Cellular communications tower connection device
First Claim
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1. A method for selectably connecting an external device at a cell site, comprising the steps of:
- connecting each of a plurality of first terminals a switching device disposed at a cell site to a cell site antenna;
connecting each of a plurality of second terminals of the switching device to cell site electronics;
connecting of a plurality of third terminals of the switching device to an external cell site maintenance device; and
setting each of a plurality of antenna switches to a selected one of at least two antenna states, in a first antenna state a first terminal connected to a second terminal, and in a second antenna state a first terminal connected to a third terminal.
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Abstract
An electronic switching device connected between a base station antenna tower and the base station electronics allows an operator to selectably connect external equipment, such as a Cell-On-Wheels (COW).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for selectably connecting an external device at a cell site, comprising the steps of:
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connecting each of a plurality of first terminals a switching device disposed at a cell site to a cell site antenna;
connecting each of a plurality of second terminals of the switching device to cell site electronics;
connecting of a plurality of third terminals of the switching device to an external cell site maintenance device; and
setting each of a plurality of antenna switches to a selected one of at least two antenna states, in a first antenna state a first terminal connected to a second terminal, and in a second antenna state a first terminal connected to a third terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for retrofitting a cell site base station with a switching device, comprising the steps of:
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disposing the switching device at a cell site, the switching device comprising an enclosure, a plurality of first terminals on the enclosure, a corresponding plurality of second terminals on the enclosure, a corresponding plurality of third terminals on the enclosure, a corresponding plurality of electronically-controlled antenna switches within the enclosure, and an operator control panel, each antenna switch having at least two operator-selectable antenna states selectable via the control panel, in a first one of the antenna states a first terminal connected to a second terminal, and in a second one of the antenna states a first terminal connected to a third terminal;
connecting each first terminal to a cell site antenna; and
connecting each second terminal to cell site electronics.
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10. A switching apparatus for a cell site base station, comprising:
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an enclosure;
a plurality of first terminals on the enclosure;
a plurality of second terminals on the enclosure, each second terminal corresponding to a first terminal;
a plurality of third terminals on the enclosure, each third terminal corresponding to a first terminal and a second terminal;
a plurality of electronically-controlled antenna switches within the enclosure, each antenna switch corresponding to a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal; and
an operator control panel, each antenna switch having at least two operator-selectable antenna states selectable via the control panel, in a first one of the antenna states a first terminal connected to a second terminal, and in a second one of the antenna states a first terminal connected to a third terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification