Pathloss 6 Workshop
Course Overview
This is a comprehensive 3-day course designed to equip participants with a deep theoretical understanding and practical expertise in harnessing Pathloss, an essential link-planning tool, for advanced link planning. Participants will immerse themselves in a variety of radio link scenarios, each thoughtfully organized into discrete path design modules.Â
Target Audience
- Telecom engineers and technicians involved in designing, deploying, and maintaining transmission networks
- Wireless network planners and design engineers responsible for the deployment and optimization of microwave networks
- Technical managers responsible for overseeing the implementation and maintenance of transmission networks
- IT professionals working for mobile operators
- Solution vendors responsible for planning, managing, optimizing, and maintaining transmission networks and systems
Duration & Training Format
Instructor-led Training
- Classroom: 3 days
- LIVE Virtual*: 21 hours
*Note:
- A minimum of 6 or more participants are required for a company-based LIVE Virtual course to commence
- LIVE Virtual courses can be conducted for 5 hours or 7 hours daily. Please note that the number of training days will be extended if you opt for 5 hours daily.
Upcoming Course Dates
2 – 4 Jul 2025 (Mon – Wed), GMT +08:00
If you are keen on attending the above scheduled course, please register your interest our course enquiry form.
Course Objectives
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the general operation and detailed functions of all Pathloss software modules
- Grasp the meanings of different terrain data types, geographic defaults, datum, and ellipsoids, along with selection criteria
- Learn basic procedures for creating terrain profiles from primary and secondary terrain data files
- Conduct antenna centerline calculations and determine minimum antenna heights for acceptable diffraction loss
- Determine optimal space diversity antenna spacing to prevent simultaneous signal nulls
- Generate link budgets, analyze microwave links, and understand the significance of multipath propagation reliability
- Apply fade probability models in Pathloss for link predictions
- Calculate diffraction loss using various models supported by Pathloss
- Perform interference calculations, considering composite threshold degradation of victim receivers due to multiple interferers
Key Benefits
Participants will acquire the capability to strategically design microwave point- to-point links utilizing the Pathloss planning software. This entails the proficiency to dissect path survey data, craft profile data, ascertain optimal antenna heights, compute performance and availability metrics, and methodically fine-tune links in alignment with ITU-R objectives and cost-efficient principles.
Course Outline
- Introduction to Pathloss Workshop
- Overview of Pathloss Workshop Software and its Applications
- Importance of Radio Frequency (RF) Planning and Propagation Analysis
- Understanding the User Interface and Software Components
- Propagation Fundamentals
- Basics of Radio Wave Propagation
- Factors affecting Signal Propagation: Free Space Loss, Reflection, Diffraction, and Scattering
- Path Loss Models: Demonstration and Analysis Methodology
- Available RF Spectrum and ITU Regulations
- Transmission Media and Terrestrial Radio-Relay Links
- Comparison: Microwave vs. Optical Fiber
- Logarithmic Units, Jitter, and Wonder
- Microwave Link Planning
- Network and System Specification
- Path Profile Preparation: Map Study and Field Survey
- Antenna Heights Determination and Optimization
- Path Calculations, Performance, and Availability
- Frequency Spectrum Allocation and Equipment Select
- Creating a New Project
- Setting Up a New Project in Pathloss
- Importing Geographical Data: Maps, Terrain Profiles, and Clutter Data
- Defining Transmitter and Receiver Parameters
- Microwave Transmission Link Budget Calculation
- Transmission and Reception
- Link Budget and Branching Circuitry
- Antenna Heights Calculations and Optimization in Pathloss Workshop (Microwave Applications)
- Antenna Configuration Setting
- Setting antenna Heights
- Optimizing Antenna Heights
- Setting Clearance Criteria
- Clearance Criteria
- Antenna Height Considerations
- Microwave Propagation
- Free Space Propagation
- Atmospheric Absorption
- Rain Attenuation
- Atmospheric Refraction
- Refractive Ray Bending
- Radio and Optical Refractivity
- Gradient of Refractive Index
- Anomalous Propagation
- Terrain and Clutter Data
- Importing and Manipulating Terrain Data
- Adding Clutter Data to the Project
- Understanding Clutter Types and their Impact on Propagation
- Path Profile Creation
- Generating Path Profiles between Transmitter and Receiver
- Analyzing Path Profiles for Obstacles and Line-of-Sight Conditions
- Identifying Fresnel Zones and their Significance
- Rain Attenuation Calculations
- Rain Models Selection
- Polarization Selection
- Fade Margin
- Pathloss Calculation
- Applying Path Loss Models to the Project
- Understanding Link Budget Calculation
- Interpreting Pathloss Results and Signal Strength Prediction
- ITU-T Concept of Worst Month and Annual Parameters
- Availability and Performance Recommendations
- ITU-T G.821
- ITU-R F.696-based PDH MW Link Design Guidelines
- Availability Recommendation ITU-R F.557
- ITU-T G.826/828
- Basic Sections of the National Portion of HRC
- ITU-R F.1668
- National Portion Short Haul
- ITU-T G.829, ITU-R F.1703
- Clearance Criteria, Fading models and Blackout Fade Configuration
- Fresnel Zones Concept
- Clearance Criteria
- Terrain Related Effects
- Reflections (Analysis and Countermeasures)
- Diffraction (Analysis and Countermeasures)
- Multipath Fading Mechanism-Flat Fading
- Vigants Barnet Model
- ITU-R Rec. P.530-7
- Frequency Selective Fading
- Applicable Fade Margins
- Radio Signature Curves
- Diffraction Module Configuration
- Overview
- Total Loss Concept
- General Operation of the Diffraction Module
- Diffraction Loss Calculation
- Reflection and Dispersion Analysis
- Reflective Plan Definition
- Reflection Analysis and its Calculation
- Diversity Antenna Spacing Calculations
- Fresnel Zone Tests
- Reports
- Concept of Designing Microwave Link and Implementing Passive Repeaters
- Step-by-step Procedure of Microwave Hop Design
- Alignment, Testing and Maintenance
- Causes of Unavailability
- Sub refractive Fade
- Super refractive Fade
- Antenna Alignment
- Troubleshooting Procedure
- Frequency Planning and Interference Analysis Concepts
- Setting Up the Frequency Plan
- International Frequency Plans
- Frequency Planning Rules
- Two-Frequency Plan
- Four-Frequency Plan
- Meshed Networks
- Co-channel Interference
- Adjacent Channel Interference
- Receiver Threshold Degradation
- Interference Mitigation
- Planning Considerations
- Interference Analysis
- Identifying Potential Sources of Interference
- Analyzing Co-channel and Adjacent Channel Interference
- Mitigation Techniques and Frequency Planning
- Designing Point-to-Point Links
- Setting up Point-to-point Links using Pathloss
- Analyzing Link Feasibility and Signal Quality
- Optimizing Link Parameters for Desired Performance
- Designing Point-to-Multipoint Networks
- Planning and Designing Point-to-Multipoint Networks
- Sectorization, Sector Overlap, and Frequency Reuse
- Coverage Optimization and Capacity Planning
- Real-World Case Studies
- Practical Examples of using Pathloss in Real-world Scenarios
- Urban, Suburban, and Rural Deployment Cases
- Hands-on Exercises and Problem Solving
Note: A Certificate of Completion will only be issued upon achieving at least 75% attendance for the course.
Pre-requisites
Participants should have a general knowledge of microwave radio communications engineering concepts.
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