Dual-polarized tri-band operation of Super High Performance (SHP) shell antennae enhance profitability of long-haul high capacity radio systems

A high performance tri-band feed system design has been introduced to provide the utilization of SHP shell antennae for dual polarized service in three frequency bands. The achieved antennae characteristics satisfy the highest ETSI standards for radio applications in all operated frequency bands and allow a frequency reuse of 15° at one site. Thus, the application of the tri-band antennae yields a significant reduction of the required number of antennae at one site compared with standard single or dual band solutions. It should be noted that existing single or dual band antennae can be upgraded with the tri-band feed system to increase the capacity of a link by serving additional frequency bands. Due to the reduction of the number of antennae there are also substantial costs savings for the infrastructure at the sites e.g., capacity of fully loaded towers can be increased without the need of new antenna sites, reduced wind loading problems of towers, etc. Consequently, the introduced tri-band application of the SHP shell antennae provides an attractive solution for profitable high-capacity radio network operation.