A 3D interpolation method for base-station-antenna radiation patterns

A simple method for the estimation of three-dimensional radiation patterns from the horizontal and vertical cuts is presented, which leads to lower er rors compared to some common methods. In order to evaluate its reliability, the method has been tested for various theoretical cases by considering di poles, individually or in arrays. For the case of the half-wavelength dipol e, a maximum error of 12.0 dB (for directions of very low radiation) and an average error of 1.6 dB were obtained; for a uniform array of two dipoles radiating in half-plane (which leads to a similar GSM panel-antenna's radia tion pattern), the average error was 1.8 dB (on the whole sphere). Measurem ents were also conducted in a real GSM network, and different approximation s for the base-station radiation pattern were compared. The method presente d here leads to a lower error, its average absolute value being 4.0 dB. Thi s interpolation method is Very useful for incorporating full three-dimensio nal radiation patterns into mobile-communications planning tools.