User's Manual

Chapter 2 Planning a CCU/Repeater Installation
10 CCU 100 and Repeater 100 Installation Guide
Proprietary and Confidential
Remote 900 MHz Antenna Placement
Antenna placement is one of the most important factors in determining your overall
system performance. Careful consideration must be given to proper antenna placement.
Follow the general guidelines below when determining the ideal location for a remote-
mounted 900 MHz antenna.
• The antenna must be mounted vertically.
• The antenna needs to be mounted in a location where it has a clear unobstructed 360
degree view of the horizon. The antenna receives and transmits in all directions. Any
objects such as building walls, nearby metal surfaces or other obstructions will
interfere with the proper operation of the antenna. Mounting on a rooftop, where
nearby buildings are higher than the installation location, is not an ideal location for
the antenna.
• Do not mount the antenna near existing RF radiating antennas. If existing RF
radiators are nearby, the horizontal separation distance to the radiator must be a
minimum of 100 feet and/or 10 feet of vertical separation. In instances where nearby
RF radiators are present, conduct an intermodulation interference study to evaluate
the potential for interference and any effects it may have on system performance.
Consult with your Itron systems engineer for more information.
• Height is preferred for optimal performance. Mount the antenna as high as possible,
but Itron recommends that you install the antenna no higher than 100 feet. If the
antenna is going to be more than 100 feet above the CCU, Itron recommends using a
Tower CCU 100.
A side arm antenna installation must be done if the 900 MHz antenna is mounted where it
does not have an unobstructed 360-degree view. Refer to the following guidelines for a
side arm antenna installation.
• For the 900 MHz antenna, the minimum standoff distance is 24 inches, where the
interfering structural members are four inches or less in diameter and spaced more
than eight feet apart.
• For structural members between 4 and 10 inches in diameter, a sliding scale of 2 to 5
feet is to be used. (For example, a 24 inch standoff at 4 inch diameter to a 60 inch
standoff at 10 inch member diameter.)
Provide Itron with any conditions that may impact the CCU/Repeater's performance.