MICROWAVE RADIO SYSTEMS GAIN

PENTel.Com Engr. Josephine Bagay, Ece faculty

SYSTEM GAIN
Gs

is the difference between the nominal output power of a transmitter (Pt) and the minimum input power to a receiver (Cmin) necessary to achieve satisfactory performance; Must be greater than or equal to the sum of all gains and losses incurred by a signal as it propagates from a transmitter to a receiver In essence, system gain represents the net loss of a radio system, which is used to predict the reliability of a system for a given set of system parameters.

SYSTEM GAIN
Ironically,

system gain is actually a loss. Losses are much higher than the gains. Therefore, the net system gain always equates to a negative dB value (i.e., a loss) Because system gain is defined as a net loss individual losses are represented with positive dB individual gains are represented with negative dB

 Mathematically,

system gain in its simplest form is

Gs = Pt - Cmin where Gs = system gain (dB) Pt = transmitter output power (dBm or dBW) Cmin = minimum receiver input power necessary to achieve a given reliability and quality objective

Gs = Pt - Cmin losses gains Pt - Cmin FM(dB) + Lp(dB) + Lf(dB) + Lb(dB)- At(dB)- Ar(dB) Gains: At= transmit antenna gain relative to an isotropic radiator (dB) Ar = receive antenna gain relative to an isotropic radiator (dB) Losses FM = fade margin for a given reliability objective (dB) Lp = free-space path loss in (dB) Lf= transmission line loss in (dB) Lf= total coupling or branching loss in (dB)

TABLE 13-3 System Gain Parameters

FADE MARGINS (LINK MARGIN)

FADING
The

reduction in receive signal level; Reduction in signal strength at the input to a receiver; It applies to propagation variables in the physical radio path that affect changes in the path loss between transmit and receive antennas

WHAT IS FADE MARGIN?

Under

interference-free conditions, the fade margin is defined as the difference between the received signal level under normal wave propagation conditions (fadefree time) and the receivers threshold level at a given bit-error level Considers the non-ideal and less predictable characteristics of radiowave propagation, such as multipath propagation and terrain sensitivity; these characteristics cause temporary, abnormal atmospheric conditions

TYPES OF FADE MARGIN

Thermal Fade Margin (TFM)

Also called Flat Fade Margin

Interference Fade Margin (IFM) Dispersive Fade Margin (DFM)

Composite Fade Margin (CFM)

THERMAL OR FLAT FADE MARGIN

The

difference between the unfaded received signal level (RSL) and receivers static or dynaminc threshold, as measured with back-to-back radios, at a given BER. Thermal Fade Margin is the only fade margin that needs to be considered on analog LOS links since interference affects unfaded baseband noise. Mathematically: TFL = Recieved Signal Level Reciever Threshold

INTERFERENCE FADE MARGIN

Defines

the digital links vulnerability to cochannel and adjacent channel interferrence and is provided by the frequency search company based on the manufacturers threshold-to-interference (T/I) curves and the interference ambiance. Based on congestion of systems within the path using the same band of frequencies. Taken from graphs from a specific location and varies over time.

DISPERSIVE FADE MARGIN

Dependent

on the type of equipment and modulation used. These are gains in the equipment which are factored in because of technical improvements on the system and how they improve the information signal itself It is determined by the type of modulation, the effectiveness of equalization employed in the receive path, and the multipath signals delay time.

DISPERSIVE FADE MARGIN

DFM

is calculated based on the W-curves using computation DFM = 17.6 log10 (Sw/158.4)

where

COMPOSITE FADE MARGIN

This

is the total of all fade margins Mathematically: CFM = TFM + DFM + IFM
In

decibels CFM = -10 log ( 10-TFM/10 + 10-IFM/10 10-DFM/10) where TFM,IFM,DFM in deciBell (dB)

RECEIVER THRESHOLD (RECEIVER SENSITIVITY)

WHAT IS RECEIVER THRESHOLD?

Receiver

threshold means the lowest signal your receiver will pick up and still operate. When nearing threshold, radio will sound noisy with static, TV will show snow and your cell phone will show only one bar or drop out

RECEIVER THRESHOLD
The

receiver threshold is the minimum signal required for the demodulator to work at a specific error rate. Two thresholds are normally defined, one at a BER of 10^6 and the other at a BER of 10^3. The reason for this is the original cutoff for audio applications was 10^3, whereas it is generally considered data requires at least 10^6 for an acceptable throughput rate.

RECEIVER THRESHOLD
Explaining

the value 10^3 ,or the loss of frame synchronization point (2^105 for SDH/SONET), is the correct threshold to use from a performance objective perspective as it is related to the severely eroded second ratio (SESR) but the industry tends to use 10^6 due to the data concerns.

RECEIVER THRESHOLD
The

receiver threshold is dependent on the minimum S/N required at the receiver input, the noise figure of the receivers front-end, and the background thermal noise (Pn) Pn = kTB where k - Boltzmanns constant (1.3810^23) T - temperature in Kelvin B - bandwidth of the receiver.

RECEIVER THRESHOLD
In

general, the receiver threshold considered depends both on the required output performance at base- band, and on the type of interference For linear modulation, such as AM and SSB, and any Gaussian interference, the relation between the SNR at the detector output and the (RF) C/Iratio is linear

RECEIVER THRESHOLD
In

non-linear modulation, such as phase modulation (PM) or frequency modulation (FM), the post-detection signal-to-noise ratio can be greatly enhanced as compared to baseband transmission or compared to linear modulation Typically, for FM signals, the threshold is in the range of 3 to 10 dB. This threshold fundamentally limits the noise immunity of various types of non-linear modulation techniques

Table: Typical receiver thresholds below which a voice baseband signal becomes almost unintelligible. Source: Gosling
FM FM 25 kHz 12.5 kHz 3 .. 8 dB 6 .. 15 dB

SSB

5 kHz
heavy companding moderate companding no companding 8 .. 11 dB 11 .. 15 dB 15 .. 20 dB

CARRIER-TO-NOISE VS SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO

CARRIER-TO-NOISE RATIO
In

communications, the carrier-to-noise ratio, often written CNR or C/N, is a measure of the received carrier strength relative to the strength of the received noise. High C/N ratios provide better quality of reception, and generally higher communications accuracy and reliability, than low C/N ratios. Carrier to noise ratio is the ratio of the carrier signal power to the noise power in some specified channel, usually expressed in decibels (dB). For the analog channels the noise is assumed flat and the result of thermal and amplifier noises.

CARRIER-TO-NOISE RATIO (MATHEMATICAL DEFINITION)

Engineers

specify the C/N ratio in decibels (dB) between the power in the carrier of the desired signal and the total received noise power. If the incoming carrier strength in microwatts is Pc and the noise level, also in microwatts, is Pn, then the carrier-to-noise ratio, C/N, in decibels is given by the formula: C/N = 10 log10(Pc/Pn)

CARRIER-TO-NOISE RATIO
The

C/N ratio is measured in a manner similar to the way the signal-to noise ratio (S/N) is measured, and both specifications give an indication of the quality of a communications channel. However, the S/N ratio specification is more meaningful in practical situations. The C/N ratio is commonly used in satellite communications systems to point or align the receiving dish; the best dish alignment is indicated by the maximum C/N ratio.

CARRIER-TO-NOISE RATIO

Graphical representaion of C/N ratio

(http://www.cisco.com/application/pdf/en/us/guest/products/ps2209/c1244/cdccont_0900aecd800fc94c.pdf)

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
In

analog and digital communications, signal-to-noise ratio, often written S/N or SNR, is a measure of signal strength relative to background noise. The ratio is usually measured in decibels (dB). Signal-to-noise ratio, or SNR, is a measurement that describes how much noise is in the output of a device, in relation to the signal level. SNR is actually two level measurements, followed by a simple calculation. First, we measure the output level of the device under test with no input signal. Then we apply a signal to the device and take another level measurement. Then we divide.

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO (MATHEMATICAL APPROACH)

If

the incoming signal strength in microvolts is Vs, and the noise level, also in microvolts, is Vn, then the signal-to-noise ratio, S/N, in decibels is given by the formula: S/N = 20 log10(Vs/Vn)

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO

Graphical representation of SNR propagation

(http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/video/ps8806/ps5684/ps2209/prod_white_paper0900aecd805738f5.html)

CNR VS. SNR RECAP

CNR is a predetection measurement performed on RF signals. Raw carrier power to raw noise power in the RF transport path only say, a coaxial cable distribution network or a standalone device such as a converter or headend hetrodyne processor; Ideal for characterizing network impairments

CNR VS. SNR RECAP

SNR

is a pre modulation or post-detection measurement performed on baseband signals. Includes noise in original signal, transmitter or modulator, transport path, and reciever and demodulator Ideal for characterizing end-to-end performance the overall signal quality seen by the end user

NOISE FACTOR AND NOISE FIGURE

WHAT IS NOISE FACTOR?

Simply

a ratio of input signal-to-noise ratio to output signal-to-noise ratio Any unwanted input Limits systems ability to process weak signals Sources:
Random noise in resistors and transistors 2. Mixer noise 3. Undesired cross-coupling noise 4. Power supply noise
1.

Dynamic

range capability of detecting weak signals in presence of large-amplitude signals

NOISE FACTOR
IEEE

Standards: The noise factor, at a specified input frequency, is defined as the ratio of (1) the total noise power per unit bandwidth available at the output port when noise temperature of the input termination is standard (290 K) to (2) that portion of (1) engendered at the input frequency by the input termination.

available output noise power F available output noise due to source

NOISE FACTOR
noisiness

of the signal measure = signal-to-noise ratio (frequency dependant)

S ( f ) average signal power SNR N ( f ) average noise power

NOISE FACTOR
The

noise factor F of a system is defined as: F = (SNRin)/(SNRout) where SNRin= input signal-to-noise power ratio SNRout = output signal-to-noise power ratio

WHAT IS NOISE FIGURE?

Indicates

how much the signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates as a waveform propagates from the input of a circuit It is a measure of the degradation of SNR due to the SNR F 1 noise added SNR Implies that SNR gets worse as we process the signal Na Spot noise factor F 1 kT The answer is the bandwidth
i o

NOISE FIGURE

The noise figure NF is defined as:

The noise figure is the factor, given in dB

NOISE FIGURE IN TEMPERATURE(K)

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