Plan clean wireless links for critical construction operations. Compare signal, interference, and noise quickly. Make better decisions under pressure always.
Wireless controls for cranes, pumps, gates, and sensors share crowded spectrum. Interference margin quantifies how much headroom remains before commands drop or telemetry stalls. A positive margin indicates the carrier stays above combined interference and noise at the receiver. This supports safer operations, fewer stoppages, and more predictable commissioning outcomes. It also helps compare frequencies and justify shielding when needed.
Carrier power is the wanted signal at the receiver input, typically measured in dBm on a service monitor or radio diagnostics page. Interferers are unwanted signals on the same or adjacent channel that leak into the receiver passband. Noise represents thermal noise plus receiver noise figure and bandwidth effects. Summing interferers as power, not as dB, prevents underestimating risk. Capture snapshots during busy shifts.
When instruments are unavailable, the estimator approximates received levels using free space path loss and antenna gains. It is useful for layout studies, temporary tower placements, and checking whether additional spacing is needed between base stations. Because reflections, obstructions, and polarization losses are not modeled, treat outputs as a planning baseline and validate later. Record assumptions like distance, bandwidth, and noise figure for repeatable reviews.
Increase carrier by improving line of sight, raising antennas, selecting higher gain where appropriate, and reducing feeder losses. Reduce interference by coordinating channels, adding filtering, separating co sited transmitters, and limiting transmit power near sensitive receivers. Reduce noise by narrowing bandwidth, selecting lower noise figure hardware, and ensuring grounding and bonding controls conducted noise.
PASS means the calculated C/(I+N) exceeds the required threshold after any additional design margin, so reliability is likely under similar conditions. FAIL suggests the link may be intermittent during peak activity. Use the reported totals to prioritize mitigation, then re run the calculation to document improvement and keep a traceable record for site handover.
Interference margin is the difference between your calculated C/(I+N) and the required C/(I+N), minus any additional design margin you add. A nonnegative margin indicates the receiver should meet the target under similar conditions.
dB values are logarithmic, so adding them directly is incorrect. Each interferer is converted to milliwatts, summed, then converted back to dB. This correctly represents multiple simultaneous signals impacting the receiver.
Use a measured noise floor from receiver diagnostics or a spectrum check at the channel bandwidth. If you do not have a measurement, start with the default and refine later using the bandwidth and noise figure fields.
Use it during planning, when you know frequency, antenna gains, losses, and distances but cannot measure received levels yet. It provides a baseline estimate for placement decisions, then you should confirm with field measurements.
Not always. Higher gain can raise the carrier, but it can also raise received interference. If interferers are directional, gain may help; if co-channel sources dominate, filtering and coordination can matter more.
Raise the carrier by improving line of sight, reducing cable losses, or repositioning antennas. Reduce interference with channel coordination, separation, filtering, or lower nearby transmit power. Narrow bandwidth and improve grounding to reduce noise.
| Scenario | Carrier (dBm) | Interferers (dBm) | Noise (dBm) | Required (dB) | Margin (dB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crane remote near repeater | -62 | -78, -85 | -104 | 12 | ≈ +9 |
| Dense downtown site | -70 | -74, -76, -80 | -101 | 12 | ≈ -6 |
| Short-range telemetry | -58 | -90 | -107 | 10 | ≈ +21 |
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.