1. The Three E's of radio coverageThe physics of "radio wave propagation" - or how far a signal travels - boil down to the Three E's:
Here's what you can do about them in your trunked radio network.
How to increase your trunked radio coverage:
|
Factor - External factors: |
Why it matters: |
What you can do: |
|
Signal frequency |
A 400MHz signal travels 50% further than an 800MHz signal of the same power. |
Nothing. Regulators, not network builders, generally determine frequency. |
|
Terrain |
If a radio wave encounters a mountain or a skyscraper, or the base station is in a forest, the signal strength can be significantly reduced. |
Not much. |
|
Factor - Equipment: |
Why it matters: |
What you can do: |
|
Transmission power |
Doubling the range requires about 10 times more power. |
Choose the right equipment. Digital radio products by Airbus have one of the best ratios of power to sensitivity on the market today. |
|
Base station and terminal sensitivity |
The transmission power of a base station in a typical PMR network is between 20 and 50 watts. The terminal power is between 1 and 10 watts. So the sensitivity of the base stations is crucial, since the signal coming back from the terminal will be weaker than the signal transmitted from the network to the end user. |
Choose the right equipment. Digital radio products by Airbus have one of the best ratios of power to sensitivity on the market today. |
|
Factor - Engineering |
Why it matters |
What you can do |
|
Base station location |
The better the location, the broader the coverage. |
Your radio engineer will develop a plan to maximize coverage. Products from Airbus have special features that help get the best coverage, and radio engineers from Airbus are familiar with those features. They can therefore help you achieve the best results. |
|
Antenna height |
The antenna is always a compromise between coverage and cost: A taller antenna is more expensive but delivers more coverage. |
Your radio engineer will develop a plan to maximize coverage. Products from Airbus have special features that help get the best coverage, and radio engineers from Airbus are familiar with those features. They can therefore help you achieve the best results. |
|
Antenna configuration |
The right antenna configuration will maximise coverage. |
Radio engineers can have the biggest impact increasing coverage through antenna configuration. |
The third E - network engineering - greatly influences the maximum distance between base station and end user. That, of course, influences the network cell radius.
Once you've chosen your private mobile radio technology and network products, your radio network engineer can optimise coverage with Three Cs:
Taking all of this into account, your engineer conducts a network study to maximise coverage. It's a skilled, iterative process, but your engineer should deliver a study that covers the entire network.
The goal: A network that provides full coverage using the minimum number of sites in the most cost-effective way.
Using TETRA in hospitals can bring great benefits, states Tomi Pekkonen, Manager for Social and Healthcare VIRVE network, Hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa (Finland).
Tips for accessing functions and folders with the tactical button.
Flash text messages are instantly visible on the radio's display.
Choosing a digital radio network to suit the way you work may seem daunting, but the task can be broken down into five key requirements. It should not disrupt your operations, should be secure, bring new efficiencies, be supported by many suppliers and come from a vendor who can deliver the solution you need.