Simple Path Loss Design

Saudi Telecom Company

Mobile Network Design Department
Transmission Division

By
Eng. Salem S. AL-Duhaim
October 05
 Design Requirements

First, you must have and know the following data:

You must know the region and the vendor in order to know the rain rate
(From Trends).

The Terrine Data and type (sand, cost land, mountains..etc) all that
comes with the LOS report.

The Distance between the sites and the capacity of the link in order to
approximate the antenna size, the band and the equipment that will be
used.

The Tower height (if they are existing or proposed) and the RF antenna
height this can be checked from the SAF.

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 Second, you must know the design cases which they are:

Simple Case (no need for space diversity and repeaters).

Space Diversity Case.

Passive Repeater Case.

Active Repeater Case.

Note: The design case is determined during the Path Loss design.

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Simple Case Example

1- Open the Path Loss file that

comes with the LOS report

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 2- Dont forget to write the
Tower Height

1- This window shows a summery of the

design data.

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 1- Go to module then select
worksheet In order to enter the
design specifications

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3- Double click on the antenna
to choose the size and the
vendor of the antenna
4- Double click on the feeder
in order to enter its
specifications.
1- Double click on the clouds
to enter the rain rate.
2- Double click on this area to
enter the roughness and the filed
margin

5- Double click on the TR to choose the radio

equipment

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 1-Double click on the clouds then the
following box will appear.

2- Select the ITU standards 3- Enter the rain rate of

the region

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4- Select Rough to auto calculate the 1- Double click on this area in order
roughness to enter the path profile data

3- In order to auto calculate the

2- Enter 1.00 ( a typical value of roughness go to step#4.

the field margin)

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For calculating the roughness automatically follow these steps:
1- left click on the last end of the path then right click.
2- then go with the mouse pointer to last opposite end of the path then left click on
the mouse then right click after that press ok.

Note: the end-to-end roughness is only at the beginning of the design.

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 1- Double click on the antenna
2- Select lookup then open
Then the following table
the antenna database file
will appear

Note: For the antenna database you can load them from the following link
\\gsmdbase03 \transmission \PLW40 \Equipments \antennas (select the latest file).

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3- After selecting the appropriate
antennas click both to implement
them on both side.

1- Choose file then select open

to load the antenna database

2- Select the appropriate antenna

that will be used during the design

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 1- Click on the feeder then the 2- from the Andrew book
following table will appear Ex: for the 15 GH the feeder
type is EW132

3- Enter Zero because it is integrated

4- From the Andrew book

Ex: for the 15 GH
it is 15.62 db/100m

6- The copy every thing to the 5- The value will be zero

other site. after you enter step#3

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1- Click on TR to choose the
equipment capacity and type
(the following table will appear)

2- Choose the lookup then

load the list of available
equipment then select the
appropriate one.

Note: For the equipment list load them from (after you choose lookup open this file)

\\gsmdbase03 \transmission PLW40 \Equipments \Radios (select the latest file).

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 1- load the equipment list file.

2- Choose the appropriate equipment

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 3- After entering the whole data and check
them, choose Report then select Full
Report In order to see the link budget
report of this design.

2- The Received signal power normally be

around -40 db but that also depend on the
situation too

1- The fade margin normally should be around

36 db But that depend on the situation.

4- This sign indicate the status of the

design. In this case it is ok, if not you
should search for the problem and fix it.
Note: The Fade margin and the Received signal can be controlled
from the transmission power factor in the Radio equipment

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 1- Choose module then select Print Profile
to check what is the minimum antenna
height that can be used in order to
have a clear frezonal zone.

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 1- In this case the frezonal
zone clearance is ok.

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 1- Choose module then select multipath in
order to check the reflection signal on
the antennas.

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1- Choose method then select constant
gradient

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 1- After choosing the constant gradient the
following table will appear you can enter
your specification or continuo.

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 1- After choosing the constant
gradient the whole path reflection
will appear.

2- In order to avoid reflections on the

antennas you need to increase or
decrease the antenna height. (choose
configure then select antenna height
then increase or decrease the heights
to avoid reflection as much
as possible )

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 1- In order to check the reflections on
the other end antenna, choose operations
then select reverse profile

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 1- Choose module then select reflections in
order to see the relationship between the
receive signal and the K-factor and the
antenna height

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For defining the plane follow these steps:
1- left click on the last end of the path then right click.
2- then go with the mouse pointer to last opposite end of the path then left
click on the mouse then right click after that press ok then
the following shape will appear.

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 1- After defining the plane
choose modify then
select parameters.

2- Enter the clearance loss

based on the
information beside.

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 1- choose modify then select roughness.

2- select the frezonals zones in order to check exact reflection points .

3- The roughness area should be selected around the

average roughness point.

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For calculating the roughness automatically follow these steps:
1- left click on the last end of the path then right click.
2- then go with the mouse pointer to last opposite end of the path then left click
on the mouse then right click after that press ok.then the calculated area
will appear

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 2- The following box will appear, enter 0.66 or
0.5 because we need to check the 0.66,1 and
the 1.33 K-factors

1- After finishing modifying the plane,

choose variable then select the earth
radius factor.

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 1- In this case the antenna height
should be changed, in order to
make the peek at 1.33 factor (to
enter another antenna height
choose variable then select the
earth radius factor then change
the antenna height or you can
change it from configure )

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1- After changing the antenna
height the peek is on the 1.33 factor

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1- After changing the antenna
height the peek is on the 1.33 factor

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 Space Diversity Case

When Space Diversity is needed ????

Space Diversity is needed when there are a lot of reflections that can not be controlled
by the antenna height any more and that because the terrain nature in order to maintain
a clear frezonal zone, reasonable fade margin (normally around 36db).

In PathLoss Space Diversity is needed normally if the signal loss is less than -10db
when checking the relationship between the reflected signal and the earth radius factor

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 Steps to Use Space Diversity in Path Loss:

The First steps are the same until the graph that show the relationship between the relative receive
signal and the Earth Radius Factor.

Normally when the signal graph did go under the -10db then we need to use the Space Diversity
otherwise we dont .

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 1- Notice that the signal did go under -10 db
So Space Diversity is needed.

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 1- Choose configure then select antenna
configuration in order to use the diversity antennas

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 1- To add the diversity antenna select
TRDR-TRDR then press ok.

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 1- Notice the Diversity antenna height
should be added .

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1- The equipments specification
should be entered as normal
antenna.

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1- This window shows the clearance of the frezonal zones of the
primary antennas.

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 1- Choose Format then select Flat Earth.

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 2- Select Diversity then enter the 100 reference then enter the K-factor 1.33

1- First uncheck this box.

3- Select Diversity then enter

the 60 reference then enter
the K-factor 0.66

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1- This window shows the frezonal zone clearance for both antennas
(the primary and diversity antennas)

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1- This window shows the relationship between the relative received signal and the earth factor, for the Primary
antenna only

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2- Check TR-DR to show the 1- Select Mw Antenna Combination

relation of the receiver antenna in order to choose the diversity

diversity specifications.

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1- Check the DR-TR to show the
relation of the Diversity antenna at
the sender (near end side).

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 1- Try to make the peaks opposite each other as
much as possible in order to make a better
reception, at the important K-Factors.

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 Passive Repeater Case

When Passive Repeater is needed ????

Passive Repeater is needed when the signal can not reach the destination receiver directly, either
because obstacles on the path (buildings, mountains,etc) or longer paths .

In PathLoss Passive Repeater normally has a combined fade margin around 36db.

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 Steps to Use Passive Repeaters in PathLoss:

The First steps are the same as the simple case design the only additional steps are in
the following Slides.

Note: Normally when we use repeaters the name of the repeater will be the same as the near end
site name but with an R (letter R) added to it and the number of the repeater used in the design
Example: Z93003-Z93003R11 (where 11 it means the link has only one repeater).
if the link has more than one repeater the name will be for the second repeater R22 and so on
for the third and forth (R33,R44,.etc ).

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 1- Open the PathLoss file for the repeater and notice the
name of the repeater.

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 1- For the Link between the Near end and the Repeater
go module the select Worksheet then Choose
Operation then select Create Passive Repeater.

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 1- Select Back to Back Antennas then press OK.

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 1- After you choose back-to-back antennas the following
table will appear choose the other part of the link (the one
between the repeater and the far end).

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 1- After Combining the link the whole Path will be
shown and the repeater will be with it as follow.

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 1- Click on each part of the link and enter its
specifications (Field margin, Roughness) as before

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 1- Click on the repeater ( the P) then the following
table will appear then enter the specifications of.

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 1- Dont forget the Combined Fade margin

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1- Select Module then choose Print Profile to show the whole Path and the
repeater with it.

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 Active Repeater Case

When Active Repeater is needed ????

Active Repeater is needed when Passive repeater is failed to handle the situation
to carry the signal at the wanted specifications (power, fade margin,.etc).

In PathLoss Active Repeater is needed normally if the signal loss is no longer can be
handled by the Passive repeater.

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 Steps to Use Active Repeaters in Path Loss:

Active Repeaters are designed as two different site each part has its own specification
(see simple case ).

Note: The name of the Active Repeater is the same as the name in the Passive Repeater.

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THANK YOU

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