These questions are made all the more urgent by the fact that many buildings are made of materials that can impede cellular or communication signals.

So how do you make sure that your building is safe for its occupants? How do you guarantee that first responders can communicate with building occupants seamlessly and efficiently?

The answer is simple: you get a certified & professional company to install an ERRCS in your building.

What are ERRCS, in a nutshell?

An Emergency Responder Radio Communications System, or ERRCS, is an important radio transmission tool that ensures reliable two-way communication for first responders within building structures. 

It’s an in-building communication system designed to improve critical communications within a building as well as allowing flawless communication with the outside.

Seeing the importance of this, ERRCS systems are mandated by the NFPA and local Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs). 

Most buildings that meet a specific size and occupancy threshold, which varies from city to city, must have an ERRCS system installed and be subjected to Annual Testing and Recertification (ATR).

But how do ERRCS work, exactly?

An ERRCS uses a donor antenna to receive the radio signals from the local first responder network – signals that operate on private frequencies used by first responders. 

These signals are then re-amplified within the building at the required locations to make sure there are no blind spots when it comes to connectivity.

ERRCS systems use communication tools compatible with existing public safety radio frequencies to ensure that first responders, paramedical professionals, and public safety personnel are able to communicate safely and efficiently, without being limited or restricted by signal existence or strength.

What do ERRCS guarantee?

Installing an ERRCS system provides a safer world for us all. Its presence in the building is a safeguard against catastrophes happening because of lack of radio signals or proper connectivity. 

It helps first responders to manage any dangerous situation, from manmade disasters such as a raging fire or an explosion, to natural disasters like flash floods or typhoons. ERRCS ensure the safety of both the people in danger and the people trying to help them. 

As such, it is vital to have a knowledgeable party install your ERRCS and perform ERRCS testing to check it for any maintenance issues regularly.

Conclusion:

ERRCS systems are a vital lifeline that extends between people in any sort of danger within any building, and the heroes who risk their lives trying to save them every day. 

That is why we take our work extremely seriously and aim to provide nothing but the most flawless communications systems available today.

Get in touch with us to get a detailed quotation for your ERRCS installation.

The post How are external Public Safety radio signals retransmitted within a building? appeared first on Peer Communications.

The reliability of an ERRCS is crucial since it can affect response times and may even lead to needless injuries or death in times of crisis. However, many factors outside a dispatch center’s control can affect an ERRCS’s reliability. 

This blog will explore ERRCS, how external factors affect its reliability, and why maintenance is essential for ensuring optimal functionality at all times!

The Reliability of an ERRCS

You may be wondering if the ERRCS is reliable. The answer is yes! 

The system provides reliable communications and redundancy using two separate radio transmission paths. 

External factors such as water, wind, or power outages are not supposed to affect your ERRCS signal. These systems are designed to resist the elements and are engineered to rely on a backup system during a power outage.

Additionally, ERRCS Systems are engineered with strength and redundancy, as buildings might be subject to an array of emergency events, and it can be challenging to assess eventualities in mind. 

As such, RF engineering and design factors in eventualities to ensure systems are implemented with fire, flood, and natural event risks in mind. 

ERRCS Maintenance

It’s essential to perform an Annual Testing and Recertification, or ATR, as mandated by the NFPA and authority having jurisdictions, as it ensures your ERRCS performs at optimal performance at all times. 

It is essential to note that we do advise contacting your provider for such tasks. We at Peer Communications consider each client a partner, allowing us to form long-term relationships with them to tend to their needs, certifications, maintenance, and the like. 

Conclusion

The Maintenance of an Emergency Responder Radio Communications System is a significant part of emergency response and disaster management plans. It can be costly, but its purpose is to save lives and assets. 

The most common external factors that may affect an ERRCS are not necessarily poor weather conditions but rather aging systems and lack of maintenance by the operator.

Are you looking to maintain your ERRCS on your premise? Reach out for a consultation! 

The post Can External Factors Affect an ERRCS? appeared first on Peer Communications.

Some people mistakenly think that A DAS system can be used as an ERRCS solution, but this isn’t the case. 

So what are the differences between an ERRCS and a DAS system? Let’s look at what they are designed to do, how they work, and where they’re typically deployed.

What Is A DAS System?

A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is a system of antennas installed in a building to enhance and enable carrier services throughout a structure.

DAS systems are most commonly installed indoors and typically consist of multiple antenna nodes connected by a fiber optic cable network. 

However, they may also be installed at outdoor stadiums, arenas, or malls with limited cell tower coverage. Geography and building materials can also affect poor cell reception and impact a business’s performance during peak operations. 

DAS Is Connectivity Focused

Distributed Antenna Systems are designed to provide building-wide connectivity. It ensures every floor, room, and corner has access to reliable carrier service, providing occupants, visitors, and businesses with complete coverage.

Peer Communications can support voice, data, and video services to multiple cellular carriers on the same system using a combination of RF engineering and expertise. 

While a Cellular DAS System is useful for providing potential victims with a lifeline by ensuring a reliable connection, a DAS is very different from an ERRCS. 

It’s important to distinguish these two systems from one another, given the difference in purpose, design, compliance, and resilience. 

What Is An ERRCS?

An Emergency Responder Radio Communications System, or ERRCS, ensures reliable and redundant two-way communication for first responders within building structures. 

These systems use communications compatible with existing public safety radio frequencies to ensure that first responders, paramedical professionals, and public safety personnel communicate safely.

ERRCS Mandated By Authorities

ERRCS systems are mandated by the NFPA and Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs), while cellular DAS systems are not. 

Most buildings that meet a specific size and occupancy threshold, which varies from city to city, must have an ERRCS system installed and be subjected to Annual Testing and Recertification (ATR). 

Value Through DAS And ERRCS

While underestimated, cellular DAS systems can significantly appreciate the value of any venue or building. 

This is evidenced by bad cell reception which instantly turns away possible tenants looking to rent or purchase property in your building. 

ERRCS are more straightforward since their existence on-premises is mandated by the NFPA, as the system supports first responders and protects occupants. This adds an extra layer of value that property owners and managers can capitalize on to increase their standing in the market. 

Conclusion

ERRCS and DAS can be great options depending on your needs and budget. However, it’s essential to understand their differences to find the right solution for your communications system.
Are you looking to dive deeper into both systems? Reach out to us for a consultation!

The post ERRCS vs. DAS: What’s The Difference? appeared first on Peer Communications.

We’ve all experienced lousy reception in certain areas and sections of a building or structure. It’s considered a significant cause of frustration for current tenants while deterring future tenants from being attracted to the building.
But let’s dive deeper into this frustrating phenomenon to understand what’s happening on the technical side. 

What is Signal Strength?

To understand signal strength, it’s essential first to understand the concept of radio frequency (RF). Radiofrequency is a form of electromagnetic radiation transmitted via antennas and cables. 

Devices use this form of energy to communicate with one another. The RF spectrum includes everything from AM/FM radio waves to microwaves used by mobile phones and Wi-Fi routers.

An individual device will have a specified range of transmitting signals. This range falls within the definition of “good” or “bad” signal strength based on how reliable and accurate any given device needs its data to be for it to work effectively at all times. 

While this may seem obvious, many factors impact how effective your cellular service provider’s network might be outside your home or office building. 

Weather conditions such as rainstorms or snowstorms can impact cell towers; even something as simple as construction near an existing tower site could cause interference from other wireless signals being broadcast nearby (or vice versa).

What Qualifies A Good Or Bad Signal Strength

Signal strength is the amount of power transmitted over a given distance. It’s measured in dBm (decibels relative to 1 milliwatt), with higher numbers indicating better signal strength and vice versa. 

Signal strength is affected by obstructions, distance, and the number of wireless devices used. A good signal strength should be approximately between -50 dBm to -25 dBm on a cellular device.

The Effects of Signal Strength

Poor signal strength can affect workplace efficiency in several ways. For example, you may experience slow mobile Internet speeds or have trouble making or receiving calls. This is especially true if you’re in an area with poor reception, such as a basement or underground parking garage.

Poor signal strength can also affect occupant safety: it could prevent people from receiving warning notifications about potential hazards (such as fire alarms), which could cause them to leave their workspace too soon or not evacuate. 

It can also disrupt medical equipment workers with disabilities and make it challenging to communicate with emergency responders if necessary (for example, during an active shooter situation).

Poor signal strength can also impact public safety and other commercial wireless communications. For example, police officers may be unable to access real-time data from their body cameras during emergencies. 

Firefighters may need to receive information about dangerous chemicals stored at nearby businesses. Construction workers might work on unsafe bridges because they need to learn that government inspectors recently inspected the bridge.

Good Signal Strength For Public Safety

Regarding public safety and other commercial wireless communications, a reasonable signal strength requirement provides minimal latency, low packet loss, good voice quality, low jitter, and high throughput. Good coverage is also crucial so that the system will work in areas of high demand or remote locations where there may not be any other options available.

You’ll need to balance power consumption with coverage capabilities and capacity requirements to achieve this goal. For example, suppose you want your system to cover an area with poor reception. In that case, you may need higher transmission power than if your system operates at an airport or stadium where there’s no interference from surrounding buildings or trees.

These factors can decrease the range of signals traveling over longer distances due to absorption by objects such as concrete walls or tall trees.

How Does Cellular DAS Ensure Good Signal Strength?

Its design is one of the essential factors in ensuring that a Cellular DAS system provides good signal strength. Every location where a DAS is installed has its unique set of challenges, and it’s crucial to have an experienced designer who can bring together all of these elements to create a solution that works well for your specific location.

In addition, there are many ways to increase this type of system’s impact on overall cell phone connectivity. For example:

If you’re using multiple providers, it’s vital to ensure that each provider has the bandwidth they need to provide quality service. You should also consider adding nodes or repeaters if you want more coverage or throughput capacity than what one node offers by itself.

The Importance of Good Signal Strength

Good signal strength is significant for your in-building wireless system. The higher your signal strength, the more reliable connections will be and the better it will perform. 

A strong signal means you can move around freely without losing connectivity or experiencing dropped calls. In addition to ensuring that your employees can connect and their devices, a strong signal also ensures that they do so safely by providing them with access to vital information about their surroundings.

Poor signal strength can cause problems such as missed deadlines due lack of communication between departments which may result in disciplinary action being taken against them (or worse).

Conclusion

Whether you are trying to increase your coverage and capacity or want to ensure proper connectivity for your business, installing a Cellular DAS is the best way to do this. 

It will help you get the most out of your wireless network and ensure that no matter where an employee goes in your building, there will always be good signal strength available for them.

The post What Is Considered A Good Signal Strength? appeared first on Peer Communications.

The NFPA is a nonprofit organization established in 1896, offering an essential set of codes and standards for fire protection, electrical, and life safety in the workplace. 

According to their website, “the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides a wide array of resources for public fire service professionals and private citizens alike…Our mission is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating scientifically-based consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education.”

But before diving into it all, we must answer some basic questions.

What is an ERRCS?

Emergency Responder Radio Communications Systems (ERRCS) provide a reliable, secure and interoperable solution for first responders. They allow communication between police departments, fire departments, EMS units, and other emergency response agencies. 

In addition to these benefits, ERRCS can be used to dispatch all types of emergencies at any time.

ERRCS are designed to be easy to use and maintain, they provide a reliable solution for emergency responders. These systems can be used in any emergency, such as natural disasters, fires, or other emergencies.

The NFPA requires that “Buildings and structures that cannot support the required level of radio coverage shall be equipped with a radiating cable system or a distributed antenna system (DAS) with FCC-certified signal boosters, or both, or with a system that is otherwise approved, to achieve the required adequate radio coverage.” 

There are several factors that can affect the communications standards in-building for first responders, such as:

• Signal Strength
• Isolation
• System Radio Frequencies
• Frequency Changes
• Critical Areas
• Radio Coverage

Another main component of NFPA 72 Section 24.5.2 is non-interference. 

In other words, “no amplification system capable of operating on frequencies or causing interference on frequencies assigned to the jurisdiction by the FCC shall be installed without prior coordination and approval of the authority having jurisdiction,” according to the NFPA. “The building manager/owner shall suspend and correct other equipment installations that degrade the performance of the public safety radio or public safety radio enhancement system.” 

What is an NFPA Certification?

NFPA certification is a requirement for many public safety organizations, structures, and buildings. The NFPA guides the design and construction of emergency response radio communication systems (ERRCS).

These gold public safety standards are developed by the consensus of experts in the field and are voluntary, but they are widely used throughout the industry.

In most cases, compliance with NFPA standards is voluntary. However, in some cases, federal or state Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) agencies have incorporated wording from NFPA standards into regulations. In these cases, complying with the standards is mandatory.

The importance of an NFPA Gold Standard

Committees of experts develop NFPA standards, updated regularly by fire marshals and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). NFPA standards have become a standard for the industry to create, design, test, and maintain emergency response vehicles to be used safely in the field.

The certification has many different standards that guide how organizations and structures should operate. The purpose behind these guidelines is to put: safety first!

The Added Value of an NFPA

The National Fire Protection Association is the leading authority on fire safety. With more than 120 years of experience, NFPA has developed a wide range of training and certification programs that help you meet your goals. 

As an independent, nonprofit organization, NFPA offers free resources to help you understand the codes you must comply with. Contact us today if you want to learn more about how this code can benefit your business and make it safer for employees and customers alike!

Building Partnerships with Providers

These certifications and standards might seem somewhat intimidating to contractors, building managers, or owners, especially if they want to bolster their public safety capabilities. 

This emphasizes having a solid relationship with a DAS/ERRCS provider with strong relationships with fire marshals and AHJs, which streamline the entire process. 

Not only would you be leveraging their skills, know-how, and knowledge in the field, but also tap into their network to remain as compliant as possible while meeting client expectations. 

If you want to make your building or structure NFPA-compliant, contact us for a consultation!

The post Is Your Building NFPA Compliant? appeared first on Peer Communications.

Public safety DAS is an essential component of any building’s communications system. It’s one of the most critical systems for any business or facility exposed to potential emergencies. It must be able to communicate with first responders in real-time.
Users of public safety DAS include hospitals, schools, residential buildings, and other public buildings with a large surface area and a considerable amount of people within these buildings.

What is a public safety DAS?

 A public safety DAS (PSD) is a network of antennas and radio access points installed in a building to improve first responder communications.

First responders use a PSD to communicate with each other and their commanding officers, command centers, and other agencies. Such as firefighters and police officers working in co-op during an intervention.

As structures age, it is pivotal to maintain adequate safety standards that meet modern requirements, offering occupants and first responders the benefit of increased security.

DAS system requirements for older buildings

 The DAS system requirements for older buildings are the same as those for new construction, although several factors can affect the quality of your system and its performance:

• Building age and structural integrity
• Design challenges, such as wiring and power distribution systems
• Difficulty in installing adequate backup power if needed
• NFPA and IFC safety code requirements
• Maintaining reasonable costs while upkeeping building safety and aesthetics 

Public safety DAS is a crucial component of any building’s communications system

A public safety DAS is a core component of any building’s communications system.

 It provides the first responder instant access to critical communication networks, allowing them to plan and execute evacuation routes in building layouts. 

 It effectively improves emergency response times and quality while preventing loss of life and property damage.

 This technology enables firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders to communicate effectively during an emergency by using high-speed data transfer speeds (1 gigabit per second), that exceed typical phone line transmission speeds (384 kilobits per second).

 A DAS system can be used by multiple agencies simultaneously when needed—for example during large-scale events like hurricanes or tornadoes—and allows everyone involved on scene unparalleled usage of their voice communication systems, which may not always be reliable due to weather conditions or distance from base stations.

 Users will know exactly where they’re supposed to be and what to do, not only because they’ve been trained but because their communications systems have tuned into existing systems around them.

What is the importance of public safety DAS in an older building?

Code compliance is essential to any short- and long-term fire safety plan. This helps to ensure that occupants and first responders alike are well-equipped to handle emergencies and increase the odds of survival during unexpected Events.

Adopting a public safety DAS system will provide first responders with the information needed to make quick decisions during an emergency while promoting better evacuation procedures.

This is critical in older structures where the following factors should be upheld:

• Building materials may not be fire resistant, causing a quick escalation of the situation.
• An aged and weakened structure that is more prone to collapsing.
• Older architectural designs that are less considerate of fire safety plans

Conclusion

Public safety DAS is a core component of any older building’s communications and emergency safety systems.

It provides the backup first responders need and ensures their access to the network during an emergency. In turn, their communications remain constant and reliable, ensuring their coverage remains intact, especially in older buildings.

Contact us to learn how we can help you assess your need for a DAS system, and design a bespoke system that works for your old building’s code requirements.

Keep up with our updates and announcements on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out our other blog posts to learn more about our DAS solutions.

The post The importance of public safety DAS in an older building appeared first on Peer Communications.

Distributed Antenna Systems are a common requirement for most building structures. Whether it is a public safety, code, or building comfort/experience requirement, a DAS system serves to provide and improve carrier coverage. 

DAS systems are, therefore, a common requirement for most building structures in the US. Depending on the building type, size, regulation, and, most importantly, your needs will vary in requirements and specifications. 

Therefore, this versatility is highly scalable and designed to work around all applications, providing businesses and users exceptional coverage, productivity, comfort, and safety throughout a building structure. 

Fundamentally though, different types of DAS systems exist, as they serve a specific purpose and need to work around different engineering and budgeting constraints. 

This blog post covers the different types of DAS systems and which one might be a potential fit for you.

Indoor DAS

Indoor DAS is the most common DAS system installed by businesses like hotels, libraries, conference centers, closed-roof stadiums, offices, and corporate spaces. 

It is installed in buildings and provides wireless coverage for many users that span multiple floors, large surface areas, and coverage issues.

It’s also most frequently adopted in buildings with bad phone reception, particularly in signal-blocking materials such as low-E glass, thick cement walls, and a dense number of users. 

This type of system is versatile with variants that offer passive and hybrid power options, placing costs at less than Outdoor DAS and Active DAS systems. 

Outdoor DAS

Outdoor DAS systems are indoor DAS systems with weatherproofing. As their name suggests, this system is dedicated to outdoor applications for venues like stadiums, resorts, campuses, parks, and more. 

While essentially the same system of antennas and nodes, an outdoor DAS requires Remote Radio Heads, RHHs, which are housed in weatherproof outdoor enclosures. They are placed on rooftops, poles, or walls to increase outdoor carrier coverage.

Hybrid DAS

A hybrid DAS is a combination of both indoor and outdoor DAS. The indoor portion of the hybrid system is usually installed inside a building, while the outdoor portion is installed outside the building.

This type of system provides coverage for areas that require a dual application through a single system that provides a single zone, bypassing wireless handoff issues. A Hybrid DAS is a single system that is both scalable and as reliable as can be configured to the building’s needs. 

Active and Passive DAS

Among the most common type of Peer Communications installed today is Active DAS, which essentially means that components require a power source to operate. 

The system utilizes fiber optic cables to connect with remote nodes. In contrast, a Passive DAS system foregoes the fiber optic cables in most cases and makes use of Bi-Directional Amplifiers or BDAs.

Passive DAS is a system that uses the existing cellular network to distribute cellular signals. It’s an ideal solution for areas with a need for additional coverage on a budget for small buildings and office spaces. 

Conclusion

DAS is a great way to improve your building and venue network coverage by offering unparalleled network access, efficiency, and safety.
Different businesses require different applications, and while there are universal DAS solutions, there is no “one size fits all.” 

This is where our DAS systems engineers can help you value-engineer a DAS system that covers your needs. Contact us to learn how we can help you assess your need for a DAS system and design a bespoke system that works for your old building’s code requirements.

Keep up with our updates and announcements on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out our other blog posts to learn more about our DAS solutions.

The post What are the main types of DAS? Which one do you need? appeared first on Peer Communications.

During the September 11th attacks in New York City, emergency workers had trouble speaking to one another during the search and rescue operations. 

These challenges included complete radio communication failures. This caused first responders within buildings to lose touch with dispatch and fire teams outside, placing their lives in danger and hindering rescue attempts.

How and why ERRCS offer life-saving public safety systems

 An Emergency Responder Radio Coverage System, or ERRCS installation within a building or structure is vital, it touches down on a matter of life and death.

In fact, it has become a requirement within the United States that building owners must install on-site ERRCS systems. 

Communication failures on 9/11 raised awareness on the significance of well-functioning ERRCS. The event effectively emphasized the necessity for tools that would allow responders to communicate in the case of an emergency without interruption or signal loss. 

Since 9/11, legislators, stakeholders, and commercial building owners have made ERRCS installation, testing, and recertification a top concern.

The ERRCS system aims to boost critical communications to first responders in and around a building to get the word out. 

An ERRCS operates through an extension of the public safety network by leveraging a setlist of small antennas extracted from a distributed antenna system (DAS). The system effectively allows all users to send and receive radio signals throughout the area and to base stations.

What goes into annual testing and recertification

 Is your building equipped with a public safety signal booster or an ERRCS? 

 If so, when was the last time an expert had your system inspected? If it has been more than a year, your equipment may no longer meet current standard safety requirements.

An annual assessment of your system will generally analyze eight or more components to confirm that the system continues to run and perform in accordance with NFPA, IFC, and local code compliance. 

These systems include, but are not limited to: 

• System Coverage
• Pathway Survivability
• Donor Isolation
• Equipment Alarms
• Backup Power
• Lightning Protection
• Inspection Records
• As-Built Documentation

Moreover, the inspection and recertification can include grid testing to conduct a system coverage assessment, alarm verification, and scenario assessment.

Closing thoughts

There is an immense value placed on human lives by regulators, lawmakers, and stakeholders, based on evidence-based decision-making, experience, and disaster resilience strategies.

Ensuring public safety is a pivotal aspect of our lives, which is enforced by federal, state, and county regulators through fire marshals, municipalities, and other authorities.

As such, maintaining oversight on your annual ERRCs testing, maintenance and recertification is a vital to ensure your compliance with building codes, while contributing to your building and community’s overall safety. 

Contact us to learn more about how Peer Communications provide you with value engineering for all your ERRCS testing, maintenance, and recertification needs.

Keep up with our updates and announcements on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out our other blog posts to learn more about our DAS solutions.

The post The Importance of Annual Testing and Recertification of Existing ERRCS Systems appeared first on Peer Communications.

Communications technology experts often lead DAS businesses. They provide specialized and turnkey solutions that improve your building and businesses’ network access, user experience, and code compliance with local rules and regulations, ensuring optimal public safety.
Peer Communications come in an array of types that work towards providing coverage to various needs, technical challenges, and business sizes.
Choosing a DAS provider is a critical step, where a calculated approach is best advised. In this blog, we dive into the ins and outs of selecting a DAS provider and what you should look for.

What does a DAS provider do

DAS providers are businesses specialized in the sale, design, installation, maintenance, and upgrading of Peer Communications.

In parallel, DAS providers who design and build installations are also known as integrators, who work with carriers and equipment manufacturers to develop a DAS solution that works for you.

Furthermore, a DAS provider works to help businesses improve their overall network access and connectivity, effectively optimizing productivity and safety throughout a building structure.

An experienced DAS provider will also focus and offer services that serve building code compliance, fire evacuation, emergency communications systems and strategies, ensuring your compliance with local and federal regulations.

How to choose a DAS provider

Here are some of the main points that can help you identify and vet a DAS company to take your business to the next level:

Conduct an internal initial assessment

First and foremost, before choosing or looking for a provider, it is best practice to conduct a quick internal assessment. This exercise goes over your main needs for a DAS system, your expectations, and any evident challenges that might arise.

This step is pivotal, as it will help a potential provider understand your needs and insight into your requirements prior to or during your initial meetings.

Identify and assess suppliers in your area

The reliability and expertise of a provider are paramount when looking for a DAS provider, as it ensures that the managers, technicians, and DAS engineers handling your business needs are qualified.
The client portfolio, business size and specialized services are good indicators of a company’s ability to handle your project in your area.
It is also essential to consider products and services offered by a DAS provider. It would be best if you considered different options based on your needs, and upheld value engineering through one contractor.

Moreover, a diversity of products and services provides a lasting partnership, including repairs, maintenance, yearly code compliance, and upgrades.

Finalize your due diligence and proceed

Identifying, vetting, and committing to a DAS provider is an integral part of adopting a DAS setup for your businesses, which can take your business to the next level.
As such, you should carefully consider and vet a provider before proceeding. Your commitment to a DAS provider is a pivotal change in your business, so you should be confident of your decision.

It is important to identify and work with a partner that will provide field experience, know-how, and an opportunity to develop and install a flexible DAS design.

Concluding thoughts

A core part of owning a business is constantly seeking improvement. As our needs grow and technologies become more readily accessible, this need grows with time.
Ensuring your business remains optimally connected is crucial for its reliability, performance, and customer experience. Therefore, identifying a strong DAS provider is no straightforward task, given the potential at stake with such a partnership.
Here at DAS systems, we pride ourselves on our exceptional team and our proven track record. Contact us to learn more about how we can help provide you with value engineering for all your DAS needs.

Keep up with our updates and announcements on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out our other blog posts to learn more about our DAS solutions.

The post How to choose a DAS provider? appeared first on Peer Communications.

A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is a wireless communications system that uses multiple antennas to provide coverage in an area. These systems can be used for point-to-point connections or multipoint connections, which allow you to connect many users with one base station.

A DAS is a network of interconnected hardware and software that allows mobile devices to transmit data using multiple antennas instead of just one. It’s used in various industries, including cellular networks, wireless networks, private enterprise networks, and more.

In this blog post, we dive deeper into what are distributed systems, and what makes up DAS systems components, and how they work together to get you the coverage needed throughout your building.

A- Base Station

A base station is a central hub that connects all the other components of DAS directly to a fiber optic network, emitting radio frequency (RF) signals out through the coaxial cables running throughout your building.

This allows you to control everything from one location, as base stations can be connected through hardwired connections or wireless networks, with each having respective advantages and disadvantages:

• Hardwired connections are faster than wireless ones because they don’t need networked devices between them and their destination (the remote radio heads). This makes it easier for businesses that need access quickly without sacrificing quality or security concerns.

• Wireless networks use antennas distributed throughout buildings, so each room has its own signal strength. This means you’ll probably have less coverage across your entire facility if there aren’t enough antennas installed everywhere.

B- Fiber Optics

Fiber optics send data from the base station to the antenna. A fiber optic cable is made of glass or plastic, which means it carries light signals and not electrical signals. It can rapidly transmit large amounts of information through extremely thin wires without losing any signal quality.

C- Radio Frequency Cables

RF cables are high-quality cables used to connect antennas to the base station. They’re also known as RF coaxial cables since they appear like an old-fashioned cord used to connect your TV to your antenna.

D- Coaxial Cable

Coaxial cable is a type of cable that consists of an inner conductor surrounded by a tubular insulator, which is surrounded by another conductor. Coaxial cables are used in many devices, including computers and televisions.

The main advantage of coaxial cable over other types of cables is that it can carry large amounts of power (wattage), while still having low losses and high bandwidth capacity. 

This makes it ideal for high-speed data transmission over long distances, such as between cities.

E- Connectors and splitters

Connectors link fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, and RF cables to the antenna. These connectors can be made of plastic or metal, and come in different shapes and sizes depending on the type of connection that is required by your application.

On the other hand, splitters are used to distribute the signal to multiple devices. They are passive devices that split a cable into two channels and then connect them in series with each other.

 F- Antennas

Antennas are used to transmit and receive radio waves and signals; they’re also known as phased array antennas or directional arrays because they can be rotated or tilted to focus their signal in a specific direction.

 This is important for wireless communication because it allows you to send your message over long distances without losing quality along the way.

Antennas come in many shapes and sizes, but all of them share two basic components: 

• An electrical circuit that transmits electricity through wires (called transmission lines) into another device
• An antenna that converts that signal into an electromagnetic wave so it can travel through space and reach its destination at high speeds (or even faster).

Conclusion

A DAS Network is a powerful tool that can enhance your building and business communications network and business development strategy.

 A DAS capitalizes on simple and reliable components that improve a user’s overall connectivity and experience, which subsequently generates added value throughout your business.

Contact us to learn how we can help you with value engineering from start to finish.

Keep up with our updates and announcements on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out our other blog posts to learn more about our DAS solutions.

The post What are the components of DAS? appeared first on Peer Communications.