Axell Wireless has launched its Active Point of Interface (APOI) system, designed to substantially aid in the deployment and ongoing management of distributed antenna systems (DAS), while saving operating costs for both mobile operators and systems integrators. According to the company, the APOI manages the interface from base stations to the DAS system to ensure optimum performance for both single and multiple operator deployments.
Traditionally, the company notes that such systems have been passive in nature and require manual on-site intervention to ensure optimum performance of the DAS system. The new APOI ensures that BTS (base station) RF signals feeding the DAS are “managed” to pre-set criteria, thus minimizing the need for regular on-site operational maintenance and ensuring optimum signal-to-noise ratio and thus data throughput within the system. The APOI is fully manageable remotely via a Web server intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and supports SNMP allowing alarms to be reported to a mobile operator’s NOC (network operations center).
The APOI supports up to 8 frequency band modules in one compact 3U chassis. "All major global cellular frequencies are supported as are all wireless technologies," contends a press release from Axell. Each band module supports two separate BTS connections (with internal combining if required) thus allowing up to 16 BTS connections per chassis. APOIs can be cascaded together to support larger BTS deployments. Additional band modules can be easily installed in the field allowing for easy expansion of the system.
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Further, according to Axell, the APOI incorporates a unique SALC (smart automatic level control) software routine which allows for BTS levels to be set and adjusted in an “auto setup” mode allowing a very rapid and simple deployment of the DAS system. The system can be easily optimized later remotely via the easy-to-use GUI. When the SALC facility is enabled, power levels for each BTS are limited by the APOI to pre-set levels ensuring that no wireless service exceeds the planned power level throughout the coverage area of the DAS. In addition, should pre-set levels be exceeded, an alarm is raised through the GUI enabling further action to be taken.
The system can be used in both single and multi-operator environments and allows for different power allocations between operators and/or wireless service types. For multi-operator or neutral host systems each operator will have their own unique access login to allow control and allocation of their own RF resources. As is common with other Axell systems, the company says the product has been designed with high specification >160dBc PIM (passive intermodulation) parameters to allow for optimum throughout to and from the BTS. The system also incorporates a built-in test tone signal generator for each band, allowing commissioning and troubleshooting without the need for expensive test equipment or connected BTS resources.
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Ian Brown, CEO, Axell Wireless comments, “With in-building wireless deployments rapidly growing, both mobile operators and systems integrators need a simpler and cost-effective way of installing distributed antenna systems and managing the interface with connected base stations. Such systems have historically had to be tailored to each situation and are not easily expandable. Our new APOI now solves that problem and provides many features that aid both the rapid deployment and ongoing management of the DAS in-building system, thus bringing mobile operators significant cost savings in their in-building systems."
Learn more about Axell's APOI units.