Arrangement for providing cellular communication via a CATV network

An arrangement for coupling a cellular communications base station with a plurality of mobile terminals via a CATV distribution network, the arrangement including a head end signal processor disposed at a head end of the CATV network and providing on a downstream path a first frequency conversion between a first cellular communications radio frequency and a first (downstream) CATV network transmission frequency, a plurality of remote antenna drivers disposed at a remote end of the CATV network each said driver being coupled to a respective antenna and each providing a second frequency conversion between the first cellular communications radio frequency and the first CATV network transmission frequency, said antennas providing radio communications with said mobile terminals, and receive path processing means coupled to the antennas and providing on an upstream path a third frequency conversion between a second cellular communications radio frequency and a second (upstream) CATV network transmission frequency, wherein the remote antenna drivers are arranged in groups, the drivers of each said group being operated on a common frequency in a simulcast mode, wherein each said receive path processing means incorporates means for compressing the dynamic range of cellular communications traffic carried on the cable network on an upstream path between the mobile terminals and the base station, wherein the remote antenna drivers of said group are provided each with a small frequency off-set from said simulcast frequency, said off-set limiting the persistence of a null to a maximum of a single data burst of telecommunications traffic, and wherein said receive path processing means comprises a first mixer arranged to convert the second cellular communications radio frequency to an intermediate frequency, limiting amplifier means arranged to amplify and compress the dynamic range of signals at said intermediate frequency, and a second mixer arranged to convert the amplified and dynamic range compressed intermediate frequency to said second CATV network transmission frequency.