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BDA / Signal Booster Sizing

NFPA 1221 · IFC 510 · Required Gain · In-Building Coverage

When to use: Use to determine the required Bi-Directional Amplifier (BDA) gain for in-building public safety coverage systems. Enter the donor signal level, cable losses, antenna gains, and building penetration loss. The calculator determines the minimum BDA gain needed to achieve NFPA 1221 / IFC Section 510 compliant inbound RSSI at a portable radio (default −95 dBm, DAQ 3.0). FCC limits BDA gain to 100 dB maximum.

Donor Side (Outdoor)
Measure with spectrum analyzer
dBm
dB
Yagi: 8–14 dBi
dBi
Server Side (Indoor) & Requirements
Concrete: 20–30 dB
dB
dB
Omni: 3 dBi
dBi
NFPA 1221: −95 dBm min
dBm
Required BDA Gain
-10
dB
⚠ Marginal
System Summary
Donor RSSI at antenna-70 dBm
Total system loss28.0 dB
Total antenna gain13.0 dBi
Calculated required gain-10.0 dB
Selected BDA gain (≤100 dB)-10 dB
Resulting indoor RSSI-95.0 dBm
Margin above requirement0.0 dB
References
NFPA 1221 §9.6 – minimum −95 dBm inbound
IFC Section 510 – in-building radio coverage
FCC KDB 935448 – BDA registration requirements
Max BDA gain: 100 dB (FCC limit)