Wireless network operators are constantly looking at how to
reduce the total cost of ownership of the network to increase their return on
investment. Keeping costs down starts with selecting the right equipment with
the correct configuration for the desired performance and reliability. Cambium
Networks has developed the LINKPlanner tool to simplify the design of these
networks whether they are PTP or PMP. By designing the network with predictable
performance up-front the cost of procurement, installation, configuration and
ongoing support can be minimised.
Designed for use with Cambium’s PTP and PMP solutions,
LINKPlanner allows users to easily and quickly design networks for optimal
deployment and cost effectiveness. With versions for Microsoft® Windows® and
Intel®-based Mac® systems, LINKPlanner is a free, easy-to-use link design tool
that can be downloaded from the Cambium Networks website.
LINKPlanner allows users to model ‘what if’ scenarios – based
on geography, distance, antenna height, transmit power, and other factors – to
optimise system performance before purchase. It lets you quickly and easily
design networks for optimal deployment and cost effectiveness. It leads the
industry as the most trusted and intuitive RF link planning tool, with tens of thousands
of links deployed successfully worldwide,” says Teresa Huysamen, Wireless
Business Unit Executive at Duxbury Networking, local distributors of Cambium
technology.
LINKPlanner’s performance
reports give users the confidence that their chosen system will meet their
needs and it provides installers with configuration guidelines that enable them
to quickly deploy the network.
“The first step in link design is to enter information about the sites
you want to connect. The recommended method to insert sites into a project is
to import the latitude and longitude information from sources such as Google
Earth™ mapping service. LINKPlanner then automatically imports a path profile
to which you can add additional obstructions to accurately model the
environment,” says Huysamen.
By modifying system characteristics, such as
antenna type and height, users can obtain the optimal configuration to achieve
the performance they need to meet their throughput and availability
requirements. In addition to throughput and availability, they will also see
projected system gain margin and path loss for the link.
“While LINKPlanner projections have proven to
be extraordinarily accurate, such precision depends on obtaining accurate and
complete path data. Based on the path data provided, LINKPlanner reports can
predict after-deployment performance and provide installers with the
information they need to successfully install the links in their network,” says
Huysamen.
LINKPlanner features
·
Plan and optimise a single link or multiple links
simultaneously
·
Display a comprehensive overview of your entire
wireless network via Google Earth™ mapping service
·
Generate reports that validate projected performance
and serve as time-saving deployment guidelines
·
Create a bill of materials for PMP and PTP networks,
including accessories
·
Plan multi-sector towers and multi-tower networks
assigning SMs (subscriber modules) to the best access point (AP)
·
Export list of SMs and associated modulation modes
to the Cambium Capacity Planning tool.