Sector Coverage Uncovered

Recording of our webinar on how coverage really works. Is antenna beam width what coverage is? Not exactly. Far from it actually. It is a huge over simplification to say that beam width is coverage. There are many parameters that go into coverage calculation and in this webinar we'll have a thorough look at this.
We'll also show you how to use down tilt to optimize your networks performance and decrease the noise floor when using RF elements horn antennas!

A common misconception is that the antenna beam width indicates where a coverage is. Beam width is an antenna parameter and informs about the shape of the antenna main lobe and gives a hint about suitable application. Narrow beams are better for Point to Point (PTP) links, wide for Point to Multi-Point (PTMP). But coverage is much more than that.

Coverage is a continuous image of a signal strength on a surface. Based of the physics of antennas, there is really no limit or border where an antenna signal reaches and where it doesn't. What limits the coverage area is the noise floor (NF) of the device that works with the signal. In WISP industry typical NF is around -95 dBm - meaning the weakest detectable signal. If the signal is below the NF, radio cannot work with it.

To calculate the coverage for a given radio / antenna / landscape setup, several variables are needed: RF radio parameters such as output power, 3D radiation pattern of an antenna, accurate map data, position of the antenna in the map and its orientation, antenna down tilt, tower height etc.

More details on how to use it are in the webinar, check it out!

#RFcoverage #RFpropagation #RFmodeling #RFelements #SymmetricalHorns #AsymmetricalHorns #Ultrahorn #Ultradish #TwistPort #SaveSpectrum #RejectNoise #growsmart #WirelessNetworks #UbiquitiNetworks #CambiumNetworks #MimosaNetworks #Mikrotik

0:00 Intro
2:57 Coverage misconception 1: Beam width
5:08 Beam width definition & purpose
7:50 Coverage in reality
10:30 Coverage visualization
13:38 Coverage examples: Sector antennas
16:04 Coverage examples: Point to Point antennas
18:25 Coverage frequency dependence
21:49 Down tilt influence on coverage

[Rfelements]

What tool do you use for RF coverage visualizations?

[endlessgrowth]

Great video - I love learning more about these antennas and can’t wait to get some deployed.

[jorgezuni]

This is for wifi 🛜 signals right . Not uhf transceiver .

[muhammadatiq-ur-rehman]

What is the Advantage and disadvantage of beam width ? If we have low beam width RF antenna it will impact coverage? Changing antennas beam width what will impact on RF design? Test case we have 10 Degree beam Width antennas installed in network and after network swap we got 30 degree beam width antennas what will be impact on coverage?

[andreac]

Great Explanation! i've noticed a potential bug in link calculator 2.0. In some cases CPEs are covered by "visual" coverage and that's correct in reality but if i look at in received power section it show "no los" even if i move cpes in area in which i'm sure are covered. In link calculator 1.0 they are covered and show a correct received signal power.

[canaltdddmadeira]

Excelent Video Verry informative thank you

[paulmitchell]

so why don't we do something about the noise/interference and its sources?
why is your kneejerk reaction to just capitulate and accept it as 'normal'?