You don't have to live with indoor communication breakdowns.
Put an end to poor cellular and two-way radio signal in your buildings with our in-building wireless enhancement solutions.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss distributed antenna systems (DAS), bi-directional amplifiers (BDA), Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS), and Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems (ERCES).
What is a distributed antenna system?
Simply speaking, a distributed antenna system (DAS) uses multiple antennas spread out over a large area to connect a single signal source to a group of antennas. The antennas are wired to a bi-directional amplifier, which then distributes the radio frequency (RF) signal to all the antennas in the system.
What is a bi-directional amplifier?
A bi-directional amplifier (BDA) is a device that boosts RF signals and extends their range.
Why is reliable indoor two-way radio and cellular coverage such an important safety consideration?
First responders often have the difficult task of maintaining critical communications throughout buildings and structures due to walls, ceilings, and countless other obstructions.
Many buildings have areas where radio and cellular coverage is spotty or non-existent, which can significantly slow down response times and possibly create dangerous scenarios for public-safety personnel on site.
A public-safety DAS, also called an Emergency Responder Radio Communication System (ERRCS) or Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement System (ERCES), can help protect lives and property by providing first responders with reliable indoor P25 (or Project 25) two-way radio and AT&T FirstNet® coverage when it counts.
What does a typical distributed antenna system (DAS) setup look like?
A simple and effective distributed antenna system may look something like this:
• One or more "donor" antennas are placed at the top of the building, giving them an unobstructed "line of sight" to nearby outdoor public-safety radio towers and cellular network towers.
• Any donor antennas are wired to a bi-directional amplifier (BDA) inside of the building.
• A series of small antennas throughout the inside of the building are also wired to the BDA.
• Two-way radio and cellular signals are boosted and passed back and forth throughout the building—as well as to the outdoor towers and back—across the various interconnected outdoor and indoor antennas using the power of the BDA.
What are the legal requirements for buildings and their indoor wireless coverage for first responder use?
In order to be compliant with the law, buildings must provide adequate indoor wireless coverage for first responder and public-safety use. Here's a great article on all of the details, but to paraphrase:
An in-building public-safety DAS (or ERRCS/ERCES) is required by the 2024 edition of NFPA 1, Fire Code, when the radio signal strength within ninety-five percent of the general floor area and ninety-nine percent of critical floor area is not sufficient to provide a delivered audio quality of 3.0 or above.
It's a lot to consider, put in place, and maintain, and the whole compliance process can be overwhelming without the help of an experienced partner and consultant like Dittronics to walk alongside you.
Connect with us today to discuss your needs, and Dan Smith and the team at Dittronics will immediately start to make the process as easy and worry-free as possible for you. We've got the testing equipment and the know-how to accurately assess your buildings and structures, and we're ready to help you work out and maintain an effective and compliant solution.
Let's discuss your custom DAS solution.
We know that every building and environment is different and requires a unique indoor wireless coverage solution, and we're ready to work with you to tackle your specific needs.
