An antenna array in a radio node includes multiple antenna elements for
transmitting a wider beam covering a majority of a sector cell that
includes a common signal and a narrower beam covering only a part of the
sector cell that includes a mobile user-specific signal. Transmitting
circuitry is coupled to the antenna array, and processing circuitry is
coupled to the transmitting circuitry. The processing circuitry ensures
the user-specific signal and the common signal in a mixed beam embodiment
are in-phase and time-aligned at the antenna array. In a steered beam
embodiment, the processing circuitry ensures the user-specific signal and
the common signal are time-aligned and have a controlled phase difference
when received at mobile stations in the sector cell. In both embodiments,
distortions in the common signal and the user-specific signal associated
with their conversion from baseband frequency to radio frequency are also
compensated. And in the steered beam embodiment, beam forming weights are
used not only to radiate a narrower beam to the desired mobile user but
also to direct a wider common signal beam to reach all mobile users in
the cell.