Axis Network Technology has highlighted the importance of multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology for the roll-out of wide area Wimax communications networks. 

The Aylesbury-based system developer has introduced MIMO Remote Radio Heads (RRH) for OEM deployment of WiMAX networks at 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz.

The company claimed that the use of remote radio heads, which can be mounted close to the actual antennas, will reduce the cost of Wimax basestations.

“The use of an RRH allows the radio to be located alongside the antennas and physically separate from the basestation, removing the losses associated with long cable runs by replacing them with an optical fibre data interface,” said Michel Vieuxmaire, global sales director at Axis.

Available with downlink output power levels of up to 28W, the RRH models are available for use in the 2.3-2.7GHz and 3.3-3.8GHz spectrum bands, and Axis radios are configurable for frequencies between 400MHz and 4GHz. Each of the models offers dual channel operation for MIMO, to comply with WiMAX and IEEE 802.16 d/e standards.

They are also capable of 4-channel MIMO operation using 2-channel units driven separately from OBSAI/CPRI or daisy chained. Channel bandwidth is variable between 3.5MHz and 20MHz for TDD or FDD air interfaces.

Based on digitally controlled Doherty amplifiers, the RRH also feature automatic calibration of transmit, receive and PA bias control loops, and are fitted with OBSAI RP3-01 or CPRI V2 digital baseband interfaces with either 1 or 2 optical connectors as required.

They integrate an AxisIPR configurable IP radio processor, along with an AxisOS remote management and local craft interfaces. Support for Adaptive Antenna Systems (AAS) and AISG v2.0 antenna control is provided.

Superior receiver performance of better than -98dBm can be achieved with single channel operation, and better than -100dBm using MIMO.