How The System Works:
An ERCES/ERRCS distributed antenna system has four primary system
components:
- Donor Antenna: Typically placed on the roof of a building, this antenna is the critical link between the radio signal and the in-building communications enhancement system.
- Bi-directional Amplifier or Head-end: The bi-directional amplifier (commonly referred to as a BDA) controls and amplifies signal throughout a building. The BDA will receive the incoming signal from the donor antenna, process it, and distribute it to antennas throughout the building using coaxial cables. In a fiber DAS system, the head-end receives and distributes the signal through a network of fiber cables connected to remote node units placed throughout a large building.
- Distributed Antenna System: This is the system of antennas mounted throughout the building, connected through coaxial cable to each other and back to the BDA, or to the remote node units in a fiber DAS. These antennas are ceiling or wall-mounted and will cover a specific area of the building to ensure coverage.
- Battery Backup Unit: In the event of power loss, this component ensures that the BDA can continue to operate for twelve or twenty-four hours (based on local code requirements).
