Field Proven Performance – Industrial Grade Support

DATA-LINC GROUP

Radio Mobile RF Site SurveysRadio Mobile RF Site Surveys

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Topic ChoicesTopic Choices

Introduction

Maps & Pictures

Unit Properties

Networks Properties

Resolve Paths

Generate Reports

Tips & Examples

Closing Comments

Steps

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Radio Mobile is freeware software Written by a radio amateur Roger Coude’ (9VE2DBE)

for radio amateurs Operates from 20MHz to 20GHz Based on Irregular Terrain (Longley-Rice) propagation

model Is intended for longer distance outdoor applications Download and information at:

http://www.cplus.org/rmw/english1.html Radio Mobile User Group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Radio_Mobile_Deluxe/

Radio Mobile SoftwareRadio Mobile Software

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Radio Mobile ScreenRadio Mobile Screen

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Data can be accessed online or purchased Elevation Data

SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DTED, GTOPO30, GLOBE, BIL

Street maps Tiger, OpenStreetMap…

Images and ground cover Landsat, Terraserver, Toporama, Land Cover…

Elevation & Map MergesElevation & Map Merges

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Topological data is available for most of the world List of sources: ttp://www.cplus.org/rmw/dataen.html Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)

Info and data from Jet Propulsion Laborary:http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/srtm/

Data is freely available via FTP:ftp://e0srp01u.ecs.nasa.gov/srtm/

The FTP site is heavily used and is taken down for maintenance on Wednesday nights

Various resolutions (1 and 3 arcsec, others…) There are some “holes” where data are not

available

SRTM Elevation MapsSRTM Elevation Maps

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Site locations Latitude/Longitude coordinates Acceptable antenna elevations above ground

Radio specifications (Radiosys.dat) Transmitter Receiver Antenna and coax

Network design criteria Line Of Sight (LOS) Fade Margin

User Provided InformationUser Provided Information

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For ISM bands (900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz) and RF paths less than 50km: Rainfall is not a consideration Climate setting = Continental temperate

May not be valid for air to ground applications Typically for 1km+ distances

Longley-Rice ITSLongley-Rice ITS

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Check for web update under Help Confirm Radiosys.dat contains Data-Linc radio

systems (File…Networks Properties…Systems)

Confirm Radio Mobile ConfigurationConfirm Radio Mobile Configuration

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Application information Obtain site coordinates and useable antenna heights Identify the master site(s) Identify the preferred wireless product

Using Radio Mobile Prepare maps and map pictures Enter Unit (site) Properties Define and analyze “All Masters” Network Resolve RF path issues

Prepare Site Survey report

Site Survey StepsSite Survey Steps

Prepare Map and Picture MergesPrepare Map and Picture Merges

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Estimate Lat/Lon for map center (master site?) Estimate map size in km and display size Set Options…Internet for SRTM data and region

Define the Elevation Data SourceDefine the Elevation Data Source

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SRTM USA 1 Arcsecond RegionsSRTM USA 1 Arcsecond Regions

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File…Map properties…

Define Map PropertiesDefine Map Properties

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File…Picture properties tosuit your needs…

Picture PropertiesPicture Properties

Gray scaled

Colored Slope

Rainbow

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Edit…Merge Pictures…

Streets and Other Map MergesStreets and Other Map Merges

Internet Tiger - USA

Unit PropertiesUnit Properties

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Build the map first so unit elevation can be extracted from the map

File…Unit properties

Notice a unit can be placed at the cursor position on the map

Entering Unit (Site) InformationEntering Unit (Site) Information

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Coordinates can be entered as: 47° 34’ 21” 47° 34.35’ 47.5725

An example coordinate units converter:http://www.jeepreviews.com/wireless-gps-coordinates/

Entering LAT/LON CoordinatesEntering LAT/LON Coordinates

Define Network(s)Define Network(s)

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Radio Mobile can be used for applications with a single network of two radios to multiple networks of many radios

A SRM master with several slaves can be a network

A repeater with attached slaves can be another network

A “system” is a radio, antenna, coax, lightning arrestor, connectors, etc.

What is Network and System?What is Network and System?

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This will be the starting point for analysis For the “All Masters” network

Set RF band frequencies Set network topology (typically voice) Set the Systems (radio, antenna, coax combinations) Set RF path style based on Rx Relative (fade margin) Add units (members) to the network and

Set role to master Choose a system (use omni antenna at this point) If known set antenna elevation AGL

Build an “All Masters” NetworkBuild an “All Masters” Network

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File…Networks Properties…

Networks ParametersNetworks Parameters

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Networks TopologyNetworks Topology

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Networks SystemsNetworks Systems

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Networks MembershipNetworks Membership

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Networks StyleNetworks Style

Resolve RF PathsResolve RF Paths

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Objective here is to minimize your time and labor by quickly determining path issues and application feasibility

Requires “All Masters” network

Objective & RequirementsObjective & Requirements

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Use the Radio Link Tool Filter paths using Networks…Styles Tools…Network Report Consider possibilities

Change unit system (antenna sub-system)? Adjust unit elevation AGL? Different wireless product? Other repeater sites? Mixed wired/wireless solution?

Formulate a solution plan

Basic ActivitiesBasic Activities

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Possibly create a network for the master and each repeater

Assign units to appropriate network(s) Multiple RF links from master and repeaters to a unit

(site) is desirable (alternate paths) Caution: Antenna height and system (ant/coax/radio)

for the same site are not linked in each network Set unit’s role in network (master/repeater/slave)

Adjust antenna elevation AGL, System type (omni/yagi/coax) for each unit

Repeat previous steps until satisfied

Implement the PlanImplement the Plan

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Radio Link ToolRadio Link Tool

Generate ReportGenerate Report

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Report details based on feasibility and survey funding Quick and minimal Thorough and complete

Reports are often the foundation for on-site surveys

Reporting CommentsReporting Comments

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MS Word report template Screen capture software such as Snagit or Paint

Shop Pro Radio Mobile:

Pictures RF path cross-section screen captures Network report

Data-Linc parts list Findings summary and possible concerns

Report Generation ToolsReport Generation Tools

Tips & ExamplesTips & Examples

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Using Google Earth When a radio will be mounted at antenna

elevation adjust unit elevation to keep coax short

Other Features and TipsOther Features and Tips

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Desired Radio: SRM7210E? Site Details:

Master36°01'12"N 087°53'57“W 40ft N Tank 36°06'12"N 087°47'01“W 100ft TH Tank 36°04'35“N 087°47'46“W 75ft CR Tank 36°03'42"N 087°54'47“W 100ft CC Tank 36°05'24“N 087°46'31“W 75ft PS1 36°05'06"N 087°47'08“W 10ft IS Tank 36°05'08"N 087°47'46"W 60ft

Heights are Above Ground Level (AGL)

Example Network 1 Example Network 1

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Desired Radio: PLR5000 Site Details:

Master 43°39'42"N 116°16'25“W 10m Repeater 1 43°40'52“N 116°14'29“W 15m Repeater 2 43°40'18“N 116°13'49“W 20m PS 1 43°41'26"N 116°14'44“W 4.5m PS 2 43°40'42"N 116°13'58“W 10m PS 3 43°40'22"N 116°11'53“W 15m

Example Network 2Example Network 2

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Prefer SRM6000 radios Antenna elevations not to exceed 30 feet Site Details:

Master 38°12'07"N 120°41'21“W HWY 49 38°12'08"N 120°41'42“W SunSet 38°11'32"N 120°41'20“W OakShadows 38°11'08"N 120°39'42“W WT1 38°11'15"N 120°40'04“W

Example Network 3Example Network 3

Field Proven Performance – Industrial Grade Support

DATA-LINC GROUP

Thank You!Thank You!