DCR-U antenna’s broadband capabilities will support up to six new FM services from a single, lightweight circularly polarized antenna
RAYMOND, Maine, November 14, 2024 — Dielectric and BAI Communications (BAI) have finalized the installation of a broadband FM antenna system for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) radio transmission that will serve listeners in the Perth region on the west coast of Australia. BAI, specializing in innovative broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure and wireless solutions, chose a Dielectric DCR-U ring-style antenna to transmit up to six FM services from a single antenna. Three existing FM services will operate from the antenna initially, with the capacity to add three more in the future.
The choice of a ring-style antenna is a somewhat rare choice in Australia, where panel antennas tend to be favored for their broadband capabilities. Dielectric’s DCR antenna family represents an engineering breakthrough by expanding broadband capacity for ring-style antennas beyond previous capabilities, providing customers with a lightweight, side-mounted solution that can meet the same requirements as a panel array. This opens new opportunities for customers like BAI who are challenged with strict tower weight requirements that a panel array would exceed.
“Structural standards have evolved since this tower was first built in the 1960s, and we needed to reduce the weight and wind load to maintain compliance,” said Matt Betts, RF Engineering Manager, BAI. “That required taking a fresh look at design options beyond the panel array for a secondary antenna. The ring-style design both kept us in compliance and was a perfect design choice as we needed to install the system on a sloping section of the tower. Dielectric’s engineering team also developed a futureproof design with capacity to add future services on any channel within the FM band.
The DCR-U will ultimately serve as a secondary antenna to a panel array currently being installed. The DCR-U will operate in primary mode before the panel is installed and operational, bringing ABC and SBS Audio services to more than 2 million listeners. The BAI team collaborated with Dielectric engineers to specify the DCR-U antenna design to optimize FM coverage, carefully blending horizontally and vertically polarized elements. The antenna’s design elements were engineered based on intensive coverage planning that considered strong coverage for the Perth region north and south, especially along the coast where most of the population resides. SixArms drone measurements were used to verify the antenna patterns.
“Our previous secondary antenna system was strictly horizontal and also unable to operate at full power,” said Betts. “Dielectric has supplied us with a circularly polarized antenna with the capacity to support six 20kW services and reliably radiate the full power of our FM transmitters. The antenna’s sturdy design, streamlined componentry and center-fed design also gives us the confidence in the system’s longevity and low risk of failure.”
About Dielectric
Based in Raymond, Maine, Dielectric LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Dielectric is a leading provider of innovative broadcast products. The company has been building and delivering antennas and RF systems optimized for every TV and FM radio broadcast need since 1942. Dielectric is an innovative, customer-centric organization with a long history of engineering excellence in designing and manufacturing high-quality broadcast solutions. As a trust partner of broadcasters worldwide, Dielectric maintains its legacy of advanced, precision RF solutions while building in features that prepare broadcasters for the future. More information can be accessed at www.dielectric.com.
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