In exemplary embodiments, the external device 110A is a base station configured to receive the uplink signal. In exemplary embodiments, the uplink signal is formatted according to at least one of a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) standard, an Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI) standard, and an Open Radio Interface (ORI) standard. In exemplary embodiments, the external device 110A is one of a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) device interface, an Open Base Station Architecture Initiative (OBSAI) device interface, and an Open Radio Interface (ORI) device interface. In other exemplary embodiments, the external device 110A is an analog base station that is configured to receive either intermediate frequency analog signals or radio frequency analog signals from the at least one upstream component 112A. In these exemplary embodiments, the uplink signal that is communicated to the external device 110A is either an intermediate frequency analog signal or a radio frequency analog signal.