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Selecting and positioning Aerials for best performance

25/7/2023

Why is positioning important?

Careful placement of aerials, also known as antennas, is of paramount importance for ensuring cellular connections perform well. This is due to several reasons:

Signal Strength: The primary function of an antenna is to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. By positioning antennas thoughtfully, maximum signal strength can be achieved. This translates into better call quality, faster data speeds, and overall improved performance for cellular users.
Signal Quality: The placement of antennas directly influences signal quality. For instance, when antennas are installed indoors or in areas with significant obstructions, they may lead to weaker signals and potential signal reflections, ultimately causing signal degradation.
Avoiding Shadow Zones: Antennas must be strategically positioned to minimize the existence of "shadow zones" where the cellular signal becomes weak or non-existent. These areas are typically formed by obstacles such as tall buildings or natural features. Careful antenna placement plays a pivotal role in mitigating these issues and ensuring more consistent reception.

What to consider when positioning Aerials

Consider the following when locating aerials:
Location

External windows or near external walls are best, the less walls the signal passes through the better. Each wall degrades the signal by up to 97%.
Keep out of basements where possible, these are concrete and will degrade the signal, often requiring an external aerial to be fitted.
Do not stick patch aerials on metal surfaces ie FAP

Height

Height is everything when connecting to the cellular network. Install the aerial as high as you can to avoid interruptions.

Placement & Direction

For Fixed & Patch aerials - Install both aerials vertical and parallel, at a distance of 150-350mm apart.

Interruptions

People or vehicles can interrupt the cellular signal, keep the aerials high and away from high traffic areas.
Areas with high RF can also cause interruptions, try to keep away from switchboards/data rooms etc. if possible.

Materials

Glass is ideal for allowing the RF signal to pass through. Installing the patch aerials on a window is the best internal location.
Steel blocks RF signal, try to keep the aerials away from steel beams, sprinkler pipes etc.

Types of Aerials we supply and how to fit them

Dome Aerial

Remove “knock-out” from top of FAP. If FAP has no knock-outs, drill 20mm hole.
Insert Dome Aerial in to hole.
Feed aerial leads through washer and nut.
From underneath, place on washer then screw nut on to aerial thread.
Connect both aerial cables to the CTU.

Fixed Aerials

Drill two 8mm holes in top of FAP, approx. 150-300mm apart.
Insert plastic bulk heads in to each hole, thread will be inside FAP. Place on washers then screw nuts on to bulk head threads.
Connect SMA extension leads from CTU to bulk heads.
Screw fixed aerials to top of bulk heads on FAP.

Patch Aerials

Remove “knock-out” from top of FAP. If FAP has no knock-outs, drill 10mm hole.
Insert clear nylon gromet to hole.
Feed patch aerial cables through hole and attach to CTU.

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Welcome to Our New Blog

10/7/2023

Introduction
Welcome to our brand-new blog! We're thrilled to have you join us. Whether you found us by chance or intentionally sought us out, we're delighted to have you here. Allow us to introduce ourselves and give you a glimpse of what you can expect from our blog.

Who Are We?
We are a passionate team dedicated to providing fire alarm monitoring in commercial buildings throughout New Zealand. When installed, our equipment constantly monitors the fire alarm system and in the event of a fire, fault, or maintenance event, automatically notifies the fire service, the buildings fire alarm service agent, and the building owner. Our blog serves as a platform to keep you informed about our services, ongoing developments, and provide valuable industry and technology information.

What to Expect

Engaging Content: Our blog covers a wide range of topics, including the latest technology trends in the industry, updates on our projects and innovations, and more. We aim to keep you informed and engaged with fresh and informative content.
Practical Insights: In addition to industry updates, we will provide practical insights that benefit installers and technicians. From helpful tips and tricks to step-by-step guides and occasional hacks, our blog aims to be a valuable resource for your daily work.
Community Interaction: We strongly believe that a blog thrives on community engagement. We encourage you to share your thoughts, suggestions, and any specific topics you'd like us to cover. Your input will help shape our blog and ensure it remains relevant to your needs.

Conclusion
We're genuinely excited about the potential of this new blog and the opportunity to connect with professionals like you in the fire alarm service industry. Thank you for joining us on this adventure. We invite you to bookmark our page, register with our site, and follow us on social media for the latest posts and insights.

Welcome aboard!
The AFAM Team

Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005

Phone: 03 341 0464 | Email: [email protected]

Selecting and positioning Aerials for best performance

Why is positioning important?

What to consider when positioning Aerials

Types of Aerials we supply and how to fit them

Dome Aerial

Fixed Aerials

Patch Aerials

Welcome to Our New Blog

Blog

Archives

Categories

​Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005

Phone: 03 341 0464 | Email: [email protected]

Selecting and positioning Aerials for best performance

Why is positioning important?

What to consider when positioning Aerials

Types of Aerials we supply and how to fit them

Dome Aerial

Fixed Aerials

Patch Aerials

Welcome to Our New Blog

Blog

Archives

Categories

Providing Fire Alarm Monitoring and FENZ Direct Connections throughout New Zealand since 2005