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Key Components of Active DAS

An active distributed antenna system (DAS) has 5 main components: 1) Signal sources such as service provider feeds or small cells that provide signals to the head-end equipment room. 2) A POI tray that combines and attenuates signals before sending them to the head-end unit. 3) A head-end unit that connects to the POI tray and radio units, filtering, amplifying, and distributing signals by frequency. 4) Radio units that receive signals from the head-end unit, separate them by frequency, amplify them, and transmit them to specific regions via antennas. 5) Fiber optic cables that connect all the components without signal loss, allowing radio units to

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Abhay Sharma
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43 views3 pages

Key Components of Active DAS

An active distributed antenna system (DAS) has 5 main components: 1) Signal sources such as service provider feeds or small cells that provide signals to the head-end equipment room. 2) A POI tray that combines and attenuates signals before sending them to the head-end unit. 3) A head-end unit that connects to the POI tray and radio units, filtering, amplifying, and distributing signals by frequency. 4) Radio units that receive signals from the head-end unit, separate them by frequency, amplify them, and transmit them to specific regions via antennas. 5) Fiber optic cables that connect all the components without signal loss, allowing radio units to

Uploaded by

Abhay Sharma
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

5 Main Components Of Active DAS

(Distributed Antenna System

In-And-Outs Of An Active DAS: Basics, Components, And


More.
Large concrete structures. Thousands of cellular devices. There never was a better time
for DAS. Amidst the rise of 4G technology and the emergence of 5G, the world is in the
midst of a digital revolution. The need to serve wireless systems sans the structural and
technological limitations is greater than ever.

No wonder DAS systems are thriving now more than ever before. After all, serving multi-
band, multi-technology carriers in larger space is achieved only with the help of
minimalistic equipment: Signal source at one end and a distribution system at other.
Nevertheless, DAS solutions in itself have evolved into various flavors such as off-air DAS,
iDAS, eDAS, oDAS, and hybrid DAS. However, active and passive DAS continues to
remain at the top-of-their-games even as they serve as the foundation for all the above
variations.

In this edition, we dive deeper into an active DAS and explore its components, attempting
an understanding at what makes it the perfect choice indoor wireless solution to enhance
capacity and coverage for large-scale public places such as airports and football stadiums.
A DAS can simply be understood as a network of distributed antenna-equipped radio units
serving an indoor or outdoor location. In essence, a variety of signal sources connected
to a head-end unit which in-turn serves multi-band radio units comprise a DAS's overall
skeletal structure. Active gain elements in both the uplink and the downlink direction have
earned an active DAS its name. So what are these components and how do they function?
Here is an in-depth detail.

5 Components Of Active Distributed Antenna Systems:


1. Signal Sources.
As powerful as an active DAS is, the system itself is incapable of producing a
standalone signal. These signals are fed from sources such as a service provider
feed, Node-Bs, and the modern favorite - small cells. These signal sources reside in
the head-end equipment room. Multiple service providers can provide their
respective signal feed making it a multi-carrier active distributed antenna system.
Only major service providers can provide the feed such as AT&T Wireless, Verizon
Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. in USA. MVNO's or Mobile Virtual Network Operators
would not provide such a signal feed themselves - They would need permission from
the main service carriers such as those mentioned above. In Canada, those would
be Rogers Wireless network companies, Telus Mobility network companies, Bell
Mobility network companies and Freedom Mobile network companies, etc.

2. POI Tray.
Stationed between the signal sources and the head-end unit, the POI tray combines
the RF signals from diverse RF sources before it is delivered to the head-end
equipment. These signals differ in nature and their abrupt and direct combination at
the head-end unit can result in diversity imbalance. Of course, the same can also be
achieved by using standalone hybrid combiners, which is the traditional way. But the
POI does more.

The downlink signal from RF sources is usually powered at 40 W which is much


higher than the average head-end unit can handle. The POI tray configurations
attenuate these downlink signals before they are delivered to the head-end unit,
thereby preventing excessive power-loss and heating.

3. Head-End Unit.
In addition to the signal sources, the head-end equipment room houses the head-
end unit. On one side, band-specific units called RF modules connect the head-end
unit to corresponding uplink and downlink port-pairs on the POI via coaxial cables.
These RF modules provide further signal filtration and amplification based on the
signal frequencies. Similarly, a series of uplink-downlink port pairs, one for each radio
unit, are present on the other end to facilitate zone-wise signal distribution.

Needless to say, the head-end equipment room houses some of the most critical
components of an Active DAS. Not only should it be large enough to house the
electronic components, it should also be well-equipped to handle their excessive
heating and impart cooling thereafter.

4. Radio Units.
Active DAS radio units receive signals from the head-end unit, segregate them based
on frequencies, amplify them, and then transmit them to the nearby regions through
antennas. These antennas is either mounted on the top of the radio-unit directly or
connected to an RF-port. The reverse of this process is carried out in uplink direction.
Depending on the transmission power and number of different frequencies
supported, different types of radio units are deployed in an active DAS. Radio units
are powered by AC or DC supply.

5. Fiber Optic Cables.


Distributed antenna systems cannot be complete without connecting all components
with fiber-optic cables. Thin, flexible, and light-weight, fiber optic cables are perfect
for an Active DAS. They don't take up much space and can easily dwell in even the
smallest nooks and crannies. Since the optic signal attenuation in fiber optic cables
is low, it grants the freedom to place radio units at a considerable distance from the
head-end unit without causing signal loss or loss of signal Gain achieved from signal
sources such as a service carrier feed. Depending on the type of signal to be
transmitted, Single-Mode (SM) or Multi-Mode (MM) fiber optic cables can be used.

Conclusion.
Now you know what it takes to power a DAS wireless network in a large airport or a multi-
storey shopping complex, allowing you to seamlessly carry on with your wireless
communication, regardless of the number of concurrent mobile users and regardless of
thick concrete walls that surround such large man-made structures.

Common questions

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Directly connecting diverse RF signals at the head-end unit can lead to diversity imbalance due to abrupt signal combination, and may result in excessive power-loss and heating if high-powered signals are not attenuated beforehand. The POI tray mitigates these issues by combining and attenuating signals before delivery .

Modern wireless networks may prefer small cells as signal sources due to their ability to enhance network capacity and coverage in congested areas, thereby supporting the rise of 4G and emergence of 5G technologies. They fit well in the infrastructure of active DAS, which serves multi-band, multi-technology carriers with minimalistic equipment .

The POI tray enhances signal management by combining RF signals from different sources before delivering them to the head-end unit, thereby preventing diversity imbalance. It also attenuates high-powered downlink signals, typically at 40 W, which the average head-end unit cannot handle, thus preventing excessive power loss and heating .

Single-Mode (SM) cables are used for long-distance signal transmission due to their ability to carry signals over extended distances with minimal loss. Multi-Mode (MM) cables are typically used for shorter distances, offering simplicity and cost efficiency. The choice between them depends on the required distance and network design .

The head-end unit must be set up in a space large enough to accommodate critical components and be equipped to handle excessive heating through effective cooling. It connects band-specific RF modules to the POI tray for signal filtration and amplification, and facilitates zone-wise signal distribution via uplink-downlink port pairs .

The performance of an Active Distributed Antenna System is affected by the type of radio units used, which vary based on transmission power and frequency support. Desirable types enhance the system's ability to amplify and distribute signals efficiently across different zones, thereby impacting overall coverage and service quality .

The rise of 5G technology increases demand for Distributed Antenna Systems due to the need for enhanced capacity and coverage in large-scale public places like airports and stadiums. DAS helps bypass structural and technological limitations, making it essential for supporting 5G's higher speed and connectivity requirements .

Fiber optic cables are advantageous in Active DAS because they are thin, flexible, lightweight, and have low signal attenuation, allowing radio units to be placed at considerable distances from the head-end unit without suffering from signal loss. This makes them ideal for installation even in small or constrained spaces .

A service provider feed is crucial in a multi-carrier Active DAS as it supplies the necessary signals to the system. Only major service providers can provide such feeds, ensuring connectivity and coverage across multiple carriers, vital in supporting extensive public wireless networks in various environments .

Radio units in Active DAS receive signals from the head-end unit, segregate and amplify them based on frequencies, and then transmit them to nearby regions through antennas. They reverse the process for uplink signals and are deployed based on their transmission power and frequency support capabilities .

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