RF Calculators, Antenna Types, Amplifier recommendations

RouterOS General
1

I am trying to make a 11.4 mile link at 5.8 GHz. I have two dish antennas rated at 23 dB, will be using LMR600 cables probably no longer than 10 feet on RX side, and 40 feet on TX side. I am using an Atheros card rated (from my understanding) at 65mW. I clear the required Fresnel zone easily, but I can’t find any calculators (that I can understand anyway) that can help me gain an idea of what dB I can expect on each side at the fastest allowable speed. Can anyone recommend a good RF calculator? Next on the docket, should I need a boost, I have a few choices - better card, better antennas, and amplifier. Of these choices, I’m trying (of course) for the lowest priced, but most reliable… a happy medium. Any words of wisdom (with the founding reasons, of course - no blind leading the blind please) are very much appreciated. Thank you!

Brad

2

http://www.terabeam.com/support/calculations/index.php

Go there for calculators for free space loss, frenel zone, dBm to mW, etc…

Then after doing the math you can figure what you’re broadcasting at and how much loss of signal due to free space, cable attenuation, etc..

3

There are a full set of tools available at the California Internet Service Providers Assoc Wireless Web Site http://cispa.thesupernet.com

There is also a new Application for windows here that allows you to View your Transmit and Receive Signal levels in real time from a RouterOS device being used as a CPE (customer premis equipment)