Method and apparatus for using distributed antennas
A distributed antenna system for using distributed antennas provides for locating a plurality of distributed antennas on existing infrastructure such as existing utility poles, traffic lights/signals, streetlights, etc. Each of the distributed antennas is connected to a base station hotel using a fiber optic cable. The distributed antenna system allows users to access wireless services provided by a plurality of carriers and using a plurality of communication technologies using a truly shared network and without having to implement duplicative wireless infrastructure components.
1. A distributed antenna system for providing wireless communication, the system comprising:
a base station hotel having a plurality of base transceiver stations, each of the plurality of base transceiver stations receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals;
a plurality of antennas located remotely from the base station hotel and communicatively connected to the base station via a fiber optic cable; and
an optical conversion equipment adapted to (i) receive signal from and transmit signal to the plurality of base transceiver stations, (ii) convert the signal received from the base transceiver stations into optical signal, (iii) receive optical signal from one of the plurality of antennas, and (iv) convert the optical signal and communicate the converted signal to one of the plurality of base transceiver stations,
wherein each antenna of the plurality is attached to a cable-span suspended over a roadway between a respective pair of utility poles, each respective pair of utility poles comprising two utility poles situated on opposite sides of the roadway from each other, and the respective pairs of utility poles being spaced apart along a length of the roadway so as to distribute the plurality of antennas over and along the length of the roadway,
and wherein each antenna comprises two directional antenna elements oriented to face in opposite directions along the length of the roadway, thereby providing wireless coverage in the opposite directions along the length of the roadway.
2. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein at least one antenna attached to the cable-span further comprises an omni-directional antenna element.
3. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein at least one antenna attached to the cable-span is attached to two steel braided cables.
4. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein at least one antenna attached to the cable-span is attached using a bracket adapted to provide at least one of (1) adjustable down-tilt, (2) azimuth adjustment, and (3) stability to the antenna.
5. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the cable-span comprises a lift strand and a messenger strand, each suspended between the first pair of utility poles,
and wherein the messenger strand is configured to carry a communication cable connected to the at least one antenna.
6. A method of providing communication between a wireless carrier's network and a consumer wireless device, the method comprising:
receiving a communication signal from the carrier's network at a base station hotel;
converting the signal received from the carrier's network into an optical signal;
transmitting the optical signal to a plurality of distributed remote antenna nodes, wherein each antenna node of the plurality is attached to a cable-span suspended over a roadway between a respective pair of utility poles;
converting the optical signal into a wireless signal for transmission by the at least one antenna node; and
communicating the wireless signal to the consumer wireless device using the at least one antenna node,
wherein each respective pair of utility poles comprises two utility poles situated on opposite sides of the roadway from each other, and the respective pairs of utility poles are spaced along a length of the roadway so as to distribute the plurality of antenna nodes over and along the length of the roadway,
and wherein each antenna node comprises two antenna elements oriented to face in opposite directions along the length of the roadway, thereby providing wireless coverage in the opposite directions along the length of the roadway.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one antenna node is attached to the cable-span by way of an antenna mounting bracket.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one antenna node further comprises an omni-directional antenna element.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising installing a radom around at least one antenna node.