1. ESTeem RF Design Tools
SECTION 4 - RF System Design

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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®

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

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

16. 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.

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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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)

23. 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

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

25. 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?

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

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

33. 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

34. 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

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

36. 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

37. 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

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

39. 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

40. 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.

41. 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
dB Fade Margin
dB Fade Margin

42. 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
dB Fade Margin
Antenna Height = 54 ft. at each end
This is a practical height

43. 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 = minimum antenna height of 45 ft Mbps = minimum antenna height of 36 ft Mbps = minimum antenna height of 31 ft Mbps = minimum antenna height of 26 ft Mbps = miles @ minimum antenna height of 14 ft.

44. 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