Using Trunking Extenders to Enable Coverage Enhancement€¦ · Markets and the only Australian manufacturing site producing frequency translating repeater systems. LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

1Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.

Using Trunking Extenders to Enable CoverageEnhancement


ABOUT RFI

RFI is a global technology solutions company, specialising in wireless coverage and solar power products. RFI has one of the largest, most innovative and experienced wireless and power solutions teams with dedicated engineers, product managers, deployment engineers, logistics, distribution and R&D staff. We are proud to be an Australian success story with manufacturing, distribution and warehousing across Australia, NZ, the USA and the UK.

RFI is recognised as a market leader in wireless coverage and we develop, manufacture and distributes world-class, high performance, products including; antenna, filtering and multicoupling, rebroadcast & monitoring equipment, power systems, cabling and connectors, tools and test equipment - all backed with outstanding product knowledge, applications experience and technical support.

RFI is continually strengthening its technology solutions portfolio, including the recent acquisition of Maxon Australia, allowing us to offer industry leading M2M solutions.

AWARD WINNING MANUFACTURING

RFI is proud to be an award winning manufacturer, having been inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. The Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognises exemplary companies and individuals in the manufacturing industry.

RFI develops and manufactures wireless coverage products that perform on a global stage from its Victorian and South Australian manufacturing centres, and with a proud history in quality, safety and environmental performance these RFI Technology Solutions are exported to over 50 countries directly, and into many more countries through major OEMs, Integrators and other supply channels. Our two manufacturing sites include Australia’s largest antenna manufacturing facility, producing world class Antenna and Multicoupling Systems for both Domestic and International Markets and the only Australian manufacturing site producing frequency translating repeater systems.

LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY

RFI utilises leading-edge technology for advanced manufacturing, including industry-leading RF design and drafting modeling packages. Our world-class testing environment has an extensive suite of test equipment and custom automated testing.


Trunking Extender sites enable coverage enhancement into:

Mountaintop and remote sites that could provide full coverage footprints from cost-effective site developments. The space and power efficiency of such installations make them ideal for solar and generator powered locations, and the remote programming and status monitoring capabilities of these products particularly suits sites without restricted access.

Bored and cut-and-cover tunnels, underground car-parks and mines experience reduced coverage due to the limited penetration of network coverage into such areas.

Trunking Extender sites used for tunnel coverage can also differ from standard BDA and Signal Booster designs since frequency translation and higher per-channel output power can support larger signal distribution networks (i.e. longer cable runs).

Areas within the main network coverage area that suffers from limited coverage because of localised topology, such as the base of steep mountains, railway and roadway cuttings and narrow valleys.

Trunking Extender sites can also be installed into “outdoor” situations with omni or directional antennas being utilised to optimise their coverage to compliment surrounding network coverage performance

Trunking Extender sites can be deployed in temporary locations outside the normal network coverage area that may require coverage for specific activities such as national disasters or other emergency deployments.

Examples of these are natural disaster recovery efforts, fire-fighting and search and rescue activities, military and other agencies’ deployments, exploration and other applications needing movable coverage, trailer repeaters, special events, coverage provision for event-based radio rentals - or other situations where extended coverage or additional network capacity is required.

Many buildings experience limited indoor coverage from outdoor networks due to small windows, steel and concrete construction or shadowing from neighbouring structures.

Trunking Extender sites used for coverage in-fill applications differ from standard BDA and Signal Booster designs as their ‘frequency translation’ capability allows high RF gain and RF output powers to be deployed without the usual limitations imposed by intra-system isolation availability.


Using Trunking Extender sites for coverage enhancement

RFI’s Rebroadcast Repeater’s Trunking Extender option may be used to enable coverage enhancement where existing network coverage isn’t available in locations of interest - such as remote areas, in-building, in-tunnel or other coverage blackspot locations. The Trunking Extender option is also suitable for providing temporary network coverage for applications including natural disaster recovery, fire-fighting and search and rescue activities, military, mining and exploration, short-term rental and special events, temporary or portable repeater sites - or other situations where extended coverage (or additional network capacity) is required.

INTRODUCTION

Over the years a major challenge facing network engineers has been “How to cost-effectively deliver coverage into locations

that a network’s sites’ propagation isn’t providing?”. Using high power from nearby network sites to “blast through” coverage

obstructions doesn’t always provide a practical solution, and this approach can even create new problems within the network

design. Another approach to achieving coverage in problem areas (or “black spots”) is to use high gain antennas or to focus

propagation with down-tilt or narrow beamwidth antennas.

While these approaches have been successful in many situations, this concept assumes that the RF levels achieved through these

techniques has the ability to propagate into the desired locations. Locations such as areas hidden by terrain, buildings, or other

RF-blocking obstacles do not always allow direct propagation solutions.

SIGNAL BOOSTER VS REBROADCAST ARCHITECTURE

Note: Attenuation of building materials provides sufficient isolation between outdoor and indoor antennas to prevent on-frequency self-feedback

BDA

In some applications, Signal Boosters (also called Broadband

BDA’s) that amplify the directly radiated signal have proven useful for

buildings and higher frequency applications where the signal-deficient

areas are close to the host site or severely obstructed. However, any

requirements for high values of gain is a major design limitation of

Signal Boosters that cannot be easily overcome. The gain of a Signal

Booster, or more importantly their amount of radiated signal, is limited

by the amount of isolation between the incoming (Donor) and radiated

(Outbound) signals. In a typical Rebroadcast Repeater architecture

design the frequencies of the donor network can be rebroadcast

on-frequency (also called “non-translating mode”) when sufficient

isolation between the Inbound (donor) and Outbound

(re-radiated) signals can be obtained within the design to prevent

self-feedback of the repeater. This is generally only achievable in

in-building and in-tunnel applications where the Inbound donor-

facing and Outbound radiating antennas can be sufficiently isolated

by the RF-shielding characteristics of construction materials and or

surrounding rock. Alternatively, the frequencies of the host system can

be translated to different frequencies (called “translating mode”). Figure 2: Example In-building DAS Installation


The Inbound-to-Outbound frequency guard band that this translation creates allows the rebroadcast architecture to operate with

high gain and/or high per-channel RF output levels, without self-feedback, and negates the application limitations imposed by on-

frequency rebroadcast - particularly for use in outdoor applications when installed on tower sites.

Figure 3: Typical Frequency Translating installation

Some network protocols are compatible with frequency-translation, when terminal configuration (i.e. voting, scanning or hunt

capabilities) can incorporate the new frequencies that the translation process has created. However some network protocols

(APCOP25, TETRA, etc) require the rebroadcast frequencies to be restored to the original host frequency plan - particularly if

channel numbering or frequency information is embedded within the protocol format. This restoration can be achieved by using

to a second Rebroadcast Repeater and the use of “double-translation”. This double translation process maintains an isolation

guardband at each frequency translation point, allowing high gain and/or high RF output levels to be implemented.

Figure 4: Typical Double-Translation installation

Using frequency translation and Rebroadcast Repeaters, the rebroadcast of networks is no longer limited by factors such as

antenna isolation or front-to-back rations, system gain or RF output levels. The use of this architecture, and its independence from

these design limitations, simplifies the provision of coverage enhancement using Rebroadcast Repeaters.

NETWORK SITE COVERAGE AREA REBROADCAST SITE COVERAGE AREA

CHs 1, 3, 5 & 7in this area

NETWORK SITE

translated toCHs 2, 4, 6 & 8in this area

REBROADCAST SITE

NETWORK SITE COVERAGE AREA REBROADCAST SITE COVERAGE AREA

NETWORK SITECHs 1, 3, 5 & 7

REBROADCAST SITECHs 1, 3, 5 & 7

CHs 21, 23, 25 & 27

TRANSLATION:Creates guard bandfor Rebroadcast Site

TRANSLATION:Restores host frequencies,guard band creates isolation


TRUNKING EXTENDER

RFI’s Rebroadcast Repeaters now offer a Trunking Extender option that provides an innovative solution for the rebroadcasting of

P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 networks. The Trunking Extender feature transcodes the rebroadcast P25 network donor site’s Control

Channel data content prior to its rebroadcast. When operating the Trunking Extender feature, a Rebroadcast Repeater’s provided

coverage footprint is frequency translated to a different set of frequencies to those of the network’s donor site to (providing the

same benefits as double-translation mode) and the transcoded Control Channel data content passing through the Rebroadcast

Repeater makes subscriber terminals see the Rebroadcast Repeater as ‘another’ network site - providing a distinctly separate

footprint of coverage to enhance the donor network sites’ own coverage.

The Trunking Extender’s use of frequency translation prevents the occurrence of simulcast overlap between the donor network’s

coverage and the Rebroadcast Repeater’s rebroadcasting of that coverage, and it also facilitates achieving the intra-system RF

isolation required at a rebroadcast site to prevent the performance degradation that may otherwise occur if identical frequencies

were used for both the uplink and downlink RF signal paths (i.e. RF feedback).

The Control Channel transcoding process also allows subscriber terminals to hand-over to and from the rebroadcast site’s

coverage - exactly as they would between network sites themselves. The Trunking Extender can also be configured to broadcast

specific Adjacent Control Channels (which may be different to the network donor site’s own list) to enhance subscriber terminals’

mobility as they migrate between the network’s and Rebroadcast Repeater’s coverage areas.

Trunking Extender sites may be configured to imitate an existing site configuration in the network, or to appear as a ‘new’

site configuration.

IMITATED SITENAC 363

Site ID 170CC=82

ACC=75,80

DONORNAC 363

Site ID 163CC=75

ACC=82,80

NAC 363Site ID 165

CC=78ACC=80,79

NAC 363Site ID 162

CC=80ACC=82,75,78,79

NAC 363Site ID 168

CC=79ACC=78,80,82

T-Ex SITENAC 363

Site ID 170CC=82

ACC=75,80,79

In the Figure 5 example, the Rebroadcast

Repeater donors from network site 163.

The DSPbR’s Trunking Extender feature

transcodes Site 163’s Control Channel

and creates an imitation of Site 170 (and

also modifies the Advertised Adjacent

Site listing to contain the Rebroadcast

Repeater’s neighbouring network sites).

In this way, subscriber units migrate

predictably to and from between the

DSPbR Rebroadcast Site - as though they

would on the imitated network site.

Figure 5: Imitating an existing Network Site


NAC 363SITE ID 170

CC=82ACC=75,80

DONORNAC 363

Site ID 163CC=75

ACC=82,80

NAC 363Site ID 165

CC=78ACC=80,79

NAC 363SITE ID 162

CC=80ACC=82,75,78,79

NAC 363Site ID 168

CC=79ACC=76,78,80,82

T-Ex SITENAC 363

Site ID 170CC=82

ACC=75,80,79

In the Figure 6 example, the DSPbR

Rebroadcast Repeater donors from

network Site 163. The DSPbR’s Trunking

Extender feature transcodes Site 163’s

Control Channel and appears as a new

Site 170 (and also modifies the Advertised

Adjacent Site listing to contain the

Rebroadcast Repeater’s neighbouring

network sites).

Imitating an existing network site,

or appearing as a new site, can be

implemented if permitted by the

configuration rights and sites’ licensing

restrictions of the network core’s

configuration of Site IDs and their

associated Advertised Adjacent Control

Channels lists.

Figure 6: Appearing as a new Network Site

NAC 363SITE ID 170

CC=82ACC=75,80

DONORNAC 363

Site ID 163CC=75

ACC=82,80

NAC 363SITE ID 162

CC=80ACC=82,75,78,79

T-Ex SITENAC 363

Site ID 170CC=82

ACC=75,80,79

NAC 363Site ID 168

CC=79ACC=78,80,82

T-Ex SITENAC 363

Site ID 173CC=83

ACC=75,80,79More than one DSPbR Rebroadcast

Repeater can donor from one network

donor site. In Figure 7, two Trunking

Extender sites (i.e two in-building DAS

systems) are donoring from a single

network site.

Figure 7: Appearing as a new Network Site


Frequency-translation may be configured for operation between frequency sub-bands

(i.e. 400-420MHz translated to 450-470MHz), or across different frequency bands (i.e. VHF to UHF), creating opportunities to

utilise ‘any’ spectrum that may be available in proposed rebroadcast locations - particularly with the increasing availability of

multi-band subscriber terminals.

The Trunking Extender can frequency

translate into other frequency band(s) -

allowing prime spectrum to be reserved

for main network sites, and allowing

available spectrum in other bands to be

used for coverage in-fill. This capability

also allows the increasing availability

of multi-band subscriber radios to be

utilised.

VHF DONORNAC 363

Site ID 170CC=82

ACC=75,80

VHF DONORNAC 363

Site ID 163CC=75

ACC=112,82,80

VHF SITENAC 363

Site ID 162CC=80

ACC=82,112,75,79VHF SITENAC 363

Site ID 168CC=79

ACC=112,80,82

UHF T-ExNAC 363

Site ID 165CC=82

ACC=80,79

UHF T-ExNAC 363

Site ID 269CC=112

ACC=75,80,79

Figure 8: Frequency Translating


The Trunking Extender is a coverage in-fill enabler that enhances and extends the P25 network’s own coverage.

TRUNKING EXTENDER VS NETWORK SITES RFI’s Trunking Extender is designed to be deployed to enhance a P25 network’s own coverage where:

• Coverage in-fill where a full network site build would not be cost effective

• Subscriber density (i.e. required capacity) is not high and doesn’t justify the building of a new network site

• The priority to provide coverage within an area is deemed as “low” and a Trunking Extender may provide coverage in the

interim

• The provision of traditional backhaul links is not available or feasible

• The scale of a network site’s development is desired to be minimised due to environmental, planning or other restrictions.

The Trunking Extender rebroadcasts existing network channels from a donor site within the host network, enhancing coverage

by extending existing channels into new coverage areas – or to in-fill coverage black-spots. Trunking Extenders do not provide

additional network channel capacity – they extend the coverage of existing capacity. In this regard, the Trunking Extender

architecture does not replace primary network sites or their localised call capacity, or the fall-back mode of operation that network

sites can provide in the coverage areas they serve.

A DSPbR operating as a Trunking Extender can deliver up to 30W at VHF/UHF (or 20W at 7/800MHz) per channel, with optional

100W power amplifiers also available for some models. These RF output powers are capable of providing coverage footprints

suitable for a diverse range of coverage enhancement applications.

Trunking Extender architecture can be deployed as a coverage enhancement solution for applications including:

In-building applications In-building solutions can now be designed using the frequency

translating created isolation and output power benefits of this

architecture. Such solutions can be of significant benefit in buildings

with very large floor areas, or that utilise large amounts of glass.

Tunnels (Road, Rail or Mines) As part of transport or mining infrastructure, tunnels often require the

rebroadcast of networks within them for law enforcement, incident

management, general operations or maintenance. This architecture

can provide a range of solutions benefits in these applications,

including high RF power outputs to feed long radiating cable and/or

multiple antenna signal distribution systems.


Temporary & Rapid Deployment communication sites

Networks supporting activities such as law-enforcement, military

or other operations-critical communications may not be tolerant of coverage

outages resulting from routine maintenance obligations or faults. Trunking

Extender architecture, pre-installed into vehicle trailer or portable shelters,

can provide the operators of these networks with a temporary or rapid

deployment coverage capability. Temporary deployment can also include

event-specific coverage requirements such as short term rentals, search-and-

rescue or fire-fighting activities that may required in areas not within the main

network coverage area. The installation would require simply aiming the

donor directional antenna toward a nearby donor site and applying power.

There is no dedicated fixed network backhaul required.

Rural areas outside the main network coverage area Regions outside the main network coverage areas often have low subscriber

densities that do not justify large channel capacities; the provision of core

backhaul infrastructure, or the high cost of a full network site’s development.

Remote valleys, isolated towns or communities Geographically isolated locations such as remote valleys, satellite townships

or distant communities can be provided with coverage to enable network

users to operate within these areas.

Tourism locations (ski resorts, beaches, etc) Localised coverage requirements such as tourist venues, ski resorts,

weekend retreats, isolated coastal locations and other such locations can be

provided with coverage without the relatively expensive cost of developing

full network sites. Such is the case where coverage requirements are

seasonal or event orientated.

Transport corridors (road, rail, etc) Geographically isolated locations such as remote valleys, satellite townships

or distant communities can be provided with coverage to enable network

users to operate within these areas.

Off-shore oil drilling rigs, processing plants and ports Surrounding the main coverage area there can specific areas or

infrastructure that may require reliable coverage for safety, operational or

maintenance purposes. Examples of this may be off-shore platforms that

need to communicate back to on-shore facilities and personnel, industrial

processing plants that are located outside the main network coverage area.


FEATURES AND BENEFITS

DSPbR Rebroadcast Repeaters utilising the Trunking Extender feature provide additional benefits to network providers and

operators;

Deploying this technology enables the provision of coverage in-fill appropriate geographic, in-building and other areas. Trunking

Extender sites compliment the primary network, enabling the provision of additional network coverage into low-capacity (and

other) coverage areas and enhancing the overall coverage available to network users.

The savings realised in reduced backhaul and site development costs for such sites can be channeled back into the primary

network offering – allowing more network functionality to be offered, or realising more competitive bid preparation and pricing.

DSPbR Trunking Extender sites are an ideal temporary site, allowing

a cost-effective initial deployment to extend network coverage –

while a business case, budget appropriation, site acquisition and

development approval are actioned prior to a new network site being

constructed. That initially deployed Trunking Extender may then be

redeployed elsewhere within the network to address another location

requiring additional coverage.

Multi-channel trunking ‘portable repeaters’ can also be realised using

DSPbR Rebroadcast Repeaters fitted with the Trunking Extender

feature – providing a full-featured extension of network connectivity into temporary operational environments such as is required

by search and rescue, firefighting, exploration and other activities.

The ‘coverage risk’ of complying with network coverage KPIs can be

cost-effectively minimised by the inclusion of one or more Trunking

Extender sites in a project bid. Small coverage black-spots can be

in-filled by strategically placed Trunking Extenders, allowing overall

network drive test KPI’s to be met cost-effectively.


Product in Focus: DSP Rebroadcast Repeaters

Rebroadcast Repeaters may be used for providing network

enhancement in poor signal or coverage black-spot areas. Models

feature programmable frequency, RF output power, gain, alarm and

other performance parameter configurability to suit a wide range of

applications. They may be programmed for non-frequency translating

or frequency translating operation and offer a unique optional

Trunking Extender capability for rebroadcasting P25 Phase 1 and

Phase 2 trunking networks.

The unit’s flexibility in programming makes them suitable for a

range of network coverage enhancement requirements, including in-building, in-tunnel or outdoor applications. In many network

designs, the use of these units can provide multi-site coverage from single-site network controller architecture. Additional

frequency bands and/or channels can be easily added to the DSPR, allowing multiple networks or technologies to be deployed as

required. The DSPbR series is currently available using a Channelised architecture, allowing high per-channel RF output powers

and compliance with regulatory requirements - particularly in outdoor applications. Many operational parameters are configurable

through the programming interface - including frequency, gain, gating, alarms and reporting. The unit’s own high-stability

frequency can be further enhanced using an internal GPS receiver and status monitoring and alarm reporting is available via

TCPIP, USB, RS232 or integral cellular modem.

Power efficient design, compact size and advanced remote control and alarming firmware make the DSPbR series an economic

alternative to additional base station sites within a network because of their small size, lower cost, simple installation and minimal

maintenance requirements.

• Frequency-Translating, non-Translating, or (optional) Trunking Extender operation

• Capacity from 1 to 8 channels, expandable to 96 channels.

• Internal or External Channel Combining

• “Plug-n-Play” modular configuration

• Easily expandable to add additional frequency bands and/or channel capacity

• TCPIP, USB, RS232 or Cellular Modem connectivity

• Compact Size - 19" 4RU Rack Mounting

• ACMA and FCC Compliant


SPECIFICATIONS

Model Number DSPbR® Series

Available Frequency Bands (MHz)132-152, 150-174, 403-420, 410-430, 430-450, 450-470, 470-490, 480-500, 500-520MHz

746-766, 786-806, 805-825, 850-870MHzMaximum Channel / Band Capacity

Up to 12 bidirectional channels/3 bands per chassis, expandable up to 96 chs/8 chassis’

Supported Protocols P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2Gain Range 70 to 135dB

RF Output Power

All configurable per-channel in 1dB steps independently in uplink and downlink:

APCOP25 Phase 1

Separate RF PA output per channel: VHF/UHF: +10dBm to +45dBm per channel 7/800MHz: +10dBm to +43dBm per channel Multi-carrier in a single RF PA: 12 carriers @ +10dBm to +17dBm

APCO P25 Phase 2

Separate RF PA output per channel:VHF/UHF: +10dBm to +35dBm per channel7/800MHz: +10dBm to +33dBm per channel Multi-carrier in a single RF PA: 12 carriers @ +10dBm to +17dBm

Modes of Operation Full Duplex, On-Frequency and or Frequency-Translating

Call and Transaction Types include

Group call, Emergency call, Private call, Private call transmit timeoutContinuous assignment updating (late entry), Patching & multiselect, Console priority,

Selective radio inhibit, Displaying terminal information (radio check/snapshot), Status list,Location data (tracert), Portal verification, Dynamic FDMA/TDMA emergency alarm and call

mode change,Activity log, ATIA feed view, Simultaneous Talkgroup calls FDMA & TDMA at single site,Dynamic FDMA/TDMA Talkgroup call mode change, Duress with regroupable and non-

regroupable functionality in patched talkgroups, Console initiated emergency, PSTN/Interconnect calls,

OTAR, OTAPTrunking Extender Configurable Rebroadcast Data

System ID, RFSS ID, Site ID, Channels/Frequencies/Band Plan Advertised Adjacent Control Channels

Trunking Extender Channel Parameters

Rx Gating Level, Tx RF Output PowerChannel Filter (selectable channel bandwidths and selectivity)

Alarm Monitoring Control Channel RSSIUser Interface Ethernet (Webserver GUI)Configuration and Alarms connectivity

Ethernet / USB / RS232 / Internal Cellular modem

Alarms Interface (I/O) via rear DB15 connector

Regulatory CompliancesACMA AS/NZS4295 AS/NZS4768, FCC Part 22, FCC Part 90 EN60950-1:2006, AS/NZS60950.1:2011, FCC Part 15, RoHS

Please contact RFI for details of other approvals

Note: Please refer to DSPbR Product Datasheet P-42472-2 for additional specifications and features.

Documents

Using Trunking Extenders to Enable Coverage Enhancement€¦ · Markets and the only Australian manufacturing site producing frequency translating repeater systems. LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY