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Protecting Cellular Sites

Protection of cellular sites is paramount for maintaining carrier profitability. Safety comes in several ways, including protecting equipment against different types of damage when it is placed into service in a public environment. A basic form of protection is shrouding, essentially adding protective covering that creates a barrier between the equipment and the elements. Another is adding industrial surge protection, which is necessary to protect against the circuit-level component damage caused by power surges. Both of these forms of damage have consequences that must be minimized in order to maintain profits. Shrouding protects equipment close to public spaces that can not be exposed directly to the elements. Surge protection puts a barrier between vulnerable equipment and the power surges that can impact them, causing either instant damage or degradation over time. Both are necessary.

Shrouds or cabinets cover the necessary equipment used in the cellular network that supports the network backhaul, directing and routing signals to where they need to go. A large amount of equipment is used in the process, with only the actual radios, antennas, and supporting connectivity equipment positioned at the top of the installation. This equipment is exposed to the elements and is vulnerable to lightning strikes. Other equipment at site is housed at the bottom of the structure and supports the distribution of signals to the network. All components must be housed in enclosures to prevent damage from the elements and support connectivity. A direct connection via power cables from the equipment at the top to the bottom allows electricity to move through the system from the inside, power the entire system, and keep the site up. When a power surge results from a lightning strike near the structure, however, it can overwhelm and damage the connected equipment. Because the power surge enters the exposed equipment and moves to the unexposed equipment, the enclosures will not protect from power damage. Therefore, installing the proper Type 1 and Type 2 surge protection equipment at critical places in the cell site is necessary to thwart a power surge from moving from component to component. This way, the lightning strike might impact the equipment at the tower top, rendering it damaged, but the resulting lightning surge would be managed and diverted by the installed surge protection, keeping damage from the other equipment. A power surge moving along the cables at such a location would not be able to move past the point of installed surge protection, keeping that surge from reaching the other equipment in the installation. When the right type of industrial surge protection is installed in the right areas of the site, less damage is allowed to occur when the inevitable lightning strike happens. The addition of cell site surge protection also enables faster restoration times should damage occur. By reducing the damage from predictable events like lightning strikes, the network providers can conserve the operating budget spent on maintenance over time. Eliminating these expenses adds to profitability and, at the same time, keeps existing customers happy due to better service. Surge protection is the silent protector of your cell signal!

Power Surges And Cellular Sites

Power Surges And Cellular Sites

Power surges harm almost all computerized equipment. This is because the circuitry inside those components can only operate within a specific electrical range, and any deviation outside that range can destroy circuits. If you have ever lived in or visited a place with fluctuating electrical delivery from the grid, you may have either lost a home computer or had one die earlier than expected due to the degradation of its circuitry as a result of minor power surges. When the stakes are higher, and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment must stay online to keep your business functioning correctly and profitable, you invest far more into electrical protection than a surge strip. Cellular sites are a prime example of how equipment placed in the field must be protected in order for the business to remain profitable.

Cellular companies place equipment that creates a network to support their business. Cell sites are placed in this network in a way that will enable the strongest signals for the most customers. For high-speed data transfer, the sites must be closer than ever. As a result, cell carriers invest heavily in the launch of new sites and upgrading existing sites with new equipment, all in support of current and next-generation networks. The new equipment is being installed on existing macro cell sites in support of C-band signals and in small cell sites closer to customers to support the shorter distance mmWave signals. Because of all this investment, the antennas, radios, and other equipment used to support the network must often be concealed and always be protected. By placing the equipment in cabinets and shrouds, it can be hidden, protecting it from vandalism. But to be protected from the electrical damage that lightning strikes can cause, industrial surge protection must also be installed on all the cell site locations. Power surges of the magnitude produced by a lightning strike will travel along cable connections between the equipment and overwhelm it and cause significant damage and downtime. Each cellular installation in a network performs the task of receiving and transmitting a signal if the user is within its range. If that tower or structure goes offline due to damage, dead spots can be created where calls are dropped or no signal is available. Downtime causes customer dissatisfaction which leads to lost revenue for the cellular carrier. In addition, the cellular company must spend to repair the equipment and restoring functionality. In a nutshell, the best policy is to reduce damage to reduce downtime and conserve budget. Reduced downtime can be accomplished by integrating external surge protection systems into the site along the pathways that electricity travels. These surge protection devices block will any power outside a range considered safe for the equipment. It acts as a failsafe to stop the damage from traveling to other equipment in the case of a nearby lighting strike. This policy of integrating surge protection equipment will not prevent the lightning strike, but it can salvage the equipment connected nearby to the places where the strike happens. This allows cell installations to be restored faster and for less money, creating a win-win for customers and companies.

How Cell Sites Are Protected From Lightning

Protecting equipment placed into service within an environment with elements that pose the risk of damage is difficult for all businesses. Any industry that needs to put equipment into harm’s way to perform the service they are tasked with is interested in figuring out ways to protect that equipment. Different methods can be deployed that are situationally specific such as covering or shrouding the equipment and integrating devices designed to prevent failures. Essentially, the work of all protective equipment is the same, to keep the sensitive components functioning and online for as long as possible, knowing that the threats exist which can impede that progress. Identifying threats to equipment placed in the field can help create specific solutions deployed to prevent them. When equipment needs to be protected from the elements, it is placed inside a strong, purpose-built cabinet, keeping outside forces from impacting it. This becomes less effective when the very nature of operations does not allow that equipment to be fully shrouded. Take the example of a cellular site, where the antennas and receivers of signals cannot be blocked by shrouding, or they would not provide a clear signal. Cell phone users need a nearby cell tower or another cell site to connect to and send and receive the clearest signal possible. The active equipment on a cell tower doesn’t need to be placed in a cabinet to protect it, but it does need to be protected from electrical surges caused as a result of lightning strikes. When lightning strikes on or near a cell tower, any equipment positioned on that tower is susceptible to damage by a power surge that can move through the equipment cables. The lightning strike is capable of creating immense damage at the point of strike, should it be to the tower itself. Here the equipment that is struck can not be salvaged. But just as dangerous is the resulting lightning surge that can affect all connected equipment. To stop equipment from the damage caused by lightning surges, cell operators are integrating industrial surge protection devices into the cell sites. The surge protection systems sit along pathways through which electricity can flow and monitor the safe range of electricity reaching the equipment. If that level deviates outside the safe scope, the surge protection device activates and diverts the surge. These devices protect equipment that might be damaged by a lightning surge, not the strike. They minimize the damage to the point where the lightning might have struck. Industrial surge protection installed on cell sites reduces the costs for repairs and allows cell installations to be returned to functionality faster.

Why Cell Sites Need Surge Protection

Cellular network providers nationwide are in the process of upgrading equipment in the field to handle the latest 5G speeds. These upgrades not only involve the upgrade of equipment within the existing towers and installations but also placing additional installations into regions where coverage might not have been previously. A seamless network involves the ability for the phone to connect to a nearby installation, then switch to the next as the customer moves through space. With the new 5G technology a user must, in many cases, be closer to the equipment installation than ever before to maintain the signal. This need will position a far more significant amount of equipment into the field than ever at the network provider’s expense. While this equipment will be paid for over time by customers’ monthly payments, significant steps must be taken to protect it as it is in service. Protecting the equipment in the field helps not only to decrease the amount of money that must be spent each quarter by the provider on maintenance but also helps to keep customers happy. If a cellular installation is damaged and goes offline, it will create a spot where a user might not gain the best signal, leading to frustration on the customer’s part and possibly the consideration of a rival competitor.

Lightning strikes to cellular installations are a considerable concern, with lightning striking the tops of equipment groupings or nearby, and creating damage. Due to the physical makeup and positioning of most cell towers and installations, they must be positioned in a way that will provide a clear signal to users on the ground. This means they must be tall, making them prime targets for lightning strikes. The strike to the top damages the equipment positioned there, and makes repair and restoration necessary. But the amount of time and money that it will take to restore that equipment grouping is also influenced by whether the lightning power surge was able to impact equipment throughout the installation. The power surge created by lighting strikes travels along the connectivity cables and wires, overwhelming and damaging equipment far from the strike point. By installing devices specifically designed to thwart the movement of electrical surges and keep them away from equipment, other equipment at the site can be kept from harm. Keeping as much of the equipment on site safe from electrical surge damage keeps the ongoing operation costs lower and the networks functioning to customers’ satisfaction. In addition, by installing surge protection devices along critical pathways at the cell site, customers will sense no disruption of daily activities, and carriers can keep rates from rising too high.

Cell site surge protection is probably one of the most important types of equipment used in the process of cell connectivity that is not directly tasked with connecting customers. Cell site surge protection allows our networks to remain profitable while still providing the latest technology to customers. The best networks not only invest in upgrades to the newest equipment but also in protection.

Cellular Installations Benefit From Surge Protection

Cellular network providers must heavily invest in equipment to maintain a functional and modern connectivity network for their customers. People are no longer satisfied with a simple phone to make calls to one another and now rely on their phones the way they previously relied on computers. For many people today, their phone is the only computer they have, and they perform nearly all technological tasks on it. Consumers will stream movies, shop, access social media, and download work from their phones. Little do many of them realize that the supercomputer that they rely so heavily upon is nearly worthless without the fastest cellular connection possible. Engineering advancements like 5G were invented as a response to market demands. Most cellular providers know they must invest heavily to keep up with technological advances, installing equipment where there previously was none and upgrading existing installations with new equipment. The drawback to faster speeds is that users need to be closer to the equipment to gain the necessary signal. Network providers have had to install thousands of more sites nationwide to provide seamless connectivity for customers who expect faster speeds. Anything less will lead to frustration and possibly the switch to a rival provider.

Along with the rollout of new equipment is the necessity to protect it from damage. The more gear that is placed into the field, the more the potential for damage. Because keeping the company profitable is the number one concern, a method of protecting the equipment as best as possible is necessary. Surge protection has become an essential part of the network because of this, minimizing the amount of damage that can happen during a thunderstorm. One of the more common natural occurrences is lightning strikes. And with cellular towers often being the tallest structure in a region, they are particularly susceptible to them. When they are hit, or a hit is even nearby them, often a domino effect of damage will occur. The strike to a tower top will damage the equipment that resides there, but the power surge that follows moves along the connectivity lines that join equipment at the top to equipment at the bottom. Because power cables connect the equipment, lightning surges can find a perfect pathway to travel. The best method of preventing downstream damage from a strike site is to place industrial surge protection devices in front of the equipment, keeping the damaging surge from the sensitive equipment. These surge protection devices continually monitor the power flow levels, instantaneously cutting that flow if it moves outside the safe range. Through effective and redundant surge protection installed on the site, cell networks can protect the equipment in each installation more effectively. Installing surge protection minimizes the typical damage seen when lighting strikes and allows the facility to be returned to functionality faster and for less cost. This creates happy customers who experience less difficulty getting a signal as they move through most regions and pay a lower monthly bill as the networks can operate with less field maintenance expense. Surge protection for cellular installations keeps network connectivity and saves money.

Surge Protection For Cell Installations

Investing in their network is of utmost importance to a cellular provider. As the latest technological features become available, users realize that they can only have a good experience with these features if their network can handle them. For the most part, this means the fastest transfer speeds that are available, being accessible via cell installations that are nearby. This translates to users needing to be surrounded by 4G/5G network installations, every one of which costs tens of thousands of dollars, if not more. This incredible rollout of new equipment into the field may be able to be met with very slight price increases for customers but ultimately, customers cannot have monthly bills so high that they cannot afford them. The cellular network providers must remain competitive with their technology and prices, or customers will quickly move to a different company. This means that network providers must protect the equipment they have put into use from as many different forms of damage as possible. By analyzing the most significant risks, they can develop solutions to protect against the damage those risks can inflict. One of the greatest threats to cellular equipment in the field is lightning strikes and the power surges that follow them. The lightning strike is challenging to avoid, as the cell installations are often the tallest structure in a region. Lightning follows the path of least resistance to the Earth, meaning that the cell towers and installations that are purposefully positioned in unobstructed areas are usually the spots that will be struck. This damages equipment at the strike point, which is generally the top of the tower, impacting the equipment placed there. Even if the strike does not hit the cell tower directly, even a nearby lightning strike can travel to a cell site and wreck damage. While this damage is already placing stress on the bottom lines, the added complication of the damage caused by the lightning power surge makes profitability difficult. A power surge travels along the structure and the power cables that join the equipment on the tower site. The surge overwhelms these components at the circuit level, causing additional damage that can be eliminated if adequate surge protection is in place. By blocking the pathways that surges can follow, surge protection equipment “gets in the way” of the electrical flow as soon as it exceeds a range safe for that equipment. Installing effective surge protection diverts the surge and saves the components. Through this type of protection, the damage from the inevitable lightning strike can be minimized, allowing for faster restoration to operational status and a lower cost associated. This enables cell networks to keep their pricing within reason for ordinary citizens and supports cell customers loyal to the provider. All users can access the latest and greatest technology through effective surge protection.

Surge Protection For Cell Sites Matters

One of the most important developments with regard to cellular communication has been the development of surge protection that can not only divert a lightning surge but also not self-sacrifice after doing so. That may seem like a bold statement when you consider the technological wonders involved in the communications process. However, in reality, we all carry a supercomputer in our pockets today because of the profitability of the companies that connect us to the information we seek. In most cases today, that company is the cellular network provider. Without connectivity to the internet, our devices are no more than a camera that may store a few tidbits of information that cannot be shared with anyone else. The connection makes all the difference and keeping that connection alive and functioning is the single most important aspect of the process. Without profitability, there is no reason for companies to push the limits of the technology available and no reason for them to expand to the point of having coverage almost everywhere.

Profitability in the cellular network space depends on charging customers for the connection they are using. As technology evolves and brings new concepts to the table, the networks must be improved. This means continual investment in the networks to place new equipment into the field to provide data transfer speeds that will allow these new technologies to function. As a result of these investments, customers need to be charged a monthly fee that will cover the expenses, but that fee cannot be so much that the customers cannot afford it. This means that the network operators must find ways to adjust the expenses involved in the operation to keep prices down. The best method of doing this task is the conservation of the equipment in the field, protecting it from damage and drawing as long a life span as possible from it. This is where the integration of cell site surge protection comes in and proves itself to be so necessary. A leading cause of concern to equipment in the field is lighting strikes, which create damage at the strike point that is difficult to avoid. The strike itself produces a power surge that impacts other equipment within the installation that is directly connected to the equipment at the strike point. Because of this added level of damage, the costs to repair the equipment are escalated, and the downtimes of that cell installation are increased simply because more work needs to be done. By installing surge protection devices along the pathways the surges can travel, the equipment downstream can be protected from the damage that would otherwise be happening, thus conserving repair budget and giving cell network providers a greater possibility of profitability. This profit leads them to continue to invest in their business and roll out new equipment, making all new technology possible for the users.

Surge Protection For Cell Sites

Cell sites and towers are groupings of equipment and antennas that send and receive cell signals from users and transmit those signals to a network, where a connection to other users is facilitated. The way they work is relatively simple to understand but involves many complicated pieces of equipment to execute the actual function. The cell phone in the user’s hand sends and receives signals to a cell tower or site nearby. The closer to the user the site is, the stronger the signal is. This is because the signals that are transmitted and received degrade over distances, meaning that the user must be within range of a tower or site in order to receive any signal at all, and must be close in order to receive the best signal. For these reasons, cell networks position a large number of cell sites within a specific proximity of one another, so a user can always reach a tower or installation in most areas. The issues start to happen when one of those towers goes offline, forcing users to contend with gaps in coverage that will cause dropped calls or slow speeds due to weak signals. While there is a certain amount of redundancy built into the positioning of the cell sites, there is still a significant compromise of service if a site or tower is taken offline. For this reason, network providers take all the precautions they can to avoid the incidents known to cause outages and the need for repairs. And one thing that the operators are combating is lightning strikes because cell towers and other sites are generally the tallest things in an area. This is necessary to provide the best signal to users, but also makes them a prime target for lightning.

The strikes at the top of the towers damage the equipment at the top of the installation, generally damaging the antennas, remote radio heads, and transmitters. This alone will result in damage that must be repaired to restore functionality, but the added complication of the lightning power surges comes into play. The power surges that come with a strike will travel along connectivity cables between the connected equipment and further damage the other equipment. Often the damage to this equipment is not visible, so all the equipment must be tested by field techs for viability. Because of this, the repairs and restoration to service will cost more and take longer. Cell network providers understand this and have committed to installing the most effective surge protection along the pathways from the top to the bottom that power surges generally take. These systems can minimize the damage and isolate it to the top of the site. By reducing damage, the budget can be conserved, and the cell site can be restored to functionality faster. In the cell game, every second counts.

Cell Site Surge Protection Explained

Cell sites are critical parts of the infrastructure and require protection from the electrical surges that are caused by lightning strikes. Of course, there are multiple reasons for these cellular installations to stay online and functional. One of the most apparent is that if cell sites are offline, the business suffers losses because it must expend resources in order to restore functionality. Downtimes also lead to customer dissatisfaction, which can lead to revenue reductions. Another reason is that the public needs these installations to function at peak performance because they rely on these networks for their daily communication and in cases of emergency. When a site or tower goes offline, there is little ability for its workload to be taken up by other towers. Cell networks consist of millions of dollars worth of equipment, all of which must be positioned within a specific range of the user to be functional. The telecom carriers design these critical placements to provide optimum geography coverage. If a tower goes offline, the result is slow connectivity or dropped calls, and, at worst, an inability to connect as needed.

Of great concern for telecom operators are towers going offline due to lightning strikes on or near the towers. Because cell towers and their base station equipment need to provide the best connectivity to users on the ground, they are almost always one of the tallest structures in a region, making them prime targets for lightning strikes. Lightning seeks the path of least resistance to the earth, often striking the tallest structures during an electrical storm. A strike at a cell tower’s top damages the equipment positioned at the tower top, including the receivers, antenna, and remote-radio heads. But, this equipment is also directly connected to additional equipment at the bottom of the tower, namely the equipment that delivers signals to the network. A lightning strike also damages the equipment in the base station of the tower through the resultant surge. Through the connecting cables, power surges will travel along those connections, damaging the sensitive equipment at the top and bottom of the tower. By positioning industrial surge protection in areas that will direct the surges away from the sensitive equipment, any additional damage can be reduced or eliminated, isolating damage to the point of impact. This dramatically reduces the costs associated with repairs and facilitates a more timely restoration of functionality. By integrating surge protection devices within wireless cell sites, operators are assured that there will be fewer downtimes and reduced repair costs when the inevitable lightning strikes happen. This makes networks more functional for customers and makes the companies operating them more profitable. Installation of surge protection devices within cell sites is a win-win for everyone involved.

Cell Site Surge Protection

Surge protection for cell sites is one of the most critical aspects of the network protection equipment that keeps our cell phones functioning. Even though these systems are not technically part of the technological process that connects our calls or allows us to access the internet from our phones, they are integral to keeping other equipment in the overall network functional. Surge protection systems are installed because there is a significant threat of damage from lightning surges to cell sites in the field. Each year cellular network providers invest more and more into improving the network to keep customers happy. Customers demand access to the fastest data transfer speeds so that their devices can perform the latest technological functions, from streaming movies to uploading videos in 5K. All of these things were possible a few years ago, but with the network speeds, it was nearly impossible to accomplish them from a handheld device. Now that 5G has been rolled out to many major metro areas, we find that handsets have become far more powerful. They are more effevtive because they can now access data being moved across the network at a speed that makes the entire process palatable, which is what customers have now come to expect. Without the networks having upgraded equipment within existing installations and rolling out new installations simultaneously, customers would have become frustrated and possibly moved to a different carrier that could provide the speeds they wanted. For cell providers to remain competitive, they are forced to invest in new network infrastructure equipment often positioned in remote sites and in harm’s way.

Lightning strikes can be a significant source of damage to cellular installations. Because of their unobstructed and tall positioning, cell towers are a favorite target for lightning strikes. A strike that hits the top of the tower or installation will impact the functionality of antennas, transmitters, and remote radio heads. While this damage is difficult to minimize, what can be avoided is the power surge damage that results from the lightning strike. After the strike, a significant power surge moves through the installation, traveling nearly instantaneously along any surface that allows conductivity. Because there are many power cables and wires connecting the equipment from the top to the bottom, the surge easily flows to all equipment along that conductivity path. It is easy to damage this sensitive electronic equipment as it can only function with a specific level of electricity flowing into it. The power surge is far outside this range, so the equipment at the bottom is also heavily damaged in the case of a surge, complicating the restoration process and making it more expensive. Cell network providers have found that installing surge protection devices along these pathways can eliminate the damage to the equipment at the bottom of the installations, thus conserving the budget that would be spent on repairs. Making restoration easier can happen faster, keeping the facilities functional for more extended time frames. In addition, customers are kept happy through good connectivity and fair service prices.

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