Microwave Radio Antenna Site Planning SP 6180

Audience

This course is for anyone involved in microwave communications from those just starting out, those specifying and
designing, through to the actual installation engineers. It has been designed to ensure that the student understands the
components involved in creating a successful microwave link and the possible scenarios that need to be considered
in this process. It aims to help identify possible areas of interference and where to obtain the informative and legal
information required to make this process run as smoothly as possible.

Pre-requisite experience

No pre-requisite experience is required to take this course as the subjects covered will be of interest to anyone
working in the microwave field although some of the lessons are quite technical and having some prior knowledge
might be advantageous.

Objectives

To help the student understand some of the aspects and criteria involved in microwave link planning
Look at microwave backhaul and the advantages over fiber or copper cabling
Discuss the regulatory bodies and available frequencies together with planning and documents required to
be submitted to the local authorities
Show different methods of configuration of the radio equipment to provide optimum performance
Review modulation techniques required for differing scenarios and reliability requirements
Look at different tower options depending on location and environment
Help identify the correct transmission line types and understanding the performance differences between
antennas
Investigate microwave paths and help understand losses as a result of reflection, absorption and diffraction
Discuss Fresnel zones, look at terrain and how obstacles can interfere with the quality of transmission
Look at site planning. Where do the towers need to be situated? Is this a feasible site? Looking at the
topography and possible complications and sources of interference
Understanding line of site surveys and why they should be completed
Insuring the reliability of the path
Investigate interference calculations mathematically to insure the link is viable

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Key Topics

Microwave backhaul - Microwave v Fiber - Electromagnetic spectrum - Frequencies and allocation.

Licensing - interference and environments - Atmospheric affects and modulation
Propagation - Radio equipment - Indoor or Outdoor units and differences
Transmission Theory Bandwidth - Bit Error rates Thresholds Automatic Transmitter Power Control
Modulation Schemes Adaptive Coding and Modulation - Mean Square Error
Towers guyed and self-supporting Transmission Lines - Waveguide and Coax
Antennas Antenna gain Beamwidth Discrimination Radiation patterns
Network performance Antenna compliance Polarization - RF Leakage Moisture Ingress
Corrosive and Climatic Environments - Wind Profiles Geographic Locations
Class 4 Antennas Performance Coverage
Microwave paths Diffraction Dispersion Reflection Free Space Propagation
Atmospheric Absorption Fresnel Zones Obstructions Terrain Effects Influences including terrain,
fog and rain
RF Propagation K factor Earth Profiles Path Clearances
Site Selection and Planning Terrain Hazards Planning External Interference Flooding Proximity
to airports Mapping iQ-link
Field Surveys Line of Sight Records and reports Path co-ordinates Azimuths and Distances Path
tests
Path reliability Fading Fade Margin Multipath Outage Climate Factor Space Diversity Rain
Rate
Interference Calculations & Objectives

How will I learn?

You will study this course online in a self-paced format. The course is made up of a number of webcast lessons and
online multiple choice assessments giving immediate feedback. The course content is supplemented by some PDF
support material. It is highly recommended that the student augment their learning with real world design and
installation experience, preferably with the help experienced colleagues or mentors.

Successful completion will require:

Any level of pass in the accumulative overall assessment score. Is this the right course for me? If you have an
interest in microwave planning and need to understand all the components involved to make a successful link, then
this course is for you. The course does look at some advanced topics related to microwave path interference and
reliability, so having a basic understanding of this medium might be helpful.

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Upon su
uccessful co
ompletion you
y will:
Receive a course
c certificaate that may bee self-printed.

This course is part of the Infrastructure Specialist Cerrtification.

By compleeting this coursse you will achieve the CommmScope Microowave Wirelesss Infrastructu ure Specialist
(CMWIS)) certification and
a will be prov vided a badge and entry on thhe CommScoppe certification database.

BICSI CEC
Cs: 4 Event ID
D: OV-COMMS
S-IL-0815-1

Certificate valid for 3 yeaars

Study timee: 6h

Webcast du
uration: 3h 54m
m

Assessmen
nt duration: 35m
m