Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

3.4 Transmission Calculations

3.4.1 Antenna Height
The antenna height can be computed by the formula:

+ 43.3
8
4

Where:
HA is the antenna height (ft)
d1 is the distance from a point to one end of the path (mi)
d2 is the distance from same point to the other end of the path (mi)
f is the operating frequency in GHz
D = d1 + d2
The following antenna heights are as follows:
Link

Antenna

D(mi)

f(GHz)

Height(ft)

Height(m)

AR

HA

12.427

12.813

40.62519

12.383

RA

HR1

12.427

13.063

40.42018

12.32

RB

HR2

12.427

12.938

40.52194

12.351

BR

HB

12.427

13.188

40.31986

12.289

HA = 12.383 m
HR = 12.351 m
HB = 12.289 m

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

Note: Choose the highest value for the antenna height of repeater to meet the clearance requirements for both
AR/RA and RB/BR links.
Antenna Height Computations:

12.4272
12.427
+ 43.3
= 40.62519 ft.
8
4 12.813

1 =

12.4272
12.427
+ 43.3
= 40.42018 ft.
8
4 13.063

12.4272
12.4272
=
+ 43.3
= 40.52194 ft.
8
4 12.938

12.4272
12.4272
=
+ 43.3
= 40.31986 ft.
8
4 13.188
3.4.2 Antenna Diameter
According to the Antenna Architecture below, for a frequency of 13 GHz, an
antenna with a diameter of 1.2 m should be used.

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

Antenna Diameter Table

Link

New Diameter (ft)

AR

RA

RB

BR

3.4.3 Antenna Gain

= 17.8 + 20 log() + 20 log()
where:
D is the diameter of the antenna (m)
f is the operating frequency (GHz)

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

Link

f (GHz)

D (m)

GNEW (dB)

AR

12.813

0.55

1.2

41.537

RA

13.063

0.55

1.2

41.704

RB

12.938

0.55

1.2

41.621

BR

13.188

0.55

1.2

41.787

Calculations:
= 17.8 + 20 log(1.2) + 20 log(12.813) = 41.537 dB
= 17.8 + 20 log(1.2) + 20 log(13.063) = 41.704 dB
= 17.8 + 20 log(1.2) + 20 log(12.938) = 41.621 dB
= 17.8 + 20 log(1.2) + 20 log(13.188) = 41.787 dB

All of the calculated gain for each link are within the range of gain with 1.2 m
diameter of the chosen antenna (see data sheet in the Appendices. Therefore, this antenna
will be used in this design.
3.4.4 Losses
Total antenna losses can be determined from the values of the free space loss (FSL),
waveguide loss (WL), connector loss (CoL), Radome Loss (RL) and Circular Loss (CiL).

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

3.4.4.1 Free Space Loss
The free space loss (FSL) can be computed by:
= 92.4 + 20 log( ) + 20log( )
where:
FSL is the free space loss (dB)
D is the distance between the two terminals (km)
f is the operating frequency (GHz)
Below are the computed FSL values for each link:
Channel

Link

f (GHz)

D (km)

FSL

f1

AR

12.813

20

140.574

f2

RA

13.063

20

140.741

f3

RB

12.938

20

140.658

f4

BR

13.188

20

140.824

FSL Calculations:
FSLf1 = 92.4 + 20log(12.813) + 20log(20) = 140.574
FSLf2 = 92.4 + 20log(13.063) + 20log(20) = 140.741
FSLf3 = 92.4 + 20log(12.938) + 20log(20) = 140.658
FSLf1 = 92.4 + 20log(13.188) + 20log(20) = 140.824

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

3.4.4.2 Waveguide Loss

Waveguide Loss (WL) can be computed by:

]
= [() + () + 2 ] [

For the waveguide length, a common value of 6 meters will be used for
both transmitter and receiver ends. The chosen waveguide, E130 FLEXWELL
Standard Elliptical Waveguide), operates in the 10.7 to 13.25 GHz frequency band
which is suitable for our 12.75 to 13.25 operating band. The following values are
the attenuation in the waveguide per 100 m based on the data sheet:
Frequency (GHz)

Attenuation (dB/100m)

12.8

11.24

12.9

11.21

13

11.19

13.1

11.16

13.2

11.14

13.25

11.13

The table below shows the values for WL for each link.
Link

HT

HR

LT

LR

Atten/100m

WL (dB)

AR

12.383

12.351

11.24

4.129

RA

12.351

12.383

11.16

4.1

RB

12.351

12.289

11.21

4.107

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

BR

12.289

12.351

11.14

4.082

Waveguide Loss Calculations:

= [12.383 + 12.351 + 2 6] [

11.24
] = 4.129
100

= [12.351 + 12.383 + 2 6] [

11.16
] = 4.1
100

= [12.351 + 12.289 + 2 6] [

11.21
] = 4.107
100

= [12.289 + 12.351 + 2 6] [

11.14
] = 4.082
100

3.4.4.3 Radome Loss

Radome Loss (RL) is present for both receiver and transmitter so the loss
is twice per link. Based on the data sheet of the antenna, the radome loss is 1.3 dB
for 1.2 m diameter and 13 GHz frequency.

= 1.3 2
= 2.6
3.4.4.4 Connector Loss
Connector Loss (CoL) is present at both transmitter and receiver. There are
two connections per antenna, therefore, the loss will be multiplied by four. The CoL
can be computed by:

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

= 0.04
Link

CoL (dB)

AR

0.573

RA

0.578

RB

0.576

BR

0.581

Connector Loss Calculations:

= 0.04 12.813 = 0.573 dB
= 0.04 13.063 = 0.578 dB
= 0.04 12.938 = 0.576 dB
= 0.04 13.188 = 0.581dB
3.4.4.5 Circulator Loss
Circulator Loss (CiL) is present at both transmitter and receiver, therefore,
is twice per link. From the data sheet, the CiL is 0.5 dB.
= 0.5 2
= 1
The circulator will be used for all antennas therefore all links will have the
same Circulator Loss.

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

3.4.4.6 Summary of Losses
The summary of losses was obtained by adding all the losses for each link.
Link

FSL (dB)

WL (dB)

CoL (dB)

RL (dB)

CiL (dB)

Total (dB)

AR

140.574

4.129

0.573

2.6

148.876

RA

140.741

4.1

0.578

2.6

149.019

RB

140.658

4.107

0.576

2.6

148.941

BR

140.824

4.082

0.581

2.6

149.087

Summary of Losses Calculations:

SOLAR = 140.574 + 4.129 + 0.573 + 2.6 + 1 = 148.876 dB
SOLRA = 140.741 + 4.1 + 0.578 + 2.6 + 1 = 149.019 dB
SOLRB = 140.658 + 4.107 + 0.576 + 2.6 + 1 = 148.941 dB
SOLBR = 140.824 + 4.082 + 0.581 + 2.6 + 1 = 149.087 dB
3.4.5 Received Signal Loss
The received signal loss (RSL) of the antenna can be computed by the formula:
= + +
where:
Pt is the output power (dBm), see data sheet
GT is the transmitter gain (dB)
GR is the receiver gain (dB)

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

TLL is the total losses (dB)
Below are the computed values for RSL:
Link

Pt (dBm)

G (dB)

Total Losses (dB)

RSL (dBm)

AR

20

41.537

148.876

-45.635

RA

20

41.704

149.019

-45.778

RB

20

41.621

148.941

-45.533

BR

20

41.787

149.087

-45.679

Calculations:
= 20 + 41.537 + 41.704 148.876 = 45.635
= 20 + 41.704 + 41.537 149.019 = 45.778
= 20 + 41.621 + 41.787 148.941 = 45.533
= 20 + 41.787 + 41.621 149.087 = 45.679
3.4.6 Fade Margin
=
where:
FM is the fade margin (dB)
RSL is the received signal loss (dBm)
Rth is the receiver threshold (dBm) = -87 dBm in data sheet

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

Link

RSL

Rth

FM(dBm)

AR

-45.635

-87

41.365

RA

-45.778

-87

41.222

RB

-45.533

-87

41.467

BR

-45.679

-87

41.321

Calculations:
= 45.635 (87) = 41.365
= 45.778 (87) = 41.222
= 45.533 (87) = 41.467
= 45.679 (87) = 41.321
The required reliability for this design is 99.99% which has its equivalent Fade
Margin (FM) shown in the table below:
Fade Margin (dB)

Reliability (%)

18

99

28

99.9

38

99.99

48

99.999

58

99.999

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

By looking at the table above and with the computed values for FM, the values are
close. Therefore, the required reliability is met.
3.4.7 Reliability

UNDP

= 2.5106 3 10

10

where:
UNDP is the non-diversity outage probability
a is the terrain factor
b is the climate factor
f is the frequency of the transmit antenna (GHz)
D is the path length (mi)
a

for very smooth terrain including overwater

for average terrain with some roughness

0.25

for mountainous, very rough or very dry

0.5

Gulf coast or similar hot, humid areas

0.25

normal interior temperate or northern

0.125

mountainous or very dry

Link

f (GHz)

D (mi)

FM(dBm)

UDNP

AR

0.25

0.125

12.813

12.427

41.365

1.40294E-07

RA

0.25

0.125

13.063

12.427

41.222

1.4782E-07

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

RB

0.25

0.125

12.938

12.427

41.467

1.38375E-07

BR

0.25

0.125

13.188

12.427

41.321

1.45871E-07

Calculations:

= 0.25 0.125 2.5106 12.813 12.4273 10

41.365
10

= 0.25 0.125 2.5106 13.063 12.4273 10

41.222
10

= 1.40294E 07
= 1.4782E 07

= 0.25 0.125 2.5106 12.938 12.4273 10

41.467
10

= 1.38375E 07

= 0.25 0.125 2.5106 13.188 12.4273 10

41.321
10

= 1.45871E 07

Reliability
% = (1 ) 100
Link

UNDP

%R

AR

1.40294E-07

99.99998597

RA

1.4782E-07

99.99998522

RB

1.38375E-07

99.99998616

BR

1.45871E-07

99.99998541

Calculations:
% = (1 1.40294E 07) 100 = 99.99998597 %
% = (1 1.4782E 07) 100 = 99.99998522 %
% = (1 1.38375E 07) 100 = 99.99998616 %
% = (1 1.45871E 07) 100 = 99.99998541 %

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

The computed values of reliability met the required 99.99%.

3.4.8 Tower Height

= +

Where:
HT is the height of the tower (m)
HA is the height of the antenna (m)
DA is the diameter of the antenna (m)
LOCATION

HA (m)

DA (m)

HT (m)

12.383

1.2

12.983

12.351

1.2

12.951

12.289

1.2

12.889

Calculations:

= 12.383 +

= 12.351 +

= 12.289 +

1.2

2
1.2

2
1.2

= 12.983

= 12.951

= 12.889

3.4.9 System Gain

The system gain can be computed by using the formula below:

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

= +
Link

Total Losses (dB)

FM(dBm)

G (dB)

System Gain (dB)

AR

148.876

41.365

41.537

107

RA

149.019

41.222

41.704

107

RB

148.941

41.467

41.621

107

BR

149.087

41.321

41.787

107

Calculations:
= 148.876 + 41.365 41.537 41.704 = 107 dBm
= 149.019 + 41.222 41.537 41.704 = 107 dBm
= 148.941 + 41.467 41.621 41.787 = 107 dBm
= 149.087 + 41.321 41.621 41.787 = 107 dBm
3.4.10 Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
= + ()
Where:
PT is the transmitted power (see data sheet)
GT is the gain of the transmitter
LossTotal(TX) is the total losses in the transmitter (taken from specs)

Antenna

WL
(dB)

CoL
(dB)

RL
(dB)

CiL
(dB)

Total TX Losses
(dB)

Pt
(dBm)

Gt

EIRP
(dBm)

5.662

0.573

1.3

0.5

8.035

20

41.537

53.502

Calculation:

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Design of a Two-Hop Microwave Link

EIRP = 20 + 41.537 8.035 = 53.502 dBm

3.4.11 Azimuth
For computing for the azimuth (referenced from True North), online software from
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/distance-and-azimuths-between-two-sets-coordinates
was used. Table below shows the tabulated Azimuth results.
Azimuth (wrt North)
A to Repeater

267.31(wrt North)

Repeater to A

87.26(wrt North)

Repeater to B

52.49(wrt North)

B to Repeater

232.58(wrt North)

91