Isolation of antennas

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

General

Different mobile communication systems require a min. total

isolation of 70 - 80 dB
u This isolation may not be achieved by antennas only, but
must be generated together with filters
Required antenna isolation > 30 dB
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The

coupling between two antennas is based on

radiation
induced currents via the common mast
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Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

General

Factors influencing the isolation value:

Electrical items:
o Frequency
o Polarisation
o Half-power beam width
o Electrical tilt
Mechanical settings:
o Vertical / Horizontal separation
o Angle
o Pole-/ Wall-Mounting
o Design
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Isolation

General

Electrical items
Mechanical settings fixed

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

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Frequency

Antennas are not filters

Also out-of-band frequencies are received but with worse VSWR
Resulting mismatch creates attenuation called mismatch loss
Mismatch loss increases the isolation

Antennas operated in different frequency bands have higher

isolation values than antennas operated in the same

frequency band

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

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Polarisation

Lowest isolation when antennas have same polarisation

for different polarisation, the isolation values increase
For comparing vertical and slanted polarisation, only the vertical
component of the slanted polarisation is responsible for the isolation
Amplitude of this vertical component is 3dB smaller compared to the
complete signal

Antennas with different polarisations show higher

isolation values than antennas with the same polarisations

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Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation
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Half-power beam width

With two antennas side-by-side facing into the same direction, the
radiation against each other (orthogonal to the main beam) determines the
isolation
The broader the half-power beam width, the higher the radiation level at
+/- 90

The isolation decreases with a growing half-power beam width

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation
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Electrical Tilt

Achieved by feeding the dipoles with unequal phases of a signal

The different phases lower the coupling between two antennas

Higher isolation values for antennas with electrical tilt (fixed or

adjustable) rather than for antennas without

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

General

Mechanical settings
Electrical specifications fixed

Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation
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vertical/horizontal separation

Antennas have dedicated radiation patterns with nulls above and below
main beam
Therefore the radiation level towards an antenna above or below is small

Vertical separated antennas show higher isolation values than

two horizontally seperated antennas at same distance

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Isolation
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angle separation

Signal level behind the antenna is much smaller than in front or at +/-90.
Therefore if antennas are separated by an angle, the mutual level of
radiation becomes less.

The isolation grows with the azimuth angle between them

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Isolation
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Pole-/Wall-Mounting

Antennas have high front-to-back ratio

But still, the influence of a large plane behind the antenna (e.g. building
fascade) can not be neglected
The reflections from the surface result in a slightly smaller radiation pattern
Therefore the level of radiation towards the neighbouring antenna is
reduced.

Two same antennas mounted on a wall show higher isolation

values, than if being mounted on a pole

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Isolation
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Design

Current at the edges of the reflector significantly influences the isolation

between two antennas
The currents depend on the construction and the kind of radiating
elements used (e.g. dipole, patch)
Therefore one of the biggest influencing factors is the design of the
antennas

Isolation values from one manufacturer may not be used for

antennas from another.

Kathrein antennas are designed

for high isolation values
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Isolation

General

Save distance

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Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

Save distance

Standard question of network planners:

What is the required minimum save distance for isolation values >30dB?
Vertical separation:

The isolation values are always quite good

Only the minimum possible distance is needed

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Isolation

Save distance

Horizontal separation:
The minimum save distance depends on the wavelength and on the
horizontal half-power beamwidth
(same frequency, polarisation and no tilt are used)

Please note:
The stated
distances are only
valid for the shown
situation!
Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

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Isolation

Save distance

Angle separation:
Taking a 120 angle, 30dB of isolation are already achieved with the
minimum mechanical distance

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Kathrein/Kretzschmar 05/04

Isolation

General

Optimised minimum distance

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Isolation
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Optimised minimum distance

Optimised minimum distance may only be found with measurements

Kathrein has done a number of isolation measurements for typical site
configurations, that are available for our customers
Measured values are up to 50dB
Values of more than 50 dB depend also on the special site and are therefore no
longer typical.

Measurement of
decoupling values

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