User Manual

Table Of Contents

Section 2, Microwave Path Engineering Basics TRACER 4205 System Manual

Figure 1. Example Microwave Path with Parameters

6. ANTENNA ALIGNMENT

With line-of-sight microwave communications, optimum system performance requires that the

transmitting and receiving antennas are properly aligned. This will ensure maximum received signal power

at each receiver. Antenna alignment must be achieved in both azimuth (along a horizontal plane) and

elevation (along a vertical plane). A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is used to aid the equipment

installer in determining when alignment is maximized, by simply ensuring maximum RSSI. The RSSI

indicator for the TRACER 4205 system is provided through the VT100 terminal menus accessed through

the RS-232 interface, and is presented as a series of bars indicating signal strength. More bars means more

RSSI, which ensures more received signal strength and better link performance.

If the remote system has acquired a useful signal from the remote system, then the remote TRACER 4205

RSSI can also be viewed from the local TRACER 4205 VT100 terminal menu interface.

An RSSI Test point is also provided on the front panel. The voltage (relative to the gnd test point) present

on this test point represents a relative signal level of receive strength from the far end. The voltage at this

test point can vary from approximatly 0 to greater than 4 Volts DC, with 0 Volts corresponding to no signal

and 4 Volts or better to full signal strength.

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