Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000: Bridging the Gap Between Boosters and Traditional DAS Systems
Quatra 4000 is a new tool for solving mobile/cellular reception challenges inside buildings. If you’ve dealt with phone reception issues inside your building, whether it’s a commercial office, warehouse, or any indoor space, Quatra might be the solution for you.
Specifically, the Australian market uses the Cel-Fi Quatra 4000e product variant, a multi-operator product (Telstra/Optus/Vodafone) in a single box, not to be confused with the legacy Single Operator Quatra product.
Historical Booster solutions are great for smaller spaces, particularly those with a floor space of around 1000 sqm. They do, however, come with some limitations, largely in that they rely on a good (and ever-available) outdoor signal to amplify. To understand more of the challenges associated with all kinds of booster solutions (which equally apply to Quatra) feel free to review our booster article
On the other hand, there’s the traditional Distributed Antenna System (DAS) approach, a comprehensive but more expensive network infrastructure for large-scale coverage. Traditional DAS is further costly due to the likely requirement to engage mobile operators for commercial connection to the system.
Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 offers a middle-ground solution as it can comfortably provide coverage into larger spaces ~12,000 sqm while still operating as a ‘booster’ from a rooftop signal. As a booster, it shares the same limitations as a typical booster, but it can cover almost 10 times the floor space. The deployment process to deliver cellular service via Quatra at a site is done via a streamlined operator approval process, less onerous than an equivalent DAS.
Wireless Coverage Solutions has experience in dealing with buildings of all shapes and sizes. If you are not sure what might be the right solution for your coverage challenge feel free to contact us
What is Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000?
The Cel-Fi QUATRA is an advanced booster (see our post on what a booster is here) system that utilises the combination of a Network Unit (NU) that feeds up to 12 Coverage Units (CU) via power-over-ethernet (POE) to distribute an outdoor signal within indoor spaces. The Coverage Units (CUs) can also be fed by fibre where it’s required for covering longer distances that exceed the POE distance limits, suitable for buildings where the cable paths are not particularly direct, albeit this requires some additional hardware to do so.
Supporting all operators (Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone) and both 4G and some 5G technologies (where available on the nearby towers), Quatra 4000 delivers a relatively simple and effective solution that can also be scaled progressively, due to its modular design, via the addition of extra CUs, which can provide for spaces in the region of ~12,000 sqm.
When should we use QUATRA 4000 instead of DAS?
A traditional DAS system can offer exceptional coverage (with capacity and performance beyond what a booster can deliver), but requires a significant investment in time and money. Installing a DAS often involves extensive planning, RF design and engineering. It’s typically best suited for commercial high-rises, airports and stadiums. For smaller businesses or facilities that don’t require as dedicated a solution, Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 provides that alternative. It’s simpler to design for, doesn’t require as much technical expertise, and can be deployed in a relatively shorter time frame.
At a glance, QUATRA sometimes appears expensive compared to DAS, but this often doesn’t fully account for the total cost of ownership. In the case of QUATRA, the system is complete as it provides both the distribution of the signal and the amplified/booster off-air signal source. In the case of DAS, which may on smaller assets appear cheaper to deploy than QUATRA 4000, you then need to engage the mobile operators (Optus, Telstra, Vodafone separately, which very quickly becomes far and away the more expensive solution, with each operator connection typically starting at $150k+
For environments that are too large for a typical booster deployment but not large enough to warrant a commitment to a traditional DAS, the Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 system fills that gap. We have encountered many such sites whose required coverage scope and/or budget don’t align with the previously available solutions, with QUATRA filling that gap!
Wireless Coverage Solutions has experience in dealing with buildings of all shapes and sizes. If you are not sure what might be the right solution for your coverage challenge, feel free to contact us
Limitations to Consider
As with any solution, there are a few limitations to keep in mind:
Outdoor Signal Required: Like all signal boosters, the Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 cannot amplify a signal where none exists. It needs at least a consistent, viable outdoor signal to amplify. Other solutions may be required if your building is in a complete dead zone. You also need to consider the longevity of the available rooftop signal; CBDs are typically not suited as the skyline often changes and blocks out sites (which are often congested to begin with). You will also need to accept that site outages happen from time to time and if coverage is mission-critical, a DAS may be more suited.
Professional Installation Required: While it’s not as complicated as a traditional DAS, deploying a Cel-Fi QUATRA system effectively still requires some expertise, especially in optimising donor & indoor antennas and system configuration. A professional installation will ensure the best performance, which is particularly important for larger, more complex spaces. Furthermore an element of operator engagement is required to get approval prior to deployment
Outdoor Network Capacity Impacts: The effectiveness of the Cel-Fi QUATRA system is also dependent on the capacity of the outdoor network. If the outdoor network is congested or operating at full capacity, the system can only amplify what’s available. Therefore, even with a strong outdoor signal, the quality of the indoor experience might be impacted during times of high network usage.
Wireless Coverage Solutions has experience in dealing with buildings of all shapes and sizes. If you are not sure what might be the right solution for your coverage challenge feel free to contact us
The Cel-Fi QUATRA 4000 system offers a well-balanced solution for businesses and organisations looking to improve indoor cellular coverage. It’s the ideal middle ground between the simplicity of existing booster-based solutions and the complexity of traditional DAS deployments.
CASE STUDY for Quatra 4000 – RSL Club in Sydney
RSL clubs are notoriously known for their continuous expansion over time; this density often leads to challenges in cellular/mobile connectivity, which impacts staff, guests, and visitors. With RSL clubs now having gyms, function spaces and entertainment, they have become a hub of their communities. However, they are often not good candidates for full-blown DAS systems due to their smaller size, lack of a 32sqm DAS room. Consequently, the Quatra 4000 solution offers a good value alternative.
The installation of a cellular improvement system, such as Quatra 4000, is pointless without validating the levels of coverage beforehand (to identify areas that need improvement). Post installation, thorough testing demonstrates that all antennas are radiating as expected, and the system is providing the expected levels of coverage into various rooms
Wireless Coverage Solutions has experience in dealing with buildings of all shapes and sizes. If you are not sure what might be the right solution for your coverage challenge feel free to contact us