Chicomm Blog

Effective in-building wireless communication isn't just a convenience—it's a critical component of operational safety and efficiency. Unfortunately, many businesses regularly face significant challenges with poor wireless connectivity inside buildings. From emergency response teams relying on seamless communication to businesses requiring uninterrupted connectivity for operations, the stakes are too high for spotty coverage.

If you’re facing connectivity problems like cell phone dead zones, unreliable two-way radio coverage, or bad WiFi coverage, we understand it can feel like you’re fighting a losing battle.

We're here to help with some well-known and lesser-known strategies for enhancing performance, even in the most stubborn areas.

When looking into improving your in-building communication, you'll probably come across the terms: Signal Booster, BDA (bi-directional amplifier), or DAS (Distributed Antenna System). If you’re experiencing issues such as dead zones or spotty reception, you know how frustrating poor coverage can be, causing lost productivity and safety issues.  

A DAS is a network of antennas placed throughout a building used to boost wireless signals, typically in large buildings like campuses, hospitals, hotels, or manufacturing plants. 

A bi-directional amplifier is a device that locates a wireless signal, amplifies it, and then rebroadcasts it throughout your building. It also helps your two-way radios and smartphones avoid dropping calls or receiving spotty coverage. This blog provides more insight into how this actually happens, and the next steps to take if you think a BDA and DAS might solve your communications problems.

Every year, it seems that the communications needs of companies and organizations evolve. Sure, the general needs are fairly consistent - reliable and secure communication, ensuring the safety of students/guests/patients, etc. - but goals evolve, and so do challenges.

This post is a quick look at four of the most common communications challenges that organizations across the country encounter on a daily basis. These aren’t industry-specific, as they relate on some level to multiple industries. For more information on how your organization can overcome these challenges, you can download our free eBook, the Wireless Communication Survival Guide.

Here are four of the most common communication challenges:

Bi-directional amplifiers (or BDAs), boosters, extenders, repeaters — there's no shortage of options when you’re looking to broaden the reach and enhance the effectiveness of your cell and two-way radio coverage to combat dreaded “dead zones.”

In this blog, we'll describe how a BDA system works, and how it relates to the overall distributed antenna system, or DAS, and how it differs from a two-way radio repeater. Looking at the two side-by-side can help you decide which will be the best fit for you.

The future of healthcare technology is an exciting landscape of better overall health, enhanced hospital safety and seamless access to information – all powered by wireless communications.

Digital two-way radios, IP phones, radio frequency identification and smartphone apps for healthcare, as well as upgrades to more traditional communications systems such as nurse call systems, are all playing a key role in shaping the industry’s growth.

With the benefits to well-being in mind, let's take a deep dive into understanding the current challenges facing healthcare technology and the ways that upgraded wireless communications, accessories and applications are fueling the industry’s future.

To make the case for a BDA, or bi-directional amplifier, for your agency, start by painting a picture of life without dead zones. Imagine a world with no more spotty reception, no more half-heard or misheard conversations and no more standing by the windows yelling, “Can you hear me now?” There's no doubt that agencies wasted resources paying staff for down-time when they simply can't do their work because they can't connect.

The BDA solutions for cell phones and two-way radios are different, but the big benefits of both are the same: better, crystal-clear communications. As you’re working through your wireless communications wish list, here are some suggestions for how to make the case for a BDA at your agency. 

As your boss keeps reminding you, it’s your job to make sure wireless communication at your company, campus or property is something that no one is talking about because all is well: You’re effectively using communications to enhance safety and security, you don’t need to improve wireless communications with a stronger network and dead zones are a dead issue.

But if your communications are still a topic of conversation, there are solutions available.

Here are four things your boss wishes you knew:

As wireless communication solutions are constantly evolving, it’s a challenge to keep up with the latest and greatest devices and functionality. While it would be impossible to keep up with every update or product that’s made available, it is worthwhile to conduct an occasional appraisal of your existing systems -- and your current challenges -- to see if a boost, replacement or new investment makes sense. 

If you're purchasing a new facility and about to do a building condition assessment, you're probably expecting that assessment to cover the facility’s structural and maintenance bases, but what about communications readiness? To make sure your assessment is painting as comprehensive a picture as possible, and to position you to meet your needs now and into the future, there are some key communications considerations to keep in mind.

Your users will be expecting instant and reliable connectivity from day one, whether they’re relying on wireless communications, cell phones or two-way radios. As you’re considering a property for your business, you’ll need a realistic assessment of whether it’ll support your communications needs or will require some help in the form of bi-directional amplifiers or other enhancements.

Here are some questions to keep in mind as you’re carrying out your assessment:

Analytical tools offer a variety of mechanisms for facility managers to improve communications systems, from on-site wireless to mobile communications. Reliable WiFi and dependable devices are business necessities that your internal customers and end users likely don’t think that much about – and you can keep it that way by heading off problems before they start and anticipating their needs.

Analytical tools for facility managers aren’t just about keeping the assets you can see running smoothly, you can also put data to work for you to boost unseen communications channels.

Let’s take a look at some of the possibilities for using analytic tools for facilities managers to improve communications.