Link Budget
Link Budget analysis & design services
Link budget analysis is a vital tool in radio communications that considers all power gains and losses from transmitter to receiver. For any given distance and operating environment, it can be used to determine optimal system parameters – transmit power, antenna gain, frequency, and environmental factors – to ensure reliable signal reception and meet performance requirements.
Every wireless system depends on getting this right. We use comprehensive link budget analysis and receiver sensitivity specifications to design robust, cost-effective connectivity solutions. Get it wrong, and your system fails. Get it right, and you deliver reliable wireless communication.
Design Process
Our link budget design services help you optimise wireless communication systems, reduce deployment costs, and ensure reliable performance in urban, rural, and industrial environments.
1. Key parameter gathering & analysis
Plextek’s experts assess link budget, gathering key parameters including:
- Range and coverage area
- Operating frequency and bandwidth
- Data rate requirements
- Transmitter power limitations
- Receiver sensitivity specifications
- Antenna gains and heights
- Operating environment (urban/rural/industrial)
Our analysis then considers additional critical factors such as:
- Path loss and propagation effects
- Noise figure
- Fade margins and interference levels
These interdependent parameters can be traded off against each other to optimise performance while meeting regulatory, physical, and cost constraints.
The propagation of a wave from a single transmitter through an urban terrain
The result of a link budget analysis is the calculated link margin.
Link margin = received power – receiver sensitivity
The receiver sensitivity is the minimum received power to allow successful communication to occur and is determined by the design of the receiver circuitry and its mode of operation (such as the type of modulation being used). A negative link margin means the power received is less than the receiver sensitivity and therefore not enough signal power is being received to allow for communication. The aim for the design of a wireless system is to balance the parameters to ensure a positive link margin.
The received power is calculated using the transmitted power, combined with antenna gains, path loss, and all other losses in the system.
2. Propagation modelling & simulation
Beyond free-space path loss, terrain and environmental factors significantly affect signal propagation. Our propagation modelling accounts for:
- Terrain effects: Undulating terrain can cause frequency-dependent shadowing
- Multipath interference: Reflection of radio waves from hills or buildings can produce either constructive or destructive interference
- Weather conditions: Rain, snow, and atmospheric effects are factored into the analysis
Plextek’s engineers incorporate these real-world effects into the link budget through empirical models tailored to the operating environment or simulations using terrain data.
3. System optimisation & validation
Our custom RF system design process considers:
- Antenna selection and design: Balancing gain, coverage patterns, and physical constraints
- Power management: Optimising transmit power within regulatory and battery limitations
- Interference mitigation: Filtering components and frequency planning
- Performance validation: Predictive modelling of message success rates and coverage areas
Real-world challenges
What sets us apart in Link Budget Design?
A successful link budget design requires an in-depth knowledge of antenna design, propagation modelling, radio protocols and transceiver design. Plextek has experts in all these areas, with both academic knowledge and extensive practical experience.
- End-to-end expertise: From propagation modelling to custom antenna design
- Real-world validation: 35+ years of experience across diverse environments
- Cost optimisation: Minimising infrastructure requirements through precise analysis
- Regulatory compliance: Ensuring systems meet local and international standards
Ready to optimise your wireless communication system? Our RF link budget analysis services ensure reliable performance while minimising costs.
The most sophisticated link budget is worthless if it doesn’t translate into real-world performance. We bridge the gap between theoretical analysis and practical deployment, ensuring our clients’ systems deliver the reliability they promise to their customers.
Richard Emmerson
Lead Consultant
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