May 2018

Antenna Alignment

1
 Before you begin!

Before you begin to align an antenna, make sure you’ve

done the following:
• Followed a good installation practice
• Set up the antenna correctly

2
 Why do we align the antenna?

We align the antennas to maximize the link’s Received Signal Level (RSL) at each end.

How should we align the antenna ?

The first step is always to study the bulletin delivered with the antenna to become familiar
with the particular panning operation for the antenna (they are not all the same !)

Panning is aligning an antenna through:

Azimuth (horizontal plane)

Elevation (vertical plane)

The antenna bulletin lists the tool requirements to pan the antenna.

Aligning an antenna is not just a simple matter of using a few tools – difficulties can arise
trying to establish the signal. Properly interpreting the received signal can be the difference
between having a successful day or a very frustrating day!

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 Link Data

LINE OF S
IGHT

Site A Antenna Data Site B

10.037N – 10.744W Co-ordinates 09.834N – 10.861W
Main Space Main Space

HPX8-6.5 Antenna Type HPX8-6.5

220.00 º DIRECTION OF SHOOT 40.00º

- 7º Angle of Elevation + / - +7º

Vertical Polarization Vertical

-42 dBM RSL

When setting up a radio hop remember that Geographical, Physical, and Performance
Characteristics will be unique to each Station and Antenna – make a note !

4
 Column Support - Verticality

Vertical Vertical
Always check the tubular column for verticality by
using a spirit level

PLAN VIEW OF TOWER

ARROWS INDICATING
DIRECTION OF TOWER
FACE AND LEG SLOPE

PLUMB TWO FACETS USING COLUMN SUPPORT

SPIRIT LEVEL MUST BE VERTICAL

An out of plumb column will add ‘avoidable’

TOWER LEG complications when aligning the antenna TOWER LEG
‘front view’ ‘side view’

5
 Column Support – Out of Vertical One Face

Main Beam Vertical Not Vertical

ob e
Side Lo

Side L
be

Direction of Shoot 220º

FEEDHORN

Site A
With column support leaning back towards the tower
(verticality out one facet) the feed horn will respond by
tracking the lines of travel shown above
TOWER LEG TOWER LEG
Antenna alignment will become more complicated ‘front view’ ‘side view’
when column verticality is incorrect

6
 Stop Rings

• Stop rings are normally delivered together

with larger antenna and must be fitted to the
column.

• The stop ring provides a platform for the antenna

when panning and will prevent the antenna from
sliding down the column – this could damage the
installed waveguide!

• Stop rings can also be used to marginally

adjust the vertical position of the antenna up
or down the column to improve side strut
installation.
• With most smaller antennas (integrated), stop
rings are not needed as the azimuth /
elevation adjustments operate independently
from the antenna mount bracket
However, any coarse alignment error outside
the antenna’s adjustment range requires
the mount bracket to be loosened – before you
do this fit a temporary stop ring.

Carry a spare in your vehicle

7
 Azimuth and Elevation Range

Note how the adjustment range for azimuth and elevation diminishes as antenna diameter increases

This table is presented as a guide only – always check the antenna adjustment range from the
installation bulletin provided by the antenna manufacturer
8
 Antenna Coarse Alignment

Note: Do not cut the side strut until the antenna is finally aligned
CLEAR MARKER OR • The adjustment range of an antenna (in degrees) reduces
AZ PEG
IM
UT
significantly as the diameter increases, therefore, it is
H
important to be as accurate as possible when setting out
coarse alignment of the antenna using a magnetic compass

• A magnetic compass, used incorrectly, can produce errors of

many degrees that will complicate and prolong aligning the
antenna
RO
P E
AN
TEN NORTH
NA
AL
IG
Confirm magnetic declination for your NE
DP
AR
area of the world and adjust the compass AL
LE LT
OR
and bearings accordingly OP
E

Move some distance away from the tower to eliminate any

interference on the compass

Establish a back sight to the tower leg nearest the antenna – (back sight is the
bearing 180° opposite the antenna azimuth) and place a marker into the
ground near your feet.

Alternatively, stretch a rope between the tower leg (or, face) out to a peg as a guide to
coarse align the antenna. One person in the tower should bring the antenna into alignment
with the rope. Standard rigging rope will normally be visible from the top of most towers.
AVOIDING ERRORS
Carry out this same procedure with the opposite antenna at the far station. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE A MAGNETIC
COMPASS WHEN WORKING AROUND OR
INSIDE THE TOWER AS MAGNETIC
DEVIATION CAN BE CONSIDERABLE

9
 Antenna - Verticality

• After coarse azimuth has been established the next • The antenna is now set and ready for final alignment –
step is to bring the antenna into vertical using a spirit fix the side strut(s) and secure these to the tower.
level against the annular ring (or other frame) at the
rear of the antenna - making any adjustment via the
elevation bolt.

VERTICAL
• Again, this procedure must be carried out with all • Not every antenna is easy to align, sometimes
antennas on both sides of the hop before beginning alignment can consume several hours on a particularly
final alignment. bad day.

• Therefore, before beginning the alignment, using a

pen with water proof ink, mark the starting position
of the antenna on the azimuth (side strut) , elevation
bolt or column. So,………
HORIZONTAL

…….if you run into difficulties this will make it

possible to return exactly to the original starting
position.

• For reference, when aligning the antenna, as each

side lobe is encountered, use a pen to mark their
STOP RING position on the adjustment bolt. Alternatively, use
MUST BE IN the lock nuts as markers.
PLACE

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 Antenna Alignment - Preliminaries

Before you start, ensure the following are prepared and checked:

 No obvious obstructions will impede the antenna line of sight

 Antenna column support is vertical on two facet 90º apart

 Stop Ring – is installed and secure (if part of antenna kit)

 Antenna is carefully coarse aligned along a magnetic bearing to the facing antenna

 Antenna is brought into vertical using a spirit level

 No obstructions to hinder panning the antenna or obstruct the waveguide – sufficient

hanger and standoff support are loosened for some distance back from the antenna to allow
free movement of the waveguide (optionally use a use a flex-twist as a temporary
arrangement)

 Fixed side strut are loosened

 Feedhorn polarization is the same at all antennas and where applicable ‘better side’ set and
the feedhorn port is levelled

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 Antenna Alignment - Tools

As a minimum, the following tools should be available:

 Digital Multimeter with test leads

 BNC – 2xBanana Test Connector

 Spirit Level

 Spanners – for sizes, refer to the Bulletin provided with the antenna

 Binoculars – useful for identification of the far station and obstructions

Note: when aligning space diversity (SD) antenna via the radio unit on
a ‘branching box’ a length of single pair cable should be available to permit
extending the digital multi-meter down to the diversity antenna

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 Protecting Waveguide

With full concentration focused solely on establishing the signal it often happens you forget
about checking what’s taking place with the waveguide.

Waveguide can easily become stressed and may

even kink where it meets resistance at a column or
a tower member or it is restrained by hanger
brackets.

Kinks in the waveguide can occur where it enters

the rear of the connector.

Resistance can increase considerably where force

occurs along the waveguide’s H plane.

Waveguide runs should be planned and installed to ensure there will be no conflicts at the
alignment stage of the antenna.

Remember to loosen a sufficient number of hanger and standoff supports to ensure

the waveguide has free movement. Continuously check that the waveguide has not
become stressed or has run up against an obstruction.

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 Feedhorn

• Before commencing alignment confirm the feedhorn is levelled – if not – bring it into
level using a spirit level on the top of the waveguide flange.

FEEDHORN FLANGE

•This must be done for all antenna feedhorn at both sides of the hop.

•Loosen the feedhorn retaining bolts sufficiently to allow it to rotate smoothly by hand.

•Take care not to damage the guide – never use force or any tools such as a wrench on the
copper guide to increase leverage.

•Remember to tighten all bolts back to the original torque

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 Preparing for Azimuth

Fit a Stop Ring

With this antenna design the stop ring can be positioned
at 1a or 1b. With most antenna it would be fitted at the bottom position TIP: for best control when fine
tuning azimuth and elevation use
Loosen U Bolt – 2a and 2b. (see note A) two spanners simultaneously –
monitoring signal strength via
Note A: Loosen U Bolts only sufficiently to allow the the multi-meter at all times.
antenna to rotate around the column. Some frictional
resistance must be maintained – if loosened too much Apply the same two spanner
there is possibility of signal loss when retightening method when tightening the
the U Bolts. locknuts

Loosen the pivot bolt where the side 2a

strut links to the antenna frame – 3a

1a
3a
3a

Loosen the two locking bolts to

allow the side strut to move
smoothly through the strut clamp 2b
assembly - 4a and 4b
1b
4a

These two outer locknuts can be run along

the threaded rod to temporarily mark
4b positions of the side lobes – the mid point
approximating the main lobe
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 Preparing for Elevation

Lock down Azimuth:

Start: 2a 2b 3a 4a/b see earlier slide

TIP: use the same two spanner
method when fine tuning on the
The antenna illustrated has two elevation bolts 5a and 5b elevation bolt. Tighten bolts
– only one needs to be used for adjustment. Either bolt incrementally .
can be used. The second elevation bolt should be fully
loosened to allow free movement of the antenna.
Monitor the signal level
In this example the top bolt 5a is being constantly via the digital multi-
used for panning. metre
5a
Loosen bolts 3b and 6 to allow the
antenna to rotate through vertical
Locking down Elevation:
6
3b Start: 5a

5b

5b 6

3b
3b

5a 5b

Run back
Run back all nuts to
locknuts and adjust
loosen the elevation bolt
16 using the two inner nuts
 Measuring RSSI using a Multimeter

V
BNC (x2)
Banana
Connector

Radio Unit at Antenna

or Branching Box

Remove the dust cap from

the RSSI and fit the BNC(x2)
Banana Connector

Connect a Digital Multimeter

The Digital Multimeter reading has

a direct correlation to the received
signal strength in dBM – see RSSI Diagram

Remember:
When finished to always refit the BNC
Cap to keep out dirt and moisture.

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 Branching Box with Space Diversity

Aligning a space diversity antenna is

exactly the same process as used for
the main antenna.

Diversity spacing
is commonly 10
However, its more convenient to use a digital metre, but can
multi-meter down at the diversity antenna vary.
level. 15-20 metre of
single pair cable
would cover
most installation
needs
To do this, simply run a length of
single pair cable (slightly longer than
the diversity spacing) from the B/B
radio unit down to the diversity
antenna level.

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 Antenna Elevation – something to keep in mind

250m AMSL

LINE OF S
IGHT

LEVEL 150m AMSL

When aligning antenna be aware of the

250m AMSL
angle of elevation between two facing
antenna. LINE O
F SIGHT

LEVEL
150m AMSL

While this may not be significant over longer hops, it

can become an important issue over short hops.

Knowing where look for the signal – above or

below horizontal - can be a considerable time CHECK THE HOP’S PROFILE FOR THIS INFORMATION
saver

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 System Configuration

With Long Haul indoor systems where radio

units are rack mounted, a laptop and patch
cable are needed to access the management
system via the Supervisory Unit at the front left
of the IFU.

From here system configuration

can be confirmed, or, changes to
system configuration including
testing and monitoring can be
carried out.

Work of this type is intended to be performed

by trained technicians only and is therefore
beyond this installation module

Note:
Communications needs to be established between the
technician in the shelter, rigger in the tower and the team at
the far station.
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 The Received Signal/Input Level

Attaining the signal strength exactly as predicted is not always possible under actual
field conditions but, a maximum signal strength is. This is the signal that technicians
must establish to ensure optimum system performance across the radio hop.

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 Lobes – Peaks, Troughs, and dBm’s

An understanding of how to interpret the received signal can save

technicians considerable time when aligning antenna.

Observing the changes in received signal strength as the antenna is panned

can provide valuable information to where the receiving antenna is pointing
relative to the transmitting antenna
RADIATION PATTERN

MAIN
SIDE LOBE

SIDE LOBE
SIDE LOBE

SIDE LOBE
SIDE LOBE
SIDE LOBE

SIDE LOBE
2ND. SIDE LOBE

BEAM
1ST. SIDE LOBE
2nd. SIDE LOBE

1st. SIDE LOBE MAIN BEAM

MAIN BEAM

MAXIMUM
-20
-3 to
-30dB
-25dB
-30dB
to-10dB
-25dBRECEIVE
Below
Below
Below
Below
Main
Main SIGNAL
Main
Main
Beam
Beam
Beam
Beam
1st. SIDE LOBE Indication of Received Signal Strength

2nd. SIDE LOBE It is all too common for technicians to mistake the
received signal from a side lobe for that of the main
beam.

Once antenna at both ends of the hop have been aligned

PEAK
the receive signal should be within 2dB of the calculated
TROUGH
signal level.

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 Beam Width

-3dB

114mmØ (4½”) Antenna Column

Take care when panning the Note: view table to see how the
antenna and be aware that: 3dB beam width diminishes with
1º Rotation
increased antenna diameter
1mm Travel 1º of antenna rotation around a
standard 114mmØ column only
requires 1mm of antenna
movement

For the 1.8mØ antenna

highlighted here this is less than
0.8º rotation to the -3dB point

Ø: diameter 0.8º
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 Antenna Alignment - Azimuth

It’s important to distinguish between Confirm this as a 1st side lobe – so continue to
which are the side lobes and what is pan beyond the peak of the lobe
the main beam………

1st SIDE LOBE

Transmitting Antenna
Receiving Antenna

AZIMUTH
MAIN BEAM

1st SIDE LOBE

TRANSMIT Confirm this as a 1st side lobe – so continue to

MUTED pan beyond the peak of the lobe

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 Antenna Alignment - Elevation

Determine from available data if the antenna With the side lobes and main beam having already been
should be above or below horizontal then pan established on the azimuth track it should not be
the antenna up or down in that direction necessary to find the side lobes along elevation – just to
fine tune to the maximum received signal strength
i.e. -7 degrees
Continue fine tuning as necessary until the
maximum receive signal has been established
Receiving Antenna

1st SIDE LOBE

Transmitting Antenna
ELEVATION
HORIZONTAL

MAIN BEAM

Pan beyond the peak of the main lobe

1st SIDE LOBE

TRANSMIT
MUTED
If the vertical angle to the facing antenna is large, it will be
necessary to incrementally adjust the angle of elevation
possibly repeating azimuth panning several times before the
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maximum strength signal is established.
 Preparing for Final Alignment

The procedure described here covers a Space Diversity System.

For Radio Hop with a single antenna at each tower only, simply disregard references to the
Space antenna.

Use the main antenna to transmit the aligning signal.

Configuration Channel 1 Channel 2 or Channel 3 Channel 4

Protection
1+0 Transmit N/A N/A N/A

1+1 HS Transmit Mute N/A N/A

2+0 Transmit Mute N/A N/A

3+0 Transmit Mute Mute N/A

3+1 Transmit Mute Mute Mute

The receiving antenna (i.e. the antenna that is being aligned) should have its signal
transmission muted to avoid any interference from cross over.

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 1st Stage - Antenna Alignment

Both sites should be manned by

Site A - transmit from main antenna Site B – align main antenna
Technicians and Riggers
toward Site A to receive best
MAIN initial input level

MAIN

SPACE

SPACE

Site B – align Space antenna

toward Site A to receive best
Site A initial input level

Site B
MAIN - Transmit

MAIN - Mute
SPACE

SPACE
Note:
Space Diversity antenna
will not normally transmit

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 2nd Stage - Antenna Alignment

Following initial alignment at Site B:

Site A – mute transmit

Site B – transmit toward Site A

Note: Space Diversity will not transmit.

Site A
Connect a digital multimeter to the RSSI on ODU/Radio Unit of the main antenna to
monitor the received signal strength. This can also be done via the SU on the IFU.

Follow antenna alignment procedure described earlier and as follows

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 2nd Stage - Antenna Alignment

Site A – align main antenna toward Site B

to receive best input level Site B – Transmit from main
antenna
MAIN

MAIN

SPACE

Site A – align space diversity

antenna toward Site B to receive SPACE
best input level

MAIN - Transmit
MAIN - Mute

SPACE
SPACE

Note:
Space Diversity antenna
will not normally transmit
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 3rd and Final Stage - Antenna Alignment

Site B

Once Site A has been finally aligned with optimum receive signal strength the final
alignment must be now carried out at Site B.

This process is exactly the same as described earlier in 1 st Stage Antenna Alignment – with
the exception that the maximum received signal strength across the hop should now be
obtained

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 3rd and Final Stage - Antenna Alignment

Site A - transmit from Main antenna Site B – mute transmit and align
main antenna to Site A
MAIN

MAIN

SPACE

SPACE

Site B – Space antenna

align toward Site A

Site A

Site B
MAIN - Transmit

MAIN - Mute
SPACE

SPACE
Note:
Space Diversity antenna
will not normally transmit

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 Cross Polarization Adjustment

Following final alignment of antenna both sides of the hop feedhorn should be optimized for correct
horizontal/vertical polarization to achieve maximum Cross Polarization Discrimination.

DUAL POLARIZED FEEDHORN

- This is performed using a spirit level.

- For single polarized antenna this should be carried out for all antenna both sides of the hop.

- For dual polarized antenna this should be carried only on one antenna per hop

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 all hanger and standoff support are secured.

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 Before Leaving Site…….

Site A - transmit to Site B

MAIN
Site B – transmit to Site A

MAIN

SPACE

SPACE

……ensure that the Radio’s at both sites are

correctly configured to transmit and receive
Site A

Site B
MAIN - Transmit

MAIN - Transmit
SPACE

SPACE
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Thank You