Advanced Antenna Alignment and Troubleshooting 4-2014

Copyright © 2013 Cambium Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

Advanced Antenna Alignment with PTP Radios

Bob Shaw Federal Engineering Manager

+1-716-830-9480 [email protected]

Agenda This webinar is meant to deal wit the most common installation problems found when installing PTP microwave systems. We will cover the concepts and principles of Advanced High Performance Antenna Alignment as well define a defined procedure to insure success. Lastly we will cover troubleshooting details for PTP links

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Alignment Key Principles

• Magnetic Declination • Up-tilt or Down-tilt • Antenna Patterns • Receiver Power and Link Loss

– Fixed Permanent – Tactical or On The Halt

• X-Plus Method • The Bulls Eye

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Compass Declination

• Magnetic Compass readings vary throughout the world by location. • Adjusting for location requires the addition of a Declination value to the compass

reading to match calculated bearings based on GPS • http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/

Examples Declination ( +/- )

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Clarence NY 10.5 ( - West)

New York City. 13.8 ( - West)

South Texas 5 ( + East)

Los Angeles 12.6 ( + East)

Magnetic Bearing = True Bearing - Magnetic Declination

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/

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NOAA Magnetic Declination Web Site



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Your Compass is Everything

http://www.suunto.com/en-US/Products/Compasses/Suunto-Tandem/Suunto-Tandem-360PC360RD/

http://www.suunto.com/en-US/Products/Compasses/Suunto-Tandem/Suunto-Tandem-360PC360RD/

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Antenna Up-Tilt or Down-tilt ???

• All Links should start with almost NO up/down tilt

Elevation Point A + Tower Height = 1000’ ASL Elevation Point B + Tower Height = 2000’ ASL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Elevation Difference = 1000’ Path Distance (30 Miles@5280 ft/M) 158,000’ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Up-tilt Angle @ A = 0.36 degrees

Point A 30 Miles Point B

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Antenna Radiation Patterns

To Apply – Both ends -Must be on Same Horizontal Plane

Integrated to 2’ HP (High Performance) comparison Improved Isolation for Collocation

-45

-40

-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

-180

-160

-140

-120

-100 -8

0-6

0-4

0-2

0 -5 5 20 40 60 80 100

120

140

160

180-90 +90

High Performance Antennas Provide much better isolation Better isolation provides Better interference mitigation

Use High Performance antennas Whenever possible HP

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Rx Power from LinkPlanner Install Report

Rx Power

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Rx Power from the Status Page – PTP 600 and 800

Rx Power

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Rx Power from the PTP 800 ODU

Analog Rx Power reading with volt meter and BNC adapter

BNC Male to Banana Plug Cable 36 Inch Length Using RG58 Coax http://www.pasternack.com/banana-plug-bnc-male-rg58cu-cable-assembly-pe33552-36-p.aspx

http://www.pasternack.com/bnc-male-mini-banana-plug-rg58cu-cable-assembly-pe33557-60-p.aspx?gclid=CKutx_C6qrYCFeN_QgodYRoAsw

http://www.pasternack.com/banana-plug-bnc-male-rg58cu-cable-assembly-pe33552-36-p.aspx

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Voltage to Rx / RSSI for PTP 800 ODU

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The “X Plus” Method of Fine Tune Alignment

• Subtract Calculated Rx from measured RX – Calculated Rx = -58.2 dBm – Measured Rx = -81 dBm – Missing Rx power = 23 dB

• Refer to Manufacturer Antenna pattern – Number of degrees off alignment of main center lobe

• Mark Vertical and Azimuth position ( X ) • Perform a Systematic Search ( X+1,2,3…)

– Adjust Vertical alignment by 1 degree maximum up Slowly pan Azimuth left and right to find the best Rx Power Repeat up less than one degree at a time

– If needed repeat adjusting down in one degree increments Slowly pan Azimuth left and right to find the best Rx power Repeat up less than one degree at a time

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The Bulls Eye

• X represents basic alignment with “Alignment Tone”

X+3 = -110 dBm X+2 = -98 dBm X+1 = -88 dBm

X = -81 dBm X- 1 = -68 dBm

X- 2 = -58 dBm X- 3 = -68 dBm

X

NATO Summit Chicago 2012

• Quick Support Link

Copyright 2013 Cambium Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. 16

Troubleshooting


• Troubleshooting – Spectrum Management – Receive Power Proper Alignment ?

– Physical cable faults Cat5E cables to the switch/router RF Cables to antenna

Spectrum Analysis – What does it all mean ?


Spectrum Analysis – Data


Hold cursor over channel for instant data

Spectrum Analysis – Channel Barring


Spectrum Analysis – Channel Barring Results


Spectrum Analysis – 25 Hour Channel History


Spectrum – Setting Fixed Frequency


Spectrum Analysis – Fixed Frequency


Receive Power (Rx)


Does the Rx meet design requirement from LinkPlanner ?

Diagnostic Plotter View – Steady RF


Physical Cable Faults – Ethernet to Switch


• Cable Faults should always be ZERO

Statistics

Physical Cable Faults – RF to Antenna


• Signal Strength Ratio (V/H) should be near ZERO

Diagnostic Plotter – Up to 31 days of tracking

Troubleshooting – Power

• Radio failure – Use back to back and short distance testing. – Reboot reason code – Download Diagnostics

Configuration - Save and Restore


Diagnostic Download

• http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/field_diags.cgi Download complete diagnostic data from each radio and forward for analysis • If additional troubleshooting is required you may be asked to

download additional diagnostic information and send to your Engineer for further analysis

• Technical Support – http://www.cambiumnetworks.com/support/open-a-support-case

• North America +1 888-863-5250 • All countries: +44-203-318-1971

http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/field_diags.cgi

http://www.cambiumnetworks.com/support/open-a-support-case








• Questions ??


Advanced Antenna Alignment and Troubleshooting 4-2014

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