Selecting "RF System Analysis" from the "View" menu will cause the "RF System Parameters" screen to replace the path profile graph on your computer screen. This page can then be used to determine the entire system losses and gains for an ultimate calculation of available signal and fade margin.
This input box exists for both the transmitter and receiver. Enter the loss in dB per 100 meters for the transmission line in use in each box.
Enter the lengths of the transmitter and receiver transmission lines. If you append an "F" to the end of the entry, the program will assume the measurement is in feet and automatically convert to meters.
These text boxes found under the transmitter and receiver columns show the total transmission line loss in dB. This total will be automatically calculated if the dB loss per 100 Meters and the length are known.
If the antenna is a round parabolic reflector the program can calculate its gain from the input of the antenna's diameter. Once the dish diameter is entered the computer will calculate the gain in dBi of the antenna and place the gain in dBi into the box below "Antenna Gain dBi. " If you append an "F" to the end of the "Dish Diameter" entry, the program will assume the measurement is in feet and automatically convert to meters.
This is the gain in dBi exhibited by the antenna in use. The manufacturer's gain figure of the antenna can be entered directly into this box. This is the preferred method, particularly when a circular parabolic dish is not used.
Each connector on a cable line adds approximately .25 dB in loss. If you are using two connectors the program will assume .5 dB connector loss. This function works the same for transmit as it does for receive.
Add in all other losses, such as from a splitter, combiner or filter. There is an "Other Gains dB" input box on the receiver side that can be used to add in the gain achieved from a preamplifier.
Input the transmitter's output power in dBm. If you append a "w" to the end of this input, the program will assume the input is in watts and will convert the entry to the required power in dBm.
This is label display of the total transmit or receive system signal in dB. This value is calculated form the other text boxes and cannot be changed by the user.
This is the total transmitter power, less the losses plus the gains, available at the receiver terminals of the system under study. A user cannot edit this value. The available signal will automatically update with changes in transmit or receive antenna height, frequency and other system parameters.
This is the minimum value in dB that the receiver excepts for full quieting. If you append an "m" to the end of this input, the program will assume the input is in microvolts and will convert the entry to the signal desired in dBm.
This is the difference in dB between the Available signal and the Desired signal. The higher this signal is above the minimum value expected the more "Fade Margin" the system has.
This figure is calculated from a measurement of the distance of the path. The longer the path the greater will be the fading and therefore the greater the "recommended Fade Margin" must be to counteract the fading.