Datasheet

AR/GE/FE/U80/80XInstallationManual
19 58000519rev.D
3.8 Ic eShieldCanopyInstallation
TheIceShieldassemblyisanoptionalitemandcanbeorderedin
kitformthroughaBridgeWavesalesordistributionpartner.
3.8.1 Introduction
Inno rthernclimates,thebuildupoficeorsnowonantennascanbeaproblemformillimet er
waveradioinstallations.Theseproblemsaretwofold:theelectricaleffectofsnowandice
builtupontheantenna’sradome;andthemechanicalimpactoftheadditionalweightofthe
snoworiceontheant ennaandsupportingstructure.
Theformationoficeorsnowontheantennasradomecancauseattenuationofthesignalto
thepointwherethelinkmaybecomeseverelydegradedorunusable.Unevenicebuildupcan
causescatteringofthesignal,whichinturnresultsinstandingwaves.
At80GHz,icebuilduplessthan1mmthick(onequarterwavelengthat80GHz)mayresultin
degradedperformanceofthelink.Suchthinlayersarenotlikelytoexistforextended
periods,asicetendstomelt.Incoldclimateswhentheradomeisbelowfreezing
temperature,icedoesnotsticktoit,thusthereisnoissue.Howeverinmixedrainsnowice
storms,ice cansticktotheradome,causingthelinktooperateatlessthanitsoptimaldesign.
Oncetheicehashardenedandfr eezes,theaddedweight oftheiceontheantennaincreases
thewindloadonthetowerormast,whichmaycauseprematurefailureofthemounting
structure.Asicebreaksapartduetomelting,o rviaitsownweight ,theselargeandheavy
sheetsfallingdownatowerormastcancausedamagetoantennasorotherobjectsmounted
below.