RADIO DIVISION

ISSUE: OCT 2006

BASE STATION
PANEL AND OMNI ANTENNAS
FOR 890-960 MHZ, 1710-1880 MHZ
AND 1920-2170 MHz FREQUENCY
BANDS

GENERIC REQUIREMENTS
No. GR / ANT-21 /02. OCT 2006
( Supersedes GR No. G / ANT-21 /01. JAN 2003 )

© TEC

TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING CENTRE

KHURSHID LAL BHAVAN, JANPATH
NEW DELHI-110001

INDIA

All rights reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without written
permission from the Telecommunication Engineering Centre, New Delhi .
 HISTORY SHEET OF THE GR

The GR No.GR/ANT-21 / 01. JAN 2003 on “GSM Base Station Panel and Omni
Antennas for (890-960) MHz and (1710-1880) MHz” has been reviewed. As there are
some changes, inclusions & deletions in the technical specification, the reviewed GR
is numbered as GR No.GR/ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 and supersedes the GR
No.GR/ANT-21/01. JAN 2003. The revised GR title is “Base Station Panel and Omni
Antennas for 890-960 MHz, 1710-1880 MHz and 1920-2170 MHz Frequency
Bands”. The Type Approval Certificate (TAC)/ Technical Specification Evaluation
Certificate (TSEC) may be considered as a fresh case.

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 ii

 CONTENTS

S.No. Topic Page No.

History Sheet ii
References iv

PART – I

1. Scope 1

2. Functional and Technical Requirements 1

PART –II

3. General Requirements 8

4. Annexure for the reference for the purchaser 9

5. List of Abbreviations 10

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 iii

 REFERENCES

BSNL QA Documents

1. QM- 312 : “Quality Manual on Antenna.”

2. QM-333: “Specification for environmental testing of electronic equipments for

transmission and switching use".

IEC / ISO Standards

1. IEC-60529: (2001) Ed.2.1 {includes amendment 1 (1999)} and with

corrigendum 1 (2003) “Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code).”

2. ISO-9001: 2000 “International Quality Management System.”

BIS Standards

1. IS -410:1977 “Cold rolled brass sheet, strip and foil”.

2. IS-713:1981 (Reaffirmed in 2003) “Zinc base alloy ingots for die castings”

3. IS-737:1986 “Wrought Aluminium and Aluminium alloy sheet and strip for
general engineering purposes”.

4. IS-742:1981 (Reaffirmed in 2003) “Zinc base alloy for die castings”.

5. IS-4280:1992 (Reaffirmed in 2003) “Refined secondary Tin ingots”.

6. IS-4699:1984 (Reaffirmed in 2001) “Refined secondary Zinc”.

7. IS-12063:1987 (Reaffirmed in 2004) “Classification of degrees of protection

provided by enclosures of electrical equipment”.

8. IS-14811:2000 “Rolled Copper plate, sheet, strip and foils for General
engineering Purposes Specification”.

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 iv

 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMNICATIONS
TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING CENTRE
NEW DELHI-110001

BASE STATION
PANEL AND OMNI ANTENNAS
FOR 890-960 MHZ, 1710-1880 MHZ
AND 1920-2170 MHz FREQUENCY BANDS

GR No.GR/ANT-21/02.OCT 2006
(SUPERSEDES GR No.GR/ANT-21/01.JAN
2003)

PART – I

1.0 Scope

1.1 This document contains the generic requirements of Base Station Panel
and Omni antennas in frequency bands 890- 960 MHz, 1710-1880 MHz
and 1920 – 2170 MHz. These antennas are to be used at base station for
telecommunication services such as GSM, UMTS etc.

2.0 Functional and Technical Requirements:

2.1 Material : The materials used shall be resistant to corrosion.

The details are as given below:

(a) Reflector : Aluminium/Tin

plated copper
(b) Radiating Elements : Aluminium /Brass/
Copper/Zinc and
Metalised plastic
(c) Radome : Must be UV protected
PVC or Fibre glass /
ABS/ASA.

Note: For radiating element/reflector, Aluminium

, Brass, Copper, Tin & Zinc shall be as per IS : 737,
IS : 410, IS : 14811 , IS : 4280 and IS :
713/742/4699 respectively. Thickness of the
reflector, radiating element and radome shall be
furnished by the vendor. The detailed technical
specification of radome material along with test
results, grade of material etc. shall also be furnished
by the vendor. The life time for Radome‟s material
shall be ten years or more.

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 1

 2.2 Frequency of Operation : (i) 890-960 MHz
(as applicable) (ii) 1710-1880 MHz
(iii) 1920-2170 MHz
(2.1 GHz band normally used for UMTS)

Table 1

2.3 Frequency 890-960 MHz

Band
Parameters Type
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV
2.4 Gain 15 18 16 13 16 21 15 18 15 17 11 15 14 16
(-0.5 & 2.5)
dBi
2.5 Polarization V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
2.6 HBW 64 64 88 118 118 30 64 64 88 88 360 180 220 64
(degree) ±4 ±4 ±5 ±6 ±6 ±4 ±4 ±4 ±5 ±5 ±4 ±4 ±4
2.7 VBW 13.5 6.8 7 11.5 6 7.5 13.5 7 8.5 6 6 5.8 6 11.5
±1.5
(degree)
2.8 No. of 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2
connectors
2.9 Integrated NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Diplexer

Table 2

2.3 Frequency 1710-1880 MHz

Band
Parameters Type
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII
2.4 Gain 15 18 15 18 14 16 11 13 17 12 16 22 21
(-0.5 & 2.5)
dBi
2.5 Polarization V V X X X X V V V V V X X
2.6 HBW 64 64 64 64 88 88 360 102 102 120 120 33 36
(degree) ±4 ±4 ±4 ±4 ±5 ±5 ±4 ±4 ±4 ±4 ±4 ±4
2.7 VBW 12.5 7 12.5 7 11 7 6 13 5 13.5 5 5.5 6
±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±2 ±1.5 ±2 ±1.5 ±1.5 ±1.5
(degree)
2.8 No. of 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
connectors
2.9 Integrated NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Diplexer

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 2

Table 3

2.3 Frequency Dual Band

Band Band I (BI) : (890-960) MHz
Band II (BI): (1710-1880) MHz
Parameters Type

I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X

2.4 Gain BI 15 15 14 17 17 16 17 18 14 18
(-0.5 & + 2.5) BII 16 17 16 18 18 18 17 19 17 19
dBi
2.5 Polarisation X X X X X X X X X X
2.6 HBW BI 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65 65
±4 (degree)
BII 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600 600

2.7 VBW BI 130 130 13.50 8.50 8.5 8.50 8.50 6.50 13.50 6.50
0
±1.5 (degree)
BII 90 7.50 90 5.50 5.5 5.50 7.50 50 7.50 50
0

2.8 No.of 2 4 4 2 4 2 2 2 4 4
connectors
2.9 Integrated Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No
Diplexer

Table 3 (Continued)

2.3 Frequency Dual Band

Band Band I (BI) : (890-960) MHz
Band II (BII) : (1710-1880) MHz
Parameters Type
XI XII XIII
2.4 Gain BI 13.5 15.2 16.5
(-0.5 & ± 2.5)
dBi BII 16.5 18 18
2.5 Polarisation X X X

2.6 HBW BI 88 88 88
±4 (degree)
BII 88 88 88

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 3

 2.7 VBW BI 14.5± 1.5 9.5 ±1.5 7.5± 1.5
(degree)
BII 7.5 ±1.5 5.5 ±1 5.5± 1.5`

2.8 No. of 4 4 4
Connectors
2.9 Integrated No No No
Diplexer

New Table 4 – Triple band Antennas:

2.3 Frequency Triple Band

Band Band I (BI) : (890-960) MHz Band
II (BII) : (1710-1880) MHz Band
III (BIII) : (1920-2710) MHz
Parameters Type
I II III IV V

2.4 Gain BI 15 16.5 17.5 17 17.5

(-0.5 + 2.5)
dBi BII 16.5 17.5 17.5 17 17.5

BIII 17 18 18 16.5 17

2.5 Polarisation X X X X X

2.6 HBW BI 66 67 66 65 66
±4
(degree) BII 66 65 67 65 65

BIII 65 65 65 63 60

2.7 VBW BI 14 10 8.5 8.5 8.5

±4
(degree) BII 8.1 6.1 6.2 8.8 8.3

BIII 7.5 5.8 5.8 7.8 7.6

2.8 No. of 6 6 6 6 6 6
connectors
2.9 Integrated No No No No No No
Diplexer

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 4

 Note: (applicable to Tables 1-4)
V : Vertical
X : Dual polarized (+450 and -450)

Clause 2.10 Electrical down tilt (degree) nominal : Optional items

The purchaser shall clearly specify the requirements of electrical down tilt & its
value at the time of ordering the antennas. Further, any or all of the below mentioned
items (2.10.1 to 2.10.4) may be included by the purchaser as per requirements.

2.10.1 : All antennas shall have electric down tilt. The electrical tilt control mechanism
should be at the bottom as well. Necessary cabling and the associated equipments and
accessories shall be supplied as part of the antenna system to adjust and set the tilt from
the bottom of the tower.

2.10.2 : Antenna shall be provided with electrical down tilt fixed or variable. The dual
band and triple band antennas may be preferably with adjustable electrical tilt.

2.10.3 : All dual and tri-band antennas may be with RET (Remote Electrical Tilt). RET is
required only if one of the bands is 1920-2170 MHz (2.1 GHz normally used for UMTS).

2.10.4 : The remote control unit shall be light and fast responding (Typical adjustment
time of 40 sec) with a motor activated power consumption of less than 10W. No separate
power feed cables shall be used. The RET system shall be complete with the remote
control unit, central control unit, portable control unit, control cables, DC power and
signal splitter, lightning protection unit, Earthing clamps, and „Tee‟s to feed control
signals and power supply into the RF cables as appropriate and applicable. The RF
system shall not interfere with the normal operation of the Antenna system including RF
feeder cables.

2.11 VSWR : Better than 1.5 : 1

2.12 Front to back ratio : Single polarized Dual polarized

(minimum) for sector of 20 dB 23 dB
1800 ± 300
(Not valid for omni antenna)

2.13 Side lobe suppression for first 10 dB(Min)

side lobe above horizon :

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 5

2.14 Cross Polar Ratio : In the Main Direction : Greater than 15 dB
(Applicable for dual
polarized antenna only) Sector ±600 : Greater than 10 dB

2.15 Isolation between ports : 30 dB better

(Applicable for dual
polarized antenna only)

2.16 Antenna mount and Feed The antenna mount shall be robust, rugged &
position : n o n - c o r r o s i v e and to be s u p p l i e d b y t h e
m a n u f a c t u r e r . The a n t e n n a mount shall be
suitable for pole as well as wall mounting. The
antenna mount along with antenna hoisting and
fixing arrangements shall be supplied by the
supplier.
The purchaser shall specify his requirement of
antenna feed i.e. central feed or bottom feed at the
time of placing the purchase order. If no specific
feed antenna feed is mentioned by the purchaser, it
may be presumed to be “ bottom feed” only. The
type of the antenna feed shall also be mentioned by
the vendor at the time of TAC/TSEC.

2.17 Orientation : It shall be possible to provide nominal down tilt of

half the vertical beam width.
The purchaser shall specify the type of down titling
arrangement i.e mechanical and /or electrical down
tilt at the time of placing the purchase order. This
electrical down tilt is an optional item and must be
specified by the purchaser.(Pl. see GR clause no.
2.10 also), If no down tilting arrangement is
specified by the purchaser, it will be presumed to
be mechanical down tilt. The vendor shall also
furnish the details of mechanical and / or electrical
down tilt at the time of TAC/TSEC.

2.18 Lighting Protection : Direct Ground

2.19 Wind resistance : The antenna shall be able to survive a wind speed
of 200 kmph

2.20 Maximum dimensions : To be furnished by the supplier.

2.21 Environmental condition : The antennas are intended for installation and
operation under fully exposed weather conditions.
They shall withstand wind speeds upto 200 Kmph
and shall also be capable of withstanding the
effects of industrial pollution, salinity of

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 6

 atmosphere in coastal areas, storms etc.
The performance shall not deteriorate beyond
values specified in this GR for testing as per
category “D” environmental tests as per QM-333
including vibration and corrosion (salt mist) .

2.22 Radiation Pattern : Typical radiation pattern in the horizontal and

vertical planes shall be furnished.

2.23 Provision of drain hole : Small drain hole (s) shall be provided (minimum
one) at the bottom of the antenna for the drainage
of trapped/ condensed water vapour / moisture.
Further, a provision should be available to close the
drain hole, as and when required to protect against
water ingress.
The nominal size / dimensions of the hole may be
5 mm in diameter.

2.24 Antenna Connector : a. N (female) or 7/16 DIN female,

b. Impedance 50 ohms.

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 7

3.0 General Requirements

3.1 a) The antenna shall be manufactured in accordance with international quality

management system ISO-9001:2000 for which manufacturer should be duly
accredited. A quality plan describing the quality assurance system followed by
the manufacturer should be submitted.

b) The antenna shall meet the latest BSNL QA guidelines including instructions
indicated in Quality Manual QM-312: Quality Manual on antenna.

3.2 RF connector shall be reliable and of standard type to ensure failure free
operation for over 500 matings.

3.3 The joints in the antenna assembly, if any, shall have protection as per BIS
standard IS 12063: 1987 {Reaffirmed in 2004} “Classification of degrees of
protection provided by enclosures of electrical equipment” (equivalent to IEC–
60529) to meet at least the protection level of IP-65.

3.4 The antenna shall conform to requirements for environment specified in BSNL
QA document QM-333 “Specification for environmental testing of electronic
equipments for transmission and switching use” for operation, transportation and
storage. The applicable tests shall be for environmental category “D” including
vibration and corrosion (salt mist).

Notes :

i) Antenna along with all the accessories including antenna mounts, radome etc.,
shall be subjected to environmental tests as per Category “D” of the QM –333.

ii) In order to ensure that the materials of the antenna mount, Radome etc., are
UV protected, a copy of the certificate mentioning that the materials used for
the Mounts and Radome are UV protected as per G53 ASTM or any other
national / international standard (title of standard & its brief details to be
furnished by the vendor) must be obtained from the manufacturer / supplier
of the material. This is applicable only for non-metallic materials.

3.5 Documentation :

Documentation shall include one hard copy and one soft copy of technical
literature in Hindi or English with detailed assembly and installation procedure
and shall be provided along with the antenna.

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 8

 Annex for the reference of the purchaser

The following clauses are for the reference of the purchaser

1. The purchaser shall clearly mention the frequency band and type of antenna(s) at
the time of placing purchaser order.(Refer GR clause No. 2.2)

2. The purchaser shall specify his requirement of antenna feed i.e. central feed or
bottom feed at the time of placing the purchaser order. If no specific feed antenna
feed is mentioned by the purchaser, it may be presumed to be “centre feed” only.
The type of the antenna feed shall also be mentioned by the vendor at the time of
TAC/TSEC.(Refer GR clause No. 2.16)

3. The purchaser shall specify the type of down titling arrangement i.e. mechanical
and / or electrical down tilt at the time of placing the purchase order. This
electrical down tilt is an optional item and must be specified by the purchaser. If
no down titling arrangement is specified by the purchaser, it will be presumed to
be mechanical down tilt. The vendor shall also furnish the details of mechanical
and / or electrical down tilt at the time of TAC/TSEC.(Refer GR clause No. 2.17)

4. The purchaser shall specify requirement of electrical down tilt and its values (i.e.
fixed or variable ) at the time of ordering the antennas. (Refer GR clause No.
2.10)

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 9

 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

ASA Acrylate Styrene Acrylonitrile
BIS Bureau of Indian Standards
BSNL Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
dB Decibel
dBi Decibel with respect to gain of isotropic antenna
dBm Decibel with reference to one milli-watt
FRP Fiber Glass Reinforced with Polyester
GHz Giga Hertz
GI Galvanized Iron
GR Generic Requirements
GSM Global Spectrum for Mobile Communication
HBW Horizontal Beam width
IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
IP-65 International Protection: Designated for degrees of Protection in
conjunction with two numerals
ISO International Organization for Standardization
kmph Kilometer per hour
m Meter
MHz Mega Hertz
mm Millimeter
PVC Poly Vinyl Chloride
QA Quality Assurance
QM Quality Manual
RET Remote Electrical Tilt
TAC Type Approval Certificate
TEC Telecommunication Engineering Centre
TSEC Technical Specifications Evaluation Certificate
UMTS Universal Mobile Telecom System
UV Ultra Violet
VBW Vertical Beam Width
VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

-----End of Document-----

GR/ ANT-21/02. OCT 2006 10