Summary
Building type: Underground car park
Locations: Bristol, UK
Challenge: 4G coverage for smart meters and EV charging station
Product installed: SOHO iR5 repeater
The Background
Bristol Harbour is one of the city’s most vibrant and well-visited destinations, attracting both locals and tourists throughout the week. Surrounded by restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels, the area is ideal for recreational activities. Weekend markets and sporting events further add to the harbour’s popularity.
To accommodate this demand, the harbour offers several car parks. As a result, competition among parking operators is extremely high. Delivering a positive customer experience is key to encouraging repeat visits and driving year-round revenue.
The Challenge
Car park users are typically time-conscious and expect everything to work quickly and smoothly. Many are regular EV users who rely on fast, seamless transactions and a high level of service.
However, mobile signal within the underground car park was poor. Modern construction materials such as steel and concrete were blocking signal from entering the building.
As a result, the Bristol Harbour car park management identified a clear issue: weak mobile coverage was causing delays at EV charging stations. Smart meters located deeper within the car park were unable to operate reliably either.
The objective
Management recognised the importance of taking prompt action and contacted DLP Connex, a trusted Stella Doradus partner, to deliver a professional mobile coverage solution.
The requirement was clear: provide reliable 4G coverage throughout the entire underground car park, ensuring consistent connectivity for both smart meters and EV charging stations.
The Solution
The DLP Connex team carried out a detailed site survey using TestTool to assess the RF environment and measure mobile signal levels throughout the underground car park.
Based on the survey results and the client’s requirements, the team specified the Stella Doradus SOHO iR5 as the optimal solution.
The SOHO iR5 system was selected to:
- Amplify mobile signal from all operators
- Enable high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity
- Ensure clear, reliable voice calls for health and safety
Prior to installation, the DLP Connex team designed the system using StellaPlanner, an online planning tool developed by Stella Doradus.
StellaPlanner enables installers to accurately plan equipment placement, optimise signal coverage, and estimate project costs. A detailed design report was then generated and presented to the client, providing the proposed solution before installation began.
To address weak signal levels at the rear of the facility—where smart meters were located—DLP Connex installed two outdoor Yagi antennas on the roof, mounted on risers at opposite ends of the building. This strategic placement ensured strong signal capture and balanced coverage across the entire site.The SOHO iR5 system captures mobile signal from nearby base stations and amplifies it indoors for all operators. Internally, panel antennas were deployed to distribute the signal evenly throughout the car park, delivering consistent and reliable coverage across all areas.
The following equipment was installed during this installation:
- SOHO iR5 repeaters
- Internal panel antennas
- External Yagi antenna
- Cable
The Result
Management were delighted with the installation results. The signal strength throughout the premises is optimal at all times. Now transactions at the EV charging station run smoothly encouraging repeat visits of regular car park users. Moreover, smart meters seamlessly operate around the clock which was a priority for the client.
