skyview microwave user's guide revg_rainadd2

8/3/2019 SkyView Microwave User's Guide RevG_RainAdd2

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Microwave Module Version 3.0.2

Software User's Guide

[email protected]

www.SkyView3DSoftware.com

551 S Apollo Boulevard

Suite 207

Melbourne, Florida 32901


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

Overview ............................................................................................................................................................... 4

Create the Import File ............................................................................................................................................ 5

Project Name and Save Folder ................................................................................................................................ 6

Microwave Import Options..................................................................................................................................... 6

Global Overrides .................................................................................................................................................... 7

Measurement System and Coordinates .................................................................................................................. 8

Display Options ...................................................................................................................................................... 8

Path Reliability Factors ........................................................................................................................................... 9

Rainfall calculation ................................................................................................................................................. 9

Overview ............................................................................................................................................................ 9

To perform rainfall calculations ........................................................................................................................ 10

Active Editor Options ........................................................................................................................................... 11

Creating and Launching the Map Files .................................................................................................................. 12

Printing Reports ................................................................................................................................................... 15

Viewing and Printing Terrain Profile Charts ........................................................................................................... 16

Using the Active Editor ......................................................................................................................................... 17

Active Editor Tool Bars ......................................................................................................................................... 18

Using Tower Models ............................................................................................................................................. 19

Glossary .............................................................................................................................................................. 20


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TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: SkyView Microwave Module .................................................................................................................... 4

Figure 2: Create Microwave Templates ................................................................................................................... 5

Figure 3: Sample of a Microwave Complete Path Template in Microsoft Excel.......................... ............ .............. ..... 5

Figure 4: Project Name & Save Folder ..................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 5: Microwave Import Options ...................................................................................................................... 6

Figure 6: Global Overrides Dialog............................................................................................................................ 7

Figure 7: Measurement & Coordinate Format ......................................................................................................... 8

Figure 8: Display Options ........................................................................................................................................ 8

Figure 9: Path Reliability Factors ............................................................................................................................. 9

Figure 10 - Rainfall Calculation.............................................................................................................................. 10

Figure 11 - Select Crane96 Rain Zone .................................................................................................................... 10

Figure 12: Active Editor Options ........................................................................................................................... 11

Figure 13: Create and Launch Map Files Options ................................................................................................... 12

Figure 14: Successful Creation of Map Files and Prompt to Launch in Google Earth ............. ............ .............. ........ 12

Figure 15: Sample SkyView Microwave System Overhead View............................................................................. 13

Figure 16: Google Earth Options Dialog............................................................................................................... 13

Figure 17: SkyView Microwave Paths 3D Side View and Information Bubble .............. ............... ............. ............. 14

Figure 18: Opening the Print Preview from the File Menu ..................................................................................... 15

Figure 19: Print Preview Window.......................................................................................................................... 15

Figure 20: Opening the Path Profile Viewer from the Tools Menu ......................................................................... 16

Figure 21: Path Profile Viewer Window................................................................................................................. 16

Figure 22: SkyView Active Editor ........................................................................................................................... 17

Figure 23: Opening Active Editor from the Tools Menu ......................................................................................... 17

Figure 24: 3D Tower Site Models .......................................................................................................................... 19

Figure 25: Defining Tower Model Types in the Import File..................................................................................... 19

Figure 26: Defining Tower Model Types Interactively in the Active Editor .............. ............... .............. .............. ..... 19


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OVERVIEW

The Microwave Module of the SkyView RF Mapping Software enables you to completely engineer a Microwave

Path or multiple paths from end-to-end. The Paths are displayed in 3-D in Google Earth including renditions of

each site with a viewable information bubble, the Line of Sight Path line between the two sites, and the FresnelZone Polygon for each path. This allows you to visualize the path with respect to the terrain below it and ensure

that the path will function as engineered.

The software also will also create an end-to-end link budget for each path. You simply fill in all of the required

information in the Input Template file and SkyView Microwave does the rest. Youll have a completely engineered

Microwave Path with Path Loss, Fade Margin, Outage Seconds, and Path Reliability all calculated at the push of a

button.

Figure 1: SkyView Microwave Module


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CREATETHE IMPORT FI LE

Below are examples showing the menu locations where youll generate the input form required by the SkyView RF

Mapping Microwave Module to allow you to create a new project. The template can be created by selecting the

following menu items:

File>Create>Microwave Quick LOS Template or File>Create>Microwave Complete Path Template

Figure 2: Create Microwave Templates

Shortcut Keys: Ctrl + Q (Quick) or Ctrl + C (Complete). Then save the template to a specified location using a

naming convention pertinent to the microwave project.

The template creator includes the headings for the necessary minimum required data fields needed to create a

microwave project. The template is saved into a .CSV file and can be opened with all versions ofMicrosoft Excel

and many other spreadsheet applications.

Figure 3: Sample of a Microwave Complete Path Template in Microsoft Excel

Your microwave path data can then be easily manipulated into the required format and pasted into the .CSV file or

directly entered into the template.

Whether you chose the Quick LOS Template or the Complete Path Template, the process is the same. The

Complete Path Template uses columns with the microwave link components to create a more detailed path

technical description and complete path budgets.

Note: There are 2 Sample Import Templates with Data Pre-filled for a few sample microwave links installed with

your program. The default location is: C:/Program Files/SkyView/Sample Import/Hawaii Complete Path Design.csv.

There is also a completed sample system Google Earth KMZ at the path: C:/Program Files/SkyView/Sample

Output/Hawaii Sample.kmz.


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PROJECT NAMEAND SAVE FO LDER

Project Name This name will precede all of your mapping and project files. Use a name that makes sense

Save Project To This is the folder location on your computer that you want the files to be stored or created at.

Figure 4: Project Name & Save Folder

MICROWAVE IMPORT OPTIONS

Quick LOS View Creates a line-of-sight study with Fresnel zone between two sites with a given radiation

centerline. This selection allows the user to view LOS path(s) and Fresnel Zone(s) for any given Site A/Site B data

pair (LAT/LON/Grd Elev) at specific Antenna Centerlines without entry of detailed technical data.

Complete Path Design Creates a line-of-sight study between two sites with a given radiation centerline. This

selection allows the user to view LOS path(s) and Fresnel Zone(s) for any given Site A/Site B data pair with lat, lon,

and ground elevation at specific Antenna Centerlines and creates a complete Path Budget (including Path Loss,

RSL, Fade Margin, Path Outage Seconds, and Path Reliability) using detailed technical data provided in the Import

Template or using Global Override values specified in the Overrides User Dialog.

Figure 5: Microwave Import Options

Import File This is the template CSV file that was just created in the previous section.

Include Terrain Path Profile Check this box to create the path profiles and add them in each sites information

bubble in Google Earth. Browse to the folder where your DEM format elevation model files are stored. If any of

the paths in the project are not covered by the DEM files in the selected folder, an error log will appear listing all

paths where terrain information was missing.


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GLOBAL OVERRIDES

Note: This feature is available only to allow default values that you set to be used project wide rather than filling

specific tech data in on the Complete Path Design Template for Import. Use this feature cautiouslyas it will apply

override values (for each specification that is checked) to every site in the system when the KMZ is initially created.

Effective Radiated Power (W) Numerical value in Watts radiated from an antenna. This value can be calculated

based upon the equipment types and specifications or explicitly defined by the user.

Radio Model Radio model Name/Number to be displayed for every path in the system.

Radio Power (dBm) Radio output power in dBm used on the microwave radio link calculations (and displayed) for

every path in the system. Note that any radio TX power is overridden if the Define EIRP option is selected.

Path Frequency (GHz) Frequency entered here will be used for every path in your Import file if this option is

selected.

Jumpers & Cables: Types, Attenuations and Lengths dB value of cable loss per 100 feet or meters (depending

upon measurement system selection) to be used for every path in the system and the length of cable utilized for

each site in the system.

Connector and Additional: Types and Losses (dB) - Total of connector losses in dB applied at each site location.

Antenna Gain (dBi) Numerical value in dBi entered here will be used for the antenna gain value of every path in

your Import file if this option is selected.

RxThreshold (dBm) Numerical value in dBm entered here will be used for the RX sensitivity of every path in your

Import file if this option is selected.

Figure 6: Global Overrides Dialog


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MEASU REMENT SY STEM AND COORDINATES

Measurement - Chose either English or Metric depending upon your preference. Ensure that the proper

measurement units are used in the import file for Ground Elevation, Radiation Centerline, etc.. Note also: Cable

loss values are per 100 ft if English is chosen or per 100 m if Metric is chosen. Measurement system also applies to

Global overrides which define length units.

Coordinates Chose the coordinate format youd like to see on printed reports, information bubbles and location

data. This setting does not affect the import.

Figure 7: Measurement & Coordinate Format

DISPLAY OPTIONS

Antenna Symbol Radius Allows you to customize the size of the yellow pie-shaped antenna symbols for display

in Google Earth.

Path Colors Allows you to customize the displayed color of the LOS Path Line, Fresnel zone border color and

Fresnel zone fill color in the final KMZ for display in Google Earth. The three buttons allow the user to map a color

for each numeric value defined with in the import file (maps to the Path Color column of the import file).

Percent of 1st Fresnel Zone Allows you to customize the lower edge of the first Fresnel Zone for display inGoogle Earth.

Figure 8: Display Options


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PATH RELIABILITY FACTOR S

Climate Factor This value is part of the Path Reliability Algorithm and enables you to account for the effects of

the local climate including atmospheric absorption on your Path Budget calculations:

0.125 (Mountainous/Arid Climate) 0.5 (Gulf/Humid Climate)

Terrain Factor This value is part of the Path Reliability Algorithm and enables you to account for the effects of

the local terrain type on your Path Budget calculations:

0.25 (Rough Terrain) 4.0 (Smooth Terrain or Water)

Note: The Climate and Terrain factors are only used in the Complete Path Design mode.

Figure 9: Path Reliability Factors

RAINFAL L CALCU LATION

OVERVIEW

Rainfall calculations are performed in Skyview using the Crane prediction methods defined in IEEE Transaction on

Commuication Volume Com-28 No 9, September 1980. The Rain Rate table used is the table that was modified by

Crane in a 1996 publication, referred to as Crane Modified or Crane96 Rainfall Rate tables.

The Rain Calculation tells the design engineer how much rain can be tolerated for a path based on the paths fade

margin. A rain rate that exceeds the maximum rain rate for the region is desired. The following results are

typically reported for the Rain Calculation for a Microwave Path:

y The Fade Margin (dB) that Rainfall Rate was calculated for

y The maximum Rain Rate (in mm/hr) that can be tolerated by the path

y A percentage of the year that the path will not suffer outage due to rain (% Rel)

y The number of seconds per year that path outage might be expected due to the maximum rain rate that is

calculated for the paths fade margin.

y A description of the Rainfall Zone (Selected by the user) used for the Rainfall calculation


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When a fade marging is large enough to cause 1 second or less of expected outage time per year Skyview reports

only a 100% Reliability and 0 outage seconds.

The results of rainfall calculations are shown the SkyView Printed Report or in the Google Earth balloons that

describe each path.

TO PERFORM RAINFALL C ALCULATIONS

Rainfall outage calculations are performed on a per project basis for all paths.

To Enable rainfall calculations, click the checkbox Enable Rainfall Calculations in the Crane Rainfall frame this

will enable the Rain Zone list.

Figure 10 - Rainfall Calculation

Pull down the rain zone list and select the geographic zone designator for the Project. If the project spans more

than one geographic zone choose the zone that has the higher maximum rainfall rate.

Figure 11 - Select Crane96 Rain Zone


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ACTIVE EDITOR OPT IONS

The Active Editor is a utility which enables interactive microwave engineering and system changes for

instantaneous project updating while viewing the project directly in Google Earth.

Create Linked microWave maps and Launch Active Editor This option will create a network link file whichupdates the project at a defined interval when viewing the project in Google Earth. Network links are essential for

projects that are subject to future changes. Selecting this option will also open the project into the Active Editor

once the mapping files have been produced.

Refresh Rate Defines the interval (in seconds) the microwave project will update with any system or hardware

changes while viewing the project in Google Earth.

Figure 12: Active Editor Options


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CREATING AND LAUN CHIN G THE MAP FILES

Once all of your Options are properly set in the previously described sections of the User Interface, You are

presented with two options for creating a SkyView project at the bottom of the screen:

Figure 13: Create and Launch Map Files Options

Create QWave Mapping Files Click to produce your SkyView microwave project. Upon completion of project

creation, a prompt and an option for immediately opening the project in Google Earth will appear.

Figure 14: Successful Creation of Map Files and Prompt to Launch in Google Earth

Launch QWave Maps (and Active Editor) Click to open an existing SkyView microwave project. This option is for

projects that have been previously created and require editing, data changes or review.

*NOTE: All SkyView projects will be created or edited in the directory defined in the Save Project To Box within

the PROJECT section of the GUI.

Once created, this project can be opened or shared at any time by browsing in Windows Explorer and finding the

folder with your Project name and KMZ (For example, Project name: Sample Data Test will be created/edited in

the folder: Sample Data Test KMZ). Open that folder and double click the file that corresponds to your project

i.e. Sample Data Test.kmz

If the .kmz extension is correctly registered on your computer to open with Google Earth, then the program will

launch and you should now see your system come up on the screen. If not, youll need to use the Open With

dialog and chose Google Earth as the default program to open files of the type .kmz .

For hints on navigation within Google Earth, please see the file Navigating Your System in Google Earth.pdf

that was also installed in your SkyView Program Folder.

Overall View of your system You should see something that looks similar to this once Google Earth is done

zooming in:


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Figure 15: Sample SkyView Microwave System Overhead View

Get familiar with Google Earth (if youre not already) by practicing with the controls in the upper right hand

corner of the screen.

y The top joystick control is for tilt and your view direction (tilt can also be accomplished by holding down

your wheel and moving the mouse up or down)

y The middle joystick control is for panning in all directions (which can be accomplished more easily by left

clicking in the map window and hold and drag your hand in the direction you want to pan).

y Finally the + to slider is for zooming in and out (which is more easily accomplished by using the wheel

on your mouse up for zoom in and down for zoom out).

y Ensure that Terrain is checked (turned on) in the Layers pane to the left.

y Go to the Tools Menu in Google Earth and chose Options

y Ensure that your Terrain Quality is Max and Elevation Exaggeration values is 1 (actual elevation size) as

shown next page.

Figure 16: Google Earth Options Dialog


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For Individual Site information Click on the site target that turns red when you hover over each site. Full Path

Budget information is available inside the Information Bubble. If the site youre clicking on is Site A in that

particular path, the Site A information will have that sites name and Site A will be the transmit site in the link

budget information. Likewise, if the site youve clicked on is Site B - then Site B will be the TX site in the budget.

If you expand your named KMZ on the left hand side of the Google Earth GUI in the Places Pane, you can see

the individual components of your KMZ. You can turn off individual components by unchecking them. For

instance if you dont want to see the Fresnel Zone Polygons, simply uncheck them.

Figure 17: SkyView Microwave Paths 3D Side View and Information Bubble


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PRINTING REPORTS

After creating and viewing the results in Google Earth, the same information displayed in Google Earth balloons

can be printed out from the main form File menu.

Figure 18: Opening the Print Preview from the File Menu

This menu selection will open a print preview window with a zoom button at the top and a page button at the

bottom of the window. Each path is on a separate page and the user can preview any of them by using the page

buttons. The print button at the top will open the standard print dialog box to select the printer and which pages

to print.

Figure 19: Print Preview Window


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VIEW IN G AND PRINTIN G TERRAIN PROFILE CHARTS

In addition to the terrain profiles shown in the Google Earth balloons, the user can also view the profile for each

path by opening the Path Profile Viewer from the Tools menu.

Figure 20: Opening the Path Profile Viewer from the Tools Menu

The Path Profile Viewer is a sizable form that can be expanded on screen to show more detail for each chart than is

possible through Google Earth balloons. All paths in the project are listed alphabetically in the left pane of the

viewer. Selecting a path will open the site and path information in the chart area. The user can also print the

selected chart as shown in the chart area. Any resizing of the form to expand the chart will also show in the printed

copy.

Figure 21: Path Profile Viewer Window


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USING THEACT IVE EDITOR

The Active Editor is a utility which enables interactive microwave engineering and system changes for

instantaneous project updating while viewing the project directly in Google Earth.

Figure 22: SkyView Active Editor

There are several ways to access the Active Editor. The most common method is to open the Active Editor upon

creating or launching a project in SkyView with the option Create Linked microWave maps and Launch Active

Editor selected. This method is preferred since the project will automatically be loaded in both the Active Editor

and Google Earth. However, you can also open the Active Editor manually through the File menu (Tools>Active

Editor) or by using the shortcut key CNTRL+E.

Figure 23: Opening Active Editor from the Tools Menu


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ACTIVE EDITOR TOOL BARS

Standard Tool Bar

Open project opens a SkyView formatted project file or template.

Save project Updates and saves the loaded project file and the Google Earth project (KMZ).

Edit Tool Bar Cut, Copy & Paste (with in the Active Editor)

Formatting Tool Bar Font Size and text alignment (with in the Active Editor)

Add new Path Tool Bar Reads all Site locations of loaded project and

allows for easy implementation of additional paths.

Formula Bar Theformula bar is an informational bar displaying the current selected area of the data sheet.

Profile - Displays current Path Selection of the Spread sheet data

Column Displays current Column selection of the Spread Sheet data

Cell Displays the current Value of the selected cell of the Spread Sheet data


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USING TOWER MODELS

SkyView supports several 3D models for Site\Tower locations. There are four 3D site location models to select

from: Monopole tower, Guyed tower, Self Supporting tower and a Building model (Fig 24). These models for each

location can be defined with in the import file or interactively using the Active Editor. If no tower type is defined on

import, SkyView will assume default settings.

Monopole Guyed Self-Support Building

Figure 24: 3D Tower Site Models

The codes for defining 3D Site\Tower model types are as follows:

Model Type Code

Monopole MP

Self Support SST

Guyed Guy

Building Bldg

Figure 25: Defining Tower Model Types in the Import File

Figure 26: Defining Tower Model Types Interactively in the Active Editor


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GLOSSARY

y Antenna Gain Gain in dBi of the antenna(s) used in calculating the path budget in the microwave radio

link.

y Antenna Model Antenna model number or name used for display purposes in the microwave radio link.y Cable Loss (per 100 ft or m) Cable loss per 100 units of measure dependent upon whether English or

Metric measuring system is chosen in the main GUI. Value is used to determine overall cable loss at each

end of the Path.

y Connector Loss Total of connector losses in dB applied at each end of the Path.

y Frequency (GHz) Given operation frequency of the microwave radio system.

y Fresnel Zone One of a (theoretically infinite) number of concentric ellipsoids of revolution which define

volumes in the radiation pattern of a usually circular aperture. Fresnel zones result from diffraction by the

circular aperture and have circular cross sections. The strongest signals are on the direct line between

transmitter and receiver and always lie within the 1st Fresnel Zone hence the need to keep this theoretical

zone free of obstructions (such as trees or buildings) when designing a microwave path.

y Image Name Filename for the Path Profile Raster Image to be included in the information bubble for each

site in a Path (each line of the Import Template).y Lat Deg Latitude Degrees

y LatHem Latitude Hemisphere (N for North of the Equator or S for South of the Equator)

y Lat Min Latitude Minutes

y Lat Sec Latitude Seconds

y Lon Deg Longitude Degrees

y Lon Hem Longitude Hemisphere (W for West of the Prime Meridian or E for East of the Prime Meridian)

y Lon Min Longitude Minutes

y Lon Sec Longitude Seconds

y Radiation CLThe measurement of the Antenna Centerline above ground level in feet at each site.

y Radio ModelRadio model Name/Number to be displayed for that path.

y Radio Power (dBm)Radio output power in dBm used on the microwave radio link calculations anddisplayed for the path. Typically the maximum PA power of the radio.

y RX Threshold The receiver sensitivity value in dBm of the microwave radio.

y Site AName Name of the first site location to be used for a microwave radio link.

y Site B Name Name of the distant end site location to be used for a microwave radio link.

skyview microwave user's guide revg_rainadd2

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