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Chapter 12 Installing the Companion system 187
Installation and Maintenance Guide
Installing external antennas and lightning surge protection
You can use external antennas to provide a broad range for your Companion system. Ensure that
any external installations comply with local regulations and include lightning surge protection.
Read before you install equipment
• You must install the antenna vertically. For more information, refer to Figure 68 on page 188.
• Use #8, 12 mm to 50 mm (
1
/
2
in. to 2 in.) screws to install the antenna bracket and lightning
surge protector bracket to the wall.
• Always ensure that the antenna is clear of any adjacent obstruction or metal objects. If you use
more than one external antenna at a cell center, separate the antennas at by least 1 m (40 in.) to
avoid radio interference problems.
• When running the coaxial cable inside or outside, be careful not to damage the cable. Damage
to the cable affects its performance. The minimum recommended bending radius is 200 mm
(8 in.).
• The coaxial cable length must not exceed 10 m (33 ft).
• Use RG-58AU coaxial cables to connect the antennas to the base stations.
• You can attach a proprietary extension cable between the lightning surge protector and the
antenna or between the lightning surge protector and the base station. Make sure you keep the
total cable length as short as possible and use only the recommended extension cable when
necessary.
• You must install a lightning surge protector for each external antenna.
Warning: FCC requirements.
In the United States, the FCC requires that you connect only approved antennas to
Companion base stations.
Caution: Do not install the outdoor antenna or the lightning surge protector during an
electrical storm.
Always turn off the base station power before connecting the coaxial cable of an outdoor
antenna.
Always install the lightning surge protector at the cable entry point into the building.
Connect the lightning surge protector to ground before you connect the coaxial cable.