MICROWAVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Microwaves
An electromagnetic waves with frequencies that ranges
from approximately 500 MHz to 300 GHz or more. And
its wavelengths fall between 1cm and 60 cm.
Wavelength
The distance between
repeating units of a
propagating wave of a
given frequency.
Designated by lambda
().
Types of Microwave Communication
System:
1. Guided wave Medium
a. low-loss coaxial cable has a maximum
frequency of only 1 GHz
b. Waveguide
2. Radio links
1
3
To show the no. of channels for a 4 GHz bandwidth:
For voice, the no. of channels = BW/voice BW = 4GHz/4kHz = 100,000 voice cha
For TV, the no. of channels = BW/TV BW = 4 GHz/6MHz = 66 TV channels
Guided-Wave:

Waveguide:
TE01 circular waveguide
increasing the frequency will decrease the attenuation
not the dominant mode of circular waveguide
other propagating modes will get the power which increase the
attenuation of the waveguide

Fiber Optics used instead of waveguide

P e 2z Where -line attenuation constant

z distance from the source
With respect to antenna:
1 Where R distance from the antenna
P
R2
for longer distances, radio link have lesser path loss than guided-wave lin
 Categories of Microwave
Systems:
A. Short haul used to carry information
for relatively short distances,
- 1 to 40 km
e.i. between cities within the same state.
B. Long haul used to carry information for
relatively long distances, such as interstate.
- 40 to 100 km

8
Advantages of Microwave
Radio:

1. Radio systems do not require a right-of-way

acquisition between stations.

2. Each station requires the purchase or lease of

only a small area of land.
3. Because of their high operating frequencies,
microwave radio systems can carry large
quantities of information.
4. Short wavelengths, require relatively small antennas.

5. Radio signals are more easily propagated around

physical obstacles, such as high mountains
Disadvantages of Microwave
Radio:
1. It is more difficult to analyze and design circuits at
microwave frequencies.

2. Measuring techniques are more difficult to perfect

and implement at microwave frequencies.

3. It is difficult to implement conventional circuit

components at microwave frequencies.

4. Transient time is more critical at microwave

frequencies.

5. Microwave frequencies propagate in a straight line,

which limits their use to line-of-sight applications.
Applications of Microwave:

1. Telephone communications.

2. Radar

3. Space Communications

4. Heating
The Friis Power Transmission Formula:

Pt Gt
S W / m 2
Where Pt transmitted power
4R 2 Gt - transmitter antenna gain
R - distance between antenna
Pr SAe Where Pr -power collected by receiver antenna
S- radiated power at RX antenna
Ae - effective area of the RX antenna
2Gr
Ae
4
then
PG 2Gr
Pr SAe t t2
4R 4
Gt Gr 2
Pr Pt 2
FRIIS POWER TRANSMISSION EQUATION
4R
ample: An earth station with a transmitter power of 120 W, a frequency of 6 GHz
antenna gain of 42 dB transmits to a satellite repeater. The receiver ante
on the satellite has a gain of 31 dB, and the satellite is in a synchronous orbit
35,900 km above the earth. What is the received power in dBm?

ven: Pt = 120 W f = 6GHz Gt = 42 dB Gr = 31 dB

R = 35,900 km
d: Pr in dBm

n: Gt 10 42 /10 15849
Gr 1031/10 1259
3 x108 m / s
c/ f 9
0.05m
6 x10 Hz
Gt Gr 2 15489 1259 0.05 2
Pr Pt 2
4R
120
4 35,900,000
2 2

2

Pr 2.94 x10 11W

Pr 75.3dBm
Free Space Path Loss, LFS
It is the loss that would be obtained between two isotropic
antennas in free space, where there are no ground influences
or obstructions.
It is defined as a loss incurred by an electromagnetic wave as it
propagates in a straight line through a vacuum with no
absorption or reflection of energy from nearby objects.

Note: signal strength is 1/

distance; & antenna gain
aperture.

FSL 92.4 20 log 10 f (GHz ) 20 log10 d ( km )

FSL 36.6 20 log 10 f ( MHz ) 20 log10 d ( mi )

FSL 96.6 20 log10 f (GHz ) 20 log 10 d ( mi )

Parabolic Antenna Gain, G
General Equation:

where: D = antenna diameter in m

= signal wavelength in m
= efficiency

15
Antenna Gain for Typical Values of (0.55 to 0.75):

Parabolic Antenna Gain for Typical Values of (0.55

to 0.75) in Metric system:

G 42.4 20 log 10 f ( MHz) 20 log 10 D( m )

G 17.8 20 log 10 f ( GHz) 20 log 10 D( m )

16
Parabolic Antenna Gain for Typical
Values of (0.55 to 0.75) in English
system:

G 52.6 20 log 10 f ( MHz) 20 log 10 D( ft )

G 7.5 20 log 10 f ( GHz) 20 log 10 D( ft )

where: LFS = Free Space Loss in dB
Po(dBm) = Transmitter Output Power in dBm

RSL = FM + Threshold (receiver)

where:
FM = Fade Margin in dB
Threshold (receiver) = receiver minimum RF
input in dBm; Cmin

C
C min N ; N KTB
N
System Gain, Gs (dB)

It is the difference between the nominal output

power of a transmitter and the minimum rf
input power to a receiver.

S ( d B) Po ( d Bm) min .RF

G input( d Bm)

P min . RF input losses gains

o ( dBm) (d Bm)
 FM L
FS ( d B) L f ( d B) Lb ( d B) GT ( d B) G R ( dB)
G
s ( d B) dB

where: Lf(dB) = transmission line loss bet. the

distribution network and its respective antenna
(dB)

Lb(dB) = total coupling or branching loss in the

distribution network bet. the output of a
transmitter or receiver and the transmission
line (dB)
Noise Characterization of a Microwave Receiver

Where TREC equivalent RX noise temperature

TRF noise temp. of RF
TM noise temp. of mixer
TIF noise temp. of IF
GRF gain of RF amplifier
LM Mixer loss
 Where TTL noise temp. of transmission line
LT Transmission line loss
TP Physical temperature
Cascaded transmission line and receiver:
Where Trec Receiver noise temp.

Antenna noise temperature: Where TA noise temp. of antenna

Tb equivalent brightness temp. of the
background as seen by the main
beam
efficiency of the antenna
se power delivered to the transmission line:
Where Ni noise power at transmission line
B bandwidth
Output signal power: Where Si received power at the antenna terminals
GRF RF gain
GIF IF gain
LT Transmission loss
LM Mixer loss
The output noise system:
mple: For the following figure with the following parameters, find the input & out
signal to noise ratio

Solution:
 SEATWORK:
1.

2.
Microwave Terminal and Repeater Siting

Disadvantages of increasing the number of microwave repeater:

costly
ncreases chance of equipment breakdown which decrease reliability of the netw
ncrease noise level in analog and jitter in digital communications

Considerations in designing microwave communication syste

1. Terrain
2. Power supply
3. Land accessibility
4. Antenna gain should not exceed 45dB since antenna will require narrow
beamwidth (less than 1 degree) difficult mounting
5. Feedlines (use waveguide at higher frequency and coax at lower frequency)
 Path Calculations
Where d = max. distance in km
d 17hT 17 hR hT = height of transmitting antenna in m
hR = height of receiver antenna in m

Example: Suppose that the transmitter and receiver towers have equal height.
high would they have to be to communicate over a distance of 40 km?

Soln:
d 17 hT 17 hR
40 17 h 17 h
h 23.5m

Use topographic maps for accurate calculations having two common methods:
Use Ordinary graph paper
Use 4/3 earth paper on which horizontal lines are curved to represent
earths curvature.
ffraction a radio beam is partly obstructed by an object on the ground which re
to fading
- can be reduced by making sure that the path clears an obstacle by at least
60% of the First Fresnel Zone
= required clearance = 0.6 first Fresnel zone radius

nd1d 2
Rn 17.3 Where R distance to the Fresnel zone, in m
f d1 d 2
n number of the Fresnel zone
f = frequency in GHz
d1 = distance to the antenna nearer the
obstacle, in km
d2 = distance to the antenna farther from
To get the required clearance from
the obstacle: the obstacle, in km
Where R required clearance from the obstacle,
d1d 2 f = frequency in GHz
R 10.4
f d1 d 2 d1 = distance to the antenna nearer the
obstacle, in km
d2 = distance to the antenna farther from
the obstacle, in km
Fresnel Zone and Fresnel Radius

Fresnel zone the area where the

interference is constructive.

30
Fresnel Zone and Fresnel Radius
If a reflected signal is bounced within an odd-
numbered Fresnel zone, it would arrive at the
receiver in phase addition with the direct
signal.

31
Fresnel zones are a series of concentric
ellipsoids that surround the path from the
transmitter to the receiver.

Fresnel zone radius, (F1)

in Metric System:

d1( km) d 2(km)

F1( m) 547.1
f ( MHz) D( km)

d1( km ) d 2 ( km )
F1( m ) 17.3
f ( GHz ) D( km )
Fresnel zone radius, (F1) in English
System:

d1( mi) d 2( mi) d1( mi) d 2(mi)

F1( ft ) 2280 F1( ft ) 72.1
f ( MHz) D( mi) f (GHz) D( mi)

nth Fresnel zone radius (Fn):

Fn F1 n
Fresnel zone clearance (Fc)
- it takes into account the
unusual conditions that
occur in the atmosphere. Fc 0.6 F1
Example: A line-of-sight radio link operating at a frequency of 6 GHz has a separ
of 40 km between antennas. An obstacle in the path is located 10 km from
the transmitting antenna. By how much must the beam clear the obstacle?

Soln:

R 10.4
d1d 2
10.4
10 30
f d1 d 2 610 30
R 11.6m
ading reduction of signal strength below its nominal level

auses:
. Multipath reception
. Attenuation due to rain, mainly at frequencies above 10 GHz
. Ducting deflection of signals due to different temperature and humidity in atm
. Aging or partial failure of equipment

Diversity
It suggests that there is more than one transmission path or
method of transmission available bet. a transmitter and a
receiver. Its purpose is to increase the reliability of the system
by increasing its availability
Frequency diversity
It simply modulates two different RF carrier frequencies with
the same information. At the destination, both are
demodulated but the one yields the better quality is selected.
Space diversity

The output of a transmitter is fed to two or more

antennas that are physically separated by an
appreciable number of wavelengths.

Receiver diversity

It is using more than one receiver for a

single RF channel.
Fade Margin, FM
It is an attenuation allowance so that
anticipated fading will still keep the signal
above specified minimum RF input.

It considers the non-ideal and less predictable

characteristics of a radio wave propagation
such as multipath propagation and terrain
sensitivity.
Fade Margin in Metric system:

FM 130 30 log d 10 log (6abf ) 10 log (1 R)

10 ( km) 10 ( MHz) 10

FM 70 30 log d 10 log (6abf ) 10 log (1 R)

10 ( km) 10 (GHz) 10
Fade Margin in English system:

FM 123.8 30 log d 10 log (6abf ) 10 log (1 R )

10 ( mi) 10 ( MHz) 10

FM 63.8 30 log d 10 log (6abf ) 10 log (1 R)

10 ( mi) 10 (GHz) 10
 where: R = propagation reliability

Values for a Description

4.0 for very smooth terrain,
over water, flat desert
1.0 for average terrain with
some roughness
0.25 for mountainous, very
rough, or very dry terrain
Values for b Description
0.50 for hot, humid coastal areas
0.25 for normal, interior
temperate or sub-arctic area
0.125 for mountainous, very dry
but non-reflective areas
 System Reliability Estimates

Propagation Reliability for Diversity Systems:

R (1 U d iv ) x100%
where: Udiv = the path unavailability or U ndp
fade probability U d iv
I d iv
where: Idiv = the diversity improvement factor

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D. System Reliability Estimates

D.3. Equipment Reliability:

R (1 U ) x100%
where: U = unavailability or probability of outage

MTTR
U
MTBF
where: MTTR = mean time to repair
MTBF = mean time before failure
 E. Received Signal Level, RSL
It is the difference from the nominal transmitter
output, antenna transmit and receive gain, from
that of the fixed losses of transmit and receive
side and its path loss.

RSL Po(dBm) L G L G L
TX T FS R RX
where: LTX and LRX = transmitter and
receiver total insertion losses in dB
GT and GR = transmit and receive antenna
gains in dB
Fixed Microwave Links

Two kinds:
1. Analog terrestrial microwave link
a. FM systems
IF = 70 MHz
Uses narrowband
In FDM 6 GHz band, it can carry 300 to 600 channels
In FDM 12 GHz band, carries 600 to 1800 voice channels

Mixer Power Antenna

Amplifier
Baseband
input
Modulated IF Isolator
Pre-emphasis Oscillator Amplifier

Microwave
Oscillator

TRANSMITTER
 Antenna Mixer

Baseband
input
RF IF FM De-
Amplifier Amplifier Detector emphasis

Local
Oscillator

RECEIVER

REPEATER
f2 Frequen f1 f1 Frequen f2
Receive cy cy
Antenna Shifter Transmit Receive Shifter Transmit
Antenna Antenna Antenna
Frequen Frequen
f1 f2 f2 f1
cy cy
Transmit Receive
Shifter Shifter
antenna Transmit Antenna
Repeater Receive Repeater
Station A Antenna Antenna Station B
 b. Single-Sideband Systems uses IF=74.13MHz instead of 70MHz in FM

Digital Microwave System uses PSK, QAM

MDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System)

erates in 2 GHz
ernative to cable TV
ed for internet access

Microwave Downlink for

TV and Data Signals

Local TV
From Antenna
Transmitt
Headend Receiver
er
Network TV
From Satellite RF/Telephon
Receiver Internet
e
Gateway
Modem

Internet PSTN
Data Uplink via telephone
line
Local Microwave Distribution Systems (LMDS)
- uses 28 GHz frequency
- designed to be bidirectional not like MMDS

Video Downlink
Full-Duplex Data Link

Local TV
From Antenna
Transceiv
Headend Duplexer
er
Network TV
From Satellite
Receiver Set-top Box for
Transmitt Channel Selection
Receiver
er and D/A Conversion

Internet
Gateway Modem

Internet