Wideband RF lightning protector with DC-feed

9 April 2003 Circuit & System Protection

Kathrein Grintek Antennas has long been one of the leading suppliers of antennas as well as active and passive RF devices to the local telecommunications industry and has, over the years, won lucrative export orders in the face of stiff international competition. The company designs and manufactures a variety of GSM base station antennas and RF products such as splitters, diplexers filters, and tap-off couplers for indoor GSM distribution and various GSM amplifiers.

The cellular infrastructure used to use a single frequency band but these days, the systems are dual band, or existing systems are upgraded to dual or multiband capability. With co-location and shared infrastructure now, it is also no longer acceptable to use narrowband devices. To reduce the cost and up the speed of the rollout of GSM 900, GSM 1800 and UMTS systems, feeders are shared.

GSM base stations use a lightning protector on each feed cable to the antennas to protect the expensive RF electronic equipment inside the shelter against lightning strikes. For co-location sites, wideband lightning protection units are required.

The Kathrein Grintek Antennas lightning protector has been developed in a high pass filter configuration to remove the surge arrestor from the RF path. This design approach results in very low passive intermodulation products and reduces static build-up. The DC-feed can be used to inject DC power onto the feeder where needed for tower mounted active-equipment. Both a 2 A and a 15 A version are available.

Lightning tests were conducted at a qualified institution to the lightning strike specification listed below:

* Lightning current capability: 30 kA 8/20 ms pulse (once); 20 kA 8/20 ms pulse (10 consecutive pulses);

* Residual energy RF port: 10 µJ, 20 kA 8/20 µs pulse;

* Residual voltage: 70 V max at DC port; 50 V max at RF port.

Kathrein Grintek Antennas has extensive experience in the manufacture and practical application of telecommunications products. In addition to its antennas and RF products, it can offer customers support and advice regarding the implementation of RF devices and antennas in their networks.

For more information contact Grintek Antennas, 012 674 3500, [email protected]

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