Digital Microwave

Communication

DMR V1.0
 Introduction
Microwave Radio systems uses radio wave propagation to transmit
information from one place to another, separated by up to 60kms (and
sometimes further) without interruption and clear reproduction at the
receiver.

A typical Microwave Radio consists of three basic components:

 A digital modem for interfacing with terminal equipment.

 A RF (Radio Frequency) unit for converting a carrier signal from the
modem to a microwave signal.
 An antenna to transmit and receive the signal.
 Simplified Microwave Link

TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER
(DROP/INSERT)

BASEBAND IF RF RF IF BASEBAND
VOICE VOICE
Up Down De-
VIDEO Multiplexer Modulator Multiplexer VIDEO
Converter Converter modulator
DATA DATA
 Types of Microwave Radio
There are two types of Microwave Radio namely:

 Analog Microwave Radio

 Digital Microwave Radio

The major difference are:

 The composition of the baseband.

 The modulation techniques

 The service channel transmission

 Components of Microwave Radio
Modem Unit

The Modem Unit also called as IDU (Indoor Unit) is normally

installed indoors provides the interface to digital world and
main functions are as under:

Converting digital information to IF

Diagnostic
Protection circuitry
Power supply
Source of status and alarm information
Provide service channel
 Components of Microwave Radio
RF Unit

The Radio Frequency Unit houses the high frequency circuitry

specifically the transmitter and receiver. It is also called as ODU
(Outdoor Unit) and is normally installed outdoors. The main
functions of RF unit are as under:

 Converts the IF signal from modem unit to high frequency

microwave signal and amplify for transmission.
 The received high frequency signal is converted to IF signal.

RF unit is connected to modem unit via coaxial cable and to

antenna using waveguide feed.
 Components of Microwave Radio
Antenna

The function of the antenna is to radiate transmit signals and

capture receive signals. Antennas used for microwave transmission
are typically the parabolic reflector type, often called “dish” antennas.

The antenna is connected to RF Unit using waveguide feed.

In most circumstances antennas are mounted outdoors on a rooftop

or antenna tower. Outdoor antennas usually have a protective cover
over the front of the dish called a radome to protect the feed and the
reflector surfaces.
 Parabolic Antenna

Main reflector

Front Feed
From long
transmission
line

Spillover radiation
to ground
 Antenna Characteristics
Antenna Gain

Antenna gain is a measure of the antenna’s ability to

transmit the waves in a specific direction instead of in
all direction. It is a measure of directionality

Antenna Gain (G) = 20 log 10 (7.4 Df)

where D = antenna diameter (m)
f = frequency (GHz)
 Antenna Characteristics
Beamwidth
Beamwidth (  )= 21.3 / fD

where D = antenna diameter (m)

f = frequency (GHz)

 The beamwidth is reduced further if large antenna is

used.
 Interference from external sources and adjacent
antennas is minimized by using narrow beam
antenna
 Antenna Characteristics
Polarization

HORIZONTAL VERTICAL

E Field E Field
 Antenna Noise

The noise temperature of the antenna depends on :

 The loss between the antenna and the receiver input

 Sky Noise
 Absorption by atmospheric gases
 Radiation from the earth
 Interference from artificial radio sources
 Free Space Propagation
Free space loss is defined as the loss between two
isotropic antennas in free space, where there are no
ground or atmospheric influences.

fs=92.4 + 20 log 10 f + 20 log 10 d

where f is in GHz
d is in kilometer
* if d is in miles, 92.4 changes to 96.6
 Atmospheric Effects
 Absorption
The oxygen in the atmosphere absorbs some microwave energy. This
attenuation is very small in the frequency range used for microwave
communication. It is approximately 0.01dB/km at 2GHz and increases
to 0.02dB/km at 26 GHz.

 Refraction
Refraction is a bending of the radio waves from its line-of-sight
straight path due to changes in the characteristics of the atmosphere.
The outage due to this can be from a fraction of second up to several hours.

 Ducting
Under Certain conditions, atmospheric refraction can cause the microwave
beam to trapped in an atmospheric waveguide called a duct. Ducting is
usually caused by low-altitude, high-density atmospheric layers.
 Terrain Effects
Reflection

Transmitter

Direct Beam
Receiver

Reflected
Beam
 Terrain Effects
Fresnel Zones
First Fresnel Zone
(10GHz)
First Fresnel Zone
(100MHz)

Line of Sight Path

Clearance
d2
Clearance
d1

Obstacle

Earth Bulge (Hb)

 Terrain Effects
Fresnel Zone

nd1d2
Fn = 17.3 fD
where
d1 = distance from one end of the path to the reflection point (km)
d2 = distance from other end of the path to the reflection point (km)
D = d1+d2
f = frequency (GHz)
n = number of Fresnel zone (1st, 2nd, etc.)
Radio waves travel in a straight line, unless something refracts or
reflects them. But the energy of radio waves is not “pencil thin.”
They spread out the farther they get from the radiating source —
like ripples from a rock thrown into a pond.

The area that the signal spreads out into is called the Fresnel zone
(pronounced fra-nell). If there is an obstacle in the Fresnel zone, part
of the radio signal will be diffracted or bent away from the straight-
line path. The practical effect is that on a point-to-point radio link,
this refraction will reduce the amount of RF energy reaching the
receive antenna.

The thickness or radius of the Fresnel zone depends on the frequency

of the signal — the higher the frequency, the smaller the Fresnel zone.
 Terrain Effects
Diffraction

The beam is attenuated to varying degrees by the

terrain over which it travels. As the wave travels over
rough terrain and past obstacles, it is diffracted.
Diffraction can also cause signal interference and
attenuation.
 Fading
The term “signal attenuation” is also referred to as fading, since
the effect is a weakening or fading of the signal. The phenomenon
of signal attenuation as a result of atmosphere conditions, terrain
characteristics and obstacles is referred a “multipath fading”.

Multipath fading is frequency selective as the degree of attenuation

varies with frequency.
 Availability
Availability is the measure of system reliability

total usage time - down time

A(%) = 100 -----------------------------------
total usage time

System becomes unavailable for following reasons:

 Person made fault

 Unavoidable or non-person made fault
Relationship between System Reliability and Outage time

Availability Outage Time Outage time per

(%) (%) Year Month (Avg.) Day (Avg.)
0 100 8760 h 720 h 24 h
50 50 4380 h 360 h 12 h
80 20 1752 h 144 h 4.8 h
90 10 876 h 72 h 2.4 h
95 5 438 h 36 h 1.2 h
98 2 175 h 14 h 29 min
99 1 88 h 7h 14.4 min
99.9 0.1 8.8 h 43 min 1.44 min
99.99 0.01 53 min 4.3 min 8.6 s
99.999 0.001 5.3 min 26 s 0.86 s
99.9999 0.0001 32 s 2.6 s 0.086 s
 Diversity

Diversity is the simultaneous operation of two or

more systems or parts of the systems. It can be
described as equipment redundancy or duplication.

DMR equipment diversity are:

Space diversity

Frequency diversity
 Diversity
SPACE DIVERSITY
Rx Antennas
vertically separated

Rx 1
Input Tx Combiner Output
Rx 2

FREQUENCY DIVERSITY

Tx 1 Rx 1
Input
Combiner Output

Tx 2 Rx 2
 Received Power Level
Received power level (Pr) in dBm
Pr = Pt - 
where Pt = transmitted power level (dBm)
 = net path loss (dB)

Net path loss is

 = fs + b + f - Gt - Gr
where fs = free space loss
b = RF branching network loss
f = antenna feeder loss
Gt = transmitter antenna gain
Gr = receiver antenna gain

Fade margin = Pr - Pth

where Pth = Threshold power
 Power (dBm)

40
80

-120
0

-80
-40
Tx Output Power
Tx

Transmission Line &

Connector Losses
Tx Antenna Gain

Free-Space Loss
Including Fading
Free Space

Rx Antenna Gain

Receiving Line &

Connector Losses
Gains and Losses in a Microwave Link

Rx Input Power
Rx
 Microwave Radio Network Planning

System planning is critical to the successful installation,

operation and proper performance of any communication
system, wireless systems are no exception, and this is
especially true for line-of-sight (microwave) wireless. Unless
your proposed microwave link will be operating over a very
long path, you should be able to confirm whether a visible
line-of-sight path exists between the two proposed antenna
sites. This is only a first-step process, and is often
accomplished by using a combination of strobe lights, mirrors
(which reflect the sun), binoculars and spotting scopes
 Line – of – sight (LOS)

"Line-of-sight" is a term used in radio system design to describe a

condition in which radio device antennas can actually see each
other. High frequency radios, such as those used in Spread
Spectrum Radio require line-of-sight between antennas.
 Microwave Radio Network Planning
Introduction

 The introduction of 3G will have significant effect on

transmission network due to increased capacity requirement.

 The increased capacity requirement will effect both the

individual radio network links and the network topology.

 In GSM networks BTS capacities are on average 0.5-1 Mbit/s

while in 3G BTS capacities are in the range of 2-10 Mbit/s.
 Introduction
 Transmission is an important element in any mobile
network, affecting both the services and services
quality offered as well as the cost of the mobile
operator.

 Microwave access, based on point-to-point

microwave radios, is the dominating technology in
base station access networks.

 Microwave offers the fastest means for network

rollout and capacity expansion.
 Network Topology Evolution
 Cellular Transmission access networks have been
typically built strictly according to cellular system
needs.

 The mobile systems evolve from current narrowband

GSM to EDGE and WCDMA.

 The transmission capacity depends on the system

overhead, which is about 1.3 x user bit rate in EDGE
and about 2 x in WCDMA.
 The factors effecting the access network
topology

 Use of existing infrastructure. It is very costly and

time consuming to modify network topology.
 Capacity often dictates the use of certain media and
equipment. The increase of capacity will force to
change some topology models.
 Frequency band for last mile radio links are
becoming difficult to get, driving to higher frequency
i.e. also towards shorter hops.
 Fibre will be more and more available within few
kilometers.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
The network performance objectives (availability and error
performance) can be achieved by changing following
parameters of the system:

 Operating Band
 Choice of frequencies and polarization
 Path design
 Modulation Method
 Transmitter Power
 Receiver Threshold Power
 Antenna Gain
 Protection Methods
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Operating Band

 The network planning is mainly based on availability at

frequencies above about 17GHz. Below that the design is
normally dominated by error performance.

 In tropical or other areas of heavy rainfalls, the frequency lower

than 10GHz is used.

 The lower frequencies allow longer hops and at higher

frequencies high antenna gains are easier to achieve which
makes handling of interference easier.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Choice of Frequencies and polarization

 It is advisable to use higher frequencies for shorter hops and

use lower frequencies for longer hops.

 The use of unlicensed frequency band provides some

flexibility.

 The attenuation caused by rain is lower for vertical polarization

than the horizontal one, hence vertical polarization should be
used for long hops.

 Horizontal polarization provide good vehicle to increase

network spectral efficiency when used for shorter hops.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Path Design

 The first Fresnel zone should be free at normal k value 1.33.

 At high frequencies and corresponding small Fresnel zones,
relatively small areas act as reflecting surfaces.

Modulation Method

 By choosing a modulation method with few states or a system

with good error correction capability, have relatively high
tolerance against noise and interference i.e. low receiver
threshold power.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Transmitter Power

 Selecting higher transmitter power will make the availability

and error performance figures better. However, this may
sometimes cause excessive interference to other links in own
or other networks.

 To avoid generating unnecessary interference into the network

is to adjust the power or use adaptive transmitter power (ATP).

 At star points, where several links converge to the same

station, a good rule of thumb for design is to have equal
received powers for each path.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Receiver threshold power

 This is mainly dictated by the selected capacity, noise figure

and used modulation method.
 Low threshold powers enable longer hops and directly raises
interference tolerance.

Antenna Gain

 A bigger antenna provides high Antenna Gain and this also

decreases interference.
 Bigger antenna increases wind load on mounting tower.
 Planning of Point – to – Point Microwave
Protection methods

 Use of equipment protection usually changes

system parameters by increasing the branching
loss.

 Use of diversity usually changes system parameters

but also improves error performance.

 Use of space or frequency diversity above about

17GHz is seldom recommended as they do not give
protection against rain induced unavailability.
Capacity increase (upgrade from PDH to SDH)
When radio link hops need more capacity above
16 x 2Mbps, SDH systems must be applied.

The present systems available are

STM-0 (21x2Mbps) which gives only 31% increase in

the capacity.

STM-1 (63x2Mbps) which is almost four times the PDH

capacity.
Capacity increase (upgrade from PDH to SDH)

Channel Requirements on different modulations methods

Modulation 16 x 2 Mbps 155 x 2 Mbps S/N (10-6) Difference in

RF-Channel RF-Channel system gain
4QAM 28 MHz 112 MHz 13,5 dB 0 dB

16QAM 14 MHz 56 MHz 20,5 dB 7 dB

32TCM-2D 14 MHz 56 MHz 17,6 dB 4 dB

64QAM 14 MHz 56 MHz 26,5 dB 13 dB

128QAM 7 MHz 28 MHz 29,5 dB 16 dB

256QAM 7 MHz 28 MHz 32,6 dB 19 dB

Capacity increase (upgrade from PDH to SDH)
Limitations

The transmitter power increase is normally not

possible.

The size of antenna needs to be increased and due to

practical reasons, antenna gain exceeding about
44dB cannot be used.

The rigidity and availability of space on the supporting

structure (tower) to mount bigger antenna.
 Regulatory Aspects
The highest applicable frequency band should be
selected depending on required hop length and
transmission capacity.

In a dense network, high order modulations do not

necessarily give higher spectral efficiency compared
to lower order modulations.

Regulatory authority a block of spectrum is made

available to a potential operator in a manner
consistent with the technology and market that the
operator may wish to address.