Design and Planning of Wireless Microwave Link
Ali Nisar
BS-Electronic Engineering, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Islamabad
Pakistan
alinisar01@hotmail.com
Abstract— A research has been conducted in order to
evaluate and develop an understanding regarding the keen
aspects considered in the design and planning of microwave
links among two antennas. Several limiting factors are
considered and issues faced during planning such as line of
sight consideration, signal to noise ratio, propagation or free
space losses and attenuation, ground reflections, multipath
and fading in order to perform link budget analysis. A few
modulation and multiplexing techniques are evaluated on the
basis of comparison amongst them.
Keywords— Considerations in link budget, Free space
losses, Limiting factors in link design, Link budget
calculations, Microwave link design, Multipath, Modulation,
Multiplexing techniques.
I. INTRODUCTION
Important aspects are considered amongst several involved
in the Microwave Link Design. Microwave Link Design is
mathematical, systematic and a lengthy process that
composes of major factors like loss or attenuation
calculations for compensation, then fading and fade
margins calculations signal to noise ratio, signal strength
followed by frequency planning.
With the propagation of a microwave it suffers through
various phenomenon which effects wave’s polarization and
magnitude. In order to achieve a successful communication
link between transceivers at two different antennas link
must be designed very precisely, encountering all the
variables which undergoes during the propagation of a
wave. In microwave link analysis Frii’s transmission
equation plays a vital role:
Pr(d) = Pt Gt Gr (1)
Where, Pt - transmitted power, Pr(d) - received power at
distance ‘d’, Gt & Gr - transmitter & receiver antenna
gains
On the contrary, problem arises when implemented results
differs from theoretical calculated results, therefore several
empirical adjustments are meant to be counter with basic
Frii’s equation, depending upon the environment and other
properties which alters the wave polarization or causes
some major deflections from the ideal point. These issues
are considered and discussed in order to carry out precise
calculation.
II. LIMITING FACTORS
Various limiting factors exists that really need to be
compensate in design link process. These factors include
transmission power barriers, attenuation, noise level and
receiver’s sensitivity6.
Maximum transmission powers are set standard by
international standardizing organizations and these limits
are meant to be followed, therefore no transceiver can
transmit at more than 10 W. in case of attenuation and
noise level, these two variables varies from one
environment to another, in order to counter such random
limiting factors a margin must exist in the link design
budget. Similarly receiver’s sensitivity must be taken into
account to set the lowest limit which can be detected by the
receiver.
III. IMPORTANT ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED
Important issues which are meant to be considered during a
microwave link designing are discussed and evaluated.
Microwave radio communication requires a clear line-of-
sight (LOS) condition1. Under normal atmospheric
conditions, the radio horizon is around 30 percent beyond
the optical horizon In order to determine whether link is
feasible, free space loss must be calculated. Free space
path loss is the expected loss of the signal strength as it
travels away from the transmitter. On transmitting through
an antenna the signal spreads along gradually more area.
Because of this process, as covered area increases the
power density of the microwave signal decreases. This
effect causes the weakness in the radio signal. Free space
loss is calculated as:
FSPL(db)= 32.45+20 log(f)+20 log(R) (2)
Where, f is the frequency in MHz and R is the distance to
be covered in KMs.
FSPL acts irrespective of the frequency of radio signal.
Signal to noise incorporates a high weight age among the
parameters which are to be considered during the
microwave link design analysis. Signal to noise ratio
(SNR) is the ratio between signal power and the noise
power2.
= (3)
Multipath fading or interference is another important
parameter in radio links. The direct ray at the receiver may
interfere with by the ground-reflected or other reflected
rays and the reflection loss can be significant5. Even
reflection on the Earth’s surface may give rise to multipath
propagation. The reflection loss changes by the constantly
changing refraction properties of the atmosphere.
Multipath may give rise to constructive or destructive
interference for the wave.
Fig.1 Multipath fading channel
The resulting effects from reflection loss and fading is not
included in the link budget. Since reflection and multipath
cannot be avoided, therefore fade margin must be adjusted
by adding this contribution as additional loss in the link
budget.
IV. LINK BUDGET CALCULATION & MARGIN
The link budget is a calculation which involves the gain
and loss factors associated with the antennas, transmitters,
receivers, transmission lines and medium of propagation.
Link budget is calculated in order to determine the
maximum distance at which a transmitter and receiver can
successfully operate. However, a link margin is also
calculated to compensate the various random effects of the
propagation medium.
The minimum power required at the input of receiver or
threshold depends upon the receiver’s sensitivity. The total
effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) is equal to the
total transmitted power subtracted the system losses.
EIRP (db) = Pout + Gt - Ct (4)
Where, Gt is the gain of transmitting antenna.
The gains from the antenna at each end are added to the
system gain. The free space loss of the radio signal is
subtracted7.
PR = = Pout + Gt - Ct + Gr – Cr – FSPL (db) (5)
Where, Po = output power of the transmitter (dBm)
Ct , Cr = system loss within transmitter/receiver and
antenna(dB)
Gt , Gr = gain of transmitter/receiver antenna (dB)
A feasible link must follow the following condition:
PR  Rx (6)
It states that received power must be greater or least equal
to the receiver’s sensitivity.
Fade margin is the difference between the un - faded ideal
received signal level and the receiver’s sensitivity. Every
microwave must have sufficient fade margin to protect
against fading.
V. PREFERED OPERATING FREQUENCIES
The RF spectrum is part of the shared electromagnetic
spectrum. Below is the diagram which shows the
frequency vs. temperature noise graph2:
Fig.2 Microwave window and noise level
Minimum temperature noise effected region lies from
1 GHz to 12 GHz, region is known as microwave region.
Mostly microwave link should be operating within above
mentioned window, in order to minimize the noise factor.
VI. MODULATION AND MULTIPLEXING TECHNIQUES
A. Choosing a Digital Modulation Scheme
A desirable modulation scheme provides low bit error rate
at low received signal to noise ratio, occupies a minimum
of bandwidth, performs well in multipath and fading
conditions, easy and cost effective to implement.
The performance of a modulation scheme is often
measured in terms of power efficiency and bandwidth
efficiency.
Power efficiency is often expressed as the signal energy
per bit to noise power spectral density:
Power spectral density = (7)
Bit error rate performance of binary modulation schemes is
shown in the below figure:
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
All thanks to ALMIGHTY ALLAH, the most Gracious and
the Beneficent, who always loves and cares us the most. I
express my sincere gratitude to my teacher Dr. Arif Khan
who guided and taught me in the field of microwaves.
I am thankful to my parents for their timely help, support
and encouragement throughout my life. I would like to
thank all my teachers for instilling a sense of curiosity to
learn new things in us.

REFERENCES
[1]. M Furqan, “MICROWAVE LINK DESIGN”
16th November 2009
[2]. Dr. Noor M. Khan “Mobile Communications”
Fig.3 Bit error rate performance of binary modulation schemes, in fading channels
as compared to a typical performance curve in AWGN
Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Islamabad.
[3]. Trevor Manning, “Microwave Radio
The graph shows PSK, DPSK, FSK coherent and FSK non Transmission Design Guide” Second edition
coherent binary modulation schemes in comparison to
typical binary modulation performance in AWGN5. PSK [4]. “Link design guide” - SAF Tehnika
provides maximum power spectral density with least
probability of error. [5]. Dr. Noor M. Khan “Digital Communications
II” Mohammad Ali Jinnah University,
VII. CONCLUSION Islamabad.
This report elaborates that designing and planning of [6]. “MMW Radios in Backhaul”
wireless microwaves links demands to tackle a variety of
factors that effects RF signal during its propagation. [7]. Sathaporn Promwong and Jun-ichi Takada,
Leading factors include line of sight, free space path “Free space link budget estimation scheme for
losses, signal to noise ratio, power spectral density and ultra wideband impulse radio with
imperfectantennas”.
thermal noise as well.
RF signal undergoes through random factors during its
propagation, which distorts the signal and causes the link
failure. In order to stabilize a microwave link, empirical
adjustments always need to be considered depending of
site and environment of the link between two antennas.