DECT Repeaters

Repeaters, or wireless relay stations as termed by ETSI, allow the coverage and / or range of a base station to be extended, without the need to install additional wired base stations.  Deployment of repeaters can also allow traffic in high usage areas to be ported across to bases stations, allowing a flexing of capacity.  The technology is reasonably straight forward but sales volumes are small compared to the mass markets for cordless telephones.  Thus, at the start of 1999, these products are primarily being supplied by small players who have chosen to focus on these as niche markets, rather than by the major players. 

Two types of DECT repeater have been standardised by ETSI:

* The REP - Repeater Part - this requires a change in the frame structure in the base station.  It results in minimum audio delay but degrades overall system capacity

* The CRFP - Cordless Radio Fixed Part - with this implementation the frame structure in the handset and basestation remain unchanged.   It results in additional audio delay and requires special handling of encryption, but has good system traffic capacity. 

KIRK telecom A/S
Company website
KIRK telecom A/S is an independent Danish company that develops, manufactures and markets wireless communication solutions. KIRK telecom was founded in 1991 as a result of a management buy-out from KIRK Alcatel. Based on 100 years’ experience with telephony, management took a strategic decision to focus on the DECT technology. As a result, KIRK telecom was one of the large contributors to the development of the DECT standard in the mid 1990s.

Repeaters
The KIRK DECT/GAP wireless Repeater is designed for the KIRK dect-z Systems to increase the radio coverage area of the system. As a unique feature the KIRK wireless repeaters can be placed in “cascade” formation, directing the signal in a certain direction. Furthermore, an external directional antenna can be added for long range coverage.

Technical Specifications - Standards for indoor Repeaters
The DECT Repeater is designed in accordance with the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard. The DECT Repeater is compliant with: CTR6, TBR22 (Generic Access Profile, GAP) specifications, ETSI Wireless Relay Station Specification ETS 300 700. (Type approval testing reports are available on request)