Terrestrial microwave transmissions can be subject to interference from various objects and environmental factors. Some common objects that can interfere with terrestrial microwave transmissions include:
Buildings and Structures: Tall buildings, towers, and other large structures can block or reflect microwave signals, causing signal attenuation or even complete signal loss.
Foliage: Dense trees, plants, and foliage can absorb or scatter microwave signals, leading to reduced signal strength.
Atmospheric Conditions: Certain atmospheric conditions, such as heavy rain, fog, and snow, can attenuate microwave signals as they interact with water droplets and particles in the air.
Birds and Wildlife: Birds and other wildlife can accidentally obstruct microwave paths or create brief signal interruptions as they move through the transmission area.
Wind: Strong winds can cause temporary alignment issues with microwave antennas, affecting the quality of the signal.
Metallic Objects: Metallic objects in the vicinity of microwave transmissions, such as metal fences, vehicles, or equipment, can reflect and scatter the microwave signals.
Multipath Interference: Multipath interference occurs when microwave signals reach the receiver through multiple paths due to reflections, diffractions, or scattering from buildings and other objects. These signals may arrive at slightly different times, leading to signal cancellation or distortion.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI): Other electronic devices or equipment emitting electromagnetic waves in the same frequency range as the microwave transmission can cause interference.
Absorption by Water: Microwaves can be absorbed by water, and in areas with high humidity or bodies of water, this can impact the transmission quality.
To mitigate interference, careful planning of microwave transmission paths, appropriate antenna selection, and consideration of the local environment are essential. Engineers and technicians use various techniques to optimize microwave links and ensure reliable and efficient communication.