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

2. 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

3. 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:
Radio Mobile User Group:

4. Radio Mobile Screen

5. 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…

6. SRTM Elevation Maps
Topological data is available for most of the world
List of sources: ttp://
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)
Info and data from Jet Propulsion Laborary:
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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. SRTM USA 1 Arcsecond Regions

14. Define Map Properties
File…Map properties…

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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Entering LAT/LON Coordinates
Coordinates can be entered as:
47° 34’ 21”
47° 34.35’
An example coordinate units converter:

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

21. 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.

22. 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

23. Networks Parameters
File…Networks Properties…

24. Networks Topology

25. Networks Systems

26. Networks Membership

27. Networks Style

28. Resolve RF Paths

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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Radio Link Tool

33. Generate Report

34. 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

35. 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

36. Tips & Examples

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

38. 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 ft
TH Tank 36°04'35“N 087°47'46“W 75ft
CR Tank 36°03'42"N 087°54'47“W ft
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)

39. 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

40. 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 °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

41. Thank You!