CTI 5632 User instructions

Setting Up Panel
Directional Antennas
The CTI range of directional panel antennas can significantly improve performance in a SHoW
DMX wireless DMX/RDM system, providing they are set up correctly. This document will
provide you with a number of techniques for effectively setting up and using panel antennas.
In general, it is best to setup your system well in advance of the show, and to plan to do some
testing and adjustment in order to optimize system performance. Whenever possible plan
your setup/testing time for the same time of day when your show is scheduled.
Panel antennas are basically flat box shaped units, and radiate primarily from their front
“panel” surface. These antennas produce a relatively wide beam of radio waves that can be
aimed toward targets and away from things that
might cause problems. The CTI # 5632 8dBi
Panel Antenna (pictured) has a 60º beam
angle, meaning that most of the antenna’s
energy is shaped into a 60º wide beam (see the
beam pattern near right), and much like a light
fixture with a 60º beam angle, this antenna can
be focused at a desired target or group of targets.
Cables: CTI panel antennas are provided with a short (12”) tail with a standard RF “N” female
connector, so an adapter such as the CTI # 5638 N to RSMA adapter is required to connect
the antenna to a CTI SHoW DMX Transmitter or Receiver. Extension cables may also be
used to locate the antenna some distance from the Transmitter or Receiver. All cables,
whether short adapters or longer extension cables, must be properly constructed from
materials intended for RF applications. Cables that are made from improper components or
are poorly assembled can impair or completely block radio transmissions.
All cables will attenuate the signals to the antenna to some degree. For short runs the
attenuation/loss will be insignificant with any good RF rated cable, but if longer cables are
needed, a special low-loss cable should be used. Low loss RF cable materials are typically
thicker and less flexible than the standard cables.
RF cables must be carefully installed. Overly tight bends will increase attenuation, as will
excessive numbers of bends. Excessive compression of the cable will also add attenuation,
so cable ties should be used carefully.
Attenuation and bend specifications for CTI RF cables are given in the table below:
Cable Type Attenuation,
dB per 100'
Minimum
Radius, Single
Bend
Minimum
Radius,
Multiple Bends
Number of
Bends Max
CTI 5638 N to
RSMA Adapter 19 .5" 2" n/r
LMR 195-DB 19 .5" 2" n/r
LMR-400-UF 6.8 1" 4" n/r
Andrew FSJ-50 6.78 1" 1" 30

Setting Up Panel Directional Antennas, page2
Installing and Optimizing a Panel Antenna System
Panel antennas may be used together for both transmitters and receivers to create a highly
directional system with extended range, good immunity to interference, and reduced
interference creation.
•Whenever possible, mount the antennas with direct line of sight.
•For best results, the antennas should be elevated above the ground. In outdoor
installations, adding distance from the ground will usually be beneficial. In indoor
installations, height is good, but so is distance from ceiling and walls.
•Mount the antennas so they are parallel and are facing each other as shown in the figure
below, with the front surfaces facing each other.

Setting Up Panel Directional Antennas, page3
•Polarize antennas the same way. Mount the antennas with matched polarity markings
pointing up. The antennas in the figure below are polarized vertically (note the “VERT
POL” marking on both units is pointing up).
Test the reception of the system. Once you have your system set up, start your DMX
source (console, DMX tester, etc.), initiate wireless DMX broadcasting, and check the
received signal strength at the receiver. The SHoW DMX Receiver displays received signal
strength periodically in the Main menu or continuously in the Misc Settings menu, so you can
monitor received signal strength while you fine tune the position of the antennas. Received
signal strength is displayed as –dBm and -40 dBm is the best possible value, with higher
numbers being weaker than smaller numbers; -40dBm is stronger that -50dBm.
•Adjust the height and rotation of the antennas to optimize reception.
•Check for obstacles between the antennas. One of the most insidious obstacles to RF
is the human body. Be sure and consider your audience location when setting up your
system, and locate the antennas so that audience members won’t come between the
antennas. As you are setting up and adjusting your system, note what happens to
received signal strength when you grasp an antenna to adjust it. Another common
obstacle is glass; some window glass will block radio waves. If you want to broadcast out
a window, use a cable to put the antenna outside of the window. CTI panel antennas are
rated for outdoor use.
•Test both vertical and horizontal polarity. Sometimes, one will work better than the
other because of environmental conditions or due to the presence of other wireless
systems in the area. If there are other 2.4GHz wireless systems operating within range
that are interfering with your SHoW DMX system (or being interfered with by your system)
you may be able to significantly reduce that interference by changing the polarity of your
system. Radio systems are frequently setup by default with vertical polarity, so changing
your system to horizontal polarity may significantly improve things for all of the systems
within range.

Setting Up Panel Directional Antennas, page4
The antennas in the figure below are horizontally polarized:
•Test different power levels. CTI panel antennas add gain (power) to the broadcast
signal and also focus the radio energy directionally. Both effects tend to deliver more of
the radio signal to the desired target, so you may not need to operate your transmitter at
the highest setting. In some installations, system fidelity may improve at lower broadcast
power settings. In settings where more than one system is in use, lower broadcast power
settings will reduce inter-system interference.
Using Panel Antennas in Combination with Omni-Directional Antennas
Sometimes an installation will not lend itself to panel-to-panel antenna configuration, such as
a system in which there is a single transmitter broadcasting to receivers located far apart from
each other, so that the receivers could not all be within the beam angle of the transmitter’s
panel antenna. In setups like this, the system may still benefit from using panel antennas on
the receivers and an omni-directional antenna on the transmitter. Using panels on the
receivers will increase their range and limit their susceptibility to radio interference from other
sources located outside of the beam of their panel antennas.
Many of the same setup techniques will work with omni-to-panel antenna systems that work
with panel-to-panel systems:
•Mount the antennas with direct line of sight.
•Adjust height and Rotation to optimize performance
•Avoid RF Obstacles
•Elevate the antennas above the ground, but leave clearance for other reflective surfaces
indoors.

Setting Up Panel Directional Antennas, page5
•Match antenna polarity. The figure below shows a vertically polarized panel and omni:
•Test both vertical and horizontal polarity. As with panel-to–panel systems, horizontal
polarization may improve performance in some systems, The figure below shows a
horizontally polarized panel and omni:
•Test different power levels. Lower power levels may actually improve reception due to a
reduction in multipath interference.