Multi-band base station antennas having radome effect cancellation features

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a radome;
• and
• an antenna assembly that is mounted within the radome, the antenna assembly including:
• a backplane that includes a stepped reflector that has at least a first front surface, a second front surface, a third front surface, a first sidewall disposed between the first front surface and the second front surface and a second sidewall disposed between the second front surface and the third front surface;
• a first array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the first front surface;
• a second array that includes a plurality of second radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the second front surface,
• a third array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the third front surface;
• wherein the stepped reflector comprises a monolithic piece of sheet metal that is bent to form the first through third front surfaces and the first and second sidewalls,
• wherein the first radiating elements are configured to operate in a first frequency band and the second radiating elements are configured to operate in a second frequency band that is higher in frequency than the first frequency band,
• wherein the second array is positioned between the first array and the third array,
• wherein the second array includes four columns of second radiating elements, and
• wherein the second front surface is a farthest forwardly extending portion of the stepped reflector.

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a radome;
• and
• an antenna assembly that is mounted within the radome, the antenna assembly including:
• a backplane that includes a first reflector;
• a first array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector;
• a second reflector that is positioned forwardly of a plane defined by the first reflector;
• a second array that includes a plurality of second radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the second reflector;
• and
• a third array that includes a plurality of third radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector, the first radiating elements configured to operate in a first frequency band and the second radiating elements configured to operate in a second, higher, frequency band,
• wherein the first radiating elements extend a first distance forwardly from the first reflector and the second radiating elements extend a second distance forwardly from the second reflector, where the first distance exceeds the second distance.

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a radome;
• and
• an antenna assembly that is mounted within the radome, the antenna assembly including:
• a backplane that includes a first reflector;
• a first array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector;
• a second reflector that is separate from the first reflector and mounted to extend forwardly of the first reflector;
• and
• a second array that includes a plurality of second radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the second reflector,
• wherein a front surface of the second reflector is positioned forwardly of a front surface of the first reflector,
• wherein the first radiating elements extend a first distance forwardly from the first reflector and the second radiating elements extend a second distance forwardly from the second reflector, where the first distance exceeds the second distance.

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a radome;
• and
• an antenna assembly that is mounted within the radome, the antenna assembly including:
• a first reflector;
• a second reflector that is closer to a front surface of the radome than is the first reflector;
• a lower frequency band radiating element that is mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector;
• and
• a higher frequency band radiating element that is mounted to extend forwardly from a second reflector,
• wherein the higher frequency band radiating element is mounted so that a front surface of the radome is within a near field of a radiator of the higher frequency band radiating element.