Cellular vs. ERRCS/Public Safety DAS: Understanding the Difference

Cellular vs. ERRCS and Public Safety DAS: Understanding the Difference

Someone tells you they’re deploying a DAS - but is it a public safety ERRCS system or for commercial 5G DAS?

Increasingly the term “DAS” is being used to interchangeably refer to both types of technology, but they’re actually quite different, and rarely combined into the same system. In fact, many buildings have both types of system installed.

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What is a Cellular DAS?

Cellular DAS is designed to improve 4G and 5G voice/data services for commercial and consumer use. It operates across a wide range of licensed frequency bands from 600 MHz up to 4 GHz, meeting the everyday communication needs of building occupants. Cellular DAS is driven by the demand for reliable mobile connectivity, whether for workplace productivity, entertainment or emergency/safety situations (like needing a cell signal in an underground garage). Cellular DAS is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and must comply with FCC regulations.

We have a full guide to cellular DAS available here. We also have a guide to how much a cellular DAS deployment typically costs.

What is an ERRCS/Public Safety DAS?

In contrast, ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Coverage Systems) and Public Safety DAS are purposed solely for the two-way radio communications used by first responders like police, fire and EMS. These systems leverage their own dedicated tower infrastructure operating at UHF 700/800 MHz (and very occasionally VHF 150 or 450 MHz) frequencies. The goal is ensuring emergency personnel have robust, uninterrupted access to their specialized radio channels.

A key difference is that ERRCS/public safety DAS is often a strict requirement to obtain a certificate of occupancy for new building construction. Local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) mandate that ERRCS be installed if grid testing identifies insufficient in-building coverage for first responder radios. We have a detailed guide to NFPA & IFC building codes here. Cellular DAS, on the other hand, is driven by the building owner's choice to enhance general mobile connectivity.

ERRCS also has more stringent design and deployment guidelines. AHJs dictate the exact antenna directions, cable types, battery backup, and monitoring capabilities. Post-installation, the entire system must be thoroughly tested to verify it resolves coverage gaps without impacting the emergency responder radio network. Cellular DAS has more flexibility in its design, while both types of systems must comply with FCC regulations. We have a more detailed guide to turnkey public safety DAS installations available here.

How are they different?

Public Safety/ERRCS DAS is for improving emergency and first responder frequencies, while cellular DAS boosts commercial cellular wireless.

	Public Safety/ERRCS DAS	Cellular DAS
Purpose	Enhances communication for emergency responders and public safety agencies	Boosts cellular signals for general public and commercial use
Frequency Bands	Operates on public safety frequencies (VHF, UHF, 700/800 MHz)	Operates on licensed commercial bands (e.g., 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz)
Coverage Requirements	Mandated in many buildings by fire codes and local regulations	Often optional, based on occupant or tenant demand for cellular coverage
System Ownership	Typically owned and maintained by building owners to meet safety regulations	Often installed and maintained by building owners or cellular carriers
Signal Source	Direct connection to public safety networks or off-air via dedicated antennas	Connected to cellular networks via small cells or off-air with carrier approval
Power Backup	Required by code to ensure operability during emergencies (usually battery backup or generator)	Backup may not be required, varies by installation and owner preference
Regulatory Approval	Requires approval from local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)	May require carrier approval, but less regulatory oversight
System Components	Typically includes Class A/B amplifiers, BDA (Bi-Directional Amplifier), and coaxial cable for public safety	Uses headends, remotes, repeaters, antennas, and splitters tailored to cellular frequencies
Monitoring	Continuous monitoring required; alerts must be sent if system failure occurs	Monitoring is recommended but not always mandatory
Interference Concerns	Strict control to avoid interference with emergency channels; often uses filtering and isolation	Less strict, but still regulated by FCC to avoid interference with other networks

How does FirstNet fit in?

FirstNet is a nationwide initiative that utilizes 4G and 5G cellular technology to provide public safety connectivity using Band 14 spectrum. However, most jurisdictions are still relying on traditional two-way radio solutions as their primary means of communication, and FirstNet is rarely a requirement to get a Certificate of Occupancy.

Reach out to us today for more information

Public Safety (ERRCS) DAS provides essential coverage for first responders, while Cellular DAS boosts signal for regular cellular wireless users.

At Waveform/RSRF, we have over 17 years experience with both systems. If you're looking to install either in your building, contact us today for support!

Written and reviewed by:

Sina Khanifar

As CEO and cofounder of Waveform, Sina has been helping people boost their signal since 2006. He has personally tested and installed hundreds of signal boosters.

He welcomes feedback via Twitter, LinkedIn, or by email to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

We know, there’s a lot to take in! Here are answers to some of the questions we see most often.

No - all three of these terms refer to the same thing and are often used interchangably. However, a “BDA” typically refers to a smaller system with a single amplifier, while a Public Safety DAS typically refers to a larger system deployed in buildings over 200,000 square feet or across multiple buildings in a campus.

Unfortunately not. In most jurisdictions, the systems are required to be separate due to the distinct nature of their purposes and operational requirements.

Yes, absolutely. Our teams at Waveform and RSRF are fully certified to deploy both types of system.

Why Choose Waveform/RSRF for Your Public Safety DAS Signal Solution

We're the preferred vendor for multiple ERRCS installations and have helped improve signal for hundreds of public safety deployments. Our team is ready and able to walk you through the process of finding and deploying the right solution.

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Proven Experience

We've Helped Over 5,000 SMBs and Enterprises Improve Their Signal

At Waveform, cell signal enhancement is all we do. Since our start over 15 years ago we've helped thousands of clients across the country fix their signal problems.

150,000 sq ft residential building
Multi-Carrier Off-Air Distributed Antenna System deployment.

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Multi-Carrier QUATRA Distributed Antenna System deployment.

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Dual-Carrier Hybrid Distributed Antenna System

The Waveform team is clearly passionate about the work they do, and they're incredibly knowledgeable about cellular connectivity for the IoT devices in our EV chargers. It's always easy working with them because they go the extra mile to make it easy for us. Their solutions work as expected, and we've yet to experience any downtime.

Jeffery Moore

Infrastructure Solutions Engineer, Shell Recharge Solutions

Working with Waveform on cell coverage solutions for Rancho Mirage's City Hall was a refreshingly positive experience! Waveform's team worked closely with us to understand our needs. They went above and beyond by designing an excellent system, communicating well, and supplying all the materials promptly. If only more of my projects went as well as this!

Jason Jaurigue

Director Of Information Services, State of California

SemaConnect has partnered with Waveform to provide customers with world class support and expertise to deliver reliable cellular signal solutions for SemaConnect Charging Stations. Over the last year they have been faultlessly reliable and always professional. They know this stuff better than anyone we've worked with, and their solutions show it!

Peter Fisher

Senior Project Manager, SemaConnect/Blink Charging

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Our Process

Boosting Signal With Waveform

After deploying hundreds of booster and DAS systems for customers around the country, we’ve developed two deployment methodologies that we think best serve our customers.

For smaller deployments

Guided Self-Install

We'll walk you through installs in smaller buildings under 100,000 sq ft in size.

Remote Signal Survey
We'll walk you through taking basic signal measurements.
Full System Design Including RF Propagation Analysis
We'll analyze your building, design a full booster system, perform RF propagation analysis, and generate predicted coverage maps.
Guided System Install & Commissioning
We'll ship you equipment and walk you through getting all the equipment installed and deployed.
Ongoing Support
We'll provide ongoing technical support in case you any experience any issues down the line.

We'll handle everything

Turnkey Install

For buildings between 100,000 and 1M+ square feet

Fast Initial Quote
We'll quickly give you an idea of typical costs for your building based on size & building materials.
On-Site Pre-Install Site Survey
Our technicians will visit your site to take signal readings and make detailed deployment notes.
Complete Turnkey Install & Post-Install Testing
Our deployment team will visit the site to complete all installation, commissioning, testing, and cleanup.
Maintenance and NOC Monitoring Plans
We'll monitor and maintain your booster system to ensure uptime and performance.

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Delivering Connectivity

Our team of 50+ signal experts is distributed across the country and ready and eager to help you achieve full bars, say goodbye to frustrating dropped calls, and say hello to blazing fast data rates. Here's a few of the faces you might encounter on your journey to better signal.