Aligning Dual-Polarized Antennas

When aligning dual-polarized antennas, engineers need to align the main lobe by adjusting the
azimuth and elevation of the antennas at both ends. Engineers also need to adjust the feed booms of
the antennas so that the cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) meets the specified requirements.

Prerequisites

 The site commissioning of the radio equipment at both ends of the radio link is complete.
 The weather at both stations is suitable for outdoor operations and there is no threat of rain,
snow, or fog
 On-site conditions meet the requirements for the antennas to operate at a high altitude and
the personnel commissioning the antennas are trained to work at high altitudes.
 The Multimeter is calibrated.
 The ATPC function is disabled (its default status on the NE is Disabled).
 The AM function is disabled (its default status on the NE is Disabled).

Tools, Equipment, and Materials

 Adjustable wrench
 Telescope
 Interphone
 Hex key
 Multimeter (A test cable is delivered to each site. An RFU/RFU-SD RSSI port is a dual-core
BNC connector.)

NOTE:
In the non-SD scenario, during antenna alignment, the RSSI cable must connect to a
multimeter through the connector with the label of Main.
In the SD scenario, during alignment of the main antennas, the RSSI cable must connect to
a multimeter through the connector with the label of Main. During the alignment of SD
antennas, the RSSI cable must connect to a multimeter through the connector with the label
of SD.

 North-stabilized indicator

Context

NOTE:
For a dual-channel IF board, turn off the soft power switch of ODUs or mute ODUs instead of
powering off them.
The XPD measured on an NE is actually the XPI. Do not use the XPD measured on the NE to replace
the XPD of the antenna port measured using a multimeter.

Procedure

1. Power off the vertically polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended)
at both ends of the radio link, and power on the horizontally polarized RFUs of a channel
(RFU Port1 channel is recommended) at both ends of the radio link. Ensure that the
antennas transmit horizontally polarized signals.
2. Adjust the azimuth angle and elevation angle of the antennas at both ends by referring to
Aligning Single-Polarized Antennas, and ensure that the main lobe of the horizontally
polarized signals is aligned with the antenna.
3. Measure the RSL (P1) of the horizontally polarized signals at the local end.
a. Use a multimeter to measure the signal level on the RSSI port of the horizontally
polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended).
b. Calculate the RSL (P1) of the horizontally polarized received signals by referring to
the curve diagram delivered along with the RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is
recommended).
4. Adjust the feed boom at the local end, and ensure that the RSL of the vertically polarized
signals reaches the lower threshold (P2).
a. Power on the vertically polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is
recommended) at the local end.
b. Use a multimeter to measure the signal level on the RSSI port of the vertically
polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended).
c. Calculate the RSL (P2) of the vertically polarized signals by referring to the curve
diagram in the RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended) box.
d. Calculate the XPD1 (XPD1 = P1 - P2).

NOTE:
 24 dB is obtained through a rollback from the antenna XPD specification 30 dB
by 6 dB.
 In actual commissioning, the XPD value is usually greater than 24 dB. Try to
adjust the XPD value to the maximum value to ensure that links work in the
optimal state.

If... Then...

The calculated XPD1 (XPD1 = P1 - P2) is less than 24 dB Proceed to the next step.

The calculated XPD1 (XPD1 = P1 - P2) is not less than 24 dB Perform 5.

e. Release the holder of the feed boom to some extent, and turn the feed boom slightly
until the signal level reaches the lower threshold. The calculated XPD1 (XPD1 = P1 -
P2) should not be less than 24 dB.
5. Record the angle (D1) of the current feed boom.
6. Power off the horizontally polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is
recommended)at both ends of the radio link, and power on the vertically polarized RFUs of
a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended) at both ends of the radio link. Ensure that
the antennas transmit vertically polarized signals.
7. Measure the RSL (P3) of the vertically polarized signals at the local end by referring to 3.
8. Adjust the feed boom at the local end, and ensure that the RSL of the horizontally polarized
signals reaches the lower threshold (P4).
a. Power on the horizontally polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is
recommended) at the local end.
b. Use a multimeter to measure the signal level on the RSSI port of the horizontally
polarized RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is recommended).
 c. Calculate the RSL (P4) of the horizontally polarized signals by referring to the curve
diagram delivered along with the RFUs of a channel (RFU Port1 channel is
recommended).
d. Calculate the XPD2 (XPD2 = P3 - P4).

NOTE:
 24 dB is obtained through a rollback from the antenna XPD specification 30 dB
by 6 dB.
 In actual commissioning, the XPD value is usually greater than 24 dB. Try to
adjust the XPD value to the maximum value to ensure that links work in the
optimal state.

If... Then...

The calculated XPD2 (XPD2 = P3 - P4) is less than 24 dB Proceed to the next step.

The calculated XPD2 (XPD2 = P3 - P4) is not less than 24 dB Perform 9.

e. Release the holder of the feed boom to some extent, and turn the feed boom slightly
until the signal level reaches the lower threshold. The calculated XPD2 (XPD2 = P3 -
P4) should not be less than 24 dB.
9. Record the angle (D2) of the current feed boom.
10. Adjust the feed boom slightly (ranging from D1 to D2), and ensure that XPD1 and XPD2
are not less than 24 dB.

NOTE:
 If D1 and D2 are the same, you do not need to adjust the feed boom.
 24 dB is obtained through a rollback from the antenna XPD specification 30 dB by 6
dB.
 In actual commissioning, the XPD value is usually greater than 24 dB. Try to adjust
the XPD value to the maximum value to ensure that links work in the optimal state.
11. Tighten all the screws on the antennas.

NOTE:
Use the multimeter to measure the received value of RSSI again to ensure that no fault
occurred in the process of tightening the screws.
12. After aligning the antennas, power on the RFUs on other channels.
Related Information

In practice, you can align dual-polarized antennas by measuring only the vertically polarized signals.
Parent topic: Aligning the Antennas