2018 News

Raise the Bar in Cell Phone Coverage

Raise the Bar in Cell Phone Coverage
07.06.2018

Poor cell phone coverage not only impairs employees’ ability to do their jobs, but it can also make it impossible for emergency responders to do theirs – and that can be life-threatening. However, a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) allows commercial buildings to serve as their own cellular site. In fact, because cell phones are an important tool throughout Baker Group, we installed DAS in our new Ankeny headquarters and Advanced Manufacturing facility.

“Installing DAS requires expertise in a combination of engineering, building automation and technologies, and field installation. We are fortunate that we are one of few area DAS providers that have all of that expertise under one roof. Providing the DAS solutions is a natural fit for us,” says Daryld Karloff, Baker Group’s Executve Vice President Building Services.

Helping Business & Industry Communicate
“As more businesses rely on cell phones to conduct business, their frustrations related to iffy reception, dropped calls and ‘not-spots’ inside commercial buildings is rising,” says Karloff. “With DAS, we strategically place a network of antenna nodes inside the building and connect them to a wireless service. In other words, we move the cellular signal from outside to inside the building.”

The wireless service can be provided in one of two ways:

  • A donor antenna on the top of the building connects with the wireless carrier. This is least expensive and effective for companies having fewer than 100 concurrent users in the building. This method can accommodate multiple carriers’ signals.
  • The wireless service is run directly into the building via the carrier. This is more expensive but accommodates a nearly limitless number of users. Typically, carriers charge a fee to deliver service to the building.

To retrofit existing structures with a DAS, we first conduct a site survey to measure the signal quality both inside and outside the building. “The number of bars that show up on your cell phone is not an accurate measure of signal strength,” Karloff says. After the survey, we work with the client to determine which areas of the building need coverage, recommend the right product, provide engineering services and install the DAS infrastructure and antennas.

For new construction, our DAS experts get involved at the design stage, working with the construction team to evaluate conditions outside the building, the types of materials that will be used, where there will be multiple layers of windows, concrete, etc. “We stay involved throughout the construction process so, as modifications are made to the building, we can respond with a solution that meets the client’s coverage goals.”

A “Mission-Critical and Life-Saving Service”
According to an April 23, 2018, article in MissionCritical Communications, “Because more than 80 percent of wireless traffic originates or terminates indoors, ensuring that a strong signal is available to first responders indoors in emergency situations becomes a mission-critical and life-saving service.”

First responders’ ability to communicate is so important that many Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) have begun mandating DAS in certain circumstances. “An AHJ enforces the codes and standards set by the National Fire Protection Association. While strictly enforced, these requirements can vary widely by jurisdiction and by department – police, fire, ambulance, etc.,” Karloff says.

Need Better Cell Coverage Indoors?
If cell coverage is a problem anywhere inside your commercial building, DAS provides clear benefits in terms of keeping your operations running smoothly and profitability, and minimizing liability exposure related to emergency communications. Please contact Baker Group for more information.

About Baker Group

Founded in 1963 and with 650 employees across Iowa, Baker Group is the Midwest’s premier full-service specialty contractor providing mechanical, sheet metal, electrical, compressed air, building automation, process automation, security systems, fire alarm systems, parking/revenue controls and 24/7/365 service. For more information, call 855.262.4000 or visit https://www.thebakergroup.com/.

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