Design principles for fixed wireless Access Solutions

Participants: Manji Rajabu J, Panga James, Lemeri David, Permena Christian J, Mushi Calvin
Godwin, Stephen Charles.
,
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM, COLLEGE OF INFORMAION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
TE 413: Introduction to Telecommunication Networks poster assignment T

INTRODUCTION
When designing a fixed wireless communication system the first step is to
identify an engineering problem.
After the discovering the problem the stages of designing are site selection,
site survey, path profiling, path analysis, frequency, equipment selection,
installation and performance monitoring

Path profiling

Equipment selection

This is a graphical representation of the physical features of the propagation

path in a vertical plane containing both end points of the path showing a
surface of the earth and including buildings, trees and other features that
may obstruct the radial signals

The equipment selection is done by considering the frequency planning and

data obtained from the site survey
Examples
Antenna type according to the frequency obtained and technology

Path profile is drawn using a software where you enter both sites GPS
coordinate examples software GL communications path profile tool and
global mapper.

Cables type according to the requirement

Image showing
path profile from
the global
Mapper.

Site Selection

Choosing the suitable geographical location at each end of the link

consideration:

Attitude from the sea level

Site accessibility

Clear line of site between antennas

Fresnel zone

is an imaginary ellipsoid which surrounds the straight line path between the antenna
the antenna should be high enough to allow the first Fresnel zone to clear hills,
buildings and trees
Earth Bulge

consideration of the earth curvature when planning for paths longer than
approximately 7miles
addition height AH

2
8

D = path distance in miles

Site Survey
Things to consider when performing site survey

Where to place the equipment

Power selection
Cable path and dimensions
Antenna height
Site photos
Site layout
Antenna location and mounting
Lightning and Grounding
Power availability

Installation

Path Analysis

Involves determination of the theoretical system performance along the proposed path
Things to consider wind, rain, fog, and atmospheric absorption and their effect to the link
performance
Also the losses must considered during the path analysis most common losses are
Fade margin is a extra signal power added to a given radial link to ensure that the link
will continue working if it suffers signal propagation effect
= system gain + antenna gain + Free space path loss + Cable loss.

Proper mounting of equipment and cable alignment.

Configuration, specify radio operating band TX and
Rx frequency.
Link testing.

cable loss - is a RF energy when carried between antenna and radial equipment
through cable
free space path loss is signal energy lost in a traversing a path in free space only
with no other obstruction
Attenuation in dB = 96.6 + 20 LOG10D+ 20 LOG10F
System gain is arithmetic difference between transmitters output power and the
receivers sensitivity threshold
System gain = transmit power Receiver sensitivity
Antenna gain relative measure of an antennas ability to direct or concentrate radial
frequency energy in a particular direction or pattern, expressed in dBi.

Frequency Planning

Performance monitoring

Frequency planning is the process of assigning frequencies, transmitter

locations and parameters of a wireless communications system to provide
sufficient coverage and capacity for services required.

Definition: - Is the use of logging and analysis tools to accurately

determine traffic flow, utilization, throughput and other performance
indicators on a network.

Frequencies are requested from the communication regulatory authority for

example in Tanzania is TCRA.

How to monitor performance of a network?

The transmit frequency from one end is a receiving frequency on the other
end.

CPU and RAM usage by running system processes.

The frequency re use is done by using the same frequency with different
polarization (vertical or horizontal).

Fan speed, temperature and system voltages

Peak usage time
Traffic routing
Security-Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
Usage-based network billing.