Link Engineering and RF Path Planning
Site survey and path profiling

An antenna site survey is a detailed operation, as Figure indicates. Once the antenna site survey is done and the proposed path has adequate line of sight, the next step is path profiling. Figure lists the important goals of path profiling. After the path profiling is done, a path analysis should be done. A path analysis plans for the worst potential obstructions in order to make an installation reliable, as Figure shows. Accurate information about the wireless equipment and antennas is required to calculate the realistic signal strength. Once the signal strength is calculated, the harmful effects of path distance, terrain, climate, and rainfall conditions are factored in. When the detrimental effects cause the signal to attenuate or fade too much, the microwave receiver will become unreliable.

Using a higher-gain antenna and a lower-loss cable can increase the signal level and improve the overall system performance. However, local regulations about the maximum Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) should be followed in selecting a type of antenna and coaxial cable. EIRP is the sum of transmit power and antenna gain minus the cable losses.