Coaxial Antenna

Properties and use

Reijo Kekäläinen

ROK/24.8.01 1
 Need for Indoor Coverage
• Wireless communications are increasing
rapidly
• Growth in the use of mobile services and
products
• Growing use of mobile communication
increases the demand for sufficient radio
coverage in many places
• UMTS frequencies make signal propagation
worse because of bigger open air attenuation
and even worse building structure penetration

ROK/24.8.01 2
 Need for Indoor Coverage
• Propagation of electromagnetic waves are disabled
into constructions of heavy and conducting material
• Portable receiver moving in the building experiences
fading
• In the future mobility of work makes demands for
wireless office
• Growing need for security systems for buildings

ROK/24.8.01 3
 Applications
• Communication in
underground areas and
halls, such as car parks
• Communication in metro
systems and railway tunnels
• Communication in mine
tunnels
• Communication in road
tunnels
• Communication systems in
buildings such as offices,
hospitals, shopping centers,
airports

ROK/24.8.01 4
 Applications
• Police, fire and rescue
services in all areas
mentioned
• Wireless LAN (WLAN)
• Area access detection and
security
• AM or FM-radio detection in
radio shadowed places
• Cordless telephone systems
• Communication in ships

ROK/24.8.01 5
 Basic construction of a coaxial
antenna (radiating cable)
• Basic construction elements
– inner conductor
• solid copper wire
• copper plated aluminium wire
• copper tube in cables of large dimensions
– concentric dielectric
• contains inner skin, low loss foam (PE) and outer skin
– dielectric has good bonding to the inner conductor by the
inner skin
– more than 80 % of foaming degrees can be achieved by a
modern extruding and gas injection process
– outer skin is an effective barrier against moisture

ROK/24.8.01 6
 Basic construction of a coaxial
antenna
– outer conductor
• welded, corrugated and slotted copper tube or
longitudinal overlapped copper tape with periodic slots
• determines the radiating properties
– mica barrier tape
• option improves the fire safety of the cable
– sheath
• black HD polyethylene
• grey or black halogen free fire retardant thermoplastic
• also other colors available

ROK/24.8.01 7
 Coaxial antenna theory

• coaxial antenna has basic coaxial cable transmission

characteristics with some exceptions:

– the TEM wave that propagates inside the cable also radiates
outwards from the cable
– the coupling mechanism between the cable interior and the
external environment can be created by small apertures in
the cable outer conductor

ROK/24.8.01 8
 Coaxial antenna theory
– The cable acts as continuous antenna and transmission line
at the same time
– the electromagnetic coupling mechanism and radiation
characteristics are determined by the configuration of the
apertures:
• key factors are the size, shape, position and spacing of the
apertures
– based on the coupling and radiation mechanism cables can
be divided for coupled mode cables and radiating mode
cables

ROK/24.8.01 9
 Coaxial antenna theory
• Coupling mode cables
– In the coupled mode cable the spacing of
the apertures are smaller than the
operating wavelength
– coupling mode cables work on the wide
frequency range
– coaxial antennas with a corrugated and
milled outer conductor are typical
examples

ROK/24.8.01 10
 Coaxial antenna theory
• Radiating mode cables
– In the radiating mode cables the apertures
are typically periodically configured with a
spacing comparable to the operational
frequency
– with a proper configuration the cable
radiates within the required frequency
– coaxial antennas with a slotted overlapped
copper tape as outer conductor are typical
examples

ROK/24.8.01 11
 Electrical characteristics
• The most common characteristic impedance is 50 Ω
(typical for radio communication)
• In coaxial antennae the coupling mechanism has an
effect on the total attenuation of the cable:
where
α = α1 ⋅ f + α 2 ⋅ f + α 3 + α 4
α = attenuation at a given frequency (dB/100m)
α1= loss coefficient of conductors
α2= loss coefficient of dielectric
α3= loss coefficient of coupling
α4= losses in the near magnetic field because of the wrong
assembly of coaxial antenna (e.g. too near the walls)
f = frequency

ROK/24.8.01 12
 Electrical characteristics
• The attenuation of the coaxial antenna is measured
according to the standard IEC 61196-4
– ground level method
• cable is laid on non-metallic spacers 10-12 cm from
concrete floor
– free space method (more common method)
• cable is laid on wooden posts at height of 1.5-2 m
• when using this method the attenuation is calculated
using the following formula:
Ne − Ns
α=
L
⋅100 ⋅ [1 − 0.002 ⋅ (T − 20 )] (dB / 100m at 20 C )
o

ROK/24.8.01 13
 Electrical characteristics
where α = attenuation (dB/100m at 20ºC)
Ne= power level at the beginning of the cable (dBm)
Ns= power level at the end of the cable (dBm)
L = length of the cable (m)
T = temperature of the cable (ºC)
• Coupling loss is measured according the same
standard as above
• Coupling loss
– is the ratio of the received power at the antenna
(2 m from cable) to the power in the cable
– depends on the coupling and radiating mechanism
of the cable

ROK/24.8.01 14
 Electrical characteristics
– is calculated (when using free space method) by
using formula α c = N e − N r − (α ⋅ P ) (dB )
where αc= coupling loss (dB)
Ne= power level at the beginning of the cable (dBm)
Nr= power level at antenna (dBm)
P= distance from antenna to the feeding point (m)
– is characterized by two typical values:
• mean value αc50: 50 % of the measured local values are
smaller than this value
• mean value αc95: 95 % of the measured local values are
smaller than this value
– is typically 55-85 dB

ROK/24.8.01 15
 Cable types and main features
• NK Cables offers several
cable types according to the
cable diameter and
coupling/radiating
mechanism:
– RFX or RF2X 1/2”-50
– RFX or RF2X 7/8”-50
– RFX or RF2X 1 1/4”-50
– RFX or RF2X 1 5/8”-50
– RFXT 5/8”-50
– RFXT 7/8”-50
– RFXK (several dimensions)

ROK/24.8.01 16
 Cable types and main features
• RFX has a welded corrugated outer conductor
(coupling mode cable)
• Also RFX with extra fire protection (Mica tape) is
available

• RFXT has an overlapped copper tape outer

conductor (radiating mode cable)

ROK/24.8.01 17
 Cable types and main features
• Coaxial antennae have the
following main features:
– low attenuation and optimized
coupling loss
– high mechanical strength and
stability
– polyethylene skin over dielectric
as a moisture barrier
– fire retardant, low smoke and
halogen free sheath available
– easy installation characteristics
– colored cables if required

ROK/24.8.01 18
 Cable types and main features RADIATING COAXIAL CABLE

TYPE RFX 7/8"-50

RFX 7/8"-50 GHF

Jacketing options
RFX 7/8"-50 BHF

CONSTRUCTION

• Materials
Inner conductor Copper tube Ø 9.0 mm

– high density PE Dielectric

Outer conductor
Three layer polyethylene insulation
solid/foam/solid
Corrugated and slotted copper tube
Ø 22.2 mm

Ø 24.9 mm
Sheath See table below Ø 27.5 mm

– low density PE
Marking ΩHMAX, manufacturer's name, cable type,
manufacture week, year and metre mark

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS at +20°C

– halogen free, low smoke, fire retardant Characteristic impedance

Velocity factor
Capacitance
50 ± 2 Ω
0.88
76 pF/m
Attenuation measured according to

– colored cables IEC 1196-4 free space method.

at 150 MHz
dB/100m
1.9

at 450 " 3.3 "

at 900 " 4.9 "

• Fire performance at 1.8 GHz

at 2.2 "
Coupling loss measured according to IEC 1196-4
7.3
8.2
"
"

free space method, antenna perpendicular to the

– IEC 60754-1/2 (halogen, corrosive) radiating cable. 1.8 GHz values measured with
horn antenna.
50% value 95% value
at 150 MHz 67 dB 77 dB

– IEC 61034-1/2 (low smoke) at 450 "

at 900 "
at 1.8 GHz
70 "
73 "
77 "
80 "
82 "
88 "
at 2.2 " 75 " 87 "
– IEC 60332-1 (flame retardant) MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

– IEC 60332-3C (fire retardant) Weight

Maximum pulling force
Minimum single bending radius
550 kg/km
1800 N
250 mm
Operating temperature range -40...+70°C

• Jacketing options are in the cable JACKETING OPTIONS

specifications TYPE

RFX 7/8"-50
Jacket

Black HD polyethylene
IEC 60754 -1/-2
halogen free, not
corrosive
yes
IEC 61034
low smoke emission

no
IEC 60332-1
fire retardant

no
UV retardancy

yes
Min. installation
temperature

-20°C
Grey,halogen free fire
RFX 7/8"-50 GHF retardant thermoplastic yes yes yes no -5°C
Black,halogen free fire
RFX 7/8"-50 BHF retardant thermoplastic yes yes yes yes -5°C

ROK/24.8.01 19
 Indoor system design
• Here an interior-building project is dealt with
• Same principles also applied to other applications
• Information to be required for the initial values
– building construction
• utilization of building
• equipment location; transmission possibilities etc.
• floor area; shape
• number of floors; height, underground parts
• materials; floors, walls, construction, windows, etc.
(typical loss factors for each material)
• typical size of rooms; offices, halls, etc.
• risers; elevators, cable ducts etc.; location

ROK/24.8.01 20
 Indoor system design
– existing radio environment
• outdoor BTS near the building
– capacity; cells, number of TRX’s
– signal strength; cells, distances, direction
– used frequencies
• indoor system; signal strengths, levels of interference
– radio environment needs
• indoor micro BTS (pico-cell) or utilization of outdoor sites
• capacity; different needs in different parts of the building
• coverage; different needs in different parts of the building

ROK/24.8.01 21
 Indoor system design
– limitations
• frequency planning; nearby cells, disturbances
• signal power: EMC requirements, devices and biological
harmful radiation (not possible with coaxial antenna)
• equipment location
• costs
• operator needs

ROK/24.8.01 22
 Indoor system design
• Indoor planning
– preliminary survey
• measurement plan including routes, floor layouts,
permission
• carry out measurements
– analysis (categorization)
• measuring the signals from macro layer (from BTS’s
outside building)
• measurement results are analyzed to see if there is
enough coverage and capacity inside the building ⇒ if
not ⇒ indoor solution is required ⇒ measurements of the
signals from test transmission is carried out

ROK/24.8.01 23
 Indoor system design
– pico-cell planning
• simulations of the new indoor system (antennae
locations)
• there are many tools to do the radio network simulations
e.g. NPS/i (Nokia tool), SitePlanner, WISE, …
• in simple systems the calculations can be made by hand
(a power budget calculation)
– the indoor system proposal is introduced to the
operator
• coverage plot
• measurement results
• indoor solution proposal

ROK/24.8.01 24
 Indoor system design
• Indoor solution
in NK Cables’
head office in
Espoo Finland
• implemented in
co-operation
with Sonera
• more uniform
coverage
achieved
compared to the
old system
(distributed
antennae)

ROK/24.8.01 25
 Indoor system design
INDOOR COVERAGE OF NK CABLES' HEAD OFFICE

50

45

old distributed antennae network

40
MEASURED MARGIN OF SIGNAL LEVEL (dB),

35
new coaxial antenna network
COMPARISON LEVEL -80 dBm

30

25

20

15 1800 network

10

0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19
MEASUREMENT LOCATION NUMBER

ROK/24.8.01 26
 Indoor system design
Cost comparison of networks of NK Cables’ Head Office
Old distributed antennae New coaxial antenna network
network – Cables
• feeder 2020
– Cables
• antenna 10020
• feeder 8700
– connectors 2100
– connectors 2350
– power splitters 5600
– power splitters 8000 – cable hangers 4530
– antennae 14700 – jumpers 510
– labor costs 42000 – terminators 3220
• Total costs 75750 FIM = – labor costs 44500
12740 EUR • Total costs 72500 FIM =
12190 EUR

ROK/24.8.01 27
 Indoor system design
• Planning INDOOR PLANNING
CATEGORISATION PICO CELL
PRELIMIN.
procedure SURVEY
Signals
from
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
PLANNING

macro layer YES ENOUGH PICO CELL

CAPACITY MEASURE-
Measurement plan: MENTS
- Routes
- Floor layouts YES
- Permissions ENOUGH
Signals COVERAGE
from Simulations
test transm. based on
NPS/i

Criteria for Indoor Coverage and Capacity

COVERAGE PLOT
MEASUREMENTS
INDOOR SOLUTION
PROPOSAL

ROK/24.8.01 28
 Power budget calculation
• It is the main part of the pico-cell planning
• Factors for power budget calculation:
– base station transmitter output level and receiver
sensitivity
– jumper cable loss
– feeder cable loss
– power divider loss
– coaxial antenna longitudinal loss
– repeater gain (gain of the bi-directional amplifier) if
amplifiers needed in system

ROK/24.8.01 29
 Power budget calculation
– filter losses if filters needed in system
– coupling loss from coaxial antenna cable
– safety margin (5-20 dB depending on the
installation and the environment)
• contains fading margin and possible extra margin
– mobile station antenna loss or gain
– mobile station receiver sensitivity and transmitter
output level
• with simple addition of these factors the probable
signal strength in the radio network can be calculated

ROK/24.8.01 30
 Power budget calculation
example at 900 MHz
Output power of Mobile Station (1 W) and antenna gain (0 dBi) 30 dBm

Coupling loss e.g. 82 dB/2 m (here 6 m and 95%) 87 dB

Coupling loss variation (fading) 10 dB

Coaxial antenna attenuation e.g. 49 dB/km (100m) 5 dB

Power divider loss e.g. 3.5 dB (2 pieces) 7 dB

Jumper cable (1 piece) 1 dB

Feeder loss e.g. 39 dB/km (50m) 2 dB

Total 30 dBm 112 dB

Output power minus losses -82 dBm

Receiver sensitivity of base station -112 dBm

Safety margin 20 dB

ROK/24.8.01 31
 Implementation of the system
• The system’s equipment is installed
into the building structure
• requirements for coaxial antenna
installation:
– at least 100 mm away from walls or
ceiling to maintain good electrical
characteristics
– coaxial antenna is often installed
above the false ceiling in buildings
– special non-metallic clamps should
be used
– recommended clamp distance for
large diameter cables (1 1/4” and 1
5/8”) is 1500 mm and for smaller
cables 1000 mm

ROK/24.8.01 32
 Implementation of the system
– recommended clamp distance for
cables with suspension wire is 2500
mm
– bends of the cable should be limited to
the minimum bending radius according
to cable specification
– fire retardant, halogen free cables
have to be installed carefully, because
they are more sensitive to abrasion
– in a tunnel the best location is usually
at the top in the middle
– when installing coaxial antenna,
metallic parts of the building structure
should be avoided
– cable must be kept clean from metallic
dirt and dust (e.g. in mines)

ROK/24.8.01 33
 Implementation of the system
• Other equipment needed
– connectors
• RFX (corrugated) cables can use
same connectors as normal feeder
cables
• for RFXT cables special connectors
are needed
– power splitters and directional
couplers
• depends on the structure of the
project (e.g. 2:1, 10:1, etc.)
– 50 ohm termination with adequate
power handling capability is usually
put onto end of antenna line
– amplifiers, filters, antennae if
needed

ROK/24.8.01 34
 System verification
• Field measurements
– stand-alone mobiles
– radio network measurement software e.g NMS/X
• Measurement results are studied and compared to
the designed parameters
• Parameter tuning
– based on network statistics and field
measurement data
– to gain best possible quality and performance out
of existing installation
• The effect of the new setting is monitored again

ROK/24.8.01 35
 System verification
• Verification
– finally the building is verified by using available
radio network software
– a predefined verification procedure is usually used
– the verification report to the operator is checked
against the planning criteria
• final acceptance is achieved

ROK/24.8.01 36
 System verification
• Optimisation PLANNING AFTER IMPLEMENTATION

and OPTIMISATION
Paramter
VERIFICATION

verification Field
Tuning Field
Measurements
tasks Measurements

NMS Statistics NMS Statistics

Measurements

Verification Raport

ROK/24.8.01 37
Benefits of using coaxial antenna
in indoor systems
• Easy to use and design
• Usually an inexpensive solution compared to the
other structures
• gives uniform response along the antenna line
• fewer blocking characteristics
• doesn’t disturb other systems in the building
• gives off no harmful radiation to people nearby
• plugs in the tunnel structures don’t affect the
response

ROK/24.8.01 38
Benefits of using coaxial antenna
in indoor systems
• coaxial antenna easily supports equipment on a
different radio frequency (broadband capability)
• with one coaxial antenna many different kinds of
radio systems could be served
• additional services can be added later without extra
installation costs
• it is easy to increase capacity

ROK/24.8.01 39
 Future prospects
• We’ll offer whole package
– cables, connectors, jumpers, splitters, power
dividers, filters, amplifiers, design work
• we’ll have more products e.g. RFFX 1/2”,
RFEX 7/8” and RFXT 1 1/4”
– lot of type testing in near future
• we’ll have proper brochures about coaxial
antenna products
• future expectations are very promising in
general

ROK/24.8.01 40
 Year Country Customer Cable type
Quantity
km

1989 FINLAND Mobira, Siemens RFX 1/2 1

NEW ZEALAND New Zealand Railways RFX 7/8 4

1990 FINLAND Telecom Finland RFX 1/2 2

Telecom Finland RFX 7/8 1

1991 FINLAND Telecom Finland RFX 1/2 2

SPAIN Barcelona Metro RFX 7/8 18

1992 FINLAND Helsinki City Energy RFX 1/2 2

Telecom Finland RFX 1/2 3
NEW ZEALAND Intelcom Services RFX 7/8 1

1993 HOLLAND NKF RFX 1/2 4

NKF RFX 7/8 11

1994 FINLAND Helsinki City Energy RFX 1/2 21

Nokia Telecommunications RFX 1/2 1
Telecom Finland RFX 1/2 3
RFX 7/8 6
HOLLAND NKF RFX 1/2 HF 1
NEW ZEALAND Intelcom Services RFX 1/2 3

ROK/24.8.01 41
 Year Country Customer Cable type Quantity
km

1995 FINLAND Finnish State Railways RFX 7/8 3

Helsinki City Energy RFX 7/8 HF 2
Helsinki Telephone Company RFX 7/8 1
Onninen RFX 1/2 2
Tekmanni RFX 7/8 3
Telecom Finland RFX 7/8 10
RFXK 1/2 5
RFXK 7/8 5
PORTUGAL Lissabon Metro RFX 7/8 HF 13
SOUTH KOREA Arkay International RFX 1/2 HF 25
SWEDEN ABB Norsk Kabel RFX 7/8 HF 1
ABB Norsk Kabel RFX 7/8 4

1996 FINLAND Helsinki Metro RFXT 7/8MBHF 11

Radiolinja RFX 7/8 2
Finnet Logistics RFX 7/8 3
RFXK 7/8 2
Onninen RFX 7/8 1
Telecom Finland RFXT 7/8 MBHF 11
HONG KONG Chung Wang Electrical Co. RFX 7/8 5
RF2X 1 1/4 HF 1
POLAND PTH Meopta Sp.Z. RFX 1/2 HF 1
SOUTH AFRICA O.D.F. Technologies RFX 1/2 1
RFX 7/8 1

ROK/24.8.01 42
 Year Country Customer Cable type Quantit
km

1996 RUSSIA IVO RFXK

1/2 1
SOUTH KOREA Arkay International RFX 1/2
HF 26
SPAIN NKF Iberica RFXK 7/8
HF 5
SWEDEN ABB RFX
7/8 2

1997 ENGLAND NTC for LUL RFTX

5/8 10
RFTX
7/8 30
RFXT 5/8
HD 25
RFXT 7/8
HD 35
SPAIN NKF Iberica RFXK 7/8
HF 20
RFX 900T
7/8 15
SOUTH KOREA Arkay International RF2X 1/2
HF 20
RF2X 7/8
HF 15

1998 THE NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Airport RFX 7/8

HF 15
REPUBLIC OF CHINA Taipei Metro RFX 7/8
ROK/24.8.01
BFR 55 43
MEXICO Metro RFXK 7/8
 Year Country Customer Cable type Quantit
km

2000 AUSTRIA Tomek for Metro RF2X 7/8 HF 2

FINLAND Orbis RFXK 1 1/4 -50 BHF 5
NORWAY Bredengen RFX 1/2 -50 BHF 2
NORWAY Bredengen RFX 7/8 -50 BHF 2
RUSSIA RC&C RFXT 7/8 -50 MBHF 3
SPAIN Comel for Metro Barcelona RFXK 7/8 -50 BHF 3
SPAIN Comel for Ferrocarriles Catal. RFXK 7/8 -50 BHF 4

2001 RUSSIA Information Industry Co. RFXT 7/8” -50 MBHF 3

RUSSIA RC&C RFXT 7/8” -50 MBHF 3
SPAIN Comel for Ferrocarriles P. Vasco RFXK 7/8 -50 GHF 6
SPAIN “ “ “ RFX 7/8 -50 BHF 2

ROK/24.8.01 44