Patent ID: 8346091

Claim:
A distributed antenna system comprising: a master unit configured for receiving downlink signals from a plurality of base stations and for transmitting uplink signals to the plurality of base stations, the downlink signals being associated with a plurality of wireless protocols and a plurality of bands, wherein the master unit is configured to output the downlink signals as digitized downlink signals, the master unit comprising: a first radio channel having circuitry comprising a duplexer, the circuitry being configured to (i) receive downlink signals associated with a first band of the plurality of bands from the plurality of base stations and (ii) transmit the uplink signals associated with the first band to the plurality of base stations; a second radio channel comprising a switch configured for, responsive to transmitting the uplink signals associated with a second band to the plurality of base stations, opening and protecting an RF downconverter in the second radio channel; and a controller configured for providing switch control timing for controlling operation of the switch; an extension unit configured to receive the digitized downlink signals from the master unit over a first fiber optic cable; and a remote unit configured for receiving downlink signals from the extension unit over a second fiber optic cable, wherein the remote unit is configured for wirelessly transmitting the downlink signals as radio frequency (RF) signals using the plurality of wireless protocols and in the plurality of bands.