Datasheet SymmRepeater

Innovative designEnd-to-end performanceguarantee

Superb signal quality4G LTE speeds

Exceptional coverageAmazing 400m reach

Automatically echo free!

Dual band operation withup to 26 MHz* bandwidth

Technology independent

Easy InstallationNear Plug & Play

SymmRepeaterRepeater: the Next Generation

New Design, New Thinking

Paired Symmetric ArchitectureZyxel’s SymmRepeater is an innovative new product that solveslong-time issues with traditional repeaters. It does this through asmart new design that offers greatly enhanced capabilities. Whiletraditional repeaters are all single-device solutions that often relyon passive DAS and antenna connections, Zyxel’s SymmRepeaterfeatures a dual-device symmetrical design. This architecturededicates one device (donor unit) to BTS communications and theother (service unit) to indoor coverage, with the deviceconnected through coaxial cabling. In this way, it brings therepeater to the antenna and sets new standards in signal quality,signal reach, echo avoidance, and data transfer speed.

True End-to-End Signal QualityThe aim in repeater design is to boost signal strength without losingsignal quality while transferring signal between the donor andservice ends. To evaluate a repeater system, one must measuresignal quality system-wide (between the donor and serviceantennas), not just within device (between the repeater device’sinput and output ports ). This is true end-to-end.

Traditional repeaters often use powerful signal boosting andcomplex echo reduction techniques to claim impressive “end-to-end” signal quality. But when they say “end-to-end,” theyconsider only what happens within device and do not address thesignal loss from all the wires, antennas, etc. that form the rest of the

Service Unit

* Configurations beyond 26MHz are available, but with less ideal performance. For details, please see the Technical Datasheet.

Donor Unit

Datasheet SymmRepeater

repeater system—the “uncontrollable factors.”If we consider the entire repeater system, trueend-to-end, total signal quality is always worsethan as suggested by their datasheets. Oftentimes, a lot worse.

Zyxel’s SymmRepeater upturns traditionalthinking. By bringing a device to both ends ofthe system, the repeater becomes the system.It boosts downlink signals before cable loss, so

even a weak -75 dBm signal received at theDonor Unit can be output at the Service Unit at23 dBm and 64 QAM! Uplink signals get boostedthe same way, so even a weak -85 dBm signalreceived at the Service Unit can be output atthe Donor Unit at 23 dBm and 16 QAM.

Through this technique, it offers true end-to-endsignal fidelity—and system-wide 4G speeds.

Repeater DeviceService AntennaDonor Antenna

CableCable

Traditional Repeater System

25m 25m

CellPhone

Zyxel Repeater System

Service UnitDonor Unit Repeater Device

SymmRepeater

Traditional Repeater

Amazing ReachTraditional repeaters use long cables totransmit signal between its donor and servicezones. However, going beyond 50m of cabletravel usually makes the system unusable. Thisputs many areas, like deep basements, deepbuildings, and apartment complex centralcouryards, out of reach, severely limitingapplications.

Zyxel’s SymmRepeater solves this completely.It boosts signal at the antenna point,compensates all cable loss (up to 35dB)automatically, and transfers signal up to 400meters away at 4G speeds! This is because itguarantees system gain from donor to serviceantenna thus controling the “uncontrollablefactor.” This opens up deep buildings, centralcourtyards, deep basement levels, and evenindustry tunnels. Such reach and flexibilityopen endless possibilities.

Twice the RangeSymmRepeater also features exceptionaltolerance for weak signals and noise. Byboosting signal before cable loss, it gains a(conservatively estimated)10 dB advantage insignal quality over traditional repeaters. Thisallows It to outperform traditional repeaters atup to twice as far from the signal source.That’s twice as far from the BTS, and twice asfar from the user’s phone! Since twice therange means four times the area, it’s easy toimagine what this means.

Automatically Echo FreeFor repeaters, echoing is another majorchallenge. Traditional repeaters cannot spacetheir donor/service antennas too closely noroutput signals too strongly, because if theirantennas receive each others’ signals therewould be echoing. Yet with a 50m cable lengthlimit, antennas cannot be too far apart. Sobefore installation, manual calibration is done foreach service antenna to maximize signal strengthand coverage—and redone with every changein antenna or room arrangement! Of course,there is echo cancellation technology, but thoseonly work to a certain degree. Power outputmust still be closely monitored, and manualcalibration is still necessary.

SymmRepeater totally solves the echoingproblem. First, with 200+ meters between donorand service antennas , there’s simply no echoing!Second, for close positioning, Zyxel’s patentedEcho-Avoidance Technology detects echoesand reduces power output automatically! Madepossible only through symmetric processing, thismeans that maximum power output is alwaysused while signals are always echo free!

Dual Band and Technology IndependentSymmRepeater supports two simultaneous bandsusing two channels of up to 26 MHz-wide each.Being analog based, it’s also technologyindependent, supporting everything from 2G to3G, 4G to NB-IoT, at LTE uplink/ downlink speeds.It even supports frequency “re-farming” and

BaseTransceiver

Station

Cable400m

Datasheet SymmRepeater

IP65 Housing• Available for Donor or Service Unit• Dimensions: 254 x 254 x 82mm (LWH)• 1 x F-type connector (75 ohm coaxial cable)• 1 x RJ-45 interface with PoE• 2 x Type N connector (50 ohm, with external antenna

available as option)• Mount-kit available (wall mount or pole mount)• Operating temperature: -40ºC~55ºC• Antenna isolation between RF modules: 20dB (for

embedded antenna)

Indoor Housing• Available for Donor or Service Unit• Dimensions: 212.2 x 185.2 x 47mm (LWH)• 1 x F-type connector (75 ohm coaxial cable)• 1 x RJ-45 interface with PoE• 2 x Type N connector (50 ohm)• Mount-kit for wall mount• Operating temperature: 0ºC~40ºC

End-to-End Repeater System RF Specifications• Operates on 1 or 2 bands from:

• B1/2/3/4/5/7/8• B12/13/20/25/27

• Channel bandwidths are selectable up to 26 MHz• Maximum end-to-end gain: 118dB• Input power auto-leveling algorithm• Input power range: -30dBm to -85dBm• ALC protection range: -10dBm to -30dBm• Shutdown protection range: 0 to -10dBm, with auto

recovery at 60 second intervals• System damage at 0dBm• Output power range: 10dBm to 23dBm (not including

antenna gain)• Maximum power consumption: 55W (2 devices)• Cable beteen Service and Donor units

• Maximum 35dB signal loss at 1.4 GHz• F-type connector• Length of reach by cable type: RG59: 200m; RG6: 250m; RG11: 400m

Specifications

IP65 Housing Indoor Housing

allows multiple technologies (2G/3G/4G) torun concurrently in the same range offrequencies.

Easy InstallationTraditional repeater deployment are highlylabour and time consuming, requiring powergain optimization and signal isolationmeasurements using signal generators andspectrum analyzers before installation. Thismust be repeated for every coverageantenna and redone with every change inroom or antenna positioning!

SymmRepeaters, on the other hand, are easy!Simply mount the devices, connect power toone device, and set the maximum poweroutput for coverage. It will then display theisolation figure, give itself the optimal gain,

and readjust regularly to match changes.Done!

Extendable CapabilitiesZyxel knows how installed sites can ask for more.So it gave SymmRepeater the potential for moreservice antennas, greater coverage areas, oreven further reach.

For sites with smaller, walled-off partitions, it canconnect to passive DAS. For greater coverageareas or even further reach, it supports SlimDAS,the next product in Zyxel’s IBS Series. Byconnecting its Service Unit to SlimDAS inputs, thecombined system gains up to four Remote Units(which are essentially Indoor Service Units) andup to 100 meters of additional reach. For moreinformation, please refer to the SlimDASDatasheet.

SymmRepeater End-to-End Performance

Service UnitDonor Unit

Type N connector Type N connector

All “end-to-end” figures are measured from the Donor Unit’sType N connector to the Service Unit’s Type N connector.

400m RG-11 coaxial cable

Downlink Performance23 dBm Output, Band 1 @2140 MHz

2

5

8

11

14

17

2

3

4

5

6

7

-85-80-75-70-65-60

Noise

Fig

ure (

dB)

EVM

(%)

Pin (dBm)

20MHz Bandwidth

Noise Figure EVM

ACLR-47dBFlatness2.5dB

ACLR-45dBFlatness2.8dB

Uplink Performance23 dBm Output, Band 1 @1950 MHz

Applications and Configurations

Scenario I - Antenna Only

Input: -75dBm@64QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

F-typeConnector

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#1

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#2

Donor Unit

Service Unit

Band #1

Bands selectablefrom

1/3/5/7/8/20 2/12/13/17/25

RG6/11 Cable (75 Ohm)Up to 400m

RF Cable RF Cable

RJ-45

OmniAntenna

#2

Type N Connector

Input: -85dBm@16QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

Band #2

OmniAntenna

#1

PoE Adaptor(AC 60W)

CAT-5 Cable

100~240V AC

Scenario II - Passive DAS

Input: -75dBm@64QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

F-typeConnector

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#1

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#2

Donor Unit

Band #1

Bands selectablefrom

1/3/5/7/8/20 2/12/13/17/25

RG6/11 Cable (75 Ohm)Up to 400m

RF Cable RF Cable

RJ-45Type NConnector

Service UnitInput: -85dBm@16QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

Band #2

Omni Antenna#1

Omni Antenna#2

Omni Antenna

CAT-5 Cable

PoE Adaptor(AC 60W)

100~240V AC

2

4.5

7

9.5

12

14.5

17

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

-85-80-75-70-65-60

Noise

Fig

ure (

dB)

EVM

(%)

Pin (dBm)

20MHz Bandwidth

Noise Figure EVM

Zyxel Communications CorporationTel: +886-3-578-3942 Fax: +886-3-578-2439 Email: IBS@zyxel.com.tw

For more product information, visit us on the web at www.zyxel.comCopyright © 2018 Zyxel Communications Corp. All rights reserved. Zyxel, Zyxel logo are registeredtrademarks of Zyxel Communications Corp. All other brands, product names, or trademarks mentionedare the property of their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change without notice.

Datasheet SymmRepeater

Scenario III - Active DAS

Input: -75dBm@64QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

F-typeConnector

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#1

OutdoorPatch

Antenna#2

Donor Unit

Band #1

Bands selectablefrom

1/3/5/7/8/20 2/12/13/17/25

RG6/11 Cable (75 Ohm)up to 400m

RF Cable RF Cable

RJ-45Type N to SMAAdaptor

Service UnitInput: -85dBm@16QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

Band #2

SlimDAS (Small Cell Mode)

CAT-5e Cableup to 100m

CAT-5 Cable

PoE Adaptor(AC 60W)

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

CAT-5e Cableup to 100m

Band #1 Band #2

23dBmOutput

100~240V AC23dBmOutput

Remote Unit

Scenario IV - Cross-Building

Input: -75dBm@64QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

Donor Unitin Building 1

RRUin Building 1

F-typeConnector

Type N to SMAAdaptor

CAT-5 Cable

PoE Adaptor(AC 60W)

100~240V AC Service Unitin Building 2

Input: -85dBm@16QAMOutput: up to 23dBm

RG6/11 Cable (75 Ohm) up to 400m

RF Cable

RF Cable

SlimDAS (Small Cell Mode)in Building 2

Building 1 Building 2

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

Remote Unit

23dBmOutput

23dBmOutput

23dBmOutput

23dBmOutput

Building 2

Building 2

Building 2

Building 2

Band #1

Band #1