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1Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
Using Trunking Extenders to Enable CoverageEnhancement
2Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.
3Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.
4Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
5Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
6Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
7Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
8Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
9Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.
10Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.
11Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.
12Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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
13Copyright RFI Technology Solutions Pty Ltd 2019. Subject to change without notice.
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.