We looked at a bunch of different options and decided to build a simple device using a metal framing square and a rifle scope. It works really well. Basically we pick a landmark 1-2 miles out in Google Earth before climbing the tower. Then when we are on the tower, we clamp the square/scope to the backhaul dish and use the scope to aim the dish. With a couple of repetitions, the guys have gotten good enough to aim the first side, leave that tower site, and build the second site and aim. Signal quality is good enough that we rarely have to revisit the first tower, only on links of 15 miles or more or if we can’t see the remote tower from the tower we are on even with the rifle scope (some of them are tough to pick out due to what is behind them).
This works well enough, I can’t imagine spending more on something else. For backhaul dishes, the scope does the elevation and azimuth that we need. For sector antennas, we use a simple plastic square to aim at a landmark. Way easier than carrying a tool up the tower and very accurate. For tilt, we use the iHandy level built into the phone. It is surprisingly accurate. Regards, David Coudron From: AF <af-boun...@af.afmug.com> On Behalf Of Steve Jones Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2020 11:27 AM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <af@af.afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Advice on spending Specifications: Azimuth accuracy: 0.5º Tilt and roll accuracy: 0.1º Position accuracy: 60 cm with SBAS The real time roll is something that would be nice, with the structures we mount to and the mounts we use, getting the mast completely plumb isnt always an option, if i can have real time tilt and roll I can tweak the mast nuts and the tilt nuts to get it true. I tried with digital levels, but theyre finicky On Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 11:21 AM Adam Moffett <dmmoff...@gmail.com<mailto:dmmoff...@gmail.com>> wrote: So yeah like he said you can measure the elevation angle pretty well with a cheap tool. You align the first dish's azimuth to a landmark and dead reckoning. You peak the second dish, then go back to peak the first one. If the tool lets you nail the azimuth on the first dish without re-climbing the tower then it's worth every penny. Does it? Just wondering. If you use backhauls with the BNC voltage output and get the BNC to banana plug adapter then you get realtime feedback to peak the signal with. I always thought the scope thing was a good idea, but never did get to use one. On 2/19/2020 12:08 PM, Darin Steffl wrote: We have one and it's very nice. We only use it to aim sectors and horns. For backhaul dishes, there no need to use it in my opinion since we use landmarks to get the aiming started. With sectors, there's no way to aim it like a dish so this tool is very helpful. It should be under $4600 as that's what we paid for it new. On Wed, Feb 19, 2020, 10:58 AM <ch...@wbmfg.com<mailto:ch...@wbmfg.com>> wrote: I had a project, still have a project to build one. Not trivial because the baseline between the two GPS receivers is very short. Maybe I will finish it someday. If you buy one, let me “borrow it for a few days”... Elevation is very simple. You can buy a cheap electronic level from any hardware store to nail the elevation. Then all you gotta do is sweep and peak. I have not talked to anyone that has used one of these things. If you can find a landmark along the path and use a scope for azimuth you will be dead on for a lot less money. From: Steve Jones Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2020 9:50 AM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group Subject: [AFMUG] Advice on spending I got approval from the boss to order a smart aligner. Ive been looking at this for a while, particularly with the need for accuracy in CBRS. Not looking to use it at customer sites, just backhauls and access points. We have historically never been verifiably accurate on azimuths, probably rolled out pretty bad too. We have had issues with contractors not installing sites to spec, and having to go back up to turn radios/adjust tilt, etc. This will be handy for this year, we are dropping in at least 40 new access points and 3 or 5 new licensed links in the next few months. but then the tool will sit Boss said the worst thing to me, "get it if you think its necessary". If it were a $1k tool it wouldnt be a question bet we are looking at almost 7k on the kit. It meets my accuracy needs, but I almost wonder if the convenience outweighs the necessary. ant his is over half the cost of a licensed link. Knowing my numbers are right in propagation tools holds a lot of value. saving maybe an hour getting a tight link aligned here and there offsets some cost. You old timers, is this a justifiable expenditure based on your experience? ________________________________ -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com<mailto:AF@af.afmug.com> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com<mailto:AF@af.afmug.com> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list AF@af.afmug.com<mailto:AF@af.afmug.com> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
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