Link Budget Calculator

Instruction Manual The Link Budget Calculator will compute signal strength over a microwave link and determine whether an acceptable video signal can be received. Link Budget is an easy to use program that will compute received signal strength on several factors, such as receiver sensitivity, transmitter power, cable type, length of cable, antenna gain, and other losses. Output is quickly displayed, easy to read, and can be printed out.

The signal strength (or fade margin) is computed using ideal conditions. Additional consideration should be taken for loss of signal due to weather, terrain, age of equipment, and other sources of electronic interference. Link Budget calculates fade margin acceptability according to standards used by TRON-Tek, Inc. and for TRON-Tek transmitters and receivers. However this calculator could be used loosely with any other manufacturers products, the results may not meet their specifications, or calculate according to their proprietary standards. To ensure compatibly of a system contact a TRON-Tek, Inc. sales representive, by phone 918-633-4877 or email Sales@Tron-tek.com.

To Calculate Fade Margin Fill in all the fields with the information of a system setup, and the Fade Margin is automatically calculated. Beneath is a display of whether the received signal is unusable, poor, marginal, good, excellent, or will overdrive receiver. Unusable no signal or unusable signal will be received Poor under ideal conditions it is possible to receive a marginal signal, can be easily interrupted Marginal receiver will get a decent signal under ideal conditions, still susceptible to losing signal Good receiver should maintain quality signal under most conditions, may lose signal quality under poor conditions

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Excellent quality signal should be received in all but the worse conditions Will Overdrive Receiver the signal will be so strong it could damage the receiver, system should not be operated in this condition Change Receiver Sensitivity The default setting for the lowest possible sensitivity to the receiver is set to -85 dB. This value can be changed to whatever is appropriate. Clear Form Clear Form deletes all the entered information to start a new calculation. Print This will let the user print a report of the currently displayed link budget information. On the main screen the user is prompted to enter personal information, and then can save it to a text file, or print on the default printer. Print Link Budget will send the report to the default printer set up on the computer. Export to File will create a text file that has the report. It will be named Link Budget for and the Company Name. It will be saved in the My Documents folder.

Contact Us: TRON-Tek, Inc. 6570-B East 51st Street Tulsa Ok, 74145 Sales Department : 918-663-4877 Sales@Tron-tek.com Definitions Antenna Gain How much gain the antenna puts back into the signal, expressed in decibels Cable Length Length of cable between the transmitter or receiver and the antenna, expressed in feet

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Cable Type Type of cable used between the transmitter or receiver and the antenna, if Other is selected as cable type then the user needs to manually enter the Total Cable Loss, expressed in decibels Decibels Ratio expressing difference in power to a reference voltage External Filter Loss of signal due to an external filter, expressed in decibels Fade Margin Calculated value of signal strength received, expressed in decibels Free Space Attenuation Calculated value of how much signal is lost between the transmitter and receiver due to distance, expressed in decibels Operating Frequency Specific frequency the equipment will operate on Other Loss Any additional loss in signal due to equipment or other factors, expressed in decibels Path Length Distance between the transmitter and receiver in miles Total Cable Loss Calculated value for how much signal is lost due to the cable, unless Other is selected as cable type then the value is manually entered by the user, expressed in decibels Receiver Sensitivity The point at which the receiver will give a marginal signal, defaults to -85 dB but can be set to a different value by selecting Change Receiver Sensitivity under the File menu Signal Strength Calculated value of received signal strength, expressed in decibels Total System Gains Calculated value of the total gain from system components, expressed in decibels Total System Losses Calculated value of the total loss of signal due to system components, and distance between transmitter and receiver Transmitter Power Output of the transmitter in watts

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