A Microwave Propagation Prediction Tool, MPT, and its performance in practice

A Microwave Propagation Prediction Tool, MPT, has been developed in support of planning microwave video distribution systems, (MVDS) and amplitude modulated links (AML). Contour data from either pre-digitised or hand-digitised maps is transformed to height estimations on a regular grid. The transformation method is described. Propagation predictions are based on an inverse square law with allowances for earth curvature and terrain diffraction effects. Land usage is allowed for by increasing the apparent ground height in wooded and urban areas. Signal strength contour plots and 3D plots are used to present results. Coloured background to contour plots indicates land relief. Road positions and land usage are included as these enable a viewer to orient himself. The suite is written in C under UNIX and run on a 68030 computer system