PATH PROFILE

PATH PROFILE
• When evaluating a proposed path, the path profile should be
developed first. This will identify path obstructions from terrain
features.
• Path profile is a graphical representation of the path traveled by the
radio waves between the two ends of the radio link.
• It determines the location and height of antennas and actual
clearance of the radio signal along the path.
• Two types of path profile: Flat Earth and Curved Earth.
 PATH PROFILE
Tasks:
• Determine whether a proposed path is "'line-of-sight.“
• Evaluate path clearances with regard to refractive effects.
• Evaluate path clearances with regard to Fresnel zones.
• Evaluate path clearances with regard to reflections.
OPTICAL AND RADIO HORIZON
 K-FACTOR
• The refractive index of the atmosphere changes with height-above-
ground, this refractive variation in turn causes the propagating
wavefront to effectively "bend.”
• If no refraction will occur, the wavefront will travel in a straight line.
• Wavefront is usually refracted and follow a path somewhere between a
straight line and the true curvature of the earth.
• To provide a simple model describing the path traveled by a wavefront
for a particular refractive condition, engineers have developed a factor,
K, which helps to describes the bending of the wavefront.
K-FACTOR
 PATH PROFILE
• The value of K = ∞, also known as "super-standard" atmosphere, is
an extreme value where the wavefront follows the true curvature of
the earth.
• The other extreme value of K typically used is 2/3 and is termed as
"substandard" atmosphere. It is also a condition commonly referred
to as "earth bulge."
• The median value of K = 4/3 is used to evaluate the path under
"normal“ atmospheric conditions in temperate climates.
K – FACTOR GUIDE
K-FACTOR: FLAT EARTH PROFILE
K-FACTOR: CURVED EARTH PROFILE
 EARTH’S CURVATURE
• The earth, being spherical, limits the distance of line of sight.
EC is added to the obstacle height to account for that
curvature or bulge.
FRESNEL ZONE
• Fresnel Zone - Areas of constructive and
destructive interference created when
electromagnetic wave propagation in free space is
reflected (multipath) or diffracted as the wave
intersects obstacles.
• The Fresnel Zone must be clear of all
obstructions.
• The Fresnel zones could be defined as an infinite
number of circles centered around the center
beam, each having a larger radius than the
 FRESNEL ZONE CLEARANCE
• Paths are usually designed to meet a specific Fresnel zone clearance
criteria for one or more values of K.
• "Heavy route“ requirement is dictates that there must be at least 0.3
first Fresnel zone clearance when K = 2/3, and 1.0 first Fresnel
zone clearance when K = 4/3, whichever is greater.
• "Light route" requirements dictate at least 0.6 first Fresnel zone
clearance plus ten feet when K = I.
REFLECTION
 REFLECTION POINT
• The distance to the
reflection point can
be calculated using
the equation d1 = nD
and n can determine
using the given graph.
• h1 = the elevation or the lower antenna
above the reflecting surface.
• h2 = the elevation of the higher antenna
above the reflecting surface.
• d1 = the distance to the rcf1ection point
from the h1 end.
 ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURES
• Antenna support structures are the towers, buildings, or
other structures used to mount antennas.
• These may be generalized as one of seven major types:
guyed lattice towers, self-supporting lattice towers,
monopole towers, architecturally designed structures,
building mounts, camouflaged structures, or temporary
structures.
 LATTICE TOWER

• These towers are typically self-supporting or guyed.

The tower is interlaced with bracing members to
stabilize and strengthen the structure.
• They are typically manufactured in 20-ft sections
although the first section of very large self-supporting
towers may be 10 ft.
• For heights above approximately 100 ft, the guyed
tower is less expensive than the self-supporting one.
SELF SUPPORTING TOWER
• Self-supporting lattice towers of over 600 ft have been
built. However, typical designs are of 300 ft or less.
• They may have three or four legs. They require less
land than guyed towers. They have excellent structural
integrity, are relatively easy to modify, and have
unrestricted antenna placement.
• They are relatively expensive to construct and limited
in height.
SELF SUPPORTING TOWER
 GUYED TOWERS
• Guyed lattice towers as high as 2000 ft have been built.
• However, typical microwave radio towers are less than 400
ft high.
• Most guyed towers have three sets of guys.
• The initial and maintenance cost are high
• They require the most land space compared to any other
type of tower.
GUYED TOWERS
 MONOPOLES
• These are steel tubular structures composed of a single or
multiple pipe sections.
• Monopole towers are typically either step tapered or
continuously tapered.
• Monopoles are typically chosen when aesthetics, minimal
land use, or construction time are primary considerations.
• They are relatively expensive when compared to lattice
towers and are expensive to modify for increased loading.
MONOPOLES
• While monopoles can be as high as 250 ft, owing to
the cost of tall monopoles most are in the 50–100 ft
range.
• Monopoles accommodate antennas at virtually any
location on the tower.
• Compared to other towers, they have limited loading
capability. Transmission cables typically go inside the
tower making cable wind loading unimportant. The
smooth, relatively slender tower has minimal wind
loading.
MONOPOLES
ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED TOWERS

• These towers have an attractive appearance, fit virtually

any land space, and have low maintenance, outstanding
structural integrity, and unrestricted antenna placement.
• They are relatively expensive and difficult to modify.
ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED TOWERS
BUILDING-MOUNTED
• Building-mounted antennas have the significant
advantages that no additional land is required and they
provide flexible antenna placement.
• They are relatively expensive, are limited by building
integrity, typically require civil engineering studies, have
limited maintenance access, and may have challenging
cable placement restrictions.
BUILDING-MOUNTED
CAMOUFLAGED STRUCTURES
• The primary motivation to use these structures is their
ability to solve difficult zoning issues.
• They may take the form of a tree, a palm, a boulder, or
another common structure. They have attractive
appearances, fit virtually any land space, require low
maintenance, and have outstanding structural integrity.
• They have very high relative cost, restricted antenna
placement, and are difficult to modify
CAMOUFLAGED STRUCTURES
TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
• Temporary or nonpermanent structures are often used for
path or site restoral. In cellular cases, cells on wheels
utilize relatively small crank-up towers to create a site
while it is being built, reworked, or restored.
• These antennas do not permanently attach to the building
and therefore are easier to gain approval from the
landlord
TEMPORARY STRUCTURES
THANK YOU…