My Job in a Antenna

Let me take some time to explain very briefly and at a level most folks will understand about cell phone or mobile device coverage.  No better place to start than the present.

Present cell coverage is provided by a cell phone tower which looks like this:

or in places where people have an issue with the way they look like this:

Keep in mind there are a few different designs.  For example a microwave site will have circular structures on it similar to drum.  The problem is these are expensive to build, lengthy to get approval for, design and build out.  Especially the disguised ones that look like cactus, palm trees, evergreen trees and others.

There are often times antenna's put on top of water towers, side of buildings, rooftops, very large telephone pulls, billboard signs, etc. which can look like this:

These often times are what we call DAS (distributed antenna systems).  Basically the antennae are distributed over a wide area to give coverage where a cell site cant be built. These get you coverage into places you didnt have before.    These are a lot like cell tower antenna so they usually are mounted only on larger structures.  Inside buildings, between skyscrapers, in tunnels etc.  These are most known for covering stadiums but can also cover cities, a college campus or even a theme park.  This is what this commercial is talking about:

Just remember there are many different ways these can look.  From a panel like i have show to a black dome that looks like a traffic light camera to a white cone that looks similar to a fire alarm.  Look at some of them here in the Disneyland Resorts and Theme Parks:


Which brings me to the future.  Yes we will have all of the above in the future, more DAS than regular cell towers and some new things call small cells.  For the larger audience think of these things just like DAS only just like the title says smaller!  Most of these will look like this:

or a small box like this:

These little puppies are a whole lot smaller and do a few awesome things.  First get you even more coverage where DAS and regular towers wont get to.  They reduce the needed network devices with your telecom provider, which in turn reduces your cost of your monthly plan.  Next they solve the problem of indoor calling.  Oddly enough the majority of cell phone calls still happen indoors.  Coverage can be an issue there, especially in large buildings.  These little suckers fix that.  Watch this commercial and you can see how a small box like the one above is put into the roof of a work building and what it can do for you.

Thats the bulk of it right there!  Here is my last video to share.  Listen in to the details of the benefits of a DAS system, which also apply to small cells.  It is an interview from AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants (baseball for those who dont play).

My job if you want to know involves all of these.  From 2G, 3G and 4G (LTE).  Lets say (heaven forbid) you have to call 911 on your phone.  Your phone relays signal to one of these antenna and in turn relays it into the network. It goes through a whole bunch of network devices (such as routers) until it signals for a GPS location which is sent to same 911 operator that you are connected with.  This way they can get a location for you.  I basically make sure that the latitude/longitude stored in the database for those antenna are accurate.  This ways the phone and network can calculate where you are based on information from the satellite, phone, antenna and network.