THE BASICS                   

 

1. What’s the difference between a DAS for cell signal and a life/safety DAS?

Technically, they’re both DAS – Distributed Antenna Systems.  They both take signal from an antenna and distribute it throughout a building.  The difference is more about the end user of the signal.  When people refer to DAS they usually mean life/safety DAS, sometimes called public safety DAS.  This is the system that is in place to guarantee first responders a communication network in the event of an emergency.   When people refer to cellular enhancement they usually mean the system that is in place to provide cell phone service – voice/data/text – for the people living or working in the building.  

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These DAS systems are also called:

• Cellular repeater systems

• Cell phone repeater systems

• Cellular enhancement systems OR cellular signal enhancement systems

• In-building wireless (refers to either cell or WiFi signal)

• Cell phone boosters

 

2. Can I use my life/safety DAS as the cell enhancement system also?   

It depends. A majority of jurisdictions will require separate systems for cellular DAS and public safety DAS in the property. However, if properly designed and accepted by the local code enforcement, the systems can be combined which saves cost, space and time. 

 

Do I need first responder DAS in my building?

More and more municipalities are rolling out code for first responder DAS (ERRCS). The code will generally state that in buildings of a certain size, the first responders who would report to that building must be able to operate their two-way handsets (So the building must maintain minimum service levels).

We recommend testing the building during construction to determine if a system will be needed. 

 

3. What is the difference between active/fiber and passive/over-the-air network?  

Active DAS: A distributed antenna system where the signal is generated by an independent radio source for the building. This creates an independent/custom solution for the property that is capable of handling large amounts of user traffic while producing the highest output power for devices using the network. 

Active DAS Pros​​​

• Active DAS systems provide a custom network for the building

• They ensure that there is both capacity and signal inside the property

• They are future-proofed and upgradeable

• They are an asset in the building

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Active DAS Cons

• Can be costly and difficult to implement

• Time to deploy/procure signal source is lengthy

• Space and backhaul requirements

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Passive DAS: A system that uses a network of cabling and antennas to disperse signal throughout the building, but is fed by an antenna on the roof that is leveraging outdoor signal to create better signal inside. 

Passive DAS Pros

• Passive DAS are carrier-compliant and FCC pre-approve

• Passive DAS systems can be deployed for all carriers or a carrier subset

• These systems incur no ongoing contracts or expenses for the building.

• Passive systems are more cost-effective

 

Passive DAS Cons

• Passive DAS systems do not create signal- you are limited to the coverage outside the building

• Passive DAS are not as modular in their future-proofing

 

4. Which system do I need, active or passive?

That depends on your property size, number of users, application, and current environment. Typically this question is answered by understanding the site and the use case of the DAS, and getting on-site to measure the existing coverage levels and choose the best solution. 

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Some choices will be clear given hyper-density within the building (Think of sports arenas) and some projects will be more of a choice. 

 

5. My building is over 500,000 square feet – will a cellular enhancement system work in a space that size?

Absolutely. Any of the aforementioned solutions can be scaled up or down to meet the specific needs of the property. We have deployed solutions for 10k square feet and well over 1,000,000 + sq/ft

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6. Is a cell enhancement system just for voice or also data and text?

The systems will typically support the full range of mobile device functions. 

 

7. Are cellular DAS systems compliant with the FCC.

Proper integrators should always use hardware that is stamped and certified by FCC governing bodies. Compliance within the macro networks is vital as the system can be ripped out otherwise. All of our systems are fully compliant, guaranteed and certified to be completely network safe for the FCC.   See copies of the carriers' approval letters here.

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8. What should I look for in a properly designed system? 

There are so many variables to understand, it can be overwhelming!   Here is a short list of questions to ask your integrator that will help you know whether you're getting a well-engineered system that is designed for your facility's specific needs: 

 

• What measures are being taken for future proofing? Are the passive components capable of supporting other bands? What is the roadmap for the active equipment?

 

• Is the density of the system consistent and viable? Properly designed systems must hit a critical juncture. They must provide truly 100% comprehensive coverage with enough hardware to cover the building, but properly spaced and engineered so the budgetary costs remain viable. 

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• If a passive system is being recommended- has a full site survey been completed? The integrator must understand the macro environment in addition to the in-building system. They will work in conjunction to ensure the results within the building exceed expectations. 

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• Finally, be sure to check references on jobs similar to yours – same size, same industry.  For instance, if you have a hospital, look for a provider who has successfully worked with a hospital specifically. (See "special hospital considerations" below.) Installing a cellular enhancement system in a 300,000 square foot warehouse is a totally different game than in a 300,000 square foot hospital or hotel or even a co-working office building. Each venue has its own set of extenuating circumstances that must be taken into consideration for the system to function properly. 

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THE COST                      

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1. How much does a cellular enhancement system cost?

It's a bit of a loaded question, but we feel it is vital to provide a baseline cost. For straightforward with no major caveats, we can the following costs

Passive 2 Carrier Systems

$.60 - .80 / Sq ft.

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Passive "All" Carrier Systems 

$.75 - $1.00 / Sq. ft

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Active DAS

(Widest range as the inclusion of 5G bands, signal source & type of technology will create massive deltas in the numbers)

$1.10 - $2.00 / sq ft

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Other factors that can influence price

• The availability of cell signal outside

• Whether the ceiling is a hard lid or lift tile ceiling  

• The layout of building

• Whether there are cement cores in place between floors

 

2. I received several vastly different cost estimates for my Cell DAS System.  How can I make an apples to apples comparison of the proposals?

Deciphering a proposal full of dBs, ohms, amplifier specs and such can be an exercise in frustration.  Especially when the price of one proposal is dramatically different from the other.  How do you know which one is best for your building? To begin a rough comparison, understand if the system is passive vs. active DAS, the type of technology being used, the guaranteed signal levels, and the upgrade paths/monitoring contracts etc that are included. We can always review proposals that have pricing and company names redacted.

 

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3. Will the carriers pay for my system?

During the initial introduction of cellular DAS to the general public, carriers had a goal of covering buildings throughout major cities with in-building cellular service. As the costs rose on these deployments and carriers devoted more attention to their macro networks, the funds for in-building systems as provided by cell carriers began to dry up. It is still commonly seen in stadiums, transit depots and the largest hotels throughout the US, but many other buildings no longer draw carrier interest. This has created a gap where building owners who never budgeted for DAS are suddenly forced to confront the costs for venue-owned DAS. We have developed approaches and financing solutions to mitigate these issues. 

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4. Do you offer financing?

Yes we do.   Contact us here for details.

 

 

THE APPEARANCE        

 

1. How big is the antenna on the outside of the building?

Surprisingly, the omni-directional rooftop antennas are small discrete devices that are not visible from street level.

 

2. Will the interior antennas be distracting/ugly/large

The interior antennas are low-profile, discrete, and typically will barely be noticeable to people in the building. 

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