​Audience

This course is intended for the technical or non-technical telecommunications professional who is interested in learning more about the design and licensing of point-to-point microwave communication systems. The content looks at all the elements that need to be considered from the initial proposal through implementation. The course is designed to ensure that the student understands all aspects of engineering a link, not only the components involved but also critical design considerations, interference concepts and regulatory considerations.

Pre-requisite experience

No pre-requisite experience is required to take this course but as the subjects covered are technical, having some prior knowledge of microwave might be advantageous.

Objectives

• Understand the components of a microwave path and how new technology is changing the way components are being amalgamated together to offer higher performance

• Learn about the areas of commerce that microwave is being used for and how these links are time critical

• Comparison of transmission, data rates, coding and modulation

• Look at alternative radio configurations, benefits and drawbacks

• Discover how modulation and ACM switching can maintain a link even in adverse conditions

• Cover the typical choices of transmission line and differences between them

• Help identify the differences in antenna types, effects of shrouds and radomes

• Learn about the factors that can influence antenna gain

• Look at the ETSI and FCC standards and the RPEs of antennas

• Understand the theory of propagation, and look at how adverse conditions can affect the signal

• Discuss Fresnel zones, look at terrain and how obstacles can interfere with the quality of transmission

• Investigate K factor and how atmospheric conditions affect propagation

• Learn about the effects of fading, including causes and remedies

• Discuss the regulatory bodies and selection of frequencies to comply with local regulations

• Investigate microwave paths and help understand losses as a result of reflection, absorption and diffraction

• Understand path reliability and the influences on the link that can cause problems in different regions of the world due to various climatic conditions

• Learn about rain outage and associated models

• Understand line-of-site surveys and why they should be completed

• Learn about interference concepts and how to minimize the effects to microwave systems

• Understand frequency planning, responsibilities and submission of PCNs

• Understand FCC licensing requirements

Key Topics

• Microwave path components

• Planning and congestion Issues

• Radio

• Transmission and data rates

• BER and threshold

• Adaptive coding and modulation

• Transmission lines - coaxial vs. waveguide and losses

• Antenna selection, gain and beamwidth

• Shrouds and radomes

• ETSI and FCC antenna standards

• Standards and discrimination

• Polarization and RPEs

• RF propagation including reflection, diffraction, scattering , and absorption

• Fresnel zones

• K Factor and calculations

• Path clearance and fading

• Path reliability

• Vigants and ITU methods

• Composite fade margin

• Climate factor and rain outage

• Space diversity

• Path design and field survey work flow

• Path survey and terrain data

• Interference analysis, discrimination, C/I objective, C/N, T/I

• Frequency planning and avoiding conflicts (ex. bucking)

• Prior coordination notices

• Licensing and application filing

How will I learn?

You will study this course online in a self-paced format. The course is made up of a number of webcast lessons and online multiple choice assessments giving immediate feedback. The course content is supplemented by some PDF support material. It is highly recommended that the student augment their learning with real world design, preferably with the help of experienced colleagues or mentors.

Successful completion will require

Any level of pass in the accumulative overall assessment score.

Is this the right course for me?

If you have an interest in Microwave Path Engineering and need or want to understand the concepts involved to design a successful link, then this course is for you. The course does look at some advanced topics related to microwave path interference and reliability, so having a basic understanding of the math involved in this medium might be helpful.

Upon successful completion you will

Receive a course certificate that may be self-printed and by completing this course you can request a photo ID badge.

Course information:

Certificate valid for 3 years

Estimated study time: 5 hours 30 minutes

Webcast duration: 2 hours 37 minutes