Microwave Path Link Budget

And
Reliability Calculation

Planning Guide

Jessie Jaye R. Balbin, MEP-ECE

 MEDIUM AND LONG HAUL
MICROWAVE PLANNING
 Example: Dragon Industries Inc. requires a
microwave link to connect the digital PABX
systems located at office buildings at site A
and Site B. The connectivity requires 120
digital voice grade channels multiplexed into 4
X E1 connections with another 4 X E1 as spare
channels which would be required for future
expansion. It is decided that a non-protected
(1+0) system will be used. Path Length was
determined to be 30 Kms and acceptable
reliability is set at 99.99%.
 Step 1: Determine the conditions for putting
up a microwave link.
 Establish the purpose of the microwave link.
What kind of information should be
transmitted and the general transmission
path.
 Solution: With the given example, we can
ascertain the following design parameters:

 Path Length - 30 Kms

 Reliability Requirement: 99.99%
 Configuration: Non-Protected (1+0)
 Traffic Capacity: 4 X E1 main plus 4 X E1 spare ( 8
X E1)
 Path Length: 30 Kms I
 Longitude & Latitude
 Step 2: Obtain the product specification
sheet of a microwave radio which meet the
given requirements.
 Solution: The following are some web sites which digital microwave radio equipment
specifications can be downloaded. Most of the files are in ADOBE® pdf file format and
may require an Acrobat Reader®.

 DMC – http://www.dmcwave.com
 Harris – http://www.microwave.harris.com/microwave-radios/microwave-radios.html
 MRC Broadcast – http://www.mrcbroadcast.com/products/prd_indx.htm#digital_fixed
 Westica – http://www.westica.co.uk/prodone.html
 Ericsson – http://www.ericsson.com/transmission/mini-link/bas/technical.shtml
 Fastlinks – http://www.microwave-radio-links.com/
 AT International – http://www.at-communication.com/eng/codan_microwave.html
 MDS International – http://www.mds.fr/download.htm
 GTT – http://ww.globaltt.com/UK/Link_dep.html
 Plessey – http://www.plesseyinc.com/digradio.htm
 Giganet – http://www.giganet.corp.com/prodfrm.htm
 Viking Microwave – http://www.viking-telecom.se/index2.html
 Lucent – http://www.lucent.com/wirelessnet/products/networks/fwns_mdl.html
 Step 3: Obtain a topographical map which
both sites are contained. Maps are available
in different scales. For long paths, a
1:250,000 scale can be used. For short
paths, 1:50,000.
 Step 4: Determine Frequency Band
Required. Once the path length has been
identified, select a preliminary band which to
select a specific microwave frequency from.
Remember only to select based on available
band allocated to Operational Fixed or
Common Carrier Users
 This figure gives a rough idea of which frequency may be
used for a path length. Values in this figure are above
maximum, but it does give an approximate band which can
be used.
 Solution: For the given path length of 30 Km, we will use
the 13 GHz Band.
 Step 5: Determine Channel Plans available.
The channel plans are based on the
frequency band and the bandwidth
(multiplexed digital rate) of the traffic being
carried. These can be taken from technical
specifications set by CCIR or sometimes,
the equipment specifications themselves.
 Solution: For the 13 GHz band, with a channel
capacity of 8 X E1, the following channel plans are
available:

 Frequency Band: 13 GHz

 Frequency Range: 12.75 GHz to 13.25 GHz
 Low Band Range: 12.75 GHz to 12.98 GHz
 High Band Range: 13.01 GHz to 13.25 GHz
 Duplex Spacing: 260 MHz
 Channel Bandwidth for 8 X E1: 14 MHz
 Step 6: From the Channel Plans or
specifications available, select a frequency
pair which would be used for the actual
computation of the hop.

 Channel Plans are available from CCIR or

from the government regulatory agency.
 1. Should channel plans be unavailable,
divide the smaller bandwidth between the
High Band and Low Band with channel
bandwidth

 2. Then select any arbitrary channel number

less than the number of channels.
 3. Multiply the channel bandwidth with the
selected channel number.
 4. The high band, transmit frequency is
equal to the sum of the lower limit of the
high band bandwidth and the product of 3.
The low band transmit frequency is equal to
the sum of the lower limit of the low band
bandwidth and the product of 3.
 Solution: Selecting 5 channel spacing above the
high band and low band edge:

 14 MHz x 5 =70 MHz

 Low Band Frequency:
12,750 MHz + 70 MHz = 12,820 MHz = 12.82 GHz
 High Band Frequency:
13,010 MHz + 70 MHz = 13,O80 MHz = 13.08 GHz
 Step 7: Compute for the minimum elevation
at site A and site B which would clear earth
curvature. Use the formula:

where:
h is in meters
d is in kilometers
 lnspect the topographical map and select a
location whose elevation is greater than the
minimum clearing height at site A and Site B

 Solution: Computing minimum site elevation

 Step 8: Create a table plotting points along
the path and identifying possible sources of
reflection and obstructions.
 This is the point microwave planners conduct a
site survey. This is to determine, among other
things, if there were an existing building or tower
which can be used, or a new independent tower is
needed. For economic purposes, it would be
preferable to install on building rooftops as the
expenses for the erection of tower or monopole is
reduced. There is also (for locations which serve
as network nodes) which a tower already exists,
meaning free location on this tower can be
selected.
 Step 9: From the table, construct the figure
which shows the path profile including the
earth curvature and elevation along the
path.
 Solution: Condition 1 - EXISTING MAXIMUM
ANTENNA HEIGHT (During site survey, it was
determined that both sites had office buildings
which the rooftop could be rented to provide the
installation for the antenna. Site A has a 4 story
building while Site B has a 5 storey building. The
company (Dragon Industries) rented rooms on the
top floor of both buildings to house the inside plant
equipment as well as leased a portion of the
rooftop. A tripod was decided to be used on both
installations.)
 Rooftop mounted
antenna on a
Monopole mast
Right Hand Offset
 Monopole with tripod
installation
Left-hand offset
 Solution: Condition 2 - NO EXISTING MAXIMUM
ATENNA HEIGHT (During site survey, It was
determined that both sites had no office buildings
which were adequate for rooftop installation. The
company (Dragon Industries) does have offices
located at both sites, however, they are limited on
one storey edifices. A guyed tower is
recommended for the antenna installation.
 Self supporting towers are usually chosen
under 2 major considerations. First, that the
tower itself will host several installations,
and second, the height of the tower is
considerably high.
 Guyed towers are more practical for 2 or 3
installations with a lower tower height.
 Computation of
required land area for
self supporting and
guyed towers
 Self supporting tower with
square base

 For self supporting towers with a square base, the

radius R and leg pitch P should conform to the
specifications set by the tower manufacturer.
 Self supporting tower with
triangular base

 For self supporting towers with a pyramid base,

the radius R and leg pitch P should conform to the
specifications set by the tower manufacturer.
 Guyed tower with
minimum number of guy
lines

 For guyed towers with a minimum number of guy

bases, the recommended area should be a square
base with a minimum side length of 1.39ht.
 Guy bases should be spaced no close that 0.8ht
with an angular separation of 120°.
 Wall Mounted
Antenna
 Indoor Mounted
Antenna
 Special Cases: There certain special cases of antenna
installations that can be considered:

 1. Wall mount - If the antenna and RF assembly is small

and light enough (usually for 23 GHz up), they can be
installed on a wall mounted bracket.
 2. Indoor Mount - The same frequencies used on a wall
mount can also be installed on a tripod and faced outside a
window. Make sure that the window does not have some
sort of metallic tint as it would cause attenuation to the
signal. This has be occasionally done when the building is
too high rather than too low. However, employees and
workers are not particularly comfortable working beside an
operating microwave antenna.
CONDITION 1 - A Maximum Tower
Height is defined
 Step 10a: Construct a new figure which
shows the path profile with the earth
curvature, elevation along the path and line
of site. Note the places where the terrain
along the path is closest to the line of
propagation.
 Solution: Considering Condition 1, Since
Site A has a 4 story building and the
antenna would be installed at rooftop,
assuming each story is 5 meters high, then
4 storey is equivalent to a 20 meter tower,
while Site B, being a 5 storey building, is
equivalent to a twenty-five meter tower.
 Step 11a: Using .the figure and table as
reference, determine following:
– Point along the path terrain that is closest to the
line of sight of propagation.
– Possible reflection points.
– Should the current antenna elevation prove to
be obstructed or possibly a point where
reflection may occur, either or both would have
to increase their height to compensate.
 Step 12a: Using the data on the table,
determine the clearance of each site with
regards to obstructions.
 Should the current antenna elevation prove
to be obstructed or possibly a point where
reflection may occur, either or both sites
would have to increase their height to
compensate.
 Solution: Considering table data, point which the terrain
comes closest to the path are 6, 13. 26 and 27 Kms from
Site A along the path.
 Having computed the larger of first freznel radius (which is
generated by the lower of the 2 duplex transmit
frequencies) and taking 60% of such, we still see from the
table that each of these points clear the path by more than
4 meters (approx 12 feet), although at the point 23 miles
from site A, which is classified as an urban area, it is
possible in the future that a building may be constructed
that would finally obstruct the path.
 In any case, the current data still provides a clear path for
the link.
 Step 13a: Determine the clearance of each
site with regards to reflection.
 Conditions:
– Reflective surfaces are bodies of water, marshland, rice
fields and the peaks of obstructions.
– Do not compute reflective surfaces which are already
obscured by obstructions along the path.
– Urban areas and timberlands may create reflection
points. However, it is assumed that they have a
tendency to diffuse any multipath propagation.
 Should the current antenna elevation prove
to be obstructed or possibly a point where
reflection may occur, either or both sites
would have to increase their height to
compensate.
 Solution: Computing for the reflection on site
B due to site A from the reflective surfaces
at 6. 13. 23 and 27 Kms from Site A along
the path.
 CONDITION 1 - No Maximum
Tower Height is defined
 Step 10b: Compute for the minimum
reliable tower height.
 To compute for the antenna heights, certain
clearance criteria have to be met.
– Earth Radius factor K
– Percentage of first Freznel Zone radius
– Arbitrary fixed height
 For these criteria, the K factor and
percentage of first freznel radius are fixed.
The arbitrary fixed height, usually the
highest point along the path, is taken.
Computation then is done on points along
the path until a highest value for antenna
height is met. This becomes the lowest
antenna height which passes the clearance
criteria.
 Solution: Computing for the clearance
criteria for all points along the path with a
fixed height of 250 meters (note that there is
no elevation between the path that is over
250 meters), the minimum antenna height at
each end of the link should be around 27~
meters or a 21 meter tower on a 250 meter
elevation above mean sea level.
 Step 11b: Using the figure and table as reference,
determine the following:
– Point along the path terrain that is closest to the line of
sight propagation.
– Possible reflection points.
 Should the current antenna elevation prove to be
obstructed or possibly a point where reflection
may occur, either or both sites would have to
increase their height to compensate.
 Step 12b: Using the data on the table,
determine the clearance of each site with
regards to obstructions.
 Should the current antenna elevation prove
to be obstructed or possibly a point where
reflection may occur, either or both sites
would have to increase their height to
compensate
 Solution: Considering table data, at the points 26
to 27 miles from Site A, the possible obstruction
(tree growth and building construction) would
cross into the first freznel zone, however, this
would only graze 60% the first freznel zone. In
cases like this, diffraction loss is now present and
should be considered into the link budget.
 In any case, the current data still provides a clear
path for the link.
 Step 13b: Determine the clearance of each
site with regards to reflection
 Conditions:
– Reflective surfaces are bodies of water, marshland, rice
fields and the peaks of obstructions.
– Do not compute reflective surfaces which are already
obscured by obstructions along the path.
– Urban areas and timberlands may create reflection
points. However, it is assumed that they have a
tendency to diffuse any multipath propagation.
 Should the current antenna elevation prove to be
obstructed or possibly a point where reflection
may occur, either or both sites would have to
increase their height to compensate.
 Solution: Computing for the reflection on site
B due to site A from the reflective surfaces
at 6. 13. 23, 25, 26, 27 and 28 Kms from
Site A along the path.
Where all d's in kilometers and all h's in meters.
 Compute for the reflection points on site B
based on the elevation of one site A. This
applies only if site B has a higher elevation
than site A. As seen on the table, the 3
possible points of reflection are at distances
6, 12 and 26 kilometers away from site A.
 Those with a grade or slope which is positive
means that with compared to the previous point,
the elevation is higher or the elevation is going up.
 Those with a negative grade or slope are those
whose previous distance is higher or the elevation
is going down.
 The transition between a positive to negative
grade means a peak point,
 whereas the transition from a negative to positive
grade means a valley.
 It is important to consider this since slopes with a
positive grade may shield reflected rays if the
reflection point is lower.
 To avoid the presence of reflective points, it is
necessary to identify peaks and bodies of water
which are visible from both ends of the link.
 With reflective peaks, the corresponding reflection
point on the affected site is computed and this
elevation is avoided as the location of the
corresponding antenna height.
 As shown in the figure, should there be a
large reflective surface between the link
(from d1 to d3), a range of reflective height
(from ha to hb) can be solved. The
corresponding antenna location on the
affected site is then placed below or above
this reflective range.
 ONCE A PATH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED
TO BE FREE OF OBSTRUCTION AND
REFLECTION POINTS, THE LINK
BUDGET IS THEN COMPUTED.
 Note: Some calculations, those whose
parameters are dependent on transmit
frequency, are calculated twice as the path
is a duplex link having 2 transmit
frequencies.
 THERMAL FADE MARGIN
 Step 14: Solving for the thermal fade margin
requires identifying the configuration of the
microwave radio used. Should the radio be an
indoor RF module mounted, then a long
waveguide is used to connect the RF module to
the parabolic antenna, introducing a large
waveguide loss. lf the RF module is installed
behind the dish, either by a 0.6 meter waveguide
or directly on the horn feed, then the losses due to
the waveguide is reduced if not eliminated.
 Check the equipment data sheet on this matter.
 Connector Loss - Typically set at 0.5 dB
 Waveguide Loss – waveguide unit loss x waveguide length
 - taken from the waveguide specifications
 Antenna Gain – Taken from the Antenna Specifications
 NOTE
 1WAVEGUIDE AND ANTENNA FLANGES SHOULD MATCH THAT OF THE
MICROWAVE RADIO
 2WAVEGUIDE AND ANTENNA BANDWIDTH SHOULD INCLUDE BOTH DUPLEX

TRNSMITTER FREQUENCIES
 Free Space Loss (FSL) – Computed from the formula
 FSL = 92.45 + 20 x log10(fxd)
 f – FREQUENCY IN GHZ
 d – PATH LENGTH IN KILOMETERS

Received Signal Strength (RSL = Transmitter Output Less Losses Plus Gains
 Solution: The following parameters where taken
from the radio specification data sheet, Waveguide
Specification data sheet and Antenna specification
data sheet:
– Radio Configuration - Outdoor Mounted RF Module
– Transmit Power (13 GHz) - 18 dB above isotropic
– Receiver Threshold (8 X E1 at 13 GHz) = 78.0 dB
– Waveguide Loss = 0.984 dB per meter
– Antenna Used = 2.4 meter(13 GHz) with Midband Gain
47 dB
– Waveguide Used = 0.6 meter pre-cut Flexible
waveguide
 DISPERSIVE FADE MARGIN
 Step 15: Dispersive fade margin is basically the
average depth of multipath fade which may cause
the link to go down. This depends on the
equipment itself (as if the microwave radio is
capable of compensating with an adoptive
equalizer) and the path conditions.
 Equipment specification may give the actual
dispersive made margin itself, or the average
depth of multipath fade.
 Solution: If the average depth of multipath
fade is given:
 The actual dispersive fade margin may be given in the
radio specification sheet itself. However if both are not
given, one may assume the value based on the following
guide:

– No Equalizer regardless of modulation – 30 to 50 dB

– Adaptive Transversal Equalizer present – Modulation QPSK/QAM
– E1 to 4 X E1 - 80 to 90 dB
– 4 X E1 to 8 X E1 - 70 to 80 dB
– 16 X E1 to E3 - 50 to 70 dB

 It should be noted that some present day equipment boast

of a dispersive fade margin of well over 200 dB.
 Dispersive Fade Factor - The following
factors also affect the dispersive fade
margin :
– Ground Type - Path length
– Terrain Roughness - Climate Conditions
– Obstruction Clearance
 To factor these parameters in the fade margin, a
dispersive fade factor is used:
– Good propagation conditions = 0.5 to 1
– Average propagation conditions = 1 to 3
– Difficult propagation conditions = 5 to 7
– Extremely difficult propagation conditions = 8 to 9

 Solution: As taken from the radio data sheet,

Dispersive Fade Margin is given to be 40 dB
 INTERFERENCE FADE MARGIN
 Step 16: Interference fade margin can be defined
as the electromagnetic conditions along the path
that can cause the link to go down. It depends
both on the characteristics of the receiver and the
conditions of the path. It may be viewed as
additional losses in free space which causes the
signal to fade.
 Unless this value is obtainable, this fade margin
may be omitted from the computation.
 RAIN LOSSES
 TO BE ADDED TO THE THERMAL FADE
MARGIN
 RAIN ATTENUATION
 Step 17: There are fundamentally 2
methods to compute for the attenuation due
to the effects of Rain. The CRANE method
and the CCIR Recc. 530 methods.
 First, given the regression coefficient table,
compute for the values of K & α based on
both duplex transmit frequencies selected.
Note that unless specified otherwise,
microwave transmissions are vertically
polarized.
 Note:
f1 < fx < f2
k1 < kx < k2
α1 < αx < α2
 CRANE RAIN ATTENUATION
 The use of the Crane Rain Attenuation is
only effective on path lengths up to about
22.5 kilometers. Greater distances than this,
the CCIR recommendation 530 method is
used.
 #ENjayeLIFE