Communication-Site Types

There are numerous types of communication sites that comprise the 1G,
2G, 2.5G, and future 3G configurations associated with wireless mobility
systems. There are also a plethora of other communication sites that the
design engineer also may encounter in the design process such as, existing
mobility systems, LMDS, PMP, MMDS, SMR, ESMR, paging, broadcast,
FM, AM, and so on. Each of these different types of wireless sites, depending
on its proximity, may need to be included in the design phase.
The usual co-location considerations are
■ Antenna placement
■ Frequency of operation Adjacent channel and co-channel (adjacent
market)
■ Intermodulation Third and fifth order Intermodulation Distortion
(IMD) products along with spectral regrowth
■ Site maintenance obstructions Window washing equipment, sand
blasting, and so on
The most common types of sites that would be considered for a 2.5G and
3G implementation are
■ Macro
■ Omni
■ Sector
■ Micro
■ Pico
The definition of what macro-, micro-, and pico-cells are is really dependent
upon the service area the base station will cover. For instance if the
site is to cover 25 square miles, it is considered a macro-cell site. However,
if the site is to cover 0.25 miles, it is usually referred to as a micro-cell,
whereas a site that is meant to cover a meeting room is often referred to as
a pico-cell. Because there is no specification that defines the service area
and the name for the particular communication site, the definitions of what
constitutes a macro-, micro-, and pico-cell will remain somewhat vague.
A typical cell site, or rather, communication site consists of the following
components that are referenced in Figure 14-1. The piece components are
the same whether it is for a macro-, micro-, or pico-cell site. The chief difference
lies in the form factor that impacts the overall capacity carrying
capability for the site and of course power.