Radio Range.....the never-ending mystery of magnetism ! ! !

   Probably the question I most often receive is - "How much range does that radio have?"   
Wow, now that's a good question and an even more difficult answer.
   Radio range is relative to a lot of laws in physics, and primarily the laws of magnetism.   Every time a radio amplifier excites or transmits into a resonant antenna system it basically causes a magnetic field of sorts to be created around and radiated from the antenna.   When another antenna, that is basically tuned or is resonant to the same frequency receives, or gets inducted by, that transmitted radio signal it will deliver a small voltage signal to the receiver to which it's attached.   Whew!   That's a mouthful of explanation when trying not to go so deep that engineering philosophies are explored.
   Ok...in lay-mans terms, radio range is directly relative to the power of the transmitter and to the magnetic field strength induced into a receiving antenna/radio system.   Of course, physical barriers can get into this line-of-sight path that can reduce or totally eliminate the magnetic signal from reaching the receiving antenna, there by reducing range.
   So, what's a practical definition of radio range?   Most often in our business of higher frequencies it is generally line of sight transmission.   Of course lower frequencies will follow the curvature of the earth better and generally go farther, but the higher in frequency you go, the more line-of-sight you become.   Incidentally, the higher in frequency the more capability the frequency has for bandwidth.....a topic for future exploration.
   Let me know your questions or experiences you may have had with radio range.

Narrowbanding and it's affect on your radio systems

     Well, the FCC has done it again.   They have mandated that everyone convert to at least 12.5KHz bandwidth separation in their radio channels after 2013.   They are not allowing any new WB license processing after 2011.   Everyone probably knows that this is an effort to make more channels (effectively doubling or more) available to all.   The FCC is asking people to consider making the jump from 25KHz to 6.25KHz, quite a haul and quite a change.  You're equipment may not make it to the 12.5KHz much less the 6.25KHz bandwidth anyway.   So the question arises, when will the 6.25KHz become mandatory?   The FCC is reluctant to make that date at this time due to various technical circumstances and probably not knowing how the public may react.    My guess is that will probably be another 10 years to make that happen.   By then your equipment will be out of date again......hummmm.
Are you affected or have any questions for the readers?   Here is a link from the Manufacturing coordinators website that may help.   The concept is the same everywhere.   By the way, you're probably going to have some reduced range with the narrowbanding.....it usually results in about 3-6db difference.   That's about 5-10 percent radio coverage......
Good luck !  

http://www.mrfac.com/Mandatory-Narrowbanding.html
Until then, happy communicating...... 

Point-to-point high speed data links

Sometimes our industry creates surprising little jewels of innovation.   The speeds/bandwidth of some of these relatively inexpensive RF devices are simply amazing.   Some are coasting along at 300 Mb while T-1'a only give you 1.4 Mb.   One could put up a line of sight link and let'er rip easily.
Has anyone else out there had any success with replacing T-1's?
This stuff is "the stuff" and is extremely reliable.   The really big plus is that your system is in your control and your service isn't relegated to some ominous 800 number and who knows repairs.
Try it, you'll like it.
Till next time, happy broad-banding...........