Audience

This course is intended for the technical or non-technical telecommunications professional who is interested in learning how to design a point-to-point microwave communication system.  

Pre-requisite experience

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

During the course, students will:

• Learn about the components of a microwave path
• Compare 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
• Explore the typical choices of transmission lines and differences between them
• Identify the differences in antenna types and their performance
• Explore UTC standards, ETSI recommendations and FCC regulations
• Understand the theory of propagation, Fresnel zones and how terrain and obstacles can impact the quality of transmission
• Describe K factor and how atmospheric conditions affect propagation
• Learn about the effects of fading, including causes and remedies
• Understand losses as a result of reflection, absorption and diffraction
• Understand path reliability and the impact of various climatic conditions
• Learn about rain outage and associated models
• Understand line-of-site surveys and why they should be completed
• Evaluate network topologies and redundancy methods
• Understand the typical path design process
• Learn about interference concepts and how to minimize the effects to microwave systems
• Understand frequency planning and licensing

Lessons covered

• Microwave basics
• Performance objectives
• Data transport choices
• Radio configuration
• Radio system components
• Antennas and Antenna structures
• Antenna standards
• Propagation
• Planning and design
• Frequency planning considerations
• Primary path design tasks
• Optimizing path loss
• Completing the network design
• Additional path considerations

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 an interactive user forum containing videos and information on design concepts as well as access to experts to get your questions answered.

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

A minimum of 70% on the cumulative overall assessment score.

Is this the right course for me?

If you have an interest in microwave path design 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 is 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: 4 hours 30 minutes

Overall content duration: 3 hours 50 minutes