Mirrorcell family bears new offspring >BY DAN O'SHEA, Technology Editor

Ortel Corp., a maker of digital repeaters for wireless networks, will announce new additions to its growing Mirrorcell product family at this week's Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association trade show in San Francisco.

The Alhambra, Calif., company's new CDR 1902 two-channel selective repeater for code division multiple access (CDMA) networks is one of the first CDMA repeaters in the industry. The timing of its arrival is significant because cellular carriers are just beginning their CDMA transition while addressing the need to expand network coverage. The repeaters also offer a built-in coverage solution for new carriers, said Hal Zarem, business manager for wireless communications at Ortel.

"Thorough coverage is now a value proposition for wireless networks, and this product can correct coverage problems immediately and easily," said Zarem. Among other benefits, the two-channel selective repeater is a more flexible and focused solution than a traditional broadband repeater, and the small, low-power repeater also is easy to site, said Zarem.

Service providers can strategically deploy repeaters around base stations to enhance network coverage and to extend coverage into buildings, tunnels and other hard-to-cover areas. Carriers increasingly rely on them as a cost-effective way to push the coverage envelope.

For international networks, Ortel will unveil new additions to the GSM side of the Mirrorcell family. The company will display a new four-channel, GSM selective repeater and a two-channel, high-power GSM repeater. The latter's high-power output reduces infrastructure investment requirements for GSM networks.

Ortel also will introduce the Mirrorcell Element Manager, the first software program designed to manage repeater-driven networks. The solution can monitor the status of more than 10,000 repeaters in one network, and it can be used with any of the repeaters in Ortel's Mirrorcell family.

Here is just a sampling of new products and services to look for this week at the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Associations Wireless '97 show in San Francisco: ADC Wireless Systems (booth 4307) will introduce its CityPower family of power amplifiers for wireless base stations.

Ericsson (booth 3607) will announce new additions to its RBS family of base stations.

Allen Telecom Group (booth 4131) will introduce the EK-136 software option that provides IS-136 capabilities for its EAC-2000 analog repeaters, and a new line of EAC-800 digital repeaters for CDMA and TDMA.

Superconductor Technologies (booth 263) will unveil its SuperFilter family of receiver filter subsystems for cellular and PCS systems.

Excel (booth 305) will showcase applications on the Excel programmable switching platform from strategic partners Watkins-Johnson Co., Phoenix Wireless, Open Development Corp. and Glenayre.

Illinois Superconductor (booth 3747) will demonstrate two new base station filters for cellular and PCS applications.

CNET (booth 3731) will introduce the Options set of software tools for functions such as RF engineering, marketing/sales and customer service.

LCC (booth 3831) will launch a set of wireless system monitoring and response tools for data collection, analysis and network optimization.

Lightbridge (booth 1132) will debut its retail management system for customer acquisition and channel analysis.

Tektronix (booth 4142) will unveil the CTS55 Digital Radio Tester for GSM, DCS 1800 and PCS 1900 networks.

NewNet (booth 5117) the connectivity software developer, will display its AccessManager SS7 application development software, and also will unveil a new single-card SS7 solution. The single-card offering will allow simpler introduction of SS7 connectivity for wireless carriers.