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Microwave Links FAQs:
You will find our full range of Microwave Links services and products in our Instrumentation Section under the Cellular and Microwave Radio Networks Section and listed below are some of the FAQs are customers ask us about Microwave Links.
What is a Microwave Link?
- For applications where high capacity Internet is needed such as metropolitan networks or links between remote buildings, we can provide microwave links in the range from 10Mbps to 700Mbps between two or more locations.
Licensed Microwave links are absolutely transparent, acting as an extension of the Ethernet backbone or segment. - Licensed Microwave is fully compatible with the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard, and supports all Ethernet functionality and applications.
A Microwave Link is a high speed, cost effective alternative to leased lines or fibre optic cables in that it has equivalent capacity and can be rapidly deployed without having to dig up roads, car parks or parks and can be usually installed without planning permission.
A Microwave Link is ideally suited for:
- Inter-building LAN, voice and video connections
- Broadband Internet connectivity
- Internet service provision
- CCTV
Butler Group provide a fully bespoke service for this solution, including site surveys and project management of the installation.
Considerations for using a Microwave Link:
- Very high bandwidth. Flexible and very reliable, provided suitable sites are available for mounting cameras and relays.
- Purchase costs can be high, but avoid cable rental charges.
- The range between transmitter and receiver (or a repeater) is approximately 40 km, but must be “line of sight ”.
- The signals will be obstructed by hills or high buildings, requiring additional signal repeaters.
- Very occasionally weather interference may occur.
- Signal encryption is generally necessary to guard against unauthorised access.
- A cheaper alternative to cabling in town centers.
- Used to link main schemes with isolated areas such as housing estates.
Butler Group will provide the necessary documentation to ensure that the equipment is correctly licensed.
What is Radio Link Planning ?
Radio Link Planning is the set of engineering activities, based on proven methodologies, sophisticated algorithms and specialised software tools, aiming at designing the access part of a wireless network with the objective of satisfying coverage and capacity requirements.
Radio Link planning activities include:
- Site Location and Positioning
- Nominal Radio Network Planning
- Detailed Radio Network Planning.
- Preliminary Planning
- This activity focuses on analysing customers requirements and fixing all technological assumptions in order to set the most effective network configuration.
- Estimation of service and traffic mix
- Analysis of link budget and Path profile
- Analysis of coverage and capacity
- Antenna configuration selection
What is a Line of Site Survey?
- Licensed Microwave systems require a clear line-of-site between locations. This implies that there can be no obstacles or obstructions in the path of the microwave signal.
- To achieve this microwave antennas are located as high as possible, generally on roofs of buildings, radio towers, or other tall structures.
- In the event that a clear line-of-site cannot be established, systems are sometimes repeated over objects (i.e. other buildings) or reflected around an object using specific microwave passive repeaters. In most cases it is necessary to perform a site survey in order to assure a clear line-of-site.
- Microwave survey engineers use their long range Optical devices to check and record the route and compare the actual route information with planned information to find the best location.
- If they cannot see the other end they may use light flashing or sun light mirror to make sure and record that a clear of line of sight exists.
What Does a Site Survey examine?
During a site survey we will examine;
- Existing Wireless Equipment
- Existing Antenna Locations
- Existing Tower condition
- Fall arrest system
- Stayed Pole
- Roof Access Location
- Roof Height
- Proposed Antenna(s) Location
- Antenna Mounting Hardware
- Antenna Height(s) Above Ground
- Cable route (duct, overhead)
- Cable entry point
- Cable type and length required
- Cable fixing type (Clamp, tie)
- Grounding Locations (Mast and building entrance) Ground wire route (Mast and building entrance) Tower Lightening Protection Equipment Lightening Protection location New Equipment location.
For further information on any of these services, please contact the Butler Group on + 353 1 6292620.