In-Building Distribution (DAS)
A DAS is one backbone plus many branches and components: 1/2" corrugated copper tube or low-loss braided cable on the trunk, super-flexible cable to the antennas, with splitters, couplers and connectors in between. Once component count climbs, insertion loss and consistency matter more than any single cable's headline figure — 0.1 dB per joint across twenty joints is 2 dB gone.
How the link is put together
Multi-operator signals are combined into the trunk; check level balance across bands first.
Riser trunk in 1/2" corrugated copper tube for low loss; horizontal runs can use low-loss braided cable for faster installation.
2/3/4-way splitters and directional couplers matched to floor area and antenna density, with 3 dB design margin.
1/2" super-flexible cable to ceiling antennas — a clear advantage where space is tight and bends are many.
What to specify
Fill these in and any supplier can quote the same basis — which is exactly why we publish them.
| Impedance | 50Ω |
|---|---|
| Trunk cable | 1/2" corrugated copper tube or low-loss braided (PTL series) |
| Component VSWR | ≤ 1.30 for splitters and couplers |
| PIM | ≤ -150 dBc at 2 × 43 dBm |
| Connectors | N male, field-installed with dedicated tooling |
| Design margin | Keep at least 3 dB in the link budget |
PLMR-100 Low-Loss Braided Coaxial Cable
PTL195 Outer Conductor Braided Cable
PTL200 Outer Conductor Braided Cable
PLMR-195 Low-Loss Braided Coaxial Cable
Questions we get asked
How do I keep VSWR under control as component count grows?
Get every joint right first — correct torque, burr-free centre conductor, proper weather sealing; that resolves most cases. Then budget margin into each branch instead of pushing split ratios to the limit to save cable. Test section by section, not only at the far end.
Braided or corrugated copper tube for the trunk?
Use corrugated copper tube on long vertical risers for better loss and shielding; use braided cable on short horizontal runs for flexibility, speed and cost. Mixing the two is normal — the transition point is where the right connector matters.
Can you provide a link budget?
Yes. Send floor plans, antenna positions, source levels and the target edge field strength, and we will produce a budget from measured cable and component insertion loss, showing the margin on each branch.
Need a quotation?
Send us your specification and we will reply within one working day.