Microwave System Planning & Path Design

X-DOT provides exceptional microwave system planning and path design services for both new and expanding microwave systems by designing cost effective routes and by providing solutions to performance problems on existing microwave paths.

Research

For all microwave projects, including new path design, existing path upgrades, and performance analyses, the process starts with research which involves:

• Collecting data from various sources such as the FCC’s ASR database, the FAA’s database, tower leasing databases, and client company databases
• Using this data to identify coordinate discrepancies and possible locations for microwave sites, if needed

System Planning for New Microwave Networks

For new networks, we first identify the desired design objectives, then utilize information already obtained through the research process. This process includes:

• Identifying the geographical areas to be covered and the current company telecommunications towers to be utilized, if applicable
• Identifying any existing communications nodes to be utilized, such as fiber optic nodes, or telecommunications facilities
• Developing the network architecture for the new microwave system

Path Design

For all microwave paths, X-DOT designs the path clearance and path performance reliability based on criteria provided by the client. In addition, X-DOT uses the microwave radios, waveguide, and antenna manufacturers specified by the customer.

Preliminary Design

Sometimes you have a choice between different types of transport, such as microwave or fiber optic cable. X-DOT can provide preliminary path designs based on desktop analyses of paths to help with cost comparisons or to help with completion of structural analyses on the telecommunications towers involved.

Final Design

For upgrades to existing microwave paths, the process to obtain a final design includes:

• Identifying the microwave path upgrade objectives, such as capacity increase
• Identifying the customer desired radio equipment to be used and any change in waveguide or antennas desired
• Obtaining information on the current microwave system, most likely from the path Prior Coordination Notice (PCN)

For new microwave paths, we use the path survey data to obtain a final microwave path design by:

• Analyzing the Path Survey data to obtain the required microwave antenna centerlines
• Identifying the microwave path capacity objectives
• Identifying the customer desired microwave radio to be used
• Recommending the frequency band to be used

With the information obtained through all the processes involved, X-DOT will provide you with the most efficient and cost effective microwave path to meet your design objectives. The next step for licensed microwave will be to send the design to the client preferred frequency coordination company.

Specialized Engineering Services

Sometimes microwave systems fail to perform as desired. X-DOT can help you determine the cause(s) of the problems and recommend solutions to improve system performance. The evaluation process may involve analyzing existing operational data, or it may involve additional field path survey work. The solutions provided will increase network reliability, therefore increasing customer satisfaction.