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Wireless Telecommunication Facilities Master Plan - Town of Morrisville, NC – Adopted July 23, 2013
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Wireless facilities
Wireless communication facilities are comprised of four main apparatuses: 1) an
electronic base station; 2) feed lines; 3) antenna or antenna array; and 4) an antenna
support facility.
Base station and feed lines
Base stations are the wireless service provider's specific electronic equipment used to
transmit and receive radio signals, and is usually mounted within a facility including, but
not limited to: cabinets, shelters, pedestals or other similar enclosures generally used to
contain electronic equipment for said purpose. Feed lines are the coaxial copper cables
used as the interconnecting media between the transmission/receiving base station and
the antenna. The base station and feed lines shown in Figure 1 is a typical model for
providers operating in the 1900 MHz frequencies and ground space for this equipment
cabinet is around eight (8) square feet.
Figure 1: Example of 1900 MHz Wireless Infrastructure Ground Equipment
The electronics operating the 800 MHz wireless systems within the base station can
generate substantial heat, therefore the base stations for providers operating in the 800
MHz frequencies are much larger and generally need an equipment cabinet a minimum of
four hundred (400) square feet to house the equipment. The only noise that might be
produced from the vicinity of any base station would be from an air conditioner or a
backup generator that might be necessary in instances of no power or power failure.
Figure 2 is a picture of an 800 MHz base station.
Tower
Feed lines
Base Station
Meter Box