Optimized Antenna Patterns to Reduce Interference in High Capacity Wireless Networks

Abstract: Significant progress has been made in improving the components that make up a wireless network. However, the antenna has now become a limiting factor due to the negative effects that interference has on the transmission of high speed data. Antenna radiation patterns now need to be optimized in order to minimize network interference. Alpha Wireless has designed both fixed and variable tilt WiMAX antennas with optimized patterns to address this problem.

Introduction: The majority of antennas used in todays wireless networks are based around the traditional voice transmission model. However WiMAX presents significantly greater challenges to provide reliable high speed data transmissions. There are a number of reasons for this. 1. Applications used by customers are now significantly more data intensive. Internet data transmissions can require over one hundred times the data rate needed for voice transmission. Communications such as video streaming, social networking, online gaming and voice over IP have a high video content and place heavy demand on network capacity. 2. Increased usage per subscriber. Internet use is increasing for both social and work purposes. Traditional entertainment media such as television is now competing with broadband media. 3. Increased number of WiMAX subscribers. WiMAX networks are now attracting more and more subscribers and as Mobile WiMAX rolls out these numbers will further increase. As a result, antenna parameters that control interference are more important than ever.

Network Interference The interference signals whether co-channel or cross channel degrades network performance. Antenna pattern parameters such as Upper Sidelobes, Tilt Accuracy, Front to Back Ratio, Pattern Tracking and Electrical Downtilt are just some of the parameters that need to be considered when trying to minimize interference. In the past less emphasis was placed on radiation patterns. This was due to networks being less vulnerable to interference. However as the need for spectrally efficient networks grow these anomalies will no longer be acceptable as they reduce the capacity of the network. As a result, engineers are now being challenged to design antennas with excellent radiation patterns which are optimized to improve network performance by minimizing interference.
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Some of these critical antenna parameters are described below. Upper Sidelobe Suppression: Ideally the antenna would have no upper sidelobes but in practical terms this is not possible. The theoretical upper sidelobe level of an antenna with equal amplitude and phase distribution is -13dB. Typically its the 1st upper sidelobe that causes the most interference as this is pointing just above the horizon. However as more downtilt is added to the antenna then the 2nd and 3rd upper sidelobes can come into play. In order to fully optimize the antennas radiation pattern all of the upper sidelobes should be maintained below -18dB. This should be the case for all downtilt angles. See fig 1.
Fig 1: Elevation Pattern
270

Upper Sidelobes

180 0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

dB

Null Fill
90

Tilt Accuracy: This is a measure of the electrical downtilt accuracy. Electrical downtilt is achieved by adjusting the phase to each radiating element in the array. The accuracy of this downtilt is dependent on the type of feed network used in the antenna. The feed network is typically formed using cable harnesses or printed circuit board networks or a combination of both. Antennas that use printed circuit board technology in their networks yield superior amplitude and phase control as well as being more repeatable during manufacturing. This ensures greater control of the radiation pattern.
Fig 2: Azimuth Pattern

Front-to-Back Ratio: The back lobe is another source of interference where the un-wanted lobe is unintentionally directed into adjacent cells. This is the ratio of the directivity in the forward direction to that directivity in the opposite direction. This should be specified at 180 +/-30 from boresight to ensure that interference is minimized. Careful design consideration should be given to the radiator and ground plane geometry to ensure that the F/B ratio is <-30dB. See fig 2.

270

180 0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

dB

F/B (+/-30 ) ...............

Fig 3: Overlapped Azimuth Patterns

Pattern Tracking:
-45

270

+45

This is a measure of how the +45 and -45 patterns overlap. Poor pattern tracking adds to interference in adjacent sectors. This problem is exaggerated if the antenna also exhibits beam squint. By controlling the current flow on the ground plane the azimuth patterns can be realigned to ensure good overlap. See fig 3.

180 0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

dB

.......
90

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Variable Electrical Down Tilt Antennas: Variable electrical downtilt antennas allow the operator to adjust sector coverage. When the electrical tilt of an antenna is adjusted, the upper sidelobes are also redirected. This can cause interference in neighbouring cells as the upper sidelobes are now pointing closer to the horizon. The Alpha Wireless variable tilt antennas (patent pending) can achieve Suppressed upper sidelobes across the whole frequency band Suppressed upper sidelobes over the entire tilt range.

This is due to the fact that each radiator in the array has an individual phase shifter allowing for precise amplitude and phase control. Typically competitor designs in the market place have adopted the technique of phase shifting radiating elements in pairs within the array. This results in high upper sidelobes appearing approximately 30 above the main beam. When the electrical downtilt of the antenna increases then these side lobes can now become a real source of interference. Good variable tilt antennas should maintain a consistent elevation pattern across the tilt range. The plots below show the Alpha Wireless variable tilt elevation pattern at T0 and T10 (black plots) compared to a typical competitors antenna (red plots). It can be seen that the Alpha Wireless antenna maintains its sidelobe suppression and null fill over the entire tilt range. The competitors antennas show the un-wanted high upper sidelobes at min and max tilt.
Fig 4: Elevation Patterns Compared, T0
270

Fig 5: Elevation Patterns Compared, T0 Elevation Patterns Compared, T10

270

180 0

-5

-10

-15

-20

-25

-30

-35

dB

180 0

-5

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-35

dB

Alpha Wireless EL_Patterns, T0

90 Typical Competitor EL_Patterns, T0

Alpha Wireless EL_Patterns, T10

90 Typical Competitor EL_Patterns, T10

Conclusion: The majority of antennas used in todays wireless networks have not been optimized for high speed data transmission. Antennas which have not been designed to reduce the effects of interference can significantly reduce the performance in a WiMAX network. With these considerations in mind Alpha Wireless has developed WiMAX antenna products which deliver superior performance to network operators.
EMAIL: info@alphawireless.ie, WEB: www.alphawireless.ie