Tech Bulletin:

Cel-Fi External Antenna Option

Version 1.0

Technical Guide

Selecting an Antenna
All RS2 Cel-Fi models have identical External Antenna Specifications. Select a suitable antenna to
cover all UMTS bands your Cel-Fi model supports (See table 1 for frequencies by Band).

General Specification:
Indoor Installation

Outdoor Installation

Max realized gain* (dBi)

Frequency Range (MHz)

See Table 1

Same

VSWR

<2:1

<2:1

Impedance ()

50

50

Polarization

Vertical

Vertical

Input power handling (W)

>1

>1

Beamwidth ()

90

360 (Omni or Directed)

Front-to-back Ratio (dB)

>15

N/A if Omni

Connector

SMA

SMA

Install type

Professional

Professional

Point away from CU and towards

donor cell

Install as far away from CU as

possible. If not Omni antenna,
point to donor cell. Measure
RSSI at antenna location and
ensure level is below -45dBm.

Install Instructions

Realized Gain = Antenna Gain Cable loss

UMTS Band Frequencies

(Note that some Cel-Fi systems support more than one band. Therefore, a suitable antenna must be selected to cover all supported bands.
UMTS Band

Uplink (MHz)

Downlink (MHz)

Band 1

19201980

21102170

Band 2

18501910

19301990

Band 4

17101755

21102155

Band 5

824 - 849

869 - 894

Band 8

880 - 915

925 - 960
Table 1

Antenna Installation
Outdoor antennas are normally not necessary with a Cel-Fi system. But if an External Antenna is
desired, following these simple rules will help guarantee a successful outcome.

Follow the antennas manufacturers instructions for antenna installation.

If the antenna is to be installed indoors, it should be a directed antenna (not OmniDirectional) or system performance may be impacted.
If the antenna is to be installed outdoors, it may be Omni-Directional or Directed.
Omni-Directional antennas should be installed as high as possible (above the Coverage Unit)
for best system performance.
Directed antennas should be pointed towards the donor cell site, and positioned such that
they are facing away from the Coverage Unit. Higher is usually best we well.

Antenna Cable Installation

Attach the antenna cable to the underside of the Window Unit,

and install the feed cable according to the antenna manufacturers instructions.
The total antenna system gain (antenna gain minus feed loss)
spec is 5 dBi maximum. Note that lower loss cables may be run
over longer distances, but lower loss cables are generally larger
and less bendable. It may be easier to use a smaller more
bendable jumper cable on the Cel-Fi side of the antenna feed
for easier installation.
As shown in the photo to the right, a 90 Degree SMA adapter
may be useful if the antenna feed is stiff and does not connect
easily to the Cel-Fi antenna port.

How Cel-Fi Functions with an External Antenna Connected

The Cel-Fi Window Unit has four internal antennas that it selects from, based on optimal performance. If an external antenna is connected, it acts as a fifth antenna. If the External Antenna is determined to be the best antenna option, the Status Light on the Window Unit will illuminate Orange.

A lack of an Orange Status Light may indicate a faulty External Antenna or Feed cable.

TB_AntennaSpec_12_0712