1

Leaky Feeder CableA distributed antenna solution for WiFi

Steve Mace

Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

sales@solwise.co.uk

2

• Introduction– WiFi and walls– Shadows

• Leaky Feeder Cable–What is it?–Construction

• Tests and application

3

Doesn’t go through walls

4

Creates Shadows

5

Distributed Antenna

6

Cable Construction• Polyethylene Jacket

• Copper foil outer conductor

• Foamed PE dialectric

• Hollow copper inner conductor

• Loss 0.16dB/m

7

Connectors

8

Slots in the Shielding

• Slots set at wavelength multiple– 75-500MHz

– 800-1000MHz

– 1700-2600MHz

• Terminator for reflections

9

Physical Characteristics

10

• Gain typically -11 +1dBi• Coupling Loss quoted at typically 60dB at 2.4 GHz.• This is the ratio of signal power going into the cable over

the power of the received signal at 2m.

• So if you have 20dBm going in then the signal at 2m would be about -40dBm

• Compared to ‘normal’ 2dBi rubber duck which, at 2m with a 20dBm signal power would be -24dBm.

Test Results

rcv

InLCX P

PssCouplingLo

11

Installation Discussion

• Make sure cable is orientated correctly and at least 4 inches from the wall• AP with single run

– c. 50m– Drop of 8dBm

• AP driving two runs c. 100m• Boosters

– Careful with maximum input

12