Calculation of antenna azimuths and elevations within a link

1. Introduction

Deriving both dRSS and iRSS signals (as well as internal calculation of signal strength
between ILT-ILR for the purpose of power control operation) requires the calculation of the
relative antenna azimuths and elevations between transceivers of the same link.

For all angle calculations:

 the azimuth reference is either the transmitter - receiver path or the EAST
direction
 the elevation reference is the horizontal plane or the transmitter - receiver path

The calculations of the azimuth and elevation of the receiver antenna

in the direction of the peer-transmitter within a given link is performed as follows:

 Trial of the receiver antenna azimuth

 Trial of the receiver antenna tilt

 Calculation of receiver antenna azimuth

 Calculation of receiver antenna elevation derived from both tilt and the azimuth
angles

The transmitter antenna azimuth and elevation in the direction of the peer-receiver are
calculated using the same above-described algorithm, by swapping tx and rx variables.

2. How to set antenna height, pointing azimuth and elevation?

The Antenna pointing panels allows you to set:

 antenna height,

 antenna
pointing azimuth reference

 antenna azimuth

 antenna
pointing elevation reference

 antenna elevation
The 'height of the antenna should correspond to its definition in the selected propagation
model for that link (e.g. it might be the height above ground, effective height or height
above local clutter).

The antenna pointing azimuth reference: In SEAMCAT you have two options to set the
reference of the antenna pointing ( ). The antennas can either be pointing, i.e. the
direction of the main beam is towards the Rx or the Tx, or be de-pointing, i.e. the direction
of main beam is by default towards EAST. The control of the pointing and de-pointing of the
antenna is only between the pair (VLT, VLR), and (ILT, ILR). The principle is illustrated in
the two graphics below (for the victim link).

The antenna azimuth: It allows you to steer the antenna to a certain angle with respect to

the antenna pointing azimuth reference. It is .

Pointing Depointing

In this example, the VLR antenna is pointing In this configuration, the "antenna azimuth"
towards the VLT by default (red arrow). You is set to 10 deg, which results in the main
can then set a specific aziumuth angle in beam to be sligtly shifted from the EAST
order to steer the antenna away from the direction.
default reference. It is set to 0 in the
illustration. This parameter may be used
either to add certain variable parameter to
the final link budget due to random de-
pointing of antennas (e.g. in mobile
environment), or to show deliberate de-
pointing of antenna (e.g. choosing a
particular gain point on the antenna
directivity pattern).
Calculation azimuth reference is
Calculation azimuth reference is EAST
the transmitter - receiver path
In this case the antenna are not pointing at
In this case the antenna are pointing at each each other and they are looking EAST.
other.

The antenna pointing elevation reference follows the same concept as for "antenna
pointing azimuth". When selected, the antennas are pointing toward the opposite
transceiver of the same link. If it is not selected, it means that the antenna reference is
fixed to the horizontal plane.

The antenna elevation: It allows you to steer the antenna to a certain angle with respect
to the antenna pointing elevation reference. Adding the antenna elevation component
allows you to simulate a real life antenna down-tilt or up-tilt. It is .

Pointing Depointing

Calculation elevation reference is Calculation elevation

the transmitter - receiver path reference is horizontal
 In this case the antenna are not tilted at each
other.

Where is the angle of the receiver antenna

In this case the antenna are tilted at each as seen from the transmitter antenna. It is
other. defined as

The corrected tilt function is defined as the

tilt of the receiver antenna as seen from the
transmitter antenna.

This angle is derived from the tilt of the

receiver antenna as follows which can be
approximated to .

Note 1: De-pointing feature, is very useful to simulate beamforming for instance.

Note 2: Unless some intentional meaning of antenna de-pointing is foreseen in simulation

scenario, it is recommended to always set the antenna pointing and elevation angle
parameters to const=0, meaning that the main beam of the antenna is directed towards the
corresponding pair transceiver in a link.

3. Conventions for angle definitions

 Azimuth angle: positive = counter-clockwise to the 0 deg reference

 elevation angle: positive = up-tilt to the 0 deg reference and negative = down-tilt
to the 0 deg reference
Attachments

http://tractool.seamcat.org/wiki/Manual/Annex/AntennaHeight

How did we go from a few NanoStation radios to

Rocket Titanium sectors?
All these sector antennas provide both horizontal
and vertical polarity--not to be confused with
horizontal and vertical beamwidth. The two
polarities are to provide MIMO--dual channel
service from the dual-output radio used.
Both the horizonal and vertical polarities have
almost identical beam patterns. For both, the
beam width [azimuth] is about 120deg for a
120deg. sector antenna. And the beam height
[elevation] is only about 4deg.
Unlike NanoStation, the beam height is very
small, and won't cover much variation in height
among multiple clients. Dave