Goto Section: 101.113 | 101.117 | Table of Contents
FCC 101.115
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 |
2016
§ 101.115 Directional antennas.
(a) Unless otherwise authorized upon specific request by the applicant, each
station authorized under the rules of this part must employ a directional
antenna adjusted with the center of the major lobe of radiation in the
horizontal plane directed toward the receiving station with which it
communicates: provided, however, where a station communicates with more than
one point, a multi- or omni-directional antenna may be authorized if
necessary. New Periscope antenna systems will not, under ordinary
circumstances, be authorized.
(b) Fixed stations (other than temporary fixed stations and DEMS nodal
stations) operating at 932.5 MHz or higher must employ transmitting and
receiving antennas (excluding second receiving antennas for operations such
as space diversity) meeting the appropriate performance Standard A indicated
below, except that in areas not subject to frequency congestion, antennas
meeting performance Standard B may be used, subject to the requirements set
forth in paragraph (d) of this section. For frequencies with a Standard B1
and a Standard B2, in order to comply with Standard B an antenna must fully
meet either Standard B1 or Standard B2. Licensees shall comply with the
antenna standards table shown in this paragraph in the following manner:
(1) With either the maximum beamwidth to 3 dB points requirement or with the
minimum antenna gain requirement; and
(2) With the minimum radiation suppression to angle requirement.
Antenna Standards
Frequency (MHz) Category Maximum beamwidth to 3 dB points^1 (included angle
in degrees) Minimum antenna gain (dbi) Minimum radiation suppression to
angle in degrees from centerline of main beam in decibels
5° to10° 10° to 15° 15° to 20° 20° to 30° 30° to 100° 100° to 140° 140° to
180°
932.5 to 935 A 14.0 n/a n/a 6 11 14 17 20 24
B 20.0 n/a n/a n/a 6 10 13 15 20
941.5 to 944 A 14.0 n/a n/a 6 11 14 17 20 24
B 20.0 n/a n/a n/a 6 10 13 15 20
952 to 960^2 3 A 14.0 n/a n/a 6 11 14 17 20 24
B 20.0 n/a n/a n/a 6 10 13 15 20
1,850 to 2,500^4 A 5.0 n/a 12 18 22 25 29 33 39
B 8.0 n/a 5 18 20 20 25 28 36
3,700 to 4,200 A 2.7 36 23 29 33 36 42 55 55
B 2.7 36 20 24 28 32 32 32 32
B 2.2 38 21 25 29 32 35 39 45
5,925 to 6,425^5 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B1 2.2 38 21 25 29 32 35 39 45
B2 4.1 32 15 20 23 28 29 60 60
6,525 to 6,875^5 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B1 2.2 38 21 25 29 32 35 39 45
B2 4.1 32 15 20 23 28 29 60 60
6,875 to 7,125 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B1 2.2 38 21 25 29 32 35 39 45
B2 4.1 32 15 20 23 28 29 60 60
10,550 to 10,680^7 A 3.5 33.5 18 24 28 32 35 55 55
B 3.5 33.5 17 24 28 32 35 40 45
10,565 to 10,615 n/a 360 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10,630 to 10,680^8 n/a 3.5 34 20 24 28 32 35 36 36
10,700-11,700^5 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B 3.5 33.5 17 24 28 32 35 40 45
12,200 to 13,250^9 A 1.0 n/a 23 28 35 39 41 42 50
B 2.0 n/a 20 25 28 30 32 37 47
17,700 to 18,820 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B1 2.2 38 20 24 28 32 35 36 36
B2 3.3 33.5 18 22 29 31 35 55 55
18,920 to 19,700^10 A 2.2 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B1 2.2 38 20 24 28 32 35 36 36
B2 3.3 33.5 18 22 29 31 35 55 55
21,200 to 23,600^7 11 A 3.3 33.5 18 26 26 33 33 55 55
B1 3.3 33.5 17 24 24 29 29 40 50
B2 4.5 30.5 14 19 22 24 29 52 52
24,250 to 25,250^10 A 2.8 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 60
B 2.8 38 20 24 28 32 35 36 45
31,000 to 31,300^12 13 n/a 4.0 38 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
38,600 to 40,000^14 A n/a 38 25 29 33 36 42 55 55
B n/a 38 20 24 28 32 35 36 36
71,000 to 76,000 (co-polar)^15 N/A 1.2 43 35 40 45 50 50 55 55
71,000 to 76,000 (cross-polar)^15 N/A 1.2 43 45 50 50 55 55 55 55
81,000 to 86,000 (co-polar)^15 N/A 1.2 43 35 40 45 50 50 55 55
81,000 to 86,000 (cross-polar)^15 N/A 1.2 43 45 50 50 55 55 55 55
92,000 to 95,000 N/A 0.6 50.0 36 40 45 50 55 55 55
^1If a licensee chooses to show compliance using maximum beamwidth to 3 dB
points, the beamwidth limit shall apply in both the azimuth and the
elevation planes.
^2Except for Multiple Address System frequencies listed in § § 101.147(b)(1)
through (b)(4), where omnidirectional antennas may be used.
^3Antennas used at outlying stations as part of a central protection alarm
system need conform to only the following 2 standards:
(i) The minimum on-beam forward gain must be at least 10 dBi, and
(ii) The minimum front-to-back ratio must be at least 20 dB.
^4Omnidirectional antennas may be authorized in the band 2150-2160 MHz.
^5These antenna standards apply to all point-to-point stations authorized
after June 1, 1997. Existing licensees and pending applicants on that date
are grandfathered and need not comply with these standards.
^6These antenna standards apply to all point-to-point stations authorized on
or before June 1, 1997.
^7Except for antennas between 140° and 180° authorized or pending on January
1, 1989, in the band 10,550 to 10,565 MHz for which minimum radiation
suppression to angle (in degrees) from centerline of main beam is 36
decibels.
^8These antenna standards apply only to DEMS User Stations licensed, in
operation, or applied for prior to July 15, 1993.
^9Except for Temporary-fixed operations in the band 13200-13250 MHz with
output powers less than 250 mW and as provided in § 101.147(q), and except
for antennas in the MVDDS service in the band 12.2-12.7 GHz.
^10DEMS User Station antennas in this band must meet performance Standard B
and have a minimum antenna gain of 34 dBi. The maximum beamwidth requirement
does not apply to DEMS User Stations. DEMS Nodal Stations need not comply
with these standards. Stations authorized to operate in the 24,250-25,250
MHz band do not have to meet these standards, however, the Commission may
require the use of higher performance antennas where interference problems
can be resolved by the use of such antennas.
^11Except as provided in § 101.147(s).
^12The minimum front-to-back ratio shall be 38 dBi.
^13Mobile, except aeronautical mobile, stations need not comply with these
standards.
^14Stations authorized to operate in the 38,600-40,000 MHz band may use
antennas other than those meeting the Category A standard. However, the
Commission may require the use of higher performance antennas where
interference problems can be resolved by the use of such antennas.
^15Antenna gain less than 50 dBi (but greater than or equal to 43 dBi) is
permitted only with a proportional reduction in maximum authorized EIRP in a
ratio of 2 dB of power per 1 dB of gain, so that the maximum allowable EIRP
(in dBW) for antennas of less than 50 dBi gain becomes + 55−2(50-G), where G
is the antenna gain in dBi. In addition, antennas in these bands must meet
two additional standards for minimum radiation suppression: At angles
between 1.2 and 5 degrees from the centerline of the main beam, co-polar
discrimination must be G−28, where G is the antenna gain in dBi; and at
angles of less than 5 degrees from the centerline of main beam, cross-polar
discrimination must be at least 25 dB.
(c) The Commission shall require the replacement of any antenna or periscope
antenna system of a permanent fixed station operating at 932.5 MHz or higher
that does not meet performance Standard A specified in paragraph (c) of this
section, at the expense of the licensee operating such antenna, upon a
showing that said antenna causes or is likely to cause interference to (or
receive interference from) any other authorized or applied for station
whereas a higher performance antenna is not likely to involve such
interference. Antenna performance is expected to meet the standards of
paragraph (c) of this section for parallel polarization. For cases of
potential interference, an antenna will not be considered to meet Standard A
unless the parallel polarization performance for the discrimination angle
involved meets the requirements, even if the cross-polarization performance
controls the interference.
(d) In cases where passive reflectors are employed in conjunction with
transmitting antenna systems, the foregoing paragraphs of this section also
will be applicable. However, in such instances, the center of the major lobe
of radiation from the antenna normally must be directed at the passive
reflector, and the center of the major lobe of radiation from the passive
reflector directed toward the receiving station with which it communicates.
(e) Periscope antennas used at an electric power facility plant area will be
excluded from the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section on a
case-by-case basis where technical considerations or safety preclude the use
of other types of antenna systems.
(f) In the 10,700-11,700 MHz band, a fixed station may employ transmitting
and receiving antennas meeting performance standard B in any area. If a
Fixed Service or Fixed Satellite Service licensee or applicant makes a
showing that it is likely to receive interference from such fixed station
and that such interference would not exist if the fixed station used an
antenna meeting performance standard A, the fixed station licensee must
modify its use. Specifically, the fixed station licensee must either
substitute an antenna meeting performance standard A or operate its system
with an EIRP reduced so as not to radiate, in the direction of the other
licensee, an EIRP in excess of that which would be radiated by a station
using a Category A antenna and operating with the maximum EIRP allowed by
the rules. A licensee or prior applicant using an antenna that does not meet
performance Standard A may object to a prior coordination notice based on
interference only if such interference would be predicted to exist if the
licensee or prior applicant used an antenna meeting performance standard A.
(g) In the event harmful interference is caused to the operation of other
stations, the Commission may, after notice and opportunity for hearing,
order changes to be made in the height, orientation, gain and radiation
pattern of the antenna system.
[ 61 FR 26677 , May 28, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 4924 , Feb. 3, 1997; 62 FR 24582 , May 6, 1997; 63 FR 6105 , Feb. 6, 1998; 65 FR 38329 , June 20, 2000; 65 FR 59358 , Oct. 5, 2000; 67 FR 43038 , June 26, 2002; 68 FR 4957 , Jan. 31,
2003; 69 FR 3267 , Jan. 23, 2004; 70 FR 29997 , May 25, 2005; 72 FR 55677 ,
Oct. 1, 2007; 73 FR 55775 , Sept. 26, 2008; 76 FR 59572 , Sept. 27, 2011; 77 FR 54432 , Sept. 5, 2012; 77 FR 73957 , Dec. 12, 2012]
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Goto Section: 101.113 | 101.117
Goto Year: 2014 |
2016
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