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DAS Installation – What to Expect and the Keys to Success

Even though mobile phone usage is now pretty much universal, there are still places where indoor cell signal reception is poor or erratic—whether because of remote location, environmental interference, or hard-to-penetrate building materials.

Passive DAS (distributed antenna systems) address this problem efficiently and cost effectively by bringing in outside cell signals,  amplifying them and then distributing them indoors where the signal is weak. 

Passive DAS improves call quality and cellular data reception inside residential buildings, hotels, corporate offices, healthcare facilities, warehouses, and other buildings. DAS technology can detect and amplify cell signals that are up to 30 times more faint than what can be detected by a mobile device.

Passive DAS consists of three main components—a donor antenna, a bi-directional amplifier (BDA), and a broadcast antenna—but the exact configuration has to be customized according to the needs of each interior space to optimize coverage.

If you’re considering a DAS installation to address your cell reception issues, it’s helpful to know what’s involved and what to expect throughout the process.

Start with a Needs Assessment

A phone consultation with an experienced and reputable DAS solution provider is an important first step. This will help you understand and identify how cellular amplifier technology can address your needs based on your particular situation.

During this initial conversation, you’ll discuss the size of your building, its location, and layout, what specific problems you’re experiencing, and your timeframe for the installation.

You’ll also be asked to clarify your connectivity needs (i.e., whether you need strong, reliable cell signal coverage for IoT, phone calls, texting, uploading and downloading data, or all of the above.)

The next step is to be referred to a certified integrator in your area—a professional with a deep working knowledge of the products that will be most effective for your needs and who can help with the next important step: the site survey.

The Site Survey Provides Key Benchmarks

A site survey is critical in assessing your cellular signal amplification needs and ensuring the best possible solution. Your integrator will conduct a complete assessment to accurately determine the source of the strongest cell signal in your area and which carriers/networks get the best and worst signal there.

The integrator will note the strongest and weakest signal areas inside your building, relying on decibels on a signal scanner instead of bars to get the most accurate measure of signal strength. The bars on a mobile phone are based on a manufacturer-generated algorithm and can vary greatly among different carriers and devices.

All of this signal measurement data will ultimately dictate the type of equipment needed to improve your signal, and where it should be placed in your building to achieve the best results. The site survey should be conducted at a time of day that offers an accurate picture of what the typical cellular needs and usage demands are in your building.

The integrator will need a complete floor plan of your space and access to every location in and around the building. To secure this access, you may need to coordinate with building maintenance, security personnel, or even city departments to gain access to the roof or any restricted areas. Roof access, in particular, is almost always necessary since that’s where donor antennas are usually placed.

The initial site survey also provides an opportunity for your integrator to determine how to prioritize the signal needs in your building. For example, you may want to focus on key areas where cellular reception is critical, such as executive offices and conference rooms, and make areas that are less essential to business functions—such as storage areas, break rooms, or cafeterias—a lower priority.

You may also want to focus on boosting the signal from a specific carrier, a group, or all of them.

Important Considerations in DAS Installation

Once the initial consultation and site signal survey are complete, your integrator will put together a customized installation plan based on your specific usage needs, building size, and outside signal strength

Here are some specific issues that will need to be addressed:

• Location of antennas and cables – The physical installation of antennas and cable will span both indoor and outdoor areas of your building. Amplifiers are generally best placed in a dedicated IT closet or communications room because they require a reliable and strong power source to function properly. It’s advisable to utilize a universal power supply so the DAS amplifier won’t go down in a power outage. When providing the details of your floor plan to your integrator, be sure to clearly identify where in the building these areas are located.  This will aid your integrator’s design of the amplifier system layout.
• Cabling complexities – The integration plan should specify the type of cabling to be used, where it will be routed, and the impact on signal integrity. This will depend on whether you will be going with active (fiber optic or ethernet cable), passive (coaxial cable) or hybrid DAS (coaxial cable).
• Remote monitoring – For optimal DAS performance, consider setting up remote monitoring. This gives integrators and building managers the ability to remotely monitor the amplifiers from mobile devices and be immediately notified of any technical issues, such as system failure, oscillation, or change in signal strength. This allows for remote troubleshooting when necessary and the ability to closely monitor and measure the return on investment (ROI) on infrastructure spend as well as manage expectations with employees.

Working with an experienced integrator will help ensure the process goes smoothly with minimal interruption to your business’ daily workflow. That said, it’s important to notify all affected parties upfront, and establish clear lines of communication between IT, facilities management, and the external DAS vendor throughout the installation to keep the project on track

Passive DAS installation can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on several factors, building size, coverage requirements, facility accessibility, hour of install work and resource availability. Your integrator should be able to provide a rough timeline with the installation plan.

A Critical Ingredient in the DAS Installation Process:Trust

You want the most reliable and effective solution to your cellular connectivity issues, so it’s critical that you work with a DAS provider known for quality solutions, reliability, and service.

With 30+ years of experience in cellular communications, WilsonPro is a pioneer and innovator in the industry, and has a track record of providing DAS technology to companies in a broad range of industries.

We also have long standing relationships with DAS integrators and carrier networks who can provide services for every phase of the installation process—from the initial site survey to complete integration with your existing technology.

To learn more about our range of DAS solutions—and get started on integrating a DAS system to meet your requirements, contact us today.