2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug.

16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka

Semi-Automated Microwave Radio Link Planning

Tool
W.M.D.R. Gunathilaka, H.G.C.P. Dinesh, K.M.M.W.N.B. Narampanawe

Abstract— Link Budget is a main estimate in

Interference Frequency
telecommunication microwave link planning for accurate and analysis Planning
reliable link. This software program is a comprehensive path
design tool and it can be used for radio links operating in the
microwave frequency range. When a link budget is prepared, Propagation
Link Budget
losses
many parameters are considered for calculations. Therefore this
software program is very essential tool in the telecommunication Branching Quality and
losses Availability
industry. This paper presents a software tool that can be used to Calculation
prepare link budgets by providing essential parameters. Other losses Fading Prediction
Moreover this software can be used for applications such as
frequency selection according to ITU (International
Telecommunication Union) standards, graphical representation
of the radio path profile between any two geographical locations Rain Multipath Diffraction-refraction
on the loaded terrain and generates the Fresnel zone according attenuation Propagation losses
to the frequency. Furthermore this software tool can be
interfaced with a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver to Fig. 1 Steps of link planning
gather geographical locations and based on this information,
microwave frequency band is suggested according to regulatory
According to quality and availability calculations, it is
body guidelines.
Index Terms— Frequency planning, Link Budget, Link required to re-calculate link budget to improve reliability and
Planning, Microwave Radios, Software Tools quality of the link. This is the reason for using software to
calculate and design Microwave links in telecommunication
I. INTRODUCTION industry [1] [2].
A communication system that utilizes the radio frequency This developed software is for telecommunication
band as electromagnetic waves between 3GHz and 30 GHz companies and regulators deal with many microwave radio
are called microwaves as their wavelength is smaller. links. This tool can be used store data of each microwave
Microwave frequencies are used in telecommunication link links through user friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface).
designing because they are less prone to accidental damage, Further it has tools for frequency planning, calculating link
links between mountains, over reservoirs and over jungles are budget, fading prediction and graphically implementation of
more economically and feasible, single point security, single terrain profile. This software allows any user to perform step
point installation and maintenance and they can quickly be by step analysis of all important propagation related
deployed phenomena that needed to generate a planning report
Microwave link design is a metrological, systematical and containing all the data necessary for accurate and reliable
lengthy process that includes Loss/attenuation calculations, implementation of microwave radio links and maintain
fading and fades margin calculations, frequency planning and database about them.
interference calculations and quality (Bit Error Rate-BER) There are some microwave link planning software
and availability calculations. (ex: Pathloss, Atoll Microwave, Global Mapper) available
As shown in Fig. 1 these four processes are very important commercially for link budget and graphically
in microwave link planning. implementations but they are very expensive for some
W.M.D.R. Gunathilaka is with the Department of Electrical and commercial and educational usage. Further they require
Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (e- computer platforms with high-end resources. This developed
mail: dinusharg@gmail.com).
H.G.C.P. Dinesh is with the Department of Electrical and Electronic
software has many tools for frequency planning, link budget
Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (e-mail: calculation, fading prediction and graphical implementation
karunaa33@yahoo.com). of path profile. In addition to that software tool can be used to
K.M.M.W.N.B. Narampanawe is with the Department of Electrical and
Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (e- implement the whole microwave links in a network including
mail: narampanawe@ee.pdn.ac.lk). link data, tower information of a particular client company.

978-1-61284-0035-4/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

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 2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug. 16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka
II. LINK DATABASE SYSTEM
One of the key functions of this software is Link Database
System. It contains the data of microwave links such as
longitude, latitude, elevation of site, antenna height,
polarization, transmit/receive frequencies, transmit power,
cable losses, antenna gains, receiver sensitivity, received
signal strength, free space losses, fade margin and reliability.
According to longitude and latitude, software graphically
presents the actual location on terrain map. As shown in Fig.
2, it shows every uploaded microwave radio links which is an
inheritable function compared to other commercial software.
Detailed information of each microwave link can easily be
read by clicking mouse on microwave link or tower position.
As shown in Fig. 3, path profile and Fresnel zone of
particular microwave radio link can be obtained by just a
mouse click.
III. MICROWAVE RADIO LINK PLANNING
There are two scenario of planning a new Microwave
Radio Link with this software.
1.) Two station Planning.
2.) Plan one station respect to database system.
When two stations planning are considered, user has to
enter data of both stations. In the second method reference
station data are automatically entered to the link budget.
There are several steps involved in planning a new
Microwave Radio Link such as Path Distance and Elevation
Calculation, Frequency Planning, Link Budget calculation,
Path Profile and Fresnel Zone Analysis.
A. Path Distance and Elevation Calculation
First step of planning a microwave link is map study and
path profile preparation. Preliminary map studies help to
determine the actual topography of the terrain, the height, and
obstacles along the desired path for line of sight clearance.
Desired stations’ longitude and latitude are collected for path
profile preparation. Using these longitude and latitude values,
path distance is calculated and it is used to select the transmit
frequency and other parameters.
There is a unique feature in this software to collect the
Fig. 2 Microwave Links in Terrain map
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Fig.3 Path profile of a specific radio link
longitude and latitude data from a GPS receiver module as
shown in Fig 4. By connecting the GPS receiver to a
computer running this software in link planning mode at
proposed station location, longitude and latitude data are
automatically uploaded to the link budget calculation as
shown in Fig 5 [3].
After entering the longitude and latitude values of two sites
to this software, the path distance and elevations of two
points are calculated automatically [4] [5].
B. Frequency Planning
The second step of the link planning is Frequency
Planning. The goal of frequency planning is to allocate
microwave frequencies to a radio link as a few frequencies
possible so that the availability and the quality of the radio
link are less affected by the interference. Path length, site
location, terrain topography and atmospheric effects are the
basic considerations involved in the assignment of radio
frequency when determining a frequency band that is suitable
for the specific link [6]. Assigning a microwave frequency
channels are authorization given by an authority for an
operator to use a microwave frequency channels. It is created
in accordance with the series-F recommendation given by the
ITU-R (International Telecommunication Union-Radio
communications and wireless) [7].
The available frequency band is subdivided in to two
Fig.4 GPS Receiver and Antenna
 2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug. 16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka

To calculate the link budget user has to enter parameters

such as Transmit power of antenna, cable Losses, Transmit
Gain, Receiver Sensitivity, terrain factor and Climate factor.

1. Transmit Power
The transmit power is the RF (Radio Frequency) power
coming out of a transmitter. It is measured in ‘dBm’ and does
not include the signal loss of the coaxial cable or the gain of
the antenna.

2. Cable Losses
Usually cable losses are called as branching losses that
come from the hardware used to deliver the
transmitter/receiver output to/from the antenna.

3. Transmit Antenna Gain

Fig. 5 GPS Data Transmit gain is the quantity that an antenna boosters the
halves, a lower/go, and an upper/return duplex half. The RF signal over a specified direction. Antenna achieves ‘Gain’
space between two duplex halves should sufficiently be large simply by focusing RF energy.
such that the radio transceiver can function under minimum
interference full duplex operation. The bandwidth of a 4. Receiver Sensitivity
channel based on the capacity of the radio link and the The minimum input signal level required to produce a
modulation scheme used. The most important goal of specified signal-to-noise ratio at the output of the receiver to
frequency planning is to allocate available channels to a recover the transmitted signal properly.
different link in the network without exceeding the quality
and availability objectives of the individual links because of
the radio frequency interferences [8]. 5. Terrain Factor
There are two possible methods for frequency selection in The terrain factor is used to calculate the availability of a
this software, namely they are ‘Manual’ and ‘ITU data’ as link. , it can either be calculated from terrain roughness and
shown in Fig. 6. In Manual frequency selection mode user humidity information or be included directly.
can assign frequencies to two stations and the software will
calculate the link budget for the given frequencies. In ITU
data mode, the software indicates frequency sub bands /
channels as shown in Fig. 6. After selecting the suitable
frequency band, user can choose the site either as high or low
frequency.
There is a special feature in this software; it suggests the
frequency band according to path distance which is issued by
the spectrum governing body of a country as shown in Table
1. This automatically selects the suitable frequency band
using a standard frequency vs. distance data guidelines
suggested by regulatory body. This special function is useful
to choose suitable frequency for a desired link which will be
approved by the regulator.

C. Link Budget

The link budget is a mathematical calculation involving

loss and gain factors related with the transmission lines,
antennas and propagation channel, to find the maximum
operating distance between a transmitter and a receiver can
operate successfully [10]. According to Fig. 7 it can be seen
the output power is varying in each step and finally it reduces.
The final outcome is fade margin of the link.
Fig. 6 Frequency selection interface

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 2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug. 16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka

TABLE I
Transmitter DISTANCE/ FREQUENCY GUIDELINE
Frequency Band/GHz Distance/km
Splitter Splitter 4 >20
7 14.4 ~ 20
Output Power

Receiver 11 9 ~ 14.4

Antenna Gain

Antenna Gain
Propagation
Branching

15 6.5 ~ 9

Branching
Losses

18 2.5 ~ 6.5

Losses
(Tx)

Power (Rx)
Losses

Received
23 < 2.5
26 <1

(dBi) of the antenna. Since it is a power level that measured

Fade Margin
Receiver threshold Value in dBm [9], EIRP is calculated using following equation (2).
Fig 7 Variation of power between transmitter and receiver

4.00 - Very smooth terrain, including over water. EIRP = P + Gt − C

out t      ‐ (2) 
1.00 - Average terrain, with some roughness.
0.25(1/4) - Mountains, very rough, or very dry areas.
Where,
Pout = Output power of transmitter
6. Climate Factor Ct = Cable loss in transmitter
The climate factor is used to calculate the availability of a Gt = Antenna gain of transmitter
link; it can either be computed from average annual
temperature information or be entered directly. 8. Received (Rx) Signal Level
Received signal level is the actual received signal (dBm)
presented to the radio receiver at far station. It is calculated
0.500 (1/2) - gulf coast or similar hot, humid areas. using equation (3) [10].
0.250 (1/4) - normal interior temperate or northern areas.
0.125 (1/8) - mountainous or very dry areas. Received Signal Level = EIRP - FSL + G − C
r r
- (3)
According to those parameters link budget is calculated Where,
including Receiver Signal Level, EIRP (Effective Isotropic Gr = Antenna gain of receiver
Radiate Power), and Free Space Loss, Fade Margin, Outage Cr = Cable loss in receiver
probability and Reliability.
Free Space Loss (FSL) 9. Fade Margin
Free Space loss is the theoretical attenuation of a radio The difference between received signal level and the
signal when it propagates away from the transmitting receiver sensitivity threshold is called fade margin, each link
antenna. When a radio signal radiates from the antenna with must have sufficient fade margin to protect against path
the distance it spreads out more and more. As the area padding’s, that weakness the microwave radio signal. Fade
covered increases, the amount of power per unit area (the margin is the insurance against unexpected system outage
power density) decreases. This effectively weakens the radio [13]. Fade margin can be calculated by using equation (4).
signals [11]. FSL is calculated using following equation (1)
[12]. Fade margin = Rx signal Level - Receiver Sensitivit y ‐

FSL = 32.44 + 20 ⋅ log( f ) + 20 ⋅ log( d )                            ‐ (4)

‐ (1) To determine the feasibility of a link, the calculated receive
Where, signal level is compared with the Receiver sensitivity
f = frequency, MHz
threshold. The link is theoretically feasible if,
d = distance between two stations, Km

7. Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) Received signal Level ≥ Receiver sensitivity.
EIRP is the radio frequency power measured at the main
focal point of the antenna. It is equal to the sum of the
transmit power in the antenna (in dBm) added to the gain If the receiver sensitivity threshold is smaller than or equal
to the received signal level then the link might be feasible

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 2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug. 16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka

implement, because the received signal must be strong

enough to be interpreted by the receiver demodulator.

10. Reliability
The reliability of a microwave link depends on the
calculated fade margin. The reliability is calculated using
following equation (5).
−F
−6 3
Re liability = a × b × 2.5 × 10 × f × D × 10 10
- (5)
Where,
a = terrain factor
b = climate factor
f = frequency, GHz
D = path length, miles
F = fade margin, dB
D. Path profile and Fresnel zone
1. Path profile
When the link budget is calculated, it can be feasible
theoretically but practically it may not be feasible because the
link may not be in line-of–sight. Microwave radio
communication strictly required line-of-sight condition and
the clear path of first Fresnel zone. Therefore path profile is
important in link planning.
Graphical representation of the path traveled by the radio
waves between the two radio stations of a link is the path
profile. The path profile determines the height of the antennas
and the locations at each end of the link, and it insures that
the link is out of obstacles.
According to input longitude and latitude the software
graphically represent the terrain variation between two
stations using height database and the Fresnel zone graph.
Fig. 8 shows graphical representation of terrain variation for a
given data set. The SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography
Mission) data base is used to obtain path profile. This
database indicates the height for an accuracy of 90m. This
data base is in UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)
coordinate system with WGS84 datum.
Fig.8 Path Profile and Fresnel zone
graphically represent. Radius of the first Fresnel zone is
calculated using equation (6).
x(d − x)
R = 17.32
f ⋅d
(6)
R = Radius of first Fresnel zone, m
x = distance from one point to radius point, Km
d = distance between antenna, Km
f =frequency, GHz
The software represents a terrain map and Fresnel zone
graph together as shown in Fig. 8, when the path is not clear
for the Fresnel zone, height of the antenna can be increased
graphically using software tool. A new antenna height
automatically adds to the link budget report.
Final report includes inputs and calculated data as shown in
Fig. 10 that can be taken as the final soft/ hard print.
IV. CONCLUSION
To design this software it was required to write some
additional software for handling databases of frequency bands
and mean sea levels (elevations). It was compared with
existing reports of several links to check whether the
accuracy of this software. The results were acceptable with
those existing reports which conclude that this software
works properly according to the standards.

2. Fresnel zone
Radio frequency waves travel along a straight line. When
they get away from the transmitting antenna, they spread out
the farther. x
Fresnel zone is the area that the microwave signal spreads
R
out. When there is an obstacle in the Fresnel zone, part of the
microwave radio signal will be diffracted away from the
straight-line path. The practical effect is that on a microwave
radio link, is reduce the amount of energy that reaching the
receive antenna [14].
The radius of the Fresnel zone depends on the frequency of
d
the signal, when smaller the frequency, higher the Fresnel
zone [9]. Fig. 9 shows the radius of Fresnel zone. There is Fig .9 Radius of Fresnel Zone
special tool in software to calculate the Fresnel zone and

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 2011 6th International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2011, Aug. 16-19, 2011, Sri Lanka

Fig. 10 Final Report

Sometimes calculated values may vary with actual values
because of many immeasurable factors and natural
phenomena’s.
This software is calculating the link budget and path profile
as like in other commercially available software’s but time
taking to calculations and plotting to path profile is less than
other software. Accuracy of calculations is under standard of
ITU. Further this tool requires only low cost minimal
hardware that is a computer and a GPS receiver.
In further this software will be developed to select suitable
frequency according to climate and geographical factors. In
addition to that 3D terrain and 3D Fresnel views will
developed for planning and optimize microwave
communication network.
V. REFERENCES
[1] William C.Y.Lee, “Wireless & Cellular Telecommunications”, Third
Edition, pp 573-586.
[2] S.Ramabhadran, “Telecommunications Principles Circuits Systems and
Experiments”, pp 841-860.
[3] Mini USB & Bluetooth Interface GPS Demo Board User’s Guide.
[4] “Digital Microwave Communication Principals “, Huawei
Technologies Co,Ltd,4/4/2007, pp 89-90.
[5] Steven Dutch, “Converting UTM to Latitude and Longitude”, National
and applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, November
16, 2009 [online] Available: http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/
[6] A.Michael Noll, “Introduction to Telephones & Telephone Systems”,
Second Edition, pp 41-44.
[7] ITU-R F-Seris Recommendation www.itu.int/ITU-R/
[8] Udo W.Pocch, Dennis Machel, John McCahn, “Telecommunications
and Networking”, pp 117-120.
[9] Bhupesh Batra, “Microvawe link-Fudamentals”, February 10, 2010
[online] Available: http://www.bhupeshbatra.com/tutorials/
[10] TCIL Bhawn,”Microwave Link Design”, presentation, December
10,2009 [online] Available: www.docstoc.com/search/radio-link./3/
[11] “An Introduction to microwave Radio Link Desing”,SAF tehnikaA/S
202, December 3,2009 [online] Available : www.saftehnika.com
[12] Nihal Kularathna, Dileeka Dias, “Essentials of Modern
Telecommunications System”, pp 156.
[13] Michael F.Young, “Planning Microwave Radio Link”, November 20,
2009 [online] Available: www.ydi.com/calculation/
[14] “Fresnel Zone Calculator”, November 20,2009 [online] Available:
www.afar.net/fresnel-zone-calculator/

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