Base Station Systems
Where Back-to-Back Systems don't provide the coverage area required a simple solution is to use a base station, this can increase the range significantly. However is does require an operator because it is no more than a standard radio with an outdoor antenna. A taxi office is a common example of a base-station radio system
The base station usually consists of a radio with an antenna in a high location, above local obstructions. It might be on a the roof of a building, usually the office roof. The result is that it can receive or transmit signals over much greater distances than a radio located at ground level.
The base station itself is usually a desk-top radio. Mobile users can then talk to the base operator over a wide area. The operator can then relay messages to other mobile users who otherwise may be out of range. So to be effective a base radio must always be manned.
There are two potential problems with this system.
- Best range is only achieved when messages are relayed by the base radio operator (dispatcher).
- The base station antenna needs to be in a high location and connected to the base radio by no more than a few metres of cable. This means the ideal location in terms of range is not usually where the office is so this system is usually only used for on-site communications.
The solution to both these problems are Repeater based radio systems.
