Microwaves are radio waves with wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter, or equivalently,

with frequencies between 300 MHz (0.3 GHz) and 300 GHz.[1] This broad definition includes both UHF and EHF (millimeter waves), and various sources use different boundaries.[2] In all cases, microwave includes the entire SHF band (3 to 30 GHz, or 10 to 1 cm) at minimum, with RF engineering often putting the lower boundary at 1 GHz (30 cm), and the upper around 100 GHz (3 mm). Apparatus and techniques may be described qualitatively as "microwave" when the wavelengths of signals are roughly the same as the dimensions of the equipment, so that lumped-element circuit theory is inaccurate. As a consequence, practical microwave technique tends to move away from the discrete resistors, capacitors, and inductors used with lower-frequency radio waves. Instead, distributed circuit elements and transmission-line theory are more useful methods for design and analysis. Open-wire and coaxial transmission lines give way to waveguides and stripline, and lumped-element tuned circuits are replaced by cavity resonators or resonant lines. Effects of reflection, polarization, scattering, diffraction, and atmospheric absorption usually associated with visible light are of practical significance in the study of microwave propagation. The same equations of electromagnetic theory apply at all frequencies. The prefix "micro-" in "microwave" is not meant to suggest a wavelength in the micrometer range. It indicates that microwaves are "small" compared to waves used in typical radio broadcasting, in that they have shorter wavelengths. The boundaries between far infrared light, terahertz radiation, microwaves, and ultra-high-frequency radio waves are fairly arbitrary and are used variously between different fields of study. Electromagnetic waves longer (lower frequency) than microwaves are called "radio waves". Electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths may be called "millimeter waves", terahertz radiation or even T-rays. Definitions differ for millimeter wave band, which the IEEE defines as 110 GHz to 300 GHz. Above 300 GHz, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by Earth's atmosphere is so great that it is in effect opaque, until the atmosphere becomes transparent again in the so-called infrared and optical window frequency ranges. High power microwave sources use specialized vacuum tubes to generate microwaves. These devices operate on different principles from low-frequency vacuum tubes, using the ballistic motion of electrons in a vacuum under the influence of controlling electric or magnetic fields, and include the magnetron (used in microwave ovens), klystron, traveling-wave tube (TWT), and gyrotron. These devices work in the density modulated mode, rather than the current modulated mode. This means that they work on the basis of clumps of electrons flying ballistically through them, rather than using a continuous stream of electrons.

Cutaway view inside a cavity magnetron as used in a microwave oven Low-power microwave sources use solid-state devices such as the field-effect transistor (at least at lower frequencies), tunnel diodes, Gunn diodes, and IMPATT diodes.[3] A maser is a device similar to a laser, which amplifies light energy by stimulating photons. The maser, rather than amplifying light energy, amplifies the lower frequency, longer wavelength microwaves and radio frequency emissions. The sun also emits microwave radiation, although most of it is blocked by Earth's atmosphere.[4]
[not in citation given]

The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR) is a source of microwaves that supports the science of cosmology's Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe.

[edit] Uses

Stripline techniques become increasingly necessary at higher frequencies

[edit] Communication
Before the advent of fiber-optic transmission, most long-distance telephone calls were carried via networks of microwave radio relay links run by carriers such as AT&T Long Lines. Starting in the early 1950s, frequency division multiplex was used to send up to 5,400 telephone channels on each microwave radio channel, with as many as ten radio channels combined into one antenna for the hop to the next site, up to 70 km away. Wireless LAN protocols, such as Bluetooth and the IEEE 802.11 specifications, also use microwaves in the 2.4 GHz ISM band, although 802.11a uses ISM band and U-NII frequencies in the 5 GHz range. Licensed long-range (up to about 25 km) Wireless Internet Access services have been used for almost a decade in many countries in the 3.54.0 GHz range. The FCC recently[when?] carved out spectrum for carriers that wish to offer services in this range in the U.S. with emphasis on 3.65 GHz. Dozens of service providers across the country are securing or have already received licenses from the FCC to operate in this band. The WIMAX service offerings that can be carried on the 3.65 GHz band will give business customers another option for connectivity. Metropolitan area network (MAN) protocols, such as WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) are based on standards such as IEEE 802.16, designed to operate between 2 to 11 GHz. Commercial implementations are in the 2.3 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz ranges. Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) protocols based on standards specifications such as IEEE 802.20 or ATIS/ANSI HC-SDMA (such as iBurst) operate between 1.6 and 2.3 GHz to give mobility and in-building penetration characteristics similar to mobile phones but with vastly greater spectral efficiency.[5] Some mobile phone networks, like GSM, use the low-microwave/high-UHF frequencies around 1.8 and 1.9 GHz in the Americas and elsewhere, respectively. DVB-SH and S-DMB use 1.452 to 1.492 GHz, while proprietary/incompatible satellite radio in the U.S. uses around 2.3 GHz for DARS. Microwave radio is used in broadcasting and telecommunication transmissions because, due to their short wavelength, highly directional antennas are smaller and therefore more practical than they would be at longer wavelengths (lower frequencies). There is also more bandwidth in the microwave spectrum than in the rest of the radio spectrum; the usable bandwidth below 300 MHz is less than 300 MHz while many GHz can be used above 300 MHz. Typically, microwaves are used in television news to transmit a signal from a remote location to a television station from a specially equipped van. See broadcast auxiliary service (BAS), remote pickup unit (RPU), and studio/transmitter link (STL). Most satellite communications systems operate in the C, X, Ka, or Ku bands of the microwave spectrum. These frequencies allow large bandwidth while avoiding the crowded UHF frequencies and staying below the atmospheric absorption of EHF frequencies. Satellite TV either operates in the C band for the traditional large dish fixed satellite service or Ku band for

direct-broadcast satellite. Military communications run primarily over X or Ku-band links, with Ka band being used for Milstar.

[edit] Radar
Radar uses microwave radiation to detect the range, speed, and other characteristics of remote objects. Development of radar was accelerated during World War II due to its great military utility. Now radar is widely used for applications such as air traffic control, weather forecasting, navigation of ships, and speed limit enforcement. A Gunn diode oscillator and waveguide are used as a motion detector for automatic door openers.

[edit] Radio astronomy

Most radio astronomy uses microwaves. Usually the naturally-occurring microwave radiation is observed, but active radar experiments have also been done with objects in the solar system, such as determining the distance to the Moon or mapping the invisible surface of Venus through cloud cover.

Galactic background radiation of the Big Bang mapped with increasing resolution

[edit] Navigation
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) including the Chinese Beidou, the American Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian GLONASS broadcast navigational signals in various bands between about 1.2 GHz and 1.6 GHz.

Microwave design considerations

ROUTE AND SITE SELECTION MUST HAVE COMPLETED PRELIMINARY FACILITY PLANNING OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS TRAFFIC STUDIES (SYSTEMS CAPACITY)

 EXPANSION POTENTIAL RELIABILITY REQUIREMENTS COST STUDIES MAPS & AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE SOURCES OF PRELIMINARYSTUDIES FINAL SITE SELECTIONS ARE MADE BASE ON FIELD SURVEYS

Site requirements
TERMINAL SITES ARE NORMALLY LOCATIONS OF EXISTINGSTRUCTURES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FUTURE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONALONG THE PATH SITES SHOULD BE AS LEVEL AS POSSIBLE. COST OF LEVELING MUSTBE CONSIDERED PATH DISTANCE IS ABOUT 25 TO 35 mi FROM 2 TO 8 GHz BAND ACCESS ROADS, AVAILABILITY OF AC POWER & TELEPHONE SITE CONSIDERATIONS GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, ACCESSROADS & LANDMARKS THAT WILL IDENTIFY THE SITE UNUSUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS MAX WIND VELOCITY, SNOW & ICE ACCUMULATIONS, RANGEOF TEMP PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS LEVELING REQUIRED, REMOVAL OF ROCKS. TREES OR OTHER STRUCTURES CHECK IF SITE IS A POTENTIAL OBSTRUCTION TO AIR TRAFFIC MEAN SEA LEVEL ELEVATION AT THE TOWER LOCATION FULL DESCRIPTION FOR AN ACCESS ROAD FROM THE NEARESTIMPROVED ROAD BUILDING CODE RESTRICTIONS ON THE SITE NEAREST LOCATION OF COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC POWER NEAREST TELEPHONE FACILITY

Location of antenna site Intro: Because television requires line-of-sight, you need to be able to SEE all the homes you want to receive your broadcast (line-of-sight). This means that your antenna pole or mast should be located where you can see as many homes as possible.

How to locate suitable sites for your antenna

Obtain a map of your city (scale 1:50,000 or 1:100,000), so that you can mark possible sites on it. Look to see where other broadcasters have located their antennas [often they have done much research, so try to benefit from this]. Please mark the location of their sites and names on the map. Investigate the opportunities to place your antenna either on the land where the other antennas are located, or close by. A short mast or tower on a high hill can be very effective. If the ground is very flat, a tall building in your city could be a useful spot.

The essentials for a good site are:

# Requirement
1 High location, to see as many homes as possible [Write name of site] 2 A piece of land where you can erect a pole or mast. You need the same amount of land as the height of your mast (40m mast needs 40m x 40m of land). [Give size of land] 3 What electrical supply is available at or near the site, with suitable lightning protection (1 Kva single phase needed) [Give voltage available] 4 Can you see your proposed studio from this site? [Yes / No] 5 What security for the equipment (in a hut, room or cabinet) is in place at the

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

site now? [Can be added later] 6 Is there a tall pole, mast or tower on this piece of land? [ Yes / No] If yes, would you be able to use it for an antenna? [ Yes / No } 7 Is there road access to this site (for delivery of equipment)? [Yes / No ] 8 Name of site owner and phone number [We may need to make an appointment to see the site.] 9 Write a number giving your order of preference for the possible sites on this page (e.g. 1, 2, 3 etc.)

Using the information from your preferred site (the one you marked #1), please complete <media 955>form B2</media>.

EXTRA NOTES

What is a Site?
The term site is used for a high place where we could locate a mast or tower for our antenna. From this site you should be able to see a high % of homes in the city.

A site (or location) could therefore be any of the following: 1 2 On an existing broadcast mast or tower A piece of land next to an existing mast or tower

3 A piece of land where there is no nearby mast or tower, but which has electrical power and a good view of the city

4 A church in the middle of a city, but because it is usually not very high, we would need a tall mast or tower to be able to "see" the homes in the city.

In the form, please write the NAME of each site. Find out who the owner is. Write down his name and phone number, so we can phone for an appointment to visit the site. If there is an existing tower, we need his permission to climb the tower at least halfway to take photos of the city.

Renting space on an existing mast or tower

Contact owners of existing masts or towers, to find out whether they would be willing to rent you space on their tower. You would need:

Electrical supply, with good surge protection Space in their hut or room below the mast (about 1m x 1m) for a cabinet mounted on the wall Air conditioning to maintain a fairly constant temperature Access to the hut when you need it Space on their mast: You would need: About 4 meters (vertical) on all sides of the mast At least 30m above ground if possible Proper earthing of the mast, for lightning Feeder cable mountings on mast and sharing of cable tray

Establish the rental per month and minimum term (years). Note: Renting space can be very expensive, and needs to be carefully considered as it may be a long term commitment.

Sharing facilities with other broadcasters In situations where other UHF broadcasters are operating, it may be worthwhile to find out if you can share antennas and feeder cables. This can usually only be done: a) Where there is an existing UHF transmitter b) Where the antenna covers the angles you wish to cover c) Where the owner is willing to share antenna and feeder cable with you.

The sharing would be done using a device which combines the signals (often called a combiner) from the existing transmitter with your transmitter, sending these together up the feeder cable to the antenna/s. By sharing you should avoid / save the costs of: a) Putting in your own Antenna & Feeder Cable b) Rental of space on the tower / mast
http://maps.google.com.ph/maps? q=geographical+plan+of+site+of+tarlac&hl=tl&sll=14.584246,121.022788&sspn=0.080905,0.110378&vpsrc=0&hq=g eographical+plan+of+site+of&hnear=Lungsod+ng+Tarlac,+Tarlac,+Gitnang+Luzon&t=m&z=10

About Tarlac
The province of Tarlac is situated in the heart of Luzon, in an area also known as the Central Plain and within Region is in the Philippines. As a landlocked province, Tarlac is bounded by Pangasinan on the north, Nueva Ecija on the East, Zambales on the west and Pampanga on the south. It covers a total land area of 305,306 hectares. It has 18 towns, the largest of which is Tarlac City, also the provincial capital. In the dawn of history, what came to be known as Tarlac today was once a thickly-forested area, peopled by roving tribes of nomadic Aetas and believed to be aborigines of the Philippines. The name "Tarlac" was derived from a talahib-like weed called "Matarlak" by the Aetas. Tarlac was first mentioned in written history as a praesidio or military port designated with the task of defending communities from the frequent lowland raids by the Negritos and Balugas. Tarlac's embryonic history is also closely intertwined with those of Pampanga and Pangasinan, which played important roles in its creation. In the late 1600s, settlers from the lower Pampanga and Pangasinan towns bought lands from the Aetas who preferred the wilds of the Zambales mountains. At this early, enough settlers warranted the establishment of mission centers of various religious congregations that eventually became the site of the pioneering pueblos or townships during the Spanish colonial period. Tarlac was the last province in Central Luzon to be created by the Spanish colonial government. Tarlac was inaugurated as an alcaldia (regular province) on May 28, 1873 with Don Juan Guillen as its first politico-military governor. Prior to its provincial ship in the last quarter of the 19th century, the territory which now belongs to Tarlac formally belonged to the provinces of Pampanga (Upper or Northern Pampanga) and Pangasinan (Southern) Pangasinan). The first step towards its erection into a province was made in 1858, with the creation of a portion of western Pampanga into a military commandancy known as Comandancia-Militar de Tarlac and which included the following towns: Bangbang, Capas, Concepcion, O'Donnell, Tarlac, Victoria, Floridablanca, Mabalacat, Maglang and Porac (the last 4 towns reverted later to their mother province, Pampanga, when Tarlac became a regular province

in 1873.) This comandancia was the nucleus of what later became the province of Tarlac and of which four of towns from southern Pangasinan (Camiling, Gerona, Moncada, and Paniqui) were also integrated. During its initial decade as a regular province, additional pueblos (townships) were created, including Pura, Mayantoc, San Manuel, Murcia, La Paz, Moriones, and San Clemente. Tarlac was among the first to rise up in arms against the Spaniards, being one of the "eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag" the "terranos de guerra". Officially the revolution in Tarlac started on January 24, 1897, the so-called "Cry of Tagumpay" and initiated by General Later, during the subsequent Philippine-American War, the town of Tarlac became the seat of the Aguinaldo government from June 21 to Nov. 10, 1899. This was a few months after Malolos, Bulacan was abandoned by General Emilio Aguinaldo as the seat of the Philippine Republic. Synchronically, the Tarlac Cathedral was also the site of the Philippine Revolutionary Congress, after its transfer from the Barasoain Church in Malolos. When the Tarlac capital was taken by the Americans on Nov. 10, 1899, this signaled the collapse of the Aguinaldo government. The American Period in Tarlac officially started in 1901, with the establishment of a civil government. The first decade of the new century brought about the reversion of some towns to barrio status. In 1920, the town of Ramos was created, making the number of towns 17. It was only in 1988 when the number was increased, with the creation of the Municipality of San Jose in western Tarlac. The province figured prominently also during the Second World War. Mere mention of Capas and O'Donnell will evoke memories of World War II, the Fall of Bataan, and the Death March where tens of thousands of dred, starved and sick prisoners of war were made to walk through the rough and dusty roads under the sweltering heat of the sun. Tarlac was liberated from the Japanese on the feast of St. Sebastian, January 20, 1945. Tarlac's history will not be complete without mentioning its foremost asset ? its people. Its being equidistant between Manila and the northern provinces has made Tarlac an important trading center since the earliest times. This strategic locale caused the province to become the hub and destination of various people, especially during the 18th and 19th centuries. For this, Tarlac is also known as the "Melting Pot Province" for it is home to different cultures and ethno-linguistic groups. Kapampangans, Ilocanos, Pangasinenses, Tagalogs, Visayans and Aetas live together in harmony and peace. Indeed, this amalgam of tongues and cultural polyglotism has given Tarlac its uniqueness, its vibrancy.