Pathcalc: Microwave Radio Path Toolbox
Mathcad E-book
by Lawrence F. Lederer, P. E.
The Pathcalc: Microwave Radio Path Toolbox is an Mathcad E-book that provides essential point to point, fixed site, digital microwave path analysis and can be used as a tutorial for learning microwave path analysis. Using the Mathcad worksheets provides insight into the calculations that generate the values of commercially available software programs dedicated to path analysis. These worksheets provide the means for calculating the viability of a point to point path in North America.
The tools help you perform key calculations, such as path gain and losses, path availability, and Fresnel Zone clearance. A sample path is included, but you can provide your own path profile and equipment specific data.
Pathcalc is set up to perform the path study sequentially. By starting at the beginning of Section 2 and going step by step to the end of Section 6, you produce an analysis of a point to point path. Section 7 summarizes all the key calculated results and path information associated with the analysis to make it easier for you to review the analyses then print them out.
Steps that you can perform through the tool for your path analysis include:
- Physical path and terrain analysis
- Path and system gain and loss analysis
- Antenna selection
- Fade margin calculations
- Availability calculations
