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In-Building Design and Installation www. nextwavecellular.com Description: O2 Dublin, 15,000 seat concert/entertainment venue. Requirement: Single operator 2G and 3G coverage throughout venue. Solution: Passive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) with 51 antennae. The venue was at a late stage of re-development at the time of instruction and a full RF survey could not be undertaken due to the level of completeness and ongoing building works. On this premise, we utilised the Motorola Enterprise Planning tool which allows AutoCAD floor plans of the venue to be loaded in and for calibrated losses to be associated with each specific layer type in the CAD file. Proposed antenna locations were entered into the tool with appropriate power levels set to suit. A detailed coverage prediction was then produced based on antenna locations, accounting for walls and floor losses. Plans were then developed to show the coverage predictions at 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz. In order to verify coverage predictions, a number of simulated antenna coverage tests (CW) were completed on site later in the build programme. These tests were completed in numerous locations, specifically in areas which were particularly cluttered and as a result were more difficult to predict. The CW testing comprised use of a temporary antenna, putting a CW signal through it at 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz as required. A walk survey was then completed in the area around the antenna to build an understanding of the coverage potential of the antenna. This data was collected using TEMS Investigation software and was completed across a number of antenna locations. From this information, and following a detailed assessment of the structure for antenna fixings and associated cable routes, a full design document was produced, including location drawings, system schematics, link budgets and Bills of Materials. We were responsible for the installation of all antennae and associated cabling throughout the venue, including the fabrication of bespoke fixings for antennae covering the auditorium. We developed a programme of works with the venue’s Project Management Team to ensure our work fitted seamlessly into the overall plan, ensuring completion on time. Our engineers and installers worked closely with a number of on-site contractors in the final weeks of the refurbishment to ensure our works did not impact on their programmes which included the finish to floors, walls and ceilings, many interacting with our cable routes. Following a successful installation and commissioning of the site by the operator, we returned to site to undertake a full post-integration walk test using the TEMS Investigation software interfacing with two mobiles and a PCTel scanner to assess coverage throughout, including handover points at the entrance and egress points of the venue. We then produced a full set of as-built documents, including coverage plots of our test results for the operator and detailed residual risk assessments for our work. "The NWC team was responsible for the design and installation of the indoor mobile antenna infrastructure to provide high capacity 2G and 3G service at the O2, Dublin. The team of engineers worked with O2 to finalise the design and then worked to very tight timelines to ensure that the system was installed and ready for the first concert in December 2008. The project was complicated by the fact that the venue was being constructed during the installation which meant working closely with the architects and building contractors to ensure that everything went smoothly and the project was delivered on time. O2 was very happy with the service that it received." Enda Furlong, Radio Engineer, O2 Ireland
