Campbell Scientific RF401A-Series Spread Spectrum Radios - Manual (Page 46)

Appendix B. Distance vs. Antenna Gain, Terrain, and Other Factors
Example #2
Base has MaxRad BMOY8905 Yagi, with 50 ft of LMR195 cable on a 30 ft
tower, also a lightening protection device with a VSWR of 1:1.75; remote also
has a MaxRad BMOY8905 Yagi with 5 ft of LMR195 cable on a 4 ft pole.
Terrain is mostly flat, with sagebrush. How far can I go?
Pt = 24 dBm
Lt = 50 ft • (11.1 dB/100 ft) = 5.55 dB
Gt = 9 dBd = 11.15 dBi
Lr = 5 ft • (11.1 dB/100 ft) = 0.55 dB
Gr = 9 dBd = 11.15 dBi
Need to include the loss from the surge arrestor: VSWR of 1:1.75 = 0.34 dB
loss
Use –106 dBm for Pr
Lp = 24 – 5.55+ 11.15 + 11.15 – 0.55 – (–106) –0.34 = 146 dB
Use the 3 rd to 4 th power tables: Range from ~18 (4 th power) to 30+ (3 rd power)
miles
Example #3
You need to run 125 ft of cable for the transmitter:
How much loss if I use LMR195 cable? 125 ft • (11.1 dB/100 ft) = 13.9 dB
How much loss if I use LMR400 cable? 125 ft • (3.9 dB/100 ft) = 4.9 dB
If I am using path loss from the 2 nd power table, and operating fine at 8 miles
with LMR195 cable, how much more range could I expect if I use LMR400
cable (assuming similar terrain)?
13.9 dB – 4.9 dB => 9 dB more link margin
Loss at 8 miles: 114 dB; could tolerate 114 + 9 dB = 123 dB loss =>>> 22
miles (14 miles more)
B-8