Estimation of Exclusion Zones for Base Station Antennas in Wireless Communications Systems

A model for the estimation of exclusion zones around base station antennas in wireless communication systems, taking the actual surrounding environment into account, is presented. Numerical methods are applied to a GSM900 antenna installed in five common scenarios. Results show that the exclusion zone calculated in free space conditions must be redefined, due to the presence of surrounding objects, as its extension might need to be doubled when considering the installation scenario. In the case of metallic corner configurations at the back of the antenna, the exclusion zone may increase by a factor of 5. The main conclusions are valid for other wireless technologies.