Base station antenna system with enhanced array spacing

A method of operation of a base station system comprising:

• generating a radio signal via a first base station radio unit of a plurality of base station radio units, the first base station radio unit associated with a first sector of at least three sectors of the base station system, each sector of the at least three sectors providing a wireless communications service over a range of azimuth angles in a service area, each sector of the at least three sectors comprising at least one base station radio unit of the plurality of base station radio units, each of the plurality of base station radio units for operation in a particular band of radio spectrum and for applying precoding weights for beamforming signals via a respective antenna system of a plurality of antenna systems;
• and
• transmitting the radio signal via a first antenna system that is coupled to the first base station radio unit and associated with the first sector, wherein the base station system comprises the plurality of antenna systems, the plurality of antenna systems including the first antenna system, each antenna system of the plurality of antenna systems comprising a plurality of linear antenna arrays, each linear antenna array of the plurality of linear antenna arrays comprising a plurality of radiating antenna elements arranged linearly in a vertical plane, the plurality of linear antenna arrays disposed adjacent to each other in a horizontal plane, wherein, in the first antenna system, at least one set of linear antenna arrays of the plurality of linear antenna arrays for an operating frequency associated with the first base station radio unit has an array separation distance of substantially 1.6 wavelengths apart at the operating frequency;
• wherein the array separation distance minimizes radio frequency power radiated by grating lobes at angles which fall into service areas of sectors adjacent to the first sector, the grating being caused by the precoding weights applied by the first base station radio unit.