AT&T to use multibeam antennas...

**zephxiii** · 07-25-2012, 01:38 PM

AT&T reveals new multi-beam antenna tech for live events, could offer data speeds five times faster (video)

AT&T's improving its coverage at live events by establishing a new (impressive sounding) setup -- the five-beam multi-beam antenna. It works by dividing its customers' signals into five narrow parts, illustrated above by the color bands, upping the bandwidth by splitting traffic to each segment, enabling up to five times the data traffic. Ma Bell even used similar technology to craft a "super" multi-beam antenna, which expands the same idea into two rows of nine, possibly offering up to 18 times the speed of a typical single-tower arrangement. AT&T adds that this setup also reduces dropped calls and failed uploads, and is apparently already being put to use at live concerts and games. Not quite wrapping your head around it? Check the video after the break.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/25/a...es-data-speed/

**Paisan3466** · 07-25-2012, 03:59 PM

So does this mean this can be used on regular towers or just COWS?

**NHCharmedOne** · 07-25-2012, 04:08 PM

AT$T needs all the help they can get lolsorry, rant moment! Im better now =)

**RCtennis3811** · 07-25-2012, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by NHCharmedOne

AT$T needs all the help they can get lolsorry, rant moment! Im better now =)

Well, it could be worse. At least they're not the network consistently ranked last in everything by RootMetrics.

http://asset0.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d...est_Sprint.png

**NHCharmedOne** · 07-25-2012, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by RCtennis3811

Well, it could be worse. At least they're not the network consistently ranked last in everything by RootMetrics.

http://asset0.cbsistatic.com/cnwk.1d...est_Sprint.png

Well this is true lol

**formercanuck** · 07-25-2012, 05:42 PM

Basically taking what was an omni (one 'beam') which then went to the typical tri-sector (120 degrees = 3 'beams') to slicing it even further. You'll be seeing your phone hand off to different SID as you walk across the isles

**Squid7085** · 07-25-2012, 11:56 PM

I sure hope they bring them to Lawrence for game days, AT&T is the official wireless partner of Kansas Athletics, but any time they have a "Text the Answer" the only people in the area that can actually answer are from all the other carriers. They brought a COW out last year which did nothing, if that doesn't tell you how completely overloaded the network is, I don't know what does.

I wonder what deployment this is to be used in, are we talking the average tower, a COW or a Antenna system built into a stadium.

**i0wnj00** · 07-26-2012, 12:48 AM

I think these multi beam antennas would be useful in downtown areas, malls, airports or other areas with dense crowds where people tend to congregate and use their phones. I also have to guess that range could be limited if AT&T is using focused beams to carry data and voice traffic.

So does it mean that a data/voice session for a user is split across five beams or do these beam patterns act like virtual cell IDs? It's not really clear to me how these multi beams act in terms of transmitting data/voice.

**GSMinCT** · 07-27-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Squid7085

I sure hope they bring them to Lawrence for game days, AT&T is the official wireless partner of Kansas Athletics, but any time they have a "Text the Answer" the only people in the area that can actually answer are from all the other carriers. They brought a COW out last year which did nothing, if that doesn't tell you how completely overloaded the network is, I don't know what does.

I wonder what deployment this is to be used in, are we talking the average tower, a COW or a Antenna system built into a stadium.

Probably all three of those, depending on the situation. I feel like they take a range hit with these things, but in the applications where it matters, range is already irrelevant, and may actually make the practical range better due to reduction of cell shrinkage.

Originally Posted by i0wnj00

I think these multi beam antennas would be useful in downtown areas, malls, airports or other areas with dense crowds where people tend to congregate and use their phones.

Most places are already well served with 3-sector systems, but certain areas like Times Square, Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, etc etc would be well served by there contraptions.

**dctmpeg** · 07-30-2012, 11:42 PM

I wonder how this technology would work if it were GSM as well. Would there be audible dropouts everytime you walk ten feet due to a handover? Lol.

Probably for the best GSM is on the way out.

Hopefully this will fix some of the major problems that seem to happen [sometimes] with AT&T at a large event. I have seen their data network grind to a standstill during a small College's Commencement with everybody cramming into a field house, perhaps on one sector and channel? They were running WCDMA 1900 and 850, but 1900 did not quite get inside the building...

I have also seen a small press conference take down their network. I am not even kidding....

**AutoUnion** · 08-01-2012, 05:22 PM

LTE seems to be helping a decent amount around here in Boston. I live near Fenway and even during game times, I get blazing speeds, while HSPA is choked.

**zephxiii** · 08-02-2012, 08:01 AM

I think the idea behind this is that it will be a much easier install requiring less work and cabling...which will be more friendly to the venue instead of routing cables and mounting antennas all over the place with a DAS system.

**GSMinCT** · 08-05-2012, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by AutoUnion

LTE seems to be helping a decent amount around here in Boston. I live near Fenway and even during game times, I get blazing speeds, while HSPA is choked.

The big question is, will it stay that way when the iPeople come?