ESTeem RF Design Tools SECTION 4 - RF System Design

Presentation Overview Review Radio Basics Terminology Use Information from Radio Basics and Antenna Sections Use RF Design Program Initial Site Work Using RF Design Program Site Example

Presentation Overview Each Radio Application is Unique Wireless is being applied in many applications but few have a working knowledge of designing a successful wireless system Selecting A Wireless Vendor Dizzying array ranges from vendors Provide tools to personally review specifications

Steps to Successful Radio Network RF System Design Review Maps RF Design Program Analysis On-Site Radio Site Survey Physical Inspection and Testing Confirming Results from RF System Design Site Commissioning Same Testing on Installed System

Presentation Overview RF Design Program Conservative model of expected radio results\ Installed hardware generally higher signal strengths Allows for modification to system design prior to installation if problems are found Change Antenna Type Change Coax Cable Types Provides means of determining expected data errors

Minimum Antenna Height Required to Clear the Radio Horizon Distance (miles) Minimum Height (ft.) Radio Horizon Minimum Height (ft.) Earth Antenna A Antenna B Omni-directional Antenna Directional Antenna Bottom Reference Line for Height Clearance

Fresnel Zone Fresnel Zone shows the ellipsoid spread of the radio waves Area must be clear of obstructions or signal strength will be reduced Blockage in 60% will induce significant signal losses Use for frequencies above 900 MHz

RF Basics - Effective Radiated Power SECTION 4 - RF System Design Effective Radiated Power (ERP) = Tx Power - Feedline Losses + Antenna Gain Received Signal = Rx Power - Feedline losses + Antenna Gain Antenna gain is a logarithmic equation, gain doubles for every 3db increase, but is cut in half for every 3db decrease. High Gain antennas become more directional. This slide give an example of a High Gain UHF antenna. Erp is the rf power plus or minus the gain or loss of the antenna. The loss that is incurred at the transmit site can quite possibly be made up at the receive site, through the same practice.

RF Basics - Fade Margin Receiver Sensitivity is the minimum signal level in dB needed by the receiver to output received data. Fade Margin in dB is the amount of received signal above the receiver’s minimum required useable Receiver Sensitivity. Fade Margin is controlled by Transmitter Power Transmitter feedline attenuation Transmitting antenna gain Receiving antenna gain Receiver feedline attenuation Receiver Sensitivity Maximum Received Signal Strength Fade Margin = Usable Range of Receiver Minimum Receiver Sensitivity

RF Basics - Fade Margin How much Fade Margin? Imperfect world and things are constantly changing. Equipment ages Antennas go out of alignment Unexpected man-made noise/interference Basic rules of thumb for digital transceivers. 10 dB - 10% link retries 20 dB - 1% link retries 30 dB - .1% link retries Link Listed Marginal <10dB Over 10dB Fade Margin = Green 1-10db Fade Margin = Yellow (Marginal) Less than 1dB = Red (Site Not Operational)

Initial Site Work Draw a simple layout of the proposed system. Determine Line-of-Sight (LOS) distances between each point to point radio path by: Site maps. If Latitude and longitude are known use the “Distance Between Two Points Calculator” in the RF Design Program. Use a hand held GPS. Google Earth®

Initial Site Work Most Radio Systems are designed as a “Multiple” of Point to Point RF Paths Base to Remote Base to Repeater Repeater to Remote Repeater to Repeater Each Path Needs Evaluation

Initial Site Work Sketch a site diagram and distances between site nodes. Note LOS blockages. N Pump Site #2 Control Room Pump Site #1 Water Tank Pump Site #3 LOS 4 miles 5.5 miles 5 miles 3 miles

Initial Site Work Find the elevation of each node above sea level. Reference maps or use a hand held GPS. Google Earth® Estimate installed antenna height at each node above ground level to achieve LOS to destination site. Estimate feedline length from antenna to equipment cabinet.

Initial Site Work Antenna Feedline Length Height of Antenna Above Ground for LOS Path Equipment Cabinet Terrain Height Above Sea Level

Initial Site Work Calculate Elevation Differential between the lowest node and the remaining nodes. Calculated the Adjusted Antenna Height. Site Elevation Differential + Antenna Height above ground.

Initial Site Work Calculate Elevation Differential between lowest node and remaining nodes. Adjusted Antenna Height = Elevation Differential + Antenna Height above ground.

Site Layout Map and Information Pump Site #3 N 5.5 miles LOS LOS Water Tank 3 miles Pump Site #2 Pump Site #1 4 miles 5 miles Control Room

RF Site Design Program Use the RF Site Design Program on each point-to-point RF path. In this example we will use the ESTeem 195Eg 2.4 GHz Frequency Use your Site Information Table data Use Vendor information on transceiver selected The RF Site Design Program will provide ESTeem hardware recommended for operating frequency selected Enter data in the Data Entry Key Board

Standard Enclosure Mounting Omni-Directional Antenna Directional Antennas ESTeem Model 195Eg Coax Cable Lightning Arrestor Antenna Port Equipment Port Power Supply

Model 195E Outdoor Pole Mount Model 195E Outdoor Fixed Base Hardware Diagram Directional Antennas Omni-Directional Antenna External Antennas Direct Mount Antennas Antenna Feedline Unit Shown With Rubber Duct Antennas Weather Proof Boot Weather Proof Boot Direct Pole Mount Pole Mounting Kit EST P/N AA195PM Model 195Eg Weather Proof Front Cover Weather Proof Boot Power Over Ethernet Cable Ethernet Surge Protection EST P/N AA166 Ethernet CAT-5e Cable 300 ft. maximum PoE Power Supply EST P/N AA175 Ethernet CAT 5e Cable EST P/N: AA09.2 To LAN Interface

Outdoor Mounting Benefits Remove Long Coax Cable Required Lower cost ($65-$500 Savings) Lower signal loss No Lightning Arrestor Needed Lower cost ($120 Savings) Also removes loss in jumper cable No Enclosure Needed Greatly reduced design and installation costs ($300 Savings)

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #1 Perform a RF Path Analysis from the Control Room to Pump Site #1. Pump Site #3 N 5.5 miles LOS LOS Water Tank 3 miles Pump Site #2 Pump Site #1 4 miles 5 miles Control Room

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #1 Path Distance: 4 miles

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #1 • In this example we used the highest Rx Sensitivity of -89 dB for a RF data rate of 1Mbps. This will give a 12.6 dB Fade Margin for a 4 mile path length. • What would be the maximum data rate for this RF link?

RF Output Power Levels Peak Power vs Average Power Modulation Based upon type of modulation type Maximum for peak power set by FCC/DOC Modulation Average power and peak same in Direct Sequence Maximum peaks in OFDM has lower average power Average power used in RF Design Program Modulation type based upon data rate Verify all RF data rates and power levels

RF Data Rate Analysis #1 Only available for wireless Ethernet products 195Eg, 195Ep and 195Ed Enter site information same as RF Path Analysis Fade margin results for each data rate Over 10dB Fade Margin = Green 1-10db Fade Margin = Yellow (Marginal) Less than 1dB Fade Margin = Red (Site Not Operational)

RF Data Rate Analysis #1 Maximum design data rate for application would be 9 Mbps Maximum possible data rate is 18 Mbps Actual Data Rates Could Be Higher in Normal Operation 195E will not reserve 10dB in operation 195E will maintain highest data rate possible

RF Data Rate Analysis #2 Same application using higher gain directional antenna AA204Eg 19dB Parabolic directional antenna Legal for use from single remote to omni-directional

RF Data Rate Analysis #2 Much higher RF Data Rates available with higher fade margin Maximum design data rate for application would be 24 Mbps Maximum possible data rate is 48 Mbps

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #2 Perform a RF Path Analysis from the Control Room to Pump Site #2. Pump Site #3 N 5.5 miles LOS LOS Water Tank 3 miles Pump Site #2 Pump Site #1 5 miles 4 miles 24 Mbps Control Room

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #2 Path Distance: 5 miles

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Pump Site #2 Maximum design data rate for application would be 24 Mbps Maximum possible data rate is 36 Mbps

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Water Tank Perform a RF Path Analysis from the Control Room to Water Tank. Pump Site #3 N 5.5 miles LOS LOS Water Tank 3 miles Pump Site #2 Pump Site #1 4 miles 5 miles 24 Mbps 24 Mbps Control Room

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Water Tank Path Distance: 3 miles

RF Path Analysis Control Room to Water Tank Maximum design data rate for application would be 9 Mbps Maximum possible data rate is 24 Mbps

Water Tank to Pump Site #3 Perform a RF Path Analysis from the Water Tank to Pump Site #3. Pump Site #3 N 5.5 miles LOS LOS Water Tank 9 Mbps Pump Site #2 3 miles Pump Site #1 4 miles 5 miles 24 Mbps 24 Mbps Control Room

RF Path Analysis Water Tank to Pump Site #3 Path Distance: 5.5 miles

RF Path Analysis Water Tank to Pump Site #3 Maximum design data rate for application would be 24 Mbps Maximum possible data rate is 36 Mbps

Pole Mounting Water Tank to Pump Site #3 Problem areas Fresnel Zone Warning Increase height of the Pump Site #3 Antenna Need to increase from 15 ft. to 33 ft. to be above the minimum height requirements for the Fresnel Zone. In this example I increased height to 40 ft. for a margin of error.

Model 195Eg Maximum Range Two Directional Antennas Cable Loss Range AA204Eg is the highest gain antenna that the unit is type accepted for. 19 dB gain Cable Loss .6 dB because the unit is pole mounted. Range 179 miles @ 1 Mbps @ 6 dB Fade Margin 8 miles @ 54 Mbps @ 6 dB Fade Margin

Model 195Eg Maximum Range Range 179 miles @ 1 Mbps @ 6 dB Fade Margin Antenna Height = 4,010 ft at each end Fresnel Zone (60%) = 185 feet This would probably be usable only from mountain top to mountain top 8 miles @ 54 Mbps @ 6 dB Fade Margin Antenna Height = 54 ft. at each end This is a practical height

Model 195Eg Maximum Range Two Omni-Directional Antennas Cable Loss AA20Eg 6 dB gain Cable Loss .6 dB because the unit is pole mounted Range 6 dB with Fade Margin 1 Mbps = 9.0 miles @ minimum antenna height of 45 ft. 5.5 Mbps = 5.7 miles @ minimum antenna height of 36 ft. 11 Mbps = 4.0 miles @ minimum antenna height of 31 ft. 24 Mbps = 2.0 miles @ minimum antenna height of 26 ft. 54 Mbps = 0.4 miles @ minimum antenna height of 14 ft.

Conclusions Education is Best Means to Confidence Use the Tools Reliability is only as good as the system design Use the Tools Compare different vendor’s hardware Review specifications and claims Radio Applications Are Not Difficult Planing and evaluation are best keys to success