In-Building Solutions

BICSI, which stands for Building Industry Consulting Service International, is a professional association that supports the advancement of the information and communications technology (ICT) profession.

With a vast membership base of over 26,000 professionals and credential holders, BICSI is the preeminent resource for the Connected World.

RCDD stands for Registered Communications Distribution Designer®. It is BICSI’s flagship program that focuses on the design and implementation of telecommunications distribution systems.

The RCDD certification ensures that individuals possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to create reliable, efficient, and scalable ICT infrastructure solutions.

Being an RCDD means being acknowledged by your peers and industry professionals as a subject matter expert in designing and implementing telecommunications distribution systems.

For more information on BICSI or the RCDD Certificate, please visit BICSI’s website: BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Design (RCDD®) | BICSI

While all three solutions aim to enhance wireless coverage, they have key differences in terms of coverage area, capacity, deployment flexibility and endpoint connectivity

[Note: Wi-Fi is a completely different technology than Cellular/Carrier solutions.  Unfortunately, this confusion is getting more common with Wi-Fi 5Ghz and Wireless 5G popularity/marketing]

End user devices examples:

• Mobile phones typically support both Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity
• Most laptops (especially older laptops) typically only support Wi-Fi connectivity

Click here for more information Wi-Fi_FAQ3_Matrix

1.  Active DAS Hybrid – Granite Offering – Cel-Fi Solutions

• Active DAS Hybrid is a unique distributed antenna system (DAS) category that provides outstanding network coverage using active signal amplification components at an affordable cost. The lower cost is achieved by using a blend of category cabling and fiber to distribute off-air signals that do not require the same level of carrier support as legacy DAS systems. Cost savings are realized across the board – in hardware, cabling, install time, labor, and set-up / commissioning.
• Active DAS Hybrid can be installed using Power over Ethernet (PoE) – a low cost and easy to deploy technology.  Active components in Active DAS Hybrid include network units that collect the signals off-air, clean them up, digitize them, and send the signals to the coverage unit.  The coverage unit then converts back to RF and distributes the noise and echo-free signals. Active or passive antennas may be incorporated, as well as IoT sensors and other Industry 4.0 devices.
• Active DAS Hybrid systems, such as those designed and produced by Nextivity, have been approved for use by more than 200 operators in more than 100 countries and are unconditionally network safe. These systems are one of the most cost-effective ways to bring the power of the macro-network inside a building.
• Components in Active DAS need power to operate and active systems typically use fiber optic cable to connect with remote sources. Passive DAS don’t use fiber, most components don’t need power, and are often comprised of simple Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDAs).

2. Active/Legacy DAS

• Large systems/expensive/installations can take ~9-18months
• A legacy DAS is a network of antennas positioned to distribute signals across a large area. They can be deployed indoors or outdoors and are traditionally used to deliver extra cellular capacity and coverage to a high-traffic area such as a stadium, airport, or other venues with high concentrations of wireless device users.
• Common manufacturers are CommScope and Corning
• Active DAS systems are expensive to deploy and require routine maintenance to operate effectively. Other characteristics of Active DAS include:
• Maximum coverage and capacity
• RF Engineering expertise required to design and install systems
• Carrier agreements required – can take time (6-12 months typically), especially if multiple signals are needed (neutral host)
• Require fiber backhaul and a at times a base station, adding to the cost

3. Passive DAS

• Passive DAS use BDAs (Bi-Directional Amplifiers) to rebroadcast signals, putting them in a different category of signal amplifier than Legacy DAS or Active DAS Hybrid. These “dumb repeaters” use passive components throughout, resulting in noticeable signal loss / degradation.