Base Station Antenna Environmental Criteria
CommScope base station antennas are designed to operate in uncontrolled outdoor
environments for extended periods and tested with a variety of environmental stresses to help
ensure they perform as needed. Unless otherwise noted, they meet the following general
criteria:
•
ETSI EN300019-1-1 Class 1.2 for storage (Weather protected, not temperature
controlled location)
•
ETSI EN 300019-1-2 Class 2.3 for transportation (Public transportation)
•
ETSI EN 300019-1-4 Class 4.1 E for environmental conditions (Non-weather protected
locations, extended)
Before environmental tests, the performance of a new antenna
model is characterized by pattern tests that measure Beamwidth
(vertical and horizontal), Gain, Squint/Tilt, Front-to-Back Ratio
(F/B), First Sidelobe Level (FSLL), and Cross Polar
Discrimination (if required). RF parameters measured before
and after environmental tests include:
• Return Loss / VSWR plots
• Passive Intermodulation (PIM) plots
• Isolation plots, if applicable
Environmental tests follow IEC 60068-2 methods with
adjustments for antenna systems used in tower top conditions
and include:
Cold Exposure at –40°C following IEC 60068-2-1
Heat Exposure at +70°C (or +65°C for antennas with PVC
radomes) following IEC 60068-2-2
Temperature Cycling following IEC 60068-2-14 cycling
between –40°C and +70°C (or +65°C for antennas with PVC
radomes)
Humidity Exposure following IEC 60068-2-78 at +40°C.
Humidity Cycling following IEC 60068-2-30 between +25°C
to +40°C
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Rain Exposure following IEC 60068-2-18 using a custom rain chamber with multiple spray
nozzles simulating intense wind driven rain
Salt Fog Corrosion Testing following IEC 60068-2-11
Vibration and Shock Testing following IEC 60068-2-6
Sinusoidal Vibration, IEC 60068-2-64 Random Vibration
and IEC 60068-2-27 Shock/Bump methods
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UV Weatherization Testing is done on
radome and other polymer materials exposed to
sunlight following IEC 60068-2-5
Power Handling of new antenna types is tested
during development using an enclosed system
that can power antennas using 16 carriers with
up to 35 Watts per carrier to assure the power
handling ability
Packaging/Drop Testing is done following
IEC 60068-2-31 methods. This calls for free
fall drops on each face of a packaged antenna
from a height determined by package weight
Wind Survivability is tested using the
simulated force of 241 km/h (150 mph) wind
following the EN 1991-1-4 and/or EIA/TIA
222-G method. Force is spread over the
antenna to test both the radome/housing and
the mount and mechanical tilt hardware. (For
some models the simulated force extends to
280 km/h.)
Installation Tests are done on antennas with
new physical designs to assure compatibility
of cables and of mount and tilt hardware.
These tests are done on the ground with
people who have never installed an antenna to
make sure instructions are clear and with
experienced tower crews to gain invaluable
insight into how antennas are really installed
at tower tops.
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Passive Intermodulation (PIM) is tested repeatedly during antenna development to assure
performance is within spec and remains stable using a two tone, 20 Watt per carrier test
method. During development and in 100% production PIM testing, antenna are mechanically
stressed to detect marginal or intermittent performance.
Pattern Testing of RF performance is used during
antenna development to qualify new designs as
well as during production to monitor quality.
Pattern tests are performed at outdoor ranges or an
indoor pattern scanner. Once all RF and Reliability
criteria are met, a new antenna is ready to go to
manufacturing and be made for our customers.
Reliability Testing continues after development with On-going Reliability Tests of antenna
samples to monitor performance trends and periodic re-qualification of key models during their
production life.
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Typical Base Station Antenna Systems Environmental Tests
Test
Method
Condition
Parameters Tested
Cold Exposure
IEC 60068-2-1
-40°C
RL ISO and PIM
Heat Exposure
IEC 60068-2-2
+70°C (+65°C for PVC
radomes)
RL ISO and PIM
Temperature
Cycling
IEC 60068-2-14
-40/ +70°C (+65°C for
PVC radomes)
RL ISO and PIM
Humidity Exposure
IEC 60068-2-78
+40°C @ 93% RH
RL ISO and PIM
Humidity Cycling
IEC 60068-2-30
+25/40°C @ 90-98% RH
RL ISO and PIM
Rain
IEC 60068-2-18
Wind Driven Rain
RL (monitored in process)
Actuator / Phase
Shifter
Custom
10,000 Operating Cycles
Continuous RET
monitoring
Wind Loading
EN-1991-1-4
EIA-222-G
Simulated constant force
of 241 km/h wind (some
models up to 280 km/h)
Physical performance
Sinusoidal
Vibration
IEC 60068-2-6
Sine vibration swept
between 5 & 200 Hz
RL ISO and PIM
Random Vibration
IEC 60068-2-64
Shock / Bump
IEC 60068-2-27
Salt Fog Corrosion
IEC 60068-2-11
Test Ka
UV Weatherization
IEC 60068-2-5
Packaged Drop
IEC 60068-2-31
Random vibration between
5 & 500 Hz
100 half sine bumps in
each direction
Continuous exposure to 5
wt% NaCl mist
Accelerated UV-A
exposure with humidity
and heat
Free fall drops on each
package face
RL ISO and PIM
RL ISO and PIM
Physical performance
Physical and material
strength performance
RL ISO and PIM
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© 2014 CommScope, Inc. All rights reserved.
All trademarks identified by ® or ™ are registered trademarks or trademarks, respectively, of CommScope, Inc.
This document is for planning purposes only and is not intended to modify or supplement any specifications or warranties relating to
CommScope products or services.
TP-104409.6--EN (04/14)
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