Assuming these are 5 GHz links, it would be interesting to see a sweep across the entire band 5.1-5.8 GHz with calibrated transmitter and receiver, both polarizations. So take the radios out of the picture, use known test equipment to measure path loss including coax, antennas, and several miles of air.
I would expect to see a gradual increase in path loss toward the lower end of the band, maybe a sweet spot somewhere around 5.7 GHz. Are these links low all the time, or does it vary with time of day, time of year, weather, etc? If you are seeing atmospheric effects or reflections across cropland (big problem for us this time of year), I would expect peaks and valleys across the frequency sweep. From: That One Guy /sarcasm Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 11:17 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [AFMUG] outside contractor expectations thats what he said hes doing. what would you recommend doing in this case? just replace all the feedhorns and re-align? We are paying the same rate either way so its just time On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 9:24 AM, Chuck McCown <[email protected]> wrote: The only antenna test I can think of that should be quick and easy (assuming you have the right equipment) would be a return loss test/sweep. If they cannot do that, forget it. I probably would not even bother with the testing. From: That One Guy /sarcasm Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 12:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [AFMUG] outside contractor expectations So, Im really a cheap bastard, Ive had like 10k in outside consultant/funtime contractor retard budget for a few months since our 12 dollar guy left us, Ive spent 0 bucks and done everything myself but need to deplete the budget so I can renew it. We have three ptp links that arent at the path profile we need to get back into the party. Im bringing in a guy to test the antennas/ leads/ output. On the antenna tests, I have no clue what to realistically expect on a deployed unit, nor can I probably read the results. My expectations are that I provide them with the FCC ID of the antenna, they tell me if theyre still up to snuff (these are all radiowaves 2' high performance connected to antiquated PTP500 (some are software upgraded from 300). I dont know thats its worth testing the leads, all 12 are worth maybe 200 bucks and the contractor time is 65 bucks x 2 guys, probably best to just have them verify 12 leads in the shop and replace them all since theyre getting disconnected for testing anyway. assuming none of the parabolics were hit by meteorites or .22s the only thing that might have been degraded is the feedhorns. Ive been doing this nonsense for a decade and only seen one damaged feedhorn on one of these thing, and it was exploded from lighting, so I think for 6 units, 2 spares should be sufficient. Hes verifying he can test the RF output of the Radio itself, if not he says he can do a "spectrum" in front of the antenna after verifying the horn and lead loss. I expect FCC testbed results, can someone bring me closer to earth and tell me what my actual expectations should be for this? After the antenna/lead/output verification theyre going to update linkplanner with verified GPS and AGL and align. Ive never seen a valid input on linkplanner be outside the installation report on a single link I installed. so I think this is worth the budget, I have a 12 hour expectation so about 1500 before the incidentals like drive and a hotel which is maybe 300 bucks more for 1800 or so dollars. To you folks who have been doing this much longer than me, is what Im getting worth the dough given I dont have the personal ability to verify any hardware and dont have the staff to reliably be on the other end of the alignments? Im the guy a jew calls a cheap prick (no offense to jews) so anything over 8 dollars seems like alot to me and Ive been sitting on ten grand like its my last mortgage payment, so burning almost 20% of it hurts my chiseler heart, if I had a heart A note on previous expense, we have burned probably 30 or 40 staff man hours over the last year sending not me guys out looking at these links at various times already. Two are on towers, I quit climbing towers a few years ago and only climb in emergencies or days with Y now, but havent been personally involved in realignment, my fear of height on towers makes it hard for me to focus on alignment. -- If you only see yourself as part of the team but you don't see your team as part of yourself you have already failed as part of the team. -- If you only see yourself as part of the team but you don't see your team as part of yourself you have already failed as part of the team.
