Cell phone towers are everywhere, but for many people, they just blend into the landscape. Although people don't often think about cell phone towers, they are absolutely vital to the wireless infrastructure that powers our world.
The terms "base station" and "base station" are often used interchangeably, but in reality, each term stands for different things. Before we dive into the types of base stations and base stations you need to know, here are some quick definitions:
Base station
All equipment (antennas, buildings, and ground) used to transmit cellular signals between mobile devices and receivers. Usually includes transmitter/receiver, GPS, backup power, base station receiver (BTS), backhaul connection, etc.
Cell phone tower
The physical structure to which the antenna is connected. Some cell towers can support multiple wireless operators, public safety entities, or corporate communications. Towers will be owned by a wireless operator or a third party and leased to one or more operators. As you will see below, not every type of cell site is installed on a cell tower.
Now that we have mastered the basics, the following are the most common types of cellular base stations and cellular towers.
Base station type
Cell phone tower site
Coverage: 0.5 to 25 miles
When you hear the term "cellular base station," you usually think of towers. A cell tower is a physical structure designed to support one or more cell sites. Read on to learn about the four most common types of signal towers.
Roof construction site
Coverage: 1.5 to 25 miles
For rooftop systems, antennas and transmission equipment are installed on the roof of the building. The equipment is connected to the public power supply on site, and the backhaul fiber optic connection is led from the main telephone demarcation point of the building. Sometimes, if the building is in the best location of the cell site, the building owner rents out its roof to the wireless carrier.
Small cell
Coverage: 1/10 of the first mile, 2 miles per node
A small cell is a single cell site that is smaller in size, power, and coverage radius than a traditional macro cell site. Small cells are usually deployed as part of a network densification plan to increase the overall capacity of the network. Due to their size, small batteries can be installed almost anywhere, from utility poles to building roofs.
Outdoor Distributed Antenna System (DAS)
Coverage: 1/10 of 1 mile per node of the first mile
A distributed antenna system, or DAS, is, yes, an antenna network that transmits and receives cellular signals on an operator's licensed frequency. The outdoor DAS consists of a "hub", where necessary equipment is centrally installed. The antenna locations are strategically separated to cover the required area. The antenna location is called a node, and is connected to a hub via a fiber optic cable. There, the node is connected to the transmission equipment.
Outdoor DAS often occurs in areas where it is difficult or impossible to add traditional towers to zoning regulations. Antennas are usually installed on existing structures, such as utility poles.
