Kathrein/Scholz 07/02

1
Network Design


Network configuration

Cell coverage
Comparison of half power beam widths

Vertical downtilt
Mechanical downtilt
Electrical downtilt
Adjustable electrical downtilt

Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
2
Downlink
Connection
Uplink
Connection
Base Station
Mobile Station
Base Station
Equipment
Radio
Link
Antenna System
Network Design / Base station
Downlink frequencies :
GSM 900 : 935 - 960 MHz
GSM 1800 : 1805 - 1880 MHz

Uplink frequencies :
GSM 900 : 890 - 915 MHz
GSM 1800 : 1710 - 1785 MHz

Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
3
Network Design / Configuration
honeycomb structure
omni base stations using omni-
directional antennas for low traffic
cells
sector sites with 3 cells (directional
antennas) of different frequencies
for a higher amount of subscribers
smaller cells (micro cells, pico cells)
in high traffic areas (cities, city
centers)
the topography, the repeatability of
the frequencies and the real base
station locations influence the
network planning
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
4
Cell coverage

To avoid interferences to adjacent cells the target is to provide coverage just
for the concerning sector but not beyond the sector border

tools for cell matching
half power beam width
tilt of the vertical pattern


Network Design / Cell Coverage
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
5
Network Design / Half Power Beam Width
Which half power beam width is
needed to cover a 120 sector ?

standard comparison indicates
significant differences at the sector
borders

65
90
105
120

mistake : gain variation is not
considered
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
6
Network Design / Half Power Beam Width
antennas with the same vertical
length but different horizontal half
power beam width differ in the overall
gain value

example : 900 MHz / 1.3m length
65 15.5 dBi
90 14.0 dBi
105 13.5 dBi
120 13.0 dBi

result : no significant difference
between 90, 105 and 120 regarding
half power beam width and
overlapping area to the adjacent cell
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
7
Conclusion :

the range of half power beam widths can be limited to 65 and 90


field of application :

urban areas : 65
Theoretically the overlapping area between the cells is too small. But due to
reflections from the surrounding the half power beam width is increased.

rural areas : 90 (65)
Reflection intensity is much lower. Therefore many network planners prefer 90
to provide sufficient overlapping. But also 65 is used


Network Design / Half Power Beam Width
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
8
as a standard the vertical beam is pointing to the horizon


downtilting of the pattern provides the following benefits :
- the majority of the radiated power is concentrated within the sector
- the reduction of the power towards the horizon avoids interference problems
with the next sector

good results when fieldstrength in the horizon is reduced by about 6 dB

Network Design / Vertical Downtilt
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
9
Network Design / Mechanical Downtilt
a mechanical downtilt kit increases the
upper distance to the mast and makes
the antenna pointing down
the requested downtilt angle is
achieved only in main direction
at +/- 90 from the main direction the
downtilt angle is always zero (rotation
axis)
effective downtilt varies across the
azimuth


Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
10
Network Design / Mechanical Downtilt
Horizontal pattern 105 / mechanical DT
Mechanical Downtilt
0 6
8 10
effect on the horizontal pattern at
the horizon :
reduction of the fieldstrength in
main direction without any change
+/- 90 to it results in deformation
of the horizontal pattern
this effect of changing half power
beam width can hardly be
considered in the network planning
and reduces the prediction
accuracy

Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
11
more elegant is the electrical downtilt with the antenna remaining upright;
instead of equal phases on the dipoles, perticular phase distributions are
selected by varying the cable lengths to the dipoles

Network Design / Electrical Downtilt
12 downtilt





Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
12
Network Design / Electrical Downtilt
Electrical Downtilt :
0 6
8 10
the fixed phase distribution applies
to all azimuth directions
electrical downtilt angle is
constant
the shape of the horizontal pattern
remains constant
accurate network planning is
assured


Horizontal pattern 105 / electrical DT
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
13
maximum flexibility is achieved with adjustable electrical downtilt by combining
the adjustability of the mechanical DT and the technical advantage of the
electrical DT

Adjustable Electrical DT




Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
14
Adjustable Electrical DT
phase shifters at each dipole provide variable phase distributions
for sidelobe control the dipoles are fed with different power
max. electrical DT angle approx. 14 due to growing upper sidelobes

Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
15
= 0

= 0

= 0

= 0

= 0




connector
dipoles
Adjustable Electrical DT
identical
phases
Double phase shifter
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
16
= + 140

= + 70

= 0

= - 70

= -140




connector
dipoles
Adjustable Electrical DT
different
phases
Longer path
shorter path
Double phase shifter
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
17
Antenna Type 741 988
Xpol F-Panel 1710-2170 88 14dBi 0-10T
Vertical pattern example at 9T
(polar-logarithmic scale)
Vertical pattern example at 3T
(polar-logarithmic scale)
Downtilt Angle versus Vertical Half Power Beam Width
A greater vertical half power beam width means a higher downtilt angle in order to
receive similar results.
Antenna Type 741 990
Xpol F-Panel 1710-2170 88 18dBi 0-6T
9
3
The selected downtilt angle is linked to the respective vertical half power beam width.
6dB
point
6dB
point
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
18
Antenna Type 742 212 / Xpol F-Panel 1710-2170 65 18dBi 0-8T
Vertical pattern example at 0T
(polar-logarithmic scale)
Vertical pattern example at 8T
(polar-logarithmic scale)
Max. power reduction towards the horizon is achieved with the first null.
A higher downtilt angle increases the power again due to the first upper sidelobe.
Maximum Electrical Downtilt Angle
Max. DT angle is determined by the angle between the mainlobe and the first sidelobe .
Kathrein/Scholz 07/02
19
Special Cases
In special cases,
i.e. antenna mounting on high rise buildings or in special test scenarios,
a higher downtilt angle could be stipulated.
In general:
Adjustable electrical downtilt is normally used for coverage fine tuning.
In this cases,
an acceptable compromise is to combine electrical and mechanical DT
mechanical downtilt kit : primary downtilting
adjustable electrical downtilt : fine tuning