CommScope: How To Minimize Outages Due To Storms

With the crazy weather taking place all around the US in this past week, from blizzards to tornadoes, this seemed like a good article to post. The article explores ways in which we can minimize damage to wireless infrastructures, crucial to communication. Continue reading to learn helpful tips to ensuring your communication lines are not destroyed.

Post originally appeared on the CommScope Blog. 

Severe storms and natural disasters are a constant threat around the world. High winds, excessive rain, tidal surges and other dramatic weather events cause property damage and take lives. As such, it is important to minimize the disruptions these disasters have on our vital wireless communication networks. Emergency personnel, aid workers and effected residents desperately need to be able to reach each other during such times.

 Of course, no cell site is immune to failure in the event of natural disasters. Nothing will keep a site active if a tornado knocks down a whole cell tower. But some sites are more resilient than others for withstanding severe weather occurrences such as high winds, driven rain and snow, and extreme cold. Mounting equipmentand supports play an important role in holding antennas and other RF path equipment in proper alignment. Even small movements due to winds and other climate factors can deteriorate network performance in significant ways, if not entirely break a communications link. Good structural supports with proper mount and equipment installation help preserve alignments. 

 Similarly, keeping water out of antennas and the entire RF path is also critical to keeping wireless communication networks viable. There are many different architectures and equipment involved in the RF path, depending on the site. One common danger area for water ingress is connection points between cables and other equipment. Cable connectors need to be designed and installed to make secure, waterproof attachments. Adding butyl tape or shrink wrap provides another layer of protection against the elements and also helps to secure the connections. Proper equipment and installationare critical to making connection points more resilient.

 Another important consideration for keeping communication networks active is power. Major storms often take down the electric grid servicing cell sites, meaning back-up power determines whether a site stays active or goes down. CommScope promotes use of hydrogen fuel cells for back-up power instead of batteries or diesel generators. Fuel cells usually can provide power for more hours than the batteries typically deployed at cell sites. Unlike diesel generators, hydrogen fuel cells are housed in cabinets that help withstand severe weather incidents. No power solution will work if a site is underwater from a flood, but high winds with rain or snow will impact them differently.

 All active electronic equipment at the cell site must be protected from the elements, too. Environmentally secure cabinets help shield wireless radios and other sensitive equipment from severe weather conditions. Protecting the baseband equipment is a vital element to the viability of a cell site in the midst of severe weather. 

 Sturdy equipment, proper installation and mounting, weatherproofing, back-up power and radio protection are the primary things to focus on when it comes to network resilience.

Have you experienced severe weather events impacting cell sites or network performance?

Which of these areas do you find to be the most important for adding network resilience?