solution.

DAS Design and Installation by Licensed Installers with Carrier Approval.

Why SignalBooster.com?

At SignalBooster.com, we pride ourselves on being a full-service turnkey DAS designer, installer and maintainer. We will see your project through from start to finish to make sure your DAS system does what it was designed to do - boost the wireless signals in your facility. But why do so many people choose SignalBooster.com?

• Experience: The highly skilled team at SignalBooster.com has decades of experience providing in-building wireless systems for some of the largest and most complex commercial facilities in North America.
• Quality: We aren’t just committed to using the highest quality equipment and the latest technology. Our licensed DAS installers and technicians plus our certifications (ISO 9001:2008, Six Sigma, TL-9000) guarantee high quality materials - from design through implementation.
• Design: iBWave is widely recognized as the best-in-breed solution for DAS design. Our team is highly trained to leverage iBWave to maximize coverage and streamline installation time and costs.
• OEM Partnerships: Being a long term and high volume DAS vendor, we have spent years cultivating relationships with all major manufacturers such as Commscope, Corning MobileAccess, Axell Wireless and SOLiD - in order to pass the best equipment at the lowest cost on to you.
• Project Management: Our PMP certified project managers will be at the helm through the duration of your DAS installation. This individual will be your point person for the project, keeping communications simple and direct, while they oversee your project to ensure that your design objectives are met - on time, and within budget.

The three stages of your DAS installation

Before you undertake any big project, it’s important to break down your steps in order to get a better sense of the process you’re about to endeavor upon. That way, you’ll be better positioned to see challenges coming and construct a plan that makes the most business sense for you.

Step One: Design/Planning

The SignalBooster.com team has decades of shared experience, during which time we have come to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all DAS installation. But we also understand that every customer needs an innovative approach to design and planning that ensures an installation that gets done on budget, on time, and provides maximum coverage. Our team leverages iBWave software and will liase with you throughout the process to ensure that your requirements are met and your expectations exceeded. During the planning and design phases, SignalBooster.com will send out a dedicated team to survey your site and help you ascertain the most viable path forward. This includes:

• Network coverage and capacity requirements gathering.
• Existing network benchmarking.
• On-site spectrum analysis.
• Capacity planning.
• Technology and product selection.
• Security needs analysis.
• In-building propagation analysis with iBwave.
• Bandwidth and link budget analysis.
• System layout and mapping.
• Traffic engineering and analysis.
• Interference studies and macro network impact analysis.

Step Two: Installation

Our installation engineers are held to the highest standards and are committed to producing a high quality DAS system. We will never compromise the quality of our work, but will always finish on time and on budget.

Having established your blueprint for your DAS project, it then becomes time to put your plan into action and begin installation. Here are the basic steps we will go through for a successful installation.

• End-to-end DAS installation.
• Full construction management.
• Head-end equipment installation and testing.
• System optimization and acceptance testing.
• Macro network optimization.
• Public safety compliance and coordination.

Step Three: Maintenance.

The safety and quality of your DAS system will be assured when we’ve finished our installation, but it remains just as important to maintain that high level of performance. Even once your DAS is up and running, it will still take constant watch and a trained eye to make sure that your DAS system continues to operate at peak performance and stay within compliance standards. The SignalBooster.com team will continue to maintain your system with you, and continue to introduce the latest technology, so that you’re never caught off guard with a less-than-satisfactory level of service. These are some of the key considerations you’ll need to prepare for:

• Remote system monitoring, collection and reporting via SNMP.
• System alerts via SMS or email.
• On-site service calls.
• Spares warehousing and RMA processing.

8 Steps to a Complete DAS Deployment.

SignalBooster.com isn’t simply going to give you end-to-end service. We’re going to communicate with you throughout the entire process to ensure your satisfaction and make changes as needed. If you’re curious about what that process looks like, here are the 8 stages to a complete DAS deployment. You can use this guide to follow along as SignalBooster.com completes your own DAS deployment.

1. Project Requirements: Clearly define the proper scope of your project
2. System Design: Use design services to produce project documentation for proposals and bids
3. Project Planning: Operationally and logistically speaking, this step will enable you to    determine how  to make your project design a reality.
4. Proposal: Bidding time means you’ll need to have your project requirements, Bill of Materials and other documentation in hand to demonstrate your projects schedule, technical requirements and budget.
5. Carrier coordination: You’ll need to work closely with carriers to ensure that your project gets carrier acceptance. SignalBooster.com can ensure that your project is accepted by working closely with you to ensure you’re following the proper protocols at the right time, as well as tweak projects that receive recommendations from carriers.
6. Logistics: SignalBooster.com works with industry-leading manufacturers and can build a supply chain model to kit materials, pre assemble cabling and enclosure, and stage to meet tight scheduling windows.
7. System Installation and Test: Even once the job is done, the job isn’t done. You’ll need to continue testing your DAS regularly - but especially before it goes operational.
8. Commissioning and Cutover: At some point, you’ll need to introduce new equipment into your DAS system. When the time comes, SignalBooster.com is ready with a robust portfolio to meet all your wireless needs and keep your DAS running at peak performance.

The basics of distributed antenna systems.

Signalbooster.com can help you understand the key technologies at work to help you determine the best distributed antenna system for providing maximum coverage for your occupants.

Distributed antenna systems have two primary components: signal sources and distribution systems. Signal sources can be generated from roof-mounted antennae, on-site Base Transceiver Stations and with emerging small cell technology. The distribution system then carries the signal throughout the building. The primary distribution systems include digital, hybrid, passive and active systems, which use either fiber optic or Ethernet cable.

Every building has different structural and technological demands. Selecting the right signal source and distribution system will depend upon your needs, and in many cases, a blended, customized approach is required.

Components of a distributed antenna system.

Our innovative designers and expert installers will help you find the best technology at the best price point to ensure a satisfactory installation to give ample coverage for all major cell carriers.

There are essentially two primary challenges that you will encounter when looking to shore up cellular dead zones with your DAS: coverage and capacity. Capacity issues occur when too many individuals overwhelm cell towers with traffic. Coverage issues occur when you’re located too far away from a tower. These concerns are ameliorated through the deployment of the appropriate signal source and distribution system for your facility.

Signal sources.

The source of the signal in question has everything to do with how you build your DAS. There are three primary types of signal sources: off-air, BTS, NodeB or eNodeB, and small cell.

• Off-air-DAS with off-air signals typically use a donor antenna which is mounted to the roof to receive and transmit signals from a cell carrier. They typically work with multiple carriers, making them a great option for someone looking to provide coverage for many major cellular providers.
• BTS/NodeB/eNodeB - These technologies are typically found inside cell towers. Connecting to a cell carrier’s BTS generally requires a dedicated network connection installed by the carrier. This option gives tremendous, scalable performance, but can be more costly and requires significant logistical considerations.
• Small cells - This emerging technology gives building managers an opportunity for a cost-effective and expedited installation time. By creating a secure tunnel to the carrier’s network over a normal Internet connection, you’ll get a quality signal that is cost-effective and fast to deploy, but is generally more difficult to scale compared to off-air signal sources.

Every facility has different coverage and capacity constraints, as well as different organizational goals and long-term strategies for success. Fortunately, it is possible to combine signal sources for optimal impact. Consult with your signalbooster.com representative to learn more.

Signal distribution options.

Now that you’ve figured out the best signal source to ensure maximum cellular signal for all the major cellular carriers, you’ve got to select the method for amplifying the signal to send it to every corner of your facility. There are four primary types of signal distribution technology: digital, hybrid, passive and active.

• Digital - Digital systems are now being developed that are potentially simpler and more cost-effective to deploy than traditional distribution systems. They allow a base band unit to communicate with a DAS master unit without conversion to an analog RF interface. However, industry regulations and standards haven’t caught up with the technology in all parts of the world, so it is important to check your local jurisdictional compliance standards before selecting this option.
• Passive - These systems are inexpensive, as there are no digital converters required. This makes for easier maintenance and less equipment, but also brings about complications when you actually set out to run your cables, and can result in signal loss more easily.
• Active - While more costly than passive or hybrid systems, active distribution systems can be shared with WiFi or public safety bands and conveniently scalable due to a lack of limitations on cable run lengths.
• Hybrid - These systems combine elements of active and passive distribution systems. They’re a happy medium when it comes to both cost, convenience and performance.

Signalbooster.com - your one stop shop for in-building DAS for Wi-Fi and mobile coverage.

Being a full-service, turnkey DAS designer, installer, and maintainer, we provide everything from start to finish for a distributed antenna system. With proven track record, we have great rapport with all carrier engineers to ensure approvals. If you build it, they may NOT come! This is the risk you do NOT take with SignalBooster.com. We WILL get the system approved by Carriers. Enjoy a smooth running system that does best what it is designed to do - Boost the wireless signals in your facility. Guaranteed.