Alliance Corporation distributes Bidirectional Amplifers (BDAs) from Comba, Westell, Nextivity, JMA, Fiplex and ADRF.

Alliance stocks a wide range of products to support public safety DAS / ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems). 

Our team of Subject Matter Experts can help recommend the right products for your requirements because one small item missing from a bill of materials can cause huge delays.

We will help you develop the bill of materials that you need including the all of the ancillary products such as splitters, combiners, antennas, cable and battery-backup systems.

Alliance Supports Public Safety DAS / ERRCS

When a first responder is in a building answering a call for help, it is critical that they always have radio contact. However, due to the design and materials used in construction, often the signal is unable to penetrate the building.

Most often the areas for weak public safety signals are:

• Stairwells
• Elevators
• Basements
• In many areas of buildings with a lot of concrete or very thick concrete walls.
• In buildings with low-e glass.

Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems (ERRCS) are what allows the two-way radio carried by a firefighter, police officer, and paramedic to work inside buildings.

Learn more about Public Safety DAS by watching our series of Webinars.

Within some buildings, the signal might not work and thus whoever might be in that building will not be able to radio for help or communicate with anyone outside or inside the building. This is obviously an important requirement. 

To enhance the signal in the building, you will need to install a communication system known as a BDA system (bi-directional amplifier system) or public safety DAS (PSDAS).

There are a number of manufacturers of these systems including Nextivity, Comba, Westell, JMA Wireless, CommScope, ADRF, Cobham, GS Telecom, TXRX/ Bird, G-Wave, Honeywell, EMF and Fiplex.

A typical ERRCS consists of:

• A bidirectional amplifier (BDA) or the fiber distribution head-end equipment;
• Battery backup units (BBU)
• Fiber distribution end units
• In-building antennas
• Donor antennas
• Plenum cable
• Couplers, splitters and tappers.

The drawing above shows what a typical BDA or ERRCS network looks like. Typically a bidirectional amplifier that takes the signal from outside the building and amplifies it inside the building. Antennas are installed throughout the building.

I am a building owner, what does this mean to me?

Many jurisdictions now require that buildings install a system that will ensure that Public Safety radios will work in specific buildings.

What does that mean? It means that you need to ensure there is enough fire department radio signal inside your building. A qualified company can evaluate the signal for you by doing a Site Walk. They will review the entire building and give you a plan, explaining what is needed. Alliance works with installation companies across the USA and Canada and we can introduce you to someone to do the work for you.

What are my next steps?

Contact the local fire department to speak with the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) to find out how and if they are enforcing the code in your area.

If your radio coverage is not adequate, you will need to prepare a plan and file for permits.

Alliance Can Help

Alliance stocks a wide range of products to support public safety DAS / ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems).  Our team of Subject Matter Experts can help recommend the right products for your requirements because one small item missing from a bill of materials can cause huge delays.

Contact us today

Public Safety Wireless Webinars

Together with our industry partners, Alliance has presented many webinars to help you understand the various solutions.