GD’s Band Class 14 eNodeB supports PSCR’s LTE boomer-cell technology trials

During the trials, the high-sensitivity node successfully operated at ranges up to 67m, when used in combination with vehicle-mounted modems, representing a significant enhancement over the previous trials of the long-range technology.

The eNodeB was mounted on a tower at the US Department of Commerce’s Boulder Atmospheric Observatory in Erie, Colorado.

Undertaken between the fourth quarter of 2014 and first quarter of 2015, the trials operated the user equipment at two power levels, a standard 23dBm modem and a 31dBm vehicle modem.

Testing of the vehicle modems were carried out at extended range in the northerly and easterly directions.

General Dynamics Mission Systems Ground Systems vice-president and general manager Bill Weiss said: "Imagine you are a first responder in a rural area with no towers nearby, or a hurricane has hit and there is no working tower within miles, how do you communicate?

"General Dynamics Mission Systems’ boomer-cell technology extends the effective range of operations providing first responders with the ability to relay and report critical information when infrastructure is not built, has failed or when towers are down.

"It also provides greater flexibility and economic value for public safety system designers when determining tower locations."

General Dynamics Mission Systems has already supported PSCR’s Phase 1/3 LTE interoperability testing programme in 2013, which demonstrated technical interoperability of other major vendors’ LTE core, radio access network, and user equipment technology with that of its parent company.

The PSCR is a joint initiative of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Institute for Telecommunications Sciences and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Communications Technology Laboratory.

Capable of decreasing operations expense and providing more coverage, capacity, and capability for public safety users, long-range operation is an important technical requirement for FirstNet’s National Public Safety Broadband Network.