is a technology for transmitting
digital and
analog signals, such as long-distance
telephone calls and the relay of
television programs to transmitters, between two locations on a
line of sight radio path. In
microwave radio relay,
radio waves are transmitted between the two locations with
directional antennas, forming a fixed radio connection between the two points. Long
daisy-chained series of such links form transcontinental telephone and/or television communication systems.
How microwave radio relay links are formed:
Because a line of sight radio link is made, the radio frequencies used occupy only a narrow path between stations (with the exception of a certain radius of each station). Antennas used must have a high
directive effect; these antennas are installed in elevated locations such as large radio towers in order to be able to transmit across long distances. Typical types of antenna used in radio relay link installations are
parabolic reflectors,
shell antennas and horn radiators, which have a diameter of up to 4 meters. Highly directive antennas permit an economical use of the available frequency spectrum, despite long transmission distances.
