Who hasn’t seen tenants or guests on their cell phone hovering around the entryway to a building to make calls?

As we have become more dependent on our smart phones, and the apps we run on them, being connected to our co-workers, customers, family, and friends is almost expected. This expectation to have a strong connection, regardless of location underscores the need for near flawless network in commercial buildings.

A common problem with many Class “A” commercial real-estate properties is in-building coverage of wireless provider networks. Why is this? There are several reasons this could happen. For example, the distance between the building and the cell structure itself as well as building materials, such as concrete, steel, and glass. These are factors that make it much easier to get cell reception before you enter a building.

The time of year can also cause signal interference. During summer months, foliage on the trees can absorb Radio Frequency (RF) signals, whereas in the fall and winter the signal is strong. This is called vegetation attenuation.

Building materials are a huge factor for RF. Most commercial buildings are constructed with steel, concrete, and glass. Glass can cause the most reflection of a RF signal. The majority of the building glass is of a Low-E type and/or tinted. In both cases, they add different types of metal to give the glass the desired characteristic. That metal content reflects and/or reduces the signal from entering the building. Sometimes this only affects the lower floors because as you go up in elevation, you’re getting more signal that will overcome this attenuation.

How can you ensure tenants, employees, and guests get consistent RF Signal throughout your property? First, have a Radio Frequency Study done throughout your building that shows where you currently have strong and weak signal coverage. With the results from this study you can determine the best option for your specific needs. Many times the fix is as simple as changing to a provider that has better coverage in your area. Sometimes equipment called Distributed Antenna System (DAS), or Bi-Directional Antenna (BDA) will solve the problem. A DAS takes a signal and distributes it throughout a facility either through cabling and/or fiber, where there would be several antennas in the affected areas. A BDA is just what it infers - it amplifies signals in 2 directions (uplink and downlink or talking and hearing).

Another solution is called a Base Transceiver Station (BTS). With a BTS, a Transceiver is a Transmitter and Receiver integrated into one device. These can be full power as you would see at the bottom of a cell tower, they can be small like the size of a suitcase for medium coverage requirements, or they can be compact like the size of a book that can fit on your desktop. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, but they are sized for the requirements and serve specific customers’ needs. Keep in mind that not all service providers support the later example.

The solution: Every situation needs to be understood, and the requirements defined. Then we can come up with a solution(s) that will fulfill expectations.

Brandt Richter can be reached at (630) 773-9942 or brandt@erssite.com.