RF communication signal distribution system and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION These needs and others are satisfied by the method for distributing RF communication signals of the present invention.
The method comprises the steps of, at a first signal processing subsystem, receiving first RF communication signals, downconverting the first RF communication signals to provide downconverted first RF communication signals, transmitting the downconverted first RF communication signals to a second signal processing subsystem over a first twisted-pair cable, providing operating power for the second signal processing subsystem from the first signal processing subsystem, and, at the second signal processing subsystem, upconverting the downconverted first RF communication signals to provide recovered first RF communication signals, transmitting the recovered first RF communication signals over an antenna, and determining an event occurring at the second signal processing subsystem and transmitting autonomous information signals thereabout to the first signal processing subsystem.
The step of downconverting first RF communication signals to provide downconverted first RF communication signals comprises the steps of providing the first RF communication signals to a mixer at a first input port, providing a local oscillator signal to the mixer at a second input port, providing a mixer output signal at a mixer output port, and filtering the mixer output signal to provide downconverted first communication signals in a frequency band below 100 MHz.
The step of providing a local oscillator signal further comprises the steps of providing a reference signal to a frequency synthesizer and programming the frequency synthesizer to generate a local oscillator signal of predetermined frequency.
A sample of the reference signal is transmitted from the first signal processing subsystem to the second signal processing subsystem for frequency control at the second signal processing subsystem.
The sample of a reference signal is a sample of a reference oscillator signal at a predetermined amplitude