These calculators are written in Javascript (saves our bandwidth). Find the calculation you want, and enter the various parameters required then click the 'Calculate' button. If you don't like 'em or think you can improve 'em, the code for the calculators is here. For the equations used in each calculator follow the Calculations and equations used link.
Groveling apology 1: The Fresnel calculator said it would default to the mid-point if no obstacle distance was specified and it didn't. More importantly the 60% rule-of-thumb distance was incorrect on the pessimistic side. Thanks to Phil Wells for pointing out the errors.
Groveling apology 2: The Fresnel calculator provides the earth's height at the mid-point. However the ATIS Committe T1A1 recommends use of the effective earth radius (4/3 * earth radius). Previous calculations used the earth's radius and were higher by ~30%. Thanks to Ranjan Sonalkar for pointing out the error.
Partial Groveling apology 3: The Fresnel calculator incorrectly computed the 60% obstacle free zone for MSIE browsers. Those of you using Gecko/Moz based browsers (for example Firefox) had the right answer all the time. And the moral of this tale - get a decent browser. Thanks to Attila Altay Yavuz for pointing out the error. Also the Fresnel calculator equations quoted 72.1 as the conversion factor for miles - this should have been 72.6. Since the calculator normalizes to km/meters this had no effect on results. Thanks to Chris Herrington for pointing out this error. The calculators verify the various values entered for being within a valid range and output an error message if this is not the case. A number of error messages were inconsistent with the ranges being tested. While confusing, these inconsistent messages had no effect on the acuracy of results. Our thanks to Jay Joffe for taking the time to point out this problem.
Key: Green is good, Red is bad.
Serious Health Warning: It is nothing short of a minor miracle of physics that ANY wireless signal gets to its destination. These calculators use standard algorithms which give reasonable results BUT it should be borne in mind you can have two locations 1 meter apart in which one gets great reception ALL the time and the other NEVER gets reception. Use this link for our quick overview of the background to radio propagation and the side-bar links for some 'real brain-hurting stuff'. With suitable apologies to the memory of the late, lamented, Douglas Noel Adams the answer to the question of 'how far will this wireless transmission go?' is 42.
Power Budget |
Use this calculator to walk through all the factors that make up your Power Budget. The 'Power Budget' is the the total power being output from the wireless system and is the sum of:
Note: Connector loss is generally small UNLESS you've got lots of 'em in which case you are probably in trouble anyway, or your cable is VERY short. Just leave the line blank if you are feeling lazy. Calculations and equations used. |
Free Space Loss |
Loss of power over distance (assuming no FRESNEL Effect and nothing in the way). This a very idealised calculation and in practice everything interferes with the signal but it will give you a reasonable approximation of the actual loss over distance. Enter the system Frequency in MHz and the distance in either Kilometers (Km) or Miles below and then click the 'Calculate' button. 1 GHz = 1000 MHz e.g. 2400 = 2.4 GHz. Calculations and equations used. |
Fresnel Zones |
Defines how much clearance you need (yes you need more than simple Line-of-Sight) and for longer links > 3 Km (2 miles) whether you may have a ground clearance problem from our friendly planet. M. Fresnel and his theories. Enter the Total link distance (in Miles or Kilometers), if you do not enter an Obstacle distance (in Miles or Kilometers) the calculator will use the mid-point for all calculations (Note: assumes antennas at same height). Finally enter the system Frequency in MHz and then click the 'Calculate' button. 1 GHz = 1000 MHz e.g. 2400 = 2.4 GHz. The calculator will generate the radius of the 1st Fresnel zone only (at the obstable point or the mid-point), the 60% (no obstacle) radius and the height of the effective earth curvature at the mid-point of the Total link distance using the effective earth radius. Calculations and equations used. |
System Performance |
This calculator will give you one of three answers:
Notes: RX Sensitivity is ALWAYS expressed as a negative dBm (- dBm) and is the lowest power of signal your radio can handle. Its buried somewhere in your radio spec and will be typically in the range of -80 to -110 dBm. Don't guess or 'fudge' this number. Note: If you solve for TX antenna (you leave it blank) and define a specific SAD factor it is applied to the TX budget and any TX antenna value will include this factor. If you then click Calculate again without changing anything. the SAD factor will be calculated to include the supplied TX antenna value and thus may show a lower value than the original one. Calculations and equations used. |
milliWatts to dBm (and vice versa) |
Power in milliWatts to dBm (and vice versa) . Enter the 'Transmit Power' (A or G above) in milliWatts OR the 'Power Ratio' in dBm and click the appropriate 'Calculate' button. 1 Watt = 1000 milliWatts. Calculations and equations used. |
mW to dBm = 10Log10(mW)
feet to meters = .3048
meters to feet = 3.28
Calculator normalises all distances to kilometers and meters
Connectors loss = 0.10 * square root (frequency in GHz)
Free space loss = 36.56 + 20Log10(Frequency) + 20Log10(Distance in miles)
Calculator normalises all distances to miles
Miles to Kilometers = 1.609
Kilometers to miles = 0.621
Calculator normalises all distances to kilometers and meters
Miles to Kilometers = 1.609
Kilometers to miles = 0.621
feet to meters = .3048
meters to feet = 3.28
1st Fresnel Zone radius (Km) = 17.3 x Sqr root ((Obstacle Distance x (Total Link - Obstacle Distance)) / (Frequency in GHz x Total Link))
1st Fresnel Zone radius (miles) = 72.6 x Sqr root ((Obstacle Distance x (Total Link - Obstacle Distance)) / (Frequency in GHz x Total Link))
Obstacle free radius = 0.6 x 1st Fresnel Zone radius
Radius of nth Fresnel zone (meter) = sqr root ( (n x wave length x Obstacle distance x (Total Link - Obstacle Distance)) / Total Link )
wave length (meters) = speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) / frequency in Hz
Earth curvature calculation = (Total Link) 2 /(8 * effective earth radius)
effective earth radius = 4/3 * Earth radius
Earth radius = 3963 miles, 6378 Km
Calculator normalises all distances to miles and feet during calculations.
Free space loss = 36.56 + 20Log10(Frequency) + 20Log10(Dist in miles)
mW to dBm = 10Log10(mW)
dBm to mW = 10(dBm/10)
RX Power = Margin - RX sensitivity
Theoretical margin = TX power budget + RX power budget - free space loss
SAD factor = Theoretical margin/TX power budget * 100 and shows the percentage of spare power on transmission.
mW to dBm = 10Log10(mW)
dBm to mW = 10(dBm/10)
Note: We had previously titled this section dBm to Watts Calculations which was somewhat confusing since the calculators all use dBm to mW or mW to dBm values. We then compounded the confusion by mixing the equations for mW and Watts. In all cases the calculators did not confuse the two and were correct. For the insatiably curious everywhere, or those with a unique need, the Watts based equations (which are not used in the calculators) are: Watt to dBm = (10Log10(Watts)) + 30; dBm to Watts = 10((dBm - 30)/10).
Problems, comments, suggestions, corrections (including broken links) or something to add? Please take the time from a busy life to 'mail us' (at top of screen), the webmaster (below) or info-support at zytrax. You will have a warm inner glow for the rest of the day.
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