Field demonstrations of communication systems for distribution automation, volume 4

A field demonstration was conducted for the use of UHF radio links in the 950 MHz portion of the spectrum as a communication medium for performing automated electric power distribution. Prototype radio hardware was combined with logic and control equipment developed by Westinghouse for power line carrier automated distribution systems. Transceivers were used in the remote interactive terminals. Three dbm transceivers were used in the central base station and the three primary radio terminals, which functioned as system repeaters. Pre-installation field strength measurements were made along selected radials and in spot locations to characterize the anticipated field strength contours that would be encountered during the operational testing. A propagation model was developed that accurately predicted the conditions actually recorded. Post-installation measurements were used to further calibrate the computer model. The resulting propagation analysis proved exceedingly effective in characterizing a UHF radio system for digital communication.