Andrew Supplies Chicago's First High Power DTV Antenna For FOX'S Channel 31, Station WFLD-DT.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 1999--Andrew Corporation, an Orland Park, Illinois-headquartered global supplier of communications systems and services, has manufactured and supplied its TRASAR(R) High Power digital television antenna for FOX Television Station Inc.'s Channel 31, Station WFLD-DT in Chicago. The antenna is installed on the world's tallest building, the Sears Tower, and will provide digital television transmission in the Chicago area.

"What makes Chicago unique in terms of architecture and leisure facilities also makes it one of the greatest engineering challenges for broadcast engineers," said Scott Martin, Andrew Corporation's senior product manager, broadcast antenna systems. "Chicago's famously tall buildings cast reflections that affect the DTV signal, and the size and proximity of Lake Michigan limits the options for the orientation of a broadcast antenna."

The Andrew High Power TRASAR antenna supplied to Channel 31 is designed not to waste energy over Lake Michigan and has a lot of null-fill to prevent coverage gaps in downtown Chicago, ensuring the best possible signal coverage. The low gain antenna is designed to provide the widest possible digital television signal and optimum coverage throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

To achieve the best possible coverage the Andrew engineers first modeled the top of the Sears Tower at the Andrew Corporation test range in Orland Park, to check for areas where there might be signal blockage. The optimal design chosen is an Andrew TRASAR Elliptically Polarized Coaxial Slotted Array Antenna. The antenna ensures optimum coverage for both outdoor and indoor receiving antennas.

The TRASAR antenna was manufactured and tested at Andrew Corporation's broadcast manufacturing facility in Orland Park, Illinois. Ordered in September 1998, the antenna was modeled and manufactured and delivered to the top of the Sears Tower on March 7, 1999.

The newly installed Channel 31 TRASAR antenna is 29.4-feet long, has a radome diameter of 16.4 inches, and weighs 2,890 lb. The antenna is top-mounted on an 80-foot mast. There are plans to install other antennas on the lower portions of the mast.

Andrew Corporation has already successfully installed a series of TRASAR antennas for FOX Television Inc.'s digital television stations, including Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Houston. "The installation of our new Channel 31 antenna in Chicago means that we are well on our way to being operational by the FCC's deadline of May 1, 1999 when the four master networks must be on air with DTV," said Dwain Schoonover, Vice President/Engineering Manager, WFLD, Chicago.

Massive Logistics Operation

Both the TRASAR antenna and its mast were hoisted to the top of Chicago's Sears Tower on Sunday, March 7, 1999, in a massive logistics operation that included closing off four city blocks of downtown Chicago, airlifting the antenna from the roof of the Sears Tower parking garage, and placing it on top of the Sears Tower. The height to the top of the roof of the Sears Tower is one quarter mile (1,454 feet), and the building itself occupies two city blocks. The effective owners of the Sears Tower, TrizecHahn Office Properties coordinated Sunday's successful airlift with Installation Services, a tower company that has completed other standard TV installations on the Sears Tower.

TrizecHahn Office Properties is committing a significant amount of capital across the US as part of a company initiative to expand its telecommunications infrastructure. As part of this program, a significant investment in broadcast infrastructure is being made at Sears Tower to accommodate the current and future needs of the metropolitan Chicago area.

The helicopter used to lift the antenna/mast combination was the Erickson S-64F Aircrane, one of the world's largest heavy lifting helicopters. The S-64F can lift 25,000 lb. "It's just another day in the office for the helicopter pilot," said Dennis Hubbard of Erickson Air-Crane Co., LLC. The Aircrane itself has a rear-facing pilot station allowing the back seat pilot an unrestricted view during precision operations such as the Sears Tower lift. The craft's patented cargo handling system prevents the load from spinning and allows for the precision placement of any load, including that of the TRASAR antenna and mast onto the Sears Tower.

For further information about Andrew TRASAR antennas for DTV, call Andrew Corporation at 1-800-DIAL-4-RF and request packet number 435. For additional information and photographs of the airlift, call Greta Brown on 708-349-5661.

Andrew Corporation is a global supplier of communications systems equipment and services. Major markets are wireless communications -- which includes cellular, personal communications services, and land mobile radio -- broadcast, and common carrier. Andrew is an S&P 500 company listed on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol ANDW.

For further information on Andrew products and services, including the text of this release, visit our Web site at http://www.andrew.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

TRASAR is a registered trademark of Andrew Corporation.