Low-cost extrapolation method for maximal LTE radio base station exposure estimation: test and validation

Area of Science:

• Electromagnetics and Radio Frequency Engineering
• Telecommunications Technology
• Environmental Health and Safety

Background:

• Accurate assessment of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from cellular base stations is crucial for public health and regulatory compliance.
• Existing methods for measuring EMF exposure from Long-Term Evolution (LTE) installations often require specialized, expensive equipment and detailed knowledge of network parameters.
• There is a need for accessible, cost-effective methods to evaluate EMF exposure in real-world scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally validate a novel, low-cost method for estimating maximal electromagnetic-field exposure from LTE radio base station installations.
• To demonstrate the applicability of this method in situ, requiring only basic spectrum analyzers and field probes.
• To assess the method's accuracy compared to traditional approaches using dedicated LTE decoders.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a low-cost measurement technique for EMF exposure.
• In situ and laboratory validation using basic spectrum analyzers and field probes.
• Testing on both Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) and 2x2 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) LTE antenna systems.

Main Results:

• The low-cost method requires no prior knowledge of downlink band occupation or service characteristics.
• Validation demonstrated low deviations between the proposed method and measurements obtained with dedicated LTE decoders.
• The method proved effective for both SISO and 2x2 MIMO LTE systems in laboratory and in situ conditions.

Conclusions:

• The presented low-cost method offers a practical and affordable solution for estimating maximal EMF exposure from LTE base stations.
• This approach simplifies EMF assessment, making it accessible for on-site evaluations without specialized decoding equipment.
• The experimental validation confirms the reliability and accuracy of this technique for diverse LTE configurations.