Healthcare Case Study

Copyright © 2014 Comba Telecom Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.combausa.com

The Challenge

Similar to many hospitals, Dearborn County Hospital experienced

cellular coverage issues. After researching the market, DCH

chose Comba Telecom, Inc. as their turnkey wireless solution

provider.

Dearborn County Hospital was expanded by 100,000 sq ft, which

includes a four-story inpatient bed tower, a new medical office

building, housing for four hospital-based physician practices, a

sleep center, and an employee fitness center. The hospital

management strives to provide the best technology and

communications in the new facility; however, they encountered

challenges on their wireless network.

Copyright © 2014 Comba Telecom Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.combausa.com

The Challenge

“Like many hospitals around the United States we encountered poor cellular

coverage,” said Jim Dillard, Senior Material Manager at the Dearborn County

Hospital. The biggest contributing factors are typically the construction of the hospital

where the emitted radiation from X-ray machines and similar equipment need to be

kept as isolated as possible. The end result is that unless the hospital is located near

a cell tower, cellular coverage within the hospital will often be nonexistent, which was

also the case for Dearborn County Hospital.

The demand for high speed data communication in 4G LTE networks continues to

grow rapidly. The growing use of wireless in the hospital also dramatically increases

the peak power produced by the new modulation. Consequently, this makes the DAS

sensitive to PIM performance. A DAS with inferior PIM performance will face serious

issues in network reliability, data rates, and capacities.

Copyright © 2014 Comba Telecom Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.combausa.com

The Comba Total Solution

Comba worked closely with the hospital to provide a customized solution

design. The design aims to solve the cell phone coverage problem, and meet

the growing demand of high speed data and voice communications. Comba’s

modular design products give users the flexibility and potential for future

network upgrades.

The complete (DAS) Distributed Antenna System includes one Modular Bi-

Directional Amplifier (MBDA), one ComFlex DAS Master Unit (MU) and five

ComFlex low powered Remote Units (LRU), distributing radio frequency (RF)

signals to 32 antennas strategically located throughout the hospital. The

Comba DAS system serves design scope of 700 lower ABC, 700 Upper C,

Cellular and PCS bands for both Verizon and AT&T, 4G LTE and 3G.

Copyright © 2014 Comba Telecom Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.combausa.com

The Comba Total Solution

Unique to Comba, the ComFlex DAS and MBDA are designed with “industry first”

Mini-DIN connectors to achieve superior PIM performance. Together with Comba

PIM rated passive components and professional installation, the hospital DAS PIM

is less than -153dBc, measured at 43dBm. This ensures maximum system network

reliability, data rates and capacities, in turn maximizing the hospital’s return on

investment.

The ComFlex DAS and MBDA utilize Comba’s web-based GUI, allowing technicians

and engineers to have easy access to the system, for quick and convenient

commissioning after the installation. With the Comba system’s remote capabilities,

personnel can continue to monitor the network and provide immediate support, with

zero disruption to the hospital, any time after the installation.

Comba ProductsComba ComFlex DASDistributed Antenna System

Comba MBDAModular Bi-DirectionalAmplifier

Comba PIM RatedPassive Components

Comba Indoor Antennas

“As a busy hospital, we really appreciate the minimum construction interruption and great project punctuality. We are very pleased with the significantly improved cell phone coverage and wireless data speed. ”

Jim DillardSenior Material ManagerDearborn County Hospital