A Public Safety Communications system is a wireless communications system used by first responder and emergency services personnel such as police, fire, emergency medical, homeland security, and disaster response agencies to prevent or respond to incidents or situations that pose a threat to people or property.

Bands of frequencies, especially in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum, were allocated for communication between fixed base stations and land mobile vehicle-mounted or portable transceivers. Police radio and other public safety services such as fire departments and ambulances have traditionally been found in the VHF and UHF parts of the spectrum. (45MHz, 150MHz, 220MHz, 400MHz, 500MHz). These analog radio systems were primarily designed for voice communications.

Today, new Public Safety frequencies and systems use digital technology and include other bands such as the 700 MHz and 800 MHz.(138-960MHz power splitter,directional coupler,tapper,hybrid coupler etc)

First responders need a reliable, resilient, optimized wireless broadband network to carry out their mission. Not only must they communicate instantly without interruption, but agencies must collect and filter through all the information streaming in from the community. Interoperability among agencies and secure transmissions are critical to an effective coordinated response. An optimized Public Safety network is needed to assure priority communications the moment they’re needed. An optimized network also provides end-to-end encryption, safeguarding sensitive information transmitted over the air wirelessly.

Much like a Cellular DAS System, an In-Building Public Safety Communication System comprises sources (means of sending and receiving to the area’s various PS radio bands), bi-directional repeaters, and a series of antennas distributed strategically throughout a building to pass the transmit and receive from the radio system to individual radios.

In-Building Public Safety Communication Systems are needed for the same reason that In-Building Cellular DAS are being installed. Radio signals have limited propagation through various materials. Factors include how deep inside a building the receiver may be, wall composition, whether a building has energy saving “low-e glass” or other energy saving cladding, the specific frequencies in use (low frequencies penetrate better).

Today’s first responders not only rely on dependable voice communication, but increasingly also on data, telemetry, and location information. In an emergency situation where a matter of seconds can mean the difference between life or death, every tool at the first responder’s disposal must be absolutely reliable.

An In-Building Public Safety Communication System ensures that radio signals are able to penetrate into all areas of buildings, including areas that are especially difficult for RF to penetrate such as stairwells, elevators, basements, and thick-walled or shielded areas.