ZoneDAS User Guide Page | 1

User Guide

ZoneDAS

Active CAT5 Distributed Antenna System

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Related Documentation

• Hardware Installation Guides (BU, RU, and Extender)

• More Information

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The Web Configurator ......................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Setting ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35

Fault ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39

System ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45

Chapter 1: Introduction

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strength and pattern. And being smart… it compensates for cable loss and sets system gain

Like passive DAS, ZoneDAS begins with signal source(s) from one or more operators. Instead

of having a passive combiner that merges signals and sends them to passive antennas,

however, it has a Base Unit (BU) that replaces the combiner, and Remote Units (RUs) that

replace the passive antennas. And whereas passive architecture is a complex series of

compromises around limited signal strength and delicate antenna output, ZoneDAS

architecture replicates signal strength and guarantees full-strength antenna output. This

allows for a far simpler, goal-oriented design: simply place an RU wherever signal is required

and know that it will have high quality signal! After all, CAT5 cabling goes anywhere.

simple as Active DAS can be.

Figure 1 Basic ZoneDAS Architecture

Chapter 1: Introduction

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Like the combiner in passive DAS, the BU combines its input signals and sends the combined

signal to each RU. Unlike in passive DAS, cable loss has been compensated for and signal

quality is preserved for every RU. Each RU simply amplifies the signal to its specified strength

and broadcasts it through its antenna(s), up to 4 of which it may fit onto each RU. The RU

has powerful integrated amplifiers (up to 23 dBm per band) and uncompromised low noise

site solution. With ZoneDAS, you can software select between directional and

omnidirectional configurations for optimal coverage and best signal-to-noise ratio. For RUs

signal to its RUs, and sends its RUs' signals back to the BU.

In this guide, “ZoneDAS” refers to the entire BU-RU system. ZoneDAS is capable, flexible,

expandable, and elegantly simple. Its modular design enables it to support operator bands

and frequencies from around the world and ensure future upgradability when new

technologies arrive. Its ability to use CAT5 cables and PoE/RFoE technologies facilitates

its RUs. In addition, its simple, single-wire RU connections mean easy re-deployments should

the host building undergo modifications to its layout.

Figure 2 ZoneDAS with Extender

Coverage & Applications

. ZoneDAS is also highly extensible and can service larger areas

when required, through Extenders. Installing an Extender adds capacity for 1~8 additional

RUs, further increasing maximum coverage by 20,000m

Extenders, one ZoneDAS can connect up to 64 RUs for a total coverage area of

high-rise office/residence, a large factory, or a large shopping center.

Chapter 1: Introduction

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Guide assumes that the user is sitting opposite to and looking at the front panel of the

device.

ZoneDAS devices use a 2-letter naming scheme. Each device is abbreviated into 2 letters.

For example, the Base Unit (a device) is abbreviated into just “BU”. Below is a short list of 2

letter device abbreviations and what they represent:

As each BU supports up to 4 RF connections and up to 8 RUs through its 4 RF modules and 2

SD modules (4 SD ports on each), a third character is added to differentiate each RF or SD

module/port. Below is a summary of such differentiation:

Chapter 1: Introduction

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Chapter 1: Introduction

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shows the front panel and where the LEDs are located, and the tables that follow will

provide the details.

Figure 4 RU Front Panel

Chapter 1: Introduction

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effectively the same as GMT. If the area also uses Daylight Saving(s) Time, please click the

Enable checkbox under Daylight Saving Time and set the correct values for Start Time and

End Time. The former indicates when Daylight Saving(s) Time starts every year (in the

Spring); the latter indicates when it ends (in the Fall).

signal is between 0 and 15 dBm. It will continue to work properly from 15 to 24 dBm, but

is too strong for the electronics. If an input signal falls between 24 and 30 dBm, the system

will activate its Protection Mode and shut down all operation for that RF channel (and only

that channel). Input signal stronger than 30 dBm may cause permanent system damage!

The easiest way to see if an RF input is within range is to look at the Home screen, at the BU.

There, under each RF port, will be an “X”, “”, or “!” mark, like this:

Please note that Module A is the one on the left-most side. Module B is the one to its right,

Module C is the next one on the right, and Module D is the right most module. The

frequency band used by each module is clearly marked on its face plate.

Please ensure that all connected inputs are marked with check marks (

consult the signal source provider, such as the telecom operator, and resolve the issue.

Once all RF signal sources are verified to be within range, it is time to configure the BU’s

parameters. Specifically, this means RF parameters. If this installation is on behalf of a

telecom operator, simply upload their ready-made config file onto the BU, using the steps

covered in the next section. If not, the following information is required for each RF signal

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Figure 11 ZoneDAS BU Settings screen

The gray bar at the top of the table shows RF-A to RF-D, from left to right. These correspond

to RF modules A, B, C and D. Four identical columns lie below each of these labels, and the

first few rows in each column correspond to the information requested above. Note that

the system has detected the Frequency Band for each channel, so only verification is

required. Simply fill in all the rows for each connected channel, using the information on

hand. The system is also equipped with error detection, so frequency values that do not fall

within the detected Frequency Band will not be accepted as valid input.

The only row not yet mentioned is Green Power Down, which dictates whether a channel

will go into Power-Saving Mode if there is no input signal for a time. The unit is hours, so

As mentioned above, if this installation is on behalf of a telecom operator, simply upload

their ready-made Config file onto the BU, using the steps covered in this section here. The

process is very easy. First, click Maintenance on the Navigation Panel (the blue bar) and

select Config File. You will see the Config File screen, which looks like this:

Figure 12 ZoneDAS Config File screen

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From there, click Restore and locate the target Config file from the browser’s file manager.

Double click on the file once it is found, and ZoneDAS will begin the restoration process,

which typically takes less than 10 seconds. When it is done, you will see “Success” at the

top center of the screen.

for each connected RF channel to ensure that signal is as expected. To do this, start by

the four blue buttons near the top center, marked RF-A, RF-B, RF-C, and RF-D.

The graph has 2 lines: one yellow and one blue. The yellow line marks the Source Signal

Strength at any given time, measured against the left axis. The blue line marks the Downlink

System Gain that the system automatically generates at the same time, measured against

the right axis. The bottom axis indicates the time. With the cursor on top of the graph,

turning the scroll wheel on the mouse shrinks or expands the scope of the time axis, while

holding on to the left mouse button and moving the mouse left and right makes the graph

go back and forward in time.

What needs to be done at this point, for all active RF channels, is that the user must click

through all the graphs and check that no input signal ever goes beyond the normal

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With the BU ready for operation, it is time to configure all the RUs. This involves mounting,

adjusting parameters, and calibration. Mounting is first.

and RU. After system calibration, this record will also store the connection’s calibration

information, so recalibration will not be required when an RU is unplugged temporarily (e.g.

to hard reset).

Once an RU is mounted, if you plug in a different RU into the same port, ZoneDAS will detect

the difference and display a Mount button beside the newly connected device. Click it for

ZoneDAS to activate the connection to the new RU. As ZoneDAS only remembers one

device per SD port, this will also overwrite the previous record with data from the newly

plugged in RU/Extender.

Mounting is important because it prevents RU confusion. As each SD port is set with its own

output parameters, such as power and pattern, it can be troublesome when an RU gets

unplugged and the user forgets where it was plugged into before. With mounting, the

The on-screen line connecting the BU to the RU should be colored gray. This indicates an

unmounted state. Click on Mount and wait for the line to turn yellow. Yellow line means the

device has been correctly mounted. Once mounted, it becomes possible to configure the

RU’s parameters. If all the RUs have been plugged in properly, go ahead and click Mount

for each RU. Once all the lines have turned yellow, proceed to the next section.

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Once an RU has been mounted, it may be necessary to adjust its output parameters. In

particular, each RU must be configured for a specific output signal strength and a specific

antenna configuration. The default RF output signal strength for RUs is +17 dBm per RF band

values for all RUs, it is possible to adjust them from the RU Settings screen.

Settings. The following screen layout will appear:

Figure 15 ZoneDAS RU Settings screen

from left to right. These correspond to RF modules A, B, C and D. Four identical columns still

lie below each of these labels. The difference is, the gray bar at the table’s left now lists all

from. The first, “Omni”, instructs the antenna to broadcast evenly in all directions. It is

perfect for square or round areas, where placing an RU on the ceiling at the center of the

room creates the best coverage. The second, “Directional”, instructs the antenna to

concentrate its broadcasting in a single direction—through the top of the RU. This

configuration is perfect when coverage is desired for a hallway. Simply mount the RU on

the wall at one end of the hall, and the entire hallway will have signal.

Of course, RU placement would have been determined by now, so simply change the

mounted RUs. Once configuration is done, please press Apply.