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 and Gain

Antenna

is

an

energy-centralizing

device.

The

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

Aand Z o respectively stand for the input impedance and

nominal impedance of the antenna, the reflectance is

VSWR
1
a

Z o 50
where

A o
A o

. The matching feature of

VSWR 1.5 : 1

port can also be indicated by Reflection Loss. If

R.L. dB
will be 13.98
Forward: 10W
50 ohms
Reflection: 0.5W

9.5 W
80
ohms

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

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-toback 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