microwave path analysis

EMClarity White Paper

BASIC PATH CONSIDERATIONS FOR A
MICROWAVE LINK
Date: May 2010

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BASIC PATH CONSIDERATIONS FOR A MICROWAVE LINK

Date: May 2010

Revised:

1.0 Summary There are a number of factors to be checked when considering a possible path for a microwave link. Ideally, a microwave link would operate between two points without passing through any material substances, including the atmosphere and rain, and without any objects being anywhere near the path of propagation. Such a link is closely approximated by a typical link between an earth station and a geostationary satellite where the only intervening material is about 12km of atmosphere in the 36,000km between the earth station and the satellite. The closer the satellite link line of propagation is to vertical through the atmosphere, the smaller the atmospheric effects on the signal propagation. A terrestrial microwave link usually has a propagation path approximately horizontally through the atmosphere and this adds a number of complications to the analysis of the path. It is not the intention of this note to go into these issues in great detail but rather to outline the basic points for a good understanding of how