Remote electronic tilt base station antennas and mechanical calibration for such antennas

A method of calibrating a remote electronic tilt (RET) adjuster, the RET adjuster comprising:

• a movable drive member operatively connected to a phase shifter assembly such that movement of the drive member adjusts the phase shifter assembly;
• a first connector coupled to the drive member, the first connector occupying a first rest position when the drive member is at rest;
• a drive system comprising a movable drive shaft and a stop member mounted for movement with the drive shaft, the drive shaft supporting a second connector, the second connector occupying a second rest position when the drive system is at rest;
• and the second connector being releasably engageable with the first connector such that actuation of the drive system moves the drive member, the method comprising:
• actuating the drive system to rotate the stop member into engagement with a stationary stop, the stationary stop positioned such that when the stop member contacts the stationary stop the second connector is in a known position;
• using the known position to locate the second connector at the second rest position.

A method of operating a multi-remote electronic tilt (RET) adjuster, the multi-RET adjuster comprising:

• a plurality of rotatable drive members wherein each of the plurality of rotatable drive members is operatively connected to an associated phase shifter assembly such that rotation of one of the plurality of drive members adjusts a respective associated phase shifter assembly;
• a first connector coupled to each of the plurality of drive members, each first connector occupying a first rest position when a respective drive member is at rest;
• a drive system comprising a second connector occupying a second rest position when the drive system is at rest, the second connector being releasably engageable with each first connector such that actuation of the drive system moves a respective drive member;
• the method comprising;
• positioning the drive system adjacent to one of the plurality of rotatable drive members, the one of the plurality of rotatable drive members being operatively coupled to a phase shifter assembly to be adjusted;
• moving the drive system such that the second connector engages the first connector of the one of the plurality of rotatable drive members;
• actuating the drive system to adjust the phase shifter assembly.