In-Building Coverage and Signal Enhancement

Do you need wireless communications inside your building? Do two-way and cellular phones stop working as soon as you walk into your office?

Throughout the world many cities now require, as part of their building code, enhancement systems for public safety as well. Extending and assuring communications is fast becoming the rule, rather than the exception and RFC offers design and implementation using a variety of products to meet these needs.

Signal Enhancement

As trunking systems gained popularity it was quickly found that coverage into and out of buildings, tunnels and areas deeply shaded from the base station site suffered from intermittent to a complete lack of coverage. Radio signals often cannot pass through a building's structure, particularly if it is concrete.

The idea of enhancement coverage using uni-directional or bi-directional filter-amplifiers provided an answer to the problem. Placing an antenna array in the clear, aimed at the remote site provides access to the communications system. Booster systems have three parts. A small antenna mounted on the roof of your building is the booster's link to the cellular or two-way radio system. The booster itself is installed inside your building in a telephone or electrical closet, or in some other out-of-the-way location. One or more indoor antennas are installed in areas where coverage needs to be improved. These antennas are hidden or installed in an inconspicuous location. The indoor antenna system picks up the signal from your handheld unit and feeds it to the booster where it is amplified. The amplified signal is fed to the outdoor antenna, which relays it to the nearest cell site.

Typical Bi-Directional Enhancement System

If visiting customers or your own employees can't use their Nextel or cellular phones in your office, a signal booster (also known as a bi-directional amplifier) may be the answer. If your phone or radio works outside your building but goes dead when you go inside, a signal booster system can give you coverage throughout your building. Booster systems can cover one service several. They can also extend your two-way radio system's coverage into your building.

Boosters seamlessly and transparently extend coverage into your office, parking garage, warehouse, basement, or any other area. Users operate their phones just as they do now— the booster is hidden and operates with no attention from the user.