Microwave Communication

Microwave communications systems must be carefully engineered if they are to provide reliable communications. Engineers can predict the signal loss in decibels (dB) for a given signal path. They are then able to specify the transmitter power, total antenna gain, and receiver sensitivity required for the circuit. Additional signal or gain can be specified to protect against most fades.

As an example, suppose that a proposed path for a microwave relay system between a radio-station studio and a remote transmitter site is predicted to have a circuit loss of 110 dB. If the system design provides a safety cushion of 30 dB against the possibility of rain fade, the total gains and losses in the system must equal at least +140 dB. If the calculations fall short of this target by 10 dB, for example, the engineer can increase the power of the transmitter by a factor of 10, or increase the gain of one or both of the other antennas by 10 dB, or increase the receiver sensitivity, by 10 dB. Any combination of improvements that will add to 10 dB will provide the desired performance.

Microwave communication is nearly 100% reliable, in part because the circuits have been engineered to minimize fading and in part because computer-controlled networks often reroute signals through a different path before a fade becomes noticeable.