Fiber Optic DAS in Public Safety: How Architecture Decisions Affect Uplink Performance
Fernando Sommariva (Engineer and Director of R&D, Building Communications Release Train, Fiplex by Honeywell)
Location: N259
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 10:50 am - 11:20 am
Track: First Responders
Topics: Broadband, In-building Coverage, Project Management, Regulatory & Legal + Standards, Spectrum Allocation
Format: Sponsored Session
Vault Recording: TBD
In Public Safety and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) deployments, most in-building wireless projects rely on capturing the donor signal from a macro site. Unlike cellular applications that require a direct wired connection to the base station, these systems use an outdoor donor antenna to capture over-the-air coverage.
With the increasing number of Public Safety in-building wireless deployments, standalone Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDAs) in buildings located near one another have been shown to cause significant interference and noise issues. As a result, the need for alternative solutions has grown, with Fiber Optic Distributed Antenna Systems (FO DAS) being the preferred approach.
However, FO DAS is not just a proximity solution, it presents an opportunity to fundamentally improve Public Safety communication strategies. Like any amplification system, Fiber Optic DAS introduces uplink amplification, which, if not properly managed, can result in excessive noise being transmitted back to the base station. But when implemented correctly, FO DAS can not only minimize noise but also enhance system resilience, coverage stability, and response capabilities in critical situations.
Today, various FO DAS architectures exist, with the most common being "Fully Digital" and "Hybrid" (a combination of Digital and Analog devices). While both have their place in the industry, they differ significantly in noise performance, maintenance requirements, redundancy, delay management, and the ability to handle emergency scenarios. Understanding these distinctions is critical, as high-performance techniques currently used in major Department of Transportation (DoT) and Department of Defense (DoD) projects demonstrate that the right architectural choices can make a substantial difference.
This session will provide a deep technical comparison of Fiber Optic DAS architectures and explain why Frequency License Holders and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) should advocate for higher standards in FO DAS design, having a separate requirement. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how advanced techniques, currently deployed in some of the most demanding Public Safety environments, could be adapted to standard building deployments, helping prevent common industry challenges before they arise.
Takeaway
1)Understanding the Impact of Fiber Optic DAS Architecture on Uplink Noise
Learn how different Fiber Optic DAS architectures (Fully Digital vs. Hybrid) influence uplink noise and overall system performance.
2)Using Different Architecture Approaches can Ensure Base Station Integrity and Indoor Coverage at the Same Time
Discover how different architectures can allow systems to scale and treat indoor deployments as part of the macro site avoiding over the air interface.
3)Choosing the Right FO DAS Architecture for Long-Term Stability
Gain insights into how architectural decisions affect system maintenance, redundancy, and performance in critical scenarios.
4)The Role of AHJs and Frequency License Holders in Setting Higher Standards
Understand why regulatory bodies should advocate for stricter Fiber DAS implementation requirements to improve Public Safety network reliability.