BASICS OF MICROWAVE COMMUNICATIONS

Click to edit Master subtitle style College of Engineering University of St. La Salle

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I. MICROWAVE ( IsRADIOLINK ) a widely employed broadband transmission medium commonly used to SYSTEMS FDM or digital transport the analog

PCM/CVSD (continuously varying slope delta modulation) baseband.

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Basic requirements: (line of Signals follow a straight line or LOS

sight) path.
Signal propagation is affected by free-

space attenuation and precipitation.

Frequencies used should be between 0.1

GHz to 100 GHz. ( Permits transmission of more information per RF carrier by use of a wider information baseband )

Use of angle modulation (ie., FM or PM),

digital modulation, or spread-spectrum and time-sharing techniques. 7/28/12

2 Kinds:
Short haul intrastate or feeder systems. Long haul interstate and backbone route

systems for long distances

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Applications of LOS microwave:

Point-to-point links as a backbone or tails of

large networks for common carriers, specialized common carriers, and private and government entities. and cellular, data, or various mixes thereof.

Point-to-multipoint systems for TV, telephony Transport of TV or other video signals such as

community antenna television (CATV) headend extension, broadcast transport, and studio to transmitter links.

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Specialized digital and digital data networks. Power and pipeline companies for the

transport of telemetry, command, and control information.

Air traffic control center interconnectivity. Short-haul applications such as linking offices

and buildings in congested urban areas; final connectivities for common carrier/specialized common carriers; tails off fiber optic trunks.
Military applications; fixed point-to-point, 7/28/12

point to multipoint, and transportable point-

 SITE REQUIREMENTS SITE SELECTION

25 30 miles Locations of existing structures

(structural and architectural plans)

Interference from internal and

external sources (nearby radio or radar systems)

Level as possible 7/28/12

SITE CONSIDERATIONS 1. Full description of each site by

geographical coordinates ( nearest of latitude and longitude ), political subdivision, access roads and physical objects with which it can be identified ( Use of topographical maps ). 2. Any unusual weather conditions, maximum expected wind velocity and range of temperatures.
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4. Relationship to any commercial, military or private airport. ( Government regulations for obstructions ) 5. Recommendation for an access road from the nearest improved road. 6. Mean sea level elevation of site.
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8. Nearest location of commercial electric power of suitable secondary or distribution voltage may be obtained, and the name and office of the power company. 9. Nearest location of telephone company, the name and office of the facility and type of service available. 10. Any other facts that can be determined at the time of the survey. ( Squatters, Peace and order situation )
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Microwave Configuration:
Gt Lp, FM Gr

Lf Tx
Transmitter

Lf Rx
Receiver

d, miles RSL Min rf input

Po
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Formulas:
1. Free Space Loss (FSL) or Path Loss, Lp (dB) Lp = 96.6 + 20 log d miles + 20 log f Ghz 2. Antenna Gain, dB G = 7.5 + 20 log D ft + 20 log f Ghz where: D = paraboloid diameter in 7/28/12

3. RSL or Received Signal Level, dBm

RSL dbm = Po dB Lp dB
dBm

Lf Tx

dB

+ Gt

+ Gr

dB

Lf Rx

dB

also, RSL + FM dB

dBm

= min rf input

dBm

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Minimum rf input practical receiver threshold FM = fade margin - attenuation allowance so that anticipated fading will still keep signal above specified minimum rf input - fudge factor
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- usually 35 40 dB

Fade Margin, FM FM = 30 ( dB)log d km + 10 log 6 ab f GHz 10 log (1 R )

70 where: a=terrain factor b=climate factor 4, smooth terrain, including over water 1, ave. terrain w/ roughness temp
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0.5, hot, humid, coastal 0.25, normal

Fresnel Zone Radii / Clearance

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Fresnel Zone FZ radius = 72.1 sqrt ( n d1 d2 / f Ghz d Formulas mi ) , feet

where: d1 and d2 = distances in miles 1st n = number of Fresnel zones ( n =1 for Fresnel zone, n= 2 for 2nd Fresnel and etc. ) Note:
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zone,

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Fresnel Zone (Definition ) one of the conical zones that exist between microwave transmitting and receiving antennas due to cancellation of some portions of the wave front by other portions that travel different distances. The boundary of the 1st Fresnel Zone includes all paths half a wavelength longer than the line of sight path. The outer boundaries of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Fresnel zones are formed by paths, 1, 1 and 2 7/28/12

Reliability Formulas
System Reliability Estimates a) Based on propagation R = ( 1 Undp) x 100% Undp = non-diversity probability outage for a given path Undp = ab f^1.5 d^3 (1.25 x 10^-6) 10^(FM/10)
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f = frequency in GHz

b) Based on Equipment R = ( 1 - U) x 100% U = unavailability or probability of outage U= MTTR_____ if MTBF >> MTTR, U = MTTR MTTR + MTBF MTBF

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Sample Problem:
ECE November 1988 1. A one watt ( 30 dBm ) microwave radio transmitter is used to link with a receiver 30 miles away. Operating frequency is 6 Ghz, Tx feeder loss is 5 dB and Rx feeder loss is also 5 dB. If the design objective is to attain a receive signal level equal to the FM threshold of 78 dBm of the receiver, then find: a. Path loss in dB b. Antenna gain in dB and diameter in meters 7/28/12

Seatwork ( by pairs, CW ECE Sept 1985 )

An 8 Ghz radio system over a 30 km path has a 35 dB Fade Margin. The height of the antenna on both ends were both calculated at 28 and 33 meters respectively. Tx/Rx characteristics: Power output = 2 W 0.3 dB Fixed Losses: Total connector loss =

Min. rf input = - 74 dBm Waveguide loss = 0.065 dB/m Branching loss = Tx 2 dB,
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Rx 1 dB

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