Shure Master Class

Wireless Best Practices and Techniques

V2.1

At the end of this training you should be able to:

01. Describe the operating principles of radio transmission

02. Describe the attributes and advantages of digital RF systems

03. Position antennas for best results

04. Perform a scan and identify interference

05. Correctly design RF systems with coordination tools and

techniques

1
 1. The Importance of 7. Frequency Coordination
Wireless Audio 8. Antennas
2. RF Fundamentals 9. Antenna Placement
3. Spectrum Update 10. Cabling
4. Analog RF transmission 11. Antenna Distribution and
5. Audio processing large systems
6. Digital RF transmission 12. Summary and exam

Ground Rules

PARTICIPATION
Questions are welcome at any
time during the class

BREAKS
Every 1.5 hours and excuse
yourself as needed

CERTIFICATION
Notes and slides can be used
during the exam to obtain
certification

2
 Up-to-date spectrum Product user guide Online training, exams,
information on your database: and certificates:
regional Shure pubs.shure.com https://shureucanz-
website shure.talentlms.com

Wireless Workbench FAQ database Periodic instructor-led

6 YouTube videos Master Class: Wireless
presentations

MODULE 1
The Importance of Wireless Audio

3
The big picture
Global mobile data growth rate of 81% for 2013
Video exceeds 50% of traffic for the first time
2013 mobile data was 18x the total internet in 2000
Mobile devices exceed world’s population in 2014
US Federal government is in a global competition to find and allocate new spectrum
for mobile broadband

A New Frontier

4
The Early Years

The Vagabond Wireless System

5
Concerts and Live Events

The Olympics

6
Award Ceremonies

Sporting Events

7
Sporting Events

Rental

8
Public Address

Television

9
Reality Shows

Studio Broadcast News

10
Field Reporting (ENG)

Theater

11
House of Worship

Corporate

12
 Challenges in Wireless Today
Wireless landscape Client expectations

MODULE 2
RF Fundamentals

13
 Introduction to Radio
Transmission
• A transmitter processes an audio signal and
sends it out over a radio wave
• The receiver picks up the radio wave and
processes it back to an audio signal

Radio Wave
Properties Electrical
• Electro-magnetic radiation
gn e tic
• Travel at speed of light Ma
• Can travel through a vacuum
• Minimal power needed for long
range travel

14
Wavelength Properties

1 Wavelength (length of 1 full cycle)

2 Amplitude (signal strength)

3 Frequency (number of cycles per second)

Calculating Wavelengths
Speed of Light (c) = Frequency (f) x Wavelength (l)
or, l = c / f
c=3x 108 m/s (9.8 x 108 ft/s)
f = frequency (MHz)
l = wavelength (m or ft)

VHF UHF “Wi-Fi”

MHz 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 2400 5000
Meters 3.0 1.5 1.0 0.75 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.35 0.3 0.1 0.06
Feet 9.8 4.9 3.3 2.5 2.0 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.1 0.4 0.2

15
How Obstacles Affect the wireless
signal
Wavelengths smaller than the object are blocked (reflected)

Metal obstacle

Wavelength

How obstacles affect the wireless

signal
Wavelengths larger than the object are not blocked

Metal obstacle
Wavelength

16
How openings affect the wireless
signal
Wavelengths smaller than the opening are not blocked

Metal obstacle

Wavelength

Opening

How openings affect the wireless

signal
Wavelengths larger than the opening are blocked (reflected)

Metal obstacle

Wavelength

Opening

17
 Wavelengths across the
electromagnetic spectrum

Radio spectrum – U.S.A.

300 kHz

Mo r
e
Larg distanc
er a e
nten
na

M
Sma ore da
ller a ta
nten
na

500 GHz

18
A Closer look at UHF bands

Operating bands in the U.S.A.

VHF UHF DECT “Wi-Fi”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

MHz 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 2400 5000

Broadcast
Consumer

19
MODULE 3
Operating Spectrum and
Local RF Landscape

MODULE 4
Analog RF Transmission

20
Transmitting audio over RF
Modulation enables RF waves to carry information (audio, video, etc.):
• A carrier signal is set to a transmitting frequency
• A baseband signal (audio, video, other content) is the modulating signal
• The modulating signal alters the carrier signal

How modulation works

Carrier signal
Ex: 470 MHz

Method
Ex: Frequency Modulation (FM)

Baseband (input) signal

Ex: voice, saxophone, keyboard

Modulated radio signal

21
Comparing analog RF modulation

Amplitude modulation

Carrier signal

Frequency modulation
Baseband signal

Phase modulation

Amplitude
modulation (AM)
The amplitude of the carrier wave is varied in
proportion to the modulating signal.

Limitations in pro audio due to:

• Large transmission loss
• Limited bandwidth
• Susceptibility to noise

22
Viewing AM signals

Phase Modulation (PM)

The phase of the carrier wave is varied in proportion to the modulating signal.
• Not used commonly for analog systems
• Used widely in digital systems (PSK)

23
 Frequency
Modulation (FM)
The frequency of the carrier wave
is varied in proportion to the
modulating signal.

Used in many analog pro devices:

• FM radio, analog TV audio
• Synthesizers
• Computer sound cards
• Shure analog wireless systems

Viewing FM signals

24
 Deviation in FM signals

Amplitude
Amplitude

Frequency

f0 f
(f0 - deviation) 0 (f0 + deviation)
Frequency

Unmodulated FM
Modulated FM
f0 carrier signal
f0 +/- deviation l

MODULE 5
Signal Processing

25
 Noise in analog RF systems

Signal at transmitter Signal with noise at receiver

Audio Process RF processing RF processing Audio process

Audio processing
• Noise reduction: emphasis equalization
• Dynamic range improvement: companding systems
• Analog and digital processing options

26
Noise reduction
Transmitter processing Receiver processing

Pre-emphasis De-emphasis

Companding processing
Transmitter Receiver
RF signal +20 dB
+10 dB
0 dB
-10 dB
-20 dB
50 dB -30 dB
n:1 1:n
-40 dB
100 dB 100 dB -50 dB
-60 dB
-70 dB
- 80 dB
Maximum level
Noise floor

27
Audio Process Transmit Receive Audio process

RF processing
• RF transmission: Modulation and de-modulation
• RF signal improvement
• Frequency multiplying and down-conversion
• Squelch

Transmitter block diagram

Audio Radio

Audio input Preamp Pre-emphasis Compressor VCO RF amp

Frequency and
phase controller

28
Receiver block diagram

Radio
Radio Intermediate
Intermediate Frequency
frequency Audio
Audio

Front-
Front-end Mixer
Mixer IF filter
filter Amplifier
Amplifier Demodulator
Demodulator Expander
Expander De-emphasis
De-emphasis Amplifier
Amplifier Audio output
Audio
filter output
end filter
(10.7 MHz typical)

Frequency and Local

Frequency and Local
phasephase oscilator
controller oscillator
controller

Front-End Filter
Prevents signal interference from outside this range
Track tuning: Filter follows selected frequency

Filter window

Operating frequency

29
 IF filter
selectivity
Each system must operate on
a unique frequency
Frequencies must be at least
0.3 to 1.5 MHz apart
Minimum spacing = receiver
selectivity (IF Filter)

Squelch: Preventing unwanted noise

The squelch circuit mutes the audio output in the absence of the desired radio signal.
• Prevents unwanted RF noise at the receiver audio output
• Harsh white noise from interference
• Mechanical noise from transmitter on/off button
• Used in both analog and digital systems:
• Analog squelch: Audio noise floor and RF level
• Digital squelch: RF errors and bit rate

30
 How squelch works
Threshold squelch Noise squelch

RF signal and

AF noise level
noise
RF level

Squelch threshold

RF signal and Squelch threshold

noise

Frequency (RF) Frequency (AF)

Tone key Tone key off

squelch
A special tone (32 kHz) allows only
audio from a Shure transmitter

Carries additional information:

• Battery level
• Transmitter power level
• Transmitter audio gain settings Tone key on
• Transmitter lock settings

31
Multipath interference
Reflective surface

Direct signal

Indirect signal

Multipath interference on the signal

Transmitter movement Antenna signal

32
Passive
combining
A B
A passive antenna combiner is
not true diversity.

Passive combiner

Receiver

Predictive
antenna
switching A B

diversity
Antenna switch

Receiver Predictive
comparator

33
Receiver
switching
diversity A B

Receiver Receiver

Audio switch

Receiver
combining
diversity A B

Receiver Receiver

Audio combiner

34
True Digital Diversity
Will Use All Good Data From Any RF Line-ups

Quadversity Mode

A C B D

A B C D A B C D

Channel 1 Channel 3

35
 MODULE 6
Digital RF Transmission

Analog Digital

Analog and digital combinations

• Audio and radio signals
• Signal processing
• Control or display

36
 Digital modulation methods
Method Analog name Digital name
Amplitude AM – Amplitude Modulation ASK – Amplitude Shift Keying
Frequency FM – Frequency Modulation FSK – Frequency Shift Keying
Phase PM – Phase Modulation PSK – Phase Shift Keying

Shift key = refers to the discrete values of

a binary signal

Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)

Digital baseband signal

Modulated carrier signal

37
Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)

Digital baseband signal

Modulated carrier signal

Phase Shift Keying (PSK)

Digital baseband signal

Modulated carrier signal

38
 Why RF noise doesn’t
affect digital audio
1. Receiver analyses signal with noise
2. Calculates, at each symbol time (Ts), which
of the possible phase orientations was sent
3. Uses that information to recover the audio
bit stream signal, discards noise

Typical digital modulation spectra

2FSK 8PSK
Two Frequency Shift Keying Eight Phase Shift Keying

39
 Digital transmitter block diagram

Audio Radio

Audio Preamp ADC DSP DAC VCO RF Amp

Input
Audio Data

Programmable
Frequency Divider
and PLL Controller

Digital receiver block diagram

Radio Intermediate Audio

frequency

Front- Mixer IF filter Amplifier ADC DSP DAC Amplifier Audio output
end filter
Data Audio
(10.7 MHz typical)

Programmable Local
Frequency Divider oscillator
and PLL Controller

40
Sampling

Audio signal
Digital approximation

4-bit depth = 16 values

Bit rate

Bit Depth Sample Rate Bits per second Bit Rate

16 48 kHz 768,000 0.768 Mbps
24 48 kHz 1,152,000 1.152 Mbps
24 96 kHz 2,304,000 2.304 Mbps

41
 Audio as data
1 Bit: 2 States 2 Bits: 4 States 3 Bits: 8 States 4 Bits: 16 States
2-Bit Total MS 3-Bit Total
Bit Value 1-Bit Total MSB LSB LSB MSB LSB 4-Bit Total
B
1 2 1 4 2 1 8 4 2 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1

1 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 2

1 1 3 0 1 1 3 0 0 1 1 3

1 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 4

1 0 1 5 0 1 0 1 5

1 1 0 6 0 1 1 0 6

1 1 1 7 0 1 1 1 7

1 0 0 0 8

1 0 0 1 9

1 0 1 0 10

1 0 1 1 11

1 1 0 0 12

1 1 0 1 13

1 1 1 0 14

1 1 1 1 15

Symbol coding
• Symbol coding transmits more than 1 bit per cycle
• Required bandwidth = bit rate ÷ bits-per-symbol
• More bits-per-symbol = less required bandwidth

2-FSK 4-PSK 8-PSK 16-QAM

1 bit 2 bit 3 bit 4 bit

42
2-PSK Symbol Coding: 1 bit/symbol
Q

I
180°= 0 0°= 1

4-PSK Symbol Coding: 2 bits/symbol

Q
90°= 0 1

I
180°= 0 0 0°= 1 1

270°= 1 0

43
8-PSK Symbol Coding: 3 bits/symbol
Q
90°= 0 1 0

135°= 0 1 1 45°= 1 1 0

I
180°= 0 0 1 0°= 1 1 1

225°= 0 0 0 305°= 1 0 1

270°= 1 0 0

16-QAM Symbol Coding: 4 bits/symbol

Q

1100 1111
1101 1110

1000 1001 1010 1011

I

0100 0101 0110 0111

0001 0010
0000 0011

44
How 16-QAM Works
Q

1100 1111
1101 1110

1000 1001 1010 1011

I

0100 0101 0110 0111

0001 0010
0000 0011

Symbol coding with errors

Q

45
 When bit errors occur
• BER increases predictably with symbol coding
(more data per second)
• Minimum acceptable BER determines squelch
• Additional BER sources:
• RF noise
Value sent • Multipath interference
• Fading
Value received • Non-linearity of RF circuits
• Low RF power

Carrier-to-Noise (CNR) Ratio

Similar to signal-to-noise (S/N), but for a modulated RF signal

In analog systems In digital systems

• Baseband audio S/N and the • Baseband audio S/N and the
CNR are directly related CNR are not related
• As S/N degrades, so does the • A lower CNR may not impact on
CNR, and vice versa the audio

46
CNR affect on RF signals
Digital Analog

No loss
Percentage of signal loss

Muted

Data compression

• Lossless vs lossy compression

• How lossy compression is achieved
• Shure low-latency CODEC
• Other examples of lossy compression with
low or no imperceptibility

47
Encryption

AES 256- or 128-bit encryption

Conforms to government standards
No known computational weakness
Additional benefit of ensuring that a
receiver will only pass audio from its
intended transmitter.

Latency
• Time delay from processing and
digital/analog conversions
• Combining original and processed audio
can create phase issues
• Cumulative: Digital wireless + digital mixer +
digital processor…
• Shorter is better (less than 5 ms ideally)
• Inherent con with digital - no latency with
analog gear

48
Spectrum efficiency analog vs digital
9 transmitters placed more than 2 m (6 ft.) apart

Analog Digital

Spectrum efficiency analog vs digital

9 transmitters placed less than 20 cm (8 in.) apart

Analog Digital

49
Designing Efficient Systems
Good system design is critical for efficiency:
• The linearity of the RF amplifier in the transmitter
• Selectivity of the RF filters in receivers
• Allowing programing of frequencies on an equidistant grid

Spectral
efficiency
in digital
systems

50
High density mode

10 mW to 1 mW
-10dB

200 kHz
Standard 125 kHz
Mode HD Mode

350 kHz

Spectrum
in high-
density
mode

51
 Audio advantages in
digital systems
• Wider, flatter frequency response
• Extended dynamic range
• No companding artifacts

MODULE 7
Antennas

52
Antenna properties

Transmitter out:
Receiver in:

Visualizing electricity in an antenna

Current Flow

53
Antenna design basics
• Antenna size proportional to wavelength
• Pickup patterns
• Wideband and narrowband options
• Forward gain and active amplification

A variety of antenna designs

Antenna length
Length is proportional to wavelength
VHF (170-216 MHz) wavelength ~ 5 feet
UHF (470-600 MHz) wavelength ~ 2 feet
Different lengths are available:
½ wave
¼ wave

VHF UHF

54
½ Wave Antennas
Sensitivity

Maximum
¼ Minimum

Ground plane

½ Wave ¼ Wave

½ and ¼ Wave Antennas

Sensitivity

Maximum
¼ Minimum

Ground plane

½ Wave ¼ Wave

55
Pickup patterns
Omnidirectional

Side view Overhead view

Pickup patterns
Directional 90
10
120 60
5

-5

150 -10 30

-15

-20

-25

180 0

210 330

240 300

270

Overhead view
____Vertical Polarization
------- Horizontal Polarization

56
Pickup patterns
Half-cardioid

Pickup patterns
Helical

57
Narrowband and wideband antennas

Narrowband: Wideband:
Up to 150 MHz up to 600 MHz

Forward gain
RF gain is included in the antenna design.
Non-adjustable, fixed amount
• UA864: 3 dBi
• PA805/ UA874: 7 dBi
• HA-8089: 14 dBi

58
Active antennas
• Onboard amplifier to compensate
for signal loss through cabling
• Attenuation to offset forward gain
• 4 settings: -6, 0, +6 or +12 dB

Choosing the right antenna

Use omnidirectional antennas for…
Largest coverage area
Distance generally good for at least 30 m (100 ft)

Use directional antennas for…

Long distances (over 100 ft)
Smaller, more targeted coverage area
Increased rejection of interference sources and multipath effects

Active antennas for…

To compensate for long cable runs

59
MODULE 8
Antenna Placement

Antenna orientation for best pickup

90 degrees

60
Avoid parallel surfaces
Includes walls, the rack, and other antennas

Transmitter to receiver antenna

spacing

> 3 m (10 feet)

61
Receiver antenna to antenna spacing
Recommended: >1 wavelength
Minimum: >¼ wavelength

Antenna spacing with in-ear monitors

Position receive antennas behind the transmitter antennas

> 2 m (6.5 feet)

IEM Tx

62
 Placing antennas above obstacles

Body attenuation
Receiver

Bodypack transmitter on
performer’s back

63
Antenna
Symmetry

No requirement for symmetry in antenna configuration:

• Using different types can be an advantage
• Cables can be different lengths (add gain when
needed)

Find the
mistake
The following slides show
installations that are not
following best practices.
Can you find the mistake
in each one?

64
Metal caging
The openings in the metal cage are too small to allow RF waves to pass.

Metal fencing
The openings in the metal fence are too small to allow RF waves to pass.

65
 Antennas
in the rack

Minimum Minimum
spacing spacing
requirements
requirements

66
 Careful with
hidden
antennas
As a general rule, maintain
line of sight between the
transmitter and receiver

Best
Practices
Checklist
q Place above audience or
other obstructions
q Place as close to
transmitters as practical
(be careful of overloading
the receiver’s front end)
q Place away from other
sources of interference
q Use directionality
appropriately

67
MODULE 9
RF Cables

RF Cable
RG58C/U
Specifications
• 50 Ω coaxial cable
• Signal loss occurs in cables and connectors
• <5 dB of loss through the cable is
acceptable
RG213/U • Avoid over-amplification

68
Shure Cables Loss Comparison @ VHF/UHF
Model Length General Trade Type Loss @ Loss @
feet (meters) Type 200 MHz 600 MHz
UA802 2 ft. (0.6 m) RG58C/U Belden 8262 0.1 dB 0.2 dB
UA806 6 ft. (1.8 m) RG58C/U Belden 8262 0.3 dB 0.5 dB
PA725 10 ft. (3.0 m) RG58C/U Belden 8262 0.5 dB 1.0 dB
UA825 25 ft. (7.6 m) RG8x/U Belden 9258 1.1 dB 2.3 dB
UA850 50 ft. (15.2 m) RG8x/U Belden 9258 2.4 dB 4.7 dB
UA8100 100 ft. (30.5 m) RG213/U Belden 8267 3.1 dB 6.2 dB
Figures are measured by Shure

Shure Cables Loss Comparison @ 2.4 GHz

Model Length General Trade Type Loss @
feet (meters) Type (Times Microwave) 2.4 GHz
UA802-RSMA 2 ft. (0.6 m) RG8x/U LMR-240 1.0 dB
UA806-RSMA 6 ft. (1.8 m) RG8x/U LMR-240 1.0 dB
95C31342 10 ft. (3.0 m) RG8x/U LMR-240 1.5 dB
UA825-RSMA 25 ft. (7.6 m) RG8x/U LMR-240 3.3 dB
UA850-RSMA 50 ft. (15.2 m) RG8x/U LMR-240 6.4 dB
UA8100-RSMA 100 ft. (30.5 m) RG213/U LMR-400 6.8 dB

Figures are manufacturer's specifications

69
Low-Loss Cables Comparison per 30 m (100 ft)
VHF/UHF/2.4G Hz
General Type Trade Type Loss Loss Loss
200 MHz 600 2.4
MHz GHz
RG58C/U Belden 8262 7.3 dB 15.0 dB 42 dB
RG8x/U Belden 9258 4.5 dB 8.0 dB 27 dB
RG8/U Belden 8214 2.6 dB 5.2 dB 15 dB
RG213/U Belden 8267 2.7 dB 5.8 dB 15 dB
RG8x/U (low loss) Times Microwave LMR-240 3.5 dB 6.1 dB 13 dB
RG8/U (low loss) Belden 9913 1.8 dB 3.1 dB 7.2 dB
RG213/U (low loss) Times Microwave LMR-400 1.8 dB 3.1 dB 6.8 dB
Figures are manufacturer's specifications

Antenna amplifiers for long cables

70
BNC-In-Line Power Supply
Powers three in-line amplifiers (Shure UA834), or two in-line amplifiers and one
active antenna (Shure UA874).

B A

Calculating Antenna System Gain

A simple matter of addition and subtraction:

Antenna gain -6 to +12 dB

+ Amplifier gain
– Cable loss
– Split loss
-7dB
Example scenario
= +/- 5 dB
+6 or +12 dB

- 4 dB

71
MODULE 10
Antenna Distribution and
Large Installations

3 important
considerations

1. Using more than 3 systems?

2. Are there hidden/remote receivers?
3. Require long range operation?

72
Antenna
Distribution
• Prevents interference
between closely-spaced
receiver antennas
• Reduces equipment and
cabling needed
• Use 1 set of antennas for
multiple receivers

Antenna
splitters
Passive splitter feeds one pair
of antennas to 2 diversity
receivers
Active splitter feeds one pair of
antennas to 4-5 diversity
receivers

73
 Passive splitter/
combiner

• Reversible design enables splitting or

combining RF signals
• 10 − 1000 MHz
• Maximum input level: +30 dBm
UA221
• Loss = 3.5 dB
• 2 per kit

Passive distribution – 1 Level

B A

74
 Shure Antenna Distribution Amplifiers

UA845UWB

UA844+SW

Active distribution – 1 level

B A

75
Active distribution – 2 levels

B A

Active Distribution (>2 distros)

B A

76
RF cascade distribution

B A

Antenna distribution checklist

q Keep gain and loss to +/- 5 dB
q Use as few antennas as practical
q Specify quality wireless systems for receiver RF performance
q Calculate the RF gain structure of the antenna system

77
B A Multi-Room
Antenna
Distribution

Multi-Room Antenna Distribution

Room A Room B Room C

Equipment
Rack

B A

78
Distributed Antenna System
Schematic

Multi-room antenna distribution

Room 1 Room 2
Equipment
“B” “A” Rack
“B” “A”

°
“A” “B”

DC
supply

“B” “A” “B” “A”

Room 3 Room 4

= UA221 (modified for DC to both legs)

= bias T (necessary for more two amplifiers per line)
= UA830WB

79
 B

Large area
antenna coverage

Active Receive Antenna Combiners

• Will combine multiple receive antennas into one output
• Close to unity gain/loss signal combining
• Two required for diversity
• DC bias for active devices (requires service modification)

80
 Large-scale antenna combining

A B

MODULE 11
Introduction to Frequency Coordination

81
 The basics:

1. Use unique frequencies

2. Consider total wireless needs
3. Coordinate frequencies

What is
frequency
coordination?
A system design with coordinated frequencies for all
wireless devices for the event in order to avoid:
• Outside interference
• System-to-system interference

82
Operating
Range
• Distance between receiver
and 1st dropout
• Assumes clear line-of-
sight in ideal conditions

RF propagation loss
Transmitter @ 10mW Pout and at 500MHz operating frequency

83
 More noise means less range

540 MHz 550 MHz 560 MHz

RF Noise Floor

Channel 25 Channel 26 Channel 27 Channel 28 Channel 29

Operating 500 ft. 100 ft. 10 ft.
Range:

Site survey

84
 Potential sources of RF interference

Wireless Digital
systems systems

Avoiding Active TV Channels

Broadcast TV stations
Outdoors within 50-60 miles
Indoors within 30-40 miles

Different channels in different cities

85
Wireless
Frequency
Finder
www.shure.com/frequency

Regional TV Channels
Listed on the Shure
Website

86
 Identifying TV Channels - Scanning

Using a scanner

• View the RF landscape

• Avoid sources of
interference

Many scanner options:

• RF Explorer
• WinRadio G33WSM
• TTI-PSA 5 Series
• Axient Spectrum
Manager
• Any Shure Receiver with
WWB6

87
Noise floor
during a
scan

Clean
Noise
Floor

88
 Noisy
RF area

TV
channels

89
Two-way
radio

LED wall
no image

90
 LED wall
with image

Using Unique Frequencies

91
Linear vs. non-linear circuits

Linear circuit

2 transmitters

175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210

Nonlinear circuit

Intermodulation Distortion
When can create intermodulation frequencies can occur when 2 or more transmitters
in close proximity without frequency coordination

92
2 Transmitters (3rd Order)

3 Transmitters (3rd Order)

93
2 & 3 Transmitters (3rd Order)

Intermodulation with additional

transmitters
Intermodulation products
Frequencies
N (N-1)
1 0
2 2
3 6
4 12
5 20
6 30
7 42

94
Analog vs Digital Intermodulation

Analog Digital

Frequency
coordination to
minimize intermod
effects
• Groups & channels method
• Custom compatible frequency list

95
 Preset groups and channels
Channels are pre-selected to work best for
multiple systems
Ch: 01

Group Ch: 02

Channel Ch: 03

Ch: 04

Custom compatibility lists

Using Wireless Workbench to
coordinate frequencies
Calculate a “custom” compatible
frequency set:
• Observe minimum channel-to-
channel spacing
• Observe minimum channel-to-
intermod spacing
• Avoid DTV interference

96
MODULE 12
Summary and exam

Recap
Control the RF noise floor where possible
- Compatibility and frequency coordination
- Avoid primary and secondary sources of RF interference
Proper antenna placement
- Follow recommended distances
- Always use antenna distribution systems if needed
- Cables type can be crucial!

97
One Two Three Four Five

98