Technical Note

Microwave Radio System Gain and Fade Margin

Overview
Fade margin calculations are necessary to establish the expected performance of a
properly designed microwave link. A path with higher fade margin will accommodate path
fading and interference better than a path with lower fade margin. Higher system gain, the
difference between the maximum transmit power and the receiver threshold at 10-6 BER,
can better accommodate higher fade margins.
This technical note looks at what constitutes the fade margin of a digital microwave radio
link and introduces the primary fade margin path planning variables, and their design
constraints. When considering fade margin, system gain is the primary performance
indicator of a microwave radio, and not Tx power or Rx gain in isolation.

Fade Margin Definition

The fade margin of a digital microwave radio link is the amount by which a received signal
level may be reduced without causing system performance to fall below a threshold
value, which is typically specified at a BER of 10-6.
From a path planning perspective it represents the design allowance that provides for
sufficient system gain to accommodate expected fading, for the purposes of ensuring that
the required quality of service is maintained.
Fading events are most commonly caused by multipath fading and precipitation.

Fade Margin Calculation

Figure 1 shows how path gains and losses, the link budget, relate in the calculation of a
link fade margin, which begins with the transmitter and moves across to the receiver. It
shows a split-mount installation with the ODU direct-mounted to its antenna.
The transmitter has been set for a Tx power of 20 dBm and assumes:
• The antennas have a gain of 40 dB
• Total path loss is 160 dB
• The Rx 10-6 threshold is -80 dBm
The resulting fade margin is 20 dB, that is, the link can accommodate a reduction (fade)
of 20 dB on the received signal level (RSL) before the onset of a 10-6 BER.

Figure 1. Link Gains and Losses

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Fade Margin Variables

For a given path the total path loss is ‘fixed’, meaning the variables available to an
operator to change the fade margin are:
Tx power
Typically Tx power can be software-set over a range of 15 to 20 dB, to a maximum that
depends on the frequency band and the capacity/modulation selected.
• On the lower 6 to 8 GHz bands, typical industry maximums are 28 to 30 dBm for
QPSK and 24 to 25 dBm for 128 QAM. On the higher bands Tx power reduces. At
23 GHz typical industry maximums are 20 dBm for QPSK and 16 dBm for 128
QAM.
• It is worth noting that power consumption and therefore the heat generated by an
ODU does not change significantly when Tx power is adjusted because the power
amplifier (PA) stage operates in what is termed ‘Class A’, to achieve optimum
linearity (minimum distortion) over power and modulation selection.
- As the modulation rate increases, so do the demands for distortion-free
operation to maintain optimum amplitude and phase relationships within the
QAM constellation.
- Hence the upper TX power limit is generally determined by the ability of the
PA device to meet the constellation design objectives and ultimately the
transmit mask.
- On higher frequency bands this requirement for linear PA operation is further
constrained by the ability of the RF devices available to the industry. A higher
Tx power is more difficult to achieve cost-effectively on the higher frequency
bands.
- Ultimately, Tx power is a key consideration in the design of an ODU. A higher
Tx power means more heat must be dissipated, requiring compromises in the
quest for more compact and lighter ODUs. Bear in mind that heat stress is a
primary cause of premature component failure; any reduction in operating
temperatures will assist long term reliability of the ODU. Design for heat
dissipation means ODU temperature limits must not be exceeded, even under
high ambient conditions and solar gain, such as found in hot equatorial
climates.

Antennas
The shielded parabolic antennas typically used on licensed-band point-to-point links
range in size from 0.3 m to 1.8 m. Larger and smaller sizes are available, but their use is
the exception.
Key electrical specifications include frequency, gain, beamwidth, cross polarization
discrimination, front-to-back ratio and VSWR.
Key mechanical specifications include size, weight, wind loading, and the environment.
But from a link budget viewpoint it is all about gain.
• Antenna gain is a measure of directivity and efficiency, and for parabolic antennas
is primarily a function of antenna size. As the diameter of an antenna increases its
gain increases and its beamwidth decreases.
- Directivity is the ability of an antenna to focus energy in a particular direction.
- Efficiency is how much of the energy fed to an antenna is actually transmitted
(that which is not transmitted is lost as heat). Conversely, it is how much of the

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incident received energy is converted to a receive signal at the antenna port.

The antennas used have efficiencies ranging from 50 to 70 percent.
• The gain figure for an antenna is measured in dBi, as gain relative to an isotropic
radiator. Three gain figures are usually given; the bottom, top and mid-point of the
specified frequency band.
• Generally, the gain of an antenna increases by between 3 to 5 dB for one increase
in antenna size ( 0.3 m, to 0.6 m, to 1.2 m, to 1.8 m).
• As frequency increases the gain of an antenna increases for the same antenna
size. For example, at 7 GHz the gain of a 0.6 m antenna is typically 30 dBi. At 23
GHz the same size antenna has a gain of about 40 dBi.
• Ultimately, the selection of an antenna size / gain is determined by the link budget,
though can often be constrained by the size of antenna that can be supported due
to weight and wind-loading considerations on its support structure. Also by local
council environmental planning limitations.

Receiver Threshold
While strictly not a variable, it is in the sense that it does change with capacity/modulation
and by frequency band, so does provide an input to appropriate selection of a link band
and channel bandwidth for a required link capacity.
• Receiver threshold is about the minimum signal-to-noise (S/N) required at the input
to the receiver to achieve the threshold BER, where the noise constraints are the
noise figure of the receiver, and background thermal noise. As bandwidth
increases, so does the background thermal noise.
• Receiver thresholds are usually specified for a 10-6 BER. For a 10-3 BER the
threshold is typically 1 to 1.5 dB lower (more sensitive).
• On the lower 6 to 8 GHz bands, typical industry 10-6 thresholds range from -92
dBm for a 7MHz QPSK channel, to -70 dBm for a 28 MHz 128 QAM channel.
• On the higher bands thresholds are higher (less sensitive).

Summary
Datasheets for digital microwave radios specify Tx Power and Receiver Thresholds, and
also System Gains. System gain is the difference between the maximum Tx power and
Rx 10-6 threshold, and is specified for all capacity/modulation options on each frequency
band. In essence, system gain is the primary indicator of a radio’s ability to support a hop
where fade margin is a critical factor.
• On their own, Tx power and Rx threshold do not provide a complete indication of
the RF performance of a link. Together, as a system gain, they provide a complete
picture. The better the system gain, the better the performance under faded path
conditions.
• In many situations, particularly on short hops, adequacy of fade margin will not be
a primary consideration. The available system gain coupled with the smallest
practical antenna (typically 0.3 m), will provide a fade margin in excess of what is
needed to support the link availability objectives. In these situations Tx Power is
backed-off in the interests of interference-reduction / frequency-reuse, and
ultimately to ensure that receiver inputs are not overloaded.
Generally, in the path planning stages the availability (reliability) figure for a path is
decided first and the path variables adjusted to meet this figure. This involves the
variables listed under Fade Margin Variables above, where typically the smallest antenna
(lowest cost) is chosen for the available system gain.

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