Radio Mobile RF Site Surveys Training: Site Surveys with Radio Mobile 3/25/2017 Radio Mobile RF Site Surveys Data-Linc Group

Topic Choices Preliminary Design Software RF Study On-site Survey Introduction Maps & Pictures Unit Properties Networks Properties Resolve Paths Generate Reports Tips & Examples Closing Comments 1. Preliminary Design 2. Software RF Study 3. On-site Survey 4. Feasibility Review 5. Implement Project Steps

Radio Mobile Software Radio Mobile is freeware software Written by a radio amateur Roger Coude’ (9VE2DBE) for radio amateurs Operates from 20MHz to 20GHz Based on Irregular Terrain (Longley-Rice) propagation model Is intended for longer distance outdoor applications Download and information at: http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html Radio Mobile User Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Radio_Mobile_Deluxe/

Radio Mobile Screen

Elevation & Map Merges Data can be accessed online or purchased Elevation Data SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DTED, GTOPO30, GLOBE, BIL Street maps Tiger, OpenStreetMap… Images and ground cover Landsat, Terraserver, Toporama, Land Cover…

SRTM Elevation Maps Topological data is available for most of the world List of sources: ttp://www.cplus.org/rmw/dataen.html Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Info and data from Jet Propulsion Laborary: http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/ Data is freely available via FTP: ftp://e0srp01u.ecs.nasa.gov/srtm/ The FTP site is heavily used and is taken down for maintenance on Wednesday nights Various resolutions (1 and 3 arcsec, others…) There are some “holes” where data are not available

User Provided Information Site locations Latitude/Longitude coordinates Acceptable antenna elevations above ground Radio specifications (Radiosys.dat) Transmitter Receiver Antenna and coax Network design criteria Line Of Sight (LOS) Fade Margin

Longley-Rice ITS For ISM bands (900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz) and RF paths less than 50km: Rainfall is not a consideration Climate setting = Continental temperate May not be valid for air to ground applications Typically for 1km+ distances

Confirm Radio Mobile Configuration Check for web update under Help Confirm Radiosys.dat contains Data-Linc radio systems (File…Networks Properties…Systems)

Site Survey Steps Application information Using Radio Mobile Obtain site coordinates and useable antenna heights Identify the master site(s) Identify the preferred wireless product Using Radio Mobile Prepare maps and map pictures Enter Unit (site) Properties Define and analyze “All Masters” Network Resolve RF path issues Prepare Site Survey report

Prepare Map and Picture Merges Training: Site Surveys with Radio Mobile 3/25/2017 Prepare Map and Picture Merges Attendees use Radio Mobile and Example 1 to prepare map and picture Data-Linc Group

Define the Elevation Data Source Training: Site Surveys with Radio Mobile 3/25/2017 Define the Elevation Data Source Estimate Lat/Lon for map center (master site?) Estimate map size in km and display size Set Options…Internet for SRTM data and region Estimate screen center (maybe master site?) lat/long location so proper dataset/region can be set up. Data-Linc Group

SRTM USA 1 Arcsecond Regions

Define Map Properties File…Map properties…

Picture Properties File…Picture properties to suit your needs… Gray scaled Colored Slope Rainbow

Streets and Other Map Merges Edit…Merge Pictures… Internet Tiger - USA

Training: Site Surveys with Radio Mobile 3/25/2017 Unit Properties Interactive with attendees, continue with Example 1 and enter each unit into Radio Mobile. Data-Linc Group

Entering Unit (Site) Information Build the map first so unit elevation can be extracted from the map File…Unit properties Notice a unit can be placed at the cursor position on the map

Entering LAT/LON Coordinates Coordinates can be entered as: 47° 34’ 21” 47° 34.35’ 47.5725 An example coordinate units converter: http://www.jeepreviews.com/wireless-gps-coordinates/

Training: Site Surveys with Radio Mobile 3/25/2017 Define Network(s) Build an “ALL Masters” network Data-Linc Group

What is Network and System? Radio Mobile can be used for applications with a single network of two radios to multiple networks of many radios A SRM master with several slaves can be a network A repeater with attached slaves can be another network A “system” is a radio, antenna, coax, lightning arrestor, connectors, etc.

Build an “All Masters” Network This will be the starting point for analysis For the “All Masters” network Set RF band frequencies Set network topology (typically voice) Set the Systems (radio, antenna, coax combinations) Set RF path style based on Rx Relative (fade margin) Add units (members) to the network and Set role to master Choose a system (use omni antenna at this point) If known set antenna elevation AGL

Networks Parameters File…Networks Properties…

Networks Topology

Networks Systems

Networks Membership

Networks Style

Resolve RF Paths

Objective & Requirements Objective here is to minimize your time and labor by quickly determining path issues and application feasibility Requires “All Masters” network

Basic Activities Use the Radio Link Tool Filter paths using Networks…Styles Tools…Network Report Consider possibilities Change unit system (antenna sub-system)? Adjust unit elevation AGL? Different wireless product? Other repeater sites? Mixed wired/wireless solution? Formulate a solution plan

Implement the Plan Possibly create a network for the master and each repeater Assign units to appropriate network(s) Multiple RF links from master and repeaters to a unit (site) is desirable (alternate paths) Caution: Antenna height and system (ant/coax/radio) for the same site are not linked in each network Set unit’s role in network (master/repeater/slave) Adjust antenna elevation AGL, System type (omni/yagi/coax) for each unit Repeat previous steps until satisfied

Radio Link Tool

Generate Report

Reporting Comments Report details based on feasibility and survey funding Quick and minimal Thorough and complete Reports are often the foundation for on-site surveys

Report Generation Tools MS Word report template Screen capture software such as Snagit or Paint Shop Pro Radio Mobile: Pictures RF path cross-section screen captures Network report Data-Linc parts list Findings summary and possible concerns

Tips & Examples

Other Features and Tips Using Google Earth When a radio will be mounted at antenna elevation adjust unit elevation to keep coax short

Example Network 1 Desired Radio: SRM7210E? Site Details: Master 36°01'12"N 087°53'57“W 40ft N Tank 36°06'12"N 087°47'01“W 100ft TH Tank 36°04'35“N 087°47'46“W 75ft CR Tank 36°03'42"N 087°54'47“W 100ft CC Tank 36°05'24“N 087°46'31“W 75ft PS1 36°05'06"N 087°47'08“W 10ft IS Tank 36°05'08"N 087°47'46"W 60ft Heights are Above Ground Level (AGL)

Example Network 2 Desired Radio: PLR5000 Site Details: Master 43°39'42"N 116°16'25“W 10m Repeater 1 43°40'52“N 116°14'29“W 15m Repeater 2 43°40'18“N 116°13'49“W 20m PS 1 43°41'26"N 116°14'44“W 4.5m PS 2 43°40'42"N 116°13'58“W 10m PS 3 43°40'22"N 116°11'53“W 15m

Example Network 3 Prefer SRM6000 radios Antenna elevations not to exceed 30 feet Site Details: Master 38°12'07"N 120°41'21“W HWY 49 38°12'08"N 120°41'42“W SunSet 38°11'32"N 120°41'20“W OakShadows 38°11'08"N 120°39'42“W WT1 38°11'15"N 120°40'04“W

Thank You!