Portable cell sites

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Portable cell sites

kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#71633 14-Nov-2010 09:05

Hi guys

Does anyone know if it is possible to hire for large events a cell site on wheels. I thought I had seen one years ago, basically a tandem axle trailer with generator and mast etc which provided perfect cell reception in the middle of no where.

The area at the moment has very limited cell coverage, ie 1 bar if your using the right phone at the right angle, or an in car booster.

Thanks in advance

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536 posts

Ultimate Geek

#404399 14-Nov-2010 09:22

While we're on the subject, would be great if Telecom or Vodafone could put one of these nearby my holiday house in Central Otago :). Place is really busy around Christmas and New Year.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#404402 14-Nov-2010 09:28

What do you consider a large event?

I hope its not some mates getting together on new years for a few beers

COWs are generally used for increasing capacity at large public events

John

kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#404441 14-Nov-2010 11:35

Basically we run a trail ride which has for the last few years has had 1000 riders, plus support people but its more the fact that we rely on Search and Rescue radios to comunicate with the seven paramedics and 10 or so road crossing marshalls spread out over 140km of track which leaves a lot of ground in between and that usually is where people hurt themselves and if base had better reception we could then recieve emergency calls from anyone. This is one of those events where you don't ring 111 as confuses too many people and we have paramedics and air ambulances on site.

As it happens the hilltops usually have great reception its just where our base/ car park area is that the issue is.

So I was just looking into what options are out there.

We maybe too small for a portable cell site but is there something else.

Cheers

kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#404443 14-Nov-2010 11:40

Also for running eftpos...this year we had to do without as we couldn't get an aerial.

quickymart

13966 posts

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#404503 14-Nov-2010 15:38

Out of curiosity, where is this event located? How much coverage does it show on the VF coverage map?

kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#404508 14-Nov-2010 16:16

On the coverage map the actual base area shows no coverage, but its the only bit, its surrounded by coverage. It not practical to shift the base either.

NZFINEST

202 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#404525 14-Nov-2010 17:28

you said that you needed it for eftpos as well, so i take it there is no fixed lines either where you would want this cow { cellsite on wheel } . to put a temp cell site in you need to be able to hook it up to a copper of fibre network so it can be hauled back to the approproite provider. VF & Telecom put these things in all the time but only for large events that they have planned for in advance

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kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#404528 14-Nov-2010 17:41

Thanks for the info NZFINEST, there will be fixed lines running past I presume to a couple of houses up the road but I imagine telling them we're gonna disconnect them for a day wouldn't be overly neighbourly. Its basically a paddock we use so no there is no fixed amenities of any sort. So least I know this idea is a no go.

Thanks for the info tho.

quickymart

13966 posts

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#404534 14-Nov-2010 17:49

What about receiving the (albeit weak) signal and retransmitting it locally? Is that an option with these things?

BarTender

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Lifetime subscriber

#404592 14-Nov-2010 20:04

Perhaps going for a Tellular and also a yagi then you may be going. But that would only sort out one phone. But you could then use a long reach cordless phone.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#404593 14-Nov-2010 20:11

You will need many COWs to cover a large area and what about transmission into the area for the COW?

kewefella

36 posts

Geek

#404615 14-Nov-2010 21:00

The area that needs to be covered isn't that large, maybe 200m x 300m at the most.

I had hoped that a COW being powered and with an antenna on it would be like a retransmitter and boost what ever signal was available, not needing a fixed line for back-haul.

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#404616 14-Nov-2010 21:02

If the issue is about saftey then isn't about being able to reliably connect only a couple of lines at the site(?), rather than giving everyone the ability???

If you can't move the base site is that because of the existing services that are there? ( Power? Copper Phone?)

Or if you get a good signal from atop an adjacent hill then theres ways to poke it wirelessly to your base if it's not too far away??

Then there is always satellite based solutions that can be rented, If the valley/hole you base in isn't too deep.

Can't see you getting a COW unless you can get the head of one of the Telcos to be a competitor....

johnr

19282 posts

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Inactive user

#404627 14-Nov-2010 21:39

A Cow requires transmission and if it was not a cow then the serving cell would require more transmission

jjnz1

1363 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#405042 15-Nov-2010 19:36

johnr: A Cow requires transmission and if it was not a cow then the serving cell would require more transmission

By transmission you mean a hard wired feed from an exchange to a transmitter (COW or otherwise)?

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