RF System (Link Budget) Calculations

System Variables Variable Units

Frequency f0 MHz
Speed of Light c m/s
Wavelength m

Block Variable Units

PA Power PPA dBm
TX Match Loss LMatchT dB
TX source PTX dBm
TX connector loss LConT1 dB
TX cable loss LCabT dB
TX connector loss (remote antenna) LConT2 dB
TX power PT dBm
TX antenna gain GT dBi
Effective (Isotropic) Radiated Power EIRP dBm
Distance d m
Channel Medium Loss Factor L0 dB
Free Space Loss LFS dB
Power at RX Antenna, Free Space Path PChanFS dB
Flat Earth Loss (Includes Ground Bounce) LFE dB
Multipath Loss LMP dB
Obstruction Loss LObs-Total dB
Power at RX Antenna, Flat Earth Path PChanFE dB
RX antenna gain GR dBi
RX connector loss LConR1 dB
RX cable loss LCabR dB
RX connector loss (remote antenna) LConR2 dB
RX power, Free Space Path PRFS dBm
RX power, Flat Earth Path PRFE dBm

Receiver Sensitivity Calculations Variable Units

RX Noise Figure NF dB
Operating Temperature T0 K
Effective Noise Temperature Te K
Boltzmann's constant k J/K
Receive Bandwidth BWRX MHz
Antenna Temperature TAnt K
Noise Power (at RX) Pn dBm
Signal to Noise Ratio SNRRX dB
Equation Value
315
299792458
= c/f0 0.9517220889

Equation Value
10

10
(from Connector Loss sheet) -0.57
(from Cable Loss sheet)

(from Connector Loss sheet)

PT = PTX(C&C Loss) 9.43
-15
EIRP = PT GT -5.57
175
(from Medium Loss sheet) 0
LFS = (/4d)2 -67.2747552714
PChanFS = LFSL0 EIRP -72.8447552714
(from Ground Multipath sheet) -92.734165755

0
PChanFE = LFEL0LMPLObs EIRP -98.304165755
-15
-0.57

PRFS = PChanFS GR(C&C Loss) -88.4147552714

PRFE = PChanFE GR(C&C Loss) -113.874165755 -114
Sensitivity of Rx

Equation Value
7
290
 Te = T0(NF - 1) 1163.442977519
1.38E-23
0.012
300
Pn = k(TAnt + Te)BWRX -126.1556386257
SNRRX = PRX/Pn 12.1556386257
Link Plot
Device Sensitivity -114

Signal Path Sensitivity

TX 10 -114
20
TX Ant -5.57 -114
RX Ant -98.304166 -114
0
RX -113.87417 -114
TX TX Ant
-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

-120

-140

Maxim TX Supply (V) PA Output

MAX1472 2.1 6
2.7 10.3
3.6 13.7
MAX1479 2.1 5.3
2.7 10
3.6 12.2
MAX7030 2.1 6.7
3.6 13.1
MAX7031 2.1 6.7
3.6 13.1
MAX7032 2.1 6.7
3.6 13.1
MAX7044 2.1 9
2.7 12.5
3.6 15.8
MAX7049 2.1 15
3.6 15
MAX7057 2.1 5.2
3.6 12.6
MAX7058 2.1 5.9
3.6 13.3
MAX7060 2.1 14.5
3.6 14.5

All numbers are based on Datasheet conditions

TX Ant RX Ant RX

Maxim RX Frequency ( Modulation Sensitivity (dBm)

MAX1470 315 ASK -109
433.92 ASK -104
MAX1471 315 ASK -114
315 FSK -108
433.92 ASK -114
433.92 FSK -108
MAX1473 315 ASK -114
433.92 ASK
MAX7030 315 ASK -114
433.92 ASK -113
MAX7031 315 FSK -110
433.92 FSK -107
MAX7032 315 ASK -114
433.92 ASK -113
315 FSK -110
433.92 FSK -107
MAX7033 315 ASK -114
433.92 ASK
MAX7034 315 ASK -114
433.92 ASK -113
MAX7036 315 ASK -109
433.92 ASK -107
MAX7042 315 FSK -110
433.92 FSK -109

All numbers are based on Datasheet conditions

Ground Multipath Loss
<block diagram> 0
Free S pac e Loss

-10 Est. Flat Earth Loss

Exact Flat Earth Loss

-20

-30

-40

Path Loss (dB)

-50

-60
Reference Maxim Application Note AN3586
-70
Ground Reflection Path Loss
-80
System Variables Variable Units Equation Value
TX height hTX m 1 -90
RX height hRX m 1 Range (meters)
Distance d m (from Link Budget sheet) 175 -100
1.0 10.0 100.0 1000.0
Direct Path d1 m d1 = (d2+(hTX-hRX)2)1/2 175
Reflection Path d2 m d2 = (d2+(hTX+hRX)2)1/2 175.0114282

Free Space Est. Flat Earth Exact Flat

Reflection Path d m d = d2 - d1 0.0114281983 Distance Index Distance Delta d Loss Loss Earth Loss
Estimated Reflection Path de m de = 2hTXhRX/d 0.0114285714 0 2.0 0.8284271247 -28.434594211 -15.051499783 -33.473722259
Wavelength m (from Link Budget sheet) 0.9517220889 1 2.1 0.8027964634 -28.816476411 -15.815264184 -32.326705201
Normalized Ground Bounce Amplitude a none 1 2 2.2 0.7763802081 -29.21441393 -16.611139221 -31.444108839
Loss From Ground Bounce Cancellation LGB dB LGB =10log10(0.5(1+a2-2acos(2d/))) -25.459410484 3 2.3 0.7492653629 -29.628318009 -17.438947379 -30.775044629
Free Space Loss LFS dB LFS = 10log10(/4d)2 -67.274755271 4 2.4 0.7215515921 -30.058042164 -18.29839569 -30.286334751
Flat Earth Loss LFE dB LFE = LGB+ LFS -92.734165755 5 2.5 0.6933500628 -30.503384312 -19.189079984 -29.955171855
6 2.7 0.6647818157 -30.964089646 -20.110490653 -29.765126686
Ground Reflection Path Loss Approximation (for d > 5(hTX+hRX)) 7 2.8 0.6359756965 -31.439854196 -21.062019753 -29.703818927
System Variables Variable Units Equation Value 8 3.0 0.6070659151 -31.930328946 -22.042969253 -29.761484115
Estimated Flat Earth Loss* LFEe dB LFEe = 10log10(hTX2hRX2/2d4) -92.731821904 9 3.2 0.5781893316 -32.435124415 -23.052560192 -29.93005728

Estimated Ground Bounce Cancellation Loss LGBe dB = LFEe - LFS -25.457066633 10 3.4 0.5494825907 -32.953815567 -24.089942495 -30.202572694
11 3.6 0.5210792433 -33.48594693 -25.154205221 -30.572767169
* Introduction to RF Propagation, John S. Seybold, p.172 12 3.8 0.4931069943 -34.031037815 -26.244386991 -31.03482013
13 4.1 0.4656852105 -34.588587504 -27.359486369 -31.583188556
14 4.3 0.4389227967 -35.158080326 -28.498472013 -32.21250885
15 4.6 0.4129165224 -35.738990518 -29.660292398 -32.917545996
16 5.0 0.3877498439 -36.330786811 -30.843884983 -33.6931755
17 5.3 0.3634922335 -36.93293667 -32.048184701 -34.534387085
18 5.7 0.3401989924 -37.544910163 -33.272131688 -35.436301638
19 6.1 0.3179115013 -38.166183421 -34.514678204 -36.394194937
20 6.6 0.2966578396 -38.796241673 -35.774794706 -37.403523348
21 7.1 0.2764536971 -39.434581865 -37.051475092 -38.459948075
22 7.6 0.2573034975 -40.080714873 -38.343741107 -39.559355763
23 8.2 0.2392016559 -40.734167303 -39.650645968 -40.697874188
24 8.9 0.2221339023 -41.394482939 -40.971277238 -41.871882513
25 9.6 0.2060786116 -42.061223828 -42.304759018 -43.078016169
26 10.4 0.1910080942 -42.733971069 -43.650253499 -44.313166779
27 11.2 0.1768898115 -43.412325301 -45.006961963 -45.574477759
28 12.1 0.1636874933 -44.09590696 -46.374125281 -46.859336384
29 13.1 0.1513621432 -44.784356307 -47.751023974 -48.165363094
30 14.2 0.1398729239 -45.477333277 -49.136977914 -49.490398799
31 15.4 0.1291779242 -46.17451717 -50.5313457 -50.832490863
32 16.7 0.1192348105 -46.875606212 -51.933523786 -52.189878364
33 18.1 0.1100013702 -47.580317016 -53.342945394 -53.560977096
34 19.7 0.1014359573 -48.288383955 -54.759079271 -54.944364727
35 21.3 0.0934978478 -48.999558478 -56.181428316 -56.338766384
36 23.2 0.0861475192 -49.713608379 -57.60952812 -57.743040891
37 25.2 0.0793468606 -50.430317044 -59.04294545 -59.156167804
38 27.3 0.0730593259 -51.149482667 -60.481276695 -60.577235322
39 29.7 0.067250037 -51.870917474 -61.924146309 -62.005429137
40 32.3 0.0618858475 -52.594446946 -63.371205253 -63.440022203
41 35.1 0.0569353715 -53.319909053 -64.822129467 -64.880365439
42 38.2 0.0523689865 -54.047153503 -66.276618367 -66.325879301
43 41.5 0.0481588131 -54.776041016 -67.734393393 -67.776046196
44 45.1 0.0442786792 -55.506442622 -69.195196606 -69.230403669
45 49.1 0.04070407 -56.238238989 -70.658789338 -70.68853831
46 53.4 0.0374120692 -56.971319774 -72.124950908 -72.150080321
47 58.2 0.0343812925 -57.705583015 -73.59347739 -73.614698674
48 63.3 0.0315918173 -58.440934546 -75.064180454 -75.082096811
49 68.9 0.029025109 -59.177287452 -76.536886265 -76.552008834
50 75.0 0.0266639468 -59.914561542 -78.011434444 -78.024196118
51 81.6 0.0244923486 -60.652682869 -79.487677099 -79.498444316
52 88.9 0.0224954974 -61.39158327 -80.965477901 -80.97456071
53 96.8 0.0206596695 -62.131199936 -82.444711234 -82.452371859
54 105.4 0.0189721643 -62.871475015 -83.925261392 -83.931721526
55 114.8 0.0174212373 -63.612355234 -85.407021829 -85.412468831
56 125.0 0.0159960352 -64.353791552 -86.889894466 -86.894486629
57 136.2 0.0146865352 -65.095738839 -88.37378904 -88.377660061
58 148.3 0.0134834861 -65.838155571 -89.858622504 -89.861885273
59 161.6 0.0123783539 -66.581003552 -91.344318466 -91.347068281
60 175.0 0.0114281983 -67.274755271 -92.731821904 -92.734165755
Cable Loss
System Variables Variable Units Equation Value
Attenuation at 1GHz GCab1G dB/100 ft -20
Length of Cable dCab m 0.61
Cable Loss Factor Lcab dB -0.400262
Cable Type @1GHz Pasternack Enterprisese, Catalog 2008B, p254-256
RG-58C/U -20
RG-142B/U -13
RG-174A/U -31
RG-8X -13.5

2 ft = 0.6096m
Obstructions Loss
<block diagram>

Block Variable Units

First Obstruction Loss LObs1 dB
Second Obstruction Loss LObs2 dB
Third Obstruction Loss LObs3 dB
Fourth Obstruction Loss LObs4 dB
Fifth Obstruction Loss LObs5 dB
Total Obstruction Loss LObs-Total dB

Obstruction Loss Figure

Interior Wall 3.0 dB
Exterior Wall 10.0 dB
Window 2.0 dB
Electronic Design - Top 5 Engineering Essentials, Louis E. Frenzel, 2011 Penton, p.5

Light Internal Wall (plaster board), Window 3.4 dB

Concrete or Brick Internal Wall 6.9 dB
Floor (reinforced concrete <30cm thick) 18.3 dB
Indoor Wireless RF Channels , John S. Davis, 1993 1995 1997 www.WirelessCommunication.NL

<25% Forested 5.0 dB

25 to <50% Forested 10.0 dB
50 to <75% Forested 15.0 dB
>=75% Forested 20.0 dB
Dense Swamp 25.0 dB
Rural Land Development 0.0 dB
Town Development 5.0 dB
Suburban Development 10.0 dB
City Development 15.0 dB
Dense Urban Development 20.0 dB
Residential and Light Commercial Buildings 5.0 dB
Small to Medium Offices, Stores, or Factories 10.0 dB
Large Commercial Buildings or Shopping Malls 15.0 dB
Typical Automobile 10.0 dB
800 to 900 MHz Radio Frequency Propagation Characteristics, Chris Fagas, WB2VVV,
Equation Value
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0