Basic Knowledge of Antenna and Antenna 

Selection 

Radio Network Planning & Optimization Department

Mobile Institution
Purpose
After learning this course you will be able to:

 Know the concept of dipoles

 Understand basic properties of antenna

 Mater the principle of antenna selection

Index

Outline of antenna

Technical data

Types of antennas and their development trend

Principle of antenna selection

The function of antenna Outline of antenna

make optimize
Collect data
project Antenna optimization
information

Network
optimization Optimize cover range

Regulate and Deal optimize Average calling mission

verify project Improve calling quality
Improve network running quality
The outline and function of antenna Outline of antenna
Antenna is the conversion for circuit
signal of communication equipment to
radio in the air like the bridge tower.

Antenna is the key equipment for the

sending and receiving of radio.

The gain, covering direction, beam,

available driver power, configuration and
polarization function will affect the
communication.
Dipole Outline of antenna

Wavelength
1/4 Wavelength

1/2 Wavelength

1/4 Wavelength
1/2 Wavelength
Dipole

1800MHz ： 166mm
900MHz ： 333mm
Dipole Outline of antenna

One dipole n dipoles

Receive power Receive power
1mw 4mw

GAIN= 10log(4mW/1mW) = 6dBd

Dipole Outline of antenna

Antenna
(top view)

Omnidirectional array Sector antenna

Receive power :4mW Receive power : 8mW

10log(8mW/1mW) = 9dBd
Index

Outline of antenna

Technical data

Types of antennas and their development trend

Principle of antenna selection

Electrical properties--frequency Technical data

GSM 900
DCS 1800
GSM900+DCS1800

CDMA
Electrical properties--frequency Technical data

at at
Optimum 1/2 wavelength
890 960
for dipole at 925MHz
MHz MHz
Antenna
Dipole

BANDWIDTH = 960 - 890 = 70MHz

Electrical properties—input impedance Technical data

50

Antenna
Cable
50 ohms
50 ohms
Electrical properties— Technical data
voltage standing wave ratio

forward: 10W

9.5 W
backward: 0.5W
50 ohms

Return Loss ： 10log(10/0.5) = 13dB

VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio)
Electrical properties—
Technical data
voltage standing wave ratio

VSWR1.5

=(VSWR-1)/(VSWR+1)

VSWR=(1+ ||)/(1-| |)

RL=-20lg ||
Electrical properties—
Technical data
polarize mode

Vertical Horizontal

+ 45degree slant - 45degree slant

Electrical properties—
Technical data
polarize mode

V/H (Vertical/Horizontal) Slant (+/- 45°)

Electrical properties—
Technical data
polarize mode

 Linear,vertica
 dual linear 45 slant
Electrical properties—gain Technical data

Antenna radiant energy collection degree and the e

nergy conversion efficiency

G （、） =4 U （、） /P A unit ： dBi

G’= G A/ G A0 unit ： dBd

0dBd=2.15 dBi
Electrical properties—gain Technical data

dBd and dBi

idea point fountain （ zero

waste equality radiation ）

2.15dB

eg: 0dBd = 2.15dBi

dipole
Electrical properties—gain Technical data
Electrical properties—
Technical data
wave width

3dB Beamwidth 10dB Beamwidth

Peak - 3dB Peak - 10dB

60° (eg) Peak 120° (eg) Peak

Peak - 3dB Peak - 10dB

Electrical properties—
Technical data
wave width
Electrical properties—
Technical data
wave width
Sector antenna ： 30°/65°/90°/105°/120 °
omni-antenna ： 360°
Electrical properties—
Technical data
wave width

定向天线：
全向天线：
Electrical properties—
Technical data
wave width

horizontal  
3dB beam width 3dB width choose graph
Electrical properties—
Technical data
declination
 No declination
 Machine declination
 Fixed electrical
declination
 Measurable electrical
declination
 Remote control
declination
 Machine electrical
combine use
Electrical properties—
Technical data
declination
Electrical properties—
Technical data
declination
Electrical properties—
Technical data
declination

No declination Electrical declination Machine declination

Electrical properties—
Technical data
declination
Electrical properties—
Technical data
Front to Back Ratio
 The max value of main petal to
the max value of back petal ratio

Back power Front power

F/B = 10 log( front power / back power ) typically ： 25dB

Electrical properties—
Technical data
petal restrain & zero point fill
Electrical properties—
Technical data
petal restrain & zero point fill

Up assistant petal (dB)

Down assistant petal

(dB)
Electrical properties—
Technical data
power capability

 Continuous :25-1500watts

 peak :n2p
Electrical properties—
Technical data
isolate
For multi-port antenna using, the isolation degree
between every port must be bigger then 30dB

10log(1000mW/1mW) = 30dB

1000mW ( 1W) 1mW

Electrical properties—
Technical data
isolate

 The same frequency, different frequency,

dual-frequency antenna port>30dB
Mechanism properties parameter Technical data

 Length  width  high

 length ： relate with vertical petal, gai
n
 width ： relate with horizontal petal
 high ： relate with the technology
of antenna
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
material

 PVC, ABS, fiberglass etc.

 Prevent from bask, freeze, salt fog, burning
and aging.
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
appearance color
 good look, environment protection
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
working degree

 type value ：

-40°C—+70°C
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
wind carry

 For example:

83N at 160 km/h

Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
windward

 The smaller
the better
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
tie-in

 7/16”DIN ，
 N，
 SMA
 female
Mechanism properties parameter —
Technical data
hold pole

 Mast diameter 45-90mm

Mechanism properties parameter —th
Technical data
under resistant
index

Outline of antenna

Technical data

Types of antennas and their development trend

Principle of antenna selection

kinds of BTS antenna Types & development

According to freque GSM900 、 GSM1800 、

ncy GSM900/1800 dual-frequency

According to polariz Vertical ， 45liner polarize ， level ， circul

ation arity polarize

According to directi
Omni-antenna ， sector antenna
on chart

According to declin no ， mechanism ， fixed electrical ， meas

ation mode urable electrical ， remote control

According to
send ， receive ， send-receive together
function
develop trend Types & development

 Width freq
uency ban
d
 Multi-funct
ion
 High integ
rated
develop trend Types & development
GSM900/1800 dual-frequency a
nd dual-polarize
Remote control isolate electric
al declination antenna
develop trend Types & development

+45/900 -45/900

C 900/1800 C 900/1800
+45/1800 -45/1800
+45/900 +45/1800 -45/900 -45/1800
index

Outline of antenna

Technical data

Types of antennas and their development trend

Principle of antenna selection

Radio environment for
principle of antenna selection
suburb/country
antenna choose for
principle of antenna selection
urban
Characteristics of application environment:
When The distribution of BTS is dense, the cover range of single BTS need to be
small, the over cover phenomena and the disturb between BTS need to be decreased,
the duplicate using of frequency need to be increased.

As it is hard to choose BTS address and space for antenna, the dual-
Polarize mod
polarize antenna need to be chose

According duplicate using of frequency, sector antenna need to

direction chat
be chose

3dB Power For controlling the cover range to restrain disturb, the horizontal
Beam width plane 3dB power beam width of antenna in urban should be 60~65°

The gain of antenna, which should be used in urban, is 15-16dBi. Th

antenna gain e antenna with lower gain could be used to cover the blind urban are
a.
Declination Down tilt antenna is suggested, and electrical declination antenna i
degree n sometimes.
Radio environment for
principle of antenna selection
urban
antenna choose for
principle of antenna selection
suburb/country
Characteristics of application environment:
 Environment around should be considered in Sparse distributing, low traffic, larger
coverage situation.
Polarize mod Choose vertical polarize or dual-polarize antenna

direction chat The sector antenna with 90°or 105°horizontal plane 3dB power beam wi
dth is used.

3dB Power The omni-antenna with 90°or 105°horizontal plane 3dB power
Beam width beam width or wider is used.

antenna gain The antenna with high gain is suggested, which is 16-18dBi for secto
r antenna or 9 － 11dBi for omni-antenna in rural and suburb area.

Declination Mechanism declination is suggested. The zero fill antenna is needed

degree when the high level of antenna is greater then 50 meters to avoid da
rk under antenna phenomenon.
Radio environment for
principle of antenna selection
highway
antenna choose for
principle of antenna selection
highway
Characteristics of application environment:
Low traffic, high speed moving
 The covering problem is the key issue. For strap covering, dual-cell coverage is
needed. Sometimes, the omni-cell is used in some spots.
Polarize Choose vertical polarize or dual-polarize antenna according to
mod particular situation

direction To cover railway and road, the narrow beam width and high gain antenn
chat a should be used.

3dB Power The gain of sector antenna is higher, the horizontal plane 3dB power
Beam width beam width is about 30°

antenna The gain of sector antenna should be 18dBi － 22dBi, and omni-antenna
gain is 11dBi

Declination Down tilt is not needed for highway covering, and the mechanism decli
degree nation antenna is suggested.
Radio environment for
principle of antenna selection
mountainous area

Figure 6.5 beauty spot

antenna choose for
principle of antenna selection
mountainous area
Characteristics of application environment:
in the knap out of the way, serious mountain block, big radio pass loss ， ha
rd to cover area.
Choose vertical polarize or dual-polarize antenna according to
Polarize mod particular situation

direction chat Choose omni-antenna or sector antenna

3dB Power For BTS built on the mountain, if the level of cover area is lo
w, the antenna with bigger 3dB power beam width need to be chos
Beam width e

Choose middle antenna gain according to the distance of cover a

antenna gain
rea, omni-antenna(9-11dBi), sector antenna(15-18dBi)

If BTS be built on the mountain, when the cover area is under t

Declination degree he mountain, the antenna with zero point filling or declination
need to be chose