Choosingtherightantenna

RFSystemConsiderations
Mostproblemsassociatedwithdeploymentofradiobased telemetrysystemsareduetopoorRFsystemdesignand installationerrors. TherearemanyfactorstobeconsideredwhendesigningRF systems,butifbasicguidelinesarefollowedandexpert assistanceisusedfordoubtfulpathsand/orcomplex systems,thensuccessislikely Foranyradiobasedsystemtowork,twoprimary considerationsare: 1)RFsignalstrengthatthereceiver. Allpathlossesandgainsthroughthe transmissionsystemmustbeincluded inyour assessmentofthisparameter. 2)Lineofsight(LOS)path Boththetransmittingandreceivingantennas mustbeabletosee eachotherwithadequate FresnelZoneclearance.i.e.Notsimplyan opticallineofsight.

DeterminingPathLoss
Todeterminepathloss,transmitteroutputisfirst determined. Transmitter outputisboostedbysystemAntenna gainandreducedbytransmissionlineand connectorlosses. EffectiveIsotropicRadiatedPower(EIRP)isgiven by: EIRP(dBm)=Tx Output(dBm)+AntennaGain (dBi) CableandConnectorLosses(dB) ThenFreeSpacelossoverthelengthoftheRFpathis determined FreeSpaceLossof thesignaloccursbecause electromagneticwaves tendtopropagateand thereforedisperseenergyinalldirections outwardfromtheir source. Inwhatisknownas thefarfield,thislossispredictable,andgiven by: FSL(dB)=32.45+20Log10F(MHz)+ 20Log10D(km) SiteB FreespacelossisthesinglegreatestsourceofRF systemloss. The6dBRule Thefreespacepathlossequationshowsthat each6dBincreaseinEIRPequatestoadoubling ofrange (distance). Conversely,a6dBreduction insystemlosses(eitherbywayoftransmission lineloss,eitheronreceiveortransmitterend) translatesintoadoublingofrange.

FresnelZone SiteA OpticalLineofSight

FresnelZoneCalculator

FresnelZoneDefinition

dBmvs.wattchart CalculatingPathloss

Power 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.009 0.010 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Levels watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt watt

dBmvs.Watt
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts milli-watts 0.0 3.0 4.8 6.0 7.0 7.8 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 13.0 14.8 16.0 17.0 17.8 18.5 19.0 19.5 20.0 23.0 24.8 26.0 27.0 27.8 28.5 29.0 29.5 30.0 33.0 34.8 36.0 37.0 37.8 38.5 39.0 39.5 40.0 dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm dBm

ReceiverGain/Loss
Havingcalculatedtransmitteroutput(EIRP)andFreeSpace loss,thereceivergain/lossmustnowbedetermined. Liketransmitteroutput,receiverinput isalsoboosted bysystemAntennagainandreducedbytransmission lineandconnectorlosses. Receivergain: ReceiverGain(dBm)=AntennaGain(dBi) Cable andConnectorLosses(dB) Receiversensitivitydeterminestheminimumreceive level.Thiscanbeobtainedfromthemanufacturers specifications. Thisistypicallyaround106dBm Cableandconnectorlossescanbesignificant,sochoiceof cablesandminimaluseofconnectorsisimportant.Note thatlossesincreasewithfrequency.

RuleofthumbdBm lossesforcable,connectors,arrester
1dbloseforevery25ftofLMR400cableNN .25dB(approx.)perconnector .20dBlightningsuppressor(Polyphaser bulkheadpartofourantennakit) .2dblossforthe3ftofLMR240cablejumpercableSMAN Example;1wattradio=30dBm,FCCallows36dBm Antennakit(YAGI900RDSKIT)20ftLMR400(1dBm approx),3ftLMR240(.2dBm),4connectors.25dBm ea.
(1dBm),Polyphaser bulkheadconnector(.2dBm)=2.40dBm Ifyouchosea10dBm gainYagi,youwouldrealizea7+dBmgainandstaybelowthe36dBm allowedlimit.

CalculatingPathloss

CalculatingRFPathLoss
TheidealRFPathLoss=TxOutput FreeSpaceLoss+ RxGain Afterpathlossisdetermineditshouldbecomparedto theminimumreceiveleveltodeterminethefade margin. Fademarginisideallyatleast30dBgreaterthan theminimumreceivelevel(>20dBisconsidered good,<10dBisconsideredmarginal) Example1:900MHzpointtopointsystem,YAGI antennas,20kmpath TxEIRP=Txpwr30dBm(1W)+14dBi(15el.YAGI) 4dB (cable&connectorlosses)=40dBm Note:Thisexceedstheallowable36dBmmaximum EIRP! Recalculateusingalowergainantennaand/or lessoutputpower(e.g.500mW=27dBm) TxEIRP=Txpwr27dBm(500mW)+11dBi(9el.YAGI) 4dB(cable&connectorlosses)=34dBm Or=Txpwr24dBm(250mW)+14dBi(15el.YAGI) 4dB(cable&connectorlosses)=34dBm FreeSpaceLoss=32.45+20Log10 900(MHz)+20Log10 20(km) =117.55dB RxGain=14dBi(15el.YAGI) 4dB(cable&connector losses)=10dB RFPathLoss=34dBm(TxOutput) 117.55dB(Free SpaceLoss)+10dB(RxGain)=73.55dBm Fademargin=106 73.55=32.45

MoreIdealPathExamples Example2:900MHzpointtopointsystem,YAGI antennas,50kmpath FreeSpaceLoss=32.45+20Log10x900(MHz)+ 20Log10 x50(km) =125.5dB RFPathLoss=34dBm (Tx Output) 125.5dB(Free SpaceLoss)+10dB(RxGain)=81.5dBm Fademargin=106 81.5=24.5dB Example3:Using2.4GHz,18dBiGridAntennawitha 20kmpath RFPathLoss=30dBm (Tx Output) 126.07dB (FreeSpaceLoss)+12dB(RxGain)=78.07dBm Fademargin=106 78.07=27.93dB Example4:Using900MHz,0dBiWhipAntennawitha 5kmpath Tx EIRP=Tx pwr 30dBm(1W)+0dBi(Whip) 3dB (cable&connectorlosses)=27dBm RFPathLoss=27dBm (Tx Output) 105.51dB (FreeSpaceLoss)3dB(RxLoss)= 78.51dBm Fademargin=106 78.51=27.49dB Theexamplesshownaboveallhaveacceptablefade marginsandshowthatdistancesof550kmareeasily achievableinidealconditions,withappropriateRF powersettings,antennas,cablesandconnectors. Whatotherconsiderationsmustwemake?

Path Loss Calculator

Morethanlineofsight

RFPath Reality
TheidealRFpathcalculationsmakenoallowanceforpathobstructions, andshouldonlybeusedwhereclearlineofsitecanbeestablished betweenthetwoantennasandadequateFresnelzoneclearanceexists. Forobstructedpaths,aprofileoftheearthcontourswillneedto bedrawn,withallowanceforearthcurvatureandfoliageto ensurepathperformanceisadequate. ThePathProfileisaprofileviewofagivenpointtopointlink. Itsprimaryfunctionistoindicatetheexistenceorotherwiseof requiredFresnelZoneclearance.

Antennaheights(AGL)are indicatedaswellastopographic detailsoftheterrain(including knownfoliageconditions) betweenthesites. InmostRF systemdesign,this isnormallydoneusing computerpathanalysis programsandtherequisite terraindatabase. Thepathprofileanalysismay alsobedonemanually,using graphpaperandtopographic maps!

FresnelZonediameterdependsupon WavelengthandDistancefromthe sitesalongaxis.

Exampleofpathstudysoftware

RFPath Analysis
RFpathanalysissoftwareisavailabletospeedupthepathprofile process. Mostsoftwareincludesaterraindatabaseandrequires entryoflocationcoordinates,antennaheightand transmitterpowertoproducearangeofprofilegraphsand performanceexpectations.

http://www.pathloss.com/ http://pizon.org/rmw/install.html

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WhySpreadSpectrum?
ExtractedfromTheIEEESpectrum ofAugust,1990. AnarticleentitledSpreadSpectrumGoes Commercial, summarizedthecomingofcommercial spreadspectrum: Spreadspectrumradiocommunications,longafavorite technologyofthemilitarybecauseitresistsjammingand ishardforanenemytointercept,isnowonthevergeof potentiallyexplosivecommercialdevelopment. Thereason: spreadspectrumsignals,whichare distributedoverawiderangeoffrequenciesand thencollectedontotheiroriginalfrequencyatthe receiver,aresoinconspicuousastobe 'transparent.'Justastheyareunlikelytobe interceptedbyamilitaryopponent,soarethey unlikelytointerferewithothersignalsintended forbusinessandconsumerusers evenones transmittedonthesamefrequencies.Suchan advantageopensupcrowdedfrequencyspectra tovastlyexpandeduse.

SpreadSpectrumOperation
Inmostcountries,regulationsallowfortheunlicensed operationof spreadspectrumradios. This hasstimulatedmanufacturerstoconcentrateonresearchand developmentofsophisticatedandaffordablespreadspectrumradios. CommercialunlicensedSpreadSpectrumsystemsusetheISM (Industrial,ScientificandMedical)bandsworldwide. Frequenciesusedare: 902to928MHz 2400to2483.5MHz 5725to5850MHz TransmitterpoweroutputintheISMbandislimitedto1W(+30dBm). Tominimizeinterference,EffectiveIsotropicRadiatedPower(EIRP powerradiatedbytheantennasystem),islimitedto4W(+36dBm).

Country US, Canada, Group 1

Austria, UK, Group 2 France Spain Israel Korea Japan Australia

900 MHz Allocation 902-928 (US) 902-928 (CAN) 902-907.2 (MEX) 922.8-928(MEX) HK: not allocated Not allocated Not allocated Not allocated

2.4 GHz Allocation 5.8 GHZ Allocation Comments 2400-2483.5 MHz 5725-5850 MHz 900 MHz band: Power 5725-5850 MHz restrictions in Mexico depending on usage area 2450-2483.5(MEX) 5725-5850 MHz 5725-5850 MHz 2400-2483.6 2446 - 2483.5 2445 - 2475 2418 - 2475 2400 - 2483.5 5725-5850 Mhz 5725-5825 MHz 5725-5875 MHz stricter limits below 1 GHz special limits special limits 1w: 2400-2445 MHz 200mW: above 2445 -20dBW/MHz limit

Not allocated 915-928 921-929

2471 - 2497 2400 - 2483.5 2400 - 2483.5 2413-2439

Choosinganantenna

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New Zealand Saudi Arabia

Group 1: Argentina, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Equador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam Group 2: Belgium, Czech Rep., Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, S. Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK

SomeoftheRules
Therearerulesandrestrictionsforspreadspectrumuse,thatincludeoutput power,channeloccupationperiods,numberofchannelsetc. Spreadspectrumdevicesusuallyoperateonanoninterferencebasis, i.e. thedevicemustbeturnedoffifthereisaninterferencesituation
902-928 MHz 2400-2483.5 MHz 24 dBm for 25-50 hopping ch 30 dBm p2mp: 36 dBm 36 dBm > 75 25 kHz or 20 dB BW maximum 1 MHz minimum 25 kHz 0.4 sec/channel in 30 sec. 5725-5850 MHz 30 dBm p2mp: 36 dBm > 75 25 kHz or 20 dB BW maximum 1 MHz minimum 25 kHz 0.4 sec/channel in 30 sec.

Parameter Output power, peak EIRP, max

Note: 30dBm =1W, 36dBm = 4W

p2p: EIRP={30-(G-6)/3 + G}dBm p2p: UNLIMITED

Number hopping ch. > 25 for BW>250 kHz Hopping channel separation 25 kHz or 20 dB W Hopping channel 20 dB BW maximum 500 kHz minimum 25 kHz Hopping channel dwell time > 50 hopping channels:l <0.4 sec/channel in 20 sec. 25-50 hopping channels <0.4 sec/channel in 10 sec >10 dB >17 dB

Processing gain, Direct Sequence Processing gain, Hybrid FH/DS system

>10 dB >17 dB

>10 dB >17 dB

w here p2p = pont to point and p2mp = point to multipoint

Choosinganantenna

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RadioNetworkSetup

MoreComplexNetwork Setup

Theversatilityoftheradiosallowsdatacommunication linkstobeestablishedusinga varietyofdifferent configurations. Thismakesitpossibletoextendthe radiosrangeandgetaroundobstacles. A master communicatingtoaslaveisthemostcommon application.

Someapplicationsrequire arepeater.The repeater maybesittingonahilltoporother elevatedstructuretolinkthemastertothe slave. WhenarepeaterisusedRFspeedisreduced byhalf,making115kbpsthroughput unachievable (baudrate maystillbe setat 115 kbps).

WirelessSCADAPackSpecification

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IntegratedRadio
TheintegratedradiosolutionisachievedwithoutmodificationofthestandardSCADAPackcontrollerorI/Oboards. Theoverallheightisincreasedby13mmtoallowtheradiotobemountedintheenclosurelid.TheradiohasitsownLEDs,data port,diagnosticportandpowerconnections.

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