MICROWAVE SYSTEM LINK

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE COURSE, ADCOMSD LAB
ADVANCE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND DESIGN

SUBMITTED BY:
LACAYANGA, IVANNE
LEYGO, MAIANNE

SCHEDULE:
11:30 – 3:30 THURS

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. MICHAEL JAMES S. DEUS

DATE: APRIL 11, 2022

 MICROWAVE SYSTEM LINK
I. Introduction

A. Background of the Study

a. Considerations in Setting a Microwave System

i. Permits (Discuss here all about the needed permits in the design and construction of
the transmit and receive tower)
The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2, includes a provision that
fast tracks the construction of telco towers by suspending the requirements to secure
permits and clearances.
The Bayanihan to Recover as One Act was recently signed by President Duterte,
and one of the provisions include the temporary suspension of requirements to secure
permits and clearances for the construction of telecommunications and internet
infrastructure.
The only exception is the building permit issued by the Office of the Building
Official pursuant to the National Building Code of the Philippines, and the height
clearance permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
According to the Act, “no national or local permit or clearance shall be required
in the construction, installation, repair, operation and maintenance of
telecommunications and internet infrastructure by independent tower companies
registered with the DICT, or holders of certificates of public convenience and necessity or
provisional authority granted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to
public telecommunication entities, for a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of
this Act: provided, that for homeowners and other community clearances, the
requirements provided under Section 15 of Republic Act No. 11032 or the “Ease of Doing
Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act”, in relation to section 10(k) of
Republic Act No. 9904 or the “Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’
Associations”, shall apply.”
The act also streamlines the regulatory processes and procedures for the
development of digital, internet and satellite technology infrastructure, stating that “all
pending and new applications for the construction of cell sites, cell towers, roll out fiber,
installation of poles, ground terminals and other transmission or similar
telecommunications and internet structure and facilities shall be approved or
disapproved within a non-extendible period of seven (7) working days from the date the
application was received. An application which is not acted upon within such period shall
be deemed approved.”

The act also stated that “no court, except the Supreme Court, shall issue any
temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction or preliminary mandatory injunction
against the construction of telecommunications infrastructure, including cell sites and
 cell towers.”

Permits and clearances in building cell towers are often cited by telcos as one of
the biggest challenges in providing faster and more stable internet in the country. The
provisions mentioned in the act paves the way for faster construction of cell towers.
From about 29 to 35 documentary requirements and permits needed to build a cell
tower, telcos now only need a building permit.
ii. Terminal Site Access and Weather
TX- LA PAZ TARLAC
La Paz lies in the southeast portion of the province of Tarlac, 130 kilometres (81
mi) from Metro Manila, 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the provincial capital (Tarlac City)
and 77 kilometres (48 mi) from the regional center (San Fernando City aka San
Fernando, Pampanga). It is bounded on the north by the town of Victoria, on the east by
the Province of Nueva Ecija, on the south by the town of Concepcion and on the west by
Tarlac City.
BB – COCONUT ST. MAGALANG, PAMPANGA
Magalang, officially the Municipality of Magalang, is a 1st class municipality in
the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a
population of 124,188 people. Magalang is part of the First Congressional District of
Pampanga where Angeles City and Mabalacat are also included.
RX – PAMPANGA
Pampanga is a province in the Philippines, northwest of Manila. Nayong Pilipino,
a cultural theme park in Clark Freeport, has replicas of major national sites. Animatronic
dinosaurs roam at Dinosaurs Island nearby. A mountain trail leads to the streams of
Miyamit Falls, southwest. Farther west, a turquoise lake fills Mt. Pinatubo’s volcanic
crater. In Angeles, the Museo ning Angeles documents the area's history.
iii. Terminal Site Topography
TX
 BB
RX

iv. Surveying
The details required for surveying depend upon the stage of the system planning.
Information from topographical maps can suffice for every preliminary plans. As the planning
progresses, visits to the sites are necessary. A map study and site visit usually will provide
enough information for cost estimating or budgetary planning. Final Construction planning and
engineering often required more detail. A survey may be required for property acquisition. The
vertical angles to the other sites along with the angle included between the path azimuths
determine the exact size of a few members that vary in length for the particular vertical face
angle. It is adviseable to stake the exact position of the footings. The footings should be placed
such that the reflector face does not vary after erection is completed more than 1/3 from the
optimum position.

v. Microwave Parabolic Dish Antenna

 The parabolic reflector antenna which is often called the dish antenna provides an antenna
solution applicable for VHF and above where high gain and directivity are needed.
  The parabolic reflector or dish antenna is the form of antenna which finds many uses in
domestic satellite television reception, terrestrial microwave data links, general satellite
communications and many more.
 Its size means that it is generally limited to use above 1GHz, although larger antennas may be
used for frequencies down to about 100MHz.
 The parabolic reflector antenna or dish antenna is known for its distinctive shape, its high gain,
and narrow beamwidths. It is the performance which can be achieved by using one is the reason
it is so widely used at higher frequencies.

B. Statement of the Problem

a. What is the most economical means for providing communication where there are no
existing cable or wire lines to be expanded?

b. How to link the terminal sites?

c. What microwave system can be installed to compensate a mountainous terrain?

d. Were the following criteria satisfied in choosing the terminal sites?

i. Line of Sight (LOS) requirement between the parabolic dish antennas and double
passive repeaters,

ii. 500 m distance from an access road,

iii. Access to a power company,

iv. Location in a populated area having at least 10 small dwellings and is within a service
area of 1 km diameter.

II. Microwave System Design Calculation:

A. Given Parameters

a. Minimum Total Path Length (Tx to Rx) = 30-50 km

b. Fixed Losses (Per Terminal Site)

i. Connector Loss = 0.25 dB

 ii. Radome Loss = 0.5 dB

Radomes are recommended for all parabolic dish antennas to reduce the
parabolic dish antenna windload on the parabolic dish antenna tower in warmer
locations. For systems subject to problem locations with extreme wind gusts, special
extra strength reinforced fiberglass radomes are available. The amount of loss may
vary from 0.5 dB for a typical unheated and heated radome at 6 GHz to almost 1.2 dB
at 8 GHz.

iii. Waveguide Loss = 1.5 dB / 100’

Rigid rectangular waveguide is the most commonly used with oxygen-free, high-
conductivity copper (OFHC) as the recommended material. In cases where, due to
tallparabolic dish antenna height, a reduced transmission loss is required, transitions
can be supplied for use with (International Electrotechnical Commission) IEC Standard
R58 or (Electronic Industries Alliance) EIAStandard WR159, which has a loss of about
1.5 dB / 100’.

iv. Waveguide Length = TH + 20 ft

c. Parabolic Dish Antenna Height (TH) for Terminal Sites = 12 m to 15 m

d. Elevation (TH) for Passive Billboard Reflector Towers = 12 m to 15 m

e. Reliability = 99.9978%

Because reliability is of utmost importance, the means of ensuring the greatest

possible reliability is also considered. The microwave system may be down for about less
than 53 minutes per year.

f. PTx = 600 mW

Terrestrial microwave system uses relatively low power transmitter with high gain
parabolic dish antenna. By concentrating the transmitted power into a narrow beam, the
parabolic dish antenna increases the effective power and reduce intererence to and from
other systems.

g. f = 7 GHz

Double passive repeaters have typically been used mainly at frequencies of 6 GHz
and higher. The 6700 MHz to 7075 MHz frequency band is referred in the International
 Telecommunications Union (ITU) frequency allocation for Region 3 in which the
Philippines through the NTC is a member. This is intended for fixed services that is defined
according to Article 1.20 of the ITU Radio Regulations (RR) as a radiocommunication
service between specified fixed point.

Super high frequency (SHF) is the ITU designation for radio frequencies (RF) in the
range of Band 10 that extends from 3x10 9 Hz to 30x109 Hz. This band of frequencies is also
known as centimetric waves.Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)C Band is
a name given to certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including wavelengths
of microwaves, that are used for long-distance radio telecommunications ranging from 4
to 8 GHz. It is used for terrestrial microwave radio relay chains.

At 7 GHz, rain attenuation is not considered sufficient to warrant special

consideration in the design of the microwave paths, except in very extreme situations. In
any given situation, the effects of rain attenuation can be reduced by raising the fade
margin, shortening the microwave paths, or both. The magnitude of the effect of
atmospheric absorption due to oxygen and water vapor is quite small at 7 GHz and is
usually neglected.

h. Practical Eb / No = 16.256 dB

The newer microwave system uses a digital modulation scheme.

i. Bit Rate = 120 Mbps

j. NF = 4.275 dB

k. K = 4 / 3

For practical calculation purposes, K = 4 / 3 is usually considered to fall with normal

or standard atmosphere.

B. Corrected Elevation Table (CET) and Path Profile (Distance VS Elevation)

Preliminary facility planning and study for terminal site and passive billboard
reflectorlocation is made from a topographic map using the google earth For accurate
calculations, topographic map of the areas is obtained and noted any obstacles in the
microwave path between transmitter and receiver. The microwave path is then plotted on an
ordinary graph paper. The Microsoft Excel software is used as well for convenience.
 a. Parabolic Dish Antenna Transmitter in (transmitter) to (Receiver)
- Transmitter to receiver (it should be Obstructed)
D1 D2 Actual H(m) Corrected
Elevation Elevation
Tx 0 50 17 0 17
3 47 15 8.294 23.294
6 44 17 15.529 32.529
9 41 18 21.706 39.706
12 38 21 26.824 47.824
15 35 23 30.882 53.882
18 32 22 33.882 55.882
21 29 22 35.824 57.824
24 26 26 36.706 62.706
HP 26 24 52 36.706 88.706
27 23 40 36.529 76.529
29 21 32 26.824 58.824
32 18 28 33.882 61.882
35 15 26 30.882 56.882
38 12 25 26.824 51.824
41 9 19 21.706 40.706
44 6 14 15.529 29.529
47 3 5 8.294 13.294
Rx 50 0 6 0 6

- Transmitter to Billboard ( Line of Sight)

D1 D2 Actual H Corrected
Elevation Elevation
TX 0 25 18 0 18
1 24 16 1.412 17.412
3 22 14 3.882 17.882
4 21 14 4.941 18.941
6 19 15 6.706 21.706
7 18 15 7.412 22.412
9 16 13 8.471 21.471
10 15 16 8.824 24.824
MP 12 13 18 9.176 27.176
13 12 20 9.176 29.176
15 10 22 8.824 30.824
16 9 20 8.471 28.471
18 7 19 7.412 26.412
 19 6 22 6.706 28.706
21 4 21 4.941 25.941
22 3 24 3.882 27.882
24 1 36 1.412 37.412
BB 25 0 52 0 52

-Billboard to Receiver (line of sight)

D1 D2 Actual H Corrected
Elevation Elevation
BB 0 25 52 0 52
1 24 35 1.412 36.412
3 22 31 3.882 34.882
4 21 32 4.941 36.941
6 19 31 6.706 37.706
7 18 29 7.412 36.412
9 16 27 8.471 35.471
10 15 25 8.824 33.824
12 13 22 9.176 31.176
13 12 21 9.176 30.176
14 11 21 9.059 30.059
16 9 19 8.471 27.471
17 8 15 8 23
19 6 12 6.706 18.706
20 5 9 5.882 14.882
22 3 7 3.882 10.882
23 2 5 2.706 7.706
RX 25 0 6 0 6

b. TH Calculation
TX- BB

TENTATIVE TOWER HEIGHT = 12m

CC >MC –TRUE
 TOWER HEIGHT = 12m
BB- RX

TENTATIVE TOWER HEIGHT = 12m

CC >MC –TRUE

TOWER HEIGHT = 12m

C. Path Data Sheet

The microwave path data calculation sheet provides a formalized way of

determining and recording all the parameters affecting the overall transmission loss
equation. The data and calculations for the individual paths and for the overall system
are combined into a single running sheet.

The following discussion of various items on the sheet is intended to illustrate

some of the details of the system planning, as well as the calculation methods.
MICROWAVE PATH DATA COLLECTION SHEET
PARAMETER UNIT TX BB
1 SITE LA PAZ, TARLAC COCONUT ST.
MAGALANG, PAMPANGA
2 LATITUDE 15.441250 15.2139
3 LONGITUDE 120.728630 120.6939
4 ACTUAL ELEVATION m 18 52
5 TH M 12 12
TOWER ELEVATION ft 98.4252 209.9738
6 PATH LENGTH Km 25
7 PATH FSL db 137.261
ATTENUATION AAL 0.205
 8 TOTAL PATH LOSSES(TPL) db 163.761
9 WAVEGUIDE LENGTH Ft 59.3701
10 WAVEGUIDE LOSS(WGL) dB 1.5/100
11 CONNECTOR LOSS(CL) dB 0.25
12 RADOME LOSS(RL) dB 0.5
13 TOTAL FIXED LOSSES (TFL) dB 18.861
14 TOTAL LOSSES(TL) dB 176.956
15 MINIMUM RSL (Cmin) dB 29.4673
16 SYSTEM GAIN (GS) dB 57.2488
17 TOTAL GAINS dB 119.7072
18 TRANSMIT POWER dBm 27.7815
19 BIT RATE Mbps 120
20 PRACTICAL Eb / NO dB 16.265
21 RECEIVER TEMPERATURE K 290
22 NOISE FIGURE dB 4.275
23 FADE MARGIN dB 28.9319
24 NET PATH LOSS dB 62.0297

MICROWAVE PATH DATA COLLECTION SHEET

PARAMETER UNIT BB RX
1 SITE COCONUT ST. PAMPANGA
MAGALANG, PAMPANGA
2 LATITUDE 15.2139 14.994499
3 LONGITUDE 120.6939 120.660372
4 ACTUAL ELEVATION m 52 6
5 TH M 12 12
TOWER ELEVATION ft 209.9738 59.0551
6 PATH LENGTH Km 25
7 PATH FSL db 137.261
ATTENUATION AAL 0.205
8 TOTAL PATH LOSSES(TPL) db 163.761
9 WAVEGUIDE LENGTH Ft 59.3701
10 WAVEGUIDE LOSS(WGL) dB 1.5/100
11 CONNECTOR LOSS(CL) dB 0.25
12 RADOME LOSS(RL) dB 0.5
13 TOTAL FIXED LOSSES (TFL) dB 18.861
14 TOTAL LOSSES(TL) dB 176.956
15 MINIMUM RSL (Cmin) dB 29.4673
16 SYSTEM GAIN (GS) dB 57.2488
17 TOTAL GAINS dB 119.7072
18 TRANSMIT POWER dBm 27.7815
19 BIT RATE Mbps 120
20 PRACTICAL Eb / NO dB 16.265
21 RECEIVER TEMPERATURE K 290
22 NOISE FIGURE dB 4.275
23 FADE MARGIN dB 28.9319
24 NET PATH LOSS dB 62.0297

D. Path Data Sheet Calculation

The final objective for any microwave system is that it provides the best
distortion free and interference free service continuity for the type of fixed service to
be assigned and within the framework of the available economics.

Overall reliability or service continuity involves not only power failures but also
the propagation performance of the individual microwave paths. This involves
parabolic dish antenna sizes and TH, path lengths and frequency-attenuation
relationships.

It also includes fade margins which in additionto microwave path parameters

are affected by noise figure, transmitter output power and attenuation of waveguide
arrangements. System noise is affected by the same things which, in addition to
interference, can have an adverse effect on overall microwave system performance.

Free Space Loss (FSL) is defined as the loss that would obtain between two
parabolic dish antennas in free space where there are no ground influences or
obstructions. Radio energy is lost in space primarily because of the spreading of
energy in the wavefront as it travels through space, in accordance with the inverse-
square law.
 III. Conclusion and Recommendation (answer your objective)
In this activity, we conclude that the line of sight wireless communication technology uses
high frequency beams of radio waves to provide high speed wireless connections that can
send and receive voice, video, and data information.

Linking Two different Terminal Sites as Being bi-directional (duplex) means that
2transmit frequencies are used in opposite directions between the 2 terminals in a
link.The separation depends on the capacity carried, band of frequency used and
allotted user of the spectrum. The station whose transmit frequency is higher than
it’s receive frequency (transmit frequency of the other end) is called the High Band
Terminal. The station whose transmit frequency is lower than it’s receive frequency
is call the Low Band Terminal. The station whose transmit frequency is lower than
it’s receive frequency is call the Low Band Terminal. Furthermore, the selection on
which site should be the High Band station and which site should be the Low Band
stations should be carefully considered during the planning stage. Interference in a
microwave link due to other links can result due to poor site selection but also can
sometimes be solved by simply exchanging which station is High Band and which
station is Low Band. Microwave links are usually employed whenever cable based
transmission systems would prove to be expensive, difficult or virtually impossible.
Microwave installations used by telecommunications common carriers are the most
frequent installations ever to be found. It is more easier to link antenna on higher
grounds to avoid obstructions such as mountains, walls etc.

The given criteria in choosing the terminal sites satisfied the needed criteria in choosing
the terminal sites.