SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

ECE 522F CASE STUDY

Design of a Microwave Link Using Double Passive

Repeaters

Submitted by:
Villanueva, Jerome Carlo I.

Submitted to:
Engr. Ireene Valencia PhD

Date
April 14, 2021
I. Introduction

A. Statement of the Problem.

This case study aims to design a microwave system link for identified terminal sites
which are initially found out to be not Line-of-Sight with each other. To provide a LOS link, the
design shall use close-coupled double passive repeaters. The case study shall comply with the
given design specifications for the link and shall be the best amongst other possible microwave
system links, whether using single passive or double passive repeaters.

This study shall be guided by the following questions:

1. What are the acceptable tower heights for the terminals?

2. What are the dimensions of the antenna and reflectors of the proposed Microwave
System Link using Closed-coupled Double Passive Repeaters?

3. How can the closed couple passive reflectors be positioned to avoid obstruction so
that it can relay signals effectively?

4. Would the proposed Microwave System Link using Close-coupled Double Passive
Repeaters be a better option than a system using a Single Repeater only, why or why
not?

B. Background of the study

Cervantes is a 4th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to
the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,573 people. The municipality is officially the Summer
Capital of Ilocos Sur. It has a relatively cooler climate than most of lowland Ilocos Sur due to its
geographical location and proximity to Mountain Province and Benguet. The municipality is home
to the Bessang Pass Natural Monument.
Cervantes was originally a small Igorot village of Mantamang. “Mantamang” means “to look
over.” It was a stopover for Igorot, Ilocano and Chinese merchants on their way to the inner
Cordillera. In 1879, residents of Mantamang requested to be recognized it as a town under the
Lepanto-Amburayan sub-province. Its name was changed to Cervantes, after famous Spanish poet
Miguel de Cervantes.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the municipality has a land area of 234.70
square kilometers or 90.62 square miles which constitutes 9.04% of Ilocos Sur's total area.
B.1 Site Conditions

B.1.1 Terminal Sites

This case study is for a selected area within Cervantes. The terminal sites are situated in the
towns of Kimposa and Tugabi, taking into consideration the following: (1) the number of
households to be served within a certain area, (2) accessibility of the sites to roads and (3) these
sites are not located on water, coastal areas, nor ricefields. Both terminal sites are able to satisfy
all conditions required in the case study.

The transmitter is located at Kimposa, with an actual elevation of 100 meters, with
coordinates: Latitude of 16o 59’4.56” N and Longitude of 120o 30’40.02” E. Meanwhile, the
receiver at Tugabi has an actual elevation of 500 meters, with coordinates: Latitude of 16 o
45’19.56” N and a Longitude of 120o 32’4.8” E.
B.1.2 Reflector Sites
The reflector sites are not situated in any named town or land but instead, are situated at
the far-left edge of Mount Libo-Libo, near the town of Laglagan. The aforementioned
considerations for terminal sites also apply to the reflector sites and all conditions for both
repeater sites were satisfied as well.
 The reflector site of BBA has an elevation of 1100 meters and is located at a latitude of 16 o
54’45.33” N and at a longitude of 120o 35’38.33” E. The included angle between Billboard A and
the transmitter is 30o.
Meanwhile, BBB has an elevation of 1000 meters, and is located at a latitude of 16 o 55’13.04
N and at a longitude of 120o 35’8.33” E. The included angle between Billboard B and the receiver
is 70o. The separation between the billboard sites is approximated to be 1 kilometer.

B.2 Path Conditions

B.2.1 Direct Path
The Direct Path between Transmitter and Receiver sites is obstructed. Since the terminal
sites have relatively low elevations of 100 meters at the Tx, and 500 meters at the Rx, the direct
path is therefore obstructed and cannot be used to propagate the signal.
B.2.2 Alternate Path
In order for the signal to be received, alternate paths must be considered. The study first
considered the use of a single passive repeater to link the chosen terminal sites, as it will be more
economical compared with the use of a double passive set-up. In two of these trials, billboards
were situated at peak points of 978 meters and 797 meters on the map, respectively.
However, these were eventually rejected due to the included angles being larger than
1300. The other trials were measured and although they were within the acceptable range for the
angle, they had several other issues associated with it. The billboard situated at 1110 meters was
observed to have a significant obstruction on the path towards the receiver. In the other two
trials, billboards were situated at peak points of 1115 meters and 930 meters. Though they had
no issues with either obstructions or angles, the path lengths were longer as compared with using
a double passive set-up.
Thus, it was determined that employing a double passive set-up using to link the two
terminal sites. A double passive reflector is used to bend the microwave signals away from the
high obstructive mountains. The first billboard has a direct line of sight with the transmitter and
with the second billboard. The second billboard has a direct line of sight with the receiver.
B.3 Parabolic Dish Antenna
A parabolic antenna is an antenna that utilizes a parabolic reflector, a curved surface with
the cross-sectional shape of a parabola, to direct the radio waves. The most common form is
shaped like a dish and is popularly called a dish antenna or parabolic dish. The main advantage of
a parabolic antenna is that it has high directivity. A criteria for the parabolic antenna is its height,
which should be in the range of 12 to 15 meters.

B.4 Passive Reflectors

 Passive repeater or passive radio link deflection, is a reflective or sometimes refractive
panel or other object that assists in closing a radio or microwave link, in places where an obstacle
in the signal path blocks any direct, line of sight communication. The tower where the passive
billboard would be mounted on should be within a height of 12 to 15 meters only. Its structure
must be able to properly support the billboard and withstand the load of force brought upon by
strong winds. The included angle for passive repeaters should not exceed 110 degrees. The gain is
dependent on the billboard area, frequency of the microwave link system and the included angle
of that particular billboard.
II. MICROWAVE SYSTEM DESIGN CALCULATIONS

A. Given Parameters:

Minimum Path Length between a terminal site and a billboard reflector = 10km
Maximum distance between billboards = 5 km
Maximum Included Angle = 110 degrees
Maximum distance between a site and access road = 500m
Fixed Losses (per terminal site):
Connector Loss = 0.25 dB
Radome Loss = 0.5 dB
Waveguide Loss = 1.5 dB/100’
Waveguide Length = +20ft to TH
Tower Height (TH) for Terminals = 12m-15m
Tower Height for Billboards = 12m-15m
mountainous, very rough terrain; normal, temperate climate
Reliability = 99.9985%
Ptx = 600mW
Practical Eb/No = 13.5dB
Bit Rate = 120 Mbps
NF = 5.25 dB
K = 4/3
f = 9 GHz

B. Corrected Elevation Table and PATH PROFILE

B.1 Transmitter to Receiver

Points d1, d2, AE, m H, m CE, m
km km
Tx-1 0 26.1 100 0 100
2 1.1 25 195 1.618 196.618
3 1.55 24.55 400 2.238 402.238
4 2.3 23.8 400 3.220 403.220
5 2.85 23.25 300 3.898 303.898
6 3.45 22.65 200 4.597 204.597
 7 4.35 21.75 200 5.565 205.565
8 5.15 20.95 300 6.347 306.347
9 5.55 20.55 300 6.709 306.709
10 6.1 20 200 7.176 207.176
11 9.75 16.35 100 9.377 109.377
12 11.35 14.75 100 9.848 109.848
13 12.85 13.25 100 10.015 110.015
14 14.8 11.3 100 9.838 109.838
15 15.05 11.05 100 9.783 109.783
16 15.5 10.6 300 9.665 309.665
17 16.25 9.85 200 9.415 209.415
18 16.6 9.5 100 9.276 109.276
19 17.35 8.75 100 8.930 108.930
20 17.75 8.35 200 8.718 208.718
21 18.05 8.05 300 8.547 308.547
22 18.45 7.65 400 8.303 408.303
23 19.2 6.9 400 7.793 407.793
24 20.1 6 100 7.094 107.094
25 20.55 5.55 100 6.709 106.709
26 21 5.1 200 6.300 206.300
27 21.35 4.75 300 5.965 305.965
28 22 4.1 400 5.306 405.306
29 22.65 3.45 500 4.597 504.597
30 23.1 3 600 4.076 604.076
31 23.85 2.25 600 3.157 603.157
Rx-32 26.1 0 500 0 500
 B.1. Transmitter to BillboardA

Poin d1, d2, AE, h, m CE, m

ts km km m
Tx-1 0 11.8 100 0 100
2 1.3 10.5 100 0.803 100.803
3 1.925 9.875 200 1.118 201.118
4 2.55 9.25 200 1.388 201.388
5 3.05 8.75 300 1.570 301.570
6 3.25 8.55 300 1.635 301.635
7 3.55 8.25 300 1.723 301.723
8 4.1 7.7 300 1.857 301.857
9 5.15 6.65 300 2.015 302.015
10 5.45 6.35 300 2.036 302.036
11 5.7 6.1 400 2.045 402.045
12 5.9 5.9 300 2.048 302.048
13 6.6 5.2 400 2.019 402.019
14 7 4.8 500 1.976 501.976
15 7.45 4.35 600 1.906 601.906
16 8.35 3.45 700 1.695 701.695
17 8.8 3 800 1.553 801.553
18 10 1.8 800 1.059 801.059
19 10.8 0.95 1000 0.606 1000.606
5
BBA 11.8 0 1100 0 1100
 BBA to BBB

Points d1, km d2, km AE, m h, m CE, m

Bba- 0 1 1100 0 1100
1
2 0.2 0.8 970 0.009 970.009
3 0.225 0.775 960 0.010 960.010
4 0.25 0.75 960 0.011 960.011
5 0.3 0.7 940 0.012 940.012
6 0.35 0.65 940 0.013 940.013
7 0.45 0.55 960 0.015 960.015
8 0.5 0.5 960 0.015 960.015
9 0.6 0.4 900 0.014 900.014
10 0.65 0.35 900 0.013 900.013
11 0.75 0.25 870 0.011 870.011
12 0.8 0.2 850 0.009 850.009
BBb- 1 0 1000 0 1000
13
 B.1. BBB to Rx

Poin d1, d2, AE, H, m CE, m

ts km km m
BBb- 0 18.95 1000 0 1000
1
2 1.2 17.75 900 1.253 901.253
3 1.7 17.25 900 1.725 901.725
4 2.35 16.6 800 2.295 802.295
5 2.6 16.35 700 2.501 702.501
6 3.35 15.6 600 3.074 603.074
7 3.6 15.35 600 3.251 603.251
8 4 14.95 500 3.518 503.518
9 4.6 14.35 500 3.883 503.883
10 5.1 13.85 400 4.155 404.155
11 5.45 13.5 300 4.328 304.328
12 5.9 13.05 200 4.529 204.529
13 6.4 12.55 300 4.725 304.725
14 6.65 12.3 400 4.811 404.811
15 6.85 12.1 500 4.876 504.876
16 7.05 11.9 600 4.935 604.935
17 7.25 11.7 700 4.990 704.990
18 7.9 11.05 600 5.135 605.135
19 8.45 10.5 500 5.219 505.219
20 8.95 10 400 5.265 405.265
21 9.475 9.475 400 5.281 405.281
22 10.05 8.9 400 5.261 405.261
23 10.4 8.55 500 5.231 505.231
24 10.75 8.2 400 5.185 405.185
25 12.2 6.75 200 4.844 204.844
26 12.5 6.45 200 4.743 204.743
27 13.25 5.7 500 4.443 504.443
28 13.65 5.3 600 4.256 604.256
29 14.5 4.45 600 3.796 603.796
30 14.75 4.2 520 3.644 523.644
31 15.1 3.85 300 3.420 303.420
32 15.35 3.6 200 3.251 203.251
33 17 1.92 500 1.92 501.92
Rx- 18.95 0 500 0 500
34
E. DATA PATH SHEET

Tx BBA BBB Rx
1 Site Name Kimposa Billboard A at the Billboard B at the Tugabi
far-left edge of far-left edge of
Mt. Libo-Libo Mt. Libo-Libo
2 Latitude 16o59’4.56” N o
16 54’45.33” N 16o55’13.04 N 16o45’19.56” N
3 Longitude 120o30’40.02” E 120o35’38.33” E 120o35’8.33” E 120o32’4.8” E
4 Actual Elevation 100 m 1100 m 1000 m 500 m
5 Tower Height 12.078 m 12.078 m 12.132 m 12.132 m
6 Path Length 11.842 km 1.005 km 18.957 km
7 Path FSLi 132.995 dB 111.570 dB 137.082 dB
AAL 0.125 dB 0.011 dB 0.2 dB
8 Total Path Loss 381.983 dB
9 Waveguide Loss 0.894 dB 0.891 dB 0.897 dB
10 Connector Loss 0.25 dB 0.25 dB 0.25 dB
11 Radome Loss 0.5 dB 0.5 dB 0.5 dB
12 Total Fixed Loss 4.932 dB
13 Total Loss 386.915 dB
14 Transmit Power, -2.218 dB
PT
15 Bit Rate 120 Mbps
16 Practical Eb/No 13.5 dB
17 Rx NF 5.25 dB
18 Reliability 99.9985%
19 Rx Threshold, -105.975 dB
RSLmin
20 Fade Margin, FM 28.596 dB
21 Received Power, -77.379 dBW
PR
22 System Gain 103.757 dB
23 Total Gain 311.754 dB
24 Individual Gain 50.402 dB 106.191 dB 104.759 dB 50.402 dB
25 Dish/BB Size 4.741 m 4.336m x 4.336m 4.336m x 4.336m 4.741 m
26 NPL -71.314 dB

E. CALCULATIONS Path Length

Tx to BBA

Path Length = √11.82 + 12 = 11.842km

BBA to BBB

Path Length = √12 + 0.12 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 km

III. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:

IV. CONTOUR MAP:

Tx (Kimposa)

BBB

BBA

Rx (Tugabi)