Page 116 - Antennas for Base Stations in Wireless Communications

Base Station Antennas for Mobile Radio Systems 89

(a) (b)
Figure 2.21 These base stations quickly become part of the street scene and are hardly
noticed by the average passerby. (Photos by the author)

Glass-reinforced plastics (grp/Fiberglass) structures can be used to
create visual profiles for base station antenna installations on old and
modern buildings. Figure 2.22a shows a grp imitation chimney during
tests to check the effect of the enclosure on the radiation patterns of the
antennas housed inside. In Figure 2.22b the antenna and a large amount
of electronic equipment is housed in a cylinder that forms an architectural
feature. Figure 2.22c shows the installation of a “tree.”
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The Scottish Government’s website points out that public works of
art have been commissioned that incorporate antennas or complete base
stations. They can enhance the landscape and strengthen the identity
of a place. Possible locations for public art are in squares and plazas,
alongside major transport routes, at transport intersections, or close to
important vistas.
The challenge of minimizing the visual impact of base stations varies in
different countries according to local architectural styles and the nature of
the rural scenery. In some cities, excellent coverage has been provided with
minimal impact on the urban scene, whereas other cities have been less
active in encouraging network operators to achieve the highest standards of
visual engineering. While some of these solutions are very expensive, other
measures are relatively inexpensive and should always be considered.