User's Manual

Exalt Communications, Inc.

EX-5r Installation & Management

5000007 5

2006-05-17

Section 2 – Before Installation

2.0 Link Engineering and Site Planning

Any terrestrial wireless link should be designed prior to purchase and installation. Generally,

professional wireless engineering personnel are engaged to determine the viability and

requirements for a well-engineered link that will meet the users’ needs for performance and

reliability.

The reader is referred to the Exalt document “Guidance for Engineering and Site Planning of

Terrestrial Wireless Links” and the “ExaltCalc” path calculator. This document and calculator

aid in the pre-planning and engineering that is required for determination of the following

attributes:

• Antenna type/gain at each end of the link

• Antenna mounting height/location for proper path clearance

• Antenna polarization orientation

• RF cabling type, length, connectors, route and mounting

• Antenna system grounding

• Lightning arrestor type(s), location(s) and grounding

• Radio mounting location and mechanisms

• Radio grounding

• Radio transmitter output power setting

• Anticipated received signal level (RSL) at each end

• Anticipated fade margin and availability performance at each end

• Radio settings for TDD Frame Length and Occupied Bandwidth (BW)

• Anticipated throughput performance (TDM circuit support and Ethernet)

• Anticipated system latency

With respect to radio path and site planning, the EX-5r is generally identical to any other

microwave terrestrial wireless system. Engineering of these systems will require specific

knowledge about the EX-5r itself, including:

• RF specifications (transmitter output power, receiver threshold, occupied channel

bandwidth, carrier-to-interference tolerance)

• Regulatory limitations on transmitter output power setting and antenna type/gain

• Noise/interference profile for the intended location

• Impact on throughput and latency relative to link distance, occupied bandwidth and TDD

Frame Size setting, and the planned implementation of these parameters