RF resources
NetPoint knowledge base
RF fundamentals to help you understand wireless backhaul. What causes interference on a PtP link? Why use slant polarization? How do you keep water out of your antennas?
24
RF articles
RF blog
Practical guides for WISPs, integrators, and backhaul operators
4 min read
How to properly align a NetPoint antenna
Understand the main lobe, null signal and secondary lobes to align NetPoint antennas without losing signal.
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How can I optimize my Fresnel zone in a radio link?
Correct antenna height, obstacles and orientation are essential to minimize problems in the Fresnel zone.
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What are the best parameters for a good radio link?
Speed, latency, reliability and signal are the key parameters to evaluate the quality of an Internet radio link.
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Why is it difficult to make a radio link at sea level?
Reflection on water, climate, obstacles and access complicate maritime links; Height and radome help mitigate them.
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How can I prevent water from getting into my antennas?
Radome, sealing of connectors from the feeder and periodic maintenance prevent water failures in antennas.
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What is beam width?
Beamwidth is the angle at which a satellite dish emits or receives RF; A narrower beam concentrates energy and reduces interference.
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What is the slant used for in antennas?
The slant describes the inclination of the feed with respect to the dish and allows adjustment of gain, direction and quality of the RF signal.
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What are the causes of interference in a backhaul link?
Close links, obstacles, EMI, equipment failures, and even wildlife can degrade a backhaul; The climate also affects.
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Can shielded antennas reduce electromagnetic interference?
Yes: Shielded antennas like NPXGEN3 use conductive material around the dish to block external EMI.
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What influences the gain of an antenna?
Geometry, frequency, polarization, wavelength and efficiency determine how much energy an antenna concentrates.
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How do NetPoint antennas work?
A reflecting parabola and feed horn at the focus concentrate the RF into a point-to-point directional beam.
Read moreWhy optimize an NPGEN2 or NPTR antenna with armor or shield?
A conductive shield reduces external EMI/RFI, but must be well calculated to avoid losing gain.
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What is front to back?
The front-to-back ratio (dB) indicates how much gain there is in the front versus the rear; a high F/B rejects subsequent interference.
Read moreWhat is TDMA?
TDMA divides transmission time into segments so that multiple users share the same spectrum, such as Mimosa radios.
Read moreWhat are the steps to become a WISP?
Business plan, license, equipment, design, installation, testing, marketing and support: the path to operating a WISP.
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Why is link availability measured on a radio link?
Signal strength, SNR, SQI, BER and latency allow you to evaluate availability and detect performance problems.
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What are the most common antenna alignment techniques?
From visual alignment to automated software: methods for correctly pointing a point-to-point link.
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How to make a hybrid wireless and fiber backhaul link?
Combine wireless NetPoint (e.g. NPXGEN3) with fiber: selection, installation and coordinated configuration of both sections.
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What are DFS frequencies?
DFS avoids interfering with radars on 5 GHz by detecting signals and emptying the channel; DFS channels vary by country.
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Why should a robust telecom installation be made?
Durability, reliability, security, efficiency and scalability: a robust installation reduces failures and costs.
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Factors and losses without adequate equipment or maintenance
Inadequate equipment and lack of preventive maintenance cause EMI, signal loss, failures and unsafety.
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How is a jumper damaged?
Heat, repeated bending and chemicals degrade an RF jumper's conductor, insulation and connectors.
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What is the MCS index?
MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) indicates the data rate and modulation/coding complexity in a channel.
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What is CINR (dB)?
CINR measures the ratio of useful signal to noise plus interference; in Mimosa adjusts the transmission rate.
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