2000 Kaval Telecom Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication, or any
software included with it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, electronic,
mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
copyright holder.
This document contains proprietary information of Kaval Telecom Inc. The contents
are confidential and any disclosure to persons other than the officers, employees,
agents or subcontractors of the owner or licensee of this document, without the prior
written consent of Kaval Telecom Inc., is strictly prohibited.
Kaval Telecom Inc. provides this document as is, without any warranty of any
kind either expressed or implied including, but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness of a particular purpose. Kaval Telecom
may make changes or improvements in the equipment, software, or
specifications described in this document at any time and without notice. These
changes will be incorporated in new releases of this document.
This document may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Kaval
Telecom Inc. waives responsibility for any labour, materials, or costs incurred by
any person or party as a result of using this document. Kaval Telecom Inc., and
any of its affiliates shall not be liable for any damages (including, but not limited
to, consequential, indirect or incidental, special damages or loss of profits or
date) even if they were foreseeable and Kaval Telecom has been informed of
their potential occurrence, arising out of or in connection with this document or its
use.
Kaval Telecom Inc.
60 Gough Road,
Markham. Ontario.
L3R 8X7
Tel : (905)940-1400
Fax : (905)940-1402
http://www.kaval.com/
DCM000000018
Kaval Telecom Inc. iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 FCC NOTICE............................................................................................................................ V
2 INTRODUCTION TO BDA’S................................................................................................. 2-4
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
WARNING:
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Kaval Telecom Inc.
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
DCM000000018
Kaval Telecom Inc. v
BDA1300 Equipment Manual
2 INTRODUCTION TO BDA’s
Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDA’s) are radio frequency amplifiers that amplify signals in two
directions. There are two basic BDA Applications; Line Amplifiers and “Off-the-Air”...
2.1 BDA Line Amplifier System Application
In-building RF distribution system usually takes on one of several forms including, but limited to,
radiating cable, distributed tapped radiators, or high power repeater antennas. For in-building RF
distribution system that requires some gain to compensate for the system loss, line amplifier is the best
device for the job. Line Amplifiers provides amplifications of RF signals to recover signal loss
contributed by radiating cable and other system components.
Figure 1-1 shows an example of a subway tunnel RF distribution system using Line Amplifiers. The
system consists of Line Amplifiers strategically inserted between radiating cables. As the RF signal
travelling along the radiating cable, it loses strength because some of its energy is converted into heat.
Line amplifiers recover the RF loss by amplifying the signal to the desired signal strength before
sending it down the next section of radiating cables. Hence, the in-building RF seamless coverage can
be maintained.
2.3 BDA “Off-the-Air” Amplifier System Application
The Bi-Directional Amplifier is intended to extend Cellular coverage into areas with coverage
deficiency such as inside office buildings, shopping malls, hospitals etc. It is designed to be
located independent of the donor site and must be equipped with its own antenna systems - one
to communicate with the donor site and the other(s) to communicate with portables in the shadow
zone.
A typical in-building coverage extension system is shown in Figure 1-2. The head-end subsystem,
namely Kaval bi-directional amplifier, is responsible for the amplification of both incoming “off-the-air”
downlink signal and outgoing uplink signals. The in-building distribution antenna system comprises of
Coaxial cable, Signal taps, splitters and antennas to extend coverage on every floor, basement and
underground parking garage.
2.4 BDA “Off-the-Air” Drawing
This distributed antenna system is based on Kaval’s patented “Tapped Radiator” RF signal
distribution approach. The technology makes use of coaxial cable with Signal Taps strategically
located and connected to Omni-directional ground plane antennas. This technology offers
flexibility in system design, installation and optimization. Once the RF cable backbone has been
installed, additional signal taps and antennas can quickly and easily be added to a live system,
without the need to take the system out of service. Hence, new coverage areas can be added, or
the system can easily be modified if the layout should change (e.g. modernization retrofits or
process modifications).
The BDA1300 series Amplifier is a compact, yet flexible bi-directional amplifier. It is equipped with
a microprocessor based controller to provide a friendly user interface and to simplify set up and
operating procedures.
The BDA1300 consists of the following functions:
• 1 BDA Controller: Microprocessor based units that provides all control, fault
monitoring and settings for the BDA.
• 2 Duplexers D1, D2: Pass the Downlink frequency band to the mobile antenna and
the Uplink frequency band to the donor antenna and provide the isolation between
the Uplink and Downlink frequency bands.
• 2 Amplifiers A1, A2: Amplify the Uplink and Downlink signals.
• 2 Isolators C1, C2 (as required): Provide consistent matching for amplifier output.
• 1 Power Supply: Operates on 120/230VAC to provide 28V DC to amplifiers, BDA
Controller.
• BDA enclosure: Rugged Nema 4, 4x or 12 with heatsink attached to transfers heat
that dissipated from Amplifiers directly to the outside of the BDA enclosure.
• 1 AC Junction Box: This box consists of AC power switch, AC outlet and AC surge
protector.
BDA’s will amplify all signals that fall within their Pass-Band range. The output power will be “shared”
between all channels being amplified. Another multiple channel effect is Intermodulation signals
produced from non-linear effects between the intended channel signals. These intermodulation may
cause interference to receiving equipment.
In order to minimize Intermodulation signals, Power de-rating must be applied. In the USA there are
FCC Intermodulation Specifications published in the EIA Standard PN2009. The tables 2.2 shows the
maximum per channel Output Levels
allowed as a function of the number of channel.
Note that depending on the actual amplifier input levels, the gain of the BDA may need to be reduced to
comply with the above regulations.
4.4 Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
Both Downlink and Uplink paths are equipped with AGC. The Amplifier based AGC has a dynamic
attenuation range that ensures that a field set (adjustable) nominal composite output power is not
exceeded. The AGC gain varies dynamically to maintain this composite power level by limiting strong
signal levels which could cause excessive intermodulation.
For example, if the AGC limit is set for +25 dBm and the gain of the unit is set for 40dB , then the AGC
circuit will begin to attenuate composite incoming signals at +25dBm – 40dBm = -15dB (composite
power input). The AGC circuit will maintain this composite power limit even if the input signals
increased. This composite level would be maintained by reducing the gain from 40 dB. For every 1dB
increase in input signal there would be a 1dB decrease in the gain.
The BDA Controller is used to set the AGC composite power threshold level. The AGC setting is a
value ranging from 0 to 255.
4.5 AGC Threshold level Setting
BDA Controller
AGC Setting #
240 +30 dBm
160 +25 dBm
118 +20 dBm
94 +15 dBm
77 +10 dBm
Composite Power Level
Setting
(+/- 1 dB)
BDA’s may be shipped with an AGC setting chart specific to that unit.
This includes a 5 dB insertion loss for the internal Duplexers. Consult the Factory for more information.
The AGC Threshold level (in dBm) for the number of channels to be amplified is shown on the next
page. This AGC threshold should be set to ensure intermodulation products do not exceed –13dBm.
This table also shows the de-rated power per channel for the number of channels to be amplified.
5.1 Preparation for the installation of BDA enclosures
a. Equipment and hardware required
• Each BDA is carefully packaged for air shipment. Any damage incurred during the transportation must be
claimed from the shipper.
• Make sure the following necessary equipment and hardware are available and undamaged.
• 1 BDA enclosure (supplied by Kaval)
• 2 50-ohm jumper cables (not supplied by Kaval)
• 1 12’ AC power cord (not supplied by Kaval)
• AC Outlet is nearby (not supplied by Kaval)
• Padlocks, optional (not supplied by Kaval)
• Mounting hardware such as: Four washers and four bolts (not supplied by Kaval)
b. Preparing the installation site
• Make sure the mounting area is large enough to accommodate the installation of the BDA enclosure
(17”Wx16”Hx10”D) and free air flow is available on both sides of the cabinet.
• RF cables must be in place and labeled clearly as “Donor Cell Site” and “In-building”.
5.2 Mounting the BDA Enclosure
The physical installation is accomplished by mounting the enclosure onto a vertical wall. Ensure that the unit is
mounted in the upright position, as indicated by the upright Kaval logo and the door hinge on the left side of the
housing. Using four mounting lugs on the enclosure (see figure 3.1) as a template insert four bolts to the wall.
Make sure the bolts are capable of supporting at least 70 lbs. BDA Enclosure can be mounted as described
below:
1. Raise the BDA enclosure so that the BDA enclosure is about 1” to 3” away from the bolts so that one can
see the bolts through the larger diameter of the keyhole slots, see figure 3-1.
2. Move the BDA enclosure closer to the wall so those four keyhole type slots are hooked onto the bolts.
3. Slide the BDA enclosure down until all bolts fit well in the narrow part of the keyhole slots.
5.3 Connecting the Coaxial cables
Connectors of the BDA are located on the bottom of the BDA enclosure (see figure 3-2). RF cables can be
connected to these connectors using jumper cables as follows.
1. Connect one end of the first jumper cable to the BDA connector marked “Downlink Antenna.”
2. Connect the other end of the first jumper cable to the connector marked “Donor Cell Site” antenna.
3. Connect one end of the second jumper cable to the BDA connector marked “Uplink Antenna.”
4. Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to connector marked “In-building” cable.