Funke 4G LTE INERT Technology Prominent DTT Antenna Qualities

1

October 2013

2

Introduction

DTT receiving antennas come in many forms, brands and prices.

Great variety in pricing – or better – performance over price.

Quality of Rx (Receiving) antenna becomes more prominent in nowadays

DTT networks as there is more demand for wireless communication in all

kind of forms (mobile services, wireless LAN, fixed links, PMR*, PMSE*).

This presentation summarizes the most prominent qualities of a good

antenna that will perform in today’s and tomorrow’s DTT network.

* PMR = Public Mobile Radio, PMSE = Programme Making and Special Events

3

Prominent Antenna Qualities

There are many qualities to an antenna. Only a few are really

prominent in system performance.

<< prominent antenna parameters

Shown Scenarios:

[A] Rural areas – far away from transmitter(s)

[B] (Very) Close to transmitter

[C] Urban areas – buildings, large infrastructural objects, ...

[D] Under influence of disturbances (e.g. 4G / LTE or GSM)

[E] Rural/Mountainous areas

4

Low Noise

EVERY antenna adds noise to the system:

(passive : 4kTR (Noise Temperature)

(active : depends on LNA design (1 .. 5 [dB]))

Low noise floor achieved by sound LNA* design

(topology, PCB design, selection of components,..)

In particular relevant for reception far away from Tx (transmitter)

and in urban area’s (w/ many disturbances) to offload demands on

STB.

* LNA = Low Noise Amplifier (in Antenna)

5

High IP3 (3rd Order Intercept)

Only applicable for active antennas.

High IP3 achieved by sound LNA design

(topology and selection of components,..).

In particular relevant for areas where there are (relatively) high

power disturbances (GSM, LTE, ...) in adjacent bands in spectrum.

6

Antenna Gain

Distinguish active from passive gain:

(Total) Antenna gain = Passive Gain + Active Gain

Passive gain contributes to a good C/N (carrier over noise), active

gain does not.

7

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

F/B (Front-to-Back Ratio) comes with the antenna concept and

implementation.

Trade-off between usability and 4G LTE/GSM protection:

too small Ѳ : re-orientating antenna (after house cleaning

e.g.) may cause loss of signal strength...

too big Ѳ : end-user not able to ‘turn away’ from

disturbances...

Funke promotes to use STB with option to display BER/MER* or

signal quality indicator to allow user to position antenna for best

reception.

Ѳ is opening angle (-3[dB]), * BER/MER = Bitrate /Modulation Error Rate

8

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

Example of a modest F/B (e.g. DSC550):

ѲH,3dB @ 506 MHz = 130°

ѲH,3dB @ 578 MHz = 90°

9

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

End-User Self Help Model by Funke:

- End-User should not need to have upfront info on the

whereabouts of all transmitters or disturbances in order

to setup the antenna at home.

- Use the BER/MER/Signal Quality Indicator (STB) to position

and orientate DTT antenna.

- Simple, yet efficient: - LED for 5VDC power supply

- Postcode Check

- Online Q&A / Instructions / …

10

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

11

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

12

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

13

F/B Ratio and Antenna Diagram

14

Funke 4G LTE INERT Technology

Relevance of filtering becomes more relevant now spectrum

becomes over-crowded, often with (very close by) adjacents with

relatively high power, like 4G LTE, GSM...

Since ‘neighbors’ are very close by (in frequency), steepness of

gain curve must be high and fall-off frequency reproducible (in

mass production).

As explicit Funke IP, our compact PCB implementation is very well

suitable to full fill these requirements.

Can be adapted – by design - for future LTE requirements (e.g. 700

[MHz])

15

Standard DTT transmission

LPF = Low Pass Filter

16

4G LTE signal distortion

17

Funke 4G LTE INERT Technology

18

Funke Product Range

19

Funke Product Range