Goto Section: 78.104 | 78.106 | Table of Contents

FCC 78.105
Revised as of
Goto Year:1996 | 1998
Sec. 78.105  Antenna systems.

    (a) For fixed stations operating in the 12.7-13.2 and 17.7-19.07 GHz 
bands, and for fixed and mobile stations operating in the 31.0-31.3 GHz 
bands, the following standards apply:
    (1) Fixed CARS stations shall use directional antennas that meet the 
performance standards indicated in the following table.
    (i) Stations must employ an antenna that meets the performance 
standards for Category B. In areas subject to frequency congestion, 
where proposed facilities would be precluded by continued use of a 
Category B antenna, a Category A antenna must be employed. The 
Commission may require the use of a high performance antenna where 
interference problems can be resolved by the use of such antennas.
    (ii) Upon adequate showing of need to serve a larger sector, or more 
than a single sector, greater beamwidth or multiple antennas may be 
authorized. Applicants shall request and authorization for stations in 
this service will specify the polarization of each transmitted signal.
    (iii) Licensees shall comply with the antenna standards table shown 
in this paragraph in the following manner:
    (A) With either the maximum beamwidth to 3 dB points requirement or 
with the minimum antenna gain requirement; and
    (B) With the minimum radiation suppression to angle requirement.

                                                                    Antenna Standards           
                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Maximum                   Min
imum radiation suppression to angle in degrees from     
                                                                 beamwidith                     
       centerline of main beam in decibels              
                                                                   to 3 dB    Minimum  ---------
--------------------------------------------------------
                   Frequency (MHz)                     Category  points \1\   antenna           
                                                        
                                                                  (included     gain     5 deg. 
 10 deg.  15 deg.  20 deg.   30 deg.  100 deg.  140 deg.
                                                                  angle in     (dbi)     to 10  
  to 15    to 20    to 30    to 100    to 140    to 180 
                                                                  degrees)                deg.  
   deg.     deg.     deg.     deg.      deg.      deg.  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
12,700 to 13,250....................................          A                                 
                                                        
                                                              B         1.0                     
                                                        
                                                                        2.0        n/a          
                                                        
                                                                                   n/a      23  
                                                        
                                                                                            20  
     28                                                 
                                                                                                
     25       35                                        
                                                                                                
              28       39                               
                                                                                                
                       30        41                     
                                                                                                
                                 32        42           
                                                                                                
                                           37        50 
                                                                                                
                                                     47 
17,700 to 19,700....................................          A                                 
                                                        
                                                              B         2.2                     
                                                        
                                                                        2.2         38          
                                                        
                                                                                    38      25  
                                                        
                                                                                            20  
     29                                                 
                                                                                                
     24       33                                        
                                                                                                
              28       36                               
                                                                                                
                       32        42                     
                                                                                                
                                 35        55           
                                                                                                
                                           36        55 
                                                                                                
                                                     36 
31,000 to 31,300 \2\................................        n/a     \3\ 4.0         38     n/a  
    n/a      n/a      n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a 

[[Page 685]]

                                                                                                
                                                        
38,600 to 40,000....................................          A                                 
                                                        
                                                              B         2.2                     
                                                        
                                                                        2.2         38          
                                                        
                                                                                    38      25  
                                                        
                                                                                            20  
     29                                                 
                                                                                                
     24       33                                        
                                                                                                
              28       36                               
                                                                                                
                       32        42                     
                                                                                                
                                 35        55           
                                                                                                
                                           36        55 
                                                                                                
                                                     36 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
\1\ If a licensee chooses to show compliance using maximum beamwidth to 3 dB points, the beamwid
th limit shall apply in both the azimuth and the        
  elevation planes.                                                                             
                                                        
\2\ Mobile, except aeronautical, mobile, stations need not comply with these standards.         
                                                        
\3\ The minimum front-to-back ratio shall be 38 dBi.                                            
                                                        

    (2) New periscope antenna systems will be authorized upon a 
certification that the radiation, in a horizontal plane, from an 
illuminating antenna and reflector combination meets or exceeds the 
antenna standards of this section. This provision similarly applies to 
passive repeaters employed to redirect or repeat the signal from a 
station's directional antenna system.
    (3) The choice of receiving antennas is left to the discretion of 
the licensee. However, licensees will not be protected from interference 
which results from the use of antennas with poorer performance than 
defined in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (4) The transmitting antenna system of stations employing maximum 
equivalent isotropically radiated power exceeding +45 dBW in the 
frequency band between 12.70 and 12.75 GHz shall be oriented so that the 
direction of maximum radiation of any antenna shall be at least 1.5 deg. 
away from the geostationary satellite orbit, taking into account the 
effect of atmospheric refractions.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1 See Chapter I, Article 1, Section III of the (International) 
Radio Regulations (Geneva, 1959), as amended, for Technical 
Characteristics Terms and Definitions. Additional information and 
methods for calculating azimuths to be avoided may be found in the 
following: Report 393, International Radio Consultative Committee 
(C.C.I.R.); ``Geostationary Orbit Avoidance Computer Program,'' Reort 
CC-7220, Federal Communications Commission, available from the National 
Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22151, in printed form 
(PB-211 500) or source card deck (PB-211 501).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (5) Pickup stations are not subject to the performance standards 
herein stated. The provisions of this paragraph are effective for all 
new applications accepted for filing after October 1, 1981.
    (b) Any fixed station licensed pursuant to an application accepted 
for filing prior to October 1, 1981, may continue to use its existing 
antenna system, subject to periodic renewal until April 1, 1992, After 
April 1, 1992, all licensees are to use antenna systems in conformance 
with the standards of this section. TV auxiliary broadcast stations are 
considered to be located in an area subject to frequency congestion and 
must employ a Category A antenna when:
    (1) A showing by an applicant of a new CAR service or TV auxiliary 
broadcast, which shares the 12.7-13.20 GHz band with CARS, indicates 
that use of a category B antenna limits a proposed project because of 
interference, and
    (2) That use of a category A antenna will remedy the interference 
thus allowing the project to be realized.
    (c) As an exception to the provisions of this section, the FCC may 
approve requests for use of periscope antenna systems where a persuasive 
showing is made that no frequency conflicts exist in the area of 
proposed use. Such approvals shall be conditioned to require conversion 
to a standard antenna as required in paragraph (a) of this section when 
an applicant of a new TV auxiliary broadcast or Cable Television Relay 
station indicates that the use of the existing antenna system will cause 
interference and the use of a category A or B antenna will remedy the 
interference.
    (d) As a further exception to the provision of paragraph (a) of this 
section the Commission may approve antenna

[[Page 686]]

systems not conforming to the technical standards where a persuasive 
showing is made that:
    (1) Indicates in detail why an antenna system complying with the 
requirements of paragraph (a) of this section cannot be installed, and
    (2) Includes a statement indicating that frequency coordination as 
required in Sec. 78.18a was accomplished.

[ 45 FR 78694 , Nov. 26, 1980, as amended at  49 FR 37779 , Sept. 26, 1984; 
 50 FR 7343 , Feb. 22, 1985;  51 FR 19841 , June 3, 1986;  56 FR 50664 , Oct. 
8, 1991;  62 FR 4923 , Feb. 3, 1997]


Goto Section: 78.104 | 78.106

Goto Year: 1996 | 1998
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