JOURNAL OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1, JULY 2014

1

Solution for Improving Bit Error Rates (BER)
in Microwave Long Haul Links
Ahmed Qaddus, Muhammad Irfan and Aamir Ali Raza
Abstract In the recent years there is a tremendous boost in the demand of triple play applications like voice, data and video
in Wireless Telecom sector. For providing triple play applications like voice, data and video to customers the common wireless
backhaul media used by the telecom operators today is Microwave radio links. Microwave radio links are designed on the princi-
ple of point to point wireless architecture. The Microwave radio links are used for transmission of E1s, STM-1 and Ethernet Traf-
fic. Single Microwave radio link in (1+0) configuration can carry data traffic up to 155.5 Mbps which is equivalent to STM-1.
When Microwave radio links are deployed over large ranges then signal to noise ratio (SNR) levels start to degrade, which
causes increase in bit error rates (BER) which result in latency levels above 1 msec, which are not desirable for data transmis-
sion. In this research the Authors have practically implemented solution in field for improving bit error rates (BER) in Microwave
radio links. The real time results for latency measurement are calculated before and after the proposed changes with the help of
JDSU 6000 Generator and Test equipment. The proposed changes focus on antenna alignment and requirement of different
antenna sizes used during Microwave radio link installations on extensive hops.

Index Terms Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Bit Error Rates (BER), Latency, Microwave radio link.

1 INTRODUCTION
In order to run high banwidth uniterupted voice, data
and video applications over a wireless medium. It is nec-
essary to have appropriate signal to noise ratio (SNR)
levels above a desire receiver threshold level to avoid
latency below 1 msec. Only a wireless link having a low
bit error rates (BER) can effectively accommodate high
bandwidth uniterupted voice, data and video applica-
tions with less than 1 msec delay. In Long haul Micro-
wave radio link the main challenges are to establish a
wireless link with Low bit error rates (BER) and high sig-
nal to noise ratio (SNR) levels.
Authors in this research have practically implemented
solution in field for improving bit error rates (BER) in
microwave long haul links. By using microwave Point to
Point radios in 1+0 Configuration which offer features
like N x E1 (8 x E1, 16 x E1, 32 x E1, 64 x E1) in PDH hier-
archy, STM-1 in SDH hierarchy, Up to 156 Mbps in Layer
2 Ethernet communication and uses QPSK, 16, 32, 64 and
128 QAM modulation techniques [1].

2 MICRWAVE RADIO COMPONENTS

The terminal structure of the Microwave radio link con-
sists of two main parts, which are the Outdoor Unit
(ODU) and the Indoor Unit (IDU). A (1+1) Protected ra-
dio terminal consists of 1 fully loaded (height of 2U) IDU
and 1 fully loaded (housing two RF transmit-
tance/reception modules) ODU. There are 2 co-axial ca-
bles bearing the IF mark between the IDU and ODU. An
(1+0) unprotected radio terminal consists of 1 partly load-
ed (height of 2U) IDU and 1 partly loaded (housing one
RF transmittance/reception module) ODU. There is 1 co-
axial cable bearing the IF mark between the IDU and
ODU. The ODU consists of RF reception/transmittance
modules contained within a mechanical box with a wa-
terproof design, and Diplexer filters set to its operating
frequency band. The special direct mount antenna is di-
rectly connected to the ODU, allowing the user ease of
installation. Standard antennae are connected to the an-
tenna ports on the ODU with the help of twistable-flexible
waveguides. The mechanical framework of the ODU al-
lows it to be mounted on 3 or 4 inch pipes with the suit-
able mounting apparatus. In this way, the unit can be
mounted on a tower, on a roof, or a flat surface. It can also
be mounted within the building when required. The IDU
(Indoor Unit) can be mounted within a standard 19 inch
cabin. The IDU uses the same mechanical framework for
(1+0) and (1+1). The Microwave radio link uses QAM,
QPSK, 16 QAM, 32 QAM, 64 QAM, 128 QAM modulation
techniques that allows modification/selection over soft-
ware. In this way, efficient and productive utilization of
the spectrum is ensured [2].

3 COMISSIONING TEST

After the antenna, ODU, IDU and IF cable has been prop-
erly installed and system powered up at both ends, the
following tests should be performed on each installed
link.

A. Qaddus is working with the R&D Department, NationalRadioTelecom
Corporation Haripur Hazara, Pakistan and is aPHD Scholar in Bahria
University Islamabad, Pakistan.
M.Irfan is working with the R&D Department, NationalRadioTelecom
Corporation Haripur Hazara, Pakistan.
A.Ali Raza is aPHD Scholar in BahriaUniversity Islamabad, Pakistan.



2

3.1 Link Verification
1. Verify that Active LED on IF modem card of the
IDU front panel is red and stable, indicating the
radio link is up. Otherwise the link is not estab-
lished and need alignment or the far end is not
powered up.
2. The RSSI should be above the threshold level. The
chart for various threshold levels is given below in
table 1.
3. Radio Bit Error Rate (BER) should be less than or
equal to the defined threshold. BER of the order of
10E-6 is standard low BER.
4. If working with ATPC, the RSSI threshold level
should be set in safe limits (>= guaranteed thresh-
old refer table-1).
5. After connecting test equipment or end equipment
to the line interfaces, only active link LED is on the
front panel of the IDU panel is ON in red, rest of
the LEDs are off.
6. Once link is establish user can see the status for
RL1 & RL2 on the web browser and command line
interface as shown in snapshot Figure-1 & 2 re-
spectively.
7. Please note that any system in the network can be
accessed by giving its IP address.

TABLE 1
RSSI THRESHOLD LEVELS





























Figure-1 RL Webbased Interface































Figure-2 RL Commandline Interface

3

3.2 Line Interfaces/Loopback Test
1. For 2.048Mbps Interface connect PDH test equip-
ment to the E1 interface and verify error-free op-
eration for at least 1 hour. Use a physical or soft-
ware loop at the far end.
2. For FE/GbE Interface connect a Packet Analyzer
to the Fast Ethernet interface and verify error-free
operation (no packet loss) for at least 1 hour. Use a
physical loop at the far end.
3. For155MbpsInterface connect SDH/SONET/ATM
test equipment to the 155 Mbps interface and ver-
ify error-free operation for at least 1 hour. Use a
physical or software loop at the far end.

3.3 BER for E1
1. Install E1 Mux card in the IDU and verify that it is
enabled.
2. Create test environment as shown in figure-3.
3. Configure services according to test requirement.
4. Perform minimum 3-minutes bit error testing on
each E1 port by making hard loop on the desired
E1 port on the DDF/Patch Panel.
5. Perform 24-hour bit error test on any one E1 port.
6. Bit Error Rate (BER) should be less than or equal
to the defined threshold (10E-6).



Figure-3 E-1 BER TEST SETUP

3.4 Performance Test for STM1
1. Install STM1 Mux card in the IDU and verify that
it is enabled.
2. Create test environment as shown in figure-4.
3. Configure services according to test requirement.
4. Perform minimum 3-minutes performance testing
on each electrical or optical port of mux card by
making hard loop on the electrical / Optical STM1
Port.
5. Perform 24-hour bit error test.
6. The configuration, performance analysis and re-
sults could be stored in a file in most of the test
equipments and can be exported to a PC/Laptop.
It can also be printed directly by connecting a
printer with the test equipment (Ant-5 or MTS-
6000). A Performance test was conducted for 18
hours.

Figure-4 STM1 PERFORMANCE TEST

TABLE 2
E1 BER TEST RESULTS

Performance
Analysis
(M.2100)

Near
End Far End
ES 0 0.00% * *%
EFS 10 100.00% * *%
SES 0 0.00% * *%
UAS 0 0.00% * *%
Verdict Pass *
Path Alloca-
tion 100%
Event Log
No. Event Date
Start
time
Stop
time
Dur.
/
Cout
0 Start 5/4/2013 55:43.0
1 Stop 5/4/2013 55:53.0

TABLE 3
STM1 PERFORMANCE TEST RESULTS

Performance
Analysis
(M.2100)

Near
End Far End
ES 0 0.00% *
EFS 1800 100.00% *
SES 0 0.00% *
UAS 0 0.00% *
Verdict Pass *

3.4 Delay Test for STM1

1. Install STM1 Mux card in the IDU and verify that
it is enabled.
2. Create test environment as shown in figure-4.
3. Configure services according to test requirement.
4

4. Perform minimum 3-minutes delay testing on
each electrical or optical port of mux card by mak-
ing hard loop on the electrical / Optical STM1
Port.
5. Perform 24-hour bit error test.
6. The configuration, delay analysis and results could
be stored in a file in most of the test equipments
and can be exported to a PC/Laptop. It can also be
printed directly by connecting a printer with the
test equipment (Ant-5 or MTS-6000). A delay test
was conducted for 18 hour.

3.5 Ethernet Performance Test

1. Create test environment as shown in figure-4
above.
2. Select Local Loopback mode in the Ethernet Test
Equipment present on the far end.
3. Send ping packets and check the received packets.
4. The operation should be successful and returned
time should be within the normal range of 400
msec.

3.6 Ethernet Throughput Test

1. Create test environment as shown in figure-4
above.
2. Loopback the opposite equipment for throghpu
test scenario.
3. Set the data network performance analyzer for the
throughput test.
4. Use seven typical bytes for test: 64, 128, 256, 512,
768, 1024, and 1518.
5. Set allowed packet loss ratio to 0% and resolution
to 0.1%. Test it for 60 seconds and repeat once
again.
6. Carry out the test and record test result.

3.7 Ethernet Latency Test

1. Create test environment as shown in figure-4
above.
2. Loopback the opposite equipment for latency test
scenario.
3. Set the data network performance analyzer for la-
tency test settings.
4. Use seven typical bytes for test: 64, 128, 256, 512,
768, 1024, and 1518.
5. Set flow to 90% of the throughput.
6. Carry out the latency test and record test result.
7. Analyze Ethernet graph for latency limits within
1msec.

4 PROBLEM STATEMENT

As the Authors mention in the research that Microwave
radio link performance mainly depends on the high Sig-
nal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values and low Bit Error Rates
(BER) values. In the Microwave radio link trials, primarily
1.2 meter Directional Antenna was used, over a 47 Km
hop distance. The Microwave system result was poor
when STM-1 traffic was on air on the link, due to high Bit
Error Rates (BER) values which result in low Signal to
Noise Ratio (SNR) values, which causes high packet drop
in the data transmission and result in high latency mar-
gins above 1mec delays. Standard delay for Microwave
radio link data transmission should be within 1 mesc lim-
its, in order to run STM-1 traffic on the microwave link
without packets drop and intruption. Hence by using 1.2
meter Directional Antenna, it was not feasible to run
STM-1 traffic on the microwave link without packets drop
and intruption which result in high latency limits ablove
1msec. Figure-5 shows the STM-1 latency test above
1msec delay, which causes high packet drop which result
in high Bit Error Rates (BER) values and low Signal to
Noise Ratio (SNR) values. Due to Bit Error Rates (BER)
values and low Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values the
desire through level is below 155 Mbps, which not feasi-
ble to transmit STM-1 on Microwave radio link as shown
in figure-6 [3, 4].


















Figure-5 STM1 Latency Test



















Figure-6 STM1 Throghput Test
5

5 PROPOSED SOLUTION

In order to eleminte the problem of high packet drop
which result in high Bit Error Rates (BER) values and low
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values, authors have pro-
posed two paractical solution which are the fine tuning of
Directional antennas and the use of 1.8 meter Directional
Antenna, over a 47 Km hop distance. By increaseing the
size of Directional Antenna the antenna gain increases
which results in high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values
and low Bit Error Rates (BER) values which ultimately
results in low packets drop during the data transmission
over the Microwave radio link.
Authors here have practically perform the fine tuning of
1.2 meter Directional antennas, which results in good re-
sults in the form of high Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) val-
ues and low Bit Error Rates (BER) values which ulti-
mately results in low packets drop during the data
transmission over the Microwave radio link. This can be
supported by results of Latency below 1 msec in figure-7
and through put rates upto 155 Mbps in figure-8 which is
highly appropriate for running the STM-1 traffic over a
Microwave radio link.

















Figure-7 STM1 Latency Test

















Figure-8 STM1 Throghput Test
6 CONCLUSION
Authors in this research have practically proved that
by fine tuning of 1.2 meter Directional Antenna, over a 47
Km hop distance we can improve the transmission of
STM-1 over the microwave link. Second the authors
have also proposed the increase of dish size which can
improve Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values which will
result in low Bit Error Rates (BER) and no packet drop and
latency below than1 msec.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank National Radio Telecom Cor-
poration Haripur Hazara for their support in the trials of
Long haulMicrowave radio link.
REFERENCES
[1] Online: www.airlinx.com.
[2] Online: www.otc.kz.
[3] Ramesh, S, and Herbert Tanzer, "The Design amd Performance
of a Lightwave data storage Network Using Computer Analysis
and Simulation, in Optical Switching/Networking and Com-
puting for Multimedia Systems, 2002.
[4] Mardeni, R. and Chimheno, R. L., "Wireless Regional Access
Networks: A Wise Choice for Internet Connectivity to Rural
Areas of Zimbabwe", Modern Applied Science, 2013.

A. Qaddus received his BS Telecommuniactions from SZABIST Islama-
bad and had done MS Telecommunications & Networks from Bahria Uni-
versity Islamabad. Currently he is a PHD Scholar at Bahria University and
is working as an A-EXEN in R&D Dept of National Radio Telecom Corpo-
ration Haripur, Hazara. His research interest includes, Wireless Communi-
cations, Computer Networks, RF Engineering and Data Communications.

M. Irfan received his BS Telecommuniactions form Paramount Islmabad
and done MS Electronic Engineering from MAJU Islamabad. Currently he
is working as an A-EXEN in R&D Dept of National Radio Telecom Corpo-
ration Haripur, Hazara. His research interest includes, Wireless Communi-
cations, DSP and Data Communications.

A. Ali Raza received his BSEE from Urdu University Islamabad and had
done MS Telecommunications & Networks from Bahria University Islama-
bad. Currently he is a PHD Scholar at Bahria University His research inter-
est includes, Wireless Communications, RF Engineering and Widercity.