ST. GEORGE, Utah-Wilson Electronics Inc. is targeting carriers with a bi-directional signal amplifier that is designed to expand network coverage areas, enabling operators to offer their customers a better signal without having to build out new cell sites.
Optimized for in-car use, the offering uses the company’s patent-pending technology to automatically adjust power based on cell site requirements, which prevents overloading of operator cell sites or interference with others on the system. The amplifier is wireless so customers do not need to drill holes in their vehicles to install the product. The amplifier supports a wide range of technologies, including AMPS, CDMA, TDMA, GSM, GPRS and EDGE. When used with an omni-directional antenna, the amplifier can gather a signal, amplify it and rebroadcast it inside a car.
Wilson hopes to market the amplifier to carriers looking to boost signal strength and improve customer relations.
“Carriers needed a cost-effective solution as an alternative to the high cost of adding additional cell sites,” said Bruce Clark, general sales manager for Wilson. “Since this new amplifier is wireless, there is no physical connection to the phone; no bothersome cords or cables. Our products are a tremendous benefit to cell phone users with minimal coverage in the areas where they travel.”
The company also said tests by WTS Laboratories show the amplifier passed the TIA/EIA-98-E transmit tests for CDMA. Testing also showed a receiver sensitivity of -110.47 dBm at 800 MHz and -111.04 dBm on 1900 MHz. In addition, the amplifier passed the minimum controlled output power test with the required reduction of output power to prevent the amplified signal from overloading a cell site, Wilson said.
