Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today released the industry’s first “plug-and-play” EasyRET (Easy Remote Electrical Tilt) antenna solution. Designed to resolve issues of traditional RET antenna (RET component space limitations, multiple connection point requirements, uncertain reliability, manual configuration and physical maintenance challenges), EasyRET represents strong ROI as a currently relevant investment with long term viability.
In today’s world of MBB with the coexistence of GSM/UMTS/ CDMA/LTE and other networks, for ease of operation and decreased risk of multi-connector failure, remote electrical tilt must replace the more restricted traditional electrical tilt antenna. Looking at the current challenges in greater detail, traditional RET antenna requires multiple electrical tilt components, including Remote Control Unit (RCU) and daisy chain cables; multiple band antenna with Antenna Line Device (ALD) systems require added connectors, all within limited antenna width and limited installation space. All these added components and connector points also inevitably compound the risks and chances of increasing engineering fault points. In addition to this, due to external factors, when the RCU repeatedly adjusts the downtilt, there is a risk of shifting to the incorrect downtilt,. There is also a risk to the long term stability and reliability of components that are placed outside and exposed to harsh environments.
Increasing reliability and reducing Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs has therefore become two of the most pressing problems faced by operators around the world. By protecting antenna and cable systems and enhancing installation and maintenance efficiency, Huawei’s EasyRET provides a significant contribution to relieving these concerns.
Huawei’s EasyRET antenna solution integrates multiple band antennas and traditional RET components, reducing the amount of cable and external connectors. Electrical tilt components and the antenna are strictly matched and all related configuration data is preloaded and calibrated before any EasyRET antenna solution is delivered. After an EasyRET antenna is powered on, Huawei’s use of Innovative electronic tags allow the antenna to automatically report the RCU bar code to the O&M Center (OMC) where it is automatically saved and matched to the EasyRET antenna port and frequency band. If a frequency band needs to be adjusted, an RCU bar code can now be queried directly from the OMC , reducing manual recording of RCU bar codes and preventing adjustment errors caused by incorrect RCU bar codes. Rigorous testing has shown Huawei’s EasyRET RCU self-lock torque and gearbox ensures vibration will not change antenna downtilt, reducing chances of change due to antenna signal handoff.
Evidence of Huawei’s EasyRET reliability extends beyond R&D testing. Operators are already finding operational complexity is minimized, onsite data configuration and calibration is no longer required, failure points are dramatically reduced and with only a single AISG cable to connect and complete antenna installation, space restrictions and reliability issues are overcome with one revolutionary plug and play solution.
