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Fundamentals of Microwave Technologies

Historical Perspective

Founded during WWII. Used for long-haul telecommunications. Displaced by fiber optic networks. Still viable for right-of-way bypass and geographic obstruction avoidance.

Wireless Transmission

Transmission and reception are achieved by means of an antenna . Directional :

Transmitting antenna puts out focused beam . Transmitter and receiver must be aligned . Signal spreads out in all directions . Can be received by many antennas .

Omnidirectional Isotropically :

Wireless Examples

Terrestrial microwave transmission . Satellite transmission . Broadcast radio . Infrared .

Terrestrial Microwave

Used for long-distance telephone service . Uses radio frequency spectrum, from 2 to 40 GHz . Parabolic dish transmitter, mounted high . Used by common carriers as well as private networks . Requires unobstructed line of sight between source and receiver . Curvature of the earth requires stations (repeaters) ~30 miles apart .

Microwave Applications

Television distribution . Long-distance telephone transmission . Private business networks .

Microwave

Advantages :

No cabling needed between sites . Wide bandwidth . Multichannel transmissions . Line of sight requirement . Expensive towers and repeaters . Subject to interference -e.g. passing airplanes, rain .

Disadvantages :

Satellite Microwave Transmission

A microwave relay station in space . Can relay signals over long distances .

Wireless Technologies
Microwave

Microwave systems transmit voice and data through the atmosphere as super-high-frequency radio waves One particular characteristic of the microwave system is that it cannot bend around corners; therefore microwave antennas must be in "line of sight" of each other The following are some of the characteristics of the microwave system: High Volume Long distance transmission Point to point transmission High frequency radio signals are transmitted from one terrestrial transmitter to another Satellites serve as a relay station for transmitting microwave signals over very long distances. See image next slide

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Wireless Technologies
Low-Orbit Satellite and Microwave Transmission

Microwave Spectrum

Range is approximately 1 GHz to 40 GHz

Total of all usable frequencies under 1 GHz gives a reference on the capacity of in the microwave range.

Microwave Impairments

Equipment, antenna, and waveguide failures. Fading and distortion from multipath reflections. Absorption from rain, fog, and other atmospheric conditions. Interference from other frequencies.

Microwave Engineering Considerations


Free space & atmospheric attenuation. Reflections. Diffractions. Rain attenuation.

Microwave Engineering Considerations


Skin affect Line of Sight (LOS) Fading Range Interference

Free Space & Atmospheric Attenuation

Free space & atmospheric attenuation is


defined by the loss the signal undergoes traveling through the atmosphere. Changes in air density and absorption by atmospheric particles.

Reflections

Reflections can occur as the microwave


signal traverses a body of water or fog
bank; cause multipath conditions

Diffraction

Diffraction is the result of variations in


the terrain the signal crosses

Rain Attenuation

Raindrop absorption or scattering of the


microwave signal can cause signal loss
in transmissions.

Skin Affect

Skin Affect is the concept that high

frequency energy travels only on the outside skin of a conductor and does not penetrate into it any great distance. Skin Affect determines the properties of microwave signals.

Line of Sight Fresnel Zone Clearance

Fresnel Zone Clearance is the minimum clearance over obstacles that the signal needs to be sent over. Reflection or path bending will occur if the clearance is not sufficient.

LOS & FZC-contd


Fresnel Zone

D1 X D2
72.2

FxD

secret formula

Microwave Fading
Normal Signal

Reflective Path
Caused by multi-path reflections and heavy rains

Range

The distance a signal travels and its

increase in frequency are inversely


proportional.

Repeaters extend range: Back-to-back antennas. Reflectors.

Range-contd

High frequencies are repeated/received

at or below one mile.

Lower frequencies can travel up to 100

miles but 25-30 miles is the typical


placement for repeaters.

Interference

Adjacent Channel Interference.

Digital not greatly affected. Caused by signal feeding past a repeater to the receiving antenna at the next station in the route. Eliminated by zigzag path alignment or alternate frequency use between adjacent stations.

Overreach

Components of a Microwave System


Digital Modem. Radio Frequency (RF) Unit. Antenna.

Digital Modem

The digital modem modulates the

information signal (intermediate


frequency or IF).

RF Unit

IF is fed to the RF unit which is

mounted as close physically to the


antenna as possible (direct connect is

optimal).

Antenna

The antenna is a passive device that

radiates the modulated signal. It is fed


by direct connect of the RF unit, coaxial

cable, or waveguides at higher


frequencies.

Waveguides

Waveguides are hollow channels of low-loss material used to direct the signal from the RF unit to the antenna.

Modulation Methods

Primarily modulated today with digital

FM or AM signals.

Digital signal remains quiet until failure

threshold bit error rate renders it unusable.

Bit Error Rate (BER)

The BER is a performance measure of microwave signaling throughput

10 or one error per million transmitted bits of information. Data fail over is at 10 ; voice traffic can withstand this error rate.

Diversity

Space Diversity Frequency Diversity Hot Standby PRI

Space Diversity
Normal Signal

Transmitter

Receiver

Space Diversity-contd

Space Diversity protects against multipath fading by automatic switch over to another antenna place below the primary antenna. This is done at the BER failure point or signal strength attenuation point to the secondary antenna that is receiving the transmitted signal at a stronger power rating.

Frequency Diversity
Active XTMR Frequency #1 RCVR Frequency #1

Protect XTMR Frequency #2

RCVR Frequency #2

Transmitter

Receiver

Frequency Diversity-contd

Frequency Diversity uses separate frequencies (dual transmit and receive systems); it monitors primary for fail over and switches to standby. Interference usually affects only one range of frequencies. Not allowed in non-carrier applications because of spectrum scarcity.

Hot Standby*
System XTMR Primary #1 Active RCVR #1

System XTMR Standby #2

Standby RCVR #2

failure switch Transmitter Receiver

*Hot standby is designed for equipment failure only

PRI
System Transmission Facilities Connect to PRI interface & PSTN System Receiver Facilities Connect to PRI interface & PSTN

Transmitter

Receiver To PSTN

To PSTN

Availability Formula
Percent Availability equals:

1 (outage hours/8760 hours per year) Private microwaves have 99.99% availability

Microwave Path Analysis


Transmitter output power Antenna gain

proportional to the physical characteristics of the antenna (diameter)

Free space gain Antenna alignment factor Unfaded received signal level

Microwave Radio Applications

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