Basic RF measurements

The essentials when building a wireless communication network of any kind

How high your antennas should be to communicate

Frequency

MHz

Distance between the antennas

Result:

This measurement is approximate, based on flat surface just to give the general idea

Link budget calculation

Simply put, link budget calculation is measuring signal level at the receiver end

Received level (Rx) is the sum of all gains and attenuations during transfer

Frequency

Transmitter power

Transmitter antenna gain

Receiver antenna gain

Line of sight distance between antennas

Losses in cables, antenna feed & connecters

Transmitter loss

Losses in cables, antenna feed & connecters

Receiver loss

Losses in cables, antenna feed & connecters

Fading loss

Accounts for signal fluctuation due to interference, polarization mismatch, bad alignment, etc. Adding this margin to the calculation ensures that the link can still maintain a reliable connection even under adverse conditions

Result

dBm

If your receiver's sensitivity value is smaller than that, congrats your link works

This measurement is approximate, other factors may apply