With the given set of simulation conditions, the practical number of users per W–CDMA channel is between 170 and 175. Depending on the antenna characteristics, the number of actual users that can talk on a given sector face will change. The typical shape for cell site footprints is a hexagonal shape. For such a shape, the typical number of sectors per cell is one, three, or six. When using three or six sectors, there are two standard orientations. These orientations and shapes are demonstrated for three sector cell site configurations in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
Figure 2. Typical Three-Sector Cell Site Configuration

Figure 3. Typical Three-Sector Cell Site Configuration Rotated by 30 Degrees

Using these two different types of three-sector cell site configurations, the optimum horizontal half power beamwidth is predicted. The results for the configuration depicted in Figure 2 are presented in Figure 4, and the results for the configuration depicted in Figure 3 are presented in Figure 5.

Figure 4. Capacity Predictions for a Typical Three-Sector Cell Site Configuration

Figure 5. Capacity Predictions for a Typical Three-Sector Cell Site Configuration Rotated by 30 Degrees

The results presented above show that the optimal beamwidth for the configurations demonstrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3 is 65 and 80 degrees respectively.