4-port RRU connectivity to 4-port antenna

4G LTE
1

Do any of you have any example report showing the fix of a a wrong installation of 4-port RRU to 4-port antenna with regards to the polarization? (Before/After).

I understand that there should be a very specific way these configuration should be done and if it’s not done the right way there will be performance degradation.

Scenario 1: Without Antenna Polarities Considered

Connection and Setup:

  • Each of the four radio ports is connected to an antenna port without specific polarization alignment.
  • Polarization mismatches or identical polarizations for all ports may occur.

Drawbacks:

  1. Increased Interference : Without proper polarization, the MIMO streams are more likely to interfere with each other, leading to degraded signal quality.
  2. Reduced Data Throughput : The lack of polarization alignment can result in suboptimal separation of MIMO streams, reducing the potential data rates.
  3. Coverage Issues : Improper polarization can cause more significant multipath fading and signal degradation, leading to poorer coverage.
  4. Signal Reliability : The overall reliability of the connection is compromised due to increased interference and reduced signal clarity.

Result: Suboptimal network performance with lower data rates, reduced coverage, and less reliable connections.

Scenario 2: With Antenna Polarities Considered

Connection and Setup:

  • Each of the four radio ports is connected to an antenna port with specific polarization alignment.
  • For instance, the 4-port antenna might have two ports with vertical polarization and two with horizontal polarization, or dual-polarized at ±45 degrees.

Benefits:

  1. Optimal Signal Separation : Properly polarized antennas can better separate the MIMO streams, reducing interference and improving signal quality.
  2. Improved Data Throughput : Aligning the polarities maximizes the MIMO benefits, resulting in higher data rates and more efficient use of the spectrum.
  3. Enhanced Coverage : Proper polarization helps in reducing multipath fading, leading to more reliable connections and better coverage.
  4. Reduced Interference : Cross-polarization minimizes the interference between the MIMO streams, ensuring clearer signal transmission.

Result: Enhanced network performance with higher data rates, better coverage, and improved signal reliability.

Summary

  • Without Polarization Considered : Increased interference, reduced data throughput, coverage issues, and compromised signal reliability.
  • With Polarization Considered : Optimal signal separation, improved data throughput, enhanced coverage, and reduced interference.

Properly considering antenna polarities is crucial in 4x4 MIMO setups to maximize the performance benefits of MIMO technology in 4G LTE networks.