RF Design magazine provides engineers with design information concerning wireless communications circuits and products using radio frequency signals (3 kHz to 300 GHz).

RF Network Planning Tools for Campus Environments (Wireless Valley Communications)

This PowerPoint presentation on campus WLAN deployment  features an introduction to the SitePlanner, LANfielder, and SiteSpy planning software by Wireless Valley Communications.

3G Radio Network Planning: Managing Cell Breathing (Multiple Access Communications Ltd)

This brief presentation explains cell breathing and load balancing in a CDMA network.  A planning example using NP Workplace is included.

Broadband Wireless System Deployment Overview (Broadband Properties)

Providers considering deploying a wireless broadband network for delivery of high-speed data and enhanced services often exhibit difficulty envisioning the scope of what the actual deployment entails. The goal of this paper is to provide a very general overview of what the process of deploying a broadband wireless system actually entails.

RF Planning: Clutter Considerations (Wireless Review)

Designing a network isn't easy. You have to consider terrain, clutter and anything else that may block RF signals and inhibit coverage. Maximizing coverage, increasing capacity and minimizing capital expenditure throughout the life of a network is an RF engineer's purpose in life. However, most engineers use RF-planning tools only during initial build-out.

Now, that is changing. Companies are offering improved solutions for traditional RF-planning needs as well as additional functionality to help you continue engineering enhancements... (read more)

UMTS Network Optimization: The Next Generation

The new third generation or, 3G cellular system, known as UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) provides a range of multimedia services to mobile telephone subscribers such as video, Internet browsing, and mobile office applications.

Although UMTS creates new opportunities to generate revenue for wireless carriers, it has an increasingly more complex radio system than any previous second generation wireless system--GSM for example. This has raised new challenges in the design of 3G mobile networks, as well as in the deployment of them. New optimization techniques are urgently needed... (read more)

Flexibility Key to NLOS Fixed Wireless Deployments (CommsDesign)

Successfully deploying a fixed broadband wireless (FBW) network depends on two key factors: flexibility in planning radio frequency (RF) network layouts and line-of-sight (LOS)/non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. Because LOS conditions require an unobstructed view between the transmitter and receiver, carriers face technical and business challenges when planning and deploying LOS-based FBW networks; in fact, the first generation of FBW systems failed because of these challenges.

Conversely, NLOS product solutions that allow layout customization provide enhanced RF planning opportunities with low up-front capital costs and short time-to-market... (read more)

A Testing Time for 3G (Telecom Flash)

The high price of auction-based 3G licences is putting enormous pressure on manufacturers and operators to configure the next-generation mobile network in the most cost-effective way possible. That means taking great care over UMTS radio planning and ensuring terminal and base station compatibility between different vendors... (read more)