DAS 1.0 Coax & BDA based DAS
1st generation DAS or DAS 1.0 was just coaxial cable based, and the DAS would be powered by a signal booster or repeater (an electronics that repeats or boosts signal).
It operates on a simple formula: borrow signal, boost it, and then distribute the signal where needed. These simple systems are also known as passive DAS or BDA based coaxial DAS.
Usually, for DAS 1.0, you would place a directional antenna on the roof (see the block diagram below) of the building facing towards a nearby cell tower. Directional antennas transmit and receive signals in a specific direction.
DAS 1.0 Block Diagram
If you are trying to install this system to boost Sprint signal, for example, then you need to make sure that you are pointing to a Sprint cell tower (and not an AT&T tower).
The directional antenna will borrow or receive the signal from the cell tower. This signal will then travel through a coaxial cable inside the building to a signal booster which will boost or amplify the signal. As I mentioned before, this signal booster is also known as BDA or repeater or amplifier. Repeater because it borrows signal and repeats it. BDA, on the other hand, stands for the bi-directional amplifier.
This amplified or boosted signal will be distributed inside the buildings through coaxial cable and antennas. These antennas will be located where signals are needed. Although I am showing just 2 antennas in the diagram, based on the need, it can be anywhere from 1 to many antennas.
One more thing to remember, most of the DAS 1.0 systems are single-carrier DAS because they usually handle 1 carrier or operator (such as Sprint). Exceptions always exist: it is possible to build DAS 1.0 for multiple operators – but we have rarely seen carrier grade multi-carrier DAS built in all-coax systems.
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