CHAPTER - 6

T6 PATH ENGINEERING
Geometrical & Radio Horizons: The range covered by a Microwave antenna on grazing ray consideration is more than the geometric tangential range because of the refraction of the radio wave towards the earth under standard atmospheric conditions. The former is called the radio horizon whereas the latter is known as Geometrical Horizon (sometimes called as Optical Horizon also).

Fig. 6.1
Given h1 as height of Antenna above the datum level of horizon (point 'p) and R as radius of earth. (h1 + R)2 = D12 + R2 Hence, h1 2 + 2 h1R = D12. Where DI is the distance between the tower and the point where ray is tangential to earth and h1 height of Antenna about the level of tangent point 'P'. Inserting the value of true earth's radius as 6378 Kms. with D1 in Kms. and h1in metres height of antenna above the datum level of the grazing point). D1 = (2 X 6378 X h1)1/2 1000 = 3.57 h1 = Geometrical Horizon. At K = 4/3 under standard atmospheric conditions. D2 = (2 X 4R X h1) 1/2 = 4.12 h1 = Radio Horizon ... VI.1. If the other station has an antenna at height h 2 (above point p), the hop distance (neglecting requirement of the fresnel zone clearance) with grazing clearance would be given by D = 4.12 ( h1 + h2) ... VI.2. (D in Kilometres, h1 and h2 in Metres) Since the value of K in actual practice can vary the checking of the actual clearance is made by drawing profile charts to the value/s of K for which clearance of Microwave bean is to be checked. The earth's radius in that case will be (K times Actual Earth's radius). Hence D = (2.KR h1) 1/2 = (2 X 6378 X K X h1) 1000

h1 = D2/12.75 K ... VI.3. where h1 is in metres and D in Kms. D is the distance between the antenna (height h1) to the grazing point with affective earth. For various values of K, templates are made making use of the above equation, e.g. for K = 1.33. h1 = D2/17 Taking a scale of 1 cm = 1 Km. for horizontal and 1 cm = 7.5 M for vertical scale. Distance from center (Hor. scale) 0 Kms 5 " 10 " 20 " 25 " = = = = = 0 cms. 5 " 10 " 20 " 25 " 0 metre 1.471 M 5.88 M 23.53 M 36.76 M Distance from Hor. line (Ver. scale & distances) = = = = = '0' cms. 0.196 0.784 3.14 4.9

Profile chart templates are made in this fashion to enable check to be made at various critical values of K with regard to the obstruction of the Microwave path and regarding the reflection conditions. In certain cases it becomes necessary to change the scale of the profile chart template to accommodate longer or shorter hops on a given sheet of paper. While adopting the same profile chart to different scales, care has to be taken of the non-linear (square law) relationship between the X scale (Hop distance) and the Y scale (the height) e.g., if the horizontal scale is changed from 1 cm. = 1 Km. to 1 cm. = 1 X (2) Kms., the vertical scale will change from 1 cm. = 7.5M to 1 cm = 7.5 X (2 ) = 30 M. Profile charts are prepared as shown in Fig. 6.3 to a convenient scale. The next step involves plotting the heights of various objects in the 'Line of Sight' path with the help of survey maps. Survey maps are available from officers of the Survey of India. These are to be used with great care in view of their restricted category. Although older versions were available in FPS units currently such maps are available in Metric Units. They are available in 1:50,000 and 1:250,000 scales generally. For microwave survey, the former type is useful. These maps give detailed information about the contours of the land which is relevant for microwave survey. For 1:50,000 maps the contours corresponding to 20 metres height variations are shown in the map. Apart from contours, these maps show a large variety of information pertaining to location roads, Railway Lines, Jungles, Canals, rivers, lakes, villages, etc. Each survey map sheet is numbered (e.g. 56 H, 57 E etc.) and an index to sheet indicates the adjoining sheets to enable accurate corelation. A typical index to sheet would be as shown in next page (Fig. 6.2).

Fig. 6.2 INDEX SHEET OF A SURVEY MAP. With such information being available on the sheet along with the latitudes and longitudes, it is possible to locate the microwave station interpolate its latitude and longitude and then chart out the microwave path precisely. The need for accurately determining the microwave path arises out of the necessity to know the extent of obstruction to the first fresnel zone bearing angles for adjacent stations and then to determine antenna heights to achieve desired clearance. Method of preparation of profile charts:Survey maps covering the line of site path between the two stations A and B are aligned on a soft board ensuring that the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the adjacent profile charts are in flush. After sticking drawing pins to represent stations A and B a string is fixed along the straight line A B. The intersections of various contours of the survey maps with the string (representing line of sight path) and tabulated as indicated in the table below :Distance In Kms. From A Height Above MSL In metres 0 2 3.5 5 9 15 21 27 33 39 47 Stn.B

500

520

540

520

500

520

520

540

520

500

480

With such a table being made it is possible to transfer the data on the blank profile chart.

Fig. 6.3 Completed profile chart for K = 4/3 Preparation of profile chart in this fashion enables the system engineer to check up the likely extent of obstructions at various critical values of K and thereby enables reasonably accurate prediction of the propagation, reliability of K value in the time domain for the hop under consideration). Heights of antenna can be decided by checking line of sight and adequate

fresnel zone clearance. (Full first fresenal zone + 10 Metres at R = 4/3 and 2/3 x first fresenal zone + 10 Metres at K = 1) for relevant K. values. In a system consisting of a number of stations, the heights of antenna can be optimised by judicious adjustments (of antenna heights) to get the required clearances. The central idea in optimization is to ensure that at any given station it is desirable to have antenna heights on both sides of the tower near about equal so that the investment in tower cost is fully utilized. Antenna heights at any given station can be changed by corresponding change in antenna height at the other end of the hop (Raise A antenna lower B antenna and vice versa), keeping the required clearances from obstruction point of view. Where such an exercise in optimisation of antenna heights is carried out in a system, considerable reduction in overall tower costs can be achieved. T a b l e: CHOICE Station A B C D E F

First choice Antenna 40 90 50 80 30 70 40 100 60 90 of Heights ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------in metres. Tower 40 90 80 70 100 90 second choice Antenna 60 70 70 60 50 50 50 80 80 70 of Heights -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------in metres. Tower 60 70 60 50 50 80 70 Reflection: Whereas critically in Microwave propagation is a function of making available adequate fresnel zone clearance at the lower values of K (Sub-refractive conditions), problems associated with fading resulting from reflection assume important at higher values of K. Calculation of point of reflection at a given higher value of K is necessary to estimate the possibility of fading arising out of reflection. The surface of earth at the point of reflection is spherical. The problem on a spherical earth can be reduced to that on a plane earth with the heights of the transmitting and receiving point about the tangent plane at the reflection point on the effective earth as shown in Fig. 6.4. The distance to Fig. 6.4 propagation path on a spherical earth horizon from a given height, h1, above the ground is

Fig. 6.4 Propagation path of Spherical Earth. h1= dr2 . dr = 12akh1 2Ka

where 'a' is the radius of the Earth. Hence, the equivalent of height h1' and h2' above the tangent plane can be obtained easily from the above relation and is, to a first approximation, h1' = h1 = d12/2Ka h2' = h2 = d22/2Ka .. VI.5. The angle of incidence is equal to that of reflection due to the law of reflection is geometrical optics. When is the complementary angle of the incident angle, tan is Tan = h1'/d1 = h2'/d2 ... VI.6. From the equations VI.5 and VI.6, equation VI.7 is derived. h1/d1 - d1/2Ka = h2/d2 - d2/2Ka ... VI.7. From equation VI.7and d = d1+d2 + d2, d1 or d2 is determined by solving the following equation: X3- (3X2/2- X (Ka (h1+h2)- + Kah1/d2 = 0 d2 where d1 = xd and d2 = (1-x)d It may be noted that h1 represents height of Antenna at A above the point of reflection that we are trying to locate. The cubic equation is easily solved by using Fig. 6.5

FIGURE 6.5
The path difference between the direct and the reflected waves is important to the presumption of the pattern in interference mentioned later. The path difference is r-r = d2+ ( h1 + h2)2 = 2h [1- (h1)2 + (h2)2] 2d2 d2 - ( h1 + h2)2

VI.9

If the second term in the bracket is negligible as compared to unity, it becomes:r-r = 2h1h2/d Interference Pattern:

When the reflected wave exists, the resultant field intensity varies as either the transmitting or the receiving point varies. Fig. 6.6 shows the pattern of the variation of the received strength, when the receiving antenna is varied in height.

Fig. 6.6 HEIGHT PATTERN

Fig.6.7 ATTENUATION VS PATH CLEARANCE.

Fig. 6.8
Knowing h1 and h2 as also d, d1 or D2 can be evaluated and thus the point of reflection can be computed. One common mistake often made in these calculation pertains to values of h 1 and h2. These are antenna heights with respect to the point of reflection which we are trying to locate. The actual procedure, therefore, necessitates assumption of a point of reflection and checking about its correctness by these methods. Alternative method gives more accurate results. In some cases more than one reflection points can exist. The purpose of evaluating the point of reflection is to enable a check to be made in the field with regard to the nature of terrain, in and around the probable point (P) of reflection. But what about the variation in the value of k ? What do you think will be the effect of this variation on the location of the point of reflection? Surely you see the effect. It is, therefore, necessary to examine in the field the whole lot of area whose reflection is likely to occur with K variation in the higher values of K. Generally, this is recommended to be done between K = 2.0 to K = If the terrain near such points of reflection is highly reflective say River, Lake, Marshy Land or irrigated land etc., how to solve the problem? If the concept for point of reflection is clear, it would not be difficult to find a method of avoiding points of reflection coinciding with highly reflective terrain. The method envisages change of antenna heights at either end and a consequential shift in the point of reflection to areas where the terrain is not highly reflective. Another method utilises a natural obstruction which obstructs the reflected ray. If this method of avoiding reflection from highly reflective terrain is not successful, the propagation reliability of the hop gets adversely affected. It is quite likely that the 'Unavailability' of the hop may work out to be large and in that case the system performance can be achieved only by providing diversity in the hop which enhances the system costs.