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Tables for Calculating Link Budget

To calculate the link budget, simply approximate your link distance, then fill in the following tables:

Free Space Path Loss at 2.4GHz

Distance (m) Loss (dB)
100 80
500 94
1,000 100
3,000 110
5,000 113
10,000 120

 

Antenna Gain:

Radio 1
Antenna [dBi]
+ Radio 2
Antenna [dBi]
= Total
Antenna Gain
     

 

Losses:

Radio 1 +
Cable Loss [dB]
Radio 2 +
Cable Loss [dB]
Free Space
Loss [dB]
= Total Loss
[dB]
       

 

Link Budget for Radio 1  Radio 2:

Radio 1
TX Power
+ Antenna Gain - Total Loss = Signal > Radio 2
Sensitivity
         

 

Link Budget for Radio 2  Radio 1:

Radio 2
TX Power
+ Antenna Gain - Total Loss = Signal > Radio 1
Sensitivity
         

 

If the received signal is greater than the minimum received signal strength in both directions of the link, then the link is feasible.




Last Update: 2007-01-25