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Author Topic: Best Frequency for Microwave Link  (Read 8559 times)

KI6DYR

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Best Frequency for Microwave Link
« on: March 04, 2010, 07:57:29 PM »

We have a choice of 900MHz, 2.4GHz or 4.9GHz for a wireless link to our remote location. We're currently running 2.4GHz and getting good speeds over a 4 mile path. We are feeding from snow country to a mountain peak buried in snow 33% of the year or more.

What frequency range is less affected by snow, rain, or other precipitation for broadband data?
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AA4PB

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RE: Best Frequency for Microwave Link
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2010, 08:25:57 AM »

The lower frequency.
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Bob  AA4PB
Garrisonville, VA

KE7AAS

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RE: Best Frequency for Microwave Link
« Reply #2 on: March 18, 2010, 02:45:10 PM »

I prefer Amana myself but you could try a Sharp or a GE.
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KI6DYR

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RE: Best Frequency for Microwave Link
« Reply #3 on: March 18, 2010, 04:52:13 PM »

I've been Googling and research somewhat confirms what I have already experienced and that is that 900MHz is not a good choice in snow country.

I have noted a marked decrease in 800MHz signals during moderate to heavy snow storms. The ski resort where our HF station was to place a HF rig (at 8,000 feet) uses 900MHz and its performance is poor. Further reading shows that 2.4GHz is ideal -- actually, between 1GHz and 3GHz. We tried 5.8GHz as well and the performance was seriously lacking.

Using 500mW to a 20dBi yagi vertically polarized on both ends yielded 20Mbps down and 900Kbps uplink over a 4 mile, snowy path at 2.4GHz. Surprisingly, horizontal polarization was not a good match, but we expected otherwise.
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