ANSI. American National Standards Institute.

The coordinating Body for voluntary standard groups within the United States. ANSI is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ATTENUATION. General transmission term used to denote a decrease of signal magnitude. AZIMUTH. The azimuth of an object is the angular distance along the horizon to the location of the object. By convention, azimuth is measured from north towards the east along the horizon. BANDWIDTH. Amount of frequency space (spectrum) needed to send information. BEAMWIDTH. This is the directiveness of a directional antenna, defined as the angle between two half power (-3dB) points on either side of the main lobe of radiation. CONNECTOR LOSS. This loss account for small losses associated with pressure windows, bends and flanges. dB. Decibel (1/10 of a Bel); unit for the ration of two power measurements. dBm. Decibel reference to 1 milliwatt (1mW) into a 50 ohm impedance (usually). 0 dBm = 1 mW FADE MARGIN. A design allowance that provides for sufficient system gain or sensitivity to accommodate expected fading,

for the purpose of ensuring that the required quality of service is maintained. It is also the amount by which a received signal level may be reduced without causing system performance to fall below a specified threshold. FREQUENCY RANGE. The frequency range specified by a governing agency, within which a radio is authorized to operate. FREE SPACE LOSS. Attenuation, in dB, of a RF signals power as it propagates through open space. FREE SPACE PROPAGATION. When the electromagnetic wave is propagated in a vacuum, in normal direct propagation, conditions are practically approximated by Free Space Propagation. FRESNEL ZONE ALLOWANCE OR RADIUS (FI). Distance from the exact center of the main beam to the above line or surface. GHz. The abbreviation of gigahertz; 1 billion or 109 cycles per second.

IMPEDANCE. The complex combination of resistance and reactance, measured in ohms (50 ohms typically).

Impedance must be matched for maximum power transfer. ISOTROPHIC. The most fundamental and simplest of all antennas. An imaginary which radiates in all direction equally. ITU-T. International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunication

Standardization Sector. International body that develops worldwide standards for telecommunication technologies. kBps. Kilobytes per second, unit of data rate measurement, 1000 bytes per second or 8000 bits per second. kHz. Kilohertz, unit frequency measurement, 100 periods per second. LATITUDE. Angular distance of meridian north or south from the equator. LINEOfSIGHT.when the transmitting and receiving antennas can physically see each other. LONGTITUDE. Distance east or west from standard meridian. MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT. the maximum allowable transmitter power output, as specified by governing agency regulations. MICROWAVE. A very short electromagnetic wave, having a wavelength less than one meter.

MULTIPATH. When the RF signal arrives at the receiving antenna after bouncing through several paths. Significantly degrades the received signal power. NOISE FIGURE (NF). An active device over the bandwidth of interest, the contribution by the device itself to thermal noise at is output. PATH ATTENUNATION. Reduction experienced by the signal as it

travels from an isotropic receiving antenna, where there are no ground influences of obstructions, in other words, where blocking, refraction, diffraction, and absorption do not exist. PATH LENGTH. Total distance traveled by the signal from one of the terminal sites to the other. PATH PROFILE. A graphical representation of the physical features Of a propagation path in the vertical place containing both endpoints of the path, showing the surface of sheath and including trees, buildings and other features that may obstruct the radio signal. POLARIZATION. The polarity of a radio signals electrified, transmit and receive antennas must have the same polarity for maximum receive power. POWER OUTPUT. the power of the radio signal as it leaves the RF unit. RECEIVER SENTIVITY. The minimum required RF signal power received to meet are certain performance level. This level is referred to as the Bit Error Rate (BER). RF. Radio frequency. Generic term referring to frequencies that correspond to radio transmissions. Cable TV and broadband network use RF technology. SITE ELEVATION. Height of the site with respect to sea level,

which is zero elevation. This can be determined by reading the height shown by the contour lines in the topographical map. SYSTEM GAIN. The sum of the transmitter power output and the receiver sensitivity (the ability of the transmitter to produce a strong signal combined with the ability of the receiver to detect a weak signal) TOATL FIXED LOSS. Sum of the waveguide, connector and radome losses. VOLTAGE STANDING WAVE RATIO (VSWR). It is a ratio of the maximum to minimum amplitude (or the voltage current) of the corresponding field components appearing on a line that feed an antenna. WAVEGUIDE. A single hollow metallic conductor, either rigid or flexible, which transfer microwave energy from the RF uni to the antenna. WAVELENGTH. The physical length (distance) of one period in an electromagnetic wave, usually measured from one peak to the next. This length is inversely proportional to the frequency of the wave, so as frequency increases the length of the wave decrease.