Automated Microwave Antenna Alignment of Base Transceiver Station

Sammanfattning: This master’s thesis is intended for the solution of Microwave (MW) link alignment which has several applications in modern communication systems. MW communication is used for point to point links with small wavelength and simultaneously compact antenna dimensions. Assuring the automated alignment of antennas provides a better communication between switching stations and allow its subscribers to communicate ceaselessly. In the first part of the work; effects of downtime on a network are discussed and at later stage a mechanism is investigated which will reduce the downtime. MW antenna used in communication systems is regularly affected by environmental factor and generally by wear and tear of mounts. These factors cause the precisely directed antennas to be perturbed from respective main lobes. Larger antennas with narrow main lobes require more sophisticated designing while smaller antennas have a broader main lobe. An automated antenna alignment that works without human intervention can decrease the down time and ensure a reliable communication between the near end and far end terminals of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS). The focus has been laid on a system that works autonomously and for that LabVIEW design and RCX Robonics Kit is used.  Results are presented to indicate antenna alignment in automatically synchronized manner.