MasTec Network Solutions

PM501 Training

Module 2 – Antenna Installation

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 MNS Quality Construction Standards
(Antenna Installation)

Objectives
• To learn the standards as described in AT&T standards documents AT&T-002-290-
210 Antenna Azimuth, Tilting, and Plumb Standard as well as AT&T-002-290-105
Antenna Collocation Guidelines.
• Discuss the accuracy tolerance criteria for antenna alignment (azimuth), tilting, and
plumb
• AZ/plumb/tilt verification methods.
• Discuss the role of Antenna Alignment Tools (AAT) in antenna install / modification.
• Discuss antenna installation.
• Discuss Antenna downtilt
• Discuss antenna plumb/roll
• Discuss Antenna Grounding specifications
• Discuss some antenna installation failures

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Antenna Info On The RFDS

Sample RFDS Form: Section 17A-Final Sector/Cell Information – Alpha (or Omni)

Antenna Model #

Antenna Azimuth
Rad Center

Mechanical Down tilt is assumed

to be zero if left blank.
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Antenna Azimuth: PM501 Checklist item: TWR0030

PER THE AT&T-002-290-210 Antenna Azimuth, Tilting, and Plumb Standard:

• A maximum aiming accuracy of ± 3° is allowed for all panel (directional) antennas:
-Antenna Azimuth must be oriented to within +/- 3 degrees of the planned/proposed
(Sec. 16) and final azimuth (Sec. 17) as shown on the RFDS for the project.
• Proper use of GPS based methods for orienting antennas, which utilizes differential GPS
technology and specialized mounting fixtures, is the recommended method for obtaining
antenna azimuth measurements. Appropriate measurement training is required prior to using or
making measurements with GPS based measurement equipment. Ensure vendor provided
specific proper mounting brackets are used for specific antennas being aligned.
NOTE:
• Any method using a handheld GPS is not considered adequately accurate and therefore not
endorsed for aligning antennas. This includes wireless devices.
• Although we are allowed 3° max tolerance by AT&T, all efforts should be made to set azimuths
per the RFDS.
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Antenna Azimuth -GPS Driven Azimuth Tools:

The Sunsight Antenna Alignment Tool (AAT) and AAT-30, along with the 3Z RF Aligner, and
Multiwave Sensors- Smart Aligner, are the only approved GPS Driven Azimuth Tools allowed for use
by MasTec.
These tools:
• ARE THE ONLY METHOD OF AZIMUTH MEASUREMENT APPROVED BY AT&T &
MASTEC WITHOUT SPECIAL PERMISSION/APPROVALS.
• Provide accurate measurements of true antenna readings
• Use two or more GPS sensors to calculate position
• Can produce Portable Document Format (PDF) report for the AAT and an Excel report for the 3Z
of antenna bearings for each site
• Magnetic declination is not to be used with GPS tools and RFDS True measurements
• Should be mounted at the highest point of the antenna possible
• Must be used with manufacturer mounting system/brackets. No aftermarket brackets or straps are
allowed.
NOTE: If a GPS driven azimuth tool cannot be used on a specific site, escalate to your CM, and QM,
for a site specific azimuth verification plan and special approvals if necessary.

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools - Sunsight

Old Model Sunsight Antenna

Alignment Tool (AAT15) With Newer/smaller model Sunsight
Screen Antenna Alignment Tool (AAT30)
does not have a screen. A WiFi
enabled device is used as the screen
and user interface of the tool.

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools

Sunsight Instruments (AAT30, AAT15, AAT08) Sunsight measurement on a
WiFi enabled device
Sample – Sunsight pdf Report

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools

3Z RF ALIGNER

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools

Sample – 3Z Report

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools

Multiwave Smart Aligner

This tool allows you to take photos through the app

and will place them into the PDF report. These
photos are not accepted for VQCA purposes, they
are too small to see once placed in the final video.

Multiwave Report formats: JPEG (screenshot),

PDF or CSV
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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools - Installation

-Ensure Top Mounts are flush & bumpers are tight to the antenna shell
-Only use mounting hardware and brackets per tool manufacturer
instructions. No aftermarket brackets or straps allowed.

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools - Installation

Wide antenna mount, required for wide panel antennas. Some AAT tool manufacturers may not
make a widebody antenna mounting kit. These units may not be used for antennas exceeding the
size limitations of the mounting components.

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GPS Driven Azimuth Tools – Azimuth Verification for VQCA

The following views are required for your VQCA, Per antenna – required for each new or
relocated antenna:
1. AZIMUTH TOOL PROPERLY MOUNTED WITH ALL HARDWARE AND SUPPORTS USED PER
MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
2. LIVE READING OF THE AZIMUTH PRIOR TO BEING CAPTURED / SAVED
3. HORIZON (WHERE ANTENNA IS POINTING) WITH AZIMUTH TOOL MOUNTED

NOTE: If your are completing your VQCA on video, you need to capture video of these three
views. If you have clearance for azimuth photos, you will need to ensure all four views are
captured in photo form.
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Required Azimuth Verification For VQCA

GPS TOOL INSTALLATION

VIEW
Ensure top Mounts are flush
& bumpers are tight to the
antenna shell. FACTORY
STRAPS AND BRACKETS
ONLY.

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Required Azimuth Verification For VQCA

GPS TOOL INSTALLATION

VIEW Properly Mounted (Flush with Antenna Shell)

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Required Azimuth Verification For VQCA

HORIZON
VIEW

Antenna, GPS tool, & mount,

should be visible in photo/video.

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Required Azimuth Verification For VQCA

LIVE VIEW

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Required Azimuth Verification For VQCA

CAPTURED VIEW
IS NO LONGER REQUIRED
The live capture reading is sufficient

A screen capture from the Device is also O.K.

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NOTE:
If using a 3Z RF Aligner, verify that the tool has been updated to the latest software. The latest
software will not provide the user with a means to lock the screen.

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Recommended but not required Azimuth Photos

(May be required for tower owner closeout packages)

Front View of Antennas

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Recommended but not required Azimuth Photos

(May be required for tower owner closeout packages)

Side View of Antennas

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Using Magnetic Compass for Azimuth Verification

• IS NOT the preferred method of azimuth
Verification. Authorization required for VQCA.
• May not be used from the tower or on a rooftop
• Ferrous metal objects and electromagnetic fields
will create faulty compass readings
• All ferrous metals and electromagnetic fields, in
vicinity of your compass, will cause compass to
point in directions other than magnetic north,
such as, but not limited to:
– Tower structure
– Compound fence A good quality survey (sighting) compass may be used such as a Suunto KB-
– Overhead or buried electrical service lines 14 model to determine the antenna azimuth if the GPS tool method is not
– Buried ground rings practical due to limited viewing access to GPS satellites. A sighting compass
– Metal framed eye or sunglasses is preferred because it allows you to sight the objects in the distance while
– Digital camera observing the compass in a mirror. On the earth's surface, a compass points
– Vehicles to the magnetic North Pole rather than the geographic North Pole. The
angular difference between these two directions is called magnetic
– Many other items not listed declination. Declination must be determined and set in the compass for
True Bearing reading.

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Antenna Azimuth – Dual Antenna Mount

If using a dual antenna mount, you may

mount the AAT tool, and digital level onto
only one of the antennas. Due to the design
of the mount, the azimuth, DT, plumb, will be
the same for both antennas.

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QUESTIONS REGARDING VERIFICATION

DELIVERABLES FOR:
-ANTENNA AZIMUTH USING A GPS DEVICE?
-OTHER APPROVED FORMS OF AZIMUTH
VERIFICATION?

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Mechanical Downtilt and Plumb (Roll)

• Antenna must have mechanical down-tilt and plumb set within +/- 1 degree of specification on RFDS used for
installation
• If no mechanical tilt is shown on the RFDS, it will be assumed to be set at zero degrees tilt.
• With the exception of some extreme, inner-city cases, where antennas are mounted horizontally and pointed up
at the buildings, antenna roll or plumb is expected to be set at zero degrees tilt.
• Requirements:
– Always install antennas with downtilt brackets (Special circumstances may require this bracket to not be
installed such as slimline poles, this will require approval from AT&T in advance.)
– Always install downtilt brackets on top mounting clamp position (Special circumstances may require this to
be installed on bottom for up-tilt, or for a spacer bracket but not to be done without approval from AT&T in
advance)
– Always install all hardware on both sides of downtilt bracket as required by antenna OEM.
– Always use locking hardware (flat & lock washers, lock nuts, jamb nuts) on all downtilt brackets as
required by antenna OEM.
– Always install torque marks on all mount & downtilt bracket hardware per MNS Method of Procedure
(MOP)
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Antenna Mounting
Bracket and Hardware

This is a torque
wrench, it must be
used.
Torque all antenna mounting and pivot point
hardware to antenna manufacturer
specifications prior to torque marking.

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Antenna Mounting Bracket and Hardware

Apply torque seal to downtilt

bracket at center (“V”) pivot point
Apply approved torque seal to all
* Note pivot point mark
downtilt hardware
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Antenna Mounting Bracket and Hardware
Requirements:
– Always torque bracket hardware to manufacturer’s
specifications.
– Apply torque marks after hardware tightening is completed.
– Always use antenna brackets and hardware as supplied by
antenna OEM, made only of hot-dipped galvanized, zinc
chromate plated, or stainless steel with locking hardware.
Jamb nuts – If required by antenna OEM
Flat & lock washers, nut – As required by antenna OEM
Flat washer, lock nut – As required by antenna OEM
 MNS Quality Construction Standards
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Antenna Mounting Bracket and Hardware

This would result in a site

failure due to loose
hardware even if the jamb
nut is not required by the
OEM

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Required Tilt / Plumb Verification For VQCA

1. Ensure antenna, mounting

clamps and downtilt kit are
installed per manufacturer’s
directions
2. Adjust antenna downtilt to
specified requirement listed on
RFDS
3. Use approved (2’) digital level
on upper half of back-plane of
the antenna to ensure correct
settings

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Required Tilt / Plumb Verification For VQCA

A view of a (2’) digital level on upper
half of back-plane of the antenna
showing the correct MDT per the RFDS

View must be clear and readings legible

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RAD Center (i.e. CL, Tape Drop)

• Antenna must have RAD Center set within +/- 3 Feet of specification on RFDS used for installation
(most compliance reporting has only a 12” tolerance vs the AT&T standard of 36”).
• If we cannot set the RAD center per the RFDS/CDs, you will need to redline the RFDS and CDs.
• Requirements:
– Tape must fully extend to the ground with video showing the same.
– Tape is to be held taut at the CL mark of the antenna and a video taken of the measurement at
said mark.
– It is highly recommended that a video of the measurements at the antenna tip and bottom be
taken as well.

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RAD Center (i.e. CL, Tape Drop)

Tape from antenna to ground View Tape at antenna Centerline View

Be sure we can see the

red numbers clearly!

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QUESTIONS REGARDING VERIFICATION

DELIVERABLES FOR:
-ANTENNA PLUMB (ROLL)?
-ANTENNA MECHANICAL TILT?
-ANTENNA MOUTNING HARDWARE?
-RAD CENTER/TAPE DROP?

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Other Antenna Standards

Antenna Grounding

• Antenna mast grounding is primarily governed by AT&T market directives since national
standards only cover wood pole installations and does not require antenna pipe mast to be
grounded
• AT&T National Team leaves it up to tower owners to determine if antenna pipe masts are
to be grounded
• Please consult leadership for antenna grounding specifications in your particular market

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Other Antenna Standards - Antenna Separation:

• At least two wavelengths horizontal separation is recommended between our
antennas. For broadband antennas that can operation in 700 MHz the recommended
minimum horizontal separation is 3 feet.
• FirstNet/B14 will not share an antenna with B17 or B29. Separate antennas are
needed for B17, B29, and B14 due to intermodulation concerns.
• Standard antenna separation from B17 or B29 will be sufficient. More separation
from B17 antenna is welcome if no additional antenna reshuffling is required.
• When using two antennas to support 4T4R in FirstNet, the horizontal spacing
between the two antennas can be any distance and do not need to be close to each
other.
• At least 6' horizontal separation between 700 MHz D/E band and 700 MHz B/C band
antennas within the same sector/face. FirstNet/B14 must be a minimum of 3’ from
any antenna with either of those bands.

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Other Antenna Standards

Unused RF Ports –See also: weatherproofing

• Dust caps from equipment shipping are

not to be used as weatherproofing for
unused antenna, TMA or diplexer RF
ports outdoors
– 50 Ohm load preferred or approved
cap with o-ring
– Weatherproofing with the use of a
single layer of butyl or self-
amalgamating tape over the cap and
connector neck followed by ¾ inch
tape with a minimum of 2 wraps,
properly shingled

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Other Antenna Standards

Unused RF Ports –See also: weatherproofing

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Other Antenna Standards – GPS Antenna

PM501 Checklist Item: CPD0060

• Locate no closer than 10 feet horizontally and 10 feet vertically from other active GPS
antennas and any active BTS antenna.
• Do not locate in front of a transmitting antenna.
• GPS antenna location on
rooftop sites must avoid
being located too close to
nearby reflective surfaces to
reduce multi-path signal
distortions
• GPS antenna should not be
located at a horizontal
distance closer than twice the
height of a nearby reflective
surface or 10 feet, whichever
is greater.
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Other Antenna Standards – GPS Antenna

• GPS antenna should have clear view of west,
south, and easterly views with no obstructions
• Improper installation can cause a multipath
situation that prevents triangulation therefore
slower or no response at all for E911 calls.

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Other Antenna Standards – GPS Antenna
Although the GPS antenna on a cells site is often thought of as a mundane requirement, it is
actually a very important piece of equipment and is necessary for E911 (enhanced 911)
functions. Location information is not only transmitted to the call center for the purpose of
sending emergency services to the scene of the incident, it is used by the wireless network
operator to determine to which 911 call center to route the call. Improper GPS antenna
installation has caused first responders to go to incorrect locations or not show up at all!

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Other Antenna Standards – GPS Antenna

PM501 Checklist Item: CPD0060

The GPS antenna mast pipe must be grounded to a buss bar

that is grounded to the BGR (buried ground ring). This can be
obtained a number of ways using #2 AWG tinned solid or
green stranded ground lead:
• Using a Burndy GAR-TC clamp on the GPS mast pipe
with a #2 stranded conductor to a buss bar that is
connected to the BGR
• cad-weld a #2 solid lead directly to the mast pipe and
terminated to a buss bar connected to the BGR
• Mounting the GPS antenna mast pipe to a post already
directly grounded to the BGR such as an ice bridge post.

REMEMBER: Green stranded cannot be connected directly

to the BGR (buried ground ring)

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PM501 Checklist
Item: CPD0020

The GPS antenna coax, no matter if it is

LMR 240, LMR 400, or ½ inch coax, must
have a coax grounding kit installed before
entering a shelter or cabinet.
(see also, cabling)

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 ANY QUESTIONS?
???
QUESTIONS REGARDING:
-ANTENNA GROUNDING?
-GPS ANTENNA INSTALLATION?
-GPS ANTENNA GROUNDING?
-GPS CABLE GROUND KIT?
ANYTHING ELSE?

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Revision Information

REV 5.1. DECEMBER 2018 – Simple Updates Jon Hubbard

REV 5. JUNE 2018 – Full presentation update Jon Hubbard
REV 4. JULY 2017 – Full presentation update Quality Team
REV 3. FEBRUARY 2017 – Module update (No change in information) Jürgen Köhler
REV 2. JUNE 2016 – Updated ND502 Slides Vladimir Rebeja
REV 1. APIL 10_2015 – Complete revision of module Jürgen Köhler

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