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Radio Mobile RF Site Surveys. Topic Choices. Introduction. Maps & Pictures. Unit Properties. Steps. Networks Properties. Resolve Paths. Generate Reports. Tips & Examples. Closing Comments. Radio Mobile Software. Radio Mobile is freeware software
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Topic Choices Introduction Maps & Pictures Unit Properties Steps Networks Properties Resolve Paths Generate Reports Tips & Examples Closing Comments
Radio Mobile Software • 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/
Elevation & Map Merges • 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…
SRTM Elevation Maps • 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
User Provided Information • 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
Longley-Rice ITS • 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
Confirm Radio Mobile Configuration • Check for web update under Help • Confirm Radiosys.dat contains Data-Linc radio systems (File…Networks Properties…Systems)
Site Survey Steps • 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
Define the Elevation Data Source • 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 Map Properties • File…Map properties…
Picture Properties • File…Picture properties tosuit your needs… Gray scaled Colored Slope Rainbow
Streets and Other Map Merges • Edit…Merge Pictures… Internet Tiger - USA
Entering Unit (Site) Information • 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 LAT/LON Coordinates • 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/
What is Network and System? • 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.
Build an “All Masters” Network • 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
Networks Parameters • File…Networks Properties…
Objective & Requirements • Objective here is to minimize your time and labor by quickly determining path issues and application feasibility • Requires “All Masters” network
Basic Activities • 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
Implement the Plan • 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
Reporting Comments • Report details based on feasibility and survey funding • Quick and minimal • Thorough and complete • Reports are often the foundation for on-site surveys
Report Generation Tools • 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
Other Features and Tips • Using Google Earth • When a radio will be mounted at antenna elevation adjust unit elevation to keep coax short
Example Network 1 • Desired Radio: SRM7210E? • Site Details: • Master 36°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 2 • 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 3 • 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