Under frequency usage tab while viewing a multi map, you will see an option for frequency usage. This is a system that is designed to help you with interference planning. This system uses two items on coverage maps; the max distance and the exact center frequency. By using these two items along with your tower site locations, we plot where that frequency would interfere with other radios in the air. This tool does not look at ground heights, or land cover data, it simply shows a color for each channel that you are operating on. If two radios have the same channel, then they will be the same color. Below is an example of three sites using three different channels. Based on their antenna type, we will project a radius out to the max distance variable. This gives you the opportunity to see what is close to the same frequency.
Here is another example of frequency coverage. However, the tower near Desoto is a sectoral antenna, and is using the same channel as the antennas in the upper and lower left of the image. This shows a prime example of an antenna that is within the beam width of the Antenna’s pattern. This gives us a graphical view that the upper left radio will have direct interference from the Desoto radio. Our own radios are causing self-interference.
When you select Frequency Usage, the map will reload to open the frequency group option. Here we have the most commonly used frequency ranges. Each time you select one the map will reload with the new group of frequencies.
