Microwave Network Design

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
PATH LOSS 4.0 MW Design Tool

Jan, 2014
Microwave Network Design
Digital Microwave Communication Principles
Basis of Microwave Network Design
Route Design
Link Design
Report
Tips
Content
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES Co., Ltd. Page 3
Definition of Microwave
Microwave
Microwave is a kind of electromagnetic wave. In a broad sense, the
microwave frequency range is from 300 MHz to 300 GHz. But In
microwave communication, the frequency range is generally from 3
GHz to 30 GHz.
According to the characteristics of microwave propagation, microwave
can be considered as plane wave.
The plane wave has no electric field and magnetic field longitudinal
components along the propagation direction. The electric field and
magnetic field components are vertical to the propagation direction.
Therefore, it is called transverse electromagnetic wave and TEM wave
for short.
Antenna
The antenna performs the directional transmission
and reception of RF signals. The main parameters
are frequency band, diameter and antenna gain.
Single
-polarized antenna
dual-polarized antenna
Split-Mount Microwave Equipment
Installation
antenna
(separate mount)
ODU
IF cable

Separate Mount
Soft waveguide
IDU
IF port
antenna
(direct mount)
ODU
IDU
Direct Mount
IF cable
IF port
IFX BoardXPIC features
XPIC (Cross-polarization interference
cancellation ) is a technology used together with
co-channel dual-polarization (CCDP). The
application of the two technologies doubles the
wireless link capacity over the same channel.
XPIC is used to effectively improve the
transmission capacity and the utilization of the
frequency spectrums. It is widely used in the
trunk microwave. As the split-mount microwave
develops and the frequency resources become
insufficient in recent years, the XPIC technology
is applied in the split-mount microwave.
1+1 HSB Typical Configuration
IDU 620 1+1 HSB Typical configuration
IDU 605 2B HSB Typical Configuration
1+1 SD Typical Configuration
IDU 620 SD Typical Configuration
IDU 605 2B SD Typical Configuration
1+1FD Typical Configuration
IDU 900 FD Typical Configuration
IDU 605 2B FD Typical Configuration
Dual-polarized compact antennas
-Support
Diameter
7 and
8 G
11
G
13 G 15 G 18 G 23 G 26 G 28 G 32 G 38 G 42 G
0.3 m

0.6 m

0.9/1.0 m

1.2 m
1.8 m
The dual-polarized antennas support the direct mounting
mode. In the case of a direct mounting mode flexible
waveguides are not required. A direct mounting mode can
decrease link loss, and increase transmission system gain. It
is applicable to the XPIC-enabled scenarios.
Dual-polarized direct-mounted antennas cannot be used with hybrid
couplers.
type 6G 7/8/11/13/15/18/23G 26/28/32/38G 42G
3 dB balanced
hybrid coupler
Loss 3.6 3.8 4.1 4.7
6 dB unbalanced
hybrid coupler
Loss of the main
path
1.7 1.9 2.1 2.4
Loss of the
standby path
6.8 7.0 8 8
H port Hybrid Coupler
Hybrid Coupler
Type 6G 7/8/11/13/15/18/23/26/28/32/38G
3 dB balanced
hybrid coupler
Loss 3.5 3.5
6 dB unbalanced
hybrid coupler
Loss of the main path
(dB)
1.9 1.7
Loss of the standby
path (dB)
6.50.6 6.50.6
R Interface Hybrid Coupler
Microwave Frequency Band
Selection and RF Channel Configuration (1)
Generally-used frequency bands in digital microwave transmission:
7G/8G/11G/13G/15G/18G/23G/26G/32G/38G (defined by ITU-R Recommendations)
8 5 4 3 2 10 20 1 30 40 50
1.5 GHz 2.5 GHz
Long haul
trunk network
2/8/34
Mbit/s
11 GHz
GHz
34/140/155 Mbit/s
2/8/34/140/155 Mbit/s
3.3 GHz
Regional network
Regional network, local network,
and boundary network
Principles of Selecting Frequency Bands
Frequency Shift Frequencies (MHz) (T-R Spacing) Use
4-7 GHz 161, 154, 245 Long-distance network backbones
8 GHz 126, 161, 154. 199, 266, 311 Long-distance network backbones
11-13 GHz 266 Short and medium distance
15 GHz 308, 420, 490, 315. 720, 728 Short and medium distance
18 GHz 340, 1092.5, 1008, 1010, 1560 Short and medium distance
23 GHz 600, 1050, 1232, 1008, 1200, Short distance in urban areas
26 GHz 855, 1008 Short distance in urban areas
28 GHz 1008 Short distance in urban areas
32 GHz 812 Short distance in urban areas
38 GHz 700, 1260 Short distance in urban areas
Division of microwave frequency bands:
Microwave Frequency Band
Selection and RF Channel Configuration (2)
In each frequency band, subband frequency ranges, transmitting/receiving spacing
(T/R spacing), and channel spacing are defined.
f
0
(center frequency)
Frequency range
Channel
spacing
f
1

f
2

f
n
f
1

f
2

f
n

Channel
spacing
T/R spacing
T/R spacing

Low frequency band High frequency band
Protection
spacing
Adjacent channel
T/R spacing
Free Space Transmission Loss
Free space loss: A = 92.4 + 20 log d + 20 log f
(d: km, f: GHz). If d or f is doubled, the loss will increase by 6 dB.
Power level
P
TX
= Transmit power
G = Antenna gain
A0 = Free space loss
M = Fading margin
P
TX

Distance
GTX GRX

P
RX

A
0

M
Receiving threshold
G
d
G
f
P
RX
= Receive power
Absorption Fading
Molecules of all substances are composed of charged particles. These particles have
their own electromagnetic resonant frequencies. When the microwave frequencies of
these substances are close to their resonance frequencies, resonance absorption
occurs to the microwave.
Statistic shows that absorption to the microwave frequency lower than 12 GHz is
smaller than 0.1 dB/km. Compared with free space loss, the absorption loss can be
ignored.
Atmosphere absorption curve (dB/km)
1GHz 7.5GHz 12GHz 23GHz 60GHz
0.01dB
10dB
1dB
0.1dB
For frequencies lower than 10 GHz, rain loss can be ignored. Only a few db may
be added to a relay section.

For frequencies higher than 10 GHz, repeater spacing is mainly affected by rain
loss. For example, for the 13 GHz frequency or higher, 100 mm/h rainfall causes a
loss of 5 dB/km. Hence, for the 13 GHz and 15 GHz frequencies, the maximum relay
distance is about 10 km. For the 20 GHz frequency and higher, the relay distance is
limited in few kilometres due to rain loss.

High frequency bands can be used for user-level transmission. The higher the
frequency band is, the more severe the rain fading.
Rain Fading
Atmosphere refraction
As a result of atmosphere refraction, the microwave propagation trail is bent. It is
considered that the electromagnetic wave is propagated along a straight line above
the earth with an equivalent earth radius of , = KR (R: actual earth radius.)
The average measured K value is about 4/3. However, the K value of a specific
section is related to the meteorological phenomena of the section. The K value may
change within a comparatively large range. This can affect line-of-sight propagation.
R
e
R
e
R
e
R
K-Type Fading
Multipath fading: Due to multipath propagation of refracted waves, reflected
waves, and scattered waves, multiple electric waves are received at the
receiving end. The composition of these electric waves will result in severe
interference fading.
Reasons for multipath fading: reflections due to non-uniform atmosphere,
water surface and smooth ground surface.
Down fading: fading where the composite wave level is lower than the free
space received level. Up fading: fading where the composite wave level is
higher than the free space received level.
Non-uniform atmosphere
Water surface
Smooth ground surface.
Multipath Fading
Ground surface
Duct Type Fading
Due to the effects of the meteorological conditions such as ground cooling in the
night, burnt warm by the sun in the morning, smooth sea surface, and anticyclone, a
non-uniform structure is formed in atmosphere. This phenomenon is called
atmospheric duct.
If microwave beams pass through the atmospheric duct while the receiving point is
outside the duct layer, the field strength at the receiving point is from not only the
direct wave and ground reflected wave, but also the reflected wave from the edge of
the duct layer. As a result, severe interference fading occurs and causes interruption
to the communications.
Duct type fading
High and low antennas
Anti-fading Technologies
for Digital Microwave System
Frequency diversity
Signals at different frequencies have different fading characteristics. Accordingly,
two or more microwave frequencies with certain frequency spacing to transmit and
receive the same information which is then selected or composed, to reduce the
influence of fading. This work mode is called frequency diversity.
Advantages: The effect is obvious. Only one antenna is required.
Disadvantages: The utilization ratio of frequency bands is low.
f1
f2
Space diversity
Signals have different multipath effect over different paths and thus have different fading
characteristics. Accordingly, two or more suites of antennas at different altitude levels to
receive the signals at the same frequency which are composed or selected. This work
mode is called space diversity. If there are n pairs of antennas, it is called n-fold diversity.
Advantages: The frequency resources are saved.
Disadvantages: The equipment is complicated, as two or more suites of antennas are
required.
Antenna distance: As per experience, the distance between the diversity antennas is 100
to 200 times the wavelength in frequently used frequency bands.
f1
The knife-edged obstacle blocks partial of the Fresnel zone. This also causes
the diffraction of the microwave. Influenced by the two reasons, the level at the
actual receive point must be lower than the free space level. The loss caused by
the knife-edged obstacle is called additional loss.
Transmission Clearance
RAIN ZONES ITU
F1
F2
FREQ
RX1
Figure2 F1 (transmitted signal) and F2 (interfering
signal) are overlapped.
F1
F2
FREQ
RX1
Figure 1 F1 (transmitted signal) = F2
(interfering signal)

co-frequency interference.
When the interfering signal has the same frequency as the
interfered signal, the interference is called co-channel
interference.
Adjacent channel interference
When the central frequency of the interfering signal falls in
an adjacent channel of the main transmitted signal, the
interference is called adjacent channel interference.
Type of interference
Examples of Interference
Case1 (co-channel interference) Interference caused when
the antenna beam width is large and the included angle between
links is small. The signals transmitted from site A to site B
interfere with the signals received by site B from site C. Similarly,
the signals transmitted from site C to site B also interfere with the
signals received by site B from site A.
80 Deg.
Site A Site B
Site C
Case2 (co-channel interference) Front-back interference is
caused by a poor front-back ratio of antennas. The signals
transmitted from site X interfere with the signals received by site
Y from site Z. Similarly, the signals transmitted from site Y to site
X also interfere with the signals received by site Z from site Y.
Site X Site Z
Site Y
Case3 (co-channel interference)Overreach interference. The
signals transmitted from site A to site B interfere with the signals
received by site D from site C. Similarly, the signals transmitted
from site D to site C interfere with the signals received by site A
from site B.
A
B
C
D
F1
F2
F1
Methods for Suppressing Interference
Reduce the Tx level of interfering signals
Select a proper channel and polarization mode
Use angle isolation between links
Select an antenna with a higher front-back ratio and
better directivity
Select microwave equipment with the ATPC function
Configure Tx high stations and Tx low stations
correctly
Route Design
Link Design
Report
Tips
Content
Route Design Pathloss Overview
The Pathloss software is a comprehensive path design tool based on the radio links. The
Pathloss software operates at frequencies ranging from 30 MHz to 100 GHz. Currently,
Pathloss 4.0 is commonly used.
Route Design Import Site Data
Only csv format site data can be imported to
Pathloss
Step 1: Start Pathloss, Switch to Network
Module (Module Network)
Step 2: Import Site Data (Site Data Site
List, Import Import Site Text File)
Step 3: Close Site List Windows, and save
the Network file (File Save)

Route Design Import Site Data
Tips: Choose default site legend (Defaults
Site Legend) and layers (Layers) before
import site data to separate site type
Route Design Configure Map
Pathloss support a lot kind of maps, while the most common type for presale
microwave network design is Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM).

Step 1: Download SRTM map
Step 2: Import SRTM map to
Pathloss (Configure Terrain
Database, Primary ESRI
GRIDASCII GEO Set
Primary Set Directory,
Choose the directory SRTM map
located in, Index File
Import List, Close All Windows)
Step 3: Create Background of
Network (Site Data Create
Background)

Tips: Use Ctrl Key to choose
multiple file when import list, you
can choose up to about 200 files
at once

Route Design Route Design
Use Mouse to connect links
Tips: Ctrl + Drag to zoom the
map, Site Zoom
Background to zoom
background, right click to
original size

Route Design
Link Design
Report
Tips
Content
Link Design A Microwave Link
Transmitter
Filters,
Combiner,
etc
Feeder
Isotropic Antenna
Transmitter
Filters,
Combiner,
etc
Feeder
Isotropic Antenna
Air
Tx Power
Cable Loss
Filter,
Combiner
Loss
Feeder Loss
Antenna
Radome Loss
Antenna
Gain
Rx Power
Filter,
Combiner
Loss
Feeder Loss
Antenna
Radome Loss
Antenna
Gain
Free Space Loss
Atmospheric Gaseous Loss
Rain Attenuation
Diffraction Loss
Cable Loss
Rx Power = Tx Power Total Loss + Total Antenna Gain
Link Design Line of Sight
Sea Level
True Earth Radius
(6400 km)
Fresnel Zone
Link Design Cross Section View
Step 1: Click on a link Choose
Terrain Data
Generate cross section view
(Operations Generate Profile
Generate Close)
Link Design Add Structures
Double Click on a blank area of
Structure Choose Range of
Structure Select Tree Input 10
in Structure Height OK

In Bidding stage, its impossible to get accurate structure information, so we add
10 meters tree (or others, based on the real situation)
Link Design Antenna Heights

Step 1: Input frequency information (Module Summary, input approximate
frequency in the Frequency textbox)
Step 2:Choose Antenna
Heights Module (Module
Antenna Heights)
Step 3: Configure antenna
height automatically
(Operation Optimize, or
press F9)
Step 4: Save antenna height
(Operation Revise Antenna
Height, or press F1)
Tips: Pathloss will automatically use previous frequency information, so its not needed
to input it if the frequency of this link if similar to previous
Link Design Reliability Analysis
This is the most complicated step to design a link
Step 1: Choose Worksheet Module (Module
Worksheet)
Step 2: Set Reliability Method (Operations
Reliability Method). Choose the reliability
method specified by the customer. If the
customer not specified, we use ITU-R P.530-
7/8 by default.
Reliability Analysis Rain Region
Click Load Rain File OK
Tips:
(1) Use the rain region
map to determine the
rain region;
(2) Use Google Earth to
determine the location
of a site;
(3) ITU rain region file is
located in RAIN\ITU
subfolder of Pathloss
Installation Folder.
Reliability Analysis Path Profile
Step 1: Click
Step 2: Input Field margin (1 dB)
Step 3: Input Average annual temperature
Step 4: Configure Geography Parameters
(Menu Geo Clim)
Tips: Find Probalibility dN/dh < -
100Nunits/km
Reliability Analysis Antenna
Step 1: Click Code Index

New Index Choose directory
contains antenna file
Step 2: Choose antenna Both
Tips: Click Site 1 or Site 2 to choose
antenna separately. The antenna for
two site can be different.
Location to download RTN antenna files:
\\info-server\5_EnglishDoc\04-OpticalNetwork\2-OptiX\8-RTN\RTN Pathloss Files\Antenna
Reliability Analysis Transmission Line
Step 1: Click
Step 2: Input Tx line loss
and Connector loss
Tips:
(1) 0.5 dB connector loss for most situation.
(2) 0.6 dB for separately mounted antenna, 0 dB for directly mounted antenna. For
XMC ODU, we use separately mounting for antenna bigger than 1.8m, and directly
mounting for smaller or equal than 1.8m.
Reliability Analysis Branching Unit
Click Input loss
Tips:
(1) No branching loss for 1+0 configuration.
(2) 1.7dB for 1+1 HSB by default (asymmetric
combiner).
(3) 3.3dB for 2+0 configuration (symmetric
combiner).
Reliability Analysis Equipment
Step 1: Click Code Index

New Index Choose directory
contains antenna file
Step 2: Choose equipment
Both
Tips: Although you can
choose different equipment
for both sites, choose the
same for both sites always.
Location to download RTN equipment files:
\\info-server\5_EnglishDoc\04-OpticalNetwork\2-OptiX\8-RTN\RTN Pathloss Files\Equipment
Reliability Analysis Check Result
Step 1: Check the Flat fade
margin and total annual
availability (Annual multipath +
rain (%-sec).
Step 2: Adjust the antenna size
to meet the KPI requirement.
Route Design
Link Design
Report
Tips
Content
Report Link List (1)
Step 1: Export link list (Switch to Network Module Site Data, Reports CSV link
list microwave)
Step 2: Choose items to be exported
Step 3: Click Option to choose output format if necessary OK
Step 4: Click OK, the link list in output format will be shown File Save)
Report Link List (2)
Now we get all the files. And we can configure device in UniSTAR CFG with Link List.
Tips:
(1) Manually add .csv extension while save csv file, or the file will has no extension name.
(2) No item will be shown if you choose too many columns to output due to pathloss bug,
but you can still save it to csv file and no information will be missed.
Step 5: Manually processed it to add some missing information: Antenna diameter (only
the antenna model is exported), link protection type (1+0, 1+1 HSB/SD/FD, XPIC, 2+0,
etc).
Report Path Profile
Step 1: Switch to Worksheets Module
Step 2: Full Report (Print Full Report), or Short Report (Print Short Report), or
Step 3: Batch Report (Print Batch Report Full Report Choose pathloss files
Open)
Report Path Report
Step 1: Switch to Print Profile Module (Module Print Profile)
Step 2: Print to a printer (Print Print), or Copy to clipboard (Print Copy) then
paste to word document, or
Step 3: Batch Print (Print Select desired pathloss files Open)
Route Design
Link Design
Report
Tips
Content
Tips: 2+0 Configuration
Question: How to Configure 2+0 Link?
Combiner
ODU ODU
3.3 dB
Tips: XPIC Link Design
Step 1: Select Cochannel operation
(Worksheets Module Operations
Reliability Options Check
Cochannel operation box
Step 2: Choose Dual Polarization
Antenna
Step 3: Choose XPIC IF board (IFX2
or ISX2)
Tips:
(1) The annual availability and fade
margin of XPIC link will be a litter
lower than non-XPIC link with the
same other conditions (antenna size,
modulation method, channel space,
etc.)
(2) There are some compatibility issues with pathloss 4 and Windows 7, which cause that it
is impossible to configure XPIC link on Windows 7 with pathloss 4. Use Windows XP
instead.
Tips: 1+1 SD Configuration
1+1 SD can greatly increase the KPI of a link.
1+1 SD is commonly used when the link is long and over water
Step 1: Worksheet Module Configure Antenna
Configuration TRDR-TRDR OK
Step 2: Configure the SD
antenna
Tips: It is difficult to
determine the distance
between main antenna and
SD antenna. Use 10 meters
by default for presale
design.
Tips: Labeling a link
Step 1: Right click a link Label
Step 2: Input the label text, such as
the configuration, capacity, or/and the
distance of this link.
Adaptive Modulation
Capacity
Time
99.999%
99.998%
99.995%
99.99%
99.95%
Low priority queue and remaining bit rates
Most for download services etc.
256QAM 128QAM 64QAM
16QAM
QPSK
Voice
64QAM 128QAM 256QAM
32QAM
99.9%
Adaptive Modulation
42Mbit/s
84Mbit/s
105Mbit/s
133Mbit/s
158Mit/s
183Mit/s
High priority queue and guaranteed bit rates
Most for voice etc.
VOIP
Internet
Adaptive modulation enables a correct planning of the network
Introduction to Enabling AMAC Planning
(Pathloss Ver4.0)
The methods for link planning are similar to those for AM planning. For details about planning
methods, see the AM Network Planning Guide V1.3. During an interference analysis, the interference in
the 250M-QPSK and 500M-QPSK modes need to be respectively calculated. Planning steps are briefly
described as follows:
1Determine to enable the AMAC function based on service priorities, capacities, and so on.
2Select the network planning files of the 250M-QPSK Strong mode, and use the traditional method to plan
links in the reference mode.
3For the modes that have higher orders than the reference mode, select the network planning files of the
to-be-calculated mode, and enter the corresponding AMAC_RSL parameters (replace the original sensitivity of
the mode in the red circles) into the blue circle on the Pathloss page shown in the following figure to calculate
the link availability.
AMAC_RSLdBm
QPSK Strong_250M -76.5
QPSK Strong_500M -69.3
QPSK -66.0
16QAM -59.3
32QAM -54.8
64QAM -50.8
AMAC_RSL parameters of OptiX
RTN 380 V100R001C00
Frequency Planning in Pathloss
Steps of Frequency Planning in Pathloss
1. Start the PL4.0 program
2. Access the Network
module
3.Open the finished route
file.
4.Take the link between
Site 5 and Site 21 for
instance. Set the CH
parameters after setting
the parameters for Radio
and Antennas
5. Click CH. The TX
Channels dialog box is
displayed, as shown in
right
6 Import frequency file clickLookup openTX CHANNEL
dialogFigure1click File select the corresponding frequency
planning file from Freqplan, as shown in the Figure.
7. Import frequency file Open the Frequency File the data will
be imported automatically show as Figure 3
8Choose ChannelThe choosed channel be showed in the blue
box .As Follow:
9Set High or Low siteAfter choose the correct channel
clickSite 1 Hi will set site1 as High site,as the same,click Site 2
Hi means Site 2 is the high site.
10Set the way of polarizationDouble click the dialog TX
Channels >Pol->VorHwill choose the polarizationAs follow
11Complete all the steps click OK will back
Vmeans Vertical polarizationHmeans Horizontal polarization
Interference Analysis in Pathloss
The interference analysis
procedure in Pathloss:
1. Start the PL4.0 program
2. Access the Network module
3. Open the finished route file.
4. Choose the Interference
menu
5. Click Calculate Intra. The
dialog box for setting
interference parameters is
displayed, as shown on the
right:
RTN IP KPIs
Page 71
Thanks!

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