Antenna Selection

Review
Antenna is the interface between a radio
transceiver and outside propagation
environment. The same set of antenna can
both transmit and receive radio waves. When
transmitting radio waves, it converts the RF
currents into electromagnetic (EM) waves;
when receiving radio waves, it converts EM
waves into RF currents.

Objectives

By this course, you will be able to:

Learn the classification of

antenna

Know some of characteristics of

antenna

Study the principles for antenna

selection

Understand the antenna usage

at different scenarios

Contents
Antenna Classification
Major Technical Performances of the Antenna
Principles for Antenna Type Selection
Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios
Summary

Antenna Classification

Based on the polarization mode:

vertical polarization antennas (also called mono-polarization
antennas)
Cross polarization antennas (also called dual polarization
antennas).

vertical polarization antenna

dual polarization antenna

Antenna Classification

According to the outlines

whip antenna

plate antenna

cap antenna

paraboloid antenna

Contents
Antenna Classification
Major Technical Performances of the Antenna
Principles for Antenna Type Selection
Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios
Summary

Working Bands
in China and Europe

UL: 1920 ~ 1980 MHz

DL: 2110 ~ 2170 MHz

in North America

UL: 1850 ~ 1910 MHz

DL: 1930 ~ 1990 MHz

Antenna Gain

Gain is one of the most important indices of an

antenna. It indicates the antennas capability of
centralizing energy to a certain direction

dBi is defined as the energy centralizing capability of the

actual directional antenna (including omni antenna) in
relation to isotropic antennas, i means isotropic.
dBd is defined as the energy centralizing capability of the
actual directional
antenna (including omni antenna) in relation to dipole
antennas, d means dipole.

Antenna Gain

As a passive device, antenna itself cannot increase

the energy of transmitted signals. It only can centralize
the energy to a certain direction by combining the
antenna dipoles and changing their feeding mode

Isotropic
Dipole
Actual antenna

8.85dBd
11dBi

2.15dBi

2.15dBi

ERP

EIRP

The actual antenna gain is 11dBi

Antenna Pattern

The graph describes the distribution of EM field

of the antenna transmission along the fixed
distance on the angular coordinates is called
pattern. A pattern presented by transmission
field intensity is called field intensity pattern, a
pattern presented by power density is called
power density pattern, and a pattern presented
by phase is called phase pattern.

Antenna Pattern
Symmetric half-wave dipole Pattern
Top view

omni antenna pattern

side view

directional antenna pattern

Antenna Pattern

Beam width (BW) (called semi-power angle)

Front-to-back ratio
Zero-point filling
Upper side lobe suppression

Relationship between Wave Width

Antenna is an energy-centralizing device. The and Gain
enhancement of transmission in one direction means the
reduction of transmission in other directions. In general, we
can enhance the transmission strength in a certain direction
by reducing the horizontal lobe width so as to increase the
antenna gain. Under a given antenna gain, the horizontal
BW is in reverse proportion with the vertical BW:

Ga 10 lg 32400
Ga : antenna gain, dBi;
B: vertical BW, degree .
: horizontal BW, degree.

Polarization Mode

Polarization is the transmission performance describing the

vector direction of EM field intensity. Unless specific state, the
space direction of electric field vector is the polarization
direction of EM wave. The vector direction refers to the
direction of maximum transmission of antenna.

Single polarization antennas in WCDMA system adopt vertical

polarization, while dual polarization antennas use polarization
diversity to minimize the negative effect of multi-path fading in
the mobile communication system so as to improve the quality
of receiving signals. Dual polarization antennas in WCDMA
system usually use
45 cross polarization mode.

Mechanical Down Tilt and Electric Down

Tilt

Mechanical down
tilt

electric down
tilt

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

When the input impedance is not consistent with

the characteristic impedance, the reflected wave
and the incident wave overlap on the feeder and
form standing wave. The ratio between the
maximum value and the minimal value of the
adjacent voltage is VSWR. Big VSWR leads
communications distance shortened, at same time
reflection power returns to power amplifier (PA) of
transmitter. PA might be damaged.

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)

If A andZ o respectively stand for the input impedance
o
and
A

A o

1impedance

nominal
ofZthe
antenna, the reflectance is
VSWR
o 50
1

VSWR 1.5 : 1

R.L. dB
feature of a

where

. The matching

Forward: 10W

port can also be indicated by Reflection Loss. If

50 ohms
Reflection: 0.5W

will be 13.98

80
ohms

9.5 W

Other Technical Performances

Port Isolation

Power Capacity

Input Interface of the Antenna

Passive Inter-modulation (PIM)

Antenna Size and Weight

Wind Load

Working Temperature and Humidity

Lightning Protection

Three-Proof Capability

Contents
Antenna Classification
Major Technical Performances of the Antenna
Principles for Antenna Type Selection
Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios
Summary

Antenna Working Bands

Outdoor Antennas
Both WCDMA and DCS systems simultaneously
1710 ~ 2170 MHz
Only for WCDMA system
1920 ~ 2170 MHz

Indoor Antennas
for GSM/DCS/WLAN/WCDMA
800 ~ 2500 MHz

Principle for Antenna Beam Width

Selection

Selection of beam width

horizontal beam : depends on the type design of NodeB
vertical beam: depends on antenna gain

In urban areas
3-sector vertex-excited NodeBs, 65 horizontal beam width
6-sector vertex-excited NodeBs, 33 horizontal beam width

In suburbs

3-sector center-excited NodeBs, 90 horizontal beam width

Principle for Polarization Mode

Selection

open mountainous areas and rural

areas.
vertical single polarization antennas

urban area
dual polarization antennas

Principle for Downtilt Mode

Selection
Comparison between Mechanical Downtilt and Electric Downtilt

Principle for Downtilt Mode

Selection

Comparison between Preset Electricity Downtilt and Zero-Point Filling

The use of preset electric downtilt can

shorten the coverage range of the main lobe
if the cell coverage is planed to small.

Through zero-point filling, a kind of shaping

technology, we can obtain a good pattern. In
this case, the upper side lobe can be
suppressed, so this kind of antennas will
influence other aspects

Principle for Downtilt Mode

Selection
Planning and Optimization of Downtilt Angle

For an omni antenna, we cannot adjust the

mechanical downtilt angle, but we can
select preset electricity downtilt angle
antennas.
For a directional antenna, in different
occasions, requirements for the downtilt
angle adjustment range are different.

Principle for Front-to-back Ratio

Selection

In occasions where NodeB sites are densely

distributed, if the back lobe is too big, it will
be likely to cause pilot pollution and the
network quality will be influenced. In urban
areas, the antenna front-to-back ratio
should be 25dB. In suburbs or rural areas,
the antenna front-to-back ratio can
appropriately lower.
The front-to-back ratio is in reverse
proportion to the beam width. The narrower
the beam is, the higher the front-to-back
ratio is.

Principle for Antenna Size Selection

Antenna size selection is mainly related

to the installability

Firstly, the antenna size is related to the

technical level of manufacturers

Secondly, the antenna size is related to

the antenna gain

Principle for Antenna Impedance

Selection

The input impedance of a combiner is 50. In

order to reduce the standing wave ratio, the
characteristic impedance of an antenna should
match with the input impedance, namely, it should
be 50. In general, the characteristic impedance
can meet this requirement, but attention should be
paid to this index during selection or certification of
new antennas.

Contents
Antenna Classification
Major Technical Performances of the Antenna
Principles for Antenna Type Selection
Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios
Summary

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios

In WCDMA system, antenna selection is of great

importance. Antennas should be selected based on the
practical situations such as the NodeB design, network
coverage requirements and interference conditions.
Practical situations
In urban coverage
In sub-urban coverage
In rural coverage
In highway coverage
In indoor coverage
In offshore coverage
In tunnel coverage

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios

In Urban Coverage
Huawei Recommendation
Frequency range: 1710 ~ 2170 MHz/45dual
polarization / 65horizontal BW/15 dBi
gain/preset 6electrical DT or 0 ~ 10adjustable
electrical DT and 0 ~ 15 adjustable mechanical
DT/upper side lobe suppression and zero-point
filling/25dB or higher front-to-back ratio.

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios

In Suburban Coverage

Huawei Recommendation:
Select the specific antennas by referring to
antenna selection for urban areas and that for rural
areas depending on the distance between two
NodeBs.

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios
In Rural Coverage

Recommendation (for directional antennas):

Working frequency 1710 ~ 2170 MHz / vertical
polarization / 90 horizontal beam width / 18
dBi antenna gain / without preset downtilt /
zero-point filling
Recommendation (for omni antennas): Working
frequency 1710 ~ 2170 MHz / vertical
polarization / 11 dBi antenna gain / without
preset downtilt / zero-point filling

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios

In Highway Coverage
Recommendation (for directional antennas):
Working frequency 1710 ~ 2170 MHz / vertical
polarization / 30 horizontal beam width / 21
dBi antenna gain / without preset downtilt /
zero-point filling
Recommendation (for 8-figure-shape antennas):
Working frequency 1710 ~ 2170 MHz / vertical
polarization / dual 70 horizontal beam width /
14 dBi antenna gain / without preset downtilt /
zero-point filling

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios
For Highway Coverage

Recommendation (for heart-shape antennas):

Frequency range: 1710 ~ 2170
MHz/VP/210horizontal BW/12 dBi gain/ without
preset DT / zero-point filling
S0.5/0.5 NodeB configuration with high-gain
directional antennas 8-figure-shape antennas

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios

In Indoor Coverage

Recommendation (for omni antennas):

Frequency range: 800 ~ 2500 MHz/vertical
polarization
(VP)/360horizontal BW, 90 vertical BW/2dBi
gain.
Recommendation (for plate directional antennas):
Frequency range: 800 ~ 2500
MHz/vP/90horizontal BW, 60vertical BW/7dBi
gain.
Recommendation (for log-periodical antennas):
Frequency range: 800 ~ 2500
MHz/VP/55horizontal BW, 50 vertical
BW/11.5dBi gain.

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios
In Offshore Coverage

Antenna Recommended:
frequency range: 1710 ~ 2170
MHz
vertical polarization
30 horizontal BW
gain 21 dBi
without preset DT
zero-point filling

Antenna Selection for Different

Scenarios
In Tunnel Coverage

Antenna Recommended
Frequency range: 800 ~ 2200 MHz
vertical polarization
55horizontal BW
log-periodical type with gain 11.5 dBi (consider
sharing with GSM/DCS systems).
Leaky cable

Contents
Antenna Classification
Major Technical Performances of the Antenna
Principles for Antenna Type Selection
Antenna Selection for Different Scenarios
Summary

Summary
This course helps you:
To make sure antenna classification
To familiarize with performances of antenna
To understand the principles of antenna
selection
To select antenna focusing on specific
working environments

Thank
you