Automatic Performance Monitoring of FDM Re-Modulation Microwave Systems

This paper describes the development and design of an automatic performance monitoring system which monitors pertinent operational parameters of six major BPA microwave systems. The system provides Operations and Maintenance personnel with continuous measurement of each systems performance. System degradation and impending failures are detected before an outage occurs. This allows maintenance visits to be scheduled in advance. Also, the monitor system isolates problems to specific sections of each microwave system allowing rapid location and repair of the problem. One unique feature of this monitor system is that it performs automatic diagnosis. Another unique feature is that it requires remote data gathering terminals at the ends of each microwave system, rather than distributed at repeater stations on the system being monitored. As a result, problem diagnosis can be made regardless of problem severity.