Amplification adjustment techniques for a wireless repeater

Abstract

Techniques for optimizing a repeater gain during installation includes determining an oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation caused by feedback in the repeater. An indication of the oscillation reduction factor can be output to a user for use in determining an optimal antenna installation location and/or orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of optimizing an initial gain of a repeater comprising:
 determining an oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation caused by feedback of one or more signals between a donor port and a server port of the repeater;   determining an overload or noise floor reduction factor based on a power level of a downlink signal, of the one or more signals, at the donor port; and   indicating to a user the oscillation reduction factor and the overload or noise floor factor for use in determining an optimal antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting an amplification factor of the downlink signal, at the server port, based on the determined oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adjusting the amplification factor of the uplink signal, at the donor port, based on a greater of the determined oscillation reduction factor or the overload or noise floor factor.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein,
 the determined the oscillation reduction factor is determined periodically during an install period; and   the amplification factor of the uplink signal, at the donor port, is not adjusted based on the overload or noise floor gain factor when oscillation reduction factor is being determined.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an amplification factor of the uplink signal, at the donor port, is not adjusted based on the overload or noise floor factor during an install period. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the uplink signal is turned off during an install period to prevent an overload at a base station during the install period. 
     
     
         7 . A method of optimizing a repeater gain during installation comprising:
 determining an oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation caused by feedback in the repeater; and   indicating to a user the oscillation reduction factor for use in determining an optimal antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 adjusting an amplification factor of the repeater based on the determined oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 during an install period disabling adjustment of the amplification factor of the repeater based on a criterion other than the oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 during an install period disabling adjustment of the amplification factor of the repeater based on an overload factor.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 during an install period disabling adjustment of the amplification factor of the repeater based on a noise floor factor.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining the oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation cause by feedback below a specified oscillation margin.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 during the install period reducing the amplification factor for one or more uplink signals to prevent an overload or noise floor increase of a base station.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining an overload or noise floor factor based on a power level of one or more downlink signals at the repeater; and   indicating to the user the overload or noise floor factor for use in determining the optimal antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 while determining the oscillation reduction factor, disabling adjustment of the amplification factor of the repeater based on the overload or noise floor factor.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 turning off one or more uplink signal during an install period to prevent an overload of a base station during the install period.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 adjusting the amplification factor of the repeater based on the oscillation reduction factor from a bumped-up gain level.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 indicating to the user both the oscillation reduction factor and the overload or noise floor factor.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving, one or more times, an input indicative of a new antenna installation location or orientation;   determining the oscillation reduction factor in response to each input indicative of the new antenna installation location or orientation; and   indicating to a user the oscillation reduction factor determined in response to each input indicative of the new antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         20 . A method of configuring a repeater comprising:
 determining an oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation caused by feedback of one or more signals between a donor port and a server port of the repeater; and   indicating the oscillation reduction factor for use in determining an antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 adjusting an amplification factor of a downlink signal, of the one or more signals, at the server port based on the determined oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 adjusting the amplification factor of an uplink signal, of the one or more signals, at the donor port based on the determined oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 during an install period disabling adjustment of the application factor of the one or more signals based on an overload or noise floor gain reduction level.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 receiving, one or more times, an input indicative of a new antenna installation location or orientation;   determining the oscillation reduction factor in response to each input indicative of the new antenna installation location or orientation; and   indicating the oscillation reduction factor determined in response to each input indicative of the new antenna installation location or orientation.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the antenna includes a donor antenna. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the antenna includes a server antenna. 
     
     
         27 . A repeater comprising:
 a user interface;   a donor port;   a server port;   one or more downlink amplifiers coupled between the donor port and the server port;   one or more uplink amplifiers coupled between the donor port and the server port; and   processing logic configured to,
 determine an oscillation reduction factor for reducing oscillation caused by feedback of one or more signals between the server port and the donor port of the repeater; and 
 indicate to a user the oscillation reduction factor during an install period on the user interface. 
   
     
     
         28 . The repeater of  claim 27 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to,
 adjust an amplification factor of the one or more downlink amplifiers based on the determined oscillation reduction factor.   
     
     
         29 . The repeater of  claim 27 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to, receive, one or more times, an input from the user interface indicative of a new antenna installation location or orientation. 
     
     
         30 . The repeater of  claim 27 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to,
 determine an overload or noise floor factor based on a power level of a downlink signal of the one or more signals at the donor port; and   indicate the overload or noise floor factor during the install period on the user interface.