Andrew Catalog
Andrew Catalog
Andrew Catalog
WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK SOLUTIONS BASE STATION SUBSYSTEMS COVERAGE AND CAPACITY
Air-Dielectric DualPol®
Technology Technology
UHF/VHF Low Band First Commercial Cellular Installation Supported DB810, ASP977 Wide Band UMTS Concealment
Omni and Vertically Polarized Antennas Teletilt® SmartBeam
Dual Band ANMS™
High-Gain Coverage Sector Arrays—Maximize the Wideband/Dual Band Arrays—Andrew’s base station
coverage footprint in a cellular system to enable faster antenna systems’ unique interwoven ARC phase shifter
user service. and corporate feed systems provide two classes of wide
band arrays covering the 1710–2170 MHz and 806–960
Variable Geographic Coverage—Simplify network MHz frequencies. These bands can then be combined
planning changes using our portfolio of field adjustable through our patent pending Microstrip Annular Ring (MAR)
variable electrical downtilt antennas. and our Directed Dipole™ technology for true dual band
performance.
Network Performance Optimization—In today’s digital
systems, every dB of capacity counts. Using the Directed Advanced Multi-Beam Antenna Systems—Andrew is
Dipole™ antenna system provides sharper azimuth plane a leading innovator and provider of multi-beam arrays for
patterns, containing RF in the planned coverage area and beam forming, steering, and tracking applications. Andrew
reducing spillover into interfering sectors. is also the leading supplier of angle-of-arrival phased
arrays for emergency and location systems.
Site Concealment Applications—Site selection and
zoning present an additional challenge for the network
planner. A number of creative solutions are available from
Andrew, including the AcCELLerator™, a complete cell site
of arrays in a single, easily concealed site.
Atlanta, Georgia
Andrew WIreless Solutions
2850 Colonnades Court NE
Norcross Ga. 30071-7700
Goa, India
Andrew Telecommunications India Pvt. Ltd.
Brno, Czech Republic Plot No. N-2, Phase IV, Verna Industrial Estate
Andrew Telecommunications S.R.O. Verna, Salcette, Goa, 403 722 India
CT Park Brno Turanka 100
CZ – 62700 Brno – Slatina
Planning Software
AASP—the first and only PCS/Cellular Systems Design Software
Courses Offered
VSWR Fundamentals
During the VSWR Fundamentals course attendees will learn
definitions, testing guidelines, and plot/sweep interpretation.
Warranty Information
Standard Warranty Prices: All prices include domestic packing. Terms Special or International Surface Packing: Export
are net 30 days from date of shipment. Prices shown and/or special packing are additional charges and
Andrew Corporation warrants all base station do not include any federal, state or local taxes. Export are estimates only. Billing, packing only, may
antenna products to be free from defects in material packing, if requested, will be an additional charge. differ from these estimates, up to 10 percent.
and workmanship. Andrew’s obligation under this Prices are subject to change without notice. Delays: Andrew will not be liable for contractual
warranty is limited to replacement or repair of such
Credit Approval: Orders are subject to the approval obligations due to delays in shipments.
products within one year from the date of shipment
of the Andrew credit department. Shipment of Modifications: Andrew reserves the right
to the user. The defective product must be returned
ordered equipment may be made with terms of cash to modify equipment and change specifications
to the Andrew factory, freight prepaid, for
in advance or cash on delivery, when applicable. without notice, provided the modification does not
evaluation. No products will be accepted for
replacement or repair without prior written Acceptance of Orders: Verbal orders are valid materially affect the performance of the product.
approval. Replacement or repair (Andrew’s option) only at the prices stated on the most current price Claims for Damaged or Lost Shipment: Claims
will be made after an examination at an Andrew list in effect at the time order is received. An order for damaged or lost material, while material is in
authorized repair facility shows defective material becomes officially accepted when acknowledgment is transit, must be made immediately by the Buyer
or workmanship. THIS WARRANTY IS THE ONLY forwarded to the customer. against the carrier. UPS shipment claims for damages
WARRANTY MADE BY ANDREW FOR BASE STATION Quotations: Quotations are valid for 30 days or loss of material may be made by Andrew.
ANTENNAS AND IS GIVEN EXPRESSLY AND IN maximum, unless otherwise extended in writing. Claims for Shortages: Claims for shortages in
PLACE OF ALL OTHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED Quoted shipping costs are best estimates only. shipments must be made within 30 days from date
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS of shipment of material from the Andrew plant.
Domestic Transportation: Shipments are to be
FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ANDREW IS NOT
billed in accordance with the established prices as Return of Material: No material will be received or
LIABLE FOR ANY OTHER DIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR
published by Numerex (domestic rates). Shipments accepted by Andrew without written authorization.
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
will be routed by Andrew Corporation’s best judgment Andrew will not be responsible for any material
LIMITATION, INSTALLATION COSTS, INCONVENIENCE,
unless a carrier specified by the buyer can be returned without Andrew’s prior written authorization
RENTAL OF REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, LOSS
utilized. Andrew is not responsible for selecting or for material that is shipped freight collect. If due,
OF PROFITS OR OTHER COSTS OF ANY NATURE
cheapest or fastest routing. credit not exceeding 75 percent of the original
AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE PRODUCTS
MANUFACTURED BY ANDREW, WHETHER USED IN International Transportation: Shipping charges price will be allowed on unused material, provided
ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS OR NOT. will include surface transportation to forwarder, it is returned prepaid and in new condition. Credit
forwarding charges documentation preparation, is issued only to the original purchaser and not to
Extended Warranty insurance, etc., when applicable. Other arrangements subsequent owner.
may be made as needed. Specials: All nonstandard catalog items are
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring Domestic Packing: Packing suitable for continental considered special and are non-cancellable and
7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended U.S. transportation, surface or air, is used as non-returnable.
warranty. Upon verification of the extended limited standard on all products. Andrew’s standard domestic
warranty, a return authorization will be provided packing on all products is suitable for international
that will facilitate the return of the antenna. The air shipment.
antenna will be replaced on an equal exchange
basis including prepaid freight. For the extended
warranty to be effective, proof of dated receipt may
be required.
This catalog supersedes all previous catalogs. We reserve the right to change or alter any specifications or information at any time.
Please take caution during the site planning process as certain risks may arise under extraordinary operating conditions. Andrew is not responsible for the operation of any products outside of their
normal testing range, as defined by Andrew Corporation.
Extraordinary operating conditions, such as heavy icing or extreme dynamic stress, may result in the breakage of an antenna or even cause it to fall to the ground. Details in our installation instruc-
tion sheets must be carefully followed when installing the antennas and accessories. The installation team must be properly qualified and also be familiar with the relevant national safety regulations.
TBXLH Series
QBXLH Series
DB X LH (A) - 90 90 E A - VT M
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
(DB) 7x x G 80 V1 E - SXM
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
350 0 10 350 0 10 0°
340 20 340 20
330 30 330 30 330° 30°
320 40 320 40
310 50 310 50
290 70 290 70
280 80 280 80
932LG65VTE-B HBX-6516DS-VTM
Superior roll-off and F/B ratio Provides exceptional pattern shaping Exceptional cross polar discrimination
H B X - 65 16 D S (A) - VT M
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
UMWD - 065 16 - 4 D H
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
(DB) 8x x DG 65 T6 E - SX
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
RR 65 - 17 - 02 D P L x
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
LBX Series D Constructed without welding, soldering, rivets or screws used in the RF circuit
D 100% passive intermodulation (PIM) tested
350 0 10 350 0 10
340 20 340 20
330 30 330 30
320 40 320 40
310 50 310 50
300 60 300 60
290 70 290 70
280 80 280 80
270 90 270 90
-35-30-25-20-15-10 -5 -35-30-25-20-15-10 -5
260 100 260 100
Panel Antenna
LBV Series Exceptional upper sidelobe suppression Exceptional azimuth control lowers co-channel
reduces interference interference and reduces soft hand-offs
H B X - 65 16 D S (A) - VT M
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
UMWD - 065 16 - 4 D H
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
(DB) 8x x DG 65 T6 E - SX
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
RR 65 - 17 - 02 D P L x
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
Sector Antennas
Andrew Wireless Solutions sector base station antennas are ideal for WiMAX applications in the
2.3, 2.5, 3.5, and 5.8 GHz bands. Andrew’s WiMAX antennas are designed with years of innova-
tive experience in the wireless industry. These antennas offer outstanding value and quality per-
formance, featuring high volume, low-cost, rugged, reliable models with trouble-free performance.
Andrew has also developed a series of RET capable antennas for the WiMAX bands and is
continually expanding its offerings of RET capable antennas. In addition, Andrew offers WiMAX
band multicolumn arrays for use in digital beamforming applications.
Contact Andrew's Customer Support Center (CSC) to discuss these designs or other array
configurations.
Omnidirectional Antennas
The WiMAX band omnidirectional antennas are built to endure outdoor environments, while
maintaining a low profile in an aesthetically attractive package.
SA3400 Series
DB992HG28N-B
H B X - 65 16 D S - VT M
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
(DB) 8x x DG 65 T6 E - SX
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
RR 65 - 17 - 02 D P L x
EXTENDED WARRANTY
All Andrew sector base station antennas featuring 7–16 DIN connectors carry a 5-year extended warranty.
Additional Features
D DB222, DB224, DB228, and DB264 antennas perform efficiently in both transmit and receive,
and most models are capable of operating in either single or multi-frequency systems.
Dual dipole models (DB404, DB408, DB411, DB413, and DB420) are especially suitable for
duplex operation.
D Each antenna is easy to install with optional side mounts available. Order DB5001 for side
mounting standard folded dipole antennas, and order DB5007 for dual folded dipole antennas.
D DB264 models are designed with the cable harness enclosed in the metal mast, and the mast
and radiating elements are vented to prevent moisture accumulation.
D Dual folded dipoles are extremely rugged to resist winds up to 125 mph (201 km/h).
D Radiators operate at dc ground and each aluminum mast has a pointed cap that provides a low
resistance discharge path to the tower or ground system.
DB224
Directional Antennas
Select from Andrew’s DB436 yagi or DB654/DB674 panel antenna families for directional gain
advantages. The yagi models offer great front-to-back ratios. The panel antennas provide exceptional
gain with 1.4:1 or better VSWR and DualPol® performance in the DB654 model. ASP685 DB640NS-C
Additional Features
D DB436 antennas can be mounted side-by-side or vertically stacked to provide either vertical or
horizontal polarization. One wavelength of vertical separation is recommended. The antennas
can be mounted on opposite sides of the tower to produce a bi-directional pattern, if desired.
D DB436 models are made of high strength aluminum alloys with stainless steel mounting
brackets and galvanized or stainless steel hardware used for installing the DB254 antennas.
D DB654 and DB674 antennas feature a sturdy construction with a passivated aluminum back
panel, alodine finish aluminum radiating elements, and a high impact UV and weather resistant
ABS plastic radome.
DB674G65A-C
Andrew Wireless Solutions has been the world leader in engineering and deploying thousands of
variable electrical downtilt base station antennas since the introduction of this technology to the
wireless industry. Development of these antennas began with an innovative design known as
VARI-TILT® (manual field adjustable electrical downtilt models), which evolved into today’s Andrew
Teletilt® remote electrical tilt (RET) antenna system.
Typical Applications
D Sites with a larger number of antennas, such as full three sector sites using non-duplexed
antennas or multiband antennas (requiring more than one actuator per antenna)
D Customers who are specifically going to network all the control systems
D Only one cable running up the tower. Use junction boxes to break out the control cable to
individual actuators
D Sites where it is desired to eliminate the AISG data cable run and utilize existing coaxial line
D Sites where operators wish to leave the controllers fixed at the cell site to allow the control system
to be accessed and operated over an Ethernet connection
ATM200-002 Actuator
D Sites with AISG tower mounted amplifiers (TMAs)
Features
D Rugged, high performance remote control actuator
D Actuator is easily mounted onto downtilt adjustment rod below antenna; either field retrofittable or
factory installed
RoHS
D Male and female AISG connectors facilitate daisy chaining actuators
D Simple, easy to use control software
D Compatible with a wide selection of Andrew variable electrical downtilt antennas
D Developed in conjunction with international Antenna Interface Standards Group (AISG) guidelines
D Control system can be interfaced to a network operation center by means of Ethernet or similar
connection
*For more information contact Andrew Customer Support Center.
Andrew Wireless Solutions offers a complete portfolio of Teletilt® RET system components.
These products are capable of operating in either AISG 1.1 or 2.0 mode, and are compliant
with both AISG and RoHS standards. Along with many next generation RET products, Andrew
also carries state-of-the-art software for managing entire antenna networks remotely.
The basic elements of a RET system are the controller and the actuator. The controller sends tilt
commands to the actuators (motors) that are mounted to the bottom of an antenna. The actuator
adjusts the electrical downtilt of an antenna by changing the phase shifter. RET devices, (like
actuators), are connected to the controller using control cables.
Multiple actuators can be joined together either by daisy-chaining control cables or by using
junction boxes.
Andrew offers both a portable and a rack mount controller for managing RET devices. The
portable controller conveniently works in conjunction with a laptop for local setup and site
optimization. Whereas, the rack mount controller can also be controlled locally with a laptop, it
is uniquely designed for operating over a network. With the rack mount controller having access
through a network, optimization adjustments can be made instantly from an office with virtually
cost-free control.
Antenna
Actuator
Junction Box
~
~~~
RET Control Cable
or
ATC300-1000 ATC200-LITE-USB
Controller Portable Controller
Electrical ATM200-002
Adjustment time <15 seconds, full range The fully AISG 2.0 compliant ATM200-002 connects
Adjustment cycles >10,000 to the electrical downtilt adjustment rod of a base
Power input 10–30 Vdc, compliant with AISG standard station antenna to allow remote control downtilt
Resolution tolerance ± 0.1° per AISG spec
Internal lightning protection Protection rating (all lines to ground):
N
IEC 61312-1 annex B current pulse profile, 10/350 μs,
10 repetitions minimum at 600 A
EU certification CE, CB low voltage directive 73/23/EEC
EMC/Surge immunity ETSI EN 300 386–V1.3.2 2003 with EN 55022 1998 schedule for
class A device; GR 1089 core issue 3;
FCC CFR 47 part 15 subpart B for class A; EN 61326-1, EN 55011
Safety standard EN 60950, UL 60950
Connectors/Interfaces
Input port One AISG 8-pin male, IP67, data and power
Output port One AISG 8-pin female, IP67, data and power
Logical interface User menu driven commands from ATC200 controller unit
Mechanical/Environmental
Net weight 0.53 lb (0.24 kg)
Shipping weight 0.65 lb (0.3 kg)
Dimensions
Product—L x W x D 8 x 2.75 x 2.75 in (203 x 70 x 70 mm)
Shipping—L x W x D 9.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 in (241.3 x 63.5 x 63.5 mm)
Housing material Durable ABS
Housing color Black
Maximum wind speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
Temperature range –40° C to +70° C
Humidity Up to 100%
IP rating IP65
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
*Available at www.andrew.com.
ATC300-1000
Communicates control signals from the bottom of the tower’s base station to adjust the antenna’s electrical tilt
Visit www.andrew.com to register and receive software updates
Electrical
Power supply
Input –48 Vdc; 24 Vdc
Power consumption 5 W idle state, 70 W maximum
Output 24 V, 50 W maximum
EU certification CE, CB
EMC/Surge immunity EN 55022, EN 55024
Safety standard IEC 60950-1
Connectors/Interfaces
Serial interface RS-232 DB9, female
LAN interface Ethernet RJ45
AISG interface 8–pin female, IP67, data and power
dc 2.1 bias tee interface 65 SMB, female
Alarm relay Two, normally open
Mechanical/Environmental
Net weight 3.5 lb (1.6 kg)
Shipping weight 4.5 lb (2.1 kg)
Dimensions
Product—L x W x D 19 x 8.1 x 1.7 in (483 x 206.2 x 43.6 mm)
Shipping—L x W x D 21 x 12 x 6.1 in (533 x 305 x 155 mm)
Housing material Aluminum extrusion
Housing color Black
Mounting 19 in rack mount, 1U height
Temperature range –20° C to +55° C, indoor use
Humidity 5 to 95%, non-condensing
IP rating IP63, indoor and outdoor*
Altitude –100 to +3000 m
Environmental ETSI EN 300 019-2-2, 2-3, & 2-4; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002 zone
4 Earthquake; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002 § 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5,
5.6, & 5.7
*Enclosure recommended for outdoor use.
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
*Available at www.andrew.com.
ATC200-LITE-USB
Converts RS-232 signal from PC to the RS-485 signal that controls the tilt commands in a remote control actuator
Visit www.andrew.com to register and receive software updates
Electrical
Power supply
Input 110/240 Vac
Output 2.5 A at 24 Vdc
Approvals
Power converter UL, CE, FCC
Interface CE, CB IC 60950-1:2001
Connectors/Interfaces
Computer interface
USB Cable connects to controller and USB port on PC
Serial RS-232 9-pin D cable assembly connects between adapter and PC
Power supply interface dc jack, 3.0A maximum
AISG interface 8-pin DIN style, female, IP67, data and power
Mechanical/Environmental
Net weight 0.9 lb (0.4 kg)
Shipping weight 4.85 lb (2.22 kg)
Dimensions
Product—L x W x D 5 x 3 x 2 in (127 x 76 x 51 mm)
Shipping—L x W x D 12.625 x 8.75 x 2.5 in (321 x 222 x 64 mm)
Housing material Aluminum
Housing color Gray; yellow casing
Temperature range –40° C to +55° C, portable indoor use
Humidity Up to 95% non-condensing
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
ATJB200-A01-007
Divides data and power on main RET cable from ATC200
series control units to additional junction boxes or
ATM200 series actuators
Electrical
Internal lightning protection Gas discharge tube to ground protection: REA PE-80 compliant per test
method IEEE C62.31 protection rating (all lines to ground):
N
IEEE C62.41.2 § 6.1.2 current pulse profile, 8/20 μs,
200 repetitions minimum at 600 A
N IEC 61312-1 annex B current pulse profile, 10/350 μs,
Connectors/Interfaces
Input port One AISG 8-pin male, IP67, data and power
Output ports
4-way model Four AISG 8-pin female, IP67, data and power
7-way model Seven AISG 8-pin female, IP67, data and power
Grounding lug M8
Mounting
Mounting type Vertical pipe mount or wall/flat surface mount, included
Pipe diameter 2 to 4.5 in (51 to 114 mm)
Mount material Stainless steel
Mechanical/Environmental
Net weight
4-way model 2.2 lb (1.0 kg)
7-way model 2.35 lb (1.07 kg)
Shipping weight
4-way model 4 lb (1.82 kg)
7-way model 4.15 lb (1.89 kg)
Dimensions
Product—L x W x D 7.3 x 6.2 x 2 in (185 x 158 x 51 mm)
Shipping—L x W x D 11 x 10.25 x 5.5 in (279 x 260 x 140 mm)
Housing material Aluminum
Housing color Gray
Maximum wind speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
Temperature range –40° C to +65° C
Humidity Up to 100%
IP rating IP65
Specifications IEC-68, ETSI 300-019
Environmental ETSI EN 300 019-2-2, 2-3, & 2-4; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002
zone 4 earthquake; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002 § 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4,
5.5, 5.6, & 5.7
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
Electrical
Internal lightning protection Gas discharge tube to ground protection: REA PE-80 compliant per test
method IEEE C62.31
Transorb and varistor secondary protection stage
Protection rating (all lines to ground):
N IEEE C62.41.2 § 6.1.2 current pulse profile, 8/20 μs,
Connectors/Interfaces
Input port One AISG 8-pin male, IP67, data and power
Output port One AISG 8-pin female, IP67, data and power
Grounding lug M8
Mounting
Mounting type Vertical pipe mount or wall/flat surface mount, included
Pipe diameter 2 to 4.5 in (51 to 114 mm)
Mount material Stainless steel
Mechanical/Environmental
Net weight 2.05 lb (0.93 kg)
Shipping weight 3.9 lb (1.8 kg)
Dimensions
Product—L x W x D 7.3 x 6.2 x 2 in (185 x 158 x 51 mm)
Shipping—L x W x D 11 x 10.25 x 5.5 in (279 x 260 x 140 mm)
Housing material Aluminum
Housing color Gray
Maximum wind speed 125 mph (201 km/h)
Temperature range –40° C to +65° C
Humidity Up to 100%
IP rating IP65
Specifications IEC-68, ETSI 300-019
Environmental ETSI EN 300 019-2-2, 2-3, & 2-4; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002 zone
4 earthquake; NEBS GR 63 core issue 2 2002 § 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5,
5.6, & 5.7
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
ATCB-B01 Series
Available in lengths ranging from 0.5 m–60 m, with flame retardant polyurethane (PUR) jacket
Mechanical/Environmental
Standard length, m: .5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 9.0,
10.0, 15.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 50.0, 60.0
Jacket: Flame retardant, Polyeurthane
Temperature range: –40° C to +70° C
Humidity: Up to 100%
IP rating: IP67, mated and unmated
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
Notes:
1. The main control cable, feeding to the tower structure, should be secured at 2m intervals and 1m from either end using
cableties (Andrew 40417), hangers (Andrew 68MCLICK), or similar fasteners. Control cabling feeding between junction boxes
and actuators should be secured every 0.5m to avoid excessive wind vibration.
2. Connectors should only be hand tightened. Over tightening can shear pins off internal components of equipment.
3. Connectors do not require waterproofing.
4. Maximum distance from control unit to farthest AISG component in a RET system should not exceed 200m.
Electrical
Surge >30 kA 8/20 ms
ATGK-001 Mechanical/Environmental
Provides grounding for RET control cable Net weight 0.65 lb (0.28 kg)
Shipping weight 1.75 lb (0.8 kg)
Shipping dimensions
–L x W x D 7 x 6.75 x 6.75 in (178 x 172 x 172 mm)
Clamp diameter
Maximum 4 in (102 mm)
Minimum 2 in (51 mm)
Grounding cable
Nominal 0.197 in (16 mm)
Length 24 in (610 mm)
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most up-to-date information.
4 in (102 mm)
602299
Provides lightning protection for Teletilt® RET equipment
Instead of a home run control cable up the height of a tower or building, the AISG signals can be
injected (piggy-backed) into the existing RF cable by using smart bias tees. For this to be done, a
smart bias tee is installed at the bottom of the antenna line devices and modulates the AISG signals
into the RF cable.
There are two options that can be used for dividing out the AISG signal from the RF cable into
control cables leading to the antenna line devices at the top of the site. One option is to use a
second smart bias tee at the top. The AISG port on that smart bias tee can be connected to a
junction box, actuator, or any other RET device. A second option is to use an AISG tower mounted
amplifier (TMA), which also has an AISG port for connecting to any RET devices.
RET System Using AISG Port on ATC300-1000 with Either Smart Bias Tees or
an AISG TMA at the Top
Antenna
Actuator
Coaxial
Cable
AISG USB ~
~~~ ~
~~~ ~
~~~ ~
~~~
ATC200-LITE-USB
Portable Controller
or
ATC300-1000 Lightning
Controller Protection Unit
BTS
AISG Connector
or
Crossover
Ethernet Network
Cable
Electrical Mechanical/Environmental
Support Up to 32 devices Net weight 0.66 kg (1.46 lbs)
Frequency range 800–960 MHz and 1710–2170 MHz Dimensions (base), L x W x D 3.86" x 2.72" x 1.97" (98 x 69 x 50 mm)
Insertion loss Temperature range –40° C to +60° C
Port 1 and 2 <0.1 dB IP rating IP67, indoor and outdoor
Isolation for dc/RET data signals Per AISG standard Grounding lug M6
Impedance 50 ohms Mounting hole M6–7 deep
VSWR <1.15:1
Intermodulation <–160 dBc (3rd order; 2 x 20 W)
Surge Protection (Port 1) 10 kA (8/20 μs)
EMC IEC 61000-6-4, IEC 61000-6-2
Connectors/Interfaces
24 V Models ATBT-S525, Bottom Unit ATBT-S526, Bottom Unit ATBT-S522, Top Unit
Port 1 (RF/dc/data) 7–16 DIN, female 7–16 DIN, male 7–16 DIN, male
Port 2 (RF/dc blocked) 7–16 DIN, male 7–16 DIN, female 7–16 DIN, female
Port 3 (dc/data) AISG 8–pin, male AISG 8–pin, male AISG 8–pin, female
(IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0) (IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0) (IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0)
Input Power (max) , Ports 1 and 2 750 W at 850 MHz CW 750 W at 850 MHz CW 750 W at 850 MHz CW
Input Power (max) , Port 3 10 V to 30 V (1500 mA) 19 V to 30 V (1500 mA) 10 V to 30 V (1500 mA)
12 V Models ATBT-S 508, Bottom Unit ATBT-S511, Bottom Unit ATBT-S509, Top Unit
Port 1 (RF/dc/data) 7–16 DIN, female 7–16 DIN, male 7–16 DIN, female
Port 2 (RF/dc blocked) 7–16 DIN, male 7–16 DIN, female 7–16 DIN, male
Port 3 (dc/data) AISG 8–pin, male AISG 8–pin, male AISG 8–pin, female
(IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0) (IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0) (IEC 60130-9-Ed.3.0)
Input power (max.), Ports 1 and 2 750 W at 850 MHz CW 750 W at 850 MHz CW 750 W at 850 MHz CW
Input power (max.), Port 3 10 V to 15 V (3500 mA) 10 V to 15 V (3500 mA) 10 V to 15 V (3500 mA)
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
The OneBase™ family of Andrew Wireless Solutions AISG tower mounted amplifiers can be used
at the top of an Andrew Teletilt RET system in the same way a smart bias tee is used. Similar to
a smart bias tee, the AISG tower mounted amplifier (TMA) extracts the AISG signal and dc power
from the coaxial cable run and delivers it to the antenna RET line devices through its AISG interface.
OneBase TMAs offer several RF path advantages, such as:
D Optimizes network performance
D Enhances coverage, capacity, and signal quality with improved voice clarity and data speed
D Improves uplink performance, which ensures optimum coverage of fringe areas, weak spots, and
indoor locations
PCS Twin AISG TMA D Guarantees improved sensitivity to reduce dropped calls and failed connection attempts
D Provides lower handset output to extend talk time and reduce interference in GSM/EDGE, UMTS,
and CDMA systems
D Installs easily in any wireless system
Select from two full band twin AISG TMA models (E15S09P94 for PCS or E15S08P80 for AWS),
as well as Andrew’s dual band TMA (E15S08P78) that provides full band operation for both PCS
and AWS bands. Each model is enclosed in a self-contained body that is engineered to ensure
the highest reliability in severe environments, while featuring a very compact size and attractive
appearance.
Electrical, Uplink
Frequency range 1710–1755 MHz 1850–1910 MHz
Gain 12 ± 0.6 dB 12 ± 1.0 dB
Total group delay (maximum) 40 ns 150 ns
Delay variation–any 5 MHz BW (maximum) 10 ns 50 ns
Delay variation–any 240 MHz BW (maximum) – 10 ns Bias Tee CPU & AISG Bias Tee
VSWR Alarm
Alarm threshold-return loss <9.54 ± 2 dB <9.54 ± 2 dB
Power
Power supply voltage 7–30 Vdc 7–30 Vdc
Operating current @ 12 V 130 ± 20 mA 130 ± 20 mA
Operating current @ 15 V 105 ± 20 mA 105 ± 20 mA
Operating current @ 24 V 70 ± 15 mA 70 ± 15 mA
Failure current consumption @ 10–18 V 190 ± 10 mA 190 ± 10 mA
Mechanical
Weight without mounting brackets 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) 6.7 kg (14.8 lb)
Dimensions–H x D x W 160 x 196 x 78 mm (6.3 x 7.7 x 3.0 in) 260 x 170 x 95 mm (10.2 x 6.7 x 3.7 in)
Finish Gray paint Gray paint
Connectors, RF 7–16 DIN, female (longneck) 7–16 DIN, female (longneck)
Connector, AISG 8–pin circle, IEC 60130 8–pin circle, IEC 60130
Ground screw diameter 1/4 in 1/4 in
Operating temperature range –40° C to +65° C –40° C to +65° C
Ingress protection IP67 IP67
Lightning protection, antenna port dc ground dc ground
Lightning protection, BTS port 20 kA, 8/20 waveform 20 kA, 8/20 waveform
Electrical, Uplink
Frequency range 1710–1755 MHz 1850–1910 MHz
Gain 12 ± 1.0 dB 12 ± 1.0 dB
Total group delay (maximum) 40 ns 150 ns
Delay variation–any 5 MHz BW (maximum) 8 ns 55 ns
Group delay distortion–any 240 MHz BW (maximum) – 10 ns Bias Tee CPU & AISG Bias Tee
Electrical, Downlink
Frequency range 2110–2155 MHz 1930–1990 MHz
Insertion loss (typical) 0.22 dB 0.6 dB
Insertion loss (maximum) 0.3 dB 0.7 dB
Group delay (maximum) 15 ns 55 ns
Delay variation–any 5 MHz BW (maximum) 8 ns 18 ns
Return loss (minimum) 18 dB 18 dB
Intermodulation at antenna port (typical) b–155 dBc (3rd order; 2 x 20 W) b–155 dBc (3rd order; 2 x 20 W)
Power handling–operational ± 53 dBm (200 W) ± 53 dBm (200 W)
Power handling–survival ± 57 dBm (500 W) ± 57 dBm (500 W)
AISG
Protocol AISG 1.1 or AISG 2.0
RET antenna support 24 Vdc and RS-485
VSWR Alarm
VSWR alarm threshold–return loss <9.54 ± 2 dB
Power
Power supply voltage 7–30 Vdc
Operating current @ 12 V 130 ± 20 mA
Operating current @ 15 V 105 ± 20 mA
Operating current @ 24 V 70 ± 15 mA
Failure current consumption @ 10–18 V 190 ± 10 mA
Mechanical
Weight without mounting brackets 6.3 kg (13.9 lb)
Dimensions–H x D x W 238 x 186 x 90 mm (9.4 x 7.3 x 3.5 in)
Finish Gray paint
Connectors, RF 7–16 DIN, female (longneck)
Connector, AISG 8–pin circle, IEC 60130
Ground screw diameter 1/4 in
Operating temperature range –40° C to +65° C
Ingress protection IP67
Lightning protection, antenna port dc ground
Lightning protection, BTS/Node B port 20 kA, 8/20 waveform
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
The Teletilt ATC300-1000 rack mount controller provides an additional option for injecting the AISG
signal into the RF cable. The new family of dc 2.1 bias tees are used as an alternative to smart bias
tees when using the SMB ports on the controller instead of the AISG connection.
There are two options that can be used for dividing out the AISG signal from the RF cable into
control cables leading to the antenna line devices at the top of the site. One option is to use a
smart bias tee at the top. The AISG port on that smart bias tee can be connected to a junction box,
actuator, or any other RET device. A second option is to use an AISG tower mounted amplifier (TMA),
which also has an AISG port for connecting to any RET devices.
RET System Using SMB Ports on ATC300-1000 with Either a Smart Bias Tee or
an AISG TMA at the Top
Antenna
Actuator
Smart Bias Tee AISG
TMA AISG
Control
Cable
Coaxial
Cable AISG Coaxial
Surge Arrestor
Coaxial cable for SMB/SMA Ports
ATC300-1000
Controller
AISG Connector
Six SMB Jack BTS
or Connectors
Crossover
Ethernet Network
Cable
Electrical
Frequency range 698–960 MHz and 1710–2180 MHz
AISG frequency 2.0–2.3 MHz
Insertion loss, typical 0.10 dB
Isolation for dc/RET data signals 50 dB
Impedence 50 ohms
Port 3 Peak power, maximum 12 kW
Port 2 (dc/data)
Average power 500 W @ 883 MHz and
(RF/dc blocked)
350 W @ 1940 MHz (combined)
Intermodulation <–159 dBc (3rd order; 2 x 20 W)
ABT-DFDM-ADBA Lightning protection capability 10 times @ 6kA
Connectors/Interfaces
24 V Models ABT-DFDM-ADBA, Bottom Unit ABT-DMDF-ADBA, Bottom Unit
Port 1 (RF/dc/data) 7–16 DIN, female 7–16 DIN, male
Port 2 (RF/dc blocked) 7–16 DIN, male 7–16 DIN, female
Port 3 (dc/data) SMA, female SMA, female
Mechanical
Net weight 0.52 kg (1.14 lb)
Dimensions, L x W x D 82 x 40 x 42 mm (3.2 x 1.6 x 1.7 in)
Temperature range –40° C to +65° C
IP rating IP68
Grounding lug M6 x 1.0
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
Mechanical
Interface 1 7-16 DIN female bulkhead 7-16 DIN female bulkhead
Interface 2 7-16 DIN female 7-16 DIN male
Weight 0.64 kg (1.41 lb) 0.60 kg (1.32 lb)
Height 81.03 mm (3.19 in) 87.88 mm (3.46 in)
Length 87.88 mm (3.46 in) 87.88 mm (3.46 in)
Width 41.91 mm (1.65 in) 41.91 mm (1.65 in)
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
C100-PSMSB-M8
The Andrew C100-PSMSB-M8 braided coaxial cable provides a connection between an SMB port
on the ATC300-1000 Teletilt controller and the SMA port of an ABT series dc 2.1 bias tee. Please
contact Andrew Wireless Solutions for additional lengths.
Electrical
Model C100-PSMSB-M8
Cable construction type CNT-100 braided coaxial, black jacket
Connector type SMB, male
Impedance 50 ohms
Insertion loss (typical), 824–960 MHz 0.95 dB
Insertion loss (typical), 1910–2170 MHz 1.35 dB
Mechanical
Dimensions, L 0.8 m
Bending radius 6.4 mm
C100-PSMSB-M8 Torque, normal 0.8–1.1 Nm
Torque, waterproof 1.7 Nm
Operating temperature range –40° C to +85° C
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
Configuration Options
With the Teletilt AISG System Configurator, you are able to choose which type of site location you
are working with (tower top or roof top), build sectors with desired Andrew Teletilt RET compatible
antennas, select the type of controller that best fits your application, add smart bias tees, and specify
data cable lengths for each location needed in the RET system.
Ordering your Teletilt RET system components is easy with your custom configured bill of materials, electronically produced
using the Teletilt® AISG Configurator
Manage sites remotely over a secure Internet connection, schedule adjustments, and monitor activities
Mechanical
Net weight, kit: 1.8 kg (3.9 lbs)
Dimensions, kit–L x W x D: 248 x 270 x 124 mm
(9.8 x 10.6 x 4.4 in)
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
ATTK200-KIT
The cable tester consists of a switch box and an LED unit. These The RET system tester checks The breakout box enables short or
components connect to each end of an AISG RET control cable to for opens, shorts, high voltage, open conditions on the individual
locate shorts, opens, and wiring errors. (Requires a 9 Vdc battery.) low voltage, and data levels. (For AISG RET control cable without
example, a red LED lit on +24 Vdc cutting into the cable.
indicates voltage out of range.)
ATTK-SB Switch Box ATTK-LU LED Unit ATTK-SA RET System Tester ATTK-BB Breakout Box
40417
68MCLICK
252029-10KT
252026-10KT
cable. This hanger is especially designed to reduce vibrations caused by the wind from affecting
the RET control cabling. Its unique retention tabs, located on the spring fork, highly resist pop-out
occurrences and allow motion to simply be absorbed.
The SSHAK-38 SnapStak hanger installs in 0.75 in (19 mm) holes in support structures 0.125 in
(0.120 to 0.150 in) thick. Its stainless steel construction offers exceptional integrity, even in highly
corrosive environments and extreme weather conditions. No hardware is required for installation!
Mounts to pre-punched 0.75 in (19 mm) holes. Kit includes ten SnapStak hangers and ten SSHA-38
grommets.
Part Number Description
SSHAK-38 SnapStak Hangers with SSHA-38 grommets for RET control cable,
kit of 10
SSHA-38 Grommets for RET control cable, kit of 10
SSHAK-38
Micro AcCELLerator™ Andrew Wireless Solutions offers a wide variety of base station antenna concealment solutions including:
Antennas
D Micro AcCELLerator™ tri-sector antennas with fixed and variable tilt models for 1800/1900/UMTS
D AcCELLerator™ antenna mounting solutions with both hardware and accessories for field installation
Ordering Information
See specifications and product selection information for more details about Andrew antenna
concealment solution products. Use the ordering worksheets provided to help configure your
AcCELLerator™ Antenna customized solution and submit it to receive a quote or place an order. Contact Andrew’s Customer
Mounting Solutions Support Center (CSC) for more information.
Andrew’s commitment to providing the most innovative solutions in the industry includes ongoing
product development—watch for additions to the Micro AcCELLerator series featuring antennas with
integrated AISG OneBase™ tower mounted amplifiers.
CSH-6516A-VT 340
350 0 10
20
330 30
Micro AcCELLerator™ Wideband DualPol® Tri-Sector Antenna 320 40
310 50
Electrical 300 60
Mechanical 340
350 0 10
20
330 30
Weight, lb (kg) 46.5 (21.0) 320 40
Max. wind load at 100 mph, lbf (N) 78.7 (350) 290 70
240 120
Base Flange Dimensions
230 130
Note: Dimensions are shown in inches (mm). 120.0° 220 140
210 150
200 160
190 170
0° 180
60. 2.4 (60.0)
1.2 (30.0) Elevation
1920 MHz, 2° Tilt
R0.6
R(15.0)
Typical
Concealment Horizontal EDT
Solution Beamwidth Option
CS H – 65 16 – VT
Ø7.9 (200.0)
1.6 (39.9) R 3.1 (80.0) Frequency Gain
Typical Band in dBd
R1.2 (30.0)
All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
MTRR75-17-000DPL2
Micro AcCELLerator™ DualPol® Tri-Sector Antenna
Electrical
Frequency, MHz 1850–1990
Polarization ±45°
Gain, dBd (dBi) 14.9 (17.0)
Azimuth BW, degrees 75
Elevation BW, degrees 6
Beam tilt, degrees 0º
USLS, dB 18
Isolation, dB >30
VSWR 1.35:1 maximum
Power handling, watts 250
Passive intermodulation r–147 dBc at 2 x 20 W (+43 dBm)
Lightning protection dc ground
Mechanical
Weight, lb (kg) 20 (9.1)
Dimensions, L x OD, in (cm) 57 x 6.25 (144.7 x 15.9)
Max. wind load at 100 mph, lbf (N) 50 (220)
MTRR Series DualPol® Max. wind speed, mph (km/h) 150 (241)
Micro AcCELLerator™ Antenna Connector type 7–16 DIN–female (6, bottom)
Mounting options MTG-A30-02, MTG-A30-03, MTG-A30-04, MTG A40 00
270˚
240˚ 300˚ Base Flange Dimensions
Note: Dimensions are shown in inches (mm). Ø 6.75 (171)
210˚ 330˚
180˚ 0˚
6 x 1.255 (32) SQ
0 -10 -20 -30 -40 7-16 DIN
Connector
150˚ 30˚
120˚ 60˚
90˚
Azimuth 1.69 (43)
270˚
240˚ 300˚ 1.36 (35)
210˚ 330˚
150˚ 30˚
120˚ 60˚
90˚
Elevation All specifications are subject to change. Please see www.andrew.com for the most current information.
2° Tilt
Ø 6.68 (170)
3 x Ø 0.625 (16)
through on
Ø 5 (127) Bolt Circ
10 (254)
0° 12.5°
x3 3 x R7.2 (183) ± 1.5
12
12 x 5° Ø18 (457) ± 1.5
A 3 x 120°
12 x R0.51 (13)
R0.35 (8.9)
C
B
3 x 120°
3 x R3.5 (89) ± 1.5
3 x 0.63 (16) Ø4.02 (102) ± 1.5
3 x 1.26 (32)
Please complete the configuration worksheet shown below and fax it to Andrew’s Customer Support Center:
From North America send to 1-800-349-5444 or from outside North America send to +1-779-435-8579. You will receive a written quotation
containing pricing and lead time. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Andrew’s Customer Support Center: From North America
call 1-800-255-1479 or from outside North America call +1-708-873-2307, or contact your local Andrew Sales Office.
AcCELLerator™ Solution
Antenna Models Stand
DB800TREE QTY: 1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sector 1
Mounting Kits
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sector 2 800TREEKIT QTY:
Notes:
1. The universal stand and mounting kits are designed for Andrew antennas.
2. See Hardware Selection pages to select the type of mounting kits and quantities needed for your antennas and the concealment solution you have chosen.
3. Contact Andrew's Customer Support Center for additional information on concealment products.
11653
ASPA320
ASPR616
For DB222, DB224, and DB264. Includes top sway brace. Use DB5001 for 3 in (76.2 mm)
1.9375 in
(49 mm) dia. tower members, DB5001-SP5 for 5 in (127 mm) tower members, and DB5001-SP7 for 7 in
(178 mm) tower members.
Net weight, lb (kg) 21 (9.5)
Shipping weight, lb (kg) 23 (10.45)
1.6875 in
(43 mm) dia.
DB5007
DB5091-3
ASPR614
DB380-CTSDG
DB380-OFFSET
DB390
DB5083
CTSDG style antenna
DB380 DB380-OFFSET
602030A
DB800TREE
MTG-P00-20S MTG-P00-30S
MTG-D15-20S MTG-D15-30S
Rx
Rx
Antenna Fundamentals
Base Station Antenna Materials
and Mechanical Characteristics
Applications/Engineering Notes
Overview
Andrew Wireless Solutions designs, manufactures, and delivers innovative and essential communica-
tions equipment and solutions for the global telecommunications infrastructure market. Our products
cover virtually the entire radio frequency (RF) footprint for applications that connect the world.
Andrew offers base station antenna system solutions for professional communications systems.
Recognized around the world as technically advanced professional base station antenna systems,
Andrew incorporates multiple value-added features that have made them the preferred products of
system managers, designers, and engineers.
The Applications/Engineering Notes are a comprehensive information guide to base station antennas.
For all other Andrew product information please visit www.andrew.com.
Rx Tx
Trunking
(SMR) WAVELENGTH (L)
806 824 851 869
The ratio of the velocity of the wave to the
frequency of the current causing the wave.
Rx Tx
800 Cellular L (feet) = 984 (300 m) in free space.
f (MHz)
824 849 869 894
Wavelength at higher frequencies is more
conveniently expressed in inches:
Rx Tx
L (inches) = 11808 (300 m)
E-TACS f (MHz)
872 905 917 950
Rx Tx
900 GSM
Rx Tx
GSM 1800
Rx Tx
PCS 1900
Rx Tx
UMTS
Rx Tx
AWS
There are two basic types of base station antennas used in cellular style systems: omni-directional
(omni) antennas and directional or sector antennas.
Omni antennas are generally used for low capacity sites where sectorization is not required. Typical
examples are more rurally located sites.
Most sites in urban and suburban areas use sectorized antennas to achieve higher capacity. To date,
the most popular option is a 3-sector (120°) solution, but 6-sector solutions are used where capacity
issues are severe.
Diversity/Air Combining
For many rural and suburban sites, diversity is accomplished using spatial diversity. To achieve
spatial diversity, two uplink antennas per sector are placed far enough apart so that the signals they
receive are uncorrelated.
High Density Cell Configuration Using Diversity Polarization for Diversity Gain
The use of a single antenna containing two arrays at orthogonal polarizations (horizontal/vertical
or +45°) is useful in dense urban areas with high multipath. Some studies note that in urban areas
with high multipath, polarization diversity gain results can outperform spatial diversity. The use of a
quad or four port +45° antenna can provide for air combining, which is useful in avoiding additional
transmit combiner losses when overlaying additional frequency.
Cell Reuse
The principles behind the cellular concept employ the reuse of frequencies over and over again
throughout the network to gain capacity. Typically cells are represented as hexagons (Figure 1),
which shows a reuse pattern of N=7.
Depending on the capacity requirement, these cells can have diameters measured either in miles
or in hundreds of feet. Since given frequencies are reused throughout the system, the channel
sensitivity becomes interference limited rather than noise limited like older non-cellular systems.
Therefore it can be seen that specialized pattern shaping, both azimuth and elevation, can go a long
way toward optimizing coverage inside the desired sector and minimizing interference from and into
undesired sectors/cells.
2
2 7 4
2 7 4 1 120
°
N=7 7
1
4
5
1
6
5
3
6
2
5 6 3 2 7 4
3 2 7 4 1
2 7 4 1 5 6
7 4 1 5 6 3 2
1 5 6 3 2 7 4
5 6 3 2 7 4 1
3 2 7 4 1 5 6
1
7 4 1 5 6 3
1 5 6 3
A D 5 6 3
12
3
0
B
C
1
S
D2 = A2+B2-2ABxCOS(d) C2 = S2+(C/2)2
D = 5.3S S2 = C2-(C/2)2
S2 = 0.75C2
S = 0.866C
Figure 1
Tx Tx Tx Rx Rx
Tx
Tx
Rx Rx
Rx
Rx
Omni Sector/Platform
Shown above are typical 3-sector sites. 6-sector sites are used for additional capacity.
One of the most critical elements of a wireless communications system is the antenna. Probe
A base station antenna represents only a small part of the overall cost of a communications Antenna
site, but its performance impact is enormous. Its function is to transform conduction currents Antenna
Under Test
(found on wires, coaxial cable, and waveguides) into displacement currents—it’s this invisible
phenomenon that makes radio communications possible. The antenna’s impact on the radio
system is determined by choosing the antenna with the appropriate characteristics defined by
its specifications.
The following information describes and defines the most common parameters used to specify
base station antennas.
Radiation Pattern
The most important requirement is describing where an antenna radiates energy into the space
around it. A radiation pattern is a graphical representation of where and how much energy is
radiated. Every antenna should come with such a representation.
The radiation characteristics of an antenna are determined by moving a simple probe antenna,
which is connected to a radio receiver, around the antenna at a constant distance, noting the
received signal level as a function of angular coordinates. For a complete 3-dimensional Figure 2 Measuring Radiation Patterns
characterization, the probe antenna would be moved over a spherical surface. See Figure 2.
A typical far-field range setup is shown in Figure 3 where D is the maximum dimension of the
Antenna Under Test.
Source
Antenna Antenna
Under Test
Polarization
Positioner
Test
Positioner
Positioner Positioner
Receiver Source Control Indicators
Pattern
Recorder
135 45
1.1
1 150 30
0.9
0.8 165 15
0.7
0.6 180 0
0.5
195 345
0.4
0.3
210 330
0.2
0.1 315
0
225
240 300
Figure 6
-180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 255 270 285 Rectangular and Polar Plots of Absolute Linear
Elevation Angle (degs)
Polar Plot Center = 0 Voltage Levels for an Isotropic Radiator and a
isotropic radiator isotropic radiator 0.2 units/radial division
half-wave dipole half-wave dipole 15°/angular division Half-Wave Dipole
1.4
150 30
1.2
165 15
1
0.8 180 0
120 60
-5 135 45
-10 150 30
-15 165 15
-20
180 0
-25
195 345
-30
210 330
-35
-40
225
240 300
315
Figure 8
-180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180
255
270 285 Rectangular and Polar Plots of Absolute Power
Elevation Angle (degs)
isotropic radiator
Polar Plot Center = -40 dBi Levels in dBi for an Isotropic Radiator and a
isotropic radiator 5 dBi/radial division
half-wave dipole half-wave dipole 15°/angular division Half-Wave Dipole
135 45
-10
150 30
-15
165 15
-20
180 0
-25
195 345
-30
210 330
-35
225 315
-40
240 300
-180 -150 -120 -90 -60 -30 0 30 60 90 120 150 180
255 270 285 Figure 9
Elevation Angle (degs)
Rectangular and Polar Plots of Relative Power
isotropic radiator isotropic radiator Polar Plot Center = -40 dB
half-wave dipole half-wave dipole 5 dB/radial division Levels in dB for an Isotropic Radiator and a
half-power, -3 dB level half-power, -3 dB level 15o/angular division
Half-Wave Dipole
Antenna Gain
Perhaps the second most important parameter in selecting a base station antenna is gain. Gain is
proportional to the product of directivity and the antenna’s efficiency. Directivity is a measure of how
an antenna focuses energy, while the antenna’s efficiency accounts for losses associated with the
antenna.
G=eD
G (dBi) = 10 log 10 (e D)
Gain is always referenced to an isotropic radiator (a device that radiates energy in all directions
equally). The unit of measure is the dBi. Gain also may be referenced to a half-wave dipole, where
the unit of measure is dBd. The gain of a dipole is 2.15 dBi or 0.00 dBd.
Figure 10 compares the gain of a given antenna rated in dBi (dB with respect to an isotropic
radiator) to the same antenna rated in dBd (dB WRT a 1/2 wave dipole).
Figure 10
As aperture size increases, gain increases. For wireless sector and omni antennas, aperture size is
mainly determined by the antenna’s length. In general, gain doubles (3 dB increase) when the
antenna length doubles. Practically, as length increases so do the losses, and a length will be
reached where any increase in size will not give any substantial increase in gain, due to a matching
increase in loss.
41250
D (dBi) = 10*log 10 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
(0.53*HBW3dB +0.25*HBW10dB +18)*VBW3dB
90
Front-to-Back Ratio
100 80
120
110 70
60
The front-to-back ratio is the ratio of the maximum directivity of an
130 50 antenna (usually at . = 0°, = 0° in the altazimuth coordinate
140 40
system) to its directivity in a rearward direction antenna (usually at
150 30 . = 0°, = 180° in the altazimuth coordinate system). Figure 11
160 20 shows the HPBW and front-to-back ratio for a typical horizontal
170 10 pattern.
Front-to-Back
180 0 Half Power
Ratio
190 350
Beamwidth Side Lobes and Nulls
200 340
A typical vertical pattern is shown in Figure 12. The main lobe (or
210 330
main beam or major lobe) is the lobe in which the direction of max-
220 320
imum radiation occurs. A number of minor lobes are found above
230 310
and below the main lobe. These are termed side lobes. Between
240
250 290
300 these side lobes are directions in which little or no radiation occurs.
260 270 280
These are termed nulls. Nulls may represent a 30 or more dB
Horizontal Pattern Polar Plot Center = -40 dB reduction (less than one-thousandth the energy of the main beam)
5 dB/radial division
-3 dB level
10 /angular division
10°/angular
in received signal level in that direction.
Techniques exist to lower upper side lobes and redirect some of
Figure 11 Horizontal Pattern Polar Plot showing HPBW and Front-to-Back Ratio the radiating energy and fill in nulls. This is termed null fill. Often,
the consequence of doing this is to widen the main lobe and thus
lower the directivity and reduce the antenna’s gain.
100 90 80
110 70
120 60
130 50 Side Lobes Cross-Polarization Ratio (CPR)
140 40
Nulls CPR is a comparison of the co-polarized vs. cross-polarized pattern
150 30
performance of a dual-polarized antenna generally over the sector
Main Lobe
Back Lobe 160 20
of interest (alternatively over the 3 dB beamwidth).
170 10 Main Lobe Maximum
It is a measure of the ability of a cross-polarized array to distin-
180 0
guish between orthogonal waves. The better the CPR, the better
190 350
the performance of polarization diversity.
200 340
Null Fill
210 330
220 320
230 310
240 300
250 290
Polar Plot Center = -40 dB
260 270 280 5 dB/radial division
10o/angular division
120° 120°
Directed
Typical Dipole™
Co-Polarization
Cross-Pol Ratio (CPR) Cross-Polarization (Source at 90°)
The amount of pointing error of a given beam referenced to mechanical boresite. Mechanical
Mechanical Electrical
Electrical
Boresite
Boresite Boresite
Boresite
The beam squint can affect the sector coverage if it is not at mechanical boresite. It 0/2
Squint
can also affect the performance of the polarization diversity style antennas if the two 350 0 10
0
340 20
arrays do not have similar patterns. –3 dB 330 30 +3 dB
320 40
310 50
Horizontal Beam Tracking
300 60
Refers to the beam tracking between the two beams of a ±45° polarization diversity
antenna over a specified angular range. 290 70
280 80
For optimum diversity performance, the beams should track as closely as possible.
270 90
260 100
Sector Power Ratio (SPR)
SPR is a ratio expressed in percentage of the power outside the desired sector to the 250 110
power inside the desired sector created by an antenna’s pattern. 240 120
230 130
It is a percentage that allows comparison of various antennas. The better the SPR,
220 140
the better the interference performance of the system. 210 150
200 160
190 180 170
Beam Squint
120°
120°
350 0 10
340 20
330 30 350 0 10
340 20
320 40 330 30
310 50 320 40
310 50
300 60
–45° +45°
300 60 Array
290 70 Array
290 70
280 80
280 80
270 90
270 90
260 100
260 100
250 110
250 110
240 120
240 120
230 130
300
Sector Power Ratio ,60
P Undesired Horizontal Beam Tracking
SPR (%) = —————
60 X 100
, P Desired
300
15
capacity loss (dB)
Percentage of
10
0
0 5 10 15
Overlapping angle (degree)
The graph shown above was used in the following technical paper:
“Effect of Soft and Softer Handoffs on CDMA System Capacity”
By: Chin-Chun Lee et al., IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 47, NO. 3, AUGUST 1998
Parameters like improved azimuth pattern rolloff beyond the 3 dB points and improved front-to-back
ratio—both co-polarization and cross-polarization—are key features. The goal is to have enough
sector-to-sector overlap to accommodate desired handoffs, while minimizing the excess overlap
which can result in interference. In CDMA type systems this shows up as pilot pollution, while in GSM
systems it can show up as unwanted coverage. The excerpt graph shown above presents a quantita-
tive measure of how this overlapping angle can affect capacity loss in a CDMA network. Qualitatively,
excessive overlay also reduces capacity of TDMA and GSM systems.
Polarization
The polarization of an antenna is a property of the radio wave that is produced by the antenna.
u2
Polarization describes how the radio wave (displacement current, electric field vector) varies in space E 2m
E
with time. This is an important concept because for a radio wave transmitted with a given polariza-
tion to be received by another antenna, the receive antenna must be able to receive this polarization
and be oriented to do so. At a given point in space, the general shape traced by the electric field
u1
E 1m
vector is an ellipse, shown in Figure 13.
The instantaneous value of the wave (blue arrows) can be written as:
Where : is the phase by which the u2-component leads the u1-component. Figure 13 General Polarization Ellipse
A summary of basic polarization types and necessary component values is shown in the table below.
Polarization E 1M E 2M :
Vertical 0 1 0˚
Horizontal 1 0 0˚
Slant right 45° 1/2 1/2 0˚
Slant left 45° 1/2 1/2 180˚
Right-hand circular 1/2 1/2 –90˚
Left-hand circular 1/2 1/2 90˚
Figure 14 illustrates these basic polarization types. Polarizations are said to be orthogonal if any
arbitrary polarization can be expressed as a combination of the two orthogonal polarizations. The
most common two orthogonal polarizations are vertical and horizontal. All practical antennas are
composed of two orthogonal components. The cross-polarized response is the power received by the
polarization orthogonal to the desired polarization (co-polarization) in a specified plane.
Figure 15 Beamtilt
Mechanical To reduce the coverage of a specific antenna, not only can the
Downtilt input power be reduced but the main lobe can be tilted below the
Back Lobe Peak Horizontal
Pattern (Disc) horizon (maximum radiation does not occur in the direction of the
horizon). The simplest way to achieve this is to mechanically tilt
the antenna. The antenna can also be designed so that the main
Main Lobe Peak lobe does not point toward the horizon. This is achieved by electri-
cal techniques associated with the antenna’s feed network and is
termed electrical downtilt.
Axis of Rotation When an antenna is mechanically tilted, its radiation characteristics
do not change. However, the coverage on the ground is affected.
This can best be explained by using Figure 15. Imagine that the
horizontal pattern is a disc that is rotated about an axis that lies
Figure 16 110
100 90 80
70
120
110
100 90 80
70
60 perpendicular to the direction of main radiation (main lobe). When
120 60
Patterns 130 50 130 50
140 40 140 40 the disc is rotated so that the main beam tilts down, at ±90
using 30
Mechanical 160
150 30
20
150
160 20
degrees from the peak (axis of rotation), nothing happens, while
Downtilt 170 10 170 10 at ±180 degrees (back lobe), the pattern points upwards, Thus, a
180
190 350
0 180
190
0
350
mechanically tilted sector antenna gives a reduced coverage foot-
200 340 200 340 print at the peak of the beam, but as the angle increases from this
210
220 320
330 210
220 320
330
point, the effect of the beamtilt decreases.
230 310 230 310
240 300 240 300
250
260 270 280
290 250
260 270 280
290
Figure 16 shows how the horizontal radiation pattern becomes
Vertical Pattern Horizontal Pattern
distorted as mechanical tilt increases. This is because at a
Mechanical Tilt 0° 4° 6° 8° 10° constant distance, as the pattern tilts, the received signal level
is not a function of the main beam peak but is a function of the
slope of the main lobe or even an upper side lobe. While at ±90
Figure 17 degrees, no change in the horizontal pattern occurs.
Electrical
With electrical downtilt, the radiation characteristics of the
Downtilt
antenna do change. This can be visualized by taking the horizontal
pattern disc, mentioned above, and cutting into its center so that a
Back Lobe Peak
Main Lobe Peak
cone can be formed. Now, the whole pattern is tilted, as shown in
Figure 17.
Figure 18 shows how the horizontal radiation pattern remains the
same shape as electrical tilt increases.
Horizontal
Pattern (Cone) Andrew Corporation offers two categories of antennas with beam-
tilting capabilities:
D Manual electrical tilt (MET)
Figure 18 110
100 90 80
70 110
100 90 80
70 D Remote electrical tilt (RET)
60
Patterns 130
120
50 130
120 60
50
40 40
using 140
150 30 150
140
30 To adjust a Manual Electrical Tilt antenna, a person must physically
Electrical 160 20 160 20
adjust the antenna’s tilt mechanism. The tilt mechanism allows
Downtilt 170 10 170 10
As an alternative, a remote electrical tilt antenna has an actuator or motor drive attached to the
antenna to allow the tilt to be adjusted remotely from the base of the tower using a local controller.
Multiple antennas/sites can be controlled independently or in groups using this concept.
See the Teletilt® section of this catalog for more information.
VSWR – 1
R.L. = 20 log 10 ( ) = 20 log 10 ( –––––––––––– )
VSWR + 1
Intermodulation
A characteristic of passive devices used in radio systems that is becoming increasingly important is
intermodulation distortion (IMD). Nonlinearities within these passive devices cause the appearance of
unwanted frequencies equal to the integral multiples and sums and differences of integral multiples
of the unwanted frequencies. The simplest scenario is when two carriers at frequency f1 and f2 are
fed into an antenna. If a nonlinearity is present, then the following frequencies are generated:
f IMD = n f 1 ± m f 2
For passive devices, the fIMD that contain the most amount of energy are the third order products,
2 f1 – f2 and 2 f2 + f1. Although these products do not often cause problems, they are the easiest to
measure and usually specified. Figure 20 is a graphical representation of the 2-carrier IMD situation.
In passive devices, significant intermodulation is usually caused by ferromagnetic components in the
RF path and poor connections between metal parts. The presence of significant intermodulation can
be mitigated by a combination of good design and good construction practices.
Level (dBm)
LC
LIMD3(dBc)
LIMD3
2 f 1 - f2 f1 f2 2 f2 -f1 Frequency
Power Rating
The input power to the antenna terminals verifies that the antenna can safely handle and deliver
its rated performance. Generally, it is limited to the power handling capacity of the feed line. Many
digital systems will include both average power and peak power requirements.
undue change, resistance to ultraviolet Mechanical Characteristics The minimum design criteria for wind
radiation from sunlight and to certain gases, While electrical characteristics determine load should be to handle true wind velocities
mechanical strength, mechanical impact antenna performance, mechanical of 100 mph (161 km/hr) without ice and
resistance, and workability in machining or characteristics are equally important in when feasible the design should be capable
molding. Depending on the application, certain overall considerations of the antenna system of handling stronger winds because many
of the newer urethanes, epoxies, and synthetic since they largely determine the life and hurricane areas are subjected to winds in
resins meet most of the basic requirements at serviceability. excess of 100 mph (161 km/hr). Where icing
reasonable cost. conditions are prevalent a separate loading
Station antennas often are mounted on tall should be calculated for 0.5 in (12.7 mm)
towers where the expense of installation may radial ice with maximum wind velocity reduced
Coaxial and Printed equal or exceed the price of the antenna itself.
Circuit Feed Networks because with such icing it is not usual to have
It is important, therefore, that the antenna be hurricane force winds. The area should be the
Element feed networks are generally coaxial capable of withstanding the environmental
harnesses, printed circuits, air dielectric maximum area that the antenna could present
conditions of wind and ice without failure, and to the wind, figuring that the wind could come
stripline or a hybrid combination of all three. also be able to resist the weathering effect of from any direction.
A feed harness or “feed” includes the atmospheres it is normally subjected to.
transmission line (generally coaxial) from the Connectors and Termination
antenna input terminal to the actual connection Wind and Ice Type N and 7–16 DIN connectors are suitable
on the radiator(s). This includes all matching Since antennas are installed in all areas under for use in mobile radio communications;
transformers and interconnections between various conditions of wind and ice, it is difficult however, UHF connectors should not be
radiators such as tees or multi-junction to set a value of wind and ice loading that used above 300 MHz. For the demanding
connections. will satisfy the maximum or severe conditions intermodulation (IM) specifications required by
without overdesigning with unduly high cost for high-capacity systems, the 7–16 DIN Family of
Mechanical strain must be avoided on the those areas where severe conditions of wind
cables and connectors. The inner conductors of connectors is strongly recommended.
and ice as encountered on some mountaintops
small cable such as RG-141 should be given must be handled by specially rugged designs. As in the case of fittings, there are preferences
relief from direct strain. Sharp bends should be for antenna termination. Some users like the
avoided in all cables. The force (F) or load that wind of a given connector rigidly attached to the antenna
velocity exerts on an antenna surface is support, while others prefer a flexible cable
Printed circuit feed networks are more often
employed above 800 MHz where they can H V2
F = A ——— C d , where
with fittings attached to its end. In either
facilitate elevation beam shaping with upper case, some flexible lead is desirable between
2
sidelobe suppression and null fill. Often the the antenna and most transmission lines to
feed network and the radiating elements A—Antenna area projected on a surface facilitate installation and test. Andrew offers a
can occupy the same printed circuit board. perpendicular to the vector of wind velocity selection of factory fabricated jumper cables—
Whenever printed circuit boards are employed H—Air density both standard and superflexible—to interface
the use of conformal coating is mandatory V—Wind velocity between tower mounted components.
to protect the circuits from environmental Cd —Drag coefficient, for antennas depends
contamination (moisture, corrosion, etc.). on cross section shape, ratio of Length/Width Hardware and Mounting
(Depth) and Reynolds number Small hardware such as bolts, nuts, and rivets
Air Dielectric Striplines Wind load can also be calculated using used for attachment of radiating elements
Air dielectric stripline-feed networks provide equivalent flat plate area (Aƒp, see product data or support members should be of sufficient
the lowest loss technology available. The feed sheets available on the Andrew web site at strength and resistant to corrosion. Stainless
networks are formed from a single piece www.andrew.com) per formula shown below: steel meets these requirements and is
of material, thus minimizing RF connection desirable for many applications. High strength
points. The use of high quality fabrication H V
F = A ———
2
C dƒp , where
aluminum alloys also are suitable and offer
ƒp
techniques yields very repeatable patterns 2 some advantage for aluminum-to-aluminum
and performance. By careful design, this connection where galvanic corrosion is a
drag coefficient of flat plate problem.
technology can also facilitate the same type
of beam shaping provided by printed circuit C dƒp = constant = 2.2
board technology.
00 0M 0M 0M MH MH
20 85 45 16 75 40 support tower or mast.
40
Stainless steel locking bands of the radiator
hose type are very suitable for many
30 attachments provided that they are properly
applied. The draw-up screws should always
20 be positioned so as to draw down against a
firm member (preferably round) in order to
force locking and holding of the screw to the
10
1 2 3 5 10 20 30 50 100 band slots. Properly applied, these clamping
(0.3) (0.61) (0.91) (1.52) (3.05) (6.1) (9.14) (15.24) (30.48) bands are extremely strong and will maintain
clamping force indefinitely. They offer a
Antenna Spacing in Feet (Meters)
(Measured between antenna centers) convenient means of fastening to various sizes
The values indicated by these curves are approximate because of coupling that exists between the antenna and transmission line.
and shapes of towers and masts.
Curves are based on the use of half-wave dipole antennas. The curves will also provide acceptable results for gain type antennas if
(1) the spacing is measured between the physical center of the tower antennas and (2) one antenna is mounted directly above the
other, with no horizontal offset (exactly collinear). No correction factor is required for the antenna gains. Painting Base Station Antennas
To help antennas blend into the background
and make zoning easier, many customers
ATTENUATION PROVIDED BY HORIZONTAL SEPARATION OF DIPOLE ANTENNAS desire to paint the entire antenna. This can be
80 easily accomplished if a non-metallic based
paint is used and smooth surfaces are slightly
0M
Hz roughed for better adhesion. For more
70 200 information please visit our website at
MHz www.andrew.com/products/antennas/bsa
850
60 and select BSA Technical Literature.
MHz
Isolation in dB
450
50
MHz
150
40 Hz
70 M
Hz
50 M
M Hz
30 30
20
10 20 30 50 100 200 300 500 1000
(3.05) (6.1) (9.14) (15.24) (30.48) (60.96) (91.44) (152.4) (304.8)
1
Power ratings are based on EIA standard Rs-100 for a maximum inner conductor temperature of 100° C at 40° C ambient.
Ratings should be divided by VSWR as measured at the input to the transmission line to account for hot spots.
2
Low density foam dielectric, copper conductors.
3
Virtual air.
References
Balanis, C.A. Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, New York, NY: Wiley, 1982
Schrank, H. 1993. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, 35:5, 50-1