Installation of

4 - 25 GHZ
Single Polarized Feed
and adjustment of Antenna
H3016
Rev. A
Rel. Date: 04.05.99
Nera ASA

Antennas Feed Installation

Table of Contents
1.

Installation of Antenna Feeds ..................................................................... 3

1.1 General .................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Polarization for Waveguide Feeds ......................................................... 4
1.3 Waveguide Feeds for Standard and High Performance Antennas .......... 4
1.4 Single Polarized Feed............................................................................ 5
1.5 Vertex Plate ........................................................................................... 6
1.6 Waveguide Connections ........................................................................ 7
1.7 Feed Stays ............................................................................................ 8

2.

Antenna Adjustment .................................................................................. 10

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

1.

Installation of Antenna Feeds

1.1

General

All antenna feeds are fed from the centre of the reflector, and are in most cases inserted from the front of the
reflector. Generally the feed is supported by four stays for vibration damping.
A vertex plate is used for cancelling reflected power from the reflector into the feed.
Before installation, please study carefully this manual and compare with the actual feed delivered.
Check for damages during transport. Select the proper feed polarization and feed orientation. Clean the ring
in the reflector before mounting the feed.
Important !
Waveguide flanges made of different materials such as aluminium or brass shall never be directly
connected as galvanic corrosion will occur. In such cases the following steps must be followed.
1) A bi-metallic shim shall be inserted between the flanges. This bi-metallic shim has a copper surface
at one side and aluminium on the other. Make absolutely certain that the aluminium side faces the
aluminium flange. When the antenna feed is made of aluminium, bi-metallic shim is supplied with the
feed.
2) The split between the flanges shall be covered with tape. The tape is a Water-resistance textile tape
25mm wide. The tape is not supplied with the antenna feed. Recommended type: 3106 ROTUNDA
WHITE.
The screw connections must be sealed with silicone rubber.

Single rectangular waveguide feed system

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

1.2

Polarization for Waveguide Feeds

The electrical field is always orthogonal to the two opposing sides of the square waveguide, or to the two broad
sides of the rectangular waveguide.

UP

H
V

DOWN

1.3

Waveguide Feeds for Standard and High Performance Antennas

Single polarized feeds are terminated with a rectangular (PDR or PBR) flange. Please note that the polarization
is always right angled to the broad sides of the feed waveguide. Some High Performance Antennas have
asymmetric patterns for vertical polarization with lower sidelobes on one side. Details are given in the Radiation
Pattern Envelope. The installers must be advised of the proper polarization and the proper feed orientation.

TOP VIEW
LEFT SIDE

TOP VIEW
RIGHT SIDE

VERTICAL POLARIZATION
Better side on the left

LEFT SIDE

RIGHT SIDE

VERTICAL POLARIZATION
Better side on the right

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

1.4

Single Polarized Feed

Single polarized antennas with a diameter of 2 meters or smaller have the possibility to be repolarized from the
rear side of the antenna. This is done by rotating the feed between the printed labels indicating the polarization.

UP

Horizontal

H3016 Rev. A

UP

Vertical

Antennas Feed Installation

1.5

Vertex Plate

Antennas with frequency lower than 11 GHz are delivered with vertex plates for VSWR matching. For these
antennas the vertex plate is included in the feed. If vertex plates are delivered with the antenna, assemble
according to the figure below.

Parabola
Vertex
Plate

Feed

M6 Screw
and Washers

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

1.6

Waveguide Connections

Before connection takes place, study the following two typical Feed types and compare with the actual delivery.

PBR FLANGE

Gasket
PBRxxx
Brass flange

Shim Cupal
Copper
side (brown)

Al-side
side

Feed

After mounting the flange, seal the screw connections with silicone rubber and the connection between
flange and feed-sub-assy

Gasket
PBRxxx
Al. flange

Feed

Important!

Waveguide flanges made of different materials such as aluminium or brass must never be directly connected as
galvanic corrosion will occur. In such cases the following steps must be followed.
A bimetallic shim must be inserted between the flanges. This bimetallic shim has a copper surface on one side
and aluminium on the other. Make absolutely certain that the aluminium side faces the aluminium flange.

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

Gasket
UBRxxx
Al. flange

Feed

1.7

Feed Stays

Three stays support the feed. Some antennas are delivered with self-supporting feed and without feed stays..
There are two types of stays depending on frequency range. Identify which type is delivered with the antenna.

Feed stays for antennas with frequency lower than 11 GHz.

Reflector Front

Assembly stay in
slot on Fixing washer.

Stayhole not to be used

Stay

Thighten nut until

feed stay are without
slack. Thighten counter
nut.

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

Feed stays for antennas with frequency higher than 11 GHz.
a)
b)
c)
d)

Thread the wire through the 6.5 mm hole from the rear side of the reflector.
Mount the spring and the plate onto the feed horn.
Thread the knot on the wire through the slot in the plate by compressing the spring.
When the three wires are mounted to the plate, the feed will be in the centre of the
antenna and the wires will have the correct tension.

STAY

FIXING PLATE

FEED HORN

SPRING

STAY

STAY
FEED
FIXING PLATE

REFLECTOR FRONT

FEED

REFLECTOR
STAY (3X)

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

2.

Antenna Adjustment

Purpose
To obtain maximum signal level and cross polarization discrimination by aligning two antennas in opposite directions.
Basis
The antennas should be properly mounted and polarized in the same way. It must be possible to transmit from one
antenna and to receive on the other. The best way is to have a transmitter and a receiver connected to both antennas.
Coarse adjustment
Adjust both antennas to correct directions as precisely as possible by using magnetic compass or optical sight.
If the antenna feeder is exposed to extensive bending when adjusting the antenna a thinner coaxial cable must be
strapped between the antenna feeder and the feed horn. This should remain in place till all antenna adjustments are
completed. Then the proper antenna feeder must be reconnected.
Fine adjustment
Fine adjustment is achieved by sending a signal from one of the antennas. On the receive side various methodes
may be used.
a)
Read the AGC voltage on the receiver
b)
Read the received level on a spectrum analyzer
c)
Measure the received power with a Power Meter
Switch off the Transmitter at the receive station to exclude interference from this source. If there is any possibility
of receiving unwanted signals a channel filter must be connected between the antenna and the measuring equipment.
It is recommended that the person adjusting the antenna can read the instrument while adjusting. It is very easy to
be misled if the signal is fading.
If the AGC voltage is used, a voltmeter should be connected and monitored by the person who is adjusting the
antenna.
Adjust alternatively in azimut and elevation till the received signal is at maximum level. Try a few times in each
direction. The antenna should be turned so much that the first sidelobes are seen, thereby ensuring that the antenna
is aligned on the main lobe.
When the antenna finally is correctly adjusted, secure all bolts and connect all supporting stays. Monitor the
instrument during this operation and if necessary realign the antenna.
When adjustments are completed on the first antenna this should be used for transmitting while the same procedure
is performed on the opposite antenna.
Cross Polarization Adjustment
After alignment of the antenna, the antenna feed should be adjusted horizontally and vertically. Loosen the flange
which secures the feed to the reflector. Align the feed by using a spirit leveller. Secure the flange.
If the system uses dual polarization waveguide feed, it is also necessary to adjust for maximum cross polarization
discrimination. This have to be done after both antennas are aligned. Loosen the nuts on the flange that secures the
feed to the reflector. Connect the instrument to the antenna port with polarization opposite that of the transmitted
signal. Place a torque arm between the allen screws and rotate the feed until a signal at minimum level is received
(see figure on the next page). Maximum cross polarization discrimination should now be achieved, and the flange
can be secured. This adjustment shall be performed on only one antenna per hop. If specified Cross polarization
discrimination is not achieved, it may be necessary to realign both antennas.
Final Control
When all adjustments are performed check that the input level agrees with the one theoretically calculated. If the
input level is too low, adjust the antennas once more. Finally, ensure that all bolts, nuts and stays are properly mounted
and secured.

10

H3016 Rev. A

Antennas Feed Installation

FEED
FLANGE

ALLEN
SCREW

TORQUE ARM

H3016 Rev. A

11