Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables

Summary: Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables

Digital Electricity™ – Outdoor Cables for DAS
Windy City Wire manufactures SmartWire® low-voltage cable in Bolingbrook, IL for commercial and industrial projects. Our Digital Electricity™ outdoor DAS cables are built for reliable power and signal transport to remote radios and antenna nodes across campuses, high-rises, stadiums, healthcare facilities, hospitality properties, and other challenging environments. The result is a durable, consistent cable solution that supports Distributed Antenna System (DAS) performance from headend to edge.

Why teams choose Windy City Wire for Digital Electricity DAS cabling

• Purpose-built for DAS outdoors: Supports Digital Electricity architectures where long runs and environmental exposure are common, helping you deliver coverage and capacity to remote equipment locations.
• Shielding for signal integrity: WBT shielding helps reduce electromagnetic interference in dense RF environments and near electrical infrastructure.
• SmartWire® manufacturing: Made in the USA with consistent materials and processes to help simplify design standardization across multiple sites.
• Pulling efficiency: SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication is applied to the cable jacket during manufacturing and reduces friction by up to 70%, aiding faster, smoother pulls through outdoor pathways and conduits.
• Outdoor-ready black jacket: A black outer jacket offers a clean, discreet appearance for exterior runs and blends well with common outdoor installations.
• Project-focused support: Windy City Wire offers products and solutions designed for B2B deployment needs, with an experienced team to help you align the right cable to your DAS design requirements.

How this adds value to your DAS project

• Consistency from site to site: Standardized materials and a consistent shielded construction help keep DAS bill-of-materials uniform across projects.
• Installation efficiency: Reduced-pull friction and a robust outdoor design help minimize rework and installation time in conduit, rooftops, and exterior pathways.
• Risk reduction: Shielding and a durable jacket support reliable performance where RF noise and environmental challenges can jeopardize uptime.
• Scalable deployment: Suitable for enterprise campuses, transportation hubs, higher education, arenas, and industrial facilities where DAS coverage must scale.

Customization options
Standard products are available with a black jacket. For organizations that want to standardize identification in the field, SmartWire jackets and stripes can be produced in custom color combinations. Contact Windy City Wire to discuss custom color requests for larger or ongoing projects.

Available constructions

• Digital Electricity™ Outdoor — WBT Shielded, Black Jacket: Shielded outdoor construction designed for Distributed Antenna System runs that require Digital Electricity power and signal distribution. The WBT shield supports EMI mitigation in dense RF or electrically noisy environments while the black jacket provides a discreet exterior appearance.

Typical use cases

• Connecting headend or intermediate distribution points to remote DAS radios, small cells, and antennas across large properties
• Exterior and rooftop pathways where reliability and EMI control are important
• Industrial sites, stadiums, transportation hubs, education, and healthcare campuses

Summary
Windy City Wire’s SmartWire® Digital Electricity™ outdoor DAS cables deliver a practical, shielded solution for powering and feeding remote DAS equipment across outdoor environments. With U.S.-made quality, WBT shielding, a professional black jacket, and SmartWire Glide Technology® lubrication to ease pulls, these low-voltage products and solutions help integrators complete DAS installations with consistency, efficiency, and confidence.

Solutions: Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables

Digital Electricity™ Outdoor Cables for DAS and Wireless Infrastructure

Windy City Wire Digital Electricity™ (DE) outdoor cables are engineered for delivering reliable, long-distance, low-voltage power to distributed antenna system (DAS) components and other remote network devices across expansive campuses and challenging outdoor environments. By pairing DE power distribution with fiber transport, integrators can simplify headend-to-remote runs, reduce the number of intermediate power locations, and standardize infrastructure across multi-building sites. These outdoor-rated cables support fault-managed power delivery methods commonly used to energize radios, remotes, and network edge devices that sit far beyond traditional PoE distance limits.

Where DE Outdoor Cables Fit in a DAS Architecture

• Headend to remote units: Deliver power from a centralized DE power hub to remote DAS nodes located across roofs, towers, and distributed floors.
• Rooftop and pole-mounted sectors: Power small cells, RRUs, donor antenna electronics, and sectorized nodes without adding local AC near each device.
• Stadiums and arenas: Feed bowl, concourse, and back-of-house remotes across long runs where conventional power drops are costly or impractical.
• Transit and tunnels: Extend power to remote radio points, fiber media converters, and network devices along platforms, tunnels, and rights-of-way.
• Campuses and outdoor venues: Simplify infrastructure for distributed radio systems spanning multiple buildings, parking structures, and outdoor gathering spaces.
• Neutral host and private networks: Support carrier-neutral DAS, private LTE/5G, and CBRS deployments with centralized, scalable power distribution.

Systems and Devices Commonly Powered

• Cellular DAS remotes and headend-to-remote electronics for 4G/LTE and 5G NR
• Public safety DAS components, including BDAs and remote units supporting life-safety radio coverage
• Small cells, CBRS radios, and outdoor RAN elements on poles, rooftops, and street furniture
• PoE extenders, media converters, and fiber network edge devices that sit beyond standard PoE distances
• Wireless access points mounted in outdoor areas such as stadiums, plazas, and transit hubs
• IP cameras, intercoms, and perimeter security devices integrated into the broader low-voltage ecosystem
• IoT gateways and sensors that require stable power delivery alongside fiber connectivity

Industries and Environments Served

• Healthcare: Hospitals and medical campuses needing consistent in-building wireless and campus-wide coverage
• Higher education: Distributed residence halls, labs, stadiums, and outdoor commons
• Hospitality and commercial real estate: Hotels, resorts, high-rise office, and mixed-use properties
• Sports and entertainment: Arenas, stadiums, racetracks, and large event venues
• Transportation: Airports, rail, metro, tunnels, ports, and logistics hubs
• Manufacturing and warehousing: Large floor plates, high-bay storage, and outdoor yards
• Energy and utilities: Plants, substations, and remote operations with broad coverage needs
• Municipal and smart city: Streetscapes, campuses, and public safety coverage across civic facilities
• Data centers and technology campuses: High-availability environments with extensive distributed wireless requirements

Construction Highlights for Outdoor Performance

• Black outdoor jacket: A durable, low-visibility black jacket supports clean routing on rooftops, exterior walls, and poles while aligning with typical outdoor aesthetics.
• WBT shielding/technology: Incorporates WBT (water-blocking technology) elements designed to help mitigate moisture migration along the cable, supporting long-term performance in outdoor pathways.
• Purpose-built for DE power runs: Supports centralized, fault-managed power models commonly used with Digital Electricity™ systems powering remote DAS and wireless devices.

Integration with Fiber and Low-Voltage Systems

• Fiber to the radio: Combine DE power with singlemode or multimode fiber for a complete headend-to-remote solution in fiber-fed DAS topologies.
• Backhaul and transport equipment: Power media converters and switches that aggregate traffic from DAS, small cells, and Wi‑Fi access points.
• Security and life safety: Extend power to perimeter cameras and intercoms located near DAS remotes, simplifying shared pathways and reducing field power drops.
• Building systems: Support integration with building automation, IoT gateways, and smart pole infrastructure where long-distance power delivery is required.

Design and Deployment Considerations

1. Plan centralized power: Use DE power hubs to aggregate and distribute power to multiple remotes, reducing the number of local AC circuits in the field.
2. Pair power with fiber: Run DE cable alongside fiber trunks to each remote location for a streamlined, serviceable architecture.
3. Follow code and AHJ guidance: Coordinate installation practices with local code requirements and authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) expectations for public safety and commercial deployments.
4. Pathway selection: Route in suitable outdoor pathways such as conduit, tray, or pole-mounted runs; account for expansion loops, drip loops, and service slack where needed.
5. Grounding and bonding: Implement proper grounding and bonding at headend and remote enclosures per manufacturer guidelines and applicable standards.
6. Length budgets and device loading: Validate run lengths and load profiles against DE power hub specifications and device requirements before finalizing bill of materials.
7. Testing and verification: Verify polarity, continuity, and insulation integrity prior to energizing the circuit; follow the DE controller’s commissioning procedures.

Why Windy City Wire for DAS and Digital Electricity™ Projects

• Focused B2B support: We serve integrators, contractors, and enterprise owners who build and maintain large-scale wireless and low-voltage systems.
• DAS and in-building wireless expertise: Guidance on selecting cable constructions that align with cellular DAS, public safety DAS, small cell, and private LTE/5G requirements.
• Application-driven recommendations: We help match outdoor cable selection to your pathway, environment, and device power profile for reliable end-to-end performance.
• Lifecycle partnership: From design assist to deployment and ongoing expansions, our team supports standardization across portfolios and multi-site rollouts.

Typical Use Cases at a Glance

• Powering DAS remotes on rooftops and in exterior mechanical yards with fiber backhaul
• Feeding small cell and CBRS radios along campus walkways and parking structures
• Supporting public safety DAS coverage in tunnels, stairwells, and hard-to-reach areas
• Extending power to outdoor Wi‑Fi and video security devices that outpace PoE distance limits

For distributed antenna systems and outdoor wireless networks where distance, reliability, and serviceability matter, Windy City Wire Digital Electricity™ outdoor cables provide a clear path to centralized power and scalable growth. Talk with our team about your DAS architecture, run lengths, and device mix so we can help you select the right outdoor low-voltage cable for your next deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables

• What constructions are available with this SmartWire Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables cable?

  These DAS-grade SmartWire cables feature an outdoor-rated black jacket with WBT shielding for reliable Digital Electricity installations. They are manufactured in the U.S. as SmartWire low-voltage cable and include SmartWire Glide lubrication for easier pulling and reduced friction.

• What other colors is this SmartWire Digital Electricity™ - Outdoor Cables cable available in?

  The standard jacket color is black. Looking for a specific color? Custom jacket colors may be available—contact Windy City Wire to discuss your project requirements.

• Do you stock 1/2" Coax DAS Cable?

  Yes, we stock 1/2” coax for all survivability requirements.

• Who are Windy City Wire's valued partners in the DAS market?

  Windy City Wire is proud to partner with companies like RFS, ADRF, Westell, iBwave, GWave, RFI and others. Additional partner information can be found at https://windycitywire.com/resource-cetner/das

• Can DAS cables be RackPacked?

  No, DAS cables cannot be RackPacked as these spools of cable are large and not conducive to being used with the SmartWire RackPack solution.

• Do the DAS cables work with the RackPack Transportation devices?

  No, the spools are much larger than the RackPack boxes.

Additional Links:

• DAS ROM/BOM Request Form
• Check out our DAS Resource Section
• Learn more about our SmartWire Cable
• The RackPack - Our patented cable delivery solution
• Our Transporters - RackPack Transportation Devices
• 19 Stocking Locations Nationwide - Find a Branch near you