What’s the Difference Between Active, Passive, & Hybrid DAS?

Passive DAS vs. Active DAS vs. Hybrid DAS

Many commercial buildings are plagued with poor cellular reception, affecting communication and productivity. There are various factors that hurt in-building cell reception. The main ones are building materials and cell tower distance. That’s where Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) come into play. They help overcome cellular signal challenges and significantly improve cellular coverage where it's needed.

Since there are many types of DAS, we made this guide to differentiate the three indoor DAS solutions. For any DAS questions you may have, contact us at 1-800-420-3211 to talk to one of our DAS experts.

What is a Distributed Antenna System?

A DAS, short for Distributed Antenna System, is a network of spatially separated cellular antennas used to blanket buildings with reliable cellular signals. The distributed cell signal is generated from a signal source. Depending on the type of DAS setup, the signal source can be over the air, an on-site base transceiver station (BTS), or a small cell. Overall performance will vary depending on the equipment used.

What are the Different Types of DAS?

• Passive DAS: Takes your outside cell signal, boosts it, and rebroadcasts it indoors, improving coverage. Cell signal is relayed through coaxial cable. This type of DAS is also known as a cell phone signal booster.
• Active DAS: Does not need existing signal to work. It generates a cellular signal through a direct connection to the signal source, which allows for stronger signal transmission and greater capacity.
• Hybrid DAS: Combines Passive and Active DAS. It offers the scalability of Active DAS at a comparable price to Passive DAS.

If interested, below is a more in-depth description of each with recommendations.

Passive DAS (a.k.a Cell Phone Signal Booster)

A Passive DAS takes your outside cell signal and delivers it even stronger throughout your building using passive components (coaxial cables, splitters, taps/couplers, etc.).

It uses a donor antenna, usually installed on the roof, to draw in off-air cellular signals from nearby towers. Depending on the system, it could be from one or multiple carriers. Via coaxial cable, the signal is relayed into the building, bypassing those signal-blocking materials. An amplifier takes those signals and boosts them if weak to ensure strong, reliable connectivity indoors. This is a key feature for buildings operating on the edge of the network. The amplified signal is spread across all indoor antennas and broadcasted into the desired areas.

Out of all the DAS options, Passive DAS is the most affordable and the simplest to deploy.

It's performance heavily depends on:

• Outside Signal Strength: If the starting signal strength is on the weaker end, the cell booster will yield reduced coverage. On the other hand, greater coverage is expected when the starting cell signal is on the stronger end.
• Cell Tower Capacity: Since the signal source is off-air signals from cell towers, performance is at the mercy of the cell tower. During times of congestion, users may notice a slight change in cellular reception.

There is a wide variety of Passive DAS solutions for commercial applications available, each varying in how much coverage they can provide. Some are rated to cover up to 8,000 sq ft, while others can cover up to 100,000 sq ft. For wider coverage, multiple systems can be integrated to get the coverage you need.

To maximize results, careful planning is essential, especially since signal loss occurs with passive components. Thu, we provide professional commercial installations.

Pros:	Cons:
Most affordable. Fast deployment. Fits most buildings. Installation is less complicated. Can support multiple cellular providers. Does not require extra equipment to work with multiple carriers. Does not need carrier approvals.	Coverage depends on existing outside signal strength. Capacity is determined by cell tower. Signal loss naturally occurs with passive components, so long cable runs are not ideal.

Here are our top Passive DAS solutions:

Get in Touch with a Passive DAS Expert for a Free Consultation

Active DAS

In contrast to Passive DAS, Active DAS uses active components to distribute cell signals inside buildings. Depending on building needs, Active DAS setups vary.

Active DAS receives cellular signals from a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) or small cell.

• BTS: Connects directly to the cellular network, which allows for stronger signal transmission and greater capacity. Carrier approval is needed per each carrier's signal you’d like to enhance in your building. It’s typically used in places that accommodate thousands of people, like airports, stadiums, hospitals, universities, and the like.
• Small Cell: Requires a broadband internet backhaul to create a cellular signal. Carrier approval is not needed to obtain these units. They are carrier-specific and have limited capacity.

The signal is sent to a Master Unit, which converts the analog signals into digital signals. Rather than using coax cable, Active DAS uses fiber optic or ethernet cables to transmit the digital signals to Remote Units (RUs). Using digital cable allows for longer cable runs, increasing the scalability.

Depending on the system, RUs are also sometimes called nodes or active antennas. The RUs convert the digital signals back to analog for broadcasting via connected antennas.

Active DAS offers the widest coverage and strongest reception.

Due to the equipment needed, Active DAS is more expensive than Passive and Hybrid DAS. Deployment is much more complicated and can take months to a year.

Pros:	Cons:
Offers best results. Can add capacity. No limit to length of cable runs with no signal loss. Ideal for very large buildings.	More expensive. Carrier approval may be needed. More equipment is needed for a multi-carrier solution. Complex installation. Lengthy deployment.

Zinwave offers the best solution available for Active DAS. They’ve manufactured a five-component, ultra-wideband, fiber-based system that can be paired with BTSs or small cells. For more information, visit our blog introducing Zinwave DAS solutions.

Get in Touch with an Active DAS Expert for a Free Consultation

Hybrid DAS

A Hybrid DAS uses active and passive components to cover a building with reliable cellular signals from one or multiple cellular carriers.

The signal source for a Hybrid DAS is typically analog off-air cell signals captured by a donor antenna. Small cells and BTSs can also be used.

Received analog cell signal is boosted by an amplifier and converted to digital signals by the Master unit. RUs convert the signal back to analog for broadcasting via connected indoor antennas.

A mixture of coaxial and digital cables is used with this setup. This helps transmit a much stronger signal, even if received off-air, across longer distances than a Passive DAS, allowing for greater coverage.

So, if your starting signal is on the weaker side, a Hybrid DAS can help provide you with the best results possible without spending so much money.

Pros:	Cons:
Cheaper than Active DAS. Offers better results than Passive DAS. Allows for long cable runs. Carrier approvals are not needed in most cases. Can add capacity in some cases.	Pricier than Passive DAS. Performance usually depends on existing outside signal strength. Installation is more complicated than Passive DAS.

Get in Touch with a Hybrid DAS Expert for a Free Consultation

What's the Difference Between Passive, Active, and Hybrid DAS?

The main difference between the three are:

	Passive DAS	Hybrid DAS	Active DAS
Best For	Buildings up to 100,000 Sq Ft, or 500,000 Sq Ft with Multiple Units	Buildings Between 100,000 Sq Ft and 500,000 Sq Ft	Buildings Over 500,000 Sq Ft
Components	All Passive	Passive and Active	All Active
Cost	Most Affordable	Mid-Range	Most Expensive
Installation Ease	Easiest	Slightly More Complicated	Most Complex
Deployment Time	Few Days to a Week	Few Weeks to a Few Months without BTS. Will take longer with BTS.	6 Months to a Year
Cable Runs	Not Ideal for Long Cable Runs	Allows Long Cable Runs	Allows Long Cable Runs
Cable Type Used	Coax Cable	Digital Cable (Fiber or Ethernet)	Combination of Coax and Digital Cable
Carrier Permission	Not Required	Not Required Unless Wanting BTS	May be Required
Performance	Good	Better	Best

Ready to Talk DAS? Contact the Experts at Signal Boosters Today!

Signal Boosters can help supercharge your building with reliable cellular reception anywhere you need it with any Distributed Antenna System. Unsure of whether Passive DAS, Active DAS, or Hybrid DAS is best for your business? Call us 1-800-887-1961 or email us pro@wilsonamplifiers.com today for a free consultation with a signal expert. We can recommend a solution that will best fit your situation and budget.

Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Cellular Info Hub / WiFi Info Hub