Among the biggest challenges (and frustrations) with any facilities IT is the wifi coverage. Network designers must deliver the signal to every device across the facility with near-identical speed and latency performance. To accomplish this, network designers turn to a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) or a small cell solution.
For the non-technical among us, it seems like two roads to the same destination. Well, it is. But those two roads fit very different use cases — and come with very different capital investment requirements. Understanding the differences is essential for any leader looking to maximize network performance while optimizing return on investment.
That’s what makes the comparison and understanding of DAS vs small cells a fascinating and important topic when selecting the wireless network design.
Why Is Indoor Wireless Coverage Hard to Achieve?
Anyone with a home wireless network knows that some areas get great performance, while others are dead zones. The same applies to any home, office, or facility. But why? It’s a great question, especially when many routers are rated to cover areas far larger than a home’s footprint.
The answer comes down to construction materials.
Low-E glass, concrete, steel, and foil-backed insulation all block a wireless signal. Even drywall and lumber will diminish the strength of radio frequencies. Radio frequencies work best with a clear line of sight. That means the transmitter can see the receiver. However, a built environment isn’t an open space. It has walls, halls, windows, stairs, plumbing, and other elements that obstruct a clear line of sight and, in turn, network performance.
But what if I have a really, really strong transmitter/signal? It still won’t be good enough. Even the massive cell towers used by nationwide carriers can’t always penetrate every area of a home equally.
To overcome this challenge, network designers use multiple devices to carry a signal throughout a facility. Instead of relying on a single transmitter, they use tens or hundreds, depending on the facility’s size and wireless coverage requirements.
Understanding a Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
As noted, DAS and small cells can appear similar. The difference is in the details.
DAS distributes a radio-frequency signal from one or more carrier sources through a building via coaxial or fiber-optic cable. That means you can bond multiple signals, such as LTE, broadband, and satellite, to create failover scenarios that maximize uptime and performance.
The three types of DAS
Passive
Use a coax cable only to distribute the signal with no inline amplification. The downside is that signal strength decreases with increasing distance from the antennas. The upsides are low cost, ease of design, and fewer devices required.
Active
Uses fiber-optic cable with powered remote units that amplify frequencies near the antennas. The downsides are high cost, complex installation, and power requirements. The upsides include reduced signal loss, support for multiple carriers, and scalability.
Hybrid DAS
Uses coaxial and fiber-optic cables to distribute signals to antennas. Consider this a best-of-both-worlds approach. The downsides include signal loss on coax lines and reduced flexibility and scalability compared with an Active DAS network. The upsides are lower cost than an Active DAS network and superior performance compared to Passive DAS.
Digital DAS
Uses fiber-optic cable to transmit network signals. However, instead of sending an RF signal, it uses a digital signal. That makes transmission more precise. The downsides are cost and complexity. The upsides include scalability, high controllability, and excellent performance for 5G signals.
Small Cell Wireless Networks Explained
The simplest way to think of a small cell network is as a miniature cell tower you place inside your facility. Rather than relying on the tower outside your walls, a Small Cell network connects to the carrier’s signal via fiber-optic cable and rebroadcasts it within your facility.
Yes, this faces the same challenges with building materials that we mentioned before. However, these can be mitigated to some extent depending on the Small Cell transmitter’s location within the building. Ideally, the location is centralized not only within a floor, but also on a central floor of the building. Such as floor 2 of a three-story building.
When Should a Facility Use DAS of Small Cell Coverage?
DAS spreads a signal around. Small Cells create a shared signal.
DAS
Best suited for large facilities or those with a large amount of dense or metallic building materials. Overcomes issues caused by building materials that interfere with signal performance. DAS ensures maximum wireless network performance across a facility, from the basement to the stairwell to the top floor.
Small Cell
Best suited for a smaller facility that uses a single connection type, such as LTE or Satellite. It cannot use multiple signal sources. Small Cell is well-suited to handling a high density of users/devices in a small space. It also allows the creation of a private cloud network if desired.
How To Choose Your In-Building Wireless Solutions
Right now, you likely have a clear idea of what you would like to implement at your facility or business. Maybe you’re basing your choice on size, cost, or the ability to use multiple carriers. Whatever the rationale, it’s likely a good one; however, it may not be the right one.
Selecting between DAS and Small Cell is a major decision. One that will impact immediate performance and long-term scalability. It also impacts network design. Making the right choice requires consulting an expert. Someone who knows, designs, and installs wireless networks within your type of building or facility. They can show you what works, what creates limitations, and how to be ready for ongoing upgrades. It’s tempting to rely on your own gut instincts or the IT team, but choosing network technology requires an expert.
Ready to Future-Proof and Optimize Your Building’s Commercial Wireless Systems?
A DAS or Small Cell network installed by an expert is essential to future-proofing a facility’s scalability and operations. Identifying and deploying the best approach to achieve it requires working with an expert. Matrix-NDI solves the challenges of your business operations by unlocking the full ROI of your technology investments. We design and install networks built for maximum speed and perfectly matched to bandwidth demands.
Why Work With Matrix-NDI?
With on-staff Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDDs), coast-to-coast service coverage, and partnerships with leading data networking providers—including Extreme Networks, Nile, and others—Matrix-NDI delivers the expertise and reach to support your technology goals. We invite you to connect with us to see how our expertise, partnerships, and national reach can help solve your challenges.
Contact Matrix-NDI to get started. Let’s build smarter, safer, more connected spaces — together.
