MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

MICROWAVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

MICROWAVE

• Radio Frequency transmission exclusively between two geographical stations using extremely high
frequencies.
• A term applied to those radio frequencies that range from approximately 1 GHz to 300 GHz or more.
• Due to their high frequencies, microwaves have relatively short wavelengths (i.e., 0.001 to 0.03 m),
hence the name “micro”. The wavelengths for microwave frequencies fall between 1 cm and 60 cm,
slightly longer than infrared energy.
• Microwave Communications have been coined Microwave Radio Link System, LOS (Line-of-Sight
Communication), Extremely High Frequency LOS, Point-to-point Communication,
centimetric/millimetric radio.

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 1

 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

ADVANTAGES OF MICROWAVE COMMUNICATION

1. Large information handling capacity

2. Radio systems do not require a right of way acquisition between two stations.
3. Requires relatively small antennas, thus lower power consumption.
4. High reliability through diversity techniques.
5. Fewer repeaters are necessary for amplifications.
6. Distances between switching centers are less.
7. Carry wideband circuits for high-speed data/high quality voice channels.
8. Each station requires the lease of only a small area of land.
9. High degree of privacy – easy data encryption.
10. Could be fitted with anti-jam equipment, adaptive models and other accessories.
11. Underground facilities are minimized.
12. Minimum delay time is introduced.
13. Minimal cross talk exists between voice channels.
14. Increase reliability and less maintenance needed.
15. Microprocessor controlled pre-detection combining etc.

ANALOG VS. DIGITAL MICROWAVE

• Analog Microwave – the information signals are frequency multiplexed (FDM) to form the baseband
signal which is then frequency modulated (FM) onto the microwave carrier for transmission to the
antenna.

• Digital Microwave – the information is time-division multiplexed (TDM) to form the baseband signal
which is then phase modulated by PSK onto the microwave carrier.

Note: A microwave system is said to be analog or digital depending on the nature of the signal it carries.
The radio frequency part of any microwave system is always analog. For microwave systems that are used
to carry digital signals, a MODEM is used during the signal processing stage to convert bit streams into
sinusoidal waves.

FREQUENCY vs. AMPLITUDE MODULATION

• Frequency Modulation (FM) is used in microwave radio systems because it is relatively insensitive to
amplitude non-linear distortion, random noise and can be propagated with lower transmits power. Thus,
characteristics of FM are more suitable for microwave transmission.

• Microwave radio systems using FM are widely recognized as providing flexible, reliable, and economical
means where severe terrain or weather condition exist. Microwave systems are also easily expandable.

Baseband – is the composite signal that modulates the FM carrier. It may be comprised of FDM or
TDM multiple voice-band channels, Broadband quality composite video and wideband data.

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 2

 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

SHORT-HAUL vs. LONG HAUL MICROWAVE SYSTEMS

• Short-haul Microwave Systems - used to carry information for relatively short distances such as
between cities in the same state.

• Long-haul Microwave Systems - used to carry information for relatively long distances (i.e., backbone
route application) such as inter-state or backbone route applications.

Note:
✓ Microwave system capacities range from less than 12 voice-band channels to more than 22,000
channels.
✓ Early microwave systems carried FDM voice-band circuits and used conventional noncoherent
FM techniques.
✓ More recently developed microwave systems carry PCM_TDM voice-band circuits and use
modern digital techniques, such as PSK and QAM.

MICROWAVE FREQUENCIES

• Frequencies used in microwave communication have been grouped into certain bands. Furthermore, each
band has a minimum and maximum limit, and is again sub-divided according to their specific application.
This is necessary, since microwaves can be applied to different implementations, in order to guarantee
that their operation does not interfere with other particular uses.

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 3

 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MICROWAVE AND HF/VHF

BAND MICROWAVE HF/VHF

Operating Frequency 1 – 300 GHz 3 – 300 MHz
Transmission Medium Waveguide or Fiber Optic Wire
Antenna Used Parabolic/Horn Dipole
Transmitter to Antenna Signal Form Electromagnetic Waves Voltage or Current

ITU – R BANDS

RADAR VALUE SPACE COMMUNICATION

L - Band (Long) 1 to 2 GHz 1.5 GHZ
S - Band (Short) 2 to 4 GHz 2.5 GHz
C - Band (Compromise) 4 to 8 GHz 4/6 GHz
X - Band (Cross) 8 to 12 GHz
Ku – Band (Kurz under) 12 to 18 GHz 11/14 GHz and 12/14 GHz
K - Band (Kurz) 18 to 27 GHz 20 GHz
Ka - Band (Kurz above) 27 to 40 GHz 30 GHz

ITU – R WAVELENGHT CLASSIFICATIONS

Radio Spectrum Frequency Wavelength

ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) 0.03 Hz to 0.3 Hz Gigametric Waves
ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) 0.3 to 3 Hz Hectomegametric Waves
ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) 3 Hz to 30 Hz Decamegametric Waves
ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) 30 Hz to 300 Hz Megametric Waves
ULF (Ultra Low Frequency) 300 Hz to 3 KHz Hectokilometric Waves
VLF (Very Low Frequency) 3 KHz to 30 KHz Myriametric Waves
LF (Low Frequency) 30 KHz to 300 kHz Kilometric Waves
MF (Medium Frequency) 300 KHz to 3 MHz Hectometric Waves
HF (High Frequency) 3 MHz to 30 MHz Decametric Waves
VHF (Very High Frequency 30 MHz to 300 MHz Metric Waves
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) 300 MHz to 3 GHz Decimetric Waves
SHF (Super High Frequency) 3 GHz to 30 GHz Millimetric Waves
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) 30 GHz to 300 GHz Centimetric Waves
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) 300 GHZ to 3 THz Decimillimetric Waves
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) 3 THZ to 30 THz Centimillimetric Waves
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) 30 THz to 300 THz Micrometric Waves
EHF (Extremely High Frequency) 300 THz to 3000 THz Decimicrometric Waves

Note:

✓ The effective distance of a microwave system depends on the carrier frequency which it utilizes.
✓ When the frequency selected is too high, fading may occur more often than predicted. Using a
frequency that is too low is not only a waste of the spectrum usage, but also, the system may
experience interference and distortion.
✓ The higher the frequency, the higher the capacity for reflection.
✓ The lower the frequency, the higher the capacity for absorption.

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 4

 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

ITU – R BANDWIDTH ASSIGNMENTS

• Narrow Band (NB) – digital channels having medium speed transmission. Channel bandwidth may be
between 6 to 100 MHz

• Wide Band (WB) – digital channels having high-speed transmission. The large volume of information
results in a large bandwidth up to 220 MHz

Note:

✓ Microwave links are usually employed whenever cable-based transmission systems prove to be
expensive, difficult or virtually impossible to install.
✓ Microwave installations used by telecommunications common carriers are the most frequent
installation ever to be found.
✓ “Urban” type microwave installations operate usually at a higher frequency as the distance, which
they have to travel usually, do not extend more than a few blocks away.
✓ “Rural” type installations are typically designed to carry information at a farther distance and
employ frequencies below 10 GHz.
✓ As a general rule, the lower the frequency, the farther the link.
✓ Thus, on rough estimates with microwave links of various systems,

23 GHz max 10 miles (16 km)

18 GHz max 18 miles (30 km)
10.5 GHz max 25 miles (41 km)
8 GHZ max 30 miles (50 km)

✓ These values can also be greatly reduced when considering more stringent reliability requirements,
severe weather conditions, and terrain conditions along the path.
✓ As a general rule again, the higher the capacity of the microwave system, the larger the bandwidth.

MAJOR APPLICATIONS OF MICROWAVE and millimeter-wave radio

1. Radar
a. Aircraft and marine navigation
b. Military threat detection
c. Altimeters
d. Weather plotting
e. Traffic speed enforcement
f. Automotive collision avoidance and speed control

2. Satellite
a. Telephone communication
b. TV transmission (cable, short-range, direct broadcast)
c. Surveillance
d. Weather plotting
e. Navigation (GPS, etc.)

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 5

 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO MICROWAVE

3. Wireless local-area and personal-area networks

a. IEEE 802.11b/g Ethernet, 2.4 GHz, rates of 11 to 54 Mbps
b. IEEE 802.11a Ethernet, 5 GHz, rate of 54 Mbps
c. 802.11n Ethernet, 2.4 GHz, rate to 600 Mbps
d. 802.11ac Ethernet, 5 GHz, 3 Gbps
e. 802.11ad WiGig, 60 GHz, 7 Gbps
f. Bluetooth 2.4 GHz, rate to 3 Mbps
g. Ultrawideband Rate to 1 Gbps

4. Wireless broadband access to the Internet

a. LTE
b. WiMAX

5. Cell phones (allocations in the 1.8, 1.9, 2.3–2.7 and 3.6 GHz ranges) 5G cell phones are expected to
be in the millimeter range (e.g., 28 or 38 GHz).

6. Backhaul 18–90 GHz, 500 Mbps-10 Gbps

7. Heating
a. Microwave ovens (domestic)
b. Microwave heating (industrial)

COMPILED BY: CARLOS C. SISON, DEM, PECE, AE, ACPE, FACPE 6