Fixed Terrestial Wireless

For an idea of how to calculate the area covered, you need to know the specifications of the hardware at each end, and the specifics of the radio path.  You can check example calculations for Wi-Fi in that section. However, in nearly all cases, you will be using equipment provided by the wireless service provider, and you probably won't have access to the radio specifications. Note here if numbers are available.  The service provider will probably not make any path calculations, but will ask your location, and if it sounds possible, come out and 'take a look'. If line of sight seems OK, or even close, and the distance is OK, then they will likely just give it a try and see what they get. You should not expect your salesman or installer to be a radio engineer. You should expect the installer to be familiar with the area and know what normally will or won't work.

 

 

As in the [http://wireless.navas.us/wiki/Wi-Fi#Wi-Fi_Hardware Wi-Fi] example, it is possible to do path calculations if you know the radio specs.  The calculations follow the same format.  However, since the radio is normally located at the antenna, you don't have to factor in coax losses at each end.  Unlike in the case if Wi-Fi (which I would expect to be an exercise in futility doing link calculations) you should be able to get numbers that approach reality.  If you know the transmit power and transmit antenna gain, and you know the receiver sensitivity and antenna gain, all that is left is the fade margin and the Path Loss.  Once you calculate the Path Loss, you will then be able to calculate the fade margin.