Training Course: Microwave Transmission Link Design & Network Planning

Introduction

The microwave transmission Link design and network planning training course provides a strong background in the area of planning telecommunication transmission networks using modern Microwave systems. It covers in detail all the important aspects of microwave signal propagation, starting from free-space loss, absorption loss, and others, followed by statistical analysis of various phenomena impairing the microwave reception process like rain, multipath fading (both flat and selective), Fresnel zones, K-factor variation and ducting based on ITU-T/ITU-R standards. Also, this course will introduce basic parameters that identify the microwave link like antenna characteristics, Tx/Rx power, modulation coding, and others. All the above can be explained and applied practically to students’ needs with pathloss 5 including interference study and PtMP coverage map preparation.

Course Objectives

• Concept and characteristics of digital microwave communications.
• Functions and principles of each component of digital microwave equipment.
• Common networking modes and application scenarios of digital microwave equipment.
• Propagation principles of digital microwave communication and various types of fading.
• Anti-fading technologies.
• Microwave link budget calculation for Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point-to-Multi-Point (PtMP), and network planning.
• Procedure and key points in designing microwave transmission links.
• Microwave link design, PtMP coverage map, and interference study with Pathloss 5.

Course Outlines

Day 1

Microwave Communication Overview

• What is a Microwave?
• Microwave vs. fiber Optics.
• Microwave History.
• Digital Microwave Communication.
• Microwave Frequency Band Selection.
• RF Channel Configuration.
• Digital Microwave Communication Modulation and coding.
• Microwave Frame Structure.
• Trunk Microwave Equipment.
• All Outdoor Microwave Equipment.
• Split Mount Microwave Equipment.
• Outdoor Unit (ODU) / Indoor Unit (IDU).
• Microwave Antenna.
• Antenna Adjustment.

Day 2

Microwave Networking, Application, Propagation and Link Budget

• Networking modes of Digital Microwave.
• Types of Digital Microwave Stations.
• Relay Stations.
• Active Relay station / Passive Relay Station (Parabolic and Plane Reflector).
• Application of Digital Microwave.
• Key Parameters in Microwave Propagation.
• Fresnel Zone.
• Fresnel Zone Radius.
• Clearance Factors Affecting Microwave Propagation, LOS survey process.
• Atmosphere Types of Fading in Microwave Propagation, Free Space Loss, Absorption Fading, Rain Fading ….
• Ground Reflection and Multipath.
• Radio path link budget and Fade Margins.

Day 3

Anti-Fading Techniques

• Frequency domain equalization.
• Time-domain equalization.
• Automatic transmit power control (ATPC).
• Adaptive Coding & Modulation (ACM).
• Cross-polarization interference cancellation (XPIC).
• Diversity technologies.
• Frequency diversity.
• Space diversity.
• Some useful Anti-fading tips.
• Protection Modes of Digital Microwave Equipment.

Day 4

Frequency planning, Availability, and Recommendation

• Frequency planning for different network topologies.
• Interference study.
• Quality and Availability.
• Practical Recommendations.
• BoQ Planning.
• Towards 4G/5G.

Day 5

Microwave network planning and link design with Pathloss 5

• What’s Pathloss?
• PtP microwave link design.
• PtMP microwave link design and coverage map.
• Interference study.
• Reports.