Antenna Line Installation Guide

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EGNATIA ROM Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

Antenna Line Installation Guide

Date: 13-02-2006

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Antenna Line Installation Guide

1.
1.1

Base Station Waveguide Installation

General Information
Antenna line is crucial for networks good operation. If antenna line has few losses then signal is stronger and there is better coverage at more distant areas. There are some specifications about feeder installation depending from the distance between BTS and antenna. If distance is large, then we must choose thicker waveguide to decrease losses. Type of Feeder 1/2 7/8 1 1/4 1 5/8 GSM (900 MHz) 0<L31m 31<L46m 46<L63m L>63m Table 1.1 Depending of the feeder, we use jumpers between BTS-Feeders, Feeders-Antenna. We can have more complex configurations if we use also EMPs or TMA. We always use male connectors 7/16 for feeders, no matter the thickness. Also we always use jumper 1.5m/m-f from BTS to feeders or EMPs. This is done for uniform reasons, so every installation (Ericsson or Siemens) is similar. DCS (1800 MHz) 0<L20m 20<L31m 31<L42m L>42m

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Indoor BTS No EMP Feeders >=1/2

Indoor BTS EMPs Feeders >= 1/2 Outdoor BTS No EMP Feeders >= 1/2 Outdoor BTS EMPs Feeders >= 1/2

Feeders = 1/2 TMA Antenna

Feeders > 1/2 TMA Antenna

Feeders = 1/2 no TMA Antenna Feeders > 1/2 no TMA Antenna

We use jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between BTS and feeders. If it is Siemens it has its own angle jumpers, if it is Ericsson they are provided by Cosmote. We use jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between BTS and EMPs. Feeders plug directly on EMPs We use jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between BTS and feeders We use jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between BTS and EMPs. We plug feeders directly on EMPs Feeder is plugged directly on TMA. One jumper 1.5m/m-m/ between TMA and Antenna We use jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between feeder and TMA. One jumper 1.5m/m-m/ between TMA and Antenna Feeders are plugged directly on antenna We use one jumper 1.5m/male-female/ between feeder and antenna

Near Antenna

Near BTS

Table 1.2

1.2

Tools Required
Except cutters, keys and screwdrivers installer must have the following special tools with him. Cutting tool for all types of feeders (3/8, 1/2, 7/8, 1 1/4, 1 5/8). It is required to cut the feeders for installing connectors.

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Grounding tool of all types of feeders (3/8, 1/2, 7/8, 1 1/4, 1 5/8). It is required for grounding kits.

Digital Slope Meter. It is required to measure mechanical and side tilt of the antenna.

Analyzer for antenna measurements (Anritsu or Bird). It is required to take measurements from the antennae.

Antenna alignment tool to specify direction of the antenna.

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1.3

Antenna Installation
During antenna installation there are 6 points that should be checked I.Antenna pole must be vertical. Installer must check the slope and it must be 0o towards all directions. If it is not vertical then take it into consideration when set mechanical tilts. II. Antenna is mounted on a pole 60. If it is a singleband antenna we use 1 downtilt kit. If it is doubleband antenna we use 2 downtilt kits, up and down. This is a rule but some exceptions may exist. The upper clamp should be mounted on top of the pole.

Picture 1.1: Single band antenna. Only one downtilt kit. Antenna must be at the top of the pole

Picture 1.2: Double band antenna. 2 downtilt kits up and down.

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III. Mechanical tilt is the slope of the antenna. If it is single number (e.g. 1,3) it means it looks down, to earth. If it is with minus (e.g. -1, -3) it looks to the sky. Although clamps have signs with the degrees, it is recommended to use digital slope-meter. IV. Side tilt must always be 0. This slope must be also checked with slope-meter. V. Electrical tilt is defined at work order.

Picture 1.3: Point to adjust electrical tilt. VI. Direction is the last topic about antenna installation. At work order is given a reference point and its azimuth (far end site). By using the special alignment tool installer can turn antennae to the requested direction. If you dont have visibility (e.g. because of a building) you may use compass.

1.4

Feeder & Jumper installation at pylon sites

Installer must be careful of waveguide route from antenna to BTS. There are some general points that must be taken into consideration. I. All connections must be tight and properly waterproof. Specific shells must be put (if available) for better protection. II. Feeders and jumpers must not bend too much. III. Feeders and jumpers must be fixed with clamps. Try not to leave large parts of feeders on air, because from the strong wind they can be damaged. Feeder type 1/2 7/8 1 1/4 1 5/8 Typical distance between clamps minimum typical maximum 0.4 m 0.5 m 0.9 m 0.6 m 1.0 m 1.1 m 0.7 m 1.0 m 1.2 m 0.8 m 1.0 m 1.4 m Table 1.3 IV. Groundings must be put at parts of feeders that are straight and very stable. Installer must insulate very well the groundings. V. When feeders pass through cable entries, the holes must be sealed with silicone.

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VI. Try not use tie wraps to catch the cable because not only tie wraps might break but also they might hurt feeder. Installer must use clamps to fasten the feeders. He must not tight clamps more than 2-3 Nm at 20o C.

Picture 1.4, 1.5: Feeder must come close to antenna and be fastened. Use shells to waterproof connections. It would be good to fix also the jumper. Put labels near antenna and also on feeder near connector.

Picture 1.6: At the top of the pylon try to arrange the feeders according to antennae directions

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Picture 1.7: Feeders must be at one side of vertical ladder, very close to each other. Clamps must be put according Table 3 (nearly every 1m).

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Picture 1.8: Ground feeders between clamps.

Picture 1.9: Feeders when pass from vertical ladder to horizontal, must be in order and arranged at pairs. Also dont make groundings at this point but above clamps. Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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Picture 1.10: Correct way to pass feeders from vertical to horizontal ladder. Feeders are pairs and groundings between clamps.

Picture 1.11: Feeders on horizontal ladder must be on right side of the ladder leaving left part free for future installations. Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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Picture 1.12: Avoid installing feeders like this. They occupy all the space making future installations impossible.

Picture 1.13: Feeders must start from right side of cable entry. Also groundings must not be at bending point of feeders and grounding cables must go directly to grounding bar. Put silicone at the cable entry Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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Picture 1.14: Cable inside shelter coming from left: 20cm difference between EMPs EMPs are grounded to grounding bar and jumpers are fixed with clamps. At this case, up cable is diversity (41x2) and down cable is main (41x0)

Picture 1.15: Cables coming from right: Up cable is main (41x0) and down cable is diversity (41x2).

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Picture 1.16: Cables when coming from right side of BTS must be near the wall, allowing future feeder installations.

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1.5

Feeder & Jumper installation at rooftop sites

The ideas for feeder installation at rooftop are the same with pylon case. BTS (Siemens or Ericsson) is connected with 1.5m jumper to EMPs. Feeders starting from EMPs until antenna must be in pairs (main and diversity). Ground EMPs on grounding bar. Connect this grounding bar with main grounding bar using cable 16mm2. Usually rooftop installations require 1/2 or 7/8 feeders. Dont waste must space in channels or cable entry. If try to pass 2 feeders from every hole of cable entry. Fix feeders with clamps also inside metallic channels. In that case clamps must be mounted with tie wraps. Feeders must be mounted with clamps on masts steps. Ground feeders on grounding bar. Fasten the bar at the back side of masts steps
Feeders require too much space at cable entry. It should be 2 or 4 cable in every hole. EMPs should have distance 20cm. Dont forget the labels! Feeders are correctly mounted with clamps and in pairs.

Grounding bar is connected with main grounding bar. Also it should be closer to EMPs.

Picture 1.17: Avoid taking too much space for the feeders. Put 2 or 4 feeders in every hole of cable entry.

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Grounding bar for EMPs. It is connected to main grounding bar. Perhaps it could be closer to EMPs

EMPs have distance 20cm and there are labels.

There are clamps for feeders.

Picture 1.18: Perhaps EMPs could be closer to cable entry so the jumpers not to make this curve.

Picture 1.19: Antenna line near a 2106. EMPs are well insulated and grounded to main grounding bar. Insulation was secured with tie wraps. Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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Picture 1.20: Feeders and RG cable are fastened with clamps inside channel. Feeders should be closer to each other. Clamps for feeders are fixed with tie wraps.

Picture 1.21: Feeders are well routed inside metal channel.

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Grounding bar is put behind steps.

Picture 1.22, 1.23: Feeders are fixed with clamps on masts steps. Grounding bar is put behind steps. If there is no grounding bar catch grounding cables with a screw on a grounded point at mast.

Picture 1.24: Put labels near antenna. Here we have feeders that plug directly on antenna. Use the shells for better insulation. Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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1.6

EMPs
We put EMPS when no TMA or Bias tee are installed. Because of the fact that EMPs are thicker than the cables, main and diversity cables must have difference at their length about 20cm. Ground EMPs on the special grounding bar. Be careful with grounding point, it must be closer to BTS and not to feeder. This grounding bar must be grounded with a cable 16mm2 to sites main grounding bar.

Picture 1.25: EMPs must have distance about 20cm. Grounding is at the side of BTS.

1.7

Groundings
Grounding is a very important issue because it protects BTS from lightings. Generally feeders must be grounded at least at 2 points (near BTS and near Antenna) and if they are long enough at intermediate points, preferably near curves. Here are some general rules: 1. Feeder with length < 15m: 2 groundings, one near BTS and the second near antenna. 2. 15m < Feeder length <45m: 3 groundings a. Near BTS, outside cable entry.. b. At the point where feeder climbs up the pylon. If there is no pylon at a point in the middle. c. At the top of the pylon. 3. Feeder Length > 45m: 4 groundings a. Near BTS, outside cable entry b. At the point where feeders climbs up the pylon. c. Between base of pylon and top. d. At the top of the pylon.

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If there is no pylon then put 1 grounding near BTS, the second near antenna and the other two between them, at equally distant positions. Take care that grounding must be done at a straight part of feeder and between clamps. Grounding must be protected from moisture with one layer or rubber tape and 2 layers of insulation tape. Insulation tape must be stretched enough and also tied with tie wraps to avoid tape from being unfoiled. Grounding cables must follow feeders route, be short and go directly to grounding bar. If pylon (or metal structure) is not painted then we can assume that grounding bar is grounded. But if grounding bar touches painted surface then we must ground it with a special cable.

Picture 1.26: Schematic of groundings.

Picture 1.27: Put tie wraps around grounding tape. Date: 13-02-2006 Version: 02

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1.8

Labeling
Labeling of feeders is like 41x0 (for main) or 41x2 (for diversity). X stand for cell id and is given from Cosmote. Usually cell names are like the table below Band DSC (1800) Feeder Label 4110 4112 4120 4122 4130 - 4132 4170 4172 4180 4182 4190 - 4192 Table 1.4 Installer must put labels at 4 points 1. On antenna jumper near antenna. 2. On feeder near to connection with antenna jumper. 3. At feeder near to connection with BTS jumper. 4. At BTS jumper near to BTS. Cell number Cell 1 (id 1) Cell 2 (id 2) Cell 2 (id 3) Cell 1 (id 7) Cell 2 (id 8) Cell 3 (id 9)

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GSM (900)

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2.

Measurements
Installer must take 4 measurements from every feeder. I. II. III. IV. V. Insertion Loss: BTS jumper + EMP + Feeder + short. Feeder Return Loss: BTS jumper + EMP + Feeder + 50Ohm Load. Antenna Return Loss: BTS jumper + EMP + Feeder + Jumper + Antenna. Distance to Fault: BTS jumper + EMP + Feeder + Jumper + Antenna. TMA Return Loss (if applicable): BTS jumper + feeder + TMA + jumper + Antenna.

For all these measurements names, limits and markers are defined at special file given to you.

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Contents
Antenna Line Installation Guide...................................................................................... 2 1. Base Station Waveguide Installation.................................................................... 2 1.1 General Information..................................................................................... 2 1.2 Tools Required ............................................................................................ 3 1.3 Antenna Installation..................................................................................... 5 1.4 Feeder & Jumper installation at pylon sites .................................................. 6 1.5 Feeder & Jumper installation at rooftop sites.............................................. 14 1.6 EMPs......................................................................................................... 18 1.7 Groundings ................................................................................................ 18 1.8 Labeling..................................................................................................... 20 2. Measurements ................................................................................................... 21

Date: 13-02-2006

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